December 2014 by Tote Media

JORDANA SCHRAGER Creator of Sneakers by Jordana & Skicks

Issue No. 10 December 2014

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THE LOOKS 08 12 24

B E AU T Y BAR NEW YEARS EVE EYE LOOK BAU B L E B L I SS WI N T E R ESSE N T IALS

FEAT URES 32 36 40 48

SAY H I TO ST E P HAN I E T H E MARK O F M I L L E N N IALS SN E AK AT TACK I N T E RN D IAR I ES FISH ARE FRIENDS

CONTENTS LIFE & ENT ERTAINMENT 52 56

CARE E RS AN D CHALL E N G ES : L I F E O F A G RAD SCH OO L WO MAN F RESH MAN F I L ES TO GO HOME OR NOT TO GO HOME?

E N T E RTAI N M E N T COMING UP

D IY HOLIDAY DIYS

EDITOR’S NOTE

HAPPY END OF THE SEMESTER! After a grueling semester at school it is so easy to dive right into a Netflix coma the second you walk through the door for winter break, only waking up to catch up with high school friends and eat mom’s delicious home cooking. The “at home” nostalgia sits well, especially after all of those late night study sessions during finals week. I get it; I’m the first person to join you in binge watching all seven seasons of “Gilmore Girls” (thank you, Netflix!), coffee at hand. But wouldn’t it be nice to get ahead? Instead of working on group projects and papers for classes, you have a whole winter break where you can do anything you want! Why not push your passions further – or hell, even find your passion. Do something creative and inspiring; let your soul do the talking. Have you always wanted to start a blog? Go ahead, now’s your time! Is the entrepreneurial bug biting at you? You’ve got all winter break to come up with your business plan. You could even take an internship for those few weeks. The possibilities are endless. Take a cue from cover girl Jordana Schrager (page 40). Her Instagram account is filled with pics of her working on her sneakers everywhere, from vacation spots to airplanes. She’s always pushing forward. Or how about Chelsea Krost (page 36)? This millennial expert always has her next move planned.

Shelby Newsome

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

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So go ahead and relax for a bit. We’ve got not one, but two festive DIYs this issue (page 62) to help you ease out of the semester and into the holiday spirit. But afterwards, pursue your passions. You never know where they might take you…

Would you like to contribute to Tote? Contact Shelby at shelby@totemag.com

OUR TEAM CONTRIBUTORS Caro Romero Graphic Designer Chanda Kumar Graphic Design Intern Christen Fairley Marketing Intern Devorah Roberts Editorial Intern

Rachel Parker Photographer Sophie Schneider Photographer Kayla Anderson Writer Giulia Fiora Writer Amy Yoelin Writer Katie Lemon Writer

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THE

LOOKS New Years Eve Eye Look Bauble Bliss Winter Essentials

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NEW YEARS EVE EYE LOOK New Years Eve is quite possibly the most important day on your calendar. It’s the day we celebrate a year worth of memories and welcome in a new year of fresh starts and changes. If you usually stress about how to do your makeup for your New Years Eve celebration, look no further. We’ve got the perfect New Years Eve eye look that will go great with that sparkly dress you’ve been saving for December 31.

T EX T: K AY L A A NDERS ON tote

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Start out with your everyday foundation routine. Because you’ll probably be dancing ‘til the wee hours of the morning, you’ll want to make sure you prime your face before applying your favorite products. NYE is also a huge photo op, so if you have makeup catered to photos, go ahead and use that! I also applied my lip color. I used Maybelline’s Color Sensational Lipstick in Rum Riche, but you can use whatever color you love.

This step is super easy, but is definitely the foundation of this eye look. With your favorite black eye shadow, use an angled shader brush to create an inverted V-shape from your lash line to your crease. Once you’ve created the shape, start blending the shadow in towards your inner eyelid. Don’t worry about blending the color perfectly; we will be adding more colors and blending them all out together.

For this step, you can use any pigment you would like to coordinate to your outfit. I’m using the Ultra Pearl Mania pigment from NYX in Nude. With a blending brush, lightly sweep this color from the inner part of your eyelid up and under your brow bone. If you choose a darker pigment, you’ll probably want to highlight under your brow bone with a lighter color. Continue to blend out the colors until you’re happy with it.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Rum Riche, $5, Amazon 10

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NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Loose Shadow, $3, Ulta,

BEAUTY BAR

Step 4: To add a little definition, take a shimmery gold color and apply that to your eyelid. I used my finger so it wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose any pigment, but any shading brush will work as well. Next, blend everything out with your blending brush. Finish with lining your upper lash line and water line with black eyeliner and applying your favorite mascara!

