Students blog

Color brings a happiness into one’s life that very few other things can. An easy example of this is how the sky’s color can affect someone’s mood or motivation. I don’t know about anyone else, but at least for me, waking up and seeing a dreary, overcast day makes me even more reluctant to get out of bed and start working. On the other hand, if I wake up to a bright, sunny day with clear blue skies, I typically have more energy, and at the very least would be looking forward to getting outside and enjoying the beautiful weather!

Holi, an Indian traditional festival, embodies this joy and beauty of color, and celebrates unity as well as the triumph of good over evil. With mentions as early as the 4th century, it is likely one of the oldest religious festivals still celebrated today. It will be observed on March 25th this year and is one of my favorite times of the year!

Though Holi is celebrated by most (if not all) of the Indian subcontinent, different places can celebrate it in different ways. For example, larger communities may get together and light a bonfire before Holi officially starts, representing “burning” evil out of the world. Families may spread just a pinch of powder on each other’s faces or dump entire buckets or empty water guns filled with colored water. Adults may be more religious about it and celebrate Holi by praying to and worshiping the god or gods they believe in, whereas children tend to be more relaxed about it, and just enjoy chasing their friends around. People celebrate it with friends, family, and even strangers, and enjoy the festival for a full day and night. And no one skips indulging in some delicious Indian sweets afterwards!

Creative hobbies can be some of the most influential pieces to maintaining a healthy balance within your life. Having a creative outlet is human nature, it is how we have all the things that exist around us.

Avoid comparisons

Through our hobbies, we express ourselves by putting our passion into what we make. It is important when you are creating to avoid comparing your work and output to others, as every process is not the same. Even if we follow directions step-by-step, the end will never be the same result as others. It is important to keep in mind that regardless of what you create, you are learning and exploring just like everyone else. As you continue to advance into your practice, you’ll find that you start making the patterns that help you tie together a community that grows from the simple fact of creation itself.

Be open to exploration

Sometimes it can be difficult to keep creating; things in life come up and the world seems to spin faster than it did before. It is okay to then branch out into new things. When you find yourself in a rut you might feel lost, but it is thinking and learning outside of what you know that will get you going again. As humans we were not meant to stay in one place forever, our brains won’t allow it. Simply exploring one corner for all time will leave you there. It is only when you turn around that you find a whole space full of your interests. And don’t think that you must give up on the medium you love if you need a break. Sometimes it is those breaks that enhance our comeback to our creations.

The world is full of countless crafts; whether physical, digital, auditory, etc. You can find creative practices all over. When creating, we become attuned with the world around us, taking a break from the pressures of our environments and allowing us to escape into a world of expression.

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No matter what your major is, it can be hard to find time to study in college. As students, we work, join clubs and sports teams, and maintain a social life outside of school. Assignments and projects can take up a lot of time and energy, leaving an empty tank when it’s time to study for exams. For those in a STEM field, labs, research groups, and a heavy course workload may present additional obstacles to finding time to study effectively.

Time management is an important skill you can develop over time, but there are also ways you can adjust your studying habits to perform better despite having a busy schedule. Some things you can do include committing to a study plan leading up to an exam, only targeting trouble areas using high-retention study strategies, and making concentrated study guides soon after receiving material in class.

1. Make a study plan – Mark your exam dates in your calendar at the beginning of the semester so you always know when they are coming up. Have a rough study plan of what unit or material you are going to review each day that you can refine as you get more material in class and figure out what you need to work on most. Include time to use effective study strategies rather than just re-reading notes or lecture slides.

2. Use course objectives to make study guides – As you receive material in class, begin to compile a study guide of the most important concepts, usually presented as learning objectives. If you do this little by little after every few lectures, you will have a complete study guide of the most important information to refer to use to study for each exam. When it is time to study for your final exam, all the most important concepts from each unit will already be compiled for you to study.

3. Use high-retention strategies to target trouble areas – Once you’ve identified the areas of a course where you need to study the most, consider using strategies that will help you remember the most information in a short amount of time. Have a concentrated study session with timed breaks to reduce fatigue. Instead of flashcards, consider making practice questions from your professor’s learning objectives or find some online. If you are a social learner, ask your friends to quiz you on the material you’ve spent time studying.

