Students blog

The end of the semester is creeping closer, and everyone knows what that means – finals are approaching! Whether you're a freshman looking for tips on how to have a strong finish to your first academic year or a senior searching for the motivation to get through your last round of finals, here are a few strategies to help you study, manage stress, and succeed on all your tests!

1. Make a Study Plan 

A great way to manage your time is to enter finals with a predetermined study plan! Look at your schedule ahead of time and plan out the best days and times to reserve for studying. Make sure to give yourself ample time to get enough studying in, so that even if you skimp out on certain days, you’ll still have plenty of time to prepare. Most importantly – stick to your study plan! Do whatever to hold yourself accountable – set multiple notifications and alarms to remind you to study, motivate yourself with small daily rewards if you follow your plan, and make sure that you set achievable goals so you don’t overwhelm yourself. You’ll thank yourself if you take a small amount of time every day to study rather than cramming the nights before! 

2. Limit Your Screen-time 


Don’t give your phone the opportunity to distract you! Get ahead of the issue by implementing time limits for certain apps, turning off notifications for your apps, and by putting your phone in a separate location when you’re dedicating time to study! Your phone itself is a great tool to remind you to stay off of it! Utilize the features that will encourage you to take time away from it, like setting reminders when to turn off your phone, implementing screen-time limitations, and using ‘Do Not Disturb’ modes. 

3. Utilize Resources 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Make study plans with classmates to hold you accountable, engage with any tutoring services your campus offers, visit your professors’ office hours to clear up any concepts you’re struggling with, and make use of those study guides! There are a ton of people on campus that want to help set you up for success, so don’t be afraid to reach out to make sure that you will come to your finals prepared! There are also a ton of super helpful study resources offered on Pearson+ that you can check out and incorporate into your plan! 

4. Practice Self-Care 

Last but not least, make sure not to compromise your mental well-being for your classes! There are a ton of different techniques to manage stress, so make sure to incorporate the ways that work best for you into your study plan – whether that be doing yoga every morning, adding extra products into your night-time skincare routine, enjoying a hot cup of tea on a study break, or practicing breathing techniques. Your mind is your greatest asset during testing, so make sure 
to take care of it! 

Overall, make sure that you’re planning ahead going into finals and that you encourage yourself to start preparing early. This will drastically reduce your stress levels and help you earn great grades on all your tests. But, if you do find yourself falling behind on your study plans, reaching out for help through tutors or attending office hours is always a great idea. The most important thing to remember when heading into finals is that one grade on a test doesn’t define you, so just take a deep breath and try your best!

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Growing up, music was genuinely the soundtrack of my life. Music was playing all the time, no matter what I was doing. When I was little, I would just shuffle all the songs on my mom’s iTunes, from One Direction to Taylor Swift to Counting Crows. As I got older though, I started to realize the importance of having music that was specific to the situations I was going through, or the times I was playing it. So, over the last few years, I have curated a long list of playlists, for any mood or situation someone may be in, and I have learned there are 4 essential playlists for anyone to have, even music newbies.

Playlist One: The Sad Songs

Although it seems like a rough place to start, it is important that you have a playlist of your sad songs. These are your crying in the car, post breakup, or just needing to feel your emotions songs. Some I have on my sad playlist are "What Are You Gonna Tell Her" by Mickey Guyton, "Ronan" by Taylor Swift, "Good Enough" by Maisie Peters.

Playlist Two: Female Rage

This playlist needs no introduction. These are the songs you are screaming when things are bad, when things are good, or when you just need a good scream. These songs will lift your spirits or help you feel seen through your anger. Although called “Female Rage”, these are the songs that anyone could be screaming. Some songs I’ve recently found therapeutic on this playlist are "Tolerate It" by Taylor Swift, "You Lost the Breakup" by Maisie Peters, "Best Thing I Never Had" by Beyonce.

Playlist Three: Mixed Crowd Playlist

These are the type of songs you can play when you are passed the aux in a car of people you barely know. A little bit of vibey, a little bit of fun throwbacks, but overall, not revealing the deepest part of your music taste. Some songs I recommend for this playlist are "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield, "That’s My Girl" by Fifth Harmony, and "Love Story" by Taylor Swift.

Playlist Four: Windows Down

This playlist is arguably the most important. This is your driving, windows down, summer playlist. This is the playlist that includes your singing/screaming songs, your throwbacks, and the songs that make you feel the most joy. This playlist may be targeted for summer nights but is made to help get you out of any bad mood or feel every good one. Some songs I recommend for this playlist are "The Man" by Taylor Swift, "Risk" by Gracie Abrams, and "Want U Back" by Cher Lloyd.

