1210212.us16.myftpupload.com Managed WordPress Site

Author: Katrina Ross

  • Bake Your Cake and Eat it Too

    Bake Your Cake and Eat it Too

    We’ve all been unsure about where we want to go in life, and some of us don’t figure it out for years. The trick is that you can’t sit around, and expect it to come to you. You have to get out there and give things a try, explore all of your options. Let me help you, and introduce you to the world of culinary arts, where you can really Bake Your Cake and Eat it Too.

    The culinary industry is really something different, designed for special individuals with various talents. If you’re saying to yourself “Oh, I know how to cook, I can do this,” that’s simply not enough. However, on the other side of this you don’t have to know how to cook, or bake to be successful. I find that the real keys to be successful in the culinary arts are to have passion, and creativity. The industry is always growing and taking in new restaurant and bakery owners, but there is a trick to becoming successful at it.

    I find that the culinary industry is taking a turn in a new direction. Sure you can run a successful restaurant serving the same old basic dishes that another restaurant has up the street from you, but why not try to achieve something different? If you’re into science, let that combine with the culinary arts- you’ll be whipping up dishes that will be the talk of the town. Or if you’re more into baking, science is already a key role in making successful recipes.

    Most of you have seen movies like Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, and I’m sure some of you have dreamed of having your own chocolate wonderland. Well guess what, if you put forth passion, dedication, and outstanding creativity- you can! The culinary industry leads to extraordinary career paths and dreams. You can take a simple concept of a cake, and create a whole new culinary business that will have people travelling for miles, just for your creations.

    No one wants a job that they don’t enjoy. Working is soon going to be one of the most important aspects of your life. Why not do something you’re going to love, and get paid for it! Let the joy of creativity flow with the feel of accomplishment and pride when you serve customers your delightful creations. The look of amazement on people’s faces when they check out your products is something that will keep you motivated, positive, and ready for more.

    The culinary arts have such a rewarding career path- you can do anything you dream of. Become a food scientist, a food taster, or a famous TV Chef. Design your own bakery or restaurant that becomes internationally famous. Or let’s live the dream here, and create a candy workshop or chocolate wonderland where you get paid to design, make, experiment with and eat candy! Let your ultimate dreams guide you to be wherever you want, and become whatever you want. With a step into the career path of culinary arts, there are no limitations- just your imagination.

  • The Latest from David Suzuki

    The Latest from David Suzuki

    Canadian environmentalist and scientist David Suzuki brings us the latest hot issues on global warming.

    The well being of our natural environment continues to increase in importance as the negative impacts of our unsustainable behavior become more and more apparent. In recognition of the damage humanity is instilling upon the earth, environmental super hero David Suzuki continues his commitment to educate Canadians and the world about our ecological footprint, long after most folks his age would have happily settled into retirement.

    Over the years, Suzuki has been a proponent for aboriginal rights, saving forests, the Kyoto accord and more, but in recent times, one of Suzuki’s most important and oft spoken platforms is global warming. Global warming continues to be one of society’s great debates, and while Suzuki recognizes this, he also points out that there is never anything to lose by being kinder to the environment. A resounding metaphor from Suzuki, regarding global warming, is this: If there was even a small chance a sandwich was poisonous, would you eat it? Likely not. The same goes from global warming.

    Suzuki’s recent communications about global warming have focused on whether or not natural gas will help Canada achieve a low carbon economy, aiding to keep our temperatures down. The David Suzuki foundation, in collaboration with The Pembina Institute, conducted a study to determine whether natural gas is in fact a key route in helping to avoid the use of coal and petroleum. The answer is no. Suzuki states that “Natural gas is also a powerful greenhouse gas in its own right, and creates warming effects 20 times more powerful than CO2” (Suzuki, 2011). Natural gas still produces emissions, so is obviously not the solution to emission reduction. However, Suzuki suggests that natural gas, if it must be used, be used as a transition until we find newer, cleaner sources of power.

