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Category: Campus Life

  • Wonder Women: Inspiring Female Educators

    Wonder Women: Inspiring Female Educators

    In 2009 I moved to Nanaimo, B.C. to attend Vancouver Island University. A book worm since I could read and a general lover of the written/spoken word, I enthusiastically joined as many writing and English courses as I could fit into my fall semester. On my first day I sat in the front row of my “Introduction to Fiction Writing” class. A smiling blonde woman sat at the front with a laptop and a pile of outlines on her desk. As she introduced us to the material and addressed what we could expect that semester, I kept repeating her name over and over again in my head. “Susan Juby…Susan Juby. Where have I heard that name before?” As she discussed term paper deadlines, I Googled her name—and couldn’t believe what I saw. Juby was the author of the preteen Canadian hit novel Alice, I Think and its sequels. This was a series that myself and nearly every girl I had gone to school with had read in either middle or high school. It eventually became a CBC television series, and implanted in my mind an early understanding of the importance of Canadian authors. Having this woman who—like me—was BC grown and able to make a living as a writer, filled me with such admiration and ambition. I knew right then that if I worked hard enough and got good enough, I could be published.

    Since then I have met many amazing and inspiring female educators, as I’m sure you have as well. Here are some famous female educators teaching in Canada:

    Adele Diamond

    Known to be one of the pioneers in the field of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Diamond has been extremely influential in research focused on the executive functions of prefrontal cortex and interrelated brain. Much of her study focuses on children. She is the Tier 1 Canadian Research Chair Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. (www.ranker.com)

    June Larkin

    Larkin attended university late, balancing her undergrad with a primary-school teaching job. Now she is a lecturer in Women and Gender Studies and Equity Studies as well as vice-principal of New College at the University of Toronto. Her main focus is pushing her students to community outreach; combining class with the field. (www.macleans.ca)

    Mary-Lou Donnelly

    Donnelly is the president of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, and served as teacher for thirty years in Halifax. Previous to being appointed as president of the CTF, Donnelly was president of the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union. A trailblazer, she was a founding member of Nova Scotia’s Coalition Against Workplace Violence, She has since received the Canadian Progress Club Women of Excellence award. (www.financialpost.com)

  • 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.

  • Family Pressure

    Family Pressure

    Everyone deals with pressure at some point in life, whether it comes from work, school, friends or family. Sometimes, the pressure to get good grades, decide on a career or to get involved in extra activities can be very difficult. How do you manage these pressures, especially from your family? Knowing how to deal with family pressure can help you live a less stressful and more enjoyable life.

    All parents want their children to get good jobs and to be successful in life. They might pressure their children to get involved in clubs, to volunteer on committees, or to take extra courses. Brothers and sisters might also add to the pressure through teasing or trying to compete with you, maybe to impress Mom and Dad.

    Being under pressure can be very stressful, but you can learn how to deal with it. The first thing to try is to talk to your family and work things out. For example, if your parents want you to get better grades and you really feel that it’s too much for you to manage, you can try to let them know that you have tried hard but have been unable to achieve high grades. If you really feel that you have done all that you can, let your family know.

    Sometimes, all that is necessary to relieve stress is to try a new schedule. If you find that you have to rush out the door every morning, for example, you could try setting your alarm clock for fifteen minutes earlier than usual to allow yourself more time. It can also help to relieve pressure if you take a few minutes every day to do something that you enjoy, such as going for a walk or visiting with a friend.

    As you consider ways to deal with pressure, you should also remember the other people around you. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives can all help give support as you try to deal with everything that people expect. They might even help you understand your parents better. If your father always wanted to have a better job, for example, that might help explain why your parents want you to go to university or to try for a high-pressure career. This knowledge can help you explain your point of view to your parents.

    Family pressure will probably never disappear, but you can learn to manage it. That way, you can enjoy both the quiet and busy times of life and still have a good relationship with your family, friends, and teachers.

