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The Study Break: A Weekly List of our Favorite Distractions

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Summer is a great time to focus on the healthy lifestyle you have put off because of your college schedule. There are 10 essential items that you will need to become the healthy college student you always wanted to be. Find the list of items at USA Today College.

Saving can be really hard, especially once you start earning money from your summer internship or job after struggling all semester. Under30CEO has Money Saving Tips Every Student Should Know to help you start investing in your future. Happy saving!

Graduation usually signifies the end of college and the beginning of student debt. Need some tips on how to manage your student debt? Check out these 3 Little Known Facts About Student Loans from Cheap Scholar :)

Did you know that no two corn flakes look identical? Knowledge can be acquired both inside and outside of the classroom! Intern Queen lists 25 Things That Textbooks Didn’t Teach

It’s great to work at different places to build your skills and resume! That all leads to getting your dream job and Intern Queen shares 6 Ways to Land Your Dream Job

Stephanie Holloman

Stephanie Holloman is currently a journalism major concentrating in public relations at Howard University. She works as a Marketing and Communications Intern for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She hopes to work in various areas of communications and public relations upon graduating in May 2015. Contact her at holloman@nscs.org for more information.

Dorothy Ruby Amoah-Darko is currently a Civil and Infrastructure Engineering major with a minor in forensic science. She is the Social Media intern, as well as the intern for Alumni Engagement for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Dorothy will love to land a civil engineering job and help to make the world a better place through the art of design! Contact her at amoahdarko@nscs.org for more information

Tags: howard university nscs, nscs interns, nscs internship, stephanie holloman

Categories: Uncategorized

What’s the Buzz with Bikram?

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Whether you want to start a new workout routine, lose some weight, tone your body, de-stress, improve your posture, or set aside a few hours a week to yourself, there seems to be no wrong reason to start Bikram yoga. Bikram yoga is a copyrighted set of twenty-six yoga poses, or “asanas”, and two breathing exercises that together have a great deal of benefits for one’s body. There are poses to help digestion, metabolism, cardiovascular strength, and more. The teachers are all specially trained, so no matter where you go, you can find a uniformity in all Bikram yoga classes which you can’t really find in other types of yoga. You’ll easily have the routine memorized after a few classes. It’s the type of workout routine that becomes addictive. The endorphins that are released and the sense of accomplishment after each class is crazily satisfying. It’s become a club activity – you’ll recognize the regular students and find a strong community at just about any yoga studio you attend.

So, let’s pretend it’s your first class. The first thing you’ll notice when entering the studio is the heat. At around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s super hot. The idea isn’t to kill you, but to loosen up your muscles and deepen your practice. You’ll understand what this means once you try it. It’s expected you will sweat through your clothes and leave a puddle, so there’s no need to be embarrassed. Of course, it makes sense to bring a mat, towel and a big water bottle to deal with the heat. The heat is what sets apart Bikram yoga from other yoga practices. It takes a little getting used to, but you’ll find that the heat becomes a necessity for your practice.

The second thing you’ll notice is that everyone is spreading out their mats and lying down on the floor. The more advanced students might be in meditation while others might be preparing themselves for what’s to come. Because there’s no talking in the yoga studio, it’s a nice place to really relax without distraction. One of my favorite things to do is come at least half an hour early to class in order to have sufficient time to prepare myself.

At the studio I go to, there are students of all types- those who can do each pose flawlessly, those who are recovering from injuries, those who are trying yoga for the first time, those who pace themselves, those who are old, young, fat, thin, confident, shy, motivated, unmotivated, and everything in between. Once the class begins and you begin to start going through the routine, don’t give up. The first class is always the hardest. I promise that if you survive your first few classes, which can even mean lying down for the majority of the class, you’ll see motivating improvements and you’ll be hooked. Every day there’s a new challenge.

Now, go find a studio. That’s the first step.

Find more “get fit” tips here!

Alison Shlom is a rising junior at University of Colorado Boulder. She is majoring in environmental science and dance and minoring in French. Her biggest passions include the performing arts and travel. To learn more about her, check out her blog at http://thecollegewings.blogspot.com.

Tags: bikram yoga, heat yoga bikram, hot yoga, nscs fit geek, nscs fitness

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The Study Break: A Weekly List of Our Favorite Distractions

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There is never a better time than summer to start eating more healthy! Get your appetite right with “5 Tips for Better Eating Habits” that are easy to follow on HackCollege.

Use your free time during summer to find scholarship money for next semester. There are “4 scholarships you can apply for this summer” that will help cover some of your expenses during the fall. Find the list of scholarships at USA Today College!

Whether you need appropriate outfit ideas for a “Casual Friday” or you are interning in a casual workplace, “5 Ways to Wear Conservative Pieces in a Casual Workplace” is for you! Look here for fashion suggestions from the Daily Muse.

Stay involved this summer by volunteering! Not only is it a good way to fill your schedule but it also helps to build leadership skills. Get opportunities and tips at College Cures.

Vacationing can be expensive but after a long semester you deserve one! College Magazine tells you how “Finding the Beach in Your Own Backyard” can be fun and inexpensive.

Stephanie Holloman

Tags: college life, eating healthy in college, finding a beach, leadership skills, nscs blog

Categories: Uncategorized

A Fitness Routine for Your Brain and Heart

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If you should ask someone what being healthy means to them, you would be overwhelmed with the same reply. Humans are more conscious of their bodies, therefore that’s their main concentration with regards to getting fit. To be fully fit, I think we need to incorporate our mind. We will be more driven and enthusiastic about life because we feel a sense of complete health. I have assembled five easy ways that can assist with getting your mind fit.

