Graduation is just 33 days away! Are you prepared?
Have you:
The ten websites your homework hates the most! This post was found on StumbleUpon.com, surprisingly enough 🙂
2. StumbleUpon.com
I learned about this website a couple of years ago and I have weaned myself from it because it was taking up too much of my life. Now that I return I am dangerously close to returning to my addiction, as it has now been linked with Facebook so you can see what sites your friends stumble upon. It’s basically a big database in which you choose from a long list of interests and it finds websites related to things that interest you. Say you are interested in art, it could bring you to a forum where people share their art, it could bring you to an article about a specific type of art, it could bring you an artistic YouTube video, or sometimes it could just bring you to a cool photo.
3. Sporcle.com
Their tagline: “Mentally stimulating diversions”. Perfect. It is a site full of timed quizzes on just about anything you can imagine. There are different categories you can look through, or you can hit “Random Quiz” until you find something that appeals to you. Each quiz will show your score at the end and, if you want, you can view how you compared to others who took the quiz. This site is also fun to do with friends because the brain power between multiple people can only increase your score and the excitement.
4.KillSomeTime.com
This website was chosen for the list while similar websites were not because it has just about everything in one place. It has funny videos and pictures like CollegeHumor but also has the wide array of stupid, yet extremely amusing, computer games such as featured on AddictingGames. It is a great source for popular and hilarious videos, but they are easier to discover than on YouTube. Plus, the name of the website just works perfectly for this list.
5. TheOnion.com
Why read real news articles when you can instead read rather hilarious, satirical versions? The Onion is a website of news articles that are completely made up but sound legitimate. You may wonder why you would want to read factious stories when you could be educating yourself on topical issues. Most of the things written on The Onion are based off of true events but made with ridiculous twists. Kind of like The Daily Show. The best fun to be had with the website could quite possibly be showing these articles to gullible friends and watch them become outraged at what the world seems to be coming to.
6. TextsFromLastNight.com/FMyLife.com
For those of you who still live in the prehistoric ages, Texts From Last Night is where people send in outrageous texts that they receive for the world to see and FML is a series of stories of people’s unfortunate lives. Both have on several occasions caused me to LOL at inappropriate times, (i.e. using a computer at the library, during class, etc.). Ever heard someone say “Eff my life!”? That spawned from this website. UMass also has its own TFLN group on Facebook, strictly chronicling the crazy nights at the Zoo, although I think everyone has forgotten about it because it’s mostly just ridden with spam now. I believe we should change that! (I spent way too much time procrastinating on there.)
7. Yayeveryday.com
Not quite as many people have heard of this site before; that makes me happy to be a pioneer in all things procrastination! Everday collects cool artsy photos and videos for your enjoyment. I think their database goes on for just about forever. (Actually 262 pages as of right now.) I like these photos better than the ones on Kill Some Time because they’re done by really talented people and are really appealing to look at. This site is also great because you can click on the photo or video to see where it’s from, and I have found some pretty neat blogs this way. They also add new things constantly so it’s difficult to ever get bored.
8. Wikipedia.org
No, Wiki is not just for writing misinformed papers anymore. Ok, well so it is, but I also find myself spending way too much time on this website accidently. I type in something I want to know more about; such as sporks or Billy Corgan, and with all of the blue highlighted words I end up reading encyclopedia articles about things that have nothing to do with what I originally searched. Not only this, but now Wiki has a bunch of spin-offs, such as WikiQuote and WikiAnswers. I actually just searched “procrastination” and found this lovely quote, “it is estimated that 80%-95% of college students engage in procrastination.”
9. Yahoo.com
This may seem like an odd thing to put on this list. But I’m telling you, I’ve never before spent so much time on Yahoo except when it was my go-to search engine. My favorite part of Yahoo aside from the free email server is the news section. I’m not huge into news that involve politics or really big words but Yahoo always seems to have a good stream of interesting articles that change every day. Had it not been for Yahoo I wouldn’t have bothered to see what Katy Perry was supposed to wear on Sesame Street nor would I know that Peter Jackson has been given the ok to film “The Hobbit”. Awesome.
