During my freshman year of college, I made many new friends, and with that came birthday celebrations. A few of my friends talked about their annual traditions which usually included their families. While my July birthday allowed me to be at home to celebrate, I realized that friends with birthdays occurring during the school year would have a very different experience without their families nearby. A birthday should be a happy occasion, not a day to feel homesick because you are away from home for the first time. So whenever I can, I make it my job to ensure my friends have the best day ever.
My roommate Julia and I instantly became best friends, and having a whole semester spent together I felt pretty confident about what to do for her when her birthday came around in February. A few days prior to her birthday, I picked up a card and a few of her favorite snacks. I woke up early and wrote a sweet note in the card and placed in on her desk so she would see it when she woke up – alongside her favorite snacks! A gesture like this goes a long way. It shows that you care about your friends and that you listen and pay attention to the small things they share with you.
Later that day, I coordinated with another one of Julia’s friends to decorate our room while Julia and I were in class. This unexpected act caught her by surprise when she was least expecting it. That was a moment she and I will never forget. Later, I organized a small group of her closest friends to go out to a fun restaurant to continue the celebration. We took a lot of pictures that we can cherish and remember the day forever. Julia spent her birthday feeling happy and celebrating with friends instead of missing her family.
Although it was not my birthday, it was my duty as her friend to make it unforgettable and as special as possible for her first birthday away from home.
How do you celebrate your birthday away from home? Share your experiences when you retweet my blog!
Generation Y. Millennials. Today’s youth. Regardless of what you label the young adults now entering the workforce, it’s worth considering how they will contribute to a greater purpose. To that end, perhaps we should be encouraging students to explore and ask “why?” more often. It may be time for Generation Y to become Generation “Why” for the good of their future employability.
Many inspirational innovators ask “why?” with intentionality. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson may have asked why he couldn’t advance science as both a researcher and public communicator; Chance the Rapper may have questioned why a champion for independent music production did not yet exist; Oprah Winfrey may have once wondered why the highest-rated talk show in the history of American television was not yet her own. These are real, outstanding people. And they are a few of the most highly employable individuals on this earth.
Employability has previously been defined by Professors Peter Knight and Mantz Yorke as “a set of achievements, understandings and personal attributes that make individuals more likely to gain employment and to be successful in their chosen occupations.” I further define employability as “one’s capacity to create value for others.” Note that while today’s innovators are clearly employable, this is often a result of their primary efforts to create value for others. And while the creative process lacks a universal set of steps, I have found three actions to be most crucial to creating for and serving others. Neil, Chance, and Oprah have done each of them, countless times over.
Exploration
We all have creativity, but express it to differing extents based on our priorities and willingness to take risks.Consider exploring more than one passion, skill, or academic subject. Become invested in a cause much bigger than yourself – perhaps more so than you already are. Discover what hasn’t been done before, and then ask “why?”
“Creativity – having original ideas of value – is the product of intersection of varying interests.” – Sir Ken Robinson, Do Schools Kill Creativity?
I explore via biomedical research. I make myself more valuable by understanding how nanotechnology and optics can intersect to improve handheld diagnostic technologies. Through national academic conferences – such as the Beckman Symposium, Biomedical Engineering Society, and even the National Conference on Race and Social Equity – I have traveled far from home to share content and develop valuable connections. You can explore by expanding your social network, joining student organizations, and learning about a topic to a greater depth that you may be expected. Tie into employability through creating value for others. The depth of understanding and personal connections that come from exploration are valuable to others; they make you all the more employable.
Self-Management
We all have creativity, but it takes time to make the most of your imagination. It is difficult to manage your time and energy well enough to transform creativity into action. Consider setting aside time every week for self-reflection to have some consistency during your journey. Look at your goals as projects that you manage. Contemplate what has been stopping you, and then ask “why?”
“We need more people who ask new questions and find new answers, think critically and creatively, innovate and take initiative, and know how to learn on the job, under their own steam.” – Peter Gray, The Play Deficit
My introduction to self-management came from designing my own engineering curriculum. As a researcher, I aim to create value by developing point-of-care diagnostic technologies that account for both engineering and human factors constraints. Interdisciplinary engineering satisfies my dual interest in high-level biomedical and systems engineering, such that I will understand physiology, bioresponse, biomaterials, bioinstrumentation, nanotechnology, and human factors at a high level upon graduation. You can improve your self-management by starting a Google Calendar, being judicious with involvement, and better preparing for your most important commitments. Through self-management, you can begin to market yourself to create value in the area of your choosing; it makes you all the more employable.
