Students blog

I wish someone would have told me how important it is to keep up a balancing act in college. In high school, I was hard working so I didn’t expect college to be too different. College is another level of hard work. As you progress in your college career, there are things you must adapt and learn from. I’ve encountered very insightful experiences so far. Freshman year went relatively smooth. I guess teachers know you are a freshman and are willing to give you some slack as you transition. Sophomore year has been a whole different story.

A narrow focus

During the first semester of my sophomore year I started to feel like I was missing out on part of my college experience. I barely had any time to be with my friends, have time for myself, or even give my parents a call. By focusing on trying to maintain a 4.0, I lost sight of the world beyond the classroom. I wish someone would have told me how difficult this balancing act would be.

Making adjustments

This year I have been engrossed in all my major classes. It has been a completely different experience than my general education and prerequisite courses from freshman year. I walked into my three 300 level accounting courses this year to be told the average grade in this class would be targeted at a 2.5-3.0. In high school, I was always a 4.0+ student and being told the average would be a 2.5-3.0 has been a difficult adjustment for me.

Evaluating commitments

On top of school, there is the pressure of being involved in extracurriculars. And not only to be involved in extracurriculars but to take on leadership positions within those organizations. When I went through recruitment, I had no idea how large my commitment to my sorority would be. There are countless meetings, obligations, activities, and on top of that, I am Vice President of Finance. In addition to the sorority, I have also joined business organizations that go along with my major. But now I’m going to try something different. I’m going to focus on organizations that truly encompass my passions and ones I get excited about. I am going to join ICAN (Indiana Canine Assistance Network) to work with service dogs. This will relieve some of the stress of college and allow me to give back to the community.

A new plan

If you are feeling as overwhelmed as I was when I started sophomore year, I caution you to not lose the balance that I lost my first semester. Of course, grades matter and your education matters. It’s why you go to college. But there is a balance to maintain. It is vital to take time for yourself, family, and friends. Adjust your study habits to meet the expectations of challenging classes. Evaluate the commitments you make to extracurricular activities. Think quality, not quantity. Without doing this you can lose sight of what college is all about: learning who you are and who you want to become. It is important to devote your time to things that truly matter. Improving on your balancing act could be as simple as going and spending fifteen minutes with your roommate every night just to catch up and relax.

Students, how do you find a balance between work, school, and fun? Share by commenting below!

“What do you want to do in college?” I was asked that question frequently during my freshman year. Every time, I answered with a mumbled, “Well…” and shrug. Looking back at the past two years of my college life, the game changed at the end of my sophomore year. I started to gain more experience by serving as a senator of the Student Government, special event leader of the Student Activities Board, a chief-editor of the Honors Newsletter, a student blogger, an English tutor and a math tutor. For those who did not get the sufficient answer from me – lo and behold. Here are three ways I wish to excel during the rest of my college career.

Identification of my interests

First, I want to fine-tune my interests for future job hunting or even for a possible graduate school application. This can easily be done by focusing on what disgusts me rather than what makes me passionate. For instance, I know that I am not interested in finance, chemistry, and biology. Crossing out “non-interests” made me realize what fuels my motivation: writing, reading, marketing, foreign language learning, sustainability, entrepreneurship, computer science, and graphic design! (Still a lot!) My ultimate goal in college is to further sharpen my interests and self-brand accordingly.

Pursuit of Certifications

After I declared my major in Comparative Literature, I suddenly started to receive this question: “What do you want to do with your major?” My intention of majoring in Comparative Literature is to refine critical and interdisciplinary thinking skills as well as my foreign languages: English, Chinese, and French. Yet, the current job market is unfortunately not that flexible. I doubt that the Comparative Literature degree itself grants me a career that I want. So, I decided to pursue professional certificates on Coursera and edX, with the hope of increasing my employability. I am pursuing certificates from the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University, and I’ve paid only $10! My goal is to earn more certificates in business and other fields of my interests and highlight them on my resume. Online learning is fun as well as a good economical investment!

