Martin Luther King day – celebrates the birthday of one of the most famous leaders of the civil rights movement of the 20th century. He is well known for the advancement of civil rights in the United States via nonviolent protests and civil disobedience.

But why does this public figure get a whole Federal Holiday all to his name? What did he do to deserve such a huge honor? Nerdify, is happy to shed some light on this 🙂

First, some facts from King’s early life (being all Nerdy as usual):

* Martin L. King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.

* He graduated from Morehouse (in 1948) with a B.A. in sociology and enrolled in Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated with a B.Div. degree in 1951.

* King received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Boston University in 1955 (he was 26).

And this is where the fun begins, this is when King got involved in organizing large protests to oppose the racial inequality that was widespread in the USA in the middle of 20th century.

It all started with Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 when a young black girl refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man. The boycott lasted for 385 days! King’s energy and resolve made him a national hero for the African-American community, who saw a leader they could unite around to fight for equal rights.

In 1957, King and other social activists formed a Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to fight racial inequality and advance civil rights reforms in the US.

His struggle eventually lead to the massive March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where King delivered the world-wide famous speech – “I have a dream”.

We would like to quote a small part of the speech (because it’s so incredible):

“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Why did King organize all these rallies across the country? How exactly was King planning on delivering a decisive blow on inequality in the United States? Wikipedia provides the best answer:

“King believed that organized, nonviolent protest against the system of southern segregation known as Jim Crow laws would lead to extensive media coverage of the struggle for black equality and voting rights. Journalistic accounts and televised footage of the daily deprivation and indignities suffered by Southern blacks, and of segregationist violence and harassment of civil rights workers and marchers, produced a wave of sympathetic public opinion that convinced the majority of Americans that the civil rights movement was the most important issue in American politics in the early 1960s.”

And he was absolutely right:

“King’s main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the U.S. Just days after King’s death, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Title VIII of the Act, commonly known as the Fair Housing Act, prohibited discrimination in housing and housing-related transactions on the basis of race, religion, or national origin (later expanded to include sex, familial status, and disability). This legislation was seen as a tribute to King’s struggle in his final years to combat residential discrimination in the U.S.”

In a nutshell – this is it -> Martin Luther King was instrumental in advancing civil rights reform and has dramatically improved racial equality in the United States by pushing the authorities to pass Civil Rights Act of 1968.

We don’t want to stop here because King’s life is full of incredible fact that we’d like to share:

* He was the youngest person at the time to receive a Nobel Peace Prize (he was just 35!)

* During his career as a social activist, he traveled more than six million miles (that’s about 10 “trips” to the Moon and back!)

* He was arrested 29 times and FBI was tapping his phone, pretty much since the beginning of his career in 1955.

* He is the first African-American to be named Man of the Year by Time magazine

* King was almost killed ten years before his death (a crazy woman stabbed him with a knife in his heart during his book signing event in Harlem).

* There are almost a thousand streets named after Martin Luther King (after King’s assassination, cities across the nation began naming streets after King, to cement his legacy and achievements).

Martin Luther King fought incredibly hard (eventually giving his life to the cause) to end inequality in the United States. Giving the fact that half a century later the USA would elect it’s first African-American President (and a damn good one), we think he would be proud of his accomplishments 🙂

Oh man! It’s time to go back to school!  Unfortunately, time flies when you’re having fun.  We get it, you want to chill and enjoy your vacation. Just to cheer you up Nerdify has compiled a bunch of awesome gifs, that will turn your frown upside down. Recognize yourself?

1. When you want to run away from homework and stress.

You can run, but you can’t hide!

2. When the teachers and lectures are boring…

Yeah! Sleeping in class for the win!

3. Mourning for the loss of your summer break be like…

You left without saying goodbye; I can’t live without you (Sure you can!).

4. That awesome feel when you see your close friend in school.

You are like long-lost lovers. Aww!

5. When you and your friend are in different classes this year.

So close, yet so far. What’s the point of education now?

6. Seeing your school crush (again) be like…

You can’t help but be inspired. You promise to do well in school and be with him/her for the rest of your life.

Then, you remember—the concept of forever does not exist.

