Students blog

Many of us know Greek organizations as what we see in the movies, but in reality there’s so much more than what Animal House represents! There are different categories of fraternities or sororities, which other Pearson Student bloggers have written about here and here. Panhellenic is the most common known type of Greek organization. However there are also multicultural, religious, and national service organizations. I choose to be in a national service sorority. This type of organization is different compared to a social sorority in that its focus is on one particular thing: volunteering. My journey in joining a national service sorority has been life changing and I have learned so much along the way.

When starting college, it was never my intention to participate in Greek life or feel the social pressure of fitting into that dynamic. During spring 2017, I knew I wanted to join an active organization. I felt out of place on my campus and needed to build confidence by putting myself out there. Deep down I knew that joining a sorority would force me to be more social – something that I desired to gain in my college experience. A friend told me she was in a sorority called Omega Phi Alpha, a national service sorority that focuses on volunteering. At that point I had no idea a service sorority even existed. It supported everything I was looking for in an organization. Here are a few main factors that stood out to me when I joined Omega Phi Alpha.

Friendship

When I first started school at Texas State, I had a hard time keeping a close bond with new friends. This sorority attracted my interests when it came to service, but it also focused on friendship and sisterhood as well. It allows you to share one big common interest and create long term friendships you never thought you would have.

Leadership

In Omega Phi Alpha there are more than ten leadership positions available. Big or small sororities provide you with the opportunity to lead. You not only gain recognition in the service projects you participate in, but the leadership roles you take as well.

Service

Each semester Omega Phi Alpha carries out projects in six areas of service: the community at large, the university community, the members of the sorority, nations of the world, the president’s project (a different cause every year), and the mental health project. These events help the members serve the community in many ways. This semester our sorority has planned to do crafting with seniors, quad days on campus, handing out care packages to the homeless, field day at the boys and girls club, and numerous local park cleanups.

I’ve gained very memorable experiences by being apart of Omega Phi Alpha. I grew emotionally and mentally as I gained leadership experience, lifelong friendships, and the opportunity to follow my passion of serving the community. I highly encourage you to consider a service sorority if you are interested in Greek life, but might be intimidated by the other sorority options. I am very thankful to have joined such an honorable organization.

Pearson Students: April is volunteer month. Tell us about your volunteer experiences.  Please share with the community by commenting below!

As the academic journey winds to a close, some students experience anxiety at the idea of the unknown.  Like a runner closing in on the last lap of a marathon, it is time to appreciate the work you have finished and propel to the finish line.  However, as the graduate coordinates graduation celebrations along with balancing classwork  and other demands, the stress can cause elevated strain.  Here are some of my favorite anxiety-coping techniques that can help the graduate enjoy the final part of this academic journey.

Write out your goals and plans on a vision board

Having a visual chart to what you want to carry out throughout the year and beyond helps clear your mind of distractions.  By structuring good time management skills and dedicated activity toward each element on the vision board, you can visualize success. Seeing the board components and your progress marks the measurement of how close you are to reaching the goals.

Embrace options outside your parameters of study

Throughout your academic journey you began the process of specialization through your major. Now you must be able to exercise flexibility when reaching out to the workforce.  To broaden your career prospects, envision how other industries could use your abilities.  Keep in mind there are probably a variety of paths that could lead to your dream position.  When job search anxiety emerges, try to hold on to your focus, but see if other industries could use your talents.

Just breathe

Remembering to pause or meditate offers you moments of clarity.  Finding a pace or rhythm allows you to ease through the final months and tampers down the tension that can creep up when many items demand attention.  Finding a calm inner peace gives your efforts more clarity and more details as you are more assured.  

These techniques enable graduates to handle rising anxiety that can complicate the enjoyment of their final year.  Setting clear goals and aspirations steers you to transform anxiety in a productive mode.  When doubt and frustration lingers, use visualization imagery to keep moving towards your goals.  This helps you see opportunities to use your learned skills in a new and exciting way.  Lastly, don’t forget to breathe and take stock of present events.  By focusing on the present and steadying your breath, clarity steadies and balances you as you continue to the finish line – graduation!

