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  • The Beautiful Irony of Social Responsibility

    The Beautiful Irony of Social Responsibility

    A modern scientific understanding of the human mind gives us insight on our development as a species. We evolved through the selfish and brutish process of evolution, in which the adept flourish and those not suited for the environment are mercilessly left behind. The utmost goal of living organisms is to survive. Genuine altruism, the act of genuinely putting other lives ahead of your own, is an illusion.

    Far from disheartening, this actually leads to a far more interesting conclusion. We evolved as communal creatures because communities are far more beneficial to our selfish survival than going at it solo. We help others because it makes us feel good. We improve our lives when we enrich the lives of others. Our selfishness is ironically altruistic.

    This beautiful irony allows us to better our own lives if we embrace it in its entirety. Social responsibility is this awareness of the world around you. A world that grows, gains, and loses parts of itself day after day, regardless of your awareness of these phenomena. By choosing awareness, you will grow with the world, reap from those gains, and truly understand the impact of the losses.

    This can take the form of donations to charities and causes that speak to you, whether they are large amounts or loose change. If your pockets are empty, take action. Volunteer, tutor students struggling with their classes, or become an activist for your favourite cause. Even picking up litter on the streets, a deceptively simple task that is far from trivial, can stir you to take further action and encourage those around you to follow suit. You are not fighting or defying your selfish genes, but rather utilizing them in the most selfless way.

    Two common terms most associated with social responsibility are Individual Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsibility. The distinction is simple but the implications can be problematic. The latter looks at what a company or organization does for its community. This term can cause us grow despondent when thinking of the far-reaching capabilities of an organization versus our own individual impact. Yet it is Individual Social Responsibility that is the roots of Corporate Social Responsibility, and where the real change happens; whatever the terminology, the core principles remain the same.

    You may have lingering doubts about your role in all of this. Many of us do. We are trapped in the perspective our minds create. We have a logical understanding that there is an entire universe out there, and a single planet with billions of minds, each with its own perspective. Yet our individual brain does not have the capacity to truly conceive this idea in its entirety. Stepping outside yourself and focusing on your social responsibility is one of the best ways to battle anxiety, depression, and the other negative mental states that trap us. By engaging in social responsibility, we are bridging the gap between the solitary perspective within us and the endless vibrancy of the surrounding world.

    Source:
    Enevoldson, Naomi. What is Social Responsibility? http://www.imasocialentrepreneur.com/social-responsibility/

  • Living the Entrepreneurial Life

    Living the Entrepreneurial Life

    Traditionally, we are hunters. In the modern world, we still hunt: for jobs, for apartments, for dates, and more. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors took a huge step in their evolution when they transitioned to farming. Entrepreneurs are also farmers. Instead of going out and mining existing resources for jobs, you are instead planting the seeds for those very resources.

    Entrepreneurs are able to gather together resources to make their products or provide their service, find the money to make it happen, hire the people they need, and set up the office space to get the job done. They fearlessly don many hats and juggle the roles as needed. To become one yourself, you have to be prepared to do all of these things. You will be free from the 9-to-5 world, but be ready to work evenings, nights, and weekends with a schedule that could change weekly.

    Entrepreneurs use their strengths to add value to the world around them. This can take a myriad of shapes and forms. As an employee, you must assess what is expected of you and utilize your strengths to make that happen. As an entrepreneur, you must assess your strengths and utilize them unexpectedly. You are not given work, but create your own work from the ground up. The freedom is frightening, but it also paves pathways allowing nearly any skill set to be utilized.

    To start, spend time sorting out your service or product until you are comfortable, but not to the point of perfection. It will inevitably evolve as you have successes, failures, receiving feedback, and experience the ups and downs that come with the entrepreneurial world. Social media makes it much easier to grab someone’s attention, but harder to hold on. You will want to make immediate impacts. Keep your website design simple utilizing a few select images. Pull out your best camera, or rely on a photographer to get you the shot you need.

    Corporate businesses live in a competitive world where the small can be devoured by the large. As an entrepreneur, you do not have to fret over your size. The elasticity of your business can mean uncertainty and struggles, but it also offers freedom. Do not dwell on whether your business is big or small, as the latter can be frightening and the former disheartening. You business simply is. Whether as a team or solo, as your primary income source or supplementary, as a part-time or full-time endeavour, your business is your baby.

