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!

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:

Nerds initiate cool projects

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

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!

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Contributed by Nick Fochtman

Where do you fit in at high school?

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

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)

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.

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Contributed by Nick Fochtman

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.

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Contributed by Sophie Emigh

 

Great movies are like great books. They have the power to change you — the way you think, your aspirations, and your outlook on certain aspects of life.

Once you see a great movie, it resonates with you long after the final scene. Here are five inspirational movies every teen should watch, or in some cases, re-watch.

1. Soul Surfer

Soul Surfer tells the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a teenage girl who lost her arm in a shark attack while surfing near her home in Hawaii. Everyone thought her dreams of becoming a pro surfer were crushed, but Hamilton proved otherwise, and she’s now one of the greatest and most respected professional surfers in the world. This movie shows us that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible, even against all odds.

2. Remember The Titans

Remember The Titans is another powerful true story about a high school football team at a newly racially integrated high school in the early 1970s. Viewers see firsthand the obstacles that the players and their families faced, and the ways they were able to overcome adversity.

From this movie, we are reminded of the overwhelming power of friendship and kindness even in the most trying of times.

3. Good Will Hunting

Good Will Hunting centers on a young man working as a janitor at the prestigious MIT. After jokingly solving one of the most difficult math equations in history, he becomes a protege, but his pent up anger and aggression constantly derail his progress because he thinks that he is not worthy of the great things that are happening in his life.

The most important lesson in this movie is that no matter where you’re from, or what your circumstances were growing up, you have the ability to do and be anything you want, as long as you set your mind to it.

4. Dead Poets Society

Dead Poets Society is a slightly older movie that most teens probably haven’t seen, and that is precisely why it’s on this list — because every teen should watch it. The movie is about a group of privileged teens at an all-boys boarding school, and they’re introduced to an unorthodox teacher who pushes boundaries, often to the school’s discontent.

This is a great movie with a valuable lesson — think for yourself, and never conform to the thoughts of those around you when your heart is telling you otherwise.

5. The Lion King

The Lion King is the greatest movie ever made. Yes, that’s a biased personal opinion, and you certainly don’t have to agree. However, there is no denying that this movie is quite powerful, especially when you watch it as a teen or adult. The cute lions and fun songs sort of fade away, and the life lessons become clear.

What we learn from this Disney classic is that, in order to truly understand yourself and what is right for you, you might need to get away for a while to explore the world, make new friends, and learn that the world is much bigger than you think. And even if you stray a bit from the path you’re expected to take, what’s meant to be will be — it just takes time.

My guess is that most teens have seen one, two, three, or maybe even all five of these movies. But, regardless of whether or not you’ve had the pleasure of viewing these great films, you should definitely take some time to watch them again, especially if it’s been several years since you’ve seen them. You’ll be glad you did!

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Contributed by Ashley Welter