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  • Nature Watch: Exploring Our Solar System – Events To Watch In 2015

    Nature Watch: Exploring Our Solar System – Events To Watch In 2015

    Our solar system is our neighbourhood, with many questions remaining about our planets, moons, comets, and asteroids. If you are interested in space and planetary exploration, the search for water on other planets, and uncovering the secrets of our solar system, these are three events to keep an eye on this summer.

    Rosetta Mission – Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

    (European Space Agency)

    The Milestone: Rosetta is performing the first long-term close observation of a comet, and the Philae lander is the first scientific lander on a surface other than a planet or moon.

    The Mission: Launched in March 2004, Rosetta’s main objective was to catch up to and orbit comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and deploy the Philae lander to the surface. Both events succeeded in November 2014. In 2015, Rosetta continues to observe 67P as it nears its closest approach to the Sun, examining gas and dust interactions that create a comet’s characteristic “tail”. Both Rosetta and Philae have sent back stunning photographs of the comet from orbit.

     Events This Summer: 67P’s perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) will occur around August 13, 2015. The data gathered will show what happens to comets as they pass close to the Sun.

    More Information: http://sci.esa.int/rosetta

    http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta

     

     

    Dawn Mission – Protoplanet Vesta and Dwarf Planet Ceres

    (NASA and JPL)

    The Milestone: Using a specially designed ion propulsion system, Dawn achieved a remarkable feat: visiting two separate planetary bodies in the asteroid belt, and performing orbital observations around both. This also marks the first visit to a dwarf planet by any spacecraft.

    The Mission: Launched in September 2006, Dawn travelled through the solar system to encounter and orbit the proto-planet Vesta from July 2011-September 2012. After mapping and science observations, Dawn broke orbit from Vesta and travelled another two years to rendezvous with dwarf planet Ceres in March 2015. By studying these planetary bodies, we hope to learn about the early formation of the solar system.

    Events This Summer: August 2015 and December 2015 will see Dawn perform the two lowest mapping orbits, providing detailed surface photographs and scientific measurements, and hopefully solving the mystery of the “bright spots” on Ceres’ surface.

    More Information: http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov

     

     

    New Horizons Mission – Pluto System Flyby

    (NASA)

    The Milestone: The first ever flyby of the dwarf planet Pluto and its moon system, the most distant and still unexamined member of our solar system.

    The Mission: New Horizons launched in 2006, and will perform a flyby observation of the Pluto system, then continue on an extended mission into the distant Kuiper Belt to visit the small, icy bodies orbiting the outer edges of our solar system. This mission will provide detailed photographs, surface maps, and valuable scientific data about Pluto, and help us learn about the outskirts and formation of our solar system.

    Events This Summer: New Horizons closest approach to Pluto is scheduled for July 14, 2015. Currently in approach phase, new pictures with increasing detail are regularly transmitted back to Earth and made available to the public.

    More Information: http://nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons

     

  • Career Profile: Community Radio News Manager

    Career Profile: Community Radio News Manager

    Many people dream of someday being on the radio or television. They imagine how exciting life could be if they could be like the stars they see in movies, or at least the people they hear talking on the radio every week. Sometimes, the managers of community radio stations can give them that chance.

    Most radio stations have staff members who look after the technical aspects of the broadcasts, as well as the people who actually interview guests, play music, and give weather and news reports. They also have production managers who make sure that everything is working well, and who deal with hiring and firing people.

    A community radio station is a bit different. Most of the people working at these stations are volunteers who have ideas about what they would like to broadcast but who might have little or no formal training. They might stay for years, or they might try being on radio for a few months and then move on to something else.

    Managers in community radio stations have to make sure that they have enough people to cover all of the timeslots, or they have to find helpers who can do that work. Volunteers tend to come and go, but managers can help ease the process by finding one or two good employees who can help.

    Besides working with the day-to-day running of radio stations, managers have to make sure that the financial and business aspects are in place. In Canada, all radio stations need approval from the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission), which also sets guidelines for aspects of broadcasting such as the amount of Canadian content. Managers need to make sure that volunteers know and meet these standards.

    Another task is fundraising. Many community radio stations, especially in colleges and universities, have some funding from sources like student fees, but these fees normally cover only part of the money necessary to keep the station going. Many other people help with finding donations, but managers need to take responsibility for ensuring that enough fundraising happens to keep the station alive.

