Students blog

Last semester, I had the incredible opportunity to complete a micro-internship with Pearson Education, and it was an experience that left a lasting impact on my professional and personal development.

During this time, I worked closely with a talented team that included Jacob Woodhouse, Zachary Suozzo, and Alex Dennis. Together, we tackled the challenge of optimizing error handling in a data pipeline using SQL and Python. This hands-on project not only sharpened my technical skills but also gave me valuable insight into solving real-world problems in a collaborative environment.

What truly made this internship special was the relationships I formed with my team. Dennis and Woodhouse guided me through the technical aspects of the project with patience and expertise, and through previous internships Steven Reynolds, Nick Hobart, and Suozzo shared invaluable advice about the industry and professional growth. Their mentorship extended beyond the tasks at hand, offering me lessons in teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving that I will carry forward in my career.

Mentorship has always been an essential part of my development as a student intern, and this experience reinforced just how crucial it is. Having a supportive network of professionals who believe in your potential can make all the difference. The guidance I received helped me bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry application, and it gave me the confidence to approach challenges with a growth mindset.

My time with Pearson has shown me the importance of building meaningful connections in the workplace. I’m deeply grateful for the mentorship, encouragement, and camaraderie I experienced during this internship. These relationships have inspired me to continue seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute, and I’m excited about the path ahead, knowing I have such an incredible foundation to build upon.

I’m continuing my micro-internship with my team again this semester, and I can’t wait to develop my relationships and skills further!

Go Coogs!

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As I navigate my third year as a Resident Assistant (RA), I realize the role is more than simply a job. Rather, it’s a chance to grow myself, serve my community, and lay the foundation of who I want to become personally and professionally. I would be lying if I said the road has been easy; the role demands time and dedication. However, in my three years of experience, the benefits have far outweighed the challenges, making it one of the most rewarding endeavors I have taken on while in college.

One of the immediate and tangible benefits of being an RA is the financial relief it offers. Most institutions offer free housing and meal plans to RAs, which significantly reduces the financial burden of college expenses, especially for out-of-state students. At my campus in particular, a bi-weekly stipend is provided in addition to the free housing and meal plan. Not to mention, the unique merch provided to all RAs on my campus at the start of each school year for move-in season. These perks have allowed me to focus on my education and academic responsibilities without the stress of juggling off-campus part-time jobs.

While the tangible perks of being a RAs are great, the skills I have acquired in the role are invaluable. Whether resolving conflicts, organizing events, or providing guidance to residents, being a RA gives you the opportunity to serve as a mentor and role model daily. Though this may be intimidating to some, it’s a great opportunity to practice leading by example. The skills you can learn in this leadership role – communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution – are highly sought out by employers because they are transferable to many careers.

Balancing on-call duties, weekly meetings, and planning events while managing academic responsibilities can be demanding. However, I have found this challenge is also a valuable opportunity. It has led to tremendous personal development. Learning to navigate a packed schedule and meet deadlines under pressure prepares you for the real world, which usually requires similar demands. Furthermore, this unique position has allowed me to make a lasting impact, not only on residents but on my peers and friends. One of the most rewarding experiences in my time as a RA was mentoring one of my former residents through the RA application process. Not only did she get hired, but we now work on the same staff where I can watch her blossom into an amazing RA.

Becoming a RA is an unparalleled opportunity to grow as an overall leader, gain financial benefits, and develop critical life skills. While the role requires hard work and commitment, in my humble opinion, the personal and professional rewards are well worth the effort. For those seeking a transformative college experience, I believe the RA position is a powerful investment in your growth today and a stepping stone for yourself tomorrow.

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 senior graduated from University of Arkansas in December 2024, there were some eye-opening experiences throughout my last semester that made it bittersweet. However, senioritis was at the forefront of my final journey. I wanted to be able to enjoy my last semester, but that pesky homework kept getting in the way!

I started to experience senioritis before my last semester even began. I felt a lack of motivation, a hint of procrastination, and a list of distractions I can’t even begin to name. I was stuck in a rut and could not pull myself out. So, I set out to finally get a handle on these new emotions and found a way to motivate myself to finish the semester strong. Here are some ways that helped me succeed!

Short-term, manageable goals

At the start of my final semester I kept imaging what the ending would look like. However, I had to keep reminding myself to be in the present and look towards the next assignment. I bought a cute planner and a new pack of pens and felt like it was us against the world. I wrote out all my assignments and gave myself plenty of time to do them beforehand. I was also kinder to myself and let myself enjoy breaks in between but prioritized my homework above all else. For example, if I submitted my assignment that was due Friday night on Thursday, I could go out to dinner with my friends and enjoy my time there versus worrying about an assignment. Overall, this helped me collect my thoughts and go day by day.