How do you ease the tension of graduation rapidly approaching? Share when you retweet my blog!

Summers in South Florida are traditionally filled with sunshine and barbeques on the beach. Growing up, however, my summers were usually confined in the depressing walls of summer school. I struggled during middle school and high school. Summer school was the only way for me to earn the required credits I’d failed during the regular year. But while I fell behind during the regular school year, I performed at the top of the class during summer school and stayed on track to graduate. That was just the beginning of my educational journey.

A world of experience

Upon graduation, I joined the United States Marines. It was a lifelong goal for which I had prepared meticulously. The Marines afforded me a world of experience and cultures. Most importantly the Marines instilled in me a sense of duty, the initiative to be the change I wish to see in the world, and the determination to get the job done no matter the challenges. After six years of service, the Marines were my family and the decision to leave was not easy. But I knew it was time to start a new chapter in my life and to rectify my less than stellar performance in the academic world.

Re-focused on academics

I now put the same dedication from service towards my academic career, working towards an Associate’s degree at Miami Dade College. A major contribution to my current academic success is the support network I encountered here. Inspirational professors encouraged me to join Phi Theta Kappa, which in turn exposed me to a multitude of employees at MDC that genuinely care about my success and endeavors. Through Phi Theta Kappa I applied for and was selected as a 2017 recipient of the Pearson Scholarship for Higher Education.

Being a college student, it’s inevitable that you might find yourself one day with a balance of $0 in your account. Whether it is the convenience of restaurants within walking distance, constant social activities with friends, or anything in between – it is easy to lose track of spending. With simple budgeting, you will be able to avoid becoming the latest victim to overdraft charges or insufficient fund fines. Here are 10 tricks that I have found helpful.

1. Always know how much money you have in your account before you spend it. Contrary to the popular phrase “ignorance is bliss,” not knowing how much money you have while spending is a fast way to a $0 balance – not to mention overdraft charges!
2. Use a budgeting app for an easier way to stay within your set parameters. I prefer Mint, which allows you to set up categories of spending for each month and sends alerts when you are approaching your limit.
3. In creating budgets, separate your needs from your wants. Do you need that extra Chipotle bowl? Or can you make your own version for half the price at home?
4. Allow wiggle room in your budget. It should not be something that completely restricts your lifestyle. John Wooden describes this perfectly in one of my favorite quotes, “Do not let making a living prevent you from making a life.”
5. Let yourself have a small splurge every now and then. Happiness is key and if spending $3 over your food budget to get ice cream makes you happy, let it happen and adjust your other spending categories that month.
6. Make your budget reflect realistic amounts. Calculate approximations on how much you can spend and save in a month and stick to it. The more time that you put into planning your budget, the more useful and productive it will be.
7. Do not forget to think about the long run. In addition to the Mint app, I have an Excel spreadsheet in which I estimate my spending and earnings in the future. In doing this, I am able to plan for 6-8 months in advance of what my balance may look like after a few months back at school.
8. Try to be as detailed as possible in your long run budget. Consider items such as continuous monthly payments (car, Netflix, rent, etc.) as well as your monthly budgets that you created for the short term.
9. Look for ways to lessen your costs and don’t be an irresponsible spender. This could include shopping at a more discounted grocery store, using coupons and rewards card, only buying a “want” if it is on sale, carpooling or even sharing an Uber with others.
10. Stick to the plan while remaining flexible enough to make adjustments along the way.

It is vital to keep a balance in your account to prepare for your future. College is the first opportunity most students have to manage our own finances. However, with earning money also comes spending money. It’s not a bad thing, as long as your set reasonable expectations for yourself. If you are able to control your expenses now, it will be much easier to invest and plan in the future.  

