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Category: Featured Articles

  • How Does Social Media Impact You?

    How Does Social Media Impact You?

    Whether it is Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, social media is a great way to connect with people around the world. These networks allow you to meet new people as well as re-connect with people you haven’t talked to in a while. Sharing pictures and updates can even make you feel closer to people near and far. These networks also allow for a venue of discussion about recent hot topics and news stories. As social beings, social media allows us to fulfill our natural desire to connect with people despite our busy schedules. While all of these things may seem positive, there is also quite a bit of negativity associated with social media. It is therefore important to be aware of these aspects in both your professional and personal lives.

    What a lot of people don’t realize is how social media can affect you and your job search. Any type of social media profile you create is a direct reflection of yourself. You are choosing to show people who you are and anything you post affects the way people are going to view you. These social media profiles can contribute to your reputation. They either help you maintain a good one or create a bad one. If you decide to maintain a professional social media account then it can be used in a positive way by you promoting yourself and your skill set. If you are trying to start a business, you could use social media outlets as free marketing venues.

    A practice that a lot of companies have been involved in recently is searching the social media profiles of potential employees to get a better idea of who they are. This is especially important to keep in mind when you are searching and applying for jobs. You don’t want employers to see pictures of you partying or doing inappropriate things. It may be hard to believe, but employers may view you as a liability to their company and that your behaviour on these social media websites could compromise their public image. This is why it is extremely important to maintain professional social media profiles. Despite social media having privacy settings there are still ways for companies to get around these, so proceed with caution.

    However, social media also has the ability to help you network with future employers. It gives you the opportunity to learn about different opportunities. It can even help you learn about these opportunities before the greater public learns about them, giving you an edge above the competition. An important website that many people use in order to expand their network of employers is LinkedIn. LinkedIn allows you to post your resume online and connect with employers in your field. It is a great resource for finding job opportunities.

    So make sure you think twice about the things you decide to post on your social media profiles. It could be the difference between landing a job you really want or missing out on an opportunity!

     

  • Choosing the Right High School Courses

    Choosing the Right High School Courses

    It’s back-to-school time, and you’ve probably planned out all your classes for the coming year. Course selection is usually done in the spring, allowing students to sign up for mandatory courses as well as choose some electives. Though course selection for the current year is likely now over, you might want to have another look at your timetable to make sure you’ve really made the right choices. Here are some tips to make sure your schedule measures up—and if it’s too late to make changes, you can take these helpful hints into account in the springtime.

    The majority of high school programs require certain credits in order to graduate. Generally speaking, for schools in Ontario, grades 9 and 10 have lots of mandatory courses (like Geography, French, or Civics and Careers). But once you get to grades 11 and 12, you’re given the freedom to play with your schedule a little bit; usually, the required courses at these levels are only English and Math. Of course, this doesn’t mean the rest of the classes you take in these years aren’t worth it! Oftentimes it’s the electives you choose, and not your required courses, that actually hold the most merit.

    When selecting courses, keep in mind that many post-secondary programs have high school prerequisites. In order to even be eligible for programs like sciences, math, or business, you have to have the courses they specify on your high school transcript. (It wouldn’t make sense, for instance, if you wanted to specialize in Biology, but you’d never actually taken a Biology course in high school.)

    You don’t have to know what you’re going to do with your life in order to choose courses in high school. But keep your options open, especially if you’re going into upper years. Check out a couple of post-secondary programs online, and see what kind of prerequisites you’d need in order to apply. If there’s a field you’ve really set your heart on, make sure you choose those required courses so you have a fair shot.

    That being said, your schedule doesn’t have to be all work and no play. High school, and wonderfully so, allows you to take what you’re interested in—even if you don’t want to pursue a career in that field. Don’t be afraid to try something new to complement your post-secondary prerequisites. If you’re interested in visual arts, computers, or even cooking, there might be a class out there for you.

    Course selection can be stressful for any student, but if you find a balance between what you like and what you’ll need, you’re going to wind up having a blast in the coming year. If you’re having misgivings about the courses you selected for this year, it may not be too late to switch things up. And it’s definitely worth your time to start thinking about what you’ll be doing come next fall. If you have more questions about course selection, you should see your school’s guidance counselor.

