Students blog

What is your earliest memory of going to a theme park? Why was that experience memorable to you? I frequented theme parks as a kid and by the time I was old enough to understand the career choices that were in front of me, I wanted to be a “roller coaster engineer”. During my first week of college, I found out about my school’s Theme Park Engineering and Design Club and I knew I had to join. At the first meeting, we talked about our favorite theme park rides, how we would change certain ones, and even some we dreamed of creating and I felt at home right away. I had found a community of people who shared my dream. Through actively participating in this club, I learned that I could alter my previous dream into a real career in theme park design.

Making the Dream into a Reality

In November of 2022, I was presented with an opportunity to travel with the club to Orlando for the IAAPA (International Association for Amusement Parks and Attractions) expo. The first time I saw the show floor will forever be a core memory for me. Everywhere the eye could see contained booths, rides, arcade games, food stands, and more. There are no words to do it justice, so I’ll simply describe it as the most overwhelming yet invigorating room I’d ever stepped foot in. Every conversation I had and every company I met reinforced my dream of working in the themed entertainment industry. When I think about everything I learned, it all boils down to the idea that this industry is real and not just something I dreamt of as a kid. Suffice it to say, it was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life.

My Biggest Takeaways

I will forever be grateful for my experience at IAAPA, and I hope to return many more times in my life. For my first real-life introduction to the industry, I felt like I gained a much better understanding of the themed entertainment and attraction industry. Here are my biggest takeaways from the experience:

1. Classrooms are not equal to real-life experience. I had spent two full semesters hearing about the industry and participating in small-scale activities, but, until I attended the IAAPA expo, my knowledge of the industry barely scraped the surface.
2. Networking takes time and practice. I thought that networking would come easily to me, but I was sorely mistaken. It took me an entire day to even work up the confidence to initiate a conversation. I’m still working on finding the best ways to introduce myself, but luckily, I have plenty of time to get better at it.
3. Let passion drive your future endeavors. This was the biggest thing I learned from the experience. Nearly every person I met was excited to talk about their position, projects, and experiences. It was evident that these people had an honest love for their work. Their openness and honesty regarding their passions was incredibly inspiring. They taught me that if I let passion drive my career, I would get much further and be happier than if I follow superficial things.

If I could relay one piece of advice that I learned from this experience, it’s that there is truth to Walt Disney’s saying, “if you dream it, you can do it.” If you have a passion for something, life is too short to give up on it without even trying. Follow your dreams and they may lead you somewhere beyond what you could have ever imagined.

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April 22nd. You might remember this day in elementary school as the day your teacher gave you coloring pages with themes of trees, the ocean, and recycling. However, the older we get, the more important this day becomes. Earth Day is all about educating yourself on the ways that you can practice taking better care of the planet. Excess waste is a huge contributor to pollution which harms the earth’s atmosphere which, in turn, will harm us.

There are tons of different factors that impact the planet and many small lifestyle changes that can make a difference. Here are 3 actions we can practice to take better care of our planet, on Earth Day and every day!

Help Clean Up

One easy way to celebrate Earth Day is to participate in a trash cleanup! Joining a big group event or getting together with some friends to remove trash from parks, lakes, beaches, and rivers, all makes a difference. Participating in these types of events helps reduce waste and plastic pollution, plus protects the environment for both wildlife and humans.

Shop Smarter

Fast fashion is another culprit of causing extremely high emissions of pollution into our atmosphere. Educating yourself on environmentally friendly fashion choices will help move the world closer towards sustainability.

Adapt To an Environmentally Friendly Lifestyle

There are many small lifestyle changes you can make that can make a difference. You can reduce your plastic usage by using reusable bags when you go grocery shopping. Further reduce your plastic usage by taking a reusable water bottle with you. Look for ways to regularly recycle plastic, aluminum, and glass where you live. Making a few of these small changes in the way you live your life can dramatically change the impact you have on the planet and the example you set for others.

