It’s 11:45 pm, you’ve got 2 more pages to write, and a grumbling stomach

Do you choose to fight the hunger, or give in to a salty, plastic packaged, artificially flavored Top Ramen? How about neither. A while ago I said it’s time to stop the routine of milk & cereal for dinner—now it’s time to stop the eating Top Ramen late at night. I’ve found some options to fulfill those late night cravings that are fiber-filled and will leave you more satisfied than after eating a Beef-flavored package of Ramen.

When you are craving…

Sweet

Check out 10o calorie VitaBrownies. They’re a great late-night snack, filled with fiber and yummy vitamins that will leave you in satisfaction rather than regret.

Sugary with a Crunch

A delicious bowl of cereal. Avoiding cereals that are high in sugar will be better to eat prior to sleeping, so go for cereals composed of whole grains such as wheat, oats, corn or rice. Add some low-fat milk to your well-portioned bowl (preferably 1 and a half cups of cereal) and you’ve got yourself a great midnight snack.

Salty

Get yourself a snack sized portion of salted popcorn, adding a tablespoon of parmesan cheese to melt on top. Yum! Fat-free popcorn is best for this late night snack.

Fruity

There are tons of fruit options for late night snacks, the most obvious and easy being an apple. But to spice up the traditional apple, cut it into slices and sprinkle some cinnamon on top. Zap it in the microwave for about a minute and you have yourself a fruity, cinnamon treat.

Pizza

Create your own mini-pizza on an English muffin by spreading tomato sauce on one side, melting grated parmesan cheese and a couple tomato slices on top. This is a lot healthier and cheaper than ordering in a greasy pizza.

A Sandwich

The ultimate snack that always satisfies… Who doesn’t love a good sandwich? During one of those late nights, make half of a sandwich with turkey, whole wheat bread, tomato, lettuce and light mayo, creating a satisfying snack.

All of these options are great for late night snacks because they are high in fiber and vitamins that leave you satisfied and not too full. Keeping portions small is key, and also having the ability to recognize when you are actually hungry and when you just think that you are hungry. Have fun with these suggestions! Do you have any of your own late night craving creations?

*Brownie photo by: Dichohecho, popcorn photo by: D3 San Francisco, apple photo by: EverJean, sandwich photo by: WordRidden

If you’ve already checked the cushions…

There is always the option of hand washing and hanging to dry. Which really is not as bad as it sounds. It can’t be worse than an overflowing dirty clothes hamper, weeks overdue of a wash. But this is what happens when our pockets are dry of quarters. There is always the option of begging, too. But here are some more practical options for getting some short-term work and some quick cash.

• Be first in line to sell your books at the end of the semester—that way they sell for more!
• Sell some clothes at a second-hand store
• Offer to babysit for a friend on a Friday or Saturday night, so they can have a break and you can make some quick cash
• File your taxes and get back any income taxes that have been taken out of past paychecks
• Have someone pay you to file their taxes
• Take part in an on-campus research study that pays people to participate
• Offer to do someone’s chores, in return for a small stipend
• Take back cans and bottles
• Are you crafty? Do you know how to crack an egg and mix? Make things and sell them for cheap
• Sell stuff on Craigslist—it’s the easiest way to make known your uselessness for something and then get rid of it, while putting some cash (or quarters) into your pocket
• Wash cars, mow lawns, weed out yards for families in your neighborhood
• Donate plasma
• Participate in online surveys, answering simple questions, to make quick money through Amazon Mechanical Turk

Most of these suggestions probably will not be able to pay for your tuition. But most of them will get you at least one clean load of laundry. Which is what really matters, right?

*Photo by Ingorrr

As much as college is about working hard and earning a degree, a lot of it is about the social aspect. For reminiscent, practical or humorous purposes, here is a long list of what some college students do for fun.

