How to Survive a Class You HATE

So it's mid February, and right about now you're beginning to really get a feel for how fun or torturous your new classes are. Hopefully all of your classes are rainbows and sunshines and everyone is making 100s on exams, but if you're like me, you have at least one class that is gonna be the ugly step sister of the bunch. Here are some tricks to make it bearable and maybe even FUN!

1.  Get your favorite drink/snack before class
Snagging a java chip frappe before class will definitely help distract from the pain that is differential calculus (oh wait is that just me?) But seriously, taking something you love and start creating that connection between the class you HATE and the thing you LOVE and hopefully the love will start to fade over.

2. Let yourself hate it
Pretending that you love a class won't make you love it, and will ultimately frustrate you. Let yourself hate it. Say "I hate this class, I really do. Now lets see what I can do with it." I always tell myself that all that hate will go to waste if I don't study my butt off and really EARN that good grade.

3. Turn off that phone/computer/tablet
Let me start this by saying I KNOW. I really really know how much you want to play solitaire when you get bored in class or reactivate that old Webkinz account, but if you really make yourself focus, there is a really good chance that you will find something you enjoy in the class.

4. Sit next to a buddy
Sitting next to a friend that you can mutually suffer with and goof around with will help when you're 45 minutes into your personal hell. Whats the saying? Misery loves company.

In all seriousness, I KNOW how hard it is to sit through 90 minutes of hell, but if you push through and focus on that A, it will mean all the more when you get it.

How I Survived Finals (and how you can too!)

So I actually survived my first ever college finals week! I can't believe it! I would like to thank not only God, but also Starbucks. But let me tell you, this week did NOT go by without a hitch. From drinking waaayyyyy too much coffee to looking like a foot, these past 120 hours are ones for the books. Here's what I learned!

1. Water is your BEST friend

I know this may come as a surprise considering what a coffee fiend I am, but let me tell you, too much coffee and not enough water leads to CRAZY dehydration and lots of shaky hands. Keep drinking that H2O, your body and your brain will thank you later.

2. Sleep is SO important

During finals week, most people will be stomping around, looking like brain-dead zombies because they spent all night studying and not sleeping. Yes, I understand the need to cram, but LISTEN, sleep helps store everything you studied during the day, so if you don't sleep, those hours of studying are absolutely pointless! Hey, grab some ZzzQuil if you want, but you need those 8 hours.

3. LISTEN TO YOUR PROFESSOR

The worst I have done on tests have been because I studied my way instead of the professor's way. If they tell you to look at the powerpoint, you better do it, because that is probably where they're pulling test questions from. They write the exams so I guarantee they know what they're talking about!

4. Get some study buddies

I would never have survived this week without my girl gang. We picked out a table in the library and had someone there 24/7 so no matter what, we would have a safe, friendly, happy place to study. Hours alone studying in your dorm will make you a little crazy, but always having a smiling face around will make you feel much more encouraged and willing to study.

5. Eat your veggies

Yes I ate lots of crunchy and sugary things this week, BUT I felt like absolute garbage until I ate some green beans. Eating fresh foods gave me so much more energy than junk ever did, and definitely helped me focus more. I love junk food, don't get me wrong, but carrots and ranch made me feel a lot better than sour gummy worms.

6. Dress for comfort

The only appropriate attire during finals week is sweatshirts and leggings. Feeling your best is definitely the right way to go this week, you have too much to worry about other than your jeans fitting weird. Everyone will look like they just got out of bed (or never went to bed) and no one even cares because they have their eyes on that 4.0.

7. Save (a lil) time to destress

Hot showers and Keeping Up With the Kardashians kept me going this week. After thinking non-stop for hours and hours, doing something a little mindless can be exactly what you need.

Overall just be nice to yourself during finals week, your grades (and your sanity) will thank you for it when all is said and done.

8 Things Every Kick Butt 4.0 Girl Boss Needs This Holiday Season

It's the most wonderful time of the year again, and you know what that means... more fuzzy socks that will never touch my feet and mugs that will never see the outside of my cabinet. In lieu of the usual pleasantries exchange after receiving a poorly thought out gift by a relative who thinks you are still in the fourth grade, I recommend finding actual joy from the items on this list that will help you become the GIRL BOSS you were meant to be next semester.

1. A Chegg.com subscription

Tired of the long trek to study hall when you just CAN NOT figure out that last calculus problem? Look no further! Chegg has answers and steps to just about any problem you can think of.


Get it here.

2. This really intense Ti-84 cover that will keep the precious cargo nice and safe:

Get it here.

3. A Scribedelivery subscription

Scribedelivery is basically all the inspiration you need to study in a box. It is a monthly delivery of notebooks and pencils and pens and anything you need to get that 'A'!



Get it here.

4. Some very official looking thank you cards from Moo.com

These beautiful notes will have your teachers thanking you for thanking them!

Get it here.

5. A super cute math mug

After an all-nighter and not enough studying, this mug will house some caffeine to wake you up and some fun hints for your calc exam.

Get it here.

6. A Little America backpack

I don't think it is an overstatement to say this is the DOPEST thing currently in my possession. It is sturdy and cute and absolutely amazing.

Get it here.

7. A good day planner

Lilly pulitzer is fun but this minimalistic planner makes you feel like you can conquer the world.

Get it here.

8. The 2018 YOU Are A Badass desk calendar

Jen Sincero is my queen and I need her words of wisdom every day.

Get it here.

These are my top picks this holiday season for how you can be a GIRL BOSS next semester! Sending lots of good GPA vibes your way!

Girl vs. Evil (aka Boys)

I have only been pursuing Engineering at Clemson University for a few months, but if I have learned anything, it is that boys are the DEVIL. I say this as I cuddle up to my loving boyfriend of two years. So okay… maybe boys aren’t the devil all the time, BUT boys who think STEM is only for boys certainly are. 

Not sure if the boy you are talking to is the devil? Here are a list of phrases that can confirm if he is the spawn of satan or not.

1. “Wow! You’re an Engineer? That is a great job for a woman!”
2. “What are you going to do when you have kids?”
3. Any form of shushing.
4. “Oh wow I heard for women it is easiest to get into a school if you are going into something like engineering.”
5. Any variation of “that’s cute.”
6. “Yeah you probably got *insert special opportunity that you worked hard for and earned* because they wanted to diversify.”

This and a thousand other micro-aggressions are the reason women feel uncomfortable and unwanted in STEM fields. I don't think I am being dramatic when I say that women are literally THE BEST THING EVER AND AN IRREVOCABLE FORCE OF NATURE THAT MEN SHOULD FEAR, and to be honest, men already know this and it’s why they are jerks to begin with. All that said, women only make up 25% of the Engineering workforce, and despite what the guys want you to think, it's not because of our biological dispositions, it's because of them. 

So here we are, in 2017 with a huge deficit of women engineers, and although I really am not sure what to do about it, I thought maybe creating this blog would help me figure it out and encourage some others along the way. 

Thanks for the read. Much more to come.