Tuesday 29 October 2013

Why Daydreaming Can Lead to Productivity

I know what you’re thinking: daydreaming is one of the most unproductive activities that you can do. (I know, I get it.) But hear me out. Daydreaming can lead you to be the most productive you’ve been this month. Here’s how.



Sense of Self
Daydreaming can make you think long and hard about the things that you want to accomplish. Maybe you want to go some place warm and easy on the eyes for spring break. Or maybe you’re just daydreaming about getting all of your homework turned in on time. Whichever one is you, daydreaming gives that to you. It’s a heightened sense of accomplishment or relaxation; a sense of an eased mind. Every college student has felt this at some point.

You get a really good sense of yourself and the things that you truly want to do. Through this, you get a chance to consistently evaluate yourself and determine how close you are to your goals.

Taking a Break
The benefits of taking a break from things every once in a while are huge. There are things that you miss out on when you sit for 12 straight hours working. Your mind gets bogged down. You start to physically feel like you’re dragging throughout the day. This can hinder your ability to be productive.

Take a break. Go outside and sit on a bench and just look up at the sky. Think about all of the things that you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Create a bucket list. Close your eyes and think about the next time that you can get away. None of this is unproductive. You aren’t procrastinating when you’re doing some structured daydreaming.

A Form of External Meditation
When you’re daydreaming, you’re focusing on something outside of your reach. Your mind is set on thinking about the sunny weather somewhere or about the things that you want to do with your life. Similar to meditation, daydreaming is a great way to refocus yourself.

There will be times where you feel redundant with your life and where you’re currently at. You can change that. You have the power to do all of the things that you really want to do. It just takes some daydreaming, some reflection, and some self-evaluation, followed by mapping out a game plan and then putting it all into action. None of this can happen until you take that first step.

Positive Emotions


It’s been said that positive emotions help to keep you happy and healthy, both physically and mentally. That being said, why not try to incorporate more positive emotions into your daily routine?

Daydreaming can lead to a smile — a powerful emotion that we get when we want to laugh or when we’re happy. It leads to a positive emotional feeling that can contribute to your overall health. As college students, we get bogged down with dates to remember, career fairs to prepare for, classes to attend, parties to go to, a mountain of laundry to get done, and everything in between. Giving yourself a chance to add more positive emotion every single day can help you ease the stress.

Source: http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2013/10/21/why-daydreaming-can-lead-to-productivity.html

Five Easy Healthy Breakfasts for College Students

Believe it or not, most people will say that breakfast is there favorite meal. Maybe it’s because so few of us actually seem to eat breakfast that it feels like a weekend treat. Well, you might not have time for Eggs Benedict on a Tuesday, but here are five incredibly simple and healthy breakfasts that are easy to fit into a busy morning


Peanut Butter & Banana On Whole Wheat Toast
Probably one of the best breakfasts out there, it’s surprisingly health. Toast 1-2 pieces of whole wheat bread, smother in peanut butter, and add slices of banana to each piece. Or, if you’re pressed for time (like I always am), you can take alternating bites of just peanut butter toast and just the banana. And, for those without a toaster, regular whole wheat bread makes a great peanut-butter-banana sandwich too!

Apple and Hard-Boiled Egg
This is a super easy one. Hard-boil some eggs when you have a little time at home. You could be reading or studying in the kitchen, or hanging with friends in the next room (with a timer). Then peel them and toss them in a container.

Grab an apple and an egg on your way out the door and BOOM; you just had a healthy, protein-packed breakfast.

Berries & Trail Mix (dorm-friendly)


This is especially useful for those in a dorm because there is no cooking required. Grab a handful of fresh berries (or dried fruit) and another handful of trail mix, Yes, I’d even recommend one of those trail mixes with chocolate in them! (Chocolate for breakfast!)

It’s a small way to make sure you’re getting something in your system before you try and learn a thing or two.

Oatmeal (dorm-friendly)
Guess what? Oatmeal is easy, and it’s actually pretty healthy for you. However, those flavored instant oatmeal options are pretty far away from being real food, so stay away. It’s easier and cheaper to just buy a container of Old-Fashioned oats and make them in the microwave before you head out for the day.

Toaster Waffles
Okay, I’m not recommending every brand. Many are loaded with trans fats, GMOs, and refined sugar. An easy and semi-healthy option, for those near a Trader Joe’s, is to grab their Multigrain Toaster waffles, which Fooducate actually gives a health score of B- (not bad for a frozen food). Compare that to the C-average given to Eggos and the laundry list of ingredients, and Trader Joe’s Multigrain isn’t so bad.