Yoga incorporates your mind and body with the use of breathing techniques, while holding various poses where all elements work as one; it’s not only about body’s physical movements. The benefits of yoga include weight loss, freedom from anger and effective communication because you are more at peace with yourself. Yoga allows you to be in a perfect state of mental well-being.

NSCS chapter socials are a great way to bond with members!

Being social, being a part of a group or an association allows you to build social bonds which we all need. Having the support of others separate from your family motivates you to be the best you can be. Studies have shown that being social is beneficial with aging. Humans beings are social animals, so not being who we are can cause mental illness. Not being social may affect your health by causing loneliness and a lack of motivation to live, which can lead to depression. Being social may assist with a healthy mind, so go out relax with some friends and share a couple laughs.

Puzzles are a fun, easy way to relax while stimulating your brain. These simple games can pack a serious challenge whilst returning a host of benefits. Puzzles sharpens critical thinking, and improves problem solving skills. Puzzles keep you mentally active, and are simple, so anyone can have a go. The next time you’re traveling somewhere, do a puzzle and keep yourself mentally stimulated.

NSCS partner Lenovo has awesome sound systems.

Music is very powerful; it can affect our emotions in many ways. Many of us listen to various songs that seem to activate different areas of thinking. Musical stimuli have the ability to also change our moods.

Travel! When you lose enthusiasm for enjoyable activities, it’s a signal for a vacation. Leaving a familiar environment to recollect yourself and unwind is a wonderful experience. You might not have the few extra bucks to travel somewhere far, but make the best of what you have. Take a road trip with some friends; take a one day bus trip. You can also apply for an NSCS Study Abroad scholarship. Allow yourself to be well rounded. Remember, “All work and no play makes jack a dull boy”, so give your mind and body time to relax.

Felicia Francis is a sophomore at New York City College of Technology in liberal arts but pursuing nursing. She serves as the Secretary of NSCS at her college. She owns a pet plant because she is too busy to have an actual pet. She most values her ability to create fun, and enjoys writing about topics which are progressive and positive.

Tags: mental fitness, mental health, nscs bloggers, overall fitness, positive thinking

Categories: Uncategorized

NSCS Summer Travels: Spain

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NSCS Travels are blogposts from our members studying, traveling and exploring all over the world. See the world through eyes here.

Espagne

Hola from Spain!

I’m living my dream by traveling to Europe, hopefully conquering all of the places on my bucket list. So far France, Holland, Belgium, and Dubai have been checked off! Now Spain.

I’m a nanny for a family of three kids, living in the outskirts of Madrid. The Friday day was as bad as it could get; I was homesick, not feeling welcomed, and not knowing a single thing surrounded by strangers.

The second day, today, was totally different. I met four other girls who are nannies from all over the world. We toured the city together, sipped on some coffee in a cute cafe, and then I went on my own adventures like the brave and independent girl that I am- just kidding, I was actually nervous with no phone and poor Spanish speaking skills.

I saw some of the main hotspots like the Puerta de Alcala, Plaza de Cibeles, Gran Via and more. I nailed the metros and bus stops, which is a must in order to go from one place to another.

I tasted a Spanish omelette and some churros. Not a big fan of the omelettes- too bland and eggs make me sick . Churros were yummy!

Shopping is amazing here! Obviously. It’s also pretty expensive, (and no it’s just not my taste), which means I’ll be restraining myself because a nanny’s paycheck is fairly low.

Day Tres:

Thank god for the weekend. I don’t work on the weekends which is great because I have me time to go explore!

Yesterday was National Free Museum Day, so you can imagine what I did along with all the tourists in Madrid… I went to the famous Museo de Prado! (Every time I say or hear that, I can’t help but think of Prada.) I surprisingly enjoy museums, most of my favorites are in Europe. I love seeing life and emotions through someones paintings. My favorite at Prado was Goya. He definitely expressed his feelings through art. Art also gives you a way to go back into the past. To see painting about war, the renaissance, the clothing, the children, the lifestyle, its all so intriguing.

Also saw a beautiful Cathedral.

The Atletico team was celebrating their victory by going around the city on a bus and waving to all their fans. There were so many people in the streets screaming, dancing, and yelling. The city was so alive.

Next, my friend Arianna and I got our makeup done! We were very spontaneous. We were decked out in my new favorite makeup brand, Make Up For Ever. It’s brilliant. Louis Vuitton created it, supposedly. It’s a long-lasting, natural and lightweight makeup. I definitely recommend it!

We then went to a El Cortes Ingles store where we changed into a clothes for the night and made our hair. Cortes Ingles is a giant department store with like nine floors. They sell everything possible!

We just completely transformed in the washroom, plugged in our curler, and made our hair and walked out. We went window shopping because we are both poor nannies.

Ari and I then met some other girls and went to a lovely Greek restaurant. It’s amazing how easy it is to click with 7 other individuals so quickly. Normally, I would never go to dinner with strangers but its just so easy. Then we went off to Teatro Kapital or Club Kapital.

SEVEN FLOORS OF NONE STOP MUSIC, DANCING, DRINKS, DRUNK PEOPLE, AND FUN. Nobody goes out until 2am and then they go home at 7am. Metros do not run during the night so people literally party all night long.

Definitely a night to remember.

Nabila Ismail is a rising sophomore at the University of Buffalo. She is majoring in pharmacy. For the summer 2013, she is currently working, living and blogging in Spain!

Tags: au pair spain, madrid au pair job, NSCS study abroad, nscs travel, summer jobs travel

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the honour roll

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is an honors organization that recognizes and elevates high achievers. NSCS provides career and graduate school connections, leadership and service experiences, access to discounts and savings as well as nearly half a million dollars in scholarships annually. NSCS members are deeply committed to service, integrity and scholarship and, as a result, are impacting their campus and local communities every day. Responses may be used by NSCS for various purposes. Read more...

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