    You must be able to create structure from chaos, be prepared to take on the initiative on a daily basis, and brave the unpredictability that awaits you. Above all, you need a strong understanding of your own skill set and the ways it could be utilized in the world around you. Take time to jot down some notes about what you would want to do and how you would go about it. The moment your thoughts hit the paper, you are an entrepreneur.

    Source

    Tracy, Brian. The Role of the Entrepreneur. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/78478

  • Sure-fire Tips to Spark Creativity

    Sure-fire Tips to Spark Creativity

    There is an age-old rumour that well-acclaimed author Stephen King mostly gets his inspiration for his books from his dreams. Unfortunately, if you are facing a deadline for a creative project for school, you don’t have the luxury of time to test out this theory. The good news is that there are sure-fire ways to bring out your inner creative self.

    Brainstorm.

    Whether the project is individual or group, it always helps to bounce ideas off with your peers. This way, you get to learn different perspectives, and eventually you will find how to approach your task at hand. You would be surprised how much you can learn from your peers just by a short brainstorming session. Just take note that brainstorming should be a healthy discussion – so avoid any conflicts.

    Get inspired by other accomplished artists.

    The best examples that showcase people’s creativity can be found in works of arts, music, and film. If you have time, head to an art gallery, concert, or movie theatre. Even if your creative project does not involve any of these mediums, you could still be inspired- a great idea, is a great idea.

    Take a walk.

    You don’t have to be a poet to commune with nature and be inspired. Sometimes walking is what you need to bring out your inner creative self. Of course, don’t underestimate the power of an idea spark—sometimes it comes in the most unexpected places. Some creative minds have been known to have that eureka moment while they were in the shower or doing mundane tasks like washing the dishes.

    Make a list.

    Since ideas can strike anywhere, the trick is to note them down somewhere when they do strike. Always keep a notebook to jot your ideas down. However, if you are all for technology, always keep your memo or notepad ready in your smartphone or tablet.

    Are you ready for the next big idea? Try out these tips and you will certainly unleash your creative powers!

    SOURCES:

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/communication-success/201402/how-unleash-your-creativity-and-find-inspiration-today

    http://www.virtuesforlife.com/10-ways-to-spark-creative-thinking/

    http://www.chopra.com/ccl/7-steps-to-inspire-creativity-within

    http://psychcentral.com/lib/20-ideas-from-creativity-connoisseurs-to-inspire-your-imagination/

  • Trying New Things

    Trying New Things

    Trying new things can bring up a variety of emotions like fear, anxiety, frustration, excitement and pride. It involves taking a risk, but that risk might be very rewarding. It’s often hard to remember but everything you know how to do was once new. You had to learn to walk, talk, read, ride a bike, use a computer etc. all of your favorite foods were once new, too. Branching out and trying new things can have a number of benefits:

    1. You might learn new skills that will be useful in the future. Think about how participating in sports has taught you teamwork, patience and hand-eye coordination. Or how playing video games has honed your computer skills and problem solving techniques. New activities will lead to new skills you can put to good use in other aspects of your life.

    2. Successfully conquering something new can give you a sense of pride and accomplishment. Even though it may seem difficult at first, it can be very rewarding. It can help improve self-esteem and self-confidence.

    3. Trying new things might help alleviate boredom. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and do the same things day after day. But it can be fun to mix things up once and awhile and try something you’ve never done.

    4. You might find something new you really enjoy like a new favorite food, sport, hobby or song.

    5. You might discover a future career path or interest you might like to study and learn more about. Trying new things can lead to discovering hidden talents you never knew you had.

    6. When you try new things you will inevitably grow as a person. Growth helps you adopt new ways of thinking and seeing the world.

    7. Learning new skills can be fun. Remember back to when you learned to ride a bike, or a skateboard or play your favorite video game it was probably exciting and exhilarating to succeed and improve.

    8. Trying new activities can help you meet new people and might lead to new friendships. People participating in the same activities as you will probably share similar interests as you.

