If you study for hours and hours or cram right before the test, but end up getting an unsatisfactory grade, you need to change your study habits. You have to find study techniques that help you study smarter, not longer. I've been in school long enough to identify which techniques work  the best for me, so here they are:

1. Take Better Notes. Instead of writing exactly what your professor writes, reword it a bit on your notes. This allows you to really think about what is being said rather than mindlessly writing down information.
1. Use the Cornell Notetaking Method:
   
2. Edit Your Notes ASAP. Right after class, find a comfy spot, and look over your notes. Start editing your notes your own way, by reorganizing the information, adding more information from the reading, incorporating homework questions, etc. Every time you study, edit all your notes. This will also allow you re-read them.
1. Make comments on your notes. Fill the page with comments. Put a star on topics you know will be on the exam, highlight terms you don't know, put question marks and write questions on topics you don't understand so that you can ask the professor about them later.
3. Don't Cram, Don't Procrastinate. Study a little bit each day. 
4. Make a Study Plan. Make a list of topics you want to focus on each day before the test.
5. Repetition is KEY. You have to read and interact with your notes over and over for it to really get inside your brain. You should also review old and new topics so that it stays fresh in your head (NOTECARDS ARE YOUR FRIENDS). It's such a pain to relearn topics, so this will actually save you a lot of time in the future.
6. Write More and Draw More. Writing really helps with memorization. For example, if you need to remember a list of strong acids for chemistry, write the list down. Then repeatedly write down the list on the piece of paper over and over again. Drawing things helps too. If, for example, you need to remember the anatomy of the ear, draw a detailed ear and name all the bones and parts.
7. Don't Study for Long Hours. Give yourself a five minute break after studying intensely for twenty to thirty minutes or so.
8. Practice Tests!! Do the practice tests as soon as possible and learn from your mistakes. Find out why you got the answer wrong. Then, do the practice test all over again and see if you make the same mistakes. If your professor does not provide a practice test, find homework questions or textbook questions and make your own practice test. Make sure you know how to do all the problems and repeat them again and again until you mastered them.
9. Get help when you need it. Go to office hours. Find a study group. Don't be afraid to ask for help. It can be a difference between an A or a B.

1. Be less cluttered and more organized. I'm not the most organized person out there. I'm lazy so sometimes I leave my desk cluttered, or I forget to use my planner, or I stuff papers into my backpack instead of a folder. After awhile, it drives me crazy. So my goal is to be more organized. I find that I am WAY more productive when my desk is clean, I use my planner, and organize school papers so I can find them easily.
2. Be more social. That means talking to people more, even random people. I should get to know my classmates more as well. It doesn't hurt to strike up a conversation to the person sitting next to you. Everyone likes making new friends (or most people).
3. Try new things that interest me. The great thing about college is that you have the opportunity to try out so many new things that you didn't have access to before. Maybe this year, I'll take classes that I usually don't take, such as acting, or join a club like rock-climbing. Might as well make the most of what college offers.
4. Work-out. I occasionally went to the gym last year, but now I'm going to try to incorporate exercise into my daily schedule. Not cause I need to lose weight, but to be healthier.
5. Study smarter. This means studying intensely for one hour, instead of studying for three hours while taking super long phone/internet breaks in between.
6. Disconnect from technology. Does it ever seem like social media tends to rule your life? Always on the phone, checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. It's time to cut back. Maybe I'll stick with checking social media once a day instead of once an hour.

If you're looking for desktop wallpaper ideas, you could personalize your wallpaper by making a collage. Above is the wallpaper that is currently on my desk top. I filled the collage with pictures and quotes I found on Pinterest and Tumblr that inspired me. For example,  I added the Nike shoes to remind me to work out more, the guitar pick is to inspire me to practice guitar again, and the pictures of Greece, Japan, and Paris are all places I hope to visit one day.

So how is it done? After you get the pictures you want, head on over to Picmonkey. Find the 'collage' button on the top and choose your pictures.

