Because I’m 21 and Feel Like I’ve Learned A Lot

So there comes a time in everyone’s life when they turn 21. Trust me, it happens. And at this time we feel as though we know things about life. Or maybe it’s that we know and have experienced so little it tricks us into thinking we know things. I swear, you can find about 60 blogs titled “20 things I learned by time I was 20”. Google it. Either way, I’m 21, a senior in college and feel as though I have a few things I need to share with ya’ll. Maybe it’s perspective. Perspective for the high schoolers who think they know everything about life (it’s cool I knew nothing everything too at your age), for the early twentiers who feel like the only ones who are lost, for the post twentiers who think we don’t know anything (I promise, we have had some life experience worth listening to). And we’re off.

1. Nobody knows what they’re doing. This is so important to remember. Heading into the “real world” I feel as though everyone has their life together. They know what they want, where they want to go, who they want to be. Truth is, nobody knows anything. 74% of college graduates don’t choose a career related to their degree. Seventy four percent! I’m kidding, I made that statistic up. But really, a ton of people do that. So if you don’t know what you’re doing, join the club. We’re getting t-shirts.

2. It’s ok to be poor. It’s actually kind of fun. And by fun I mean it’s terrifying and liberating and worryful (not a word) and adventurous. Being poor, especially when you’re young, gives you a chance to learn the difference between want and need. One of the most important things to learn. It also teaches you how to save. Yes, it means you can’t go get that frozen yogurt with your friends. It means you may have to eat soup a few times a week. But let’s be serious, soup is amazing. Understanding and appreciating the hard work you put in to making that money you have is rewarding. Be proud of living paycheck to paycheck. It makes grocery shopping so much more creative!

3. Suck up to your superiors. This sounds shallow. But it’s life. You will never understand how important it is to be nice and professional to those who decide your future until you understand. Be friends with your professors. They know everyone and that will help you get a job. Be polite and professional to your boss. She will make your job easier to go to and will give you a killer recommendation when you need to leave. Be a schmoozer but that doesn’t mean you bring in cupcakes to your professor’s office hours. Be nice, be polite, be professional.

4. Don’t let others’ happiness make you feel less about yours. This is tricky. A lot of your friends will get really opportunities and it will seem like they didn’t even try, when you’ve sent your resume to 20 different people without any positive response. Just because something great happened to them, does not mean your opportunities and accomplishments are any less great. Congratulate them (without resentment and sarcasm) and keep your eyes ahead. Move forward and work even harder. Let it motivate you, not destroy you.

5. Take education seriously, and don’t take life too seriously. Best advise I have ever been given. You will never get another opportunity like high school or college ever again. You get 4 years to learn in an environment where the sole purpose is for you to learn. You have absolutely no other responsibilities but to understand and soak up as much knowledge as you can. Don’t take advantage of that. Take classes that interest you and challenge you. Quench your thirst for knowledge. (That was cheesy). On the other hand, don’t take life too seriously. The real world is important and inevitable. You need a job, you need responsibilities. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be boring. Do something you love, go places you’ve never been. Don’t consume yourself with work. Don’t let The Man get you down!

6. Don’t settle. This is applicable to every single aspect of your life. If there’s something you’re not happy about in your life change it. It’s pretty incredible that you have the power to do that. My dad always asks me “Are you happy with your life?” he then follows that up with “Because if you’re not I want to make sure it’s not permanent.” It’s ok not to be happy all the time. No one can be. But if that unhappiness continues for awhile, you need to fix it. Don’t settle for that boyfriend who only calls you when he feels like. Don’t settle for living near home when you wanted to live 8+ states away. Don’t settle for that job you dread going to when you wake up in the morning. Life is too short and important to settle for “it’s fine”.

And to wrap it up, a few short words from the kind of wise:
– Be afraid of your dreams
– Friendships/relationships are more important than anything else in your life
– Have hobbies
– Read a lot
– Journal
– Meet people anytime you go somewhere new
– Take naps
– Get dressed up when you have the chance
– Spend money on traveling
– Keep an open mind and listen more than you speak
– Daydream

Holy Hiatus, Batman!

Yikes! I suppose I should have given a fair warning that the summer would be blog-free and you would be missing out on culture updates and weekly clips. To be honest, I didn’t plan it. I swear. I got swallowed up by The Man which threw me into a deep depression and hate of all things good. C’est la vie, I am back at school and feeling slightly more like myself. Today’s post will be a short one, a small taste of what’s to come – I’ll be more diligent about my work (famous last words?).