    David Suzuki has also always been a strong proponent for the Canadian government to focus more on the environment and its people, and has pushed for more scientists to become involved in politics. On this note, a contributor to Suzuki’s blog, Leanne Clare, reported on the recent meeting of Canada’s energy and mine ministers, who had corporate sponsors (that’s right, apparently corporations are now sponsoring government meetings) for their meeting. Clare states, “How can our elected officials possibly claim to be unbiased and uninfluenced in their decision-making during this meeting?” (2011).

    Suzuki has never shied away from controversial topics, and whether or not you agree with him, his ability to stimulate discussion on these important issues in itself plays a key role in the education of Canadians. So whether or not you agree with global warming, at least understand that there is never any harm in being environmentally friendly.

    Check out Suzuki’s blog at http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/.

    A brief end note from Suzuki on summer time shenanigans: While you’re out enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors, keep in mind that standing dead trees are “excellent habitats”, being the home for many species, so think twice about chopping one down for your camp fire!

  • The History of Halloween

    The History of Halloween

    It’s the time of year when you can walk down your street and see not only the glorious colours of fall, squirrels gathering nuts for winter, and colourful leaves floating around your head, but also the familiar sights of leering jack o’ lanterns; toothy, grinning skeletons; and sneering, crusty witches.

    What the heck?

    Hallowe’en is the time of year when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is at it’s thinnest. It’s believed spirits can cross over from their ethereal world of the non-living and interact with the living.

    Historically speaking, Hallowe’en was a celebration of the end of summer and harvest, and the beginning of winter, be early Celts in Britain, Scotland, Ireland and northern France. 2,000 years ago, this celebration was called Samhain (pronounced Sow-ain) an old Irish word which means “summers end”. The Celts celebrated with bonfires, rituals, and dressing up in costumes to represent the spirits, both harmful and harmless, who were able to cross over. The Druids (spiritual leaders of the Celts) believed the less evil of the spirits could be called upon for divination or predicting the future of crops and weather, since these things affected people’s very existence and survival. For the most part, however, the spirits were feared as unknown creatures who could damage crops and play tricks on humans.

    To the end, Jack o’ Lanterns were carved from turnips with evil faces meant to scare away the roaming spirits, and people wore masks to hide themselves and even scare the spirits away. The turnips, carved and lit, were also carried for the purpose of “souling” which was the act of going door to door offering prayers for the household’s dead in exchange for coins or food. This practice was typically enacted by the poorer folk of the time. From this, our modern trick-or-treating evolved.

    As society progressed, and Christianity started to spread, the Romans realized they could not eradicate such deeply bound beliefs from people over night, so they chose to incorporate their own celebratory days into ones already in existence. For Samhain, this was All-Hallowmass, which was also known as All Souls Day, and was celebrated on November 1, honouring the dead. It too, was celebrated with costumes, although those were representative of angels, devils and saints, and with bonfires and parades too. Eventually this became known as All Hallows Even (evening), and today, Hallowe’en.

    Currently, Hallowe’en is a special day geared for children, for the most part, although adults too enjoy the shenanigans. It’s a strictly secular event now, with costumes of monsters, celebrities, cartoon characters and those costumes are worn not to hide from evil spirits, but to entertain and scare each other. Candy is collected by trick-or-treaters, making this an extremely lucrative time of year for sweets merchandisers and dentists.

    The only thing to fear these days are acts of evil by people around us. Children have been hurt and maimed by razor blades or pins inserted into treats, and in some cases, even drugs have been injected into foods. Parents are urged to check their children’s candy thoroughly after they return home, to hopefully prevent such a tragic mishap, but sadly, this isn’t always enough.

    As in times of old, safety is still a factor in enjoying this event. Making sure to wear reflective clothing, visiting only homes you know, or attending a public event supported by local businesses are ways to protect yourself and your family and have a frightfully good time!

  • Tutee Seeking Tutor..Where are you?

    Tutee Seeking Tutor..Where are you?

    If you find yourself struggling with a course in university, don’t fret – get a tutor! A tutor may not be for everyone, but they may be one of best learning aids out there and relatively easy to find.

    Many students will experience difficulties with academic subjects at some point during their academic career, but all universities provide some type of resources to help during those times.