  • Career Profile: Veterinarian

    Career Profile: Veterinarian

    When people get sick, they go to a doctor. Do you know where they take animals that are sick? The doctors who look after animals, whether they are pets like cats and dogs or farm animals like sheep, are called veterinarians, or vets. Just like doctors for humans, veterinarians are experts in health and diseases for their patients. Becoming a veterinarian takes a lot of hard work, but it can be an enjoyable and rewarding profession for people who like helping animals.

    Taking care of animals can be complicated, especially since, unlike human patients, animals are unable to tell their doctors about any problems they are having. Veterinarians have to be able to diagnose problems just by doing tests and by looking at the animals for signs of illness or injury. They need verbal skills to be able to talk with the animals’ owners, but they also need to know about animal behavior, such as what it means when a horse lies down on the ground or a dog hides under the furniture. Problem-solving is an important part of the work. Veterinarians have to look at how the animal is acting and use their knowledge of diseases to determine the issue and decide on treatment. Someone who loves animals and spends time with them is likely to have some of these necessary skills for veterinary work.

    Besides an understanding of animals, veterinarians need formal education. Usually people start out with at least two years of studies in an area such as agriculture or general science. Next, they take about four years of studies at a university to get a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. This degree teaches them about illnesses, medications, regular care, and anything else they need to know. Once they finish, they have to take an exam to receive a certificate of qualification.

    Veterinarians can follow one of two basic streams. Many veterinarians work with pets, such as dogs, cats, and hamsters. Others work with farm animals, where they might have to deal with large animals like cows and horses or small animals like chickens. Veterinarians for pets can often work out of offices since the animals they treat are small enough to bring into buildings. However, veterinarians who work with large animals normally have to travel to see the animals in barns or stables. Some veterinarians work in government departments, teaching, or research.

    Working as a veterinarian can be a stressful job. The animals can be difficult to handle, especially when they are in pain or are afraid of what is happening to them. For people who really love animals, it can also be difficult to give their patients painful treatments or vaccinations. Because of stresses like these, many veterinarians change professions after about twenty years, although some stay in their work for an entire career. On average, veterinarians make about $70,000 per year, although the salary varies according to where they work and the types of animals they treat.

    Do you want to help animals? Maybe you should consider becoming a veterinarian.

  • Freshman Prep: Getting Ready for University

    Freshman Prep: Getting Ready for University

    Post-secondary is a big step, and definitely a big change from high school – which is why it’s more important than ever that you start your first year prepared and ready to learn. The transition to university can be daunting, but you can bridge the gap by putting in a little extra work before your first day of class. Whether you’ve been planning all summer or are just getting started, it’s never too late to get in the right mindset for another productive and successful year.

    Here are some things you can do to prepare for your first year in university:

    Get to know your routine.
    You’re going to need to revise some of your old habits to adjust to a brand-new university schedule. Maybe you have night classes, or have to factor in travel time to and from class as a commuter student. Maybe you have to make sure you grab lunch between lectures, or figure out just where that seminar is being held each week. Get out an agenda and write out a weekly schedule (include study time, meal breaks and whatever else you think might come up). Once classes start, you can revise your ready-made schedule as needed to suit your new routine.

    Refresh your memory.
    Chances are you’re taking some courses you’ve already completed the high school prerequisites for – and chances are you may have forgotten a couple of things over the summer. It never hurts to crack open your old schoolbooks and review previous material. Try some of those old algebra problems, or see if you can remember how to conjugate a few French tenses. You may be just a bit out of practice: consider making some review notes to bring to your lectures in the fall if you really feel you need the help.

    Do your research.
    You chose this university for a reason (and are paying hefty tuition fees for it!), so why not make the most out of your experience? Check out events happening on campus, clubs that fall in line with your interests or upperclassmen who can offer a second opinion about the school’s programs. Got some tough classes? See if you can contact your professors and shoot them an email about how to prepare for the semester ahead. Most importantly, make sure you’re on the mailing list for any newsletters your school sends out (whether they’re for academics, events, sports, etc.) – that way you’ll always be in the loop.

