Category: Campus Life

  • Keeping Fit for People Who Are Not Athletic

    Keeping Fit for People Who Are Not Athletic

    Getting enough exercise and keeping fit can be difficult, even for people who enjoy it. For people who are not athletic or who dislike sports, it can be even harder. However, even the least athletic people can keep fit by finding creative ways of getting their bodies moving.

    Keeping fit is a very important part of living a healthy life. Exercise can strengthen the muscles, prevent certain diseases, and help in many other ways to keep the body healthy. It can also help the mind as people learn to concentrate on what they are doing and to ignore distractions. Have you ever gone for a walk when you were feeling sick? Did you feel better afterwards? Many benefits can come from trying to keep fit.

    Even though keeping fit can be very beneficial, many people still have trouble with it. For some, it might be the amount of time that they have to spend on exercise when they have a lot of work to do. For others, it might be the effort that it takes to get outside or go to the gym to get some exercise.

    Keeping fit takes time and effort, but it can be worth the trouble. People who are fit generally get sick less often with illnesses like colds or the flu. They have more energy and can usually keep on going longer than people who don’t take the time to exercise. Exercising increases immune system strength which helps fight sickness and disease.

    Even if you think that you have too little time to keep fit, you can still try to get some exercise. Taking the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator, for example, is an easy way of getting your legs and heart working. Walking or riding a bicycle to go meet your friends is better for your health than going by car, and dancing or gardening can also help.

    Sometimes, people who dislike team sports can have trouble keeping fit. Do you find it hard to play on a team? The competitiveness, the pressure, and the difficulty of dealing with other players can make team sports hard for some people. However, finding an individual sport like cycling or swimming is a good option. Depending on what you prefer, you can do these activities alone or in small groups.

    The first step is to find out about any health problems or other limitations you might have. If you have more trouble than most people do with the cold, for example, you might not want to try running in the winter. If you tend to be clumsy, lifting weights might not be a good idea until you build up your strength, and if you are afraid of heights, you should probably avoid rock climbing. Knowing what kinds of exercises are best for you will help you to stick to your plans.

    Whatever you decide to do, it is important to be consistent and to try to exercise regularly. Even if you are not athletic, it can help you to keep fit.

    Bibliography:

    American Heart Association. “Get Non-Athletes to be Physically Active.”

    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyKids/HowtoMakeaHealthyHome/Get-Non-Athletes-to-be-Physically-Active_UCM_303814_Article.jsp#.V6ZH2TWwiSo

    Gromisch, Maryann. “Best Exercises for Non-Athletes.” http://www.empowher.com/fitness/content/best-exercises-non-athletes-0.

    Healthy Children.org. “How Teens Can Stay Fit.” https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/fitness/Pages/How-Teens-Can-Stay-Fit.aspx.

    Kids Health.org. “Fitness for Kids Who Don’t Like Sports.” http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hate-sports.html.

  • Community Colleges in Manitoba

    Community Colleges in Manitoba

    Suppose that you wanted to become a doctor or an engineer in Manitoba. You would need to go to university to get your official training and qualifications. If you wanted to become a library technician or a business administrator, however, you could consider choosing a community college instead of university. In many parts of Canada, including Manitoba, community colleges are good options for people who want to combine academics with practical learning.

    Getting an academic education can be good for many things, such as learning to think and to solve problems, learning to read and write, and developing leadership skills. However, people eventually have to learn the skills that they need on the job, and community colleges can be very good for that.

    Except in a few cases like medicine and engineering, university programs generally focus on larger ideas and philosophies rather than day-to-day tasks that people use in most jobs. A Bachelor of Arts from a university, for example, can teach people to research and write, but not how to dig a well or to design an engine. The programs are usually at least three or four years long, after which students might need additional training before they are ready for many jobs.

    Although community colleges also offer bachelor’s degrees, the focus tends to be mainly on job-related areas like agriculture or nursing. Programs are generally quite short, and they focus on special skills that many employers want, such as technical writing or nursing. The range of knowledge that community college students learn is smaller, but they usually gain practical experience as part of their programs, and they graduate ready to go to work.

    Winnipeg’s community colleges follow this pattern of mixing academics with practical education. The biggest and probably the best known of this type of educational institution is Red River College, which has two campuses in Winnipeg, one downtown and one near the airport. Programs include everything from technical writing and library technician work to aircraft maintenance. Students can attend the school full time or pursue the Continuing Education option.

    Winnipeg also has several smaller colleges of the same type, including Assiniboine Community College, which also has campuses in Brandon, Dauphin, and Russell. Some of the other community colleges in the province include Keewatin Community College in The Pas and University College of the North in Thompson. Some programs also allow for distance education, so that students can get their diplomas through online studies at home rather than going to classes together in one place. Community colleges can be good choices when they offer programs that give the students what they need.

