Author - Brooke

How to Turn Around an Unproductive Day

As students, it’s not uncommon that we have a lot on our plate at any given time. When you’re feeling burned out, exhausted, or just downright unmotivated, it can be difficult to stay on top of everything...

Why I Chose UIUC for Social Work

Choosing what you want to study can be a daunting task, but choosing where you want to study can be 100x more difficult. Luckily for me, I knew exactly what I wanted to study. Unluckily for me, I did not have a single...

Overcoming Burnout for Finals Season

At this point in the semester, students are faced with so many different challenges and stressors. On top of it all, so many students are feeling burned out and exhausted. Here are a few things to try that’ll help...

Top Campus Coffee Shop Vibes

As finals season approaches, you might find yourself wanting to study or relax away from your room. If you’re looking for a little treat and a cozy vibe, look no further! Here’s my personal ranking of the...

How to Register for Classes Like a Pro

It doesn’t seem right, but it’s already time to register for next semester’s courses! If you feel overwhelmed and aren’t sure where to start, I’m going to share some of the strategies...

Tips for Traveling Around Campus

Now that the weather is cooling off, walking everywhere is not going to be ideal. The good news is that students can ride on the Champaign-Urbana MTD for free! Here are some tips to make your ride as smooth as possible...

How to Be an Environmentally Friendly Student

Trying to lessen your impact on our environment doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here’s three ways to be environmentally friendly as a student.  1. Buy secondhand. When you move into housing on campus, there are so...

Freshman Year: The Sequel

Coming onto campus this year as a sophomore, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what life on campus was like. I know my way around pretty well, couldn’t wait to revisit all of my favorite spots I had missed, and was...

Best Photo Locations on Campus

The University of Illinois (in my humble opinion) has one of the most beautiful campuses year round! It would simply be reckless not to take advantage of its stunning scenes.  Whether you’re looking for some spots that...

Chambana Must-Eats

First of all, I just want to say welcome and congrats to the class of ’25 admits! You are in for a very exciting next four years.  One of the best parts of our campus, as I’m sure you’ve heard, is the food scene...

Smooth Sailing: My UIUC Vaccine Experience

In general, I personally have been pretty impressed with the way Illinois has been handling the pandemic. Now that we are looking towards vaccines becoming more widespread, I was very intrigued to see how the university...

What to Do When Your Plate is Too Full

Before I begin, allow me to come clean—I had planned to write this back in November.  Quite obviously, I am no master of time management. But heading into a new semester provides us with a fresh start and the...

Finding Joy in the Small Things

The winter months can be great sources of stress for so many. Holiday family gatherings aren’t always a joyous reunion, financial stressors are amplified with gift-giving obligations, and the dreadful sunset at 4:00 PM...

The Freshman Social Work Experience

An all-too-common misconception is that there isn’t much for a freshman to do that relates to and builds on the career the student is pursuing. The reality is that there are plenty of ways for first-year students to...

A Freshman’s View On Dining Halls

One of the perks of University Housing is the flexibility of the meal plan. Rather than being confined to one dining hall, you have the option of choosing the location that best fits in your busy schedule. With almost...

Top 10 Fall Activities

In my humble opinion, fall is the greatest season of the whole year. The gorgeous scenery, stunning color palette, and the yummy treats all come together to make fall so spectacular! Here’s a comprehensive list of fall...

The Beauty of Being your Own Tour Guide

Trying to decide where you’re going to spend the next four years’ worth of sleepless nights and priceless memories is no simple task, global pandemic excluded.  That’s why when prospective student events and campus...

It’s OK To Be Lonely

For students working extra hard to maintain social distancing guidelines, it’s been really difficult to build friendships.  Let’s admit it: Zoom meetings aren’t the most ideal way to make friends. It’s hard...