Make Sure You're the Coolest Kid Home From Winter Break

As your first semester of college draws to an end, you've probably realized that college is much more than classes, tests and grades. You might even have a hard time counting all the ways you're a different person than you were just a few months ago. You're a smarter, cooler, and more confident you! But what if all these changes have been exclusively internal? Just because you haven't finished your liberal arts degree yet doesn't mean you haven't made major progress! Winter break is a time to return to the old stomping grounds and show all your hometown friends just how much more awesome you've become since you passed psych 101.

These are some tips to make sure you blow them all away, leaving no doubt that the old you is gone, and the new and improved you is here to stay!

Become A Music Snob.

College is synonymous with music; enough to warrant an MTV station, a laundry list of blogs, and a huge music festival circuit all telling you what music is cool. Your first trip home is sure to bring out the inner music snob of at least one hometown friend. When said friend insists on playing you the first minute of every song on an album that "changed their life", make sure you can hang.  Reply with something like, “Yeah man, this is sick, but (insert band here) will really fist your brain!" They'll probably play along, maybe even pretend to know what you’re talking about, either way you just scored major cool points

The M.I.A mixed tape you downloaded literally knocked them off their feet.

Cut Something Off or Grow Something Out.
Do you still have that weird puberty beard you’ve been able to grow since middle school? Shave that biz! Likewise, if Sinead O'connor was your go-to for hair styles in high-school, start growing those locks to the floor. Consider something more extreme! This may be the only time in your life you can have any hair style you want, free from your mother's judgement and write-ups from management because CPA’s arn’t allowed to have moe-hawks in your office building. So go ahead and shave some lightning bolts into the side of your head, you’re only young once!

Timmy was the envy of every boy on the playground

Organize A Clothes Trading Party.
This one is fun and simple, get all the kids from your dorm together and trade your stuff! Don't be ashamed of some of your more questionable pieces, remember one persons trash is another's treasure. So bust out that horse sweater grandma got you for Christmas '01, you just might make the hipster across the hall wet their skinny jeans in excitement.

This might have made you "queen bee" in 4-H, but that was the old you.

These are just a few tips to get you going. Remember, college is about finding who you are, and what you like. Don't be afraid to try something new just because it doesn't fit into your old identity. Keep an open mind and a sense of humor and you just might surprise yourself with the things you find on the quest to become the best you. Happy Winter Breaking!