smart girl's guide issue no. 10

issue no. 10february 2013

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of my Smart Girl sisters!

I have a question for you: what do you think when I say “relationship status?” My guess is, it reminds you of that lit-tle tab on Facebook profiles that can say “single,” “in a relationship with _____,” or “it’s complicated.” Here’s the thing: Smart Girls are not status updates. Plus, the one thing Facebook forgot to consider is that we are in a relationship with a number of people.

I am a daughter, a sister, a niece, a granddaughter, a friend, and a girlfriend. I am “in a relationship” with all of these different people, each in their own special way. However, the most important person I am in a relationship with is myself. That is, unfortunately, the relationship we sometimes neglect the most.

That is why this issue is all about loving yourself first. One of my favorite quotes in this whole magazine is by our Smart Girl Spotlight, Frannie Coxe (page 43). She says, “A Smart Girl is one who balances both giving to herself and giving to others.” We need to take more time to give to ourselves, whether that is getting out of that second semester slump (page 22) or taking time to strengthen our bodies through some HIIT (page 38). The time has come to embrace ourselves before we embrace others, like our Smart Girl, Maggie, says in her column (page 36). Get out of that “it’s complicated” status with yourself.

I am not saying you have to change your relationship status on Facebook. However, change how you see that status. Whether you are dating someone or not, this Valentine’s Day is about strengthening the most important relationship of all. Smart Girls are called to change the world. However, we must start with ourselves. Make February your “Me Mission.”

It is with sincere gratitude that I introduce you to Issue No. 10 of Smart Girl’s Guide. Enjoy!

Be smart share smarts,

EmilySmart Starter

A Note from Your Smart Girl Sister, Emily Raleigh

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Sophie RaleighNew Jersey

Amber AusleyUniversity of Alabama

Dorothy WaltonAlabama

Royar LoflinVirginia

Maggie ChaquetteRhode Island

Gabbi OppenheimerIllinois

Hannah O’BoylePennsylvania

Monica MurphySaint Mary’s College

Tori WilbrahamSaint Mary’s College

Megan BeckerMichigan State University

Annie PhelpsRhode Island

Emily RaleighFordham University

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Olivia LinderothSweden

Megan Rogers-ReilleyIllinois

Mimi WarnickPennsylvania

the guide girls

Ava GagliardiFordham University

Abigail SloneOhio

Sam DuganUniversity of Delaware

Quincy BulinTexas

Eleanor HarteUMass Amherst

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Mollie McLaughlinNew Jersey

Are you interested

in joining this team of

Smart Girls? Are you a graphic designer

or a photographer? Send us an email at

[email protected]

**please include a sample of your fabulous work!

Are you a writer and want to share your smarts?Send us an email at

[email protected]

Have an idea for something SGG could do?

Send Annie an emailanniephelps@

thesmartgirlsgroup.com

Maurissa WallsGeorge Washington University

Sarah Gould LongUniversity of Alabama

Frannie AcciardoWisconsin

7 smart girl’s guide

On January 1st, 2012, the idea for The Smart Girls Group was born in the form of a New Years

resolution. In the spirit of SGG’s birthday, Smart Girl’s Guide got personal this month. Meet our cover girl,

Mollie. This high school freshman has been a member of the SGG family from the very first day.

Mollie epitomizes what it means to be a Smart Girl, with her unique sense of humor and caring

personality. She brought her infectious enthusiasm to the cover shoot, even though it was during a snow

storm!

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MaurissaMeet


Philadelphia may be the city of brotherly love, but there was certainly lots of Smart Girl sisterly love present when a team of SGG sisters met with

our cover girl, Maurissa, to explore the city she calls home. What was a frigid, early morning quickly turned into a day filled with laughter and spontaneity, thanks to Maurissa. She showed us why this city is, as we now call it, the city of sisterly love, and why loving yourself is the most important gift of all.

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About Maurissa

Age: 20

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

School: The George Washington University

Major: Business Administration, Concentrating in Marketing

Favorite thing about going to school in Washington DC?D.C is very lively! There’s great music, food, culture, and lots of diversity. I walk down the street and hear people speaking different languages everyday, which is quite exciting. There are amazing museums and fun places to hang out, like U Street and Eastern Market. But aside from the fun D.C has to offer, there’s such a rich spirit of politics and service. You can’t help but get involved.

Favorite thing about going to George Washington University? A big part of why I chose to go to GW was because of the people. I love that there’s a great sense of community, openness, and acceptance, while at the same time, each member in the GW community is very hardworking and independent. Most people have amazing internships and hold leadership positions. GW has been a great environment for me to grow personally and professionally.

Favorite travel destination? I don’t have a favorite destination in particular. I like traveling anywhere with fun activities, great food, and interesting people.

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Hidden talent: My roommates, Alexis and Maya often call me an art director because I love directing shots when we take pictures. I guess I just have a knack for seeing the bigger picture. I love scrapbooking and making flyers for my organization’s events.

Fun fact: I spent one summer in high school learning photography in France! What is your dream job: I love television! Bravo Channel is definitely my guilty pleasure. I would love to be the VP of Programing and make up shows like Andy Cohen. I also love the content of OWN Network, so I suppose I would be a hybrid of Andy Cohen and Oprah.

Who is your Smart Girl role model? I’ve been a fan of Anne Hathaway for a long time. I think she’s an incredibly talented actress and an example of a true star. I love that she takes a stand on issues that she feels are import-ant and speaks up on what she believes. She seems fearless and unafraid of being herself.

What defines a Smart Girl in your eyes?When I think of a Smart Girl, I think of someone who is a leader and a learner. A Smart Girl is a gracious leader in her community and aims to make a positive impact wherever she goes. I think being a Smart Girl also entails constantly learning as much as you can from people of all walks of life. Smart Girls educate themselves on issues affecting those around them and then use their smarts to put a plan into action. A Smart Girl tries her best everyday to live the life that she imagines for herself.

