How to Start a Student Blog in College

By Linda Anderson

College is going to be one of the most exciting periods in your life and sharing your experience with others can help create a community between students everywhere. More and more students turn to blogging to share their college experience, give or get advice about particular fields of interest. Starting an online blog can have tremendous benefits for both your social and academic life. Plus, it can easily turn into a source of income if your content is relevant and your visitors number grow. Below are some tips to help you get started with documenting your college experience online.

Pick You Blog Name and Decide on Your Content

Before anything else, you should decide on your blog name. Think of what your content is going to be about and choose a name that is simple, yet eye-catching and related to your content. If you don’t have any ideas, it can be as simple as your name or nickname. Keep in mind that your blog name is how people will remember your website, so make sure it represents you. When choosing your content, think about the things you like to talk about the most. Is it going to be a blog about student life in general, about how you are preparing for a certain job or simply about the everyday life of a young adult? When you have your main topic decided, it will be easier to understand your readers and deliver quality content for them.

Come Up with Something New

In order for your blog to have success, you will need to come up with something new or interesting for your readers. Think about your own experience and start from there. If you are in your last years in college, think about what you wished you knew when you were a freshman. How to come with homesickness, effective study tips for exams, activities students can get involved in are all good topics for the first posts. If your college has lots of foreign students, try writing a few posts in their main language also. You can either accept guest posts from them, or look online for translation services. This will gain you more foreign visitors and help spread the word about your blog.

Keep a Posting Schedule

While in the beginning it is ok to write whenever you get the time, after a while it is recommended you start working out a schedule to keep your readers interested. Posting at least four times a week is the best way to make sure your readers check your website constantly. If you have some sort of theme for your posts, try uploading on the same day every week. For example, if you like to post about social activities, schedule a day at the end of the week to post about what happened on campus that week and what are the upcoming events of the next week.

Promote Your Blog

There is no point in going to the trouble of setting up a blog is nobody is going to hear about it. Use social media to promote your blog, by linking it to your accounts. Ask people to share your posts or contact other bloggers for collaborations. There are multiple tools that can help you attract visitors and increase traffic, so take some time to do your research and take advantage of them.

By line for Linda Anderson

I’m a writer and musician residing in Boise, ID in the United States, although I spent a small amount of time (about three years) living in the UK growing up, due to my father’s occupation. I graduated from the College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Business and a focus in marketing in 2014.

Help For Substance Abuse And Mental Health At College

BY EMMA BONNEY

A growing number of students seem to battle mental struggles than ever before. While many students reach for professional help in their struggles, most of them seem to take the issue into their own hands. This leads to major health and safety concerns, as many rely on illicit substances or alcohol to overcome their anxiety and depression, sometimes even more severe mental struggles. Substance abuse and mental struggles seem to be interconnected in all cases and college students aren’t an exception. Below is more information on the topic as well as some tips for diagnosing the issue in time.

The link between substance abuse and mental health issues

It has been observed that most students that use illicit substances or show alcohol-related issues tend to have mental concerns associated. When people choose not to treat their mental health problems, their substance abuse symptoms tend to aggravate. The same goes for drug and alcohol abuse, when the abuse problem takes over the student’s life the mental problems tend to accentuate. Co-occurring of mental health problems and substance abuse are more common in college students than many people want to believe. Studies show that around 40% of college students are dealing with mental disorders combined with substance abuse.

Do mental health problems cause substance abuse or the other way around?

Mental health issues and substance abuse are closely linked, but it does not mean that one directly causes the other. However, most of the times substance abuse is a way of dealing with the symptoms of a mental health disorder. The persons who are experiencing symptoms of an undiagnosed mental health problem use alcohol and drugs to cope with them and to change their mood, even if it is for a short period. The bad news is that if young people abuse substances, they can experience side effects that lead to a boost of the symptoms they have initially experienced.

In addition, substance abuse can increase the possibility of experiencing mental health problems. Most of the times the environment, and the interplay of genetics are the causes of mental disorders. If you are at risk of developing a mental health problem, consuming drugs and alcohol can push you over the edge.

How can you recognise the symptoms of mental disorders and co-occurring substance abuse?

Students find difficult to determine themselves if they are experiencing a substance abuse problem and a co-occurring mental disorder. It takes time and research to understand what a substance abuse problem is and what is a mental health issue. Once diagnosed the solution is simple, you need to enter rehab. Students should check their insurance for rehab to see what services it covers. Your priority should be to get the most of your insurance benefits so to access professional treatment for your mental health and addiction.