1. Frisbee: You will see it happening in any quad. Frisbee golf, Ultimate Frisbee, Good old traditional Frisbee. If you are ever trying to get college students to sign up for a credit card, offer them free Frisbees.
2. Guitar: Everyone and their mom plays guitar these days.
3. Party: The reality of college life, an inevitable verb happening on college campuses.
4. Eat: It’s a social aspect of college. Food is the ultimate bribe tool when trying to get students to come to clubs and meetings.
5. Hacky Sac: A great way to break a little sweat, practice some foot-eye coordination, and not get any studying done.
6. Coffee Date: When two people come together, the outcome is usually a trip to some coffee shop on or near campus. It’s become part of the college culture.
7. Watch movies: It’s what you do when there is nothing else.
8. Watch television/Usually full seasons over the course of a few weeks: It’s what you do when you are addicted.
9. Sleep: A sacred practice that is indulged in quite frequently.
10. Bike ride: A form of transportation when going from class to class or pure adventure.
11. Read: To escape from reality for a bit, getting a glimpse into the lives of others.
12. Facebook stock: What none of us admit we do, but do.
13. Bon Fire: Especially on beaches on Friday nights.
14. Bubble Tea: Another aspect of social college culture. That’s just what we do: Eat, sleep and drink bubble tea. It is the college student’s life mantra.
15. Hang out in the quad: It’s where many events take place. It’s where college happens.
16. Juggle with clubs: I don’t understand this strange phenomena.
17. Listen to music: The ear buds are strategically placed into the ears and the student escapes while walking from class to class. Sometimes this is done to avoid social interaction, other times it is done for the sake of a good craving for some music.
18. Eat Top Ramen: It’s the cheapest staple food that has a decent enough flavor and is semi-fulfilling.
19. Ride Razor Scooters: A trend on few college campuses.
20. Dumpster Dive: For the sake of free and fresh locally made bread, doughnuts, and other delicious things. But you have to know where to go and when to do it.
21. Streak: Will Ferrell set the precedent on this one in Old School.
22. Go to concerts and shows: Because supporting local music is a great thing, and the musicians are our friends.
23. Talk on a personal radio show for a couple of hours: About nothing in particular. It is usually fairly entertaining and introduces some good music.
24. Look at reviews on Rotten Tomatoes: To see which movies are worth seeing, and which are not.
25. Read Twilight: From what I’ve heard the series is emotionally appealing to women in particular.
26. Watch Twilight: From what I’ve seen, the acting is cheesy and over dramatized.
27. Rollerblading: It was big in the 90s, and from what I have seen recently on these sparse sunny days it is making a come back.
28. Catch Phrase: A much loved group game that spurs controversy on who the device was touching when the buzzer went off. A word of advice: Pass before pushing.
29. Banana Grams: Speed Scrabble (basically)!
30. Get tattoos: Because it’s cool, that’s why.
31. Have philosophical debates: Because we enjoy learning and arguing.
32. Have Jam sessions with an array of random musical instruments, only a common key holding the songs together: A great way to meet new people; blow harmonicas and strum guitars together.
33. Skype: It connects us with friends and family that are states away.
34. Procrastinate: While it’s not productive, it is a lot more fun.
35. Stay up until the wee hours of the morning: The cause of dark under eye circles, falling asleep in class, and studying until the test is handed to you.
36. Sleep in incredibly late: Unless you have class, it is justifiable.
37. Spontaneous mini road trips (i.e. the Olympics in Vancouver B.C.): While we are not tied down, we might as well do something against the grain and out of the ordinary.
38. Find new music on Pitchfork/Read reviews: Reading news about a wide array of bands and listening to their brilliance.
39. Watch Lost: The mysterious island’s secrets keep unfolding and it keeps us hooked, always wanting more.
40. Blog: A great way to connect and interact with people.
41. Mario Kart: There’s something so rewarding about crossing that finish line in first place.
42. Red Box: Though the movies are pretty cheesy, they are cheap.
43. Themed parties: MLK Jr. Day, the Olympics, Lady Gaga, etc.
44. Slack lining: Who ever knew balancing could be so fun?
45. Laying in hammocks in trees around campus: Especially on sunny days.
46. Chess: A game of silence, solitude and logic.
47. Photography: Everyone has an SLR these days…
48. Make films: With handy flip cameras it’s easy to make home-made movies.
49. Running: It’s what happens when the pounds from college cafeterias start revolting against us.
50. DTR-ing: Defining the relationship.
51. Playing board games: Another way of socializing with groups of people.
52. Twitter: Updating information about ourselves for the enjoyment of others since 2006.
53. iphoning; ipadding; ipodding: Technology has taken us to new vocabulary on college campuses.
54. Follow other blogs: Staying up to date on what is going on in one’s interests is a great reason to follow blogs.
55. Hiking: To get away from time, and venture the great outdoors.
56. Gain the freshman 15: The fear of many.
57. Lose the freshman 15: The reality of many.
58. Eat at hole-in-the-wall delicious Restaurants: Cheap and large meal portions are a college student’s dear friend.
59. Get Engaged: Have you ever heard the term “ring before spring?”
60. Start a band: You play drums, Johnny plays bass and Joe plays guitar. So why not?
61. Take up a random hobby: such as stamp collecting.
62. Get well acquainted with the metro system: because car insurance is expensive, yet we need to get away from campus and explore.

There’s something rotten in the state of Denmark.

Or, maybe it’s just a bad case of human hygiene. I’ve noticed that the dorms have started to smell like congested air and humans. I guess there is logic to that, but it’s not a pleasant scent. Here is a process to deal with your room when it starts smelling like rotten cabbage. Or worse.

Taking care of stench 101

1. Your first step is to go to the source. Check your fridge, garbage cans, closet. Solve the mystery of the undesired odor. If it’s rotten food, throw it out. Take out the garbage. Put smelly sneakers outside.
2. Open the windows and in doing so, continue the process of removing the odor. Getting some ventilation will definitely help, and a fan wouldn’t hurt either to give the odor a little push out the window, never to be smelt again.
3. If you need to clean out your fridge or closet, do so by removing all contents necessary to clean, and scrub with a soap and water mixture. Dry by pressing a towel or several paper towels on the wet areas, blotting up the mixture with the towels.
4. If the odor persists, place an uncovered bowl of baking soda, either dry or mixed with water, in the space and take away the bowl after three days if the odor has gone. If there is something in the carpet you can sprinkle the baking soda on the designated area, and vacuum it up after an hour or more. Using baking soda is one of the more practical and ideal options for cleaning up odors in college dorm rooms. Baking soda will remove the unwanted odors from the air.
5. Continue the cycle of taking out the garbage, updating food in the fridge once it expires, doing laundry, keeping a clean closet, and whatever else causes unwanted odors. Oh the possibilities.

Here we are again.