Stay Involved

One of the biggest accountability tactics was to stay involved on campus. The clubs I was in and the friends I made along the way, helped me to stay accountable while having fun. For example, going to our weekly meetings and participating/presenting new ideas benefitted not only me, but the people I surrounded myself with. This also made me appreciate my campus a bit more because it would (probably) be my last time on this campus as a student.

Be excited!

Wrapping up a college career is a new phase of our lives so balance responsibility and celebration to fully enjoy these moments. I had a new outlook on game days, calling the Hogs, and late-night study sessions with friends at the library. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and stretched thin but try enjoy it while it lasts!

It has been a long road to where I am at today, and I would not trade a single moment. The good, the bad, the ugly, the fun, and all those individual memories have made my time as a student unforgettable!

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Professional football’s championship game is one of the most-watched events in sports. It involves complex planning and coordination behind the scenes. I have had the unique opportunity to work with the host committee where I’ve gained hands-on experience in managing event logistics, coordinating volunteers, and collaborating with community partners to bring this major event to life.

How I Got Involved

Landing an internship with the New Orleans Sports Foundation was a dream come true. As a senior hospitality and tourism management student, with a passion for sports management, I actively sought opportunities to gain industry experience. Through networking and persistence, I secured the position and stepped into a fast-paced environment where every day brought a new challenge.

My Role as an Intern

As an intern, my role has been diverse. I’ve assisted with event logistics, helped coordinate the volunteer program, and supported community outreach initiatives. Seeing fans enjoy events I have had a hand in planning is incredibly rewarding. The experience pushed me to improve my communication, critical thinking, organization, and problem-solving skills, all of which will serve me in future roles.

Lessons Learned

Interning with the host committee provided me insight into professional sports event management. I learned how to adapt quickly, work with diverse teams, and handle high pressure situations. These experiences gave me confidence in my ability to thrive in challenging environments and reaffirmed my passion for a career in sports hospitality management.

Advice for Students

For students looking to break into hospitality event management, I recommend seeking internships and volunteer roles to gain hands-on experience. Building relationships, staying open to feedback, and approaching every task with a learning mindset will set you apart in any industry.

Interning with the host committee for this major event has been an unforgettable experience that taught me lessons I’ll carry throughout my career. Whether you're a fan or a future industry professional, there’s no better way to understand the magic of this event than by being part of the team that makes it happen.

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! 

How people perceive me as a person had always been very important to me. So naturally, when I found out I was expecting my first child my mind immediately jumped to what would the public think of me. It bothered me that from first glance no one would know my significant other and I had been together for five years. They had no idea that I was studying computer science with a 3.8 GPA or had been awarded close to $100,000 in scholarships since my first semester of school. To them I was only a young, unwed mother.

At first, these assumptions were not only overwhelming, but also discouraging. I found myself wearing oversized clothing on campus to mask my pregnancy. I often skipped grabbing lunch to avoid the eyes that seemed to gravitate towards my growing belly. It felt as if my identity had been watered down to a stereotype. But I began to question why I was allowing the opinions of strangers to dictate how I carried myself. Hiding wasn’t fair to me or the life I was creating. Slowly, I began to embrace this chapter, understanding that neither my strength nor identity wasn’t diminished by these challenges – it was amplified.

Despite the challenges, and even the fear, I persevered. I needed to prove I was capable of being great now more than ever. Throughout the duration of my pregnancy, I have accomplished many things that I thought would not be possible under the circumstances. I was awarded a $15,000 scholarship after bravely submitting my story, turning what some might see as setback into a story of resilience. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters––both while carrying my child. I was honored with the “Top Jags Star” award, a recognition from a prestigious organization that acknowledged my academic excellence, leadership, and dedication. Beyond academics, I traveled to Arkansas to participate in the HBCU ACES case competition, where I led my team to a 1st-place victory. And most recently, I have secured an internship for the upcoming semester as a configuration engineer, further proving my ability to thrive in my field. These accomplishments reminded me that my pregnancy wasn’t a limitation it was just another layer of my story, one that strengthened my resolve and showcased my ability to persevere.

As I write this, I am preparing for both finals and to enter motherhood. It’s a time filled with anticipation, determination, and gratitude. While this path has not been easy, it has shaped me into a stronger, more resilient version of myself. I am proud of what I’ve accomplished and excited for what lies ahead, knowing that my hard work has laid a foundation for a brighter future—not just for me, but for my child as well. This journey has taught me that with perseverance and faith in my abilities, I will always thrive, no matter the circumstances.

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! 