    University is a difficult transition for most, but if you get yourself properly ready for it your first year might go over easier than you expected. Keep these tips in mind and show up for your first class confident and prepared for what lies ahead. Let’s make this your best year yet.

  • Managing Your School and Life Schedule

    Managing Your School and Life Schedule

    People of all ages have routines. For young children, these routines are usually set by their parents or other caregivers. As they grow up, they have increasing amounts of responsibility for organizing their own lives. For some people, maintaining a balance between work or school and everyday life can be a challenge as they take on new responsibilities and try to manage the old ones. Are you already feeling pressured by all of the things you have to do? You might not be able to eliminate the stress from your life, but you can learn to balance your school work with the rest of your life.

    Are you the kind of person who likes to be busy all the time? Do you fill your after-school hours with as many activities as you can manage? Or are you the kind of person who likes to have a lot of free time? Either way, you might have a hard time (or an easy time) finding a balance between school and the rest of your life. You might feel stressed and overwhelmed to the point where you think that you can no longer manage. When that happens, what do you do?

    Almost everyone feels stressed at some point. For people who love to keep themselves busy with all kinds of projects, it might be when they take on too much to handle effectively. For people who try to avoid stress, it could be when an unexpected task cuts into their precious free time. Everyone is different. Knowing your limits is the first step towards living a balanced life. Do you work well under pressure? If so, you might be able to take on a lot of activities outside school. On the other hand, does pressure cause you to crumble under it? If so, you should limit your after-school activities and give yourself enough free time to relax.

    Part of understanding your limits is learning how to use your time efficiently. For example, what do you do if you your teacher gives you class time to finish your work? Do you try to finish your assignment or do you spend the time doing something else? Doing as much work as possible at school will help you keep more time free in the evenings and on weekends. If you help with an after-school project, do you go to the meetings with all of the supplies you need? How much time could you save by being prepared for all of your activities? You can even use the time you spend in line or waiting for your friends at the mall to plan an assignment or to write down a schedule of activities for yourself.

    Even when they schedule their time efficiently, people can have trouble balancing work and the rest of life. However, you can still try. Find out what you have to do to keep yourself healthy and happy and then work from there. That way, you have a good chance of managing both school and everyday life.

  • Study Smart: Tips for Academic Success This Year

    Study Smart: Tips for Academic Success This Year

    I hope you had a great summer, because it’s September: back-to-school season. Whether you’re just entering high school or brushing up your last year in post-secondary, you’ve probably got a whole lot of work ahead of you. You’re probably already familiar with 1000-word papers, 3-hour exams, and PowerPoint summative presentations, and no doubt you’ve spent (or should have spent) ages preparing for them. But how do you know if your study tactics are truly hitting the spot?

    Everyone has a unique style of learning, and it’s important to establish this long before you hit the books. For instance, you’re writing that test and are stuck trying to remember a history date. Maybe you remember what the textbook page looked like, or what your instructor’s voice sounded like, or maybe you don’t remember any of that, but you definitely remember writing it down. Most people are primarily visual, auditory or hands-on learners (and many people are combinations of the three!). Whether you have to use colours and shapes, audio-record a lecture or write out all your notes by hand, your study habits should reflect your learning style.

    How much work, exactly, should you put in to achieve maximum results? Oftentimes, when it comes to studying, it’s quality over quantity. You could do eight straight hours of polynomial factoring, but if you’re still getting incorrect answers after the umpteenth attempt, chances are your studying habits are not working. Mix it up a little—approach concepts from different angles, in different ways, in order to find out what works best for you. Use media, too (instructional videos, scholarly articles, or even good old flash cards can work wonders). Each field of study offers different ways to learn its material, and you ought to test-drive at least a couple of them before you devote your time to studying in a single way.