Coming back to the signs that tell you that you have a co-occurring disorder:

• You are using alcohol or drugs to cope with unpleasant feelings of memories
• You feel anxious or depressed when you are sober
• You have a history of abuse or unresolved trauma
• You have noticed a connection between your substance use and your mental state, for example, you get anxious when you use drugs.

A bit about myself:

Emma Bonney is a successful blogger whose articles aim to help readers with self-development, Women’s Empowerment, Education, entrepreneurship and content management.

How to Become a Professor and Inspire Other College Students

BY JORI HAMILTON

Do you have that one professor you always think of? Maybe you wrote him or her a “thank you” card upon graduation. Maybe they inspired you to chase after your dreams or pushed you into the career you now love. Fantastic instructors have a way of sticking with students throughout their whole life.

If you’ve been inspired like that in the past, you may want to become a noteworthy professor yourself. But what does that entail? How can you become a source of inspiration for countless young learners? Today, we’ll discuss how to do just that.

How to Start a Career as a College Professor

In order to be a full-time professor in a college or university (as opposed to an adjunct professor), you’ll need a doctoral degree in the teaching field of your choice. While you may find a random teaching job at a college that has lower requirements, having a Ph.D. is the norm.

Doctoral programs can take up to seven years to complete, and you’ll have to have a bachelor’s degree as well as a master’s degree to get accepted. However, there are some Ph.D. programs that will accept you with just a bachelor’s degree and require you to get a master’s degree during the program.

Qualities of a Great College Professor

Many effective college professors share some of these outstanding qualities:

• Adaptability: As a college professor, you’re going to have a heavy workload, and you’ll get overwhelmed at times. You’ll also be thrown into projects that you know little about – on top of being an educator, you may have to be a fundraiser, volunteer, or mentor. The best professors are open to new challenges and are highly adaptable.
• Resourcefulness: Being able to handle a lot of pressure also requires being resourceful. It’s likely that the college you work for will have a lot of resources that you can tap into. Be the type of professor who actively seeks out these resources and finds new, helpful ways to handle challenges.
• Goal-Oriented: In order to be a stellar professor, you have to continue working toward your goal, no matter how much you’re asked to do or how unprepared you are. And that goal should always be focused on providing students with an excellent education.

At the end of the day, your college or university exists for the students. Everything you do should be to better serve them.

How to Stand Out in the Field

Even if you have a Ph.D. from a fantastic school, don’t assume you’ll get a great job upon graduation. There are a number of things you can do to help you stand out in the field and beat the competition:

• Sign Up for a Job Shadow: To get a better feel for the job, ask one or two of your professors if you can shadow them for a couple of days. What you picture may be a lot different from the reality, and the experience will give you a better idea of whether this is the right route for you.
• Gain Teaching Experience: During your time as a graduate student, talk to your professors about the opportunity to lead a class or instruct students. In some courses, you’ll be required to do this, but other times you may have to volunteer.
• Apply for a Teaching Assistant Role: Some colleges hire teaching assistants. In this position, you’ll help the professor with tasks like preparing assignments, leading class discussions, and grading papers.
• Participate in Internships: As a college professor, part of your job is going to be conducting research. A lot of job applicants are going to have teaching experience, but not many will have researching experience. Seek out internships with professors who will let you assist with research.

Sometimes, these opportunities will be requirements of the program. Other times, you’ll have to take the initiative to gain your own experience. The latter is especially true if you’re going into an emerging field, like becoming a public health professor, one of the top 5 public health jobs. You’ll have the challenge of finding unique ways to stand out in a new field.

How to Be an Inspirational College Professor

There are good college professors, and then there are great professors — the ones that you remember your whole life and who have impacted your future. If you want to be an inspirational, memorable professor, here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Treat Your Students as Friends: That doesn’t mean go out to the bar with them at night; it just means to treat them like your peers and not like children. Tell them about your life, share stories they’ll find motivating or amusing, and show interest in how they’re doing beyond school work.
• Stray From the Norm: The most inspiring college professors do something different. Yes, you can dress up in crazy costumes to help drive teaching lessons home, but even something as simple as walking around the classroom instead of staying behind a podium or desk is a big difference from most professors. Be humorous and lighthearted. Be flexible when it comes to what students can do in class and be open-minded to new opinions, even if you don’t share them.
• Expect Normalcy: The best college professors — the ones who students respect and pay attention to — understand when a student is simply having a human moment. If you end up scolding them for over-sleeping one morning, the only takeaway from the semester will be that you were nasty to them.