No matter what your mood or circumstance, music helps you in the good times and bad. Having playlists on hang to help you process your emotions or feel them deeper is the best type of free therapy, and I hope you found some of these recommendations helpful as you begin to build your own playlists!

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! 

During your time in college, you’ll be faced with times where you must give a speech or presentation. Whether it be for an organization that you are in, a class project, or even a school event, if you’re anything like me, public speaking is a scary thing. It may make you apprehensive, but here are things that you can do to make it a little easier!

1. Figure out your purpose.

What is your purpose for this opportunity? Who is your audience? It can be a position for an organization that you are in, or it can be a presentation for a class project that you have been working on. Are you trying to persuade them, inform them, or entertain? Figuring out your purpose can help you easily tailor what you say to the people you stand in front of!

2. How do you write your speech?

First impressions are very important in most settings. The same goes for a speech. Your opening must be strong to set yourself up for the rest of the speech, otherwise people will lose interest before you’ve started. Make sure you have a powerful opening and closing. Structure the content in between to define the message you are trying to get across clearly. As always, have a friend or two proofread for grammar and flow.

3. Practice makes perfect.

Unless you naturally have amazing public speaking skills, chances are your nerves are going to get you during your speech. Make sure to spend some time practicing a run through of what you are going to say. Minimize the use of notecards by practicing in front of a mirror and maintaining eye contact with yourself. Make sure you dress up in what you are going to wear so you feel comfortable in it.

4. Dress for the occasion.

Having the right attire on shows your audience that you are prepared. If it is a professional speech make sure you are in full business attire. If it is semi-casual, then business-casual is needed. I personally would not wear anything less, but if you’ll be speaking in front of family and friends for a more casual occasion, then casual attire is totally fine! No matter the occasion, your appearance plays a huge role in getting your point across.

5. Prepare the day of the speech.

By now you should have been practicing your speech for a couple days. On the day of the speech, make sure not to stress yourself out. Have a moderate breakfast, practice a couple times through, and do something relaxing prior to the speech such as some calming music. Go into the speech confident and with your head high and give it your best! Confidence is key!

Lastly, once you have given your speech, reward yourself. All the practice and preparation deserve a reward! These steps will ensure that you are setup for success for the big speech you were stressing about. Do your best, and good luck!

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! 

We all have rituals that we embrace as sacred additions to our days. They can be as simple as a comforting cup of tea to help you wind down at the end of a busy day to a full-blown skin and hair care routine that takes nearly an hour. Routines can help one manage stress and anxiety, aid with productivity, encourage you to know yourself more deeply, build self-confidence, and forge healthy habits you can be proud of. With a solid routine, we find peace of mind and a sense of calm in our otherwise chaotic lives. It is my sincere hope that this blog helps you find space in your day for serenity – student and educator alike.

When I am overwhelmed, I feel there's no space to breathe or do things that make me happy. It's easy to feel like doing something for yourself will take away from the time you could be doing something else 'more productive.' There's always more work to do, right? With a routine, you set a non-negotiable time to do the things that help you find calm and take care of yourself. By making space to do the things that make you feel relaxed, you cut down on stress. Such things can be included in your custom-made routine tailored for you, by you.

There's always some goal we want to accomplish occupied in our minds. I had a few - taking supplements, caring for my skin, and journaling every evening. They're small things, but these tasks I wanted to accomplish were things that I thought the best version of myself would do. As you add goals to your routine and follow through on completing them, they become habits. The things that people do that you look up to can become something of your own. It's rewarding to reflect on your progress and realize that the qualities you hold in high regard are integrated into your own life. Making things like that a part of your daily routine, it's easy to feel a well-deserved sense of pride.

When you have a set routine, you can truly focus on the demanding tasks you need to get done. Routines create space for you to do difficult, needed tasks while also making space to take care of yourself. I have a routine for when I come home after a day of attending lectures. I make mock-tails and sit down to watch a movie. It's simple, but it gives me something to look forward to and helps me push through the day. Creating a routine can provide something to look forward to and feel like a reward. Routines can be a much-needed respite to nudge you through tough days.

A routine should generally be a consistent practice, but it doesn't have to be completely inflexible and set in stone. A routine can change as you do. If a goal or ritual no longer serves you, replace it with one that makes you feel more like yourself. Adding and taking away from your routine encourages you to learn more about yourself. Through assessing different routines, you try things you thought you'd like but realize you don't. Through consistent diligence and holding yourself accountable for your routine, you trust in yourself more. You believe deeply in yourself and your ability to follow through on your goals. You know you can become the person you want to be.