It’s that time of year. Fresh syllabi are being handed out, friends are way too excited to see each other after a short time of being away from school, and pockets are being emptied of their dollars at college bookstores once more. Oh yes, it smells like a new term on college campuses. With the introduction of a new decade, new years resolutions are a whole lot bigger than every other year. People are setting goals with their study habits, sleeping habits, exercising habits. It’s  habits galore. This is all for the purpose of a final goal, that once attained will bring along a feeling of accomplishment and achievement. So now that we’re entering a new chapter in the novel of our lives, why not just start doing things better than before instead of cramming it all into a list of impossible new years resolutions? Here are some ideas to start your term off the right way; a way that is productive.

Change doesn’t come easy.

But while we want it, we should question our motives. Why we want to be a better person. Is it for our benefit or another person’s? I think looking at these goals short term is pretty centered on the self, but let’s face it, the college experience is pretty focused on the individual and what they can do for YOU. But while creating these goals I would challenge you to think of the bigger picture, in the context of graduating college and taking your diligence and self-control other places that can benefit others. Because what’s so good about a life that serves only the self?

1.  Think of your first term, and the flaws in it. Did you do everything you wanted to do? Were you tired most of the time? What did you spend most of your time doing? Question all aspects. Then proceed to next bullet.

2. Make a list of what you want to accomplish throughout the whole term. This will be your hard copy of what you will need to remind yourself to do for a while, until the list becomes habit. But the thing is, it can’t just be a list of bullet points that you would like to accomplish, because it would be nice to learn some new things. It has to be an intentional reminder that you are in these things for the long haul, and you’ve thought over them a lot therefore you are making a point to accomplish them. You have to really want that six pack or the ability to scuba dive, for example. It takes more than just mere interest to actually accomplish something.

3. Make a schedule of your week, with all of the intentional tasks included, along with classes, work, eating, social events, and indubitably open chunks of time for spontaneity. Or for being lazy (more to come later why being lazy sometimes can be a good thing). Plaster this on the ceiling where you look up every night, or in your nifty iphone, or in your underwear drawer. Wherever will be the most likely place for you to see it. This list will change, definitely. But just as a starting point, try and solidify your actions by putting it into writing.

4. What else is there to do except go for it? I have to admit, it feels great even just accomplishing all of one day’s intended duties. So there is definitely no guarantee you’re going to be perfect. But like George Smith Patton once said, “Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.” Well said, sir. Well said.

Whatever you are creating, the idea must spur from something…

Finals are coming, which means big papers, projects and random assignments that professors come up with out of nowhere. But what to do when the inspiration isn’t flowing? Good question. I have trouble with this myself, especially when it comes to creative writing pieces. If it’s an art project, some Latin dialogue or a presentation on your choice and you don’t know what to do, open your eyes (and carry a notebook around to write down your quick moments of inspiration. Unless you have a really good memory, or you have lots of ribbon to tie around your fingers).

Where to look/Where to go/What to do:

1. Wikipedia. Something that I enjoy about Wikipedia is that it points me in directions that may be quite irrelevant to the subject which I searched. There are tons of links that take you to other things, thus creating windows of inspiration and long interesting tangents. When you’re on a writer’s block or an artist’s block, search a simple idea or person into Wikipedia and let it guide you to more ideas for your assignment.

2. Sit outside for five minutes and use all five of your senses. One of my professors taught me something that opens up my awareness and my clarity of understanding. On the first day of class, he had all of the students go outside and find a place to sit down. Once we were there, we were told to use all five of our senses: feeling, smelling, tasting, hearing and seeing what was around us. After five minutes we came back into the classroom and shared our experiences. In five minutes I became so aware of what was around me, and it was inspiring.

3. When hanging out with friends, observe the things that you talk about. What issues are brought up? What ideas do you discuss? The smallest details or comments can spur the the largest ideas. And ideas can be portrayed through a piece of writing, a collage, a painting, a song, and the list goes on and on. If writing a story, grab traits of your friends to use for the characters of your stories, and create new personalities.

4. Draw inspiration from your personal life as well. From your favorite quotes, your bad habits, pet peeves, traditions that are in your family, your favorite food. Once you realize that inspiration is everywhere, it’s hard to narrow it down because you find out there are so many possibilities.

5. Listen to your favorite musical artists. Or even your least favorite artists. What do you like or not like about them? Why do you like or not like those certain aspects of the artists? If writing a piece of music, draw inspiration from the certain characteristics of the music you like while adding your own personal addition to it that is taken from the other sources of inspiration.

6. Look at your favorite visual artists. In the same way as listening to your favorite bands, if you are creating a piece of visual art then look at your favorite artists/least favorite artists and figure out what you like or do not like about their technique and style. And when it comes to content, find a theme that fits your personal style.

7. Read your favorite authors. Read poetry, excerpts of novels, essays, short stories, fiction and nonfiction. When they mention the character lucid dreaming on Sunday night, use lucid dreaming for your project, or dreams, or why in English, Sunday is capitalized whereas in French it is not. You get the point.

8. Check out the past projects of former students who had the same assignment. Read their stories, check out their art projects, look at the topics of their research papers. Copying clearly is not the way to go, but being inspired by another’s work never hurt anyone.

