Halloween Movie Recommendations!

By: Grace Morse

With the warm months coming to an end and the leaves beginning to change, it’s a great time to grab a blanket, popcorn, and some friends to wind down and enjoy a Halloween movie night! From comedy to horror, Halloween movies are a great way to relax while getting in the holiday spirit! There are just ten days until Halloween, so here are ten movie recommendations to help you count down to the 31st:

1.Hocus Pocus

To ease yourself into the countdown, watch this 1993 comedy film written by Neil Cuthbert and Mick Garris. Hocus Pocus follows teenager Max Dennison as he tries to find his place after moving to Salem, Massachusetts. In his exploration of his new town, Max stumbles upon a witch coven. After meeting these witches, Max and his friends must attempt to stop them from becoming immortal.

2. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Celebrate Halloween along with the Peanuts in this short, 25-minute classic. Follow the Peanuts as they prepare to trick or treat, and watch Linus hopefully prepare for a visit from the Great Pumpkin!

3. Halloweentown

Third up is Halloweentown! When 12-year-old Marnie learns her grandma is a good witch, she begins witch training in order to work with her grandmother to save Halloweentown from evil.

4. Casper

After moving into a new house, Dr. James Harvey, “ghost psychiatrist”, and his daughter, Kat, meet Casper the ghost. While Dr. Harvey works to eradicate ghosts from the house, Kat and Casper become friends. Casper follows the pair as they try and save the ghosts from Kat’s father.

5. Twitches

For day five, turn on the 2005 Disney Channel original movie, Twitches. Based on the Twitches book series, the movie follows twin sisters separated at birth as they reunite and use their powers to save the world from evil. 

6. The Rocky Horror Picture Show

A cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, follows Brad and Janet when they get a flat tire and stumble upon Dr. Frank-N-Furter's creepy mansion. Inside this house, Brad and Janet are introduced to many strange characters which are revealed through music and dance.  

7. Ghostbusters

A group of scientists, after being fired from their jobs at a prestigious New York City university, decide to transform themselves into “ghostbusters” to fight the supernatural. In doing this they discover a window to another dimension that will cause New York City to be destroyed. Now, the group must figure out a way to save their city from total annihilation. 

8. The Addams Family

Fester, the long-lost brother of Gomez Addams arrives back at the Addams home. This is very exciting, but when Gomez’s wife, Morticia, notices “Fester” struggling to piece together parts of his life, she gets suspicious. This imposter Fester then works with a lawyer to get the Addams family removed from their home and attempts to steal their fortune. Now, Gomez and his family must challenge Fester and protect their fortune. 

9. Scream

In the horror classic Scream, viewers watch a masked killer stalking high schoolers in the suburbs. While the genre of this movie is slasher-horror, it’s not only scary, but also funny and clever, keeping you glued to your seat. 

10. Halloween

At the end of this countdown, on Halloween itself, it's only fitting to watch Halloween! This film follows Michael Myers, a current 21-year-old who murdered his older sister when he was just 6 years old. As Myers is waiting for a court date, he escapes prison and returns to his hometown in search of more victims. 

Stay warm, eat candy, and enjoy the Halloween season with these 10 movies!

20 Things I've Learned in 20 Years

By: Julia Eline-Wright

Listed below are 20 lessons I have learned over the course of my life so far that have gotten me through the ups and downs. A lot of these I wish I had learned sooner, therefore I want to share them with you in hopes that you can also learn from them and apply them to your lives. Only take what resonates with you and remember that these are simply things I have learned from my experiences! (:

You need to be your own best friend

Spending time with yourself is critical! Do things for yourself you wish other people would do for you. Buy yourself flowers or take yourself out to a nice dinner. Spend an entire day binge-watching your favorite show and belly laughing all night. Learning to love your own company is truly so fulfilling.

Not everything is a competition

In the society we live in it is SO easy to compare yourself to others. With social media being such a huge part of our lives today it has increased our access to other people. One thing that is important to remember is that on social media people tend to only show the positive things that happen to them. When you find yourself stalking some lifestyle blogger or your favorite influencer on Instagram that seems like they have their stuff together and are superhuman, realize that they are just like you. They have their bad days too. That being said, when you see all the amazing things going on for them do not equate them to inadequacies in your own life! Someone else’s successes are not your failures!

Not everyone has to like you

Everyone in this world is different so it is okay to not get along with each person you meet. To turn this into something positive, think of it this way: you can learn more from the people you do not get along with than you can from the people that you do get along with.