Collaboration
We all have creativity, but too often keep it to ourselves instead of working together with our peers. Learning is not a winner-take-all endeavor, though. Rather, education is an opportunity for collaboration; with more input comes more solutions.Consider who would most benefit from your support. While leading a team to pursue your ideas is an exciting challenge, at times you may be more valuable as someone’s first follower. Think about bright ideas or friends who don’t yet have a first follower, and then ask “why?”
“The first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. It takes guts to stand out like that. The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.” – Derek Sivers, How to Start a Movement
I have enjoyed working with fellow students to develop an Academic Affairs Commission within Texas A&M student government. While I may have succeeded in improving peer mentorship and student feedback on my own, I’ve found the support of an Executive Team to be critical in promoting change. In similar veins, I’ve collaborated with peers to start a podcast, begin an educational technology startup, and teach underserved youth in my hometown community how to play tennis. You can further collaborate by organizing a project/event with friends, bringing your connections together for a bigger cause, or being someone else’s first follower. Great leaders can act as trusted followers. Use yourgenerosity and support to empower others. All things considered, the practice of collaboration will result in valuable friendships and a background in group project work; it makes you all the more employable.
I seek out those who create value. I visit with friends, family, and mentors. I attend concerts, stream movies, and enjoy comedy. I learn from professors, connect with fellow lab researchers, and seek out the multitude of resources available in my large university community. Our future will be shaped by the passionate leaders in industry, research, non-profit and entrepreneurial communities who create value in their own, unique ways. Regardless of where your past has taken you or what your future holds, I believe that seeking out exploration, self-management, and collaboration will encourage you to stand out and create value. I hope that my Generation Y peers build themselves up to employ their strengths for the betterment of our future. There’s a whole world out there. Dream big, Generation “Why”.
Socialization is a significant element in campus life. It’s important to question, however, if there should be a limit to what extent we socialize? Socialization can be a powerful tool, it opens tremendous opportunities for you. You may find yourself establishing new friendships or becoming a leader on campus. However, it’s important that you manage it, to ensure maximum success and happiness. If you make socialization a priority over your academics, you might find yourself in a crisis. Therefore, I want to share with you three things that can help you maximize the benefits of your campus social life.
Participating in an extracurricular activity is a way to connect yourself with other like minded individuals. The campus population is formed from a variety of different groups such as students, professors, staff members, guests, and community members. How you connect with them is very important, but it’s essential to stay true to your beliefs. You can meet unique and diverse individuals, no matter what your passion is. There are organizations centered on religion, activities, politics, ethnicity, and special talents.
Your academics should set priority. Earning your degree is the top goal of being in college. To do this, you need to have time management skills. Plan for each activity you want to participate in and make sure you don’t overload yourself. Know what time works best for you to attend classes and what time works for studying. The time you have leftover can be used to spend with friends and socializing. This ensures balance and won’t create a strain on your academic goals or mental health.
Where you choose to socialize is important. Some students socialize in their residential area while some students enjoy going off-campus, such as in a nightclub. Keep in mind that not everywhere is safe and rewarding. I personally prefer to meet people in my clubs and organizations because it guarantees that we have something in common to talk about.
Socializing is an important aspect to college. You make friends with roommates and classmates. Just remember three things when it comes to your social life: academics are a priority, your place of socialization should be considered, and check out special interest clubs on campus to meet new people.
How do you socialize in college? Please share when you retweet this blog!
College students can take advantage of a variety of extracurricular activities to enhance life outside the classroom. Participation in clubs and organizations allows you to meet and network with others. It can also play a key role in your college experience. The demands of an extracurricular active life can add pressure as you balance school, work, and life responsibilities. Keeping a few tips in mind can offer you tools to meet extra pressure and enjoy the totality of being a college student.
Prioritize
As the excitement to become involved pulls at your time, a strong time-management plan strengthens your ability to be active and still meet your other responsibilities. Set priorities to create an effective management system to optimize your experience. Some activities may conflict with study sessions or work schedules. Weighing the importance of your priorities and measuring your desire to participate can direct how to make the most of your available time. Implementing a ranking system helps you see the level of importance to you.
