Students blog

Graduation: Incoming

As I get closer to crossing the stage and entering uncharted territory, one question gets louder: “What’s next?”

For my fellow seniors, thoughts about what’s next might be hitting a little harder as our collegiate chapter ends. Sometimes it feels like a million thoughts run through your head, ranging from hopeful and excited to nervous and doubtful.

If you’ve felt that pressure, here’s a reminder to pause and be present as we figure it out.

Football to Filmmaking

I came to campus as an eager, hot-blooded teenager who couldn’t wait to get my fill of the “college experience.” I joined the football team, made friends, and went to events. But I didn’t expect my feelings toward football to change, and that led to my first real identity crisis.

My passion for the sport was dwindling, and I was scared. Without football, I didn’t know what else I’d do.

I tried to straddle the fence for a while, but a serious concussion made the choice for me. That was the first time I truly asked myself, “What’s next?” I was lost.

Over time, uncertainty weighed on me, and my outlook grew darker. I questioned everything: Who am I? Who do I want to become? Did I make the wrong decision to quit? Should I even stay in college?

Those thoughts ran heavy, but eventually I decided to take things one day at a time. After months of going through the motions without direction, I thought, “Why not give video a try?” I had no idea how to shoot, edit, or craft a story, yet I had always loved stories.

That small step opened the door to what’s now my passion. Storytelling and filmmaking have become my lane. For me, picking up a camera became my way of learning to see the world in front of me.

Senior Reflections

Looking back, I realize I was so in my own head that I didn’t allow myself to enjoy the process. Even in moments of joy and triumph, I was focused on “what’s next.”

My college experience forced me to confront something I’ve always known: I’m a chronic overthinker. That’s why I’m shifting my perspective this year.

I’m in awe that I’m really here, still standing. My journey through college has prepared me and shaped me into who I am today.

I am ready to take on what’s ahead, even if I have no idea what the future will look like. As I prepare to close one chapter and begin another, I like to remind myself that we’re still in the middle of writing our life story.

Sure, sometimes I wish I could look into a crystal ball and make a list of all my future mistakes, so I can try to create a safe, smooth ride. But truthfully, what fun is that?

Every experience, every rose, matters. Our mistakes, detours, and challenges—our stories—make us who we are. Even when you’re looking straight ahead, ready to take on what’s next, it’s always good to stop and smell the roses.

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I realized I was spending too much time online when I started feeling ashamed of my phone’s screen time usage. Instagram? Three hours. TikTok? At least four hours. And that didn’t even include the time spent on my PC or laptop.

Every single day, I was spending a minimum of seven hours aimlessly scrolling. The guilt of wasting so much time nudged me toward change.

Aligning My Time with My Life

I started with a self-imposed TikTok ban. While short-lived, I suddenly found myself with a hole in my day. My attention span was scattered. Instead of filling my life with tangible hobbies, I just scrolled on other platforms.

I didn’t want my life to continue like that—just university, work, phone, and bed. I wanted a life full of new experiences and genuine enjoyment. I wanted to share those moments with others for the simple pleasure of connection.

Committing to reducing my overall screen time helped me rediscover activities that bring me joy and allowed me to make better use of my time. It resulted in an improvement in my attention span and a deeper connection with loved ones.

Improving My Focus

When you suddenly have an extra seven hours a day, it feels weird. It took me a while to rediscover what I actually like to do. I tried a variety of new activities—everything from knitting to reading to jewelry making.

One activity that stuck was reading. I finished three books during the first week of my digital detox.

At first, I struggled to focus. I would read a page, and my mind would wander. My first impulse was to check my phone, and if I gave in, it would lead back to mindless scrolling.

It was hard to sit with just one thing: reading a book. Even getting through a few pages felt challenging. But by keeping my phone out of reach, I found it easier to resist those impulses and stay focused.

After just a week or two, I could read more than one hundred pages without even thinking about my phone. That improved focus began to trickle into other areas of my life as well.

Connecting More Meaningfully

An unexpected side effect of reducing screen time was reconnecting with loved ones. Social media can connect us, but I’ve realized those connections don't feel as deep.

With less screen time and social media, I began to see which connections were truly meaningful. When connecting with me wasn’t as convenient, who still reached out? Who did I want to talk to or spend time with in the real world?

I started calling people more often and having meaningful conversations. Using our actual voices allows us to connect on a deeper level. We can be more vulnerable and honest.

It’s easier to feel seen and understood—even about small, mundane things. I could hear someone’s joy as they described their breakfast or their exhaustion after a long day at work. These moments of connection felt real and more fulfilling.

Mindful Screen Time

Screen use may be an inevitable part of life but cutting out my unnecessary and unproductive habits has been transformative.