Sigma Tapered Blending Brush, $16, Sigma Beauty tote

BAUBLE

BLISS With the holidays and NYE right around the corner, Stella & Dot has the perfect baubles to accessorize any outfit. P hotogra p hs : RAC HEL PA RK ER MODEL: RENEE GERRA RD

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Tallulah Bib Necklace, $138 Nancy Studs, $24

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Zoe Lariat Necklace, $98 Bardot Spiral Bangle, $49 tote

Devon Chandeliers, $34 Pauline Ring, $49

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Aria Pendant Necklace, $98 tote

Arrison Stretch Bracelet, $34 Amelie Sparkle Bracelet, $39 Pavé Chevron Cuff, $34 Pavé Chevron Ring, $2

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Sardinia Pendant Necklace, $98 tote

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Click on this page

to shop these looks and more! FREE SHIPPING for all Tote Magazine subscriber orders over $50 from our stylist Christie Moag (she will send you a check or you can email her prior to placing your order at christie.moag@me.com). The deadline for holiday deliveries (12/24) is 12/21. 22

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GO FOR THE

GOLD Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always one for gold tones but something about the New Year right around the corner makes them even more fitting.

Shelby Newsome, Founder a nd Editor-in-Chief

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WINTER ESSENTIALS

1. House of Harlow 1960 Mini Sunburst Stud Earrings, $28, Shopbop 2. Christmas Wishes Mini Garland, $16, West Elm 3. Gorjana Mave Shimmer Ring, $40, Shopbop 4. Passport Holder, $5.95, H&M 5. Glint Crystal & Faux Pearl Clutch, $65, Nordstrom 6. Goreski Glasses Bangle, $78, Kate Spade 7. Gold Flatware Sets, $39 - $140, West Elm 8. Keds x Kate Spade New York Champion Glitter, $80, Keds 9. Gold Dipped Sweater, $98, Piperlime 10. Street of Gold Skirt, $63, Ruche 11. Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Wood Fragrance Candle, $95, Saks Fifth Avenue 12. Crystal Case Spiked DJ Stereo Headphones, $20, Amazon tote

GEOMETRIC

WINTER Geometric shapes are an easy way to incorporate a modern touch into your lifestyleâ&#x20AC;Ś and they make great gifts!

Ca ro Romero, Graphic Designer

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WINTER ESSENTIALS

1. Large Honeycomb Book Shelf, $119, Etsy 2. Hand Painted Laser Cut Wood Geometric Stud Earrings, $7.63, Etsy 3. Geometric Clutch in Yellow, White and Grey, $23, Etsy 4. Geometric Printed Sweatshirt, $19, Etsy 5. Flaneur's Pocket Geometric Wooden Planters, $50, West Elm 6. Scandinavian Print, $43, Etsy 7. Framed Print - Geometric Inquiry, $149â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$199, West Elm

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WINTER

ANGEL Ditch the snow angels and be a real winter angel this season with these colorful, warm holiday accessories.

Christen Fa irley, Ma rket ing Intern

10 9 7

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WINTER ESSENTIALS 2

1. Men's Flannel, $39.95, LL Bean 2. Winter Wonderland Candle, $27.99, Yankee Candle 3. Tall Fleece Welly Socks, $30, Nordstrom 4. Mean Girl's Mug, $16, Etsy 5. Pentatonix "That's Christmas To Me," $7.99, iTunes 6. Snowflake Charm Bangle, $32, Alex and Ani 7. Nail Lacquer It Sparkles Like the Snow, $9.50, Opi 8. Cable knit beanie, $29.95, Pac Sun 9. Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate,$3.38, Walmart 10. Women's Better Sweater Fleece Vest, $99, Patagonia

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LET'S STAY

CONNECTED Join us on all of our social adventures.

FEATURES Say Hi to Stephanie The Mark of Millennials Sneak Attack Fish are Firends

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SAY HI TO

STEPHANIE T EX T: C HA NDA K UMA R P HOTOGRA P HS : K AT HERINE ROBERTS

If you wanted to use one word to describe Stephanie Andrews’ time at Towson University, it would be empowering. Stephanie came to Towson with a myriad of interests including creative writing, anthropology, cultural and religious studies, and women in leadership. After trying to find her footing during her first semester, she began looking for student organizations that exemplified her ideas. Towards the end of her freshman year, Stephanie became interested in the Feminist Collective, a campus group geared towards empowering women. “I was very interested [in the Feminist Collective] because I definitely had feminist ideas but I don’t think that I had learned enough to fully express what I was feeling,” Stephanie says. Although her mother tried to dissuade Stephanie from joining the group for fear that it would garner criticism from others for labeling

herself, Stephanie still proceeded. Then in her sophomore year she found the Women’s Leadership Program Scholarship in which she applied and got accepted into the program. Stephanie had previously attended a women’s leadership conference that the program coordinated. “[The conference] was very eye-opening and I felt comfortable expressing my feminist attitudes there because it was a group of 100 or so other like-minded people, so that was exciting,” Stephanie says. Through the program Stephanie was able to delve even deeper into gender issues. For the final event the program held, Stephanie was able to present her outreach project, the “Princess Problem.” Her project focused on women in Disney films. “I did some brief film analysis chronologically, so starting with ‘Snow White’ from '36 and moving

into present day,” Stephanie says. “I would show film clips and give my interpretation pointing out things that made the character stereotypically female and such, and then I would turn it over for group discussion.” Stephanie was also required to create a blog to accompany the “Princess Problem” however; she soon realized the potential in talking about more than just Disney films. “I’m hopefully going to start [a blog] that looks at women in all different types of media, whether it’s video games or movies or TV shows, books,” Stephanie says. “I’m particularly excited to dive into ‘Game of Thrones’ because it’s a great series and it’s well-written but there’s a lot of issues with the way that women are treated in that whole universe.” Stephanie has been able to branch out and become a stronger female leader at Towson. Expanding her horizons has allowed her to tote

become a part of several other organizations, in addition to what she was already in.

career that will allow her to represent her feminist ideas and still have fun doing it.

