Dream College

My dream college is South Carolina State University. Most younger students don't understand what a dream college is. Most Likely because they just aren't to the stage in life about thinking what they want to do with their life after high school. Well, I'm not going to get into that with my post. I'm going to list the top 5 reasons I want to go to SCSU and why.

South Carolina State University

1. I want to learn how hard being on my own will be without actually being alone. I am in a wheelchair and right now I have both of my parents helping me and I know they won't always be here to help, I want to learn how hard life is being on my own.
2. It is diverse. I hope to learn about new cultures.
3. They have a great Journalism department. My major is Journalism in Mass Media. I eventually would like to own my own big media company.
4. It is out-of state, I don't want to stay in Illinois. I realize out-of state expenses cost more. I just feel like I'm not going anywhere in the state of Illinois. I refuse to move to Chicago because of the violence.
5. I want to get myself out there. You know, Go Big or Go home and I refuse to give up and go home. Getting my journalism skills out there is important to me.

College Application Tips

I am a sophomore in college this year. Time just flew by! I am super excited, to talk about application essays for college with you. I am, of course, not an expert when it comes to these things. However, I wanted to share with you some advice I've learned from my experience being in college as well.

Here are my tips when applying to college: 

Be aware of dates

Nothing can be worse than missing a submission deadline. I have all of my important dates for college mapped out to stay on top of things. Don't be a procrastinator, you don't want to be scrambling around late November to submit your application.

Brainstorm

Don't neglect to skip this part for your application. I find it difficult to just simply start writing an essay. Before you get to typing keep a list of bullet points of details and ideas. That way it will make your essay come much more easily.

Editing

When it comes to rereading your college application/essay, don't do it immediately after you finish. Save the document, and allow your eyes some time for a break. Once you're reading to reread, be sure to read it allow, I promise it will help you catch silly spelling/grammar mistakes!

Get Feedback

A new website that I have been using recently is called EditRevise. It essentially acts as your English teacher or your college admissions officer. EditRevise is an online service that can be used to provide feedback on your college app essays. After submitting my first essay draft, it took roughly (get it?) 48 hours until I got my feedback. (You can also pay a little more to receive the feedback within 6 hours, if you're in a hurry.) The comments I got back I found to be very helpful and detailed. I also liked how if a editor commented on a section, they would provide me with a sample sentence. With submitting three revisions of my essay, I found that it allowed me a great foundation for when I write my other essays.

I hope you found these tips to be useful, I am not an expert so I'd appreciate it if you have any advice to help me in this process!

What I Have in my Backpack

I started college last semester. It’s hard to believe I’m in college, for anyone even myself. It still hasn’t set in that I’m an undergrad. I mean wow! I have friends and family in college too. So between talking to all of them about essentials and knowing what I use and don’t use. I’ve narrowed down the absolute essentials for my backpack so that I’m not lugging around heavy items all day. So let’s take a peek inside my backpack!

What do I have in my backpack?

1. Backpack. I’ve had a Vera Bradley since my senior year of high school. I changed to a Vera Bradley bag that can also hold my tablet. It really comes in handy.
2. Water Bottle. I love my Camelback it’s an easy way to make sure I’m drinking enough water all day!
3. Planner. I found the cutest Blooms Day planner from Amazon and I’m loving it! Look out for a planner organization post soon!
4. Surface Pro 4. Of course I have to have my laptop for taking notes, doing homework, reading, and assignments! Maybe a little Netflix too.
5. Notebooks. I take all of my notes in 1 subject notebooks, nothing crazy, but it’s the best way to stay organized between classes.
6. Wallet. I have this for obvious reasons like paying for lunch or snacks, house key, shopping perks, etc.
7. Pencil Case. I love my pens! I have a ton of different ones and highlighters.
8. Headphones. I keep these in case I stop by the gym or need to listen to videos in the library!

What is one thing you have to keep in your backpack? Let me know below!

Why You Should Major in Journalism

Before I started college, I never even considered being a journalism major. I thought I'd be interested in Computers, English, or Business for other reasons. Finally, I realized that no other major can compare to journalism, because being able to express your opinion to an audience, no matter how big, is a feeling that can't be beat.

Being a journalism major is much more than just writing papers and finding different stories. It's making friends at your school paper, getting coffee so much that your local barista has your order memorized, and talking to people you wouldn't normally talk to, just to hear their stories.

These are just some of the greatest things about being a journalism major:

1. It's an excuse to drink as much coffee as humanly possible.

Because there is always a deadline to meet and nothing keeps you awake like three cups of coffee. You're usually up several nights all night finishing a column or post. Plus you can rack up enough points on the Dunkin Donuts Perks app to get free coffee at least once per week.

