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Category: Advice

  • Why Choose a School Far Away from Home?

    Why Choose a School Far Away from Home?

    When considering post-secondary options, there are many decisions that dictate which school you settle on. This can range from the programs offered, the cost or the familiarity of the school itself. Yet there is often one question central to every student’s choice: whether to stay at home or go away for school.

    Each options has its pros and cons and are often influenced by the specific school, what they offer and their corresponding communities. But for many students, going to school away from home proves to be a fantastic and self-defining experience.

    Moving away from home is scary. You are thrown into a new room in an unfamiliar city surrounded by strangers. The independence you have always fought for is now imposed upon you and you are expected to not only adapt to your new circumstances but also excel academically and socially. It can be absolutely terrifying at first and you may want to forget the whole thing and go home.

    Soon the room will become your own, you will be able to successfully navigate between your classes and you will have met more new, young, enthusiastic individuals then you will know what to do with. It is completely natural to get homesick sometimes, but new friends, clubs and classes will keep you busy while waiting for the latest update from home.

    By going away for school you finally receive, and accept, your first taste of independence. You are now responsible for forcing yourself up for those 8:30 classes, eating right and simply taking care of yourself while effectively balancing your studies with your social life – both of which are crucial to a healthy student lifestyle.

    Your experience throughout university or college will only further advance these sentiments and allow you to grow as an individual. As you continue through second, third and fourth year you will come upon different challenges and tests, whether mundane or monumental, that will continue to define both yourself and your post-secondary experience. Such experiences may not be unique to those who go away for school but by choosing an independent lifestyle you are now more responsible for your own decisions.

    It can be difficult but it can also be a sensational, unforgettable experience. By going away for school you will become part of a new community of like-minded students, experience a new city and grow as an individual!

  • Love What You Do – Follow Your Natural Instincts!

    Love What You Do – Follow Your Natural Instincts!

    If you’re unsure of where you want to end up career-wise, try sitting down with a pen and paper to brainstorm. Write down all of the things that make you happy and all of the things that you’re passionate about. Think about what inspires you and write down what your hobbies and interests are. If writing doesn’t work for you, take out some magazines and cut out images or words that make you feel good or grab your attention. Doing this will help you to see what you like and what you’re naturally attracted to. By knowing what you like, it will make it easy for you to determine what you don’t like. Seems pretty straight forward, but you would be surprised by the amount of people that don’t take the time to figure out what interests them!

    If you’re someone like this, you may end up going into a work placement knowing you don’t like it and you’ll end up switching jobs a week or a month down the road. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because trying one job and not liking it may actually lead you to the one you really want to be doing. However, you want to avoid bouncing around from job to job because it doesn’t help you build up your credentials and ultimately takes time away from you growing at what you’d actually love to be doing.

    There can be negativity surrounding the idea of pursuing what you love. Have you ever heard the expression, “love doesn’t pay the bills?” Some people don’t feel it’s possible to actually do what they love, or that if they did the money wouldn’t be worthwhile. In reality it can be quite the opposite. A mentor once told me, “If you love what you’re doing, the money will come. But you need to really love what you’re doing and you need to really believe in it.”

    If you don’t believe you can make a living doing what you love, then you won’t. Attitude is important when it comes to pursuing a passion. Having the right attitude and the right support group can make doing what you love a lot easier. There are many people that earn an income from their passions, but understand that none of them got to where they were just by thinking about it or by staying at a job they hated. They put in a lot of time, blood, sweat and tears. They put themselves out there, learned what they needed, practiced their craft and took risks. Photographers, writers, graphic artists, designers – the list goes on! Find these people that are doing what they love and surround yourself with them. It will help to inspire you to do what YOU love.

