Month: July 2019

Chapman University Yearbook Camp Day 1: Settling In

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

First things first, I apologize for posting this a few days late; I overestimated how much free time I would have at camp. The important thing is I am back now and ready to share the wonderful experience I had!! In case you haven’t read my recent posts that referenced me going to this camp, I am a new member of my school’s yearbook staff (I joined for this upcoming year) and every year they attend this four-day summer camp at Chapman University. The camp is put on by our publishing company and involves a variety of classes and activities- we also got the chance to get to know each other, stay in the dorms, and have lots of fun! Today I’m just going to cover everything that went down during our first day at camp.

I was nervous about going to camp beforehand; two of my best friends were going to be there as well, but other than that I knew no one. As soon as my mom dropped me off at school and I got in the car, I began talking to the three other girls I was driving up with. We set up carpools since our staff is pretty small (14 people attended, but for reference our staff is around 20 total) so we weren’t going to take a bus; I also thought this was a great icebreaker to have some initial conversations with people before we even arrived! One of the girls in the car happened to be one of our editor-in-chiefs, so it was awesome to talk to her about that and ask her some questions about yearbook in general. The drive was supposed to be about two hours and we left at 8:15, but we hit a ton of traffic around LAX and ended up stopping to use the bathroom, so we didn’t arrive at Chapman until almost 11:00.

We checked into our rooms and I was excited to find that one of my aforementioned best friends was my roommate! All of our rooms were in Henley Hall on the third floor, and the dorms were actually very nice. I stayed in a dorm at UCSB for cheer camp last year, and the dorms were tiny, gross, and had communal bathrooms. The Chapman dorms we stayed in were spacious; they were clean, there was a nice heating/air conditioning system we definitely utilized, and we had a bathroom for only the two of us to share. It makes sense since it is a smaller and private university, but it still really impressed me (plus, the only other experience I have with college dorms was with UCSB, so my expectations weren’t very high!). We organized our stuff and settled in quickly. Our first camp-provided meal was dinner, so we ate sack lunches in our rooms before meeting up with the rest of our staff in the common room.

At the camp, one of the main goals is to develop your theme for the year’s book and start designing certain spreads based on that. We spent some time throwing around theme ideas and talking about goals for the yearbook until it was time to attend the camp welcome session in Memorial Hall. As we walked over there (it was in a building in the more central campus, our dorms were across the street in kind of a separate compound), I couldn’t believe how gorgeous and peaceful the campus was! It was also nice that it was so walkable and compact; it made it much easier to navigate. The welcome session was straightforward- it outlined what we would be doing and we got to play some spirited games. The theme of the day was superheroes so we were all wearing superhero t-shirts, capes, and masks. A speaker also explained the concept of theme and coverage in the yearbook to us, which was definitely helpful for me as a complete newbie.

After the session ended, I hung out in my dorm with my friend/roomie and our other friend until we met everyone else in the common room again to continue theme discussion. We also went around and introduced ourselves to everyone which was super nice! Everyone was extremely welcoming and the yearbook staff is definitely a mini-family, I felt very comfortable and at-home. At 4:15, we had to head to our first class. We had chosen our class when we signed up for camp; I was taking Yearbook 1 (a beginning class that covered the basics of all disciplines), along with my other friend that was a newbie and two other people from our staff. It was cool getting to walk across campus and find our way there by ourselves. In class, we learned what a theme was and brainstormed unique activities at our school that we could later write about in the book.

When class let out, it was finally time for dinner. Everyone was starving since no one had really packed that sustainable of a lunch; we basically ran to the dining hall and were ready to gorge. The dining hall was right next to our dorm which was convenient. I had two plates of buttered pasta (picky eater things!), some fruit, and two chocolate chip cookies. They didn’t have too many options, but the things I ate were very good and I was satisfied (I definitely enjoyed the food at UCSB more when I was there). Everyone pretty much wolfed down their food so we still had a lot of extra time left; we hung out in our dorms and had some more downtime.

At 7:00 we had to go to an official theme development session where an instructor helped us and other schools’ staff on really deciding on a theme. We came up with the theme “What Will Be” (themes are usually little phrases like that) based off of the period of transition our school is in for this upcoming year and the fact that our EICs really want to revamp the style of our book in comparison to its minimalistic layout in previous years. The instructor gave us some critiques and came up with ideas for design elements we could use (you need to have three solid design elements on your cover that will appear throughout the book) and we got to study other schools’ books from last year.

We felt pretty satisfied with our progress and coming up with the theme in that session; once it was over, it was time to go to another event in Memorial Hall. It was probably the funniest thing that happened at camp- it was a Battle of The Schools event hosted by some DJ, but the whole thing was just hilarious. The music choices were all kind of old songs (think middle school dance) and there were lasers and some form of light show. The DJ was just really one of a kind and had us doing weird games/competitions/dances. He had someone in an inflatable baby costume come out and dance with no explanation as to what a huge baby had to do with the event. At one point there was a trivia game for some reason, and every school was cheating by looking up the answers and mouthing it to their representative on stage (guilty as charged!). Interestingly enough, we ended up winning the competition somehow (we’re really not sure how since it didn’t even make sense) which meant we are the lucky winners of a free party hosted by those DJs at our school- can’t wait for that!

We got back to our rooms around 10:40pm and were completely exhausted. My roomie and I quickly showered and got ready for bed before just talking and relaxing until lights out. Lights out was at 11:30pm; we continued talking for a little while after we turned the lights off, but said goodnight soon after. I had a little bit of trouble falling asleep (sometimes I have a hard time adjusting to sleeping in a new environment) but the beds were decently comfortable and they provided a pillow so with mine that I brought I had two to sleep on. The day had quickly come to a close, and left me excited for the much, much crazier next day.

