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!
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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. It's crazy for me to think that I was a freshman in college just a couple of years ago. It flew by in the blink of an eye. I am promising you all that college will be the most incredible experience of your life. However, I also understand that it's definitely one of the scariest experiences we live through. Below you'll find a couple websites, lists, and other pieces of information I really clung to when I went into my freshman year. The button below will take you to the best college packing list I've yet to see. You can download a printable version as well and take it with you when you go shopping for supplies! The first button will take you to a list created by a junior in college explaining what they learned through their freshman and sophomore years. The second button will take you to a page with some tips geared specifically towards your first year. This is a list of twenty five really great apps for college students. You can start exploring them now and totally have a step up on the rest of the freshmen when you graduate and start college! I was totally spoiled when it came to my dorm room. It was more like a suite. There was a kitchen, living room, two bathrooms and two bedrooms so we never really struggled with finding enough space. However, I've seen college dorms that are much smaller (and more common) and I think these tips will totally help if you end up moving in to a smaller dorm. Notes are by far the most important part of college. Well... ok, one of the most important parts. You need to figure out your note-taking system and the best way to organize yourself so you can study effectively and remember what's discussed in class. Also, here's another tip: professors often times talk about things in class that aren't always in your textbooks but will be on the test. You need to figure out a way to get down important points in class so you can review them later before exams. Everyone takes notes differently. Start experimenting with what works for you so you can be prepared on your first day of classes. This link is also on the home page but I wanted to put it here as well. This is the biggest list of college websites I've yet to find. They're organized by state. Just look for the school(s) you're interested in and you can click on the link and be taken right to their page. It's pretty wonderful. Professors are so different compared to teachers. They have more freedom when it comes to the way they conduct their classes, teach, and the assignments they choose. One professor may design the class so that your only grades are two big tests and a paper while another professor may have tests, reading assignments, small writing tasks, quizzes, and papers. It truly depends on the professor. This website is awesome. You can look up the names of the professors and read what previous students have written about them. Now keep in mind that no matter who you're looking up, there will always be at least one student who has something negative to say. Don't pay so much attention to these comments. Look at the comments that tell you the important stuff: how many exams there will be, how the professor handles attendance, what the reading assignments are like, etc. Scholarships are a life saver. Here are some websites to help you find and apply for as many as you want! Moving to college and starting this phase of life is the ultimate emotional rollercoaster. You need to take care of yourself, both in body and in mind. Depression among college freshmen is very common. Please do not be afraid or embarrassed to get help. You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be cared for. Sometimes it's hard for us to take care of ourselves or work through things on our own. That's the very reason why there are people trained to help you through these tough times. Reach out to them! Take advantage of your resources! Here are some websites that might help you take the first steps to mental health. The links directly above are about mental health. The following links are more about your physical health. The freshman fifteen is definitely a real thing! Hopefully these websites will give you some ideas about how to stay healthy through this phase of life! I'll add to this list as I find more things I think will be helpful but these are some things to start thinking about now!
Writing a check seems like a fairly menial task- until you go to write your first one and have no idea how to fill it out. Here are the basic steps you need to follow in order to write a check.
Step One: Write the date of the day you are writing the check. Step Two: You will see a line that has the following words ahead of it: "PAY TO THE ORDER OF". This is where you write the name of the person/place/organization who is to receive the check. So let's say I'm writing a check to the phone company to pay my phone bill. I would write "Sprint" on this line. Step Three: This is the box where you write the amount using numbers. Make sure the first number of the amount is written as close to the edge of the box as possible. This is to prevent anyone from squeezing another number in front of the intended amount. So in other words, if the person writing this check had written the amount $8,150 in the middle of this box, the recipient can simply write a "1" in front of the eight and then cash the check. They would in turn get $18,150 instead of the originally intended $8,150. Ouch. Step Four: On this line, you will write out the amount using words. This is for the bank's benefit and for your own safety. Remember how the recipient changed the number from $8,150 to $18,150 in the previous step? Well now they have to figure out how to change these words so that they read "eighteen thousand one hundred and fifty" instead of "eight thousand one hundred and fifty". Here's another tip: write your checks using ink so no one can simply erase what you've written and fill it in as they please. Step Five: Sign your name. No check is viable until you sign this line. Step Six: This part is optional. This is where you can write a memo to specify what you are purchasing. So if I'm paying my phone bill for this month, I might write "January phone bill" on this line. Congratulations! You've successfully written a check! The following information are just some additional facts you might like to know. Seven: The check number. Eight: Your name and address. Nine: Your bank's routing number. Ten: Your account number. Memorize this! |
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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