Students blog

We all have rituals that we embrace as sacred additions to our days. They can be as simple as a comforting cup of tea to help you wind down at the end of a busy day to a full-blown skin and hair care routine that takes nearly an hour. Routines can help one manage stress and anxiety, aid with productivity, encourage you to know yourself more deeply, build self-confidence, and forge healthy habits you can be proud of. With a solid routine, we find peace of mind and a sense of calm in our otherwise chaotic lives. It is my sincere hope that this blog helps you find space in your day for serenity – student and educator alike.

When I am overwhelmed, I feel there's no space to breathe or do things that make me happy. It's easy to feel like doing something for yourself will take away from the time you could be doing something else 'more productive.' There's always more work to do, right? With a routine, you set a non-negotiable time to do the things that help you find calm and take care of yourself. By making space to do the things that make you feel relaxed, you cut down on stress. Such things can be included in your custom-made routine tailored for you, by you.

There's always some goal we want to accomplish occupied in our minds. I had a few - taking supplements, caring for my skin, and journaling every evening. They're small things, but these tasks I wanted to accomplish were things that I thought the best version of myself would do. As you add goals to your routine and follow through on completing them, they become habits. The things that people do that you look up to can become something of your own. It's rewarding to reflect on your progress and realize that the qualities you hold in high regard are integrated into your own life. Making things like that a part of your daily routine, it's easy to feel a well-deserved sense of pride.

When you have a set routine, you can truly focus on the demanding tasks you need to get done. Routines create space for you to do difficult, needed tasks while also making space to take care of yourself. I have a routine for when I come home after a day of attending lectures. I make mock-tails and sit down to watch a movie. It's simple, but it gives me something to look forward to and helps me push through the day. Creating a routine can provide something to look forward to and feel like a reward. Routines can be a much-needed respite to nudge you through tough days.

A routine should generally be a consistent practice, but it doesn't have to be completely inflexible and set in stone. A routine can change as you do. If a goal or ritual no longer serves you, replace it with one that makes you feel more like yourself. Adding and taking away from your routine encourages you to learn more about yourself. Through assessing different routines, you try things you thought you'd like but realize you don't. Through consistent diligence and holding yourself accountable for your routine, you trust in yourself more. You believe deeply in yourself and your ability to follow through on your goals. You know you can become the person you want to be.

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

Everyone says to ‘push the boundaries’ and to ‘go big’ if you want to be successful, but what does that even mean? Your definition of what those mean is often completely different from someone else’s. How can you start to push your own boundaries and figuring out what works for you? Why even force yourself into something you don’t want to do to begin with? Who decides to go jump off a cliff if they’ve never even jumped off the diving board first?

The short answer is no one. I’m sure there are a lot of extremists out there, but for the average person it doesn’t happen. So, what if you want to get to the point where you can be the person jumping off the cliff?

Find your own cliff. When I say this, I don’t mean literally go find a cliff, but that you should find your own version of the hypothetical cliff. Start with the small things that might scare you or make you uncomfortable.

For me, the start was going out to do things by myself. For the longest time I have had this preconceived notion that if I want to go out and enjoy something, that I needed someone else to be with me. That it somehow didn’t count if I was by myself, or I had the voice in the back of my head telling me that I was strange or that everyone was looking at me for being alone even though I knew that it really didn’t matter.

So, I started small. I decided to go to the movies by myself. Easy enough? Then I went to a concert. Then hiking. Eventually I joined a sports team all by myself and traveled for competitions. After all that, I had the courage to move across the country by myself. Now I can’t wait for what I will do next, since I am no longer afraid of doing things alone, but none of that would’ve happened if I had stayed in my comfort zone.

How do you decide what your personal cliff is? I think it should follow two important rules:

1) It should make you nervous but not freaked out.

2) It should be something that you genuinely want to do.

Don’t go to the beach to push your boundaries if you hate the ocean, and don’t go hike a mountain if you’re deathly afraid of heights. Start with the small things that you feel uncertain about doing, like calling to place your dinner order instead of ordering online when you hate talking on the phone or asking your server for the extra sauce that they might not give you. By doing these smaller tasks, even if you stumble through it, you reinforce the idea that at the end, everything was okay, and then eventually you can start working towards bigger and bigger cliffs.

While this will vary person to person, I think in the end it’s about figuring out who you are and wanting to be a stronger, more confident version of yourself – and who doesn’t want that?