I hope you guys enjoyed this perspective on what it was like to go to such an interesting type of camp! I know some of the things mentioned are a bit confusing if you’re not in yearbook, so let me know if you have any questions or would like me to make a post explaining yearbook-related things! I’m definitely a huge newbie myself so I have a lot to learn still, but this weekend immersing myself in everything at camp really taught me a lot already. I will be posting about the other 3 days of camp as soon as possible (I’m writing this on the day I got back), but feel free to request other content! Lots more to come 🙂

-Brooke

Taking An Online AP Class: Update on My Experience

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Today I am going to be discussing the class I have been taking online this summer yet again; I have been taking AP Psychology through BYU Independent Study online, and I am writing this after taking my Semester 1 final. I posted an article explaining why I chose to take this class and how I figured out what online school to go through, so you should check that out if you haven’t already. I would definitely say it’s been easy to work through so far- I started at the end of June and I plan to finish by the end of August, but I would be finishing sooner if it weren’t for me currently being away at yearbook camp and in a little more than a week going to cheer camp. This post will detail my experience taking my Semester 1 final- I just took it yesterday and it was definitely the one part of my class that I was concerned about.

I was a little intimidated by the final: all of the previous quizzes and assignments were open-book and fairly short, whereas the final was obviously closed-book and it happened to be 100 questions. It actually wasn’t too bad; I studied some Quizlets (if you’re taking a popular course, there’s tons of online study materials) that I found and that was all I really needed to prepare. The questions were straight-forward and a lot were recycled from the unit quizzes and midterms. I didn’t know the answer to some, but it wasn’t too hard to make a guess. Since I took my final online, I was immediately emailed with my test score after finishing. I got a 92 which I was perfectly happy with- I successfully ended the first semester with a high A.

The process of taking the final was a bit confusing at first (I’ll explain why), but once I scheduled my time slot with a proctor everything else went smoothly. I’m not sure how it is with other online schools, but for BYU you must take your finals in person with a proctor. Once you’re ready to take the exam for a class, you must request it. On the page where you do this, they give you a list of proctors in your area with their contact information and criteria. **IMPORTANT: You must choose and contact your desired proctor directly before moving further or actually requesting the exam. Almost all of them require appointments, so call and schedule an appointment with the proctor, and THEN request the exam. Most of BYU’s exams are offered both in an online format and a paper format, but some proctors don’t allow online tests so take that into consideration.

I wanted to do the online format since if you choose the paper one you have to wait for it to ship to your proctor; I had to find a proctor that accepted people with online tests. The proctor I ultimately ended up scheduling with was at a local community college, so I went there to take the exam. I made the dumb mistake of forgetting my school ID (I’ll remember when I take the semester 2 final!) but luckily they accepted my mom’s ID as some sort of verification. The proctor was really nice and set me up on a computer in an empty room. She watched me through the window but I was by myself the whole time while taking my test. It only took me about a half hour to complete the exam and turn it in; upon completion I simply logged out, checked out with my proctor, and got a receipt.

I was relieved to have one semester of the course in the books, and I’m also at the end of unit 3 in the second semester so far. Since it took a while to make my appointment and figure out the logistics of requesting the final, I had gone forward with the coursework of the second semester while simultaneously studying for the final this past week. I’ll probably be ready to take the next final soon, but I won’t be able to actually do so until after I return from cheer camp. The next few weeks are going to be busy, but going through the actual lessons of the course doesn’t take much time; therefore, I can continue working and finish all the units- I just won’t be able to schedule my last final and officially complete the course for a while.

I would definitely recommend taking an online course if you have some extra time and are looking for more AP credits or a GPA boost- just make sure it’s a lighter subject matter or a subject you are comfortable with, and that you’ll have time in your schedule to continue studying for the AP test as it comes closer. BYU Independent Study has been a great program to work through, and I personally find psychology fascinating. I’ll post another update once I take my Semester 2 final and can wholly reflect on the course, but I’ve had a wonderful and fairly stress-free experience so far.

I hope this gave you some clarification on how my summer course has been going and what it’s like to take a course completely online! Let me know if you guys have any questions about online courses, APs, AP Psychology specifically, or BYU Independent Study courses! I am currently at Chapman University for my school’s yearbook camp, and I will be posting soon about my experiences here. Make sure to look out for all the exciting content coming soon!

-Brooke

How I Packed For 4 Days/3 Nights Staying In A Dorm

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Today I have another packing (I guess travel related?) post for you all! I’m actually not going on another trip; I’m going to yearbook camp with my school! I am on my school’s yearbook staff for this upcoming year, and every year they attend a camp that teaches the newbies like me how to assist in writing and designing the book, and sharpens the skillsets of the veterans. The camp is held at Chapman University here in Southern California, and as the title suggests, we will be there for 4 days and 3 nights. Packing to stay in a college dorm without a lot of amenities is definitely different than packing to stay in a hotel room, so I thought I would share the process with you guys!

I packed using the same carry-on suitcase I brought with me on my Europe trip, and I used the same backpack that I brought on that trip as well. Here’s a list of everything I packed:

  • Bath towel
  • 3 pairs of pajamas (cotton t-shirts and shorts)
  • 4 Spirit Day outfits – there’s a theme each day and the most spirited school gets awards, but we only wear the outfits at a specified time so we still need normal clothes. Day 1 is superheroes so I brought a cape, mask, and Superman t-shirt. Day 2 is Disney and our editor-in-chief wanted to do the 7 dwarfs; I brought a name-tag, hat, black shorts and solid colored shirt. Day 3 is neon day, so I brought a neon yellow t-shirt, neon bead necklaces, and glow sticks. Day 4 is your school spirit/colors day, so I brought an orange school t-shirt and jean shorts (our school colors are orange and blue). For the first 2 days I didn’t have specified bottoms to bring so I plan to wear whatever I’m wearing the rest of the day.
  • 4 extra shirts
  • Another pair of jean shorts
  • Another pair of black shorts
  • Laptop and charger
  • Phone charger
  • Notebook and pens
  • Magazines (we had to bring them for our classes)
  • Pillow
  • Sleeping bag (we had the option of bringing a sleeping bag or sheets and blankets, I thought a sleeping bag would be easier)
  • Portable charger
  • Headphones
  • Toiletries: toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, hairbrush, moisturizer, perfume, deodorant, razor, baby wipes, chapstick, hair ties, face wash, soap
  • Washcloths
  • Snacks
  • Bottled water
  • A sack lunch (our first provided meal on the first day is dinner)

That’s everything I’ve packed for yearbook camp! I’m very excited to learn about the process of creating the yearbook and kick off the year; this is my first experience doing anything with the yearbook program. I will be writing daily about my experiences at camp (similar to my Europe trip posts, go check those out if you haven’t already!!); however, I’m not sure if I will be able to post them on time since our schedule is so packed there, but they will definitely be up relatively soon after. I leave tomorrow so there will still be another regular post beforehand. Let me know if you’re involved with your school’s yearbook and if so, if you’ve ever been to yearbook camp! I’ll update you guys on everything soon.

