Smile


Sometimes, things just don’t seem to go your way. If anyone realized that lately, it’s me. I recently had a move, which would be hard enough in and of itself, but I was escaping a tough family situation, and am now living with someone I hardly know. Sounds fun, right? Maybe you’re not in the same situation but have been feeling really down lately. I’m just starting to learn, barely, what can get me going again.

For those of you in a similar situation, here are what has helped me get me back on my feet. Some of these things are going to seem counterintuitive, or even contradictory, but the thing is, different things work for different people, so I’m going to throw them all out there.

Music- happy, or sad

One night I was being all moody until my friend started playing Rainbow Bunchie. If you haven’t heard it, it’s the most cheerfully stupid song ever, accompanied by a bouncing rainbow... thing. For some reason it made me crack a grin and I had an instant mood whiplash, but the good kind.

But then again, sometimes, especially if you feel like you need your feelings to be validated, it’s helpful to listen to sad/angry/deep/dramatic music. Sometimes I feel too poopy to rock out to my favorite uplifting songs and I go temporarily emo (which I personally find is really fun, and a side of me I like to explore on occasion).  You might have to try a few different songs before finding out that fits your current mood.

Talk with your friends

Maybe you have a friend who you can tell EVERYTHING to, and who’ll give you awesome advice. That’s a really good thing, and I have a friend like this. But even if you’re friends are the type who would rather tickle attack you or play video games the entire time, just go with it. Even hanging out, not talking about anything important- or even not talking much at all- can really help. But if someone can actually help yousort out your problems, all the better.

Ask someone who is wiser than you

Speaking of advice, here’s a thought: especially if you’re young, your friends may very well not know what the heck they’re talking about. So as cliché as it may seem, going to someone older or more experienced can make a lot of difference. I’m not saying your friends don’t have good ideas- they might have great ones!- but it’s also good to check in with someone who’s had more life experience, like a parent/guardian, older relative or even a counselor, if you feel so inclined (they can be good because you don’t know them personally and they have confidentiality agreements). Sometimes even just having someone to listen to you, who doesn’t get ruffled by whatever mood you might be in (I always cry when things get really personal) can be really, really great.

Take your mind off it

Instead of lying in bed all day glaring at the ceiling, try getting up and doing something. Rock out to your favorite play list while you clean the house, or take a walk, or get some of your friends together and have a pizza party. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you stay safe and get your mind off things. If you can get something productive done somehow, like chores or a workout, you’ll feel even better. Which reminds me...

Seriously, try working out

The endorphins released from working out can improve your mood by a whole heap. And this isn’t just some science-y thing, I’ve felt this myself. If you aren’t used to working out, start out slow and gradually build up your exercise tolerance. You’ll be healthier and happier!

Smile. Just try it!

And if all of this doesn’t work, just remember: you WILL feel better sooner or later. Maybe it won’t be today, or maybe it won’t be this week- heck, life is hard and sometimes it really hurts!- but you’ll see the sunshine one day, and it may be sooner than you think, or at a time or place you don’t expect. I really like the song “Smile” by Vitamin C (yeah, I like old geeky music, lol). I was upset this morning and I have to admit, it’s hard NOT to cheer up at least a little when you hear a song telling you that yes, life is tough, but smile, okay?! And the best part is, if you DO smile, your body will be a little happier just from that simple act. So smile, even if it feels stupid. You might be surprised. Because life really is, in the end, one confusing but wonderful surprise after another. So try to enjoy the ride. I will.


-Barista Nicole-

Image: Steven Zwerink

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How To Wear Crop Tops


I can't believe summer is already on its way! I've been waiting for summer to arrive for the longest time. The heat, the sun, the beach, the scenery, and most of all, the crop tops. Seriously. I'm eagerly awaiting the day when it'll be warm enough for me to bare a little stomach skin.

Anyway, for those of you, like me, who are looking forward to wearing crop tops in the warm sun, here are some ways you can wear these beautiful fashion pieces:

Wear them with high-waisted shorts

Crop tops are cool and all, but that doesn't mean I want to bear every inch of my stomach to the world. No way, Jose. Instead, I wear a nice pair of high-waisted shorts and rock 'em.

Wear them with high-waisted skirts

Wearing crop tops with high-waisted skirts are by far my favorite combination of an outfit ever. They're super cute, versatile, and uber fashionable.

