When I was able to vote for the first time, I had a mix of very odd emotions. I'm still not quite sure how to explain the way that I felt. Not nervous, but... confused? Conflicted? I knew that this was both a responsibility as an American citizen and a privilege and I wanted to handle it responsibly. I wanted to make sure I knew where I stood in my beliefs and standards in regards to politics and I wanted to vote accordingly. However, I had absolutely no idea where to start. My mind was filled with endless questions: What the heck is a political party? How many are there? I know what a candidate is but what exactly will they be able to do if I vote for them and they win? My goal is to handle this post with as much care and consideration as possible. I am not going to include my own political views. I am not going to favor one side over the other. I am going to try my hardest to present to you the facts so that you can make a decision for yourself. Before we begin, let me make one thing clear: there is no right or wrong decision here. What you believe in and what you agree with is an extremely personal decision. Got it? Good. First, you should read this article that explains the origin of political parties and gives you some important background information. There are two main political parties in the United States that you've hopefully at least heard of: the Democrats and the Republicans. Let's break these down a bit:
These are only some of the numerous facts there are about these political parties. If you want to do further research (which I highly recommend), check out these links. If you still aren't sure which party you identify with even after doing your research, you always have the option to register as "Independent". In other words, you'll be claiming that you'll vote based on the candidates and present issues rather than on the basis of a particular political theory. Another common question: how does voting work? I'll try to explain it the best to my ability. If you're still confused after reading this, I'll include some links to a few pages that might help you understand. The presidential election cycle goes like this:
Now let's talk about the day you go to cast your vote. Here are a few things you need to know:
Hopefully this information helped answer any questions you may have and help you determine where you stand in politics. Staying informed is another important part of politics. I've included a link below that will help you choose which news source best suits you. It divides up the sources based on the political theories you best identify with.
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I wanted to jump on here and share this article I found that was published by the Princeton Review. It compares and contrasts the ACT and SAT tests in the hopes of helping you figure out which one you should take. I thought it was pretty helpful!
I remember my first interview. I was so nervous. I studied for a week straight (yes, you can study for interviews- we'll get to that later), I hardly slept the night before and I showed up 20 minutes early. However, if I hadn't worked so hard to prepare for the interview, I wouldn't have landed this incredible job and I wouldn't know all of you. Interviews are your one shot at showing a company/employer that you know your stuff, that you would be a huge asset to the company and that they would be making a mistake if they didn't hire you. An interview is your time to show off the results of hard work and determination. It's a time that you are actually strongly encouraged to brag about what you know and what you're capable of (in a professional manner, of course). I'm going to work through a couple of pretty common concerns and give you as many tips as I can to help you rock any and all interviews you go to. Believe it or not, my first concern when it came to my interview was trying to figure out what to wear. I knew that being professional in my mannerisms and my dress was very important so I wanted to make sure I arrived in the appropriate style. As you are trying to plan what you'll wear, keep these two things in mind: 1) Dress in a way that reflects the impression you want to give those who are conducting the interview. Shoot for business casual. 2) Dress in clothes that make you comfortable and confident. Ladies, don't wear heels that make your feet bleed after taking five steps. Gentlemen, don't wear a belt that's too tight and will cut into your stomach as you're sitting there trying to answer questions to the best of your ability. Here are a couple suggestions you might want to consider:
Now that you know what you'll be wearing, let's focus on what you need to do to become mentally prepared.