There’s no one way to be a great professor, and even the most-loved professors have their off days. Nobody’s perfect. Continually strive to be better and to treat your students the way you wanted to be treated in college.

If you tell your college professors that you’re thinking of following in their footsteps, be prepared for an onslaught of advice. While you don’t want to ignore their advice (they have, after all, experienced the career in ways that you haven’t), you don’t need to take every single thing they say as gospel. Every professor is going to have a unique experience, and yours will depend on specifics like the type of university that hires you and the subject you teach.

Bio: Jori Hamilton is a writer from the Northwest who is passionate about education and social justice issues. You can follow her on Twitter @HamiltonJori

6 Best Soft Skills to Highlight In A Job Interview

Jane Hurst

When you are going into an interview you normally practice questions and answers related to your formal education, job history, and skills. This is a part of the interview. Nowadays employers are looking for more than your education and formal job experience. They are looking for soft skills. Here are the six best soft skills to highlight in an interview.

1. Time management – Showing your future employer that you are capable of time management is a great way to help you land the job. Employers are looking for employees that can get their work done without stress and on time. Demonstrating great time management skills in your interview will be a plus to the hiring manager. You will want to stress time organization and delegation of tasks.
2. Communication – The best candidate for any position is one who is able to communicate with others in general speaking and writing. You need to show that you have both interpersonal communication skills and small group communication skills. You need to be able to get your ideas across in both writing and in person. Be able to be concise and direct. Do not ramble when you are answering your interview questions.
3. Positivity – When you are being interviewed you want to show a positive attitude. Show the interviewer that you are someone they want working with them by creating a positive image of yourself and your past experiences. Be sure to smile during the interview and stress how your positivity helped other coworkers at your previous job. You do not want to come across as boring during your interview. Smile and let them know you have a positive outlook on life.
4. Adaptability – People who are able to adapt to different situations are more likely to be hired. While you may be asked about this during your interview, you can also demonstrate adaptability in your resume. You can use online resume examples to show how to incorporate adaptability into your resume. You can talk about a time you had to do multiple tasks which had the same deadline. You can also show how many different jobs you were expected to take care of at one of your other positions. Being adaptable in today’s world is a soft skill that will be influential in your hiring decision.
5. Conflict resolution – Being able to handle conflict in the workplace is a skill that employers are looking for. If you have handled conflict in a previous job, let the interviewer know what happened and how you dealt with the conflict. Employers want you to be able to deal with conflict in the workplace. Let them know you are mature enough to handle conflict at work.
6. Teamwork – You need to be able to work well with others to get a job in today’s market. Right now the workforce is compiled of many different people with a multitude of backgrounds. Being able to work with people will be a bonus when it comes time for the interviewer to make a hiring decision. The goal of a business is to work together to create a product that their customers need. The only way to reach this goal is though teamwork.

Soft skills are more important now in businesses. If you have the degree or the experience but lack soft skills you will not have as good a chance at being hired. Let the interviewer know that you are part of the team and you will work your best with others to produce whatever the employer wants. The more flexible you are the better your chances of getting a job.

Byline:

Jane Hurst has been working in education for over 5 years as a teacher. She loves sharing her knowledge with students, is fascinated about edtech and loves reading, a lot. Follow Jane on Twitter.

Benefits of Digital Marketing Training For Students

BY KRISTIAN KRISYK

Digital marketing is constantly evolving as everything we know is becoming digital. That includes the way companies reach their audience, communication platforms and channels people are using, the way we improve our knowledge, etc. Not to mention that people spend a lot of their time on social media and buying from e-commerce brands such as Amazon and ASOS. So, there is no doubt about whether students can benefit from digital marketing training or not. The only real question is how they can benefit from it.

With so many digital marketing training options out there, how to find the one that suits you best? That’s why we’ve decided to bring you helpful tips when choosing your training and all the benefits you will get to enjoy.

Choosing the right digital marketing training

 If you’re already aware of how beneficial would it be to enroll in one of the digital marketing courses, then it’s time to find the right one for you. As many institutions understand that our society is moving towards digital, they’ve started to educate generations on how to make the most of it. If you’re among those enthusiasts who can’t wait to discover the digital world, there are several things you should keep in mind when looking at courses. First, you will need to look at the structure of the course to ensure it suits your needs.