With the exception of a few plays, book series and very long poems…

1. The Adventures of Augie Marsh by Saul Bellow A realistic and satirical novel that captures the life of the main character from his childhood to his manhood through the realistic touches that make it universally relevant. Growing up during the Great Depression, Augie suffers through the slings and arrows of the world that many people can relate to.
2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Preceding Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer comes the classic American tale of Huck Finn and his adventures with Tom and Jim against criminals and the law. The novel covers the broad themes of freedom and slavery, encompassing the struggles in society in the context of racial discrimination.
3. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Esther Greenwood, a woman just finishing  up college and an internship in New York City, struggles with all of the decisions that life brings while being pulled down by a descent into madness in this dark semi autobiography of Sylvia Plath’s own life.
4. Beloved by Toni Morrison A novel that allows readers to see into the pain and suffering of slaves through Sethe and her daughter Denver, as they work to rebuild their lives after escaping the torment of slavery. The novel examines many themes, along with the relationship between individuals and their community.
5. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott Practical advice on all aspects of the writer’s life, through wit, intelligence and personal experience. Referring to her younger brother’s procrastination and frustration towards an art project during their childhood; Lamott’s father reiterated the words, “Bird by bird. Just take it bird by bird.” Ann relates her ideas to writers on all levels, whether it be professionally or for a college essay.
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Set in London A.D. 2450, a dystopian society that embodies futurism allows a society to be categorized under strict ranks, fleeing all modern senses of morality. The Modern Library ranked Brave New World fifth on its 1999 list of Best English-Language novels of the 20th century.
7. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz Oscar is obsessed with science fiction, graphic novels and falling in love. He lives in New Jersey with his Dominican family, and in this narrative his US immigration experience is captured in this novel through its abundant use of science fiction and fantasy references and urban English slang.
8. Candide by Voltaire Candide is an optimist in a world where everything is falling apart. While war, disease and natural disaster break out, and the love of his life is torn away from him, Candide sticks to the optimistic philosophy of Dr. Pangloss. But realizes in the end that we must “cultivate our garden.”
9. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller A novel with separate anecdotes creating the whole novel of which Yossarian is the mediator of. Through his battles in the second half of World War II, he has a strong desire to be immortal, while struggling to survive in the war’s treachery and violence. A series of paradoxes to struggle with, Yossarian struggles to live in reality vs insanity.
10. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger What earlier critics may have called a ‘risky’ novel, is a book narrated by Holden Caulfield who represents everything that is teenage rebellion. Seen as an unreliable narrator, Salinger uses Holden’s defiant personality to add to the book’s style of disjointed, colloquial speech.
11. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess The novel takes place in a futuristic England with a dystopian society where citizens have fallen into a complacency as the violent culture of the youth gets worse. Alex, the protagonist of the story, is a fifteen year old boy who is the leader of a gang who finds thrill in violence. The novel holds themes such as the exploration of freewill and the ability to conjoin with a society’s rules as a means of finding freedom.
12. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas An epic adventure story entailing justice, love, freedom and death. Edmond Dantès is faced with controversy as the criminal justice system allows his enemies to slyly get past the law, where in return Edmond is punished. He is ultimately challenged by morality of justice given through humans to other humans, or rather if it is something that is beyond the limits of humanity and should only be given through a higher power.
13. The Crucible by Arthur Miller In a representation of the Salem Witchcraft Trials is a play that challenges the morals and ethics of a society based on moral goodness and Puritanism when rumors and accusations spread like wildfire. The paranoia of witchcraft is another added layer to this novel which is essentially the core of controversy, which parallels the communist paranoia that permeated America in the 1950s.
14. Dune by Frank Herbert A classic science fiction novel that introduces the Dune series. The year is 10,191 and humans have spread out beyond the earth to inhabit other planets. Duko Leto’s son Paul is quickly faced with the reality that he holds the fate of the universe in his hands as he is the heir to the throne of the House of the Atreides. This leads on to a series of attacks upon him leading to mayhem.
15. Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynn Truss A book that covers the complexities, the simplicities and the overall greatness of punctuation. This is a great reference book when facing an essay, a letter or curiosity. Her goal in writing the book is to make apparent the importance of punctuation in the English language.
16. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card At the age of six, Ender Wiggin is chosen by the International Fleet to help save mankind from the buggers. He is sent off to Battle school which is located on a ship far away from earth, and is instantly set apart from the others on the trip there due to his automatic understanding and knowledge of how things work. The complexities between what is a game and what is reality becomes more apparent to Ender through the novel as he is challenged against his awareness to finish what was started.
17. Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer Jonathan (who shares the book author’s name) is a young Jewish-American writer who is in search of information on his grandfather. He goes to Ukraine in search of Trachimbrod, his grandfather’s village to recover information on him. All that he has to locate information are a few maps and a photograph of a woman named Augustine who supposedly saved his grandfather from the Nazi liquidation in the village. The character Jonathan’s language within the novel seems as if he learned his English through a thesaurus but never heard it being used practically. This comedic story is split into chapters by different authors, sequencing different points of view in the story that makes up its hilarity.
18. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury The futuristic society of America in this novel gives a whole new meaning to firemen. Rather than putting out fires, they create fires by burning books which is done for the betterment of humanity, enhancing the overall ethics of the society through pleasure and anti-intellectualism. The main character, Guy Montag is a fireman and starts questioning the society he lives in when he meets Clarisse McClellan who challenges his own happiness and ideals.
19. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley A novel that was connected to the romantic movement is the timely classic of Shelley who presents Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates what is much like a man, but stronger and larger. Frankenstein creating the monster questions the ability to surpass human limits and whether it is ethical to create something that man was not intended to create.
20. Geek Love by Katherine Dunn The novel documents the life of Olympia Binewski who manages a travelling carnival with her husband that starts going down hill, but is recovered by altering the genes of their own children through radioactive substances. The results are their son Arty, who is born with flippers for hands and feet, along with the Siamese twins and more. But later in their lives their mutations stop working to their advantage and more to their disadvantage where they have to cope with what they were born with.
21. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens The novel recounts the  life of Pip from his early years until he grows to a man of maturity. Beginning during his childhood on Christmas during 1812, as he sees a convict that tries to take advantage of him through stealing, the book begins with the heavy guilt of Pip in this encounter. Pip’s progression from childhood to adolescence to adulthood is documented and his changes are significant creating a well rounded character to carry the plot of Dickens’s classic.
22. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Set in the summer of 1922 is this engaging novel that symbolizes in several ways the American Dream and all that it does not have to offer through the materialism and decay of social and moral values. Nick Carraway is a young businessman from Minnesota who moves to the long island side of New York for business, and moves into a neighborhood full of young wealthy people who are too green to have developed any sort of business connections. Next door to Nick lives Jay Gatsby who is a wealthy and intriguing man who holds parties at his mansion every Saturday night. The wealth and glamour of the American Dream become hazy when characters realize that all of these dreams might not be the source to their happiness.
23. Hamlet by William Shakespeare “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” This is one of the best plays of Shakespeare that is well worth the read, first because of its content and ideas and secondly because it is so widely acclaimed throughout the media. When the King of Denmark is killed, his son Hamlet seeks vengeance upon his father’s throne by twisting and turning through his own struggles with going into situations blind sighted, dealing with the complexities of taking action.
24. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood In what was formerly the United States, now resides the Republic of Gilead formed through a revolution which overthrew the government by first killing the president, getting rid of Congress and then abolishing the US Constitution. The protagonist, Offred, is kept for the role of a handmaid who is used for reproductive purposes. The inhumane uses of women in the society reduce them to their ovaries and womb, depriving them of individuality and ultimately their purpose as humans created in, what the state believes, God’s image through orthodox and perfunctory belief.
25. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling A series that is an adventure to read, regardless of age. When Harry’s parents are killed in a tragic accident when he is a baby, he continues to live in an abusive home with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and pig-like cousin, Dudley until the age of eleven. It’s not until he starts receiving a series of letters, which Uncle Vernon does not give to Harry, that Harry realizes that there is something special about him. When Hagrid, a half giant, finally comes to deliver Harry the letter himself, Harry finds out the truth—that he is a wizard. The seven book series chronicles Harry’s school years at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where many adventures take place and he is ultimately given a daunting task all because of the lightning-shaped scar that was bore upon his forehead at the death of his parents when he was just a baby.
26. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad A story told within a story, Marlow recounts his tale as a ferry boat captain transporting ivory to Congo to a group of sailors. The book is rich with symbolism and an overall theme of darkness.
27. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien A classic that led to the Lord of the Rings is the quest of Bilbo Baggins and his journey to claim treasure being guarded by the dragon, Smaug. From light rural surroundings to deeper and darker settings such as Frodo experiences, Bilbo’s tale is a very popular and widely acclaimed children’s story.
28. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde The British upper class of the Victorian era are satirically portrayed in this play, as two main characters create lies to avoid social obligations. This leads to confusion and hostility through marriage proposals and refusals and proposals again. But it’s all for the sake of being earnest, of course.
29. Inferno by Dante Alighieri Dante’s journey into hell, with the help of his guide Virgil, is told in an almost dreamlike state. The descent brings knowledge and understanding while ironically being a literal descent to the depths of hell as well as a climb out the other end which is the ultimate goal for Dante. It all starts with his fear as he wanders from the path in a dark, obscured forest. The poem alludes to the spiritual journey of human life which makes an intriguing connection and parallel to the reader’s own life.
30. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Beginning in the middle of his life, an African American man who lives underground due to denied social acceptance and invisibility, tells his story of how he came to live underground and be essentially invisible to his community. The man is unnamed, mirroring his invisible attributes, and tells the story of his life up until the present.
31. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Orphaned and alone, Jane moves in with her cruel aunt and cousins where she is consistently verbally abused and treated poorly. She finally gets out of the abusive home into Lowood School where circumstances are just as bad, if not worse. Jane’s development throughout the novel is the essential core of the story, and her self-worth and integrity are tested and used as a block to build upon as the years go by and she grows into a woman facing different issues with different prospects.
32. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The story of two boys, Amir and Hassan, who are both excellent kite runners in the city but end their friendship through an unfortunate set of events. Set in the falling monarchy of Afghanistan and subsequent years later, the guilt of the friendship leads Amir to revisit the issues of his own failures and the country which forced him to flee to America.
33. Life of Pi by Yann Martel Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi for short) tells the story of the experience that changed his life while he was stranded on a boat in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days. The aspect and importance of storytelling influence the way the story is portrayed through Pi, which is intentional, and gives the reader the opportunity to learn different truths through each piece of the story that Pi tells.
34. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry A pilot who has crashed his plane in the Sahara Desert meets the little prince, a little blond boy from Asteroid 325 who has left his planet due to his loneliness and search for deeper meaning. The little prince meets several grownups who he realizes are narrow minded and self seeking for their own gain through their occupation. The little prince’s meeting with a fox leads him to realizations and truths that make more sense than all of the adults’ aspirations.  A children’s classic that, again, regardless of age has depth and value.
35. Lord of the Flies by William Golding An allegorical novel of several British schoolboys who become stranded on a desert island and try to create a society in a chaotic situation where everyone is struggling for power. The novel is largely influenced by failing societies created by men, alluding to the idea that all cultures created by men will inevitably fail.
36. The Lord of the Rings Series by J.R.R. Tolkien The epic trilogy that brilliantly captures the journey of Frodo Baggins and the fellowship of the ring to Mordor to destroy the one ring, that holds the ability to rule over all of Middle Earth. The friendship, bravery and sacrifice through the relationships of Frodo, Sam and the rest of the fellowship is beautiful, and captures the treacherous circumstances it takes to have freedom. Tolkien’s descriptions through imagery, character development and plot sum up his brilliance in the form of one book, split into three parts, known as LoTR.
37. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare The entanglement of lovers through a few drops of juice from a magical flower cause chaos in a forest, where fairies have dominion and mortals are at their mercy. Dream and reality coincide in this play and retell the comedic misfortunes of the effects of love.
38. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Clarissa Dalloway is caught up in the beautiful life of classy parties and fashion and what is accepted in upper-class society. Yet with all of these interests she longs for deeper meaning and self worth. She questions her decision to marry Richard Dalloway, a safe bet, instead of Peter Walsh. She questions death and life, and hope itself.
39. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck George and Lenny are two migrant field workers during the Great Depression who run into trouble without meaning to. It all starts with Lenny, who is mentally disabled, and his fondness of touching soft things such as bunnies. George who is intelligent and cynical tries protecting him, but it doesn’t seem to help. They are forced to flee the ranch they work at because of what didn’t mean to be a  harmful gesture to a woman was mistaken as rape by Lenny. Their escape and the troubles presented with being two lower class males, on the run, and being filled with loneliness during the desolate zeitgeist of the depression era make this story a masterpiece.
40. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi A French autobiographical graphic novel about a girl’s life in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, and her struggle to find balance and living in life through resistance to the government and using education as a means of that resistance. The book’s format is split up into sections based on influential objects and places of each section.
41. The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene The red coats have taken over Mexico, where religion is outlawed, and the whiskey priest is on the run. He’s not the ideal priest, as he is trying to flee the country and is an alcoholic. But as concurrent events happen, he finds that giving up his will gives him more freedom. The whiskey priest’s faith and belief opposes the ideologies of the state and the lieutenant, who is himself searching for hope and justice in a place of poverty and emptiness.
42. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen In a society where a family is as good as its income, Mrs. Bennet has five daughters who she is desperate to see married to well off men of large incomes. When Mr. Bingley, a wealthy young man, comes to stay in Netherfield Park near the village of Longbourn where the Bennets reside, Mrs. Bennet is determined to catch his attention with one of her daughters. But Elizabeth, the second oldest daughter, is not interested in the same issues as her mother. She is intelligent and quick-witted; she is the protagonist of the novel. And when she is faced with an unfavorable Mr. Darcy, she experiences his pride all while eventually realizing his love and tenderness towards her.
43. The River Why by David James Duncan Gus Orviston is frustrated with the life he has in Portland, as he would rather be fishing nonstop if circumstances allowed it. So he decides to move to the Oregon Coast Range to do nothing but eat, sleep and fish. After a while he starts connecting with his neighbors in his community and meets a woman who teaches him that life is not only about fishing, but so much more.
44. The Road by Cormac McCarthy A father and son are travelling through a post-apocalyptic setting where there are no signs of humanity, only barren wasteland. An unexplained disaster has left a thick layer of ash over the sun, so thick that the father and son must wear face masks to breathe. They are headed towards the sea where the father is hopeful that other good people remain, like them.
45. The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne Hester Prynne wears a scarlet cloth resembling the letter ‘A’ on her chest, symbolizing her act of adultery. Throughout the novel she is challenged to accept her past and find redemption in a new life. Set in Puritan Boston, Hester lives in a society where legalism and guilt are the effects of sin.
46. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd When Lily Owens goes to sleep during the hot North Carolina summer nights, the bees come through the cracks of the walls and their hum creates a comforting tune for Lily in her life of abuse by her father and the sadness of her mother’s death when Lily was a small child. When Lily and Rosaleen run into trouble with the law, they end up fleeing the town of Sylvan and head to Tiburon, South Carolina by the inspiration of a honey jar’s logo found in Lily’s mother’s belongings. The logo leads them to finding a community of women who teach Lily the feminine aspects of life that she never learned, growing up without a mother, and the simple lessons that can be learned from bees.
47. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Billy Pilgrim is a soldier in World War 2 who is taken captive by German soldiers and suddenly experiences a shift in time—experiencing past and future events that occur in his life. He is kidnapped by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore, he lives a mundane married life in the 1950s and travels back to memories of his past. The importance of sight and point of view are huge themes in the novel, as Billy is an optometrist and is also seeing his past and future from a point of view that changes consistently.
48. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway With Hemingway’s timeless language of imagery and simplicity, is his first novel that is generally known to be his best work. The novel follows a group of war veterans and their new lives in Europe, facing post-war battle scars and realities.
49. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens The classic English novel of two similar men with a similar love interest, and their lives within two cities. Charles Darnay has abandoned the cruelty of the French for Britain, but must return to France during the brutal revolution to save the life of a faithful servant. Sydney Carton is a depressed lawyer, with sacrificial qualities which redeem and save his own life as well as the life of Charles Darnay, though Darnay’s wife is a factor towards Carton’s sadness and alcoholism. The novel’s protagonists vary between Darnay and Carton among others.
50. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Scout Finch is an imaginative girl living in Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression with her brother Jem, and widowed father Atticus. Atticus is a lawyer and decides to take on the case of an African American man named Tom Robinson who had been accused of raping a white woman. Because of the case, Scout and Jem are teased by other kids at school, but they worry about other things such as Boo Radley, a man who lives in the eerie mansion at the end of the road and is said to have not left the house for years. Through the trial and the mysterious antics of Maycomb, Scout and Jem discover what true justice and innocence look like, through racial inequality and Atticus’s ability to put himself in their shoes during troubling situations.
51. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom Morrie Schwartz is not the ordinary college professor. He is engaged within his students’ lives, and gets to know them on a personal level. Sixteen years after Mitch has had him as a professor, he sees Morrie on Nightline and pays him a visit, discovering that he has Lou Gehrig’s disease. After the visit, Mitch continues to visit Morrie every Tuesday where a different kind of lesson is given. Lessons on love, values, acceptance and happiness. Each chapter encompasses a new Tuesday spent with Morrie, as his disease slowly takes away his ability to function his body.
52. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe An anti-slavery novel written in 19th century America, revolving around the life of a slave named Tom who is a faithful and genuine servant. The novel’s main theme is the immorality of slavery and how something as strong and destructive as slavery itself can be overcome by love.
53. Watership Down by Richard Adams A fantasy novel, encompassing the odyssey of a small group of rabbits who’s burrow has been destroyed and are in search of a new home. On their journey to seek a new home they encounter many epic trials and seek freedom in the novel’s title, Watership Down.

