[This summer a dream internship with Lucky magazine moved me from Austin, Texas, where I’ve spent all 21 years of my life, to New York City for the summer. Come along for the ride and follow me through this column as I take on all that the city has in store for me. I’ll share tips I’ve picked up along the way about everything from how to pack (stop, drop and roll people!) to dating to fitting in (or standing out) and so much more.]

My summer in the city had officially come to an end and by the time you’re reading this, I will be back in my hometown, probably eating a home-cooked meal and driving my car with reckless abandon on the highway. (God, I missed driving.) Though I’m excited to be home, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of sadness as my cab led me out of the city, toward LaGuardia airport and toward life after New York.

Since I go to college in my hometown, I’m never more than a 30-minute car ride from my parents’ place, my childhood friends and as far as I was concerned, I lived in the greatest city on Earth. While my loyalty to Austin will never die, after this summer I know that I can see myself living in New York too.

Never having lived away from home before, I expected to crack under the pressure of trying to navigate the city on my own. I surprised myself in the best ways. In just three months, I devoted myself to understanding the subway system, seeing all of the museums and attractions I could afford and trying new restaurants. As an unpaid intern, there were definitely times that I knew having more money would’ve made my time in the city a lot easier. But looking back, my unpaid status forced me to really experience living in New York, as opposed to just shopping or going clubbing in New York. Upon leaving, I knew that if I could do New York without a paying job, that doing it with a paying job would only be that much more exciting.

As a writer, New York is sort of a Mecca. On any given day you could walk into a Starbucks and see aspiring playwrights and undercover bloggers alongside the world-renowned writers for household name publications like The New York Times and Vanity Fair. I went to lectures at The Strand, a class at The New York Public Library and read more books in three months than I had all school year. As a writer, I felt a sense of belonging in the city. That in itself is more than enough justification to go back after graduation. I’ve never been one to believe in “energies” or “vibes” but there really is no rush like the one of being on deadline in the city. Just knowing the tremendous amount of creative talent that surrounds you in the city, is inspiration enough to get you to your worst writers’ block.

New York is a tough place and that’s what I love about it. It doesn’t apologize for itself. The city can kick you when you’re down, get you crying on the subway, and that same week can take you to places you’d never thought you’d ever see, like the office of the editor-in-chief of one of the biggest magazines in the world.

I learned so much about myself this summer by living in a new place. If you have the means to move away for a while for an internship or job opportunity, I highly recommend it. Moving away is a lot like eating vegetables, even if you hate it, it still affects you positively. Because even if it sucks, at least you’ll have an excuse never to stray again and you wont have to regret never having given yourself the chance.

Wardrobe Malfunctions
When your standard summer uniform consists of a worn-in pair of Levi cutoffs and beat-up gladiator sandals, transitioning into an intern-appropriate wardrobe can be a little difficult. If you’re not familiar with the ways of the working world, you may show up to work overdressed or under-dressed. Play it safe with office appropriate dresses and skirts while getting a feel for your office’s choice of couture.

No Questions/Ideas
You landed the interview, wooed your supervisor and got the offer for the internship. Now what? Impressing the higher-ups before beginning work is only half the battle. Don’t be surprised when you’re asked for ideas or input at work or in meetings.  If you’re too startled to come up with anything, remember this: you were chosen for the position for a reason. Get your shine on and come up with something!

Overspending
If you’re working in a big city, be prepared to shell out some dough. Your metro fare and lunch will run up a pretty large tab, especially in Manhattan. $9 for a sandwich? Crazy! Avoid the spend-shock and prepare a budget ahead of time.

Not Utilizing Your Time
After your first few weeks on the job, your supervisor will probably feel more comfortable with handing you more assignments. And after a while, you’ll probably be up to your knees in Excel spreadsheets. Be efficient as possible—try not to take too long with assignments. Trust me, there’s more where they came from.

Internet Usage
I’m sure that keeping up with the Weiner scandal or seeing what happened on last night’s episode of Single Ladies is really important, but try to contain yourself until 5:00 p.m. Opening up a new tab in your browser is really tempting, but remember that your supervisor has eyes in the back of his/her head!

Too Shy to Network
Think of your internship as a gateway to a possible job after graduation. The people who you work for could be your coworkers in a few years! Make sure that everyone in the office knows your name and the school you go to.  You’re bound to have something in common with someone – use that fact and make a new mentor!

Not Following Up Afterwards
After everyone knows your name, maintaining your presence in the office is even more important after you leave. Don’t forget to send thank you notes and emails every three months at the close of your internship.