    Professors are probably the best people to ask when you need some clarification about something, but they usually have limited office hours. In that case, your school’s resource centre is your best bet to finding more accessible help. Hiring a tutor through your school also means a higher likelihood that the person is a reputable tutor and could even be offered at a subsidized cost to you.

    You can find a tutor outside of your school, but consider taking the extra time to ensure the person you hire is in fact knowledgeable in the field and understands the tutee/tutor relationship in order to be worth the money you are paying.

    “I think it depends on how much help one needs as a tutee. If one is lagging behind in a class and wanting to catch up, then tutoring will be helpful as it re-teaches the material; but if one needs tutoring for a specialized personal need or wants to excel in an area, then tutoring is only useful if the tutor is competent and one-on-one, and most tutors are not competent enough for that”, said Virginia Zhao, 4th year UBC student.

    “To that effect, I don’t find tutoring helpful in most situations. When I need help, instead of asking for a tutor, I ask for ‘higher authorities’ such as teachers [and] professors…they are more helpful and efficient than peers” continued Zhao.

    For more specialized purposes, such as wanting to start building a foundation for a particular career while still in school, you might consider working with a mentor. Mentors – whether you work with them in your job or at school – have proven to expand knowledge, help narrow down focus and improve decision-making in their mentees.

    Colleges and universities might have mentorship programs in place where students are carefully matched to their mentors to ensure both parties will gain value from the experience. If a student is even more certain about what they want to do when they finish post-secondary they should consider becoming members of the related associations and join programs where mentorship is available.

    “My mentor was easy to get along with and was very helpful in refining my technical skills” Marko Martic, IT Diploma graduate from BCIT, said. “I Kept in touch with my mentor even after I was done my program and he introduced me to a network of people in my field that eventually helped me find my job”.

    “Maybe one day I’ll have the opportunity to be a mentor and help someone like my mentor helped me – there are always mentees looking for mentors and more people will see the benefits once they get into it” Martic said.

  • Getting Involved With School Clubs

    Getting Involved With School Clubs

    During your first year of post-secondary education, youʼre going to want to experience different things, gain new friends, harness your academic and social skills, and perhaps get your mind off all that schoolwork.

    One of the best ways of doing this, outside of your classes, is by joining one of the many clubs on campus. There is bound to be a club that suits your needs and interests, and it may be as simple as going online to see what is available for you.

    A club is an excellent way to have fun while learning new skills that are relevant to your career path, and sharing your passion with other like-minded people.

    In my time at Brock University I joined three clubs.  One of them was the writers club – where students would join up after their classes to share poetry and prose. In a small seminar room, usually with under 20 students, we would discuss each others work in turns, pointing out our strengths and weaknesses.

    Sharing my work with others and receiving their criticism helped me grow as a writer. But clubs are not limited to just seminar discussions.

    Another club at Brock, called Guinness Brock,  is based around trying to break world records. If you need volunteer hours to put on your resume or application form, you may benefit from a club like this.  Being part of a club also helps out with scholarships, since most look for a candidate with strong extra-curricular achievement. Last year Guinness Brock broke the world record during their freshmen week for most people air soloing. They also attempted to break the record for worldʼs largest dodgeball game.

    More than just being rewarding, joining a club can help lead to other opportunities.  For example, the previously mentioned Guiness Brock club helped Brock student Sohail Ahmed climb his way to the top of Brock Universityʼs student council, becoming the acting president for the upcoming semester. Sohail founded Guiness Brock, not only to create a club that he would enjoy, but also to create something that would allow him to gain management experience that could lead him to other opportunities on campus. As a result, Sohail not only created a lasting impact in Brockʼs club society, he also created an opportunity for himself.

    As much fun as clubs can be, try and select clubs you’re interested in wisely and make sure they fit your academic schedule. Happy clubbing – and yes, there are probably dance clubs as well!

  • First Jobs that Don’t Come with Fries

    First Jobs that Don’t Come with Fries

    One of the first milestones you’ll hit after puberty and before graduation will be your first job. Nothing says adulthood like going to work (even if it’s part time). Noreen Rasbach, writing for The Globe and Mail, found that 65 per cent of high school students have a part time job.