    Bibliography:

    EHow.com. “How to Deal with Pressure and Stress Problems.”
    http://www.ehow.com/how_5587289_deal-pressure-stress-problems.html.
    Kids Health.org. “Stress.” http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/stress.html.
    Morrissey, Beth. “How to Deal with Pressure From Parents.” http://www.teenissues.co.uk/HowToDealWithPressureFromParents.html.
    People Skills Decoded.com. “How to Rise Above Family Pressure and Live the Life You Want.” http://www.peopleskillsdecoded.com/how-to-rise-above-family-pressure-and-live-the-life-you-want/.

  • Bogged Down: How to Handle Exams in University

    Bogged Down: How to Handle Exams in University

    As most people are back to school and midterm season is rolling up if not upon us already, students are getting bogged down by exams. But how exactly can students go about handling university exams better and improving their results? Most students will find it challenging to keep up with consistent studying when involved in multiple extracurricular activities.

    The culture shock experienced by students as they enter university involves adapting to campus life where professors, unlike high school teachers, do not hold students accountable for their work and attendance. This is where we see most students starting to skip classes, or showing up only to doze off during lectures.

    While this freedom feels incredible at first, students will soon find this to be a stressful element of university. Self-discipline is required to keep grades on the line and to balance other aspects of their lives; this calls for sustainable study habits.

    Although it may be hard to admit, most students don’t have the best study habits. Poor planning and last minute cramming sessions seem all too familiar to university students. Knowing that you cannot keep getting bogged down by last minute studying and stress, things need to change. The risk of dropping out of university without a degree is simply too high. If you’re currently a student, you don’t want this situation to occur after all the efforts.
    Luckily for most of us, there’s some study strategies that can be well revised to adapt to your schedule. By doing so, you can now eliminate the need for cramming last minute, hence reducing exam stress in university.

    This strategy can be broken down into four simple steps. Ideally, this is meant for courses that involve final exams of all material covered throughout the semester:

    1. Start using a schedule system like Outlook, Google Calendar or just a simple agenda to plan a regular study session for each of your courses. Realistically you can have one for each course you’re taking during the week.
    2. Don’t just schedule in study sessions, make sure you make them like your dates. There’s no opting out of them without there being a consequence later on. The alerts from your calendar will remind you of unfulfilled commitments.
    3. During your study sessions, make sure you review everything you’ve covered that week and topics you struggled with previously as review for upcoming exams.
    4. Continue to review all new and old content throughout the semester so that you won’t forget content that you haven’t used in a while.

    By using this study strategy, you’ll find yourself quite familiar with the content of the course before the final exam without the stress to bog you down.

  • Kick Your Fears of Public Speaking!

    Kick Your Fears of Public Speaking!

    Pull aside any of your friends or classmates and ask them what they think people fear the most in general, and you will probably get typical responses like: dental visits, heights, spiders, bugs, and darkness. However, you might be surprised to learn, that according to a LiveScience.com article a few years ago, the fear of public speaking is among the top ten phobias.

    Of course, phobia is on an extreme level, but most people will say that they experience some type of anxiety when they are asked to speak in public—whether in the workplace, at a formal or informal gathering, or in class. Some students do feel anxious about speaking in class or doing presentations. They prefer to stay quiet even though they are encouraged to participate or they prefer to have the least to do in group presentations. As a result, these students are perceived as lacking in effective communication skills, and—without them even realizing it—hinder the learning process altogether.

    If you feel you are one of those students, don’t fret. Even world-renowned motivational speaker Joel Osteen and business mogul Warren Buffett were in the same boat as you at some point in their lives. They are good examples that you too can overcome your fear of public speaking if you work at it. Below are some tips to get you started.

    Watch videos of great public speakers.

    Instead of spending your spare time watching videos of pranks and cute cats, why not spend some minutes on watching great speeches? The best examples of good public speeches are, of course, from politicians. Also, pay attention to how these speakers use their body language to make a point or to emphasize key points in their speeches. President Obama is a good example of this strategy.

    Practice, practice, practice.

    We have always been told that preparation is the key to any good speech or presentation. However, what usually happens is that we end up practicing in front of a mirror. Sure, doing so helps us get familiar with the topic or the flow of our speech and presentation, but unless you have the Evil Witch’s magic mirror, you can never really expect to get feedback from your mirror, right? That’s why it is better to practice with an audience—your friends, classmates, or family. You will be surprised at how much their feedback can help you do better.

