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CCK, the College Years

It’s finally time to continue with the “CCK Goes to College” story.

As I wrote in Chocolate Covered Katie’s College Story: Part One, it was definitely a good choice to cut my losses and transfer schools; a bigger university with more class options was a much better fit for me.  Right away, I made a lot of new friends and even joined a sorority for a year.

girlsagain

Questions of the Day:

Are you in college? High school? Done with school? And if you did go to college, how did you decide on your major? Did you ever change majors or transfer schools? And did you enjoy your school experience? 

Yikes, that’s a lot of questions. Don’t feel like you have to answer every single one.

Unlike college, blogging isn’t a grade!

girls

 

Published on August 29, 2010

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Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been 
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ABC's 5 O’Clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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95 Comments

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  1. mckella says

    No, I can’t keep my own secrets 🙂
    I just graduated college and I changed my major once, from art to English but art became my minor so I didn’t actually waste any credits. I really enjoyed school for the most part, but after some really shady events at my graduation, I felt ripped off and really upset with my school. I know Universities are businesses, but it really hit home that day. I’m glad I graduated, but I feel like the most important and useful skills I have didn’t really come from school.

  2. Anonymous says

    u look beautiful! and i have to admit, healthy too. weight wise, you look like me. i am 80 pounds too. but my hair isn’t shiny and thick, and my nails are thin and brittle and my face is sunken. and i am deathly afraid of all fat and pasta. i wish i could be as radiant as you and still skinny! sorry i made a snap judgment when i first saw your blog. keep being awesome!

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Aww anonymous, your comment was sweet… but here’s some motivation for ya: I actually weigh more than 80 pounds, so if you indulge in some healthy fats and gain a little weight you can STILL be at a place you don’t think is scary ;). And the fats will help your hair!

        • The Vegan! says

          Weight is different for everyone, I know it’s said all the time, but you can’t base how thin you are compared to other people. I’m a very petite person but I weight 115 lbs. And health is much more than weight, I totally understand the fear of fats, I struggled a bit with that earlier this summer, but there is a balance.

        • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

          Weight is just a number. I really believe that if you eat exactly what you TRULY are craving at that exact moment, never restricting, your body will settle on its happy weight, where you’ll look and feel your best. That being said, I would happily take a few more pounds on me, simply because people would take me more seriously. I hate being mistaken for a 12-year-old.

          • Another Annonymous says

            Hi! Like the other anonymous, I am afraid of fats! But I recently finally conquered my fear of cashews :). I’m still working on walnuts and pecans, which are a bit higher in calories. But I just wanted to tell the other commenter that she should really not fear adding a little fat to her diet if she wishes to have healthier hair. Mine improved SO MUCH after I started adding a bit of fat (peanut butter, cashews, almonds, etc) to my diet. Hopefully soon I can conquer my fear of walnuts, because as much as I like cashews and almonds, I need some more variety. I’m running out of ways to eat them. You can only have so much cashew butter in a day, you know?

          • Anonymous says

            Sunken face, pencil-thin arms, no period,
            thin nails, and unshiney and unhealthy hair are symptoms of anorexia, a few months from now, even if you do fix this and gain weight you will start losing a lot of your hair, not in patches but all over, I, a few months ago, conquered anorexia and now my hair is 3x thinner than it was a few months ago. It does grow back eventually but it takes a while. Please, get help.

          • vicki says

            Anonymous, it’s okay to weigh whatever you weigh. As long as you are healthy and are making healthy choices and eating a healthy diet, it’s okay. It’s not okay to be afraid of any food group (unless of course it’s a GMO). If you aren’t okay w/how you look and you don’t have a healthy relationship w/food I hope you will seek out help to acheive that. Some of us “look” too think and some of us “look” too big. What matters is health and you being okay with what you see in the mirror. It seems that Katie is okay with what she sees, and she is enjoying food. So that number on the scale is irrelevent. It’s actually a little insensitive for you to point that out and then to try to narrow down exactly what she weighs… that concerns me because it indicates your issues are probably w/yourself. I just hope you do what you need to in order to have good health for yourself.

    • Sydney says

      These things you mentioned sound like symptoms of anorexia. Just because Katie is a healthy, slim individual does not mean her website promotes anorexia. This comment scares me as it is an example as it shows how are society portraits being beautiful as severely underweight. Katie herself writes in another artical how it pains her that people think her website is promoter of starving. I t does not matter how much she weighs, health matters and being at an unhealthy weight is not healthy at all. Katie, I am not veering this comment at you, but ‘anonymous’.