Stephanie was already a member of the Honor’s College, but after her experience with the Women’s Leadership Program, she became the only student in the Women in Leadership Conference Planning Committee.

“Regardless of what career I find myself in ten - twenty years from now, I know that I’m definitely going to apply what I’ve learned hear with regards to women’s leadership…”

Now a senior, Stephanie has increased her connections on campus and in her community. She tries to express her ideas wherever she goes and isn’t afraid of what others might have to say about them. “For a while I was like maybe this is a bad idea; maybe I should just keep my ideas to myself and not express them in a public venue,” Stephanie says. But the Women’s Leadership Program gave her the confidence to express her ideas. While Stephanie has been absorbed with classes and the groups she’s in, she still finds time to pursue her other passions. “This semester alone, I’ve been sparked to make changes in my life or start new projects,” Stephanie says. “So far, I’ve got an idea for a book I want to write, I’m starting an Etsy shop, and I’m exploring Shinnyo-en, a Buddhist denomination.” All in all, Stephanie hopes to become a well-rounded woman who can represent other women with confidence. She hopes to gain respect in a male-dominated society. In the future, Stephanie wants to gear all of her endeavors to a

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THE MARK OF

MILLENNIALS T EX T: S HEL BY NEWS OME P HOTOGRA P HS : J S QUA RED P HOTOGRA P H Y

What’s a 16-year-old girl to do when growing up all she hears is how promiscuous and entitled her generation is? For Chelsea Krost, the answer was easy: empower her generation and become an expert on all things millennials. People that Chelsea looked up to, like Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey, and Matt Lauer, would talk about her generation in a negative way and she didn’t understand why. “I looked at myself, my peers, my friends, and we were studying so hard for our SATs, our ACTs. We only wanted to get into great schools and we knew what we wanted to somewhat do within our careers in our future and we had no agenda to fail.” That’s when Chelsea realized that her and her friends didn’t have a voice in the media. “I think there needs to be a platform for like-minded teenagers to come together and also feel like

they have a voice, [that] their opinion counts, their voice matters...” It didn’t take long for Chelsea to remedy that. She used her television production background to create “Teen Talk Live”, a radio show for teens, propelling a platform for her generation. “I had no idea that it would snowball so fast,” Chelsea says. When Chelsea was 18 years old she was then presented with the opportunity to produce content for national outlets like “The Today Show,” “Anderson with Anderson Cooper ” and “The Tyra Banks Show”. She also became the millennial spokesperson for U by Kotex. Now 23, Chelsea is continuing to give her generation an outlet. When Chelsea turned 20 she transitioned “Teen Talk Live” to “The Chelsea Krost Show,” a radio and television show, in order to include all millennials in the conversation.

“I want to shed light on some of the topics that don’t always get the press because maybe they’re a little taboo to talk about on national syndicated TV but we can talk about them on ‘The Chelsea Krost show,’” Chelsea says. As an entrepreneur, television and radio talk show host, and executive producer, to name a few of the hats she wears, Chelsea is immersed in the millennial culture. “People call me a walking millennial encyclopedia,” she says with a laugh. She continues to lead the way for millennials and her next project proves just that. MPulse, an experiential content platform for millennials made by millenials, will have a soft launch this January. With the help of co-founder Greg Goldner, Chelsea envisions MPulse to be highly interactive and engaging while still delivering crucial content.

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“Not only are we going to create an article or video about how to monetize your blog [or any other topic], but we’re going to also take it one step further and generate conversation and engagement through social handles to get that much deeper into the conversation. So the MPulse wants to make news conversational.” MPulse will delve into a unique platform through its website and mobile app. The journey of MPulse has been a rewarding experience for Chelsea. “My goal and my passion is to create this ultimate platform for the millennial generation that who knows where it could possibly go,” Chelsea says. “The journey of the MPulse has been so incredible in itself. I literally pinch myself everyday. I cannot believe the MPulse is about to launch in January. I cannot wait for this rollercoaster ride.” From “Teen Talk Live” to the Chelsea Krost brand to MPulse, Chelsea has had pivotal experiences, which continue to bring her from one success to the next. However, from where she started to where she is now has not always been easy. “I have been in this [industry] going on nine years now and I have heard ‘no’ so many times. I’ve had doors shut in my face a million times,” Chelsea says. During difficult times turning towards best friends can be the best medicine. However, for Chelsea, working towards her goals pushed her friends away.

