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  • Career Profile: Railway Car Technician

    Career Profile: Railway Car Technician

    Working with trains might seem like a job from at least a century ago, before cars became common. However, trains of various kinds are still important, and they still need maintenance and repairs. Becoming a railway car technician can be a good job for people who enjoy solving mechanical or structural  problems and helping people get where they need to go.

    Trains are not nearly as common as they once were, but they are still important. Grain still goes by train from where it is grown to the cities or other places for processing, and animals like cattle or horses often go by train, as well. People sometimes use trains for travelling from one place to another, and some cities also have streetcars which have the same kinds of repair problems as train cars have.

    Many things can go wrong on trains or streetcars, and railway car technicians can deal with most of them. Parts can break or become worn out, and then railway car technicians have to fix or replace them. Sometimes they do general maintenance like painting or cleaning, but much of their work involves finding problems, deciding what to do, and completing the repairs. They might work inside or outside the cars, and they should be prepared for all kinds of weather. Being able to lift up to twenty kilograms is also important, since many railway car parts can be heavy. People in this field need good vision, hearing, and manual dexterity to be able to do their work.

    For many railway car technicians, a combination of work experience and education is necessary. Some people learn on the job or through apprenticeships, but it can be a good idea to take courses in mathematics, science, and physics. Some provinces require apprenticeships, such as in Alberta and Manitoba. These apprenticeships can be three or four years long, and they require both classroom work and practical experience. Exams that technicians take at the end of their studies test their knowledge to make sure that they have learned what they need to know.

    Like with many mechanical jobs, becoming a railway car technician requires learning many new things. People in this field need to know how to use power, pneumatic, and hydraulic tools and equipment, as well as other procedures that they might need for specific jobs. They might need to learn about upholstery, air valves, windows, and more. For many railway car technicians, learning is a process that can take their whole careers.

    Most areas of Canada have trains or streetcars, and career prospects for railway car technicians are normally quite good. Wages can start quite low, but skilled technicians can easily earn over $30 an hour, and probably more. Working conditions can be good in some cases, but technicians often have to work outside in cold or rainy weather. Being a railway car technician can be physically demanding, but it can be a good long- term job as long as people have the strength for it. You might want to think about pursuing this career.

    Bibliography:

    ALIS. “Railway Car Technician.” https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/occupations-in-alberta/occupation-profiles/railway-car-technician/.

    Apprentice Search.com. “What Does a Railway Car Technician Do?” http://www.apprenticesearch.com/AboutTrades/GetTradeDetails?tradeId=258&TradeName=railway-car-technician.

    ITA. “Railway Car Technician.” http://www.itabc.ca/program/railway-car-technician.

    Province of Manitoba. “Railway Car Technician.” https://www.gov.mb.ca/wd/apprenticeship/discover/mbtrades/railwaycartech.html.

  • Believe the Hype – There Is a Formidable Career in Telemarketing

    Believe the Hype – There Is a Formidable Career in Telemarketing

    When it comes to jobs, perhaps one of those that receives the most flak is that of telemarketers. We’ve all experienced answering our phones eagerly, thinking it will be a family member or a friend or a classmate, only to find out it is a telemarketer on the other end of the line. We’ve all had our fair share of being on the receiving end of a telemarketer who is asking us to pass them to either mom or dad so they can convince them to buy a new product, participate in a survey, or offer an upgrade for a package they have purchased.

    Most people think that telemarketing is a walk in the park and that it provides people with limited options when it comes to their careers. However, by end of 2015, telemarketing is actually one of the fastest growing professions in Canada according to Workopolis, proving that it is unfairly underestimated. Let us take a close look at telemarketing and how you can get a head start on this promising career.

    So What Is a Telemarketer?