  3. Justine says

    I went to a smaller college branch for a couple of semesters and didn’t like it at all save for a free gym and one teacher. I had no major that I was working towards and I had no friends there. I got a job working for my father as his secretary and keeping the accounts balanced in our family owned business (since 1947 if you can imagine!). It isn’t a walk in the park working there, and it isn’t something that I want for the rest of my life, but at 21, having a full time job, holidays off, health insurance, and seeing my brother and father every day is really something that most people my age don’t have the opurtunity to do. Funnily enough, about the time I decided that I was completely through with college, I started dating a college teacher (not from my college, of course) and have been with him for two years. He is very supportive of my returning if I should ever choose to do so, but I really don’t think that that would lead me in a path to happiness.

    I am so happy for you about your oppurtunity and cannot wait to hear what it is! As for secrets, I am pretty darn good at keeping them. 🙂

    Happy Sunday, dear friend!

  4. Molly says

    I’m in my senior year of high school, siiiiigh. I’m going to miss all of my friends (and family, pets, bedroom!) but the good thing is that I am doing some college visits with friends so there is the possibility that I won’t be leaving them ALL behind! Did you have any friends go to the same college as you? Or did you make all new ones when you got there?

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Not a single one of my friends went to Bryn Mawr with me, but I lucked out my second year in that a very good friend at SMU (from high school) was looking for a roommate. So we were roommies at SMU. Sadly for me, she was a senior, so we only were roommates for one year. But it was a great year!!

  5. Amy says

    Firstly, I am very excited to hear what your news is!

    Yes, I am currently in college. In fact, school started last Monday for me and I am already completed swamped with everything and I am only a Sophomore.

    I decided on my major based on what my interests were at the time of college applications. I did switch majors within my specific college at my university immediately after getting on to campus, but I think I like my decision still. I chose my major based on my strengths and how I could sell this major to employers in the future. I hope I am in the right major and don’t change my mind.

    Similar your situation, my good friend just transfered to my school and I think she is a lot happier since she has some good friends on campus already, unlike at her old school.

    So far I feel ok with my college experience, except for the fact that I woke up early this morning to do homework. College life gets so busy with all the school work and social commitments, and well, everything else… Also being surrounded by young adults constantly gets to be exhausting and sometimes I just really need a break from it all.

    I am not very good at keeping secrets. I like to be open with people. I don’t think its healthy to have to keep secrets. I really can’t keep any secrets from my big sister or my really good friend, but when it comes to other people I have a little self control.

  6. Jennifer says

    Just graduated college and desperate for a job. My major – English – was easy, as I’ve always been a bookwork. Nothing else would have felt right, though I had about a billion different minors that interested me. I too transferred though thankfully (and surprisingly) most of my credits transferred (though most only counted towards electives) and I was able to graduate on time (not counting the year I took off). Wow that’s a lot of parentheses. I loved school! I wish I could go back and forget this job search.

    Oh, and I’m also terrible at keeping my own secrets. Bizarre.

  7. Leslie says

    I’m with one of the commenters above me. I’m really hoping it’s a book deal, mainly for selfish reasons: I will be the FIRST one to buy it!!!! Please tell us soon so I can run over to my nearest book store as fast as I can if that is indeed what your opportunity is! 🙂

  8. Sarahishealthy says

    I changed majors too! At the time I thought I was nuts to throw away so many credits. But honestly, your happiness for the rest of your life is on the lines. Think about how many more wasted hours that would be if you did something you didn’t love!
    Also, I’m hoping you say it’s a book deal. As a avid reader of yours, I’m so excited to see what a Chocolate-Covered book would include!

  9. Erika @ Health and Happiness in LA says

    I just graduated from college last December (a semester early). I didn’t change my major but I did keep adding them and I end up graduating with three. Well, I did start out with an idea of maybe majoring or minoring in economics but after my first econ class I said HECK NO!

  10. hippierunner says

    I’m in college, switched, about to hopefully do that again..It’s a little complicated. Schools in California are so impacted, it’s impossible to get in when places are closed for admission! :/ Glad you made the right decision for yourself!

  11. Valerie says

    You are so totally cute! No makeup and bed head? Ha! You should see me in the mornings. Then again, you don’t want to. Believe me! 😉 It’s bad. I think even my cat is scared of my morning look.