What other people think about you is none of your business

Other people’s opinions of you do not matter if you know who you are and who you are not. In high school, all I cared about was my image and what other people thought about me. Looking back at those times I was genuinely so unhappy and wish someone would have told me that my own opinion of myself is the only one that actually matters.

Having a small group of genuine friends is better than a large group of acquaintances

As a transfer student, on top of the pandemic, something that I have really been struggling with is making friends. This was especially hard for me at first because in high school I always had someone to hang out with and never felt this feeling of loneliness. Now looking back and reflecting on all the petty drama and “tea” that went on has made me realize that I only had a handful of real genuine friends. I would rather have a few genuine friends than a bunch of “friends” that I do not actually connect with. That is why I have been focusing on growing the friendships I currently have and not forcing any new ones. When the time is right you will find your people (whether that be in college or not)!

Celebrate the little victories

The small victories in life are just as important as the big ones, start treating them as such! With a world full of so much negativity, celebrating the positives is so important.

Only stress over what you can control

There is simply no point in working yourself up over something when you literally have no control of the outcome. This puts unnecessary negative feelings onto yourself and does not serve you in any way. Remembering this even in small situations and taking a deep breath can be the deciding factor between keeping your cool and having a full-on panic attack.

It is okay to be wrong

Sometimes you are going to be wrong, and that is okay! Admitting your faults is so important and healthy. Pretending that you are always right can come across as ignorant and may make a situation a bigger deal than you were intending.

Don’t try to fit in

Everyone is unique in their own ways. Trying to fit in with everyone else whether it is sticking to the same basic clothes, listening to specific music, or participating in the same activities, is hiding who you really are. If you really like what everyone else seems to be doing, then do it! What I want to make clear is that you should not do something if you are just doing it to fit in.

Everything happens for a reason

When things do not go exactly how I have planned them I try to remember that everything that has happened in my life, good or bad, has led me to exactly where I am right now. I am so grateful for where I am right now and everything that has happened to me because I have learned so much. Don’t try to be too controlling of what goes on in your life, everything will work out the way it is supposed to.

Be generous

Being a kind and generous person is so rewarding. The feeling of helping someone and not expecting something in return is illuminating and changes your outlook on life.

A positive mindset will take you far

I really try to have a positive outlook on life and not get caught up in all the evil lingering out there. Trying to turn negative situations into positive ones has really made an impact in my life and has made me stop taking things so seriously when I don’t need to.

Try everything once

Something I am currently still working on is sheltering myself less. I am a young, intelligent, beautiful woman, so why am I holding myself back from doing things? Trying new things can open you up to experiences and opportunities you never would have expected. You never know what may happen!

Take care of yourself

Self-love is so important yet often overlooked. I feel like we are constantly so focused on showing love to other people, trying to be a good sibling, son/daughter, or significant other that we don’t make enough time for ourselves. Self-love can be shown in so many ways. Recently I’ve been showing myself love by going to spin and yoga classes which I have been loving. You can also show yourself love by fueling your body properly and making sure you are keeping yourself healthy.

A little bit of embarrassment is better than a lifetime of regret

I started a YouTube channel after years of wanting to but being too afraid that people would make fun of me or have something negative to say. Guess what, who cares what other people think! If something serves you then do it. It is better to have said you tried than regret that you didn’t.

Spend more time with your loved ones

Spending time with family is so important. I know family dynamics are different for everyone, but in my situation, I have found that the more time I spend with family and the more I water those relationships, the happier I feel. Appreciate and show your family love until you no longer can. You can learn so much from your older relatives. Don’t be afraid to ask them for advice, they might end up surprising you.

Always look for the good in the bad

You can find something positive in every bad situation. Your mindset is what allows you to do this or not. Do you want to dwell on the negatives, or focus on the highlights? It is up to you! Don’t let bad situations control you! 

If it doesn’t serve you, ditch it

Always remember that it is okay to say no. It is okay to change your mind. You are never really stuck in a situation, and this has given me a lot of reassurance in my decision-making. If you are involved in something and have given it 100%, but you still are not sure if it is right for you, then don’t do it. 

It is okay to fall apart

You do NOT need to be on your “A-game” 100% of the time. Let’s be real, life is hard! Everyone struggles whether they want to admit it or not, and that is okay! Trying to be perfect all the time is draining and unrealistic. When you feel like crying, cry. When you feel like screaming, scream. Stop trying to suppress your negative feelings and instead feel them fully, because life is not supposed to be happy all the time. Also, if you are struggling don’t forget to reach out for help! Seeking help is NEVER a sign of weakness!