-Brooke

A Girl’s Middle School Survival Guide

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

Today I’m here with more school advice for you all. I realized I’ve been posting a lot of school content more focused towards high school students; however, I have some advice for any incoming middle schoolers out there as well. My brother is going into sixth grade and has been asking me for advice, so this is a topic I’ve been considering writing about anyways. My middle school days are behind me and I don’t have the clearest memory, but they were honestly some really fun years! I definitely learned a lot (after making a lot of mistakes!) and matured from the beginning of sixth grade to the end of eighth, but time seemed to fly by and the whole experience definitely wasn’t as scary as I initially thought.

Here are some tips that will hopefully make your transition into this new and exciting chapter of your life smoother:

  • Do your best not to worry too much going in – I was freaking out before my first day of sixth grade. I psyched myself out and it just made it that much harder once I actually got to school; at first I was a stressed-out mess, but once I got through my first couple days and realized it wasn’t so bad, I was fine. I could’ve saved myself a lot of stress if I went in with a more positive attitude rather than a nervous wreck one.
  • You don’t need that much as far as supplies – No longer are the days where you bring a 64-pack of crayons to school everyday! Unless your teachers specifically say so, you won’t need any coloring supplies and extras like that; even if they do say so, you will most likely sparsely use them and there will usually be a class set for everyone to use as well.
  • No one cares what you wear besides the faculty – By this, I mean that no one is judging your clothes except the school staff dress code monitors. The dress code was extremely strict at my middle school (which is funny because dress code is non-existent at my high school) and constantly enforced. Make sure to follow the rules, but don’t freak out too much about them; you’ll learn what you can get away with eventually.
  • Attend actual orientation and any optional orientation-type events – Take every opportunity to get acquainted with the school! My middle school had a normal orientation and a separate optional day where you could come and older kids would mentor you, showing you around. I highly recommend going to events like this because you’ll just get more comfortable and meet more people.
  • Study a map – You most likely won’t get lost (your school is probably a lot smaller than it seems, you’ll see once you get used to it), but it’s still good to be prepared in advance. As soon as you get your schedule, look at the map and figure out where all of your classrooms are and find a possible pathway you can take to get everywhere.
  • Talk to as many new people as possible – I’m a naturally shy person so I didn’t do this as much as I probably should have, but just try and go out of your comfort zone as much as you can. There are most likely going to be tons of people you’ve never met before; don’t look at this as scary, look at it as a great opportunity to make lots of new friends! Be friendly to everyone- you never know, others could be even more nervous than you are.
  • Friend groups are definitely going to change – This is a huge one. Some people make friends at the beginning of the year quickly and a new group is formed, some people take a bit longer to make friends (getting to know people in their classes and forming friendships over time), and some people stay with their elementary school group for a bit. Whichever category you fall into, that’s completely fine! Just know that by the end of the year, the social situation will definitely be different- a lot can happen in a year, and it’s okay (and expected!) that you may not be in the same group.
  • It’s okay if you don’t have classes with your friends – I was freaked out on my first day of school when I realized I didn’t have any classes with my best friend. And you know what? We spent every lunch period just talking and catching up, and we were completely fine! Don’t stress if you think you’re going into your classes alone; you’ll just meet more people that you can befriend and then introduce to your other friends!
  • Memorize your bell schedule – This will come naturally with time if you have a decent memory, and it’s a great thing to do. My school personally had multiple different schedules (normal, rally/assembly, minimum day Tuesdays, and most Wednesdays/Thursdays with a 30 minute study hall at the end of the day) so it took me a while to adjust to the rhythm of a full week, but you’ll get there in no time. Just figure out when each period starts and ends so you have a handle on when you need to be in class and so you can tell your parents when to pick you up depending on the day’s schedule. It’s also helpful because at the beginning of the year people will constantly be asking, “When does this period end?” and you can answer!
  • Be prepared for nasty bathrooms – Maybe some schools take care of their bathrooms, but I feel like they’re always going to be pretty nasty, especially if you’re at a public school. Definitely go to the bathroom in the morning before you leave so you have a lesser chance of having to use the school bathroom. You’ll have to eventually, but I would avoid it as much as possible. On the bright side, since no one wants to use them, there’s usually never a line!
  • Pick out meeting spots with your friends for before school, lunch, and after school – This will save you some stress in frantically searching to find your friends. Choose a general spot or area to meet, and eventually you’ll probably have a table that you usually sit at in the morning/at lunch. For after school, it will probably be different. There was a Starbucks right across the street from my middle school, so my friends and I would meet at the corner and walk across and go there to get picked up most days.
  • Only go to your locker when absolutely necessary – This will make it easier to get around and you won’t have to worry as much about being late. Like I said before, you don’t need tons of supplies; you should be able to divide your stuff into one large load or two medium size loads. Obviously do what makes the most sense for you; if you have a lot of stuff and your locker is super close to all your classes, it will work out fine to go to your locker between each class. Just consider how much stuff you have and how much time you have to get to class.
  • Do your own thing- it doesn’t matter what others think – This is super important!! I thought going into middle school there would be this huge social hierarchy and I would have to keep myself in line- I have no idea where I got that from. Once people make new friends and settle into their groups, everyone kind of keeps to themselves. If your friends are genuine and you’re not doing anything bad or wrong, no one should care what you’re doing/wearing. I promise you, no one is going to care- if they do, that’s their problem.
  • Go to outdoor school – I’m not sure if all schools do this, but the schools in my area send sixth graders to an outdoor camp somewhere (usually close to the beach since I live in California) for a few days. There’s some educational value but it’s also just fun because instead of sitting in class, you’re out hiking and stargazing! I was scared to leave home and go, but I promise lots of other people are in the same boat and once you’re there you’ll all be fine. It’s a great bonding experience with friends and if you end up hating it, you can always go home early.
