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Author: Susan Huebert

  • Government Financial Aid: Do’s and Don’ts

    Government Financial Aid: Do’s and Don’ts

    These days, getting an education can be very expensive. Tuition can cost thousands of dollars, and living expenses are often also very high. Unless students come from very wealthy families, they are likely to need financial help to go to university or college. Government financial aid can keep them in school, but students need to know what to do with the money they receive.

    Money from government financial aid comes in different forms, and it’s important to know the difference. Scholarships are normally tied to levels of achievement in school, such as receiving high grades in science or math. Bursaries are usually for financial need, and grants are for any other kind of need, such as a disability that affects a student’s work. For example, a student with vision problems might need to buy special equipment to see a computer screen.

    Normally, bursaries, scholarships, and grants are not tied to any financial repayment. Good marks are important for scholarships and a need of some kind is important for many bursaries and grants, but the money is basically free.
    Still, students need to make sure not to take advantage of the system. For example, a student who receives a bursary based on a temporary situation like an injury should not keep on receiving it when the need is gone. Scholarship students need to work hard to keep up their marks, and other students might need to stay in the same field of study for a certain amount of time.

    Student loans are somewhat different from bursaries, grants, and scholarships. They have to be repaid, usually starting six months after the student has graduated. Interest rates on student loans can be very high, and it is important for students to try to pay as much as they can as early as possible. Before getting a student loan, you should try to find out how much money you will really need for tuition, books, and living expenses. That way, you can ask for the right amount and not have too little or too much.

    Sometimes, universities and colleges award bursaries or scholarships to people who have not asked for them. Usually, however, students apply for the money, and then they find out later whether or not they have received it. Before you apply for funding, you should look to see what the government wants in return. If you get a large loan, be sure that you are in a field of study that leads to a good job. If a scholarship requires you to work at a certain place after graduation, be sure to do that.

    Government financial aid can be very helpful for students at universities or colleges, but it usually has some kind of requirement, whether academic or financial. Enjoy the money, but don’t forget your responsibilities.

    Bibliography:
    Canadian Mental Health Association. “Funding your education.” http://www.cmha.ca/youreducation/funding.html.
    CanLearn. “Frequently Asked Questions.” http://www.cibletudes.ca/eng/common/help/faq/index.shtml.
    Career College Central. “When Good Loans Go Bad. http://careercollegecentral.com/news/When_Good_Loans_Go_Bad.
    CIBC. “A Guide to Student Loans.” https://www.cibc.com/en/personal-banking/loans-and-lines-of-credit/articles-resources/student-loan-guide.html.
    Services for Youth. “Paying for School.” http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/education/financing.shtml.
    Worldwide Learn.com. “What is Financial Aid for Canadian Students? http://www.worldwidelearn.com/financial-aid/canadian-students.htm.

  • Improving your Reading Skills: Tips and Tricks

    Improving your Reading Skills: Tips and Tricks

    I know that reading can sound really lame. There’s always something more fun to do. Recess isn’t as long as we’d like it to be and teachers can pile on the homework sometimes. There’s a long list of reasons why people don’t like to read or why reading sometimes is swept to the side to make more room for fun activities.

    Though, sometimes reading gets put aside because a lot of kids feel like they’re not very good at it. When we think we’re not good at something, we tend not to try. Sometimes it’s because we’re scared or maybe we just don’t want to disappoint anyone. But, there are so many ways to improve reading skills and they’re pretty easy, too.

    The first thing is that practice makes perfect. It’s like that with anything you want to improve or master or learn. You need to practice and put in the time. Grab a parent and head out to a local library – maybe even the one at school. Go through the books for your age group and pick out something you think sounds interesting. Try and read a few pages whenever you get a chance. It might be best to complete a few pages every day so you don’t get too rusty. But, the good news here is that these books will be about something you’re interested in. As a kid, I was always more interested in reading something I liked than reading something I was told to read. Once you start a good book, you won’t be able to put it down.

