Students blog

Writing this as I am finishing my Spring semester of my second year of my college career is incredibly euphoric. The person who I have grown into today has been through many ups and downs: academically, mentally, emotionally, socially, you name it! My experiences these last few years have opened my eyes and made me want to find a way to (hopefully) inspire someone to be a bit more aware about things you will encounter as a college student. Of course everyone is going down different paths with their respective majors but in all honesty, there is so much overlap with us all because college is a diverse playing field that you learn to navigate.

My main piece of advice is to make sure that you are as open as possible your freshman year. Be open to new ideas, new food choices, new landscapes, and most importantly, seeing yourself and others differently. You have been surrounded by the same people for years and you feel like you might know who you are and what you are capable of – however, by being open to new ideas you might be surprised to find a new side of yourself! What college has taught me is that you can never be too sure of the future. Not everything is predictable or concrete. There will always be things that surprise you.

Some of the greatest memories that I have made have been because I put my anxieties to the side for a moment and just tried something new. At first, I felt like I did not belong on my campus because I just could not seem to make friends with the right people and being that I am multi-racial, I felt like I was underrepresented. However, what kept me motivated at SDSU were the professors, and my hometown friends encouraging me to find the right people in which to surround myself.

I continued to pursue what I love: fashion, brunch and marketing. I applied for the Marketing Committee and delightfully was accepted. I finally found a place to really expand my reach throughout the student body.

I struggled with making sure I was investing my time at the right place. Who you decide to live with in the dorms is a big decision, and therefore it’s also important to keep an open mind about your potential roommate options.  There will be different people in your life –  classmates, people you hang out with, and true unconditional friendship that consist of meaningful conversations.  Having all three in one individual is rare so it’s important that you are able to differentiate between them all.

Let people learn who they are as you learn who you are, and let that be enough. That goes with friendships, diets, relationships, and most of all, academics. I let issues in my dorm life take too much of a toll on me that it affected my learning in Business Calculus, which resulted in me retaking the course this past Fall. Although I had to retake the course, I am proud to say that I learned the material, went to office hours and retained it so much more this Fall than I would have had I just tried to pass the course.

Failures and good experiences are just a few ingredients that are bound to be included for your Freshman year but I will leave you with a quote from my favorite Comm 101 professor, Master Rapp: “Be vulnerable. Allow yourself that much, without vulnerability, you will not allow love into your life and that is the biggest inconvenience you could do to yourself.”

A mentor is defined as “a trusted counselor or guide” (Merriam-Webster). Throughout my life, I have looked for a mentor in all that I do, and have always tried to reciprocate it. Mentors come in all kinds of forms, whether they are defined as a mentor or not. My first mentors were my parents and my grandparents. Family often shapes morals, values, actions, mentalities, and much more from a young age. My family enforced the idea of working hard while always finding time for the important parts of life. As I began school, teachers and friends became mentors. Seeing how my teachers cared for myself and my peers enforced the importance of compassion in my life. Throughout high school and now in college, my friends have become my mentors and my mentors have become my friends.

As I have gotten older, I have realized that mentors are not always 20 years older who are assigned the role of guidance. My roommates have acted as mentors in classes that we are taking, or decisions about internships and the professional process, or even just building habits such as eating healthy and exercising. Besides being the same age, mentors can be younger as well. I have met various people this year at school who are younger than myself and have such a drive and passion for life that they have inspired me to continue to work towards my goals.

With each day passing, I look for an opportunity to work in someone else’s life as a mentor, even if it is just in the smallest way.  This semester I have had the opportunity to be the Vice President of Pledge Education for my business fraternity as I have led 17 students through the pledging process preparing to be an active member. My goal for this role was to develop them professionally and personally as much as possible. At first, I found difficulty in this as I have not had as many experiences due to my young age. Throughout this whole process, I learned that there is nothing wrong in asking for help. I have greatly utilized older members of our chapter for various professional events that I planned, because the more well-rounded an event is, the more useful it is for the pledges. Even acting as a mentor this semester, I have had various mentors and learned more about leadership than what I ever could have imagined.

Throughout the rest of my life, I will utilize the lessons I have learned from my mentors for the past, but always search for more mentors in all that I do. Everyone has a story, and each story has a lesson from it, good or bad. If you are in search of guidance, a mentor is always there to help, even if they do not come across as that right away.