Then, check the possibility of working on live projects as that will give you a practical opportunity to use your digital marketing knowledge.

Advantages of Digital Marketing:

• Easy Knowledge Sharing
• Better Reachability
• Less Infrastructural Needs
• Utmost Result Generation
• Better Services

Since you’ll dedicate your time to learning about digital marketing, you should ensure that the institution you’ve chosen will provide you with a professional certificate in the end. It will help you later on in your career to have proof of your skills. Don’t forget to check which topics will the training cover. Even though digital marketing is a relatively new field, it is rapidly evolving and presenting new channels, platforms and ways every day, so it’s extremely important to stay up to date.

Efficient Digital Marketing can:

• Be helpful in the expansion
• Increases the reachability
• Be the reason for better customer satisfaction
• Be responsible for upcoming growth
• Upgrade the level of business
• Change the trend of the industry
• Bring more opportunities

Check if SEO (search engine optimization) and SEM (search engine marketing) are part of your chosen training as these two branches are becoming increasingly popular on the job market. Luckily, as more companies are focusing on SEO and SEM, there are many courses and platforms where you can upgrade your existing knowledge. For example, with a productivity tool like SEOBUDDY, you can become more efficient in SEO regardless of your business or profession. With countless options for anyone who wishes to learn more about the digital world, these platforms will provide you with so much more than just theoretical knowledge.

 Digital marketing training benefits

The right digital marketing training can help students discover their professional side which they didn’t have the opportunity to see before. You will learn to think from a business and creative side and notice what consequences each decision has for a project. Also, the job market is currently filled with digital marketing job ads as more companies are moving towards digital platforms. This will expand the area of jobs you might apply for one day after you’re done with your studies.

Most importantly, digital marketing will help you become a better professional regardless of your area of expertise. For instance, you could be a future developer, journalist or lawyer. With the skills you acquired from your training, you will be able to promote yourself better and highlight all your strengths on various platforms such as your own website, social media accounts, newsletters, Google Ads, and many others. Also, with the rise of the digital nomad lifestyle, students are looking for careers that will offer them flexible schedules. As digital marketing is being done online, it even doesn’t matter are you in the office or working from a cocktail bar on a tropical beach.

Conclusion

 Taking digital marketing training can be beneficial for students in so many ways, professionally and personally. You can’t be successful in business today if you don’t understand digital marketing. There is no doubt that having these skills will bring you better jobs in the future as employers appreciate their candidates showing interest to learn more. It’s up to you to choose the one that suits you best and make the most of your life with it!

BY LINE–Kristian Krisyk had been working in the field of web design for 7 years before becoming an entrepreneur in 2014 in design and marketing. His professional interests and hobbies defined major topics of his articles. These days Kristian runs his business and looks for new development opportunities. Follow him @KristianKrisyk or contact at kristian.krisyk@gmail.com

6 Essential Things To Do Before Beginning College

BY ANNABEL MONAGHAN

 There is more to do before college than you might think.  You need to get everything in order to prepare for moving and tackling an entire new lifestyle. Your best bet is to stay organized and take these essential tips:

 Buy Your Books and Supplies Online

 Something you will want to get in the routine of is purchasing your books online versus at your university bookstore. The books will be a lot cheaper online and there will be more used options. Check out sites like Ebay and Amazon for the best deals on college books. You can also find school supplies and other college necessities that you can get sent straight to your apartment or dorm room.

Online is the best place to get pens, pencils, binders, notebooks and everything else. The best part is that you won’t have to transport all of it to school. You can get it shipped straight to your college living area, which will make moving that much easier.

 Get a Well-Structured Calendar

 A great calendar is something that you will need in college that you might not have previously needed. There will be so many assignments, tests and social events that you will need to plan for somehow. A calendar allows you to make notes and keep track of classes and due dates. You can’t go wrong with a calendar and color coded pens and stickers. Now is the time to get organized.

Clean Out Your Room at Home and Get Rid of Old Items

 College is a great excuse to get a fresh start. This means decluttering and organizing your life. Sometimes the best way to have a clear head is to clear out your closet. There are surely so many things over the years that have piled up that you don’t need anymore. Get some trash bags and start clearing out your closets and drawers. This will help you sort out what you want to bring to college and what you want to donate. You then will have room for new things that will make you feel refreshed.