    There are also a lot of people who you can speak to in order to better your reading. The teacher is there to help you. Your parents want to see you succeed as well. All you need to do is ask. Have your parents help you with any big words or difficult passages. If you’re too embarrassed to see the teacher during school, wait around after school and see her then. There’s no harm or embarrassment in asking someone for help, especially if you need it. In the long run, spending a bit more time with the teacher will help you in the future – even if it doesn’t look like it right now.

    I know that going to the teacher can take up our precious recess and leisure time. But, like I said before, you need to do some work in order to improve those skills. If you prefer to work on your reading at home, no problem! There are lots of resources to use.

    Leap Frog is a wonderful tool that helps with any words you may have trouble with. Audio books are actually what helped me with my reading when I was younger. There’s no age limit either. Feel free to read along with the voice in order to help get through anything that may be a bit confusing. Your parents are also another wonderful set of people to help you get through anything. Have them read to you before bedtime and the older you get the better you’ll become at reading. When you get too old for bedtime stories, read to yourself, ask your parents for a tutor or just turn to a friend and ask for their help. Your friends will be there for you no matter what, so there’s no shame in asking them for a little guidance.

    Reading makes us better learners, readers, writers, and thinkers. Reading has a lot of benefits. I know it can be hard but a little practice will make all the difference in the long run.

  • How to Avoid Peer Pressure

    How to Avoid Peer Pressure

    Our friends are some of the most important people to us. We listen to what they tell us, we spend a lot of time with them, and some of them may even still be our best friends when we’re older. They’re there for us when we need someone to turn to or someone to spend time with. We love them and they love us.

    Though, when your friends start to tell you what to do it can be a bit difficult to say no to them. When your friends begin to pressure you into doing something, this is called peer pressure. It’s not a very nice feeling. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed in trying to make the right choice or trying to remain true to our beliefs.
    I was a kid once, too. Not too long ago either. I remember pretty clearly how easy it was to do what my friends asked of me even though I knew it was wrong. I got into trouble sometimes for it. Most of the time, I wanted to tell them no because I knew better. But, like I said before, we love our friends and want to keep them around.

    Here’s the thing, though. We may love our friends but true friends who love us will never force us into doing anything that we’re uncomfortable with. If you say, “No, thanks,” to a friend, a true friend will take that answer without pressuring you into doing anything. As we get older many of our friends will be like us. They will try to find out who they are and what they like. It will be a tough time for a lot of you, I won’t lie. But, the most important thing to remember is that if you’re uncomfortable doing something, you have to say something. Don’t ever believe that you need to make your friends feel better by sacrificing what you want or believe in. Do the same for your friends. You’re all in it together.

    Something else that’s important to remember is that you matter. Your opinions matter. Your decisions matter – good or bad. If a friend wants to skip class or offers you a cigarette, you need to say no. It’s okay if you don’t want to. You’re just as important as they are and if you tell yourself that you won’t smoke or drink then you need to stand firm in your beliefs. It’s okay to put yourself first in these situations, especially if it means remaining true to who you are. It’s also important for keeping out of trouble because you know something is wrong.
    Remember, there are always adults that you can talk to as well. If you’re too embarrassed talking to the teacher, talk to a parent. They’re there to guide you and be there for you. They will have many stories about their own childhoods that will help you with your own. An older sibling is also a great person to go when it comes to advice. We’ve all gone through these things before.

    It can be really hard to turn down our friends, yes. It can be even harder to stick to our beliefs when we’re being challenged. But, it’s crucial to remember that we don’t need to do whatever our friends tell us or ask of us. True friends wouldn’t do that to you. True friends let you speak your mind and accept the answer you give them. If a friend of yours still pressures you, it might be time to think about letting that friend go and spending more time with the people who really care about you and want you to be safe.

  • How to Get Better at Reading

    How to Get Better at Reading

    When you go to school, you learn many useful facts and skills that can be useful for you later in life. However, you might have learned the most important skill of all even before you went to school. The ability to read and to understand what you’re reading is so important that everything else depends on it. Even if you have trouble reading, you can help to improve your skills and make your other studies easier at the same time.