Find More Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

It can be easy to forget the impact we have on the planet by the actions we take every day; therefore, Earth Day serves as an important reminder. There are tons of changes you can make today to help better the planet and focus on keeping it healthy and beautiful.

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Meeting new people in your field or interviewing for a new job can be stressful for everyone, especially introverts like myself. Gaining comfort with introducing yourself to a large group of people such as a club, prepares you for an interview where you are usually only meeting a couple of recruiters. Lucky for us college students now, technology provides us with excellent ways to present ourselves professionally and network with peers or recruiters virtually. First impressions are crucial to the networking and interviewing process, but with a few helpful tips, you will thrive whether you are originally an introvert or extrovert.

Social Media Branding

Nowadays online platforms such as LinkedIn are often the beginning of first impressions for professional relationships. Personal branding is crucial to create a consistent and qualifying image that will impress potential employers. LinkedIn is widely used by hiring managers to vet candidates’ experience, which is why it is very important to expand past your resume. Utilizing functions on LinkedIn, such as honors/awards or volunteer work can allow you to demonstrate your character beyond your resume and provide further insight to employers.

The most important aspect of building your LinkedIn account is the About Me section, in which you can summarize your current activities, interests, and goals relevant to your career path. Aside from professional media platforms, it is also important to maintain a consistent image across other social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.

Networking

As a college student, the first place to begin in-person networking is in your classes. From there you can meet people in different clubs or organizations. Joining a club is a great way to build your network, participate in something you are passionate about, and add to your resume. Many colleges have networking events for different departments that allow students to meet and converse with professionals in that field. One tip for success at formal networking events is to have a QR code on a mobile device that links to your LinkedIn profile, so you can continue the conversation and leverage that connection. Open-mindedness is key when meeting with new people, any connection, regardless of how small, could have a positive impact on a future job opportunity.

Interviewing

After social media branding and networking, interviewing is the next step in proving yourself as the perfect candidate for a position. The resume you submit for each job application should be tailored to the said job description. For example, if the job requires organization, time management, and teamwork skills, those should be the skills you highlight on your resume. The most common interview question is “tell me about yourself”, so having a pitch prepared that blends your past experience, present ventures, and future goals is a great tip for a successful interview.

In addition to framing your resume around the job description and preparing an introduction pitch, you should also have specific examples from your past experience that relate to the assignments of the job you are applying for. The final interview tip is to always have questions prepared regarding the role you are applying for. A couple of questions to ask include: What does a typical day entail in this role? How would you describe the company culture? How do you measure success for this role?

Maintaining a consistent social media image, employing network connections, and preparing an informative introduction will promote confidence and preparedness contributing to an excellent first impression during an interview.

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What were you doing before reading this blog? Scrolling through Instagram? Watching TikTok? Putting off your homework? All of the above? “According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anywhere from ‘80 percent to 95 percent of college students procrastinate, particularly when it comes to doing their coursework’” (National University, 2021, p. 1). Based on this percentage, nearly all college students procrastinate in some way. I am personally guilty of procrastinating and waiting until the last minute to get my assignments turned in. However, there are many different ways to overcome procrastination which will allow you to get the most out of each and every day.

For starters, the biggest distraction is that smart phone you are either using to read this blog or have sitting right next to you. Put the phone somewhere you can no longer see it and you will immediately see an increase in your productivity. In addition, before moving your phone, set a timer for 25 minutes so that way you have a time limit for your work. Once the timer goes off, set another one for a quick five-minute break. You can now repeat this exercise for however long you plan to do your work.

If you think I’m crazy, this technique is actually known as the Pomodoro Technique which was developed by entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo when he was a college student. In essence, “the Pomodoro Technique essentially trains people to focus on tasks better by limiting the length of time they attempt to maintain that focus and ensuring restorative breaks from the effort. The method also helps them overcome their tendencies to procrastinate or multitask, both of which are known to impair productivity” (Sheldon and Wigmore, 2022, p. 1). If you want to get rid of your procrastination habits, the Pomodoro Technique is a great place to start.

