Entertainment
80 Of The Best 'Glee' Covers That Took Our Breath Away
You make me feel like I'm living a teenage dream
25 September 2019
1490
FOX
And that's what you missed on "Glee!"
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You make me feel like I'm living a teenage dream
And that's what you missed on "Glee!"
Less is always more.
You can never start packing for college too early.
Regardless of when you start, you're still going to be buying things last minute. Prior to college, it's good to clean out any items you no longer use. This way, when you come home for the summer, it's easier to make room for your new college items. Surprisingly, you need a lot less than you think at college. The biggest mistake you can make is bringing too much stuff.
Here's a list of the things you absolutely need for the first year of college:
College is a lot more noisy than you think. From living in a dorm to studying in the dining hall, you are constantly surrounded by some type of noise. Earplugs may also be helpful while sleeping.
Everyone needs a good comforter that doesn't slide that much. With your bed up against the wall, it's hard to keep your bedspread in one place.
Two sheet sets are optimal so you can wash one set while the other is on your bed.
Shower shoes are obviously a must in a communal bathroom. With your shower shoes being wet out of the shower, it is very nice to have a bath mat to dry your shoes and feet off.
Having one lamp is helpful when the lights are out while getting ready to go to bed and waking up in the morning so your roommate can rest peacefully.
One set of bed risers is good to raise your bed and put your dresser underneath. It's not necessarily a must. Dressers beside your bed and desk look good too.
When the dining hall isn't open, having a foldable box of snacks is very helpful when studying, breakfast or during finals week.
Instead of sliding toiletries and makeup sitting in a drawer, it's so much easier is you organize with long, plastic trays to go in your desk drawer. This way, you find what you are looking for faster and your stuff isn't making noise sliding in the drawer when opening and closing.
Keep a suitcase at school for weekend trips and an extra book bag for when you move out at the end of the year.
Keep the plastic bins you brought your stuff in, in your room all year under your bed so it is easier to move out at the end of the year.
Having a large husband pillow was helpful to sit up while I was sick to avoid coughing all night long. Limit the number of pillows you bring to four because they do take up space.
With constant walking around campus, carrying binders are too heavy. Notebooks are easier to take lecture and reading notes in. For handouts and loose papers, folders are great.
To wash any dishes you have, one bottle of dish soap is perfect.
Bottle or pods, have one or the other.
Only one box of dryer sheets.
Your desk and other surfaces will get dusty and is good to have a duster and not just wipe surfaces down with a paper towel.
Have antibacterial wipes for sick days, or wiping up spills. I used these a lot if dirt was stuck on the floor.
Irons are a big no. Small dorm room = no storage for iron and ironing board. Have a small, affordable steamer that can be stored easily. I highly recommend the Joy steamer, which heats up within a minute.
Everyone needs a fridge or fridge with a freezer. Personally, I used the freezer way more to heat up meals when I couldn't make it to the dining hall for dinner.
Have one box of plastic silverware with spoons, knives, and forks that can fit in your desk drawer.
Bring a headboard to college so that your pillows won't fall behind your bed. This is one thing I wish I would have brought to college.
Buy a small three gallon trash can to go in your room with trash bags to go in them.
Going to college and having no medicine is the worst. Of course you can always buy some at the on campus market or health center, but it may not be open at the time you need.
A desk hutch is probably one of the most well known must need items on the college packing list. This is so you can put your schoolbooks on, a lamp, makeup, etc..
Having a printer in your room is a very efficient way to print out papers, notes, and homework. This saves you money from printing out pages at the library.
Spending money on a vacuum no one wants to do, but it's worth it. Your room will be really gross especially if you have a rug and you will have to stare at the filth all year. Not to mention that all of that dirt will stick to your feet, socks, and eventually end up on your bed. Not having a rug is the way to go to ensure your floor will be actually clean. Swiffer offers a vacuum and Swiffer in one called a Swiffer Vac and is only $50. It's cordless and lasts a really long time before you charge it. This was one of my favorite items I had in my dorm last year and used it every week.
Prior to college, I bought a small I.D. pouch with a keychain attached to it. This was so helpful because I was able to keep my room and car keys, and university student card together. I found this much easier instead of putting my cards in a pouch on the back of my phone where I would risk laying down my belongings and leaving them somewhere.
Buy a full-length mirror to go on the back of you or your roommate's closet door. It's nice and helpful to see how you look every day, especially when putting on makeup. Bed, Bath, and Beyond is a perfect place to buy this.
A mattress pad made my bed probably more comfortable than my bed at home. If you're a slacker about buying most things for college, this is the item you don't want to miss out on.
If you have bed risers, you definitely want a step stool or ottoman to get on your bed.
This might seem not needed, but you will have to staple papers together to turn into your professor.
Oscillating fan towers are a no go. They do not get cool air all over the room. Get a circular, Honeywell fan that sits on your windowsill. This way, it can tilt up so the cool air can be spread all over the room. And did I mention, it's less than $30? Even if your dorm has air conditioning , get one anyway.