    Bibliography:

    A 2 Z Colleges.com. “Community Colleges and Technical Colleges in Manitoba (MB), Canada.” http://www.a2zcolleges.com/Comm/canada/manitoba.htm.

    Red River Community College. “About RRC.” http://www.rrc.ca/index.php?pid=46.

    Schools in Canada. “Community Colleges in Canada.” http://www.schoolsincanada.com/Community-Colleges-In-Canada.cfm

    Settlement.org. What is the difference between college and university in Canada?  http://settlement.org/ontario/education/colleges-universities-and-institutes/what-is-post-secondary-education/what-is-the-difference-between-college-and-university-in-canada/.

  • What is a Free-lancer and What do they do?

    What is a Free-lancer and What do they do?

    Having a full-time steady job in the arts is becoming harder and harder to achieve, prompting many people to become their own bosses and enter the world of freelancing. A freelancer is self-employed and typically has a list of various employers. Sometimes they can be represented by a company or agent, but for the most part represent themselves. While freelancing can be accomplished in many fields, the prominent professions typically include artistic ones. As a freelancer, you are responsible for acquiring enough jobs to support yourself, organizing various deadlines for work commissioned and sorting out your taxes each year. Typically nearly half of those who work as freelancers do writing work, but we will cover a few more. Keep in mind that if you are entering a freelance portion of your career it is important to have business cards, a website or specialized Facebook page, and a constantly updated LinkedIn account.

    Writers, photographers and graphic designers work much in the same way in the world of freelance. A freelance writer and photographer often has repeat clients like magazines, newspapers and businesses that require artistic content. The more diverse a writer’s style is, the more likely they are to find a lot of paid work. The same goes for photographers. For all freelance professionals looking to see their work online or in print, some publications pay and some do not. Once you have worked up enough of a portfolio there is no need to ever take on unpaid work. Get in the habit of constantly scouring the Internet for freelance gigs. The more you search the luckier you will be. After that, it is up to the reputation you build.  Graphic designing lends itself well to freelancing as it is solitary and can be done from home with the right kind of software. In such a digital day and age, websites and online publications have a large push to look beautiful and professional. The opportunities are out there.

    Being a freelance English teacher is a great job for those who love to travel. Freelance English teachers are in high demand right now in almost any country in the world. Parents who hire them want them to have teaching credentials and a foreign teaching certification like a CELTA. You must be a native English speaker, carry a work permit and report income religiously. Make sure to research the laws and customs in the country you are teaching in. Typically, the more clients you get the more your reputation grows and the more you can charge in the future. One of the higher paying freelance opportunities out there is for interpreters and translators. Most interpreters and translators are independent contractors, so freelancing comes naturally to the profession. You must be certified in your language, and the career lends itself best to businesses that deal with foreign affairs and politics. Other common careers that include freelancing options include musician, yoga instructor and bookkeeper. Your success will depend on how you sell yourself and your skills to the client (work on your pitches and public speaking skills), the reputation you construct for yourself, and the previous body of work that you have slaved over to achieve.

  • Taking on Too Much and How to Get Back on Track

    Taking on Too Much and How to Get Back on Track

    Some people love being busy. They enjoy having meetings, going to concerts, and all kinds of activities to attend every week. It can be very easy to take on too much and become worn out. However, people can also learn to control the responsibilities that they take on and get their lives back on track.

    Are you the kind of person who has trouble saying “no” when people ask you to do something? You might find yourself agreeing to do so many things that you have little time to rest, complete your homework, or study for tests. If you learn to choose the activities that are necessary, that you enjoy, or that help others, you can more easily decide which ones are important for you.

    The first step is to learn how to make choices based on what you find is necessary and what is optional. For example, if you need to sleep a certain number of hours every night to avoid becoming overtired, be sure to include that in your schedule. Working too much can easily make people sick, but sleeping and eating well can help. Some activities, such as going to school, are beyond your control. However, you can be more flexible about optional activities, such as going to movies or the mall.

    Once you know which activities are necessary and which ones are optional, you can work out a schedule that suits you. Many people find it useful to write out a daily timetable that they can put on their bulletin board or fridge. Start with the activities that you cannot change and then fit in the others if you can.

    Keeping as close as possible to the schedule can be useful, but you should also be flexible when necessary. If special events or new activities come up, you might need to change your routine. However, keeping to a schedule as much as possible can help make life easier by relieving you of the need to make many daily decisions. Regular reminders of your schedule, either on paper or through electronic means such as pagers and cellphones, can help you get everything done.

    Sometimes, other people might put pressure on you to take on more responsibilities. They might even criticize you if you are unable to finish everything on time. However, knowing why you have made your choices will help you to explain your decisions or possibly to change them if necessary. If you take on more responsibilities or let some of them go, you need to know why.

