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Category: Campus Life

  • Ace That Test: Skills to Hit the Mark on Your Exams

    Ace That Test: Skills to Hit the Mark on Your Exams

    We’ve all been there. We’ve pulled in an all-nighter for our exams – or as the old folks would say, “Burnt the candle at both ends”; this does not always work well. If this is a recurring issue for you, here are some pointers that will help you ace that test and, more importantly, without sacrificing a good night’s sleep.

    Take baby steps one day at a time.

    If you expect that you will magically know what you need to know in one sitting, then you will have better luck relying on pixie dust to get a high score. Just as your parents have always reminded you, don’t take more food than you can handle when you’re at a party, and it is the same for your studies. Rather than trying to cram in all the information in one sitting, review your notes in chunks day by day. You will find that you can absorb more information this way.

    Write it down.

    Your ever-reliable notepad or memo on your mobile devices might have done a good job of saving your grocery list or your favourite aunt’s new address; it won’t be enough to help you remember information for your exams. Write notes down the good old’ fashioned way on clean sheets of paper. Now is the time to put your penmanship skills to the test!

    Read aloud.

    Most people think that reading quietly will do the trick to help them retain information. While your neighbourhood librarians will definitely approve of this, it pays much better to read the information aloud. Recording it and listening to it while you are on the go can also help.

    Eat well.

    It’s not an urban legend. There are certain foods that will make you remember things better. Good examples are foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as certain fish, nuts like walnuts and almonds, and olive oil. Research even said that eating a combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids before the big exam can help reduce anxiety.

    Study with a group.

    No man is an island, and that is true as well when you are preparing for an exam. Studying with your peers will keep you on your toes as you bounce off ideas from one another. You can also take turns in asking each other questions to test your knowledge. How to make this even more fun? The one who answers all questions asked of him or her should get a treat like free coffee for a whole week.

    Studying for those all-important quizzes should not be something that causes you anxiety as if you are getting a root canal. There are ways to pace yourself and hit the mark in return.

    Sources:

    http://learningfundamentals.com.au/blog/top-10-tips-for-taking-exams/

    https://www.examtime.com/blog/study-hacks/

    https://frontpage.gcsu.edu/event/monday-morning-mentor-what-concepts-improve-student-learning-and-memory

    http://al.nd.edu/news/63684-psychology-graduate-student-research-improving- memory/

    http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/diet/four-foods-that-will-improve-your-memory-and-brain-health/news-story/96d905dcafc4242513fc38b343d3471b

  • The Health Benefits of Yoga in School

    The Health Benefits of Yoga in School

    School breeds stress, and stress can be the cause of a whole array of health issues. While finding time to exercise can seem impossible it is important—but so is taking care of your mind. Luckily, yoga has many benefits. This practice has swept North America at a stunningly fast rate as more and more people realize it not only helps fitness and personal health, but also fights depression and provides learning and coping attributes. First, let us go through the main long-term benefits of regular yoga practice and how it applies to YOUR health while in university of college.

    Taking on life in a calm and relaxing manner while applying yoga techniques to learning

    Yoga practice promotes relaxed feelings while expanding meditative skills and easing the body. In most forms of yoga patience, concentration and repetition are necessary and a main focus for the instructor and students. The skills you learn here will seep into how you handle the stress of school, balance work and studies, and how you memorize and approach work and study time lines. As a calm mind lends itself well to focus, yoga uses this to help pave the way to improved memory, IQ scores, reaction times and coordination. You’ll find that the patience and breathing skills learned in yoga will help immensely with problem solving.

    Sleeping Better

    That relaxation we talked about above…that will not only impact your yoga sessions and school life but also your sleeping time. Yoga loosens you up and positively affects your health—a tense body and troubled mind disrupts sleep. The more you progress with yoga, the deeper you will sleep. This will leave you rested and ready for school and all the troubles that come with it.