  • Respect your teachers – I don’t know why, but lots of people in my middle school classes thought it was funny to make rude comments and jokes about the teachers, or talk back to them. I would strongly advise against doing this; it’s only going to get you in trouble and make you look bad. Be kind to your teachers- they’ll love you for it!
  • Seek help when you need it – If you’re struggling in classes or just with the adjustment to middle school, ask for help! Stay after class or come in at lunch to the teacher’s classes you’re struggling in and ask questions. Some teachers may even be able to find you a free peer tutor. If you’re just having a hard time with adjusting to the new environment, talk to your counselor or a teacher that you trust. You’re never alone; there’s lots of people who can help you.
  • Take honors classes as soon as possible – Obviously do what’s best for you and only what you think you can handle, but I would start taking higher level courses as soon as they’re available to you. This puts you on track to take honors/AP classes sooner in high school; people who don’t take any of the available honors courses in middle school will usually have a harder time getting into the honors courses in high school. If that’s the direction you want to go in, start now! It will make it easier on you and it won’t be too intense at first; it will ease you into a harder workload and prepare you for high school.
  • Choose your electives (and all classes) wisely, especially in eighth grade – This has to do with my last point, but choosing your electives and other classes will set you up for what courses you can take in your freshman year of high school. Electives are especially important because they’re usually extracurricular-type things you can explore further out of school or in high school; if you like to sing and your school has a choir, join it! If you’re in choir throughout your middle school years, you can easily get in a higher level high school choir. Choose things that seem interesting to you- even if you end up not loving it, it will still be a learning experience. Who knows? You may find your passion. Also, they can help you get ahead on credits for high school; my school offered Spanish 1 in eighth grade, so I took it and was able to go into Spanish 2 freshman year of high school which helps a lot.
  • Try something new; don’t be afraid! – Middle school is probably the first time so many options of courses, electives, and other activities will be available to you. I made the mistake of not really joining anything because I was overwhelmed and didn’t know what activities I would fit into. I did choir in sixth grade as my elective, but that was it. If something interests you, go for it! Don’t worry about who else is doing it or what others will think. Get as involved as you can – it will enrich you and prepare you for balancing activities with schoolwork in high school.
  • Keep your locker and P.E. locker neat/clean, but don’t go overboard with decorations – I remember I wanted to have the perfect locker in sixth grade. I got locker wallpaper, wall canisters, a carpet, and even a mini chandelier. If you really want to go all out in decorating your locker, more power to you! However, I quickly learned that it was really more of a pain; the decorations take up lots of space and fall frequently (my very overpriced chandelier broke after a week!), and you’ll probably end up taking them out within the first month of school. Having a locker shelf is good because it gives you more space, and a carpet can be good if the bottom of your locker is really nasty, but other than that I would just keep it minimal and leave more room for your stuff. Similarly, some people went all out with their P.E. lockers; they brought extra outfits to change into and keep in their locker, makeup bags filled with tons of toiletries. Again, if you want to do this, that’s completely fine! However, there’s usually not much room in a P.E. locker and you normally don’t have that much time to change, so you may not end up using any of that stuff. I would recommend bringing deodorant, a hairbrush, and maybe dry shampoo and chapstick, but that’s it.
  • Remember to wash your P.E. clothes!! Also, only once a week is fine – I admit to forgetting this crucial step a lot. Make sure you have a bag to bring your clothes home every Friday and bring them back every Monday – they will get very stinky and gross if you don’t. Some girls tried to bring their clothes home to wash every other day, but I don’t recommend that. You’ll end up forgetting and leaving them at home one day, and even though it’s more sanitary it’s still not needed.
  • Enforce good study habits now, but also remember middle school grades don’t matter – I agonized over every assignment, test, and grade in middle school. Now that I’m in high school, my middle school grades were nothing but proof I could enter honors classes; they don’t matter at all, whereas high school grades do. I’m glad that I worked hard in middle school because good grades have always been important to me and it prepared me for the classes I’m in now, but I really didn’t need to stress so much over it. Learn how to study and what methods work for you, but don’t spend too much time worrying about school or the future.
  • If possible, pack a lunch everyday – School food is usually gross and not worth the money. Bring your own lunch with maybe a couple snacks- you might be allowed to eat in certain teachers’ classes. If you don’t have time or forget a lunch, the school food will do; you’ll figure out which food items are better than others.
  • Bring a reusable water bottle – This is very important on both a practical level and an environmental one!! First of all, it’s just better to use a reusable bottle than a plastic one. Second, your school will most likely have a station where you can refill the bottle throughout the day. This way you’ll always have water with you and you can stay hydrated!
  • Go to school dances, field trips, events, etc. – Middle school will usually be your first exposure to school dances, which is very exciting!! They’re usually not as formal as it seems in the movies; everyone just wears whatever unless someone says otherwise or there’s a theme. However, they are tons of fun and there’s usually good snacks as well. Try and go to every dance and other event (my school had movie nights, a carnival, etc.) with your friends if you can; it makes for great memories and will just make you feel more involved in the school.
  • Avoid drama like the plague – It seriously is just a waste of time and energy. Talk things out with people if you have a problem; don’t talk behind people’s backs, it always ends badly and you never know who can overhear or find out. Try not to pick fights with people (I know we all make mistakes though!) and if anything happens, handle it maturely. Forgive others for their mistakes because everyone gets into it at one time or another; the important thing is to move on.
  • Don’t take anything too seriously – Throughout middle school, I took everything way too seriously and worried way too much. As soon as I got to high school, none of it mattered. People say the same about high school once they get to college (I wouldn’t know yet though!), but for middle school I think it’s even more true. Just enjoy this time and the growing pains it comes with; any drama or issues will work themselves out and you’ll probably forget about them very quickly.
  • Have fun with your friends and enjoy it while it lasts!! – Try not to think about the future or high school too much; it’s too far to worry about and even though time flies, that’s just more of a reason to stay in the present. My middle school years felt long but short at the same time; it really is an important time to have fun, make new friends, make mistakes, and learn. Have these tips in mind but don’t be afraid to forge your own path and do whatever it takes to make the experience more enjoyable and personalized for you.