    The amount of responsibility that you can handle depends on factors such as your personality and your health. If you know yourself, you can avoid the stress of taking on too much responsibility or learn better ways of managing the tasks that you have to complete; doing this will help you to keep your life on track, even with all of the responsibilities that you have.

    Bibliography:

    Klein, Sarah. “7 Reasons Working Too Much Is Bad For Your Health.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/28/overtime-work-hurts-health_n_1237941.html.

    Misner, Ivan. “Lacking Motivation? Follow These Steps to Get Back on Track.”  https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/231895

    Scott, Gini Graham. “Avoiding the Responsibility Trap.”  http://www.amanet.org/training/articles/the-Responsibility-Trap.aspx.

    Wikihow.com. “How to Get Your Life Back on Track.” http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Life-Back-on-Track.

  • How to Combine School & Work

    How to Combine School & Work

    Lecture after lecture. Essay after essay. It is a struggle in and of itself to maintain a high quality output of schoolwork and a robust grade point average. How then is someone expected to earn an income on top of all that? Perhaps you are saving towards a future goal. Or maybe the money is needed for your schooling itself. Regardless of the reason, juggling your studies with work can feel overwhelming. However, there are ways this can be done effectively so that your education and grades are not compromised.

    Providing tutoring services to clients one-on-one is a great way to make money when you are juggling other commitments. Not only are the hours typically in the evening and weekends, outside of lecture times, but the job also provides a high-level of flexibility in your scheduling. You can coordinate times with your students, and even change them as needed with sufficient notice. Perhaps more importantly, your tutoring subjects can include the field of study you are pursuing in school. This means of income would allow you to harness your knowledge and dive deeper into the subject. Being able to effectively teach a concept demonstrates a thorough understanding of the idea that will translate into success in the classroom. Finally, this line of work also lets you customize your working location. You could offer tutoring at the students’ individual homes, at a public space such as a library, or even online.

    The greater prevalence of technology has opened up the potential for remote work. By removing travel times, you make it significantly easier to balance a job with your studies. Although part-time work can sound accommodating, traveling to and from the location can be increasingly frustrating compared to full-time work due to vast difference in the travel to work time ration. As a tutor, you can be self-employed and have full control over your business online. By working with students via Skype or Google Hangout, you can be vast distances apart but still have classes. Advertise on Craigslist, Kijiji, and social media. But this can be done for more than just tutoring. Perhaps you are a writer or editor, and want to offer your services online. Or you could make crafts at home, and use an online store to sell them. In all these cases, setting up a basic website showcasing your skills and experience is a good idea.

    By utilizing the skills you are gaining in school, as well as the technology that has rapidly developed within the last few decades, you can achieve a successful balance of work and school. It could even turn into work that you continue doing after completing school. Perhaps even more importantly, you will gain the skills and know-how to juggle a hectic schedule that will prove invaluable as you move forward.

    Source:

    Raver, Ryan. 7 Easy Ways For Graduate or College Students to Earn Alternative Income or Make Money Online. http://thegradstudentway.com/blog/?p=86

  • Academic Probation

    Academic Probation

    Whether you get overloaded with school work, join too many clubs to make new friends, or can’t handle the load of university, being on academic probation is a serious problem. For any of those who may not know, academic probation is when the university takes action against a student who consistently fails to keep their grades above a certain overall average, according to their program. The average will range from school to school. For example, Wilfrid Laurier University defines it as, “An undergraduate student (registered in an Honours or General degree program) is placed on academic probation, in a general degree program (BA or BSc) without designation, when they achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) between 2.00 (D) and 3.99 (on a minimum of 4.0 credit attempts.” The University of Toronto Mississauga, on the other hand, describes it as “Students who have a Cumulative GPA (CGPA) of less than 1.50 at the end of an academic session after which they have attempted 4.0 credits, will be placed on academic probation.”

    Academic probation leads to serious complications for university and college students. For starters, those on academic probation will need to adhere to strict rules and guidelines for completing their degree. For example, UTM requires that said students “who, at the end of a session during which they were placed on probation, have a Cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 but a summer sessional or annual (Fall-Winter Session) GPA of 1.70 or more shall continue on probation. Students who, at the end of a session during which they were placed on probation, have a Cumulative GPA of less than 1.50 and a sessional GPA of less than 1.70 shall be suspended for one calendar year.” Universities and colleges do this for students on probation; they monitor these students closely and should you fail to reach the grades the school asks, you get suspended.

    One of the things you need to pay attention to as a student, especially a first year student, is that things are going to be different. Your grades will drop. Classes will be harder. There will be lots more people. The homework will pile up. It will be overwhelming. And, yes, academic probation is a scary but a very real thing to worry about. However, talking to your professors, the office of the registrar, and attending study groups (to name a few) are just some of the ways to keep those grades up without falling too behind. If you receive a poor mark on a test, don’t get so discouraged that you don’t ask for help. Take the blow and get help from your professors or your classmates. It’ll keep you in good standing and on the way to a smooth graduation.  In the case of being on academic probation, you may need to stay in school longer with a lesser course load spread out to help you get the hang of things- even though it could help you focus better, you may not to stay in post-secondary longer than you have to.