Self-acceptance

The one true constant we have in life is ourselves. Accepting yourself is probably the most important piece of advice that I could give anyone. Your skin is beautiful, your natural frizzy hair is beautiful, your nose is beautiful, your stretch marks are beautiful, you are beautiful. Stop hating on yourself and start loving yourself instead. It is freeing. (:

Study Tips and Avoiding Procrastination for Exams

By: Sarah Henderson

With the transition into in-person classes and being in the midst of midterm exams, you may be feeling very overwhelmed no matter what year you are in. As a current sophomore, I’m already finished with my first year at UMass, but still don’t have much experience with what college exams are really like when they aren’t online. Despite this, I have been working on some study techniques and ways to avoid procrastination, which I know we all struggle with sometimes. Many of these tips are also helpful for the entire semester with regular assignments, essays, and quizzes. Remember to take what works for you and try out some different strategies until you find your favorites! 

Write Everything Down

Your assignments, your notes, and anything that will help! I’m guilty of buying planners and periodically not using them - but it is beyond stressful to have to figure out what assignments I have to do by navigating numerous different websites and making sure I don’t forget to do anything, rather than just writing it down. Do what works for you: use an online planner or calendar, academic planner, whiteboard, or even just sticky notes or a spare notebook. Being able to check things off your to-do list can also help make you feel motivated, productive, and much more accomplished. Also, try to rewrite any notes you take in class down (especially by hand). It’s a really effective study strategy that has been proven to help with memorization.

Schedule Out Times to do Work

Whenever I want to get an assignment or some studying done, but it’s extra hard to actually make myself do it, I try to commit to having an assignment done, for example, in one hour. I tell myself that I only have to focus for that amount of time, and maybe also listen to a one-hour long playlist of your favorite study music - try to have it be something that you only listen to while studying. You can also change the time frame however you want - you could tell yourself you’re only going to study for five minutes, and then when you get focused, it could turn into longer than that. I highly recommend trying this; it can really help perfect your time management skills!

Watch a “Study with Me” Video

Sometimes, when I really can’t focus or just can’t get myself to actually do my work, I watch a “study with me” video on YouTube. Seeing somebody else being productive makes me feel like if they can do it, I can too – without the potential distraction of studying with a friend. It also just gets me more in the mood for studying. I have seen some of these types of videos for essay writing too, and if these are something you know you won’t get distracted by, they might be able to save you a lot of time.

Take Some Time to Yourself

Do this especially the night before the exam - you don’t want to get burnt out, and if you have a very busy schedule, it may get overwhelming very quickly. Of course, if you find one night that you haven’t studied at all for your exam the next morning, study if you feel like you need to and if that is what will make you less stressed. I remember in elementary school, whenever it was time to take MCAS tests, my teachers would always say to watch a lighthearted and funny movie the night before to relax. For me, it made the experience so much better, and although elementary school may seem worlds away from college now, this might help some of us out too. If you feel prepared and like there’s nothing else you can do to study, it is best to distract yourself and not worry. Take enough time this semester to do whatever it is you like to get yourself away from studying and stress, it’s super important!

Be sure to get to know yourself and the ways you learn best; figuring this out now will help you tremendously in the future. Good luck to everyone with the rest of your semesters, you will do great!

Finding Your Place in College

By: Prisha Mark

Entering college is a huge milestone for a lot of individuals, and usually is coupled with anxiety about keeping friends, making new friends, and establishing yourself while staying true to who you are. Though this seems like a very individual experience, every single college student goes through these same emotions and struggles. As we slowly start meeting new people and start new friendships, we begin to wonder: Who are our actual friends? Who will stick around for the future? Where can I establish myself on campus? 

For me, I struggled a lot during the first few weeks of college. As an ambivert, sometimes meeting new people can be incredibly overwhelming and draining, especially when I value alone time a lot. As freshmen, we were thrust into so many club expositions, welcome activities, syllabuses, and new classes. I tried my hardest to keep up with everything, sign up for clubs to find my groups on campus, start new friendships, and keep up with classes all at the same time. At first, I thought I was doing ok, but homesickness crept in and lingered despite my attempts to push it away. Certain friendships started falling through. I felt overwhelmed trying to keep the few friendships I have while working on campus and keeping up with clubs, and the number of assignments in my classes started picking up. During this time, my homesickness and feeling of not belonging grew, and finally reached its peak one weekend. This weekend I, unfortunately, fell sick with food poisoning, and if anyone else has ever gotten sick at college, you’d know it feels terrible. All I wanted to do was go home forever, and I struggled to find the positive characteristics of college. I seriously considered transferring, but my parents and friends helped me realize that I needed to give college another chance. 

