Stress Management

Posted on March 31, 2022

College is definitely a lot different from high school especially when it comes to managing stress. I have definitely struggled with stress since August, but I have had a few tips that help me manage it 🙂

1. Workout: Now when I say workout I do not mean you have to go spend 2 hours in the gym or go for a 10-mile run. But just do something to get your endorphins going.
   • “So it stands to reason that if your body feels better, so does your mind. Exercise and other physical activity produce endorphins—chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers—and also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress.” According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America
2. Taking time to clean up your space: Your space can change the way your brain thinks. If your space is cluttered your brain will feel cluttered so just keep your personal space clean. Do not go crazy with it but make sure you feel calm when going back to your room.
3.  Go to the Iowa counseling services: if you feel like everything is getting to be a lot, or you just are having a hard time, go visit the university counseling services. They are one of the UI confidential resources and are so helpful.
   • REMINDER: Counseling and therapy IS COOL 😎

I hope you use these tips. Just know that everything gets better, it may not seem like it, but it does. Trust me, I have been there. Talk to someone, it can change your life.

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Changing My Major… Again

Posted on March 22, 2022

Hey y’all, it’s been a while!

In the time I have been gone some things have changed, but what has changed most was what I want to do with my life. I started out my college journey wanting to go into sports broadcasting but then I got to have the amazing experience of DITV and had so much fun doing it with some amazingly talented people but I got to feel that it was not my goal in life. I then switched to strategic communications thinking I would want to go into public relations, after taking the SC class I realized that I need to be doing something creative with my life. I am super thankful that I found that out and was able to understand that about myself. Taking time to think and talk with people really made all the difference. I am so excited to be pursuing my BFA in arts with a focus on photography and am so thankful that the university has given me these opportunities to do so.

I am so happy to be back blogging for you <3

Merrin

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The Post Thanksgiving Break Slump

Posted on December 5, 2021

If you are anything like me you will love going home for the holidays. As much as I love being at Iowa, it’s hard being away from home for so long. So here are my tips to help you service the three weeks after Thanksgiving leading into the holiday break.

1. Try to enjoy the little things: In these last weeks it is going to be hard to not think about going home and seeing your family, friends, and dog but if you stop and enjoy the little things it will help you remember that Iowa is truly an amazing place. I like to enjoy my walk to the library, I get to walk past the old capital and I just think about how likely I am to be here.
2. Hang out with your friends: I was super lucky to make friends with people on my floor so all I do is see them but having a fun movie night or game night can help bring you even closer to them. remember that you will not see them for about 5 weeks so spread time with your friends while you can.
3. Block out time to study: I know you guys have heard it from me but blocking specific times to do things is super helpful. I help you manage your time and help you to remember to actually do the things you need to do.

Now, these are just my three big tips and know that it will still be hard being away from home but make the time here count because if you do you will be amazed at what can happen.

love,

Merrin <3

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Dear Merrin (A Letter Telling My Younger Self About My First Semester at College)

Posted on December 2, 2021

Dear Merrin,

Wow! I know you are freaking out about going to college and that is okay. But I am here to tell you that everything is going to be okay. You will find amazing friends that share your values and help you through rough times. You will have moments where you struggle with your mental health but your support system is amazing, so use it. Your friends will be such a shining light in your life. Seeing them will never fail to put a smile on your face.

You will find a place on campus that will bring you great friends and great opportunities. You will find this in Greek life at Zeta Tau Alpha. You will be surrounded by women who celebrate your achievements. You will have the opportunity to lead the sorority’s philanthropy and raise money for breast cancer awareness and education. You will also have the amazing opportunity to go to Wisconsin and initiate their new chapter.

You will get to work for DITV and get so much experience in the field of broadcasting. You will get to cover the volleyball team and learn how to write and produce for live shows.

Lastly, you will know that the University of Iowa was the right choice. The campus, the community, and everything in between will affirm your choice every day you are here. Yes, you will still miss your family, friends, and your dog. But life is an adventure, so take this on with all the confidence in the world and you will feel so much happiness, passion, and love here at Iowa (I would know haha.)

Love,

Merrin<3

 

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A Guide to a College Student LinkedIn Profile

Posted on November 9, 2021November 9, 2021

When starting your LinkedIn it can be very intimidating. I mean you are entering the adult world, ahhhhhh scary I know, but here is something that helped me when making my profile.