    Although routine is important in many ways (it can help you become more disciplined, accountable and reliable). Too much routine can sometimes lead to boredom or a mundane feeling about your daily activities. The best way to alleviate these feelings is to try something new. Think of it as an adventure. If you are really afraid or nervous to try something talk with someone about your apprehensions. Not doing something you really want to do out of fear of the unknown may lead you to regret your decision in the future. It might help to voice your concerns out loud. Try not to let your fear control you. Trying new things makes life much more interesting and enjoyable.

  • My friend is bossy—how to confront a friend at school

    My friend is bossy—how to confront a friend at school

    No one likes to be bossed around, and it is even worse if the person bossing you around is a friend. Everyone has a different type of personality, and some lean more towards the confident and controlling side than others; you might hear it referred to as “A Type” personality. While this can evolve into strong leadership skills, sometimes it can make those less controlling feel targeted and even bullied.

    Bossiness can come in a few forms: a person can be aware that they are being bossy and not care, or they can be unaware of it. If your friend is TRULY your friend, he or she will listen to you if you come forward about how their bossiness is hurting you. Often times an initial reaction to this kind of honesty may be denial or anger, but if you tell them how you really feel in a calm manner and give them space they will eventually come around. If they do not, they do not have your best interests at heart nor do they value the friendship you two share.

    Confronting a friend is always hard. But maybe you feel like their bossiness has embarrassed you in front of others, or demeaned you, or made you think less of yourself. Whatever emotions it raises, being on the receiving end of bossiness at a friend level rather than a boss/employee level can seriously damage your self-esteem and make going to school hard. Here are some ways you can approach the friend in question:

    1. Treat your friend to something or share a special snack.

    Ask to spend a lunch break together and treat your friend to a soft drink or share something special your parent packed in your lunch. This kindness will put forward a sense of comradery and friendship. Once you’ve relaxed into the break a little, calmly bring up a situation where they were being bossy, mention that it had hurt you and that you need to talk about it.

    2. If you are worried about how to confront your friend, ask for a teacher’s help.

    This can be tricky, because your friend might feel ganged up on. But if you explain to your teacher that you just want your friendship to be fun again, he/she will understand and try to make things as smooth as possible. Maybe ask that the three of you sit down and that the teacher mediate a discussion between you and your friend. Sometimes all it takes is a strong role model present to allow you to feel the freedom and courage to say what you need to.

    3. Explain what you are feeling in a way that makes his/her friendship valuable to you.

    Everyone has different feelings when a friend is being bossy, but usually one of those is that you no longer look forward to spending time with them. Start the conversation by saying that you like being their friend, but when they are bossy to you it makes you feel less close and even scared of spending time with them. Say that you don’t want that to happen.

  • Defining and Finding Value

    Defining and Finding Value

    What is value? The word is tossed around economically, religiously, culturally, and in just about every arena of human thought. It carries such colossal weight despite its vagueness. This lack of clarity means it can be easily construed and misconstrued. So many of us deal with low self-esteem and struggle to find value in ourselves and what we do, and this is often because we do not tackle the word head-on.

    The one word that most closely matches the aforementioned one would be importance. You must tune out all the other ideas of what matters, no matter what you may hear from friends, the media, and more, and tune in to yourself. Make a list of the things of all that is significant for you. Add notes on how each item affects you and how it affects others. What you want to look out for are the actions and behaviours that have a positive result in both of those fields. It is in those that you will find your value.

    An important matter to keep in mind is self-value versus self-esteem. You have likely heard plenty about the latter. Self-esteem has everything to do with emotion – it triggers reactions in your brain to make you feel good. Too much self-esteem leads to arrogance, and more importantly, it only paints part of the picture. Self-value, on the other hand, focuses less on emotion and more on actions. When you do things that are positive for yourself and others, you add value to yourself. This is why showing compassion and care for people of great significance in your life offers more happiness than staying at home and watching Netflix.

    Actions of value are critical particularly when you fall into the habit of devaluing yourself. Studies have shown that when you feel powerless or lower your opinion of yourself, the negative emotion secretes a huge amount of cortisol and is hard to balance if not fought within twenty minutes. In order to continue valuing yourself, focus on those items on your list that meet both criteria and continue to study your environment. Seek out the opportunities at school, at home, in your city, and beyond that correlate with those items.