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

Throughout my high school experience, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted for my future. Eventually, I chose to attend a university based on these preferences. I started as a first-year student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) as a Cybersecurity Engineering major (which was not a common major). As time went on, I started falling behind in my classes because everyone else had been exposed to the major-related content in high school, but I hadn’t. In other words, they came into college having the foundational knowledge that I wasn’t exposed to. At the same time, I was taking psychology courses and eventually picked up a minor. I fell in love with this program at UAH, so I decided to switch to majoring in psychology. I was hesitant at first but have never regretted my decision. If you are having trouble deciding whether to change majors, here are some of the things I learned from my experience that might help!

Stress and anxiety are common in college students because they have so much to balance. From work to school to friends and family, there is so much going on. In the end, however, no one knows what you are feeling or going through better than yourself. When changing majors there is one more thing added to one’s plate. What really helped me is weighing the pros and cons of what would happen if I changed my major. In the end, the pros outweighed the cons, which was the biggest reason I decided to switch majors. However, I recognize this might not be the case for everyone. My suggestion is that before you officially switch majors, take a minute to weigh the pros and cons of the situation.

My first year at UAH, I took an intro level psychology class to fulfill one of my general course requirements. I did well in the class and liked the topics and material. This course was my first step to changing my major, even though I did not realize it at the time. From this experience, I can confidently say that if you are thinking about changing your major, taking a class in the major is a terrific way to see if it is really something you are interested in. One probably should not change their major without knowing much about what the major is like. In addition to learning more about what the major is about, this also gives you a connection to a professor within the major.

A big question when it comes to choosing a major is what you can do in the future with it. Here is my advice: start by doing some research online. Look for what other people in the major have gone on to do for a career to see if there is anything you might be interested in. If you still have more questions or concerns, set up an appointment with a professor in that field at your school. They will most likely be able to give you more information and possibly good advice! From my experience, most professors are happy to discuss these kinds of things! Finally, not only will these actions help alleviate stress and anxiety about changing majors, but it will also give you more information and a good connection if you do decide to change majors.

Picking a major is a large part of the college experience, and there is a lot of pressure to “pick the right one.” If you find yourself in a situation where you are thinking about changing majors, I hope these tips from my experience help!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

What do you want to be when you grow up is a common question that children are asked in their youth. I feel very lucky that I always knew my answer. I want to be a teacher. Maybe it was because of the “superhero” teachers I met during my grade school years or maybe it was my love for learning, but I’ve always known exactly where I belonged: in the classroom.

This led to me to my dream school Rutgers University for their undergraduate Mathematics program and Graduate School of Education where I could earn my teaching certificate. As part of my undergraduate journey, I took a class called Undergraduate Supervised Tutoring in Mathematics for aspiring high school math teachers. Through this class, I had the opportunity to work with real high school math students one day a week for a whole semester. I was able to dip my toe into what my future could look like and became a teacher... come along my journey with me!

The First Day

As a student teacher, you step onto a path paved with lessons and experiences both in and out of the classroom, shaping the learning experience for your students while foraging your own personal identity. I was both excited and nervous stepping into J.P. Stevens High School in Edison, New Jersey on my first day of student teaching. I knew my role was to help the teacher in any way they needed and aid student learning in three different math classes – Geometry, Algebra I and Algebra II – but I wondered what the students and staff would be like and wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. I walked through the familiar high school-esque concrete walls, metal lockers, and colorful bulletin boards. My shoes squeaked on the floor tiles as I finally made my way to room 217, period 1 Geometry where I was met with 17 pairs of curious eyes. Even though I was a stranger in their classroom, the teacher gave me a welcoming smile and introduced me to the students who I could tell were intrigued, albeit confused, at the new face in their room.

Building Relationships

I went into student teaching knowing it would take some time for the students to become comfortable with me. I was a new personality coming into their classroom halfway through the school year, altering their classroom dynamic and everyday habits. Some of the students were intrigued, asking me where I went to college, what I was studying, and how long I would be in their classroom, while others were more hesitant to approach me. However, one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching in general for me is having the opportunity to form meaningful connections with students and establish a safe relationship, so I spent much of my first day introducing myself to every student and getting to know them. For the next couple of weeks, I continued this practice and engaged with every student during the period, asking how they were doing or if they needed help on a problem. Eventually, walls crumbled and shells opened up to the point where the students came up to me as they entered the room before class started to tell me about their weekend or the test they just took. Externally, I was as cool as a cucumber, but inside I was jumping with joy at the progress I had made!

