Students blog

As you make your way through your college career, you are bound to run into some rough times. Whether it’s due to extenuating circumstances outside of the classroom or difficult course content, you might find yourself in a situation where the semester didn’t quite turn out like you originally planned. So, what do you do if this does happen? Here are four tips to help you through this stressful time to help get you back on track to do well in the semester ahead.

1. Take a deep breath.

It’s going to be all right. The courses you are taking are designed to be challenging. It’s okay if you struggled this past semester. This is the time to assess the situation you’re in and make any necessary changes. Double-check on important matters, like financial aid, and make a game plan to ensure that you’re not too affected. Look at next semester's course schedule and adjust your classes accordingly. Breathe. You’re going to make it through this.

2. Keep your notes and course work.

While they might not be the most helpful to you now, if you end up re-taking the course, they can be a great roadmap to build off of the second time around. Look at your notes and see where they can be improved. Keep any practice problems and work on them in between now and when you take the course again. This can help you build a solid foundation for your next attempt. Use what work you did put into the course to your advantage.

3. Do some research.

Look around your campus and see what resources they provide to their students. Find the tutoring services and utilize them throughout your courses. See if your university has any grade forgiveness programs in place and learn how to apply for them once you retake the class successfully.

4. Use the resources you have.

Ask classmates to join your study group. Utilize TA and professor office hours. Look at your own study patterns and adapt them as is necessary for your own success. Find clarifying videos online and use any course materials provided to practice before your future exams. Build healthy habits that can make your semester run smoother. Get organized and make sure you’re ready to take the semester head on!

Using these tips can help to prepare you for the current semester and the semesters ahead. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone has rough semesters. If you take the steps to bounce back strong you can help set yourself up for success! Good luck!

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Dogs are man’s best friend, and I have found that the most perfect way to destress in college is to spend some time at my local animal shelter. However, I have learned that no two dogs are alike, just like college majors. Based on my extensive time spent with both dogs and other college students, here are some similarities I have found between the two, and what dog breed I believe you are based on your major.

Business: Golden Retriever

Whether your business major falls under accounting and finance or marketing and management, a golden retriever is the definition of a business type of dog. Sometimes called the “easy major”, golden retrievers can be blown off as goofy dogs, but they are serious workers and often seen as K9s and service dogs, in the same way that business students are seen all over the workforce.

Journalism: Beagle

Known as hunting dogs (always looking for a good story), these loyal and happy-go-lucky dogs are the perfect comparison for journalism majors. Like these dogs, journalism majors are outgoing but also hard workers.

Speech Pathology: Border Collie

Easily trainable, attention to detail, fun but focused, all things that make border collies and speech path majors similar. They are hard workers and know how to have fun, but also are down for a night in after the workday is done, which is a trait all my favorite speech path majors exhibit.

Design: Cocker Spaniel

Arguably the most beautiful dog, the perfect example of a design major is a cocker spaniel. These dogs are sociable and adaptable, just like design majors, and are always looking their best, while impressing everyone around them.

Pre-Med: German Shepherds

In my opinion, these are the smartest dogs. Similar to golden retrievers, they are seen in all the “dog workforces” and are super intelligent and loyal to their people. Although pre-med students can be considered less sociable, similar to German shepherds, I believe it is just because they are harder workers than most of us, and sometimes that can be intimidating.

If you enjoyed these comparisons, I encourage you to check out your local animal shelter, and spend some time with different breeds, and make some of your own, as well as add to my list!

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It’s snack time! If you’re like me, you love to snack- whether I’m studying, watching tv, or relaxing with a book, I always have something to munch on. At school, that means I’ve usually found a bag of chips or a slice of pizza, but now that I'm home for the summer, I try to choose healthy options to nourish my mind and body. Here are three of my favorite go-to snacks for summer!

