Too Cool for School? Ya, Try Again

It's nearing the end of the fall travel season for me, and I've been thinking a lot about kids.

Whoa, what? Back up, hold the phone….what does that even mean?

Let me give you some context as an appetizer: I've always believed that there are so many amazing things to be learned from kids, particularly those entering that stage of becoming a teenager. 

And I'm not just referring to the latest lingo or acronym--despite how ridiculously addictive I find "YOLO." What I'm referring to surpasses 'nbd' 'ttyl' or any other urban dictionary addition I've overlooked.

Let's be honest with ourselves - we all are intimately familiar with the awkward transition from 'child' to 'teenager.' (Thank you, mom, for refusing to let me paint my bedroom walls that neon lime green I was like, sooooo in "love" with. No, really...Thank you.) 

Terrible taste in colors aside, the changing idea of 'self' that accompanies becoming a teenager is amazing. It's a time of learning about who you are, making mistakes you'll laugh at (hopefully) years later, and opening your eyes to the world around you.

During one of my recent travels, I had the chance to chat with a group of young teens in middle school about study abroad and international education opportunities, and it blew my mind in more ways than one. See where I'm going with this thinking about kids thought? Awesome. Enough with the appetizer. Let's dig into this entree.

If Happiness is a State of Mind, Why Change It?

They aren't kidding when they say time will fly when you aren't paying attention. I've heard that saying more times then I can count--and certainly believe it--but I never truly understood it until recently.

A little over six months ago I arrived to Colorado from California to start an exciting new career, and build upon the amazing experiences I'd already accumulated. Some days, it feels like no time has passed at all; on others, it seems like just yesterday that I was pulling up with a U-Haul to my new apartment. In between that spectrum, there are a range of memories and moments I wouldn't trade for anything.

The question is, though, if you've “arrived” to where you've worked your a%* off to be, what's next? How do you sustain the happiness and success you've found? Is it even possible? Here is my answer to that: 

What Would Jane Do Turns One – And It's All Thanks to YOU!

23 years and not much has changed in the sense of humor department

A year ago today, I was a few months fresh out of college, living at home, working a part time job and wondering how the heck I was going to jumpstart my life. Not too long after that, I landed an internship with MSR Communications in San Francisco and began a three month commute to and from the city.

It was on these long, solo drives that I began brainstorming what eventually would become What Would Jane Do. Initially, it was simply an idea to keep myself writing, but it didn't take very long until I realized that a blog could also be an ideal self-marketing tool. And so began the adventures of the last year. To say it's been a roller coaster ride is like calling Jane Austen just another English author: UNDERSTATEMENT.

Confronting College Regrets with The College Crush

Courtesy of The College Crush

I've mentioned it before, and will probably do so again, but I'm a little bit (ok a LOT) in love with The College Crush. I wrote a post about how I first got involved with them not too long ago, and it would seem that over time that appreciation has only continued to grow. 

Why? Because The College Crush has become a way for me to confront my college regrets and hopefully impart some advice to other young women out there. I don't expect that EVERY person will relate to my experiences, and I don't claim to be any sort of expert, but I do know how it feels to regret the things you didn't do in college. 

Sorry, boys, you'll have to excuse me here...this one is for the ladies ;)

Balancing Act: One Step at a Time

Too much on your plate?

Are you one of those people with a wide variety of interests, who gets excited by every new idea or project that you take on? Are you also one of those people who suddenly realizes that you have who-knows-how-many responsibilities tugging you in who-knows-how-many directions...and yet you're still determined to control the situation? 

Ya. Me too.

I'm the first to admit that I can take too much on to my plate. I love brainstorming, I love exploring all of my passions and I adore every opportunity that comes knocking. But what happens when that knocking starts to sound more like a fist banging on the door? Do you answer or pretend you aren't home? The decision is different for each of us.  Whether you're still a student, a soon to be grad or a working professional, we all need to remember that there is such thing as taking on too much at a time. The real question is, how do you avoid that?

From Recent Graduate to.....What Now?

No more cap and gown....so what now?

It's officially nearing the end of April and in addition the sunshine, showers and kickoff to baseball season, it's also nearing that special time of year for soon to be college graduates. Now by 'special' I'm referring to the round-the-clock stress that comes with studying for finals, organizing grad party details, and addressing the general "what do I do with my life now" questions. 

But what about the post grads, for whom this time marks the anniversary of graduation? What does it mean when May/June rolls around and we're no longer a part of the crowd wearing the traditional cap and gown? Moreover, what does it signal when we no longer refer to ourselves as recent graduates?

As many of my friends prepare to march across the ceremonial stage in the next couple of months, this question has frequently been on my mind. It has inspired me to take stock of the last year and the reality that comes with living the post-grad life. These are but a few of the things I've learned as the term "recent grad" becomes less of a defining factor. 

A New Year for Old Resolutions

I love the holidays, but I'm not always a fan of how they throw my routine off balance (aka making it difficult to find ANY time for a blog post). That being said, I love the fresh start that the New Year provides and the motivation it inspires to accomplish your goals--both new and old.

When I say old, I'm not referring to the completely-out-of-date-gathering-dust-in-a-corner resolutions that come and go every year (aka that gym membership you REALLY will use this time). Instead I aim to point out that yearlong, ongoing resolutions are just as essential as setting new goals. 

More often than not, the most important things in life usually take longer than a year to fully accomplish.

Staying true to who you are; Believing that you do make a difference; having the courage to take a leap into a future you're not entirely sure of; whatever it may be, these are the sort of the things that we strive to accomplish every day of our lives. 