2. It's socially acceptable to be attached to your phone and computer at all times.

There is always an email to send, a call to make or a picture to take for an article. Even if you're playing Candy Crush while walking to class, people assume you're probably doing something important.

3. You can justify the hundreds of dollars spent on tattoos and piercings.

Communications employers typically don't mind them and they "express your artistic side."

4. It's amazing to think that the words you say have an impact on others around the world.

Someone from Australia could be in bed right now reading the words you write, or someone in Brazil could be on a train reading your article. Knowing that people take time out of their day to read the words you carefully choose means a lot and makes the midnight deadlines worth all the trouble.

5. You have automatic friends from the media clubs you're basically required to join.

Almost every journalism student is in an on-campus media club, so by the end of freshman year, you'll get to know pretty much everyone in your major. Plus, they're just as quirky and neurotic as you are.

6. You get to listen to some amazing and heartbreaking stories and experiences from others.

The "Humans of New York" account is just one example of learning inspiring stories from people you'd normally pass by on the street without a second glance. Everyone has a story, and getting to experience the most exciting, intimate or heartbreaking moments of someone's life is an experience that can't be beat.

7. You pretty much never need to buy textbooks.

Journalism is something that can't be taught out of a book (minus the dreaded AP Style book) so you save $200 per semester that can be used for buying more coffee or that paid Wordpress account you've been saving up for.

8. You can do almost anything after college with a degree in communications.

Every single company or corporation needs a communications department because that's how money is made. Even if at first it's just a basic secretary job, you'll never struggle to find work after college.

9. It is not an easy major by any means, but it is not impossible either.

Journalism has the stereotype of being an easy or "blow-off" major because we don't need to spend hours studying a textbook in the library. Just because we don't need to study much doesn't mean it's an easy major. The hours we don't spend studying we spend throwing ourselves into every media organization on campus. We're slaves to our editors and our computers.
On the other hand, even though it does keep us very busy, none of the work is impossible and most of it is very enjoyable.

10. You can do anything with writing.

If you're a strong enough writer, you can convince readers that the grass is blue. You can describe the scent of dew in the morning so well that readers actually feel like they're smelling it. You can paint a picture without ever picking up a paintbrush. When you write, even your most outlandish ideas are possible, and usually those are the ideas that make for the best stories.

My College Journey

The National Association for the Education of Young Children External link  (NAEYC) defines “early childhood” as occurring before the age of eight, and it is during this period that a child goes through the most rapid phase of growth and development. Their brains develop faster than at any other point in their lives, so these years are critical. The foundations for their social skills, self-esteem, perception of the world and moral outlook are established during these years, as well as the development of cognitive skills.External link
The National Association for the Education of Young Children  (NAEYC) defines “early childhood” as occurring before the age of eight, and it is during this period that a child goes through the most rapid phase of growth and development. Their brains develop faster than at any other point in their lives, so these years are critical. The foundations for their social skills, self-esteem, perception of the world and moral outlook are established during these years, as well as the development of cognitive skills.

As an Early Childhood Education major I love children and find joy in the small things.

I know getting a degree is a roller coaster. Although, throw the firefighter life into the mix and you’ve got yourself an entire theme-park full of too many options (or sometimes not enough), more stress than necessary, and maybe even a few tears every now and then. It probably sounds impossible to get through college while being in a relationship, but it’s very possible.

In fact I know it can be done, I’m doing it myself.

Here is my take with being an Early Childhood major:

The field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) is evolving and numerous education programs are keeping pace. This willingness and drive to grow, learn, question, adapt, expand and emerge are also important for prospective education students and professionals.

Right now, I am at Lincoln Land Community College. This college does have ECE as a major. So I am getting my general ECE courses out of the way first, then when I move to University I can go to an education school. This college classes for ECE are all over two and a half hours each.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO WHEN DECIDING WHAT ROUTE TO TAKE IS RESEARCH.

Honestly.

My original plan was stay put at the university I was attending until I graduated. As we are dating, I told my boyfriend all the time that I wasn’t going to marry him until I had at least an associate’s degree. I want to have some sort of gain in getting a job before I completely enter the firefighter life. Understandable right?

I am living with him, yes. Although, for some students it can be hard to find time to study. I find this being hard because unless I have help around the house I don’t get time to myself.

So, guess what I did?

RESEARCH!!!

I started looking into the schools in his area. I also started to look into online schools that offered my degree, how creditable each school was, what the degree plan looked like at each school, and whether or not online classes really were a good option for me. I am leaning more towards a Kindergarten teacher because I love teaching the future generations of the world.

