Recent News: Pluto Has a Heart

For this blog, I will also be taking care to keep everyone updated with real world news. Or at least, that of America. I'm working on broadening the horizons because we don't pay enough attention elsewhere, so I'll be doing my best.

In addition, these news reports are going to be unbiased as possible. Straight up fact, as well as the occasional pro/con's list if deemed fit. But otherwise, I'm not going to tell you what to believe, to think, to watch, to vote, etc.

Today's piece: Pluto

The size of the little orb compared to Australia. How does that put things into perspective for you?

That's right, kids, the planet they decided was no longer a planet. I believe it was about 10 years ago or so that Pluto was considered anything but a planet. There were about three reasons at the time to take it off the list for our particular solar system. At this time, I can only recall that one of the reasons was because that since it had been discovered, it had yet to make a full rotation around the sun. A planet is a large (thing) that rotates around a star (because yes, that is what our sun is), and Pluto still hasn't done that.

Still, we're cheering it on!

A picture of Pluto's moon, Charron. A moon is technically an item that revolves around a planet. Several moons in our solar system were craters and other items, not necessarily round or gray/white, and pulled into planet's gravitational system and now remain in orbit.

Anyways, the current news: it's taken nine years inside space to get there, but NASA sent out a little station to get close to Pluto. To clarify, nine years ago, NASA sent out a small machine headed in the direction they believed Pluto would be in about nine years. That's how long it would take to get to the similar spot. And this finally happened!

Time released a short article with this. This false-color image was released by NASA around July 14th, and is composed of several photographs to build up the full image. As you can see in the bottom right of the planet, it appears to be a heart.

What they've been able to discover is that this heart is an icy plain that seems to be growing outward. New Horizons, NASA's spacecraft that took these pictures, was able to send more information towards Earth.

The composition of Pluto's ices may include nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide ices on the planet's surface. All of this information suggests that the ices may be capable of glacial flow across the surface.

-A slight reminder, Pluto was expected to be considered dark and cold because of its distance from the sun. This makes a large impact on the planet. While ice leads to water and water leads to life, it'll be interesting if more information is found leading in this direction.

And guess what? July 15th, as New Horizons was saying goodbye, they caught a rather intense picture:

And then finally, they did catch some video feed. Which is crazy. You can see what's up there on Pluto! Who would have guessed? The video footage appears to prove that the ice does indeed move. Which is pretty exciting because there isn't necessarily motion on all planets.

And finally, one final shot of Pluto's regions:

I would like to remind you, I am attempting to stay unbiased as possible. Many believe that no one has been able to land on the moon and it was a scam to- I think, to essentially inspire Americans and intimidate other countries, last I heard- and so there is a chance this has been made up. 

CGI and all other graphic design has moved forward speedily in the last dozen years and we've come so far. I can offer you no technical or literal proof that this is Pluto. But for what the world accepts from NASA, here is what you have!

Further Articles for Confirmation: 
(because if you're going to spread facts around, they do need sources!)
Time article
Popular Science article
NASA Press Release

7 Things I Wish I Had Known Before College

These lists always crack me up as well as hitting the hard stuff.

And hey, there's only so much you can prepare for college before actually being there. You've got everything you think you could possibly need- you even have all your textbooks and a load of notebooks and pens and pencils to get you started.

And then suddenly you're there.

So here's a list of 7 things I wish I had known before heading off on my own. Now, these are in no particular order, but I think they all have some value. Enjoy!

this will NOT be the weirdest thing you see in college, I promise

1. Your parents can only do so much.
Now, I love my parents. I think I have a healthy relationship with them. I've had to strike out on my own very often and while they cannot financially support me, they do so in any other way that they can. However, there is a limit.
College is constantly changing and evolving. Even if you're attending the same place as your parents, there's only so much they can help you with. Computers were coming out during their age. Some of them still used typewriters. Many of them didn't even use the FAFSA (though it's been around since 1965). Things were different back then. Just ask how they applied to college- it was like 2 pieces of paper, compared to the three essays, references, and medical history we need to share (I may be exaggerating).
My point is, times have changed. You can't rely on them forever. The levels of what we need to know is constantly adapting with updates and new curriculum and new demands. Social structures have begun altering and just because something worked at home doesn't mean it will work away. Your parents can help you in many ways, but there are some situations they cannot. It sucks, but it's important to do your best and be prepared for this.