    Sign up for speech classes or impromptu speaking groups.

    Many universities and colleges offer classes dedicated to public speaking skills improvement. These classes will definitely help a lot in your goal of overcoming fear of public speaking. However, if you prefer informal setups, there are groups that encourage impromptu speaking. Here, you will pick a random topic and expand on it—all in a matter of minutes.

    Engage your audience.

    When doing presentations or speeches, always remember to engage your audience. Make eye contact, and pose questions—related to your topic at hand, of course. This will help create rapport between you and the audience, and in a way, will help you become more at ease as you go along with the task.

    Go for the big leagues.

    You can take it one step at a time or you can do it how Joel Osteen did. Even though he fears speaking in public, he agreed to speak to his ministry on a weekly basis until he got the hang of it. Now, he is one of the most in- demand motivational speakers in the world, filling up conference rooms and even larger venues.

    SOURCES:

    http://www.livescience.com/13434-phobias-fears-acrophobia-heights-agoraphobia-arachnophobia.html

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2013/05/16/how-warren-buffett-and-joel-osteen-conquered-their-terrifying-fear-of-public-speaking/

    http://college.usatoday.com/2014/01/16/5-reasons-everyone-should-take-a-public-speaking-course/

    http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/sheridan-center/teaching-learning/effective-classroom-practices/classroom-communication

    https://www.toastmasters.org/Resources/Public-Speaking-Tips

  • What to Be Prepared For When Living With Roommates

    What to Be Prepared For When Living With Roommates

    So, you’re living with a roommate – or two, or more! Whether you’re in school or working, sharing a house or apartment with other people can be one of the most fun experiences of young adulthood, and an exciting step into independence.

    You may live with friends or with someone new. Post-secondary institutions who operate campus residence housing usually assign roommates randomly. Regular apartments and townhouses can rent by the room, in which case you will likely live with strangers, or rent as a unit you apply for with a friend or group of friends already agreed to be roommates.

    Whatever your roommate situation, there are a few things guidelines to remember:

    Be considerate and respectful. This is priority one, and applies to any incident that may occur between yourself and your roommate. Treat them, their space, and their belongings in the same way you want them to treat you and yours.

    You may have very different schedules. We all live with a variety of personal schedules: work, class, social life; being a night owl or an early bird, studying better at night or during the day. Again, the most important thing is to be considerate. If you wake up early or stay awake late, try to keep noise and activity to a respectful minimum.

    Not everyone is the same level of tidy/messy or organized/disorganized as you are. Some people alphabetize their cereal boxes; others let their laundry pile grow high as a mountain. Sharing living space will bring these differences front and centre. The key again is consideration and compromise: make an effort to keep shared areas like the kitchen, bath, and living room clean, but remember that everyone lapses sometimes.

    Your personalities and social lives can be very different. Living with roommates can bring these traits into conflict, and how you handle it shapes your friendship. You might be more introverted or extroverted, social or a homebody, than your roommates. If you need alone time to recharge, and your roommate likes to have friends over all the time, set out some ground rules, such as being in your room with the door closed means “do not disturb”. If you are social and like to party, but you know your roommate doesn’t, try to give them a heads up when company will be over, and don’t host the party at your place every time.

    There are other considerations: rules for guests and significant others, cooking duties, splitting groceries and bills, or using, sharing, and borrowing others’ belongings. Sit down at the beginning and write up a roommate agreement for all parties, to have the opportunity to discuss and agree on ground rules ahead of time, rather than trying to sort things out after there is a problem. For campus residences, Resident Advisors and Mediation Services are available to advise, or to arrange a mediation session to help resolve roommate conflicts.

    All roommate situations are different, but generally come down to the “Three C’s”: Consideration, Compromise, and Communication. As long as you remember these, living with roommates can lead to lifelong friendships, and a heck of a lot of fun!