  12. Katie says

    love that you were in a sorority! but yah i totally understand that it could take up too much time. i just pledged my freshman year, and it was the best thing I could have done, because it’s like instant friends! but it does take a lot of time, with meetings and service projects and sleepovers. but wait, it’s FUN even if it is a lot of time!

  13. Cate says

    I’m just starting university for the first time ever in 3 days!! I honestly never thought i’d be excited about going to university just up until recently either, i was sure i would hate it. But now i’m really looking forward to it 😀 The classes, the groups to join, and living in a big hotel-like building with tons of people my age.
    And i can’t even tell you’re wearing no makeup. Seriously 🙂
    Oh and that book deal thing would be awesome, if that’s what it is. One of my goals in life is to write a book someday.
    But whatever it is, good luck! And have an awesome last year of college!

  14. Kiki says

    I’m still in high school! My first day of junior year is tomorrow -__- But I’ve been researching colleges for like a YEAR already!

    Glad your college switch worked out for the better! And can’t wait to hear your secret! I think I’m pretty good at keeping secrets; I used to just blurt things out without thinking but I’ve learned from experience to be a bit more cautious in what I tell people 😉

  15. Katharina says

    I love these pictures of some of your college memories 😀

    I just started my last year of college. I’m a year “Behind” but I really don’t mind. Who’s rushing? I never did change my major, but I had to go through a general art program in my first year. After that we sbmitted another portfolio to see if we could get accepted into our majors of choice–my top one being sculpture. Thank goodness I got in! So far I’ve been enjoying my school experience; that’s why I’m not in a rush. But I’m definitely motivated to finish :p

    I’m very good at keeping secrets. If someone tells me something and they trust me, I honor it 🙂

    XOXO

    http://www.ohonemorething.wordpress.com

  16. Monica says

    I’m in high school, going into my senior year, finally! I’m enjoying school right now, but I don’t even know what I want to take in University yet :/ School is so stressful, but I can’t wait to be more independent and learn new things!
    I think I’m good at keeping secrets (:

  17. radioactivegan says

    lol, I was in college for nine years (having just finished in May). I loved every second of it and wouldn’t have graduated at all if my advisor hadn’t made me! I’m actually still working at the school as a post-doc right now. Being in university is so much better than the real world could possibly be.

  18. Gloria says

    Katie, take all the time you need! I entered college with the idea that I wanted to be a rocket scientist, got my mechanical engineering degree in 4 years, and rushed into the working world. I never really knew if this was the right field for me, and now 2 years later, I’m unhappy and ready to quit. It makes all the difference if you are passionate about your career. 1 or 2 years of delays at a young age is much worse than years and years of unhappiness later down the road. I’m quitting my job, selling my house, and becoming a vegan pastry chef! 🙂

    And I can’t keep a secret for the life of me 😉

  19. Coco says

    I am junior in highschool at Plano West!!!!! I can keep secrets fairly well. I am soo looking foward to starting college at Haylir hopefully!!!!
    As a somewhat new vegan I love your blog its sooo helpful!!!!

  20. Mary @ Bites and Bliss says

    I’m in college right now and loving it- much more than my freshman year. Me and my roommates didn’t get along at ALL. It was horrible. That was when I lost all the weight, had two very demeaning jobs (as a gym rep and a waitress at a sports bar…both had us in skimpy uniforms) I was also had a pre-pharm major I wasn’t too passionate about. Not that pharmacy’s not an incredible career, just that it wasnt for me.

    But its all better now that I have a cute lil furry roommie (being my cat, of course 😉 ), I’m back to being healthy, and I’m in a major I love- nutrition! Things are lookin up 🙂

    Congrats on the opportunity! That’s awesome it came through blogging! Can’t wait to hear more about it!

    Oh..and the “college years” of saved by the bell were a let-down!! Same goes for the grown up version of Rugrats. Kids today are really missin’ out. 😛

  21. rebecca lustig says

    i always knew i wanted to be a psych major. but the question remains: what to do with it.

    sociology kind of fell into my lap, but i’m so glad– i love it!

    happy sunday 🙂

  22. caronae says

    Thanks for sharing your college story with us! I am about to start my senior year as well! I’m applying for law schools this fall — eeek!!!! I am so not a grown-up…

    Happy Sunday! 🙂

  23. Still Life in Southeast Asia says

    I’m great at keeping secrets, so feel free to tell me about your new surprise! (hehe)

    I’m done with my undergrad and grad work. I was an English major and art minor. However, I’m at the point in my life where I might need to go back and take a few classes to diversify my skills a bit more and challenge myself. I don’t want to spend too much money on it, though.