Find out what the resolution size of your laptop screen is. A quick google search will do (For macbook air 11" its 1305x768). Then, add your resolution dimensions under the collage.


Then all you have to do is drag and drop your pictures. Drag pictures in-between two pictures on the collage and it will automatically create another cell for the picture. Find out where each picture fits best. It'll take a couple of tries.

Finally, you can make other adjustments by clicking the icons on the far left next to the selected photos. You can round of corners, adjust spacing, etc.

And you're done! Just save, and make it your background. Your computer looks way cooler now that you've personalized it.

It's now August, the Sunday of summer. It's that time to search for textbook deals and steals. There are a couple things I learned during undergrad about buying textbooks, so here is what I have to say:

1. Don't buy a full-priced textbook. I mean, if you are financially capable, do so. You could sell those textbooks at a used price to get some extra cash later. I just wouldn't recommend selling your books to your campus bookstore because you can probably sell it for a much higher price on Amazon or eBay. Even better if your school has a textbook exchange/sell group on Facebook. That way you don't have to worry about shipping because you are selling books on-campus.
2. That Facebook group is a great place to look to buy textbooks too.
3. Amazon is another great option to buy books. There's a good chance they will sell it for a bit less than buying a used one from your campus bookstore and shipping is pretty fast.
4. Rent. Rent is a bit cheaper than buying used, but you can't sell it back.
5. Check out Chegg. They give you all the options to rent, buy used, buy new, or get an etextbook. Sometimes, their prices are even cheaper than Amazon! (I wish I checked out Chegg before renting on Amazon; it turns out I could have paid $30 instead of $50 for my chemistry book )':
6. Now on to eTEXTBOOKS. I personally like going digital. I used my iPad to download etext and the access code for only $45 each (via Pearson etextbooks) for two of my science classes. This is the same cost it would take to rent the books, only I don't have to return them back. Only downside is that I can't sell them. Now some people can't stand reading on a screen, so if that's your case, it's probably not the best option. For me personally, I like to quickly access the pages I need to read without flipping pages, highlight and add notes using the textbook tools, and not have to break my back carrying hundreds of pounds across campus.
7. Check out Slugbooks. What you do is you search for the textbook you need on their search engine, and they will list a comparison of prices from different sites such as Amazon and Chegg and Bookrenter. That way you can find the cheapest deal on one site.
8. Go to your school library and check out your textbook. 
9. If you know the professor doesn't assign much reading, you can borrow the textbook from a friend or the library and photocopy/take pictures of the assigned reading. That way you don't have to spend money on a book you won't even read that much!

• K-Indie: Korean Indie music is the perfect music for summer. Why? Because whenever I listen to K-Indie, I imagine a cute picnic with a significant other on top of a hill, or an evening at the fair eating cotton candy, or riding a blue bike across town with balloons attached on the back, or sharing a large chocolate bunny with a loved one, or... well you get the jist. Even though it's in Korean, and I don't understand Korean without subtitles, this type of genre is one of those songs where I personally don't need to understand the lyrics. I sort of get what the song is about  with just the tune, and it keeps me in a cheerful mood!
• One of my absolute favorite K-Indie singers is Morrie. She has the cutest voice! She even has songs in English. Check it out.
• Kehlani: If you like Jhene Aiko, The Weeknd, and other similar artists, you'd probably like Kehlani as well. 
• Dazed and Confused by Jake Miller and Travie McCoy: SUPER CATCHY.
• Theory of a Dead Man (rock band): I usually never listen to rock music, but this band was in town during the local summer fair, so I decided to check them out. Turns out, I actually really dig their stuff!
  