Embracing Growth

There were definitely moments of doubt and uncertainty during my student teaching when I questioned my abilities as an educator. Especially in the beginning, I often second guessed myself and overthought every single action I made. Did I explain that clearly enough? Maybe I should have said ___ instead? That was definitely confusing for that student, I’m an idiot! And sometimes, I didn’t even have an answer to a student’s question which just left me thinking wasn’t I supposed to be the one with all the answers?

This is where my mentor teachers really helped me. They shared stories from their days of student teaching and how they felt the exact same way at first. Phew! At least I wasn’t alone. Even though I was in a “teacher” role, it was easy for me to forget that I was still a student at the same time, and this was meant to be a learning experience. I tried to adopt a growth mindset and learn as much from my students as I hoped they were learning from me. As the weeks passed, I witnessed a profound transformation within myself. Each interaction contributed to my growth as an educator, a student, and a person. I searched for feedback from the students and mentor teachers and applied it to future lessons, recognizing this as a catalyst for improvement. Through reflective practice and continuous self-assessment, I learned to spend more energy on trying to improve rather than putting myself down for mistakes or missteps. By the end of my student teaching experience, I felt I had honed my teaching skills and gained infinitely more confidence in my abilities.

So what is one piece of advice that I would I give to future student teachers? The best piece of advice that comes to mind is to be fearless. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to accept criticism and use it to better yourself, don’t be afraid to get to know the students, and don’t be afraid to be yourself!

Looking Towards the Future

The end of my first student teaching journey was bittersweet. I was sad to bid farewell to my students, but I was proud of what I had accomplished and my personal growth. Amidst challenges or lack of confidence, there were so many moments of triumph – seeing the spark in a student’s eyes as they grasped a difficult concept or watching a student have an “ah-ha” moment while working on a problem. These small victories served as reminders of the profound impact that teachers have on the lives of their students, reaffirming my passion for education.

I also knew that my student teaching journey was just getting started! Next year, I will begin my clinical phases and expand to full time student teaching! I’m so excited to embark on the next chapter of my teaching journey and learn more about what it means to be not just a good teacher, but a great one, before I have my own classroom!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

Have you ever stalled out on blogging because of your schedule, writer's block, or lack of direction? Blogging is trickier than it seems. Curating topics that interest your audience and delivering consistent quality content requires more than just literary or marketing skills. Generative AI can help you brainstorm relevant and engaging topics to have ready for when inspiration strikes (or your schedule allows). 

Blogs often go unnoticed for their value in academic and career development, but they hold immense potential. Blogs can significantly enrich your portfolio by showcasing your passions and interests. Blogging also allows you to delve deeper into subjects, explore intriguing topics from your classes, and establish your unique voice in your industry. 
 

How Generative AI Can Help 
 

Generative AI like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot can help define your blog's theme and discover related topics. Currently, these tools are best for ideation and brainstorming, rather than full-fledged copywriting. 
 

These tools generate content based on patterns from vast training data. However, it's important to note that generative AI has limitations and requires regular auditing. While AI provides the foundation, your creativity and direction turn those ideas into compelling content. Think of AI as your brainstorming partner, not a replacement. 
 

Here's a simple guide to get you started! 

Identify Your Blog's Subject 

Your subject could be as broad as environmentalism but works best with a narrower subject like sustainable fashion. Understanding your audience and their interests early in planning ensures you create content they care about. For example, prompt the AI: "List the different people interested in sustainable fashion with a summary of their perspectives and motivations." 
 


Brainstorm Topics Related to Your Subject 

While you can certainly ask the AI directly for article ideas, the real power of generative AI lies in its collaborative potential. Use multiple prompts to brainstorm diverse and creative topics, such as unexpected ideas, different perspectives, ideas for new studies, and a summary of academic thinking about your subject. For example, continue with the prompt: "You are a consumer interested in sustainable fashion. What questions would you have?" 
 

Organize and Expand on Your Topics 

Collaborating with generative AI is a non-linear process, and you are encouraged to circle back to prompts from a different writing "phase" whenever you need to ideate and elaborate on a previous idea. Still, a great prompt to use at this stage is to ask the AI to generate a mind map of your subject to visualize how topics connect. For instance, prompt: "Create an organized mind map about sustainable fashion."  
 