I hope this guide helped some of you guys out and calmed any incoming sixth graders’ nerves. I promise everything is going to be okay and it’s not nearly as scary as you think it is; you will all do great and have tons of fun in middle school! If you think something should be added to this list or have any requests for school/middle school related content, please let me know! I’ll be back with some exciting new posts soon 🙂

-Brooke

School Supply Essentials – High School Edition

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

I can’t believe it’s already that time of year again; the time when the summery 4th of July displays in stores are replaced with everything kids need for school, from backpacks to pencils. I was going to wait until a bit closer to August and the end of the summer before doing back to school content, but when I went to Target and saw the racks of supplies I knew now was as good of a time as any.

Today I’m going to be giving you a list of not just the things I bought last year for school (my freshman year of high school), but the things I actually used/needed. There’s tons of colorful and gimmicky stuff out there, but you really don’t need that much – especially in high school. I actually enjoy back-to-school shopping since I’m a pretty organized person and I love having fresh notebooks and pens, but I’ve also realized what not to get sucked into buying. I haven’t gone back-to-school shopping for this upcoming year yet, but I plan on buying all the things I’ll share with you guys today. Last thing- I personally buy almost all my school supplies at Target and they tend to have pretty good deals, so I suggest going there to buy most of these items!

Here’s the list (I’ll also be providing links to the products or examples of the products in case you want to directly buy them or you were confused on what it was by my description):

*Lots of these items come in more aesthetically pleasing versions from various brands for a higher price. If you prefer that (some people find nicer school supplies motivating), go for it! I just listed the most practical versions of everything and they’ve worked just fine for me. Throughout the year a lot of supplies get lost and roughed up anyways; plus, most of these are still high-quality products, they’re just not the prettiest/fanciest looking.

I hope this supply list helped you guys out and gave you an idea of what you might need if you are an incoming freshman. Remember this is just based off of my freshman year and what I used in my classes (every teacher/school might want slightly different things), but I still think it’s a good general outline of what to get. Make sure to check out the other school-related articles I’ve posted so far- lots more back to school content is to come! Remember to enjoy the rest of your summer though; school is still a decent amount of time away. Let me know if you think anything should be added to this list and if you have any requests for school-related posts!

-Brooke

20 Awesome Places/Ways You Can Volunteer

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

Today I wanted to talk about a topic that has become a bigger part of my life throughout the last year or so: volunteering. I had always wanted to do something meaningful in the community so I joined my school’s Key Club at the beginning of last school year, which came with a requirement of 50 service hours before June. At first it seemed daunting and I wasn’t even sure where to start volunteering since my only experience was helping out at my dad’s Rotary club’s events.

I found a few places I enjoyed to contribute to which helped me easily meet and slightly exceed those 50 hours, and I even signed up for another volunteer organization/club for this school year. It’s a teen auxiliary of my local Assistance League (a national nonprofit) chapter, and it’s officially called Assisteens. Assisteens requires 20 service hours before June in addition to two-hour monthly meetings so it’s less of a commitment than Key Club, but they only accept hours from their designated events and philanthropies. Either way, I intend to exceed the minimum requirements for both organizations and in case you guys are involved in something similar or are just looking to make an impact on the community, here are some ideas for how to get some hours and help others out!

*As a side note, I’m trying to make some of these original. I’ll add in the most common ideas which are obviously great places to start, but just know there are so many worthy causes out there!

  1. Animal shelter – see if there’s a rescue shelter or a nonprofit one near you!)
  2. Local Boys and Girls Club – they often need camp counselors in summer, plus people to watch the younger kids all year round
  3. Local YMCA – I volunteered at mine in the fitness center and at the front desk for a while, the duties may be different depending on yours
  4. Beach clean-ups if you live near a beach or any body of water
  5. Library – often people are needed to read stories to younger kids or help shelve books, etc.
  6. Elementary school tutoring programs – my high school has many programs set up with all the local elementary schools where kids can tutor on certain days of the week; see if yours has something similar and if not, start your own!
  7. Tutoring in general – again, many schools have some sort of free tutoring programs and if yours doesn’t, talk with admin about starting one!
  8. Camp counseling at a day-camp or sleepaway camp – my school also lets upperclassmen apply to be counselors at 6th grade outdoor school, any camp that you are interested in or that will accept you is great! If you’re already a CIT at a camp you’ve personally gone to, that’s even better.
  9. Hospital – again, your duties will depend on what types of programs are available at your local hospital; mine has a great volunteer program that many students sign up for, but you have to be 16+
  10. Senior living communities – you can go and do basic tasks/chores, but I know some people who are musically talented also go to senior centers and play music because the older people enjoy it
  11. Organizations related to the military – I know this is vague, but there are many nonprofits that do things for soldiers such as assemble care packages and make cards; as always, if there’s not one near you, start your own!
  12. Any charity organizations you may already be a part of (like Key Club and the Assistance League Assisteens for me, some of my friends are in others such as Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts, National Charity League, etc.) provide events and specific partner organizations to volunteer at – take advantage of these and if you particularly like one, get more involved with that philanthropy!
  13. Habitat for Humanity – you don’t have to go build houses abroad, there are also local ways to get involved
  14. Volunteer trips – these could be mission trips if you’re involved with a church, but there are also lots of other ways to travel somewhere and volunteer (again, it doesn’t have to be a different country!! There are lots of opportunities in the US/locally)
  15. Fundraisers – participate (or better yet, organize) in fundraising for any cause important to you through working a stand, talking to people, marketing, etc. and donate all the profits. You can obviously get creative with ideas; some basic ones are bake sales and car washes.
  16. Soup kitchen
  17. Homeless shelter
  18. Holding some sort of drive (ex. shoe drive, food drive, clothing drive, book drive, etc.) – similar to fundraising, working with a local charity in collecting items and donating them or organizing your own drive and donating them to people/a place in need is a great way to get involved
  19. Food bank
  20. Coaching a younger sports team or any other activity for younger kids – this is great if you do a sport or are really good at some activity and would like to help others hone the craft!