7. You ask yourself, “When’s the next holiday or long weekend?”

When you’re stressed, you need to rest. There are even people who ask, “When’s the next storm or typhoon?”  (That’s bad!)

8. When the teacher asks, “What did you learn from last school year?

How can we remember when it’s one of the things we least care about?

9. When your teacher calls your name for self-introductions.

You’ve never been so screwed in your whole life!

10. (Bonus!) When the school bells rings for lunch break/dismissal.

And you’re probably exhausted. Nevertheless, you try to muster a small smile. Looks like lunch and dismissal are going to be your favorite subjects again.

And remember that no matter how many tasks you have and how little time to complete them all, Nerdify is here for you 24/7. Our Nerds are always happy to help with every study-related task:)

While it is commonplace to find students hustling to work after their classes, the motivation behind it can be quite different for each of them. Today Nerdify reviews the advantages and disadvantages of such a lifestyle choice.

Juggling work and study is a lifestyle that is becoming more and more popular amongst students despite the difficulties in their programs. The pretty barista at a nearby Starbucks could be doing it for the additional income. Meanwhile, the young fitness instructor could be doing it solely for his passion. It is an opportunity that can serve many purposes.  Nerdify reviews team decided to speak up of a few pros and cons to consider! So, curious onlookers are recommended to think it over.

PROS:

1. You learn the value of hard-earned money

Many students are privileged enough to have their parents support them until they finish their education. While it may be comfortable, it would be difficult to grasp just how difficult it can be to earn a lot of cash in a competitive labor market under such circumstances. But, when you start earning your own money, each dollar in your pocket can start to mean more to you.

This is especially true for people getting paid a low-range salary, which is likely for students. It is terribly easy to use up all of your hard-earned monthly pay if you are not careful. You may start thinking twice about going to a night out with your friends.

2. You hone important life skills

There are certain lessons and skills that cannot be taught in the classroom. For example, when people work in the service industry, they likely encounter rude and unpleasant customers on a regular basis. As frustrating as it sounds, they have to learn to be courteous and patient with these people if they want to keep their jobs. Likewise, not everyone you will meet in your career will be easy to deal with. At least, others will be better prepared to handle it.

To add, student workers are more exposed to working alongside people that are much older and experienced than they are. They learn how to ask for some time off, apologize for mistakes, request for help, and the like. They also learn how to build working relationships with these people, which is a useful life skill.

3. You develop a better perspective for the future

This point is in Nerdify reviews for a reason. We strongly believe that with the work experience that students gain, they have a better grasp of what work life will be like once they graduate. Because of this, they can either better recognize what they want in their career, or what they definitely do not want to pursue as a career. They can also learn things that would deepen their understanding and appreciation of the industry. It all depends on whether the work that the students are taking now is fulfilling enough.

CONS:

1. Opportunity cost may be high for some

When you choose one opportunity, you are letting go of several other opportunities that you could have chosen instead. Likewise, choosing to spend a considerable amount of time at work can impede student’s studies, involvement in organizations, and other relevant activities. For some, the opportunity cost may be low. But, others could be letting go of something that could make them more competitive in the job market, such as winning national debate tournaments.

2. You may not be prepared for it

Finding work as a student is not recommended if the students are struggling with their academic workload, battling mental health problems, juggling too many commitments, and the like. Some may push through with it despite this to earn some extra money. However, work requires effort and sacrifice even if it is not full-time. You could be putting too much on your plate. Nerdify reviews team suggests paying attention to that.

3. Your job is not aligned with your career path

Most students take on part-time work that is not related to their majors nor to the career that they will be pursuing after graduation. This is not recommended unless money is the motive as relevant learnings can be quite few and far between. It would also not make much of an impact to an employer if it was put in your resume except to show your social and time management skills.

Work while studying can be a great opportunity or a waste of time. Students should first determine what their main motivation is for finding a job. They should then figure out if the job is the best opportunity there is to help them achieve their goals. In case you are still interested, try your best to work within your field of interest. But, if that is not possible, keep in mind that work can still help hone useful life skills. It can also signal to employers your drive and initiative even if it is not related to your major.

However, you must be prepared to handle it.