If you are still running low on time as an exam is rapidly approaching, condense your learning objectives into five or six major concepts to know. If you can boil those subjects down further, find trouble areas and do your best to resolve any major confusion before the exam. This may mean carving out time to go to one office hour session with your professor for 15 minutes to answer a list of questions you came up with after reviewing the exam material.

Combining these strategies with ways you know you study best can help you reach your academic goals while still balancing social and professional extracurriculars. Sometimes you may do your best to study hard for an exam and still not get the grade you want, and that’s ok! At the end of the day, your mental and physical health is more important than any grade. You will learn from your experiences and be able to better prepare for future exams, so keep working hard and your academic goals will be easily attained.

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Many students, including myself, only open up MyLab to complete their homework and cross it off the list. Studying is different for everyone, but we may use textbooks, internet, or flashcards to prepare for a test over the content. Pearson’s MyLab has recently released a new feature called Dynamic Study Modules that incorporates textbooks, concepts, and study tactics similar to flashcards; unfortunately, not a lot of students are aware of what this is or how beneficial it can be!

How To Use DSM

Dynamic Study Modules (DSMs) are a feature that provides you a set of questions that you can answer with a variation of “I’m sure,” “I don’t know,” or “I think so.” Depending on how you answer, a dark green, light green, or red circle will appear above the question as you continue. To complete the module, you must obtain a dark green circle above each question to show mastery of the topic. Once completed, you can review the information as much as you need or receive your grade if it’s an assignment.

Efficient Use of Time

Many students use flashcards to study for a test, but they waste a lot of valuable time creating these cards. Flashcards are mainly used for repetitions and memorization, but DSMs supply both while also being interactive and conceptual. Instead of memorizing the answers for each flashcard or question, the program builds your critical thinking and conceptual skills of the topics within the textbook. This program saves students hours of preparation, and it is also a better alternative for studying & creating new habits.

Even though this is a fresh feature added to Pearson, it has already been beneficial to many students like me. Students may not be aware of this opportunity unless they do the searching themselves throughout the platform, so it is often overlooked. It might be good practice as a professor to ensure that students are aware of everything they are offered with the program. This is your sign to take the 5 minutes, explore your resources, and take advantage of the study tools provided to you! Dynamic Study Modules are changing the study game right in front of our eyes, and it is included with the purchase of the platform!

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For most college students the transition from high school studies to college studies can be very difficult and hard to adjust to. There are many ways to learn how to study and succeed. During my freshman year at the University of Alabama, I felt very prepared to do well in school from my high school experience. As a current sophomore at the university, I have had to learn new ways to study since the difficulty of my classes has increased immensely. 

I am a nursing major and am delving further into my program now more than ever before. When I took a challenging anatomy course last semester, I sought help on how to navigate this class, because there was so much to learn in such a short amount of time. I found it necessary to devote the most time to this class while still putting in the most effort I could for my other classes. Here are the actions I found to be most helpful in succeeding.

Show up for every class session

The best tip and piece of advice I can give to any college student is to attend class no matter what, regardless of how easy the class may seem. I have learned that I am more successful in the future because of it, and it makes studying outside of class much easier. My notes are more organized because I write them in or before class. 

Take notes before, during, and after class

A good way to study for a hard class is to take notes before with the required reading and then solidify the information during class. This way you can incorporate extra details the professor might add during class. Even though this is very important, what a student does outside of class makes or breaks how a student does in a class. Being able to have a good work ethic and studying outside of class helps a student remember the information. That way when it is exam day, you are prepared to take the exam and pass it. 

Solidify your study skills

A good study habit to do well on a test is to find a good study environment. Go in a quiet room, without any distractions, and study the material. The way to solidify the information is to also take breaks when necessary. It is always best to refer to the detailed notes and the PowerPoints. Looking back at these are necessary to understand the information you have learned, and to best answer the questions on the test. It is also essential to never cram study in college. That will not be beneficial for the future, as it does not allow for you to fully understand the material.

In most academic situations in college, the work and effort you put into each class will pay off in the future. If you study for your classes, it'll show, even if not right away. You will never regret the amount of effort you put into a class in order to succeed.

