­

About Claire Akins

Claire was born and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, although she’s moved around a bit. Claire and her family drove across the country in 2009 to move to San Francisco, California, for no particular reason, seeing places she had never seen before along the way. Although they moved back to Georgia before she started high school, the major changes ignited Claire’s interest in traveling. Claire has visited Japan, Canada, and 9 countries in Europe since the move back to Georgia, all on school trips. Now a rising sophomore at the University of Georgia, she is combining her globe-trotting personality with a major in advertising, hoping to someday work for an eco-friendly company that protects the world she loves. When she isn’t traveling, Claire can be found running with friends on UGA’s club cross country team, watching Star Wars movies, or playing with her adorable pug, Pickles. She is looking forward to expanding her horizons and leadership skills through Get Smart’s intern program, as she wants to use her experiences to encourage others.

Breaking Your Technology Addiction

 You’ve probably been aware of the “technology craze” and millennials’ addiction to social media and texting for quite some time. The problem is, many of us don’t think of ourselves as addicts. To be honest, I’ve found myself in this position recently. I always thought I had it under control, but once I started thinking [...]

Stress Relief Made Simple

As young adults, stress seems to have become a part of our daily routines. With school, work, relationships, and other constant pressures on our shoulders, it only seems natural for stress to serve as a motivating factor. However, having a hectic life shouldn’t deter you from being happy and healthy. As someone who barely has [...]

The Benefits of Being a Foodie

I’ve always considered myself a “foodie,” but what exactly does that mean? A passion for cooking, trying new dishes and taking pictures of every meal you’ve ever had may come to mind. However, I have come to realize the immense benefits of appreciating the culinary arts. Even if you don’t consider yourself a cook or [...]

Taking the Shame out of Single

               As we grow into our teens and early adulthood, there seems to be a universal expectation across all genders to enter a relationship. To quote Tina Fey in the movie Mean Girls, how many of you have felt “personally victimized” by this social pressure? Whether it stems from [...]

How I Found Myself at a Large University

 This time last year, I never would have expected to be at the University of Georgia. The  school has over 30,000 students, a large Greek life, and a serious football team. I never saw myself as fitting in at a school like this. However, I decided to attend the University of Georgia primarily for financial [...]

5 Ways to Get Involved in Your Community – and Benefit

  1. Go for the Obscure- What I’ve learned in years past is that the best opportunities often lie in unexpected places. Instead of volunteering at a popular spot in your community, shoot for the places that mean the most to you. Is there a park in your town that you love to go to? [...]