In today's hyper-competitive job market, especially in tech, students are facing increasing pressure to elevate their technical skills well beyond traditional coursework. As a sophomore in Computer Engineering the standard college curriculum focuses heavily on theoretical concepts, leaving a gap between what we learn in the classroom and the applied skills demanded by the industry. As I navigated this gap, I turned to online coding courses and independent projects, which not only helped me earn certifications but also strengthened my problem-solving abilities and deepened my understanding of the concepts taught in class. Here are three actionable tips and resources that have helped me and can help other students in similar situations develop in-demand technical skills while still in school.

Tip #1: Utilize Self-Paced Coding Platforms

Since my senior year of high school, I’ve been using Codecademy to teach myself programming languages like HTML/CSS and Python, and it’s been a game-changer for my growth in tech. The platform offers courses tailored to every skill level, hands-on projects to sharpen your abilities, and clear, step-by-step explanations of complex software concepts. What makes it even better is the flexibility to complete courses on your own time, making it perfect for busy students. Plus, finishing a course earns you a certification to showcase your skills and boost your visibility in the industry. Leveraging my Codecademy experience played a huge role in my recruiting success this past semester, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to build or refine their programming skills.

Tip #2: Work on Personal Projects

Personal projects are an amazing way to develop technical skills while pursuing something you’re passionate about. Currently I’m combining my love for yoga with my technical interests by building a Python-powered web app to help people explore yoga as a wellness tool. As Vice President of my campus Yoga and Meditation group, this project feels deeply meaningful and allows me to merge my passions with my growing skill set. Using resources like YouTube and GitHub, I’m excited to tackle this challenge head-on. Personal projects like these not only sharpen your skills but also show recruiters your initiative and drive to learn. Find something you love or a problem you care about—and start creating!

Tip #3: Take Advantage of Corporate Tech Resources

Many top tech companies like Microsoft, Google, IBM, and NVIDIA offer free online learning platforms packed with resources to help you build programming skills, explore real-world applications, and prepare for technical interviews. These platforms give you a unique opportunity to learn directly from the companies shaping the tech industry, providing insights into their projects, technologies, and workflows. For example, Microsoft Learn offers interactive modules and challenges, Google’s Applied Digital Skills covers hands-on programming and AI tools, and IBM SkillsBuild provides access to cloud computing and AI resources. NVIDIA also has a rich catalog focusing on GPU programming and AI development.

Breaking into tech can feel intimidating, but building a strong foundation of skills is the key to boosting your confidence and unlocking new opportunities! Use your time away from school to dive into independent study and sharpen those marketable skills that will set you apart. If you’ve secured an internship that requires technical programming skills but don’t feel fully prepared yet (like I once did), this is the perfect time to bridge that gap. Learning beforehand will not only help you feel more confident going in but also allow you to make the most of the experience and grow and develop while you work. Remember, every step you take is progress—invest in yourself, and watch the doors open!

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! 

Landing a job after college can be a challenging yet exciting journey. As you start the interview process, it's important to be prepared for a variety of interview types and formats. Whether you're interviewing for a marketing position, a software development role, or a consulting job, understanding the different kinds of interviews, and honing your interview skills will make you a more confident and effective candidate.

1. The STAR Method: Your Secret Weapon for Behavioral Interviews

One of the most common interview formats you’ll encounter is the behavioral interview. These interviews focus on understanding how you’ve handled situations in the past to predict your future behavior. Employers want to assess your problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.

The STAR method is a powerful framework to answer these questions:

• Situation: Set the context. Briefly describe the situation or challenge you faced.
• Task: What was the goal or task at hand? What responsibility did you have in this scenario?
• Action: Highlight the actions you took to address the situation or task.
• Result: Explain the outcome of your actions and, if possible, quantify the result (e.g., increased sales by 20%).

Example question: “Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure.”

Using the STAR method, your response could go something like this:

S: In my senior year, I was working on a group project with tight deadlines for both my capstone class and an internship.

T: My role was to coordinate the team’s efforts to ensure we met our deadline while maintaining quality.

A: I set up regular check-ins, delegated tasks based on each person’s strengths, and adjusted timelines where needed.

R: We completed the project a week early, and it was praised for its thoroughness and creativity, which helped me secure a job offer from the company I interned with.

2. Other Types of Interviews You Might Face

• Technical Interviews: Common for positions in software development, asset management, investment banking, and data science, these interviews test your knowledge and problem-solving abilities. Be ready to write code, solve algorithms, or answer technical questions related to your field. Brush up on key concepts, practice problem-solving, and be clear in explaining your thought process.
• Case Interviews: Often used in consulting and finance, case interviews test your analytical and problem-solving skills. You’ll be given a business scenario and asked to provide solutions. Practice by working through case studies, focusing on structuring your answers logically, and staying calm under pressure.
• Situational Interviews: These questions focus on how you would handle hypothetical scenarios in the workplace. Unlike behavioral questions, which ask about past experiences, situational questions ask what you would do in a specific situation. Think through possible situations and how your skills and experiences can help you address them.
• Group Interviews: Sometimes, employers will interview multiple candidates at once, assessing how you work in teams and how you communicate and collaborate under pressure. Stay engaged, listen carefully, and contribute thoughtfully to group discussions.

3. How to Prepare for Post-Undergrad Interviews

• Research the role and company: Understand the job description, the company’s culture, and the industry it operates in. Tailor your answers to show you’ve done your homework.
• Practice common questions: Prepare answers for typical questions like “Tell me about yourself” and “Why should we hire you?” and rehearse them, but stay flexible.
• Mock interviews: Conduct mock interviews with friends, family, or career services to build confidence and get feedback.
• Review your resume: Be prepared to discuss everything on your resume in detail. Have specific examples ready to demonstrate your skills and achievements.

Ultimately, preparation, practice, and using frameworks like the STAR method will help you tackle any interview with confidence and poise.

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! 

If you’re anything like me, the thought of joining a Panhellenic sorority both intrigued and terrified you. On one hand, you desired the lifelong friendships a sorority can could offer, but on the other hand, you didn’t know how you’ll fit into such a large sorority. On top of that, I wanted to join a club/organization where I would be surrounded by people who understood what it was like to be an Asian attending a predominately white institution (PWI). That’s when I discovered multicultural Greek organizations that are a part of a separate council called the United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC) on my campus, or more commonly called Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) on most other campuses.

I joined one of the Asian-interest sororities on campus and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. You might be asking: what are the benefits of multicultural Greek organizations? Here are three main benefits I’ve discovered:

1. A smaller, tight knit community

Multicultural Greek organizations are typically smaller in size than Panhellenic sororities. Because of this, it’ll be easier to get to know everyone in the organization on a deeper, more personal level. Additionally, sororities and fraternities within the Multicultural Greek Council often collaborate with each other for events, leading to great opportunities to get to know their organization and network with them.

2. Connect with Cultures

You could’ve probably guessed this one, but being a part of a multicultural Greek organization exposes you to cultures that you might not have otherwise crossed paths with. On my campus we have Latino-/Latina-interest fraternities and sororities, Asian-interest sororities, and a newly reestablished Divine Nine sorority in the council (that is, until more Divine Nine organizations become established, then they will be a separate council). And mentioned before, since organizations within the council work together, it opens opportunities for cultural exchange and allows for a stronger sense of belonging.

3. More leadership opportunities

Last but not least, in multicultural Greek organizations, there are more opportunities to pick up leadership positions in the organization because they are typically smaller in size. In my sorority, every member is encouraged to take on at least one position the term after joining and everyone has. These positions range from small-scale event planning positions, like organizing alumni coffee chats, to big positions on Executive Board. No matter how big the position, you’ll be able to develop important soft skills that you might not have a chance to develop in other places.

Although these organizations put an emphasis on their culture, they are not culture exclusive, meaning that as long as you are respectful of and willing to learn from their culture, you can potentially join. If you find yourself in a similar situation as me, consider joining a multicultural Greek organization. Who knows, maybe it’ll be one of the most fulfilling experiences at college, like it has been for me. Whether or not you choose to join a multicultural Greek organization, remember that you belong and you are allowed to take up space on your campus.

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 double major student, it can be tricky to navigate what direction to pursue in internships. There are a variety of communication internships to pursue, from marketing to public relations journalism and everything in between. But when I added philosophy to my path, those opportunities changed. Instead of being able to apply to a variety of internships over the summer with a plethora of opportunities, there was almost nothing with a focus on philosophy. I was worried that I was going to graduate and somehow be left behind from my peers.

But after long discussions with my professors and mentors to figure out what I should be doing with my two degrees, I discovered that there were opportunities for me that weren’t internships, one being diversity summits in fields like philosophy across the humanities and sciences. These summits were geared towards students who came from underrepresented backgrounds, and graduate programs in the humanities, and offered things that you wouldn’t normally see in an internship.

Normally, internships offer money or credit for a specific amount of time and allow you to learn specific on-the-job skills that’ll help you in the job market, or possibly lead you to a job in that company. However, these summits pay a stipend and cover your travel to spend a week or two at a prestigious research university. Instead of working in the traditional sense, participants complete research in their field and get to meet with specific professors and researchers in the field to discover what it would be like to pursue philosophy after earning a bachelor’s degree.

It was during these programs that I discovered a community in my major that I didn’t know existed, and I also learned what was available to me postgrad. The most valuable lesson I learned at the summit was to look beyond what everyone else is doing. I was so caught up in the fact that my friends had got internships with publishing companies and large event venues that I was worried I was getting left behind. But when I looked beyond what was the normal career path, I discovered there was so much more available to me.

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!