Students blog

At most schools students have the chance to choose the electives they take for their majors, which is why it’s super important to pick electives that will positively impact your education.  When it comes time for you pick elective classes for your next semester schedule, here are three things to keep in mind.

Consider your future.

Electives give you a good insight on what you may like or dislike and some insight on what you might want to pursue in your future as well. Pick an elective that can give you hands-on experience as to whether you really wish to make a career out of something or not.

Dig into your passions.

Sometimes you can choose a “just for fun” course. You can explore new subject areas which could alter your career path or simply lead to a lifelong hobby.

Complement your major.

If you want a well-rounded resume after you graduate, consider taking classes that will complement your major. For example, if you are a marketing major, use this opportunity to refine some Photoshop skills with a graphic design elective. If you are an education major but never had to take a foreign language, go for the Spanish class –  you won’t become fluent in one semester, but at least you will pick up some vocabulary and basic grammar formulations that can help you later on.

Elective courses are an essential part of your college career. You will hopefully have the chance to pick at least a few electives and therefore I encourage you to make the most of the experience. Whether you choose an elective based on your future plans, your passion, or adding to your resume – make sure the elective class is something you will enjoy that next semester.

One of the things many college students miss the most is the family pet they left behind. Pets ease sadness and give unconditional love. Since college can be stressful, a pet can definitely sound like something amazing to have around. However, pet ownership is a big responsibility. Here are some things to consider before bringing a pet into your college life.

Time

Pets are living organisms and they have feelings too.  They need love and affection just like a person does. Many types of pets require daily exercise and playtime, too. Are you away from home most of the day or on weekends? College students are busy between classes, extracurricular activities, sports, social clubs, and jobs. Be certain that you can give a pet the time and attention it needs.

Housing

Most campus residence halls do not allow pets.  If you are caught hiding an animal, you could be evicted from on-campus housing and maybe even face disciplinary action from the school. Some off-campus apartments or other properties may allow pets if you pay a required monetary deposit. If you have roommates, they will need to agree to having a pet, too. Plus, lonely pets left alone all day may get noisy and disturb your neighbors. Make sure your housing situation is compatible with pet ownership.

Money

Taking care of a pet can be expensive. In addition to food, pets need regular veterinary care and even vaccinations. Smaller pets like hamsters or birds require habitats or cages, which can be pricey. When you’re away for weekends or holidays, you may need to board your pet or hire a pet sitter. Take a close look at your budget to find out if there’s room for the expenses related to owning a pet.

Pets are more than a 4 year commitment and they need the correct love and care to survive. Let pet ownership wait until the time is right!  

You change a lot in college. I went from a girl who would have herself dressed up head-to-toe to a girl with gym clothes and a bag full of books. Once I became a college student it seemed like I never had time to do what I enjoyed anymore – I did not even have time to go to the gym!  But by the end of my second year of college I figured out how to schedule in me-time. 

Busy is sometimes too busy

I did not make the most of my freshman year. Learning to balance classes with other activities was challenging. I felt like I never had time for myself or for what I wanted to do. I never hung out with friends anymore, never got to paint my nails, and never got to even relax.  

Confide in a friend

During my second semester, I reconnected with my best friend from high school. It was hard at first trying to reconnect with someone I had spent nearly half a year away from, but we both realized we had something in common – we both had a crazy first semester. My best friend and I helped each other re-discover that we could have fun while still making our studies a priority. Finally, during my sophomore year, I learned how to fit in some fun while keeping my studies a priority.

Make time for yourself

You will put a toll on your mental and emotional health if you don’t set aside some time for me-time. I still do not get time to so my nails every week, or my hair and makeup every morning. I guess that is what happens when you’re learning to balance responsibilities with school and a job. Whether it be an hour each day, or a few hours on the weekend, block out time in your calendar to do something that you enjoy.

I have changed, I believe for the better, and this came with maturity. I learned something new that I live by now.  You will never be truly happy if you live with regrets.

Most college students have a similar mindset as they progress towards earning their degrees. They desire to be successful out in the “real world”, and to some that means having a high paying job. When considering different job opportunities, I encourage you to look past the salary and to embrace the experiences you could have in that role. What do you desire past the income? I would like a job that in which I can grow, emotionally and intellectually. One of the ways to get a job like this is to gain experience while you are still in college. Here are my tips to acheive this goal.  

