Students blog

We are all trying to make the most out of our college experience. We join organizations, form study groups, go to events, and socialize whenever we get the chance. But wait, college is expensive, so you get a job and your schedule is even more busy. As for myself, I work a full-time job, a part-time job, and I am doing a part-time internship. I am doing this all while being president of my organization. We try to find ways to balance the different schedules as a student and worker. I battled with this same dilemma when I first took on these roles, but now I believe I have it figured out. I would like to offer 3 important tips to maintaining and balancing this crazy thing we call life while still having fun and getting the job done! 

Relax!

What’s the saying? “Stop and smell the roses.” You can become so overwhelmed by always being on the go that you forget to take a moment and breathe. So, I want you to do that right now — breathe in (count to 3) and now breathe out! Set simple alarms or reminders on your phone to do this and have it repeating daily. 

Plan ahead and accordingly.

Calendars and planners are your best friend! I find it best to have digital and physical calendars to keep up with all my events, class schedule, and work schedule. As soon as you plan something, write it down. Do not trust yourself to remember later. Everyone says college will be some of the best years of your life; it’s OK to go out and have fun. It is also OK to say ‘no’ to your friends when you just want to stay in, relax, and collect your thoughts.

Find a hobby.

Not just any hobby, but something that is totally unrelated to school, work, and your organization. It is best to do something productive that gets your mind off a busy lifestyle. Photography, hiking, spoken word, arcade games, family time, spa dates, or even restaurant adventures. I am a major foodie, so I enjoy going to try different restaurants in Atlanta with my friends and family! The point is to find something that you are passionate about that doesn’t add stress.

College can be crazy, fun, and hard all at the same time. There is a need for balance to keep you sane and healthy. I hope these few tips help you when you’re trying to juggle everything in college life. 

The opportunity to study abroad while in college is important and should be considered by every student. You may try to find excuses, such as not being able to afford it or even being intimidated by not being prepared to explore another country – however I encourage you to seize the opportunity and do it! Last semester I studied abroad in Europe and not only learned a lot but had a very memorable experience. Through my study abroad experience, I have gathered four tips that I know will make your study abroad experience a success!

Take advantage of the opportunity

At first glance the large amount of money that is advertised alongside a study abroad program may seem intimidating – don’t let that be the factor that stops you from going! There are scholarships available to cut the cost and you should also consider financial aid. At least explore your options before you turn down the idea completely. Anyone who has ever studied abroad can attest to the amazing experience. I was faced with the same issues, but then I came across the saying, “you can make more money, but you can’t make more time”. That helped me make up my mind to study abroad!

Learn all you can about your destination

As a Business Management major, I will admit that science is not my best subject. In fact, it’s my least favorite subject. But it is a general graduation requirement for my degree so I chose to take Environmental Science. I was prepared to struggle a little in this course but soon became aware of a tool that helped me achieve my goal of making an A.

A Financial Perk

I registered for Science 1101 for Fall 2017 and we had to use Pearson’s Mastering Environmental Science to complete our homework. I wasn’t aware of the length of time that I would receive access, until I registered for 1102 the next semester (Spring 2018) and discovered that I did not have to purchase another access code! Any college student knows the financial struggle behind purchasing access codes. Other products would have only given me access until a few weeks after the end of the semester. I purchased Mastering Environmental Science one time in August 2017 and I have access to it until February 2019. THAT IS INCREDIBLE and music to any college students’ ears! It was one less item I had to worry about purchasing and one step closer to success in my science course. If your university has similar requirements, take the courses back to back to save money! That is, hands down, one of the biggest perks of Pearson’s products.

What helped the most

The Study Area within Mastering Environmental Science was the biggest help while taking these courses. It tested my knowledge on a topic by providing multiple opportunities to get the questions right. At the end, it would show me which topics I mastered and the ones I needed to work on a little more. It definitely helped that the professor pulled test questions from the homework as well. Regardless of which section I was in, there was always a button to refer to the eText, and it opened in a new tab so I could have it right beside the window that my homework was on.

I did take both of my required science courses back-to-back and I made A’s in both courses. I even commended the department on making the decision to use Pearson as their access to homework online. Any student should consider using Pearson products for their classes, regardless of whether they are required or not. There are study tools within the product that ensure that you are prepared for exams and are studying the materials in an efficient manner. I can confidently say that Mastering Environmental Science played a major role in my success in science 1101 and 1102.