    At the end of the day, value remains a vague term. Many people will try to define it for you. If you feel powerless and have a low opinion of yourself, you will be more likely to let others make that major decision. Take action immediately to remind yourself of the things you do that add value, and seek out what other actions you could be taking. It is never too late to act, but the longer you wait, the harder value is to attain. Define it and find it.

    Sources:

    Stosny, Steven. How Much Do You Value Yourself? https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/anger-in-the-age-entitlement/201406/how-much-do-you-value-yourself

  • Confessions of a Procrastination Junkie

    Confessions of a Procrastination Junkie

    You may be reading this as the clock ticks down on the deadline for that essay. Here you are again, desperately typing away to reach the minimum word count, while frequently taking short breaks to keep your mind from frazzling. Rest assured that many others face similar plights daily. So many, have fallen into the trap of putting things off until tomorrow again and again until there is no tomorrow and the midnight deadline fast approaches.

    As a teacher, I have spoken with many students who waited until the night before, morning of, or even the minutes prior to class in order to complete their assignment. On multiple occasions, I have watched students on one end of the classroom scurry to complete their work as I start collecting papers from the other side. It is a habit, and a widespread one. I think the only way to beat it is to take the wording a step further. Procrastination is an addiction.

    We are addicted to the immediate gains of putting off work. It means we get to relax in the immediate moment, and that gives us a short-term pleasure boost. Giving in to short-term gain for long-term suffering is not all that different from drug use. Eventually, habits become subconscious and we act without fully realizing our actions. In order to beat any problem, we have to accept it as a problem. Yet we also have to accept the reasons why we do it – we have to find the good in our addiction.

    Aside from that short-term burst of endorphins, students often speak of their love of pressure. Many of us think that the pressure of a deadline pushes us to work harder and produce a better end product. Time and time again, experiments have shown that humans make worse decisions when under pressure. Many people think that pressure drives results, but it does so at a cost.

    This ties into one last cause of procrastination I have seen, not only in students but in myself. After much deliberation, I realized that I put things off as a protective measure. By waiting until the last minute, you are physically incapable of giving a task your all. I realized I gave myself no choice but to rush. If the task ultimately failed, I could put the blame on my procrastination. I preferred thinking I could have done better over giving it my all, failing, and discovering my limits. I became addicted to this safety net which coddled me.

    Beating an addiction means fully analyzing it. You need to make sense of why you procrastinate, and from there determine the value and damage that results from it. Only then can you see its addictive nature, its misleading positives, and the hindrance it places on your potential. By facing those realities instead of a clock ticking down to midnight, you can take action now.

    Sources:

    Pychyl, Tomothy. I’ll Feel More Like It Tomorrow. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/201203/ill-feel-more-it-tomorrow

  • Child Development Practitioner

    Child Development Practitioner

    What is a child development practitioner? A child development worker or CDP works with infants, toddlers and pre school age children. They help plan and organize activities for the children, engage socially with the children and teach them basic skills.

    CDPs work in the ECE Field (early childhood education). Students in this field study the psychological development of children. Student will also get the opportunity to work with children in class as well as field placements gaining valuable work experience.

    Many colleges offer two year diplomas for the field of ECE and CDPs. Once you are a CDP you can begin an apprenticeship. Students usually have to complete an ECE (early childhood educator) program before they can enroll to become a CDP. Once completed individuals can become registered with the Ontario College of Early Childhood educators.

    The majority of CDPs work in day cares. They help initiate curriculums for children, create nutritious meal plans, do activities and teach the children about toilet training, socials skills such as manners and sharing. CDPs may also start their own home day care and become self-employed. Home day care operators are required to follow the same guidelines as regular days and must be up to the same standards as other chain businesses with annual inspections.

    Working as a CDP can be a very enjoyable experience. You get to be creative, teach children, and bond with them. If you enjoy working with children, then this is the career for you.