    Fewer colds and illnesses, relieves depression

    According to YogaJournal.com, regular yoga practice drains your lymphs—through the stretching of muscles and moving around of organs, it progressively boosts immunity. This helps your lymphatic system kill cancerous cells, battle infection, and rid the body of the toxic waste produced by cellular functioning. Regular yoga practice ups your heart rate, and this is instrumental in relieving depression. Not only does it promote a healthy mind, but it is also common for those involved with yoga to develop healthier eating lifestyles. This dietary change and the constant movement of yoga prevent digestive problems. If all of these problems sound familiar to you personally, it is because university is a particular breeding ground for all of it. Let yoga help you.

    Improving flexibility and intake of oxygen

    All the movement and bending you do in yoga goes a long way to improve your quality of life. The unavoidable improvement of flexibility will help with posture, and this actually helps you to feel good and more focused in school and when studying. Regular patterns of breathing help with focus and relaxation, both of which will make learning a lot less stressful.

    Different types of yoga and their focuses:

    • Restorative Yoga—Focuses primarily on relaxation. Let yourself drop out of your troubles.
    • Anusara Yoga—Heart-opening poses.
    • Iyengar Yoga—A strong focus on alignment and prop use including blocks, harnesses, straps and cushions.
    • Ashtanga Yoga—Push your body with this extreme power yoga.
    • Kundalini Yoga—A core workout that focuses on the area around your lower spine.
    • Vinyasa Yoga—A flow yoga that can be called the most popular type—begin with a sun salutation.
    • Hatha Yoga—A wind down. Slow and gentle movements.
    • Bikrram Yoga—Hot yoga! 26 poses that often focus on alignment in 105-degree heat and 40% humidity.

    Source: www.yogajournal.com

  • Upcoming Job Fairs in Ontario – Don’t Miss Out!

    Upcoming Job Fairs in Ontario – Don’t Miss Out!

    Job fairs are a fantastic opportunity for any job-seeker, whether you are a new grad or someone considering a career change. They are an efficient use of time: you are exposed to many potential employers over one or a few days. There is an invaluable advantage to speaking to hiring managers and company representatives in person. Prepare questions to ask—what is it like working for company Y? What do you like most about working there? What opportunities for advancement are there?

    With that said, take a look at the schedule of upcoming job fairs in Ontario. If your resumes and cover letters are not yielding any interviews, a job fair may make a difference!

    Event: 2016 Toronto Career Fair
    Date: April 13, 2016 11AM to 3PM
    Location: Roy Thomson Hall 60 Simcoe Street, Toronto ON
    Admission: free, open to the general public
    About: Presented by TorontoJobs.ca, this job fair brings you some of the top employers of the GTA to a venue in the heart of downtown Toronto. Complimentary resume critiques are also available! (2)

    Event: Hire Canada Job Fair & Training Expo
    Date: June 15, 2016 11AM to 3PM
    Location: Pearson Convention Centre 2628 Steeles Ave. E, Brampton ON
    Admission: free, open to the general public, registration required
    About: Hire Canada organizes multiple Job Fair & Training Expo events a year to connect job seekers with jobs. Not only that, there will be recruiters and career specialists on site, offering services such as resume critiquing. (3)

    References:

    1. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/canada-job-expo-2016-tickets-7224248923
    2. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2016-toronto-career-fair-presented-by-torontojobsca-tickets-22228106866?aff=erelexpmlt
    3. http://www.hirecanada.ca/register.html

  • Cooking and Grocery Tips for Post-Secondary Living

    Cooking and Grocery Tips for Post-Secondary Living

    At times, student life can be so stressful that you often skimp on the things you should do to take care of yourself. Unfortunately, when juggling multiple responsibilities, maintaining a healthy diet often takes a hit. Moreover, by ordering Chinese food one too many nights a week, you’re hurting your wallet as well as your body. It’s important to prioritize your health as well as your finances by developing healthy routines, and making wise decisions about your groceries and meals is one place to start.

    Here are some cooking and grocery tips for student living. The following ideas will help you stay healthy and on track.