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“When I shared with my best friends that I was launching 'Teen Talk Live' my four closest friends stopped talking to me,” Chelsea says. “They said, ‘Who do you think you are?’” As devastating as it can be to have your closest friends turn on you, especially while in high school, Chelsea kept her head held high. “Nobody becomes a success overnight and everybody loves them,” Chelsea says. “Haters are going to hate and people are going to want to try to bring you down.” As Chelsea pushes forward with her personal brand and MPulse, she continues to strive towards one specific objective. “If you were to throw Arianna Huffington and Oprah in a blender then you would get Chelsea Krost and that’s my goal. I really want to be the modern day millennial version of Arianna Huffington meets Oprah.”

1. 2.

Chelsea’s 3 Tips for Success Take Internships Whether you’re getting paid or getting school credit, taking internships is vital to success. “That experience and that exposure and that networking opportunity is going to be so influential,” Chelsea says.

Have Your Own Business Card Just because you’re still in school doesn’t mean you can’t have your own business card. Chelsea says that even if you just have your name, email, phone number, social link, and portfolio website link on the business card, it’s better than not having one at all. “It makes you look official, it makes you look established and it makes you look ready to rock and roll.”

Create a Social Identity “We have LinkedIn, we have Twitter, and we have Facebook,” Chelsea says. “Those are the three that I would say for college students to designate your time and energy into.” As more and more businesses look at your social presence before making hiring decisions, Chelsea says it’s good to build your social presence… in a positive way of course. So start following people in the industry you want to get into, converse with like-minded individuals, and network!

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SNEAK ATTACK 40

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T EX T: S HEL BY NEWS OME P HOTOGRA P HS : S OP HIE S c hneider tote

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Think back to the year 2009: social media was a new, if not foreign, concept; DVR was a rarity; and flip phones were all the rage. If you were stuck inside for the night, boredom was inevitable. That didn’t stop Jordana Schrager, then a high-school sophomore, from finding a remedy for that. When she was stuck in her room one night, she took to her clean white sneakers and doodled on them with pens. “I started wearing them. Everyone at school really loved them,” Jordana says. “And my family and friends would want a pair. Everyone just kept asking and trying to order pairs. It kind of takes a long time but I started just making them for fun and just giving them to people.” And that’s how Sneakers by Jordana was created. The now 21-year-old junior at University of Michigan has sold more than 400 pairs of customized sneakers. “Especially when I got social media, that’s when I really started getting more orders from people I didn’t know,” Jordana says. She uses sharpie paint markers to ink the eclectic collage of imagery. Originally taking her one to two weeks to complete a pair, Jordana has fine-tuned her craft down to one to two days. Her sneakers have even been shared with celebrities. Nick Cannon, host of “America’s Got Talent,” wore a pair to a charity event. tote

“ ”

If you’re passionate about something you should just work really hard toward it.

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Selena Gomez and P!nk have also been spotted with the sneakers. “I was working with the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for a while and they give gifts [to their] performing artists and so they asked me to make the artists gifts and they would give it to them after they perform,” she says. Besides the Barclays Center, Jordana has also worked with charities. In high school, Jordana had the opportunity to work with Best Foot Forward Foundation. “What we did was we set up a contest and I guess the most commendable teenager each month would receive a pair of my sneakers,” Jordana says. “So it was kind of an incentive to succeed and stay out of trouble because the Best Foot Forward Foundation houses and looks over kids who are in trouble and don’t really have families.” As each pair is completely individualized, it’s hard not to get excited about them. “What I tell my customers to do is send me a list of around 15 things that they want on the shoes or a theme to work with,” Jordana says. “So after I get their list or their ideas that’s kind of what I get inspired by and I find images and I take pictures of different things and I just get inspiration from their ideas and I create a shoe that’s custom and personalized just for them.” While Jordana loves customizing sneakers, she’s found another way to branch out into the shoe business.

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“I was drawing a lot of collegiate-designed sneakers, because I made myself a Michigan themed pair because I go to school here,” Jordana says. “People were asking me for Michigan pairs and others schools and I was just getting so many orders for the collegiate sneakers.” But customizing sneakers takes time; Jordana wanted the sneakers to be available to any college student, which customizing does not lend its hand to. So Jordana, alongside her mom, envisioned mass-produced collegiate sneakers, called Skicks. Currently, there are 12 collegiate Skicks variations. With Jordana’s motivation, there’s sure to be more soon. “We have the licenses for about 50 [colleges] so we just want to keep expanding and getting more licenses and getting more colleges on board,” Jordana says. Running two businesses is quite the feat, especially when you factor in the loads of schoolwork piled on top. “I wake up early to get shoes done, but it’s worth it because I enjoy doing it,” Jordana says, since she has classes all day. Jordana attributes her classes in aiding her with both businesses. Her art major pushes her to improve her design skills, while her business minor helps her with business plans. When Jordana actually has a free moment, she loves going to the concrete jungle she calls home: New York City.