Source: http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2013/10/25/5-easy-healthy-breakfasts-for-college-students.html

How To Memorize Anything

Some say if you can’t understand, just memorize. And to memorize, try the “stacking” method:

How to Memorize

1. First, use a pencil or word processor (I prefer the latter because it’s faster) to type, in complete sentences, any fact you think might appear on the test. Use short sentences because they’re easier to remember. Take your printed notes into a quiet room, shut the door, and eliminate all distractions.

2. Look at the first sentence in your notes and read it out loud. Then, close your eyes and say the sentence without looking at it.

3. Repeat the step above, this time with the first 2 sentences.

4. Next, try it with 3 sentences. Then 4.

5. Repeat until you have memorized every sentence in your notes

Source: http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2007/09/21/how-to-memorize-anything.html

The World's First Bionic Man

While scientists have built many artificial organs individually, they have never before been put together to create an entire human body. Rex or as he has recently been renamed Frank (after Frankenstein), the world's first fully functional bionic man has just changed that. Now on display at the National Air And Space Museum in Washington D.C., the human clone was assembled in three short months using state-of-the-art organs that were donated by 17 manufacturers - A good thing given that the total cost came to about $1 million USD!

The dapper bionic man whose face is modeled after University of Zurich psychologist Bertoit Meyer who led the project, is six and half feet tall, weighs 170lbs and can sit, stand and walk with the help of an exoskeleton that is used to help people with spinal injuries.

While the exterior is certainly interesting, it is as they say what's on the inside, that matters - And in Rex's case there is plenty - Starting from most technologically advanced robotic limbs to a functioning heart that pumps oxygen and artificial blood around his body. He also has a lung, kidney, spleen and even a pancreas. A retinal implant allows the bionic man to sense objects around him, while a cochlear insert enables him to hear.

All in all, Rex aka Frank has about 60-70 percent functionality of a normal human. He is still missing some key parts like a digestive system, liver, skin and most importantly, a brain!

According to Richard Walker, the lead roboticist at London-based Shadow Robot Company responsible for creating the bionic man, Rex was assembled to showcase the advances in aesthetic prostheses for people that have lost their limbs or part of their face and maybe even an organ. Having said that, while the organs worked well on Rex some like the kidney, are still in early trial phase and not ready to be used on humans yet.



Rex who was first unveiled at London's Science Museum in February of this year, made his way across the Atlantic neatly packed up in two suitcases, earlier this month. After meeting with his fans at New York's Comic-Con, the bionic man flew to the National Air and Space Museum, where he will will be on display for a few months for all to admire, before heading back to England.

For those that are nowhere close to the area, there is the Smithsonian documentary - Entitled, The Incredible Bionic Man, it chronicles his life from when he was just a bunch of disjointed body parts to present time, and is scheduled to air on the Smithsonian television channel on October 20th at 9/8 Central time, so be sure to tune in.


Source: http://www.dogonews.com/2013/10/19/meet-rex-the-worlds-first-bionic-man

Monday 28 October 2013

Coming Soon To A Classroom Near You - RoboRoaches

With the advent of smart devices, classroom curriculum is starting to become increasingly interactive. Now neuroscience PHD student Greg Gage and his team at Backyard Brains are taking it to a new level with their robo kits that can transform any cockroach into a RoboRoach! All that is required is a smart phone, steady hands and a living insect.

RoboRoach kits which will be available starting November and retail for about $100 USD (insect not included) comprise of a reusable backpack, recording electrodes and a battery. To surgically implant the cockroach with the computer pack, the insect is first dipped in ice water. This helps slow its senses and puts it in a state of hibernation, which prevents it from feeling any pain. Next, the shell on its head is sanded down slightly to ensure that the super-glue and electrodes stick, and a ground wire is inserted into its thorax to provide a conducting path. Finally, the antennas are trimmed slightly and silver electrodes are inserted inside.

Once everything is in place, the mini-computer (which sits like a backpack on the insect's torso) is connected to a Smartphone via a Bluetooth and used to send out very small pulses that stimulate the mechanoreceptors in the cockroach’s antennae.

These small pulses fool the insect into thinking there are obstacles in the way. This message is relayed through the neurons to the insect's brain, prompting it to take another route. By sending out continous pulses, the human is able to “tell” the cockroach what route to take.