Reflect on your activity
Consider what you want to gain from extracurricular involvement and keep those goals in mind when you are participating in any activity. If the activity is an opportunity to socialize, use the time to engage others and offer input. If the activity is for relaxation and/or recreation, enjoy the moment so you reduce stress. If the activity’s purpose will bolster your network contacts, remain engaged and seek out the information that can help your goals.
Excel in class
Since your schedule allowed the activities to be a part of your life, the diversion from course work can alleviate stress. With a lighter frame of mind, focusing on your studies during the appointed time eases the pressure that your workload demands. Staying persistent with your time awareness and self-checks of health, diet, and sleep should pay off throughout the semester. If you keep in mind that you control your time, you can make adjustments during difficult moments.
With so many opportunities to take part in college, it can be easy to push coursework to the side. A solid time management plan is the best way to balance all areas to make the most of your experience. A plan that is adjustable allows for you to master your ability to multi-task while dedicating time to your studies. Striving to achieve balance between what you’re learning inside the classroom and what you can gain through extracurriculars will enhance your entire college experience. Get out there and join in!
How do you prioritize activities and coursework? Share when you retweet my blog!
During my second year of school I met a girl in my astronomy class who was struggling with school and life overall. I immediately decided to mentor her and offered to take all classes next semester together since our major was the same one, and that I would help her along the way. By the end of the following semester, her GPA improved and she changed many habits that were holding her back from becoming a better student.
When an opportunity is given to us to help others, this should not be ignored. You never know when you will need a friendly hand to help you overcome a difficult time. But even if you don’t think you’ll ever need help, you might want to still consider this, because while you might not get anything in return, you will might help change someone’s life, and from my own experience, you can’t put a price on that type of action.
When we help others, not only are we improving their lives, but we are also paying it forward, because at some point, we were the ones being helped. Creating an unstoppable chain of good hearted actions can go a long way, beyond the imaginable.
We’ve seen this happen when we are buying lunch or coffee in a drive thru and at the window, as we take our payment out, we are told that the person before us paid for our order. It feels nice to know some stranger didn’t need recognition and simply felt the need to pay it forward.
For me, I would feel immense gratification when I see my classmate graduate with a rocking GPA and perhaps, as a mentor for another student in need of someone to believe in them and guide them through the finish line.
Random acts of kindness come in many different forms! Pearson Students, what is a way that you showed a random act of kindness, or were you the recipient of a random act of kindness?
Community Service acts as an umbrella for many ways to serve. People may find their passion in serving in a food kitchen, others by donating old clothes, however, there are also some that are off the beaten path. Since my junior year of high school, I have found a passion in helping find a cure to pediatric cancer. Over the past 4 years, I have had a helping hand in raising over $2.9 million for this cause contributing to something as big as research or as small as gas money for families commuting to the hospital. I found this passion from working with the kids themselves. Throughout my 4 years of experience, I have found that just seeing a smile can completely change my day.
Have you ever considered building your career by working at a startup?
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines a startup company as “a new business, or a fledgling enterprise.”
With such a broad definition, startups can come in many different sizes, across a multitude of industries, with a wide variety of products. Startups face the full spectrum of business problems that all companies face– from day-to-day operations to product development to sales and marketing. The defining struggle common to all startups is that they do not have enough employees, resources, and capital to meet the demands on the company as it grows. Thus, the onus falls to the startup’s limited number of employees to voraciously learn, adapt and experiment with potential solutions to a wide variety of problems until the challenges are addressed. This highly dynamic environment affords a unique opportunity for rapid personal growth and development that no other type of company can provide.
While this may sound like the ultimate combination of intimidating and terrifying, remember the words of the late Steve Jobs, who said, “everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you…once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.”
The first main benefit of the startup environment is that it forces you to learn how to learn very quickly. My first internship was at a two person mobile app startup and upon starting work, I was immediately tasked with creating a web application to visualize user usage data, single-handedly and from scratch despite lacking any prior relevant work experience. As you can imagine I was repeatedly overwhelmed by the learning curve, but I was lucky to have a mentor to guide me. By the end of the term, I was able to deploy a rudimentary version of the application. In hindsight, I now recognize that my struggles were symptoms of growth and personal development and that working through them helped develop my ability to learn quickly and work through hard problems.
