Rave? Club?

I got you! Check out Put On The Dog (Dance Remix)

Meant for partying, dancing in your room, or walking around campus with a vibe.

Put on the dog means to dress up and pretend to be fancy, so go out tonight, put on the dog, and listen to the dance remix!

College Life 101: Craziest Thing That’s Happened to you in College?

Warning: The following samples may be mature for some audiences…

Cody Haig, College Student, 18
I blacked out on my 3rd night of college and i remember nothing

Michel Ghorayeb, Premed, 18
Riding the bus for 5 cycles with friends because there was no open buses but we made friends and spent the whole time talking on the bus

David James Bogue, Early Childhood Elementary Education, 18
Broke up with my crazy ex gf, not because I was getting with other girls but because she kept accusing me of getting with other girls and didn’t trust me in the slightest! (little does she know I was getting with guys the whole time). Moral of the Story. Dicks are better than chicks!

Isabel Obrycki, Biochem major, 18
The first week of college I got so drunk I vomited in a taxi and then got banned from that taxi company. Then continued to vomit all over the quad

Alison, Student, 18
My suitemate accused my other suitemate of assault on the Sunday before Labor Day. They were roommates but that ended fast. The suitemate who accused her roommate of assault hated me so much and thought I was aggressive towards her. That’s an honor coming from her. We were out with public safety til 1 am and she accused the public safety officer of assault. She is living in a single because she is psychotic.

Jason Orzell, Teacher (earth science and probably music), 19
Probably hopping off a bus to go save my roommate without question

Maya, Early Childhood/Childhood Education Major, 18
The craziest thing that’s happened to me in college was meeting the best friends ever. I knew one friend… then his roommate… then his other friend… then their friend… until I met a huge group of amazing people. This group is so welcoming to anyone who needs a friend. They will do anything for you- they will let you stay in their room, they will meet you anywhere in town to make sure you get home safe, they will make you food, they will let you borrow their clothes, and they will stand up for you no matter what.

Erin Smith, Asci Major, 18
I heard a knock on my door, so I went to open it not knowing who it could be. This random kid with a blown-up condom in his hand hits me over the head with it and runs away while everyone (including me) was laughing. I was very confused, but it was funny.

Logan Rogers, Student, 18
throwing up 4 times at orientation

Anonymous, Communications Major, 18
I (while sober) drove a U-Haul with drunken college kids to a pitbull concert. No details necessary.

Grace DiCaprio, Student, 18

Finding the best group of friends ever has been so crazy to me and I still can’t process it!! Having this many people who can all get along with each other and create memories is such a blessing!! I love being able to go to a dance with my bffs and then come back and hang out with everyone else!! Feeling #blessed

Meg, Social Work, 18

Found out that half of my friend group might transfer to Cornell.

Going on a hike that was suppose to last not too long, and then getting lost multiple times and also meeting some of my best friends ever. The hike was also the best experience I have ever had and have never laughed so much.

McKenzie Heins, Early Childhood Ed. 18

There’s been a few crazy things to happen in college, like crack-heads on the bus, ridiculous frat parties, and an insane “halloweekend”; but my favorite most crazy thing was our friend group’s spontaneous hiking trip. Some lame-O dude ditched me 5 minutes before our date, but that in turn led to the best day ever. I asked one person to take pictures outside for the beginning of fall, then more people joined… We walked to the other local campus and kept walking uphill to find the best view and we sure did. The colors were bright, the people were happy, and new friendships were formed. This “photo shoot” turned into a spontaneous hike and the beginning of, what we like to call, our Tobey Hall family. After our hike, we went back to my roommate and I’s dorm room and we ate lasagna, listened to music, and did exactly what everyone would wish for- we formed a friend group that felt like family. So I guess you could say, the craziest thing that happened to me in college was finding a group of people that coincidentally lived on the same floor as me that I could relate to on another level. I love these friends and I’m so happy my date was ruined by the best day ever.

-Samantha Murray, future teacher/blogger, 18

Why Being A Camp Counselor Is The Best Job

Samantha Murray 7/16/2021

Being a camp counselor has many benefits. Here is a very small list of the amazing things I get to experience every day.

You get to be active all day! I can say for myself that I don’t sit until the bus comes to pick us up. We’re “allergic to sitting”. You might think that’s horrible but honestly, you get used to it. Yes, I’m exhausted by the end of the day but it’s worth it.

Watching kids express themselves through art, sports, and all sorts of creative activities is the best feeling. It’s not every day that you can inspire a kid to get creative.