However, the roaches cannot be fooled forever. They usually adjust to the pulses within minutes and stop responding for about 20 minutes, after which they forget the stimulus and can be controlled again. But that too lasts only for a few days following which the insect's brain gets fully adjusted to the pulses and no longer responds. At that point the roach is 'retired' and sent scurrying back to its old life and the backpack is transferred to a new specimen.

While this may seem like a fun classroom project, Greg says that his reason for creating RoboRoach kits was to get students interested and curious about neuroscience and the functioning of the brain at a young age - An exposure he hopes will result in new discoveries. Students testing his kit at Cooper Union High School in New York City may have already reported a breakthrough with their observation that it takes the cockroaches longer to get used to random electric signals than when subjected to steady pulses. While it may seem trivial, this discovery could impact the design of 'brain pacemakers' that are currently being tested to help people suffering from disorders like Parkinson's.

And for those of you that are wondering if the cockroaches are getting hurt in this process, Greg assures they are not. He says that it is amply evidenced by the fact that the insects seem to be able ignore the pulses within a short period of time, something that would not be possible, if they were in pain.

This is not the first time these ancient insects have been recruited to help humans. Dr. Alper Bozkurt of NC State University has been experimenting with similarly computerized Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches since last year, in the hope that they will some day help find victims trapped in the rubble  following natural disasters like earthquakes!
 

Around since the time of dinosaurs, cockroaches are one of the oldest known insects to mankind and believe it or not, one of most amazing ones too. While they have a bad reputation of being household pests, only  1% of the 4,500 known species of the insect, actually are. They are hardy little things that have managed to survive through generations by adapting to all kinds of environments and diets. The insects will eat anything ranging from starches to cheese to beer and even flakes of dried skin or decaying organic matter. When times are really tough they feed off wood termites or even worse each other or, not eat anything at all for as long as a month!


Not impressed? How about this - They can stay alive for up to a week even after their heads have been cut off and hold their breath for a whopping 40 minutes at a time. Not only that, they are also amazingly speedy and can scuttle up to 3 miles an hour. So the next time you happen to see one a cockroach, do give it a quick salute before . . . . Dashing out of the door!


Source: http://www.dogonews.com/2013/10/27/coming-soon-to-a-classroom-near-you-roboroaches

Friday 18 October 2013

20 health tips for students

About to start university? Follow our guide to staying well while studying away from home.


1. Register with a local doctor
If you’re going to spend more time at uni than at home, you need to register with a GP nearby so you can get medical advice and access to health services quickly and easily.

2. Register with a local dentist
Doctors can’t sort out dental problems so unless you fancy trekking home at the first sign of toothache, find yourself a local dental surgery.

3. Check your vaccinations are up to date
University and college students should be immunised against meningitis C and mumps before they start their studies. Get vaccinated at your GP surgery before term starts.

4. Survive freshers’ flu


 
A combination of nasty symptoms - headache, cough, fever and tiredness, freshers’ flu is an inevitable part of living away from home with other students, drinking too much alcohol, not sleeping enough, eating badly and feeling stressed. Short of staying in your room it may be hard to avoid, but you can recover quicker if you get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet and drink moderately.

5. Know your units
Aside from a shocking hangover, drinking too much can have serious social and academic consequences, especially if you’re getting drunk regularly. Aim to stick to the recommended number of units – not more than three to four a day for men and two to three for women. Your liver will thank you for it.

6. Use contraception
Practise safe sex. Contraception and contraceptive advice is free to students in the UK so explore your options by speaking to your GP or sexual health clinic.

7. Rest
Early nights might not feature in most students’ itineraries but going to sleep before midnight at least once a week will allow your body a chance to recover and repair.

8. Eat well
Munching five portions of fruit and vegetables a day might seem impossible when you’re having cereal for breakfast and dinner but eating healthily doesn’t have to be time consuming or costly. In fact, ingredients for simple dishes can be cheaper than ready meals.

9. Stash supplies
It’s a good idea to keep a personal supply of things such as oral rehydration sachets, painkillers, antacids, cough linctus, antibacterial cream and plasters for times when you’re feeling poorly.

10. Stock up on supplements
You’re unlikely to get all the nutrition you need from the typical student diet of takeaways, comfort and convenience food. So shore up your defences by taking a daily vitamin and mineral supplement.

11. Have a sexual health check
Even if you don’t have symptoms, it’s important to get checked for sexually transmitted infections as some are symptomless but can still cause infertility. Chlamydia is the most common STI among young people and students under the age of 25 can get tested for it free on the NHS.

