Month: March 2018 (page 1 of 2)

“Tips for Making the Best Use of Your Space” by Avery Beer

Space is not something that people really think about. By space, I am talking about the physical area where you live and habituate, perform daily activities such as studying or hanging out. Space, and the elements that make it up, are extremely important to make better use of your time and extract all of the meaning from what you are using that space for. Here are some tips that I have found to be really beneficial for creating environments where you can be your best self.

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A Post about Books by Liv Conlon

Recently, quite a few of my fellow honors friends have shared similar complaints that they miss being able to read freely, but since coming to college there just isn’t enough time. And if there is time, we’re too exhausted to fully appreciate a good book anyway.

I empathize with them, and I’m in the same boat. I have a sky-high stack of unread books checked out from Morris Library, and a steadily growing guilt as, day after day, they sit there untouched. Something has to give here. I’m hoping that, maybe, if I bring one book along with me everyday, I’ll have a few moments between the craziness to get in a couple of pages. It’s not 4 hours straight of uninterrupted book time, but it’s a start. For anyone else missing their favorite novels – you’re definitely not alone.  

As this post is dedicated to books, I thought I’d share some particularly great ones that don’t require too much mental energy to follow. Something for future reference, if you are so inclined.

Carry On

Written by Rainbow Rowell, a fabulously spunky author, this novel follows a similar plot to Harry Potter, with a little more flamboyance. The story is meant to be a gay fanfiction from a novel featured in another of Rowell’s pieces. Carry On is amazing because it has almost as much magic and adventure as the Harry Potter series, but in a more manageable width. If that’s not enough, the adorable love affair should win you over.

Diary of An Oxygen Thief

This book is super intriguing for a few reasons. The author is anonymous for one, and he uses this book to detail his intrigue in setting his lovers up for heartbreak. Short, vulgar, and straight to the point; this book is one hell of a ride.

Lab Girl

Written by Hope Jahren, this geochemist’s memoir details her unusual childhood and how it helped her fall in love with the science of our environment. The imagery is beautiful, and easy to follow. Follow along with her stories and you’re bound let out a few smiles. While this is a great choice for anyone – science majors, I especially recommend this one to you. It’s a good pick-me-up if you want to remember what’s to love about the scientific field.

Hyperbole and a Half

This all time favorite is written by Allie Brosh entirely in colorful comic strips. Brosh’s chaotic childhood tales are relentless in the best ways. It’s a book that my close friends have passed around so many times, we could quote the whole thing. If you’re looking to laugh so hard that you’re gasping for air, this one’s for you.

“Life Lessons from Swing Club” by Hayley Whiting

From the time I joined UD Swing Club at the beginning of the year until now, I’ve learned the basics of Lindy Hop, have made many friends, and have had tons of fun! And while Swing Club is great for meeting new people and learning how to dance, I have also realized that many aspects of swing can also be applied to life in general. Here are a few life lessons you can learn from swing dancing!

React to changes in direction.

As a follow, I have learned to think of swing dancing not as a collection of moves, but as reacting to momentum and changes in direction from the lead. (For those unfamiliar with swing dancing, during an unchoreographed dance, a lead chooses what to do during a dance, and the follow responds to the lead’s cues, “following” what the lead is doing.) If a lead turns me to the right and lets go, I follow the direction of the turn until the lead catches me again, or if I feel momentum pushing me slightly backwards, then I do a rock step. In swing dancing, the follow never knows what to expect, but responds to the lead’s momentum and direction to create a cohesive dance. Similarly, in life, sometimes things don’t go as planned, but, as Epicetus said, “It’s not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters.” For example, maybe you discover your major is not for you and that you would be interested in a different field of study, so you react to that change in direction by switching majors and pursuing your passion. Or maybe you apply for a job or other position but are turned down, so you respond by seeking out a different opportunity. No matter the circumstances, life involves resilience and adjusting to changes, whichever direction life may lead you. Continue reading

“The Second-Year Housing Struggle” by Sarah Blum

One thing I hadn’t really thought about coming into the spring semester was that I would have to choose where to live my sophomore year. As an honors freshman, I was put into Louis L. Redding Hall, which I am incredibly thankful for. The building is not only updated and beautiful, but it also harbors an amazing sense of community amongst honors students. I guess I was so infatuated that I hadn’t quite come to terms with the fact that I couldn’t possibly live in Redding forever. It really hit me when we all got e-mails about the time slots for our housing appointments.

One of the greatest things about Redding is how close all the floors and sections get. I got particularly lucky in that nearly everyone in my section became great friends fairly quickly in the year; however, this made the proposition of moving even harder. It’s basically impossible to find another building or floor to both accommodate and fit the needs of very different people who all have very different housing appointments. Still, though we knew it would be a huge struggle, we all held on to a little bit of hope. Continue reading

“My Journey Through Social Sorority Recruitment” by Lorraine Capenos

I never knew whether or not I would go through formal recruitment to join a sorority. In fact, before this spring semester started, I knew very little about social sororities and had not even thought about whether or not I wanted to join one. Then one night, while some friends and I were grabbing dinner in Russell Dining Hall, one of my friends asked me if I was planning on going through recruitment. When I told her that I had no clue and that I would think about it later, she looked at me confused and then informed me that I only had one day to decide and sign up unless I wanted to wait until next recruitment.

A little panicked, I started asking questions and googling all the information I could. Luckily, I found an online guide written by a UD student that had all the information I needed. As I read about recruitment and talked to friends who also planned to be recruited, I quickly decided that this was something I wanted to try out. If it did not work out, no harm done. When we got back to the dorms I called my parents and asked their opinions. They were both supportive and told me if I wanted to be recruited and eventually join a sorority, they would be fully supportive, as long as I made smart decisions and did what I felt was right for me. Of course, I agreed, and signed up for recruitment immediately. Continue reading

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