The second main benefit is that the startup environment can provide the opportunity to work on many different types of problems, which is critical in discovering your talents, passions and determining your career path. I was hired for a marketing and analytics internship at an education-tech startup in my sophomore year. Outside of my official job duties, I also ended up learning how to write computer scripts to automate the marketing experiment creation process, after discovering major inefficiencies in the existing process. After that, I realized that there was no easy way to collect data from my experiments, so I also learned to build a data processing and analytics tool using a variety of online web-services to do it for me. Within the span of three months, I ended up working in five different areas of the company that would each have dedicated departments at an established company.
Lastly, because of the many different tasks you will undertake, your potential impact on the company will be huge. The workload will often times dwarf the amount of human resources available, thus the amount of responsibility per employee is quite large. By extension of this, the visibility of your work and its influence on the company’s progress, health and overall success will also be quite large.
For all their benefits though, let’s not forget that startups are also distinguished for being high risk-high reward. It is inherently difficult to create a new company from nothing and grow it to the point where it is profitable and self-sustaining– in fact according to Fortune Magazine, on average 9 in 10 startups end up failing. Furthermore, the experience and culture can vary greatly from startup to startup. Choosing the correct startup with an optimal learning and work environment is critical to being successful and having a good experience.
How do you find the right startup?
People
People are the fundamental criterion because they are what really what make or break the company. The startup environment is stressful, the odds are stacked against you and the culture and environment that your co-workers create will be the cornerstone of your experience at the company. Make sure to do research into the company’s culture and to assess the interactions you have with each employee to see if you’d fit in well at the company. The smaller the company, the more impact each employee has on that company’s culture.
Company Mission
You must believe in the company’s overall mission and goals. Startups are stressful and a lot of work so it is very easy to burn out quickly if what you are working towards does not resonate with you. Additionally, being passionate about what you do is critical for sustained focus, work ethic and long term success.
Growth Potential
Ask yourself, “how willing is this company to invest in me and my future?” Your growth potential at a given company is directly reflected by the answer to this question. You want to work for someone more experienced, who is willing to teach you and take real risks on you with their own career, for the sake of your growth. Make sure your boss is also your mentor.
How do you find some of these startup companies?
That’s not so straightforward. The startup companies you hear about in the media are usually venture-scale startups, which usually means they are aiming to become billion-dollar companies. These companies raise money from venture capitalists, whose job it is to invest in promising startups for a cut of the potential profits. So, one simple way to find interesting startups is to look at venture capital firms’ portfolios – typically available online on their websites – and see what companies they invest in.
But what about the startups that aren’t shooting for the moon? There are many of these companies locally in every city or town. They won’t get as much press and their customers are often very niche which makes them more difficult to find, but the opportunities they afford are very much the same. Some common techniques to use include:
Campus Recruiting: Check out local job fairs and recruiting sessions! Startups often have some kind of presence at these events in an effort to find top talent.
Conferences and Events: Venture capital firms and local community groups sometimes host events with the purpose of helping people meet startups!
Word-of-Mouth: Word gets around quickly when there’s an exciting new company around the area. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends or post online to see if anyone’s heard of any new promising, up-and-coming companies.
Online Research: Most companies these days have websites. Try searching online for startups in your area. Some cities even have websites dedicated to listing local startups. Startup incubators and accelerators also often have lists of companies they support. AngelList is a common web portal used international for finding startups.
Online Facebook Groups: Online communities of entrepreneurs and “hackers” are also often a great place to start. Startup communities are generally tight knit and startups will often put job postings on some of these groups.
Venture Capitalist Firm websites: Venture capitalists’ jobs are to find and invest money in high potential startups and they often list the companies they have invested in on their websites! Looking at some of the top venture firms’ portfolio companies for a given industry is a great place to start. Within the technology industry, the most distinguished is Sequoia Capital, having a long history of being able to identify extraordinary companies including Google, Apple, YouTube, Cisco, PayPal and Airbnb, while they were still in their infancy.
Startups are highly unpredictable and are in a constant state of flux. However for those willing to accept the risks, there is the opportunity to rapidly grow both personally and professionally. And even if a company were to fail, the versatility and grit learned from working at a startup can be easily transferred to whatever your next job is. The next time you are looking for a job, internship or a change in career, consider going to a startup!
The investment you make in a higher education is a waste of time, effort and resources if you spend that investment within your comfort zone. The point of any investment – higher education, starting a business, traveling or even a hobby – is to test and expand the limits of your mind and pave new experiences that are UNSIMILAR in scope and breadth to your past. This is how and where growth happens.
