The Odyssey Online

The girls I will never forget.

Sophia Palmerine

Dear High School Friend Group,

My sweet angels, where would I be without you guys. We all grew up together because we either met in middle school or high school and watched each other grow up and get "old." We got to go to prom together and then graduate together. Then watched each other as we continued our lives in college, joining sororities and meeting people who will impact our lives forever. It all has happened so fast.

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high school friend

College In Gifs

Because we are all sad Jim Halpert

Campbell University

305

Wise GEEK

Oh college, we can’t live with you, but we can’t live without you. It’s a love/hate relationship, really. College is an experience that no one can ever prepare you for, and maybe that’s a good thing. You never really expect any of the things that college encompasses until you are there. College is fun, but don’t have too much fun. C’s get degrees, but they don’t get you into graduate school.

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college life

Entertainment

Blair Waldorf: Your Spirit Animal

Who wouldn't wanna be Queen B?

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM)

169

The "Gossip Girl" series may be over, but Blair Waldorf's iconic character lives in our hearts forever. Blair was the queen of the Upper East Side, and a character you either loved or hated. She taught us everything we needed to know about life, love and of course, how to score a Chuck Bass. So the next time you feel a bit lost and are in need of guidance, look no further than to the Queen B herself.

As I spend my Sunday avoiding my homework and other adult responsibilities, I realized that I've watched this series over and over about a million times. Sadly, there isn't a Blair quote I don't know, so I came up with a list of a few favorites. You know you love her...xoxo

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blair waldorf

Relationships

How to Reconnect with Yourself After Heartbreak

We all know the pain of losing someone we cared about. But heartbreak can be a surprising opportunity to get back in touch with the original love of your life...yourself.

345

Pixabay

This is a response to To my first heartbreak.

Everyone knows the feeling of heartbreak. Whether it's caused by a breakup, a falling out with a friend, or a clash with family, the symptoms are similar: depressed mood, lethargy, crying, anger, exhaustion.

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heartbreak

Syllabus Week As Told By Kourtney Kardashian

Feeling Lost During Syllabus Week? You're Not Alone!

University of Iowa

883

Winter break is over, we're all back at our respective colleges, and the first week of classes is underway. This is a little bit how that week tends to go.

The professor starts to go over something more than the syllabus

Kuwtk Keeping Up With The Kardashians GIFfrom Kuwtk GIFs

You get homework assigned on the first day of class

There are multiple group projects on the syllabus

Kardashian GIFfrom Kardashian GIFs

You learn attendance is mandatory and will be taken every class

Professor starts chatting about their personal life and what inspired them to teach this class

Participation is mandatory and you have to play "icebreaker games"

Everybody is going out because its 'syllabus week' but you're laying in bed watching Grey's Anatomy

Looking outside anytime past 8 PM every night of this week

Nobody actually has any idea what's happening this entire week

Kourtney Kardashian Keeping Up With The Kardashians GIFfrom Kourtney Kardashian GIFs

Syllabus week is over and you realize you actually have to try now...or not

Whatever GIFfrom Meh GIFs

Now it's time to get back into the REAL swing of things. Second semester is really here and we all have to deal with it.

syllabus week

Lifestyle

Signs You Worked At Panera Bread In High School

Chips, apple or bread?

Ithaca College

344

Whether you specialized in ringing people up or preparing the food, if you worked at Panera Bread it holds a special place in your heart. Here are some signs that you worked at Panera in high school.

1. You own so many pairs of khaki pants you don’t even know what to do with them

Definitely the worst part about working at Panera was the uniform and having someone cute come in. Please don’t look at me in my hat.

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panera bread

7 Ways to Make Your Language More Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive

Making the world safer through language.

University of Pittsburgh

3765

7 Ways to Make Your Language More Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive

With more people becoming aware of transgender and non-binary people, there have been a lot of questions circulating online and elsewhere about how to be more inclusive. Language is very important in making a space safer for trans and non-binary individuals. With language, there is an established and built-in measure of whether a place could be safe or unsafe. If the wrong language is used, the place is unsafe and shows a lack of education on trans and non-binary issues. With the right language and education, there can be more safe spaces for trans and non-binary people to exist without feeling the need to hide their identities or feel threatened for merely existing.

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transgender

Entertainment

What It’s Like To Be A Strong Woman, As Told By Blair Waldorf

Queen B sums it up for us.

Rutgers University

1444

Stop Hollywood

For those of you who have watched "Gossip Girl" before (and maybe more than just once), you know how important of a character Blair Waldorf is. Without Blair, the show doesn’t have any substance, scheme, or drama. Although the beginning of the show started off with Blair’s best friend Serena returning from boarding school, there just simply is no plot without Blair. With that being said, Blair’s presence in the show in much more complex than that. Her independent and go-getter ways have set an example for "Gossip Girl" fans since the show started and has not ended even years after the show ended. Blair never needed another person to define who she was and she certainly didn’t need a man to do that for her. When she envisioned a goal, she sought after it, and took it. This is why Blair’s demeanor encompasses strong women like her.