Taking, Eating Too Much
Even though most interns are unpaid, the perks are plentiful. There are always office parties for the pregnant manager or the assistant who’s turning 30, yummy bagels and pastries in the break room and a fancy coffee maker with a variety of flavors. And don’t forget the awesome inventory closet with all of the pens, folder and notebooks that you can imagine. Pace yourself before double fisting espressos and chomping down a tuna wrap. Mind your manners!

Maintaining a Façade
Sure, filing papers and making copies don’t exactly scream “fun” or “glamour.” Don’t let it show on your face. Maintain an earnest smile at all times and complain to your friends later.

Not Taking Notes
Don’t forget to take a notebook everywhere you go. Get into the habit of writing everything down – it looks attentive and you’ll avoid asking redundant questions.

No one would ever walk up to a friend on financial aid and accuse her parents of being lazy, good-for-nothing, bad parents for not making enough money to send her to college. Yet people feel completely comfortable going up to a friend with an unpaid internship and accusing her of being a spoiled brat because she’s fortunate enough to be able to afford spending a summer making no money.

Don’t think that’s true? Just read the comments on almost any internship post on this site (like this one or this one).

I had two unpaid internships in NYC and I can’t even count the number of times people told me “it’s ridiculous that your parents are just letting you live in the city and make no money.” But was it ridiculous? In today’s world you’re expected to graduate with internship experience and if my parents decided to spend their hard-earned money paying for me to live in NYC and reach my dreams, was it wrong for me to take that opportunity? Should I have spent my summer waitressing instead? I don’t want to come off like a whiny bitch, but I want some answers on why I should feel bad that my family can afford this. Isn’t complaining about unpaid internships the same as complaining to a friend when her family goes on a week long resort vacation?

Everyone can choose how they want to spend their money and my parents chose to forgo fancy family vacations and buying me designer clothes so that I could get the most out of my college education. I appreciated how fortunate I was every day and I did work menial jobs part-time during my summer internships to make money for the school year, but that never stopped people from making accusations.

While I completely agree with the fact that the unpaid internship system is completely unfair because it gives well-off kids yet another career advantage that their other classmates can’t afford, I also think it’s unfair to expect people to not take these internships. And I don’t think it’s fair to make people feel guilty because they happen to be fortunate (assuming they’re not arrogant and entitled and making Facebook statuses that say “living off my parents”).

After graduation my internships paid off and I landed an awesome job as a blog editor. Yet people still assume it’s okay to come up to me and say things like “Blog editor? Guess your parents are still supporting you.” Not only do I constantly have to remind people that a blog editor is a legitimate, fully-salaried position in 2010, but that it’s no one’s business who was paying my rent. No one ever  goes up to my friends in grad school and says “Med school for 9 years? Guess your parents are still paying your rent.” Why do people think it’s okay for parents to spend tens of thousands of dollars on law school, but not spend a few thousand to let me spend two summers interning to reach my career goals?

In the end isn’t all about parents doing whatever they can to help their children be successful and happy?

Likey? Don’t worry, there are plenty more faves where this came from.

With internship season right around the corner, we thought we would help you out! I know, we are just too kind. So we’ve put together some of our best advice just to help you out, you know make sure you not only land the internship, but keep it, AND make the most of it.

I know you are just itching to check it out now, so here’s a quick preview of all the awesomeness we have on hand for you:

Prepping for the interview? Might as well go over common questions

Worried about an employer seeing your Facebook status? We’ve got the low down on keeping it work appropriate,

The big debate: Part time job during the summer or an Internship

And the question that keeps us up all night: What do I wear to an interview? Yea, we’ve got the answers.

So check out our new section to find all the tips and tricks that CollegeCandy has to offer.

The following post is written by Brian Willett from UNC-Chapel Hill, one of our many friends at Uloop, a student powered marketplace. Read more great posts in their blog.

Ask any student what the best part about school is, and you’ll most likely get the same answer – summer vacation. The carefree days of summer make all of the homework and pop quizzes bearable and give students something to look forward to during April showers.

Because summer is so precious to students, making the most of every moment of the two or three month respite is crucial. So when it comes to filling the time between fun and games, a fierce debate rages over which is better – a summer internship or a part-time job. Though many assume the only point of contention is filling one’s resume versus filling one’s wallet, there’s more to the question than that.