    Groceries

    Make it a routine. Set a reminder to grocery shop on a weekly basis. You should schedule a time when it’s most convenient for you to go shopping, when produce is the freshest, or when the grocery store has discounts for students. Even if it seems like you don’t need much at the time, this will prevent you from putting groceries on the back burner, and winding up with an empty fridge.

    Necessities first.     When compiling your grocery lists, start with the bare bones. Include fruit, vegetables, and the basic components of future meals before you go crazy with the cookies and candy. Plus, if you organize your groceries in this way and you’re short on cash, you can start at the top of your list when you’re shopping and leave the more indulgent items for a later date.

    Sharing is caring. If you have roommates, consider collaborating with them and buying groceries together. You’ll save money and waste less when you avoid buying duplicate items. If you live alone, consider working out a similar arrangement with a friend who lives nearby—for example, if you live near a bakery and they live near a fruit market, you can divide and conquer and take care of one another’s shopping in those specific areas.

    Cooking

    Keep recipes on file.     Take an hour out of your weekend and look up easy, quick, and healthy lunches or dinners that you can whip up whenever you’re out of culinary inspiration. Print the recipes out or keep the files on your hard drive for later perusal—you’ll be thanking yourself when you’re hungry and studying for midterms.

    Consult nutrition guides. Ensure you’re cooking healthy meals by looking up nutritional information about the ingredients beforehand. It’s definitely okay to treat yourself every once in a while, but you probably shouldn’t be eating ramen for dinner every night. When in doubt, make a side salad.

    Be practical. If you know you aren’t the greatest chef, you don’t need to go to great lengths to make elaborate meals. Sometimes, the simplest meals are also the most nutritious. Furthermore, consult your fridge before you start cooking: if you have ingredients you need to use up (or leftovers you should probably get rid of), let that guide your process before you get cracking.

  • Internship: Is It For You?

    Internship: Is It For You?

    Unpaid internships are particularly controversial these days. Even though the government is planning on a reviewing intern practices, most believe that interns should already be getting paid at least minimum wage. The argument is generally on the left wing of politics, focusing on social justice – and a hot topic among students and young adults just entering the workforce. It is also a hot topic among corporations, organizations and governments- the people that would be doing the hiring.

    Experience is so important today that employers often hire students only if they have relevant experience, despite having graduated from school and applying for an entry-level position. (It’s one of the biggest reasons why I encourage you to take a co-op position, even if it may not be relevant towards your future career – it shows initiative and relevant recent experience if you haven’t been working for some time.)

    Unpaid internships are highly restricted. As an example, law students would serve an internship (called ‘articling’) before becoming full-fledged lawyers. The articling students are often heavily overworked and unpaid, or paid just a small stipend; this system is expanding into business, marketing, and other careers.

    This is the part where it gets confusing – because it all depends on the language your workplace is using. It never hurts to seek legal advice on labour laws, rules and regulations. However, there are guidelines on when to seek help. There are guidelines to figure out if you are actually in an unpaid internship that should be paid – or if the workplace is violating your legal rights. The best information for this topic begins with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, which focuses on employee and workplace standards.

    However, this is not as big an issue if you’re working on a co-op placement through your school. Colleges and universities are granted a legal exception as it ‘assists’ your education and helps with future training for your chosen career. But when it comes to programs similar to these, sometimes the best intentions are manipulated by organizations just to save money, particularly large corporations, which tend to be the biggest offenders.
    At the time I write this, internships are so hotly debated and so relevant today that changes are imminent – but what changes will occur remains to be seen. The new government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intends to review the practise of internship to determine if it is fair in its current form (I don’t think it is) and to make changes in the law to make it work for everyone.

    Therefore, the status of the internship is yet to be determined – but one thing is clear: those internships, and how large corporations use them, needs to change in order to accommodate those who have won cases proving misuse of workers. Since the goal is for younger workers to earn steady wages in an already precarious economy, wouldn’t it be worth the consideration to ensure that the young workers themselves get the wages they deserve?