    Think you’re ready for the leap? Hesitate about a job that requires you to ask, “do you want fries with that?” Gotajob.com puts it nicely, “It is a common misconception among teens that the only jobs available to them are in fast food restaurants or grocery stores. Those types of positions are often most visible, and they are great jobs, but they are not the only options.” Here are some other places to apply.

     1. Lifeguard/ Swimming Instructor

    Typically thought of as a summer job, you can still do this year round at community centres and branches at the YMCA. If you’re a strong swimmer and have completed the necessary courses as well as your First Aid/CPR, you could be teaching the doggie paddle to toddlers in no time.

    2. Tour Guide

    If you’re bilingual, consider a job where you take members of the public around a gallery, museum or part of your city. This is the perfect job for a detailed oriented person with a knack for remembering factoids.

    3. Tutor

    Did you ace biology last year? Have you been taking piano since 3? Advertise yourself as a private tutor. Private tutoring companies will charge parents an arm and a leg for their own certified tutors. Prove your stuff to interested parents (show them report cards, ask a teacher for reference, play Mozart’s Sonatas).

    4. Pet-Sitter

    Know of a family going on holidays or just taking off for the weekend? Offer to walk Fido and feed Fluffy while they’re away.

    5. Retail

    It may be a bit harder to get a retail job with no experience, but try and aim for a seasonal position either in the summer or during Christmas. I’ve worked for 5 years at a toy store from lowly sales clerk all the way up to assistant manager. Every year I’ve seen the staff double from July-August and again from November-December.

    Whatever job you land, make sure you make time for the most important thing: school. In a 2007 Statistics Canada report, working teens are averaging 7.1 hours a week. Ask yourself if you could realistically juggle a part time job on top of school, homework and extracurricular activities. Simona Siad from The Star interviewed 16 year old Tulin Akdemir, who warns “You have to have a part-time job to make money, then you have to keep your grades up and then all your extra things. It’s really hard.”

    Any of the jobs mentioned above are temporary and short-termed. Ease yourself into the working world with a few of these so you can get a sample of what you really like and what you would like to avoid. Even if you disagree; there’s no rush to growing up!

     

     

  • Don’t Be THAT Girl

    Don’t Be THAT Girl

    Your hair is so ugly! Did you gain weight? Have you heard some of these or other worse things uttered in the hallways? Were you the one who said some of those nasty things? A recent article from the New Zealand Herald found that 85 per cent of teenage girls have experience some sort of bullying. The most shocking thing is that when it comes to girls, some of this bullying is coming directly from their friends.

    If you’re the victim of a friend’s torment you may be blaming yourself first and bringing unnecessary doubt and confusion to yourself. Rachel Simmon, author of Odd Girl Out, found “one of the chief symptoms of a girl’s loss of self-esteem is the sense of being crazy, of not being able to trust one’s own interpretation of people’s actions or events”. If you don’t understand why your BFF is turning on you, it may be her problem – not yours.

    Now, if you’re on the other side of the equation and are part of bullying, please think about your actions. It’s a false position of power to be the bully. Girls may form cliques and have their own way of dressing, talking or sharing of a secret. Leora Tanenbaum states it simply in her book Catfight, “the ironic thing about being included is that it necessarily entails exclusion”.  Bullies need to ask themselves why they are excluding others. There isn’t a guarantee that you’ll stay in the exclusive clique forever; you may just end up being the outcast.

    Some would tend to think that bullying would involve violence, but this isn’t always the case. Getting a group of friends to ostracize, say hurtful things and spread rumours about you are all forms of bullying too.

    The one thing someone being bullied should do is also the thing they will most likely avoid: it’s important to talk to your parents about what you’re experiencing. If you’re too scared to do that, you should talk to an adult you trust. Sometimes, it’s beyond your own control when it comes to bullying. It’s important to let someone in a position of authority know what’s going on. High school should be a place that will give you four years of great memories, not something you should dread.