    You look like you are at a normal weight for you, Katie. I think we are all surrounded by so many overweight people that we see someone naturally thin and the person stands out more. You are lovely.

  24. Katelyn says

    I’m a senior in high school and am ITCHING to go to college! I had “senioritis” for the majority of my junior year, so another year of high school just seems absurd. I plan on studying nutrition, hopefully at Cornell 🙂

  25. Tricia says

    Your so pretty without make-up! Personally i don’t think you need it 🙂
    Still in high school, but taking some college courses 😉

  26. Jess from Midwest Vegan says

    I’m a senior in college now (finally!!), but when I was a senior in high school, I had no idea I would be where I am now!

    I started out as an art education major but I HATED it, even though I loved art, so I wound up dropping out for three semesters to kind of figure out what I wanted to do. I love science and I wanted a career that would be kind of challenging so I went back as a biology major. The chemistry minor thing happened naturally since the two disciplines are interrelated. I work in a lab as a chemist which is basically what I would be doing with my degree after graduation. Since I don’t want to work around toxic chemicals all my life I’m going to be going to grad school to work with toxic plants instead. Some degrees, like biology are just too general to get to do much with them with just a bacholor’s degree.

    HOWEVER, if you’re seriously stressing about school and life decisions, my advice to everyone is to take a break!!! It wasn’t until I dropped out that I was truly able to decide what I wanted to do with myself. If you really want an education, you’ll always find a way to go.

    And for goodness sakes, if you hate your major, CHANGE it!!! Otherwise, you might wind up in a career you hate as well.

    I like school (MUCH better than high school) because of all the amazing opportunities I have to expand myself as a person, but it still takes work and dedication. I wouldn’t have it any other way though. Working in the real world sucks when you don’t have an education.

  27. Caroline says

    I will be a college girl in three days! Yayy. Of course, I’m already thinking ahead about what medical school I want to go to and need to seriously chill.

    I totally agree with you that university = better…I just love feeling like I have zillions of opportunities and can do anything I want…small colleges just seemed confining to me.

    Enjoy your last year of school…nothing wrong with more school…I love going to school, so I think you are a lucky gal.

    Time to go search the comments for that secret. I am also terrible at them.

  28. Lyza says

    I am now a vegan–I think the last time I commented on here, I was only vegetarian (though I barely ate much dairy anyway!)…Anyway

    Today I am very excited, because I am making my VERY FIRST BABY!!!! 😀

    I tried cashews and dates together…it was basically like ambrosia. I don’t know what I have been missing but I have a feeling that lots and lots of babies are about to be made!!!!!

    (I really did not mean to make all those sexual connotations >.< but it's kind of funny so I'll keep it!)

    As for replying to your post (sorry about the baby spam, I'm quite positive you get enough of it already)–I attended a party school for two years, didn't do so well, and got academically dismissed…It was a rough period of my life. I've grown up a lot since then–am almost a completely new person, and am now attending a wonderful community college (that I actually love a lot more) to be a liberal arts transfer.

    You look beautiful in your photos! I myself was picked on a lot for being "too skinny" growing up…to the point I would eat and eat just to try to gain weight so I'd fit in–but it didn't work!! High, high metabolism! I remember how hurtful that was. And I'm sure it's very annoying how you can't escape the comments about your weight–even on your blog. I can easily lose weight, and I know if I am seen eating something like a salad, the comments ensue. A very annoying and invasive obsession people have!!!

    I was in a sorority for one year as well 🙂 Silly times.

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Spam? What spam? My mind is never far from the gutter, so spam away! I have a little-kid sense of humor, and therefore love your baby jokes ;).

      P.S. Thank you SO much for your 2nd-to-last paragraph. Seriously, I think that even some of the people who never leave rude comments suspect I am unhealthy, and that really upsets me because I take SO much pride in my health and healthy lifestyle that it just bugs me to no end that people think I would treat my God-given body with anything but the utmost respect. But the important thing is to BE healthy and just tune out what other people think. There will always be negative-thinking people in the world, no matter what you do. If it’s not a weight criticism, then it’s your hair or fashion sense or what-have-you.