2. Studying is serious.
Understanding is more than memorizing. There are situations where you cannot study overnight. And trust me, it's possible to fail a class, even the "easy" ones. I'm willing to confess, there are various classes- generals and even upper division- that you don't really need to study for. But trust me, there are some. Find your strengths and your weaknesses. And use this: if you're not a natural in this subject, then study. Go to class (even if attendance isn't necessary. But trust me, the professors use more content for quizzes in what they say than what's in the book), and take notes.
Also, talk to your professors. I'm not big on talking to people, but you can learn a lot by talking to them. Introduce yourself, tell them why you are taking the class and what you want to get from it. Tell them your struggle areas and if they have any tips. Professors set up designated open hours for students to come talk to them. If you have any questions, go ask them. Granted, if you do build a relationship with them, then there's no slacking. But if you want to do more than just pass, then build that repetoire. They can become friends and useful network connections.
Prepare ahead of time, especially for large projects. And be there on the first day of class to learn about everything that will happen- you'll be able to gauge better on how heavy the coursework will be and how much you need to study (credit wise they say that's how much you need to study, 1 credit for one hour, 3 credits for 3 hours- and that's after each class, not each week, I believe).

3. Watch Your Money
Keep track of it. Make lists, use Quicken, a phone app, I don't care. Maybe you are working, your parents are paying, or someone's taking care of it. No matter what, it's time you learned how to keep track of your money. I'll make a post later on about savings, checking, credit and credit cards- maybe loans, if you're lucky. But in the mean time, it's time you learned to keep track of where your money goes.
My way is not very thorough, I'll admit: I keep the receipts and count them up later, if I remember. So that's something I'm working on. But when times have been really tight, I work on a budget. I even went a month without buying anything at the grocery store (something I happen to be quite proud about),
Anyways, the best way is to make a budget. How much money you have altogether, and then split it into the venues where you'll need money: social activities, food, school, emergency. Do it by month or by week, however you prefer. But keep track of your money. If things are tight, take out your budget in cash for the month- and when it's gone, you have to wait till next month. It's a handy visual.

4. It can suck.
Watch out for yourself. Sexual assaults went up 52% in 4 year colleges from 2009 to 2012 alone. Every year there are more school shootings. It's a dangerous time out there and just because you may not see it happening, does not mean it's not there. 
Make good friends. If you're without a car, keep track of those with vehicles who can help you out. One of my jobs kept me on campus until midnight quite often, and the team was adamant once they realized I was walking two blocks home in the dark. Because even the light doesn't mean you're safe. They would give me rides home, or stick close enough to see that I was fine. Make friends that will watch out for you. Crazy things can happen.
In addition, you're going to be tested in just about every way possible. Not all the professors are great, for starters. Some are jerks and some are hard to work with. Make friends and find out which professors to avoid. And if you can't, try to build a relationships so they know you struggle and ask them to help.
You may have left all of your high school friends and you might realize your friends back home don't care like you thought they did. Distances are trying, no matter the relationship. I've lost many good friends since then. But I've also made better ones since. Either way, let people in and if they have to go, be prepared as well. Personally, I think there's enough good in the world to survive the bad.
Also, you will endure some sleepless nights. You will suffer through midterms and finals. You will be up at 3 AM wondering why you are doing this. Then you will get up at 5 or 6 and wonder again if it's worth it.