As an ECE student it would be easier doing my classes online due to not being able to drive, time management, and overall it would be easier on me. Now I realize it is not a cup of tea, more like a shot of whiskey because online classes can be more intense.

How I figured out Early Childhood Education was right for me

I went for computer science to business to ECE. (Weird, right?) Computer Science your learn more about networking and the ins and outs of a computer, not the actual internet or social media, which is what interested me. Business I’m still open for just depends on my future, it works with my dream of ownership. Now I realize you don’t need a business degree to own a building, I feel it would help with having one.

Now a Journalism degree or an ECE degree I’m really interested in, I have been a blogger since I was 10. I love writing, finding out things, and giving advice. On the other side of the coin, this also goes along with teaching. This degree makes me a professional writer/teacher and I could write for different people and in other areas than just this blog.

ALWAYS ASK ABOUT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

Even if you don’t think you qualify, even if you didn’t fill out a FAFSA, and even if you’re too lazy or shy to walk up to the fiscal services building.

JUST ASK!!!

Simply asking saved me thousands of dollars on tuition this year.

Being in a junior college you might think “why does she need help it’s not too expensive?” true but being with a grant I got exempt, now knowing I am disabled help when I transfer. I didn’t know a lot of things I know now.

Ask the questions—it really can pay off.

DON’T GET DISCOURAGED.

It might not work out perfectly. In fact, it might not work out at all for periods of time. You’ll probably lose a few credits, and you might even lose a lot of credits.

Just keep swimming.

Keep doing your research, keep asking questions, and keep your mind focused on your ultimate education or career goals. With the right amount of determination and perseverance, nothing can ever keep you from earning that degree!

Why you should go for a journalism or an ECE major

Journalism is really fun! You get to write stories or about whatever is happening in your own words.

If you’re like me you’re curious about what happens in the world, have a thirst for knowledge. I constantly ask “why?” in my head, but as a journalist, I get to ask those questions out loud. It takes an inquisitive yet sensitive type of person to get information out of people. If you love to gossip or coaxed your older brother into telling you where your mom hid the Christmas presents as a kid, you’ll likely be a stellar reporter.

With ECE you don't always have to be a teacher, there are so many other opportunities out there! You get to help guide young children through all things.

RECAP:

• Look into schools where you’re going and online schools, if you’re willing to go that route.
• Find out credibility, what their degree plans look like, and get in touch with a counselor if you think you’ve found a good match.
• Don’t just research the place you’re going to next, but also look into the places you might be go to after that if necessary & if you know where your spouse could end up.
• Ask questions, especially about financial aid.
• Don’t worry if you have to take a semester or two off and don’t stress about a few lost credits. Keep persevering and reach your goals despite the obstacles.

Mental Health

Not many people know I have a mental illness. I try to keep upbeat and happy here, so I never really got into it, but I was brushing things off and I need to be real with y'all for a minute.

I wasnt just feeling down or overwhelmed, I was depressed. I learned the hard way that depression can happen to anyone - even if your life looks perfect from the outside. My life felt like it was going in a downward spiral and there was nothing I could do about it.

It all started when my first love and I broke up and it went out of control from there. I was heartbroken and upset most of the time, and I became someone I didn't recognize. I'd always prided myself in being optimistic and upbeat, but much mind quickly shifted and I found myself thinking unusually dark thoughts.

My mind would go from think I'm not good enough, no one cared about me, to wishing that was the case so I could disappear without hurting anyone in the matter of minutes; and I could feel the old me slipping away.

Life went on like that for the betr part of my first semester of my freshman year but finally I had a very public breakdown and had someone tell me: "Hey, what you're feeling is not normal and you deserve to be happy, you just need to get help."

Somehow I had managed to brainwash myself into thinking that what was happening in my head was OKAY and something that happened to everyone. I didn't think I needed help until I got it, and things are slowly getting better everyday.

At the time I had no realization on me changing or how serious things got. Being better now, I realize I should have gotten help quicker. I'm sure there's many people dealing h with this same things I am still dealing with.

I not 100% back where I was or even back to 'normal' but I am getting closer and heading in the right direction and all that's from feeling alone and vuneralable. If you're down about yourself please don't let it go crazy out of control as I did.

Please talk with a professional. Or just anyone willing to help, let them know how you are feeling. Plus, college students here are a ton of different resources to help.

Quickly, I am taking the summer off to care for my mental health. I didn't start making any big progress until I made this decision, and even though this was never part of my life plan (or the plan anyone in my life had for me) it is something I feel that I really need to do in order to keep my life in check.

In the meantime, I am going to be putting more time and energy into blogging and I'm looking for volunteer work to be able to give back which excites me! I am excited to use the next months to heal and grow as a person!