Students blog

When it comes to making an impact, few causes resonate as deeply as the fight against childhood cancer. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is at the forefront of this battle, ensuring that no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's inability to pay. Raising money is not just about providing funds for research; it's about giving hope to families during their darkest times. Stay tuned for more about the history of St. Jude, how I made a difference and most importantly, how YOU can make a difference.

St. Jude and TKE

As a proud member of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE), I can attest to our commitment to St. Jude as a philanthropic partner. We strive to ensure that families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, or housing—because we believe the only thing families should focus on is helping their children live. In 2019, TKE launched an ambitious campaign to raise $10 million over the next decade for St. Jude. I’m proud to share that we’ve already raised $3.3 million, and we’re on track to surpass our goal.

St. Jude and Me

Now that you know about St. Jude and TKE, let me share how we raise funds and create meaningful change. At Indiana University-Indianapolis, our TKE chapter has raised over $10,000 in the past year through various philanthropic events. Two of our biggest initiatives are the annual “Car Smash” and our 36-hour biking event, “Miles for Memphis.”

The Car Smash is a unique event where students can relieve stress by smashing a junk car—all while contributing to a great cause. The sight of a car in the middle of campus draws attention and curiosity, making it an engaging way for students to have fun and support St. Jude.

Miles for Memphis is our signature event, where fraternity members take turns biking around campus and downtown Indianapolis for 36 hours while camping overnight on campus. You might wonder, “Why 36 hours?” This duration represents the time it would take to bike from Indianapolis to St. Jude’s headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. Our commitment to cycling for 36 hours symbolizes our dedication to the children at St. Jude.

St. Jude and You

Raising money for St. Jude is more than a fundraising effort; it's about creating and sustaining that legacy of hope. Each contribution, no matter how small, plays a role in the fight against pediatric cancer. Together, we can help ensure that no child is left behind. If you are ready to make a difference, whether it’s hosting an event, starting a campaign, or simply spreading the word, please visit the St. Jude website to learn more about fundraising and how you can play a role.

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Looking for something fulfilling to do in your free time? Service is a great way to get involved on your campus and serve those who are less fortunate. It also helps you meet new people, make connections, and have experiences that you won’t find anywhere else. As college students, we spend most of our time on our campus, so my goal is to provide you with ways to find service opportunities and get involved at your school.

My Experience

I am a sophomore at the University of Dayton, and I have already been fortunate enough to participate in multiple service activities. Most recently I helped with Dayton’s Christmas on Campus, which is a night of fun activities on campus that young children in the Dayton area can enjoy. I rode on one of the buses that went to pick up second grade students from a local school, and I was able to interact and hang out with them on the ride back to campus, where they were paired with a buddy and were free to roam around and enjoy the experience. Many of the schools that attend are in poorer areas, so it gives the kids there a fun thing to do around the holidays. It was a very rewarding experience, and I’m glad I took part.

Ways to Get Involved at Your School

Oftentimes, the reason that people don’t participate in service is because they are unaware of the opportunities around them. I quickly found Dayton’s service website by looking up “University of Dayton Service.” I was introduced to many different service options and learned that we have 40+ clubs dedicated to service. I encourage you to try the same search with your school and the results will probably surprise you. I tried this search with various other schools across the country and every school had at least one page detailing service opportunities that they offer.

Another great pathway to service is Greek Life. I know that Greek Life is not for everyone, but you don’t always have to actually be a member of a fraternity or sorority to take part in their various service activities. Following various Greek organizations on social media will keep you up to date with service opportunities they are hosting, and often it is as simple as donating money for a good cause. A few fun ones I have taken part in were people donating a few dollars to pie me in the face, and playing in a basketball tournament for women’s health. There are great opportunities everywhere, you just have to know where to find them!

To wrap things up, service is a fulfilling way to spend your time, and it is something you should always approach with an open mind. I have been hesitant to commit to service opportunities in the past, but every time I said yes, I have been so pleased with my experience. I encourage you to take action at your school and bring along some of your friends. You won’t regret 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! 