Ahh summer. The much awaited summer vacation where the sun is out and so are the swimsuits and sunscreen. If you're in school, many of your friends are probably doing cool things like traveling to exotic places, or getting a dream internship. But sadly, not all of us are lucky enough to do or get what we want. If you currently have nothing to do right now, you have come to the right place. Here's a list of how you can make the most out of this valuable free-time (besides binging on Netflix):

1. Volunteer: It's time to build up that resume, and at no cost. Most of the time, volunteering doesn't require anything but your valuable time. And it's easy to find places to volunteer! A quick search on your favorite search engine should allow you plenty of information of places that need help in your community. Who knows? Maybe you will get so much out of this experience that more opportunities might open up.
1. Ideas to volunteer: A local community garden, food bank, library, hospital, etc
2. Job Shadow Professionals: Have a certain career that you're interested in? Then spend this time shadowing professionals. This is the best way to know for sure that this is the career you are interested in. To start shadowing, simply search online for professionals in your area, call their office, and ask if you can job shadow. Many will decline, but there are also many people out there who will love to help out.
3. Go Hiking: Get in touch with nature while it still exists. Go on a group hiking trip with your friends, take pictures, breathe fresh air!
4. Learn How To Code: In an age that is almost everything digital, learning how to code will make your life so much easier. You don't even have to be a computer science major, just learning for fun will make difficult tasks on the computer (like organizing large amounts of data) much more manageable. Nobel Prize-winning scientists and even the President encourage everyone to learn coding!
1. How to start learning: I learned online by going to codecademy. It is super easy to learn on this site and they will walk you through the lessons every step of the way. Javascript is a popular language to learn btw.
5. Have a Photoshoot: If you have a DSLR, take this time to play with it and learn how to take stunning photos. If not, that's okay. Smartphones nowadays have amazing camera quality, and you can still have an impromptu photoshoot with your friends! Best of all, editing the photos is super easy on the smartphone with tons of editing apps to chose from. Personally, I enjoy VSco and Afterlight the best.
6. Cook or Bake New Recipes: Trying new recipes can be fun and it'll be beneficial for your future so that you can cook for your family. Ask a family member to teach you or look online. Pinterest is a great place to start!
7. Practice New Makeup Looks: Practice makes perfect. Perfect that smokey eye or experiment with bolder brighter colors this summer. Youtube is my best friend when it comes to makeup tutorials.
8. Let Out Your Inner Creativity: Draw, paint, do some DIYs. This is my personal favorite thing to do during the summer because I don't make these a priority during school.
9. Search for Scholarships: Scholarships are still out there! It is never too late (or too early) to apply.
10. Take an Online Class: There are lots of online classes that are affordable. This is a great time to take a class that has always interested you but you don't have room to include it in your school schedule. 

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I think we've all kept a journal one time or another. Maybe it was required as a school assignment or maybe it was when you were little and wanted to start a diary because that's what characters did in books and movies... but eventually, we forgot about the journal and it is either collecting dust in your closet somewhere or it is long gone. If you didn't already, I would recommend starting your own journal again. I started one at the beginning of college and now it's my way to clear my thoughts, express my views, and really get to know myself better. Here are a list of reasons why you should keep a journal:

1. To Reflect: Imagine a future you reading your journal. You get to explore who you were at age 20, or 15 or whatever age you wrote it. Inside the journal, you can write your thoughts about life, opinions on world issues, stories that you would tell your friends, and so much more. Maybe even write down things that made you laugh so hard your stomach hurt, or what made you cry all night and broke your heart. You can reflect on these things when you are older and you can be like, "wow, I was really stupid back then."
2. To Document Your Handwriting: In an age where technology runs the world, this thing called "hand-writing" is slowly becoming extinct. You can change that. Your handwriting is something that is personal and only belongs to you. Nobody else can copy your exact hand-writing abilities, so why throw it all away? Pick up that pen and document what your personal hand-writing looks like so that the world (or just your future self) can know how it looks like.
3. For Inspiration: We've all seen these amazing quotes or inspirational videos and pictures on the internet. Why not save all these in a personal way instead of just bookmarking it in your browser or reblogging it on your Tumblr? You could write down all that inspires you in your journal, print out pictures of quotes and glue it in, take notes on inspirational speeches, etc. Maybe you could even write a response of what you think about that quote as well. It would be like taking notes on life.
4. For Creativity: I would recommend getting a moleskin notebook without lines so that you aren't restricted into staying in the lines when writing. Plus, the empty pages can give you the chance to draw your thoughts or observations. Just get creative! Explore your inner artist. Heck you could even spill coffee on the blank page and it would look artistic.
5. To Sort Our Your Life: You could make tons and tons of lists. Like lists of your goals, life priorities, what makes you happy, where you want to travel, hottest actors in Hollywood, weird pizza toppings that you would totally eat, etc.