Wear them with overalls

Ah, overalls. I'm usually not a fan of these strange fashion statements, but when it comes to crop tops... yes, please! Crop tops and overalls are a match made in heaven.

Wear a cami underneath

With my boxier crop tops, I tend to wear a cami underneath them for a little summer layering. It's super fun, cute, and less revealing. I personally have a black and white striped boxy crop top that I like to wear over my hot pink or black cami.


-Barista Mia-

Image: jess damen

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Springtime!


It's finally spring!

I know those of you who live in the Southern Hemisphere won't be thinking the same thing, but for us up here in the north, winter has finally been banished. And aren't we glad! The cold may be nice for a while but it doesn't take long for me to start missing the heat.

With the warm weather arriving, try to make the most of it and be outside as much as possible. Even though it's revision and exam time for most of us, the change in weather can still make a positive difference to our textbook-saturated lives.

Everyone knows you need little breaks in revision. Instead of using these to go online and get carried away by something on Facebook or by a texting conversation, go into the garden or somewhere you can get fresh air. It will clear your head and help you concentrate better when you have to get back to work.

I also like to do my schoolwork out in the garden whenever I can. A pretty, sunny atmosphere is better for studying in than a gloomy, cold one.

When you do have time, go for a walk. Especially if you're one of the many who are feeling depressed or down, I guarantee this will cheer you up more than staying inside playing video games!

What are your favourite thing to do once the warmer seasons come? How do you make the most of them? Let us know in the comments!


-Barista Sabita-

Image: Karthikc123

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Book Charater Deaths I Never Got Over


Do not read if you haven't read Percy Jackson and the Titans Curse, Mockingjay or Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I really don't want to be the one to spoil them for you.

Our favourite book characters sometimes die. It wouldn't be right if they all made it out alive. But thankfully, over time the sadness fades, an example of this is Dumbledore's death: we were all upset at first, but the fact that he was dead settled in our minds and we got over it. There are deaths, however, that you just don't ever get over and you still feel sad when you think about them.

***Spoiler Alert***

1) Bianca di Angelo

In the world of Percy Jackson, I guess Bianca was a fairly minor character but she still managed to become one of my favourites before she became the series's first fatality (not counting monsters or Gabe) thirteen chapters into the book she made her first appearance in. I, for one, spent the rest of the book believing she was still alive, which is one of the reasons that I, six books on, still haven't gotten over her death. I can't believe Rick Riordan killed such a young, innocent character.

2) Primrose Everdeen

Another young, innocent character whose death still haunts me. Throughout the Hunger Games series, I found similarities between the Everdeen sisters and my sister and I. I'm dark haired like Katniss while my sister's blonde and pale like Prim. We even have the same age gap. So when I was reading the books, in my head, Prim looked like my sister. Imagine watching your sister blown to smithereens. Not pretty; even inside your head. I am not embarrassed to say I cried for an hour after reading that Prim had died. I still haven't gotten over this death because I can't comprehend my sister dying at thirteen, particularly as she's twelve now.

3) Fred Weasley

Sorry guys. It's kinda my fault that Fred died. Back in 2007, my dad was reading the Deathly Hallows to me (if you're wondering why my dad was giving me bedtime stories when I was ten, you never heard his Hagrid voice) my then six-year-old sister overheard Dobby's death and I had to comfort her. I said "it's okay, at least we've still got Fred and George, they're great!"
And we all know what happened after that.
By the time Fred died, I was so used to characters dying I never shed a tear. But thinking back, he's the one death I never got over. I'll think about the wonderful world J.K Rowling gave us and I'll think of all the antics of the Weasley twins. Then I'll remember, that that ended. There are no Weasley twins anymore, there's only George. Oh god, I'm starting to cry now, why J.K? Why?


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Florin Gorgan

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Make-Up Essentials


I am personally a big makeup lover, but the problem is, I don't have enough money in my pocket to get all the makeup products that I want. I'm restricted to getting solely those makeup products that I actually need. I know that there are many other teens like me out there, so I decided to share what I believe are the make-up essentials every girl should have in her makeup bag.

Suncream

I always buy foundation with SPF, but that doesn't mean I'm still a little wary of how many sun rays might hit my skin. So for a little extra protection for my face, I put on some suncream before I put on foundation. Better safe than sorry.

Foundation

Duh!

Concealer

I honestly couldn't live without concealer. I get pretty bad under eye circles and some parts of my skin need a little extra covering up. Concealer is a savior for those who need to cover up those pesty imperfections.

