Celebrity Highlight: Emma Watson, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador

By Chelsea L.

I am obsessed with Emma Watson. She is wonderful in so many ways. 

She has brains, she speaks confidently for causes she believes in, and SHE REPRESENTS STRONG WOMEN. You probably know her as bringing magic to the screen as Hermoine Granger in the Harry Potter series... but now, she's bringing magic to the world! 

Emma is the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and has made a huge splash with her empowering speech about feminism and women’s rights.

Her speech was brilliant and convicting. Here are some highlights:

“I realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.”

Though "feminism" has been given a bad rep, Emma is fighting to redefine feminism as something that all women should identify with- it's a movement to empower and inspire women, bring gender-equality to all facets of life, and most importantly, to make women proud to be, well... women. 

“I think women are scared of feeling POWERFUL and strong and brave sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with being AFRAID. It’s not the absence of fear it’s OVERCOMING it and sometimes, you just have to blast through and have FAITH.”

Mmmm.. preach Emma, preach.

“If we stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer.”

Often times, we let society determine who we're supposed to be, what we're supposed to do, and how we're supposed to act. Emma's right. It's time for us to transcend  gender norms, labels, and stereotypes. If we just get ridda' all of that poision in the world, and just EMBRACE who we are, wouldn't that be amazing? 

Sometimes it's frustrating when people assume that women's rights are only womens' issues..
as if the onus were only on us to initiate that change... but I love Emma's "formal invitation" for men to hop on board because gender equality is their issue too.

And oh my goodness. If I were a guy being offered an invitation from Emma, I would sure take it. 

(For Emma Watson’s UN Speech, click the following link: Emma Watson's Speech)
(For more information regarding UN Women and their Goodwill Ambassadors, click the following link: UN Women)

HELP! What to wear for banquets, formal events, or competitions?!

By Chelsea L. 

Have you ever wondered, what in the world do I wear in a formal setting? If this is you, look no further.

Fortunately, you don’t have to limit your wardrobe (or creativity) to dress up for a formal event. This post is to help shed a little light unto the things that I think work best for all of those fun banquets, events, awards ceremonies, dinners, and competitions! 

COLOR:

Colors are perfectly fine. It is always safe to go with standard black or white, but if you are feeling daring, don’t be afraid to rock a colored dress! You can also add pops of color if you're wearing pants with a blouse or simple piece of statement jewelry.

Recommendations:

• Red, navy blue, beige, or white dress/suit
• Pastel blouses/button-up shirts to tuck in with a solid-colored pencil skirt
• Gold/silver statement jewelry 

TOP:

You can pair a nice blouse with cardigan or fitted blazer, or go with a tucked-in collared shirt. Remember, wearing a brightly colored shirt is always an easy way to make your outfit *pop*!

BOTTOM:

A nice pantsuit, slacks, or knee-length pencil skirt is always ideal. If you’re wearing a skirt, it is highly recommended that you wear either black or nude-colored stockings underneath. If you’re not a fan of pant bottoms, you can always opt for a nice black dress and pair it with a cardigan or blazer!

SHOES:

High shoes or flats? Just be comfortable! I’m only 5’1, so my mom always makes me go for a wedge. But of course, a standard black flat is always a safe bet! 
If you opt for the heels, they should be close toed (at least this is the case for interviews and business settings). If you're wearing heels for a recital or party, your toes can show!

ACCESSORIES:

You can complement your outfit with a watch, simple pair of earrings, a statement necklace, clutch, or cute side bag! Just make sure not to go too far with the **bling-bling**- you don't want these accessories to detract from you- you're the star! 

Ultimately, wear something that you feel confident in- something that makes you feel empowered, unique, and strong. 

How does 2 free years of college sound?

by Jasmine S.

President Obama announced last month a plan that would make the first two years of community college free for everyone! Jackpot!


A few conditions:

• Decent grades! Students have to have at least a 2.5 GPA. That's roughly a C+/B- average 
• You can attend part time. This is good news for the 60% of community college students who attend part time. 

Though it seems like a big deal, President Obama's plan is more like a suggestion. In order for it to become a reality, Congress would have to write and pass a law that made it happen.


If students aren't paying, who is?

Obama is asking Congress to spend $60 billion over a period of 10 years to fund the initiative. The $60 billion would be coming from taxpayer funds. 

What are people saying about the plan? 

Remember how we said it's now up to Congress to decide if they want to pass a law to put this plan in place? Currently, Republicans control both the House and the Senate, and as far as we can tell, are not enthusiastic about passing a bill pushed by the President. Even Democrats in Congress are not jumping to sponsor a bill like this.  A Democratic member of the House Mark Takano calls the plan "a conversation starter." 

Why should I care? 

The plan, if it's ever put into place, could really change the way Americans look at education. Having a free two years of college after high school could get a lot of students to consider continuing their education, putting them on track to get good jobs and make money later in life. 

There are many famous Americans who got their start at community college. 

Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska and former nominee for Vice President of the U.S. ! 

Queen Latifah AND Halle Berry!