Ladies, we need to have a short chat. Men, feel free to tune out for the next 600 words, but I will urge you to continue reading because some of this may easily translate into your lives as well.

Worry not — I won’t be mentioning Aunt Flo or any other strange things that happen during puberty, because I think we can assume that everyone has already passed that phase.

Instead, let’s focus on taking care of ourselves, embracing our beauty and taking pride in what we’ve been given.

Although many of the first years spent at any university are encompassed by lecture halls and general classes, many students choose comfortable rather than more professional attire when attending class.

A wide variety of colored sweatpants, baggy T-shirts and sweatshirts flood the halls, which makes it appear as though the students aren’t as serious about their education as they should be at this level.

For those of you men who are still reading, trade in the sweatpants for a pair of dark denim jeans or khakis, and wear these with a polo or a nice T-shirt that doesn’t hang to your knees.

Ladies, try trousers instead of jeans or sweatpants — I actually find them more comfortable than jeans, and pair them with a blouse for a more class-appropriate look.

For both the ladies and the men, please change your clothes every day! Yes, we’re in college and don’t have our mothers to do our laundry anymore, but believe it or not, people notice — and frankly, it’s just disgusting.

We’ve all seen the girl who walks into the large lecture hall who looks like she either hasn’t showered in a few days, or just got out of bed — and this goes for the men, too.

She either tries to disguise this hair faux pas with a ponytail, or neglects to look in the mirror at all that morning and doesn’t realize that her hair looks like she’s been shocked by lightning recently.

Perhaps you stayed up too late the night before studying for your big exam. However, there is a reason why the hairbrush was invented, and we all should take full advantage of it.

I know you have a mirror somewhere in your room, your purse or in the bathroom, and you — hopefully — look at yourself each morning. So decide if you want to look fresh or freshly struck by lightning.

We all need to take pride in ourselves, ladies and men alike, whether that means spending a little extra time getting ready in the morning or taking yourself shopping for some new outfits to spice up your wardrobe.

If I’m not mistaken, you came to this university for a reason — to get an education.

If you expect anyone to take you seriously — especially your teachers or even your academic advisor who will ultimately be writing your letters of recommendation for that once-in-a-lifetime interview for an amazing internship — take responsibility now for your appearance.

Putting in extra effort, even if it’s just 15 minutes a day, can show the professors and faculty on campus that you’re taking yourself seriously and that you also take pride in yourself.

Hold your head high as you walk across campus and exude the confidence you previously hid in your old, over-sized wardrobe. People will notice, and instead of seeing the frumpy freshman, they’ll see the person that takes care of herself and, most importantly, loves herself.

Justine Hain is a freshman in pre-journalism and mass communication and psychology from Rochester, Minn.