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“I hang out with my family, go to really good restaurants,” Jordana says. “I like walking around SoHo and all the different areas in the city.” Still, Jordana foresees even bigger things for the future. Expanding both businesses is a must. Jordana says that she’d like to train artists in her style so she can produce even more customized sneakers. Her passion is endless, which keeps her going. “If you’re passionate about something you should just work really hard toward it…” Jordana says. If we do say so ourselves, this girl is kickin’ it.

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FISH ARE

FRIENDS T EX T: C HRIST EN FAIRL E Y

“The Little Mermaid” claims that life’s better under the sea, but Casey Sohyda is trying to make life even better under the sea through her work. Casey has spent the fall semester as an intern at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. The opportunity has given her a chance to apply and explore what she’s studying at Towson University as a biology major with a concentration in organismal biology and ecology. Most of her day-to-day responsibilities consist of food prep and feeding for the Blacktip Reef and Atlantic Coral Reef exhibits.

“I was really surprised by how much she eats,” says Casey. “She gets a total of 17 pounds of lettuce a day! And then also gets two small containers filled with veggies.” Casey’s strong passion to work with sea animals was what led her to pursue the internship originally. Now, almost finished with the internship, her love for sea life has only grown, though it includes a special place in her heart for sea turtles. “I hope people become more aware of what is actually going on at sea,” says Casey. “Hopefully I’ll start a sea turtle rescue program or be a major part of an already existing one since all seven species of sea turtles are endangered.”

“Once food prep is done, I do the morning feeding in BTR which consists of feeding our sting rays, sharks, green sea turtle and some of our smaller fish. Then I go feed As the National Aquarium funds the bonnet head sharks in the ACR,” conservation and education says Casey. programs, Casey feels she was a perfect match for the internship. Casey is especially fond of the She believes that their similar goals green sea turtle named Calypso. make the internship even more valuable. 48

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“My favorite part about working at the aquarium is being able to work with the animals,” says Casey. “I have a strong passion for conservation of sea life and that is our mission at the aquarium, to spread the word about the treasure of the sea and how to save it.” Her interest in sea life and conservation wasn’t something Casey just woke up with one morning. As a young girl, she was interested in sea life and then she had an experience that solidified her dream. “I took a trip to Australia and got to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef,” Casey says. “It looked so spectacular. That’s how I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up.” Casey’s experience at the aquarium illustrates how an internship should be more than just another line on a resume. “Students shouldn’t just look for something to put on their resume. The purpose of an internship is to introduce you to what you may

INTERN DIARIES Image via: baltimoreonthecheap.com

be doing in the future when you graduate so you should look for something that you would enjoy rather than just doing it to build your resume,” says Casey. Reflecting on her internship experience, Casey realizes it has only given her a clearer vision of what she hopes to pursue in the future. “My internship has pushed me in the right direction of what I want to do,” Casey explains. “I’m not sure I would want to work at an aquarium, but rather work with an aquarium to provide conservation information to the public.” Casey urges students to be creative when pursuing internships. “Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and ask. Most places have internships that you wouldn’t even think of,” she says. “Also hunt for internships early rather than later, the earlier you send in your information the better and apply for multiple. Don’t limit yourself.”

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TEAM

TOTE Looking to expand your resume and gain invaluable experiences to help propel your career? Join Team Tote!

INTERN

Interested in learning about the inner workings of an online publication? Join Tote’s team and have the opportunity to work on various aspects of the magazine. We currently have internships available for editorial, graphic design, web design, and social media. Related majors are preferred. Contact Shelby at shelby@totemag.com with a resume.

CONTRIBUTE

Do you love to write? Submit a sample writing along with feature ideas to Shelby at shelby@totemag.com to be considered. You’ll gain opportunities to write for upcoming issues and posts on the website.

BECOME A BRAND AMBASSADOR

We’re kicking off our Brand Ambassador program! If you’re a marketing major or super outgoing and social, we want you! Gain experience in promotions and networking and become a vital role within our team. Interested in applying? Submit a resume to Shelby at shelby@totemag.com to learn more about the program.

LIFE &

ENTERTAINMENT Careers and Challenges: Life of a Grad School Woman To Go Home or Not To Go Home? Coming Up Holiday DIYs

CAREERS AND CHALLENGES:

LIFE OF A GRAD SCHOOL WOMAN T EX T: Giulia Fiora

With graduation around the corner, the future can be a real worry for juniors and seniors. Amid projects and tests, upper classmen have to decide what they want to do after graduation. One option is grad school, but more years of school can seem stressful, overwhelming, and just downright scary. Grad school may not be for everyone, yet lots of women choose to go back to school and have committed themselves to the graduate lifestyle. The first step in deciding to go back to school is choosing a program. Kelli Robinson, who received her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology, knew she wanted to practice in Speech Language Pathology and would need a graduate degree. “I was able to get my undergrad in Audiology and Speech Language

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Pathology,” she says. “Afterwards I could choose to be a doctor or a professional. The latter only required two years of schooling and I was more interested in that as a career.” Christina Landis, who received her Dual Masters in Public Administration and Public Health, knew she wanted to be in the health care market. “My bachelor’s degree was basically a high school diploma,” she says. “A Master’s is where the competition is. I thought that grad school would get me a greater opportunity in my career path.” Alexandra Puppelo, who received her Master of Arts in English: Composition, Language, and Rhetoric, went straight from undergrad into graduate school.