They always tell us not to procrastinate…

It’s the most popular tip to give college students. I admit I’ve probably even advised it, while turning around and doing it myself. So what if we stuck to our compulsory ways and kept procrastinating, but did it to an extent which we still accomplished all we needed to? There is not enough time in a day not to procrastinate. Therefore, let us procrastinators ban together and show the people who are good at managing time how it’s done.

It’s 10 pm and where did all of my day go?

Edward Young once said, “Procrastination is the thief of time.”  Perhaps he was right. Yet that doesn’t stop us from doing it. It’s okay, take a deep breath. Even though you have a midterm you have hardly studied for and an essay to write you need to face the fact that you are a procrastinator. And then once you’ve faced that fact you need to embrace time like it was your child. Here’s how to get going and accomplish what you need to by the morning. (May result to tiredness, falling asleep in class, drowsiness.)

1. Clear your head, clear your space. In order for you to get everything done you will need the best possible work setting to accomplish the maximum amount of work. Do you need complete silence? Go to the library or stay in your room (if your roommate isn’t too distracting). Do you need background noise for inspiration? Go to a lounge or a late night coffee shop. Once you’ve settled into your workspace, clear your head from the worries of the day, the upcoming deadlines and constant worries of life. Focus strictly on what you need to do and start there.  Turn off all distractions that might prevent you from working, such as phone, Facebook, etc. Don’t take on more than one task at a time.

2. Make a to-do list! Post-its are my favorite way to organize life. Make a list in order of how important each task is/when each task is due (this is called prioritizing chronologically). By laying out all that you have to do, you can be scared out of your mind for 15 seconds and then get over that by working. Remember: Crossing off a task on your to-do list is probably one of the top 5 most satisfying things in life.

3. Be willing to work on something, regardless of how long it will take. Take as long as possible until everything is completed. When you start thinking about the other life aspects that will keep you from completing your work such as sleep, you will start to worry and it will trump over your work ethic. So stay focused and don’t think about how long it will take to complete everything.

4. Set amounts of time that you will work on each task. Though it’s important to go into working on something with the mentality that you will work on it until it is perfected, that’s not reality in a procrastinating setting such as this, because there are other things that need to get done as well. Stay with allotted times and get all that you can get done within that time, and then come back and revise as much as possible when you are finished with other tasks.

5. Get in the zone and work. Tune out the world and focus on what needs to get done.

6. Have a (preferably caffeinated) beverage nearby. This always helps me stay awake, but still allows me to sleep once I am finished with my long and grueling night of work. Even something non-caffeinated to sip on is usually helpful with staying awake, I have found.

Fellow procrastinators,

I’m sorry to inform you all that we will forever be procrastinators until we learn self control or how to manage our time. Or you can keep being a procrastinator and hopefully follow some of these tips and accomplish all you need to, while still procrastinating.

Continue reading only if you have read the Harry Potter series. I wouldn’t want to give anything away.

We’ve all been to that point, where we take particular notice of Hermione Granger’s poise and perfection, especially when she stops sucking up to the professors and we realize she’s even better because she’s human and we can relate to her. Hermione is the student we would all like to be but, unfortunately, probably never will be because who has the ability to manage their time that well? It’s the big brain and bushy brown hair that keeps us intrigued, asking, “How are you good at everything (except quidditch)?” Here are some tips that we could all learn, as students, from Hermione Granger:

1. If you don’t see value in a course, drop it. We see this when Hermione drops Professor Trelawney’s Divination Course during HP & The Chamber of Secrets. The time is among us to register for classes, be it winter quarter or second semester. When you get to your first week of classes, take note of the professor’s teaching style and the syllabus. If it’s not required that you take the class and you’d rather be doing something else, then so be it. It’s your college education, so take it by the reins.