Coping with stress may seem like a bearable task, but finals week offers a completely different scenario. We all know the struggles of late nights in the library, excessive amounts of coffee, and constant fear of failure, but there has to be an escape. To survive finals week, you need to take a break; find some way your mind can forget the numbers and vocabulary pressing on the overall health of your mind. Without a break, stress can overcome your whole life. With a few tips, you can fight the stress and go through finals week with ease and peace of mind.

What is that one hobby, one activity that gives you the euphoric sense of no stress? For me, it’s a round of golf and just being in the sun on a nice South Carolina day. Outside, no amount of schoolwork can ruin my happiness. It is valuable to create the time to do the things that make you drop your worries, as forgetting about the stress is vital to protecting your mind. Oversaturation of information will not only create more stress, but it will make the information harder to retain.

Lastly, do not be afraid to get some sleep or take a nap. Too many of my friends spend their nights in the library, get 4 hours of sleep, then do it all over again. No amount of caffeine will give you the focus you need to get through finals. Rather, it will slowly break down your ability to think critically, degrading your overall mental health. Find 20 minutes to close your eyes, clear your thoughts, and replenish your focus for the studying ahead.

As much as these steps are important, there may not be feasible time to get away from school. So how do you relieve the stress without getting away from the problem? Studying for finals is stressful by nature, but there are a few ways to ease your mind during the prep work for this dreaded week. Though it may seem less productive, study with peers. Not only is it helpful to bounce questions off those who are in the same classes, but getting off topic can be a great method to clear your head. For me, studying usually takes a back seat to Gamecock football for at least a few minutes. There is no harm in spending a few minutes away from the debits and credits or the calculus formulas that are filling your thoughts!

No matter how you deal with stress, make time for yourself during this difficult week. Finals may seem like the time you have drop everything, but there are plenty of ways to clear your head. If you solely dive into your notes, your stress levels may not be healthy. Your mental health depends on finding some “me” time to fit into your schedule!

Social media has become a part of our everyday lives and only continues to grow in the amount of times we depend on it throughout the day.  Sharing pictures, memories, and opinions with thousands of people at the touch of your fingertips has changed the way we think and live. Although older generations will debate that it is ruining our communication skills and face-to-face interactions they may need to look at it from a new perspective.

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all have different objectives, but at the end of the day, they all are used to reach large numbers of people with simple and instantaneous access. Using these social media platforms can expand your personal network and help increase your knowledge from numerous perspectives. You can share your achievements and passions with anyone  – even outside your close friend circle! By using social media for personal networking, you can almost effortlessly get new insights and build relationships with one post.

From my personal experience the best advice I can give any college student is to use your social media for a deeper, more productive, result. By creating a virtual brand for yourself you can show your accomplishments, goals, and future plans to endless amounts of followers. You never know which of these followers can potentially help or encourage you to reach the accomplishments and goals you want to attain.  People can only see what you allow them to on the internet so you might as well make it the best version of yourself and influence others to do the same.

Social Media is a powerful tool, so I encourage you to use it wisely! Posting about your goals and aspirations is much more insightful than what you were wearing to the last party you went to! Keep in mind who your audience is with each post. With a limitless ocean of viewers, your public profile is not only exposed to your classmates and friends, but also future employers who will be looking at your social media platforms to make judgments for your candidacy.

I think that everyone has someone they can call a role model in their life. Whether it is someone you know personally or a famous person you look up to, I feel that everyone can feel inspired by at least one other person in the world.

One of my many role models is my mother. She has always inspired me through her actions and her lessons she has taught me. My mother had me when she was eighteen and she wasn’t ready for a child at all. She quickly turned her life around and worked hard to graduate adult education and receive a high school diploma before I was born. When I was born, she saved all her money for a trailer that I called home for a couple years. My grandmother allowed my mother to buy some land from her and we transported a home onto the land, this home still continues to be my home. My mother has provided a stable life for me even though she was never able to fully experience everything she could have.

After we obtained stability and my mother was hired into a more constant job, she decided to have my little sister. During the last couple months of her pregnancy, both of my cousins had family situations happen. My oldest cousins mother had died many years ago, but now her grandmother was going to give up her rights and put her into foster care. My mother didn’t hesitate to become my eldest cousin’s guardian and then not much longer my other cousins mother died of cancer leaving four siblings out of a home.