Napkins, cleaning messes, or acting as a plate, you will need these.
You WILL get sick living in a dorm. Trust me, you will want some tissues.
Rain boots are a staple for college girls. Walking in the pouring rain is any college student's nightmare, especially if your classes are 20 minutes from your dorm.
Besides having a foamy mattress pad, you will need a mattress cover to go over the mattress pad. This goes underneath your bottom sheet and adds to the comfort of sleeping.
These are hangers to put your towels on or any other item your heart desires.
Rather than having a shower bucket that could fill up with water, have a shower caddy with holes that you can bring into the shower with you. This way, no water stays in it and doesn't grow mold.
These are very helpful study tools especially during finals week and in case your dorm doesn't have a whiteboard you can study with. Staples has all sizes of whiteboards you can put underneath your bed.
At the beginning of the year, you will want to keep your door open to meet people on your hall and dorm. Also, a door stopper is good when moving into your dorm room.
Have plastic water bottles in case your reusable bottle breaks.
Plastic bags are great for breakfast on the go or anything that needs to be protected from breaking.
You will use a power strip every day to plug things in like your phone and laptop charger, fan or lamp.
You never know when you might need them.
Avoid a trip to the bathroom to wash your hands.
Lastly, remember to only buy what you need. Your dorm room doesn't have to look like it came out of a catalog with a ton of decorations. As long as you have the bare necessities, you will be all good.
They are all so unique in different ways, and you can't help but love each and every single one of them.
With the Top 20 just being announced on American Idol, here are my top 10 picks. It wasn't easy to pick just 10, considering everyone this season has been so amazing and has truly brought the talent. They are all so unique in different ways and you can't help but love each and every single one of them.
Alejandro's voice will send chills up your entire body and if his voice alone isn't enough his guitar playing in insane as well. He's amazing in every single way and he's everything an artist should be. All in all, he's a gift to the world of music.
Aside from his voice, literally everything about him is so unique. Not only does he have a great voice, but his personality is awesome too! As Eddie would say, "Welcome to the island."
Laci has a beautifully special sound to her voice that you'll want to hear over and over again. She's also been referred to as "the next Carrie Underwood." If that doesn't say it all, watch this video.
Laine has changed the game. He was a contestant last season, but since then he has grown leaps and bounds as a musician and has surprised us all. His country rock style will easily melt your heart.
Walker is one of my personal favorites for his unique and extremely controlled sound. He really knows how to use his skills and style to truly showcase his talent. He makes every song his own and that's what an artist is supposed to do. I could listen to him over and over and you should too!
Wade kills it. He knows how to captivate an audience. His voice has so many levels to it and it makes him that much more interesting. He's also extremely humble and has no idea how talented he is. You just can't help but like him.
Madison is so talented. She is someone I — even Judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan — compare to Kelly Clarkson because of her looks, style, and incredible range. She digs deep and doesn't hold back at all!
Jeremiah has a stunning voice and knows how to prove his talent through his song choices. He puts so much emotion and passion in his performances. He will make you feel whatever he is feeling while singing and that's something so powerful as a musician.
Riley may be the youngest contestant this season, but she's definitely not letting that hold her back. She has such a beautiful twangy sound as a country artist and she's killing it.
Uche can belt that's for sure. He demands your attention and never holds back. He knows the style he's trying to convey and does a great job at showcasing it. He is bringing back the funk and I love it.
Thanks for reading my top 10 picks. Hopefully, you found some contestants you like too. So make sure to turn on American Idol on ABC to find out if my top 10 picks will actually make it to the top 10.
How many different genres can Erica have between seven shuffled songs?
Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I have definitely gone through phases of music preferences. Now, I like just about any genre of music that plays, but of course, I have my favorite genres. Scrolling through my Spotify account, I was finding several different genres of songs, and I thought, "Why not shuffle the entire mix of songs and see what comes up?" This list contains the top seven songs that pop up when I shuffle all of the music on my Spotify account.
Shot Clock by Ella Mai
This song is from her self-titled album, and it is an amazing album. Her voice is unique, which is something I look for in artists. Through her voice, you can hear her confidence and swagger. I would definitely recommend giving her music a listen, specifically this song.
Cancer by My Chemical Romance
MCR is a band I came across when I was about 12 years old. I was in a bad part of my life, trying to fight my way through depression. Back then, this song didn't have much meaning to me, but now, it holds a dear place in my heart. Whenever I hear it, I automatically remember my grandfather who passed away my freshman year of high school. He had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and his death was a tragedy I am still trying to recover from.
Unforgettable by French Montana ft. Swae Lee
This song is great for dancing, which is something I do constantly. Every time I hear this song, I am reminded of Zhavia's performance on The Four about a year ago. She is one of my favorite up and coming artists, so y'all should definitely check her music out as well.
anxiety by blackbear ft. FRND
OMG. If you have not listened to blackbear, you must go check out his music! Of all the artists I listen to (trust me there's a bunch), he definitely makes my top 5 favorite artists. This song especially is really good, and the album it comes from is, in my opinion, his best album.