    Managers for commercial radio stations normally need at least a Bachelor’s degree, and they might earn close to $100,000 per year. At community radio stations, the pay is likely to be much lower, and the educational requirements might not be very high. However, getting a bachelor’s degree is still a good idea for learning about the various topics that hosts and guests might discuss and for working with people in the community.

    Because community radio stations normally run with only a few paid staff, managers might need to work in several different areas, such as hosting shows or conducting training. They need to be flexible and be willing to work at whatever needs to be done.

    Being a community radio station manager can be a lot of fun when the volunteers and staff work well together and find a good way to connect with their audience. However, you must be a well- rounded person that adapts well to change and real time problem solving. If you enjoy working with people and expressing your ideas on the radio, this job might be the one for you!

     Bibliography:

    Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. “Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499.”

    http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-499.htm.

    Community Radio Toolkit. “Staff Roles and Responsibilities.” http://www.communityradiotoolkit.net/the-toolkit-handbook/toolkit-chapter-five/staff-roles-and-responsibilities/.

    Power, Max. “How to Start a Radio Station in Canada.” http://www.ehow.com/how_7918278_start-radio-station-canada.html.

    Study.com. “Radio Station Manager Job Description, Duties and Salary.”

    http://study.com/articles/Radio_Station_Manager_Job_Description_Duties_and_Salary.html.

  • Career Profile: Archivist

    Career Profile: Archivist

    For some people, an old letter is just a piece of paper which is ready for the garbage. For others, the same letter is a piece of history, showing what life was like, long ago. It could show where people worked, what they ate, and what they read. The letter could be a window into the past, showing us what life was like for previous generations and also for the more recent past. Old letters, concert programs, financial statements, and other documents are all part of an archivist’s job of preserving history in documents.

    If you write a message to your friends using an online program like e-mail, your message will probably not last long. In other formats like paper, however, documents can last a long time. Archivists collect these documents and then organize them so that people can find them again. Exactly what they collect depends on the focus of the archives. Collections can be small, with documents that tell the story of a village or a special group of people. They can also be very large, with information on an entire country. Archivists receive donations from people and sort through the documents to see what fits with the collection. Some collections also include objects, such as candlesticks and old lace. Books and music can also be part of many collections. Media archiving is a very common area of archiving that includes the sorting of video, film and audio recordings.

    Working with archival collections requires experience in working with old documents and knowledge of the subject matter. Paper tends to fall apart when it gets old, and other materials can also be damaged as they age. Knowing how to preserve old documents and objects is an important part of what archivists learn. Many archives have climate-controlled rooms where they can keep the most fragile items at the best possible temperature to preserve them. Organizing the materials so that people can find them is also important. Archivists label the collections using combinations of numbers and letters and then compile finding aids which tell people where to look for what they need.

    What kind of training do archivists need? It depends on the collection and the community that supports the archives. A master’s degree in librarianship or archival studies, or an Arts subject such as history or English literature, is often the best preparation. People who are still completing their studies can also sometimes get a good job if they have experience. Good organizational skills are essential.

    Many archivists also work with volunteers who come into the archives help sort through documents, label photographs, or do other small jobs. If an archival career sounds interesting to you, volunteering is a good place to start. Archivists generally earn between about $36,000 and $71,000 per year. Although the number of jobs is limited, a career in archival work can be very rewarding. It can also be a good second career for people who have worked in something else related to information, restoration or history.

    Do you enjoy learning about the past? Do old documents interest you? Maybe a job as an archivist is right for you.

     

    Bibliography:

    Association of Canadian Archivists. “Archivist Assistant/Technician.” http://archivists.ca/jobs/archivist-assistanttechnician.

    Consador, Kat. “A Job Description for an Archivist.” http://www.ehow.com/about_6502171_job-description-archivist.html.

    InfoNation. “Assistant Archivist.” http://www.cla.ca/infonation/jobsamp3.htm.

    Payscalecom. “Archivist Average Salary.” http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Archivist/Salary.

  • Is the Corporate World Right for You?

    Is the Corporate World Right for You?

    You may be asking yourself “What should I do after finishing school?” You can consider a blue collar job in the trades like a plumber, electrician or construction worker. You can open your own business. Or, you can consider a white collar corporate job. Consider all your options- you have tons. There are pros and cons to all paths, but it is up to you to determine what you can and cannot handle.

