Get Involved

Blog by Oladeinde Adewale, Campus Ambassador (Middle East Technological University)

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

- John Quincy Adams

I believe that the current global trend of student events that is spanning across the world (be it in economic, social, environmental and political dimensions) is calling for more young people to become future leaders.

The world is in need of leaders that will think and act differently; young and potential leaders that will take the bull by the horn and act swiftly to the rising modern era of different challenges facing the world. As can be observed, the world has rapidly emerged to be a more dynamic system that requires continual need for more credible leaders in different capacities and human endeavors.

No doubt, the world needs young people like you and me now that breathe with compassion and love for humanity, people who still believe in the dignity and respect for human life and that of the mother earth, people of great responsibility and sacrificial attitudes that will always live past their personal concerns and needs to that of others, and people with balanced and developed perspectives of life, emotionally stable with great level of integrity, honor and self respect.

I foresee and crave for the youth of this modern, yet trying time in human history, to shun vices and other dıscredıtıng behaviors, and focus on bringing out the best in themselves especially the leadership tendencies and potentials, and to sincerely aspire to become an agent of change and positive contributors to humanity.

I strongly believe that the time has come for young people of this generation across the globe to pull and invest their youthful zeal and energy in the right channel: LEADERSHIP ASPIRATIONS

Then comes the big question, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

StudentLife: On second thought, maybe I’ll come back to this question later.

Source:

You’re in college, enjoying the best years of your life - it’s all about hanging out with your friends, doing some studying and mostly having a lot of fun. Find out how participating in a student competition, conference, or seminar NOW will help your essays write themselves! 

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It has been no surprise that since the beginning of the “noughties,” technology has been integrated into every aspect of life to a level previously only entertained in the wistful looks of science fiction fans. The pace of our lives has sped up.

There is an unprecedented supply of information at our fingertips that we need to absorb to decide what we want to do with our lives. By the time we’re wrestling with the throes of puberty, we have to have already settled on one career choice from thousands of possibilities; all so that we can take the right classes in high school, study the right subject at university, and ultimately land our coveted dream job.

For a student and potential entrant into the UK job market, the pressure is on to live that ideal. Competition is fierce, with employers looking for the best of the best across the globe, so whatever you decide to study, you have to do it “guns blazing” to stand a chance.

But how can we know we’re making the right decisions? And even when we know what we want, how can we run the gauntlet of CVs and interviews?

This is where student events come in. Ever since my first experience as a student in the UK, the importance of participating in events has been stressed over and over. Events not only give me a chance to dabble in different career options, but also builds my CV with skills like initiative that put me ahead of the competition. 

Perhaps most importantly, through participating in events you prepare yourself for the entire process rather than going blindly and giving yourself an ulcer waiting for a call-back.

Now that’s something worth thinking about, isn’t it?

This post was written by the StudentEvents Campus Ambassador at Warwick University, Marta Svetek.

The Benefits of Attending International Conference for Students

By Rizalul D. Pasundani, StudentEvents’ Campus Ambassador at the University of Indonesia

Communication is one of the most important things for human beings, no matter how it is conducted. Today’s students are the masters of communication both formally and informally. One of the most important venues for formal communication is at a conference, especially international conferences for undergraduate students. There are many benefits, both globally and individually, of attending a conference. Not only do you further your education, but you also learn how to talk to people from diverse backgrounds.  

Many clashes of civilizations have happened because of different ways of thinking, and because the time allocated for communication was not sufficient. International student conferences can provide a way of decreasing these kinds of international tensions, making the world a better place. That’s the benefit for our global society, but what about the individual benefits of attending a student conference? Why should students regardless of what they are studying be interested in interacting with others in their field? 

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How many times have you seen this status update?

5,000 words done and 5 hours of my life I’ll never get back!

What if you could get those hours back? We’re still waiting on that time machine, but for now call me an alchemist, because I know a way you can turn that essay into gold…

Okay, maybe not gold - but however you decide to spend your cash prize from an essay competition is your prerogative.

Let me show you what I mean.

Here are some upcoming essay competitions by subject. Find what you’re studying and just do it. Seriously, it’s 500 bucks with your name on it in a click! These contests are organized by reputable universities from across the country and around the world with loads of money to give away.