    A common misconception of telemarketers is that they are purely after selling and making a profit for their respective companies. For some, this is indeed one of the major aspects of their job responsibilities. However, there are also telemarketers who are hired by non-profit organizations, either directly or through a third party, to make households aware of important causes or of their fundraising campaigns. At times, this type of telemarketing involves asking for donations or pledges, but they don’t obligate people to do so and even encourage them to help in any way they can in whatever way they can.

    Some telemarketers are also hired by organizations to do a survey, such as a political survey, usually during election period. This gives a good idea of how a particular election can go. Others are simply hired as qualifiers for a lead generation campaign, either for a new product or service. The survey is brief, and there is certainly no harm for people to participate in them. In some cases, the company launching the new product or service are planning to conduct a contest or promotion in which those who participated will be eligible for.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, the average earning per hour of a telemarketer in Canada is $11.61 for the first four years and it can grow to up to $17.70 within 10 years. Plus, they can earn up to $4,500 in bonuses in a span of 4 years and up to a whopping $9,000 within ten years. Not bad for being on the phone, right?

    Skills

    It takes more than talking skills to be a good telemarketer. You will need great heaps of natural people skills to engage the other person on the line and get them to listen to you. Building rapport, however, is not a skill that is inherent in most people, but it can be learned or acquired. The important thing for telemarketers is to be sincere to their listeners, and this can be achieved if they do have an honest desire to help

    A telemarketer should also be expected to have exceptional active listening skills to determine exactly what the people on the other end of the line would need. Every product or service has their own set of features or benefits, but to be able to highlight which of those will be most applicable to a person or family takes a great deal of analytical skills.

    A telemarketer should also be open-minded and has a great ability to handle pressure. Every customer is different, and they are always expected to remain professional even when encountering challenging customers.

    Pros and Cons

    The most obvious advantage of being a telemarketer is learning how to deal with different types of people.  While some jobs are monotonous, for telemarketers that is rarely the case as every day is different as they get to talk to various people from all walks of life and cultures. As a result, they gain insight into the workings of people in general.

    The biggest disadvantage though is that a telemarketer may sometimes have to deal with those who are outright rude. While some say it’s nothing personal, words can still hurt, and it takes patience and understanding to soldier on despite the difficulties encountered

    The Future

    Telemarketers who do well in their field can definitely look into a strong career in the sales industry as they are already experts in building rapport. Telemarketer can also successfully transition into client relations. Those who had experienced internal promotions as a team leader or supervisor can look into management roles in any industry as they already acquired leadership skills to lead a team to exceptional performance.

    So will you be exploring a career in telemarketing now?

    SOURCES:

    https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/the-fastest-growing-occupations-in-canada/

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Industry=Telemarketing/Hourly_Rate

    https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/telemarketing-as-a-calling-canada

    https://charityvillage.com/Content.aspx?topic=ten_myths_of_telemarketing
    http://learntipsandtricks.com/blog/marketing/269/The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Telemarketing

  • Bringing the World Together a Word at a Time: A Career Profile of Interpreters and Translators

    Bringing the World Together a Word at a Time: A Career Profile of Interpreters and Translators

    JPD Job Video Link for Interpreter and Translators:

    https://jobspeopledo.com/job-videos/?What=Translator&x=16&y=21

    The globalization of our world has brought many countries and cultures together. The many different languages of those countries continue to act as a barrier – two people could have so much in common and make an amazing team, but if they do not speak one another’s languages, that potential is lost. This is where interpreters and translators step in to break down that barrier. To begin a journey down that career path, there are several important things to keep in mind.

    The two jobs are similar, but are carried out in different ways. Translators are focused on changing the language of a document. These documents can be very different and come from many different topics. This offers great flexibility, as it provides the choice of working from home and deciding how many hours, i.e. how many documents, to take on. Translators are given the chance to read a great variety of material and constantly learn new things.

    Interpreters, on the other hand, are translating what people are saying as they are saying it. This could be in a courthouse or medical setting, and could be a variety of locations from day to day. Once again, this allows for flexibility in hours, but can be very difficult work. Though many people speak more than one language, it can be very challenging to listen to someone speak with one language, change that into another language in your mind as they say it, and then share that translation with another person.