12. Visit an optician


 
If you find yourself squinting across the lecture hall, it’s time to get your eyes tested.

13. Just say no
To drugs, that is. There’s a reason they are illegal; they pose a risk to your mental and physical health and can be highly addictive. Don’t go there.

14. Keep your hands clean
(We hope) you wash them after you’ve been to the loo and before you eat or prepare food but cleaning your hands after tapping away on a communal keyboard or getting off the bus means you’re less likely to pick up viruses that cause illnesses.

15. Know where to get help
If the pressure to perform academically is getting too much, you’re feeling lonely, worrying about money, battling with depression or struggling with an eating disorder, help is at hand. Speak to your doctor, personal tutor, a university counsellor or a student support services staff member.

16. Quit while you’re ahead
If you don’t smoke when you get to college, don’t start. Smoking increases your risk of lung cancer and heart disease, triples your chances of getting wrinkles around your eyes and mouth and causes impotence.

17. Go outside


 
As well as delivering a reviving dose of fresh air, getting outdoors is a great way to boost your levels of bone-strengthening vitamin D and will boost your circulation and concentration.

18. Combat stress
If exams and deadlines are looming and you’re feeling stressed, schedule an hour of downtime. Whether you read a book, go for a walk or simply sit and stare at a wall, sixty minutes of doing something other than revising or writing essays will leave you feeling calmer.

19. Get some exercise
Regular physical activity will improve your physical and mental health and fitness. Think beyond the gym and sign up for an activity that will enable you to meet new people and take on new challenges.

20. Relax
Unless you’re planning on studying forever, your time as a student is limited so try to relax and enjoy it.


Source: http://www.tescomagazine.com/health/family-health/20-health-tips-for-students.html

Thursday 17 October 2013

Top ten ways to manage time when studying for final exams

Final exams are just around the corner for most of us and, in addition to really learning the material you’ve been taught all semester, you should learn how to manage your time so you get those top grades you’ve been working hard for. To help you on your way, here’s a top ten list of hints for staying on track as you get down to business. 


  1. Make a schedule and stick to it. It may not be possible to plan every minute of your day around studying for final exams, but do your best to try!
  2. Prioritize your “to-do” list the night before or first thing in the morning. This will keep your mind focused on the most important task first.
  3. Be sure to set deadlines for yourself. This will help keep you on track for long-term goals. If your final paper for Children’s Literature isn’t due for two weeks, start doing a little bit of research each day if necessary, and set a date to begin writing.
  4. Make sure you write in time to do things that are necessary, like grocery shopping, cooking dinner or walking the dog. These things can’t necessarily be avoided just because it’s finals time! If you can, pay your little sister to come do these things for you; you’ll be able to focus your attention on studying and you’ll help her make a little cash!
  5. Delegate responsibilities when possible. Working on a group project? Don’t offer to type the entire thing the night before if you don’t really have the time. This is the point of a group project. Everyone can chip in.
  6. Use a timer to keep yourself on time with each task. If you know you can read 20 pages in your Psych book in an hour, allow yourself one hour to do it, otherwise you may find yourself still staring at the book two hours later because you drifted off (see #8) or you were texting with your friend (see #7).
  7. The University of Minnesota Duluth suggests that you “make sure your surroundings are conducive to studying.” This will help minimize the time you waste. If you’re liable to be texting your friends every few minutes, leave your phone in another room or better yet, turn it off completely to minimize all distractions.
  8. Make sure you get enough sleep each night and are eating a good meal in the morning. You’ll be much more alert to study after you’ve had eight hours of sleep and an omelet than you would on three hours and a donut.
  9. Leave time for relaxation. You won’t retain any of the information you’re cramming into your brain if you’re too fried from staring at books all day, every day. Make a “no-studying on Saturday nights” rule and allow yourself to have a date night with your significant other or a dinner date with your parents. These things are important, too.
  10. If all else fails, get yourself one of Hermione’s Time Turners:

Follow as many of these top ten tips as possible, and you’ll be well on your way to excelling during finals week and earning yourself an extremely deserved winter break! 

Source: http://www.cengagebrain.com/blog/2012/12/top-ten-ways-to-manage-time-when-studying-for-final-exams/

Top tips for setting goals for the new year: Academic success, career planning and more

It’s now a brand new year and there’s no time like the present to re-evaluate your goals for academic success and career planning. Setting goals is the process of defining where you want to go and the best way of getting there. It’s easy to do and definitely worth taking the time! Here are some top tips to get started on defining your road map for next year.