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blair waldorf

Lifestyle

3 reasons I love traveling alone

If you need a boost of self-confidence, you might find it in a solo trip.

167

Photo by Savvas Kalimeris on Unsplash

This is a response to Traveling Alone is Not for the Faint of Heart.

Traveling alone can seem scary. As a woman, I've always been aware of the dangers that solo female travelers face. Since I was a kid, my family filled my head with images of being kidnapped, robbed, or harassed if I so much as walked down the block alone. I had ever reason to fear solo travel, and yet, I was drawn to it.

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solo travel

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Odyssey's mission is to affect positive social change by inviting people to share their perspectives, sharpen their opinions, and participate in meaningful conversations with others surrounding the topics they care about most.

The girls I will never forget.

Because we are all sad Jim Halpert

Who wouldn't wanna be Queen B?

Probably every day.

"What the hell is going on?"

"I need to leave."

"I hate all these people."

"I think I need a nap."

"I hate Mondays, and Tuesdays, and every day I have class."

"Another paper? Damn, why don't I just write a book!"

"Don't call on me, don't call on me."

"I miss home."

"So much to do! 8 papers, 3 projects, 4 exams... Ugh, I don't even have time to eat, sleep, or breathe."

"I deserve a break!"

We all know the pain of losing someone we cared about. But heartbreak can be a surprising opportunity to get back in touch with the original love of your life...yourself.

It's happening.

Excitement

Relief

Excitement (again)

Sadness

Feeling Lost During Syllabus Week? You're Not Alone!

The professor starts to go over something more than the syllabus

You get homework assigned on the first day of class

There are multiple group projects on the syllabus

You learn attendance is mandatory and will be taken every class

Professor starts chatting about their personal life and what inspired them to teach this class

Participation is mandatory and you have to play "icebreaker games"

Everybody is going out because its 'syllabus week' but you're laying in bed watching Grey's Anatomy

Looking outside anytime past 8 PM every night of this week

Nobody actually has any idea what's happening this entire week

Syllabus week is over and you realize you actually have to try now...or not

Chips, apple or bread?

1. You own so many pairs of khaki pants you don’t even know what to do with them

2. Chips, apple or bread is probably your most repeated phrase

3. Taking bakery items with you out to parties was a must

4. Taking bakery items home to your parents was also a must (if you wanted to live)

5. Your friends expected you to give them free stuff

6. Being put on dishes made you question humanity

7. You saw everyone and their mother (especially their mothers)

8. Working the opening shift was actually the worst thing to ever happen to you

9. Being able to predict what people would order

10. Making coffee was your least favorite thing to do

11.Being put on the dining room was the absolute WORST

12. Secretly putting in your Panera card number when other people didn’t have them or want them.

13. You would still come in on days you weren’t working to take advantage of your discount

It's Been a Long Winter Break

Making the world safer through language.

1. Use singular they for people whose pronouns you don't know, people who use those pronouns, and stop using him/her.

2. Stop using the words "opposite sex" or "both sexes" or "opposite gender" or "both genders".

3. Ask people's pronouns when you meet them.

4. Use the word cisgender.

5. Stop saying "born a boy/girl" about a transgender or non-binary person.

6. Stop using the term 'preferred pronouns'.

7. Stop using a transgender or non-binary person's dead name.

Queen B sums it up for us.

If you need a boost of self-confidence, you might find it in a solo trip.

You can do whatever you want

You gain confidence

You can reconnect with yourself

Sometimes, we just can't help the feelings we have

1. Wow. My voice sounds amazing with this song.

2. Okay, if you can't sing, don't do it.

3. But wait, I don't think I can be friends with someone who isn't going to jam out in the car with me.

4. Dance part in the car! Even when I'm alone. Because every song is my favorite.

5. Stop light. Act calm. Be cool.

6. Yes! Green light! Back at it!

7. I don't know this song, but I'm going to sing along anyway.

8. Why am I not famous yet?

9. Being next to someone who can't sing so you feel good about yourself because you rock!

10. OK, I'm so good. I need to sing louder so I can help these people out.

11. My voice doesn't reach some of those notes, maybe I should sit this one out.

12. Randomly bursting out in song and getting weird looks because of it.

13. God, thank you so much for giving me a good voice.

14. Man, I feel bad for people who can't sing.

15. Was I just humming? Did they hear me?

16. Having dance moves to go along with most songs.

17. Not being able to stop yourself at correcting people when they mess up.

18. Maybe I should post myself singing.

19. Nah, can't do it. Dumb idea.

20. Having my own personal concert in the shower. Every single time.