Frozen Fruit Bowls... The Cousin of The Açai Bowl

Ingredients and Equipment:

• 1 large frozen banana
• ½ cup of frozen blueberries and strawberries (or your favorite fruit combinations)
• ½ cup Milk
• ¾ cup yogurt
• Granola
• Nutribullet or blender

Directions: (10 minutes)

• Blend your frozen banana with a ½ cup of milk and add a ½ cup of yogurt.
• After about 30 seconds, or when your banana is almost fully blended, start to slowly add your frozen blueberries and strawberries until blended to your liking.
• Add the rest of your yogurt as you continue blending. You may have to add more milk depending on how thick you want your bowl to be. It can also help to put the bowl in the freezer for 1-2 minutes while you clean up!
• Once your fruits are blended, pour the mixture into a bowl, and sprinkle your granola on top.
• Add any other toppings you like and enjoy a healthy snack that will cool you down on a hot summer day!

Avocado Toast... But Add a Little Bit of Spice

Ingredients and equipment:

• 1 avocado
• 1 slice of whole grain bread (or a bread of your choice)
• 1/3 cup canned corn
• ½ tomato
• Salt
• Pepper flakes
• Toaster

Directions: (10 minutes)

• Mash up 1 avocado in a bowl until you reach a guacamole consistency.
• Put 1 slice of whole grain bread, or your favorite bread, into the toaster to toast while you dice your tomato into small pieces.
• Add your corn and tomato into your avocado bowl and mix it together. Depending on the size of your avocado, add as much or as little corn and tomato as you like!
• Once your bread is toasted, spread the avocado mix on the toast.
• Now for the spice... sprinkle some red pepper flakes and salt on the top for some extra flavor and enjoy!

Looking for something a little bit more filling? Scramble 2 eggs in a pan to put on top of your avocado toast!

Chickpea Chicken Nuggets... Where Vegetables Are Hidden in Plain Sight

Ingredients and equipment:

• 1 can of chickpeas
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup grated carrot
• ¼ cup minced onion
• ½ tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp paprika
• Sprinkle of black pepper
• 1 tsp olive or avocado oil + extra for cooking
• ½ cup oat flour
• Food processor
• Spatula and tablespoon

Directions: (20-25 minutes)

1. Prepare your vegetables by grating your carrots and mincing your onion. Make sure you wash your carrots first and drain out any remaining moisture with a towel!
2. Open and drain the can of chickpeas.
   Note: Ask yourself: do I have oat flour? If not, you can substitute uncooked oats that you use to make oatmeal. Just place your oats into your food processor until you have a ½ cup!
3. Next, add your carrots, onions, chickpeas, and the rest of your ingredients into your food processor. Pulse your food processor a couple of times until the ingredients are combined but be careful not to over mix.
4. Moving over to the stove, heat cooking oil in a pan over medium high heat. Once heated, grab a heaping tablespoon to portion the mixture into the pan. Sometimes I even use another spoon to help me form a nugget shape in the pan!
5. Cook each nugget for 3-5 minutes and flip using a spatula. You may have to flatten some of your nuggets before cooking for an additional 3-5 minutes on that side. When the outside of the nugget is slightly golden you know you’re done!
6. Depending on the size of your pan, you can cook more than 1 nugget at a time and leave all finished nuggets to cool or enjoy as you cook!
7. This recipe will yield a LOT of nuggets which you can keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and reheat whenever you feel like a fun vegetarian snack. Personally, I like to dip my nuggets in tomato sauce or salsa for some extra flavor!
   

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I have always felt like Daddy’s little girl, and I still feel the same now! My dad consistently supports my ambitions in and out of school, loves me unconditionally, helps me whenever I need it, and of course, he put up with the years of having a teenage daughter! My dad taught me how to be independent, strong, reliable, and trustworthy... and also passed down a pretty good sense of humor as well!

Spending time with my dad on Father’s Day is very important to me, but it can be hard to think of new and exciting things to do every year. Here are some activities I love to do with my dad that you can do with a fatherly figure in your life to celebrate today!

Soak Up the Outdoors

My dad and I love to be active! Soak up the sun by going for a walk, hike, or bike ride and explore a new place together. This is a great way to unplug and get some exercise! You could even check out a nearby town pool or take a trip to the beach if the weather is hot!

Play A Card Game or Board Game

Growing up, I played a lot of games with my dad and practiced some friendly competitions. You could usually find us with a pack of cards playing Aces or Uno or stretched out around a Ludo board. Pull out your dad’s favorite game and ask if he wants to play- you can even get the whole family involved!