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13 Things To Watch For In

2013part 2

by Royar Loflin

design by Abigail Slone

7. PakistanFrom Malala’s shooting to the factory fire that claimed over three hundred lives in Karachi, Pa-kistan had a rough 2012. Sadly, 2013 doesn’t look much better. Pakistan was recently named the 33rd most corrupt country in the world, and they waste nearly $103 million rupees every day because their government is so inefficient. The Pakistani Taliban still rules, and even went so far as to make a Facebook page to recruit people for video editing and writing for a magazine, and minorities are still in danger. 120 Ahmadi graces were recently vandalized because the Taliban be-lieves they’re heretics (only because their sect of Islam believes there was a prophet after Muham-mad). Drone attacks will continue, and as the Inter-Services Intelligence (think Pakistan’s version of the CIA) is more concerned with pleasing Al-Qaeda and the Taliban more than the United States, expect US-Pakistani tensions to flare.

8. EuropeWith Britain threatening to leave the EU (European Union) and Greece bogged down with aus-terity measures, Europe is in for a tough 2013. Spain will continue to struggle over Catalonia’s in-dependence, Italy will continue to struggle politically, France will try to cut taxes without protest, and economic stagnation will plague the region.

9. IranThey say bad things come in threes, and Iran’s three are particularly bad. Since President Ah-madinejad can’t be re-elected, there will be a new leader, but the candidates will be closely re-viewed. With elections being the new norm in the Middle East, look for the people of Iran to pay more attention and not accept a winner if they aren’t happy. The Supreme Ruler, Ali Khamenei, who is the head political and religious figure of Iran, is in poor health, and his death or a new supreme leader could upset the balance of the government. The worst scenario of all is one that involves the United States. Now that the election is over, the tensions between Israel and Iran could escalate into war or a standoff, with the US being attacked, directly or indirectly.

People are still dying, and Assad is still in power. The United States recently recognized the oppo-sition as a valid group and legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Unguided missiles have been shot on the reg into Northern Syria on civilians, and as a result, the United Nations has set the date for a humanitarian conference in Kuwait to try and help the Syrian refugees, those who are internally displaced and also those who are living in the surrounding countries.

10. Syria

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In December, North Korea launched a satellite and a long-range rocket, which were not hailed as a success, but not a complete failure either. The interactions between President Obama and Kim Jong-un will be interesting to watch, as they could become more strained than they are currently,

or talks could ease tensions as North Korea becomes more open.

Japan and China have been continuously fighting for some time about eight uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Japan controls them, but China wants to stake their claim as well. There’s

always something more than “just wanting land”, and in this case, they’re conveniently close to oil deposits and rich fish waters. Japan technically has control because in 1895, they placed a marker on some of the islands, claiming control. After World War Two, they gave up a bunch of territo-

ries, including the Senkaku Islands, but in 1971, America gave them back to Japan. China claims that the land has been in their country since way back, and when Taiwan was returned to sender,

the islands should have been sent back as well. As of right now, both countries have sent planes and ships to circle and surround the islands. Hopefully both countries put resolving this situation

on their New Year’s Resolutions.

A report from the US National Intelligence Council has set the “Next Eleven” countries to watch for: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea,

Turkey, and Vietnam. I’m predicting the Philippines and South Korea will make some major headlines this year.

11. North Korea

12. China vs. Japan

13. The “Next Eleven” Continuing to Rise

SOURCES: http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/17/iran-in-2013-three-possible-crises/, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/9766201/Europe-in-2013-economic-strangu-

lation-and-political-tension.html, http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/10/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.htm-l?hpt=hp_bn2, http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/northkorea/index.html, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/24/world/asia/north-korean-rocket-had-military-purpose-seoul-says.

html?ref=northkorea&_r=0, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/world/asia/china-steps-up-pressure-on-japan-in-island-dispute.html, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11341139, http://dawn.com/2012/12/11/

pakistan-10-others-to-surpass-eu-by-2030-us-govt-report/

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Support our Smarts Sharer, Monica Murphy and download her

Beautiful YOU App today!Click here for more information.

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21- the smart girl is...organized20- smart girl’s guide 21- the smart girl is...stylish

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How to Break the

in Styleby Gabbi Oppenheimer


Happy February, ladies! I am so excited to have been

given the opportunity to write a new col-umn for the guide and to share my style tips with

all of you. At this point for the majority of us, second semester has either just started or is in full swing. With

one semester’s final exams behind us, a new set of challenges awaits. And while your academic load is

probably a tough one to bear, I know as well as the next Smart Girl that a big challenge for us this time of year

is not necessarily related to hitting the books. Smart Girls everywhere are hitting the

dreaded Second Semester Slump.


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You know the feeling. Your morning alarm rings and all you can think about is snuggling under your covers for a few more minutes. When you finally drag yourself out of bed and to your closet to get dressed, you grab your biggest, coziest sweatshirt and your trusty yoga pants. Hair? Messy bun. Make-up? No thanks. It’s so easy to fall into a cycle like this and before you know it, what start-ed out as a lazy day turns into you just being sloppy. And it’s awful. You don’t feel good when you don’t present your-self well, and when you don’t feel good, how are you supposed to keep working hard and doing your best? The good news is, the only thing it takes to get out of this slump is a little change of attitude! Take a minute right now to think about all the things you’re awesome at, all your achievements and

things you’re proud to do. Earning straight A’s, having a successful sports season, landing the lead in the school musical, starting a club, writing a great term paper. You are already doing such incredible things with your life and have so many reasons to be proud. You are smart. You are talented. You are com-petent, beautiful, poised, and you love yourself. I firmly believe that your love for yourself can be communicated to the world best through the care you take in getting dressed and putting yourself together. It doesn’t have to be hard. You don’t have to be dressed to the nines with your hair curled and your lipstick on every single day for class. But there are a few things that you can do to make getting ready for the day easier all around.