Decide on an Extracurricular Activity Now

 It’s never too late to decide whether you want to focus your time at college on knitting or SEO – what you need to do is make a decision. A passion cultivated in college is great as it could potentially help you with a side income: you could sell your knitwear on Pinterest or offer your tech-savvy services to blog. With influences and bloggers on the rise, it’s a growing market that could use fresh skills constantly. Also, any skill you pick up during your time in college is another skill you can put on your resume when you’ve graduated.

Buy New Art and Clothes for Your New Start

 College is a great time to start fresh and reinvent your style. Go online and purchase some fun art for your dorm walls. You can pick your favorite posters and prints to show off on your walls. Living by yourself means that it is your space that you can personalize, so take advantage of the opportunity.

Now is also a great time to purchase some new shoes and clothes. This will give you confidence when going into your first year of college.

Make Sure Your Car is Ready to Go

 One thing people forget about when heading to college is getting their car ready. Your parents won’t be there to remind you to get your car cleaned or oil changed. Your best bet is completing these tasks before you head to college. You will feel ready for the year after a good car detailing.

Make sure you check your tire pressure and any other part of your car that your mom or dad usually helps out with. This could save you from future car issues, as well as increase your peace of mind when driving.

Annabel Monaghan is a writer with a passion for education and edtech. She writes education and career articles for The College Puzzle with the aim of providing useful information for students and young professionals. If you have any questions, please feel free to email her at annabelmonaghanwriter@gmail.com. 

Learning Opportunities After College

by Mikkie Mills

The university degree is not as good as before. This month, many graduates will start their first job and achieve this goal. The real world can be tough after the rules and guidance of college.

Being Smart About Your Choices

I am writing this article to help you avoid the mistakes I made. A job description is important. But they are not the ultimate job possibilities. This is a lesson from Gwyn McNeal, Chief Legal Officer of Extra Space Storage. You will be asked to undertake tasks other than those listed in the job description. Instead of complaining, consider it as a new learning opportunity. This will refine new skills and be more valuable to employers This is a chance to better yourself. Graduates of college use internship programs to build bridges to help create jobs.

More Than A Diploma

The graduates who received the diploma that they had graduated from the university know that is not all they need to succeed. Unfortunately, when many college graduates graduate they are not worried about what will happen to their students. They just want their donations when they become alumni. Despite the changing needs of both the student and the employer, colleges must fulfill their historical role in creating a widespread education for adolescents.

But after many young people have completed their work and have a meaningful job, schools should provide work training programs to provide students with the necessary skills to improve their proficiency on the job. University graduates expect to earn more than if they had not graduated from college. In both respects, university graduates have been successful. University graduates have lower unemployment rates and earn high wages throughout their lives.

Return on Investment

Some critics even suggest that students should pay attention to the return on investment from a university degree. Forbes has created two lists of universities with the highest and lowest return on investment. According to the College Council, college graduates earn a fortune by earning around 73 percent more than secondary school graduates and earning more than 2-3 times more than those with only a secondary education. On average, college graduates earn $ 1 million compared to university graduates. A recent Brookings Institute study shows that college graduates develop better health and longevity. So, for a bachelor’s degree, this is not always the case, but graduates receive life-long incentives for the first investment.

Doctors, lawyers and MBAs increase the average income of college graduates. In addition, many believe that university degrees are not competitive enough in the market, so many may go on to graduate school.

Graduate School Options

A graduate school, sometimes abbreviated as grad school, confers an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree and a Ph.D., and generally requires students to obtain a previous undergraduate degree with a high average grade point average. The difference between postgraduate and vocational schools is that vocational schools offer advanced degrees in medicine, nursing, business, engineering, language and other specialties. The distinction between a graduate school and a vocational school is not absolute, as all vocational schools award graduate degrees. Many universities offer graduate degrees and graduate schools are not necessarily separate institutions. Degrees awarded to graduate students include Master’s degree, Ph.D., and other postgraduate diplomas and professional degrees.

Some examples of graduate programs are business schools, law schools, medical schools, and veterinary hospitals. Students of vocational schools are focused on their work and are looking to work in specific areas. The specialized program usually takes less than a four-year curriculum lasting 12-24 months. To complete a graduate school is an important and enjoyable moment. It is important to remember that not all people starting a graduate school can complete a degree. Successful individuals know how much work and effort they need to graduate. Some people get online degrees so they can continue their education on the side. Graduate students make personal sacrifices to continue their education. You have many options as a college graduate, including continuing education in vocational and graduate schools, or work experience.