  • 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…

    Make sure you truly know who you are, your strong points and weaknesses. A solid self-assessment is an important step in the right direction. Many of us do not do this to the full extent.
    ~Gerald (Jerry) Wolin~

    As my good friend and author, Richard Leider, says, “Heed your life’s calling — that inner urge to give your gifts away.” This requires being clear about your gifts, values, and passions, and using them as a compass to find your career path. It is an “inside-out” process.
    ~Richard L. Peterson~

    Put up with boring, soul-destroying work only when you’re young, exploring your options, and establishing your credibility. Once you become established, become discriminating about your work, colleagues, clients, and associates.
    ~Shann Turnbull~

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

  • Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    Getting Your 40 Hours of Community Service

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    • Promote volunteering
    • Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers
    • Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities
    • Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.

  • Making Career out of Weird

    Making Career out of Weird

    Samantha Hess wakes up every morning and prepares for her day just like everyone else. She gets dressed and heads to work as you do to get to school. She meets her client, takes them in her arms, and proceeds to cuddle… and that is where your path might diverge from hers. Samantha is a professional cuddler located in Portland, Oregon. Your knee-jerk reaction might be to take that as a joke, but she makes up to $80 per providing cuddle-based services.

    Normal 9-to-5 careers are the ones we are most familiar with, but they are far from the only option. Since humans evolved and developed civilization, they have been offering services to each other in order to create a community and survive. Any career is ultimately in existence because it services other people and provides them with something they want. With this mental framework, it is easy to see how many potential unconventional careers there are out there.

    This approach creates seemingly endless opportunities for entrepreneurs. Jen Glantz co-founded her own company called Bridesmaid for Hire. She offers exactly the service you are imagining: bridesmaids and personal assistants for a bride’s big day. The company makes up to $2 000 per wedding, making the endeavour more than just a fun little diversion. Once again, as silly as it sounds, these jobs are fulfilling needs. Cuddling has a positive mental and physical effect for people who are lonely or ill. A bride may not have as many bridesmaids as she would like or need, and the extra help can turn a disastrous wedding into one that will be remembered for decades to come.

    Take the Mueller family, who live in a beautiful and luxurious home. That is, until they are forced out. The Muellers are paid to take up residence in luxury homes that are up for sale. Upon being sold, they are sent to another home to live in that is also being sold. Their nomadic lifestyle means they have to be prepared to move with very short notice, but it also provides them with high-quality living quarters. Families are hired to temporarily reside in homes on the market because studies have shown that houses sell better when they appear lived in. As strange as it sounds, these families make it easier for real estate agents to do their job, and help homeowners make the most out of the stressful selling and buying experience.

    These are just a few examples of many. In a world of ever-changing technology and increasing complexity, it can be harder and harder to find traditional employment. By stepping back and looking at careers for what they are and how they originated, you can focus on services instead. What skills do you have to offer that ultimately fulfill the needs and wants of other people? Embracing the weird may be what it takes to build a successful and satisfying career.

    Sources:
    Benna, Steven. 12 weird jobs you’ll be surprised to know exist. http://www.businessinsider.com/weird-jobs-youll-be-surprised-to-know-exist-2015-7
    Murano, Grace. 11 Odd Jobs. http://www.oddee.com/item_99026.aspx

  • Extra-Curricular Activities: Going Beyond

    Extra-Curricular Activities: Going Beyond

    Attending classes in the morning and afternoon is tiring enough. That does not even include the homework that comes with it. So the notion of tacking on extra-curricular activities to your already busy day can sound unreasonable.
    Regardless of the activity, participation in extra-curricular events comes with multiple benefits. Balancing a busier schedule helps to build effective time management skills. As you get older, life only increases in its current hectic nature. Those skills will ensure you are able to take on the challenge. It is important to remember that your classes are structured, and structured by someone else. The school designated 8:30 as the start of the first period. Lunch is at 12:30. The day ends at 3. While it is a challenge to attend and succeed day after day, the schedule is quite simple to remember.