You’re in nature ALL the time!! My camp is located in a state park. It’s filled with trees, rocks, and all kinds of nature. I walk my 4 and 5-year-old campers around all day. There are so many things they can fall and trip on, but camp has taught me to let kids be kids. They fall? It’s okay, they get right back up again. Failing makes us who we are.

Being a camp counselor teaches you patience (it sure does) in the best way possible. You learn how to work with other people. My co-counselors are some of the best people I’ve ever met. And finally, you get to be human for a whole summer. No stress – just fun.

Toys and Colors – How They Relate To Gender

Samantha Murray

Kids grow up in a society where toys are given to them based on gender. Dolls are given to girls and trucks are given to the boys. We also use color to represent gender. Blue for boys and pink for girls. Why is this? 

Parents introduce toys to children at a young age. Studies show that at-home exposure to toys may be influential in the development of toy preferences. The types of toys we are introduced to affect the decisions people make on a day-to-day basis. In our society, boys are usually given more destructive toys such as toy guns and dinosaurs, and girls are typically given toys aimed toward caring for other people, like baby dolls and kitchen playsets. Children are like sponges: they absorb everything around them. This includes behavior, manners, and decision-making processes. If a boy is given a destructive toy, they will most likely grow up to be destructive in their decisions. A stereotype for girls is that they care for other people and think more about the decisions they make; this stems from the toys they are given as young children. 

Where did the “gender colors” originate from and have they always been the same? 

Today we know that society usually connects blue to boys and pink to girls. In the 1920s, pink was decided as a stronger color which was “more suitable to the boy”, while blue was more dainty which connected with females. It’s 100 years later and color is still used to identify gender today, except we’ve swapped them around. Pink is now identified as a “girl color” because it’s closer to red. Red is the color of romance and women are seen as more emotional. Boys were just assigned the other color, blue, and it is now portrayed as being masculine. 

 In the 1940s, a new movement that led people to dress in “sex-specific” clothing hit the ground running. People who took part in this movement thought that dressing young girls in feminine or stereotypically “girly” clothing would limit the girls’ opportunities for success. Many parents began favoring neutral colors. This didn’t last long and the trend continued to increase in the 1980s. It’s almost a cycle we can’t get out of. 

Maleigha Michael from UMKC said it best, “Assigning colors to babies enforces a role that they are supposed to grow and fit into. There are only two colors, also enforcing that there are only two genders you’re allowed to claim. If you’re a girl, you have to like pink, and that also means you’re girly. If you’re a boy, you have to have blue, and you CANNOT like pink, or else you aren’t manly enough. If you’re a girl and you like blue, you’re a tomboy, and you aren’t seen as a strong female, but instead, as a girl who doesn’t know how to be a proper girl.” 

You may be thinking “it’s no big deal”. It is! Colors and toys play a big role in the lives of children who eventually become adults. The way we act can all be rooted back to the toys we play with as kids and the colors of the clothes we wear. 

How can we fix this? If we raise our kids by giving them all options for toys and letting them play with whatever they want, we can start breaking these gender stereotypes. If we give children the opportunity to choose a color to wear based on their preference, kids won’t see gender in color. We have to stop assuming all boys prefer one toy/color and girls prefer the other.

Which Sunscreen Should You Be Buying This Summer?

Did you know that certain sunscreen brands contain oxybenzone?

This is a chemical that harms the coral reefs.
How?
– It damages DNA which hurts their development

You may think that you aren’t going to make a difference by changing your brand of sunscreen. You actually WILL.

Even the smallest drop of oxybenzone will lead to coral reef damage.
As soon as it gets into our water system (by showering, swimming, etc…) it WILL contribute to this problem.

Look at the sunscreen you have in your home to see what it consists of. If it says oxybenzone, it’s recommended to NOT use it.

Instead switch to more eco friendly bands such as these! (See in pictures below)

Our coral reefs are necessary for Earth’s oxygen supply…

Stay safe, wear your sunscreen, be mindful of our oceans, and happy almost summer!

What would you tell 10 year old you? How about 80 year old you? 4/1/21

To 10 year old me: Keep being you. Don’t be afraid to laugh too loud or dress how you want. Don’t feel like you need to change anything about yourself to impress others. The right people are gonna like you for you. There will be some hard times ahead, but everything will work out in the end. You’re gonna be okay. Also, stop drinking so much Hawaiian Punch, it’s not that good.
To 80 year old me: What’s your biggest regret? How do you feel you could’ve lived a better life? If you could relive your whole life, what would you do differently? Do you feel like you chose a career that made you happy? Are you still friends with anyone that I know now?