A Matter of Time

Both internships and jobs can be time-consuming, but both leave plenty of time to have fun. In most cases, unpaid internships tend to be the least time-consuming – the lack of monetary compensation results in fewer hours and responsibilities. Even paid internships don’t often demand more than 10 or 20 hours per week, because a lot of companies might rather hire a part-time associate once the hours begin to add up. Jobs offer more in terms of flexibility, though. Internship hours tend to fall during normal work hours (8 to 5, Monday through Friday), so you’re likely to always have weekends free. However, you may not have time to hit the beach during the day, because unlike at a part-time job, you can’t pick up any evening hours. Part-time jobs also can allow you to dictate your schedule, allowing or as many or few hours as you’d like, whereas internship hours are dictated by your employer or your school (if credit is being given).

Skills to Pay the Bills

One aspect of internships that tends to turn off students is that many are unpaid. This can lead to the sense that an internship is a waste of time that could be spent earning money. Some internships are paid, though, and the pay can be fairly high because of the mental challenges. In addition, internships often lead to future employment opportunities, which can pay off handsomely when the time comes to earn a real paycheck. In this sense, an internship is sort of like an investment in your future. Part-time jobs can sometimes lead to promotions, though, and can look good on a resume, though internships appear more attractive.

It’s All About the Experience

Internships are often touted as more beneficial than jobs because they offer a sense of “real world experience.” But summer jobs can provide valuable experiences as well – students can learn the value of hard work and gain a perspective on what kind of jobs they might be stuck doing without a college degree. Sadly, some interns may only experience a discouraging side of the working world, such as fetching coffee or making copies. And summer jobs often involve a lot of personal interaction, which can be beneficial. Communication, customer service and general people skills are things that can’t really be taught.

Obviously, there are many factors to consider when one is deciding on whether to pursue a summer job or an internship. In order to make the best decision, you must carefully weigh your priorities and figure out which is a better fit for you.

After spending weeks searching Internships.com, writing cover letters and getting a few interviews, you’ve finally managed to land an internship for next semester. Wahoooo! You’re all ready to start – now what the heck do you wear? Dressing for internships can be difficult, especially on the limited college girl wardrobe. You want to look professional, obviously, but you also want to look, well, like you.

How do you create a work wardrobe that doesn’t make you look old and boring?

Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

When you’re dressing for an internship, keep a few things in mind. One, if you’re going to be doing any errand running or anything that involves standing, how comfortable are your shoes? If you can’t walk in heels, don’t wear them to the office no matter how cute they look. Also, if you’re not sure of the office dress code, it’s always better to overdress for your first few days than to under dress. Dress pants, skirts and dresses are the safest and most desirable options.

Outfit 1: Dress Pants

Pants, Cardigan, Cami, Flats.

Dress pants are one essential for any internship. They’re tailored yet much more comfortable than a skirt and tights. Pair them with a cute cardigan with a cami underneath and you’ll look professional without looking old and dowdy. I added a pair of flats – cute and comfy if your internship has you doing coffee runs. If you want even more personality with this look, add a fun cocktail ring or a stack of bangles. (Editor’s Note: just make sure to avoid anything that will get in the way of your duties; sometimes bracelets are REAL annoying when you’re typing!) Dress pants also work with layers – like white button-up shirts and boyfriend sweaters – meaning you can get through an entire internship with only one or two pairs of pants!

Outfit 2: Skirt

Skirt, Blazer, Cami, Tights, Boots.

The pencil skirt is another classic piece to invest in for your work wardrobe. Tuck in a pretty blouse underneath, add a blazer over top. Knee high boots look great with a pencil skirt and since the skirt is on the longer side (I’d make sure to go no shorter than just above the knee for an office environment!) and the boots come up high, you can go a little funkier with the tights to add some extra fun to the outfit. However, if you opt for pumps with a skirt, I’d stick with basic, opaque tights to keep things professional.

Outfit 3: Dress

Dress, Blazer, Tights, Shoes.

First things first: do a cleavage check. If your cleavage is hanging out, that dress will not work for work. Even with a blazer over top! Once that’s out of the way, you can’t go wrong with a professional looking dress for work. Is there anything easier to style in the morning? Nope! Just pair it with either a blazer or a cardigan, whatever speaks more to your style while also covering up those arms for a more sophisticated and work-appropriate look. Add a pair of tights – either opaque or with a subtle pattern. I added a red wedge here – it’s a nice pop of color and personality, and the wedge is the most comfortable heel option around. If you’d rather go with black, go for it! But give this outfit a bit more personality with a fun statement necklace or a killer pair of earrings.