    SOURCES:
    http://www.rezlife.uwo.ca/roommates_livingtogether.pdf
    http://www.residenceatwestern.ca/roommates.cfm
    http://www.residenceatwestern.ca/roommate_responsibilities.pdf

  • 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…

    “Look for work in areas where you have built-in confidence based on your own experience or preferences. It’s not to say you can’t succeed in areas in which you never thought you had talent, but your shortest path will come through your strengths.”

    “If you like your work, your chances of success will be higher. In the workplace, make your first priority improving your organization, department, or work unit rather than worrying about how the company will help further your own ambitions. Take pride in making everyone better wherever you are. Success takes care of those who create success for others.”

    ~John H. Schwarz~
    Via http://hbs1963.com/wisdom/careers/

  • How to Form a Study Group in College

    How to Form a Study Group in College

    The sheer amount of material you are expected to learn in college and university courses can be overwhelming. It’s easy to fall behind, leaving you scrambling to cram several lectures of material before an exam. And if you haven’t already found out, cramming does not work.

    This is why forming a study group can help you succeed academically. If you are struggling with a topic, another member of your study group may be able to help. On the other hand, if you are an expert on a topic, teaching it to another person will help consolidate your own knowledge. Another advantage of a study group is that with regular meetings, you get into the habit of studying—no more cramming before the exam!

    Given the many advantages of a study group, how do you go about forming one? The first step is simply to ask your friends, classmates, lab partners if they would be interested in joining a study group. Ask in person, ask on Facebook; just ask. Find a time that everyone will be available. An effective study group meets at least once a week for two hours. Additional sessions can be added when it gets closer to exam time.

    Now that you have your group, you need to think of where your group will meet. The library is an ideal place: make use of their study rooms, which may include a white or blackboard. If study rooms are unavailable, try the cafeteria or a coffee shop during off-hours (like early mornings and late evenings). Ideally, you will want to use the same location for every session, so over time, you develop a studying mindset when you get there.

    The final step is simply follow through. Show up every session, but you also don’t want to be the only one showing up. Remind your group members of the time and location of sessions. Ask everyone to show up prepared: bring notes, textbooks, and questions about the lecture material. In the beginning, it might be useful to have an agenda for the study session, outlining what the group will go over. Later study sessions can be less structured.

    The goal of a study group is to ensure everyone’s understanding and success. Don’t be afraid of asking “stupid” questions or asking someone to explain a tricky topic again. An effective study group should not just help you understand lecture material but also help you get into the habit of studying. Good luck!

  • Tips on Studying for Multiple Choice Exams

    Tips on Studying for Multiple Choice Exams

    In many college and university classes, instructors will use multiple-choice or Scantron exams because they are much quicker and easier to grade. Can you imagine marking short-answer and essay exams for a class of three hundred? As a student, you need to learn how to effectively study for multiple-choice exams.

    First, start studying early! This advice applies for all tests, but I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to start studying early. You are given your class schedule at the beginning of the semester, so there is simply no excuse for getting caught by surprise by the test date. Ideally, start studying at least two weeks before the exam.

    Second, get copies of old multiple-choice exams for the course you are studying for. It is better if these old exams were also written by the same professor that is currently teaching your course. Don’t just read through the exam questions, but actually work through them and answer them. This will give you experience with the kinds of multiple choice questions you might expect during your actual test.

    Third, there is another advantage of taking old exams. Because your time is limited, you need to be strategic about how you use your time. By answering old exams, you can now identify areas where your understanding and knowledge recall is weaker. Focus on the areas where you are less confident. Once you have brushed up on these topics, take the old exams again and see how much you’ve improved!

    Fourth, do not neglect specific details. You might think that since it’s a multiple choice exam, you can figure out the correct answer by the context. This is good advice for when you are taking the exam, but do not become reliant on this. Your professor may ask questions where options (a) to (e) differ by just one or two words. For these kinds of questions, it is difficult to figure out from the question and the options what is the correct answer, if you do not know it. So make sure you study the specific details as well as the broader concepts.

    The secret to acing multiple-choice exams is preparation. There is no magic. Just follow the tips above and you will find your multiple-choice exams a less stressful experience!

  • 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.