  29. Fi says

    I left college-TWICE! But I’m back in a course now going into my third year, we have nothing like soriritys here! I don’t think anyone should dedicate themselves to something for years if ur hearts not in it, do what u like if love!! Loook forward to hearing ur blogging news!! Xxx

  30. Allison says

    I majored in Math Education and then halfway through added a minor in accounting. When I graduated I decided that I did not want to go into the credential program. It is really hard to get a job as an accountant because most jobs require experience. Since I had neither experience nor a major in accounting, I was lucky to get a recommendation to work in the bookkeeping office for the grocery store I worked for at the time. I was so lucky in that my career kind of just fell into my lap. Of course, now 3 years in I realize I wish I had gone to school for either cooking, baking or business but the job I have now might give me good knowledge to someday start my own restaurant/food company.

    Truth be told though, I miss school. I have been out for 3.5 years and I miss the challenge as well as the interactions with people. I work with the same 20 people every day and I don’t get much opportunity to meet new people.

  31. Danielle says

    Ahh I want to know the secret!! Whatever it is, it sounds exciting 🙂

    I’m a senior in college and I feel SO old haha. My major has always been “Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise” which I think is a perfect fit! But I also think I was really lucky in that I found my “path” so easily because I know a lot of people who still don’t know what they wanna be when they ‘grow up’….which is like next year lol. We’re still young and theres plenty of time!

  32. spoonfulofsugarfree says

    Good luck with your next year of college! I can’t wait to hear about your career path 🙂

    I am currently in high school, but I am on the college search! There are so many colleges out there, and it is so hard to choose! I want to do something with nutrition and food science, so it narrows down the possibilities a bit.

  33. Caitlin says

    My sister transferred schools twice, and my dad changed his major senior year of college, so my family is all about taking time in college!

    I, on the other hand, graduated two years early (then went into a dual degree grad program while I worked…actually um still have to complete the second half of that. Oops). I was an English major and loved it sooo much, but if I could do it again I would add a second, more useful major. And I might not graduate so early because the working world isn’t all that great in this economy.

    MOST IMPORTANTLY: I totally agree about Saved by the Bell: The College Years. Such a disappointing spin-off…but I’ve still seen every episode.

      • Caitlin says

        Lol thanks, but I think YOU are amazing for blogging through college, making a tough decision to transfer schools, and realizing that doing what is best for you is more important than doing what others expect of you! Took me so long to figure all that out!

  34. monicanelsonfitness says

    Katie! Good luck with that last year of college.:) It will go by so fast. College was such a great experience for me and thank god I did not have to worry about transferring credits.
    I am so happy to hear you have something exciting going on behind the scenes, looking foward to the news:) I am great with secrets but when I get excited about something, I am dead giveaway! So you are doing pretty good keeping it in. Also, Saved By the Bell College years, SO Lame! I wish they woud make a new one, wouldn’ t that be cool.

  35. ecogrrl says

    i’m 36 years old but only finished college 5 years ago. i got into a very prestigious private school after high school but did not qualify for financial aid and had parents who didn’t believe in co-signing on student loans, so i ended up working full time and going to a city college full time. i moved out of town for a job and when i found out i was going to lose 1/3 of my credits, i stopped going. i went to brooks for photography but they rip people off ($30K+/yr) and being a grown-up, i knew i wanted to actually be able to own a house someday and kind of debt was not going to be OK. in 2005 i was able to transfer my credits to an online program and finished my BS (when you want it, you go get it!). have contemplated grad school but to anyone who has student loans, piling $25-30K more on it is not cool when you have a mortgage. i’m glad i finished but if i had it to do again, i would have forced myself to complete it originally at the city college – you lose so many credits if you try to transfer them! my pride? getting my degree without ever taking one math class – now THAT is working the system 🙂

  36. Victoria says

    Where did you transfer to/where are you at?
    I’m taking this semester off and applying somewhere new for the spring. I didn’t like where I spent my freshman year… i want to be closer to home and they also didn’t have what i wanted to major in (exercise science).
    Good luck with everything!
    love your blog and all the fun recipes

  37. 40apples says

    In college I settled on a major that at the time I thought would serve me best in the career world. Little did I know – at least in the liberal arts arena – it’s more about your personal abilities and connections you make along the way than a specific “major” listed on your resume. I think unless you’re going into a very specialized field, your major should be dictated first and foremost by what you are PASSIONATE about! 🙂 Sometimes easier said than done, sure, but I wish I had followed more of that route in my college years. I did like my major a lot, but it was my minor that was my true love – just wish I had spent 4 years on that, instead of the other!