    When people refer to a corporate job, they mean an office job like an accountant, manager or lawyer. Many graduates aspire to a corporate job because of the high pay and prestige. However, before preparing for a corporate career, you should ask yourself if corporate life is right for you.

    Do you like working set hours? Most corporate jobs start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Unless you have an easy going boss, they won’t take too kindly if you arrive late or leave early every day.

    Do you like dressing up all the time? You may have to wear a business suit especially if you’re a lawyer or manager. Sometimes, you can get away with not wearing a suit, but you still need to dress professionally.

    Do you like privacy? You don’t have any privacy in an office. Everyone can see when you arrive or leave and hear what you say on the phone. Your boss can look over your shoulder and even monitor how you use the phone, internet and computer.

    Do you like to speak your mind? Corporate politics are the unspoken rules on how you behave. If you say the wrong thing or speak badly to the wrong person, you can offend them. And if the offended person has power, they can either fire you or make your work life very miserable.

    Do you like to follow rules? Corporations have a rule for almost everything: your conduct, work hours, attire – just to name a few. The office is not a place for rebels. So if you don’t like a lot of rules, think twice about corporate life.

    Can you sit in the same place all day? In the office, you have a designated place where you sit every single day. Sitting all day can be very stressful if you’re a fidgety person who cannot sit still for a long time.

    Do you like being indoors all the time? For most corporate jobs, you’ll be inside at least eight hours a day. If you’re the outdoorsy type who likes being outside, this may be a hard adjustment for you.

    Can you work with annoying noises around you? Believe or not, offices can be quite noisy. You can hear printers, people tapping away at their computer, other people’s conversations, people talking too loud on the phone, sneezing, coughing, cursing – you name it. And if you’re trying to focus, all this noise can drive you crazy!

    If after answering these questions you feel that corporate life isn’t for you, it’s not the end of the world. There are a lot of upsides to working in a corporate world. Everyone will be able to work their way “up the corporate ladder”, and that can be extremely rewarding. A lot of careers in the trades pay just as well as corporate jobs. You can also do very well running a business. Each choice has its own challenges. The key is to do what’s right for you.

    References:

    Making a Successful Transition from College to Career: Time for a Reality Check http://www.quintcareers.com/college-to-career.html

    Payscale.com – Automobile Mechanic Salary (Canada) http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Automobile_Mechanic/Hourly_Rate

    The 10 Worst Things About Working In An Open-Office—In Your Words http://www.fastcompany.com/3022456/dialed/the-10-worst-things-about-working-in-an-open-office-in-your-words

    Ask a Manager http://www.askamanager.org/2012/10/i-dont-want-to-sit-in-an-office-all-day.html

  • Career Profile: Animal Trainer

    Career Profile: Animal Trainer

    Have you ever taught a dog to sit up and beg or to roll over? Many people train their pets to do simple tricks like that, but some people do even more complicated tasks. Animal trainers work with dogs, horses, dolphins and other animals, teaching them how to behave or act in a specific way. If you have the patience and the ability to work with animals, an animal trainer might be the right career path for you!

    Becoming an animal trainer takes a lot of time and patience. Animals have minds of their own, and they can sometimes be aggressive and difficult. Since they cannot speak a language we directly understand, they communicate their feelings through actions and expressions. The animals can sometimes bite or scratch, but it is the job of the trainer to teach them to be more calm, happy, and manageable.

    If you have your own pet, you know how much work it can be to take care of all of its needs. Animal trainers might not be responsible for every aspect of caring for the animals, but they often have to do the same things as pet owners. They often have to feed and groom the animals and possibly even contact a veterinarian if something is wrong with them. They have to know the signs of a sick animal and when it is hungry or tired.

    Getting to know individual animals is an important part of being an animal trainer. Some animals might already be very well trained in basic behaviour before they come for special training, but others need to start from the beginning. Old injuries, bad experiences with previous owners, and many other factors might influence how difficult or easy it is to train an animal- domestic or wild. Finding out how to get past these kinds of barriers is one of the most important skills that trainers can learn.

    Trained animals are useful in many different areas. People ride horses for fun or to participate in shows. They make movies with dogs and cats and train seeing-eye dogs to help people with vision problems. All of these animals need someone to train them for the special tasks that they need to do.