So now we've got your outfit figured out and you've done all you can to prepare for the interview. Let's focus on the actual day of the interview. First things first: show up early. Being late to an interview is a great way to make a horrible impression. Look up the directions the night before and figure out how early you need to leave. If it will take you 15 minutes to get there, leave 25-30 minutes before your interview. Make sure you eat something substantial before you leave. A stomach that growls in the middle of your interview is a great opportunity for a very awkward moment. Make sure you know how to pronounce the names of the people interviewing you. Check the mirror one last time, pop a breath mint, turn your cell phone off and walk in there with your head high and all the confidence you can muster. Are you still with me? I've thrown quite a bit of information at you but there's one more thing we need to talk about: resumes. A resume is a document you will design that will allow your potential employers to gather all the information they need to know before seriously considering you for a job. Instead of listing all the steps here, I found this great blog post that explains the process in a step-by-step manner, along with including several examples and free templates. Like I said, I just threw a whole bunch of information your way, but it's all information that will help you walk out of any interview feeling confident and successful. The bottom line, though, is this: no matter what you do in preparation, no matter what you wear, no matter what your resume looks like... none of it will matter if you are lacking in a belief in your own abilities and talents. Go in there knowing that you are right for the job and your confidence will make an even bigger impact than any of the things mentioned above!
Applying for college is scary and stressful. They want to know every single little detail! Here is some information to help break down the process for you: Perhaps the most commonly asked question is when should I start the process? Here is a timeline to help you through this stressful time: The summer BEFORE your senior year: •Schedule college tours/visits. This will help you narrow down your choices. •Start considering which teachers would write you a shining letter of recommendation. •Brainstorm ideas for the topic for your personal essay. October-January of your senior year: •This is when the bulk of the application process will take place. Set up a meeting with your counselor and make a chart of important deadlines. •Request your high school transcripts and arrange to have your ACT/SAT scores sent to the correct places at the correct times. •If you’re shooting for early application, you need to finish everything by November. •Submit the FASFA as early as January 1st. February-April of your senior year: •Colleges CAN revoke their acceptances. Keep your grades up! •These are the months in which acceptance letters are sent out. •If you receive multiple acceptances, notify the schools you decide against ASAP. Another commonly asked question is what do I need to know in order to complete an application? Here is a list of the basic materials you will need: –Your parents’ education details –Your counselor’s information –AP/IB test scores (some schools may require documentation) –SAT/ACT scores (most schools require documentation) –Academic distinctions –Extracurricular/volunteer information –Employment information –Personal statement/essay –Discipline information I found a Universal College Application. In other words, this is an application designed to mirror most of the applications colleges use. I really like this list as well. It explains 13 things a student should know before applying to college. There are also a couple of hyperlinks you might want to check out. You will most likely be asked to write a college essay. I found the most commonly used topics this last year. These should give you an idea as to what you'll be asked to write about.
I also found a college essay that has been critiqued by an admissions officer. You'll definitely want to take a look at this. It will help give you a better idea of what exactly they're looking for. Throughout the application process, checklists will become your best friend. This is an easy way to keep track of deadlines and important tasks you must not forget. Here is one that I think is pretty excellent. You might want to make your own by pulling tasks from this last and then adding your own items. Personalize it. Make it your own. Another tip: sit down and review the list with your counselor to make sure you aren't forgetting anything.
It is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new relationship. We all know the drill: you meet someone, you get to know them, you develop feelings for them, and then the guessing game begins. Does he/she like me back? What did he/she mean by that text? Does the heart emoji mean anything? WHAT DOES THE HEART EMOJI MEAN?! Before you know it, your hand accidentally brushes against theirs at a basketball game and you know you both are done for. It's meant to be. And at first, everything is wonderful. You get to call them your "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" and for some reason those two syllable words hold so much meaning. There are the cute text messages in the morning that leave you feeling giddy all day, the anticipation for the bell to ring so you can see them between classes and the overwhelming feeling of happiness that comes with wearing his sweatshirt or her hairband around your wrist. However, as time wears on, you start to notice a few things you hadn't picked up on before. Like the way she makes fun of your physique by constantly mocking your "scrawny arms". Or the way he insults the clothes you decide to wear. At first, you just brush it off, telling yourself they're just little quirks in their personalities that you'll learn to love. But then it gets worse. She gets mad about a conversation you had with a good friend of yours who happens to be a girl and she yells and cusses at you. Or he gets angry about something he saw on your social media and rips your phone out of your hands, demanding you block the guy that liked your picture. You start to wonder whether or not these should be red flags, right? But then he apologizes. He swears it'll never happen again. She calls you and goes on and on about how you're the best thing to happen to her and how she'll never talk to you like that again. You decide to forgive them again. After