  • Academic Papers 101

    Academic Papers 101

    To a high school student, paper is what you write on, journals are diaries, and literature is the collection of classical fiction. Once you enter university and college, these words take on additional meaning. Regardless of your chosen major, you will be expected to read and understand papers published in academic, peer-reviewed journals as well as undertake literature reviews. If this sounds confusing to you, read on!

    What are academic papers?

    University professors teach and conduct research. Once they have a significant finding, they will write an academic paper describing their discovery, their methods, and their data analysis. Academic papers are formal pieces of professional writing, intended to be read by colleagues in the same field. Students may find these papers difficult to understand due to the technical language and objective voice.

    Academic papers are split into two types. One type is the original paper described above, where the information in it is new to the field. The other type is a review paper, where the authors have read and analyzed all the papers on a particular topic and wrote a critical summary of all these papers’ conclusions. The best review papers give you a clear idea of what is going on in the field and where it may be headed.

    What are academic journals?

    This paper is then submitted to an academic journal. Examples include The Journal of Neuroscience and Nature. Academic journals are publications like newspapers—but instead of fact-checkers, journals employ peer review. The paper is sent to other professionals in the same field (peers of the authors) who scrutinize the paper and then recommend to the journal whether to publish or not.

    Not every paper submitted is published. Journals publish a specific number of articles each week or month, and more prestigious journals receive more submissions. A general rule of thumb is to look at the name of the journal: the broader it is, the more submissions it receives, the more difficult to get published in that journal. For example, it may be easier to publish a paper on autism in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders than in Science.

    What is the academic literature?

    The academic literature refers to the collective papers that have been published on a specific topic. If your professor tasks you with conducting a review of the academic literature on concussions, you are being asked to read the relevant papers and write a summary. It is similar to writing a review article.

    In high school, textbooks are the source of information for students—but in university and college, textbooks are less frequently used. Academic papers and journals should become your go-to resources for research and assignments. Becoming familiar with the basic terminology is a good first step!

  • If I Knew Then…

    If I Knew Then…

    Advice on careers, finance, and life from Harvard Business School’s Class of 1963

    Each month, JobsPeopleDo will be featuring a special quote from a graduate of the Harvard Business School Class of 1963. The following quotes are insightful and can be used to inspire and encourage the right career path for you…

    Jim Collins
    If you see yourself as an entrepreneur, start your company as soon as you possibly can. If you know the field you want to work in but aren’t sure about your business plan, go to work for a company that you admire in the same type of business you want to create. If you go this route, do not be concerned about compensation. Get all the knowledge you need to launch your own firm.
    Norman Barnett
    Choose work you enjoy and that serves as many people as possible. Focus on serving others — not on building wealth. Serve well, and money will follow.
    John McCarter
    Have the discipline to limit work hours.

    Via http://hbs1963.com/wisdom/careers/

  • Public Safety: Tips on How to Protect Yourself

    Public Safety: Tips on How to Protect Yourself

    When you’re walking home alone at night, it’s easy to feel scared or threatened.  A lot of young women are often catcalled or approached in broad daylight, let alone when it’s in the evening. When people stare or approach you or even harass you, it can get pretty terrifying.

    When it comes to being safe in public, there are a few tricks you can try to guard yourself. There are some wonderful apps out there for you to download onto your device. This link from PC World http://www.pcworld.com/article/2057930/5-personal-safety-apps-that-watch-your-back.html will give you a guide to five apps that offer safety for you. The main attraction to these apps is that your contacts know when you are in trouble.

    Another thing you can do to keep yourself safe is take a class in self defense. Now, when I was first approached to take a class on self defense, I’ll admit that I declined. I didn’t really think that I needed it or that it would be as beneficial as people made it sound. I didn’t think that I was strong enough to fend someone off or to hold my own. But, one thing to understand upon entering these classes is that there are a lot of people who share the same feelings and you’re all in this together. The instructors are aware of these feelings and they take the time to teach you properly. They care about your safety, which means that you don’t really get lost in the back of class if you don’t know what you’re doing. They do take the time to help you, which is essential.

    Womenonguard.com is a great website that offers personal defense weapons for safety as well. Men and women have a wide selection of items that they can purchase. Items such as lipstick pepper spray, personal alarms, and mace are available for purchase. Home protection items such as window alarms and nanny cams are available as well. The site also includes videos on their website catering to self defense and how to safely and properly use these items.

    When it comes to protecting yourself, you can never be too careful. Classes and apps will allow for you to be safer than before and give you piece of mind that someone is watching out for you.