Networking through involvement

After I earned my Associates degree and decided to take a gap semester, I luckily had a chance to experience job seeking to sustain the validity of my VISA. Through this process, I learned how important networking is. In fact, references from my colleagues in extracurricular activities helped me land positions at the Tutoring Center and the Multi-faith Conference Center. Since then, I started to expand my network by actively asking to connect with every new acquaintance. Not only will it be beneficial for future job hunting, it will also be beneficial to get diverse perspectives and insights. Currently, my LinkedIn connection has 150 people and I want to expand it to 500+ before I graduate.

I had never imagined that I would have been able to formulate such concrete goals in my undergraduate years. Yet, I believe that I was successful because I took advantage of on-campus resources as much as possible and got actively involved. If your college plan is murky, I encourage you to start with activities that might interest you. Trust me, goals and plans come into focus as you engage more in school or even external communities!

Pearson Students: What are some things YOU hope to accomplish while in college? Comment below to share with the student community!

For many students, the hardest part about transitioning to college is leaving their parents for the very first time. After the excitement of the first week dies down, homesickness can hit hard. Although I’m now accustomed to being nearly 100 miles away from my mom, I still miss her daily. However hard it may be for both of us, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching our relationship change and grow. It’s true that absence make the heart grow fonder! Here are some invaluable ways my mother has impacted my life during my time in college:

Support System

If moms were objects, they’d be ‘#1 fan!’ foam fingers. Even though my mom wasn’t thrilled with my college pick due to its lengthy distance from home, she embraced the process like a champ! Her pride in me was heart-warming; we even wore matching ‘Momma Bear’ and ‘Baby Bear’ shirts to freshman orientation. It’s in moms’ nature to brag about their kids, and mine is no exception. I know that as long as I have her, I’ll always have someone on my team.

A Piece of Home

Sometimes home is a person instead of a place. Nothing makes you feel at home quite like seeing your mom! To me, mothers should symbolize feelings of comfort, unconditional love, and childhood bliss; things that can sometimes be hard to get on campus. Whether it’s on the phone or when she’s able to visit my campus, seeing her familiar face takes me back to fun days and stress-free nights. I can’t help but feel tranquil and safe when she’s around.

Voice of Reason

Mothers are like buttons: they hold everything together! Between late night study sessions and mountains of assignments, my judgement can get a little hazy sometimes. Since my current priorities are mostly school-related, my mom checks in to make sure I’ve eaten, slept, and given myself an adequate amount of self-care when life gets hectic (she knows I’m a sucker for a bubble bath!). Besides that, my mom gives much-needed advice when I’m too involved to make a good call. Her fresh perspective and good intentions put me at ease; I can rest assured that she has my best interest in mind. It’s great to have someone looking out for you, and what better person to do that than a mother!

A Best Friend!

Since moving, it’s easier to appreciate the time my mom and I have together. It doesn’t matter if we’re running errands or trying a new recipe: each moment is meaningful and sincere. When your time with someone is limited, it’s hard not to cherish every second! My mom is the best, truest friend I’ll ever have.

At my college, the mascot is a gold miner; I guess it’s fitting then that my mom is an absolute gem. The love and support our parents give us is often priceless, whether they’re down the street or across state lines. Never miss an opportunity to show your gratitude; pick up the phone and call home!

Pearson Students: how have your parents helped you in college? Share by commenting below!

Prior to starting college, I knew my purpose in life was to become an occupational therapist. My educational journey started at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, a small community college in central Kentucky. A turning point came when I was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. One of the perks of membership is access to numerous scholarship opportunities. Within many scholarship applications and lengthy essays, Pearson found me. I was honored to be selected as a recipient of the 2015 Pearson Scholarship for Higher Education.

Becoming the best student I could be

This awesome scholarship enhanced my college experience in several ways. Pearson provided financial assistance, a mentor and textbook assistance. Without all this, I would not have been able to continue my education. My mentor was simply amazing. She edited and proofread countless essays and papers for me and also wrote many letters of recommendations. She offered endless advice and supported me in every decision I made. The support and continued encouragement from her only encouraged me to be the best student I could be.