    Translators in Canada have salaries ranging from $32,335 to $64,814, with the median being $49,018. Interpreters have hourly rates from $17.54 to $39.15, with the median being $21.99. Many people typically start as a translator, as these jobs can be found online and all work can be done from home, and then move on to be both. Translation work is ideal for students still making their way through school, as they can do it from the same laptop they are using for their studies.

    Those who are fluent in a second language, likely the one their family speaks, have a huge advantage in this field. Yet that alone does not guarantee a career. To do so, it is necessary to get the right certification. In Canada, the organizations that provide certification are all part of the Canadian Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters Council, or CTTIC. This means passing exams and years of study, as well as choosing a specific certification, such as conference interpreter, court interpreter, or terminologist. Studying languages in university can be of great help, as well as any experience that can be obtained – even volunteer work.

    Interpreters and translators are crucial for a world that has been brought together through technology. Without them, the language barrier would be too great. It is a rewarding career path that allows one to meet many different people, have flexible hours, and even work from home. It requires a lot of hard work, concentration, and years of study and practice. If interpreting and translating sound intriguing, focus on your second language and try to find volunteer or online work to get started. These are the first steps down a wonderful career path that removes barriers for people all over the world.

    Sources :

    “How to become a certified translator in Canada.” LinguaGreca. https://linguagreca.com/blog/2014/11/certified-translator-in-canada/

    “Interpreter Salary.” PayScale. http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Interpreter/Hourly_Rate

    “Translator Salary.” PayScale. http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Translator/Salary

  • A Tumbler of Your Daily Life – Making the Most Out of Journaling

    With all the accessible forms of communication these days, it’s easy to dismiss the pleasure of setting time aside in our day to collect our thoughts and write them down. Whether via the old-fashioned pen and paper or through electronic devices, it is a great idea that can make you feel good. Oftentimes, we feel that since we spend most of our day talking, texting, emailing, private messaging, and maybe even snapchatting, there’s really no use for maintaining a journal.

    However, we shouldn’t underestimate the advantages of gathering our day-to-day experiences and putting them into writing. It helps relieve stress and enhances your writing skills. Here are tips to maximize journaling amid this busy world:

    Choose the medium that feels right to you.

    We all have our preferences when it comes to taking notes in the classroom, and it’s the same when journaling. If you’re comfortable typing your daily journal entries on your smartphone, do it that way. If you prefer to handwrite it, go for it. No need to buy fancy journals and pens though. However, if you feel those leather-bound notebooks motivates you to write, be ready to make an investment as you may need to save up for them.

    Go with free writing method.

    When it comes to writing for academic subjects, grammatical and spelling rules tend to bind you. However, keep in mind that in journaling, it’s best to set aside these rules. Just write whatever comes into your mind and don’t restrict yourself. Let it all out. Think of it as when you’re dancing when no one’s looking – you feel the beat more so you move more freely. As a result, you feel much better afterwards.

    Designate a time to write.

    When we are juggling multiple tasks, it will be difficult to keep to a schedule and take the time to sit down and write. This is when you should put your discipline skills to the test. If you normally find yourself free at 7pm, do your best to keep to that schedule. Don’t make excuses unless there is a good reason behind it.

    Select a place to write too!

    If you feel that your writing mood improves when you’re at a coffee place rather than at a library, then write your journal entry when you’re there. Of course, be prepared to accept that this may not always be applicable so be flexible and work with what you can. If you often find yourself on the go, the best option is to carry your pen and notebook everywhere you go.

    Unleash your creativity.

    Remember you’re not writing a term paper where you have to meet a certain number of words or pages. As such, it wouldn’t hurt if you also go beyond writing. If you like to doodle, for example, include those doodles in your entries. If you’re the scrapbooking type, include items like a receipt from a restaurant that you really liked or a concert ticket you went to that you were excited about.