I’ve been able to focus more deeply on whatever I’m doing and be fully present. My significant increase in reading has been a tangible measurement of how much my focus has improved. I’ve also deepened my ability to connect with people on a more genuine level.

Ultimately, phones should be tools—tools we use consciously and mindfully. They can be all-consuming, but I’ve learned they are only as disruptive as I allow them to be.

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At age seven, my life changed after reading a poem called "The Voice" by Shel Silverstein [1]. That moment was transformative because I realized I had autonomy. I discovered something within myself that no one else could take away: my voice.

Poetry became an outlet to express myself, turning my thoughts into words. Words became my first love. Though there was never an official wedding, I vowed to use them for good, through better and worse.

Emotional Empowerment Through Poetry

Through good times and bad, poetry empowers me. It provides a safe place to go when my emotions feel too big to hold. It brings me peace when I feel so happy that I want to shout my feelings at the sky. And it grounds me when my mind becomes tangled with too many thoughts to sort through.

Emotions aren't always as straightforward as our language implies; sometimes, they're more like a weather report. You might say you feel happy, but "mostly sunny" might be a more accurate description. Or maybe you don't exactly feel sad, so "foggy" would capture it better. On days when my emotions feel like this, I turn to poetry.

The Sparks of Creativity

When I'm particularly overwhelmed, I search online for a poetry prompt that resonates with me. Then, I do my best to release any negativity I'm experiencing. In moments like these, poetry gives me the power to transform my internal atmosphere. A few stanzas can turn an emotional storm into a lightning show: something electric and captivating.

There are also days when I feel so happy it's like I'm carrying a tiny (but intense) ball of sunshine. I might want to set it down somewhere, but I need to find a safe place to put it. This is where poetry grants me the power of peace, knowing that my happiness is preserved on paper.

What excites me even more than this peace of mind is the opportunity to share that happiness with someone else. I feel powerful knowing my big feelings can bring light to someone who needs the positivity.

Power through Purpose and Expression

Of course, we've all had days when we felt like we were carrying a ball of sunshine while a storm raged inside our heads. For me, this feels like my mind is knotted, and I'm not sure how to untangle it. Although this can leave me feeling powerless, I pick up my pen and let the words do the rest.

One word at a time, one sentence at a time, I untangle my thoughts like strings in a ball of yarn. And my poetry is the sweater I knit from those strings. I create something useful, something meaningful. That creation makes me feel powerful and purposeful.

Find Your Creative Outlet

Whether it's poetry, music, acting, or sports, I believe it's essential for everyone to have a creative outlet that makes them feel powerful. There's a common misconception that you must be "good" at something to enjoy it. In reality, the practice of self-expression is more important than the final product.

I hope this blog inspires you to find your voice through a creative outlet. Everyone deserves the power of autonomy and self-expression, especially in moments when we would otherwise feel powerless.

[1] Silverstein, Shel. Where the Sidewalk Ends. New York: Harper & Row, 1974.

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Just like plants, humans go through seasons of life. With each passing season, it's important to nurture the new growth and make space by removing the old. This sounds simple in poetic terms – but reality is often never as simple. Life gets busy and overwhelming. People, places, and events are constantly changing within the world. In the midst of all the chaos on the outside, sometimes we forget to give attention to our most important responsibility: ourselves. How can we attend to other responsibilities, relationships, and tasks in a productive and efficient manner if we have not yet taken the time to ensure we are in the state to put our best foot forward? When life begins to throw too much my way, the best method I have found to recenter myself is by making time to nurture my inner child. 

What is an inner child? 


The term “inner child” has gained increasing popularity due to social media trends within the last couple of years. Despite its recent rise in use, the term has been floating around in the psychology realm since 1969 after analytical psychologist Carl Jung popularized the phenomenon. In short, the inner child refers to all the childhood experiences that impact how an adult acts later in life. “Wounds” on the inner child are characterized as unattended parts of the psyche that may lead to antisocial behaviors or anxieties (i.e., a longing to be listened to and understood in a conversation). Meanwhile, a healthy inner child has been connected to reduced mental stress and increased creativity.  
 
While a trained cognitive behavioral therapist can help provide professional guidance on methods to fully resolve anxieties stemming from the inner child, inspiration can be taken from some of these methods for short-term resolutions for stress. Here are some of the methods I use to attend to my inner child in stressful situations. 

Tip #1: Get messy and get creative. 


One of my favorite ways to connect with my inner child is through art, specifically finger painting and coloring with crayons. Allowing myself to express my emotions in a messy, unpredictable art form is often a big relief during the times I feel like perfectionism is required. 

Tip #2: Reconnect with family and childhood friends.

Sometimes all we need during a stressful time is a hug or reassurance from a loved one. If you feel like you are running thin, turn to someone you can trust to help refill your cup! 

Tip #3: Take a nap! 