Adopt a uniform. It’s completely okay to regularly fall back on the same type of outfit, changed by little variations here and there. My favorite “uniform” consists of leggings, a button-down shirt, and boots. There’s so much

room for tweaking and manipulation, so you’ll never look like you’re wearing the same outfit all the time. For example, one day you could sport an oversized boyfriend button down with combat boots, the next you could pull out a more

tailored top with riding boots and a long cardigan. See? Totally different looks, so much easier to pick out.

1.

23- the smart girl is...stylish

If you’re like me and the thought of putting on jeans in the morning is enough to make you want to skip out on school all together, take a minute before you reach for the sweats again. Once you get over how awful it sounds to put them

on, think about how cute and comfy you are in your favorite jeans and pick those instead.

2.

As far as hair goes, it’s good to have a few different favorite styles to switch up your look easily. The half up, half down look has always been a favorite of mine, and it’s so easy to do. I like to look on Pinterest sometimes for variations of hair-styles I already wear: different ponytails and braids, ways to make your favorite, more intricate styles easier for everyday wear. And when all else fails, a ponytail

and a baseball cap can be a lifesaver!

3.

Being well-dressed and put together is just another way to love yourself and show everyone how great you are. It doesn't have to be hard at

all, and let's be honest, picking out different outfits is fun for every Smart Girl!


If you’re like me and the thought of putting on jeans in the morning is enough to make you want to skip out on school all together, take a minute before you reach for the sweats again. Once you get over how awful it sounds to put them

on, think about how cute and comfy you are in your favorite jeans and pick those instead.

OPEN DAILY 10-10


SMART Secretsfor

AgendasAmazing

The new year is well underway and one of my highlights of it is a new planner! It is a must have for any student or busy per-son in general. I use my planner so that I do not forget to do an important task. The best part about planners is that you have so many options when it comes to the appearance and inside layout! I mean, how could you not love the fun colors and personalization that make these even more of your own? My planner contains my life! If I ever forgot it, I’m not sure I would remember everything that needs to be completed. I like to have all of my subjects written out on a separate line in black on each week-day so that my work can easily be filled in

once assigned. I write any regular home-work assignments next to the subject that they correlate with in black pen and use a red pen to represent any largely significant assignment because it stands out on the page. Some of the things that get written

in red pen include tests, papers, projects, or for me, schol-

arship applications. It is easy to look ahead and budget your time

when you see these important deadlines ap-

proaching. Life doesn’t solely revolve around school so I include extracurricular activi-ties (not including sports) in blue. Wheth-er I am writing down the date of my next Girls Service Club meeting or what day and time Bible study occurs, I am able to

“For me, my planner contains my life!”

by Dorothy Waltondesign by Abigail Slone

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Pen Color-Coding

plan around these events. For me, pink in my agenda signifies sports. I have practice daily after school so I find it unnecessary to write that down daily so instead I have my soccer games and cross country meets written down as well as the time they start! As hectic as all of these different activities may cause your planner to look by having everything written down you are less like-ly to forget it! My favorite part of agenda organization is completing an assignment or task. Once I complete something that is written down I cross it off with a yellow highlighter. I prefer crossing it off with a highlighter as opposed to a pen because I can still see what is written. I find that crossing things off once completed causes me to see easier what is left to be done! Best of luck to all of you this month, and I

hope these tips and tricks lead you to keep-ing your semester organized and in tact and that some of them prove to be useful for you!

Black: regular homework assignments

Red: important assignments (tests, papers, projects, etc.)

Blue: extracurricular activities

Pink: sport activities

Secrets

Agendas

27- the smart girl is...organized

by Hannah O’Boyle

The moment that all football fans have been waiting for is here! On February 3 at 6:30 EST the Baltimore Ravens and the San Franc isco 49ers will be playing in the Super-Dome (in New Orleans). Even if you’re not a sports fan, the Super Bowl is a highly entertaining event. With a half time performance by Beyonce and plenty of hilarious commercials, the ratings are destined to be huge.This game will be making history, as the head coaches for Super Bowl XLVII are Baltimore’s John Harbaugh and San Fran-cisco’s Jim Harbaugh, the first brothers to coach against each other in the Super Bowl.

As for the teams themselves, there are a number of players to keep an eye on during the game. While you are watching the game tonight, try to look for these players!

Baltimore RavensAnquan Boldin- Receiver- 921 yards, 4 touchdowns for the regular seasonTorrey Smith- Receiver- 855 yards, 8 touchdowns for the regular seasonDennis Pitta- Tight End- 7 touchdowns for the regular seasonJoe Flacco- Quarterback- Just finished his career high passing yards for the regular season (3,817 passing yards and 22 touchdowns) and will have to be on his A game for the gameRay Rice- Running Back- He rushed for 1,143 yards and 9 touchdownsRay Lewis- Linebacker- A veteran of the game and a leader for the Ravens. He is retiring after the Super Bowl and his teammates not only want to win it for themselves but as a farewell victory for their teammate. Since this is his last game, you can expect him to play his heart out and pump up the rest of his teammates.

San Francisco 49ersColin Kaepernick-1,814 yards and 10 touchdowns. He didn’t start out as the starting quarterback but his performance since ascending to the starting job has been nothing short of extraordinary, especially in the playoffsMichael Crabtree- Receiver- 1,105 yards and 9 touchdowns and a key player for the 49ersVernon Davis- TIght end- 538 yards and 5 touchdownsFrank Gore- Running back- Rushed for 1,214 yards and 8 touchdowns during the regular seasonAldon Smith- Linebacker- Set a franchise record with 19 sacksThe 49ers defense, which was ranked 2nd this year, is the key component to pulling off the victory.

