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To My Cousin, As She Turns 16

I hope that you're able to go where you want to go and be who you want to be.

Maggie Allen

Oct 10, 2017

Tampa, Florida

109

Maggie Allen

Mads,

It has taken me awhile to write this letter to you because honestly, I cry every time. Happy 16th birthday!

It's honestly really hard to believe that you are growing up right before my eyes. This has been a long time coming. I know that it's scary to step into this "new phase" of life (I'm terrified because now you're able to drive a car), but I'm so thankful that I have you!

We've been through so much in the last 18 for me, 16 for you, years and I know that there is so much more for us in the future. I am so thankful for the times we've been inseparable and the times that we've grown apart because in the end, we never actually grew apart. I don't know what I would do without you, if I'm being honest. We've come so far from the little girls staying at Mimi's house for weeks at a time and from the One Direction concerts we've been to.

You're the best person I know to just sit down and talk for hours to, stay up for almost two days to beat, going shopping, or even just Pokemon hunting with. You are the best to adventure with too- even if our adventure is just going to a new part of town or driving all the way to Orlando. You are the most down to Earth person I know. And I'm so thankful for that.

You are now 16 and there a lot of new opportunities that you will have. I hope that you find each and every one of them and embrace them with arms wide open. I hope that whatever your heart desires, it'll find. I hope you find happiness in the mundane. I hope that you find adventures everywhere you look, and that you can travel to the places that you want to see. I hope that you're able to go where you want to go and be who you want to be.

I'm so excited that we get to continue to grow up together, and that even through everything our friendship (more like sisterhood), is stronger than ever. I love You, Mads! Thanks for being like my little sister for the last 16 years. Here's to many more to come!

Much love,

Gigi

P.S.

Sorry this was posted on Odyssey before your actual birthday ;)

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Student Life

Syllabus Week As Told By Kourtney Kardashian

Feeling Lost During Syllabus Week? You're Not Alone!

University of Iowa

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Winter break is over, we're all back at our respective colleges, and the first week of classes is underway. This is a little bit how that week tends to go.

The professor starts to go over something more than the syllabus

Kuwtk Keeping Up With The Kardashians GIFfrom Kuwtk GIFs

You get homework assigned on the first day of class

There are multiple group projects on the syllabus

Kardashian GIFfrom Kardashian GIFs

You learn attendance is mandatory and will be taken every class

Professor starts chatting about their personal life and what inspired them to teach this class

Participation is mandatory and you have to play "icebreaker games"

Everybody is going out because its 'syllabus week' but you're laying in bed watching Grey's Anatomy

Looking outside anytime past 8 PM every night of this week

Nobody actually has any idea what's happening this entire week

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Syllabus week is over and you realize you actually have to try now...or not

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Now it's time to get back into the REAL swing of things. Second semester is really here and we all have to deal with it.

syllabus week

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Signs You Worked At Panera Bread In High School

Chips, apple or bread?

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Whether you specialized in ringing people up or preparing the food, if you worked at Panera Bread it holds a special place in your heart. Here are some signs that you worked at Panera in high school.

1. You own so many pairs of khaki pants you don’t even know what to do with them

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7 Ways to Make Your Language More Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive

With more people becoming aware of transgender and non-binary people, there have been a lot of questions circulating online and elsewhere about how to be more inclusive. Language is very important in making a space safer for trans and non-binary individuals. With language, there is an established and built-in measure of whether a place could be safe or unsafe. If the wrong language is used, the place is unsafe and shows a lack of education on trans and non-binary issues. With the right language and education, there can be more safe spaces for trans and non-binary people to exist without feeling the need to hide their identities or feel threatened for merely existing.

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To My Cousin, As She Turns 16

I hope that you're able to go where you want to go and be who you want to be.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

It's happening.

Excitement

Relief

Excitement (again)

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Feeling Lost During Syllabus Week? You're Not Alone!

The professor starts to go over something more than the syllabus

You get homework assigned on the first day of class

There are multiple group projects on the syllabus

You learn attendance is mandatory and will be taken every class

Professor starts chatting about their personal life and what inspired them to teach this class

Participation is mandatory and you have to play "icebreaker games"

Everybody is going out because its 'syllabus week' but you're laying in bed watching Grey's Anatomy

Looking outside anytime past 8 PM every night of this week

Nobody actually has any idea what's happening this entire week

Syllabus week is over and you realize you actually have to try now...or not

Chips, apple or bread?

1. You own so many pairs of khaki pants you don’t even know what to do with them

2. Chips, apple or bread is probably your most repeated phrase

3. Taking bakery items with you out to parties was a must

4. Taking bakery items home to your parents was also a must (if you wanted to live)

5. Your friends expected you to give them free stuff

6. Being put on dishes made you question humanity

7. You saw everyone and their mother (especially their mothers)

8. Working the opening shift was actually the worst thing to ever happen to you

9. Being able to predict what people would order

10. Making coffee was your least favorite thing to do

11.Being put on the dining room was the absolute WORST

12. Secretly putting in your Panera card number when other people didn’t have them or want them.

13. You would still come in on days you weren’t working to take advantage of your discount

It's Been a Long Winter Break

Making the world safer through language.

1. Use singular they for people whose pronouns you don't know, people who use those pronouns, and stop using him/her.

2. Stop using the words "opposite sex" or "both sexes" or "opposite gender" or "both genders".

3. Ask people's pronouns when you meet them.

4. Use the word cisgender.

5. Stop saying "born a boy/girl" about a transgender or non-binary person.

6. Stop using the term 'preferred pronouns'.

7. Stop using a transgender or non-binary person's dead name.

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