Cook Dinner Together

Even though I’m not a master chef in the kitchen, I know that my dad loves to cook and enjoys teaching me. This Father’s Day, help dad cook dinner, and maybe, just because it’s his special day, you can volunteer to do the dishes after!

Watch A Movie

Pop the popcorn, grab some snacks, and put on your dad’s favorite movie! I always loved watching movies with my dad and just enjoying each other's company while we watched old James Bond films or Spiderman. Find something you and your dad will both love!

Regardless of what you choose to do with your dad this Father’s Day, he will simply love spending time with you so make sure you dedicate the day to him and remind him just how much he means to you! Happy Father’s Day!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

The third Friday in May has been recognized yearly as National Endangered Species Day! As college students, we juggle numerous responsibilities at a time. With classes, social lives, and sleep schedules often being at the forefront of our minds, it can be difficult to set time aside for causes that we are slightly interested in or even deeply passionate about. As a pre-veterinary student with a passion for animal activism, I have a great deal of concern for endangered animal species. Even as students, here are some small and easy ways that we can make a difference!

Raise Awareness

One of the most powerful tools that all of us can utilize is the ability to raise awareness for what you are passionate about. Even if your chosen cause is not an endangered species, knowing the power that is behind your voice and actions is crucial to benefiting your cause. In terms of endangered species, look towards campus organizations, local events, or even social media platforms. It is easier than ever to share relevant social media posts or articles with friends and family. Starting the conversation is often the most difficult part!

Support Conservation Efforts

Oftentimes people think that supporting conservation efforts has to strictly be through monetary donations. As college students, money can be tight! If you do have the extra money to set aside for a conservation project, go for it! For others, however, supporting conservation efforts can look different. As mentioned previously, sharing conservation projects with others to expand their reach is beneficial. Some clubs may also commit to volunteer projects that will help support conservation efforts. A favorite way of mine to support endangered species is to “adopt” animals through a zoo or website. I often give them as gifts for the holidays! Sometimes they come with stuffed animals or certificates AND the money from purchasing the gift goes towards that species! How cool!

Make Sustainable Choices

Small choices that we make every single day can help change our environment and make it a better place for endangered species. The large carbon footprint that we place onto the world can make it harder and harder for species to thrive. Even the smallest of differences like choosing a reusable water bottle or other eco-friendly products can help preserve the ecosystems that these animals need to thrive! Personally, I love opting for reusable cups and straws!

Even the smallest of efforts can make a HUGE difference! Trust me, endangered animal species everywhere will thank you!

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There is nothing quite like a mother’s love! Mother’s Day is a time to thank all motherly figures for the unconditional love and support they show every day. Flowers are a very popular gift option, but what if there was a way that they could last forever? Ever since I was young, handmade gifts have been common in my family and are, especially for mothers, worth more than anything that can be bought in a store. Let me show you how I make paper flower bouquet of lavender that any mother is sure to cherish forever!

You will need:

• Paper in your mom’s favorite color! A shade of green will also be useful!
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Tape
• Toothpick

Follow the steps below and use the picture at the top of the blog to help you if needed!

• Step 1: Cut a 9 cm by 28 cm piece of green paper to make the stem of the lavender. I recommend green for a realistic outcome but be as creative as you like!
• Step 2: Take your toothpick and starting at the tip of the corner of the paper, tightly wrap the paper around the toothpick. Continue rolling until all the paper is rolled up. You can remove the toothpick as you are rolling or leave it inside your stem for extra support. Tape the corner to hold it in place.
• Step 3: Set aside the stem to start creating the lavender. Pick your choice of color for your lavender and cut an 8 cm by 28 cm piece of paper.
• Step 4: Fold the paper in half like a hotdog and crease the edge.
• Step 5: Hold your paper horizontally so that the folded side is facing you (the opening of your hotdog is away from you) and cut thin strips vertically along the crease. Do not cut all the way through! Leave about a ½ cm border at the top of the paper. At the end, it should look like a very long comb!
• Step 6: Once you are finished, open your paper like you are reading a book and flip it over. Tape the long, uncut edges together. This is why we left a border in step 3! At this point, our lavender will look like a series of small arches.
• Step 7: Take your stem from step 1-2 and starting at the end of your lavender, wind it around the tip of the stem so the arches are on the outside. You may need a small piece of tape to hold the lavender in place as you wind it.
• Step 8: Continue to twist the lavender around the stem, moving slightly further down with each rotation. The small arches should expand a little bit to create a lavender shape.
• Step 9: When you reach the end of your lavender, tape the end to hold it in place. Cut the end of your stem if it is too long and you’re all done!