    Extra-curricular activities may not fall under such a simplistic pattern. They can happen on different days, perhaps early in the afternoon or later. The times might be irregular and not set in stone. You could be looking at a different schedule week after week, and this somewhat more chaotic setup better prepares you for the structured chaos of adulthood.

    You also want to think ahead to the post-secondary world. As you fret over your final grades, universities and colleges are looking at far more than just those numbers. Many applicants will submit glowing transcripts. It can take more than that to set you apart. Along with volunteer and work experience, extra-curricular activities customize your application. By diversifying your free time, only you will have that specific combination of activities, work, and grades in order to stand out from the pack.

    A study conducted of over 60 university admissions teams concluded, that more and more of them are placing significant importance on extra-curricular activities. Grades are just one piece of the puzzle! By displaying a variety of interests and talents, you highlight your skills and hard work. You are showing your desire to learn and grow as a human being, and this is the ideal candidate that learning institutions and workplaces are looking for.

    Ultimately, think of how extra-curricular activities can help you in the now. What do you currently do after school? Lazy evenings are fun, but grow increasingly empty in repetition. Join a sports team. Take on a new skill. Meet new people. Sure, you are building skills for your future. But you are also improving your physical and mental well-being.

    If the vast array of options for extra-curricular activities leaves you discombobulated, pick ones on a whim. Drop the ones you hate, and cling to the ones you enjoy. Make friends, improve your health, feel better about yourself, and perhaps even do better in school. Revel in the delightful irony that making yourself busier can actually make your day less challenging.

    Sources:

    Grove, Jack. Extra-curricular activities now ‘more important’ to university applications. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/extra-curricular-activities-now-more-important-to-university-applications/2017980.article

    I Have a Plan Iowa. The Importance of Extra-Curricular Activities for Teens. https://www.ihaveaplaniowa.gov/Home/Article.aspx?articleId=IGeYH2kUApurN7JfmoFVeQXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&level=3XAP2FPAX6J7I3kztATGuYyXAP2BPAXDahIQXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX

  • The Benefits of Volunteering

    The Benefits of Volunteering

    When it comes to our busy schedules, most people can’t even find the time to squeeze in a meal let alone find the time to volunteer. And much like the difficulties associated with deciding between which clubs to join in school it’s difficult to know which organization or charity to volunteer with. But, even if finding the time to volunteer seems daunting, there are plenty of places to volunteer and the benefits gained are something that could very potentially add to your life for the better.

    When I was in high school, getting in my community service hours seemed more like a chore than anything else. I remember volunteering with my friend at her church and going to help serve food to the homeless in the winter. I felt like I needed to be there because I was pretty much forced into getting my hours in order to score my diploma. I’m not sure how it was with other high school students but that was definitely not the attitude to have walking into volunteer work.

    Then university hit. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do but in my third year I decided to become a volunteer note-taker for any students who were associated with the Accessibility Centre. It never once felt like a chore because I had decided on my own terms to do it. I knew that I was being relied on, which made me feel good, and I also knew that I was making a difference for the students who wanted to work with me. This feeling of helping and knowing I was making a difference eventually blossomed into me furthering my volunteer experience to becoming a study partner. Before she graduated, one of the women I was helping told me that I was the most wonderful, and dedicated person she had ever worked with. It was an incredible feeling and at the end of the year I knew that I had made a new friend. I was also even granted a certificate upon completing a year of volunteer work.

    Volunteer work has lots to offer you. Not only will you make several connections with people but you’ll also be able to add something to your resume; the great feeling that comes with helping people benefits them but also you. You need to make sure that you do it for you though and not just because you have to, otherwise it’ll feel like work. There are lots of places you can go to volunteer, though some do require a commitment from you, which is another reason why you need to make sure you want to do it. But you have tons of options for where to volunteer. And by volunteering at one place, you open the door to more facilities and charities you can work with as well as enriching your experience in the workforce and in life.