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June 23, 2015 by The Young Leader

6 Reasons Being a Nerd When You Get to College is a Great Idea

6 Reasons Being a Nerd When You Get to College is a Great Idea

Ever felt intimidated by college?

Don’t worry, Santa brought snacks!

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Attending a good college is often a grand, towering goal for after you finish high school. Some parents obsess over it, others not so much. Why else would students choose to grind out SAT prep, AP classes, and extracurriculars?  And if you’re currently going through all this or will be soon, I wish you the best of luck.

But what will you actually do once you’re at college?

Nerds often do quite well in college (just like in high school). Here’s why:

  • Nerds picked the right school and major
  • Nerds already figured out college
  • Nerds actually enjoy their classes
  • Nerds stick by each other
  • Nerds initiate cool projects
  • Nerds balance work and play even better

 

Nerds picked the right school and major

Picking the right school and major is a big decision. Luckily for them, most nerds prepare well and do their research. They also pick the right one for them.

Being skilled at online research, spreadsheets, and statistics really pays off here.

Nerds already figured out college

Nerds learn from others that came before them.

There are countless books written on how to get into college, but how about doing exceptionally well once you get there?
Nerds actually enjoy their classes

Have you ever had to wake up for an early morning class? Was it boring?

Imagine for just a second, that there is someone who’d be genuinely excited and interested in attending that class. There are all kinds of nerds for every subject, so there is someone out there that loves attending that class.

Yeah…really.

Nerds stick by each other

If you’re a nerd, then you’re in luck! There is likely a group of smart students that are equally passionate about your interest or obsession.

Academic and professional clubs can provide much-needed support:

There also is such a thing as belly dancing nerds:

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Nerds initiate cool projects

Have you ever fist bumped a robot that you built specifically for that reason?

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Whatever your specialized interest might be, college gives nerds more resources and opportunities to pursue it.

The free food, giant cookies, and snack santa from earlier doesn’t hurt, either.

Nerds balance work and play even better

It may not be such a surprise now that nerds have a ton of fun while being successful, and that it gets even better in college.

By day, you can be a Russian literature, computer, or belly dancing (maybe even all three!) nerd. At night, however, you know how to have a really good time with everyone without ever mentioning your fistbump robot.

Boom!


Contributed by Nick Fochtman

Filed Under: Latest Posts, VIVA

June 22, 2015 by The Young Leader

6 Reasons Being a Nerd in High School is the Greatest

Where do you fit in at high school?
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Are you a prep, jock, freak, outcast, geek, or nerd?

While taking my younger cousin, Jonathan, out for ice cream, we found ourselves asking these same questions. It was a pleasant summer night, and as we talked in my convertible, a cool flurry of wind rushed by us. Jonathan gladly discussed how much he enjoyed school.

But why is Jonathan having such a great time?

Well…because he’s a nerd. And I say this as a sincere compliment. Some of the best times I had in high school were as a nerd.

Drawing on both of our experiences, we present you with 6 Reasons Being a Nerd in High School is the Greatest:

  •  Nerds dress up
  •  Nerd sports are good-natured and fun
  •  Nerds are smart
  •  Nerds get into good schools and jobs
  •  Nerds are now mainstream (read: Hot)
  • Nerds work-hard, play-hard

HighSchool2

Nerds dress up

Outside of Halloween, how often do you get to ride a Yoshi as Princess Peach?

Back in high school, my friends and I dressed up as Super Smash Brothers characters for a senior skit. It was awesome.

Nerd sports are good-natured and fun

Ever heard of Ultimate Frisbee? How about GLOWTIMATE frisbee?!

My friends introduced me to this variation of the good-natured and carefree sport, Ultimate Frisbee. You can (barely) make out our group in the photo below:

Nerds are smart

People (often nerds) argue about what a “nerd” actually is. Despite the many views, most agree that nerds have to be smart.

By harnessing the great social power that is Urban Dictionary, I’ll define a nerd this way:

Nerds are smart and gain pleasure from their highly-specialized interest.

Nerds get into good schools and jobs

As a soon-to-be college grad, I can assure you this is often true.

Almost all of my friends that dressed up senior year got into very competitive schools. Since nerds are intelligent and are often specialized in something marketable, many succeed well after high school.

Nerds are now mainstream (read: Hot)

HighSchool3

This extends far beyond “Nerd-themed” parties in school. For whatever reason, (thank you, pop culture!) some types of nerds are now seen as hot. Seriously.

Nerds work-hard, play-hard

Who knew that nerds could have so much fun and be successful?

The “work-hard, play-hard” motto describes nerds well. But what really is the heart of nerd culture is this:

Nerds passionately enjoy their specialized work (work = play).

Definitely take a moment to chew this one over, and you’ll see why being a nerd in high school (and beyond) really is the greatest.


Contributed by Nick Fochtman

Filed Under: Latest Posts, VIVA

June 18, 2015 by The Young Leader

What to Do When It Rains While You’re Traveling

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There you are: Sitting on the beach in a beautiful seaside town when suddenly the weather turns for the worse and your sunny vacation has turned into seemingly endless days of wet, gray slosh. Vacation ruined, right? Wrong. A kink in your plans can turn a vacation into an exploration. (Trust me, I’ve been in Cancun during the rainy season.)

Remember that little café you saw just off the beach? Try ducking in there for an espresso or to experience other local fare. Do some people-watching. Find out where to grab an umbrella and get back out on the town.

How about visiting the local museum? Almost every town has a museum of some sort – even if it only tells the history of the town. What better way to really get to know the place you’re visiting?