    Suppose that you wanted to do a math problem or a science experiment. You would need to be able to read and understand what the words say before you could do anything else. Learning history or geography depends on being able to read. If you wanted to bake a cake or build a toy car, you would need to be able to read the directions. Almost everything we do depends on being able to read.

    If your family is like most others, you probably grew up with at least a few books or magazines in the house. Your parents or older brothers and sisters probably read to you when you were little. You might even have learned to read for yourself before you went to school. One of the best ways of improving your skills is to have something to read near you whenever possible. Books, magazines, websites, and even cereal boxes and soup labels can be good reading materials for improving your skills.

    Libraries are good places to find reading materials. It’s best to find something that you enjoy and that is close to your reading level. If you enjoy the sciences, you can find a book on those subjects at your reading level. If you enjoy exciting stories, you can look for books about real or imaginary adventures or even graphic novel versions of much more difficult books.

    Finding something at your level that you enjoy and find interesting is the first step, but don’t forget to challenge yourself. You should also look for a time and place that suits you. Maybe you enjoy reading in bed for fifteen minutes before you go to sleep or after you wake up. Maybe the bus ride on the way to or from school is best for you, or maybe during lunch. Find a time that works for you and try to stick to that time.

    Developing a large vocabulary is very important for learning how to read well, because authors use all kinds of words when they write. You might want to have a dictionary beside you while you’re reading and then write out any new words that you find. Later, you can memorize these words for the future. Notice the details in the text, because this will help you to understand it.

    Learning to read well can take a lifetime, but with time and patience, you can already get a good start.

    Bibliography:
    Children Learning Reading.com. “How to Improve Reading Comprehension Skills in Children?” http://www.childrenlearningreading.com/teach-children-reading/improve-reading-comprehension-in-children.html#.WCHQ9CSwiSo.
    Gisler, Peggy. “Top 10 Ways to Improve Reading Skills.” http://www.familyeducation.com/school/reading-activities/top-10-ways-improve-reading-skills.
    Swanson, Beverley B. How Can I Improve My Child’s Reading? http://www.readingrockets.org/article/how-can-i-improve-my-childs-reading.
    Wikihow.com. “How to Improve Your Reading Skills.” http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Reading-Skills.

  • Post-Secondary to Work

    Post-Secondary to Work

    You’ve probably been asked this question countless times during your undergraduate degree: what are you doing after you graduate? The pressure hits hard when we’re younger, though. Students are forced to choose a major and a university or college when they’re still in high school, expected to know what to do with their lives at the tender age of 17-18. Then university rolls around and the same question gets asked. We always need to be one step ahead it seems.

    When I was in high school I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I changed my major at the same time I changed universities and for the most part I’m happy doing what I do (the essays are a bit much). But now that I’m reaching the end of my university career, people see that I’m a writer and immediately wonder what I’m doing with my life. And, to be honest, it’s hard to answer them sometimes.

    However, I can understand the stress placed on students upon leaving university or college so I’m here to give a few quick tips on what I’ve learned from my time here:

    The first thing students should do is start early. Try and get a job on campus, even if it’s not something in your field. Everyone knows someone and you never know who you’ll network with at school. Plus, everything is experience. If you want to focus solely on positions related to your field of study or interest, then you should visit clubs on campus pertaining to your interests. Some offer paid positions and others offer volunteer experience. That’s not a bad place to start.

    Another good thing to do is to make friends professors in your field. Oftentimes they need help in the office or with their research. At the end of the day, you’d be an excellent candidate if you kept on top of your work and showed them that you were dedicated. Not to mention, an added bonus of knowing the professor is that they always know someone. Plenty of my friends have met contacts of theirs through their professors. Plus, getting to know your professors helps when you need reference letters.

    One of the best things you can do when you’re unsure of your next move is to go to your career centre or professors in the field. Professors were students once, like you, and they likely know your struggle and are more than willing to help you. The career centres on campus are also good places to go given that they help you after you graduate. They help you construct resumes, build skills, and help you figure out what you want to do.

    It can be daunting to leave university or college and step into the workforce. But, you should start as early as you can to boost those skills and meet new people because you never know what good karma is waiting for you on the other side.

  • How to get along with your Roommates

    How to get along with your Roommates

    Everybody wants to get along with the people close to them at school – when living in residence, this can be really important. Your roommate(s) can still be your friends long after school ends and can create important connections, like when you’re looking for a job.

    I suggest that you start early. Colleges and Universities often “match-make” roommates these days for the best possible fit; but sometimes, this doesn’t happen as smoothly as they would like. Everyone is different and has a distinct personality. This makes it very likely that not everybody will become lifelong friends. The trick, therefore, is how to get along.

    Step 1. Get in touch with your roommate(s) early, before moving day; if possible. School staff will usually forward your name and connection information to your new roommates so that you can understand what to avoid, what they like, and what to do. Sometimes, it’s good to know who is bringing something (and willing to share) so that you don’t have two microwaves, two bar fridges or four toasters, for example. (Check to see what’s allowed in your residence first.
    Also check for space – residence tours come in handy here – because sometimes items don’t quite fit in small spaces.)

    Step 2. The first meeting! It’s best to be sociable here, and I strongly recommend that if you haven’t done so, examine what your roommates are comfortable with. If you need to, ask these questions, as sometimes parents fill out the roommate questionnaire.

    A list like this can help:

    Who likes to sleep in? Get up early? Go to bed early?
    Are you a morning person?
    Do you like to study in the room?
    What time would they like to study?
    What about guests? What times are best to avoid having guests?
    What is the best way to contact them? (I recommend cell phone numbers be exchanged, if only to find where they are in the case of a fire alarm / drill or if you’re looking to have a quiet room.)
    What are their hobbies, favourite music, favourite television shows?

    Step 3. Try to work things out on your own, in case there’s friction. Sometimes being the “bigger man” can work here, and can go a long way, even if it’s something you don’t particularly want to do.

    Step 4. The final ‘nuclear’ option is to involve the residence staff, or school advisors. They have training and negotiating skills to help solve the big problems, and to try to help the two (or more) of you to reach middle ground. Failing this, the staff members know that there’s a conflict, and will try their best to minimize it.
    Hopefully, these guidelines help you to understand that just like the group projects you may dread having, there is always a way to work things out. It may require some compromises, but it can help make an overwhelming freshman year at your school so worth it, and you’ll always have great memories!

  • Career Profile: Cryptographer

    Career Profile: Cryptographer

    Everyone has secrets to keep from other people. Many secrets are small, such as a surprise birthday party or a gift for a special occasion. Normally, simple actions like hiding a present in a closet are good enough to keep these secrets safe. Other secrets are much bigger and can involve governments, businesses, and law enforcement agencies. These kinds of secrets need the help of cryptographers to keep them safe.

    The word “cryptographer” comes from the Greek words “secret” and “study” or “writing.” If you needed to send a secret message to one of your friends, a cryptographer could invent a special alphabet or a different language to make sure that no one except your friend could read it. However, cryptographers normally would not work with codes like that. Instead, they might work with a government agency to help keep people’s personal data secret. They often work with businesses to make sure that important information is safe. Computer coding is also a common place for cryptographers to work.

    Becoming a cryptographer normally requires a university education. People in this field usually have at least a bachelor’s degree in mathematics or computer science, and often they have master’s degrees. The field involves mathematics, and cryptographers need to be as skillful as possible in that area. Basic tasks such as division and multiplication are important, but also many of the more complicated ones. An advanced degree in mathematics can help with that.

    Gaining knowledge is the first step, but gaining experience should also be part of the process of becoming a cryptographer. Working with computers is very important, since many cryptographers use them to develop models for what they are doing. Many employers also require security checks before they will hire someone. Employers need to be sure that the cryptographers are honest people and that they will not reveal secrets to anyone else.
    Have you heard of the word “encryption”? People often use “encryption” and “cryptography” to mean the same thing, and cryptographers work at keeping computers private. ATM cards, computer passwords, and buying or selling online (electronic commerce) require encryption to keep people’s information safe. When people type into websites, other people can read what they have written. Without encryption, hackers can gain steal people’s information and then their money.

    Cryptographers can work in any area where keeping information safe is important. Not all companies or government agencies are able to use cryptographers, but information technology companies are good places to start. Most cryptographers work in offices, and they might work alone or with others. Depending on where they work and what their work is, cryptographers might earn about $47,000 per year. However, job prospects for cryptographers can be limited because the field is very specialized. Still, it can be a good job for people who enjoy mathematics and working with computers.

    Bibliography:
    Careers.org. “Career Occupational Profile for: Cryptographer.” http://www.careers.org/occupations/4245/cryptographer.
    Payscale.org. “Average Salary for Skill: IT (Cryptography).” http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Skill=IT_(cryptography)/Salary.
    Study.com. Cryptographer: Job Description, Duties and Salary Information http://study.com/articles/Cryptographer_Job_Description_Duties_and_Salary_Information.html.
    Wikipedia.org. “Cryptography.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptography.

  • December 2017 Scholarships: Apply Now!

    December 2017 Scholarships: Apply Now!

    Odenza Marketing Group Volunteer Award

    Scholarship Value: $500

    Awards Available: 1

    Award Deadline: December 30, 2016

    Application address: https://www.studentscholarships.org/college.php

     

    FormSwift Scholarship

    Scholarship Value: $1,000

    Awards Available: 1

    Award Deadline: December 15, 2016

    Application Address: https://formswift.com/startup-scholarship

     

    Legal Templates Business Plan Annual Scholarship

    Scholarship Value: $1,000

    Awards Available: 1

    Award Deadline: December 15, 2016

    Application Address: https://legaltemplates.net/scholarship/#Business%20Plan%20Executive%20Summary%20Scholarship

     

    Illustrators of the Future Scholarship

    Scholarship Value: $5,000

    Awards Available: 4

    Award Deadline: January 1, 2017

    Address Application: http://www.writersofthefuture.com/Contest-Rules-Illustrators/

     

    Burger King Scholars Program

    Scholarship Value: $50,000

    Awards Available: 10

    Award Deadline: December 15, 2016

    Address Application: https://www.scholarsapply.org/burgerkingscholars/information.php

     

    Rubincam Youth Award

    Scholarship Value: $500

    Awards Available: 2

    Award Deadline: December 15, 2016

    Address: http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/rubincam_youth_award/nomination_form

     

    Len Assante Scholarship Fund

    Scholarship Value: $5,000

    Awards Available: 10

    Award Deadline: January 15, 2017

    Address :  http://www.ngwa.org/Foundation/assante/Pages/default.aspx

  • Why You Shouldn’t Be So Hard on Yourself

    Why You Shouldn’t Be So Hard on Yourself

    First and foremost, you should know that you’re doing a fantastic job. Despite what I’m sure you have told yourself at least once throughout your educational journey, you really are doing great. Between essays, midterms, presentations and final exams, (not to mention out of school obligations such as a part-time job) it can often feel like there is barely enough time to make sure everything gets completed, let alone find time for yourself. But it’s important to remind yourself what a great job you’re doing, and allow yourself the time to re-charge.

    With the constant, overwhelming pressure to succeed in post-secondary, it’s no wonder why in the ACHA Canadian Reference Group’s spring 2016 survey, 89.5% of surveyed post-secondary students (both male and female) reported feeling overwhelmed by things they had to do in the past twelve months. In the same survey, 44.4% of surveyed students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function. While there is no doubt the strive to succeed in post-secondary should place some weight on your shoulders, it’s important to understand there needs to be a healthy balance between hard work and time to allow yourself to re-charge. In fact, putting an excessive amount of stress on yourself may come with various negative consequences on both your mental and physical health, which may negatively impact the progression and quality of your work. So, take a deep breath. You are doing better than you give yourself credit for. The fact that you have taken steps towards reaching your academic and career orientated goals already shows you’ve made terrific progress, and you deserve to give yourself some recognition. Ensure you continue studying an adequate amount, and completing projects by their deadlines, but in-between your hectic schedule take an hour or so out of your day to take a break, and spend that time doing something just for yourself. It could be something as simple as going for a walk, or watching a movie. Although it might feel like you are wasting precious time at first, this little relief from all the hard work you are doing gives your brain a chance to recuperate, and may benefit both your health and your work performance, once you get back to the books.

    However, sometimes no matter how hard we try there are times when we just don’t appear to be reaching our full academic potential, leading to frustration and disappointment. Don’t be so hard on yourself! By taking care of your mental and physical health, and putting in the right amount of time and effort into your studies you are making tremendous progress towards getting to where you need to be. All you need now are some other resources to help give you that final push to success:

    • If you find yourself struggling in a particular subject, reaching out to a tutor in your area may be an excellent source for help. Find a tutor.ca allows you to search tutors in your specific subject in your local area. https://findatutor.ca
    • If your professor has office hours, stopping in with him/her may be exactly what you need to clarify anything you don’t understand. You can often find office hours listed on the course syllabus, or ask your professor.
    • Your fellow peers are an excellent source for information. Try asking someone in your class for some help, or ask to study together.
    • Time management plays a large role in academic success. If you find you’re struggling to find time to fit everything in, try making a day planner outlining specific time frames for each thing you need to get done.
    • Make time for yourself! Remember, even though it might not feel like it at times, you are doing fantastic. Keep up the great work!

    References:

    http://www.cacuss.ca/_Library/Provincial_Reports/NCHA-II_SPRING_2016_CANADIAN_REFERENCE_GROUP_EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.pdf

    https://findatutor.ca

  • Why You Should Love the Way You Look

    Why You Should Love the Way You Look

    Have you ever looked at a person in a movie or a magazine and thought, “I wish I looked like that,” or wanted to change something about yourself because you just don’t like the way it looks? Well, if you answered yes to either or those questions, you are not alone! It seems like everywhere we turn someone is telling us we need to “fix this”, or “change this”. Amongst all the crazy obsession over how people say we should look, it seems as though people are forgetting one very important thing…we are all unique, and we are all beautiful! Let’s think of the world like an art gallery. Inside the art gallery, there are all kinds of beautiful masterpieces, each one different from the other. Some are very tall and skinny, some are tiny and wide. Some have lots of bright colours, and some are in black and white. Each one is different from the next, and each one is spectacular! Now what if all of the paintings inside the art gallery looked exactly the same? What a boring place that would be! The unique beauty that comes from each painting is what makes the art gallery so special! Well, if the world is an art gallery that makes you a unique masterpiece! There is not a single person in this world that looks exactly like you. You were made special, unique, and most importantly of all you were made the most perfect version of yourself! So, let’s celebrate that! You should love the way you look for the simple reason that there is only one you and you are perfect just the way you are.

    Now, sometimes that can be a lot easier said than done, especially when you are going through your teen years. With your body already changing so much during this time, it can be hard not to fall into the trap of believing the way you look isn’t good enough. Magazines, social media, and Hollywood movies can sometimes make you feel like if you don’t look exactly like the people we see in media, then you must not be beautiful or handsome. But this is simply not true! Beauty comes in all different shapes, sizes, and colours. All of those different details about yourself are the brush strokes to a masterpiece, they are what make you, you!

    So, what can you do if you ever start to forget why you should love the way you look? Here are a few simple tricks to remind you in case you ever forget:

    • Remember the world is an art gallery, and you are a one of a kind masterpiece! You are supposed to look like you, not like anyone else!
    • Think of all of the different characteristics of your appearance, and know that each of those makes you special.
    • Smile! The only thing that makes you even more perfect is when your beautiful grin goes from ear to ear!

    4) Let other people know they should love the way they look, too! Although it might feel like it at times, you are not the only person who might forget to love the way you look. Telling someone else they are perfect just the way they are might completely make their day!

    While there may be plenty of influences throughout your life that might try to make you feel like you need to change your appearance, remember we are all made to be different. You are one of a kind, and you are absolutely perfect just the way you are.