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

Last summer while my peers were spending their time poolside or streaming shows, I made my summer break productive and educational. I took a full summer semester course load. Summer semester courses are certainly challenging, as you are expected to learn content and turn in homework at a faster pace. Here are three tips that will help you succeed if you decide to take classes this summer.

Summer Classes have their perks

Learning is much more focused. Teachers tend to give out less busy work, only giving out the assignments that are necessary for learning. And generally, only the teachers who love teaching choose to teach over the summer semester so you’re often getting the best. Finally, as fewer students are on campus, you have better access to campus services like the tutoring center.

Time management is essential

Since classes move through objectives at a faster rate, it’s important that you have a schedule to stay organized. I put all my classes in Google Calendar and also make sure to see my school counselor to plan out a studying schedule. My school counselor always recommends that you study a little bit before and after the lecture to keep the information fresh in your mind. Have you ever heard of the Ebbinghaus curve? Also called the forgetting curve, it shows how information is lost over time when no attempt is made to retain it. If you review it, your brain has less opportunity to forget. Another way to stay organized is to make study groups. This is a great way to create relationships with your classmates. Humans are social creatures. We learn better in teams, and in the summer semester, you need that advantage. My classmates made it much easier to learn the content in my courses.

Participate in your classes

In my Calculus 2 class, I didn’t shy away from solving equations on the board in front of the class. I made horrendous mistakes in front of the class, however, I did not repeat them on the test. Calculus is a subject where you learn best from your mistakes. You’ll learn more if you make them in front of people who can call you out on them. In Chemistry 2, I was passionate about my lab capstone project. I did a project on mouth bacteria. I was engaged in that lab project, and it made it easier to be more engaged in the class.

I encourage you to take some classes this summer! Pairing up my two most difficult classes led to a challenging – but exciting – summer!

What classes will you take this summer? Share with the Pearson Students community by commenting on my blog.

There is nothing worse than forgetting to do something because you were not organized. Whether it be a homework assignment or a test you didn’t study for – being unorganized causes stress! But establishing just a few simple organization tips will ensure you don’t neglect essential parts of your academic career.

During my first year in college, I was not organized at all. I would complete a homework assignment but forget to turn it in. Or once I forgot a lunch I promised I would have with my grandma. I knew I had to make a change. Here are a few things I use and do every day to stay properly organized. Now I feel so much better about meeting my obligations.

Use an agenda!

Find one with both a weekly and monthly view. There are electronic versions but I prefer a physical one. I currently use the Filofax inserts for my agenda. I always try to buy inserts that are both clean and enough space for me to write out all the things I need to remember. I emphasize this because some agendas don’t come with a weekly and monthly view.

Make your dates quickly accessible.  

I use paper clips on my agenda so I can quickly see my month and day. It is no fun to be constantly flipping through your agenda. That is why you need paper clips!

Make a “To Do” list.

If my week is very busy, I have note cards that I will paper clip to the front of my agenda. That’s where I write extra reminders of tasks I need to do that week. I love having these in my possession if I ever need to write a quick note.

Keep a record.

I have a college-ruled notebook where I write out everything from all areas of my life – personal, professional and academic. Writing it out gives my brain an extra reminder. I usually try to buy a bright colored college-ruled notebook from TJ Maxx because it’s a good deal and great quality.  I highly recommend college-ruled since it’s more narrow and you can write more!

The key to staying organized is writing things down. Whether that be an agenda, notebook or paper, write it all down! I strongly believe having both an agenda and college-ruled notebook will help YOU stay organized this semester! Read more organization tips from another Pearson Student Insider here.

Pearson Students: How do YOU stay organized? Please share by commenting below!

When we think of summer productivity, much emphasis is given to the “what” to do to make the most of your summer – including internships, summer jobs, and traveling – but it’s also important to consider the “how” – how to emphasize the importance of taking action and doing something meaningful with your precious summer time. Here are my tips to have an inspirational summer.

Take care of your physical and mental health.

Although an important factor in making sure to make the most of your time is to be active in doing things that you care about. But it’s also important to take care of your health, which is the foundation of your well-being and should also be a priority when planning your summer time. Eat well, get plenty of exercise, take a break from the computer, and do things create physical, mental, and social well-being. Although the summertime can be used to be active in internships and other activities, make sure to leave some time to relax and take care of yourself – this will not only help you prepare for when school starts in the fall, but also to make the most of your summer activities.