all, they're just human, right? People get mad and say things they don't mean...right? So you make up and move on. But it happens again and this time it's worse. She starts screaming and cussing and throwing things and even starts insulting you personally. He punches a wall in frustration and maybe even turns on you. You've never seen this part of them. You never even thought such a side could exist in the sweet person you first fell for. And now you're left wondering...how far is too far? Just how many second chances does a person deserve? Before going on, let me make one thing abundantly clear: we are, indeed, all humans. We will get upset. We will get our feelings hurt. We will get jealous. Our insecurities and our pesty human emotions will rear their ugly heads. However, the mark of good character is how we behave and treat others in the depths of such unpleasant emotions. Through several trials and errors of my own, I've learned that when we truly love another, we do not allow these emotions to influence how we treat our significant others. When we truly care for someone, we know to step back and consider the repercussions of our actions and words before letting our anger take over. When we truly love someone, that love is so much greater than any kind of negative energy that we cannot even fathom hurting them, regardless of how upset we may be. Let me make another thing abundantly clear: none of us are perfect. I know what it's like to think otherwise. I know what it's like to meet someone and think it impossible for that individual to even know the meaning of the word "flaw". However, it is inevitable that the more we get to know someone, the more we'll realize just how very human they are. But this is where true, honest, respectful love comes into play. When we love someone, we choose to admire and respect those idiosyncrasies seen in our partner, rather than complain about them or mock them. Growing up and making my way through the oh-so-terrible teenage years, my mom always told me that love is a choice. I stubbornly disagreed with her. Me and my romantic heart chose to believe that love was something we couldn't help, something that struck you like a sudden bolt of lightning and carried you through the remainder of life on that lovely cloud nine. But then I grew up. I experienced mature relationships. And I realized that love is absolutely a choice. Attraction and infatuation may be involuntary but love is something we must choose every single day. To love someone means to acknowledge the fact that someone is far from perfect, but to choose to be with them regardless, to respect them and encourage them, to look their flaws in the face and say "I see you and I love you". There is one final point I need to make very clear. In fact, if you learn only one thing from this post, let it be this: I have had the honor and privilege of getting to know each and every one of you and I can say with complete confidence that you all deserve to be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. You each deserve to be appreciated for the incredible individuals you are. Do not settle for anything less than the absolute greatest. High school is such a difficult time. You're not only trying to learn the curriculum your teachers are guiding you through, but you're trying to learn who you are as a person and where exactly your place is in this world. During this time period, it can be incredibly easy to sell ourselves short, to succumb to the insecurities that are constantly lurking in the corners of our minds, to hide from the world for fear of being labeled "not good enough". I wish that simply telling you to put these fears to rest was enough to get you through this phase. I wish telling you how incredible you are was enough to draw you out of your shell but I know that this is something you will have to work through and figure out for yourself. However, let me leave you with a few pieces of advice: 1) We really do accept the love we feel we deserve. Think that over. 2) Don't let your own insecurities impact how you treat those around you. I truly believe you're all awesome people, but I also acknowledge the fact that we're all human here, like I said above. Don't let your emotions stand in the way of your good judgement. Don't hurt others because of the hurt you're feeling within. Build others up. Encourage them. You'll be shocked at how contagious those good emotions become. 3) I'm going to refer to the wise words of my mom once again. In high school, she told me I could determine whether or not I was in a healthy relationship by asking myself two questions. First: How does he treat his mom and sisters? This will serve as a good hint in regards to how he will treat you. The same goes for you guys. How does she treat her father and brothers? Second: Would I want my daughter/son to be in this kind of relationship? Would I be happy with the way they were being treated if they were in my shoes? More often than not, these questions resulted in answers that were less than desirable. However, it's answering these questions honestly and acting accordingly that led me to the incredible person I am with today. So now that we've laid the basic ground work for relationships, I'd like to talk about relationships that can take a turn for the absolute worst. Please hear me: both women AND men can be abused in relationships. For some reason, our society has put forth the notion that guys are too tough and manly to ever be abused. This is absolutely, without a doubt, 100% false. An abusive relationship is defined as "a state of affairs between two people characterized by wrong or improper action, ether physical or verbal" (dictionary.com). Men can be subjected to this just as much as women. We usually hear about two kinds of abuse: physical and emotional. Here are a couple links explaining each. If any of this information sounds all too familiar, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask for help immediately. You are not alone. You do not deserve to be treated in any of the ways described above. There are people in this school that are here for the sole purpose of helping you through situations like these. I know that experiencing such events often leads us to become blind to those who want to help us. It becomes easy to be sucked into a vortex of depression and loneliness. If you feel uncomfortable or if you know you need help, take that first brave step in asking someone. I promise we will help you in every way that we can from that point forward.