Optional: Want to include some extra details? Add some leaves!

• Step 1: Cut a 5 cm by 7 cm piece of green paper.
• Step 2: Leaving about a ½ cm border, like in step 5, cut out a row of long, thin triangles.
• Step 3: With the ends of your triangles pointing up, roll the leaves around the bottom of the lavender where the bloom ends. You do not need to move down the stem, keep your rotations horizontal. Tape the ends to hold in place. Cut off any extra leaves if you do not want as many!
• Step 4: Bend the leaves with your fingers to curl them.

Repeat the above steps to create a full bouquet of lavender! Happy Mother’s Day!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

As a college student, I have found that it can be challenging to find a balance between my academic and personal life. Now as a student in my final year in college, I have learned the importance of prioritizing both aspects of my life. The following three tips have helped me be successful in the classroom while also making time for important people and hobbies in my life.

Knowing when I am most productive

Something that has helped me academically is recognizing what time of the day I am most productive. For me, I am most productive in the morning. To work on this strength, I wake up earlier to start getting work done. This allows me to get most of my work done and then have more time in the day for myself.

Scheduling time with friends but also alone time

Spending time with important people in my life is something that keeps me motivated when it comes to academics. I enjoy going to get coffee with friends, studying together, and going out for dinner. I’ve also realized that I sometimes need to have time to myself. Some activities I enjoy doing by myself include going on walks and reading. Giving myself this alone time helps me to feel more present when I am with my friends and family.

Making a prioritized list

Having a planner and staying organized is something that has helped me throughout my four years in school. On Sundays, I fill out my planner according to my class schedule and personal activities. I also have found it helpful to make a to-do list and prioritize the list in order of importance. For example, an assignment with a due date quickly approaching will be at the top of my list. I then continue to add to the list the tasks that must get done.

It is important to recognize that these tips may not be effective for everyone. Find out what works best for you and your lifestyle. Sometimes school can feel overwhelming, and it feels like there is so much to get done. Finding what helps you balance your academics and personal life can help ease those feelings. Next time you have those feelings, I hope you can try one of these tips or find something that works for you.

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Almost everyone gets the same speech when they are preparing to enter college: make friends, go out, and have fun – but never too much fun! As important as it is for college students to discover new things about themselves and jump at fun opportunities, maintaining their GPA, attending class, and forming a good relationship with their professors should come first. The general college idea is that while it is important to nurse a social life and make meaningful memories, achievement in academics should always be prioritized and a good work-life balance needs to be implemented if they want to be successful.

The Challenge of Being a Student Athlete

However, every student’s experience is not the same, and student athletes are faced with an entirely different beast when they enter college. When a student is already working to manage a healthy academic and social life, sports become a large time and energy commitment on top of schoolwork when they are already taxing activities on their own. As a member of the Florida A&M Marching 100, I’ve struggled with finding my pacing as a student when the most consistent thing in my college schedule is 2½ hour practices once a day and long games on the weekend. As a student athlete, it becomes easy for a sport to control your athletic schedule, dictate your social life, and completely overtake your academic pursuits when classes and your social schedule don’t demand the same consistency and planning factor. So, how do you avoid neglecting other parts of your college life while still maintaining the healthy amount of dedication it takes to thrive as an athlete?

Make Other Things a Priority Too

You must learn to apply the same amount of devotion you have for your sport towards your academic and social life. Just as you take extra time and implement more self-discipline to become better at your sport, as a student athlete it is your responsibility to also go the extra mile in your academics and life outside sports. When you learn to acknowledge your priorities and create a structured social, academic, and athletic schedule, you can succeed.

Acknowledge Your Priorities

The first step, acknowledging your priorities, comes with self-reflection. Ask yourself why you’re in college in the first place, and what weight your sport should have in your life. Of course, some students are in college pursuing their sport and/or being paid to participate in it while others are doing it because a hobby they love, but no situation changes the fact that attending college is for your education. Sports cannot fully provide what you’ll find in a classroom and the skills you’ll need to apply in your life, and that mindset can help you avoid becoming too fixated on them.