Emma Lanks, 17, An exhausted student

I would tell 10 year old me to be nicer to my sister, and to stop wearing butterfly infinity scarves that match my butterfly themed outfit. If I could talk to 80 year old me, I would probably ask what college I went to and what career I had so I wouldn’t have to worry about making the decision myself.

Katie G, 17, Sleeper

10 year old me: we’re both not ok right now but it’s ok. You did nothing wrong. You don’t have to do everything you’re told to do even if saying no is scary. You’re not the cause of people’s suffering. You can be yourself and not have to put a wall of faces for people to notice you. Sure the world is upside down and yes it will never get better for us but that’s alright you know.
80 year old me: ha. Look it’s my grave

Dina, 17, This question was uncalled for!

I would tell her to hug her parents more and to appreciate the little things because ten years old me was going through a lot and she was as too afraid to ask her parents for help and thought she was too cool to tell them she loved them. It’s so crazy to think how much I have changed.

Anonymous, 84, 🙂

I would tell 10 year old me to keep living life o the fullest. I would tell 80 year old me that now, these are the good memories.

Alison, 17, Vacationer

I would tell 10 year old me to enjoy life and not want to grow up. Life goes by so fast so enjoy every moment and appreciate all the things you enjoy when your 10 years old because when you’re older you won’t find them as fun anymore(and it’s sad) also not to stress at 10 years old because you shouldn’t have stress at 10 years old. For 80 year old me I would tell her to just be happy and kind and keep living life ti the fullest and eat the extra piece of cake since your 80 lol!

V, 17

10: Don’t worry too much about school because there’s nothing they can teach you that you will use in life. Just put up with it as well as enjoying being a kid. Let everything go, just chill out and try your best. Also learn how to study because we struggling in chemistry.
80: So who did we marry? How’s life? Any cool cars and stuff. How many grandchildren do we have? What’s my last name now? Did we marry the partner of our dreams? I hope we did because my expectations are high for our future.

Julia, 16, studying to become a hairstylist

If I were able to go back in time and talk to 10 year old me, I would have so much to say. First, don’t want to grow up. Being your age is cool! Don’t feel like you need to stop playing just because the other kids did; stay innocent. Don’t try and change even if a teacher or friend tells you to. Samantha, you’re a really awesome kid, and looking back on it now, you were so well-liked! Also, don’t do things just to please other people. Make time for yourself… To 80 year old me, geez… I can’t even imagine being 80. You went through a lot and were so cool about it. Good job, you!! Where did you get to travel? Teach? I hope you made all of the right decisions to put you on the right path to happiness.

How Fast Fashion is a Feminist Issue

By: Samantha Murray
Fashion Blogger Girls Clipart Set | Doodle illustration, Illustration, Funny iphone wallpaper

You may ask yourself, “why would fast fashion be a feminist issue?” Here’s your answer. 

First off, let’s define “fast fashion”. Merriam-Webster defines it as “an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers.” That’s a lot to take in but it’s actually quite simple. Fast Fashion is basically clothing produced at a high speed in bulk. 

You most likely shop for your clothes at stores like Kohls, Victoria’s Secret, and Urban Outfitters. So do I, but after researching this topic I’m not so sure I will anymore. 

In fast fashion, 80% of the people making our clothing are young women, ages 18 to 24, most of whom earn less than $3 a day. Fast fashion has brought a newfound sense of overproduction, overconsumption, and waste, mimicking the culture of materialism. 

But, how is this a feminist issue? 

Fashion is one of the most labor-dependent industries and many workers are women. 80% to be exact. 

Each year, humans consume around 80 billion pieces of new clothing globally. 

The fashion industry primarily takes place in low-income countries like Bangladesh, India, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines. 

The workers in these clothing factories are primarily women and a lot are taken advantage of because of social and economic vulnerability.

The United States is a modernized country and we have rules and regulations to try and stop unhealthy working environments. Not to say that the workplace is perfect, but when compared to these low-income countries, we’re gold. 

In Bangladesh, stories about women in the fashion industry have come out to the public. 

Women are being forced to abstain from bathroom breaks, take contraceptive pills, and are being sexually harassed. 

Since they are getting paid such low amounts (barely $3 a day), women are forced into a cycle of poverty. In this cycle, women become more susceptible to sexual abuse because they can’t risk the loss of income by reporting misconduct. If they speak out against an employer, they risk losing their job and remain with the inability to find work. 

How can we help? 

By upcycling clothes and not contributing to the cycle of poverty and harassment we can make a change to this issue. 