Mikkie is a freelance writer from Chicago. She has a passion for advanced learning, reading, and health and fitness. She is also a mother of two who loves sharing her ideas on education, learning, health, fitness and yoga. When she’s not writing, she’s chasing the little ones around or can be found at the local climbing gym or doing yoga.

Effective Use Of Social Media In College Students’ Life

BY EMMA BONNEY

Lately, social media has gained credibility and it is considered a reliable source of information. Social media platforms are considered tools that facilitate interactions, and students have started to use them for multiple purposes. Social media has changed the way people communicate and even live. They are using social networks to share information not only with their friends and with family members but also with persons they have never met.

Studies show that young people consider social media a credible source of information, especially when they compare it with traditional media. They can earn valuable knowledge through social media, they can have insights on the topics that interest them and they can establish connections with persons who share the same interests. Here is why it is crucial for students to be active on multiple social media platforms.

Students use social media to connect with experts on certain topics

With social media, it is simple to determine who the experts are in a certain field. When they start following those experts, they learn more about the actions those people take and they gain useful insight into the subjects that interest them. They transform those experts into their role models and they start producing better results to follow their steps.  Social media can broaden students’ perspective and offer them a new perspective on certain pieces of content. They have the possibility to connect with experts and to address them questions on the topics they are interested in.

Institutions communicate with their students via social media

Educational institutions find easier to communicate with their students via social networks. They use YouTube, Facebook or Google Plus groups to share with their students, campus news, essential pieces of information, and to make announcements. Social media builds engagement between students and their college, and this prevents multiple issues from happening because of lack of information.

Social media helps students adjust to college

Research shows that social support has a vital role in helping students make a successful adjustment to their new life. Social media facilitates communication between students, and it influences young people’ self-perception. Through their social media account, students can establish and maintain interpersonal connections. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook can guide them entering an unfamiliar social environment. They can help them learn about their peers and college, and this can create an affiliation with the educational institution and satisfaction.

Students build social credibility with the help of social media

Students have started to use social media to build a portfolio for their career. They use social media networks to share their work, a beneficial aspect for them because it demonstrates their skills. Even if at the beginning they do not have millions of followers, they can easily grow their audience with the help of tools like Famoid. Social media builds their credibility by reflecting their educational background.

Social networks interactions gained a vital influence on education systems and it will soon become one of the main means of solving the educational problems, students are experiencing. The greatest benefit is that social media has numerous tools that can make the learning process feel more pleasant.

A bit about myself:

Emma Bonney is a successful blogger whose articles aim to help readers with self-development, Women’s Empowerment, Education, entrepreneurship and content management.

College May Feel Like Everything, But Is a Stepping Stone

BY ANTON LUCANUS

 As a higher education student, you get a lot of advice over the years. It often feels like it is coming at a million miles a minute, especially when you already have impending due dates for assessment and study sessions for upcoming exams coming out of your ears. The advice can be broad, or it can be specific. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you are studying to become a doctor, a writer or a diesel mechanic…the advice all sounds the same. “Keep your head down”. “Plan your study sessions out a week ahead”. “Schedule time out for yourself too”. And sometimes, the advice is more specified towards specific areas of study and/or career interest.

The best advice for college students is to treat it as the transient stage that it is

There is an abundance of advice out there. But, the best piece of advice you will ever get as a student, is to treat college or university for what it is. Take it seriously of course, but university does not last forever, and in the grand scheme of things it is but (arguably the most important) a stepping stone on the path to your career after graduation. Your years at college or university will be paved with challenges and victories, and it is important to take the time to celebrate or learn from them, and then prepare for the next boatload of assessment. And then, one day, there is no more assessment to be completed. You are done with higher education. And graduation comes. And this is when a lot of students feel lost, dazed, confused. But this is also where life really begins.

Take your studies seriously, but don’t lose sight of what comes after

Of course, you should be giving your assessments your all, every single time. That is a given. Do your best, and you will reap the rewards. But getting too lost in university or college assessment pieces and leaving little to no room for other aspects of life can prove to be risky. During your time as a student, make sure that you are doing real experience as well as your written work – even (and especially) if that means stepping out of the classroom or the campus entirely to do so. When you graduate, top marks are obviously a stand out, but more than that, potential employers will value your determination and grit. These traits determine whether you will be the first choice as an intern in an influential firm in your field, whether it be a digital marketing agency or a legal practice. Potential employers all look for the same qualities of initiative and dedication.