Nap time shouldn’t end at kindergarten. Sometimes a power nap, ideally between 10-30 minutes, is enough to give yourself a short break and unwind from a stressful situation. 

Tip #4: Revisiting a childhood favorite (i.e., show, game, snack, location, etc.). 


This is where you can get creative! If the prior two tips do not seem appealing, think of one thing that you loved from your childhood, but haven’t revisited in years. Now may be the time to do so! 

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My mother has a photo album on her phone titled “Reading while...” The album contains photos of me reading a book during different activities: when I was sitting in the driver’s seat waiting for my mom to lock the door, when I was putting on my shoes, while I was brushing my teeth. My favorite is when a photo of me lying face down in a book I was reading because I fell asleep. These photos offer an insight into who I was as a child, a vivacious reader who refused to put a book down, no matter the situation.

However, that all changed as I got into high school. As I started to take harder classes, my study time started to eat into my leisure reading time. And while at every icebreaker fun fact conversation, I would always say I loved to read, I slowly realized that I had not picked up a book in months. And while I tried to remedy this, I constantly found myself unable to find the time. And so, as I finished out high school, something that used to define me as a child disappeared from my life.

This continued into my college career as well. And it was not just the reading time that took a hit, it was any hobby or activity. I became consumed with studying for my classes and doing well. And while I told myself that throwing myself into studying was worth it and I was doing better, I slowly realized I was not. I became extremely sleep deprived, anxious, and a whole lot of other things that did not help me succeed in my classes.

To calm my nerves during an especially anxious episode, I started to read an orientation magazine I had gotten in the beginning of the year. After reading just a few pages, I felt much better. It felt so good to turn those pages and read the story out in front of me. That’s when I realized how important it is to find that work-life balance. Constantly working was not helping me at all.

That’s when I decided to go to the library and check out a book I had wanted to read in high school. That weekend, I read the entire book and felt a part of my brain re-emerge. I felt at peace and truly happy for the first time in months. The next weekend, I checked out another book, but instead of finishing it all that weekend, I paced it throughout the week, reading a few chapters at a time.

I saw a change in my studies. I started to stress less and started to sleep on time more often. It also was not just reading that made the difference. I started to pursue other hobbies and activities as well. I have picnics with my friends. I got good at pool and foosball. Now every Friday, my friends and I watch a movie. Every Sunday morning, we get brunch. I’ve learned how to crochet. Activities like these help me find peace it what is otherwise an extremely stressful major. Finding the balance is important.

I try to read a book every two weeks or so. And every now and then, I send my mom a new photo for her to add to her photo “Reading while…” album.

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Being in college can be one of the busiest times in a young adult's life. Balancing school, work, and a social life, along with all the other obligations that come with university life, can put a strain on your mental health. As a busy college student myself, I have had my fair share of mental health struggles, and one way I have learned to cope with stress and anxiety is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of the present moment, acknowledging any thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. Mindfulness is a practice that college students can implement into their daily routine to reap its benefits. 

Various research studies have been conducted over the years looking at the connection between mindfulness and mental health. According to the American Psychological Association, “researchers reviewed more than 200 studies of mindfulness among healthy people and found mindfulness-based therapy was especially effective for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness can also help treat people with specific problems, including depression, pain, smoking, and addiction.” Practicing mindfulness consistently can also help improve focus, memory, and even emotional regulation. The American Psychological Association also cites, “a study of people who had anywhere from one month to 29 years of mindfulness meditation practice, researchers found that mindfulness meditation practice helped people disengage from emotionally upsetting pictures and enabled them to focus better on a cognitive task as compared with people who saw the pictures but did not meditate (Ortner et al., 2007).” Practicing mindfulness meditation before bed can also help those who struggle with insomnia or difficulty sleeping at night. 

Some people might feel overwhelmed by the idea of practicing mindfulness, but there are various ways to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life. One of the best ways to start practicing mindfulness is by using guided meditations. I personally like to use YouTube to find guided meditations, but there are also various apps now, such as Headspace and Calm, that have beginner-friendly meditations as well. 

Another way to incorporate mindfulness into your routine is by turning daily tasks into mindful practices. One of my favorite ways to do this is by going on a mindful walk. In the morning on my walk to class, I put away my phone, and as I am walking, I try to stay fully aware of each step I am taking, along with my breathing. I use this time to observe my feelings and thoughts without judgment, and it is a great way to start the day. Another way to implement mindfulness into your daily routine is to practice it in the shower. This may sound strange, but being in the shower is one of the few moments in a day where we are free of distractions. When showering, I like to use that time to pay attention to my breathing, and I visualize the water washing away the negative thoughts that come to my mind. 

While college can be one of the most exciting times of a young adult's life, it also comes with a ton of stress. The pressures of school, work, and staying social can take a toll on students' mental health, leading so many to struggle with anxiety and depression. Mindfulness can be an incredible tool for students to use to help cope with the stress of college life.