2012 Alltech Young Scientist Award  

Subject: science, agriculture, veterinary science, social sciences

Prize Details: 1st: $500. 2nd: $250. 3rd: $150.

Deadline: Dec 31, 2011.

International Gas Union Task Force 2 Youth Essay Competition

Subject: science, technology, environmental studies, engineering, economics

Prize details: Trip to Kuala Lumpur to attend the World Gas Conference and speak to high-profile leaders in the gas and energy industries

Deadline: Sept 30, 2011

Culture of Enterprise Student Essay Contest

Subject: anthropology, social sciences, humanities, international development, international relations

Prize Details: 1st: $10,000 cash. 2nd: $5,000 cash. 3rd: $2,000 cash. 4th: $1,500 cash. 5th: $1,000 cash.

Deadline: Dec 31, 2011.

So go for it! Reduce, reuse, and recycle old projects, papers, and assignments and turn them into gold. And if you win, let me know! I would love to hear from you and share your accomplishment with the crowd, so msg me at sarah.witiuk@studentevents.com

Do you want to hear more tricks on how to be a keener without trying too hard? Check back every Wednesday for more advice from a girl who’s been there, done that.

University: the best years of your life - packed with parties, late nights at the library, cramming for tests, and getting your first A on a paper. What more could you ask for? 

Among all the partying and cramming, it might be tough to think that at the end of these 3 or 4 years, you’re actually going to be entering the “real world” - and I’m not talking about the outrageous MTV reality show.

If you’re going into your final year this fall, you’ll probably start to feel the heat - career fairs left, right and centre, all your friends applying to Med School or Grad School, and your aunts and uncles constantly asking you what your “life plan” is. Your heart is racing, you’re feeling dizzy, a voice deep down inside keeps chanting:

What do I really want to do after I graduate?

If the answer to that question is making you draw a blank, then we’ve got news for you. This long-kept secret has been passed down from generation to generation of competitive overachievers, and now we’re telling you. Imagine a way you can not only find out what you want to do, but also talk to company recruiters or researchers, meet new people, win prize money, and also have fun doing it….

The answer: Student events.

Student events - competitions, conferences, or seminars - are an incredible resource to get ahead during your undergrad and also ease your anxiety about the future. By participating in a local, national, or global event, you get the chance to network with savvy intellectuals, and even ask people how they got to be where they are now.

When you participate in an event, you’re opening doors to lots of different opportunities - from internships, to finding a mentor, to winning some prizes or even cold hard cash (thank you PSYC 101 term paper!)

The best part? There are literally thousands of events out there waiting for you to try out.

So the question is…. are you looking for them?

*Did you know? A new trend showing up in today’s job market is to add an Events section to your resume, right next to your Education and Work Experience. Events show your future employer that you are ambitious, motivated, and involved - all traits of a great employee.

As a student, I found myself constantly looking for cool events to participate in next to my studies.

I always discovered them too late: 

• through a friend’s status update about going to NYC for free;
• a friend announcing he’s going skiing in Austria with a consulting company;
• or friends having already formed a team before I even discovered the competition.

When I actually tried looking for the best events, though, it was really difficult to sort them out from the rest. Yes, I tried to Google some keywords and try my luck – but the events I found were outdated, or not open for my study field or level. I wasn’t sure whether the events I did find would even be worth the precious time I had outside of homework.

My friends and I started thinking: What if we take all the events out there and list them on one platform where students could easily find and register to them?

This question led us to build StudentEvents.com, a website that I wish would have existed when I started my Bachelor and throughout my Master. 

I hope you enjoy the website, and use it as a tool to find events, get involved and be part of a community of ambitious young people. Don’t forget to register with us to get personalized emails about the kinds of events you care about. 

If you ever have any suggestions on how StudentEvents.com can grow and become better, shoot me an email anytime at info@studentevents.com  

Good luck this year and get involved!

Jonathan Friedman, CEO and founder of StudentEvents.com 

Jonathan has a BSc International Business Administration, Cum Laude, and a MSc in Finance and Investments, both from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He has previously founded an international business and he participated in many student competitions, conferences, and courses during his academic studies.