On campus

Currently, I am in my second year of college, studying Business Management. I hold several leadership positions in organizations across campus that allow me to refine the leadership skills that will later be needed in my career as a manager.  As a martial arts student, I was driven and always learned ahead on my own. This passion shined through to my other teammates and I was asked to be a junior instructor. I instructed for seven hours a week for nearly eight years. Being an instructor of martial arts on my campus allowed me to refine my leadership skills and communication skills. Even though I do not want to pursue a career in martial arts, my involvement, and leadership in the program allowed me to get experience that serve me well in a future job.

Intern

Most interns hope their position leads to a real job after graduation.  I have never had an internship, but I know that a great idea is to go to a career fair or the career center at school.  They can help you find internships and co-ops within your availability and field.

Look local

I work for a smaller company which has allowed me to get experience a wide variety of roles. I’ve had to learn a lot of different skills and the inner workings of the company. Even though the company was small, my experience gained was huge. In fact, my current job is to coordinate the opening of a new store in my hometown and I think this will be a highlight on my resume.

When looking for your next opportunity, my advice is to get jobs that encourage and boost your resume in the field you want to pursue.  There are many ways to help yourself and be successful. You can start now by getting leadership experience on campus, or starting at an internship. Also, don’t fret about accepting a job at a smaller sized company because you could gain a wealth of experience that would not be possible with a larger corporation.

Pearson Students, How do you get experience for your future career? Please share by commenting below!

Social media has a huge impact on individuals and their lives. While some impacts can be positive, social media has been shown to negatively affect things like our moods and stress levels. Addiction is caused by social media too. With access to it anytime of day on our phones, it’s easy to fall into the bad habit of checking it everywhere – during a meal, in class when a professor is talking, or even in bed when it’s time to sleep! Here are a few areas where social media addiction can have a negative impact.

Communication

Before there was texting, calling was the actual way to reach out to someone. While electronic messaging makes communication faster and easier, there can be negative aspects to it, too.  It can be tricky to decipher the tone people are utilizing when texting or posting on social media.

Emotion

Multiple studies have shown that unlimited use of social media causes stress, bad moods and negative mental health. Many people wake up in the morning and immediately check their Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter.  On platforms like Instagram, some users feel obligated to edit their posts in order to fit the terms of “attractiveness.” Users may begin to compare themselves to others and think, “am I good enough?” “am I pretty enough?”

Health

Social media causes addiction and affects sleep.  Using electronics like cell phones or video games before bedtime can lead to a variety of sleep problems. The result is students who may fall asleep in class or be unable to focus because they are simply too tired!

Social media is a powerful thing. It can help people across the world connect and inspire people to achieve social change. However, we must also realize the negative implications social media has on our lives. We do not need social media every waking moment, and it is important to realize that you need to foster relations in real-time too, not just via a screen.

Pearson Students: How do you feel about social media? Is it too much of a good thing, potentially bad? Share by commenting below!

There are millions of people in the world that suffer from mental disorders. Depression and anxiety are very common in college students. Personally, I know multiple people who have a mental disorder – myself included. As college students, we should help each other. I passionately want to educate my peers about suicide prevention and mental health awareness!  

Many aspects of mental health

Often mental health is not taken seriously in females and is often disregarded when it comes from a male. Because our society is structured with the masculinity and feminine view, it’s important to look past these “social norms” and pay attention to each individual’s mental awareness.  

Not a sexist issue

As one becomes more aware of mental illnesses, it is easy to see that men can also struggle with these issues.  Nonetheless, society expects men to be “tough” and does not take it as seriously. Men believe they need to live up to the expectations of being “tough” in the society’s perspective. When a guy cries, he is told to “man up.” This brings up the illusion that if a guy cries, he is not strong or masculine.  Crying does not mean a person is weak. It can be difficult for men to express their feelings, because they may feel their masculinity will be questioned.  

Women do not have it much easier. When women cry and express their emotions, they may not be seen as “weak,” but they do seem to get judgement about their sanity and questioning if they are “hormonal.”  Females are sometimes blamed for their mental illness because if they are emotional, they must be putting depression on themselves.  

Break the rules