Bringing it All Together 

After this collaboration with generative AI, you should have a clear vision for your blog with topics and sub-topics to expand on during future writing sessions. Use this tool to streamline your blogging process and spark creativity. No more endless brainstorming sessions that exhaust you before you even start writing.  
 
Blogging isn't just about posting; it's about sharing your unique perspective, building expertise, and connecting with a broader audience. The benefits are substantial enhancing your portfolio, deepening your knowledge, and establishing your voice in your field. AI can assist you in creating a structured plan that allows you to focus on what truly matters—writing compelling content that resonates with your readers. 

Note: Generative AI is developing rapidly, and these prompts may need tweaking to adapt to updated models. 

Credit (and thanks) to Dave Birss for inspiration on these prompts! 

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

Finding a job post-grad can be stressful and a little scary. But... it does not have to be! Building strong relationships with your professors along with building and maintaining a network of professionals will give you a solid foundation to start your search before crossing the big stage.

Faculty connections can be helpful when you begin to navigate the job-seeking process. Starting the process by applying early and conversing with professionals in your network makes it much more manageable. You might be surprised at the number of people who would be happy to have a 10-minute phone call to help you learn more about a job opportunity and/or prepare for the interview. Taking the small extra steps along the way can genuinely help alleviate your stress in the job search and increase your chances of receiving more offers to choose from.

Along with starting early, an important step in the job search process is starting wide! Beginning your job search as early as possible allows you to have the most time to explore opportunities and go through interview processes without feeling rushed or desperate for an offer. Now, what do I mean by starting off wide? In simple terms, do not be closed off to opportunities even if you may not have considered working in a certain industry or place. Some of the best opportunities that come about are unexpected.

You probably hear this all the time, but it’s very true. Connections create opportunities! Take advantage of the relationships you have spent the last 4 years developing to help you find opportunities. Reach out to your professors for interview advice and speak to the professionals in your network to learn more about working in that industry and what it takes. As a general tip aside from the job search, be sure to connect with the people you meet, even if you only had a brief conversation with them, because you never know what rooms you might be trying to walk into that these people are already in.

For example, when I was applying for my dream job, I went on LinkedIn and noticed that someone I had briefly met through an internship I did the previous summer now works at the company I was applying to. I reached out to him to let him know I was interviewing and to see if he had some time to chat so I could learn about how his experience has been at this company; thankfully, I had already started a conversation with him on LinkedIn that past summer to thank him for taking the time to chat with us interns. Since we had already messaged, he remembered me and offered his time and advice, which ultimately helped me land the role. I’m so grateful that I met him that summer and took the time to connect with him and thank him.

The job search can be stressful and scary, but it does not have to be. You can never be too early in your job search; just be sure that you are applying for jobs with start dates that align with what you are looking for. Getting started ahead of time and utilizing the relationships you have created will help you immensely, and you never know— it might help you land your dream job!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

As I reflect on my time in college, a significant difference I noticed from high school was the lack of structure in college classes. As an unprepared freshman, I quickly realized that most of the responsibility that came with classes lay within us students. With more professors adopting asynchronous and attendance-optional courses, college students are becoming more responsible for establishing a system to manage everyday obligations. Here’s the approach I have developed to managing time on as a college student.

The first thing anyone will tell you about time management is to use Google Calendar or another similar application. Here’s how I made it work for me:

• Begin by blocking out time for classes, tasks, homework, or anything remotely important. This helps in visualizing your day and ensuring you are aware of every responsibility – no surprises. Personally, my college registrar has a feature that lets me export my classes to Google Calendar which was an excellent first step in organizing my schedule.
• Keep track of tasks and events by color-coding them based on categories, involvements, or urgency. For instance, I use different colors for classes, extracurricular activities, work, and personal time. This visual differentiation makes it easier to see what my day looks like.
• Don’t beat yourself up too much if you miss a task. Instead, adjusting your schedule by moving the task forward helps in keeping track of its completion. This dynamic approach ensures that no task is forgotten and that you remain flexible in your planning.
• If you find it motivating to create tasks and check them off upon completion, Google also has an app for that. Google Tasks integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar, allowing you to manage your to-do list efficiently.