When you push the boundaries of your comfort zone, you are building a bridge between the person you are and the person you want to be. Fear gets in the way of that transformation. You see the person you want to be, but are afraid to take the steps to be that person because that involves a risk of failure. There is no guarantee that even if you take that chance you will be successful and failure hurts. Even the idea of failure is painful.
At the same time, by never taking that risk you are guaranteed to stay the same person you have always been. Within our bubble, we have mastered a predictable routine. There is safety, security and stability. There is also stagnation, but people do not realize how stagnant they have become until months, years or even decades pass by and they are still the same person with the same familiar experiences. This realization is typically buckled with some deep seated regrets. There comes a time when you become a passive observer of your own life rather than an active participant. Fortunately, this can be avoided by a habitual practice of escaping your comfort zone.
First, define what is outside of your comfort zone
This is your “I wish” list. For example, I wish I could:
run a marathon in record time.
play the piano as well as a concert pianist.
get my doctorate from an Ivy League school.
You get the idea. Define the reality you want that is clearly outside of your comfort zone and write it down. Then say it out loud. When you say it out loud, substitute “I wish” with “I will”. It is important to speak it into existence. This is the early stage of challenging your comfort zone.
Second, create a pathway from within your comfort zone to the edge and beyond
This is where the two realities meet. For instance, let’s say you want to run a marathon in record time but have not exercised in two years. It would be ludicrous to do a marathon tomorrow but you can start with a 10 minute walk around the neighborhood tonight. Take the same approach to every item on your wish list. The trick is to break it up into small, actionable steps that you can take to achieve those goals.
Third, get support!
It can be intimidating to venture out of your comfort zone. There will be some psychological elements that you have to overcome on your own, but there is a network of support ready to lift you up! Whether it is your group of family and friends or an online forum or even social media – it does not matter! Any type of positive support can help keep you accountable.
Finally, reflect on your progress
It is easy to get lost in the shuffle while actively trying to breach your comfort zone. It is vital that you take some time to reflect on your setbacks and accomplishments. Be patient with yourself and remember every step forward, no matter how small, is progress. Set regular breaks to reflect on your journey outside of your comfort zone.
As you venture out of your comfort zone, your horizons will be expanded. What you have believed about what is possible will change while building that bridge to the person you want to become. Personally, I make it a point to consistently push the envelope. You will learn a lot from your experiences if you push it, too. I challenge my clients to explore outside of their comfort zone in order to redefine their access to higher education and professional achievement. I help my clients reach beyond their comfort zone with confidence.
What efforts do you make outside of your comfort zone? Share with the Pearson Students community when you retweet this blog!
College has many aspects, all of which carry importance. Grades and classes obviously hold weight. Joining clubs and making friends are high up there as well. However, out of everything that you can learn at college, independence takes the cake.
For most incoming students, college is the first experience with actual freedom. No longer are parents breathing down your neck and preventing you from going to a party or skipping class. Suddenly you do your own grocery shopping and remember to do your laundry. Through my escapade of college freedom, I have found three tips to ensure I keep a level head and remain successful with my coursework:
Read your syllabus to see if there’s an attendance policy. Some professors only let you miss class a certain number of times before they dock your grade. If the number of allowable absences is three and you’ve already skipped twice, try to save that last opportunity for a time when you really need it. The next time you’re thinking of skipping to do something fun or because you just feel lazy, this knowledge will force you to go to class.
Make a to-do list! Write down any homework or chores you must do. If you need to go to the grocery store, make a grocery list to stay organized when shopping. Whether you like to use an actual planner or choose to take advantage of e-planners and note apps for phones or computers, find what works for you and use it!
Eat well and exercise. Your parents won’t be there to cook wholesome, organic meals anymore. That’s all up to you now. While pizza for the 7th night in a row this week might sound tempting, it’s important to remember that your physical nutrition impacts your mental abilities and social motivations. Schedule in regular exercise several times a week. Take advantage of your campus recreation facilities if you can.
As you start out in college, you begin making your own decisions. It feels powerful. Without your parents, no one is going to convince you to stay home and study rather than go to that party. If you have a headache, you’ll have to make the decision to go to class or stay in bed. These banal choices you make during your four years of college aren’t going to determine the rest of your life, but you might as well get in the practice of being responsible. That isn’t to say you should always skip fun opportunities, but make sure you don’t need your parents to keep you on track. Be your own conscious, and make responsible decisions.