Movies:

• Now You See Me: I rented this movie and my expression the whole time watching was WOW. This is about four talented magicians who worked together to form a group called The Four Horsemen and perform never-before-seen magic shows in three cities. They didn't just decide to form The Four Horsemen by themselves, someone brought them together to achieve something, and that's the suspense of the story. This suspense, along with the captivating special effects of the magic performances that hook you from the beginning, make this movie a must-watch for me.
• My rating: 8/10
• Jurassic World: A theme park full of "real" dinosaurs?? I wish it were true! I loved Jurassic Park and I knew I definitely needed to watch Jurassic World. Although it wasn't as intensifying as Jurassic Park IMO, it definitely had its own seat-clenching moments. The animation and cinematography was AMAZING.
• My rating: 7.5/10
• Inside Out: This is the most creative and cutest movie ever. EVER. So there are five emotions: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust, who reside in an eleven-year old's brain headquarters. They control her emotions, save her memories, and make her the person she is. In the movie, we follow the girl's experience moving to a new city, and how her emotions help her deal with the big life change. But then of course things go all wrong when Joy outdoes herself, but you'll have to see the movie yourself to find out more. I never thought I'd enjoy exploring a brain of an eleven year old. It makes me remember the good old days when I was little...
• My rating: 9/10

• TV shows:
• The Mindy Project: My friends have been watching this from season one, and I couldn't watch it because I didn't want to jump in from the middle of a season. So this summer, I got a Hulu subscription, and started from the beginning. I am hooked! It is about a woman named Dr. Mindy Lahiri, who is in her thirties and just wants to settle down with someone and have a family, but it's hard when you're a successful OB/GYN running a private practice with two other hot doctors. This show is witty, hilarious, and just... adorable... in an adult type of way. Just for the record, I am a huge fan of Mindy Kaling ever since the Office. I read her biography and everything, and since we are both Desi girls raised in America, I feel like we are homegirls all the way. This show she wrote just proves how talented she is, and is inspiration for us Desi girls who thought we were too dark to be part of TV shows or movies. Hard work pays off people! It truly pays off.
• My rating (so far): 8.5/10
• Queen InHyun's Man (Korean Drama): So one thing I love is my Korean dramas. I am OBSESSED with Korean dramas. They are just what I want in entertainment: a love story with some magical fantasy related events, love triangles, kissing scenes, rich-guy-falls-in-love-with-poor-girl, etc. This Kdrama was too cute so I had to share. It's about a scholar from the historic past who time-travels and meets a rising TV actress from the modern world, and together they help change Korean history. I personally loved the couple in this drama (Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo In Na) more than the story plot. They have such amazing chemistry. It's probably because the chemistry was real and they actually dated while filming this drama.
• My rating: 6.5/10
• Makeup:
  
• Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm: This is perfect for a pop of summer color. It's super smooth and buttery as it glides on the lips; like chapstick only with a fantastic matte color. I like how it's not so bright so that I can use it with my everyday makeup look and that you can twist the bottom upwards when you run out of balm.
• 8/10
• Em The Great Cover Up Concealer: I use this concealer daily. It's not watery at all and a little goes a long way! It's so easy to pat under the eye area as well. I find my drugstore concealers are very thick compared to this one, and that isn't good because I have to really rub the concealer to blend it into my skin. But this concealer doesn't need that much force and just smoothly blends in.
• 8/10