Go thrifting or shop at a local business to support “slow fashion” instead of “fast”. 

You may even find something unique that nobody else has. You’ll look and feel great knowing that this small gesture you made can help contribute to the end of this enduring issue. 

Any change is good, big or small. 

Making Macarons

I have never made macarons before and I’ve always wanted to! My friend Sydney and I decided to get all fancy with our baking skills and gave it a shot.

We found this fun and “easy” recipe online and set up the kitchen for a fun day of baking. (The recipe is linked below)

https://tasty.co/recipe/macarons

Put on your aprons and get to work!

At first our macaron “peaks” were a bit watery but decided to keep going anyway.

Our biggest tip is to BE PATIENT AND ACTUALLY FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. Sometimes when you’re in the kitchen it’s so much easier to rush and not wait for your baked goods to cool down. With macarons though, the best thing you can do is let them sit and cool.

We were surprised by how amazing these came out! Check out the picture below and see what kind of goodies YOU can make with your friends and family. They’re absolutely delicious and was a really fun Saturday afternoon project.

“What is one thing you do to stay calm and focused?” 3/4/21

One thing I do to stay calm and focused is take a breath

~Alison, 17, currently sitting in chem class 

I write everything down in my planner and then once I’m done, I cross it off. It’s so incredibly addicting and it makes me feel like I’m going somewhere in life. I can actually focus on getting my work done because when I’m finished, I get to cross it off my list. Also, my rainbow highlights keep me going.

~Kathleen Mcevoy, 16, professional person

I listen to music for a couple of minutes, take a couple of breaths then get back at it. 

~Rebecca, 17, Student 

I constantly am listening to music to stay calm and focused, and it works probably 75% of the time. Sometimes I choose songs I like too much when trying to get work done and I’ll end up jamming out instead of being productive.

~Emma, 17, Full-time Procrastinator

If you think I’m ever calm then you haven’t met me. I focus by panicking so it’s impossible for me to calm down. I’m a ball of anxiety and fear.

~Dina, 17, A dinosaur 

whenever I need to stay calm and focused, I read a book because it distracts me from whatever is going on.

~Megan Gillespie, 16, this is my 3rd time filling this out because I keep closing the window by accident 

Get things done and listen to music 

~Gabriella, 15, Music therapist 

Listening to classical music or calm french music always helps me focus, especially while working. It is very soothing and kind of makes you romanticize what you are doing to help you focus more. 

~Gianna, 16, student 

“Hey chin up, you won’t see the challenges if your heads hanging low”

~Michael Bracken, 17, Real

I eat, exercise, watch tv… you know avoid school at all costs because that stresses me out. 

~V, 17, Professional Procrastinator 

Taking notes, meditation, shopping 

~Jayden Rodriguez, 15, Director Of Guidance Counseling 

I pick up my guitar and play.

~John, younger than I look, Audio Producer

Breathe, but my favorite is to sit in a warm bath in the dark with a candle burning.

~Mom, 54, President of Waste Management 

Breathe…

~Kathy, 48, Doggie Punching Bag

Prayers and meditation 

~Michael Rosario DeMarco, 60 something, Karaoke Singing Star from NY to FL ( Retired from the 9 to 5) 

Lots of Sleep and frequent naps! 

~CASPAR THACKER FUSS, 57 as of tomorrow, Professional Eater! 

By reading all of these posts, I noticed one thing in common; we need to breathe. Even if that means just stepping away from something for a moment to regain focus. This past year and a half has been quite the ride. A lot of times during moments like these, we tend to focus on the bad, but I’ve learned to focus on the good. When I’m stressed or feeling anxious I’ve learned to allow myself to feel those emotions and maybe even allow myself to let out a good cry. Instead of just feeling sad and crying into a pillow (which is great), I turn my emotions into art, whether that’s music, a painting, exercising, writing, or reading. You can’t suppress what you’re feeling inside. We ALL get unfocused; just remember to breathe and jump right back into it. Allow yourself some downtime. I’m sixteen and there is so much going on, I’ll list a few things: A newfound responsibility of driving, SAT preparation, college searches, homework, dance, school show practices, zoom meetings… I could go on and on, but that’s not the point. Each week I plan out what I need to do and those needs now include time for myself. Time for ME to sit down and read a book or watch an episode of Dawson’s Creek. In the past, my needs only included what I had to do for other people. This pandemic has been awful, but some good has come from it too. Just remember to breathe because our time is limited and make good choices because each decision you make leads you on a path for the future. Don’t stress, take a breath, and make time for yourself.

~Me, 16, lover of lo-fi pop on YouTube