Consider your goals.

Think about your future career and educational aspirations: what do you want to do? What is important to you (including values, activities, and aspirations)? What will help you get there? Once you’ve considered that, think about the activities that can help you get there. Maybe an internship will allow you to gain the necessary experience for your career. Or taking a summer class can help you get a certification. Or simply, maybe you opt to not do any educational or career activities, but instead choose to dedicate more time to improve your creative portfolio. It’s about considering your unique goals and what exactly you need to do to reach them.

Have a positive attitude.

Although often dismissed, simply having a good attitude can go a long way. Having a positive attitude can open your mind and help you see things more clearly. Every morning when you wake up, think of at least 5 things you’re glad to have in your life or that you’re proud of yourself. Maybe you passed an exam you’ve studied hard for or you’re proud of your family or how you treat others. It’s about finding the good in your life. Although sometimes taken for granted, having a good attitude can help you keep healthier relationships, get more job opportunities, and simply feel great about yourself. Having an open mind can help you explore ideas that you hadn’t thought of before which can benefit you and your future career.

Do what inspires you this summer.

Inspiration is the key to motivation, and can also serve as an outlet for stress. While we don’t always have the time to do recreational things, try to accommodate them according to your schedule. Find things that you’re passionate about – maybe partaking in photography or playing a sport. It’s about doing something that keeps that spark of inspiration within you.

While taking actual action is important to make the most of your summertime, it’s also important to consider the “how”, and how your actions will have an impact on your life, well-being, and future. So now get set, and go have an awesome summer!

How will you make an impact this summer? Share when you retweet this blog!

Securing an internship can be one of the most stressful parts of college life. Each step along the way – the career fairs, the networking events, and the interviews – can overwhelm students. The work doesn’t end there though. Performance in the internship is just as important. As a junior at North Carolina State University, this is my experience through the internship process.

Learn to open doors

As a freshman, I found myself scrambling to create a perfect resume to get my dream internship. My older sister, who was a junior when I was a freshman, was out getting internships left and right. Without studying her strategy, I tried to expose myself to my dream companies thinking that I had what it took to get in the door. Wow, I was wrong! After getting shut down, I asked my sister what I needed to change in order to get recognition in front of these companies. She advised me to learn how to make connections in the areas I was interested in. I also had to learn how to use those connections appropriately to network for available internships. Once I got a handle on that, the internship offers began to materialize.

Tips to Success from Day 1

After building up my resume, attending networking events, and getting interviews, I landed a summer internship my freshman year. From this internship, I learned six key experiences and tips along the way that any incoming intern should know:

1. Come prepared on the first day. Know about the company and what your role will be.
2. Meet as many people in the organization as possible. Linking names and faces will allow you to share experiences with more people, while creating a positive association with your coworkers and superiors.
3. Try new things. Just because you don’t know how something is done doesn’t mean you can’t try! Putting yourself in new situations will allow you to learn new things and become more useful to the organization.
4. Build relationships and connections. Just meeting people won’t be enough to be a good intern. It is important to continue conversations and build relationships with the people around you. This makes the workplace more fun, plus you can receive great recommendations from coworkers.
5. Ask for advice and tips. The people around you would love to give you feedback on your experiences – good and bad. Never hesitate to ask for tips for your future or how to improve. Nobody’s perfect, but learning will make your next internship even better!
6. Stay connected after you leave. Just because the internship is over doesn’t mean the communication has to stop. Some companies would love to have you back for another internship, or stay connected for job opportunities after college. Any connection you make during an internship is an important one, so make sure to keep the connection going forward.

By utilizing these tips, I was able to get a great recommendation from my freshman year internship. That helped me land a Marketing Specialist Intern with Cisco for this summer. By getting the help I needed with my resume building and sales pitch, I got in the door to show off my skills to employers. Remember to be confident and honest throughout the interview and internship process, and you won’t go wrong!

Which one of the tips do you like the most? Any tips you think are worthy? Start the conversation in the comments below!