As you set forth all your new goals, keep in mind that some are meant to last a lifetime.

Picture Perfect - Striving Towards Your Future Self

Be yourself....in the here and now

Do you ever look in the mirror and imagine what you might look like five, ten or fifteen years down the road? Do you have an in image in your head of what you should look like and what you should be doing? 

Or maybe you look in the mirror and compare what you see to past assumptions of yourself. Even if you don't recall doing this, we all tend to place some sort of expectation on ourselves. It's natural to want to map out the future, but it rarely goes goes according to plan. The same can be said of how we strive towards our future 'self.'

I started thinking about this when I came across a blogger-friend's post the other day that really caught my eye. Grace is the creator and author of Grace, What Are You Doing? and she always has something insightful to share. After reading her posts I'm continually amazed at how eloquent and meaningful her words are. Her post titled "Decisions, My Future Self & The Value of Being Disturbed" addressed the idea of imagining your ideal, future self and what it takes to get there. Humorous and touching, the post inspired me to reflect on living in the moment with your present 'self.' Whether you're a college student, post-grad, or young professional "trying to figure it all out" (with no clear idea of what "it" is), I hope you can relate to my words of advice.

Public Transportation - Where Everyone Only Pretends Not to Stare

Even if you're not a journalist who considers people-watching a fulfilling activity, the observation of others (better known as staring) has been ingrained in all of us since childhood. 

Don't believe me? Then why did our parents always telling us to stop staring at something or someone because it was "rude?" Take a look at the kids you see around you -- chances are they're staring at something/someone with a directness we only learn to fight as we get older. 

Since I've moved into the city of San Francisco, public transportation has become my ideal mode of transportation. It's inexpensive, an easier way to navigate the busy, city streets and is a people-watcher's dream. Whether you're in college or living the "big kid" life, public transportation is a bit like culture shock all in itself. 

So hang up the car keys (if you have them) and hop on board with one of the most interesting ways to travel.

Triple Threat Post: 10 Reasons To Study Abroad

Chloe explores Washington DC with her new study abroad friends

Ever get the feeling that you're destined for adventure? Well you're not alone! Chloe Johnson of Backpacking Journalist shares her tips on why you SHOULD study abroad:

It’s been almost five years since I plucked up the courage, packed my bags, left New Zealand (and a boyfriend) to embark on a life-changing journey. I’m talking about my incredible opportunity to study abroad at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
 
While I cried myself to sleep for the first week thinking I’d never enjoy life in the States a little touch of pride splashed with a dash of curiosity wiped away my tears and introduced me to the time of my life. As I look back, I now realise that you have to have the down times to appreciate the (many) good times when living away from home. Here are 10 reasons why you should wipe away those fears and tears and study abroad:

To Tweet or Not to Tweet - That's Not The Only Question

 

In this digital age of job hunting, it takes more than a tweet or Facebook post to be ‘social media savvy’. 

Through my experience as an intern for MSR Communications, I’ve quickly learned how social networking is changing traditional methods of job hunting in the PR industry. 

For all the young and aspiring professionals out there, this couldn’t be better news. But there’s more to it than that—if you want to be noticed in the current economy, you need to stand out and start engaging online now. 

No, this does not include professional Facebook Stalking or Twitter Spamming. With all the job and internship postings that appear online on a daily basis, these insider tips will assist you in cultivating and building your online presence.

When It Rains, It Pours - An Adventure in Moving

 

If only storm clouds acted as nice as they look...

       

Big girls don’t cry. Well…most of the time they don’t. At the very least, that’s what we like to tell ourselves.  

More often than not, though, crying jags are a commonplace occurrence in every woman’s (AND man’s) life. Whether or not we like to admit it is another case entirely.

This happens to be one of those times where I don’t mind admitting to having an almost-meltdown. I finally made the big move down into San Francisco last week and it just happened to coincide with a rather large storm that swept across northern California.

Although I'd been commuting to the city for the last three months, and felt I had an okay grasp of its layout, this adventure would prove otherwise. For all the travelers and college graduates out there moving in or moving out, I hope my experience provides some insight into making the best of a "stormy" situation.

Don't Let the Headlines Fool You: Inside An Unpaid Internship

Jane Austen and unpaid internships have a lot more in common than you might think. It sounds like a strange connection, right? I would’ve thought so, too, if weren’t for the situation I found myself in a few weeks ago.

From Jane Austen’s Famous Prose May Not Be Hers After All to Jane Austen’s Style Might Not Be Hers, Academic Claims, these headlines got me to thinking---and not just about how to control my literary meltdown.

I like to think I’m a pretty optimistic and even-tempered person who can take life’s lemons and turn them into a fabulous recipe for lemonade.  But what is a girl to do when confronted with such black and white (not to mention blasphemous) headlines?

It turns out the answer was simple: keep reading the article.

A Most [im]Proper Introduction

Welcome to What Would Jane Do!

Are you a fan of Jane Austen? What about college advice, study abroad or social media? Then you've come to the right place.

My name is Tiffany Harrison and I am a self-confessed teaholic with wannabe-time-traveler tendencies and a penchant for doling out advice. I hold a degree in journalism public relations, a passport with not nearly enough stamps (yet), and a creative writing streak.

Just as the tag line suggests, this blog will act as more of a guide than a rule book. I mean, who really follows the rules anyway? Certainly not me (unless we're talking about making the perfect cup of tea....which is a story for another time).

In retrospect, I have come to realize that setting up this blog was only a matter of time. After picking up my first book as a toddler and my first pen soon thereafter, I've been accumulating ideas for many years now. It was only recently that these ideas became streamlined, and pen was put to paper so to speak.