10. CuteOverload.com
I don’t know about you, but nothing brightens my day like adorable baby animals. This blog has readers submit cute photos or videos of animals and the site administrators add funny captions. New blog posts are up every day. Even if you believe that you are just too manly to have others see kittens on your laptop screen, just remember, girls LOVE baby animals.
Posted in Top of Mind
Tagged best4last, Chapman, Chapman Univeristy, College, Finals, Fun, Homework, Jordan, Jordan Beck, Stress, Studying
There are only 52 days until graduation, so embrace it! Don’t be afraid about what is around the corner – the road ahead is full of wonderful things!
Life is without meaning.
You bring the meaning to it.
The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be.
Being alive is the meaning.
– Joseph Campbell
Posted in Entertainment
Tagged Announcements, Argyros, best4last, Chapman, Chapman Univeristy, College, Commencement, Entertainment, Events, Family, Finals, Jordan, Jordan Beck, Reminders, School, Stress, Studying
This past week, I have been in the midst of preparing for midterms, submitting my resume to potential employers, and writing what seem like endless cover letters… I am sure all of you have been stepping through the same process I have been going through, as well! As I was searching for the “perfect post” to share with all of you this week, I came across a website of a motivational speaker, Julienne Gordon. She has written two books and given numerous speeches about college students and the process of preparing for graduation and life in the “real world”. She has posted her “Top 66 Things to Do Before Graduation” list on her website, and I feel that all of us, as graduates, have a lot to gain from her insights. She calls it “Route 66”. I have included her summary (below) as well as the important things to do so that YOU, as an individual, walk away from college with great memories, a diploma in hand, and ready to conqer to world. 🙂
~Jordan
“If you (have graduated or) are afraid of graduating college unemployed or underemployed with an expensive piece of paper and a pile of loans, then you should consider taking Route 66. Route 66 is an alternative way to move through college that will maximize your personal, intellectual, social, and financial capital so that you can graduate on the path to do what you love. It requires taking the road less traveled.
Your life is your vehicles to design, drive, and maintain. Unfortunately, too many people end up backseat driving through life or driving someone else’s vehicle without every getting in the driver’s seat of their own life. It’s time to take the wheel and take control of your life, career, and education.
College is a 4 year stepping stone for your 40 year career. But today, a college degree doesn’t guarantee anyone a job. Results from NACE’s Student Survey show that less than 20 percent of 2009 grads who have applied for a job actually have one in hand. In comparison, more than half of 2007 grads and 26 percent of those graduating in 2008 who had applied for jobs had one by time of graduation. Of the students who did land jobs, 73 percent had completed an internship at some point in their college careers.
In today’s economy, a 4.0 is not enough—students coming out of college have to be exceptional. Academic excellence is the minimum. If I was in college today knowing what I know now, here are 66 ways I would maximize my college experience in addition to getting good grades. The list is organized according to my latest book The 8 Cylinders of Success: How to Align your Personal & Professional Purpose and supported by the 30 day goal setting framework in my second book Good Excuse Goal: How to End Procrastination & Perfectionism Forever.
1. Principles » Your Dashboard
What beliefs equate to success to me?
01. [] Take the Gallup Strength Finder 2.0
02. [] Host a Potluck Dinner
03. [] Read The Alchemist
04. [] Take a Personal Development Course
05. [] Read Rich Dad Poor Dad
06. [] Journal for 30 Days in a Row
07. [] Hold 2 Leadership Positions
08. [] Read a Spiritual Text Cover to Cover
2. Passions » Your Keys
What do I love doing and why?
09. [] Play an Intramural Sport for Fun
10. [] Volunteer for an Organization that Moves You
11. [] Take a Graduate School Course
12. [] Finish an Assignment One Week Early
13. [] Do a Public Speech
14. [] Start a Campus Club
15. [] Learn to Play an Instrument
16. [] Write a Business Plan
3. Problems » Your Fuel
What social, scientific, technical, and/or personal problem do I want to solve?
