Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

This summer, I interned at Student Maximus Magazine, a publication that helps students living in the city save money and express themselves creatively. Cassandra Fox, the founder of the magazine and company, is on a mission to give students creative outlets, and is avid about young adults finding their passions and becoming masters of whatever they are most enthusiastic about. She assigned the interns a challenging and rewarding task: to write an eBook about something they truly care about, and to become a master of that craft.

College life is crazy. Classes can be overwhelming, socializing can be tiresome, extra-curricular activities can be consuming—at times, finding the balance that allows a student to be happy and busy at the same time seems impossible. I try my best to stay relaxed, but it’s often hard. That’s why I’m trying to master relaxation. It may sound a bit contradictory—relaxation, I suppose, should be something natural and unforced. But I believe we really need to designate times and activities that help us to drop everything and cleanse ourselves of the stresses of college life.

That’s why this eBook will focus on the art of relaxation. I will be fleshing out some of the ideas I have compiled from personal experience, as well as my friends’ experiences, and expert advice on leisure and catharsis.

My name is Ryan Forman. I am a student at Washington University in St. Louis, and graduated from Trinity School in New York City in 2010. I am a Manhattan native. I enjoy writing, reading, music, hanging out with friends, sports, exercising, going to the movies, and, of course, relaxing. I hope you benefit from my advice.

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By Ryan Forman

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

In this post, we will discuss where you should begin if you’re thinking of returning to school.

Think about why you want to return to school.  Why is it constantly on your mind?  Will earning a degree help you get more out of life or will it help you find the right job?  Decide on what you want to study and begin your research.  What are you good at?  What would you like to do?  Make sure you are returning for the right reasons.  That way your determination will get you through it.  If the time is right for you to return it will be rewarding.

(If you are not interested in earning a degree but want to take classes in your field of interest to develop your profession or are endeavoring in a life-long learning experience, you can take non-degree courses as well.)

There are several colleges and universities offering a continuing education program and nontraditional student programs.  Look into colleges that you are interested in or is convenient for you.  If you are worried that this decision doesn’t fit your lifestyle needs, don’t let that stop you.  Talk to the people in your life, seek their support.  Your family and friends will support your decision.  

After you’ve looked into colleges you are interested in, try to attend their information sessions, or visit the admissions office and ask questions.  It may take some time to gather all the records you will need.

You’ll need to access old test scores, transcripts, immunization records and recommendations letters.

•  Transcripts and old test scores should be sent directly from your previous college to your college of choice.  (Unless you apply to return to the same college you dropped out of)
•  If it’s been more than eight years, your SAT scores may no longer be acceptable. You may have to take the entrance exam.
•  You may need to access your old high school transcripts or GED test results.  Have them sent directly to the college you are applying to.
•  You’ll need to submit your immunization records once admitted.
•   It is recommended that you apply for financial aid at the same time.
•   Don’t let these steps scare you.  Take care of it.
•   Once you get it done, you’ll feel better.

Write your college essays, gather two recommendation letters from colleagues and send out your applications.  Remember that most colleges and universities are always looking to expand the campus diversity.  Some professors enjoy having the perspective of older students in the classroom.  Keep this in mind.

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By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

In this post, we will discuss how find a support group on campus. You’ll need a buddy that you can relate to.

During my first semester back at school, I had to take a workshop on adjusting to college life as a non-traditional student.  The Dean of Students mentioned forming a buddy group with other students like myself.  At the time, I thought it was silly.  Later that year when I found myself struggling and the challenge was mounting, I began to reach out to other students like myself.  I slowly came to understand the Dean’s advice.

Fortunately for me, as it is a time when most adult students are returning to school, I had two close friends who had just enrolled into college.  I met with them, talked with them about school and discovered that they were experiencing the same obstacles and reactions as I was.  It took a load off our shoulders to know that there were others who were in the same situation.  It was a comfort to relate to them.  Knowing that you are not the only one experiencing challenges makes a big difference.

~~~~~

By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

In this post, we will discuss how you’re ahead of other students. You already have social and professional skills.

It isn’t enough to have academic merit to be completely successful. There are other important factors that can lead to success.  Social skills, confidence, ingenuity, and having a social network are great attributes that an older student may have.

For some, college can be more rewarding as an adult because you have gained these attributes.  Your life experience is what will help you with your college achievement.  You are ahead of the other students in your class because of this.  We all have different needs to succeed than what the educational system accommodates.

Another reason why you’re ahead of the game is that you are studying for yourself and not for your parents.  This decision to return to school is yours.  You know what you want and will be determined to achieve it.  And most likely you are paying for it, so you will really understand the value of and education.

You already know what’s out there in the world and you know what to expect when you graduate.  Even though you may end up working in the same field as you were before, you know that once you do graduate you will be making twice as much with a degree.

When I asked Danielle what she finds most rewarding about being an older student, she said;

“I truly look at my education as a gift, a privilege, something I relish and enjoy.  I want to learn and immerse myself in my studies.”

I share the same feeling as Danielle; I enjoy learning and now that I am one year away from graduating, I am also thinking of going to graduate school.  I am eager to continue my studies.

As challenging as it has been, being an older student, I can’t say enough how rewarding it has been.  It truly has been one of the most rewarding experiences.  It is more than just knowing that I will have a higher income, it has been a deeply satisfying process and that has giving me a sort of comfort in finding my place in the world.