    Choosing a career based around things that you enjoy will not only motivate you to continue with it, but will also give you a reason to wake up in the morning. You’ll have something to be excited about and to look forward to. There is nothing worse than waking up dreading your work day and being unhappy and resentful because you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing. In order to love what you do, you need to know what you love first. So write it down, cut out magazine images, try different things and talk to the people who are doing what you want to be doing. The best part about finding a career that makes you love what you do is the fact that you’ll feel like you’ve never worked a day in your life.

  • Acing An Impromptu Interview

    Acing An Impromptu Interview

    You never know who you’re going to run into. You may run into a potential employer at a job fair, a networking event or even while already working. I remember countless times where I was approached by prospective employers and essentially was interviewed on the spot, although in an informal way. I met an editor of a newspaper at an on-campus job fair and he gave me an impromptu interview right there, asking me about my experience in the journalism industry. This led to an interview at his office which turned into a job as a freelance writer. Another time I was working at a liquor store promoting some alcohol brands and giving out samples. One customer came by who I gave a sample to and he asked me a lot of questions about what I do. He was so impressed with my personality and the way that I presented myself that he invited me to an interview that same day at a bar that he owned. I ended up going and was offered a position as a bartender. As you can see, potential employers can be anywhere at any time so it’s important to be prepared for an impromptu interview. There’s no need to worry! Here are some tips to help you ace the impromptu interview:

    Carry Your Resumes with You
    You never know who you’re going to run into, so it’s best if you keep a few resumes on hand with you in your purse or backpack.

    Have Business Cards
    Don’t underestimate the power of the business card! If you do run into an employer and they show interest in potentially considering you for a position, they can take your business card and easily contact you for more of a formal interview at their office. This shows that you are professional. Do remember to take their business card as well so you can follow-up with them after your initial meeting. Many printing companies offer a small run of business cards for rather inexpensive fees.

    Be Confident
    Know how to sell yourself. Give a firm handshake, speak clearly, avoid stuttering and name the key points about your experience and skills that you feel are relevant to the position that you are being considered for. To prepare for an impromptu interview, practice at home by yourself covering what you would say to a potential employer in an informal situation. Think about some main points and maybe even practice with a friend.

    Keep It Short
    In many cases, it is likely that you will meet an employer at an event such as a job fair. In these situations, the employer probably doesn’t have all the time in the world for you at that moment so you’ll want to keep it brief. Talk about your main skills, experiences and accomplishments. Try to focus on key points that are relevant to the position. Most likely, if you are successful in the impromptu interview, the employer will invite you for a more formal interview where you will have the opportunity to talk in-depth about your experience and qualifications.

    Preparation is key in acing the impromptu interview. Follow these simple tips and you can make a great impression on a potential employer and you may even land that dream job!

  • Reasons to Use Kids Help Phone

    Reasons to Use Kids Help Phone

    Kids Help Phone is a free, anonymous resource that is there for you 24/7. Its purpose is to give young people someone to talk to when they feel they have no one who will listen to them. It is important to know that there are people who care and want to help you with any problems you may have. Kids Help Phone has many uses – here are just a few.

    1) You need an objective opinion or want to ask questions anonymously.
    If you need to talk with someone who will listen to what you’re going through, and you don’t trust or want to speak to friends or family, then the Kids Help Phone is a great resource for you. Sometimes you don’t want the people closest to you to know what it is that you are feeling or thinking about. It may be because of a fear of losing their respect or simply of changing the image that they have of you. Whatever your reason, speaking with someone who is trained and knowledgeable on how to handle the information you will share with them is often a good option. When you call the Kids Help Phone you can rest assured that the information will remain confidential, unless it involves information that must be reported to the police (such as reporting a threat to your own or someone else’s life).

    2) You are undergoing a traumatic period in your life and would like support.
    Sometimes we suffer because of life’s circumstances, and in this case it is really important to talk with people about what you are going through. You may not want to talk with friends or family because you feel they may not understand, but with Kids Help Phone you can talk to a person who has been trained in dealing with emotional crises. They will be able to talk to you about relationships, sexuality, drugs and alcohol, eating disorders or anything else that you feel is affecting you.