Powder

Powder is literally something I cannot live without. Powder smooths out my face, powder makes sure I avoid that horrible shiny-face-syndrome, powder sets my foundation and concealer, and powder just makes everything look perfect. Powder is the best finishing touch for every girl's makeup look.

Blush

A little color on your skin can go a long way. In Korea, it's in vogue for students to slap on a whole heap of foundation that is two shades lighter than their skin and wear absolutely no color on their cheeks. It honestly looks super scary and unflattering. Blush is a must, people. Those rosy cheeks will give so much life to your skin.

Eyelash curler

If you're blessed with naturally curled lashes, good for you! I, and millions of other girls, on the other hand, are not so lucky. But thank goodness for eyelash curlers!

Mascara

This is the first makeup product every girl gets and for good reason. Mascara really opens up the eyes and makes you looks more awake. Mascara is a must have in every girl's makeup bag for sure.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner is what puts a little more glamour into your makeup look. Seriously, a little eyeliner can go a long way. Besides, eyeliner also accentuates the shape of your eyes and makes them appear bigger and more open (similar to mascara).

Neutral eyeshadow palette

You have the greens, the blues, the pinks, but what you REALLY need in your makeup bag is the neutrals. Neutral eyeshadow goes with every outfit and with every look. You can't live without a neutral eyeshadow palette.

Lipstick/Lipgloss

What's a makeup look without any color on your lips? I am a bigger fan of lipstick than lipgloss as I love the matte look of lipstick, but both lipstick and lipgloss perfects your makeup look to a T. Lip color is a must have.

So these are my make-up essentials. What are yours?


-Barista Mia-

Image: Andy Rennie

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My Top Chick Flick Picks


I've been really into chick flicks recently. Yes, I've already had my fair share of chick flicks before, but I've started to get super crazy about them nowadays. I've been watching one chick flick every two days now. Any more than that, I get a headache, which is a shame 'cause I really would love to watch chick flicks more often. But anyway, through this recent chick flick binge, I've accumulated a list of the best chick flicks ever, AKA the chick flicks everyone should love.

So here are my top chick flick picks that you can't miss.

Mean Girls


No chick flick list is ever complete without this classic.

10 Things I Hate About You


I watched this movie just yesterday and oh. My. Gosh. Wow. This movie is the cutest and most perfect little thing ever.

She's The Man


Amanda Bynes is a genius. I'm serious. She's funny, adorbs, and totes perfect for the role as soccer-loving Viola.

Pitch Perfect


This movie just might be my favorite of this entire list. And do I even need to explain why?

Miss Congeniality


A butt-kicking Miss USA candidate? Count me in.

Legally Blonde


With its perky main character, amazing law case that can only be solved by someone like Elle Woods, and wow-some ending, if you don't like Legally Blonde, something's wrong with you.

Clueless


Clueless is called the Mean Girls of the '90s for a reason. It's 97 minutes of literal perfection.

The Devil Wears Prada


This is the movie that introduced me to the wonderful world of chick flicks. It's pure amaze-balls.

So what do you think of my list? Are there any movies that I missed out?


-Barista Mia-

Images: Mean Girls poster, 10 Things I Hate About You poster, She's The Man poster, Pitch Perfect poster, Miss Congeniality poster, Legally Blonde poster, Clueless poster, The Devil Wears Prada poster.

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Long Distance Relationships


Long distance relationships. What's with that voice in the back of your head, or coming from someone else, saying that these are pointless? Sure, there are some reasons why this can be the case, but not always.

Many people consider having a boyfriend or girlfriend hundreds of miles away whom you can't see to be a waste of time. You can't go out with them, you can't kiss them or hold their hand. You can only ever see them on video-chat. And personally, although I have a long distance boyfriend, I have telephonophobia, and video-chat is like the telephone but with added motion picture torture, so that's that option out the window.

Does the relationship suffer, though? No, it doesn't. Texting is more than enough and some great conversations can be had on it. I have texted and written to people I've never seen in real life for so long that it's second nature to me now.

There are lots of things you can do in a relationship over the Internet, phone, etc. If you do like live calls, they can be great fun (or so I'm guessing!). You can play a game such as truth or dare, would you rather, or two-truths-and-a-lie (in which you give three facts about yourself, one of which is false, and your partner has to guess which one that is). You can watch a movie at the same time. You can send each other things through the post. Plus, of course, you can make plans to meet up in real life some day.