Furthermore, there are other simple methods for you to prevent procrastination. Rather than numbing your brain with TikTok’s or social media, go outside, take a walk, get some exercise. Everything I just mentioned is widely known to improve your mood and limit your distractions. These activities will also make your mind more refreshed and ready to work. Make sure you take time every day to just take a breath and relax so that way you can see an immediate increase in your productivity.

If you struggle with procrastination, you are not alone. I have heard this phrase a lot during my college career, and it really does hold true: “The problem college students face is not a lack of time, rather it is having too much time on their hands.” Instead of wasting valuable time, make a daily schedule for yourself that includes everything you want and need to accomplish based on the time you have. Put your phone away, start doing the Pomodoro Technique and set aside time for relaxation and things that will boost your overall well-being.

So now what? Are you going to sit on your phone some more or are you going to get the most out of your day so you can have more time for fun? To procrastinate or not to procrastinate, that is the question.

Works Cited

National University. (2021, July 6). Helping Students Overcome Procrastination. National University. Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://www.nu.edu/blog/helping-students-overcome-procrastination/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20American%20Psychological,of%20every%20five%20students%20in

Sheldon, R., & Wigmore, I. (2022, September 15). What is Pomodoro Technique Time Management? WhatIs.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/pomodoro-technique#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20Pomodoro%20Technique,broken%20by%20five%2Dminute%20breaks

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Have you ever wondered what it's like to be part of the student government in your prospective school? Have you ever felt discouraged, as if you’re not good enough to join such an “elite” club? Is it too stressful to think about the amount of work you have to do if you do end up getting accepted? Here are 3 tips on how to get involved and how to stay focused once you’re in.

Apply Apply Apply

Don’t focus on the negatives or the what ifs, the first step to your success is to apply. If you’re truly passionate about the position, even if you don't get accepted the first time, try again! I applied early into the school year, and I even made it to the interview stage, but I ended up not getting accepted the first time. Although I was slightly sad, I wasn't discouraged, and at the start of the fall semester, I applied once more and got in! Not getting accepted is not failure, it's a small set-back, and although it might hurt at first, it's always good to keep pushing.

I'm In? Now What Do I Do?

The first step after getting accepted is always to talk to one of the managers who run the student government. More often than not, the other student council members don't know much about the paperwork, so always stick to speaking to the higher-ups. They will guide you through the steps needed so you can officialize your position. Once all the paperwork is done, the real work begins…

How To Manage School Work and Student Government Work.

Depending on your college or university, the student government might have different schedules or workload. Consult with your SGA president or another member with a lot of experience. Always contact another student for this, not a manager. While SGA work is important, it's important to remember that it comes second to schoolwork. Exams, homework, quizzes, projects, whatever it may be, they all come first. Always prioritize your schoolwork but work to figure out where you have extra time in your schedule to focus on SGA work as well.

You Got This!

After a while, you’ll start to notice that everything intertwines, and mixing SGA and schoolwork isn’t so difficult anymore; you now have a set schedule that you follow. Your multi-tasking and time management skills have increased. Being involved in student government is a worthwhile and rewarding endeavor for any college student. Now, what’s taking so long for you to start the application?

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As I’m nearing the end of my undergraduate career, I’ve realized there are so many things I want to do, and it seems like they all require money. It’s incredibly hard to save money when you’re a student working minimum wage, especially when you’re experiencing “adult money” for the first time.

When I got my first job, I spent my first paycheck almost immediately. This was money I earned for myself and wouldn’t feel bad for my parents when I used it. This mindset made it so my paychecks were wrung dry hundreds of times faster than the amount of time I spent to earn that money. The money wouldn’t last, and I’d use it on large handfuls of small daily purchases like coffee or boba. My poor money spending decisions left my pockets empty and I began to realize I would never reach my larger goals, such as going on an international trip or affording my own place, unless I figured out a way to start saving.

