Well I cannot believe that in a week I will be heading back to the halls of GCU as a senior! It feels like I just entered my freshmen year, and in less then a year, I will be a college graduate preparing for graduate school…Ahhh!

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, lets get to the good stuff!  Since class begins in a week, that means my summer must end. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much down time due to my internship and my job. However, the experiences, the people I’ve met, and the things I have learned have definitely helped me mature even more so then I was before.

For example, interning at the Living Room taught me more about the music business, and also made me more of a renaissance kid in the sense that I can run around the city with the best of them, and can be quite handy when the time calls for it, aside from skills I gained, and the ones I have naturally.

At the camp this year, I taught art for the first time, so my creativity flourished more, and other people saw how “No-nonsense” I can really be when the time calls for it. Heck, I saw more of it as well!

Then of course, factor in my relationship with God being strengthened, meeting some new friends at church, and having that support system around. I can honestly say my summer was a really great one.

And in case you were not aware, if you are a communications major at GCU, you have to complete a senior internship. The Living Room was my senior internship, and for the summer I got an A. My GPA for the summer is a 4.0. How awesome was that?! If God is not watching over me, then I don’t know who is, because he is surely connecting the dots in my life!

So, as I head back to the classrooms, I head back with anticipation, and joy knowing that the puzzle that is my life is being pieced together, that this summer was a summer of hard work, but it paid off, and knowing the my future holds a lot of exciting things for me.

And to think, if this is my life, imagine what is in store fir everyone else!

Till next time,

Krystal

Well it is mid-August, and for most college kids across America it means one thing:  school starting soon.

And for the incoming freshmen, it means 4 more years of schooling. Could be “Yay” or “Nay” depending on what side you’re on. But if the back to school sales are giving you nightmares, and if you have anxiety about hitting a new set of classrooms with a new cast of characters, fear not! College is the chance to start over, and really get to the future.

With that being said, here are some college survival tips before you get on campus…

* If you are living in the dorms, get to know your hall mates/room mate(s). This will give you the chance to meet some people, and tackle the first year together.

* Make friends in general. They will help to keep you sane.

* GO TO CLASSES! This is the reason WHY you are in school in the first place. College is not all about parties, and social activities, but rather furthering your education.

* If your class schedule permits, try to pick up some extra curricular activities. Don’t just go to class, and go home/back to your room. If possible, try to take any and EVERY activity that is presented to you.

* Work on campus/off campus. Every college kid needs money, especially if you are on your own for the first time.

* AVOID DRINKING! (If possible) This is perhaps the biggest college cliche, but also one of  the most real unfortunately. If it is your first time away from home, a lot of the times it can be easy to get caught up in something…it is your responsibility to make sure then that “something” is not the wrong one. And besides, alcohol is empty calories, and if you are drinking every night during the first few weeks away from home, the freshmen 15 is not the ONLY unwanted weight you have to worry about!

* Know where the gym is! Freshmen 15 is not fun. Easy to gain, hard to lose. Enough said.

* Know your morals and set boundaries. Like I mentioned earlier, in the college setting there can be more peer pressure, and if you don’t know who you are, you will fall into some traps. So, like the saying goes, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”

I believe  I have covered some fundamental principles that will help you to survive and thrive in the college environment. While summer winds down, get wound up for college.

Till next time,

Krystal.

Sorry I have not written anything in a while! The end of the semester gets really crazy with papers, exams, presentations, etc.
But fear not! Christmas break is here, and its time for rest! As I look back on the semester, I can honestly say it was one of the best ones I have ever had! I was surrounded by great friends, I am editor of the campus newspaper that is currently holding 14 awesome staffers, (and hopefully adding more)! And I have been give some cool opportunities not only academically but socially as well.

Now, as I head back to NYC for a month, it will be time to recoup, rest, and geat ready to come back strong in January. Next semester is already looking promising as the Lions Tale picks up meetings, and production in Jan/Feb, J Cru picks up in Feb, and my internship with the GCU alumna magazine takes off in Jan.

So on that note,

Have a great break and take care!

Catch ya on the flip-side!

Krystal

With only about one week left until summer, it is just about time to rest your brains, sleep and chill until the fall when school starts. And if you are heading off to college, summer will be the time to get ready for a new start, and with that comes buying much needed supplies and things that you are going to need to make your dorm days happy days.

Allow me to break your supply lists down by category:

First off Dorm Needs

• Comforter/sheets/bed sham. Most of your bedding can be found at Target, or Bed, Bath and Beyond. I suggest Target because it is cheaper, and in my eyes more fun to shop at.
• Bed Risers. If you have seen the dorm, and if the beds seem kinda low, bed risers can raise the bed off an additional 6 inches. This is especially good if you plan on having under bed storage.
• Back rest/body pillow. These are great to have if you plan on having study sessions on your bed. However I must warn you: These may lead you to fall asleep.
• Bins/Storage. Some dorm rooms can be kinda tiny, so every inch of free space to store stuff is crucial.
• Cleaning supplies. When you move into your dorm, I suggest cleaning it before you move your stuff in. Now most colleges do clean the dorms prior to new students moving in, but you can never be too safe. Keep Lysol/Clorox wipes around at all times, and invest in either a mop or vacuum cleaner to upkeep your living space.
• Cooking supplies. Sometimes campus dining can be a tad mundane, so if you get bored, making your own food you know is always an option.

School Supplies

What is a proper school year without the proper supplies to get you classroom ready?

• Binders/Notebooks. Some professors lecture and you take nots at your will. Sometimes if you are lucky they will give you notes just so. To keep up, get a good binder/notebook to keep everything handy.
• Pencils, pens, highlighters. These will help make your study sessions easier.
• A good computer. Many college campuses give students free laptops when they enter as freshmen, but yet don’t give that option if you transfer in. So invest in a sturdy laptop that will take you into the college years and beyond.
• Folders to hold your syllabi.

Thats is pretty much all I can think of for the moment, if I come up with anymore, there will be a part 2.

Krystal