My mother became the guardian of one of the siblings from the family and the rest went to live with my grandmother. Within one year my mother went from having one child to four children. Our household’s money was tight for a while, and my mother tried her best to give us an amazing childhood experience. My father built the second half of our house all by himself to give us each our own bedroom. My mother also gave us an allowance for cleaning the house that we had the option of putting together in order to go out to dinner, bowing, or the movies. Finally, she always tries to help us learn from our experiences.

Currently, my oldest sister and I am the first ones ever to go to college in our family. Our mother has been there for both of us every step of the way, even though she never was able to go to college herself. My mother and I are very close and I consider her one of my best friends. I hope to help her and repay all the kindness she gave me and my siblings, but for now I still look up to her as my mother and my biggest role model.

Who is your biggest role model? What impact did they have on your life?

As I’m sure is the case with most college students, my degree program has a required internship component. What does this mean? I can’t graduate unless I have an internship for college credit before my senior year of college. Talk about added pressure to my junior school year! I needed to start searching ASAP to apply and receive an internship by the end of the spring semester. I was unsure where to start, and navigated my way through endless job search websites and school career fairs. Thankfully, by November I had locked in an internship of my dreams with a billion-dollar company. However, the journey there was intimidating and stressful. With today’s internships being so competitive, I wanted to share some tips for scoring your dream internship, (or at least one to be excited about), in hopes that your search is as stress free as possible.

1. Start in the fall.

Many large companies have their intern spots filled by the spring semester. Get an early start and beat the competition! Have your resume reviewed and a cover letter ready.

2. Start by attending your school’s career fair.

Even if the companies are not what you are looking for, career fairs are great interview experience. It helped me build confidence in networking, and even landed me an interview. You may find your dream internship opportunity here!

3. Check job websites frequently.

Keep an open mind and check locations and jobs you would not normally think of when contemplating internships. New postings pop up all the time, so check back often!

4. Create/update your LinkedIn!

If you think you “creep” on the internet, companies do it too! Keep your LinkedIn in top shape so when employers scout, they find an awesome representation of you! Fun fact: My LinkedIn profile is how I became a Pearson Campus Ambassador!

5. Apply for everything you think is remotely interesting!

You never know who will give you a response! Even if you think the job is a longshot, APPLY, APPLY, APPLY!

6. Take any interview you can get.

The first job I interviewed for was not exactly what I was looking for, but hey, an internship is an internship, and it’s important to keep all options open. It’s better to have multiple options to choose from when accepting a position.

7. Keep a list!

Most companies require you to create a login when applying on their website, so it’s a good idea to jot down each company you apply for, the position, and your login information. Also write down the date you submitted your application so you have a good reference date for follow up emails. I know you’re going to apply for a bunch of positions, (if you doubt this, see step 5), so the list will be a great reference to remember where you applied and when!

8. Have confidence in yourself!

I know it seems like you’re a small fish in a giant pond, but have more confidence in yourself. You’ve worked hard in college to built a rockin’ resume, and it will be noticed! Put yourself out there and see how far you will go!

With these tips, you will be on the right track to land a great internship! Even if your program or school does not require an internship, you should still seek one out! You receive valuable skills and insights that you can apply from your coursework – not to mention it looks great on a resume! Are you applying for an internship soon? What do you look for in an internship? Share with the Pearson Students community!

I am currently seeking a degree in General Studies, which allows me to focus on more than one area.  I am pursuing a career in Environmental Sustainability.

When asked “What is Sustainability”, a lot of people will attempt to provide an answer, but when giving their definition they get lost in their explanation.  The problem is because there is not an universally agreed definition on what sustainability means.  I would define sustainability as, the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. Sustainability is the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources to maintain an ecological balance. 

I am currently working on a project that explains how I feel about sustainability.  I found that because I was not formerly educated in sustainability, I live a very unsustainable life.   I am enrolled in a “Sustainability on Campus” course at the University of Michigan and I am learning what I must change to live in a sustainable world.  Due to the major implications of the human population using up the Earth’s natural resources, I am determined to change my lifestyle and act as a steward of sustainability, teaching the behavioral changes needed to save our planet.