5. It really can be the best time.
There are breaks and holidays and three day weekends. Even normal weekends. You can take advantage of them and go hiking. You can take spur-of-moment trips and camp at the Grand Canyon for a few days. You can take a cruise for Spring Break. You can stay up all night making homemade french fries with fry sauce and just talking with your roommates.
You can attend the games and paint your face. You can attend events and sing kareoke and make friends you will see wandering on campus. You can join clubs with people who have the same interests as you. You can learn new skills and build your passion. My best friend decided to take a philosophy course out of curiosity, and now it's everything to her. I have another friend who loves chemistry and gets so excited about everything about it.
You will make new friends in students, workers, and professors. Seriously. Some people are amazing. On that first day, sit down with someone and get to know them. It's so easy to start conversations in college too. Do they live on or near campus? What's the best food in town? What are they studying? Why? Is this a general for them, or for their degree? Or for fun? Why this class? Have they had a class with this professor before, are they any good?
Take a chance. Check out the town, the parks, the people- it can be such a great experience.

6. Figure out your future path
I know, you're not even a third of the way through your life and already they want you knowing what you will do for the rest of it. Trust me, I don't like that. For a while, I wasn't even planning on college. And guess what? Someone people won't go. A lot will drop out. Some will do fine, some will do great, and some will suffer because of that.
But it's your path, and it's up to you. The important thing, for me, is to find what makes you happy and what your passion is. Your first year, take the generals but also take a few fun classes. Philosophy, horse back riding, rock climbing, ancient Greek- try some things out, and start finding your passion if you haven't already. Maybe you have a knack for languages, or for writing or molecular structure- but start finding it. It will lead you on your path and will help make college go a lot faster.
And like I said, college may not be for you. Many people have done well since dropping out. But my advice for that is first to discuss your plan with a few people to get their feedback. They will most likely suggest for you to stay in school, but talk it through with them. Have a structured plan as well as another fall back. There's risk in everything you do, so try to prepare for the worst.

7. You put up with a lot of crap.
Sleepless nights, annoying teachers, general classes, roommates who ignore you or never do the dishes. Bad weather, pointless essays, messes in the library- you'll learn. You'll see what I mean. And that's not even half the crap. There will be annoying and pushy clubs and people, there will be ridiculous activities, a lot of bad food, and some people with too much pep.
It happens.
Like general classes: you have to take particular classes, about 30 credits worth or so, of particular classes that everyone needs to take in order to graduate. You need to have decent math, english and other levels. You have to take PE (but no dodge-ball, thank your lucky stars). There are going to be some really pointless classes. You will want to bang your head against the wall repeatedly rather than deal with them. However, these cannot be avoided. And don't forget to do them, please- several people fail just because they don't like it or they forget about (you will forget about class on occasion. it happens) the entire class and everything- please, don't do that. You have to pass to have the credit and that means taking more credits than necessary to graduate- and if that happens enough, then it'll take another semester or year for you to graduate. Some classes are worthless, but suck it up.
Some people suck, too. Some are too opinionated, some won't shut up in class. Some people think they know everything and they are clearly wrong but you can't convince them. Sometimes, just leave it alone. Also, sometimes you have to pay to print things. And the library closes at inconvenient hours. Crap happens.

Truth be told, this is only the beginning. I'll be adding more to this list eventually because let's face it, there's a lot to know. And it's all within the little things, too.
It might help to go eat some chocolate about now, or take a deep breath. Things can get overwhelming pretty fast sometimes.

Let me know what else you think a college student should know ahead of time! Or do you have any stories to back me up? Or perhaps do you think I'm wrong? I'm eager for feedback!

Mental Health

Moving away from home can be tough.

I'll admit, the first night I was out, it was a tearful farewell from my mom and then suddenly I was on my own in a strange bedroom, half unpacked in a house with a girl I barely knew. I had moved across states to attend a school I'd only heard of and never visited, and I didn't know what I was doing.

I felt stupid.

I felt young.

I felt afraid.

And I felt like I was going to fail before I had a chance.

So everyone has tough days, but let's face it: suddenly leaving the life you grew up with can be a little tricky to face. It's a little bit of shock, some confusion, maybe some homesickness, as well as some enthusiasm and promise that you're working hard to contain. 

Maybe it hits you the first night-

or the second-

or the third-

or the second month-

But something hits.

And I'm not just talking about mental health: I'm talking about you and a bad day. Because they come. Maybe you have been diagnosed with something, maybe you haven't. Maybe there is no label for the emotions you are struggling with, but we'll figure it out. There's hope.