  • A BA Education: Personal Interests vs. Practicality

    “What can you do with that degree?”  This is one of the most common (and sometimes irritating) questions that virtually all liberal arts university students get asked during their undergraduate career. Sometimes this is asked by family members concerned for your future job prospects. Other times, however, it is asked by smug friends or acquaintances that are in the sciences or in business-related disciplines. To them, their career path may seem a lot more obvious: you study engineering to become an engineer; you study accounting to become an accountant, etc.

    But what about students in the liberal arts? There are just too few jobs out there that require specific knowledge in history, political science, philosophy, etc. for every undergraduate student to consider going into fields related to their academic discipline. So the question now is: do you study liberal arts out of interest, or practicality? I think the answer is both.

    At the end of the day, you should really go into a field that you love regardless of how “practical” others perceive it to be. While in university, faculties and departments may be heavily segregated; what you study determines what other students think about your intellectual abilities. In the real world, however, it is a whole other story. Think of the real world like one big melting pot of academic knowledge. What I mean by this is that unless you have gone into a very technical and specialized field (such as engineering or finance for example) then everyone is pretty much the same in terms of job prospects. Imagine working hard to get a degree in human resources, getting a job in your related field, and working alongside someone with a degree in music who has never taken a single business course. In this case, it is possible to get a music degree and get a standard entry level job at most companies, or alternatively get a human resource degree and get a standard entry level job at most companies but suck at music.

    You can get hired for a job and work alongside people with degrees in a huge variety of subjects. For example, I have a degree in international relations and work at a science education materials company. I work alongside someone with a communications degree, my immediate supervisor has a biology degree, my boss has a sociology degree, and the director of operations has a degree in English literature. In fact, there are perhaps only one or two people in the office with either an education degree or a relevant science degree. So if you are going to end up on the same footing as everyone else, it seems logical to go into something you would enjoy doing, right?

    The purpose of a liberal arts education is to acquire a breadth of knowledge and skills that can be applied to whatever you do. While your future employer may not care about Fukuyama’s ideas about the evolution of democracy, or about the institutionalization of political succession in China, they probably care about the skills you have developed while studying these sorts of things. By the time you graduate with a liberal arts degree, you will have an entire toolbox of skills that can be used in just about anything you do. Due to the large amount of essays you will write, you will probably be a very competent writer and be able to analyze and incorporate multiple standpoints on any issue. Because of all the reading you have to do, you will probably be able to sift quickly and effectively through volumes of information to find what you need and be able to understand it completely. These are highly valuable skills that science or business students may not have acquired.

    Ultimately, it comes down to doing what you like. Don’t let people scare you into studying something that you have no interest in for the sake of practicality. It takes courage to study whatever you want in the face of criticism about your choice. University is about exploring yourself and finding out who you are. You don’t go to university to study what others want you to study. Remember, the college experience is yours and yours alone, so make the most of it. Good Luck!

  • Happy New Year! Woot! Woot!

    Happy New Year! Woot! Woot!

    Doesn’t it seem like New Years when your going back to school? You’re full of hopes, promise, and new resolutions. You have  thoughts like: “I’m not going to be late this year, not even once” or “I’m going to focus, and get my work done” or “I’m going to be nice this year,  to everyone!”

    This is a fun and exciting time of year.

    For those of you starting high school this year – welcome! This is the beginning of your high school years -enjoy!  Get involved with your school because it’s lots of fun and you’ll meet great new friends. Take just 15  minutes at night to go over notes, and exams will be a breeze.

    For those in the middle years, you’re lucky too! You’re settled, you know the school, you should know what works and what doesn’t.  These are the years when marks start to matter regarding your post secondary choices. Be sure to look at all types of careers, investigate, and experience as much as you can. Find your passions, and look for careers in that area.

    Seniors, omg! This is your last year! You’ll remember this year forever. Be sure to find out what you need in terms of marks for getting accepted to your chosen post-secondary schools (find out early, and make a plan). Have fun, make memories, but remember, your choices this year will affect your future. Think first! Finally, you’re the senior, the grade 9ers will look young, and they’ll be looking up to you. Be a mentor!

    Good luck everyone! Be the best you can be, and most of all, have fun and be SMART.