**Another tip is to use websites like volunteermatch.org that will direct you to many local charities in need of consistent help and workers, or special events that need one-time volunteers. You’ll be surprised at how many options they show you!

I hope these ideas helped you out and inspired you to go and try one (or more) of these amazing ways to make an impact on your community! If you’re like me and don’t know where to start, try joining a volunteer-related club at school or a similar organization. Volunteering always gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside and it makes me happy that there’s so many opportunities out there to help people and continue getting that feeling. Let me know if there’s anything I should add to this list and what your favorite place to volunteer is!

-Brooke

My Summer Playlist: Song Recommendations

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

I’ve noticed there hasn’t been as much upbeat music out this summer, which disappointed me a bit. When I think of summertime, I think of days out by the pool with typical pop songs blasting from a speaker. Even with a lack of new music with positive tones, I’ve still found some songs I enjoy. I figured I would share them with you guys in a somewhat “playlist” format. I’m not going to explain in detail why I like each song since my opinion won’t matter too much to you anyways; music is so subjective that I just suggest you listen to these songs yourself!

With that, here’s my current summer playlist (mainly new songs but some from earlier in the year):

  • Cross Me by Ed Sheeran feat. Chance the Rapper & PnB Rock – Easily my favorite right now!
  • Beautiful People by Ed Sheeran feat. Khalid – I’m a huge fan of both Ed Sheeran and Khalid; there are tons of other Khalid songs on here
  • I Don’t Care by Ed Sheeran feat. Justin Bieber – I like listening to this during relaxing car rides
  • The London by Young Thug feat. J Cole and Travis Scott – The fast pace of this song made it fitting for the playlist
  • You Need To Calm Down by Taylor Swift – I’ll admit this one is a bit too typical and cheesy of a pop song, but I love Taylor and the message.
  • No Guidance by Chris Brown feat. Drake
  • Tequilawine by Olivia O’Brien – One of my all-time favorites
  • Sunflower by Post Malone and Swae Lee – Such a positive song!
  • 8TEEN by Khalid – This song just exudes summer vibes to me
  • Saturday Nights by Khalid
  • Twenty One by Khalid
  • Free Spirit by Khalid
  • Hundred by Khalid
  • Paradise by Khalid
  • Right Back by Khalid
  • Talk by Khalid
  • Better by Khalid
  • My Bad by Khalid
  • Bad Luck by Khalid – I didn’t give explanations for all of the Khalid songs above because they’re all on the same album and I love them for the same reasons; they’re so peaceful and relaxing to listen to so they are a bit more laid-back, but some are more upbeat than others
  • Jackie Chan by Tiësto and Dzeko feat. Preme and Post Malone – This comes from last summer’s hits, but it still has that same energy everytime I hear it
  • OTW by Khalid, 6LACK, and Ty Dolla $ign – One of my favorites from the end of 2018 (I believe) but it still holds up
  • Money In The Grave by Drake feat. Rick Ross – Very high energy and catchy, typical Drake
  • Out the Mud by Lil Baby and Future – I haven’t heard much from Future in a while so this was refreshing, also pretty upbeat of a song
  • ICE by Gucci Mane feat. Gunna and Lil Baby – Just a typical rap song but I enjoy the collaboration of these three artists so I kept it on my playlist
  • Go Loko by YG feat. Tyga and Jon Z – I am a (jokingly) huge fan of Tyga and I like the beat of this song

I hope you guys go listen to some of these songs and enjoy them! They’re definitely not very unique picks but I still thought I would share since together they make a nice, upbeat summer playlist. I definitely have a more “basic” music taste; I mainly listen to pop and rap (and I guess R&B because of Khalid). Let me know if there’s songs you think I should add and what your favorite song of the summer is! I’ll be back with more content soon.

-Brooke

How to Stay Academically Motivated During Summer

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Today I am going to be talking about the best ways to keep yourself in the best learning mindset possible during summer. This can be helpful if you are taking summer school (especially online classes like me!), studying for standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, doing some other academic activity, or just trying to maintain all your knowledge from the previous school year. There’s too much misinformation about how you should be spending your summer out there- yes, it’s recommended you do something productive such as classes or programs or volunteering, and yes, it’s important for you to relax and have fun. Therefore, there needs to be a balance achieved; by staying motivated and being positive, you can get all of your work done and still have time to have an amazing summer!

The first couple things I’ll mention I’ve talked about in other school and advice related posts before, and that’s just because they’re so important and applicable to different situations: make lists/schedules for yourself and start working earlier in the day! Making to-do lists and organizing your time will hold you responsible for completing certain tasks within a timeframe and it will also help you remember what actually needs to get done. Block out certain amounts of time to work on whatever schoolwork or other necessary tasks you have and stick to that schedule unless something else important that can’t be rescheduled comes up. Factor in time for hanging out with friends, sports practices, and other random things like orthodontist appointments (for example!) or whatever you may have on your plate additionally. If you’re a morning person and/or your mornings are free, START YOUR WORK THEN! I cannot stress this enough; as long as it’s not too early, your brain functions better earlier in the day. Also, if you complete your work for the day or fulfill the time you scheduled to spend on it before the afternoon, you have the entire rest of the day to do whatever you want!

Another way to keep your brain in good shape while not burning yourself out is to use phone apps that teach you something while keeping it fun and interesting. I take Spanish in school (and really enjoy it!) and I wanted to keep my skills consistent throughout summer, so I’ve been using Duolingo from time to time. It’s super easy and it’s free so I would really recommend it for anyone trying to brush up on a language or wanting to learn a new language casually/for fun. Beyond language-learning apps, there are tons of brain games apps that are meant to strengthen your brain or other apps that are geared towards different subjects. Just check out the App Store in the Education section and you’ll find something stimulating!