Outfit 4: Casual Friday

Jeans, Top, Shoes., Bracelet.

Don’t let the name mislead you, ladies! Casual Friday does not equal “jeans and sweatshirt and Uggs Friday.” This is still a work environment, after all. Think of it more as “dressed up jeans Friday.” Or “What I’d wear on a Thursday night out Friday.” Skip the leggings and go for a dark pair of jeans, a nice top, and flats or some cute heels. If you’re feeling extra profesh, toss on that boyfriend blazer over top.  (Editor’s Note: Even if the rest of the office is in pajamas, you should not be. Being young, you need to dress somewhat professional to command the respect of your superiors and show them you take this job seriously.)

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Still looking for an internship for next semester? Check out Internships.com, the largest internships marketplace with over 21,000 internships across the country and world-class, relevant career prep resources. They have positions in over 1,433 cities, and with companies such as Google, Deloitte, BBC, Greenpeace, Marvel Comics, and Microsoft!

Post-grad life is a lot about taking two steps forward only to take a step back. Some days, you feel like you’re ahead of whatever curve you’ve set for yourself and then other days, you feel like you’re falling behind. Although you have a lot more freedom and responsibility than life as a college student, the constant evolution of figuring out what to do next and what’s right is never ending.

Example: Two months ago, I scored what I considered to be my dream internship. I was meeting and interviewing celebrities, hanging out at some of the fanciest Hollywood locations, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous at LA parties, frequenting red carpet events, and finding out celebrity gossip before the masses. And now, well … I decided this isn’t for me. There I go again. Two steps forward, and now that I quit, I feel like I’m one step back again. When can a girl get ahead?

In college, I feel like everything was a constant one-up. You know, where you out-do yourself and then you’re like “Damn! Look at what I accomplished.” Post-grad is more of a sporadic line graph that goes all over the place, where you have highs and lows and they fluctuate more than Lady Gaga’s outfits. While I like to think that all of this yo-yoing will get me to where I want to be, it can feel a little frustrating.

Why did I quit though? Well, after a month on, I simply knew that it wasn’t for me. Looking back to my sophomore or junior year college self, that kind of internship had me written all over it. Now? … Not so much. Although I enjoyed my time and experiences (so much of it was hands-on, which is rare at internships), I just knew that it wasn’t the best for me … especially since it was unpaid.

Unlike college, there are a lot more expenses that come your way on the post-grad journey. For example: Student loan repayment (can I just tell you that I cried over this for days when I got my first loan repayment bill?), law school admissions fees (do you even know how expensive this is? I don’t even want to talk about it), and so many other random things that happen (like for example, my computer just died….and I spent over $400 to be told that by Geek Squad…ouch). It’s just not practical to spend my time interning for no pay, especially since 90% of my time was spent sitting in my car in LA traffic. So, while I wanted to keep interning … it’s just not practical. Quitting felt like one of those forced break-ups. I wanted it, but at the same time, not so much.

So now I’m back at square one, trying to figure out just what it is I should be doing.

So much for post-grad stability, right?

[Everyone’s got a morning after story (though most don't involve a large group of potential sorority sisters) and we wanna hear yours! Send it over to us and we’ll post it – anonymously, of course – right here!]

During the summer before my senior year, I obtained the holy grail of unpaid internships:  working the green room for a popular late-night talk show.  Sure, I was sans-paycheck and super poor, but hanging out with SJP right before the release of the first Sex and the City movie was completely amazing.  Personally sneaking Brad Pitt down through a freight elevator to avoid the mob scene in the main lobby made me go weak at the knees.  And holding Maddox while Angelina was in makeup made me feel like a celebrity mom. Those instances were memorable, yeah, but one celebrity run-in was really head and shoulders above the rest.

It was getting toward the end of my internship and I had the job down pat.  I could anticipate a guest’s Starbucks craving ten minutes before anyone else, had a mental catalogue of foolproof one-liners to relax even the most nervous (or snobby) A-Lister.  Things were good.  Until he happened.

We booked the writer and a couple cast members from a new-ish cable drama on a whim.  Their first season had come to a close, and despite being composed of mostly no-name actors, the show was a wild success.  All our producers were loyal watchers of the hit, so it was a big day inviting these guys into the studio.  Confession time: I was the only one who a) had never watched an episode and b) had no idea who these dudes were or what they looked like.