2. Do all you have to, to figure out a problem by using your resources. In HP & The Goblet of Fire, Hermione spends hours in the library searching for anything that would be able to make Harry breathe underwater for the second task of the Triwizard tournament. Unfortunately in this situation, Hermione does not find a solution for Harry but instead we remember that Dobby saves the day by giving him stolen gillyweed from Snape’s office. But regardless of this situation, Hermione will do whatever it takes to find a solution once she is faced with a problem, by using her resources (her most favorite being the library). Take advantage of your school’s library, your academic counselor, your peers and professor to stay on track!                                                                                                                                                                                

3. Friendship is the best policy. In all 7 books, Hermione has proved to be a great, though sometimes unforgiving, friend. It’s evident that ever since the first book she agrees to stick with Harry and Ron. Their friendship is inspiring. Be inspired.

4. Punch Malfoy in the nose (to be taken figuratively). I love when Hermione punches Malfoy in HP & The Prisoner of Azkaban, not because I am huge on violence and getting revenge but because Hermione breaks a new barrier within herself. She is challenged and she succeeds. But what I’m really getting at, is if we are in a tough situation whether it be cramming for finals or in a tough spot with friends, we need to punch Malfoy in the nose and succeed! Well maybe that wasn’t the best analogy, but it works.

5. If you are really passionate about something, go for it! In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Hermione takes an overload of classes (with the help of Professor McGonagall and the time turner) and successfully completes them. And we see her happiness in taking these classes because she thrives off of learning. Take some classes just because they sound interesting, or because they’re something that you’ve always wanted to take though they aren’t relevant to your major. It’s good to be well-rounded.

6. Go with your gut feeling. Hermione knows when something is wrong. She’s always the first to sense a bad air about something, whereas Ron is always the first one to be afraid. In our college life, this can be a practical way to face a test. Not sure about the answer on a multiple choice test? Trust your gut feeling, because Hermione would. And she would probably get it correct.

7. Problem solve. Remember when she solved the riddle of the potions to continue onto the Sorcerer’s Stone? She is a genius. Hermione uses her logic in all situations, and she always pulls through. Use your logic in life, like Hermione.

8. Have a good solid group of friends. Hermione, Harry and Ron are a solid group of friends all throughout their years at Hogwarts and beyond. Though they have their disputes (who doesn’t?), they stick together and trust each other. It’s really great to have a solid group of friends like this who you can trust and rely on, especially in times of need when you’re up against Voldemort. Or more so, trials such as defeating Voldemort.

9. Love books. I have to admit Hermione is a little ridiculous, reading textbooks for fun and all. But I am sure they are very interesting. She spits out random pieces of information at the most crucial times and it’s so beneficial. Even if it’s just interesting, it’s great to have a broad mindset and wide spectrum of information.

10. Use your talents where you have been given them. Meaning, Hermione didn’t try out for the Gryffindor quidditch team, because she knew that she was terrible at the sport. Instead, she embraced the gifts she already had such as her sharp intelligence, logic and ethos. She was founder of Dumbledore’s Army, advocate and again founder of The House Elf Liberation Front. When she believed in something she went for it, even when others didn’t. Harry and Ron thought the idea of freeing House Elves was riddikulus (I like puns), yet Hermione stuck with it and continued to fight for Elf rights. It’s good to try new things and it’s also good to use your skills where they could benefit others. Maybe this looks like planning events, or tutoring, or being a DJ for your campus’s radio station. Try new things and see what you’re good at, or more importantly what you most enjoy doing.

Breaking the mold of milk and cereal for dinner

College cafeterias can be quite redundant after a while. Soon it all becomes the same, all of it from the salad bar to the casserole dish that you’ve always been too afraid to try. Though there are plenty of staple items that could be used to create wonderful works of cooking art, you decide to play it safe and go for the Cinnamon Toast Crunch. I know this story all too well. But no longer will I lower my eating standards to these satisfactory breakfast foods (and you shouldn’t either)! Here are four helpful hints on turning your traditional college meal into a delectable feast.

Imagine you are Picasso… In the kitchen

1. Go for the greens. We’ve all seen the salad bar. We pass it every day to get to the other entree items. But have you ever noticed the wonders of the salad bar? There is crisp green romaine lettuce, savory dressings and a myriad of things to put on top, from cucumbers to craisins. So turn a boring green salad into a masterpiece, while adding oven roasted chicken to the top and hip bumping Julia Child like you were her best friend.

2. Know all of what is being served. By taking a trip around the cafeteria before grabbing anything, you can get a good idea of what foods, from different areas, might work well together. Mix and match different items to fit the foods you like most.

3. Spice (and sauce) up your life. Combining different sauces and spices to top off your culinary masterpiece is essential. When the flavors of the cafeteria become, or already are, bland they will need an extra kick to keep you from getting bored.

4. Be patient. What I’ve found is that the longer lines have the better food. Don’t settle for the burger and fries when you’re so hungry that you’ll eat anything in sight. Be patient! The gourmet dishes almost always taste better, and are better for you too!