    Be resourceful.

    If you feel like there was nothing worth noting about your day, don’t beat yourself up for it. However, this is no excuse for you to skip writing an entry. A good alternative is to find a book or a magazine or newspaper, choose an interesting passage or story from it, and jot down your thoughts or opinions of it. Who knows, this could lead to better writing ideas in the future!

    Journaling seems like an outdated idea with all the social networking sites we can post everything on. However, with journaling, there’s no requirement to edit so you can maintain appearances. It’s freeing, and in the process, you learn about yourself more. That’s certainly something that social networks can’t offer.

    SOURCES:

    http://writetodone.com/how-to-journal-5-tips-for-capturing-your-best-ideas-part-1-of-2/

    http://lifehacker.com/why-you-should-keep-a-journal-and-how-to-start-yours-1547057185

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/22/how-to-start-journal-writing-drawing

    http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Create-a-Good-Journal-Entry/

  • Career profile: Funeral Directors

    JPD Job Video on Funeral Directors:

    https://jobspeopledo.com/job-videos/?What=funeral+director&x=0&y=0

    Chances are that if you’re reading this, you’ve read the words ‘funeral directors’ and thought that—while a little morbid—it could still be interesting. The truth is that the job of a funeral director is so important to those who are suffering from loss. If this is the career you choose, you will be doing some really important work. It is important to approach this job with sensitivity, innate peacefulness and supportive hard work.

    The most important skills to process are communication and a keen sense of organization. However, the key thing to remember about the career of a funeral director is that there will always be intense emotion involved. You will require compassion and an ability to deal with constant tragedy. While funeral directors have to be business savvy—something that may be misunderstood as greed by clients from time to time—they must also possess sincerity and a peacemaking quality. Many families will be going through some tough arguments. While it is sad, the funeral business is still a business. If you are going to take on this career you must be incredibly sensitive to the strife of your clients while still managing a successful professional life. Clients will have a lot of emotional needs, grief and stress. It would be your job to unburden them a bit and complete all the logistical parts of a loss in the family. If you want to help people during rough times and are able to deal with tragedy calmly, this is the job for you.

    Duties

    Duties include meeting with families, helping families plan for the funerals of their lost ones, sometimes embalming and preparing bodies (this becomes easier with practice), and organizing memorial services and wakes. On the paperwork side, funeral directors are often in charge of posting obituary notices in newspapers. Being in charge of a funeral home also means that you will be handling a lot of paperwork—depending on the size of the funeral home (whether it’s a chain or a privately-run business), you may be in charge of hiring and paying staff. These are basic business ins and out that come with any manager level position. Funeral directors carry out whatever the client pays to have done. This also includes arranging transportation for bodies and making plans with crematories, embalmers, reverends and cemetery staff. Anything to tie up the loose ends of a difficult time.

    Requirements

    You will need a high school diploma and an associate degree in funeral service education. Once you’ve acquired the education you need, the next step is an apprenticeship (an internship)—these generally last for a year or two. Once the apprenticeship is completed the last step is to pass the national board examination. Then you have your license!

    Salary

    Funeral Directors can earn from $34,000 starting salary to $63,000 per year or more.

    Source:

    http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Funeral_Director/Salary

  • Career profile: Clerical Library Assistant

    Career profile: Clerical Library Assistant

    JPD Job Video on Library Assistants:

    https://jobspeopledo.com/job-videos/?What=library+assistants&x=0&y=0

    Ah the library world! Want to combine office life with your favourite place, the library? Clerical work involves day-to-day office tasks such as answering phones and entering data about patrons and books into spreadsheets. Often there is work processing and typing involved, so if you’re computer savvy this is a good career find. Some library assistants simply stock shelves and sign out books etc. Clerical library assistants are a lot like secretaries. They keep the office running in an organized and sufficient way while still doing the typical library assistant duties.