Keep a Schedule

Secondly, creating a schedule is very important. Whether it be a new assignment that wasn't mentioned in the syllabus, a random hangout scheduled with your friends, or another practice scheduled in preparation for a big game, academic, social, and athletic college life can be collectively erratic. With a physical schedule like a planner or calendar, it is much easier to be prepared and proactive with assignments and events so that unplanned activities won’t throw you off too much.

When I took time to reflect on my purpose in college and began to act with proactivity towards planning against the erratic nature of student-athlete, I learned to flourish on and off the field; you can do the same. It takes practice and precision to truly find a balance, but as an athlete those are qualities you have had to display plenty of times before. So, enjoy college, but most importantly, take control so that you can succeed!

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

As you go through your college experience, the sense and urgency to mature and embrace adulthood starts to dawn on you. The realization is not just something you understand in your head, but something you feel and experience. Many have their own view of what that first real step of adulting in college feels like, but to me, the first thing that comes to mind is to take that big step of renting an apartment off-campus.

Though this may seem intimidating, here are 10 things every college student should know about living off-campus!

1 - Checklists! Checklists! Checklists!

Even before you move in, it’s a good idea to have a bunch of different checklists of what you are looking for in an off campus living space, some examples being location from campus or any amenities you desire, such as a shuttle to campus or a gym/pool. All those things should be listed to help track pros and cons of each living space you come across in your search.

2 - Communication is Key

If you plan on living in a space with a roommate or several, it is important to establish clear communication with all parties. Make a set of guidelines for the different responsibilities and things that could cause conflict in your shared space. Since you oversee your own things and there is no overall authority, it would be a good idea for everyone to contribute to the guidelines.

3 - Smart Shopping

Without a meal plan it can be quite challenging to decide on what to buy food wise. For those who live alone, it would be best to decide your essentials beforehand so you can get the basics of what you need. As for people with roommates, it’s better to decide together who buys what or if you’re going to split the grocery bill at all.

4 - Practice Self-Control

Along with smart shopping, knowing the difference between needs and wants is a huge skill to learn while you live off campus. This is not money coming out of your tuition, this is your own expenses and learning where to invest that money is very important. You do not need those $500 headphones.

5 - “Hey Siri, Play the Clean Up Song”

It is crucial for tenants to fully comprehend their responsibilities regarding the maintenance and repairs of the rented property. This is where you live, and you want to make sure everything is up to your standards. Utilize maintenance request for larger repairs, but a bi-weekly clean up goes a long way.

6 - Public Transportation is Your Friend

As someone who does not drive, I was getting tired of spending money for Uber and Lyft. Check out the local transportation and see what services they offer. If your residence is close to campus, ask if they offer a shuttle that drives to the local stores in the area. Bikes are also useful forms of transportation, going to class or to your local corner store, and you can get some exercise done.

7 - Stay Safe!

Become familiar with local emergency protocols and resources. Using tools like a Ring camera on your front door keeps you at ease when you’re away. It is also a good idea to become aware of the location of the closest police, fire, and hospital stations.

8 - Don’t Always Rush Home

Having a gap between classes allows you to use that time productively. Instead of going home and potentially getting distracted, you can stay on campus and make the most of your time. Whether it's studying in the library, working on group projects, or catching up on readings, staying on campus can enhance your focus and productivity.

9 - Remember the College Experience

No matter how far away you may live off campus, you are still considered a commuter student. A lot of emails about events and other activities that happen on campus might not reach you until it’s too late. Try to keep a schedule of the different events that way you can still get that thrilling college experience.

10 - Sweet, Sweet, Freedom

This is your own place! It gives a better sense of adulthood, and you get a more profound sense of independence without supervision. Living off campus gives you a high level of privacy that you are probably looking for after the lack of it in dorm life. The creative possibilities are endless. Decorate or design it however you like. You make the rules, enjoy it!

Living off campus during college comes with several perks. It offers a taste of independence and responsibility, preparing you for life beyond the campus bubble, while also encouraging you to engage with the local community and develop a more well-rounded college experience. I hope the decision to live off campus can contribute significantly to personal growth and a more enriching college life.

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started!