The winner of Super Bowl XLVII will receive the coveted Lombardi Trophy, along with a customized Super Bowl ring, and most importantly of all, they will forever be Super Bowl champi-ons! Be sure to keep up with our Twitter (@smartgirlsgroup) because I’ll be live tweeting the game!

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The College Columnby Emily Raleigh

Freshmen Smart Girls, Happy (almost) Valentine’s Day! You are in luck! Your task for this month is by far my favorite

thing I did in high school for myself. I’m sure many of you have heard of an inspiration board before. Maybe you’ve created one before, or maybe you have gawked at the idea of it. Regardless, think of this as a brand new project and I can promise you, you will see results. I’m all about inspiration. It is crucial to getting the most out of any experience, especially high school. There are so many things you can do during these four years that will put you in a bad position for the future. The good news is: there are also many things that you can do that will put you in a good position, while also having the time of your life in high school. So how does the inspiration board come in? Well, this just helps you keep your eye on the prize. Just thinking about how badly you want to go to a specif-ic school or reach some sort of success sometimes is not enough. However, an in-spiration board serves as that constant re-minder for what you are working towards. And no, you cannot do this on Pinterest. This needs to be something you can see without putting any effort in at all. There are 3 parts to an inspiration board. Let’s get started!

Write a short mission statement. It is super important to set a goal in writ-ing. My suggestion is to have a mission statement that is very straight forward, but encompasses everything you want to do. My mission statement post-SGG for my senior year was ironically “Be a Smart Girl in all that I do.” Then, I had visu-als for each of the ways I wanted to be a Smart Girl. Which leads me to #2... Add some visuals. The best goals are the ones you can envision in your mind. However, that vision can get blur-ry in high-stress environments, which is why a physical picture can be your saving grace. Try to have one or two pictures per goal. Grab them from Pinterest, maga-zines, wherever! Just one reminder: make sure that every picture you add to your inspiration board speaks of the strong, passionate Smart Girl you are and wish to become. Put your inspiration board where you can see it. Whether that is on the back of your door, on your desk, or next to your bed, make sure that you can see it. The whole goal of an inspiration board is that it is always within sight. If it is out of sight, it can be out of mind as well. Keep your inspiration where you can see it! I wish you the best of luck on this project! Once you complete your

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inspiration board, take a picture and send it to us at [email protected] and we will share it with all of our Smart Girls!

Sophomore Smart Girls, I hope you are having a great month! Hopeful-ly, you are well on your way to be-ing a self-starter, after last month.

Remember, it is never too late to accom-plish a College Column task! This month is when we really start to think about college. By just following your monthly tasks from this column, you are al-ready well on your way to preparing for col-lege. This month is special because it actual-ly involves thinking about where you would like to go to college. I know you’re thinking I’m crazy. You’re a sophomore in high school; you practically just got here! Plus, college is so far away; how are you expected to know where you want to go yet? Don’t worry. I don’t expect you to know where you want to go. If you do, though, congrats! Either way, this month is about college preferences. Each college has its own special envi-ronment, but there are some general char-acteristics to all colleges. For example, I go to Fordham University, which is a medium sized, Jesuit, liberal arts university in New York City, but Tori, our Smarts Sharer, goes to a small, all women, liberal arts college in the somewhat rural area that is South Bend, Indiana. See the differences? This month, make a list with the fol-lowing questions answered:1. Do you want to go to a big (15,000+ stu-

dents), medium (8,000-14,000 students),

or small (100-7,000 students) school?2. Do you want to go to school in a city,

suburb, or in a rural area?3. Do you want to go to a school that is re-

ligiously affiliated (i.e. Catholic, Jesuit, etc.)?

4. Do you want to go to a school that has some sort of specialization (i.e. all wom-en, engineering, fine and performing arts)?

5. Do I want to stay in-state? What type of location setting do I want?

6. Is school spirit, sports, or Greek life im-portant to me?

Best of luck! These questions may take some thinking, but they are super important!

Junior ladies, hope you are doing well! I hate to say this, but this month I am going to sound like your parents. Trust me though, they are right when

it comes to this. I am talking about social media. This month, your task is to do a social media cleanse. Whether it is your college admis-sion director, the alumna who is interview-ing you, or the family friend who is writing your letter of recommendation, they may look at your Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, blog, etc. Make sure that you look like the Smart Girl you are. It doesn’t matter if you are drinking water, if it is in a red Solo cup, untag yourself. You need to make sure that you look like a classy, put together Smart Girl and unfortunately, due to others’ mis-takes, you need to take extra precautions.


Cover all of your grounds on social media: how you dress in pictures, the comments and statuses you write, the information you provide, the brands and organizations you like/follow, everything. It is more im-portant than you can ever imagine. So this month untag, unlike, and de-lete anything that does not represent the classy Smart Girl who you are!

Senior Smart Girls, congratula-tions! You are so close to being done the college application pro-cess! Isn’t that so exciting?

Around this time last year when I was in my senior year, I just couldn’t wait to grad-uate. I was ready to be finished and move on. Everyone gets to that point at some time senior year. However, if I could do it again, I would have soaked up every min-ute of it. Don’t get me wrong, college is awe-some. You have an entire new sense of independence and your world is just com-pletely new, filled with new, great friends, interesting classes, and a whole new envi-ronment to explore. It’s incredible how much you change and evolve in a year. At the same time, though, I miss home. I miss my dad waking me up in the morning, talking about life plans with my

mom, watching old episodes of That’s So Raven with my sister, and walking 20 steps to the beach. Everyone in college misses home sometimes, especially those who are very close to their families or their high school. The bottom line is: appreciate these last few months. You are moving on to another fantastic chapter in your life, but don’t forget to appreciate the chapter you are about to close. I remember any time I would bicker with my sister about whose turn it was to clean the bathroom, I would think, “In a few months, I won’t have to deal with this anymore.” Yes, that is true, but I miss Sophie. So take time this month to appreci-ate your family, your town, your school, your pets, anything that defines your life right now. I am not saying this in a sad way at all. What I mean, is that so often we focus on the future and forget to remember to appreciate the now. You have come to a major stepping stone in your high school career. Being a second semester senior is possibly the coolest time ever. The stess has died down a bit and you may even find yourself with more time. Use that time to make memo-ries! Happy February :).