    JobsPeopleDo Staff

  • First Year University Woes

    First Year University Woes

    With August quickly approaching and September right around the corner, those of you in your first year of University may be feeling a little nervous. I do not blame you! I was in the same position a few years ago. After taking time off to figure out what I wanted to study I was ready to hit the books again… or so I thought!

    I registered with zeal and could not wait to re enter the world of notebooks, pencils, pens and knowledge! I bought all my books right away, stocked up on school supplies and RSVP’d for Orientation. Yes—I was ready!

    Finally September came and I entered the classroom with dozens of other nervous first years. It was hot, very hot. Maybe it was just my nerves. For the first time I doubted myself. Maybe I was not ready for this yet! What if it was too soon? I had only just begun tasting the world and all it had to offer. Was I ready to give it up for a desk and a textbook? Was I ready to learn rather than explore?

    As it turns out, I was not ready. In fact, I lasted about two weeks in University before I called it quits for the year. I felt like a failure. My friends did not understand. I did not understand! How did this go so wrong?

    I do not write this to scare you. In fact, I am now in my fourth year of University and I love it! I also am not writing this to convince you to leave University- quite the opposite. I wanted to write about how to survive your first year because I had such a tough time with it, and clearly did not make it. But my second pass at “first” year went much better. I’m writing this with the hope that you will learn from my experience and be more aware of what is ahead of you.

    In retrospect, here are a few things I wish I knew:

    1. Do not buy all your books before you start classes! Often, you will change your mind and realize another class may be a better fit. You don’t want the book you purchased to become a paperweight. If you go to the first one or two and think you will stick with it, then go purchase that textbook. Or even better, purchase an e-book if possible! If you do end up with an unnecessary book though, do not panic. Try selling it at the used bookstore and recouping some of your money. Or if you need to feel prepared, just check your bookstore’s return policy. Often if the book is unused they will refund you within an allotted amount of time! Just be prepared to lineup!

    2. You are not a failure if you have to drop a course, or two. It seemed like the end of the world when I dropped my first course. The reality is, it is not! In fact it is more important that you take on what you can handle in your first year of University. You can always make up courses in spring or summer sessions at school. Don’t sweat a few credits. The extra time you have to focus on your other classes will serve you more in the long run.

    3. Be on time. I know that they do not take attendance in several university classes, but out of respect to your professor and classmates, arrive on time. It is quite distracting when you arrive late, especially in the winter months when you have a large coat, and a backpack. That coat seems even puffier and the zipper seems more obnoxious when you are late. However, we all run a bit late sometimes, just try not to make it a habit.

    4. If you are one of the first few people on the waitlist, go to the first class! I did not do this my first year, and because of that am a year behind in my major. I was on the waitlist but thought that meant I was out. What I learned is that the first class they usually ask who is on the waitlist and they will talk to you after class. If they have enough spots for people in the classroom, sometimes they will expand their class list to let you in. I say sometimes because they do not have to. One of my classes this past year, the waitlist students took attendance every class and after about two weeks, those who had come every class were admitted in. It never hurts to try.

    5. If you decide that University is not for you this year that is ok too. I’ve already admitted to leaving University my first attempt at it. You may feel the same way- all the excitement may fizzle and you might realize that this is not what you thought it would be. Do not quit right away though. Look at the rest of your life. Are you working towards your career aspirations and it is harder than you thought? Do you just dislike homework? Are you missing your friends? Then I would suggest that you persevere. It does get easier as you get used to it. The homework becomes more manageable as you acquire time management skills and you will make friends as time passes.

    However, if you really feel lost, or your friends and family notice a change in you (and not for the better) consider if University is the correct next step. Talk to the guidance counselors they have at school or to your family and friends. In my circumstance all it took was a second year off to focus my career path. I needed to know what I was trying to achieve so that I was motivated to work hard. Once I figured that out, school has been so much easier. Sometimes working can really highlight what we love and which careers we may be best suited to. Or it can show us that perhaps we don’t want to work in that area. But that is another article…

    Whichever path you choose, I hope that this coming year is full of adventure, excitement and new memories. These first few years out of high school are amazing. Enjoy them!