    Sources:

    http://www.apprenticesearch.com/AboutTrades/GetTradeDetails?tradeId=54&TradeName=early-childhood-educator
    http://www.senecacollege.ca/school/earlychildhoodeducation/ecef/ecef.html
    https://www.fanshawec.ca/programs-and-courses/program/cdp1-child-development-practitioner-apprenticeship/current-year
    http://www.ontario.ca/page/types-child-care

  • Careers in Travel

    Careers in Travel

    Are you itching to hop on a plane and end up somewhere completely different? Do you long to learn about other cultures but need a consistent paycheck while you are doing it? There are many jobs that involve travel—such as archaeology, geology and consulting, but we have narrowed down some job ideas for the travel-hungry that are a little more specific.

    English Teacher

    This is one of the best ways to start paying off student loans while getting to travel at the same time. Typically acquired by those who are fresh out of university, teaching English as a second language in different countries around the world typically requires a Bachelor’s degree, strong language and leadership skills, and a commitment of at least one year. This is a fantastic way to ease yourself into the work force while gaining life experience. Many of these teaching jobs take place specifically in China, Korea and Japan.

    Truck Driver

    Truck drivers are absolutely essential to our economy—they transport raw materials and finished goods over land on a deadline. If you decide to follow this route, you will be expected to inspect your vehicle consistently for safety and mechanical issues, and will often also be responsible for sales and customer service if you decide to operate your own business. This constant road-trip job can be lonely, but those who enjoy solitary work thrive and can earn a lot of money.

    Flight Attendant

    Of course the best way to see the world is to always be on a plane! Flight attendants are in charge of the safety and comfort of passengers on flights. While making sure the flight goes safely is their number one priority, they also functions as servers. It is now normal for airlines to employ both women and men, and multilingual flight attendants are in high demand—particularly in Canada, it is quite an asset to speak French. The more wide your range, the more interesting places you will get to go to and higher class flights you will be on!

    Au Pair

    The most glamorous kind of babysitter, au pairs are domestic assistants who travel to other countries to live with a host family. They are responsible for childcare, housework and receive allowances for personal use. This is a great way to travel and see other countries in a financially sound way…rent and living-expenses free.

    Travel Tour Guide

    Often where you get travel tour guide work will depend on your language abilities, although English is a very important one and sometimes all you need depending on the kinds of tourists you deal with. These workers provide information on cultural, historical and contemporary knowledge to tourists while also assisting them. This may involve large groups or private small groups. Typically these jobs will take place at museums or other educational establishments, religious sites or sites of historical importance.

    International Aid Worker (Red Cross)

    Often a very physically and emotionally demanding job, being an international aid worker requires first aid experience. Being emergency response means that you will be on-call and away from home for long periods of time. You must work well as part of a team, work for continuous long periods of time, and thrive in multi-cultural environments. While this is very difficult work, many people believe it to be extremely rewarding. You must be able to integrate well with others’ heritages and beliefs and always respect the country you are in.

  • Things to Know Before You Go to High School

    Things to Know Before You Go to High School

    No matter what generation you are from, it is a universal truth that the media makes high school seem scary. Decade after decade, movies depicting high school life make it seem so different and scary from elementary and middle schools. Different it most certainly is…scary it is not. At least it does not have to be. A lot of times your early perceptions of high school is solely based on films or word of mouth from older people in your life like siblings and their friends. From John Hughes movies like The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles, to the 90s classics Clueless and Jawbreaker to 2000s modern classics Mean Girls and Easy A, high school is depicted as a politic heavy bully central. It is actually so, so much calmer in reality.

    Here are a few things to keep in mind before you walk through those doors on your freshman day:

    1. People in high school are not as tall as they first appear. You are a regular sized human.
    2. Do not follow the stereotype guidelines of movies, that is, how you miss out on great experiences. Do not let your personality be judged by others and based on where you choose to spend your time in high school.
    3. Grades are increasingly more important as you progress through high school. Keep tabs on that, even if you believe university is not in your future. Open possibilities will give you an innate sense of freedom.
    4. Every one in high school is just a kid. You are all growing up, even if some seem more mature than others. Grow up at your own pace.
    5. This is one tiny portion of your life. Who you are in high school will not define who you eventually become.
    6. Choose friends that make you happy and respect you. Do not hang with anyone for status because their power will be meaningless in the future, but some true friendships last a lifetime.
    7. Use your school’s extra resources like AP courses and tutoring; your university self will thank you. Of course do not overfill your plate, but instead allow yourself small extra challenges each semester.