Time is Money

What I began to do to save money included changing my mindset, purchases, and “piggy bank”. Let’s say I make $15 an hour and a single drink at a cafe costs around $5, sometimes much more. I realized that buying only three drinks would translate to me working for one hour. Once I started looking at purchases in terms of my time and effort, I made less of the unnecessary “luxury” purchases.

Buy in Bulk

Another thing I would do is buy “in bulk”. Rather than buying one drink, I’d buy the ingredients for it and make it myself. The $20 spent on 4 cups of coffee could be stretched further on groceries that would equate to a month’s worth of coffees.

Cut the Card and Correct with Cash

I also noticed that my primary mode of payment was my bank card, which made it too easy to overspend. I’ve rarely carried cash since the start of the pandemic, so I began to go to my bank and take cash out of my accounts. I’d then take the cash and place it in a small notebook that I keep out of sight. It helps to get newer dollar bills that are fresh and clean. It makes me want to keep them! By doing this I prevent myself from spending the money that is locked away in my room, and I occasionally even forget about it which makes for a nice surprise later. This action helped me curb my online spending, too.

These are small changes in my lifestyle that have resulted in a satisfying savings amount, and I look forward to seeing how much I can save up by the end of the year.

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April 15th is World Art Day! Whether it be paintings, music, dance, or something other, we can agree that art is all around us in our day-to-day lives. We may be surrounded by it, but many overlook ways that they can use art to better their own lives!

Discover Something New

A wonderful thing about art in all forms is that it is constantly changing and evolving, meaning that there is always something new and interesting to see. Look for art within your own community! Whether it be a school art show, a concert in a coffee shop, a local dance recital, or a small sticker store run by a classmate, there is so much art to be discovered.

Use Art to Bond with Others

It’s always fun to hang out with friends but incorporating a creative activity can add to the fun. Bring some cheap canvas and paint sets for a new and easy way for friends to bond. There’s no need to be the next Picasso or Bob Ross. Simply having fun and creating something new is good enough! This idea of creating something with a friend can extend even further to things like cupcake or cookie decorating, jewelry making, or even making up a song with random lyrics!

Better Your Community with Art

Whether it be a new artist or one that’s been around forever, supporting art in your community can strengthen community bonds and even benefit your community financially! Shopping small and supporting local artists helps not only their financial freedom, but also their artistic freedom. Going to see a local community theatre’s production can help them put on future shows. Hey, maybe checking out that local startup band can land you the right to say that you knew them before they were famous!

Art Can Better What’s Most Important: YOU!

We all know it’s sometimes easy to overlook how important it is to take care of yourself. Luckily, there are forms of art that can benefit you, as well! Dancing is an incredible form of exercise, keeping your brain and body healthy and happy. It doesn’t need to be professional dancing in the slightest. Something as simple as dancing to yourself in the mirror in the morning with your favorite song playing can release those feel-good endorphins! Yoga and meditation are accessible ways to calm yourself down through art and can even benefit your sleep health!

Art surrounds us, and it isn't going away anytime soon. So, embrace it and use art to better your life and the lives of those around you!

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Pizza, the only word that will never offend, hurt, or discriminate against someone. When you ask a child what their favorite food is, a majority will answer ‘pizza’! It is the world’s most popular food, and for good reason. There are so many different types of pizza and different ways of eating it. You can dine in with a fork and knife, you can fold like a hotdog, eat the crust first, or just eat from top to bottom. These delicious Italian delicacies are created in so many ways: Detroit style, Chicago deep dish, Sicilian, grandma, rectangular, and the best of them all…New York thin crust. Let’s take a look at all the varieties and think of the impact pizza has had on our society.