    3) You want to speak with someone who will listen to you.
    Often in the hussle and bustle of everyday life, there is so much going on that we can feel ignored or that we don’t matter. It can be very hard to find someone who will just listen to what it is that you are going through. The time rarely comes up where you feel it is okay to pour out your soul, and because of this you can be left with some important issues bubbling just under the surface. It is important to “vent” and to talk about your life and what sorts of challenges you are facing.

    4) You need to report an incident.
    If you don’t feel comfortable speaking directly to the police or don’t know what to do after an incident, the people at Kids Help Phone will listen and help you to deal with the situation. This can range from bullying, an incident of physical or sexual abuse or a crime like theft.

    5) You are in a crisis and need to talk to someone as soon as possible.
    If you are feeling that you are in a crisis and are having thoughts of suicide, a counsellor at the Kids Help Phone will be a great person for you to speak with. They can help to “talk out” your problem and ensure that you get the assistance you require. Remember that you are never alone! Suicide is not the answer. Reach out to someone at Kids Help Phone and they will be there for you when you feel no one else is.

  • Forming A Study Group

    Forming A Study Group

    One of the main benefits of a post-secondary education is the environment that it cultivates and the community of like-minded individuals that inhabits it. Whether you are in a lab, a lecture or practicing a skill, you will be surrounded by other students who are actively attempting to understand and learn just like you. So take advantage of it!

    Study groups are among the best ways to benefit from this. Whether your group is meeting daily, weekly or just to cram before an exam, the people you meet and the skills you develop will make you wonder why it has taken you so long to start forming or participating in study groups.

    But don’t limit yourself to simply joining a study group – why not form one? Not only will this give you a chance to experience a leadership position within a relaxed environment, but it will also allow you to create a study group unique to your academic calendar, perhaps filling some niche that may have previously been overlooked. A biology-religion study group, anyone?

    With the advent of social networking, it’s even easier than before! I can’t imagine creating a group before Facebook or Twitter feeds, but with these social tools available to you it’s easy to communicate between members of the group. Study groups are no longer limited to when you can reserve a room in the library. Running group conversations on Facebook can keep the dialogue going between the actual face-to-face study sessions while Twitter feeds can provide live commentary on a specific topic or question. If used effectively, these tools can greatly enhance your education. Social networking has expanded the potential and definition of the traditional post-secondary study group. Best of all, the person who benefits the most? You!

    Study groups allow you to make the most of your post-secondary education and can be central to your social, academic and interpersonal development. These groups can grow into mini-communities within your school’s own student body. As a leader of a study group, your own role and influence will play an even larger part in your school and the overall experience of all those involved.

    So start a study group – what’s the worst that could happen?

  • Back-to-School Guide

    Back-to-School Guide

    The time has come. Stores are shelving paper, pencils and backpacks in prominent places, your parents are eyeing you with a gleam of anticipation in their eyes, and the black X’s on the calendar have all but wiped out August. The back to school rush is something of an ambiguous feeling for most students. You hate for summer to come to an end, yet there is excitement in seeing where the new school year will take you. Regardless of where you weigh in on the bitter or sweet scale, there is no chance of turning back the clock. September is a month of change and moving forward, new beginnings and challenges, and the countdown to next summer.

    10 Tips for Getting Ready

    1. Go to Sleep.
    You need a sizeable chunk of sleep to be mentally and physically prepared for the demands of school. Summer may be one endless party of late nights and midday wake-up calls, but your sleep schedule is about to change drastically. A little preparation goes a long way. Give yourself a week before school starts to regulate your sleep patterns.

    2. Eat Right
    Nutrition matters. Your brain must be nourished with healthy food choices. If you have existed on a diet of carbonated beverages, hotdogs and potato chips it is time to do your body a favour and add some vegetables. Following a healthy meal plan does not mean a strict diet of tofu and Brussels sprouts, it is all about balance.