  38. BroccoliHut says

    I graduated last spring with degrees that really don’t have a lot to do with my intended career. You see, I decided in the midst of my sophomore year that I wanted to become a nutritionist, but my university didn’t offer a degree in nutrition. I also didn’t want to transfer because I liked where I was, so I finished up there, simultaneously taking pre-reqs for a graduate degree in nutrition. And that’s where I am now–taking graduate classes in nutrition. Whew.

  39. Sophie Mitchell says

    Hey, Katie! I’m an (almost) 20 year old veggie who has been reading your blog every once in a while for a few years now (I actually just finished a bowl of your brownie batter oatmeal…its still sitting right next to me as I type!). I wanted to let you know I sympathize with all this “right college for me” mayhem! I wanted to go to Carnegie Mellon for Drama soooo bad but got rejected. My second choice was USC in Los Angeles, and I got in there so I went. I just completed my first year and uh…yeah I’m not going back. I’m definitely wanting to transfer. I was going to do exactly what you did…take a semester off first (go this fall but not this spring) but actually my financial aid was cut and my family couldn’t afford this fall anyway, so it looks like I’m going to be taking a gap YEAR (and I’m finding most drama programs don’t accept students in the spring…weird I know). I hear ya when you say you felt you satisfied the need to get away from home (I’m from Virginia) and I’m looking at schools back on the east coast. I definitely want to study drama still…just don’t know where! Anyways, thanks for sharing your story because I kept feeling like I was the only one taking time off and I felt guilty about it (which is dumb I know because I should do what’s right for me!) So yeah, thanks, and keep posting your wonderful recipes!!

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Don’t worry about the gap year! Honestly, it’ll give you time to really think through everything and make a well-thought-out decision about the rest of your life! I am so glad I took a semester off instead of plodding through (and wasting money) with something I didn’t enjoy.

  40. Kiersten says

    I am in my fifth (and last!) year as an undergraduate. I went to Culinary school for 3 years before deciding to switch schools and majors. If only I could have made that decision earlier… I have been at UNC for 2 years now, majoring in Psychology. I am looking into graduate schools at the moment so I can get either a PhD or PsyD (which will take another 4 years, ugh). I’m looking at some schools in Florida. Even though it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do and I spent 3 years getting a different degree, I am not sorry.

  41. Anne@ Food Loving Polar Bear says

    I’ve graduated and very happy about it! 😀 even though I sometimes miss the carefree life of a student, lazy mornings and lots of events I would not go back – not for 4 years anyway. I would love to study something close to my hear for a year or two but let’s see, I love working at the moment 🙂

  42. coffeeandthepaper says

    I just wanted to let you know how much it meant to me that you shared your story about college. I’m currently taking a medical leave of absence from school, and it drove me crazy to think I might not graduate “on time”. But in the end it doesn’t matter. Why is 4 years a magic number? By the time I graduate I will be healthy, motivated and in control of my life and that’s what truly matters. So thank you for reminding me!

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Thank YOU for your sweet comment. And you’re so right about the 4 years. Want to hear something ridiculous? I was mostly afraid of taking time off bbecause it meant my little sister would graduate before me. Well, time’s passed, and she’s indeed graduated… but who cares?! Poor girl’s out in the scary job market, while I’m still safe in college lol.
      (P.S. I am so proud of my little sister; she knew exactly what she wanted to do, and she did it. But we can’t all be so lucky!)

  43. danielle_veg says

    Katie, congrats on your big secret (whatever it is!). It’s been a while since I’ve read (or, uh, posted) any blogs, and it was a joy to catch up a little with CCK!
    Your slaw looks great, and I’ve already got the browser windows open to look at your recipes!
    Hope your year’s off to a great start!

  44. Claire Elyse says

    Hi Katie,
    Long time reader here, and I have actually just decided to start my own blog with one of my best friends that I study with. It’s a natural health blog because we study Naturopathy at University here in Australia (Melbourne to be exact). It’s a Bachelor of Health Science- Natuopathy, 5 years to complete my undergrad degree, and I am about 3.5 years through and loving every minute of it. It took me a little while to learn to love the study I am doing, but now that I can see where my career is headed I am enjoying filling my head with the knowledge I will be able to use in the future to help people change their lives for the better.