Pizza In Our World

Our society is fixated on social media and entertainment. Pizza has been prevalent in all types of media. Beloved characters such as the teenage mutant ninja turtles and SpongeBob SquarePants have had pizza be a main factor in their episodes. You can hardly watch 1 hour of television without seeing multiple pizza commercials – Dominoes, Papa Johns, and of course, ‘no one out-pizzas The Hut!” It is all around us.

Pizza is a highly profitable business. All it takes is some dough, mozzarella cheese, and some tomato sauce and you will have a great pizza. There can be so many different twists on pizza, too. Countries such as India use a naan bread and ketchup instead of regular dough and tomato sauce. Different cultures and societies have their impacts on how they eat their pizza; New York is a gleaming example. People in New York are always in a hurry, so the thin crust pizza is something you can eat on the go without any hassle or mess. New York pizza is often quick, easy, and cheap. Some slices go for only $1, keeping the whole neighborhood fed.

Perfect For Any Event

Pizza is a great way to feed a crowd. It’s a common staple not only at college student gatherings, but also kids’ birthday parties, baby showers, bachelor parties, the list goes on. Establishments such as Chuck E. Cheese use pizza to entice children to have their parties there. It is the perfect food for any gathering.

As Michael Scott from the famous sitcom “The Office” once said, “Pizza…the great equalizer.” Michael understood that pizza brings everyone together; it is a food that anyone can enjoy. He said this because he wanted to bring his workers together, the sales representatives, the warehouse workers, and even the pizza delivery guy. It’s a food that excites nearly everyone - nothing beats that combo of dough, cheese, and tomatoes.

The Global Fascination

It’s no surprise that each year, more than 5 BILLION pizzas are sold worldwide, with 3 BILLION coming out of the United States. The U.S has so many different versions which make them unique. There are no rules in eating pizza, you can follow Burger King's motto and “Have it your way”. The flexibility of pizza is what makes it so great and profitable. Eat it with barbecue sauce, ketchup, Wisconsin cheese, it does not matter.

No matter how you slice it, just remember to appreciate this global phenomenon, “the great equalizer.”

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Regulating your health in college can become quite a challenge when you’re dealing with a million other things on your plate at the same time. This part of life can be very stressful and fast-paced which is why it’s so important to strive to keep your health in check during this time. That being said, here are a few tips I have heard or have come to learn throughout my ongoing journey to making my health a priority in college.

This year, World Health Day is on April 7th. If you haven’t started working on your health, today is a great day to start.

Find the Exercises You Like

Firstly, exercise is a great way to relieve stress and stay active. Furthermore, there are tons of different ways to get your exercise in. Some people love to run, other people hate to run (me), so this is why it’s really important to try and figure out which form of working out works best for you and more importantly, which form you enjoy the most. Some people really enjoy workout classes and different activities like swimming, playing basketball or volleyball. Something to keep in mind is that most universities offer different workout classes either free with your tuition or at a small cost to attend. These can be really fun to try out with your friends when you are wanting to switch your workout routine up. I really like to play pickleball with my boyfriend and our friends because it’s a lot easier than tennis but it’s still a really great way to get a sweat in.

Exercise With Friends

Another great tip for staying active during college is to arrange activities with your friends where you can workout all together. I’ve found that this can be a really great strategy because it is much easier to stay encouraged and motivated when you have a group of people you are completing the challenge with. If you are the kind of person that loves simply going to the gym to get your workout in, it can be really beneficial to have an accountability partner – someone you go to the gym with that pushes you to do your best, even and most importantly, on the days you don’t feel like it. Additionally, on those days where I don’t have a ton of time to get a good workout in or I just really don’t feel it, I’ll take a long walk listening to a podcast or do some light yoga in my living room. The small habits you form are what determines your lifestyle and priorities.

That being said, everybody’s workout style is different. As long as you are listening to your body and prioritizing your health, you are doing the best you can. Be proud of yourself and your body for doing all the incredible things it does for you. We need to make sure that as we are going through college and working really hard, that we are also taking care of ourselves, too.

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!