Not all communities are as serious about sustainability as the University of Michigan. It is a known fact that a failure to incorporate sustainable practices in education, and in business, happen frequently across the United States because sustainability is deemed a complicated process.

It is for this reason that a change must take place.  It will require a lifelong lifestyle commitment of learning, research, and commitment to increase the best sustainable practices, to ensure our grandchildren’s children will have a planet that can sustain the punishment that so many people have inflicted.

As a transfer student coming to the University of Michigan, I am hopeful, that I have found a suitable career path in which to pursue.   I have chosen to pursue a career as a steward of Sustainability.  I have strategized, over what it would take for me gain the necessary skills and background required to pursue a career in sustainability, and have discovered that I would like to work with young children as a steward of sustainability.  My attention was brought to the University and I have determined that every year the University of Michigan, brings in a fresh group of students.  However, not all of these students have been formerly educated in sustainability.   I discovered this problem because of the lack of knowledge I had when asked “what is sustainability”. I was left with my mouth open unable to answer. This is a problem that must be addressed to save our planet.

All children in the United States deserve equal educational opportunities, and to save the planet, sustainability must be incorporated at all levels of education.

My philosophy is, to maximize growth and understanding of sustainability.  To do this we must start with our roots, our children.  By teaching our children about sustainability, in elementary school, those children will go home, and act as sustainable stewards with their parents.  As our children mature, they will grow with the ever-changing protocol, that surrounds sustainability.  When ready for their next phases in middle school and high school, they will have developed a foundation on which to grow further in educational sustainability issues.

To educate all our children in sustainability, we must focus on our state and federal legislatures.  All children in the United States must have an equal representation in education, and by failing to provide our children with the basic tools to become sustainable, we are preventing our country from becoming sustainable.  Encouraging a statewide initiative to provide the children of all communities, education in sustainability is a must. I believe all students should be required to learn about Sustainability, just like English, History, and Mathematics at all levels of education.  Educating our children in sustainability is the necessary tool, I feel that will save our planet.

It was in my African American Literature class, when I realized I wasn’t alone. I looked around at my peers and noticed that the majority of the class was not present, mentally. After my professor took attendance, the class began to engage in small conversation. She stated with concern in her voice “It seems like everyone this semester is going through something. I just hope that you all get through alright” (Amaris Howard). It made me realize that I was not the only one who seemed to be in some indescribable mood that involved unproductiveness and hopelessness. Thankfully, I found my way and want to share with you my story and advice.

As a community, the students of Harold Washington College should start utilizing the resources that can assist with our mental health and emotional well-being. We receive email notifications about “reboot sessions” and newsletters that draw attention to the wellness center located on the tenth floor, but the thing is most of us never took advantage of them. There are flyers all over the school and each elevator has a weekly schedule of events around Harold Washington, many involve the wellness center.

The wellness center has monthly events planned for students, covering a variety of topics. Whether it be self-defense classes or counseling, I encourage you to check out your wellness center for help, regardless of what you issue is. Those things are planned so we can use them.

Each of us has something going on in our lives that was affecting us and possibly our performance in our classes. Some of us came from poor families, others are grieving death, and some maybe going through an illness or breakup. There are many people who are under stress about the current political climate. Not to mention, some of people who are self-inflicted with the doubts and stigmas that come from attending community college as opposed to a regular university. We are all to indulged in the luxuries of our phones and being isolated individuals. Do not be the one to keep all of your emotions bottled in, it can cause more harm than good.

Whether, you are dealing with depression, stress from classes, or mourning the death of a family member or friend, understand that you owe it to yourself to have someone to listen to you, so you can feel better, and continue to progress in your life. Stop what you are doing and take a deep breath! If you feel like you can’t talk to family, friends or even your favorite professor, do yourself a favor and schedule a confidential appointment inside of the wellness center. Understand that whatever you may be going through, you are not alone; and more importantly your feelings and opinions matter.

Online learning offers plenty of forward-thinking flexibility, and it’s that same creative spirit that inspires universities to use the virtual classroom as a scholarly playground, a place to offer classes that might be a little more experimental than those you’d find on a physical campus. When it comes to online courses, learn to expect the unexpected—from comic books to feng shui, these programs deliver the novelty factor, but they also pack plenty of real-world utility. Because sometimes, it pays to try something new.

