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Author: Susan Huebert

  • Living a Balanced Life

    Living a Balanced Life

    People of all ages have routines. For young children, these routines are usually set by their parents or other caregivers. As they grow up, they have increasing amounts of responsibility for organizing their own lives. For some people, maintaining a balance between work or school and everyday life can be a challenge as they take on new responsibilities and try to manage the old ones. Are you already feeling pressured by all of the things you have to do? You might not be able to eliminate the stress from your life, but you can learn to balance your school work with the rest of your life.

    Are you the kind of person who likes to be busy all the time? Do you fill your after-school hours with as many activities as you can manage? Or are you the kind of person who likes to have a lot of free time? Either way, you might have a hard time or an easy time finding a balance between school and the rest of your life. You might feel stressed and overwhelmed to the point where you think that you can no longer manage. When that happens, what do you do?

    Almost everyone feels stressed at some point. For people who love to keep themselves busy with all kinds of projects, it might be when they take on too much to handle effectively. For people who try to avoid stress, it could be when an unexpected task cuts into their precious free time. Everyone is different. Knowing your limit is the first step towards living a balanced life. Do you work well under pressure? If so, you might be able to take on a lot of activities outside of school. On the other hand, does pressure cause you to crumble? If so, you should limit your after-school activities and give yourself enough free time to relax.

    Part of understanding your limits is learning how to use your time efficiently. For example, what do you do if you your teacher gives you class time to finish your work? Do you try to finish your assignment or do you spend the time doing something else? Doing as much work as possible at school will help you keep more time free in the evenings and on weekends. If you help with an after-school project, do you go to the meetings with all of the supplies you need? How much time could you save by being prepared for all of your activities? You can even use the time you spend in line or waiting for your friends at the mall to plan an assignment or to write down a schedule of activities for yourself.

    Even when they schedule their time efficiently, people can have trouble balancing work and the rest of life. However, you can still try. Find out what you have to do to keep yourself healthy and happy and then work from there. That way, you have a good chance of managing both school and everyday life.

  • Dream Job: Game Show Researcher

    Dream Job: Game Show Researcher

    Watching game shows can be a fun way to relax. Do you or your family like to watch them? One of the very popular game shows is a quiz show called Jeopardy. The show features three people answering all kinds of questions about topics like sports, history and languages. Have you ever thought about the people who write those questions? Game show researchers help to provide the material to keep shows like Jeopardy running, educating and entertaining people.

    Some game shows involve a lot of action and audience participation, but Jeopardy is different. It involves three people at a time answering questions read out by the host, Alex Trebek. The show has gone through several versions with different rules and styles.

    Each show features three basic sections: jeopardy, double jeopardy, and final jeopardy. The first two sections include six different topics or categories with five clues in each one, which any contestant can answer. Final jeopardy involves one category, and all of the contestants must try to answer that one. Questions can come from almost any field that people might know, including history, language, science or mathematics.

    When people watch the show, they might not know how much work goes into research for each episode. A whole team of people spend hours every day looking for information to use on the show. Michele Silverman Loud is one of those people. She graduated from Tufts University in the United States and hoped to become a journalist.

    When Michele was unable to find work in that field, she applied for work as a researcher for Jeopardy. She enjoyed the work and later moved into being a clue writer for the show, using the information from the research team. Since the show is on television five days a week, she was never out of work.

    Both the researcher and writer jobs require a certain amount of knowledge but not any particular education. Most people in this field have at least a bachelor’s degree. However, the ability to find good information and write clearly is more important. Finding good sources of information is the first step. If the information is wrong, the contestants and the audience will be unhappy. Clear writing is also essential to avoid confusing the players. Researchers and writers have to know how to write something that is easy to understand

    Can you imagine working on a fun game show for a living? You can do it! Dream big.

  • Happy Holidays from JobsPeopleDo.com!

    Happy Holidays from JobsPeopleDo.com!

    Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from the JobsPeopleDo.com team! Thank you for a great 2014! 

     

    The holiday season is finally upon us! As we enter December, many students are in the midst of the biggest crunch of the semester – exams, papers and more are all happening around the same time. This month, we have tips for you on how to minimize your stress while you prepare for these big finals and project deadlines. Want more advice? Our archives are full of great studying tips and stress-reduction techniques that are sure to power you through the next few weeks.

    Also on your mind is the holiday season. If you’re a college or university student, you may be wondering how exactly you can afford to buy presents for all of your friends and family this year while still paying your tuition, rent and more. We’ve got you covered with a great piece on how you can give meaningful gifts that don’t cost much money – and some are free! Remember, it’s the thought that counts.

    Our Community Living page is in its second month, and we’ve added some great information for students with disabilities to learn about their rights as they move into post-secondary education. We’ve also added some great bursaries, grants and scholarships that are available to you, so be sure to check them out and grab that free money.

    From all of us at JobsPeopleDo.com, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season filled with family, friends and fun. We’ll see you in 2015!

    Jasmin Bollman

    Content Editor

  • December Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    December Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    When your exams are over for the month and you’re settling in for your winter break, why not take a few minutes to apply for scholarships? The little extra effort will go a long way to help you realize your post-secondary dreams. Here are a few scholarships we found this month:

    1. The RBC® Black History Month Student Essay Competition – Open to all students in Canada who submit an essay telling their story of how one or more black Canadians have helped define Canada’s diverse heritage and identity through their specific achievements and contributions. Deadline: December 5, 2014. Amount: $1500 – $5000.

    2. Gaspard’s Keep Canada Green Online Scholarship Contest – Open to students across Canada, excluding Quebec. Deadline: April 11, 2015. Amount: $1000 – $2500.

    3. CN Diversity Scholarship Program – Grants are available to support the post-secondary education of women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, military veterans and people of Aboriginal heritage in Canada. Deadline: December 31, 2014. Amount: $3000.

    4. “Whipper” Billy Watson Education Bursary – Open to students with physical disabilities in full-time study at an Ontario College of Applied Arts & Technology. Deadline: April 25, 2015. Amount: $2000.

    5. AFOA-PotashCorp Aboriginal Youth Financial Management Awards – Open to students in Grades 11 and 12 of Aboriginal Ancestry. Deadline: January 12, 2015. Amount: $5000.

    6. Burger King Scholars – The BURGER KING℠ Scholars program assists employees, employees’ spouses or domestic partners, employees’ children and high school seniors in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada in continuing their education. Deadline: December 15, 2014. Amount: Top prize of $50,000.

    7. Debut Atlantic Award for Musical Excellence – Awarded annually to an Atlantic Canadian high school music student as chosen by a member of their distinguished alumni. The award recognizes talented youth who are committed to the serious study of music. Deadline: January 31, 2015. Amount: $1000.

  • Myths & Facts about Learning Disabilities

    Myths & Facts about Learning Disabilities

    1. Myth: People with LDs cannot learn.
    Fact:

    • People with LDs are smart and can learn.
    • LDs mean learning in different ways.

    2. Myth: People with LDs are just lazy.
    Fact:

    • People with LDs often have to work harder, but the results may not show their efforts.
    • Some people with LDs may become discouraged because they have struggled so hard, and they may appear unmotivated or lazy.

    3. Myth: Accommodations give an unfair advantage.
    Fact:

    • Fair is not always equal.
    • Accommodations allow people with LDs to work to their level of their ability and not their disability.

    4. Myth:All LDs are outgrown by adulthood.
    Fact:

    • LDs tend to be noticed most often in school, but can affect all areas of life.
    • Often by adulthood, people have found ways to use their strengths to compensate for their LDs. Many adults seek work environments that are a good fit.

    5. Myth: LDs are all the same.
    Fact:

    • LDs are complicated and vary from person to person.
    • LDs come in many forms and affect everyone differently.
    • The impact of LDs may change in different settings depending on the demands of the situation.
  • Career Profile: Florist

    Career Profile: Florist

    One of the very nice parts of spring is the time when the flowers begin to bloom again. When the snow melts, the return of crocuses and daffodils is a sign that spring has finally arrived and that the cold weather is almost over. During the short summer season, many people grow gardens with daisies, roses, and many other kinds of flowers to enjoy before the winter comes again. Do you like the spring and summer flowers? What if you could work with flowers all year? As a florist, you could work at arranging and selling flowers to people for all kinds of occasions.

    If you ever buy flowers, you probably know a bit about what florists do. Many florists work in shops where they sell flowers to customers and advise them about what kinds of plants look nice together. However, being a florist can involve much more than that.

    Many people who want to work with flowers attend classes at a place like the International Florist Academy and School in Montreal. Students learn how to put together flower arrangements and learn about topics like European floral design and balloon art. They learn the basic techniques of wrapping flowers but also work with colour and design to produce the best possible arrangement, and also learn about basic care of flowers. Having a natural ability with flowers is good, but a program like this helps students to gain a broader knowledge of their work.

    Even for people with formal training, working as a florist often means beginning with sales and learning on the job. Contacting various flower shops and grocery stores is a good way to find work. Pay for jobs in florist shops often starts at minimum wage and can go up to about $17.00 per hour.

    At first, the job might involve tasks like talking to customers in person or on the phone, wrapping up flowers and sweeping up fallen leaves and branches from the floor. As employees learn more about the work, they might progress to flower arranging and later to ordering flower shipments from other countries. Many of the flowers that people in Canada buy come from warm countries in the Middle East or Africa. Learning to arrange shipments of flowers is an important part of working as a florist.

    Special occasions are important times for florists. Weddings, graduations, funerals and Mother’s Day traditionally involve flowers, and florists have to be ready to fill their customers’ orders. Different occasions require different types of flower arrangements, and florists need to be prepared for whatever customers want. Knowing what people normally like for these occasions is helpful, since then florists can have the right flowers ready to arrange.

    Creativity is often very helpful. Florists who can produce unusual and beautiful arrangements, using flowers that people rarely buy, might find it easier to attract customers than florists who stay with the traditional arrangements and colour combinations. If you love flowers and can combine tradition and innovation, a career as a florist might be right for you.

  • The Top Five Things High School Students With LD Should Do Before Graduation

    The Top Five Things High School Students With LD Should Do Before Graduation

    Are you a soon-to-be high school graduate? If so, congratulations! But if you have a learning disability (LD) or ADHD, there are a few things you need to do before you don your cap and gown. Read on to make sure you’re prepared for success in your post-high school educational journey.

    Learn about the differences between high school and post-secondary services for students with disabilities. (College is a whole new ball game…and you need to know why!)
    You probably already know that post-secondary education (college or a career/technical training program) is going to be very different from high school. But one thing you might not know is that your experience as a student with a disability will change too. Some students (and their parents!) are surprised to learn that there are no IEPs after high school.

    Instead, you’ll need to request help on your own—and some of the services or supports you might have depended on in high school may not be available at college or may be very different. Take time now to learn about the differences you will encounter so you can start strong and ready for success.

    Become an expert on your own LD.
    Do you know your areas of strength and weakness? Could you tell others what areas of learning your disability affects, and explain the impact it has on your performance in school or at work? Have you thought lately about what learning strategies or accommodations work best for you? Now is the time to become an expert on your own learning.

    Once you graduate, getting what you need in school or the workplace is on you: not your parents, special education teachers, or other school staff. The more you know about the way you learn and what supports you might need, the better prepared you will be to self-advocate. Before you leave high school, talk to your parents, teachers, tutors, and guidance counselors to learn more about your LD. (Reputable websites like LD.org can also help you get a grasp on the basics!)

    Gather your files. (Hey, no one said growing up would always be exciting.)
    You’ll need a file with all of the information related to your LD. Your parents may already have a file like this—now, it’s time for you to get involved! Get a big folder or a binder and make sure it contains your:

    • Psychological and educational evaluation records
    • Most recent IEP or 504 plan
    • High school academic records (transcript, standardized test scores including SAT or ACT results)
    • Medical records (if related to your academic progress—for example, if you take medication for ADHD)You’ll need some of these records to obtain accommodations or services in college.

    Also, as you move on from high school, it’s likely that you’ll be working with new professionals (like tutors, doctors, or therapists) who will want to know your LD history. Having all of these documents in one easily accessible place will make this time of transition go more smoothly. If you’re moving away from home for your studies, make sure to bring copies with you.

    You’ll need some of these records to obtain accommodations or services in college. Also, as you move on from high school, it’s likely that you’ll be working with new professionals (like tutors, doctors, or therapists) who will want to know your LD history. Having all of these documents in one easily accessible place will make this time of transition go more smoothly. If you’re moving away from home for your studies, make sure to bring copies with you.

    Get in touch with Disability Services at your college or post-secondary program.
    After high school, you must request any assistance you need for your LD…no one will “find you” and sign you up for services. Colleges and other post-secondary programs have resource centers on-campus for students with disabilities, which may be called “Office of Disability Services,” “Disabled Student Services,” “Special Services,” or another name. If you plan on getting accommodations or services in college, you’ll work with this office to arrange them. Before you arrive on campus, get in touch with the staff at your college’s Disability Services. Find out what specific services are offered. You’ll want to know where to go for help before you need it.

    To qualify for assistance, you’ll need to provide documentation of your disability. Be sure to ask for specifics on what documentation your college or program will require—they will have specific guidelines regarding the type and age of evaluation reports you submit. Work with your parents and high school guidance counselor to make sure your current documentation meets your college’s standards—and if it doesn’t, to obtain any new evaluation you might need.

    Be prepared to self-advocate.
    We can’t say it enough: once you graduate from high school, you take on the responsibility of speaking up and taking actions to get your LD-related needs met. This can sound overwhelming, but the good news is that many high school students already are strong self-advocates! If you’ve been attending your IEP or 504 meetings, talking to your teachers about any accommodations you need, and requesting extra help when you need it, you’re well on the way to developing the kind of self-advocacy skills that will help you in college and beyond.

  • Myth: I Don’t Need Money – My Parents Pay For Everything!

    Myth: I Don’t Need Money – My Parents Pay For Everything!

    Many young students might think that having their parents pay for their school tuition, shelter, transportation, food, clothing, hygiene products, entertainment and anything else would provide them with enough money to survive university. But this is a myth! The reality is that money is more than something that is used to purchase the things you want and need. Making money is more than just having money in your pocket, it is building your path to independence and self-sufficiency. Making your own money on top of whatever amount your parents are giving you is a great way of creating independence for yourself. This is hugely important because when you are not dependent on others for every aspect of your material survival, you can feel empowered and able to make your own choices. Having the feeling that you control your own life and are not dependent on your parents will inevitably allow you to see your life more clearly and to see exactly how your own decisions affect your life.

    Working is valuable for gaining money and for experience that can be used in different areas of your life. When you work you are taking on responsibility and people are depending on you to do the job. Having people depend on you instead of constantly depending on others is empowering and reinforces your independence. Additionally, building your work experience looks great on a resume and will help you later in life when looking for a job and for getting through your day-to-day life tasks that inevitably require some taking on of responsibility.

    Having your own money also allows you to have a little fun and minimize the guilt you feel when you spend the money your parents give you. If you want to go on a trip to Wonderland with your friends, get your nails done or even buy some new shoes, having your own source of income will allow you to make these little trips and purchases that make life worthwhile. When you have your own money, you are more in charge of the direction that your life will take. Overall, money enables you to be independent and to make choices better suited to you than you would if you were dependent on your parents.

  • I Want to Be a Music Teacher

    I Want to Be a Music Teacher

    Listening to music can be fun, but learning to play an instrument can be even better. Have you been taking music lessons? Some people can learn to play an instrument on their own, just by practicing their skills. Most people, however, need to learn from an expert. Music teachers help students learn the theory and techniques of playing music.

    Becoming a music teacher begins with knowing music. If you choose to become a piano teacher, you should know how to play the piano, and if you decide to become a clarinet teacher, you should be able to play your instrument. However, playing well is not enough. You also need to know about music theory, music history, and possibly even about composing (writing) music. How much you need to know depends on the age of your students and the level of music they want to learn. Students who want to reach a professional level of musical ability will need a teacher with a high level of skill in the instrument.

    Besides professional skills, music teachers need to know how to work with students, some of whom might not be interested in what they are learning. Some music teachers work in schools, where they teach regular classes to groups of students, but others teach students one or two at a time, either in their own homes or in the students’ houses. Flexibility in choosing a location depends on the size of the instrument and the needs of the teacher and students. A flute, for example, is much easier to carry than a piano.

    Another important skill is the ability to make arrangements for events like music recitals. In school, students do assignments and take tests to show what they have learned. How can anyone test a student’s musical ability? One way is through recitals, when students play music in front of an audience. As a music teacher, you might have to help students choose and practice the pieces they want to play. You might also need to make other arrangements for events like these, such as renting a room and finding chairs where people can sit. Even if you get help for tasks like these, you will have to learn the organizational skills to make sure that everything gets done.

    If you love music and enjoy sharing your skills with others, the job of music teacher might be a good choice for you.

  • What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

    What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

    “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

    It’s the classic question that every kid has heard at some point, usually before they are finished kindergarten. You’ve probably heard it at every birthday, every get-together, every parent-teacher night you’ve ever been to. And you may or may not be able to answer it. That’s okay – it’s difficult to know what you want to do when you grow up. What most kids don’t know is that they don’t need to choose just one thing.

    In today’s world, many jobs require a wide variety of skills, and it is becoming more and more common for adults to do several different jobs rather than just one. The best thing that you can do is figure out what you like to do, then work on getting good at it – even if you don’t know what kind of job you want to do. That way, you’ll be ready for anything.

    You might enjoy video editing, computer programming and writing. You might start off with a job in programming, and then decide later that you’d prefer to work in video editing. Maybe you’ll write for a magazine in your spare time. It’s always possible to change careers, or to take on a side-job in order to do everything that you enjoy.

    Never limit yourself to only one option – if you have a wide variety of interests and skills, you’ll have a wide variety of job opportunities by the time you’re old enough to choose one (or two, or three)!