What is your favorite money budgeting tip? Share when you retweet my blog!

Did you know that, according to Forbes’ magazine, only 10% of the population is highly confident in public speaking? Nearly 80% experience some form of anxiety when they deliver their speech and 10% report being extremely terrified. How can we overcome the fear of public speaking? To learn more, I studied some common causes noted by speech coach Dr. Gary Genard. Here are five causes with a solution to each that I think may help.

Self–consciousness in front of groups

Indeed, many people say “I can speak in front of 4 or 5 people, but a group of 300? Forget it!” The number is too big to handle. One way to improve is to remember that a large audience is made up of individuals. Focus on communicating with your listeners by dividing your audience in groups and talk to the groups. This helps you have better eye contact and improves the quality of your conversation.

Fear of appearing nervous

This can be improved by using the “fake it till you become it” method by Harvard professor Dr. Amy Cuddy. In a TED Talk, Dr. Cuddy noted that body languages affect physiology and have priming effects on behavior. To practice, relax yourself 5-7 minutes, focus on controlling your breathing, and visualize the positive outcome. Tell yourself you can do it! The easiest way to “fake” your emotion when you’re not in a good mood is to practice smiling. A bright and full smile makes it much easier to deal with emotions in almost any situation!

Past failures generate fear

Instead of seeing a past failure as a fear, see it as a trial and learn to improve from it. After delivering any speech, sit down and evaluate yourself. Ask someone who watched your presentation for feedback. Find out what you did well and what needs to be improved. Focus on improvement for future presentations.

Fear that others are judging

Whenever you deliver a presentation, your purpose is to tell others your opinion about an issue. Because it’s an opinion, there will be people who agree or disagree. Listen to those people who give you constructive criticism. You can learn from it and improve.

Poor preparation

Being unprepared practically guarantees a speaker will stumble, forgetting the structure of their speech or the message they want to convey. Good preparation gives you an outline to follow when delivering your speech. It also means practicing thoroughly. You can use note cards for preparation of the speech, but work towards using as few as possible during your actual presentation. Your note cards should have your outline with points and sub–points. They’ll keep you organized during your presentation but won’t be a word-for-word script.

As a member of my school’s forensic speech team, I give speeches for regional and national tournaments. These five tips have been very useful for me and my teammates. I hope that they are useful enough to help you be more confident the next time you deliver a speech. Good luck with public speaking and remember- it’s nothing to fret about!

How do you prepare for public speaking? Please write them in the comments below!

What do you think about when you see the word ‘Pearson’ written in white text on the dark blue background? Do you think of a textbook or a digital learning application? For me, Pearson means so much more. It’s more than just a company, it’s full of life changing experiences. I have been a Pearson Campus Ambassador for about three years and have had very memorable stories I would like to share with you.

Nationwide connections

Pearson employs a student Campus Ambassador at over 50 campuses across the country. Up until last summer, I hadn’t met a single one of my colleagues in person. However that did not stop wonderful friendships from blooming. I feel like each one of the other Campus Ambassadors is my friend, and it’s a privilege to work alongside such dedicated students who care about education as much as I do. However, the Pearson community extends way past the Ambassador program.

Putting students first

Down to earth is usually not how you would expect to describe executives of an international corporation. However, representing the student voice on a Global Call hosted by John Fallon (Pearson’s CEO!) I was surprised to see how nice he was. I had the privilege of meeting some of the VP’s of Pearson at a national meeting in San Diego this past summer, and witnessed them reaching out to students to get our unique perspective and insights. They truly care about the students.

Last year, I moved from Japan to the United States to pursue a liberal arts education, which is uncommon in back home. Here I have an unlimited exposure to the English speaking environment which I have craved. According to the National Center of Education Statistics, of the 17 million undergraduates enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, 7% are international students and their numbers are growing. But not everyone recognizes the struggles they go through in pursuit of their education, particularly limited financial resources and language barriers.

