Take it from the kid who’s partially afraid of everything- sometimes the key to life is to shove yourself so far out of your comfort zone that you’ve lost the sun and your flashlight is on its last leg. So, how do we become strong enough to slip beyond the barrier that contains us, and find the unknown? Easy. You start with the small steps. From picking up something new, to changing your look, to finding your niche, small steps are vital. Halloweek is not only a small step, but a calling to any kid who’s been afraid to step out of their comfort zone. You can do this in a way that’s fun and creative, and that shows off what a unique person may hide behind this mask you show to the rest of the world. As much as Halloweek may seem like it’s nothing more than donning costumes, I can promise you, you will never feel more like yourself. So, here are my top five tips for how to handle Halloweek like a champ.

Tip #1: DIY is key

“Do it yourself,” a.k.a when picking out your Halloweek attire, be sure that it reflects you in some way shape or form. Pull something together from your closet and find a story for it. Are you being an original character? A book character that has meant something to you? A feeling, emotion, or state of being that you hold to be a part of your core? It sounds lame, but it’s part of letting yourself shine through not only your personality but also what you carry around with you. My first year doing this, my costumes ranged from "that guy from that band you like" to "the ghost of last year's Halloween." One pays homage to the type of music I like, and another displayed how the perceived meaning Halloween has changed so much from when I was little (definitely wasn't heavy social commentary, nope nope).

Tip #2: Take Some Time to Get Back to the Start

Did Disney Halloween movies put a sparkle in your eye back in the day? Did the thrill of going to the costume store have you bouncing in the backseat they entire way there? Just because you're above the age of twelve doesn't mean this has to be put behind you. Round up the crew, throw some popcorn in that micro-fridge concoction and have yourself the Halloween movie marathon you deserve after cracking out four hours of studying and reading sixty-four pages of post-modern communism and it's effect on the stock market (or something else wild like that). Got nothing going on after class? Head to the local thrift store and see who out of your friend group is the true ruler of the racks and can pull out the most spooktacular costume. It's a fun way to de-stress that can bring you back to a time where the major worry was how many other kids were going to be wearing the same Red Ranger costume as you.

Tip #3: Find Your Soundtrack

Music is a very important aspect of my life, and this week of personal boundary pushing is no exception! One thing I have never doubted is the power of a playlist, and Halloweek requires something especially epic. It is a week that heralds to the strange, the slightly creepy, and those who just want to have a good time. With this in mind, it's important to make sure you've got music to back you up. So, when those late night study sessions hit hard, keep Spotify open to your very own spooky mix and don't be afraid to scare your roommate with your dancing.

Tip #4: Don't Be a Follower, be a Halloweeker

It doesn't hurt to get your friends aboard the Halloweek train, but don't feel discouraged when they aren't interested. Halloweek is something different for everyone, and what you need to do is make this week your own. If that means grabbing a group of friends and trying to win the costume contest at bowling night, go for it! If it means that you're the only one on your hall dressing up, but you still want to do it, don't let that stop you! Take this opportunity by the plastic devil's horns and wrestle with it until it's what you want it to be. In the same vein, don't tell someone else they’re doing Halloweek wrong. Everyone has their own way of doing things, and for something that's so much about self-expression, you can't police everyone to follow your vision. If anything, someone might appreciate your encouragement when trying something like Halloweek for the first time.

Tip #5: Beware, People are Going to Stare

The inevitable fact of Halloweek is that people are going to think what you're doing is weird. You're probably going to want to crawl under a rock during various parts of the first day. However, the most important thing is that you're having fun. And as long as you aren't bothering anyone else, why is it their business? This isn't a lesson that is learned and held overnight, that I can say with a certainty. Once you get past this, though, then the fun really starts. You'll begin to notice that other people are into what you're doing, and may even want to join you. I started out doing Halloweek completely on my own last year. By the end of the week, some of my classmates and even my teachers were taking an interest, things as simple as the question, "Hey, what are you today?" This year, I'm happy to report, I've got a group of people doing this alongside me. It may not be huge yet, but I'm looking forward to where Halloweek can go.

Thanks, Grandma Aggie, you always know how to sum things up for me. There you have it, kiddos, the guidelines for how to make Halloweek your own. I hope you take this, have fun, and have a few good stories to tell afterwards. I want to take this little something special and share it with you. Life's an experience, and so much of that depends on what you make of it. You can be so afraid to let your flag fly that you end up being completely passed by, or you can watch that bad boy catch the wind and soar. Maybe other people will come along, and realize that yours isn't so different from theirs. That's all for now from me. May all your Jack O'Lanterns shine bright, the candy be full-sized, and may you have a very happy Halloween.