Safety First

Okay guys, it's time to discuss a very serious problem that faces many college students today, safety. From walking to class, to walking home from that sorority swap, I want to give you a few tips to make your college days fun instead of awful. 

* Walk with a buddy! Always make sure you never walk anywhere alone, especially after the sun goes down. This helps to make you look less vulnerable for someone wanting to take advantage of or attack you. This also helps you defend yourself just in case something does happen. (If you both drove but are parked in different areas, walk to one car first and then give your buddy a ride to theirs).

*Always carry your keys! Always carry your keys in your hand and have them ready in case someone tries to grab or attack you. This will also help with getting into your car quicker without having to dig around in your purse or pocket. 

*Make sure someone knows where you are! Always let someone know where you are going, what time you are leaving, and what time you should be home. Keep in touch with them. Always carry your phone also. This way, if something happens and you are not where you said you would be someone can get help. (This is why your mom always told you to call her when you got where you were going.) 

*Learn some self-defense! It is always good to know a little bit, if not a lot, about self defense. It could save your life in certain situations. Go and check out your campus self defense classes or places around town and see if you can sign up for a few lessons. 

*Learn good places to walk! As most of us know, there are the safe places on campus and the ones that could use some work. Places that are good to walk at night would generally be places that are well lit and have lots of people around most of the time. The darker corners of campus, however, could lead to bad things happening. This doesn't mean though that the good places to walk will keep you safe, it just means that people are less likely to try and harm you if you are in direct view of a bunch of people. 

Learning these few tips could possibly save your life or the life of someone you care about. So please share these tips with your friends. If something does happen to you or someone you know, call and report it immediately if possible. 

Getting Involved, Good or Bad?

In high school my social life came very naturally, this was mostly because the people I was friends with had been with me since kindergarten. However, in college, social opportunities presented themselves but I didn't take many of them; now I wish I would have.  There are many opportunities to get involved on campus and many reasons you should. In this post, I will give you a couple of examples of social opportunities you should look into at your particular school, and I will also tell you a few reasons as to why it is a good idea. 

Sororities and fraternities are a good start to getting involved as a freshman student when coming to college. They provide many social and academic opportunities for you to get involved with. With going greek, as they say, you can make a ton of new and lifelong friends that can be there to support you along your journey that is college. Going greek also provides students with academic support systems, or "study buddies". This will help you get good grades in your classes as well. 

Other than going greek, you can always just join a group or club on campus. There are always lots of clubs to join and activities to sign up for. With this type of involvement on campus, you can not only make friends and be involved on campus, you can make friends in the same field as your major and join together with people who have similar interests or convictions as you. 

Reasons to join groups and organizations are different for everyone. Some join just for the social aspect, but some people join for the academia and/or resume building aspect of it. Being involved can also be a confidence booster for those who feel shy or uncomfortable in social situations. You will need to be able to function with others in the real world after graduation, so why not start now?

Whatever reason you decide to become involved on campus, make sure it is a good one. Do not join an organization just for the credit or alcohol, this will only lead to false friendships and a boring time. Make the most out of college and get involved. Sign up for the next group or club that seems intriguing to you and see where it leads you. You never know, you may have just stumbled across your new niche. 

Where, O Where?

Need something to do for a coming up break in classes? Wanna spend more time with your new friends you have made so far this semester? Well, you can always go on an adventure. No, I am not talking about going on a budget draining vacation to France or Europe, but I am talking about taking a road trip to somewhere exciting with your new pals. In this post, I am going to tell you about a few places not too terribly far from Troy that may interest you and your crew. 

1.  Panama City Beach- Hello, who wouldn't want to go have some fun in the sun? Well, it just so happens that a 3 hour drive down Hwy 167 South will let you enjoy the beautiful scenery that is PCB. While you are there, there is plenty to do. You can choose to just chill and relax on the beautiful, white, sandy beaches or jump in the pool at the hotel. You can also go shopping at the famous pier park strip mall, there is also lots of great places to eat while there. Renting scooters and mopeds is also a popular activity to do while in PCB, along with playing a nice friendly game of putt putt golf. *Just be sure to pack your sunscreen and swimsuit.*

2. Gatlinburg, TN - If the beach is not really your cup of tea, or maybe the beach weather has come and gone, you can also make a simple trek up North a small piece and visit the beautiful mountains of Gatlinburg. There is plenty for you and your friends and/or family members to do here as well. You can go hiking on the numerous trails, or just have a picnic and take in the breathtaking views. If you are feeling more adventurous you can always go visit some of the major tourist attractions Gatlinburg has to offer. There is the Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster, the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museums, the Space Needle, and many more fun attractions. A quick 20 minute trip to Pigeon Forge and you and your gang can visit the fantastic Dolly Wood Amusement Park and make a fun filled day out it. At night, you can relax by the fire in one of the mountains beautiful log cabins for rent. 

3. Atlanta, GA - A measly 3 hour drive, not counting traffic, a little ways North of Troy is the beautiful city of Atlanta. This city is so amazing! You can visit the massive Georgia Aquarium, visit and shop at Underground Atlanta, and even visit the World of Coca-Cola. If you are in the mood for sports, you can always drive to Turner Field and watch the Braves play in an MLB game. Atlanta also has some wonderful restaurants, places to shop, and a very happening night life. So if you are up for partying the night away, this may be a good choice for you and your friends. 

So, if you are just dying to get out of Troy, but don't know where to go, try one of these places on for size. There are also many other places to visit in the surrounding states, all you have to do is get in your car and go find them!!!