I ended up going home that weekend, but I came back with a fresh mindset. I started doing a similar morning routine I had back at home, which helped with some of the homesickness, and I also started taking things more slowly. For example, instead of exhausting myself trying to meet people, I started focusing on the few friendships I had and furthering the relationships I have with those people. Eventually, I started meeting more friends of friends, which helped me realize that there actually are people on campus similar to me. I also started focusing on a few clubs that I’m actually interested in versus spreading myself too thin among multiple clubs. Now, I’m able to put my time and effort into the clubs that I enjoy and benefit from. Lastly, academics. I’m still struggling to find the proper time to finish my assignments, but slowly I was able to figure out the schedule for when all my classes have assignments due. It still is a little confusing, but it eventually gets easier and you find ways to be productive with any free time you get. 

College is definitely a huge shift, emotionally and physically. If I could give any advice to incoming freshmen or anyone who is struggling with this change, I would say this: stay true to yourself, find routines you did at home, and be patient and give yourself time to adapt to college. Everyone adapts at different rates, but it’s important not to push yourself too hard the first few weeks to establish yourself, especially when you have all the time you need to find the right clubs, organizations, and people to surround yourself with.

Self Care Essentiality

By: Lauren Trongone

As college students, we are susceptible to a substantial amount of negative thoughts, school-related stress, and pressure to fit in. Come the end of each week, the exhaustion sets in, our social batteries are drained, and we are all in need of a reset. When we neglect to take care of our mind and body properly, we are left with this feeling of dissociation and it infiltrates our perception of reality. All of which contribute to my main point, which is that self care plays a monumental role in the life of college students. That said, I have some tips I practice here at UMass that I would like to share to help others combat these intrusive thoughts that leave us feeling disconnected. 

Firstly, as a form of physical self-care, I often like to take advantage of the wide variety of workout classes that the UMass recreation center offers. Depending on the class, they all range from thirty minutes to an hour and they are running continuously throughout the entire day so it is easy to accommodate with the busy schedules most students are on. Additionally, the recreation center is conveniently located right on campus so it is never a lengthy commute and this comes at no additional charge. I have tried many of them and I must say that my two favorites have to be spin and barre! 

Secondly, I like to treat myself from time to time. I will often go to the Starbucks on the first level of Hampshire dining hall and get a coffee as a reward after a class or a long day to recognize my hard work. This can be done with literally anything, not just coffee! You can go to Blue Wall in the campus center and grab a cupcake or gelato. It is simply the principle of splurging on a little something you enjoy to fuel your soul and boost your spirits.

Another activity I like to do when I start feeling mentally tired, usually towards the end of a lengthy day is to take a hot shower. This gives my mind a break and helps me reset while also completing a necessary daily task. I come out afterward feeling clean and reenergized. Or another alternative when feeling exhausted is a nap. That little bit of extra sleep can be extremely productive and will go a long way when it comes to reviving your body for a second wind. 

In terms of social self-care, I recommend setting aside time to be with your friends. What my friends and I like to do is meet up for a movie night once a week with a big screen projector and snacks in the common room. We obviously see each other more than this one time a week, however, this allows for us to have a concrete window of quality time allocated to hang out all together as a group and relax. 

Moreover, therapy is a fantastic, yet extremely overlooked form of self-care. In the same way people go to the doctors to check up on their physical health, people should go to therapy to check up on their mental health. Contrary to popular belief, therapy has no prerequisites - you do not need to have suffered from mental illness or have some kind of trauma in order to attend. I prefer to think of it as a preventative measure as a way of servicing your brain and talking about what is going on in your life. Emotions, no matter how big or small, are better when you talk them aloud and acknowledge them. UMass agrees on this and has made it a point to devote an entire department to it. The Center for Counseling and Psychological Health offers a range of therapy options that cater to whatever your needs are in hopes of promoting mindfulness among the student body. All these services are readily available so we might as well make use of them. 

Ultimately, our perception is our reality. Self-care will make or break your outlook on life and that is why it becomes so essential for moldable young adults to take care of themselves in

meaningful ways. Mindset is everything and it is only a matter of finding what works best for you. These are some suggestions that I like to exercise during my time here as a UMass student and I hope they are helpful in giving you some ideas of your own or, if nothing else, they at least inspire you to work on your own self-care routine. Take care, UMass!