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Winter can be a difficult season. Long breaks and shorter days can cause us to lose motivation. It is known that screen time increases during the winter months, which can make winter blues worse. Here are tips that help me keep myself busy and motivated during colder months, without being attached to my phone.

Stay active

Staying active helps tremendously, whether to the gym, a coffee run, a Target run, or a quick walk around the block. I have noticed that my mood changes when I leave my house, making me feel less anxious and overwhelmed. For some people, self-care might be their go-to to helping feel recovered & overcome winter blues, for me it is the gym. The gym helps me feel strong and calm; it is a huge part of my lifestyle. Even in the winter when it is cold and snowy, I look forward to going to the gym because it is part of my daily routine.

Find a hobby indoors

Finding a hobby has also helped me with fight boredom and overthinking. I recently picked up adult coloring books; it helps time go by fast and it also helps me stay off my phone. Another hobby that has helped me stay disconnected from my phone is junk journal or scrapbooking. This is an easy way to print out memories from my phone and express myself. It is also a fun way to capture special events spent with my friends and family. Listening to podcasts has also encouraged my mental health and has helped to reduce screen time.

Adjust holiday expectations

Winter brings the holidays and with that, the exceptions set on social media can feel overwhelming. I have been a victim of falling for Instagram's “family activities,” “family vacations”, and the most famous “Elf on the Shelf”. Without proper help and income that is impossible to achieve. I have made peace with what I will do with my family and what I will not. Setting boundaries is the primary goal when it comes to adjusting holiday expectations. Setting boundaries is helpful to reduce stress and help be realistic with yourself. Lastly, it is okay to say “No”.

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In this quick paced world, the workplace focuses mainly on results and productivity. Many times, mental health takes a back burner in employers’ minds which can lead to burn out and stress for employees. Temporary solutions such as caffeine breaks and mindful apps do not solve deeper problems. A more effective and long-lasting approach is animal assisted therapy, which uses interactions with animals such as dogs to improve emotional well-being in the workplace.

Studies have shown that simply being around animals increases the release of neurotransmitters associated with reducing stress and improving mood. Introducing trained animals to the workplace helps employees' mental health and fosters a better working environment.

Simply by petting a calm animal or just being around it can reduce blood pressure and stress hormones. If employees let workers relax on heavy days, it can improve their mental focus and emotional balance leading to increase productivity throughout the day.

Animals can also help build a sense of community. Sometimes the workplace can be lonely, especially in a competitive environment. Animals can serve as a connector in the workplace. The sense of connection can improve teamwork and make the atmosphere more like a family.

Animals can also encourage healthier habits. Workers who take time to exercise and get a short walk with the dog can also improve their mood. This allows them to get a much-needed physical activity and a mental break that can inspire connectivity, better focus, and improved problem-solving capability.

However, bringing animals into the workplace requires careful planning. Not everyone is comfortable around animals due to allergies, fears, or personal preferences. Companies need to create clear policies, designate specific animal-friendly areas, and work with trained therapy animals to ensure everyone feels safe and included.

The most common type of therapy animals are dogs. Affection from dogs is a proven way to reduce stress, and when added to the workplace, can drastically improve workers' mental health and overall performance.

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! 

Second semester is upon us, and unfortunately so is the cold. Some people may love the cold, but for me this often means staying inside my room locked away from the frigid weather and the rest of college. While it is nice to cuddle up with a movie every now and then, too much time in the dorm room can lead to inevitable loneliness and what many of us call “winter depression.” So here are a few ways I motivate myself to get out even when its unbearably cold!

Workout Classes

Now you could throw on some gloves and a hat and go for a run outside, but I personally cannot do exercise in the icy cold. Therefore, to stay active in the winter I love going to different workout and exercise classes! Whether I go to a nearby yoga class or a spin class in my school’s gym, working out with others always gets my spirits up. I also highly encourage getting a buddy to go with you and make the group class that much more fun!

Trying New Food

My favorite thing during the season of cold weather is sitting down with a warm bowl of soup or plate of delicious pasta. One thing that always makes everyone happy is food! Either by going with friends to a new restaurant or simply trying a new dish at your dining hall, getting out of your room to try new types of food will always reduce any type of “winter depression” that may come your way.

Find a Study Spot

I usually do all my work in my room, but when it gets to wintertime, I like to try and find a new place to study on campus to keep myself from procrastinating and crawling into my bed. There is always the library on campus, but I encourage you all to find a new study spot that might lift your spirits rather than depress them. It could be a nearby coffee shop, a random couch in the student center, or even a table at the dining hall!

While the winter months may make you want to hide under a blanket, taking minor actions such as these can help combat feelings of loneliness. Stay connected to your community and Spring Break will be here before you know 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!