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! 

Everyone says to ‘push the boundaries’ and to ‘go big’ if you want to be successful, but what does that even mean? Your definition of what those mean is often completely different from someone else’s. How can you start to push your own boundaries and figuring out what works for you? Why even force yourself into something you don’t want to do to begin with? Who decides to go jump off a cliff if they’ve never even jumped off the diving board first?

The short answer is no one. I’m sure there are a lot of extremists out there, but for the average person it doesn’t happen. So, what if you want to get to the point where you can be the person jumping off the cliff?

Find your own cliff. When I say this, I don’t mean literally go find a cliff, but that you should find your own version of the hypothetical cliff. Start with the small things that might scare you or make you uncomfortable.

For me, the start was going out to do things by myself. For the longest time I have had this preconceived notion that if I want to go out and enjoy something, that I needed someone else to be with me. That it somehow didn’t count if I was by myself, or I had the voice in the back of my head telling me that I was strange or that everyone was looking at me for being alone even though I knew that it really didn’t matter.

So, I started small. I decided to go to the movies by myself. Easy enough? Then I went to a concert. Then hiking. Eventually I joined a sports team all by myself and traveled for competitions. After all that, I had the courage to move across the country by myself. Now I can’t wait for what I will do next, since I am no longer afraid of doing things alone, but none of that would’ve happened if I had stayed in my comfort zone.

How do you decide what your personal cliff is? I think it should follow two important rules:

1) It should make you nervous but not freaked out.

2) It should be something that you genuinely want to do.

Don’t go to the beach to push your boundaries if you hate the ocean, and don’t go hike a mountain if you’re deathly afraid of heights. Start with the small things that you feel uncertain about doing, like calling to place your dinner order instead of ordering online when you hate talking on the phone or asking your server for the extra sauce that they might not give you. By doing these smaller tasks, even if you stumble through it, you reinforce the idea that at the end, everything was okay, and then eventually you can start working towards bigger and bigger cliffs.

While this will vary person to person, I think in the end it’s about figuring out who you are and wanting to be a stronger, more confident version of yourself – and who doesn’t want that?

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! 

What exactly does it mean to be civically engaged? Is it being an active member of your community, being politically involved, or volunteering on your time off? Well, it's all that and more! At its core, civic engagement is about raising your voice, standing up for what's right, and making a tangible difference in the lives of others. So, if you're ready to make your mark and be a force for good, follow these suggestions because your journey of civic engagement is just beginning!

Understanding Civic Engagement

Civic engagement encompasses a broad spectrum of activities aimed at improving society and addressing community needs. It involves actively participating in the democratic process, advocating for social justice, and contributing to the common good. Whether it's volunteering, political activism, or community organizing, there are countless ways to get involved.

Start on Campus

One of the easiest ways to get civically engaged is by exploring opportunities on your college campus. Many universities have student-led organizations, clubs, and initiatives focused on social justice and community service. Start by attending club fairs, browsing online directories, and talking to fellow students to discover groups that align with your values.

Do it with Passion

An important step in embarking on your civic engagement journey is to identify your passions. What issues resonate with you on a personal level? Are you passionate about environmental sustainability, education equity, or public health? Take some time to reflect on the causes that ignite your enthusiasm and align with your values. Remember that you have the freedom to advocate for the things you love and hold the power to make a positive impact in others' lives.

Volunteer in Your Community

Volunteering is a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of others. Look for local nonprofits, shelters, schools, or community centers. These places actively look for volunteers and appreciate community interactions in the work they do. Whether it's by tutoring children, serving meals at a soup kitchen, or participating in environmental clean-up efforts, there are countless ways to give back to your community.

Don’t Lose Sight

Remember that civic engagement is a journey, not a destination. Start small and gradually expand your involvement over time. Set realistic goals, prioritize self-care, and stay committed to making a positive difference in your community. Even the smallest actions can have a ripple effect and contribute to meaningful change. Know that your voice matters and you have the right to embrace it.

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! 

Back-to-school, especially for a college student, can be an exciting time. You are seeing your friends again, and you are getting back to your “routine” at school or discovering your new one as a freshman. However, once the excitement wears off again, the saddest can start to set in. Whether it is homesickness or senioritis, being back in school can become more sad and less exciting as the months go on. As a student going into their senior year, here are a few tips I have to help you combat the back-to-school blues.

