Students blog

Over the Thanksgiving break I decided to be in the moment and spend time with family since it was only a short weekend. I decided to take a break from technology and be social media free. I must admit, it was difficult not being able to check Instagram, Snap Chat, or Facebook quite frequently. However, I learned a lot from the experience that I would like to share with you.

FOMO

The first day was by far the hardest. I had major FOMO. (Fear of Missing Out) I wanted to see what all my friends doing and posting on social media now that we were all home for the break! It got easier as the weekend continued. I found myself grabbing my phone, but I had to keep reminding myself to stay off it. However, I did make the occasional exception of texting to stay in contact with friends and family.

Living in the Moment

It was refreshing to be present and to spend time with my relatives. I even had a friend surprise me since I didn’t know she was home already. It would not have been as big of a surprise if I had seen her post on social media that she was back.  

Making Memories

Thanksgiving day was by far the easiest day of them all because I was too busy catching up with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins I have not seen in months. I am thankful for the memories I was able to make with my family that weekend. Even though it was a struggle, my family was there to support me and keep me distracted!

After this experience I really do not see myself living a “social media free” life.Technology plays a big role in my everyday life and I am truly thankful for the technology I am provided with – not only for social media, but also the resources I use for school. However I learned that I needed that brief liberation and it acted as a cleanse for me.

Now I challenge you, Pearson Students! Do you think you could go one week without checking social media pages? Try it over Winter Break! f you wish to share your experience, write a blog about it, and submit the draft through the Pearson Student Insiders!

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!