I went about doing my usual thing.  Making sure the snack basket had little bags of chips.  Turning on the televisions.  Laying out the release forms.  Boring chores, really.  It was as I bent down to restock the mini fridge with water that I heard a manly voice say, “I think Henry Kissinger just checked out your ass.”  To my surprise, I turned around to see not only Kissinger walking down the hallway but a tall, gorgeous dude smiling behind me.  Pausing for a beat, I tried to take in the scene around me.  Who was this guy?  Why is he still staring at me?  Do I have food on my face?  OMG, I totally have food on my face.

Feeling my around my cheek for stray crumbs of granola bar, Mr. Wonderful took one of the chairs next to me, swung it around, and sat in it backwards.  Yeah, it was a gloriously hot move.  “Um, can I help you?” I stammered, completely not knowing who this dude was or why he was so confident he was in the right place.

“Oh, how rude of me.  I’m (let’s call him…Matt Smith), the car dropped me off a bit early here.  Having done a few of these gigs recently, I just asked the guard where the green room was and walked myself back here.  Figured this is where I’d end up eventually, anyway.”  And with that, he crossed his arms and simply looked like he was staying put.

As I continued on with making coffee and laying out magazines, Matt was completely flirty, asking all kinds of questions and telling charming stories.  He talked with his hands, totally relaxed, and acted like he was running for mayor.  If someone had a toddler around, I’m pretty sure he would have picked it up and looked for a camera.  I was polite, but wary of his shtick until he told me how he’s been getting the whole cast to listen to Wilco during off-camera time.  “I’m sorry, Wilco as in my favorite band ever?” I asked, somewhat stupidly.  Naturally he counters with, “No, I mean Wilco as in my favorite band ever.”  And with that, we were fast friends, talking a mile a minute, comparing our iTunes libraries and declaring our love for one another.

Two hours pass and I look more like his girlfriend sitting in an oversize chair discussing weekend plans than an intern trying to organize before taping.  But whatever.  Did I mention he was totally hot?  Because he was.  As Matt’s cast mates streamed in, he introduced me as his new friend and I was completely smitten.  Yes, it’s sad how easily I’m won over.  I admit it.  The icing on the best-day-of-work-ever cake was when Matt put his arm around me as I walked him to the set and everyone in the office saw.

When our show wrapped for the evening, Matt found me and asked if I wanted to go for a drink with everyone at their hotel bar.  Umm…vodka with the cast of the hottest new show?  Sign me up!  So I went and enjoyed the company of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met working in entertainment.  No joke, I laughed until my sides hurt and totally felt like a part of their cute family.

The next morning when I walked into work, I expected everyone to praise me on a job well done.  The interview went excellently, the guests happy the entire time, and they said they couldn’t wait to come back!  I was practically waiting for my trophy.

What I found, however, was slightly unexpected.  A post-it note on my computer monitor that read, “Please do your homework in the future and act accordingly.  Mr. Smith has a serious girlfriend of six years.”

Um…oops?

[You think that's awk? Check out our other cringe-worthy Morning After stories.]

When I first started this internship, I had high expectations. I knew that it would be different than the other internship I had; I could tell from the interview alone that this one would be a little bit more exciting, a little bit more hands-on, and was definitely about a subject matter that I enjoy. And I have to say, I was pretty much right.

I think that my experience has been exactly what an interning experience should be: there have been highs and lows, exciting moments of feeling like an actual journalist and those back-to-earth moments of feeling like the lowest person on the office food-chain. There have been frustrating moments when I’ve felt like I just want to walk out and never come back (like a 12-hour day where there was absolutely NOTHING to do), and there have also been moments where I wouldn’t give up the job for the world (like when I got to interview Derek Jeter). I’ve had to deal with some rude people, but I’ve also gotten the chance to meet some really amazing people. And probably the best thing was seeing my name in a national publication several times, and knowing that my hard work in school was finally starting to pay off a little.

But now it’s almost the end of August, and as much as I’d like to stay at this magazine for the next few years, it doesn’t seem possible. Never mind the fact that I’ve been interning for close to 8 months and it’s starting to look a little pathetic, but I think this is the best time to move on and learn about other areas of the industry, meet new people, and get even more experience. So in a week I will be going to another publication, and yes, it’s another internship. I may not be getting paid for what I do, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had a big, bitter taste of the real world.

Here’s what I’ve learned from my all-you-can-eat buffet of real life:

1. Some people are not going to be that nice. You always hear people say, ‘in the real world, no one’s going to be nice to you.’ And while there are definitely some amazing people out there who WILL be nice to you, there are also the people who won’t be. And that’s fine. As long as you know it has nothing to do with you, the experience will only make you stronger. A little quicker to fire back.