“I wasn’t going to go back to graduate school immediately, but my boss informed me of an assistantship as a writing center assistant director which would cover the tuition,” Puppelo says. “I had wanted to pursue that field and decided to take that opportunity, but I received a better assistantship as a teaching assistant, so I decided to try that.” One of the biggest stresses and worries about grad school is time. Grad school is a very demanding experience with more reading, writing, and research. Landis noticed that the amount of reading she had to do was significantly more than undergrad. “The material was not necessarily harder, but there is more time you have to put into it,” Landis says. “You might have 400 pages of reading a week for one class. Classes only meet once a week for

Image via: tunews.towson.edu

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Image via: www.sprpainting.com

three hours, but since I was a full time student (three classes) that’s a lot of reading and time to put into completing the work.” Time is even further compromised when students have to work to put themselves through school. Robinson, worked several jobs to put herself through school, all while being a full time student. “Once I finished up with classes on Friday, I would waitress on the weekends, and then I had a graduate assistantship to help alleviate some of the costs,” she says. The grad school time commitment can also affect personal relationships. Puppelo missed being with her boyfriend—now husband— and other family members. “Even though I was developing my career in school, I felt like I was putting my life on hold,” Puppelo says. Landis agrees. “The hardest part about going back to school is seeing everyone kick start their careers and knowing you are still in school.” Grad school can seem even more daunting when thinking about the financial aspect of paying for it. Higher Education is not cheap, but there are plenty of ways to alleviate the cost of school, according to Puppelo. “Money is out there in the form of assistantships, state and local government scholarships, professional organization scholarships, grants, tuition reimbursement programs

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through employers, etc.,” she says. “Do all you can to find the money to cover the costs.” Robinson adds on by saying, “Don’t worry about money. The career you get will pay it back.” The career growth associated with grad school is one of the reasons students decide to go back to school. “Part of my program required us to go out and do a clinical practicum within the Baltimore and DC Metro Area,” Robinson says. “I knew that would be beneficial so I could practice in MD.” Robinson further adds that the classes she took were more applicable to her career and were not just general education requirements. The information in these classes needed to be retained in the long run, and not just learned for the sake of passing a class. Not only can career growth occur but it can also lead to personal growth. “I got to enhance my diversity by meeting different people and expanding my network,” Landis says. “You are seeing a lot of people who are young and just out of school, or people who are already in their careers and trying to get a step up. Learning from everyone’s experiences had a huge impact on myself.” Robinson adds, “The community and my classmates were wonderful. We all really stuck together. We helped each other. The comradery that comes with all being SLPs was

a great support and we were learning things that we will use forever.” Grad school allows students to pursue higher education degrees that are different than their undergraduate degree. “Grad school is a great thing,” Landis says. “The best part is that you’re not necessarily looking at what you did for undergrad. The school is looking at your credentials. I was a biology major and ended up doing public health and administration. Your undergraduate degree doesn’t limit you. I think a lot of people think that they have to go to grad school for what their undergraduate degree was, but that’s not the case. You can do what you want and stick with it, and do well. Grad school opens up so many doors.”

“I would put myself into school whole heartedly and figure out a system for time management,” she says. “I would say, if you have a time management and study system, stick with it. Don’t try to change it week to week.” Despite all the stress, worry, and time commitments, all three women agree that grad school was a great, meaningful, and valuable experience for them personally and for their careers. “Being on the other side of graduate school, it’s worthwhile,” Robinson says.

Robinson agrees and says, “If you know that the career your want requires a graduate degree, just do it. The sooner you do it the better. Go and do it.” Even if the career you want requires a graduate degree, grad school should be a commitment that you are willing to make. “Be sure that you want to commit your time to the degree. Your life and time are precious,” Puppelo says. “Don’t waste them on school just to do it; do it because it will get you to where you want to be. You have to have the motivation to get through a difficult grad program, even if you’ve always enjoyed school.” Looking back Landis would have organized her time differently.

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TO GO HOME OR NOT

TO GO HOME? T EX T: A M Y YOELIN I’ll admit it: staying the first weekend at college terrified me. Why? Because I didn’t know what was going to happen. Were there going to be parties? Was it going to be loud? Would I have people to be with? Would I become a hermit and vacate in my room for over two days? What was my roommate going to do? All these questions went unanswered, for I left that Friday and did not return to campus until Sunday. Yes, I drove two hours, burning a tank of gas, to escape my anxiety. Was it cowardly of me? Yes. Do I regret not staying on campus during those two days? No. Even though I was absent from my house for less than seven days, I was starting to feel homesick. Despite my daily communication with my parents, I longed to be around them, even if it was for nearly forty-eight hours. It had been over two weeks since I had been with both of my sisters. My brother and I hadn’t seen each other in over three months. While it was comforting to be around them, I was

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reminded that we (my parents and siblings) needed to be separated for a lengthy period of time.