Want to bring The Smart Girls Group

to your high school or college campus? Start a SGG chapter

today! Contact Megan at [email protected]

for more details!


Everybody wants to find the perfect guy for them. We look to friends and distant strangers in hopes of discovering that one boy that makes us feel different, loved, want-ed, like we’re the only person in the world. And eventually, almost every one of us does or will. But girls, I have news for you. Today is the day that you stop incessantly looking. You can feel all of that, the things you think only a boyfriend can give you, WITHOUT him. Lately our culture has taken an anti-single stance. We’ve begun to associate single with loneliness and relationships, no matter how open or exclusive, with happiness. We’ve completely forgotten what being single means for us girls. It’s an opportunity to make ourselves happy and embrace who you are. Being young and single isn’t sad like it’s portrayed in movies or TV shows- it’s fabulous. I know on a personal level, never having had a boyfriend, that the single life isn’t so bad. Sure, there are moments when I’ve wished I had a boyfriend. But overall I’ve always been pretty content being alone…I’m definitely not complaining! As Beyoncé’s song goes, “All the single ladies…put your hands up!” Not being tied down to a boy gives you the chance to hang out with your friends whenever and wherever, meet new people, and flirt with boys as much as you want. You don’t have to feel guilty for anything- you’re free from all responsibilities. You can spend a whole day watching your favorite TV show in pajamas or reread The Hunger Games series. There’s no reason to answer to anyone, and no one is holding you back. Being single also gives you the chance to concentrate on school or find an awesome internship or job. Naturally, sometimes couples aren’t on the same page when it comes to goals. Without a boyfriend, you have more time to accomplish what you want.

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Now, by no means am I saying having a boyfriend is a really terrible thing. I have friends in relationships that are still able to focus on their schoolwork and pursue their dreams, but even they admit it is a little difficult at times. The main thing about being in a relationship is that everything isn’t just about you, and the same goes for the per-son you’re dating. A lot of decisions involve them and you obviously spend a lot of time with them. You can’t be selfish or inconsiderate to what your other half wants. With that being said, there are also some really fantastic perks to being involved with a boy, as long as it’s the right boy. If you find a great guy, congratulations! What makes a great boyfriend is someone who makes you feel special, is your best friend, gets along with your other friends, has a great personality, and that most importantly, loves you for who you are. Those boys are out there, but it just takes a little longer for some of us to find them. You shouldn’t feel any pressure about getting a boyfriend, because I promise he’ll show up when the time is right. You don’t need to go out searching for a boy, and you definitely don’t need to go changing yourself to impress a boy. Don’t change your per-sonality or how you look or act to try to get your crush to notice you. Believe me, I’ve been there, done that. It almost never works. And besides, the type of guy you want to be with is someone who doesn’t care about how different you two may be or about how you look. Sure he might think about those, but in the end you want to be with some-one who likes you for you. A Smart Girl should always stay true to herself and think about her happiness. Every one of us wants to find love; it’s only natural. But having (or not having) a boyfriend does NOT define you, or who you are. You are a whole, amazing person and you don’t need “another half.” Relationships can be super fun and fulfilling, but they are not necessary for happiness. So put down the tub of ice cream, turn off The Note-book, and stop crying. Stop tweeting #singlelifesucks and start tweeting #carpediem and #lovemyfriends. Get out there, be social, be free, and be confident. Just be you.

by Annie Phelps


H I I THigh Intensity

Interval TrainingDon’t let the name scare you! I have mentioned HIIT work-outs before, but I thought this would be a great opportunity to better explain this wonder-ful workout. A high intensity inter-val workout is really very sim-ple. You can create your own or find one online. The work-outs can be done in a gym, at home, and can be done with absolutely no equipment! These workouts absolutely shred fat, and rev your metab-olism to super high speeds – your metabolism will be work-ing faster for up to 24 hours after your workout!! If that isn’t amazing, I don’t know what is. How to design your own HIIT workout:Choose anywhere from five to ten high intensity exercise moves. Some options are: burpees, squat jumps, moun-tain climbers, tuck jumps, high knees, butt kicks, star jumps, etc. Then, choose five

to ten lower intensity moves, such as jumping jacks, jogging in place, planks, pushups, lunges, marching in place, etc. Each high energy move should be done for 20 – 30 seconds at maximum effort, and should be immediately followed by about 15 seconds of a low in-tensity move. Repeat this cycle over and over again for at least 20 minutes. Here is a sample:

• 30 seconds burpees• 15 second plank• 30 seconds high knees• 15 seconds jumping jacks• 30 seconds star jumps• 15 seconds jog in place

You get the gist of it! Now try making your own.Another great way to do HIIT workouts is when you are run-ning. You can do this on a treadmill, at the track, or on the trails.

• Jog for 2 minutes• Sprint for 30 seconds

• Slow jog/walk for 30 sec-onds

Repeat that circuit until your run is over, and you have a HIIT workout!

I love these workouts because they are extremely simple, but tremendously effective. And as always, there are thousands of other HIIT workouts on tumblr, You-Tube, and other workout websites. If you belong to a gym or have gym equipment available to you, you can look up HIIT workouts for the elliptical, the stair climb-er, the rowing machine, you name it, and it’s out there!

Tweet @SmartGirlsGroupwhen you plan on doing your HIIT workout and with any other tweets about health! We love hearing from you!