How do you know they're not cheating on you? My advice is to only enter a relationship if you are able to trust the person so much that there is absolutely no doubt in your mind that they are not. This way you'll never have to worry and you can be sure of their dedication.

If you are worried about not being able to see someone you're so close to, think about the idea of believing in God or gods. If you are a believer you probably look to God as a friend as well as a judge and a helper. Even though you can't exactly take Him out for a pizza, if you really believe strongly enough, He's always there, somewhere in the sky above the treetops (that's where I look when I need to talk to Him, anyway!) You can't see Him, but you know there's someone out there who knows you and cares about you.

So, what do you think about long distance relationships? Are you in one, and what is your experience with it? Let us know in the comments!


-Barista Sabita-

Image: MsSaraKelly

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The Le Teen Café Review Corner: Divergent (The Movie)


Remember when I wrote that post about why you should join the Divergent fandom? If I had to write that again, I would not include the movie. I hate being a hater. I seriously do, but this movie wasn’t fantastic or good. It was just okay. And I’m not saying this because I had big expectations; in fact I knew, since I had read the book, that the adaptation was going to be difficult. Then, why did I not like the movie?

In my opinion, the screenplay was terrible. Consequently, the romance between Tris and Four seemed a little bit to childish and corny. On the other hand, I did like the cast, but they couldn’t do any better with that script. Shailene as Tris was a great pick and Ashley Judd was fantastic. Their relationship was one of the best things about the movie. It was credible and sweet but it couldn’t make up for the mistakes that existed in the dialogues between Tris and Four. I actually laughed in the cinema at some lines.

As I said before, the casting choices were absolutely perfect. Many people say that Jai Courtney as Eric was a horrible choice but I honestly think that they are wrong. Jai was wonderful. He nailed his character. There are no better words to describe how I enjoyed his performance.

There’s one thing that I definitely loved about this movie: the way they captured the post-apocalyptic world.  Chicago, the hometown of the main character, Tris, looked stunning and breathtaking. Seriously, I couldn’t have asked for a better setting. The fence looked spectacular and I love the Dauntless’s headquarters. Also, I loved how we can see the differences between the five factions, especially how you immediately fall in love with the Dauntless faction and you want to become part of this wild family (even if they are completely nuts).

This movie had everything to be amazing, but the writers failed and that ruined the whole thing. I also noticed that sometimes the movie was really slow, it almost became boring. This was a serious issue because I paid more attention to their lines and I could immediately spot the mistakes on the screenplay. Nevertheless, there was a big contrast between the beginning of the movie and the end. The beginning looked like a sloth and then, bam!, the sloth turned into a cheetah. It wasn’t consistent. And by the way, the fight scenes were stunning.

Overall, in a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this movie a solid 6. The graphics looked fantastic, the casting was excellent, but the script and the lack of coherence ruined the movie. I hope they change the writers for the next movie. Oh, and they need to work out the chemistry between Four and Tris.


-Barista Alexandra-

Image: Divergent (movie) poster

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Book Series Every Potterhead Should Read


I'm a Potterhead. And honestly, it's super disappointing that I have no more Harry Potter books to look forward to. Right now I'm suffering from Harry Potter withdrawal. I mean, don't get me wrong, rereading the HP series is great. You can't get tired of those seven ah-mazing books. But there are times when I just need something new. So what are some other book series that Potterheads like me might like?

Anything and everything by Rick Riordan

They don't call Rick the J.K. Rowling of America for nothing. His books are genius. Read his Percy Jackson series, the Heroes of Olympus series, and the Kane Chronicles. His writing is pure amaze-balls, the action is whoa, the characters are super duper loveable, the premise is just wow... Rick's books are everything good about the Harry Potter series.

Septimus Heap

It's got that kid with extraordinary magical powers. It's got seven amazing books that spans seven adventure-filled years. Oh, and it's got its own movie on the way. And guess which film studio is producing the movie(s): Warner Bros! Just like Harry Potter.

Artemis Fowl

A young hero, well, actually more like a young genius, magic, mystery, weird names, adventure, aaaannndd... Artemis Fowl is also going to become a movie. And guess what one of the screenwriters wrote? The screenplay for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

There are a whole bunch of other book series that you can read, but these would be my top three. If none of these are your type, keep hunting. Your next series obsession is out there somewhere!