Ever since that hurdle, weekends have become part of what I look forward to (besides being at the dining hall—not for the food but The next weekend, I, along with my for the social interaction) at the parents, decided that it was best end of the week. Movie nights, for me to stay at my university. And Cards Against Humanity, and renI did. It was perhaps the most abditions of “High School Musical” are normal two days I’ve had in my life, just a sample of what my friends to say the least. At the time, I had and I do. While our weekend activionly a few close friends. Together, ties seem juvenile, in actuality, they we met numerous amounts of are invigorating. people over that Saturday and Sunday, yet I still felt uneasy come And then, after my worrying had fiMonday. Were we really going to nally subsided, I went home again. see these people again? Did they This time, it was six weeks into the like me? Did I like them? school year. Although my parents didn’t enforce it, it was strongly Each weekend became easier with recommended that I come home time. At first, I was worried. What for a religious holiday. I didn’t want were my friends and I going to do? to leave school. Homecoming Was there anything on-campus was that weekend, and I would be to do? What about off-campus? missing out on the festivities that A flaw of mine is that I worry far were being publicized constantly too much. Really, I worry about over that week: the dance, football everything—from food to friends game, and Community Fest (where to family and everything else in students, departments from the between. That being established, it college, and members of the comwas strenuous for me to let things munity gathered together for food, go unplanned. Soon, I discovered fun, and games). that the best memories are the ones not planned, but the ones When I did arrive at home, I felt that are spontaneous. outlandish. Indeed, it was pleasant

FRESHMAN FILES

to be surrounded by members of my family that I hadn’t seen in over a month. But, at the same time, I craved to be back with my friends. In a way, I felt almost incomplete without them. Returning to school from that weekend, I make a decision that I would not revisit my house until Thanksgiving. I felt as though I had seen my family too many times, and that I needed to seclude myself from them. To my shock, I actually followed through on my commitment. I thought I would flake out and decide to escape from college for a few days to go home. In the end, I’m glad my plan didn’t fall through the cracks. It made my reunion with my parents and siblings (okay, and my dog too) that much more memorable. We all were able to swap college accounts, professor horror stories, and recollect on how intolerable dining hall food can become over a short amount of time.

Now, winter break is on the horizon. As many of you are currently experiencing, being done with classes for the semester is a blessing. We can throw our hands up and surrender to our professors! Winter break is also a time for a departure from college life, and back to home life, in the sense that you will eat real food, use your own restroom, and not use a key to get into your room. While it is soothing to be home after being absent from it for so long, your friends are not only a few buildings away from you. They could be hours, miles, and states away. But, oddly enough, there is something special in that. It means you could have the opportunity to visit places you’ve never been before, and be with an unofficial tour guide (your friend!). It means you are meeting people you would have never met before. And that, by itself, is extraordinary.

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The London Sessions Mary J. Blige December 2 The whopping 13th studio album by the R&B queen, “The London Sessions” is exactly what it sounds like: full of tracks written and recorded in the heart of London. Blige teamed up with various UK talent, from Emeli Sande to Sam Smith, to achieve a true and honest London album that we can’t wait to get our hands on and cuddle up to this winter.

WHAT A TERRIBLE WORLD, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WORLD The Decemberists January 20th With six studio albums already under their belt, these Portland, Oregon natives are back at it with fresh tunes in their classically laidback and acoustic vibe. Their first single off the album, "Make You Better," perfectly showcases why The Decemberists will always make it onto our Top Played playlists. It's calm, it's cool, and it's absolutely captivating. We've got it on repeat until the other 13 songs are released in the New Year.

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MUSIC

COMING UP

TEXT: KATIE LEMON

ENTERTAINMENT

SUCKER Charli XCX December 16

MOVIES

Whether you know it or not, Charli XCX is secretly the princess of pop. She’s been the songwriter behind hits like “I Love It” by Icona Pop and “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea, and is finally dropping her own huge album this month. We’re crazy about her fresh electronic sound and if her single “Boom Clap” tells us anything, this album is going to rocket to the top of the charts and for good reason.

THE HOBBIT: tHE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES December 17th The third and final film installment of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is finally here, and with quite the epic conclusion. While the gang of men, elves, and dwarves successfully reclaimed their treasure and homeland, the dragon Smaug is none too pleased and decides to wreak havoc on a nearby town. Bilbo struggles to reunite his crew, which has disbanded in pursuit of personal pleasure now that they are rich in treasured goods. Add a myriad of other planned stealth attacks and plots to overtake Middle Earth, and you’ve got the awe-inducing and wild ride that is the conclusion to The Hobbit.

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ANNIE December 19th A new twist on the old hardknocks classic, the upcoming “Annie” features Quvenzhané Wallis alongside Jamie Foxx to retell the little orphan’s story in a fresh light. Foxx plays Mr. Stacks, a New York mayor candidate who needs a big campaign move to secure the seat. He takes Annie in and considers himself her guardian angel, but it just may be the other way around considering her sun-willcome-out-tomorrow attitude and ever-hopeful outlook.