First, establish goal categories such as:

  • Academics: Set goals for the grades you want to earn in your classes and then work out a plan for how you will achieve those grades. Your plans will include study time spent each week, a plan for getting assignments in on time, and making time for tutoring sessions in classes where you need extra help.
  • Career goals: Outside activities, jobs and internships will help you to learn more about your chosen career, make valuable contacts and put experience on your resume. If you want a summer internship, then start applying now.
  • Relationships: Maintaining meaningful relationships takes effort so remember to plan for the time you’ll spend with the important people in your life.
  • Other: What else are you interested in accomplishing next year? Do you want to achieve goals related to sports, fitness, hobbies or travel? Be sure to keep these goals in mind when planning ahead, too.
Master your goals
The Office of Human Resources at Dartmouth College recommends that you write down your goals and follow this simple scheme. Make sure that your goals are:



  • M – Measurable: For example, you might want to raise your grade point average by at least one percentage point — this is easy to measure and realistic.
  • A – Achievable (yet challenging!): Be sure to include goals for the short-term rather than only focusing on goals that will take longer than a year to achieve.
  • S – Specific: Instead of just aiming for any internship, you might want to fine-tune your goal to include a description of the type of skills you’ll be learning or the location of the internship.
  • T – Time-based: Setting a deadline helps to create a sense of urgency that keeps you motivated.
  • E – Energizing: Go for goals that will keep you energized and inspired.
  • R – Relevant: Aim for goals that will feed into your ultimate personal and career aspirations.
Be specific
Be bold when setting your goals and think about what you really want. Washington State’s College Bound blog suggested, “A specific goal should answer the five ‘Ws’ by the time you’ve worked through it. What exactly do you want and why? Who might be involved besides yourself? Is there a specific location and when does this need to be completed. Use action words, be clear, and be specific.”


Time factor

 
Keep in mind that goals will fall into categories based on their time frame. Some goals will be immediate tasks that must be accomplished within the next month. Other goals are short-range say six months to a year, while others are long-term taking more than a year to accomplish. In an article titled, “Personal Goal Setting,” MindTools gives an example of how one could outline lifetime goals and then scale them back into one-week, one month, six-month, one-year, and five-year goals.


Source:  http://www.cengagebrain.com/blog/2012/12/top-tips-for-setting-goals-for-the-new-year-academic-success-career-planning-and-more/

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Teaching for Justice: 10 Ways To Unravel Systemic Oppression

1. Learn, learn, learn
 
Continue educating yourself about issues of systemic oppression. If you work in medical schools, it's essential to understand the school-to-prison pipeline, as that's a forceful reflection of systemic oppression. Start with reading Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.


2. Gather data in your classroom

In whole class or small group discussions notice patterns of participation. Who speaks more? Who never speaks? Do male voices dominate? Are English Learners silent? Spend a few weeks noticing and tracking this data.

3. Analyze the data


Disaggregate and examine all of your classroom data: Who is successful in your class? Who is praised and rewarded the most? Who has missed the most number of days? Are there any groups of students who are sent to the time out chair or the office more than others? Ask yourself hard questions and look for patterns that reflect those found in our society of who succeeds and who is marginalized.

4. Teach holistically 



When teaching students about other groups who have been oppressed, don't define those "others" by their oppression. There is more to being African American than slavery, more to being Jewish than the Holocaust; find those stories and representations that depict people in their full humanity and share those. Furthermore, go "beyond heroes and holidays" when teaching about other people. Mexican (and Mexican-American) history can be addressed at many points throughout the year, not just on Cinco de Mayo.

5. Interrupt inequities in the classroom 


If you notice inequitable patterns in an area that you have some control or influence over (such as within your classroom), do something about it. Use a random method for calling on kids or giving them airtime, and then track what happens.

6. Get another perspective


Invite a coach or a trusted colleague into your classroom to observe for the manifestation of any unconscious beliefs that might value one group of students over another. Ask your colleague to raise difficult questions about your practice, to push you. We can't see our own blind spots.

7. Know yourself


Explore your own biases and consider how they might impact your decision-making in the classroom. Racism is learned and we can unlearn it. We all have biases -- it's near impossible to not acquire some. As Beverly Tatum says, it's like smog in the air we breathe. Unlearning starts with uncovering what we might not want to look at.