-Barista Mia-

Image: Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

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My Study Foods



I’m on the Easter Holidays, AKA study break (insert unenthusiastic cheer) and of course at some point during the vast piles of past papers, hunger will come. I have listed the foods I personality eat during studying, for my own personal reasons; no research has been done into what foods are beneficial, etc. (in fact some are pretty unhealthy).

1)      Tea

Yeah this is a drink, not a food but I drink so much of it during my study sessions. I don’t like drinking multiple cups of coffee in the day and hot chocolate can become a bit too sickly during studying so tea is the best option. I know, writing this, I sound so British, but I personally don’t know where that stereotype came from –I’m British and most people I know are coffee drinkers (if you know where it comes from tell me).

2)      Sherbet Lemons

I don’t come from a big, sweet eating house and chances are when we do have a bag of sweets it’ll usually be sherbet lemons. Don’t ask why. So when I want a sweet to suck on during my studies, this will be what I turn to. Plus you can pretend to be Dumbledore (Dumbledore loves them, remember?) with them and perhaps that Dumbledore-ish vibe will enter into studying.

3)      Tinned spaghetti

Back in primary, when I went home for lunch, I would have tinned spaghetti. So during study break, this is how I like to replicate this meal: Cheese melted in, burned bits at the edges and toast chopped into triangles. Lazy, quick food makes me remember I’m only on a lunch break and I have to get back to schoolwork pronto.


-Barista Ellen-

Image: Laurel F

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5 Female Characters That Make Game of Thrones the Best TV Show Ever


Valar Morghulis! How is everybody doing? I’m so excited since Season 4 of the HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones has started! I thought it would be a fantastic idea to talk about one of the things this series has that makes it such a gripping show: the female characters. I had a hard time making this list owing to the fact that George R.R. Martin created many female leaders and all of them are absolutely brilliant. I mean, I had to cut out Shae (yeah, I know, I’m a terrible human being), Osha (she was one my favorites), Lady Catelyn Stark (It’s still difficult to talk about her after the Red Wedding, you have to understand. That episode broke all kinds of hearts), Ygritte (I know nothing!) and many others...

Still, I had to think of who the fans love and who plays better the game. So, here they are, the top five.

5. Brienne of Tarth

You will never meet someone as loyal as her. She is a strong but emotional character at the same time. Brienne is unique and a fighter; plus, she refuses to have the typical female role that women of Westeros have. Therefore, she places number 5 on the list. I just couldn’t cut her off.

4. Arya Stark

Everybody loves brave and curious Arya Stark. Like Brienne, she is a fighter and she intends to become something more than a wife. She has to be ruthless in order to survive and to get her revenge.

3. Margaery Tyrell

This character came out of nowhere to become one of the game’s best players. Should we trust her? We might never know, but we sure love her! She gets along with the minorities but she intends to become the Queen. She won’t stop till she gets what she wants.

2. Sansa Stark

Remember the first time we saw her? Oh man, we hated her but she has since become more than we could ever have imagined. She grew up, learned that the world isn’t a fairy tale and became a survivor. She is no longer the little brat we knew.

1. Daenerys Targaryen

Do I need to explain why she is the best female character on TV? Her children are Dragons and she ate a whole heart. Need I say more?


-Barista Alexandra-

Image: Game of Thrones title card

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The Voice UK 2014


I'm normally a massive fan of The Voice UK, but this year kind of started going downhill from the Knockouts, if you ask me. And it didn't really stop going that way.

The moment Jai McConnell was sent home after her Knockout performance, I seriously started questioning whether the judges were getting bored after three years or not paying enough attention, or maybe drunk. I loved Jai.

She wasn't the only exceptionally good one they got rid of too early. Most people were expecting Jessica, Anna, Jazz and many more to go through to the live rounds, but they didn't. Let's have a look at some of these singers and their awesome voices.

Jessica

Jessica Steel auditioned last year but got no turns, then tried again this year and had all the coaches begging for her to pick them. (This exact thing happened in Seasons 1-2 with another singer, and she was more successful in the long run.) Pity it didn't work so well this time; after specially promising to fight for her, Will neglected her in the battle. Ricky "stole" her but didn't bring her through the next round, either.

Anna


Out of everyone who auditioned this year, Anna's is probably the only music I would actually buy. I have a soft spot for folk, not to mention folk sung by such a sweet voice, not even to mention folk played along with that infamous harp. It would have been brilliant if she had been in the finals, but alas! Didn't happen.