    Sometimes, the animal trainers can use help, as well. Working with marine mammals like dolphins usually requires a bachelor’s degree in an area like biology or animal science. However, most animal trainers learn their skills by working with animals, sometimes as an apprentice to another trainer. A high school diploma or the equivalent is usually all the formal training that is necessary, although a certificate might be necessary in some cases.

    In Canada, animal trainers make an average of about $23,000 per year, but some can earn much more than that. Jobs can be hard to find, but people in this field can often work in similar areas such as dog walking and pet care. If you love animals, you might want to consider this career as a possibility for your future. There are plenty of opportunities to add to your animal training expertise. Opening up a business would of course raise your income and allow you to keep learning new ways to train and look after animals of all kinds.

     

    Bibliography:

    Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers. “Becoming a Professional Dog Trainer.” http://www.cappdt.ca/public/jpage/1/p/BecomingATrainer/content.do.

    McKay, Dawn Rosenberg. “Animal Trainer: Career Information.” http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/animal_trainer.htm.

    Monster.ca. “Animal Trainer: Skills.” http://my.monster.ca/job-profiles/animal-trainer.aspx#Skills.

    Wow Jobs.ca. “Dog Trainer Salary in Canada.” http://www.wowjobs.ca/salary-dog+trainer.

  • Why Not Volunteer this Summer?

    Why Not Volunteer this Summer?

    Summer is here. School is almost done. The question on everyone’s mind: How will you spend your summer? If you are looking to get more out of your summer vacation, consider volunteering! You will learn new skills, gain great experience for work or school, and meet tons of new people. Volunteering is also a great way to learn something new that you’re curious about, but may not be familiar with. You might discover a new passion, or a future career. Deciding where to volunteer is tough. Most towns and cities have many volunteer options, and figuring out the best fit can be the hardest part. A good first step is to think about talents you have, activities you enjoy, or activities you are curious about but have never experienced. Then you can look for related volunteer opportunities. Ask yourself, “Am I interested in…”

    • Plants, Nature, or Gardening? Your local Horticultural Society may run projects such as community flower and vegetable gardens, or planting projects in public spaces.
    • Kids and Sports? Facilities such as the YMCA or Boys & Girls Club, and community youth sport leagues, often need helpers to assist with their programs and activities.
    • Kids and Books? Public libraries offer literacy and activity oriented summer programs for kids and youths, such as games, group story time, or buddy reading.
    • Working with Animals? Local animal shelters often need volunteers to assist with cleaning cages and socializing the animals.
    • Medicine or Working with the Elderly? Many hospitals and nursing homes operate programs for volunteers to visit with patients and residents, and engage them in activities like games, crafts, and exercises.
    • Arts and Culture? Summer is ripe with events and festivals that rely on volunteers, such as outdoor music festivals, artisan and craft fairs, or performance theatre events such as those run by the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals. Summer is also fan convention season, and many cons, such as FanExpo Canada, have volunteer opportunities for a few hours, all day, or all weekend.
    • Working with your hands? Habitat for Humanity and similar programs in your area are often most active in the summer months, and usually need extra hands when there are projects in progress.
    • Social Services and Non-Profit? Most Canadian cities have food banks, Goodwill and Salvation Army facilities, and a host of other community non-profit companies and programs, all of which rely on volunteers to support their efforts in your community.

    Of course, these are only a few of the options available. Regardless of what type of volunteering you find yourself interested in, the second step is always… Do Your Research! If the event or organization has a website, check to see if their volunteering needs are posted; if not, use the contact information to inquire. Make sure you learn what tasks will be required or assigned to you, if there are any age requirements or restrictions, and how much of a time commitment they will expect from you. Once you decide on your volunteer opportunity, step three is… HAVE FUN!

  • The Importance of Finding Peace Within

    The Importance of Finding Peace Within

    Finding peace within is sometimes a mysterious topic. One may often wonder what it even means within the hustle and bustle of daily life; is it possible? Can it ever be achieved? We are overloaded with a seemingly endless to do list and people to please. Being aware of not feeling at peace can be a motivation to find it again, and to overcome the challenges that are presented to us.

