Things like what you want to major in, where you want to go to school and what kind of career you want after you graduate are all things you should keep in mind during the application process. There really is no right or wrong way to decide where to attend college, or which school you should enroll in. It’s all about deciding what you want, and what is the best option for you.

Choose an Area of Study

Most college freshmen change their major at least once, and that’s OK! There is nothing wrong with trying new things and changing your mind as you decide what kind of career you want to pursue. In fact, college is the ideal time to make these kinds of discoveries. If you wait until you have already graduated, it will be much harder to shift your career, but if you find something you love while you are in college, you’ll have a much better chance of starting your career with a job you enjoy.

As you narrow down your list of potential colleges, see what kinds of degrees each has to offer. You don’t have to pick your specific degree now, but knowing what your interests are should help you choose a school. For example, if you know you want to pursue a career in the fashion industry, you should consider an art or fashion school. Even if you aren’t sure if you want to learn how to learn how to become a fashion designer or a fashion merchandiser, you’ll be headed in the right direction.

Choose a Learning Style

Today, many students choose to earn their college degree online. They enjoy the flexibility these programs offer, and the ability to take classes at their own pace. When you enroll in online classes, you can work on your degree whenever it is most convenient for you, and wherever you are. In most cases, you don’t even have to live near the college you are enrolled in.

However, just as many students decide to attend school on campus. This more traditional style of learning lets you attend classes in person, work with classmates and speak to professors and tutors face-to-face, rather than online. Both of these learning styles have benefits, and both can help you earn the degree you need to prepare for your future. Deciding which is right for you is all a matter of personal opinion and individual circumstances.

As you graduate from high school, and begin the process of deciding where to attend college, remember that it’s not possible to make a “wrong” choice. Earning your degree and starting your career is an exciting process that is all about deciding what you want out of life.

1. Land a job. If you don’t work from home and you’re not independently wealthy, you’re going to need a steady source of income in your new city. Start reaching out to potential employers and setup phone interviews. If things progress to the next level, you can always plan a short trip out there for a face-to-face meeting. If you don’t have enough time to land a job, at least go where the jobs are. If you’re a software engineer, you’d probably be safer going to silicon valley than to
2. Find a place to live. In a pinch, you can live at an extended stay hotel for a few weeks while you find a new home, but it’s usually best to have these things secured ahead of time. At the very least, it’ll give you peace of mind.
3. Beef up your savings. Especially if you’re moving to a completely new place where you don’t know anyone, you’re going to need a good sum of money to back you up in case of emergency. Even if you have friends there, it’s wise to be financially secure before a big move like this.
4. Start cleaning out your closet (and everything else). You don’t a bunch of stuff weighing you down, do you? Start weeding out the stuff that you don’t really need to take with you and send it off to a thrift store, charity, or have a garage sale.

At times like these when the world seems to have taken a turn for the sad, our silver lining comes in the form of amazing new breakup songs. Think: anything by Adele. But it’s not just Adele, there are some great songs that are inspirational and motivational, but they have obviously been built on a great heartache.

So, in honor of all of anyone who is going through a rough breakup right now, I’ve assembled a playlist of my favorite breakup songs (old and new) to help you get over that lost love and get on with your life. And what better way to start a new chapter in your life than to travel cross-country with some good songs and great friends. Time for another road trip!

Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri (my personal favorite)

Rehab by Rihanna

Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye

Tattoo by Jordan Sparks

King of Anything by Sarah Bareilles

Maneater by Nelly Furtado

You’ll Think of Me by Keith Urban

So What by Pink

Irreplaceable by Beyonce

I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor

What Doesn’t Kill You by Kelly Clarkson

Rolling in the Deep by Adele (how could I leave this one out?)