~~~~~

By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

In this post, we will discuss how returning students’ needs differ from that of an 18 year old student. How does one balance their personal life, social life and college life?

If you have a full time job or a family, returning to school can incredibly taxing. It requires multitasking. You have different needs from that of a younger college student. Your lifestyle is different. Make a schedule around your life depending on what works for you. If you have a full time job, begin with one or two classes. You will be busy but you can still have time for self and family. You’ll just have to learn how to manage that time.

While you don’t have to completely sacrifice your personal and social life, you will have to learn how and when to say ‘no.” You will not be able to make it to every social event or family dinners. You will be less available so choose when to say no.

Commuting could be a challenge as well. While most college students live on campus, older students have to commute. Make sure that you can manage your time. Riding the train or bus can be a valuable time to read or catch up on studying. Make use of that time.  If you have to commute a long distance, schedule your classes so that you don’t have to go to campus every day; try to schedule your classes in one or two days.

Talk to your professors. Let them know your situation and take advantage of their office hours to ask questions to help you keep up with the class. You’d be surprised at how receptive your professors can be to your situation and maintaining a relationship with them will be a great help for you.

I spoke with Danielle, a thirty five year old student and a mom with three kids.  She says that balancing her time is by far the most difficult aspect of being a full time student, a full time mom and wife.

“There are times when I spend too much time on my work, and other times when I neglect my work to spend time with my family.  Unfortunately, no matter what I am doing- whether it is finally getting ahead in my studies or having some fun family time, I am always plagued by guilt.”

Danielle is learning how to take it one day at a time. The beginning was challenging but she is adjusting. She says that when she is in school, she is completely immersed in her studies, and when she is at home, she devotes herself to her family. During midterms and finals, she makes school her number one priority and has finally accepted this as not being a bad thing, but as necessary at the moment.

“When it comes to balancing time, I’ve accepted my limits. There is only 24 hours in a day and only so much that I can do. If I have a paper due, the dishes in the sink can wait. And there have been times when I’ve regretfully declined invitations to family gatherings because I’ve had to study for an exam.”

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By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

Since the number of older students enrolling in colleges and universities has accelerated in recent years, we’re shifting away from the title of “non-traditional.” These students are now commonly referred to as adult students or older students.

Community Colleges and Universities are responding to this change and most of them offer programs that are suitable for older students. Given the current struggle of the economy, and the high unemployment rate, it is time for these students to return to school so that they can be successful. Their achievement, as well as the achievement of traditional students, is important to the nation’s economic success.

Most students are returning to school to advance their career, for financial stability, to complete a degree that they started years ago or to pursue a new field of interest. For some, it may that they’ve realized the value of an education or are not giving up on that childhood dream, even if they encountered hardships that interrupted their academic path.

Lelani Monalall is one of those students who isn’t giving up on her dream. She agreed that finding a better job and having upward social mobility are good reasons to go back to school, but there’s also another more important reason why she is returning to school.

“Along the years I’ve learned, it’s not just about making more money anymore. It’s more than an income. It’s about that question I was asked as a child. What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Lelani wants to make that dream a reality now and realizes that it isn’t too late. She wants to wake up and enjoy what she does for a living. Making her childhood dream of becoming a teacher requires the right credentials and she has committed herself to achieving just that.

Ten years ago she dropped out of college due to financial difficulties; she was on her own and had to work full time. Now at the age of thirty, she is back in school and is studying to become a teacher.

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By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

There are those people in life who by a very young age know exactly what they would like to do. They have it all mapped out; schools, universities, internships, careers and family. And then there are people like me. I was the college dropout who returned to school after a six year hiatus. I am the non-traditional student.

A non-traditional student is an adult who decides to return to school after the traditional college years of 18-24. For others like me, college life can be more meaningful after gaining some life experiences. Whether you are 25 or 45, and are returning to school to finish a degree or earn a new degree, adapting to the student life after many years could be both challenging and rewarding.

If you are thinking about returning to school and are troubled with obstacles of time management, fear of losing your social life, or worry about the difficulty studying and balancing your life, these are all normal challenges to encounter. There are many resources to help answer your questions and they are others like you out there.

I dropped out of college years ago because I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to study. And I couldn’t afford to continue. I couldn’t afford to keep changing my major, so I had to leave. I gave up my academic course because I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. My decision didn’t arouse much debate at the time. No one knew how long it would really be before I returned. After a series of odd jobs, some I enjoyed, some I didn’t; retail sales, a medical receptionist, administrative secretary and bartending, I began to grow restless.

I grew restless because it wasn’t enough for me anymore. What seemed like an adventurous life was becoming more like a daunting uncertainty that I could no longer keep up with. I needed to stabilize myself; have a career, become financially independent and I needed to find a place in the world for me.

So I decided it was time to return to school. I was ready to be in a classroom again. (Learning is a lifelong experience.  It doesn’t have to stop because you’re an adult.)