    Do you like to organize your room often and file your homework and class papers? Well if you love books and research, a clerical library assistant is a great way to combine all your passions. The great thing about this job is that it doesn’t require extensive schooling. It’s great for those who want to jump straight into a career without too much of an educational detour. A high school diploma is usually good enough for getting this sort of job—many libraries actually offer to hire and train high schoolers. A lot of the learning is on the job. But if you are looking for a clerical library assistant job in a large city or at a highly reputable library, a college diploma is always super helpful.

    Duties

    Let’s break it down, future clerical library assistant! You will be in charge of loaning and shelving books, catalogue texts, distributing library cards, helping visitors locate resources and updating registration and maintain electronic databases. The great news about this career is that according to www.study.com , job growth for this career is estimated to rise between 2014 and 2024. What does that mean? It means that this is a very safe career with room to move up. If you wish to become a full-fledged librarian eventually, library assistant jobs are known to be compatible with full time studies. Hey, you might even get one of these jobs at your college! Focusing more on the clerical aspects will allow you to hone your organizational skills and no matter what you do in life, that is always a huge plus.

    Salary

    A Library Assistant can make from $27,893 to a high pay of $61,102 per year in Canada.

    Source:

    http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Library_Assistant/Hourly_Rate

  • Career Profile: Library Technician

    Career Profile: Library Technician

    JPD Job Video for Library Technicians:

    https://jobspeopledo.com/job-videos/?What=LIBRARY+TECHNICIANS&x=0&y=0

    Do you find that the library is your favourite room at school? Does reading and researching make you excited? Well guess what? It’s cool to be a librarian. Whatever idea you may have in your head about what a librarian looks like (the stereotype of old wrinkly lady in a turtleneck hissing ‘shhhhhhhh’), that is not actually the reality. Books are cool. And taking care of them and managing the sharing of them is really, really cool.

    Breaking it down

    A library technician is another term for library assistant—the person in this job field is skilled at using recourses to discover information. They reserve, renew, circulate and discharge books and other materials kept in the library; they also manage database of library users’ information, coming and goings. Library technicians provide assistance to librarians, teachers and students—they locate materials to help complete projects and content. In other words, they are super important to all those who love to read and want to pass their classes!

    The times, they are a changin’

    Technology is always changing. It will never stop doing that and anyone who wants to keep steady work their whole life needs to know how to roll with the changes. It is the job of a library technician to evolve with the evolving technology—Internet tools, virtual libraries, software and automated databases come and go. Library technicians need to keep afloat on the new technology and adjust library databases accordingly.

    Library technicians vs. librarians

    So, what is the difference between library technicians and librarians exactly? The difference is in the main duties and education they require. To become a library technician, you probably will require a diploma. But ideally, an associate degree in library technology from a college would be best. Librarians, however, require a master’s degree in library science from a university. Being a library technician is a good job to begin with if you love being in a library but don’t want to go to school for years to get there. Alternatively, being a library technician is also a great job to have on your road to being a full librarian. This road will have you doing research projects, networking and building a career that could bring you a lot of respect and acclaim. Depending on if you work as a library technician in a large city or small town, you may be a part of a team of technicians, or the sole aid to the building’s librarians.

    Salary

    A Library Technician can start with a salary of $28,118 and work up to a median salary of $46,453 in Canada. Some highly educated and experienced technicians can earn up to $69,083.

    Source:

    http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Library_Technician/Hourly_Rate

  • The Gift of Reading: How to be an Effective Reading Buddy

    The Gift of Reading: How to be an Effective Reading Buddy

     “A book is a gift you can open again and again” goes the adage. Reading stories, whether fiction or non-fiction, allows us to explore different ideas and theories, takes us on quests and adventures, and lets us experience and feel a rollercoaster of emotions.

