Rory Gilmore, Elle Woods, Hermione Granger, Sheldon Cooper: The main characters we all strive to be. But what do they all have in common? They all succeed in school by romanticizing their on-campus life. So how can you do the same? The definition of romanticization is the glamorization of a task to make it more enjoyable. To do this, we have compiled the perfect strategies for
you to start living out your Pinterest schoolgirl dreams:

Find ‘the space’: Find a cute study spot, be it the CEI, a café, a park or on your bed. Pick a space that fits your desired vibes and motivates you to study. If you can’t find one, transform your own workspace using ambient lighting, music, candles, stickers, small storage boxes, etc.

Set the vibe: If it doesn’t distract you, listen to music while you study. Listen to your favorite artists, whether it’s Beyoncé,
Taylor Swift or film scores. Instead of AirPods, use wired headphones to add those Bella Swan and Rory Gilmore dramatics.

Make your notes aesthetic: Take notes on paper to help you retain more information. You can customize your notes with highlighters and colored pens. Instead of using college ruled or spiral notebooks, take notes in old, blank diaries or any eclectic notebooks that will make studying more charming. If you have a bunch of old diaries and notebooks sitting around collecting dust in the back of a cabinet, put them to use! “I have fun school supplies, so it makes me want to use my notebooks,” Natalia Yorn ’27 said. Pretty school supplies are the perfect way to add some glamor to your study sesh without breaking the bank.

Find your free-time hobby: In addition to strategies you can use while completing work, you can romanticize your outside of school activities. A great way to spend a break and relax is by baking. Turn on music or watch a show while baking in the kitchen to help calm yourself in between study sessions. Baking can not only help you de-stress, but the result is a sweet treat next to you
while you study!

Taryn Amundson ’25 said the point is to cultivate a mindset that motivates you to study and prove to yourself that you are productive. If you use the tips we provided, like the wired headphones, ambient lighting, cute notebooks or baking a treat, you can create that mentality. Amundson also said it is best to stay positive and open-minded while making your way through the school
day. She said her number one tip is “making the most out of what I can and finding the positives.” This can include finding your favorite things about school and honing in on those aspects, so other less exciting things don’t ruin your day. Although you may find yourself stressing out from loads of homework and extracurriculars, shifting your mindset will keep your spirits up and help you get your work done. At the end of the day, once you start finding ways to romanticize your school life, just like Amundson, you too can say, “I am Hermoine.”