    The first question for overcoming the feeling of being ill at ease is to identify why you feel ill at ease. Perhaps your to do list has not been worked on and is becoming quite frightening, or perhaps the problem is with the to do list itself. Maybe the thought of everything on that list gives you no satisfaction at all. If the problem is that you have not done any work on your to do list in a long time, the solution may be very simple; break the list down into smaller steps. For example: If you have a presentation due on the topic of women’s rights in Canada, you might want to break the project down into doing an introduction on day 1, the body of the presentation on day 2, and the conclusion of the presentation on day 3. Doing this with the various items on your to do list will help to make things less scary, and more approachable.

    On the other hand, if your to do list is filled with things that are not rewarding, then you may need to conduct an evaluation of your goals and desired end results for your various pursuits. Sometimes we avoid doing work because we do not truly care anymore about the results. For example, if I want to get a high school diploma, I will go to class and do the homework and act generally respectful of those around me in order to facilitate my success. If you do not want a high school diploma anymore, you may consider dropping some of the items off your to do list. In this case, I would recommend speaking with a guidance counselor who may be able to re-light the motivation to complete the diploma. If you are knocking off things on your to do list, you are closer to achieving the goals you originally set out for yourself. The question is how you can regain a sense of inner peace amid seemingly random, negative emotions?

    There are many strategies for regaining peace within:

    • Take some time to reflect upon all of the things that you are grateful for.
    • Do some meditation or conduct concentrated moments of silence.
    • Talk with a friend about positive things in your life.
    • Get a little exercise to increase your brain’s natural feel good chemicals.
    • Do some yoga, or engage in an activity that makes you feel good.

    Finding peace within is something that is always in your control. You are always able to regain it; it just takes some investigating to find solutions that will work for you. Good luck!

  • Career Profile: Optician

    Career Profile: Optician

    For many people with bad vision, glasses or contact lenses are an essential part of daily life. Without help from these lenses, short-sighted people might be tripping over everything and far-sighted people would be unable to read. Ophthalmologists or optometrists can help by giving people the right prescriptions, but opticians are the people who actually make the glasses and fit them to people’s faces. If you want to help people see better and to get more out of life, the job of optician might be a good choice.

    Being an optician normally means working in a store and dealing with people all day. They sell glasses or contact lenses to customers and might even work with artificial eyes for people who have lost eyes through accidents or disease.

    When people have vision problems, they normally get their eyes tested and then go to the opticians with prescriptions for glasses or contacts. The prescriptions might tell the optician that one eye is better than the other or that the person has a common condition called astigmatism. When they make glasses or contacts, opticians have to grind the lenses just enough to match what the prescription says. They have to know how to make all kinds of lenses and to detect problems if they occur.

    Another task that most opticians do is to advise people about the style of frames that suit their faces best. Many stores have hundreds of different frames in various shapes and sizes for children and adults. Finding the right pair of glasses for different shapes and sizes of face can be difficult for people, especially if they are too short-sighted to see what they look like in different frames. However, it can be fun to work with them to find the right frames!

    Customers coming into the store might have no idea of where to start looking for something that will suit them and also have the right shape and size for their prescriptions. If they have trouble making decisions or if they have specific preferences or financial limitations, the optician might need to give them advice about different options that will still look and feel good. Having a strong sense of style is important in this part of the job.

    People can become opticians after finishing high school and two years of training in their field, although they might feel the need for more education. All across Canada, trained opticians need to obtain licenses from the government before they can start working. Job prospects are not very good right now, but they might improve in the next few years as people retire. Salaries vary across the country, between about $17 per hour in the Saskatoon area to $23 per hour in Winnipeg. Overall, opticians earn between $32,000 and $42,000 per year.

    Would you like to help people see? Why not become an optician?

     

    Bibliography:

    Alberta Learning Information Service. “Occupational Profile: Optician.” http://occinfo.alis.alberta.ca/occinfopreview/info/browse-occupations/occupation-profile.html?id=71002674.

    Living in Canada.com. “Optician Salary Canada.” http://www.livingin-canada.com/salaries-for-opticians.html.

    Opticians Association of Canada. “What is an Optician?” https://opticians.ca/page.asp?id=3

    Opticians Council of Canada. “What’s an Optician?” http://www.licensedoptician.ca/Whats_an_Optician.aspx.

     

  • Career Profile: Community News Manager

    Career Profile: Community News Manager

    Many people dream of someday being on the radio or television. They imagine how exciting life could be if they could be like the stars they see in movies, or at least the people they hear talking on the radio every week. Sometimes, the managers of community radio stations can give them that chance.