Jai


As I said, I fell in love with Jai's blind audition and fell asleep with the YouTube video of it on repeat for the next several nights. Although her singing style wasn't quite as unique as people said it was (Luciee Marie sounded very much like her!) it was captivating to listen to. Plus she's Irish, like me.

Sophie


Sophie was the only one who in my opinion got as far as she deserved. She was the one who walked, talked and sang Vintage. Who doesn't love "Moon River"? Sophie got to the Live Semi-Finals. Hooray!

Jermain


Now I'm not just saying this but *whispers* I had expected that Jermain would win, out of all the finalists. will.i.am's been coaching for three seasons and not won yet, so it was about time he did. Jermain is a retro singer too, but no match for Sophie, if you ask me.

So, now this series of The Voice UK is over, I wonder how our winner will do with his debut and whether things will be better next year! What did you think of the series? What were your highlights and worst bits?


-Barista Sabita-

Image: The Voice logo

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Writing Short Stories: A Quick Guide


There is NOTHING more horrendously frustrating than wanting to write something, anything, but not having a clue how to. It's time to grab those fragments of sentences, vague ideas, and a pen. Piecing together a good story is not as hard as it looks. Here's how to do it...

-A good starting point would be to decide what your narrative is going to be about. Come up with a genre, and possibly a few themes you would like to include in your story.

-This could then give you an idea of the setting. What era will your story be set in? Where? Will it be set in an alternate reality? It's all up to you! If you have a particular time period in mind, maybe it would be a good idea to do a little background research on it, so your writing can be realistic (if, of course, that's that you're aiming for). If it's set in a fantasy world, get creative and make sure your are descriptive, so that the readers can picture the setting themselves.

-It's time to think of a main character, a protagonist. It might be a good idea to write down a quick description of them- their qualities, habits, interests... Also, try to picture them. Drawing them might help bring them to life. Once you have a protagonist, you might want to consider thinking about an antagonist- the character opposing your main character. This is optional, but if you decide to include one in your story, think of their relationship to your main character and maybe how you could create contrast between the two. After you've done this, you might find it easier to come up with secondary characters. Think of a narrator and decide what tense you want to write in.

-Now, write up a vague plot. This can easily be changed as you work through the narrative; the story might begin to write itself, but create a quick summary beforehand so you don't find yourself banging your head against the desk in sheer frustration. Think of a beginning, middle and end for your story. If you want to go into more depth, follow this structure: exposition, rising action, crisis, climax, falling action, and resolution. However, structure isn't always set in stone- this is just a guide.

-It's almost time to start writing. It's a good idea to note down a few words you'd like to use, just so you don't find yourself giving up due to a lack of vocabulary. And a piece of advice- THE THESAURUS IS YOUR FRIEND.

-Now, WRITE! If you get stuck, power through- you can edit it once you have finished. Think about getting some second opinions too, be open to constructive criticism- it will only make your work better.

There you have it! Remember: You can do this in any order. It's completely fine if you find yourself picturing the perfect setting for your story before you can think up a main character. Also, narratives are all different. You might not want to focus on one particular character, or setting. It's all up to you. Happy writing!


-Barista Ria-

Image: Nicole April

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Choosing a School


Okay. With all our college acceptances in our back pockets, it's now time to choose which school to attend for the next four years of our lives. But how the heck do we do that?

List out the pros and cons of each school

List out everything that matters to you from the social atmosphere to sports to professors and classes... Write down every reason you would want to attend each school and write down every reason you wouldn't want to attend each school.

(Re)Visit the schools on your list

Visiting schools does wonders. It can help you like a school even more or it could help you like a school a little less. Either way, it can help you to reshape your college list.

Compare the aid awards

How much you pay for a school can impact your entire future. No school, not even the best school in the world, is worth ending up in deep debt. Only keep the schools that are actually financially feasible on your list. Say good-bye to the rest.

Keep your end goal in mind

If your goal is to get to medical school, it's a good idea to pick the cheapest option of all your schools (medical school can get hecka expensive). And it's probably a pretty bad idea for a premed student to go to a school with grade deflation. GPA is important when applying to med schools, after all. Just like this, keep your end goal in mind and compromise with it. Don't veer off track.

Good luck with finding the right school!


-Barista Mia-

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