Society, after all, is finally accepting the concept. Look at this way: homosexuals used to be put in asylums because it was considered some mental disease. Now the entire North American content allows for same-sex marriage, as well as several other nations around the world.

My point?

Mental Health is becoming recognized. (Not calling homosexuality a disease, but emphasizing that society can change and accept what they didn't understand before). What you are feeling is not necessarily wrong (it's only wrong if you're seriously planning murder. That is not okay. I don't care what your excuse is. It's not okay. It won't solve anything. It is also against the law), and all sorts of pain exists.

Depression exists. Bipolar disorder exists. Anorexia exists. Exhaustion exists.

And it's okay. Because I firmly believe that life goes on and it can get better. It can. That is a promise.

This is also something you cannot ignore. This isn't something you can just keep bottled.

Trust me, I know from experience.

The best thing I can suggest is to find someone to talk to, whether it's a psychiatrist, a doctor, family or a friend- someone to help you out. Someone to hear you out. Someone who will support you and will do their best for you, whether it's medication or finding a release.

College is a great experience, but it's also a stressful one. Around this time, our stress levels are the same as the "psychos" in early wards dealing with insanity and similar issues. There is so much responsibility placed upon us with so much on our plates, it can be hard to deal with. 12 classes, 15-18, taking a job or being part of a club or Greek life, the stress will come at any time.

So on your low days, take care of yourself.

What are your hobbies?

        Watch a movie, read a book, listen to your favorite song.

Your favorite foods?

        Make a cake, eat chocolate, put together a delightful salad.

Need to destress with moving? 

       Go for a run, work out, punch your pillow.

You don't have energy?

        Doodle in your notebook, sit upside down, take a nap, swing at a park.

Once you get into the daily routine of college life or your independent life, you might start noticing the triggers as a bad day builds. Sometimes I can see them coming from a mile out, and other days they just spring out on me. But usually if it starts in the morning, it just keeps going. So try to pay attention to these patterns, and do what you can with it.

On my bad days, I know I don't deal with people well. I'm unkind to even my favorite people. 

-Try to hang out alone

-Try meditating

-Find spare moments to take deep breaths and focus

-Eat a lot of chocolate

-Find a favorite song or story to play in your head

-Find a way to stay away from everyone

I keep a selection of the funniest pictures that never fail to amuse me. I pull them out on my bad days and they remind me that all of life is not that bad. 

College is the time where you are finding out who you want to be. Determine ahead of time how you want to deal with the bad days- because they will come. And they will also go. Emotions don't always work in our favor but hey, we need to do what we can.

So take a break. Take advantage of the weekend to skip town. If you don't have any pressing homework, take a drive or treat yourself to a night of good fun. Take a deep breath and find a way to relax before trying to start again.

*Final note: No matter what comes, do not use these as an excuse. They will work once but they will not keep working. I understand even if you have prescriptions: but it's your responsibility to take care of yourself. If you're having a really rough day, then don't go around others or their things. Your attitude and/or illness are not exceptions to you being a jerk to others. You need to focus on reigning yourself and preparing ahead of time for the worst. You didn't ask for it, I know, but just because I'm PMSing one day doesn't give me the right to be a jerk or just because I'm about to have a panic attack does not allow me to speak sharply with those I love (sorry, btw). Those you love will work with you, but not if you take every brash chance to push them away. 

*Yes, there will most likely be a few nights you spend in tears whether you are homesick, lonely, stressed, dealing with finals, or scared. It happens to everyone, and you are not alone. Take it one deep breath at alone. You WILL get through this!

Links for pick-me-ups and help:

Yik-Yak from tumblr if you don't have the app

Top 5 Mental Health problems college students face

College Report on Mental Health

College Stress tips to survive

How to reduce stress in college

8 Ways to manage stress in college

Packing List #1

And it's getting ready to begin!

What, you ask?

Your college experience!
Or maybe you're just moving out.

Either way, you are leaving your parents' house for the first time by force or by choice and now you're on your own and you don't know what you need to survive. You might have about 3 hangers, 1 sock and a box of Cheeze-Its or maybe you're packed with three boxes of luggage and another of your boots, I don't know.