Beyond digital tools, establishing a routine was crucial. Here are things that I found to create a productive, sustainable routine:

• This is something I struggle with a lot, but I always aim to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. This helped ensure I was well-rested for my classes and had the energy to get work done.
• I developed morning rituals to start off my day. Last semester, I started waking up in the early morning despite my first classes starting at 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM so I had time to go to the gym. As a result, each morning I had a boost of energy to support my day and was able to accomplish the first bullet point easier.

My final takeaway from the last three years is balancing academics, social life, and personal well-being. As a freshman, I did not prioritize myself as I often sacrificed sleep and missed meals as work and responsibilities added up. This is something I grew to combat as I began incorporating regular breaks into lengthy hours of work, tracked tasks through Google Calendar, and dedicated time to work on my health. Using techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, I took short breaks after focused study periods to rest and recharge. The result was a much more productive work session and better overall well-being. I also made time for activities like extracurriculars and seeing friends. This not only helped me unwind but also improved my mental state.

Transitioning from high school to college taught me the importance of effective time management. Through these practices, I was able to manage my responsibilities and make the most of my college experience. Time management is an ongoing process, and being adaptable and open to refining your approach is the key to success.

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

When students are seniors in high school, their biggest worry is finding the best university to attend in the upcoming fall. For seniors in college, it’s about finding the right career after graduation. For juniors in college, their whole concern is finding a co-op/internship that will eventually help them find that job in the coming year.

Finding a co-op/internship was one of the most challenging tasks I had to accomplish in my junior year. I was constantly checking LinkedIn or Handshake for postings, attending conferences every month, and completing interview after interview. After finally landing one of the most prestigious internships in my major, I moved across the country for the summer and went on some of the wildest adventures.

While many talk about the positives of internships, such as valuable experiences and networking opportunities, few prepare you for the potential drawbacks. Personally, one of the biggest challenges was being placed in an office without other interns. Many people will be placed with other interns, it all depends on the company and if they’re willing to take on that responsibility, but for me, I was alone, on the other side of the country, away from friends and family. Despite the loneliness, I cherished the opportunity and learned immensely, though adjusting to not seeing my friends daily was tough.

Another aspect to consider is the role itself. As an intern, you're often in a learning phase rather than handling full responsibilities like regular employees. There were days of boredom and busy work, yet the hectic days taught me invaluable lessons. There are a few cons to co-ops/internships, but I wish that somebody had told me about potential disadvantages, so I was better prepared.

Internships are also some of the most rewarding experiences a college student can have. Not only do they offer extensive networking opportunities, but they allow you to gain insights into your desired career. My internship program was split into multiple parts, allowing me to experience different roles and companies within my major, broadening my experience further. However, not all internships offer such flexibility.

Overall, my experience was positive. I was able to develop my skills and gain real-life experience. I encourage pursuing internships but advise thorough research into the company culture and environment. Understanding what to expect ensures your experience is fulfilling and beneficial for your future career. You want your experience to be truly fulfilling and the best it can be for your future career. So, while working towards your internship goals, remember to embrace adventure and enjoy every moment—make the most of your summer!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

When arriving at West Chester University for my first semester in August of 2021, I was nervous about making friends. Even though I would be rooming with a friend from high school, I was still worried about making new additional friends. I moved into the dorm with my high school friend plus, two other roommates we did not know. It was awesome that we all got along from the start and found fun things to do while hanging out, like practicing our golf putting with cups. We ended up making a bunch of friends on our floor by other residents asking if they could try and put the ball into the cup.

Meeting new people is such an awesome thing we can do as humans. We come together to help each other or play different types of activities like sports. A great way to connect with new friends on campus is to participate in intramural sports. The first available Fall sport was flag football. We were able to make a co-rec and guys’ flag football team from the friends we made on our floor.

Another way I was able to meet friends was by going to the rec gym and playing basketball. I met some of my best friends at college through playing basketball at the gym. This also led to playing basketball intramurals as well as baseball intramurals. It made me realize that having a good group of friends to play sports or activities throughout college is key to having a positive college experience. Being able to play sports can help lower the stress that can come from too much schoolwork or if you get a bad grade on an exam. Having physical activity allows you to be in the moment with your friends and it allows you to take all your mind off your troubles.

College is not just about academics; it is also about building connections and creating memories that last a lifetime. The camaraderie you find through sports and activities not only help you unwind from the pressure of school but also enrich your overall college experience. Indeed, the ability to meet new people and engage in shared activities is a fundamental aspect of the human experience.

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!