INTO THE WOODS December 25th This delightful holiday flick interweaves all of our favorite Brother Grimm fairy tales. Spun around a quaint baker and his wife and their desire to start a family, an intervening witch has other plans for the pair. Throughout the movie we catch glimpses of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, as well as many other beloved characters. Bonus? The movie stars none other than Anna Kendrick, James Corden, and Emily Blunt. It’s the perfect post Xmas theater outing for the fam!

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BOOKS

THE DOLL'S HOUSE Tania Carver December 15th She’s got bright pink walls, stuffed animals everywhere, and the perfect tea party set up. And there she is, life-size with rosy red cheeks and pigtails, an adult woman. Dead, and covered in blood. It’s a scene unlike any other to Detective Brennan, who as he investigates, discovers that the gruesome and peculiar murder is even more bizarre than he originally thought, and the murderer is about to strike again. This crime thriller will have you on the edge of your seat, and possibly quaking under the covers.

SAVING GRACE Jane Green December 30th This novel follows the picture-perfect Ted and Grace Champan, just as their put-together life begins to fall apart. Luckily, the couple is saved by Ted’s new assistant Beth. At first, Beth simply calms Ted’s anger and provides emotional support to Grace in her time of need. But Beth’s attitude might be a little too warm for the situation and she could soon become the biggest threat to Grace’s personal and professional life, as well as her sanity. Be sure to pick up a copy if chick lit always hits the top of your list.

THE BOSTON GIRL Anita Diamant December 9th When 85-year-old Addie Baum is asked by her granddaughter what made her the woman she is today, "The Boston Girl" flashes back to 1915. Born to Jewish immigrants in a vibrant community of the North End of Boston, Addie imparts stories of her first love, the friends that helped shape her life, and her eventual discovery of herself as a woman with dreams and agency all her own. This historical fiction will give you a beautiful kaleidoscope view of growing up at the turn of the century, while also remaining both feel-good and empowering for lost girls everywhere.

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HOLIDAY

DIYS â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tis the season to fa la la and hang those stockings. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also one of the best times to get your DIY on. Canadian blogger Jessica Delves of L'anatomie de L'art has two DIY projects that are sure to make your holiday that much more festive!

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DIY

Tool s a nd S up p lies : 1 branch (try to get a strong branch or log to support the weight) 1 toy deer • Several Christmas decorations • Scissors • 24 circle boxes (extra small size) Number stencils (small enough to fit on the circle boxes) • 1 sponge brush • 1 brush Wire Black and White acrylic paint • String • Pliers

ADVENT

CALENDAR T EX T & P HOTOGRA P HS : JES SICA DELV ES

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Step 1:

Apply black paint on the top of the boxes. TIP: For a neater look, paint in one direction. Up and down or side to side.

Step 2: While waiting for the boxes to dry, apply white paint to the deer.

Step 3: Stencil the numbers to each box. TIP: Use a sponge brush for a better look.

Step 4:

Get your Christmas decorations out. Cut the wire to fit around the box. Leave a little bit of room to twist. Twist the garland into the wire and add the red balls.

Step 5: After you are satisfied with your design, glue gun everything to the top of the box. TIP: Make each box different than the others. NOTE: Line them up for a faster process.

Step 6: Make a little design on top of the branch. Then glue gun everything after.

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Step 7:

Make 2 small holes on the top and bottom of the box. This will allow the string to attach the boxes together so they can hang in columns.

Step 8: Make a knot at the bottom and glue gun it after. This allows the box to be in the proper position.

Step 9: Tie the columns of boxes to the branch.

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DIY

Tool s a nd S up p lies : Mechanical pencil • Scissors • Cardboard Chalkboard paper • Miniature trees • Wire • Small garland strands Holly berry branches • Glue Gun and extra glue • Straws Strings • Chalk pen • Eraser • Compass

HOLIDAY

WREATH T EX T & P HOTOGRA P HS : JES SICA DELV ES

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Step 1:

Draw the first circle into the cardboard so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about 5 inches in diameter.

Step 2: Using the same center point as the first circle, draw a second circle that reaches about an inch to an inch and a half further than the first one.

Step 3: Cut out the center circle and the outer circle so you are left with a ring.

Step 4: Place the first 4 straws on the north, south, west and east sides of the ring.

Step 5: Set a gap on your compass to have a consistent length between each straw.

Step 6: Complete your first layer.

Step 7: Complete the second layer. The second layer will fill in the gap.

Step 8: Add in the third layer. Stack the straws between the bottom layer.

Step 9: Glue the garland in the middle to have a cleaner and merrier look.

Step 10: Glue the chalkboard paper on the back of the wreath. Add decorations, like little trees, to sit on the garland.

Step 11: Draw a circle on the chalkboard paper.

Step 12: Write a word, like Joy, or a quote, whichever you prefer.

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Step 13: Highlight the drawing with the chalkboard pen.

Step 14: Cut any leftover straws into 4 pieces. TIP: Depending on the color of the main background, use darker or lighter straws to pop it up.

Step 15: Glue them in.

Step 16: Glue strings to the back of the wreath for hanging.

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ENDNOTE

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