For me, high school was a time when my extracurricular activities outweighed my school work.

I’d put my time into my school work at school, but my hours outside of school were spent playing sports, participating in various school clubs and spending time with family and friends.

I really didn’t have to sit down and think critically about anything. I figured all of this would change once I came to college.

And for the most part, it did.

It didn’t happen overnight, though.

New York University sociologist Richard Arum recently performed a study in which he followed more than 2,000 college students from fall 2005 to spring 2009.

He found that 45 percent of college students made no significant improvement on their critical thinking, writing and reasoning skills during their first two years of school.

The statistic shows that college students have too many distractions and that they should work harder to improve these skills earlier in their college careers.

They could learn and accomplish so much more if these skills were developed sooner.

I only wish that I had thought of this in high school or even my freshman year of college.

I can see the statistic play out in my own college experience.

I dabbled in different clubs and activities my first couple years of college.

Some of the activities pertained to my major and others to philanthropy groups and entertainment.

But during my junior and senior year, I put all of my time and effort into a couple of activities.

Since doing this, I have accomplished so much more in a short amount of time.

Focusing on a few things rather than many has allowed me to devote more time and energy to certain projects and explore more of the things that matter to me.

If I had discovered this tactic in high school or even early in college, I could have narrowed down my activities sooner and had more time to focus on activities that I can learn the most from and make the biggest impact possible.

I also found that in my early years of college, my only focus was on getting good grades.

I didn’t care that I wasn’t thinking through concepts fully. I was only regurgitating information to get the end result.

If students think critically about their assignments, not on ways of getting an A, I think the critical thinking, reasoning and writing skills will develop sooner.

This will only enhance the collegiate experience.

Also, college faculty and staff can help in the development of these skills earlier.

Instead of a professor giving test upon test, he should sit down with students and have discussions one-on-one.

This shows students that their professors don’t only want  students to learn information and then regurgitate it, but also care about what a student actually thinks and understands.

This technique would cause students to think more about particular subjects and actually understand and remember the information.

If this technique were implemented early in a college career, students would have more time to grow and to develop their skills.

The end result would be better for the students and for colleges and universities.

Students would develop skills sooner, enhancing colleges’ images in the public eye.

It’s a win-win for all.

The National Eating Disorders Association reported that 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States struggle with eating disorders.

The association found 80 percent of women surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with their bodies.

The students of Peers Advocating Wellness for Students want to do something to change this.

According to Sarah Barnes, PAWS faculty adviser, some students in the organization were interested in addressing eating disorders and negative body image.

A student suggested screening the film “America the Beautiful.”

The film was accompanied by a four-member student panel who stayed afterwards to share their stories and answer students’ questions. These students had personally dealt with eating disorders.

Through the film, “America the Beautiful,” filmmaker Darryl Roberts attempts to answer the question, “Why do Americans obsess so much over beauty and appearance?” The film explores issues such as media images, plastic surgery and cosmetic companies.

Ultimately, the message was largely the same, the emphasis on external beauty is simply a part of our society and nothing can be done about it.

Members of the student panel, however, had something different to say.

“There were some parts where it was really hard for me to watch [the movie] because they did talk about numbers and sizes,” sophomore Becky Shields said.”It’s so aggravating that it’s funny.

“It’s like ‘Wow, those people really think that,’ but it was hilarious and it kind of turns everything into a big joke.

“Why do we think that [about our bodies?] It’s so dumb.”

Shields and the other three members of the student panel opened up about their own experiences struggling with eating disorders.

Shields said she struggled for seven years before she was sent to an eating disorder clinic in Arizona called Remuda Ranch.

Because of her personal experience, Shields said  she encourages other students to support friends or family members who might be struggling with an eating disorder.

“Just love them and be there for them no matter what,” Shields said. “It sounds so simple because it really is.

“I can’t even explain what it feels like to be loved like that.”

The screening of the film was a way for the members of PAWS to wrap up a week dedicated to decreasing negative body image around campus.

“Last week was national ‘Fat Talk Free Week’ which was actually something Delta Delta Delta headed up,” Shields said.

She also said the Campaign for Real Beauty was involved in last week’s events through Operation Beautiful.

“This was our way of following up and bringing awareness [about body image and disordered eating],” Shields said.

Students at the event were reminded that eating disorders are complicated mental disorders and are about much more than just food.

Students were told that they can do their part to help.

As Roberts says at the end of the film, “Find the beauty that’s already there,” and remember that you are beautiful just the way you are.

If you have not been to Taste Café, then you have not experienced what food is supposed to taste like. Maybe that is why it is called Taste.

Taste Café primarily specializes in breakfast and lunch but has recently begun serving dinner as well on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

For first timers entering the restaurant, it is very simple to figure out how Taste is organized. The line can begin anywhere from near the main counter to out the door depending on the day, and the menu board sits above for guests to examine.

The café was particularly clever by putting foreign cheeses and delicious desserts on display to tempt you before you reach the counter to order.

Ordering is the crucial part and deciding what to get is always extremely difficult.

Depending on what time you go and what type of person you are, you may want to skip breakfast and go straight to lunch. However, the founders of Taste must have been big fans of the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The dishes reflect that in taste, presentation and portion.

Many of these breakfast dishes will make your taste buds jump for joy, but the one that puts the cherry on top—almost literally—is the waffle special.

Piled high with approximately a pound of fresh, in-season fruits with powdered sugar and cinnamon, this dish will make your mouth water upon arrival.

If you choose to eat all of the fruit first, then you have saved the best for last. The waffle is simply the best waffle you will ever taste—I maintain this opinion even after trying the famous Roscoe’s House  of Chicken’ N Waffles, waffle in Los Angeles.

Other spectacular dishes that will not upset are the egg omelet, with your choice of meat or cheese and the cheddar biscuits and gravy. Taste also offers “wake up juice” (aka coffee) and freshly squeezed orange juice.

For the lunch menu, you can have either a salad or one of the gourmet sandwiches.

The salads are very appetizing, especially the “pear and  Roquefort,” but the gourmet sandwiches are the go-to item on the lunch menu. The italian grinder and the smoked ham and cheese are both excellent choices, but the roasted turkey and smoked bacon is my particular favorite.

Topped with provolone, its house made Thousand Island dressing, vine ripe tomatoes, organic field greens with a side of refrigerator pickles on your choice of french or wheat baguette, it is not just a sandwich, it’s an experience.

To top off the delicious salad or sandwich you order, a must at Taste Café is the pommes frites.

Served hot out of the kitchen with a side of creamy basil aioli, the pommes frites serve as an incredible appetizer with a rich flavor that McDonald’s could only dream of.

To wash everything down, go with the fresh lemonade. It is not only freshly squeezed, but mint leaves are added for a subtle flavor that refreshes every time.

Not only is the food excellent, but the service and the atmosphere are superb as well.

The atmosphere is not like a typical breakfast/lunch place because the music selection gives Taste an air of genuine relaxation.

On busy days it may take a few extra minutes for your food, but that is to be expected with a small restaurant. At all other times, the food is always out quick and looking exquisite.

While not the least expensive option for a college budget, lunch will run around $10 per person. Believe me, the price is well-worth the quality.

Taste Café is located at 5164 N. College Ave. and is open seven days a week, though the hours vary.