If you have required summer work for school, try your best not to leave it until the last few days of summer. This will end up stressing you out so much more in the end. Especially with summer reading, you may even find yourself enjoying it if you start early and have plenty of time to relax and really understand the story. Try rewarding yourself for amounts of work you’ve accomplished, like going to get your favorite food after you finish a certain amount of chapters. I once saw something on Instagram where a girl placed individual pieces of candy at different paragraphs in a textbook; when she read up to that point, she could eat the piece of candy. If you’re disciplined enough to stick to something like that, it can be a sweet reward (literally!) and keep you going just as well.

Studying for standardized tests can be grueling and stressful; I haven’t fully experienced it myself yet, but I still understand the process based on my AP test, talking to people at my school who have already taken the SAT/ACT, and watching tons of videos/doing lots of research on studying for the dreaded tests. If you’re trying to raise your score and studying over summer, it definitely might be hard for you to keep working at it when you could easily be out having fun. However, there are still ways to make it a bit easier and turn it into a sort of game; if you stay positive and view studying like this, you will be much more motivated and you will most likely see better results! My first suggestion would be to again use apps- there are some that can give you a couple practice questions a day on the go. I use the official Daily Practice for the SAT app by the College Board, and the SAT: Practice, Prep, Flashcards app by Varsity Tutors. Both have quite a few features that can help you get quick studying in no matter where you are, but I’ve only used them for their daily questions.

My second suggestion for standardized test studying would be to do it with friends and form some sort of game (a competitive one would be great!) to measure results and keep engagement levels high. You’re most likely not going through this alone- hundreds of thousands of other high schoolers are in your position right now. You’d probably rather be with your friends than studying, so why not combine the two? You could form a Jeopardy game or something fun of that nature, but if you’re not feeling creative just quizzing each other works wonders as well. Bring lots of good snacks and have a full on study session- once you’re done, you guys can reward yourselves with a fun activity of your choosing.

I hope you enjoyed these tips and ideas on how to stay motivated and keep up the hard work during summer! To sum it all up: plan your time well, utilize apps and technology, and study with friends to stay engaged and as productive as possible. Let me know if you have any other ideas or if you would like more content similar to this- I’m definitely open to exploring tons of different topics on this blog.

-Brooke

Summer Style Essentials

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

Today I’m going to be talking about some of my must-have pieces for summer. I’m not a trendsetter or fashion expert, but I do enjoy trying to piece together looks and look put-together (most of the time!). Here are a couple things I think everyone should have in their wardrobe for summer.

  1. A good pair of denim shorts – I recommend Levi’s. Everyone needs a pair of jean shorts that fit well and can pair with anything. My pick would be Levi’s since they are the most flattering shorts I’ve worn, but they are pricey. My favorite style of jean shorts for summer is a little bit on the lighter wash side, high-waisted, and ripped. I know the more “cheeky” styles of shorts are in and I have no problem with that, but make sure you have at least one pair that covers your butt completely. My picks: https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/apparel/clothing/bottoms/501-shorts/p/323170105 https://www.macys.com/shop/product/levis-501-cotton-high-rise-denim-shorts? (they have lots of Levi’s on sale at Macy’s!)
  2. A floral romper– I wore my floral romper multiple times on my Europe trip, and I’ve been wearing it even more at home. I got it from Hollister a year ago so I can’t provide a link, but they may have something similar this year. Rompers are great because they’re an all-in-one outfit; I like them better than dresses because you don’t have to worry about them flying up. My pick: https://www.hollisterco.com/shop/us/p/strapless-romper-27667319?categoryId=12600&seq=04&faceout=model
  3. Birkenstocks– Some people love them, some people hate them; personally, I think they are the most comfortable sandals around and they’re great for walking around pretty much anywhere. I got my first pair almost two years ago and they finally got thrashed to the point where I could no longer wear them after my trip, so I just ordered new ones. They can last much longer if you take better care of them though- I’m extremely hard on shoes and I wore my Birks EVERYWHERE all the time. They’re just so versatile and adorable, plus they have been very trendy for the past year or so. My pick: https://www.birkenstock.com/us/arizona-birko-flor-nubuck/arizona-core-birkoflornubuck-0-eva-u.html?dwvar_arizona-core-birkoflornubuck-0-eva-u_color=90
  4. Flowy skirts– Any sort of flowy skirt (patterns are cute!) is great because you can dress it up or down. They make great beach cover-ups, but can also be worn out to dinner or just on errand days. Ones with ruffles or that tie up are popular, and Princess Polly has tons of cute options. All lengths are on trend- mini, midi, or maxi. My picks: https://us.princesspolly.com/collections/mini-skirts/products/charmed-life-ruffle-mini-skirt https://us.princesspolly.com/collections/maxi-midi-skirts/products/romeo-midi-skirt-tan
  5. Scrunched/smocked material tops– I’ll link at least one example so you can see what I mean by this, but these tighter-fitting tops are flattering on pretty much everyone. They can be paired with looser bottoms to accentuate your figure, and they’re usually in plain colors so they’re even more versatile. My picks: https://www.forever21.com/us/shop/catalog/product/f21/top_blouses/2000378081 https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/uo-cami-smocked-cropped-tube-top?category=SEARCHRESULTS&color=001&quantity=1&type=REGULAR
  6. Tops with puffy sleeves– Again, I’ll link an example; I’m not the best at describing things since I don’t know a lot of fashion terminology. Princess Polly is a great website to go for these as well; they may be a bit on the pricier side depending where you go, but this is a fairly trendy style right now so you can probably find some anywhere. These are tops that can be dressed up with nicer pants and jewelry for a night-out look, or just paired with denim shorts for a casual day. My picks: https://us.princesspolly.com/collections/tops/products/elouise-crop-top https://us.princesspolly.com/collections/tops/products/sofia-crop-top
  7. Plain colored t-shirts/tank tops– This is pretty self-explanatory, but since lots of patterned bottoms (especially skirts) are in, it’s important to be stocked up on versatile, plain tops. Have a couple different styles in black and white, and then whatever other colors you wear often/will match with a lot of your bottoms. You can find super cheap basics at Forever 21, but you may want to spend a bit more on these since you’ll be wearing them a ton. My pick: https://www.forever21.com/us/shop/catalog/product/f21/top_blouses/2000357375 – Anything from the “Basics Shop” section of F21’s website works great!
  8. A pair of lightweight fabric shorts– These are great for the beach and when you want something a bit more mobile/comfortable than denim shorts. I would recommend getting some that are patterned, and you can just throw them on with a t-shirt or tank top whenever. Most of mine are from Brandy Melville but they’re pretty old; they don’t sell the same styles there anymore, I’ve seen lots at Tilly’s or various online stores. Another suggestion is paper-bag style shorts- those have been very in. My picks: https://www.tillys.com/product/billabong-waves-for-days-black-womens-shorts/345162100.html?dwvar_345162100_color=100&cgid=womens-clothing-shorts#start=37 https://www.tillys.com/product/west-of-melrose-high-noon-womens-paperbag-waist-shorts/351284110.html?dwvar_351284110_color=110&cgid=womens-clothing-shorts#start=16