One of my favorite entertainment seasons is upon us – Fall Premieres. The next few weeks will contain the beginnings of the deep and committed relationship I have with my television. Now, as I list the outrageous number of series I keep up with religiously, I must ask you not to read them with you mouth hanging open in disgust that I spend so much time on television – my brother keeps up with 25+. And now, in no particular order, my TV line-up and why I keep watching:

New Girl: Schmidt. Schmidt. Schmidt.
Parks and Rec: The dynamic of this show is hysterical from open to close. And Ron Swanson.
The Office: I have been a follower since the days of staplers in jello and pre-Pam-and-Jim. I can’t stop now.
Grey’s Anatomy: Guilty pleasure. Still makes me cry.
How I Met Your Mother: This show gets you emotionally attached to all the characters. The writing is splendid bringing back clips from old episodes and continuing plot lines from previous seasons. Just lovely.
Shameless: Lip. Lip. Lip. and William H. Macy
Dexter: He had me sucked in from the beginning. Plus I need to see if he’ll kill off his sister.
Glee: I’d feel guilty for leaving
Happy Endings: Nostalgic of “Friends”
Modern Family: Because it’s just as funny as it was when it started
30 Rock: Because intelligent funny is the best funny. And Alec Baldwin rocks.

Super Clip Sunday!

“Show me the money!” – Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), Jerry Maguire

You can probably expect to see clips from Jerry Maguire in the near future considering it is a gold mine for every cheesy, famous love line you’ve ever heard.

Super Clip Sunday!

In honor of the 100th anniversary:

“I’m the king of the world!” – Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), Titanic

Leo is so dreamy

Super Clip Sunday!

Yesterday was Easter, so I obviously did not have a spare moment to post for you :) – my apologies.

 

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” – Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), Gone with the Wind

Super Clip Sunday!

So sorry, it’s been ages since I’ve posted. But my schedule is out of control these days and sadly, my blogging had to suffer. But I am going to do my absolute best to keep updating!

I decided it’d be fun to do a little series for Super Clip Sunday. Each week I’m going to post a clip that includes an infamous movie quote – give you a little education so if you happen to use such a quote in normal conversation you’ll actually know where it comes from!

This week:
“There’s no crying in baseball!” – Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) in A League of Their Own (1992)

Super Clip Sunday!

In honor of National Athletic Trainers’ Month

Super Clip Sunday!

Super Clip Sunday!

Why Hugh Jackman should always host the Oscars

Award Season, how do I love thee?

Let me count the ways. Award season is so much fun. You all know my love and adoration for popular culture (movies especially!) so I’m sure you can imagine how excited I am that the first two months of the year are always dedicated to reviewing, critiquing, and talking about movies. Just splendid. I know I have been reviewing Best Picture winners prior to an event but I figured for the mother of all awards we’d simply celebrate and I’d give you some fun facts! You know, interesting information you can share at parties to make yourself seem more informed and intellectual.

The Basics
– The Academy Award statuette is 8.5lbs and 13.5in tall
– The Academy Awards began in 1929
– The name “Oscar” comes from Margaret Herrick, the academy librarian, who thought the statue looked like her uncle Oscar. (or so they say…)
– They were aired on a Sunday for the first (and ever since!) in 1999

The -Est’s

– Walt Disney has won the most Oscars at 26 statuettes
– Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won all 11 awards for which it was nominated. This along with Ben-Hurr and Titanic hold the title of most awards won in one year
– Titanic was nominated 14 times in its year
– Meryl Streep has been nominated the most times with 13
– Adrien Brody is the youngest to win Best Actor. He was 29 at the time
– The youngest actress to win an Oscar was Tatum O’Neal. She was 10 when she won in 1973.

The Firsts

– Hattie McDaniel was the first black woman to win an Oscar (1940); Sydney Poitier was the first black man (1963).
– Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman to win Best Director in 2010 (you go girl!)
– The first technicolor telecast of the Oscars was in 1966

The Impressive “Did You Know”‘s

– Beauty and the Beast, Up and Toy Story 3 are the only animated movies that have been nominated for Best Picture
– The Godfather: Part II  is the only sequel to have won Best Picture
– Seven of the Best Actress winners in the last 11 years have been based on real people
– In 1932 Wallace Beery and Fredric March were tied for Best Actor

The Speeches