    3. Reach Out
    If you have been away on vacation, or have kept a low profile then take a minute to touch base with some of your friends before school starts. This keeps the awkward hallway greetings to a minimum and gets you in the spirit of higher education, or at least the spirit of socializing.

    4. Go Surfing
    Check out some new sites on the internet. There are hundreds of websites that offer educational and fun games. National Geographic is science enrichment; Test your geography knowledge with Seterra, a free map game; Learn what innovative people are thinking and doing by watching TED Talks.

    5. Read
    See if you can get an advance copy of the year’s reading list and get an early start. Or pick up any book and shut down the electronics.

    6. Shop
    Find some back to school outfits that make you feel confident and ready to face a new school year. Buy something fun for your locker that emphasizes your personality.

    7. Organize
    Go through your old books, study materials, and papers. Purchase a large calendar and start recording important dates.

    8. Find Space
    Choose a quiet place in your house to turn into a study zone and furnish it with everything you need to be an organized student.

    9. Join a Club
    Research the clubs and organization your school offers and think about ones you may wish to join. Make a list of what you want to accomplish in the year and refer to it often.

    10. Discuss
    Talk to your parents about their expectations of the upcoming year when it comes to grades, curfew, homework schedule, friends, downtime, and employment.

    You may be trading in your swimsuit for a backpack and hitting the books instead of the beach, but a positive attitude goes a long way.

  • Do You Really Need a Career Guidance Counsellor?

    Do You Really Need a Career Guidance Counsellor?

    When you think about it, it’s pretty crazy. You’re young, you’re either still in school or freshly graduated, you’ve likely never had more than a part-time job while in school, and yet you’re expected to decide on what you want to do for the rest of your life! Okay, before you hit the panic button, take a deep breath, relax and seek out a career guidance counsellor.

    Even if you have a reasonably good idea about what you want to do, it is worth spending time with a counsellor just to get an objective, non-biased opinion. Talking to friends and family is fine, but they can often give advice or opinions that leave you feeling even more confused than before!

    If you are still in school, it is safe to say that you are probably aware of your school’s guidance counsellor. Most schools have them, whether they’re a permanent staff member or one who comes in once or twice a week. Their job is to help you navigate the confusing and sometimes downright frustrating work of choosing your direction in life. Unless you already know your counsellor reasonably well, which is more likely if they are a permanent staff member, your first couple of sessions may be more of a ‘getting to know you’ meeting. The counsellor is specially trained to ask specific questions to get an idea of the direction you may want to go in and also if your personality is suited to that field. You may think you want to be in the nursing profession, for example, but are you strong enough to deal with the often emotionally draining (not to mention physically demanding) shifts that the job requires? In addition to being asked to complete aptitude, skill and even IQ tests, being open and honest with a counsellor and knowing the right questions to ask will help them understand exactly what areas they need to concentrate on during each session.

    If your assigned school counsellor is not quite the right fit (feeling at ease with any type of counsellor is essential) or if you are out of the school system, it will be necessary to seek out independent help. There are many available sources, but as with any professional service you will need to do some homework first in terms of ensuring the individual, or company they work for, is licensed and reputable. Check all their qualifications and get references that can be verified. Although you will have to pay for an independent service, they will often have additional resources and knowledge that benefits other areas of career guidance. For example, once a clearer idea is established of what you want to do, they can suggest certain training courses or internships that would help you advance in the chosen field. They can also help you compose a great cover letter and resume that will get you noticed and even coach you on acing an interview.

    While you may not end up with a clear cut decision about a lifelong career, by taking full advantage of a career counsellor you will at least be setting off down the right path. The greatest journeys start with a single step!

  • Self-Improvement 101

    Self-Improvement 101

    As we face September and the coming of a whole new school year, we are often faced with the same questions: Am I good enough? What can I do to make myself a better person, the person I truly want to be?