Or, better yet, talk to the locals. What do they do when it rains? Where do they like to hang out? What are their recommendations? The people who live in your vacation spot know the off-the-beaten path places most visitors miss – and where daily life happens. A little stumbling around and chatting can make you new friends and put you in places the vast majority of vacationers miss out on because they’ve only taken the opportunity to swim, surf and sun themselves (not that there’s anything wrong with that either!).

Instead of ruining your vacation, a little (or a lot of) rain could be just the thing to make your trip memorable – by getting you off the beach and into the cafes, museums and other interesting places that make up the real fabric of your vacation spot. Rain gives you the perfect excuse to turn your vacation into an exploration. Grab the opportunity by the horns.


Contributed by William Pate

Filed Under: Latest Posts, Wanderlust

June 17, 2015 by The Young Leader

5 Travel Adventures Teens Will Enjoy Just as Much as Adults

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There are many ways to go about traveling. Many ideas that adults throw out there for traveling may sound unappealing at first; but if you can do something like these five ideas below, you are bound to enjoy it just as much as an adult.

Connect with the great outdoors. Whether you are going on a guided tour or exploring on your own, getting out in nature is something that is fun for everyone. Consider exploring the Outback in Australia and seeing kangaroo hop across the desert and finding spiders the size of your hand. Also, a backpacking trip into the wilderness where you can scale challenging mountains or traverse long plains can be so enjoyable. Even an organized safari in a place like Africa will be exciting for you and everyone you are with.

Pack up for a cross-country road trip. The United States is massive and has an enormous amount of diversity in people and scenery. Hitting the open road means you’ll be challenged along the way, laugh at the inevitable mistakes you make, and be amazed at the interesting places you find. The great thing about cross-country trips is that they are enjoyable with friends or family.

Give back by volunteering. One of the most rewarding travel experiences is volunteering in another place. You may or may not think you have enough life experience to share with other people, but volunteering is about passion and a desire to give back. You can express this passion by teaching people English abroad or taking care of precious and threatened animals in a country like Costa Rica. Consider volunteering abroad, whether it is for 2 weeks or 2 months.

Relax on a cruise. Who doesn’t love chocolate covered everything at the buffets! Although cruises are very prearranged and organized in advanced, they can still offer a lot of spontaneity because of the variety of things offered aboard ship. Also, there are excursions offered off the ship while docked; these include fun things like snorkeling, rafting, horseback riding, or zip-lining.

Immerse yourself in the culture. There is something incredible about meeting people from new places. When you go to Peru, you’ll meet the locals, descendants of the Incas, who live on the floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca. When you go to Jordan, you’ll meet the locals Bedouin people and partake in their famous group camping trips in the desert. Although other cultures may seem so different, traveling and meeting them can teach you that the essence of people is good.


Contributed by Kristin Melody

 

Filed Under: Latest Posts, Wanderlust

June 15, 2015 by The Young Leader

The 8 Best Places To Take an Outdoor Nap This Summer

TYL-VIVA

Have you ever felt an urge to take a summer nap outside, yet there doesn’t seem to be a place as comfortable nor as scenic to your liking? Try any or all of these simple suggestions and you’ll have the desired lazy summer we know you’ve been craving.

1. Buy a Hammock

Who doesn’t love to lounge in a hammock? You can tie one up almost anywhere for the perfect mid-evening nap. Most people find the slow, calming rocking motion of a hammock to resemble a parent rocking their child in their arms until they fall into a deep reassuring sleep. Inspired by this notion, a few Swiss scientists decided to examine the idea of rocking a person to sleep. Sophie Schwartz, a neuroscientist at the Sleep and Cognition Neuroimaging Lab at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, observed a faster transition to sleep with the simple swinging of a hammock. Not only does rocking motion make us fall asleep more quickly, but she found it also makes people sleep more deeply throughout the nap.

 2. Lawn Chair By The Pool

A solid lawn chair at your local pool can help you enjoy those comforting quiet evenings, as well as the raucous afternoons filled with splashes and laughter of your friends and family. It’s the perfect way to relax in comfort and style.

3. Place a Towel on the beach

A towel on the beach may not seem like much, yet the feel of the warm, malleable sand through the cloth of your towel will send you dozing off.

4. Take Your Bean Bag Chair Out on The Lawn

Bean Bag Chairs provide a unique nap experience. While they may not rock back and forth, they’re more maneuverable than traditional lawn chair or public bench.

Because of their adjustable shape, bean bag chairs are great for dragging out into the sun for a long nap.

5. Floating Lounge Chair

Rather than sleeping in a lawn chair neighboring the pool, why not actually rest while floating ontop? The Floating Lounge Chair is perfect for any poolside relaxation and perhaps a bit of sunbathing. Producing a similar rocking rhythm the hammock provides, the lounge chair will buoy yourself to a comfortable, tanning sleep.

6. A Few Rocks By The River

While perhaps not as snug as the locales listed above, river rock crevices are remarkably comfortable. Warmed by the sun, river rocks provide a sauna like feel to your slumber. The continual, rushing movement of the river is soothing to listen to as you gently close your eyes.

 7. Porch Swing

If you don’t own a porch swing, nor have a friend with a porch swing, I would highly recommend investing in one. Easy to assemble and surprisingly convenient, the porch swing offers a lovely see-saw motion, as well as protection from the sun. Similar to the hammock, the porch swing resembles something of a soft, swinging couch.

8. Google Naps

If you’re unable to find any of the above, try go wrong with Google Naps! Google Naps is a crowd-sourced map project that will point you to the best places in your city to take a nap, as submitted by other locals. The World is your living room.


Contributed by Sophie Emigh

 

Filed Under: Latest Posts, VIVA

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