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Life as a project-based student has its highs and lows. Typically, college students can be found studying in coffee shops, working in the library with friends, or even curling up on the couch working on homework. But for a project-based student, that might not be an option. As a landscape architecture student, most of my time is spent in the studio working on computer/hand graphic projects. This looks like spending upwards of 20 hours a week in the same classroom, with the same people, with the same professors, working on design projects.

Strong Community

This might sound like a hefty experience, but there are many pros that come along with working mainly on projects: I don't have tests often, I get to know the people in my classes, and I get to delegate my time how I want to. One project could last months, but in that time frame I get to become close with my classmates and professors, and we get to bond over working on the same project for long periods of time. Most other majors don't have the opportunity to fully get to know your classmates, but the community work environment of a design major makes it vital to succeeding in class.

Marathon Studio Time

The average work week for me looks like having studio time on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:30 to 5:20. On top of that I might need to be spending some of my time in the studio getting ahead or catching up. Having that amount of class time might seem wild but having that separated class time just to work is vital and has taught me a lot about how to manage my time well. During a busy project, I might be spending 30-plus hours a week in the same room with the same people.

Real-World Career Preparation

There are some downsides to spending so much time in the studio. The timeline of projects can be daunting, spending time with the same people for large amounts of time can be hard, and getting along with professors can become challenging. But all these things allow for benefits in the work environment. Down the line whenever we get a real job, there are going to be tough work relations and tough deadlines. The landscape architecture program truly prepares you for what life could be like outside of school.

Most majors have it differently with their exams, but I enjoy creating these projects. I’ve enjoyed the relationships I’ve been able to build with peers and professors since we have to work on the same projects over a long time. This will transfer over into the real world of architecture, which I will hopefully be in soon enough!

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As a born and raised Southern Californian, who lived 15 minutes away from the coast, and now attends college on California's central coast, I have a fair share of beach experience. In my “professional” opinion, I have created the ultimate beach tour guide with some of my favorite and not-so-favorite beaches that you should be sure to visit (or not to visit) the next time you find yourself in California, whether during Spring Break or any other time of year.

Crescent Bay Beach in Laguna Beach

This is my all-time favorite beach because of how perfect it is! The water there is always so clear and warm (most of the time), and the waves are not extremely big, but still big enough to dive under. Sometimes, if you’re lucky enough, you can see little baby leopard sharks and other fish swimming around the shore because of how clear and blue the water is. After a long, fun day at this beach, you don’t have to worry about bringing sand into your car either because there’s a shower station and bathroom right near the entrance of the beach too, and trust me, a shower station is not common in Laguna Beach.

There are a couple of downsides to going to this beach, but they shouldn’t be the reason you miss out on such a perfect beach! The first downside is the beach is on the small side. During busier seasons, Crescent Bay Beach can seem more crowded than other beaches because of how little beach there is. Despite this, there’s never been a time that I’ve gone to this beach and not found a place to lay out my towel. The other downside is parking. While parking is free, it’s mainly residential parking. This means that it can be hard to find a parking spot, but if you keep looking around, you will get a parking spot, I promise. I just hope that you’re good at parallel parking!

Strands Beach & Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point

I typically do not go down to the water at these beaches too often, because the walk down from the parking lot is long and steep. These two beaches are still on my list though because they are such a great spot to watch the sunset over the water and enjoy the ocean breeze.

At Strands Beach, you can watch the sunset from your car because the parking lot is on top of a hill that overlooks a neighborhood full of grand houses and the water. At Salt Creek Beach, you have to walk a little bit in order to find the perfect sunset-watching area. When you start walking down to the beach, you’ll come across this giant grass hill, and this is where everyone gathers to watch the sunset. In both places, you’ll get to watch a beautiful sunset, no doubt about it.

Doheny State Beach in Dana Point

This beach is definitely not my go-to swimming beach, but it is my go-to bonfire beach. Doheny Beach has a lot of bonfire pits that you can use for free (only have to pay for parking). What’s nice about it is that most of the pits are right next to the parking lot, so you can pull up your car and use your trunk for good seating (kind of) close to the fire. The pits aren’t that far away from the water either. However, if you choose to go swimming in the water, I hope you have strong ankles because rocks are in place of the sand. The rocks tumble and roll with the waves, making it highly likely that your toes will get stubbed. But if you brave it far enough into the water, you’ll start to feel sand!

Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County

Finally, a Central Coast beach! I might be biased when I say this since this beach is so close to where I live now, but Avila Beach is my favorite Central Coast beach. I don’t go in the water, though, because it’s colder on the Central Coast than in Laguna Beach. This beach is nice in that it has free parking, a bathroom and shower station, restaurants, and my favorite part, swings! It’s also nice because the beach is big, so it doesn’t feel as crowded as other beaches I’ve encountered. Then again, the air is colder, and the water isn’t as clear blue, making it less appealing to swim in.

Whether you’re visiting during your Spring Break, the summer, or any other time of year, I hope you find these recommendations helpful in finding the perfect spot for your beach adventure!

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The ability to be creative is important to the human experience, but many people find it difficult to reach their full creative potential. Embracing the art of everyday innovation can put us on a transforming road, regardless of whether we feel "uncreative” or confined by the routines of our daily life. Let’s examine the depths of creativity, dispel common misconceptions, and explore doable solutions to help you tap into your creative potential and introduce innovation into every aspect of your life. 

Understanding the Creative Mind: Debunking Myths and Unveiling the Truths 

Creativity is often misunderstood, surrounded by myths that limit its potential. Here are a few common misconceptions and reveal the truths about the creative mind. 
 
Myth #1: "Creativity is only for the chosen few." The truth is that creativity resides within all of us. It is not exclusive to artists or geniuses but is a universal human trait waiting to be nurtured. 
 
Myth #2: "Creativity follows a specific formula." In reality, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to creativity. Each individual has their unique creative process, and it's essential to embrace and trust your own way of thinking and creating. 

Overcoming Creative Blocks: Tips to Rekindle Inspiration and Break Through Barriers 

At times, creative blocks can hinder our creative flow. Let’s explore practical techniques to overcome these blocks and reignite inspiration. 
 
Tip #1: Reframing Problems: A fresh perspective can breathe new life into creativity. By reframing challenges as opportunities, we can shift our mindset and discover innovative solutions. 
 
Tip #2: Embracing Constraints: Limitations can fuel creativity. By embracing constraints, we are forced to think creatively and find unconventional approaches. 

Nurturing Creativity in Daily Life: Small Habits with Big Impact 

Infusing creativity into our daily lives can have a profound impact on our overall well-being and ability to generate innovative ideas. What practical habits and rituals nurture creativity? 
 
Habit #1: Journaling: Writing down our thoughts, ideas, and observations can stimulate creative thinking and serve as a valuable resource for future inspiration. 
 
Habit #2: Engaging in Mindful Practices: Mindfulness cultivates a state of present-moment awareness, allowing us to tap into our creative flow. We'll explore mindfulness exercises such as meditation, deep breathing, and sensory awareness. 
 
Habit #3: Allowing Time for Play and Exploration: Engaging in playful activities and exploring new hobbies can spark creativity by encouraging experimentation and curiosity. 

Embracing Multidisciplinary Thinking: Finding Inspiration Outside Your Comfort Zone 

Cross-pollination of ideas from different disciplines can lead to breakthrough innovations. Here are two benefits of multidisciplinary thinking and how to embrace it. 
 
Benefit #1: Fresh Perspectives: When we venture beyond our comfort zones, we expose ourselves to new perspectives, ideas, and approaches that can inspire innovative thinking. 
 
Benefit #2: Connecting Dots: By drawing connections between seemingly unrelated fields, we can uncover unique insights and create original solutions. 

The Power of Collaboration: Fostering Creative Synergy with Others 

Collaboration has the power to amplify creative potential. How can collaboration enhance creativity and provide strategies for effective creative partnerships? 
 
Strategy #1: Active Listening and Empathy: By truly listening to others' perspectives and empathizing with their experiences, we can foster an environment of trust and respect, which fuels collaborative creativity. 
 
Strategy #2: Constructive Feedback: Constructive feedback plays a vital role in refining ideas and pushing creative boundaries. We'll delve into techniques for giving and receiving feedback that encourages growth and innovation. 

Embracing Failure as a Catalyst for Innovation: Lessons from the Great Creatives 

Failure is an unavoidable part of the creative process.  
 