I hope these helped you out and gave you some style inspiration for the rest of summer! Since I live in California these pieces can be used throughout the majority of the year, but I feel like they’re pretty versatile (at least for summertime) everywhere. Shopping for clothes has definitely changed since there’s tons of cute online stores popping up and not as many comparable brick and mortar stores, so make sure to look online to see the latest trends. Let me know if you think something should be added to this list or would like more content like this!

-Brooke

A Teen’s Survival Guide to Dealing With Crazy Family Visits

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

I had the idea to write about getting along with/tolerating family members since currently, my grandparents on my dad’s side of the family are visiting us and staying in our house. My family’s not the most dysfunctional family out there by any means, but we definitely have our fair share of crazy on both sides of it (not to mention tons of drama!). I would share some examples, but a lot of it is a little too personal… and embarrassing.

A kind of disclaimer before we start: I can be extremely timid and socially awkward at times (I’m more of an introvert) so my crazy and loud family can be overwhelming when all together. It’s not their fault, but I often get drained from spending long periods of time with them due to being more of a quiet and reserved person. Regardless, here is a bit of my experience and tips for when you’re spending a lot of time with your relatives and trying to enjoy it/not go insane!

  • Be on your best behavior when you’re actually around everyone. Even if your family’s getting on your nerves, you don’t want to make a fuss or act out. I don’t know about you guys, but if I express negative feelings towards being at a family outing or do anything of that nature, my parents freak out on me and I get a long lecture on being rude. I definitely understand why and I hate for myself to come off that way anyways, so just be polite no matter how much energy it takes. They’re still your family, after all!
  • Come up with ideas/activities/games for family outings that everyone can agree to but will also be fun for you. This can mean anything, from suggesting watching a movie or TV show you like, playing your favorite game, going somewhere you enjoy, etc. That way, there is something for you to personally look forward to when spending time with everyone, and they can enjoy it too.
  • Stick near any cousins, siblings, etc. that are not as crazy and/or you have the most fun with. If you don’t have cousins or siblings (in this situation, I guess they could be considered allies) you’re close to, try and fix that! Finding at least one other person in the room who you can laugh with about how chaotic everything is will make it so much more fun, and time will pass faster. In most situations, spending time with the kids will be more fun than spending time with the adults.
  • If you really need an escape, go to your room if you’re at home, and the bathroom if you’re not. Especially if there’s a lot of people around, no one will notice if you slip away for a little while. When I’m super overwhelmed, I often do this- and hey, no one can get mad at you for using the bathroom! Text a friend, listen to your favorite song, whatever calms you down and grounds you.
  • Ask questions about others so they don’t have the chance to ask you about yourself as much. Make small talk and engage with others! My family members always appreciate it when I ask them questions about their lives and they are happy to answer them. It directs the conversation away from them interrogating me about school and my plans for college/the future. It helps if you already are genuinely curious about something and have plenty of questions to ask- some topic ideas are asking about adults’ jobs, their favorite TV shows, etc.
  • Offer to watch over and play with the younger kids or babies if there are any. As I mentioned before, a lot of times it’s better to stick near all the other kids. This is even more true when it comes to the younger ones! Adults always appreciate people looking after their kids, and it will probably be a lot more fun for you. It will make you seem both responsible and caring, plus you can just spend time with some cute children.
  • If it’s a longer visit/extended stay, block out time where you “have” to go somewhere or do something. Don’t make up a prior engagement or lie, but chances are you have some form of other stuff to get done. Make sure your family members know of your other engagements, and as long as you’re not missing out on anything major, take that time and go do whatever you need to do. Block out some breaks that can be you-time, but make sure they have a purpose.
  • If you need to stay busy, ask your parents/whoever’s hosting how you can help with food or anything else. Similar to the babysitting little kids tip, this is a good way to keep yourself away from the chaos. Your efforts will again be much appreciated, and usually there will be something for you to do.
  • In the event that all of the above fails and things get out of hand, hide and go on your phone. This is kind of a joke, but seriously. If anything is really pushing your limits, find a quiet space and just hope not to be disturbed.

I hope these tips helped you guys if you’re planning on visiting your family soon or they are coming to visit you! I know they may not work for everyone since each family is different, but most of them are pretty versatile. I don’t want to come off as rude or dramatic with this post, but I know that family affairs can be taxing (my current experience is enforcing this idea), so I just wanted to offer my advice. That being said, definitely enjoy the time you have with your relatives. Tell them how much you love them and cherish their presence. If things ever get too much, that’s when you can return to this guide!

I’ll talk to you guys soon- I have lots more ideas for new content and updates on a few things I’ve already working on. I’m hoping to get this site a bit more organized and up-to-speed in general as well, so look out for that!

-Brooke