Wanna Survive in College?

Rule # 1:
Always make sure you know who you are rooming with beforehand.
There are always the classic cases of best friends rooming together. While some of the time it works out, it doesn’t all the time. In scenario make sure you know that you are “livable” with your best friend. Find out his/her pet peeves. What are their study habits, sleeping schedule, are they clean and neat or dirty? Once you know these things you can make a decision on whether this is a proper living arrangement. But there is also another scenario. One that is more common; “random roommate.” When we talk to people who have graduated college they seem to talk on and on about the lifelong friends they made and how crazy dorm life was. Unfortunately, this is not always the reality. During the summer if you have a chance to meet with your roommate before jumping into a commitment with a total stranger, get to know them. That’s why they provide the name! So you can meet the person before that hectic first day of college! Similarly, to the best friend scenario assess them and how you think you’d get along with them. If you need to get personal then do it, no one wants to find out the hard way that a scarf on the door means “busy.” Once you’ve retained enough information then you can make a decision of whether this stranger is a friend or a potential enemy.
Rule # 2
Don’t walk alone at night time
We’ve all seen the movies, the damsel in distress walking alone at night and then being attacked by a random perpetrator. This isn’t just in the movies though, this can happen anywhere even a college campus. So no matter if you are a girl or a boy don’t walk alone! It won’t matter if they are looking for action or money, if these people want something they are ruthless and sick. So with another person in the mix it decreases the chances. Also, carry pepper spray it will serve you well!
Rule # 3
Take advantage of health services
There is a service for students called Health Services. There are doctors, nurses, etc of all kind there to help you. With a college campus comes an ultimate amount of germs that at any moment could strike you with anything from a cold to the flu. Also, there are also circumstances that are more serious that you can go to ask questions about instead of sitting in your dorm freaked out. It will make you feel better if you consult a professional, so replace mom and dad with the insurance card and go to the doctor!

Desperate Houswives

My favorite television show is Desperate Housewives. Mixed with comedy and drama the show always keeps me on my toes. The insane events seem almost like a soap opera, but just enough to still seem realistic. It is also a great escape from daily life, airing on Sunday nights at 8pm. I find it a perfect breaking point for homework assignments. It is so ridiculous it’s enticing. I started watching it the first season. My parents loved it and from my room I could hear them laughing. I was drawn to this laughter and was curious to see what all the fuss was about. I had heard from friends what a great show it was but refused to assimilate choosing the Discovery Health channel over ABC. However, much to my surprise I found the show very entertaining and it wasn’t long before Sunday nights were a night I looked forward to. A big hit everyone at school the next day would talk about the events. The show therefore, helped me to better interact with my peers. As a few seasons passed the show lost some popularity as other left Desperate Housewives for other shows like Gossip Girl. I stayed with my show. If you want to start watching here is some background information. First, there are 5 main actresses. Susan the single mom, divorced twice, but still looking for love. Eidie, the streets “sl*t” but has recently found love with a secret nut case man named Dave. Newly rich again and ex model Gabriella. Hard working, independent mom Lynette. Bree, the know it all, housewife, who has found recent success with her cook book. And the newest edition Katherine, a hard working woman looking for acceptance on Wisteria Lane. The story is told by the perspective of Mary Alice Young a former resident of Wisteria Lane before years back she committed suicide. Within the show each of the woman’s lives are played out and the show amusingly intertwines them all. It is a great show because for one episode you can go from humble and sweet to chaos and disaster. You will never be bored and the suspense is almost unbearable! So watch the show you won’t regret it!

Ads

The last advertisement I saw was for chocolate; specifically Lindt Chocolate. The ad begins with a soothing woman's voice reading the cursive letters on the screen; "Do you dream in chocolate?" Then the screen changes to the most vivid image I remember from the add A half a piece of circular chocolate is enlarged and all of a sudden melted milk chocolate fills and completes the circle. The female voice then explains each seen. She gives Lindt chocolate validity claiming its rich chocolate taste is due to years of experience. All this is taking place while red silk covers part of the screen giving the illusion that not only is this a delicious piece of chocolate but it is also first class. Near the end of the ad an ordinary woman bites sensually into the molten center. The last scene is shows the product in its actual bag. From what I can remember the advertisement was very affective because it made me crave chocolate! However, I think it was dragged on a little too much with all the different scenes of the chocolate and wrapper etc. Even though it is a commercial for chocolate it was almost too much...you had me when you first showed the chocolate! I think this ad stood out from others for me at least because it was late at night and I was hungry. Studies show that many people snack at night because of temptation and this commercial did exactly that. If strategically placed at times during the day when people snack then it will be very successful. I also think it was successful because of the way they presented the ad. Now days we see comical ads for candies like Twix and snickers. But, Lindt chocolate wants to represent itself different. They don’t want to be perceived as a vending machine chocolate. No, they are first class; Instant satisfaction in their carefully crafted chocolate. Now, even talking about it the ad sticks out in my mind filled with chocolate paired with sultry red. I can’t help to crave a piece!

Life Ambitions..Can they really be achieved?

From a young age most little kids have dreams and ambitions. It starts with your first grade teacher asking you what you want to be when you grow up. At the time the answers can vary from princess to garbage man. Our heads are filled with fantasy Disney movies about dreaming and unrealistic ideas of success. However, as we get older the ideas are modified but, not changed. Cinderella and Toy Story turn into Cosmo and Vogue. Our fantasy life style of magical powers turns into the magic of diet pills, gorgeous wardrobes etc. Instead of praying to be swept one day by peter pan we pray to be swept by Brad Pitt or David Beckham. Looking back at the young preschool days we find our past dreams silly. But aren't current dreams of fame and fortune just as ridiculous?
I can still hear my dad's voice telling me "Emilie, you can do anything if you just try your best and put your mind to it." Now I look at it as a one sided phrase. Don't you think the ordinary people on American Idol tried their best and put there mind, body, and soul into singing only to be disappointed? On the other hand there are the success stories of "nobody's" making it to the top. For example the proclaimed actress Eva Longoria describes her hard life; calling herself an "ugly duckling." What a change! But her story is only one in a million; or billion for that matter.
Today I think people especially teenagers have a romanticized idea of success blinded by money and fame. I think we need to get back to past ideals when family and friends were the center. Our newly material centered world can only take happiness so far. Without sounding to depressing, many people want to die happy but would you rather die with a porsche or a significant other of 50 years by your side? I think we need to go back to the Disney movies where good versus evil wasn't a question; it was always good and Prince Charming was valued more than the size of a house.