    Your blog is fantastic, maybe you could take a look at mine someday? 🙂

    Claire Elyse
    http://lozjane.blogspot.com/

  45. Ilana says

    Hi my lovely Katie! I’ve been MIA for a while but I stopped by to read your blog and wanted to say HI! and this post was the perfect opportunity – I’m astounded at how much we have in common. I transferred, switched majors, joined a sorority (I stayed for a while, became president, left after that because it made me nuts), still haven’t graduated in part because not all of my credits transferred from my first school and because of my indecision with majors and because I took some time off of school … ahhh crazy! This is my last semester though…finally! It’s sooo not a race, nothing goes the way you expect it will!!
    Glad to see things are going well (and omg the boy’s bday gift… fabulous!!)
    love you!!!

  46. Crafty lil vegan says

    I suffered through 2 years of University, after 2 years of college (our schools are different across the pond!) , before finally admitting just before the start of my 3rd year that it really wasn’t for me! The people were lovely, but the course was turning me into a wreck! During the break between the 2nd and 3rd year, i started up my own crafty business which really started to take off, so it made faaaar more sense to carry on doing something i love, which was doing well! Rather than force myself to do something i hated just because i felt like i should! Another girl who finished the same art course i was on the year before, is now working calling numbers at a Bingo hall.. so graduating is by no means a gauruntee of a job in your field of study!
    Life is faaar too short, so make sure you only do what ever it is that makes you happy!
    And eat some chocolate along the way 😉
    xx

  47. mrlew1 says

    Travel. Do BUNAC or similar. Enjoy it! I went to college straight from high school (as planned), and graduated in 4 years (as planned). During my last semester, I had a bit of a freakout – no job lined up, no graduate school lined up, no husband lined up (the choices most of my friends were making) – so I decided to go overseas for 6 months as I’d not done a year abroad during college.

    Best decision of my life.

    Having lived and worked in Scotland, the US, and Australia, I have lived in New Zealand for 8 years and, while I miss my family terribly, consider this to be home. I’m not suggesting everyone needs to emigrate, but if you’re at loose ends when you graduate (secret surprise notwithstanding), take a year to see the world as an adult (I know you’ve lived all over, but on your own it’s entirely different) and see where life takes you.

    Good luck!

  48. Elizabeth Kaylene says

    I’ve been thinking about going back to school… but I’m not sure what I want to do yet. I have an A.S. in Multimedia/Web Authoring, and transferred after graduating to a university. I was going to major in Creative Writing, but it was too expensive, so I dropped out after the first day of class. Then, I transferred to the same university again, to double major in Elementary Education and Creative Writing, but I ended up getting too stressed out and too sick — flareup — so I dropped out halfway through the semester. I keep thinking about going back to school for something else, but I don’t know what for, and until I decide, I’m not spending that much money again; I’m still paying off my student loans from that half semester. Sigh.

    Thanks for sharing your college experience. I hate admitting to people that I dropped out. I don’t know why. I guess it’s a sense of failure. These days, I’m looking for a part-time job so that I can focus more of my time on writing and on Freaking Bookworm. That’s my dream — for now. (:

  49. Samantha says

    I can’t believe I’m just now reading your college story! Really because I went to SMU too!…and I know some of the girls in your photos! Too funny! I love your blog and I never knew!

  50. vicki says

    I just recently found your blog and LOVE IT!!!… and now I’m hoping I’m not your oldest reader! I actually started my adult life a bit backwards. I made some foolish decisions as a teenager.. foolish being the understatement. By the time I was 21 I was divorced and truely a single parent to two precious little boys. Some how I’d been okay w/mucking up my future, but I couldn’t muck up theirs. I entered college when my boys were 1 and 2 years old. That didn’t seem courageous at the time… it just seemed “necessary”. I look back now and wish I was still as determined as that young girl w/two boys to raise. I decided on a major based on the very first criteria: I have to be able to support these two boys and provide for them. It was all about their futures, as it should have been. After that was decided then I made a decision I could live with; for it wasn’t about me. Today those two boys are in a great University… I DIDN’T MUCK THEM UP!! (… well, not too much). But, now I realize that at 40, I can make choices for me… and honestly, that scares me. My youngest is in his 3rd year and I still haven’t figured out how to do what I really want to do and if it’s even reasonable to start over now. Fear is my F word. I can say this: my boys are amazing. (I have indepedent proof 🙂 ) I already know they are good men and will be great husbands and fathers. So I don’t regret the decisions that I did make… just time to make a new one… and I really appreciate your inspiration!

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Wow, Vicki, you are seriously inspiring! Honestly (and this is going to sound a little silly), I sometimes worry about messing up my future kids… even though I don’t even have any yet! But whenever I hear stories on the news or in magazines or whatever about someone who does something AWFUL, my first thought is about the poor parents who have to feel guilty by association, always thinking “How could I have raised him/her differently?”