So, let's make sure you have what you need!

And just to be sure, I'm adding the stars of everything that is optional, and on the bottom are your alternatives. If you need to save the money, then use your alternatives.

Let's start with your bathroom needs:

(assuming you have a toilet, shower and sink)
Toilet paper- this is NOT optional.
Hairbrush/comb
+Shower curtain if necessary. Make sure you have shower rings
Shampoo
Body wash
Razor
Hand soap
Body towel
Face/hand towel
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Floss
+Makeup if that's your thing
+Hair accessories if that's your thing

And next, the bedroom:

(assuming you have at least a mattress)
*Hangers
Fitted Sheet
+Decorations if you like
^If you are bringing them, check your contract for rules on blue tack, tape, and pins
Top Sheet
*Pillow
Pillow case
At least 1 blanket
*Laundry Basket
*Trash can

I will cover this more in detail in a later post but basics of wardrobe:

At least one professional outfit
According to your local weather, the hottest and coldest and wettest

Extras that are somewhat optional:

Legal forms of identification, like your ID, your passport
Umbrella
*Baseball bat
Key ring with an extra hidden key
Computer with charger
Phone with charger and back up charger
Car with legal registration
Lease (know the details)
Movies, books, your hobbies
Your pet with their items
Your best friend
Kitchen necessities: which I will also address in a larger post later on. Basics will include at least a fork, spoon, knives (three levels of sharpness), plate, bowl, cup, mug, glass, at least three plastic containers, dish soap, sponge, varying pots and pans, and so on.

What to seriously include:

First aid kit (band-aids, burn cream, sunscreen,)
Sewing kit (you can buy one at the dollar store, but trust me on this)
Flash light
Broom

Final Note:

This is not everything you should have. But these are the minimal basics. I try to have the majority of these with me at all times, whether taking them with me on the drive or flight or buying them when I reach my new place. But these are the basics you should have.
And like I mentioned a few times, I'll get more particular with particular sections on this list in later posts.

If you think I have missed anything that should definitely be on the list, let me know!

*Hangers: Strangely enough, they are optional if you already have a dresser, or something. These are inexpensive of course, but I have had to live out of my bags for at least 2-3 weeks before and I could do so for longer if necessary. If you have a trunk that can remain open beneath your bed, then that gives you at least one alternative. Or if you have boxes, you can organize them in there as well.
*Pillow: This is also a makeshift option that I always use for camping- stuff your clothes into your softest shirt or sweater, and hug it tight. Done!
*Laundry Baskter; you can get a nice small round one either at the dollar store or even Wal-Mart. But if you don't have that extra dollar, any large bag will do. Trust me, it's doable. But don't keep it for long because the smell will linger.
*Trash can: you can just use trash bags. You know that, right?
*Yeah, it's optional. But it shouldn't be. 

Here are some additional links that can help you out as well:
Insider Tips
Hercampus tips
Opinion suggestions

Introduction-

College:
2-4 year education to earn an Associate's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree.

Also known as:

That place

Hell

Fun

Greek Parties

Yeah, it happens. And you know what? It can be pretty tough. Especially if you're heading out on your own the first time, if it's a new place and you're not headed there with anyone. Or maybe it's hard because of the classes or the social life or food situations.

It happens.

Now, I don't mean to brag, but I get to play this game for about 6 years, and I'm about to finish so it won't go onto 7. I hated this at first, but I've learned to live with it. After all, only about 54% of students finish their Bachelor's in the first four years.

My point is, I've had some experiences and I want to help out. I see freshman or even seniors struggling with things on occasion. I've seen people in general struggle on occasion, so if you're not even college, then that's okay. Welcome.

This blog is for anyone who might need a helping hand.
This blog is going to cover all sorts of topics to help you out-
Packing lists
Coupons and sales
Grocery smarts
Studying tips
Cooking savvy
Vacation ideas
Fun facts
De-stressing tricks
Hot topics of today
and more!

If there's ever anything you're looking to learn or want to share your input, I look forward to it!