Comic Books and Graphic Novels

In 2013, comic books and graphic novels raked in $870 million in sales—and that staggering figure does not include money made from comic-derived films, which grossed in excess of $4.7 billion the following year. Everything about comics is big: big muscles, big stakes, and big business.

Industries that span the spectrum of film, TV, video games, print, merchandising, and more are bound to come in contact with some superhero spandex, a fact that makes comic book studies a surprisingly versatile subject. Emerson College’s Graphic Novel Writing and Illustration online program includes an entire web-focused class dedicated to exploring e-book distribution and cultivating online audiences, bringing a traditional American pop-cultural staple into an online-savvy age. For a broader lens, there’s the Smithsonian Institution’s online course, The Rise of Superheroes and Their Impact on Pop Culture. The Internet hosts more online comic-book classes than Bruce Wayne has bat-themed gadgets, and for good reason: high-def e-readers and multimedia-friendly computers make the virtual classroom an ideal format for this highly visual medium.

Animal Behavior

If Batman-oriented studies aren’t enough, online learners can delve into the bats themselves—virtual animal behavior courses like Colorado State University’s Introduction to Animal Behavior aren’t just for veterinarians and lab researchers. Studying animal behavior enlightens students on animal rights and welfare issues, but they’ll also learn why social scientists and psychologists have long used animal behavior as an interpretive lens for human society. Understanding animal behavior helps both students and educators deepen their understanding of human behavior, and you’d be hard pressed to find a professional field or area of study where human behavior doesn’t enter the equation.

Aromatherapy

Studying aromatherapy is a lot more nuanced than sniffing candles. This essential oil therapy traces its history back more than 6,000 years, with roots in pioneering Greek, Chinese, and Indian healing. When French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse applied lavender oil to a laboratory burn in 1928, he began to discover medicinal properties in these all-natural fragrances, which have been used to combat everything from alopecia to insomnia.

For both hobbyists and budding healthcare professionals, expanding educational horizons into alternative medicine lends a fresh (and fresh-smelling) perspective—the American College of Healthcare Sciences’ Certificate in Aromatherapy is just one program to explore. Nationally accredited courses like this one present a succinct example of precisely what makes the virtual classroom so effective. It creates a classroom experience that combines the strengths of both online and hands-on, real-world learning. In this case, learners have the opportunity to blend essential oils at home, while being guided by plentiful online feedback and virtual learning resources that adhere to their own individual schedules.

The Zombie Apocalypse

Just like animals, zombies (yes, zombies) help us better understand human behavior in a way that applies to a surprising range of disciplines. And we’re not just making that one up—Michigan State University has our back with an online course called “Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse—Disasters, Catastrophes and Human Behavior”. MSU’s course could only happen in the virtual classroom—it’s a group simulation of a survival scenario presented through custom-made videos of a fictional zombie apocalypse. Students react, cooperate, explore, and make decisions in real-time as part of what the university calls a Multimedia Online Learning Immersive Experience (MOLIE).

Does your curriculum cover law enforcement? The military? Everyone from future police officers to aspiring emergency managers benefits from immersing themselves in a theoretical apocalypse, which brings to light issues including class systems, gender politics, and disaster management.

Feng Shui

It’s no surprise that the New York Institute of Art + Design offers an online Feng Shui Interior Design Course. The ancient Chinese practice, which marries spatial planning and philosophy, is a natural part of almost any interior design program, but its principles aren’t limited to one field. Like the most effective online learning experiences, the virtual feng shui classroom combines audiovisual instruction with tactile learning, tasking students with placing items in the real world and sharing photos and videos of their arrangements in online forums. Think of it as a macro version of a social network with an exclusive focus on feng shui education.

Everyone from architects to graphic artists and style consultants to industrial designers can learn something from the yin, the yang, and the Five Room Elements of feng shui—and an online feng shui intro could easily spice up a run-of-the-mill philosophy curriculum. But even if you don’t fall into any of those categories, brushing up on this ancient practice ensures that you’ll have the most zen-friendly workspace, classroom, or home on the block.

References

• Business Insider: The Comic Book Industry Is On Fire, and It’s About More Than Just the Movies
• CNBC: Why Comic Books Are Big Business
• University of Maryland Medical Center: Aromatherapy
• California State University, Northridge: Significance of Animal Behavior Research
• Business Insider: Even Military and Police Want to Take This College Zombie Survival Course