I warned my son about the dangers of frats before he went to college. He joined one anyway.

Tech Insider
a group of men partying
The author's son, not pictured, joined a frat in college.

Maskot/Getty Images

As a single mother and professor, I raised my 2 daughters on a college campus. My kids loved it.

Tech Insider
headshot of mallory mcduff next tot he view from her campus home
The author loves the view of her home on a college campus.

Courtesy of Warren Wilson College & Lyn O'Hare

I'm an NYU student who commutes from New York to Florida every weekend for my internship. I've spent nearly $10,000 on travel.

Tech Insider : Travel
headshot of Vincent Campanaro in an airport
The author super commutes from New York to Florida every weekend.

Courtesy of Vincent Campanaro

I struggled to find my fashion sense as a Yale student. I eventually decided to put my own spin on the academia aesthetic.

Tech Insider : Style
Miles Kirkpatrick dressed in academic aesthetic at yale
The author found his style at Yale.

Courtesy of Miles Kirkpatrick

My dad almost paid a ransom after being told I was kidnapped — but it was all a scam

Tech Insider
A man using mobile phone at night in bed

Basak Gurbuz Derman/Getty Images

We have 4 generations living together, and political conversations often ended in tears. These 10 rules helped ease tensions.

Tech Insider : Politics, Politics
illustration of twp people ripping a speech bubble apart
The author's family kept having political arguments.

Malte Mueller/Getty Images

My kids went to school in Bolivia and Armenia. It was coming back to the US that was hardest for them to adjust.

Tech Insider
The author and her family visit the famous and beautiful Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia at sunrise.
The author's kids went to school in Bolivia and Armenia, but struggled with school shootings when they moved back to the US.

Courtesy of the author

I once took a nearly 50% pay cut for a better work-life balance. It was worth it.

Tech Insider
illustration of woman on a balnce
The author willingly took a significant pay cut.

Ponomariova_Maria/Getty Images

I never expected to meet my husband while working at a restaurant together post-college. It was surprisingly romantic.

Tech Insider
illustration of waitress and waiter
The author met her husband while working at a restaurant.

Frants Tsyvinskyi/Getty Images

I ditched my smartphone for 12 months but it was a bad decision

Tech Insider
Close up hand holding mobile phone Nokia 3310 isolated on pink background. Female hand holding old used phone Nokia 3310

pornpimon Ainkaew/Getty Images

Subscribe to Essay