    Wouldn’t it be nice to share this gift to a reading buddy? You get to promote the love of reading, while at the same time, you get to improve on your own reading skills and enhance your social skills. Most of all, becoming a reading buddy is a great opportunity for you to lend a hand to someone who hasn’t fully discovered the joys of reading yet. Here are a few tips for you to become a better reading buddy:

    Choose your reading buddy.

    Enlist the help of your teachers who work with students from the lower grades to find your ideal reading buddy. They’re well-aware of students who might be having reading difficulties, those who can truly use help in both reading and comprehension, as well as their vocabulary and grammar. Another way is to post an ad on your school’s bulletin board, but be sure you have your teachers’ approval. Of course, there might be school programs for this already put in place so you may not have to choose a reading buddy on your own.

    Set a venue and schedule.

    Have a systematic schedule for reading in place. If you’ve agreed that Wednesday is a light schedule for all of you, devote that day for reading, no ifs or buts about it. Also, it’s important to have a set venue every week that’s accessible for all. You may want to talk to your principal about reserving a classroom room or space at the library.

    Choose the reading materials wisely.

    You wouldn’t want to read “Green Eggs and Ham” to a reading buddy if the latter is in 4th grade, but you wouldn’t go so far as to read a 4th grader “Crime and Punishment” either. Junior high school reading materials like “The Lord of the Flies” make for a compelling read for young readers and can inspire an insightful discussion afterward. Occasionally, let the reading buddies choose the reading materials.

    Make it engaging.

    Keep in mind you’re reading to kids who are a few years younger than you, and they’re likely to have a short attention span. To capture their attention, put your actor’s hat on.  Employ as much dramatics as you can when you read. Of course, you don’t have to ham it up to the extreme like you’re performing on Broadway, but play around with your tone, voice, and even facial expressions. Dramatic pauses can especially help to convey mystery and suspense.

    Gauge their progress.

    Take a pause from reading, maybe every two chapters or so, and check in with your reading buddies. Ask them what’s taking place in the story. Help them understand the material more in detail by posing questions like how do they relate to the character and what do they think will happen next.

    Try a role reversal.

    Once you’ve gone through numerous materials, it’s ideal to reverse the roles, where they’ll have to read a material of their own choosing to you. This way, they get to practice their reading skills, giving them a confidence boost at the same time. You’d be surprised at what they can offer, and who knows, maybe next time they’ll be the readers themselves.

    With social networking sites hogging kids’ attention these days, it’s always good to instill the love for reading at an early age. Encouraging them to participate as a reading buddy will open their eyes to the wonders of reading, while at the same time, help them become better at reading and comprehension.

    SOURCES:

    https://twoapplesaday.org/2012/01/22/tips-for-successful-reading-buddies/

    http://busyteacher.org/17093-start-a-reading-buddy-program-this-school-year.html

    http://www.pbs.org/parents/martha/readingbuddies/

    http://www.improveliteracy.com/aug10_newsletter.aspx

    http://www.sayl.org/reading-buddy-tip-read-aloud/

    http://www.readingrockets.org/helping

    http://dyslexia.yale.edu/PAR_10thingstohelpchild.html

    http://athome.readinghorizons.com/research/struggling-reader-101

  • Understanding and Respecting the LGBTQ Community

    Understanding and Respecting the LGBTQ Community

    Understanding sexuality and LGBTQ rights are important in order to accept those who may have a different sexuality from you. It may seem like there’s a lot to learn and while it’s true that there are a few definitions to learn, it’s important to remember that they’re all part of helping people live in peace. Respecting others is something we must learn to do whether it is in the workplace, home or at school.

    First and foremost: what does LGBTQ mean? It stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer. In case you don’t know what all of these things mean, don’t worry! I’m here to define them for you. A lesbian is a woman who is romantically interested in women. Gay can refer to men who are romantically interested in men but can also refer to lesbians. Someone who is bisexual refers to a man or woman who romantically likes both men and women. Transgender and Queer seem to be the definitions that are the trickier ones to understand so I’ll do my best to help.