Facing financial obstacles

Although a few students come to the United States with enough financial assets, many come with marginal assets or even student loans. International students have severely limited work options. They are basically not allowed to work off-campus for the first year. Then they can try to get a position off-campus directly related to their area of study so long as they gain approval for it through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. International students are also ineligible for most types of financial aid and cannot file FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). For some colleges, international students cannot even apply for merit-based scholarships. 

Struggling with language and culture

Language barriers are another challenge international students face. This really depends on where students are originally from. I still have difficulty catching up with English daily conversation. In a survey I conducted of international students, 54% of 33 respondents answered that engaging in daily conversation is more difficult than reading textbooks in English.

Recognizing cultural differences can be difficult for international students.  I frequently have been marooned in the conversation especially when someone tells a joke or when a debate heats up. Because of this, sometimes international students end up clustering with other students from the same background. While it may provide comfort, too much cohesion often reduces exposure to the English speaking environment and essentially defeats the purpose of studying in the United States.

Between limited work resources and barriers between languages and cultures – being an international student is very challenging! But the educational opportunities make it a worthy goal to pursue.

What do you think? How do you suggest dealing with these problems? Comment below and let’s collaborate as a student community!

College has taught me a lot – even outside the classroom. I am not only tested on scantrons – but also my social skills, professional skills, and time management.  Each semester in college has taught me something new about myself. The most important lesson learned is to always put yourself first.

Social freedom

Friends are our support system. They are our second family and the people we share our ups and downs with. When you come to college, this sense of social freedom takes over. With no parents to answer to, we get consumed with the fun of being “free”. Sometimes that freedom can become a problem in one’s college journey.

Losing track of my own needs

It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the social aspect of college. I occasionally get so involved in my friendships that I forget that my feelings and state of mind matter – or more importantly – that other aspects of college matter. I would put their needs before mine because I wanted to be social and the  “go-to girl” who was down to have fun and do things all the time.

This approach wasn’t bad at the time. I made many memories that I will cherish and remember. Those friends are still my closest friends. However, I forgot about myself and my own journey. I made socializing my priority and my academics took a hit.

I am important

By refocusing on my values and morals, I realized that I am important. My feelings and mindset matter. I can’t expect to prioritize fun and still be able to achieve my academic goals. I need to prioritize myself before others. That realization changed the course of my college experience. I no longer felt the “need” to be “social” because I had a better perspective.

Bouncing back

The openness I felt and the new sense of freedom of being on top of my schoolwork and professional life made it easier for me to be social. I thought less and lived more.

It is not wrong to be social; it’s about prioritization. My college journey has taught me that one can bounce back from anything, but it is about realizing your mistake before it’s too late. My mistake was lack of prioritization and value for myself. Every person handles life differently. Due to my caring personality, being too social became my weakness. I want to say to others, “don’t make the same mistake as me”. Talk to yourself and try to find your weakness. If you make a mistake, then learn from it. Life will always keep coming with new circumstances.

Pearson Students: How do you prioritize? What changes would you make to your challenges in your college career? Share with the student community by commenting below!

As a child and into my teen years I was very shy. When I was eight years old I started ballet. I joined a pre-professional ballet company in Houston where I had the opportunity to move up in the company line and later mentored younger dancers. Ballet helped me come out of my shell when speaking to adults and performing in front of hundreds of people. Ballet is what made me into the person I am today.

Valuable Life Lessons

Learning how to take constructive criticism from my dancing instructors helped me focus on improving my technique instead of feeling defeated. I also learned how to communicate effectively with adults and my fellow counterparts. Additionally, ballet allowed me to learn how to manage my schedule. When I joined the senior company, I would dance more than 20 hours a week, participating in about ten performances a year. At the same time, I had school commitments along with church and family commitments every week. Ballet was a part of my life for ten years and those ten years were filled with good times and hard times.