8. Listen to Learn


Reach out to the students, parents, and colleagues who come from different backgrounds and experiences to your own. Don't ask them to teach you about who they are or "their people," instead, shorten that distance between you and look for ways to authentically connect, and listen to learn about who they are. Ask for their opinions and perspectives on your teaching, your curriculum, ways of engaging with students, and so on.

9. Interrupt unproductive dialogue


If you hear colleagues express views that stereotype other people or reduce their humanity, or if you hear colleagues say something that might reflect a pattern of systemic oppression, respond. You don't have to respond in the moment; you can take a time out and reflect, compose your thoughts and words, confer with someone else if necessary, and then return to speak with the person. But don't let things slide. If you get that gnawing feeling of, I should have said something, go back, and say, "Hey, a few weeks ago you said... Can we talk about that?"

10. Manage your discomfort


Talking about race, class, and privilege isn't easy. Know that it will be uncomfortable, and perhaps painful, and recognize that this discomfort also emerges from a system of oppression. Systems of oppression perpetuate by keeping many members of the system silent. Breaking that silence puts us one step closer to dismantling it. 

Source: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-for-justice-unravel-oppression-elena-aguilar

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Six Reasons to Participate in Student Competitions

Are you a student eager to explore your boundaries and expand your horizons? Do you have skills that you want to showcase to the world?

Student competitions provide a myriad of opportunities for you: a platform for you to demonstratate your talent, a stepping-stone to achieving greater things in life. They represent unconventional but effective ways of securing internships, scholarships, jobs and exposure to real-world issues. Here are six reasons why you should participate in student competitions.

1. Show your talent

Many students feel it is difficult to express their talents in school. Exams and group assignments do not always capture students’ unique skills or accurately measure the ability to apply skills to real-world problems. In contrast, many student competitions are based on solving “real” cases and problems.



By participating in a competition organized by a company, universities and Colleges or other organization, you have a new opportunity to show your talent and apply your skills. In turn, the rewards of student competitions, whether tangible or otherwise, can help you achieve your educational and professional goals. You might win an internship that leads to the job of your dreams, some money that would help you buy course books, or even help to start your own business.

2. Connect with top employers

Competitions can also be a way to connect with top employers, such as Google, Facebook or IBM, that are otherwise difficult to reach, in a setting that puts you and your skills in the spotlight. Regardless of your formal educational background, if you have the skills to win a competition, you have the ability to connect.

Applying through traditional recruitment channels can often be a drag, and many talented students fall through the cracks and never reach their dream companies. Traditional application criteria are based mostly on the level of academic excellence, which may or may not showcase your true talent and skills set.

3. Build your résumé the fun way!

Rock stars are instantly recognizable because they are not afraid to show off their talents and embrace who they are. If you win a large competition, you can claim your own ‘rock star status’ in the talent recruitment community!

Winning a couple of student competitions is a great way to stand out from the crowd and build your résumé, both the traditional way and via your social media profile. Show off your achievements on LinkedIn and Facebook. We assure you that the “Likes” will start rolling in, and job offers won’t be far behind.

4. Challenge yourself
Obviously, not everyone who enters the competition will win. However, even if you don’t receive any of the big prizes, you can still benefit from the opportunity to challenge yourself. You’ll learn new things and develop new skills – and even if you don’t win, you can still show what you gained from the experience, and talk about this in job applications and interviews.



The most important thing to note is that your competition journey is a process, not an endpoint. Any one success (or apparent failure) is just another stepping stone to the next point along the way. So whatever the outcome, focus on what you’ve gained, and how to keep on developing.

5. Get help to realize your dream
 

Whether it’s starting your own business or studying abroad, competitions can help you realize your dream. If you are planning on starting a business but need capital, there are competitions where you can win startup funding for your business. Good examples are the Million Pound Startup Competition, RICE Business Plan Competition and the Global Social Venture Competition.

Or, if you are running a worthwhile project, there are many award programs available that support your ideas, such as the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards and the Dell Education Challenge.

6. Test your ideas

Finally, student competitions allow you to test your ideas to see how viable they are, in a risk-free environment where you are able to collect and incorporate feedback from peers and professionals. If you are committed to realizing your dreams, any time spent on fine-tuning your ideas is a great investment.

What if you do not win the student competitions you enter? Remember, this is not time wasted; it is time spent learning and growing. Competitions should provide an enriching and stimulating experience that allows you to apply your knowledge to a specific, practical problem.

And if you don’t win this time, just enter again. The more you participate, the better you get!


Source: http://www.topuniversities.com/blog/six-reasons-participate-student-competitions