2. Celebrities are not as intimidating as I thought they would be. My first celeb interview was with Katharine McPhee, and I was terrified. I had never really had a conversation with a star before, and had no idea what to expect, visions of crazy, snobby celebs going through my head. But McPhee couldn’t have been nicer, and after a few months of meeting even bigger celebrities and interviewing them, I found out that they weren’t as intimidating to talk to as everyone thinks they will be (the worst part is standing in front of them seeing exactly just how beautiful they really are). Now I feel like if I could interview celebrities, I can interview (and be interviewed by…) anyone.

3. You should be nice to EVERYONE. One day when I first started my internship, I had a quick chat with someone who worked there – only to find out later that it was the editor-in-chief (I immediately panicked and went through the entire convo in my head about 50 times to make sure I didn’t say anything dumb). When you’re working within the industry of your choice, you might not know who everyone is and the best thing to do is just be nice to everyone, regardless of whether they deserve it or not. No one likes the snobby intern who thinks she’s better then everyone else. And, trust me on this one, people talk…a lot; whatever reputation you have will spread quickly.

4. Always do the tasks no one else wants to do. If I was asked to stay late, I stayed late. If they needed a volunteer to get a ridiculous amount of coffee for the entire office, I did it. And any other small and annoying task that had everyone rolling their eyes, I did those too. It’s a great way to stand out, because it made my editor see I wasn’t just there for the cool stuff, that I was there because I really wanted to get ahead.

5. What I really want to do is write. This internship has been amazing, but the only negative is the limited opportunity to write. At first I thought I could handle working at a magazine like that, but after a few months, I know that’s not true. I graduated with a degree in print journalism because I love writing, not because I wanted to stalk celebrities. No matter what else came out of my 8 months of interning, figuring out exactly what I want in life was definitely the most important.

Here’s hoping to getting a job soon and leaving interning behind!

The next week, the same thing happened all over again.

I think you can all understand – making time for both work and play in the summer is hard.  In the winter, when it’s cold and gross out and there’s not as much as to do, it’s a little bit easier to get cozy in bed at a decent hour when you know you have to be up bright and early on a Wednesday. (Or, if you do enjoy a Tiki Tuesday, you can always sleep right through lecture the next morning….) But in the summer… not so much. There aren’t just bars to go to with your friends, there are barbecues and beach bonfires and house parties and fun things going on almost every single night. And it makes it even harder when a few of your best friends have nothing to worry about but part-time jobs. So this whole summer, since I have a little problem turning down doing something fun, I have been trying to figure out the perfect mix of working and going out. Unfortunately for me, I don’t only have my internship to worry about (although it is the most important) – I also have my part-time waitressing job which PAYS for my internship.

When I first started my internship, my social life kind of died for a little bit. During the winter and spring, I made work a priority – not only did I have to wake up at 6:30 am and travel into New York City three times a week to intern, but I also had to waitress every other night until pretty late, and make time to cover events in the city. I stopped going out and getting wasted all the time because I was either too tired from work, or I knew I had to be up early. And let me tell you – it was no fun. At all.

So when the warm weather started rolling in in May, I knew I had to make a change. I decided that I could no longer sacrifice my entire social life for my professional life, because frankly, I enjoy having a good time too much to do that. I was going to have a fun summer, dammit, and I went for it with full gusto. That night I went out for half-off bottles of wine and the next thing I knew I was waking up almost an hour late with purple lips, then spent the day slumped in front of my computer wondering if I could make it to the bathroom in time if I had to throw up.

It was hell.

Since then I’ve tweaked my social life and discovered a way to have fun and still be able to function at work the next day. All I have to do is learn to control myself. It’s not easy – like when I’m out with all of myfriends and everyone is doing shots and singing karaoke while I sip on a glass of beer – but it’s possible and mandatory if I want to function to the best of my abilities the next day. Even though it sucks to miss out on the drunken fun, at least I’m still there with my friends, witnessing the stupid things they are doing.

So for the rest of the summer, to ensure I get the most of my work and my play, I will be following these five rules:

1) No staying out past 2 am.
2) Stay away from tequila and vodka shots.
3) Don’t give into half-price bottles of wine, no matter how tempting they are.
4) Late night texts to that guy are probably not the best idea…
5) There is always an exception. Because sometimes, no matter how long the day will be, the hangover is totally worth it.