Holy moly, this thing is incredible. I was searching through resources online to help us better understand loans and budgeting and came across this complete pot of gold. This is a packet that perfectly explains so many things: how to set a budget, how to set financial goals, strategies for saving money, tips for managing credit cards, how to handle identity theft, student loan repayment plans and so much more. It's about 38 pages but every single page has important facts and terms you need to know. This thing is so wonderful, I thought it deserved it's own post.
College is ridiculously expensive. Want to see some scary numbers? It is estimated that you will spend about $38,600 as an in-state student at a four year university. If you plan on going to an out-of-state university, it is estimated that you'll be spending about $99,720. Let's take it up one more notch. If you plan on attending a private university, you'll be dropping a whopping $133,920. Let's crunch some more numbers. I went to IUS and graduated in four years with a B.S. in education. The yearly tuition as an in-state student rang up to $7,072. I also lived in the dorms, which cost $6,775 a year. Books and supplies cost about $1,300 a year. (Keep in mind this number can skyrocket depending on your major. For example, nursing text books are crazy expensive.) After running some estimations, it's fair to say that I spent about $3,200 on personal things such as gas, food and clothing per year. Oh, I also took summer classes twice, which totaled about $3,324. So, after doing way too much addition, I figured the grand total of my college tuition: $76,712. This is where I need to give my parents major credit. They are the reason I know the meaning of hard work and relentless work ethic. Thanks to them, I managed to graduate debt free. However, this is not common. In 2012, 71% of college graduates walked across the stage with student debt. Keep this in mind as you apply for student loans. You are certainly not alone. Student loans are there for a reason. It is a known fact that college is expensive and near impossible to afford on your own as an 18-22 year old. Applying for and using student loans is alright. The key is knowing how to work the system. Hopefully these links will help you figure out what works best for you. FASFA is where it all begins. FASFA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is a form you will need to fill out annually in order to determine whether or not you are eligible for financial student aid. I'm going to be honest with you: this thing is a huge pain. It's tediously detailed and wants to know every single detail of your financial life. Some of you may be thinking that this won't affect you since you haven't had a real job and haven't made much money. You wish. In that case, they want to know everything about your parent's financial status. This being said, this is a form you and your parents will need to work through together. The link below will take you to a fact sheet about FASFA along with the actual form. Go ahead and look through this so you can get an idea about what information you'll need to have come senior year. Figuring out where to begin with student loans can be very intimidating. This document breaks down all the basic information you'll need to start off on the right foot. This is such an awesome resource. It's a document with hyperlinks to tons of awesome fact sheets, infographics, presentations, publications and forms, all designed to help you navigate your way through federal student aid resources. This is definitely something worth reviewing. I found this really simple fact sheet about student loans. It breaks down some important facts in ways that are very easy to understand. If you're like me in the sense that any talk about money sounds like a completely different language, you'll like this. The same website also published a budgeting worksheet that's really easy to work with. Tip: budgeting worksheets are a lifesaver. So are budgeting apps. There are a ton of really wonderful apps out there, most of which are free. Go ahead and start exploring! Student loans may not be the only loans you'll need as your work your way through college. Needing a car loan is a very real possibility. This is a fact sheet about car loans designed to break down some basic facts and help you figure out what exactly you need.