Tip for Every Day: Have a Morning/Nighttime Routine

I am truly speaking to myself as well as I encourage you to start having a routine when you wake up and when you go to bed. This is psychologically proven to make your day better. When you do something for yourself and have a routine, it helps get you going in the morning and wind down every night. Some recommendations I have for the morning are doing a skincare routine, showering, having coffee and reading a book, or even just writing a few things you are grateful for every morning. In the nighttime, you can do similar things that you didn’t do in the morning, like reading or showering, or even reflecting on your day by writing in a journal.

Tip for Every Week: Give Yourself a Weekend Treat

Although sweet treat trips can happen any time, it is important to give yourself a little reward for finishing the week. This could be a trip to the movies, getting your nails done, or something as little as getting ice cream with friends. The key is to make sure it isn’t the same thing every week. It helps encourage you and remind yourself of all the hard things you do every day, and how worthy you are of a reward for them occasionally, even if no one else is noticing your work.

Tip for Every Month: Plan Something Fun and Unique Once a Month

Having something to look forward to is one of the easiest ways to break the sadness or mundaneness of your everyday routine. Whether it’s a trip out of town with friends, a concert, or even just a staycation, it is important to have something “big” and fun to look forward to once a month. This helps for when things get hard, you can use your upcoming plans to encourage yourself to push through. Once the honeymoon phase of a new school year wears off, winter break can look years away. So, keep yourself encouraged by spicing up your life and rewarding yourself for doing the hard things. You can do hard things!

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! 

Coming to college is a fresh start. It’s an opportunity to pursue your passions and explore your interests. You get to be the person you want to be and get away from all the things about hometown life that were holding you back. When I came to college, I adopted a mentality that has led me to make new friends, have exciting experiences, and encounter huge growth opportunities…all I did was say “yes”. I said “yes” when I was scared, I said “yes” when I didn't have a friend to go with, I said “yes” when I had no prior experience. Not everything I said “yes” to turned out wonderfully, but I had enough amazing “yes” moments that the other ones didn't matter.

One big “yes” that has changed my college experience was deciding to go through sorority recruitment. This decision came with so many fears, especially the fear that I didn't have enough connections. No one in Tennessee knew who I was so the conversations I had during recruitment would be the sole factor for a sorority to decide if they liked me or not. There was also the fear of rejection. I knew that there was a good chance that I would really like a house and they could drop me, and in all honesty that happened, a couple times even, but where I ended up in the end made it all worth it.

As a college student, it is fairly easy to become consumed with your everyday routine of going to class, studying, and engaging with your fellow peers. There is also a possibility that you're looking forward to creating a routine, so you can stay organized and focused. It is fairly easy to become consumed with what is happening in the future rather than what is happening right now. You may be focused on securing an internship for this upcoming summer instead of worrying about your history exam in your next class. Living in the “now” is better than rushing your future. I will share with you a few key tips for taking control of your time.

Plan and Keep a Schedule

Take Sundays as a day to relax, unwind, and reset. During the week it is easy to get consumed with the overload of assignments, internship tasks, and club meetings. To organize my days efficiently, I use a whiteboard calendar in my dorm and an on-the-go planner. On Sundays, I go over my digital calendar on my phone to be able to upload the important meetings and tasks I have following the new week. Doing this gives me a clear view of what free time I possibly have in the coming week or if I’m completely packed that week.

Maintain Boundaries

Another thing to consider is the ability to decline engagement. If you feel that you can’t accommodate someone at your best self in that moment, you can say, “I don’t have the capacity to fulfill this at this moment but let me point you in the direction of someone who can assist you”. Instead of saying “no” you politely declined their offer all while prioritizing yourself.

Practice Meditation

If you are ever feeling overwhelmed, try to think of the things that center your mind. Ask yourself, “I’m happiest when I’m doing (ex. yoga)”, then simply take a break from your stress and go do yoga. Grounding techniques and deep breathing exercises are helpful too. It’s as simple as it sounds.

Clean Environment, Clean Mind

Try reorganizing something to maybe spark something else in your brain if your mind is feeling clustered or blinded. More clutter makes us feel stressed. You could also try washing and folding your clothes on Sunday, so you won’t have to scramble around for clothes to wear to class on Wednesday.

Some of these activities may seem hard to begin. Like many things, once you get going in a routine, things will eventually come to you. College is a time to learn, find oneself, and launch into adulthood. It is valid to be concerned about the next internship and tomorrow’s test at the same time. But Sundays are often free days at the end of our week that help us to prepare well for the following week so that we can be our best selves.

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!