Lesson #1: Resilience and Persistence: Failure teaches us the importance of perseverance and resilience. We'll examine how successful creatives embraced setbacks, learned from them, and kept moving forward. 
 
Lesson #2: Learning from Mistakes: Failures provide valuable insights and lessons. We'll explore techniques for analyzing failures, extracting lessons, and applying those lessons to future creative endeavors. 
 
Lesson #3: Embracing the Growth Mindset: Adopting a growth mindset allows us to view failure as an opportunity for growth and improvement. We'll delve into strategies for cultivating a growth mindset and embracing the iterative nature of the creative process. 

Mindfulness and Creativity: Cultivating Presence for Enhanced Imagination 

The practice of mindfulness can significantly enhance our creative thinking. Mindfulness practices cultivate presence and nurture our imaginative abilities. 
 
Practice #1: Meditation and Mindful Awareness: Regular meditation practices help quiet the mind, increase focus, and tap into the depths of our creative potential. 
 
Practice #2: Embracing Flow States: Flow states, characterized by deep focus and immersion in an activity, are fertile grounds for creativity. We'll discuss strategies for entering and nurturing flow states.

Tapping into the Subconscious: The Role of Dreams and Daydreaming in Creative Thinking 

The subconscious mind holds untapped creative treasures. Dreams and daydreaming can unlock the depths of our imagination. 
 
Practice #1: Dream Journaling: Keeping a dream journal allows us to capture fleeting insights and symbolic imagery that can be used as creative prompts. 
 
Practice #2: Intentional Daydreaming: Carving out intentional time for daydreaming nurtures our ability to wander into unexplored realms of imagination and generates new ideas. 
 
Practice #3: Mind-Wandering and Incubation: Allowing the mind to wander freely and taking breaks from intense focus can provide the subconscious with the space to connect dots and form novel connections. 
 
By embracing these strategies and practices, you'll embark on a journey of unlocking your creative potential, infusing innovation into your everyday life, and experiencing the joy and fulfillment that come from living a creatively inspired existence. 
 
Unlocking your creative potential and embracing the art of everyday innovation is a transformative journey that can enrich every aspect of your life. By adopting a mindset of curiosity, exploring new perspectives, and nurturing your creative energy, you'll discover the power to think differently, challenge the status quo, and bring forth innovative solutions.

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! 

Is it February already? I’ve always found it super fun to set some New Year's resolutions for myself in January... but they can be so difficult to maintain once the month is up! And I’m not alone; about 50% of people will give up on their resolutions by the end of January, so, now that it’s February, how are you doing with your resolutions? Whether you’ve restarted a couple of times or have been going strong since the ball drop, here are some tips to get your momentum back and keep your resolutions going all year long!

1) Reflect on your progress so far.

Take some time to reflect on how close you are to reaching your goal or how many goals you’ve accomplished already! Take pride in the progress you’ve made so far. This can be a great motivator to continue working hard for the rest of the year!

2) Set new goals.

Setting new goals can also be a great way to inspire yourself. If you achieved your goal in January, think of a new challenge. If you did not reach your goal, that’s okay! You can always reevaluate your resolution throughout the year to accommodate your current lifestyle and availability.

3) Reward yourself!

It is so important to be kind to yourself and reward your achievements. Maybe you get to go to your favorite restaurant, order your favorite drink at Starbucks, or buy those jeans you’ve been eyeing for weeks. Whether your reward is big or small, make it something meaningful to you that will help you stay on track.

4) Get a friend or family member involved.

It’s always so much more fun to accomplish a goal with someone else! Get someone close to you to join you in your resolution, so you can hold each other accountable and track your progress together. If you’re super competitive, get a whole group involved and see who can stick to the resolution the longest!

5) Make your resolutions fun!

The best advice I can give is to make your resolution something you will enjoy doing. Maybe you want to get more exercise in 2024, but you dread going to the gym. Instead, choose a place nearby to explore, grab your headphones, and go for a walk or run outdoors! Or maybe you want to maintain a better diet, but raw veggies aren’t your thing. Look up some recipes for healthier versions of your favorite dishes. There are so many ways to make your resolutions more fun!

Overall, resolutions can be hard to keep. But give yourself some grace and try one of these tips if you are feeling down on yourself this new year. You might be surprised by how much of a difference a small change can make!

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!