Virtual tours are so cool. You can get an idea of what the campus and dorms look like without having to actually make a trip out there. Here are some virtual tours of some colleges that have been mentioned in class. If you don't see a link to a college you are interested, leave a comment and I will update this post accordingly!
Having your own car is a huge step towards independence. However, it's also a huge responsibility. You want to make sure you are making the right choice when you buy your first car. You also need to know to look beyond the aesthetics and awesome paint job. The hottest looking car may end up being the one that will give you the most trouble and will drain your bank account in the blink of an eye. I've gathered a few resources that will help you choose the best, most reliable car. Below is a link to the checklist we went through in class. Print this out and take it with you when you go to look at your options!
Here a few diagrams to help you understand how your car works and where the important mechanics are. If you still feel totally intimidated by the mechanical parts of an engine (like me), check out this website. It has an interactive vehicle diagram and breaks down all the different parts for you. Although all this is useful information, your safety and consciousness as a driver is at the top of the priority list. I know that driving is beyond exciting. I know that taking that first ride all by yourself makes you feel like you're on top of the world. I know it's a whole new level of freedom. I get it. I've been there. But I don't think I can stress this next point enough: you need to always keep in mind that you are in control of a 4,000 pound machine. Do not forget the incredible responsibility that comes with getting behind the wheel of a car. Your number one goal is to get from point A to point B without hurting yourself or anyone else. In order to do this, you need to be constantly aware of your surroundings. You need to master defensive driving. You need to make smart choices. Do not take driving lightly. I'm not trying to scare you or discourage you from taking over the wheel. I am just trying to convey to you the importance of road and driver safety. The link below will take you to the DMV website. These people specialize in transportation. Look through these tips and keep them in mind. Stay safe out there!
We all went to the Distance Learning Lab today and had minor panic attacks due to the overwhelming options that apparently determine the rest of our lives. I said this to a few of my classes but I want to say it again: breathe! Slow down! Everything will be okay! I pinky promise!
There's something you all need to understand. The piece of paper you receive at the end of that walk across the stage at graduation does not determine your worth or capabilities. It does represent the fact that you completed high school. It does represent the fact that you passed all the classes needed to move on to your collegiate career. It does represent the hard work and effort you put into your grade school years. It is important. It is monumental. It is something to be very proud of. However, I need you to know that it does not represent your value. It does not represent all your unique talents and incredible capabilities. It does not determine whether or not you are worthy of moving on or whether or not you will be able to handle what lies ahead. The diploma you are working toward is significant and requires hard work, concentration, discipline, and dedication. But it is only one step in becoming the incredible individuals you are all destined to become. It does not determine your fate. It does not determine your destiny. It does not determine your success in life. So if you decide to take Honors instead of AP that is okay. If you decide to take an elective instead of a class that would "look really good on your transcript" that is okay. Do what is right and healthy for you. If you are confident that you can handle the workload that comes with AP classes, that is fantastic! Go for it! I will be cheering you on the whole way through! But if you're doing it because you feel like it's something you have to do to prove yourself, take a step back and think about whether or not that's the right reason to make these choices. I am not trying to discourage you from reaching for the stars. I am not trying to tell you to just skim through high school. I was just really surprised and saddened by the panic, stress and sheer terror I saw today all because of these class decisions. The number one most important thing is your mental health. What does it matter if you walk across the stage with the highest honors and greatest diploma if you sacrificed your sanity, happiness, and confidence along the way? How can you reach your greatest potential if you completely drain yourself during this phase of your life? You need to be healthy, in body and mind, as you venture out into life. Please keep this in mind as you plan the next few years. Please do what is right for you. Breathe. |
AuthorHello! Ms. Waiz here. I'm so glad you decided to visit this page! I want to do everything I can to help you succeed in whatever you may choose to do in life. Hopefully this site will help! Archives
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