Sometimes, it seems like everyone you know or meet has a blog of their own. Topics can range from fashion to fantasy costumery.
In fact, I get most of my recipes from random blogs on the internet. Also, I (almost) never buy electronics unless some kind soul has taken the time to review the item in detail.
Blogging is a wonderful exercise that can connect users across a bevy of mediums, from art to technology and back again. But did you know that blogging can benefit you as a student, too?
Having a blog can help you in a variety of ways that maybe you and your parents haven’t considered. Blogs let you:
1. Promote Self-Expression
Kids are always on the lookout for ways to express themselves. Rather than devote endless hours to curating social media fodder, why not start a blog and craft content that matters to you? If you’re interested in pursuing a career in just about any discipline, starting a blog to record and organize your individual journey can be an excellent way to find your own voice.
2. Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Starting a blog that is devoted to a specific topic can really help students craft the critical thinking skills they need to approach their studies with verve. On top of this, topical blogs are a great way to hone the research skills you’ll need to succeed at the university level, and will serve you well throughout the career of your choice.
3. Improve Mental Health
At their core, blogs are basically online journals. They can be used to share feelings, thoughts, concerns, and even encouragement and inspiration between individuals and groups. A personal blog can help you work through your feelings, and increase your outreach to others who identify and empathize with those feelings. When used to promote positivity, a blog can do wonders for a student’s mental health.
4. Improve Writing Ability
You learn to write in school. However, improvement in your writing skills doesn’t come automatically.
Instructors need to give explicit directions at the beginning of the project. With a blog, though, you’re free to experiment and grow at your own pace. There are no step-by-step directions on how to blog or how to be authentic. But, over time, you can learn how to better support your opinions, as well to communicate expectations for the learner.
Aside from this, your entire collegiate career will revolve around your ability to write. Starting a blog while you’re still in high school can give you the jump on many students who struggle to communicate through their writing, and must work extra hard to master this skill while simultaneously attempting to learn everything else. A blog could help you develop the mental muscles you need to succeed in college and beyond.
5. Aid college entrance
That last one is the kicker.
A well-rounded student blog can lend some serious weight to your college entrance essay. Through a carefully curated blog, administrators have the opportunity to learn about you as a person, weigh the strength of your entrance essay against your personality, and really view you as a person instead of just a student ID number.
This is a double-edged sword, though. You want to be sure that any content you put out there reflects positively on you. So, remember to a;ways put your best foot forward, even online.
Have you ever blogged before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.