17. [] Wear a Costume to Class (on a day other than Halloween)
18. [] Do Karaoke
19. [] Write an Article for the Campus Paper
20. [] Recite a Poem at an Open Mic
21. [] Correct your Professor
22. [] Do something you’ll likely get Rejected from
23. [] Get a Grade Change
24. [] Take a Quarter, Semester, or Year off
4. People » Your Motor
Whom do I want to serve and how?
25. [] Attend a Meeting of a Group you Think Thinks Differently
26. [] Get off Campus and go Camping
27. [] Join a National Organization
28. [] Mentor a Younger Person
29. [] Raise $1,000 for an Organization you Care About
30. [] Go on a Cross Country Road Trip
31. [] Study Abroad
32. [] Visit your Country of Cultural Origin
5. Positioning » Your Lane
What do I want to be #1 in the world at?
33. [] Buy your own Domain Name
34. [] Start a Blog/Website
35. [] Start Tweeting
36. [] Buy Business cards
37. [] Create a Resume 2.0 on KODA.US/nscs
38. [] Do your Future Job Now
39. [] Create a Portfolio of your work
40. [] Intern with Two Companies
6. Pioneers » Your Pace Cars
Who are my models, mentors, or guides?
41. [] Watch 20 Videos
42. [] Find an Upperclassman Mentor
43. [] Take a Professor to Lunch
44. [] Seek to Meet a Prominent Alumni
45. [] Interview your Grandparents
46. [] Shadow an Alumni on a Project
47. [] Conduct Research with a Professor
48. [] Choose something to Master and Practice Everyday
7. Picture » Your Road Map
What’s my vision for myself and my world?
49. [] Learn WordPress
50. [] Master Excel and Powerpoint
51. [] Abstain from Something
52. [] Organize a Huge Event and Build a Team
53. [] Create a Vision Board
54. [] Learn how to use Photoshop or iMovie
55. [] Learn HTML & CSS
56. [] Sell something and Make a Profit
8. Possibility » Your Destination
What would be possible in the world with me that is not possible without me?
57. [] Learn to do your own Taxes
58. [] Run a Marathon
59. [] Take the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, or MCAT
60. [] Save $5,000 to $10,000
61. [] Clear your Credit Card Debt
62. [] Learn a Foreign Language
63. [] Get your Real Estate License
64. [] Earn a Certificate or License relevant to your Path
Last but not least…
65. [] Complete the 64 Things to do before you Graduate List
66. [] Graduate 10 Times more ready for the World than your Classmates
Posted in Entertainment, Look & Feel Great, Top of Mind
Tagged best4last, Cover Letter, Finals, Jordan, Jordan Beck, Julienne, Julienne Gordon, Midterm, Resume, Stress, Thing to Do
Are the stress of midterms are getting to you? Are those papers and assignments are beginning to pile-up on you? Try some of these stress-reliving tips!
Or, you could use the Anti-Stress Kit:
🙂 Happy Studying!
Sources:
http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/stressrelievers.htm
http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/25_relievers.htm
Posted in Look & Feel Great, Top of Mind
Tagged Chapman, Finals, Jordan, Jordan Beck, Midterms, Relief, School, Stress
We all know that there is much more to beer than Coors, Budweiser, Blue Moon, Heineken, Corona and all those other mass-produced, substandard beers. Well here’s your chance to expand your horizons! Both LA and Orange County are having huge Beer Festivals that will feature the city’s top breweries, as well as 60 domestic and international brands. I don’t know about you, but this is definitely an event that the Best4Last team is going to check out before we graduate!
The Orange County Beer Festival will be the Sunday before finals, so if you can’t manage the partying-studying combination, the Los Angeles Beer Festival will be on April 9. $40 gets you unlimited beer! Sounds like a plan to me!
References for this article are as follows:
http://www.drinkeatplay.com/orangecountybeerfest/
http://www.drinkeatplay.com/losangelesbeerfest/
best 4 last 