    Transgender refers to someone who identifies as a gender different from the one they were classified as at birth. Queer can actually be defined in several different ways. The term can be defined as someone who is romantically interested in people of many different genders and can also relate to someone who sees themselves as going against society’s norms.

    There are a few terms out there that I haven’t mentioned here but are just as important in accepting others and understanding that, just like you, they’re people who deserve respect. A boy who has a boyfriend is just as much a person as a boy who has a girlfriend. One of the best things you can do for yourself and other people is to respect their lifestyles. Simply, it is their life and we are all different.

    The great news is that the world is slowly but surely moving towards accepting anyone who fits into the above categories. An animated short film titled In a Heartbeat follows the story of a young boy whose heart leaps out of his chest because of the overwhelming feelings that he feels for another boy. You can watch this film to get a little more information into the LGBTQ world and also see why being gay or a lesbian or transgender really isn’t a big deal.

    As children we all know what it feels like to be teased. Being made fun of is terrible and it often hurts our feelings. You probably know what it feels like to be made fun of, which is why you should never do it to someone else. If someone isn’t bothering you, it’s important to let them live their lives but it’s just as important to educate yourself on these terms so you can be more accepting. Remember the Golden Rule: treat others as you want to be treated. The world will be a better place for it!

    Sources:

    http://www.liberateyourself.co.uk/lgbtq/what-is-lgbtq/

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=transgender

    http://www.uua.org/lgbtq/identity/queer

     

     

  • Social Anxiety

    Social Anxiety

    Knowing whether or not you have social anxiety can be difficult. There are varying degrees of anxiety and if you don’t talk about it then it’s hard to pinpoint which kind you may be suffering from. Sometimes it’s also hard to know whether or not you just get scared before tests or if you find yourself getting scared for longer periods of time. So, first let’s break it down with the difference between anxiety and social anxiety.

    The dictionary defines anxiety as “apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill,” which is pretty much a fancier way of saying that you get a little scared when you think something bad is about to happen. It’s perfectly normal for students to get nervous before they present or before they have a test. Many students have the same fears that you do before something big in class happens so just remember that you’re not alone with these feelings.

    Social anxiety is a little different but shares many similarities to general anxiety. Social anxiety is medically defined by Merriam’s dictionary as “a form of anxiety that is brought about by social situations (such as meeting strangers, dating, or public speaking) in which embarrassment or a negative judgment by others may occur.” Now, as I said before, a little anxiety is perfectly normal. It’s always a little nerve-wracking to be introduced to a new teacher or being paired with a new student for a project.

    But, there are ways to help yourself feel a little more at ease so you can cope with any kind of social or general anxiety.

    First, you need to speak to your caregivers or your parents about what you’re feeling – especially if your anxiety lasts longer than the school day. They’re there to guide you and to help you understand what social anxiety means. Rest assured they will help you with your anxious thoughts and remind you of the rational things that sometimes slip our minds when we’re feeling scared.

    Usually anxiety is accompanied with feelings of nausea, wobbly limbs, headaches, heavy breathing, and a possible desire to cry. It’s important to remember that these feelings will pass. There are also ways to calm yourself down when you feel these sensations coming. Take deep breaths. Talk to a friend or to someone who helps you feel at ease. Listen to some music that you love. These quick tips will offer you some relief before doing something that makes you nervous.

    However, one of the most important things to remember is that if you ever feel alone or scared, you need to speak to someone about it. If you ever feel anxious during the day outside of school or you think you’re more nervous than you ought to be, you need to say something. There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re going through something alone and I can guarantee that you’re not. Don’t ever avoid your feelings. They’re important and there are lots of people out there to help you.

    Sources:

    https://www.anxietybc.com/parenting/my-anxiety-plan-social-anxiety

    http://www.childanxiety.net/News2.htm

    http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/stop-anxiety-quickly

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/social%20anxiety

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anxiety