Prepare your life for going beyond the campus

When you have experience in your field that delves outside the traditional classroom experience of college or university, you set yourself apart from other applicants, you have an edge that cannot be paralleled. This is why students are encouraged to apply for internships as this will give them practical experience in the industry of their choosing. Internships apply to every profession. Even if you’re not qualified to work as a professional just yet, think outside the box. For example, if your ambition is to become a cosmetic dentist, apply for a pre-dental shadowing program. Even if a student decides to take on a part time job instead which is unrelated to their field, it is also a learning experience as the student will be able to learn life skills such as time management, stress management and have a taste of what it means to be a functioning adult with responsibilities. For example, becoming a  is very tough.  “Being a doctor is about more than med knowledge, it is also about heart”. “Fixing an automatic vehicle is a little different to fixing a manual…but not all that much, once you get used to it”.

Even though your studies are immensely important, it is also important to make time for real-time experience when and if possible. Lastly, it does not do to forget to make time for yourself, too. These are the most intense years of your youth – make sure that you take care of yourself first and foremost. It is probably a good idea to schedule free time or join a fitness program simply so you have time for yourself to unwind and stay in a positive headspace.

Byline – Anton Lucanus is the Director of Neliti. During his college years, he maintained a perfect GPA, was published in a top cancer journal, and received many of his country’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships. Anton writes for The College Puzzle as a means to guide current students to achieve personal and academic goals

Facts Students Must Know About Sleep and Mental Health

BY LINDA ANDERSON

Over the recent years there has been a rise of mental health problems in college and school kids. With the growing academic pressure, hectic life, intrusive technology etc. kids are getting less and less sleep which a huge factor in is affecting mental health. In order to ensure a good night’s sleep, it is important to cut down on caffeine and junk food, reduce the use of technology, and maintain a proper schedule. Your bed also plays a major role in contributing to sleep. Before you buy a mattress, click here to read all Sleep Junkie reviews and make an educated choice. Keep all your clutter off the bed and change your sheets at least every week. Lack of adequate sleep can have deep rooted effects on your mental health and cause several diseases.

Why do we need adequate sleep?

While human babies need up to sixteen hours of sleep which is essential for their growth and the healthy development of the baby, adult humans need at least six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every day. Our body heals itself and the cells repair and regenerate when a person is sleeping. Thus, when a person doesn’t get enough sleep, the cells do not get the necessary time to repair, leading to a slowing down of the healing process, leaving one tired. But what we do not realized that sleep does the same thing for our brain as well. While the brain does not shut off the processes during sleep, it definitely gets its necessary rest and the tissues are healed. This is especially essential for younger people as their brain is usually under a lot of stress and functions more than a regular adult person’s owing to hectic school and academic needs. Scientists believe that sleep flushes out the toxins which is why sleep deprivation leaves us tired, disoriented and unable to function mentally. Regular sleep deprivation doesn’t give the brain cell enough time to relax, repair and regenerate, and thereby, lead to several mental health problems, or aggravate the existing ones. In the long run it can be even fatal.

Sleep deprivation and mental exhaustion

Lack of a good night’s sleep can lead to general exhaustion as the brain doesn’t get its necessary rest which is manifested in a feeling of being constantly tired and sleepy. This can be aggravated when it becomes a regular feature, leading to disorientation, causing one to zone out from conversations, inability to participate in classes, shorter attention span and irritability. This leads to the student lagging in school, be it academic or social life. It also affects the ability to make good judgments and take necessary decisions. It impairs their logical and problem-solving skills immensely, which is severely detrimental to academic success.

Aggravated mental health disorders

Lack of adequate sleep plays a major role in aggravating and sometimes even causing, several mental health disorders, especially in kids. Sleep deprivation messes up the chemical balance in the brain and thus diseases like depression, mania, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder etc. are severely impacted.

Lack of sleep can be an indication of several serious health issues and thus it is important to seek professional help.

By line for Linda Anderson

I’m a writer and musician residing in Boise, ID in the United States, although I spent a small amount of time (about three years) living in the UK growing up, due to my father’s occupation. I graduated from the College of Idaho with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and a focus in marketing in 2014.