    Most radio stations have staff members who look after the technical aspects of the broadcasts, as well as the people who actually interview guests, play music, and give weather and news reports. They also have production managers who make sure that everything is working well, and who deal with hiring and firing people.

    A community radio station is a bit different. Most of the people working at these stations are volunteers who have ideas about what they would like to broadcast but who might have little or no formal training. They might stay for years, or they might try being on radio for a few months and then move on to something else.

    Managers in community radio stations have to make sure that they have enough people to cover all of the timeslots, or they have to find helpers who can do that work. Volunteers tend to come and go, but managers can help ease the process by finding one or two good employees who can help.

    Besides working with the day-to-day running of radio stations, managers have to make sure that the financial and business aspects are in place. In Canada, all radio stations need approval from the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission), which also sets guidelines for aspects of broadcasting such as the amount of Canadian content. Managers need to make sure that volunteers know and meet these standards.

    Another task is fundraising. Many community radio stations, especially in colleges and universities, have some funding from sources like student fees, but these fees normally cover only part of the money necessary to keep the station going. Many other people help with finding donations, but managers need to take responsibility for ensuring that enough fundraising happens to keep the station alive.

    Managers for commercial radio stations normally need at least a Bachelor’s degree, and they might earn close to $100,000 per year. At community radio stations, the pay is likely to be much lower, and the educational requirements might not be very high. However, getting a bachelor’s degree is still a good idea for learning about the various topics that hosts and guests might discuss and for working with people in the community.

    Because community radio stations normally run with only a few paid staff, managers might need to work in several different areas, such as hosting shows or conducting training. They need to be flexible and be willing to work at whatever needs to be done.

    Being a community radio station manager can be a lot of fun when the volunteers and staff work well together and find a good way to connect with their audience. However, you must be a well- rounded person that adapts well to change and real time problem solving. If you enjoy working with people and expressing your ideas on the radio, this job might be the one for you!

     

     

  • Bullying and Self Esteem: The Bullied and the Bully

    Bullying and Self Esteem: The Bullied and the Bully

    Bullying continues to be a pressing threat among students, one that unfortunately is dismissed, misunderstood or ignored. The potential consequences of bullying, however, including dangerously low self-esteem (which can lead to serious, lifelong issues for victims), suggest that we have to address bullying more directly in an attempt to put a stop to it once and for all.

    If you are being bullied and experiencing problems of low self-esteem, you should remember that you are not alone. Many individuals are bullied at some point in their lives, and most, if not all, individuals experience low self-esteem. It’s likely even your bully faces this problem from time to time, which could be a reason why they are picking on you (in order to avoid some of the root causes of their own insecurity). Understanding that your experiences are similar to those of others is a great first step towards addressing bullying.

    A principle to live by—not just in situations of bullying, but whenever you’re interacting with others—is one of mutual respect. Try to empathize with the needs of others, while at the same time treating them with compassion, especially when they are going through a tough time. Communication is key: if you understand where people are coming from, you can more effectively respond to their actions. In situations of bullying, this actually includes the bully as well. A bully’s problem doesn’t give them an excuse to mistreat others at all, but knowing about this can shed light onto some of the potential solutions for conflicts. You could end up helping them in the end, rather than allowing the cycle to continue.

    Overall, bullying is not an acceptable way to manifest low self-esteem. Bullying, even if at face value, can seem like a nuisance and can equate to the physical, verbal, or emotional harassment of another individual. This is certainly not an okay way to treat others, and moreover can lead to some dangerous consequences. It is important to put an end to the bullying as soon as possible, hopefully before anyone gets hurt.

    If you are the bullied, stay strong, and know that any hurtful comments or actions are likely coming from a deeper place of insecurity for the bully him/herself. That being said, it’s absolutely important to reach out if the problem persists: speak to a friend or family member that you trust, seek counseling from a teacher or a guidance office, or even contact a help line (like Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868). Low self-esteem as a result of bullying can escalate into serious anxiety or depressive disorders, sometimes even self-harm. Don’t let it get to that point, and don’t wait until it’s too late.

    If you are the bully, seriously consider the impact that your actions have on other individuals. If you are going out of your way to make others feel small, maybe you should take a look at your own life, problems, and insecurities before interfering in those of others. In light of the potential consequences that bullying can have on victims, respecting others should certainly be one of your top priorities.