More importantly, I decided on what I wanted to do and committed to taking the course. I always enjoyed writing. So I decided to study creative writing. I realized that it wasn’t enough to have a talent; I needed to return to school, to study and be in constant practice with the craft and art of writing.

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By Rona Ramjas

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

If you’re always on the go, you’ll find that carrying an mp3 player or ipod makes travel a bit less tedious. Your music player holds the soundtrack to your life. The songs you choose should fit every mood you experience and everything you encounter during your day. It is beneficial to open your ears to different kinds of music when filling up your music player so you can have a variety of music styles to reflect your mood throughout the day. You might one upbeat music in the morning to wake you up and relaxing music in the evening. An interesting aspect of any music player, especially the iPod, is the shuffle button. If you’re a person who doesn’t stick to one genre, this can be fun to try, especially if you’re doing some activity that would involve you using your iPod for a long period of time. Personally, I like to do this when I’m on the train. It’s funny to feel your own mood change with every song that comes on when your iPod is on shuffle. I like when my ipod goes from something slow like Death Cab for Cutie to something really fast and loud like ‘Walk this Way’ by Aerosmith. When this happens, my mood instantly changes from calm to energetic. Your soundtrack should move with your moods and complement  your tastes. Adding music to your day is like when Dorothy went from black and white Kansas, to a world of technicolor.

No matter what your taste in music, it’s important to remember that music is there for you. It comforts you after a bad day, provides a soundtrack for the things that go on in your head and carries with it a flood of memories from your past. Listening to different genres of music can open your mind to not just different music genres but to all forms of creativity. So open your ears and listen to the music.

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By Janet Reyes

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week.

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

MUSIC , THE NAVIGATOR OF NOSTALGIA

Music has the amazing ability to seal and trigger memories. Whether they’re good or bad memories, when a song was playing during the making of a memory, that song will forever remind you of that memory. When I was a kid, I would spend most of my days hanging out with my grandma in her tiny apartment. Like me, she is a tiny woman with a huge love for music. I remember sitting with her in the living room and sifting through her old vinyl records, watching her smile with delight when she found the record she was in the mood to listen to. Those of you of with Latino descent have probably heard of “Hector Lavoe and the Fania All Stars”. For those of you who haven’t, these guys were the Aerosmith and David Bowie of salsa music during the 1970s and 1908s- and my grandma loved them. When the film El Cantante (starring Jennifer Lopez and her already ex-husband Marc Anthony) came out a few years ago, of course I checked it out. Being that it is a film about the life of Lavoe, it was filled with scenes in which his music was performed. As soon as I heard the songs, memories of those afternoons with my grandma instantly came back. Many other moments in  my life have been accompanied by music but I especially love these memories with my grandma because it possibly explains where I get my love for music.

My grandfather suffers from dementia that is rapidly progressing to the later stages at an alarming rate. He’s already forgetting faces and names but one thing that I have noticed is that although he might be forgetting who we are sometimes, he doesn’t forget his favorite songs. When he hears them, which are usually old salsa songs, he instantly comes back and is his old self again, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes.

Music and memory is a popular research topic amongst those who study and work with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. An organization called Music and Memory works to provide those with special needs, in particular Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, get access to music players. The organization accepts monetary donations in order to purchase iPods for these patients. Their mission is as follows: “…to improve the quality of life for the elderly and infirm through the use of personalized music and digital technology.” This organization was created based on the studies done on these patients proving that music helped to improve their cognitive skills and trigger memory, just in the way I noticed it helped my grandfather.

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By Janet Reyes

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week!

Before I start, I’d like to give a quick shout out to the Campus Clipper. The Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. The company helps support students in so many ways, from their coupon booklet to their Official Student Guide. Now, on to the blog!

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MUSIC ARTISTS

Social media sites are another great way to discover new music.  It’s also a great platform for artists to get recognized and develop their fan base. One of the best examples of social media serving this two fold purpose is Justin Bieber. All that kid had to do was post videos of himself on Youtube and he got picked up by a record label. Now, whether you like it or not, you can’t walk into a store without seeing his face on some kind of merchandise.

Another example of fans connecting to and creating a fan base for a new artist is Swedish musician Lykke Li. Some of you might have never heard of her but may know her as “the girl who did that one song with Drake” or “the girl who did that one song with Kanye West.” And for those of you who don’t know her, listen to any soundtrack from any action movie with a woman as the star from the last year or so and she’ll be there. Back to my point, she got her start on Myspace back when social media was still steaming up. She gained such a large fan base that she couldn’t be ignored anymore. She is still relatively unknown but obviously rappers Drake and Kanye West knew her fans were on to something and put her on their tracks.

Social media sites have the capacity for an artist to post their music, photos, videos and other content for you, the fans. If you ‘like’ their Facebook pages or follow them on Twitter, you can find out about concert dates or new albums before people who aren’t as social media savvy.

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By Janet Reyes

A few words from the Campus Clipper –

The Campus Clipper not only help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create these amazing E-Books, but we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!

Craving student savings while you catch up on your reading? Click on the link to download the Official Campus Clipper Coupon Booklet! And check out our newest YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during this year’s Welcome Week!