It’s a Saturday in the fall, the weather is a crisp fall breeze in the air. Melrose Avenue is crowded with tailgates, food trucks, fan shops, and the colors black and gold flood the sidewalk and streets. This is the scene of an Iowa Hawkeye Football game day. As a student coming to the University of Iowa, this was the experience I could not wait to have. I could barely wait to start attending the tailgates, spending time with my friends, and watching the Iowa Hawkeyes play on Saturdays.

Inside the stadium, a tradition takes place every game after the first quarter – the tradition that is greater than football – the Hawkeye Wave. This is the moment in the game where the team, fans, and opponents wave to the patients in the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, which sits adjacent to the Hawkeye’s Kinnick Stadium. This is the moment in the game where the teams come together and support the children and families who are receiving care.

As a student that has experienced this chilling moment, it has taught me that there are greater things in life than going to football games. No matter how many times I have had this experience, I have chills rush down my body. I’ve taken three inspirations from the Hawkeye Wave: to be thankful for what I have, to give back to the community, and finally, to smile and wave.

Be Grateful

One way I show gratitude is by writing down three things I am thankful for in a journal before bed. This has allowed me to reflect on my day and be thankful for what I have and not dwell on what I do not have. Other ways I show gratitude is by reaching out to friends or family who I haven’t talked to in a while and letting them know I am thinking about them and hope they are well. If you are reading this, it is your reminder to reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while, share how much you appreciate them!

Give Back

As a college student, I have many opportunities to give back to those in need. A few ways I have done this is by creating cards for cancer patients, volunteering at a local elementary school, and participating in blood drives. I am fortunate to be on a campus that offers and advertises so many ways to give back to the community. Even though I may not be recognized for my efforts, I appreciate the feeling of knowing I have helped individuals in my community. I am working to encourage others to seek out opportunities to give back to the community because I believe no matter who you are, you have a gift to share with this world.

Smile and Wave

From a young age, my mom always told me to treat others with kindness. One small way to show kindness is through simply smiling and waving. If you know the person, greet them with their name and tell them how great it is to see them. If it is a stranger, just take a second to smile and wave. At the end of the day, you never know who may need the extra positivity and kindness.

I find these three actions – keeping a gratitude journal, volunteering, and greeting others – help make me feel a little more fulfilled. Every small act of kindness can make a difference.

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! 

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.

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! 

On August 26th, social media is flooded with pictures of canines of all shapes and sizes for National Dog Day. If you're anything like me, a single dog's presence can make you smile even on the lowest of days. Dogs can offer a distinct kind of companionship and emotional support that even humans can’t mimic! Whether they're bouncing around just because they're happy to see you or licking the tears off your face because they can see you've had a rough day, your dog will always be there for you.  

Volunteering can help you gain real world experience by giving back to your community. High school students can use volunteering as a resume booster for colleges or trade school while college students can use it to apply to a master’s program or as a steppingstone in the workforce.

But volunteering doesn’t have to be boring or merely a box on your checklist. When you volunteer, you are helping someone and that is a rewarding feeling. Everyone should volunteer at least once in their lives so they can promote a sense of community as well as gain valuable life skills by working with others.

Below are some volunteering opportunities that may be in your city/area:

1. Food Bank

Most cities and states typically have food banks or food pantries that are open for volunteers WITHOUT any experience! You can expect to do a variety of tasks such as bagging potatoes or sorting cans from food drives.

2. Community Garden

Colleges, small towns, or a close neighborhood near you may have a community garden that is open to volunteers. Although it may seem like skills are needed, the tasks are usually things anyone can do. The spring and summer months may lead to more volunteers needed due to the fact that gardens flourish in warm weather. You can expect to water plants, weed around the vegetation, or help with organizational tasks.

3. Animal Shelter

Perfect for animal lovers, your local animal shelter may accept volunteers to help them take care of the future pets! Most places require a volunteer application and may or may not require experience. Volunteers may participate in a broad set of tasks ranging from feeding the animals to daily health checks.

It is also important to note that signing up to volunteer isn’t a lifelong commitment unless you make it one. Most places that have volunteers work on a sign-up basis so you can volunteer when it’s convenient for you and your schedule. When you do volunteer, strive to give your best because whether you volunteer for the hours or volunteer for yourself you have the capability of positively impacting someone’s life.

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!