1. Photo and Banner: When choosing my photo, I did not have a professional headshot so I looked through my photos and found one that I can use until I get a professional one. Also if you do not have any that would work through on a blazer and find a white wall and take one until you find one your love. When choosing my banner I wanted it to experse where I am going to school so I found a beautiful photo of Iowa city and set it as my banner. Your banner can be anything, your name, a photo of a building, Iowa city, really whatever you want but try to keep it professional lol.

   

2. Name and Description: When putting your name and discerption nothing too fancy I put my full name, school, major and minor.

   

3. About: When writing the “about” section, I wanted to be pretty to the point but genuine so I suggest you do the same. Here is mine for an example …” First-year Strategic Communication student, with a minor in Studio Art. My passion for communications brought me to the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa. The most valuable lesson I have learned from U of I has been the ability to adapt to change. I am looking forward to seeing where Iowa takes me in my college journey.”

   

4. Experience: When putting in your experience make sure you put a job description. this shows what skill that you have learned and/or are learning that will help future employers see who you are.

   

5. Education: I have both my high school and college on my LinkedIn. I put all of the activities I have been involved in and will continue to update them.

   

6. Skills: When choosing my skill I thought about the jobs I have had and the ones I want in the future, there is also a quiz you can take in case you have no idea because that’s literally me.

   

7. The last task, start connecting! Lookup companies you might want to work for, and people who have similar jobs. keep your profile updated and organized and you will be gold.

I hope this helps. I wish you so much luck adulting.

Love,

Merrin<3

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Day in my Life as an Iowa Student

Posted on November 4, 2021

Hey, everyone! I wanted to share what a day looks like for me…this is just today everything adjusts day-to-day but I try to stay as consistent as possible…

7:30-8:45 Sports anchor DITV show

9-10:30 Get ready for the day, have some breakfast

10:30-11:15 look over note before class

11:30-1:20 Rhetoric in the EPB

1:30-2:00 Lunch with my roomie

2:30-3:20 Understanding American Cultures lecture

3:45-5:00 Work on paper

5:30-7:00 Go edit project at DITV studio

7:15-8:00 Dinner with friends

9:00-10:00 Workout

10:15-10:30 Shower

11:00 time for bed

I hope this helps to see my day written out, but every day is different and I hope you find your rhythm every day.

love <3

Merrin

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My Study Playlist

Posted on November 3, 2021

Hey guys so I think that when it comes to studying I find it hard to find the motivation but when I made a study playlist I was excited to listen to it while I studied so here is my study playlist

1. idontwannabeyouanymore By Billie Eilish
2. Cherry By Harry Styles
3. Someone New By Hozier
4. July By Noah Cyrus, Leon Bridges
5. Love on the Weekend y John Mayer
6. This City By Sam Fischer
7. Team By Lorde
8. New Light By John Mayer
9. Golden by Harry Styles
10. Cowboy in LA BY LANY
11. Ophelia By The Lumineers
12. Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens
13. Lovers By Anna of the North
14. Are you Board Yet? By Wallows, Clairo
15. Night Changes By One Direction

I hope you take some of these and some of your favorite songs to make a study playlist for yourself. Happy Studying:)

Love <3

Merrin

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WE BEAT PENN STATE

Posted on October 13, 2021October 13, 2021

WOW! What a weekend! So if you did not know WE BEAT PENN STATE this weekend. The city was buzzing. I want to share my amazing unforgettable experience of that day.

I started off my day by waking up early to go get breakfast with my friends. We went to the dining hall and you could just feel the excitement from everyone. After that, we went to go get ready for the big day. We all braided our hair and put our striped overalls on and we were ready to go. We headed over to the Pentacrest, and there were people everywhere around the stage. The Fox Big Noon kickoff was getting the crowd so excited, they had a station where we made a fan video. They had free Wendys. They were giving out hats, shirts, scarves, really anything you can think of. The energy was electric!

After we stayed there for while we went to Kinnick where we got in line so we could get really good seats. Once we got in it was about an hour to kickoff, so we hung out and watched the stripes of the stadium form. Throughout the game, it was very stressful, everyone’s feet were hurting and we were losing but no one gave up hope. It only made everyone cheer louder. It was such a surreal experience to see the stadium so full and so loud.

When we went up by three, the whole crowd was on the same page. It is almost time to storm the field. Once the final whistle was blown there was no stopping the student section from celebrating the way we wanted to. When looking back at the photos, the field was full, you could not see a patch of turf anywhere.

This game was such an amazing experience and it was so fun celebrating with my school. WE ARE 6-0. Let’s take down Purdue this week. NUMBER 2 IN THE NATION. OMG!!!

GO HAWKS,

Merrin

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