39 - smart girl of history

In the world of professional sports, women have struggled to be considered legitimate or as equal to men. However, some women have been fear-

less of the boundaries established and have been willing to showcase their talents to the world. This month’s Smart Girl of History is, Mary Kathryn “Mickey” Wright. Mickey was born on February 14th, 1935. She grew up in San Diego, where she learned to play golf. Mickey attended Stanford Univer-sity, but she left to dedicate more time to her sport. In 1954, Mickey won the World Amateur Championship in golf, and decided to become a pro-fessional. In 1955, she joined the

mickey wrighta smart girl of historyby Tori Wilbraham

LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association). During her LPGA tour, Mickey won a total of 82 events. Some of her major wins include the U.S. Women’s Open, Western Open, and the LPGA National Championship. Her accom-plishments on the golf course have created a legacy for her in a sport that traditionally has always been dominated by men. Mickey is often noted for having the “best swing ever.” She is honored today in the Unit-ed States Golf Association Museum with an ex-hibit, which has been dedicated to her talent and legacy. Mickey is the first woman in the history of golf to have a gallery exhibit named after her. This monumental achievement goes beyond her victories and illustrates her lasting influence on the sport. Mickey Wright is this month’s Smart Girl of History because of her legacy in a predomi-nantly male sport. Mickey has influenced young girls around the world to break down gender roles and to show the world that women can be just as successful as men. For any of you Smart Girls who enjoy playing a round of golf, next time you’re out on the course, remember Mick-ey and thank her for being a pioneer woman in the world of sports.


May we introduce to you our newest column: College Spotlight. Think of this as your insider scoop into the world of a college student from the eyes of a Smart Girl. If you have continued interest in the university, write on our Facebook wall and we will get you in touch with our Smart Girl college reps!

MAKING THE DECISION TO COME TO ALABAMA-AUGUST 2011 When I first started planning for college, Alabama was not on my list. Even though a lot of my extended family lived in sweet home Alabama, and my Dad had raised me to say ‘Roll Tide,’ I just wasn’t incredibly interested. Nobody from my high school had ever gone to The University of Alabama, and I planned on staying close to my friends. Being very connected with my family, I had drawn a four hour radius around my hometown of Louisville and chose not to look at schools any further than that boundary. How then did I end up at a school just shy of double that? Well, eventually the tradition, history, and warm weather began to draw me in. What sealed the deal was the University’s strong academic success and emphasis on research (the football team and southern charm didn’t hurt either.) When I finally decided to come tour the Uni-versity, I immediately fell in love with the breathtaking campus, and on the drive home, I cancelled my final tour to another college that I had already committed to.

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LET THE GAMES BEGIN-AUGUST 2012 When I finally rolled into Tuscaloosa, with two cars packed full of stuff I probably didn’t need, I threw on my Nike shorts and a large t-shirt (a staple on campus) and headed to start sorority recruitment. The University of Al-abama has more than 250 student organizations to get in-volved in if Greek life is not for you, but Alabama boasts of the largest Greek system in the country with sixteen na-tional panhellenic sororities. This past year, over 2000 girls participated in recruitment. Recruitment is such a fun process. While it can be intimidating to try to leave an impression on a complete stranger in a matter of ten minutes, I have so many good memories from those 9 days. While it is a stressful and con-fusing process, every girl seems to end up in the sorority that fits their personality and goals the best. Looking back, I honestly couldn’t have picked a better place to end up. Recruitment not only helps you meet so many people, but I am now surrounded by nearly 300 ambitious, caring, and intelligent women who are helping shape me into the person that I want to be 4 years from now when I gradu-ate. A REAL COLLEGE CLASS On a Wednesday morning (yes, morning—I had all 8 a.m classes), I walked across the quad to my first college class. The actual academic aspect of college completely caught me off guard. I had really excelled in high school, and just expected college to be the same. However, I had a rude awakening when I got my first Calculus test. This is not to scare you, just to let you know that success in college takes exponentially more work (at least for me) than it did in high school. Another key to success is to be sure you are passionate about what you are learn-ing. I started out in one major, and like so many college students, switched, because I really couldn’t see myself dedicating to my original major for the rest of my life. You may get it right the first time, but once you are studying the right thing, you will know. I absolutely love going to my classes now and find it so much easier to speak up in class.

RAMMER jAMMER yELLOW HAMMER Now it’s time to talk about my favorite thing to brag about at The University of Alabama—football. The best word that I can think to describe Alabama fans is passion-ate. We cried when we lost to Texas A&M, and we cried when we won our 15th National Championship. You will always see the fraternity pledges in their suits, and the la-dies in their dresses, heels or cowboy boots, and sorority buttons. Before coming to Alabama, make sure you stock up on your shakers and learn the fight song because you should be coming out of the games with no voice. One of my favorite memories from my fall semester was traveling with my friends to Atlanta to watch the SEC championship game against Georgia. None of us had tick-ets, but there is honestly nothing more enjoyable than playing cornhole with friends and listening to country music blaring at the tailgate. The best thing about college is definitely the opportuni-ties to go do things you wouldn’t have been independent enough to do in high school.

College has been the best experience of my life. If given the opportunity, come visit The University of Alabama and see why it has become one of the top Universities in the nation. While I only

got to scratch the surface of life at the Capstone, keep checking alabama.thesmartgirlsgroup.com for more adventures from my

friends and me! ROLL TIDE!