Freshman year just ended for me, and it was definitely a learning experience. For the first time, I ventured out of my home into a new environment where I didn't know anybody. Eventually, I learned how to adapt to the college life, such as meeting new people, studying efficiently, surviving dorm food, etc. Here are some things I wish I knew freshman year:

1. You might not be best friends with your roommate: Everyone hopes to be best friends with their roommate. It would definitely make dorm-living a lot more pleasant! Sadly, it doesn't always happen, especially if you take the 'random' roommate route. I did that, and I wasn't best friends with my roommate, but that didn't mean I didn't meet some awesome people on my floor. It's totally okay if you and your roommate don't get along; most schools have an option to switch rooms at the beginning of another term. For greater chances of being friends with your roommate, I suggest to find one yourself using your school's roommate matching app, and get to know that person as much as possible through social media or even meeting them in person if possible.
2. You don't need to buy a lot of fancy stuff for your dorm: I was obsessed with wanting my dorm room to look pretty, but didn't want to spend a lot of money. So I went on to Pinterest and youtube and did a bunch of DIYs with friends. So much cheaper and a lot of fun! Also, since the dorm is pretty small, you don't wanna go overboard with the amount of things you bring. Try to keep it as minimal as possible, and bring the things you really need only, because you don't have a lot of storage space!
3. You actually need to read the textbook, lecture notes just won't cut it: You'll only have a certain class for one hour, two to three days a week, for ten or so weeks, and that is not enough time to master everything taught in the class. You'll actually have to take textbook notes and study, because that's the only way you won't be surprised about the material tested during midterms! 
4. You have to introduce yourself, not everyone is going to introduce themselves to you: Best way to make a friend? Go up to someone during orientation or welcome week or whenever and say, "Hi, I'm so-and-so," and start a conversation! Compliment their clothes, ask what their major is, how they like the school so far, etc. Just BE FRIENDLY, and you'll make friends easily.
5. Join a group on campus: This is the best way to feel like you belong on campus. You will most likely make a group of friends too.
6. WORK: College is expensive. Start earning now, especially when your classes are easier. Some people say that one shouldn't work if they don't need to, and should focus on keeping his or her GPA up. Well yeah, you should still try to maintain a good GPA, but working while studying will not only allow some extra pocket-money, but it will also teach you how to manage your time. Managing your time is so important, so better start early.
7. Start looking for research early, and maybe even start it: This doesn't apply to everybody, since some people absolutely despise doing research. But for those who plan on doing it, start looking into professors' work early, and if any interest you, contact the professor to make an appointment.
8. The smallest meal plan will probably be enough for you: Especially if you eat your own breakfast. I still had money left over despite getting the smallest meal plan.
9. Start getting used to going to office hours: Yes I know the feeling, it is super intimidating to meet with your professor one on one. I was nervous at first, but I still made myself go to office hours to touch up on the materials covered in class. And this seriously helped tons; it was a difference between an A and a B in my case. If I hadn't gone to office hours, I probably wouldn't have the grades I got. Plus, it is a great way to getting letters of recommendations early on.
10. Don't do anything stupid. 

Traveling to Nepal has been the most amazing experience of my life. This is the country I was born in, and I am proud of it. It may be third world, with load shedding and pollution in the big city, but the natural beauties of the himalayas, exotic sceneries, daring adventures, and especially the rich cultural heritage of the country make it the best place to ever go travel (Oh! You can't forget the food and the people! LOVE Nepali food, and the people are the most hospitable people you will ever meet). In this trip (my third trip to Nepal), I got explore Kathmandu valley as well as other parts of Nepal including Chitwan and Pokhara! I literally experienced the most breath-taking views here. Anyway, pictures are worth a thousands words, so here are some pictures of the amazing sceneries: