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  • Energy Drink Dangers

    Energy Drink Dangers

    You know the feeling –it’s the early afternoon and you are feeling tired and sluggish. It’s easy to go to a convenience store and grab a Red Bull for a quick pick-me-up. But did you know that so-called energy drinks can be doing you more harm than good?

    Most energy drinks come with a warning label that you should not consume more than 1 per day. The reason is the high caffeine content, which is responsible for the quick boost you receive immediately after drinking it. While you may feel good for a short period, you will inevitably have a “caffeine crash” as your body gets back to normal. This can lead to headaches, irritability  and decreased focus.

    Recent studies have concluded that some energy drinks contain 4 to 5 times more caffeine than a regular can of soda. For most people, the increase in caffeine will cause unpleasant side-effects such as nausea and diarrhea. However, the larger dangers of consuming too much caffeine run the gamut from heart palpitations, seizures, strokes and even sudden death.

    The best thing you can do is to stay away from these drinks entirely and instead focus on getting more energy by getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. On those days where you simply must have a caffeinated beverage, drink something with a lower caffeine content such as tea.

    Even worse than consuming energy drinks alone is mixing them with alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant while caffeine gives you a short-lived shot of energy. Putting these two chemicals into your body together is playing with fire. It is absolutely imperative that these two beverages never be consumed at the same time, as they have been linked to deaths in teenagers and young adults. Be safe and smart about what you consume!

    On top of the health risks, energy drinks are some of the most expensive drinks on the market. At around $2.50 per can, you could spend almost $75 per month if you drink one per day. Imagine what you could spend that money on instead!

    Go for a walk or run, drink some water and go to bed at a regular time each night. Taking these steps will prevent you from being tempted to purchase an energy drink in the future.

    Remember – treat your body well and it will treat you well in turn!

     

     

  • It’s Time to Study!

    It’s Time to Study!

    Exam time is upon us, and it can be stressful if you feel like you are not adequately prepared. Whether you are writing a final exam in a subject you don’t feel confident in or you’re writing an entrance exam for college or university, there are several ways to study that fit the way you learn best.

    The most important thing you can do is to organize your notes for the subject you are about to study. Going through your notes can help you to mentally prepare for the task at hand, as well as give you a general feel for the amount of studying you will need to do. If you have several exams you need to prepare for at one time, determine how much time you want / need to devote to each subject. Knowing what type of exam you will be taking is also very helpful. For example, will it consist mostly of multiple choice questions or will it be an essay? With multiple choice questions, you will most likely need to focus on remembering facts like dates, names and places. For essays, you will want to ensure you have a more broad understanding of the subject so you can expand on it.

    The next step is to determine what the best method of studying is for you. Some people thrive by making flash cards with facts on them so they can quiz themselves anytime and anywhere. This is also helpful when you have a friend or parent helping you to study, as they can quiz you with relative ease.

    Others find it helpful to explain the subject out loud, as if they are teaching it to someone else themselves. This allows them to cover as much information as possible and is particularly helpful if you are studying for an exam that is in essay form. It is a good idea to write down the main points you want to cover on a piece of paper and then see how many you were able to get during your own explanation.

    Another good way to study is to create a mock exam. Going through your notes, create questions based on the information and see how many you can answer. This will give you a good idea of the information that you have difficulty remembering and need to focus on.

    It is important to have a space where you feel comfortable studying, whether it be your room, at a computer desk or the library. Ensure that you minimize distractions such as television or loud areas (coffeehouses, for example).

    A study group can be helpful if you like to work together with others to ensure you have a good understanding of the subject matter. They are also helpful for you to look at the information from a different perspective, which may assist you in remembering it easier. In the end, you need to find out what works best for you and stick with it.

    Lastly, and perhaps most important of all, ensure you get a good night’s sleep before your exam. It might be tempting to pull an “all-nighter”, but your brain will be sluggish and you’ll be more prone to anxiety about the exam itself. In the end, you should feel confident that you know the information as best as you can.

     

    Good luck and happy studying!

     

  • Be aware of abusive relationships !

    Be aware of abusive relationships !

    Sometimes relationships aren’t as good for us as we think. With infatuation, it is easy to ignore someone’s flaws. It is also easy to tell yourself an incident ‘only happened once’ or that things will get better. And while it’s good to maintain a positive attitude, the reality is that some situations are unhealthy.

    Just because your significant other doesn’t hit you, doesn’t mean your relationship isn’t abusive. Emotional abuse is serious and can be just as damaging. Here are a few signs of trouble to look out for.

    1. He/she puts you down verbally

    It is natural for your self-esteem to be related to how others see you. It feels good when someone compliments you, so it is important to remember to compliment your boyfriend or girlfriend often to assure him or her that your feelings have not changed. You should always treat your significant other with respect and accept them for who they are, and vice versa. If this is not happening, it is a red flag. It may be subtle and you may not even realize that it is happening. Words can hurt, even if they are said ‘jokingly.’ A good way to try to resolve this is to tell your partner that their behaviour upsets you by starting a sentence with, “I feel upset when you….” If they don’t make an effort to change, they do not truly care about you.

    2. He/she compares you to other people

    If you are the object of someone’s affection, you should feel special and cared for rather than inferior to someone else. Whether compared to a friend or celebrity, it hurts for anyone to think they may not be all their partner wants or needs. In order to avoid this, you should focus on and verbalize how unique your partner is and all the things you like about him or her specifically. Sometimes people are blind as to what they have in front of them. If this is the case, you may have to make them learn the hard way by walking away.

    3. He/she is jealous of your accomplishments

    One of you may be successful in ways the other is not. Examples are being on the honour role, the school basketball team, or popular among peers. It is perfectly normal to admire people’s strengths, but an emotionally abusive partner tends to be resentful because of insecurities. In a healthy relationship, both people support each other’s talents, goals, and dreams, and want to see the other person do well and be happy.

    You can try to improve this kind of relationship by appreciating your partner on a regular basis and helping them reach their own goals, but the situation may not improve since not all insecurities can be overcome.

    4. He/she keeps you from friends/family

    Manipulation is a common denominator in emotionally abusive relationships. Your partner may get upset if you make plans to see a friend or are busy with your family. While this may be interpreted as the person simply wanting to spend more time with you, space is an important factor in all healthy relationships. You should not sacrifice a great deal of time with other people for your boyfriend or girlfriend, but rather work towards a balance so that you maintain a life outside the relationship. If they are encouraging you to cut out the people you are closest with, it might be time to cut them out instead.

     

     

     

     

  • SIX GUIDELINES TO AN INTERVIEW

    SIX GUIDELINES TO AN INTERVIEW

    1. It’s about the employer’s need, not your own.

    You are there as an answer to your prospective employer’s problem or need. Therefore focus first on the employer’s need, not your own. Sometimes job candidates are so focused on the “what is in it for me” syndrome that they forget about the main interview objective. That objective is to get to the next step in the process. To be considered. If a candidate fails at the first step, salary, benefits, and flexibility, the keys to the washroom, and a lap top computer do not matter. Leave questions about compensation and benefits for later in the interview process, and only ask them after the employer has expressed some interest in offering you the position. Additionally, candidates who have the qualifications the employer needs and who can present themselves well, often can obtain a higher offer than they initially expected.

    2. Dress for the occasion.

    Even if you are just going into a facility to pick up an application, dress professionally. Leave the sundresses, sandals, tank top, cutoffs, and other casual attire at home. If you wear perfume or after-shave, use it sparingly. Even if the new workplace is casual, it is best to be conservatively and professionally dressed. Interviewees may find themselves talking to someone on an impromptu basis. Dressing professionally makes an individual look and feel more confident also. First impressions count. One vocational counsellor suggests that “It takes 15 seconds to make a first impression, so make a good one.” My experience as a Career Coach is that within 3 to 5 seconds, an opinion is formed.

    3. Arrive early.

    Arrive at least 10 minutes early for the interview and know the exact spelling and pronunciation of the interviewer’s name. You will have time to do this by asking the receptionist. Take note of the person’s title, name, address, and the location of the organization, as this will be needed to send a thank-you letter after the interview. Spell the interviewer’s name properly. Several employers I have talked to often reflect that they would be hesitant to hire someone who cannot pay enough attention to detail, to even take the time to spell their names correctly.

    4. Be prepared to answer behavioral interviewing questions.

    Behavioral interviewing is a technique that is becoming increasingly popular with many hiring managers. I have found that the best predictor of future behavior is one’s past behavior.

    In a behavioral-based interview, the hiring manager may ask a series of questions that probe deeper into previous on-the-job experiences or actions. For example, the hiring manager may say, “Tell me about a specific situation with your last employer in which you really were bothered by the actions of a co-worker.” The manager then may follow up with another question that asks the applicant to describe the results and effects of his or her particular action.

    5. Ask appropriate questions.

    The interview is not only an opportunity for applicants to share information about their background, but it also is a time for them to find out about their prospective employer. Questions initially need to be focused on the employer’s needs and not, as mentioned earlier, be about salary or benefit packages. For example, the candidate may ask the employer about goals for the position in question, including immediate and long-term goals. What challenges has the department faced in the past? What opportunities are there for the future? Who held the position before this? If the predecessor received a promotion, what accomplishments led to the promotion? What personality style and cluster of characteristics would a successful person need to have to do the job well?

    6. Ask for the job.

    At the end of the interview, an applicant who likes the way the interview has progressed needs to ask for the job. This is one of the most important parts of the interview that so often gets omitted or forgotten. After thanking the interviewer for his or her time, the applicant must tell the interviewer clearly that he or she would like to be considered for the position. Unless you do this, the interviewer has no way of knowing that you are still interested. Not hearing that question, they may form their own conclusion that something in the interview caused you to change your mind about wanting that job.

     

  • What do journalists do?

    What do journalists do?

    Journalists can have a specialty.  In large organizations, the journalists may specialize in only one task. In small organizations, each journalist may have to do many different tasks. Here are some of the jobs journalists do:

    Reporters gather information and present it in a written or spoken form in news stories, feature articles or documentaries. Reporters may work on the staff of news organizations, but may also work freelance, writing stories for whoever pays them.

    General reporters cover all sorts of news stories, but some journalists specialize in certain areas such as reporting sport, politics or agriculture.

    Sub-editors take reporter written stories and put them into a form which suits the special needs of their particular newspaper, magazine, bulletin or web page. Sub-editors don’t usually gather information themselves. Their job is to concentrate on how the story can best be presented to their audience. They are often called subs. The person in charge of them is called the chief sub-editor, usually shortened to chief sub.

    Photojournalists use photographs to tell the new. They ether cover events with a reporter, taking photographs to illustrate the written story, or attend news events on their own, presenting both the pictures and a story or caption.

    The editor is usually the person who makes the final decision about what is included in the newspaper, magazine or news bulletins. He or she is responsible for all the content and all the journalists. Editors may have deputies and assistants to help them.

    The news editor is the person in charge of the news journalists. In small organizations, the news editor may make all the decisions about what stories to cover and who will do the work. In larger organizations, the news editor may have a deputy, often called the chief of staff, whose special job is to assign reporters to the stories selected.

    Feature writers work for newspapers and magazines, writing longer stories which usually give background to the news. In small organizations the reporters themselves will write feature articles. The person in charge of features is usually called the features editor. Larger radio or television stations may have specialist staff producing current affairs programs – the broadcasting equivalent of the feature article. The person in charge of producing a particular current affairs program is usually called the producer and the person in charge of all the programs in that series is called the executive producer or EP.

    There are many other jobs which can be done by journalists. It is a career with many opportunities.

  • Species at Risk

    Species at Risk

    Canadian Wildlife Federation.

    Mammals
    There are 218 mammal species in Canada: 169 terrestrial species and 49 marine species. From the grizzly bear to the vole, terrestrial mammals face a number of threats; however, habitat loss is the largest threat to large and small terrestrial mammals. Approximately 36 per cent of marine mammals are threatened, with 78 per cent affected by accidental mortality (particularly by catch and vessel strikes).

    Amphibians
    There are 46 species of amphibian in Canada—including mudpuppies, newts, toads, frogs and salamanders—and a whopping 39 per cent of them are at-risk. Although habitat loss ranks first in causes for their decline, the combination of climate change and pollution as well as disease has contributed to their drop in numbers.

    Reptiles
    From snakes to lizards to freshwater turtles to marine turtles, there are 47 species of reptile in Canada. Threatened by habitat loss, overexploitation and road kills, reptiles are experiencing severe declines. To date, approximately 75 per cent of reptilian species are ranked as being of special concern or greater risk.

    Birds
    While 55 per cent of the 653 species of bird known to occur in Canada have been assessed as secure, COSEWIC has assessed 114 of the potentially at-risk species and found 71 to be either of special concern, threatened or endangered. Habitat loss is a major cause of their decline. In recent years, researchers have found dramatic declines in some bird populations, particularly aerial-insect-feeding birds; however, the underlying causes for these declines remain unknown in many cases.

    Fish
    There are 1,400 species of fish in Canada including freshwater, marine fishes and diadromous fishes (species that travel between salt and freshwater). According to COSEWIC, 27 per cent of Canada’s freshwater and diadromous fishes are at risk due to habitat loss and degradation. Moreover, there are 21 species of marine fishes deemed to be at risk—overexploitation being the primary threat to these species.

    For more information on endangered species, go to

    http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/what-we-do/issues/endangered-species-program/species-reptiles.html

  • Volunteering

    Volunteering

    Music is a part of everyone’s lives. Whether you listen to the Top 40 on the radio, dance, or play an instrument religiously, in some way you have involved yourself in music. So why not make your volunteer hours a little more melodic by helping out the local music community? Doing this is highly recommended for those that are thinking about applying to music courses at a post-secondary educational facility.

    As a first objective, you will want to try and find your local music communities. Your town may have multiple communities and you may not even know it! Going to the chair (or whoever is in charge) of your high school music department will lead you in the right direction. They will most likely know if there are any music communities within the city that need students for volunteering.

    An excellent example of a music community would be your local music conservatory. In Niagara Falls, the Royal Ontario Conservatory has taken in many students as volunteers both for performances and other activities. Every summer the conservatory puts on a fundraiser for the Niagara Falls General Hospital, allowing the hospital to purchase much needed medical equipment.

    Your high school music department itself will most likely need volunteers during the school year. There should be plenty of fundraisers and concerts that are being put on which will need the participation of young students like you to do some work for the organization, preparation, and execution of events.

    However, there are many other music communities within your city as well. Make sure you take the time to look around! Volunteering for a music group that is geared towards your musical talents will assist your progress as a musician. For example, if studying vocals is going to be your major, try and volunteer for a local choir group. Perhaps your studying classical guitar or another stringed instrument (which counts the piano as well) finding a conservatory that will let you volunteer to help train young students. Remember, the more specific you get with your volunteer hours the more beneficial they will be! Also, do not be afraid to check out universities around your neighborhood to see if they need help as well. The harder you search, the more rewarding the experience will be!

  • The Value of Volunteering

    The Value of Volunteering

    Volunteering has almost become a dirty word in some circles, and it’s not hard to see why: when you’re looking for a job, giving away your labour for free can seem counter-productive at first. In spite of this, statistics show that some 12 million Canadians take part in volunteer activities each year—that’s nearly half the population . Let’s take a closer look at what you gain when you decide to volunteer.

    First and foremost, volunteering is a great opportunity to learn about yourself and what you enjoy doing. No matter where your interests lie, chances are there is a volunteer opportunity out there for you. Do you love animals? Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Are you passionate about the arts? Volunteer at a music festival. Think you might want to become a doctor? Volunteer at a hospital. You might love it and decide you want to pursue a career in that field—or you might discover that a particular job just isn’t for you.  Either way, you’re gaining valuable self-learning and awareness. Volunteering is the ultimate tool for exploring your interests and experimenting with different kinds of work.

    Not only can volunteering give you a chance to indulge your hobbies and find your passion, it looks great on a resume. Whether you spend a year doing it or just a weekend, volunteer experience can signal to employers that you’re the kind of person who has varied interests, takes initiative and isn’t afraid to try new thing. Given the number of resumes most employers go through, it never hurts to have something that sets you apart from the crowd.

    Another area where volunteering can be invaluable is networking. If you’re having a hard time finding work in a particular field, volunteering is a great way to break into the industry and get your name known. The contacts you meet through volunteering could serve you as references in the future, or they might be able to let you in on trade secrets or even job opportunities that aren’t available to the general public. Most organizations are extremely grateful for the work volunteers do and are more than willing to help you out if they can, so don’t be afraid to ask.

    The final reason to try out volunteering is the simplest: it feels good to give back. Volunteers are the lifeblood of many charitable organizations; without them, the good work these places do would never be possible. Keep in mind that volunteering is best experienced when it’s something that you find personally meaningful. Luckily, given the wealth of volunteer opportunities out there, finding one that matches your passion (and fits your schedule) shouldn’t be too difficult.

    This article has covered a few of the main benefits of volunteering, but don’t take our word for it. Get out there and discover the value of volunteering for yourself!

  • Students Go Green!

    Students Go Green!

    Environmental friendliness in your student life and how it can help you in the “real world”.

    Focusing on the sustainable environment as a student can help you reduce your ecological footprint while at the same time stepping in the right direction for your future career path.

    As the global warming debate increases its heat in society, universities are picking up on the need to teach students the importance of being environmentally friendly in their future places of work.   The Calgary Herald recently stated that “so-called “green jobs” are growing at more than twice the rate of traditional jobs in Canada–9.1 per cent over the last decade compared with the average of 3.7 per cent”(Sankey, 2009). Starting to incorporate sustainable thinking into your student life not only does the obvious, which is to help the environment, but can give you a competitive edge in a job market that is increasingly catering to environmentally friendly applicants.

    Many colleges and universities are offering programs that are entirely environmentally focused.  If you are passionate about the environment, this is a great route to take, as it will allow you to not only embrace your passion, but enter a growing and dynamic industry.  Some examples of environmentally focused programs are:

    • Trent University’s degree in Environmental and Resource Studies
    • York University’s Faculty of Environment offers a wide variety of environmentally focused programs ranging from environmental design to ecofeminist politics.
    • Seneca College’s Environmental Technician program

    This is just a small sampling, and most post secondary institutions offer similar programs.  If a program entirely devoted to the environment is not for you, try to take some sustainability focused course along your educational path.

    Incorporating environmentally friendly thinking into your everyday campus life will not only contribute to improving the natural environment, but can help you to obtain skills and knowledge that will give added value to your employers in the work place.  Here are some great ways to be environmentally friendly in your university life:

    • Walk, bike, bus to school.  Many schools offer bus passes included in tuition or a discount on monthly passes.  As well, Bixi Bikes, available in places like Toronto and Montreal, is a great way to get around (Bixi Bikes, 2010).  Bixi Bikes provides the ability to rent a bike from one location, and drop it off at another.  On campus parking can be expensive and scarce, so alternative transportation is not only great for the environment, but also great on your wallet.
    • By used text books instead of new ones, which is also a wallet-friendly environmental move.
    • Save paper! If your professor allows it, email in assignments instead of hard copies.  If you are required to hand in hard copies, print on both sides!
    • Bring a travel mug to school for your coffee – most coffee places will offer you a discount.  When you think of all the time spent at school, and all the coffees you will drink, the savings can actually add up! The same goes for reusable bottles for water.
    • If you are doing your own groceries, bring a backpack and reusable bags to the grocery store.  If you are eating in the cafeteria, bring a container for leftovers so you do not waste food, and get a snack for later.

    A pro-environmental attitude in university can be a spring board for a lifetime focus on sustainable living, which will only become increasingly important in years to come.

  • Jobs of the Future

    Jobs of the Future

    Do you know what kind of job you want to have in the future? Do you already know exactly what you want, or are you unsure and needing help in making a decision? How can you choose? One way is to find out what employment experts think.

    Consulting the experts sounds easy, but it isn’t always straightforward. Even a brief search on the Internet will reveal that almost every employment analyst has a different set of the next “hot jobs,” each based on research and analysis of employment trends. How can you know who is right?

     

    Things change rapidly in the employment world, and today’s hot job might be gone tomorrow. Jobs for travel agents, for instance, are disappearing because people can now book their own trips on the Internet. Employment in careers like teaching and librarianship can also be hard to get because there are too many people for too few jobs. Experts believe that many of these jobs will open up when the Baby Boomers (people born between 1945 and about 1962) retire, but it’s very hard to predict exactly when that will happen.

     

    Although the higher-paid professional jobs are scarce, some of the supporting jobs have good possibilities. Pharmacists and dental hygienists don’t have the high status (or pay) of doctors and dentists, but their work can still be rewarding. Legal or educational assistants and social media managers could also be good career choices. Skilled tradespeople such as electricians and plumbers are always necessary, although even those jobs could become overfilled if too many people choose them.

     

    It might seem impossible to choose a career with so many unknown factors, but you can still learn from current trends. Have you ever considered working with the elderly? With so many people reaching retirement age soon, there will be many jobs helping care for people as they age. If you’re interested in environmental issues, you could become a specialist in sustainable technology such as wind-powered electricity. An ability to grow plants on the roofs of buildings could be useful for becoming a vertical farmer. If people have to start growing their own fruits and vegetables because of a shortage of farmland, your work could be very important.

     

    Do you like working with people or numbers? Human resources managers and financial experts are always needed, and teachers in vocational schools are helpful when many people go back to school to retrain for another job. How about working as a statistician, analyzing information? Most companies and government departments collect information about the people who use their services, but not everyone knows how to understand the data. If you like numbers, you could help people know how to use them.

     

    It isn’t always possible to work in the career of your choice, but it helps if you know what you want before you start looking. Keep the jobs of the future in mind while making your choice, but remember to be flexible. You don’t know what the future holds, but you can do your best to be prepared.

     

    Bibliography:

     

    Hayashi, Yuki. “Canada’s 10 Hottest Jobs: Skilled Trades, Pharmacist, Finance, Dental Hygienist and More.” http://www.canadianliving.com/life/work
    /canadas_10_hottest_jobs_skilled_trades_pharmacist_finance_dental_hygienist_and_more.php

     

    O’Brien, Katherine. “Careers With a Future.” http://www.poss.ca/en/jobhunt/education/careerswithafuture

     

    Webley, Kayla. “Nine Jobs of the (Near) Future.” http://moneyland.time.com/2011/11/21/nine-jobs-of-the-near-future/#vertical-farmers