    I recently read an article that focused on improving one’s relationships by remembering six negative qualities of past relationships. Instead of dwelling on them, take those negative aspects and turn them into positive aspects to seek and ask for. For example, instead of looking at a past bad relationship in terms of, “I never want to go out with someone who cheats”, think, “I am looking for someone who will be true to me”. This type of thinking trains your brain to ask for what you do want as opposed to what you don’t want. It is a great way of turning negative points in your life into positive points and helping you to further your personal growth. So, for this effort in self-improvement, I suggest elaborating on the example of negative relationships. However, this time we will be using it to improve our relationship with ourselves.

    Pick six aspects about yourself that you find negative or that you would like to change. Here are my examples, and remember to replace “I don’t want” with “I do want”:
    – “I do want to be fit, athletic and healthy inside and out”
    – “I do want to be practical, smart and well-adapted to my world”
    – “I do want a job that will provide me with a source of steady income”
    – “I do want to live independently”
    – “I do want to have routines that keep me healthy and organized”
    – “I do want to have social relationships that nourish and energize me”

    Once you’ve nailed down some good goals or positive statements about what you want in your life, post these somewhere you can see them every day. Choose to look at this list whenever you have a negative or a self-destructive thought. Remind yourself of what you want: “I want to be fit, athletic and healthy inside and out”, and then move to setting and reaching a goal that will get you there. This way of changing negative cognitions into positive self-statements is a great way of improving your self-esteem and self-image. The way that we look at ourselves is in our control, and when you believe you can succeed, you can do anything!

    The important aspect to keep in mind is repetition. Be prepared to tell yourself positive statements over and over again. Be prepared for setbacks; You will have moments and days when it seems like you will not be able to convince yourself of your worth. It is those moments when you will have to be strong and hold on, feeding yourself positive thoughts to replace your negative thoughts. Eventually, with repetition, this will become a habit, an ingrained tendency, that will make your life that much easier! Good luck!

  • Rotary Clubs Sponsor Exchange Students

    Rotary Clubs Sponsor Exchange Students

    Very few clubs can claim to span the entire planet Earth, with members from Iceland to Antarctica. Few non-governmental organizations can hold a seat in the United Nations, too. So which club does? Which club is commonly recognized as having the impact and value of an entire nation while spanning nearly all?

    Rotary International (RI) is the world’s first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary members are “volunteers and humanitarians who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, and promote peace,” according to RI President John Kenny. Some of their main focuses include eradicating the Polio virus, promoting literacy, and engaging youth through exchange programs and educational opportunities. Sounds awesome! Want to join?

    As students, we’re actually too young to be Rotarians however, for us, Rotary offers something even better.

    RI funds Rotaract clubs. Rotaract has the same values and goals as Rotary but is meant for students and young professionals between the ages of 18 and 30. It also partners with Interact clubs, Rotary for high school students, and RYLA, Rotary Youth Leadership Award programs. Rotaract, Interact, and RYLA;  all are fantastic ways to get involved in your community and your world. If you haven’t looked into these clubs yet, now is the time.

    Until this year, RI had four official avenues of service: club, vocational, community, and international. This year, for the first time in a century, Rotary announced a fifth avenue of service: “New Generations”. Rotarians are sponsoring youth on more frequent, new exchange trips, and focusing their community efforts toward our futures and well-being. They’re all about us now, so let’s take full advantage and give back as much as we can.

    This month, Rotary hosted their 101st Annual International Convention Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, and I am one of over 20, 000 members who attended. It was awesome. They had meetings, workshops, guest speakers, social events, and special performances for all the Rotarians and Rotaractors. We were given speeches on global awareness by Queen Noor of Jordan, current Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greg Mortenson, country music star Dolly Parton, and more. We were also part of a mass volunteer effort that cleaned up some of Montreal’s most beautiful agricultural areas and donated both time and pocket-change to support many charitable initiatives.

    The convention provided great opportunities both professionally and personally. Professionally, Rotary is a great way to build networks of contacts and build leadership skills that can help you reach your school and work-related goals. On a personal level, you can enjoy friendships with hundreds of people from around the world.