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Smart Girl Spotlight:Frannie Coxe

interview by Frannie Acciardodesign by Emily Raleigh

Every Smart Girl dreams of attending her dream college, putting her own positive spin on the world, and utilizing her talents to help those in

need. Meet Frannie Coxe: a Yale student from California. She is a member of the Yale soccer team, and, on top of that, she founded

Habitat for Humanity and Operation Smile chapters in her high school and college. Frannie is our Smart Girl Spotlight of the month because she encompasses all that is a Smart Girl, with her balanced, well round-ed, life. As she says herself, “A Smart Girl gives to herself and gives to others.” We are pleased to introduce you to a Smart Girl who has inspired all of us to love ourselves a little bit more and dream a little bit farther.


when and how did you decide that you wanted to get involved in your high school?In the beginning of my sophomore year in high school, I decided that I wanted to do more with my time and give back to the community and those less fortunate.

how did you decide on Operation Smile and Habitat for Humanity as groups that you wanted to work with?My sister and I are both very passionate about serving children and, at the time, we were both interested in the field of medicine. Operation Smile was a perfect fit for that! With Habitat, we thought it was an awesome way to create significant change in a family’s life and give them a new beginning.

what is the best part, to you, about making a difference in the world and helping others?The best part about making a difference in the world and helping others is the domino effect it creates; my passion and desire to give hope to the hopeless ignites change and lets others get involved and give back as well.

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do you have any advice for Smart Girls aspiring to make a difference in their community?My advice would be to find something you are passionate about. When you are personally devoted to something, you give it 100% and do everything whole-heartedly.

do you have any advice for Smart Girls aspiring to make a difference in their community?Focus on the present! Don’t get over-whelmed with looking at the future or upcoming weeks. Take it day by day.

what is the hardest part about living life with such a busy schedule?The hardest part is not being able to go out with my friends sometimes... They know everything I’m doing, though, and support me in all of my activities.

what has been the most rewarding part about helping others, being a great athlete, and attending a prestigious school?The most rewarding part about help-ing others is to know that I’ve bettered someone’s life, even in a small way. Being a great athlete, I have learned to be the best teammate, team player and leader. Attending an school like Yale has given me countless opportu-

nities to grow as a scholar, as well as expand upon my passions.

you have obviously had some amazing opportunities throughout your time at Yale and throughout your time working with Operation Smile and Habitat for Humanity; what was your favorite experience? why?My favorite experience was my med-ical mission to Fortaleza, Brazil with Operation Smile. I was surrounded by selfless volunteers who gave of their time to help the needy and I met tiny patients who still held joy in their hearts even though they had nothing. Their happiness was contagious and

made me realize that even though the world is so much bigger than me, I can

still make a difference.

what are some of your goals in life that you hope to achieve with Operation Smile, Habitat for Humanity, or anything else?With Operation Smile, I plan to travel to Ethiopia this summer to serve as a journalist on the medical mission, capturing patient stories and telling inspir-ing tales of determination, hope, and love.

what defines a Smart Girl in your opinion?In my opinion, a Smart Girl is one who balances both giving to herself and giving to others. She looks to make a difference, wherever she finds herself, and lives life with a focus on giving, loving and growing.

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46 - smart girl’s guide 49- hello from home

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55 - a year in review

“We captivate to educate.” That’s the philosophy of The Gem Project, Inc. Founded by Amanda Ebokosia, The Gem Project aims to educate the youth of today and

help them live up to their potential. The Gem Project

believes the youth of today are capable of accomplishing much more than they know. Through

leadership, education, and youth and community organizing, The Gem Project helps to educate and motivate today’s youth to become they best that they can be. I was

super excited to get the chance to interview Amanda herself and

find out more about The Gem Project!

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START THE GEM PROJECT? As a sophomore at Rutgers University-Newark, I found out my mother was diagnosed for invasive breast cancer. I be-gan to research on how it affected young peo-ple and wanted to develop programs, which would galvanize my peers to take action on topics that mattered to them and impacted their communities. I did not have an interest to create a breast cancer foundation during that time. I just wanted to develop educational programs, which would address social issues, communi-ty affairs and youth issues in a way that pro-moted young people as activity leaders and collaborators to inform and educate one an-other.IS THERE A STORY BEHIND THE NAME? I chose the name Gem because it sym-bolized something that was multifaceted, a re-flection of the many youth and young adult issues that we want to address.WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE GEM PROJECT? The goal is to continue to create edu-cational enrichment programs for youth and young adults, which promote them as leaders while informing them about key issues that affect them. By encouraging them to become activity leaders within our programs, they have opportunities to help carry out our pro-grams with us-- simultaneously strengthening their leadership and community organizing skills.WHAT TYPES OF PROGRAMS DO YOU PROVIDE? The Gem Project creates educational workshops, traveling art exhibits (ie. Thegemproject.org/definerealbeauty),

interview by Mollie McLaughlin

59- organization of the month

photo credit: Nick Romanenko

public service announcements, campus march-es, interactive literacy programs, mini leadership summits, career panels and more. Information about our programs can be found: http://thegemproject.org in our programs section, http://thegemproject.org/?page_id=15.HOW CAN SOMEONE BECOME A VOLUNTEER FOR THE GEM PROJECT? The best way is to first fill out a volunteer application at http://thegemproject.org/volunteer-application. You may choose what division you wish to con-tribute your time in, through the initial applica-tion. A Gem Project rep will evaluate your appli-cation. Once approved, we will place you in our volunteer database and contact based on need.HOW CAN SOMEONE GET INVOLVED

IN A PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE GEM PROJECT? Prospective volunteers can view volunteer opportunities online at:http://thegemproject.org/volunteer-opportunities. We also issue weekly to monthly newsletters about out programs and events. People may register online, too.HOW CAN ONE DONATE TO THE GEM PROJECT? Anyone can make a donation online at http://thegemproject.org/donate or decide to send a donation to: The Gem Project, Inc. PO Box 32322, Newark, Nj 07102. We value any type of dona-tion, including time.


WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE DO YOU LOOK FOR TO GET INVOLVED IN THE GEM PROJECT? We are excited to work with dynamic people who have an insatiable appetite to give back in big ways. We’re a very open and accepting organization. We enjoy learning from each other and seek people who will add something different to our culture.WHAT ARE SOME BIG EVENTS AT THE GEM PROJECT? We always look forward to our annual achievement ceremony. It takes place during the 3rd or 4th Wednesday of May. It’s a time to celebrate volunteers, mem-bers and local community change-agents. It’ also a time to give our “report card” to the community, highlighting the work and data that we’ve gathered during the year thus far.WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO IS CONSIDERING GETTING INVOLVED IN THE GEM PROJECT? Speak up : Voice what you’re most passionate about. We try to match our vol-unteers within divisions where they’ll be the happiest. Be dedicated: We have fun, but we also work very hard. We have weekly duties and report to each other on various projects. Only apply, if you’re serious. When you do apply, don’t be afraid to toot your own horn. We’re always on the search for exceptionally bright people.WHAT DEFINES A SMART GIRL?A smart girl is someone who isn’t afraid to embrace the power of her voice. A smart girl knows that her words are powerful and can enable others to act, which is one of her most valuable tools.

We are about to introduce a section called, “Letter to the Smart

Starter,” but we need your help! Send in your reviews and comments (likes or dislikes!) on any column in Smart Girl’s Guide and your review will be part of the section! Add your

name or Twitter handle or be anonymous! Send your review to

[email protected].

Coming Soon!

The Valentine’s Day Playlist

Can’t Help Falling In Love (Recorded Live at Daytrotter)

by Ingrid MichaelsonThe Girl

by City and ColourKiss Me

by Sixpence None The RicherHard to Love

by Lee BriceTake You Higher

by Goodwill & Hook N SlingI Feel It All

by FeistMake You Feel My Love

by AdeleNo One’s Gonna Love You

by Band of HorsesStay-Acoustic

by Lisa LoebElla

by Kopecky Family BandHave I Told You Lately

by Rod Steward

by Sophie Raleigh

Dear Smart Girlby Monica Murphy

Dear Smart Girls,

Remind yourself that flaws and imperfections are okay. Whatever ob-stacles you continue to face, just remember that you have the power to decide how you respond and react to them. Let no one take your peace and power away from you, ever.

I just finished reading a book called “Breaking Night” by Liz Murray. It is a memoir of forgiveness, survival, and her journey from Homelessness to Harvard University. It is a must read.

Here is a sneak peek of her wisdom and words, included in her book.

“Life takes on the meaning that you give it… I always had the power to choose how I would respond… I could always, always choose the next right thing to do in my own life…There are moments in life when focusing on the opinions of others can hold you back…If life could change for the worst, I thought, then maybe life could change for the better…I used my education to rebuild my life… I would make my life so full of things that empowered me…”

Her words speak volumes, holding power. What words are you speak-ing over your life? Empower you, be who you are. And as always, you were born to model extraordinary peace, love and harmony over your life, and in the lives of others.

And as someone once said, “Let your faith be bigger than your fear.”

Monica Murphy65- dear smart girl

Goals for the MonthIn Issue No. 10, our goal was to emphasize that everything

starts with loving yourself. That can sometimes be the most challenging part. The goals for this month are centered around striving to love yourself, and give to yourself, so that you can

love and give to others.

I am smart. This year, I will share my smarts with ____________ by doing ____________.

I must give to myself to be capable to give to others. This month, I will take time to give myself ____________ simply because I deserve it.

I need to show the world that I love myself. I will present myself as a strong, confident Smart Girl by ____________.

Smart Girls are independant girls. No matter my relationship status on Facebook, the most important relationship is the relationship I have with

myself. I will improve that relationship by ____________.

I am a part of the Smart Girl sisterhood. This month, I will show my SGG sisters some sisterly love by ____________.

Part of loving myself is loving and respecting my body. I will improve my health this month by ____________.

Organization is crucial to Living the Smart Life. This month, I will use my new smart agenda secrets to schedule in some me time by prioritizing time

for ____________.

During the National Acts of Kindness week this month, I will ____________.

Smarts Girls look towards the future and sees what she can do now. In the future I want to ____________ so this month, I will ____________.

Upload a picture of your Goals of the Year to Instagram and tag @smartgirlsgroup! Your picture will be in our next magazine!


Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!Issue No. 10 was the issue of welcoming. We welcomed girls from new states and new countries. We welcomed

new columns and new opportunities for continued growth within our community of Smart Girls. This would

not be possible, though, without a few special people.Maurissa Walls, for being the funniest, most enthusiastic cover girl we have ever had. You were an absolute joy to work with and we all cannot wait to see what the future brings our newest Smart Girl. Olivia Linderoth and Frannie Coxe, for inspiring and educating us. Olivia, thank you for showing us a whole new world. We feel so blessed to be able to connect with a Smart Girl like you. Frannie, thank you for inspiring all of us to go after any and all of our dreams. You are a true Smart Girl!Amanda Ebokosia, for always supporting SGG and for further educating us on all of your incredible work with The Gem Project. We feel so blessed to have someone as motivating as you in our lives!Wendy James, for always being the Smart Girl big sister and giving us advice on all things in the socially good business world. Bonnie Buchan, for always keeping us “in the know” about up and coming brands and opportunities fit for Smart Girls. We love you! All of the Smart Girls within The Smart Girls Group, for continuing to support and contribute to the entire community, whether it is on our chat group or through sharing your smarts. We are all so lucky to have each oth-er.Finally, thank you to all of the Smart Story Spreaders. You are connecting the Smart Girls of the world together and for that, we are all forever grate-ful. You are helping create a sisterhood of future leaders who will have a

positive impact on this world. Thank you so much.

We wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day and a great month!

Be Smart. Share Smarts.

“What sets you apart can feel like a burden. And it’s not. A lot of the time, it’s what makes you great.”-Emma

Stone

smart girl's guide issue no. 10

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