      I think it’s always reasonable to start something new! My mom went from a stay-at-home mom to a full-time teacher well after she turned forty… it’s definitely never too late to find your passion!! 🙂

  51. Susan L says

    Ohh the story about my major, haha. I think most college students have at least some ‘splainin’ to do about their major. When I was in HS everyone said “major in what you’re good at”. Well I thought about it, and I was good at a couple things (English, biology, history, etc) but I realized the thing that I was best at (and the thing I enjoyed the most with it not being a super common skill) was French. I picked up the language well, enjoyed the class despite a really mean teacher, and just generally did well with it grade wise. So I went to college as a French major, figuring I would scope out the biology/microbiology/immunology classes once I got my feet wet a little (was too chicken to go in as a full fledged science major, haha).

    After 1 semester of general chemistry I realized science was more studying than I wanted and it wasn’t what I was naturally very good at (unlike French) so I switched to just French. Then I realized it wasn’t marketable and switched to French education, which I loved, but then the whole family emergency thing happened, my GPA fell, and I wasn’t accepted into the program.

    After this I was lost. I thought about doing French and then teaching English as a second language as minor, but very soon became fed up with French and the French department. I also couldn’t afford to go abroad and therefore wasn’t doing as well in these classes as my peers and was becoming discouraged. I then realized that, even though it was my senior year, I needed to change my major. So I am now communication arts and sciences, which was basically the major that needed the least amount of credits to graduate. I am focusing in rhetoric and group communication though, which are skills that will help me in my future. I also have taken many classes in French, linguistics, and applied linguistics and know that I have a lot of interest in those subjects research wise (although I learned that I didn’t really enjoy teaching, especially not English). Learning what you don’t like as well as what you do is very important at this juncture, I think. And now I feel pretty certain of what I want to do next career wise, which has definitely motivated me to do my best school wise. Sorry for the novel, btw! Too many changes of mind!

  52. Jesika Von T says

    I am going to try your recipe out! I just was given your blog!

    Wow! You are amazing! How did you start getting into this?

    Did you make these recipes up yourself??

    Amazing!

    I am 28 and just started to go for my teaching degree now. By trade, I have my Red Seal Journeymans in Cosmetology.
    Last year the market was slow and I started to Vollunteer with the School and that is how I got into it! I love it, the sutdents and the they seem to listen to me as well which helps!

    We just got back from the Long BEach Hair show:)

    Take care you healthy gorgeous lady!

    Jesika

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      I actually started it as just a hobby… I think I had about 5 readers lol.
      Yes, I make up all the recipes from scratch (unless otherwise noted… I get some ideas from magazines or cookbooks, but I’m incapable of following a recipe!)

  53. Jesika Von T says

    Wow! You are sooo amazing! Thanks for getting back to me! You soo rock! Keep it up:)
    PS I made the cookie dough yesterday with stevia packets. I froze it for while so it would harded in texture and my husband and I absolutely LOVE it!

    Thanks!

    Jesika

  54. Alaine says

    Your blog is such an inspiration to me. I too am in college and struggling to figure out what to do with my life. I am a journalism major but I can’t help but notice that I feel happiest when I am in the kitchen. Even if I mess everything up (which happens a lot), it still makes me so happy. I graduate in a year and your blog just makes me think that I can do whatever I want. That I don’t have to live a certain way. Thank you for all you do! Your recipes are beyond delicious!

  55. Alexa says

    Wow, this is funny! I’ve been following your blog for a few months now (obsessed!), and just found this post… I had no idea that you went to Bryn Mawr! I currently go to Wellesley in Massachusetts (Seven-sisters!) And am always cooking up your recipes at school! I can definitely sympathize about the lack of guys, though it’s probably a little better in Boston since there are soo many colleges nearby.

    Thanks for sharing!

  56. carolyn says

    I am indeed a high school student. Or at least, I have been for two weeks.
    Well, eight days. I missed two days of school so far… and weekends don’t count to me.
    Okay, as of now, I need to be like you and be all smart because I really want to go to my state school but it’s super hard to get into.

  57. Katie says

    Hi fellow Katie!!!! I’m currently a Sophomore at Sam Houston State University & I’m going through this same thing, deciding what I want to do with my life & this post has really helped to put everything into perspective. Just curious, when you transferred to SMU what major did you choose? & Why? 🙂

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