Hit Em Up Style by Blu Cantrell

Fighter by Christina Aguilera

What Goes Around by Justin Timberlake

Used to Love U by John Legend

So Sick by Ne Yo

Burn by Usher

I’ve done this once or twice before, and I wish someone had given me these tips before I went, and so I’ve giving them to you now (you can thank me later):

1. Know your dog – Does your dog get sick in the car or does he whine the whole way (an indication that he might be uncomfortable)? If so, talk to your vet about using a mild sedative or medication for motion sickness.
2. Plan your rest stops – It’s always a good idea to plan out your rest stops ahead of time, but with a dog, it’s even more crucial. Stopping on the side of a main road for your dog to do her business is really risky for you both. Find the major rest stops (which usually have large patches of grass off the beaten path) and stop every couple of hours. Even if your dog doesn’t have to go, it’ll be good for him to stretch his legs and release some pent up energy.
3. Consider getting a doggy car seat for a long ride. This will ensure that your dog will stay put and not try to climb all over everyone (including the driver) during the trip. She may not like it at first, but once she realizes there’s nothing she can do about it, she’ll calm down and enjoy the ride.
4. Don’t leave your dog in the car for extended periods of time. No, you shouldn’t have a sit-down dinner or get a tattoo when your faithful companion is sitting in the car waiting for you — especially in the summer when the weather is too hot for them to handle.

When you listen to a certain set of songs over and over to help you through a trauma, and then you stop listening to them for a long time (maybe until you have another trauma) those songs might stir up a little of the heartache they fought so well the first time around. Songs are very intimately tied to our memories, so it’s a good idea to create a new positive playlist to get you through each rough time. Of course, that’s just a suggestion, though.

Thinking of all this reminded me of another type of playlist that has worked well for me. This one doesn’t have to be refreshed periodically, unless you want it to be. I’m talking about a motivational playlist. Actually, this one often follows the playlist of positivity. It’s used when you’re ready to start making changes and taking control of your life, but you could use a little boost. You don’t even have to reserve it for a road trip. You can use it to motivate you to study when you’re learning how to become a zoologist or a painter. It doesn’t matter what you use it for really, as long as it motivates you to follow your dreams.

Here are just a few song ideas:

What You Waiting For? by Gwen Stefani

The Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

We Will Rock You by Queen

Let it Rock by Kevin Rudolf

I Believe I Can Fly by R. Kelly

It’s My Life by Bon Jovi

Anyway, the reason my friends are taking this trip isn’t because they want to see the sights. It’s because one particular friend has been down in the dumps. Her father passed away about three months ago and she got laid off from her job as a police officer (due to budget cuts) last week. On top of all that, she’s in a distance relationship and she’s not sure it’s going anywhere. She’s pretty depressed and needs some cheering up. So, my friend Mary asked me to help create a positive playlist for the ride. She probably figured I had at least one already done. And she was right!

I find that music really can help heal your soul, and I always listen to positive songs when I’m feeling down in the dumps. And I’m always amazed at how a few songs can lift me up and make me start feeling (at least a little) optimistic again. But it works the same way with negative songs, so if you’re feeling really down in the dumps, it’s a good idea to control the types of songs you’ll be listening to. Hearing a depressing song when you’re already depressed can really bring you down.

So, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite positive songs with you today (just some from the playlist) to (maybe) brighten up your day a little:

1. Natasha Bedingfield: Unwritten
2. New Radicals: Music in You
3. Bob Marley: 3 Little Birds
4. U2: Beautiful Day
5. Nelly Furtado: I’m Like a Bird
6. Just Stand Up!: Just Stand Up! (it’s a compilation album)
7. Destiny’s Child: Survivor
8. Brandy: Right Here
9. The Rascals: It’s a Beautiful Morning
10. Who Says: Selena Gomez
11. The Climb: Miley Cyrus
12. K’Naan: Wavin’ the Flag
13. Zac Brown Band: Toes
14. Lady Gaga: Born This Way
15. Jordin Sparks: This is My Now

So, if you’re planning a road trip soon, consider donning your maestro hat (do maestros wear hats?) and putting together an awesome playlist of your own. Here are a few ideas:

1. Arrange by year – Start with the 50s (great time in music) and create a different CD (or groupings of songs on an mp3 player) for each decade. You can either mix it up or play them as they were introduced from the 50s all the way until today.
2. Songs about travel – There are tons of great travel-worthy songs. Life is a Highway and Leaving on a Jet Plane are just two examples of an almost endless supply. Be creative and fill your playlist with songs to celebrate the journey.
3. Destination songs – This one might be the most challenging, but it’s the most fun (in my opinion). If you’re going to a popular place, like New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, you should be able to fill a few hours with songs about your destination to get you excited to get there.
4. Songs about going home – Your road trip isn’t final just because you checked out of the hotel. You’ve still got to get back, right? Fill your return trip playlist with songs about going home and missing home. It’ll help shift the mood from being sad about the end of your vacation and happy about seeing friends and family again.

Here are some things you should avoid at all costs. When you’re on a road trip, you definitely don’t want to:

• Give someone a stupid nickname. You might think it’s funny, but it could create tension in the car. Is it really that important to make fun of your friend? Come on, now.
• Ask probing questions about how your friends feel towards you. Maybe one of your girls has been distant lately and you want to find out why. Just stick that one in your back pocket for now. A road trip isn’t a time to have deep personal conversations.
• Force people to do things they aren’t comfortable doing. Maybe you want to stop for Thai food and your pal is a boring and picky eater. Don’t just drive to the restaurant and force him to deal with it. Sure, he might end up liking the food, but he also might end up with a stomach ache that will haunt all of you for the rest of the ride. You know the kind.
• Talk about religion or politics. The only exception to this rule is if you are one thousand percent sure that you all share the same views. Nothing can ruin a good time more than a heated discussion about one of those topics. People can get a little nutty while defending their views. For that matter, don’t bring up any topics that might hit close to home with any of your passengers. Keep the mood light; talk about the weather if you must.

Here are a few classics:

I Spy – This one is definitely a classic, but it’s hard to play in a moving car. It’s actually best for when you’ve taken a break and are sitting at a rest stop; but, it can also work at a long stop light. To play, one person has to choose a thing and describe it, starting with the phrase “I spy with my little eye.” Then the other players can ask a series of yes or no questions until someone figures it out.

20 Questions – This one is a lot like I Spy, and it’s another oldie, but goodie. Pretty much everyone knows how to play, and it can be fun with the right group of people. The rules are the same as I Spy, except you don’t have to start with that opening statement, and your topic could be anything (not just something “you spy”), which makes it a little easier to play in a moving vehicle.

Punch Buggy – I guess this one is a little mean, but it could be fun (if you’re winning). Whenever you see a Volkswagen Beetle, you punch the person sitting next to you and proclaim “Punch Buggy!” Unless you’re with a really rowdy bunch, you should keep the punch to just a little more force than a tap. Also, use common sense. This isn’t a game to play with grandma and grandpa, and you need to take care when you involve the driver. Some people can handle a little tap every so often while others may find it too distracting. Not everyone is completely comfortable driving with distractions, so be sure to ask before “punching” someone in the driver’s seat.

1. Get a peppermint air freshener for the car. Peppermint is a soothing scent that is believed to ward off nausea. In fact, it’s often used in aromatherapy for this exact purpose. Just try to keep the scent low-key. If nausea is lurking, it’s never a good idea to have a strong smell around – no matter what it is.
2. Brew up some ginger iced tea. All you have to do is brew some standard tea and throw in a few slices of ginger. Ginger is known to fight feelings of nausea and it might keep your passengers’ stomachs settled enough to get through the drive without incident. Of course, you’ll want to cool, sweeten, and then bottle your tea before the trip.
3. Allow the person who is most likely to get motion sick to sit in the front seat. Or at least offer it as an option. I’ve been told this helps a great deal.
4. Never expect your motion-sick friend to navigate. Reading, even if it’s a map, in the car is one surefire way to trigger feelings of nausea. It’s unfair to rely on someone who gets motion sick to read a map or directions while the car is moving.
5. If all else fails, have some meclizine on hand. Meclizine is the active ingredient in Bonine, the over-the-counter motion sickness medicine. There are probably generic brands too. Although I don’t get motion sick, I used it to treat my vertigo and it really kept the nausea away.