Talking About Sex

I think the biggest sexual pressure that freshman face when entering college is the pressure to fit in with everyone else, even if it means going beyond what you are comfortable with. As people try to fit in and find new friends in a strange environment, they can feel the pressure to engage in sexual activities that they aren't ready or comfortable with. The biggest form of pressure freshmen feel is peer pressure. If all of your friends are sexually active and broadcast that they are, someone can feel pressured to start having sex.
I've never Googled someone before or after a date and I don't plan on it. The internet is a scary place, where a lot of the stuff is either false or very confusing. I would much rather find out about the person by actually meeting them than by reading things online.
Advice I would have for someone who will be entering college next year would be this:
1.) The decision to have sex should be your own. It shouldn't be influenced by pressure from outside people or by drugs/alcohol.
2.) Your partner should also be comfortable with the decision and feel no pressure.
3.) You should trust and respect your partner.
4.) Know your partner, and if they have any STDs

The most important thing is communication with your partner. That way both of you know know where the other stands and if you are both comfortable. Remember that not everyone is doing it, and that there is no rush to jump into any sexual relationship.

Music List #2

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - The Beatles
Time to Pretend - MGMT
Cigarettes and Alcohol - Oasis
Soma - The Strokes
The Drugs Don't Work - The Verve

My favorite song out of these is probably Time to Pretend by MGMT, but not because of its references to either sex or drugs, but just because its an awesome song.

study tip #2

A good way to study for tests is to use the M.U.R.D.E.R. acronym. The "M" stand for mood, "U" stands for understanding, "R" is recall, "D" is digest, "E" for expand and "R" is for review. Mark what you don’t understand and recall the information that you do. Go back and look over the information not understood in an effort to digest it. If you don’t understand, even after using separate sources, begin to ask questions in an effort to understand. Review the material that you do understand and use the strategies that helped you to learn this material to understand new material.

Music Memories #1

From a very early age, my parents had a huge influence on what music I listened to. At 5 years old, I was rocking out to Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Smiths, etc; bands that none of my other classmates had heard of. As I grew, the base of music my parents started me on greatly influenced what I listened to on my own. At 10 years old I was obsessed with Dave Matthews band and the Beach Boys, something rather unusual for someone my age. I don't know if I related to the lyrics all that much, but since I started taking guitar and piano lessons at an early age, music with complicated structes and layered instruments really appealed to me. My taste in music hasn't really changed, but as I have grown I've been exposed to more music, allowing me to broaden the range of styles I listen to.

Google This

When I googled myself, I was surprised at how many people shared my name. My name came up with 32,000 results, and I couldn't find one that was actually me through the first 10 pages. I guess this can be both a good thing and a bad thing. I don't have a big internet footprint, so an employer who searches for me wont find anything bad. However, someone searching my name could also mistake someone else for me. I don't really understand today's obsession with being easily accessible. Putting your name out on the internet for everyone to see, while allowing for more networking and the like, also puts you at risk for identity theft and other unwanted things from people you don't know at all.

Study Tip 1

A study tip that I learned from the peer mentor in my humanities class advises that you always keep a notecard and pen by your side as you read. That way, you can write down any ideas or questions you have while reading, and it also allows you to write down thoughts that might distract you while reading (eg "I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow"), allowing you to focus on the reading.

Top 10 Songs

1.) Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys. Really nothing needs to be said about this song, it just oozes good vibrations.
2.) Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana. This song alone defined the 90's. Kurt's growling lyrics, harsh guitar, everything about the song screams angst and defiance.
3.) (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones. One of the greatest guitar riffs of all time, mixed with Jagger's voice of the middle class.
4.) My Generation - The Who. The way Daltry stutters each verse, Townshend's infectious power chords, this is the first true punk rock song.
5.) The End - The Doors. A creepy display of Morrison's lyrical genius and disturbed mind, sung over Mansarek and Densmoore's psychadelic organ-guitar combination.
6.) A Day in the Life - The Beatles. Lennon read the headlines in a paper and crafted a song out of them. Such a simple idea, yet so brilliant.
7.) Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd. The emotion Waters' puts into this song, the feelings of alienation and frusteration are so palpable you cannot help but feel what he is feeling.
8.) Baba O'Reily - The Who. Just one of the great masterpieces of rock and roll. Come on, who doesn't yell "Teenage Wasteland" at the top of their lungs when they hear this?
9.) House of the Rising Sun - The Animals. A great song from one of the most under-appreciated rock bands of all time.
10.) All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix. A display of Jimi's true musical genius, this song shows why he is the greatest guiatarist of all time.