    Kelly Mills, a neuroscience major from Alberta’sLethbridge University, said that Rotary was a great way to bring people together. “It’s a connection,” she explained, “you can go up to anyone and everyone. Just smile and you’re friends.”

    If you want to get involved by finding a Rotaract or Interact club in your community, visit:

    Rotaract
    http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/YouthPrograms/Rotaract/Pages/GetInvolved.aspx or

    Interact
    http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/YouthPrograms/Interact/Pages/GetInvolved.aspx.

    Contact your local Rotary club if you are interested in starting your own, and helping your city or high school add to the worldwide service network that is Rotary International.

  • Abroad(er) Perspective

    Abroad(er) Perspective

    International exchange programs can be found at many universities and colleges across Canada and allow students the opportunity to widen their global horizons.

    “Students always tell us [the exchange] was the best experience of their lives” Rebecca Denby, International Exchange Coordinator for Western said.  “It opens doors they never imagined possible, it really expands their realities”, she continued.

    International exchange is a unique educational program; its primary goal is not to enrich a student’s academic portfolio, but rather to enrich their lives.

    Many potential participants are scared off by the costs associated with international exchange. However, the amount of funding available to assist exchange students is staggering. Scholarships, awards and bursaries are available from your post-secondary institution, host universities as well as the Canadian government.

    “Its such a phenomenal program, we really want it to be accessible to everyone” Denby commented.  In the 2009/2010 school year 49% of participating students at the University of Western Ontario received one or more scholarships to support their exchange.

    “In most cases students pay Canadian tuition fees so it’s more affordable than you would think, it’s exactly what they would pay here. The only difference is the cost of flight and living, which can even be cheaper than Canada depending on the country,” Rebecca continued.

    Although there are academic resources available at your post-secondary institution and at host universities, the experience forces participants to become self-reliant. With family far away students become responsible for their own wellbeing.

    “You have to get yourself where you need to be” Tania Batista, third year Engineering student studying at the University of Freiberg, Germany said.  She was stuck in Iceland after the volcanic eruption shut down transportation to the continent.

    “We were scared about what the cloud of ash was going to do. We needed to get back to Germany but hardly anything was flying out and everything else was booked, we could have waited but we’d have missed a week of school and spent a ton of money so we decided to wing it…I was so stressed I almost puked” she said.

    Tania was able to get back to Germany in large part due to the kindness of strangers willing to transport them from one city to another.

    When asked about the dangers of hitchhiking Tania responded, “I wasn’t scared at all, actually one of my favorite moments in Europe was hitchhiking through turkey with a couple of friends.  A garbage truck picked us up; the driver didn’t speak a word of English. We hitchhiked for nearly 300 kilometers!”

    With so much travel and life experience it is easy to slack off on academic responsibilities abroad. Many international exchange offices are taking into consideration the fact that some participant’s grades might suffer as a result of the exchange and are implementing a pass/fail system to cope with this reality.

    “The pass/fail system will be applied to every student going on exchange from 2010 onward, this new system certainly gives students an advantage” Rebecca commented.

    “However, students must to remember that while Canadian universities have pass or fail comments, grad schools and most scholarships will want to see transcripts from host universities which will show a percentage grade” she continued.

    While the educational experience is in itself a fantastic experience, most students agreed the travel was the best part of the program.  “I went on exchange to travel, and it was one of the best experience of my life, I’d definitely recommend it…I know its kind of cliché but I feel this experience has turned me into more of a man” Evan said.   Tania agreed saying, “There was no anxiety at all when I got there but I’m devastated about coming home, this whole thing has just been wonderful from the beginning”.

    When asked the most important thing they’d learned on exchange Krista Burns, third year International Relations student studying at the University of Norwich, England summed it up by quoting author Mark Twain, “Don’t let school get in the way of your education”.

    -Monica Blaylock