3:15 by Bazzi
Bazzi is another up and coming artist that I really like listening to. This song is a modern love song that I thoroughly enjoy. It is upbeat enough to where I can listen to it while running, but also, it's chill enough to lay down and relax to. I didn't know that Bazzi started his career on Vine, but I thought it was pretty neat.
Any Ol' Barstool by Jason Aldean
There are several male country artists I enjoy listening to, but Jason Aldean's songs are above many of them. I'm particular to his songs about love because the lyrics are just beautiful. Country music is a genre I always return to because it is simple and keeps me calm. I don't know what it is about the music, but it makes me feel at home.
Mad World by Jasmine Thompson
I don't know what it is about this song but I love it. I don't listen to a lot of covers because I normally prefer the original singer. Jasmine does an amazing cover, and personally, I like it over the original. I definitely recommend giving this song a listen.
A list of bops from the 90s and 2000s, to bring back the memories and keep the good times rolling.
We all remember the feeling of our iPod in our hands, earbuds in our ears, jamming to songs from the iconic era of the 90s and 2000s. The next time you or your friends are feeling nostalgic, pop in your ~airpods~ and have a listen. Here's to great memories and even greater music.
Sean Kingston's official music video for 'Beautiful Girls'. Click to listen to Sean Kingston on Spotify:
Writing is basically part of our lives and we all share these in common.
Writing on Odyssey is one of the most special experience I have had in college. Not only it is so rewarding, help people sense meaning out of their lives, have a learning experience, have very talented writers, but most importantly develop my own style of writing. With all of our unique qualities as writers, there are we all share of being part of such an awesome community:
We all know that once Monday rolls around the pressure is building on what to write about for that week. Whether it be personal or addressing what's popular each week in the media, it can be hard to know what to write about.
In all disparity of being a good writer, sometimes there are weeks where you have to ask other people for ideas(A huge thank you to my residence hall for contributing to my articles so openly and helping me with anything I needed). I'm now wondering who I will ask next year(lol). It's also helpful to see other people's point of view regardless of the media thinks people feel.
Oh, the cover photo. Going in knowing it may be replaced, it is indeed possible to spend an hour looking for the one that is unique to you. If you're like me, you search at least five sites for the special one.
It's so easy to spend hours tagging one odyssey article to get the amount of views you want. This is probably the hardest part out of publicizing your article. What tags to put that are most central to your article but also what is related to what you are conveying. You probably need a caffeinated Starbucks coffee to make it through the first hour.
"Hi, I'm Lorena and I write articles on Odyssey, a content creation platform" is what I normally say to people when they ask me what I do. Talking to people in your residence hall or in class is one of the best ways to advertise your articles and yourself! Love talking to people about what you do and the things you are involved in. And most of all, sell yourself!
In business, you're asked to deliver numbers the company wants. It's kind of the same thing as writing and receiving the views you want. To make the number of views you want depends on the number of tags on your article. Lastly, more views equals more time.
You know if you've been posting on Odyssey for a while, people might get tired of you promoting your articles. "Ugh another article post, I can't stand this girl" is probably what a lot of people think, but you do what you love and like what you do.
As Odyssey creators, we all know that there are topics that you want to do that have literally been done so many times. Whether it is about your mom, "The Bachelor," or how high schoolers can make the most out of their senior year, sometimes you just can't help yourself hoping it will be better than someone else's who did it before you.
Nothing is more painful than being short of the word count. You realize you just got to BS yourself through those final 10 words when you have no idea what else to say.
What can I say, it happens to the best of us!
Nothing is more tempting than writing a listicle. Odyssey might as well be famous for listicles. Lists are also very popular to read on the internet and impossible to ignore. Although, branching out from a listicle is always ideal.
For me, I get most of my article ideas in the shower and then write a whole article no matter what time of day or night. The inspiration comes at the most random times.
If you are not writing, you're thinking about the next time that you can write an article.
If writing is your number one priority, you definitely put off your studying and procrastinate by dishing on the media's latest hot topic.
When there is a lot of time on your hands, this means you have many opportunities to write your heart out, or write two articles for the next two weeks.
Snow and rain are primetime for writing an Odyssey article. Curl up in bed, relax and drink coffee or hot chocolate.
I often plan what articles I will write each week and have a long list that I will probably never get to.
Your article could do really well or fail miserably. Those two thousand views on one article makes up for it though and you suddenly feel like an internet sensation.
Me: "Mom, guess what I wrote about this week!?!?"
Mom: "?" with an extreme lack of excitement.
As writers, it's hard to recognize why people don't write. For those of us on Odyssey, we practically document our lives. I mean someone's gotta do it.
We're all self-published authors thanks to Odyssey and people's willingness to tell their stories. Cheers to many more years of blogging and writing!