    I am a student, and I’ve had my fair share of study experience. What I’ve discovered is that nothing helps me prepare for a test or exam more than explaining the material to someone else. Set up a study group for a class you’re having trouble with—or even a class you excel in, because others could use your help. If you’re stuck on a problem, chances are someone in your circle knows how to find the answer. Come test time, even if you don’t find the solution right away, you’ll remember how you helped (or were helped by) someone else, and the answers will come back to you in no time.

    Best wishes for a productive semester. Study hard, and study smart.

  • Creating the Ideal College Schedule

    Creating the Ideal College Schedule

    Creating the ideal schedule can be a key factor to your success in university or college. One of the first questions you should ask yourself is whether you should take day classes or night classes. If you consider yourself a “night owl”, you might assume it would be best to take the majority of your classes in the evening when you’re the most alert. However, keep in mind that if you are taking late classes you’re probably going to have to do your homework in the mornings. Be honest with yourself and consider if you’re actually going to wake up on time to get those essays done. Likewise, our early birds need to do some soul-searching and really ask themselves if they’ll make the effort to rise and shine for those 8:00 am classes. One of the biggest challenges that post-secondary students face is going to class when no one is monitoring their attendance. This becomes even more of a challenge when these classes start before the sun even makes an appearance. A good way to overcome this is to find a friend who also shares the misfortune of rising bright and early. The two of you can make a solemn oath to go to class every day and you can serve as encouragement for one another!

    Another important question to ask yourself when designing a schedule is whether you want to stack your classes one after another or spread them out across the day. Stacking classes is often viewed as the more efficient practice but it also has its downfalls. Most professors will let you out of class ten minutes early to get to your next one but you’ll always have that one who insists on holding you to the very end, or perhaps even longer. Then you’ll find yourself making a mad dash across campus, which will quickly become an issue if your campus is the size of a small island. In that case, spreading your classes out a bit may sound more attractive. The trouble here is that you may then find yourself facing “The Awkward Hour”. This is a chunk of time that is too short to do anything useful but too long to sit around doing nothing. In other words, it’s a waste of time. If you’re a productive person, you might be able to squeeze in a bit of work but most people just lounge around campus, grab a bite to eat or catch up on the latest chapter of their favourite manga.

    If I can leave you with one last piece of advice, it’ll be this: Do not bend yourself backwards for Friday’s off.  If you have to inconvenience yourself throughout the rest of the week, the extra day of freedom may not be worth it. At the very least, have a class or two on Friday instead of piling four or five classes on another day.

    At the end of the day, designing your schedule comes down to weighing the pros and cons of each factor and deciding what works best for you. Very few people can claim to have a perfect schedule so don’t panic if you find yourself in less than ideal circumstances. Simply do your best to create a schedule that maximize your chances of succeeding!

  • Feeling Lost: How to Pick a Career

    Feeling Lost: How to Pick a Career

    Sometimes in life we feel lost. We feel that we have lost our bearings and that we don’t know who we are or what we want. This is very common among high school and university students. Many high schoolers decide that they do not want to move on to college or university because they do not know what they want to take. This reflects a need for better guidance counselling in schools as well as more funding for vocational training from the government. Currently, a lot of the education students get about careers is passed down from relatives, friends and family. Often students will choose to pursue a career that someone they know does as a way of feeling like they know what they are getting into. This is the safe, but not always best, route.

    Many people decide to wait a year or two before embarking on their next level of education. This can be a wise step, depending on where you are coming from. Another approach is to jump head first into something that you are unsure of, ensuring your can-do attitude is firmly in place. This can work out well, especially if you are going away to university, because it is easy to switch programs after the first year. Plus, this path is much more common than you might think.

    The first step for anyone looking to gain a career orientation is to educate yourself on what jobs are in demand, according to the job market today and the forecasts for the next 5-10 years. You will also want to evaluate your skill set. JobsPeopleDo.com is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about careers and what will be in demand in the coming decade. Researching your options will allow you to make an informed choice about the job you see yourself doing in the future. It is wise to also ask people who currently work in your profession of choice what their job is like and what kinds of duties are required. Do they enjoy it? Would they recommend it to you? Hearing firsthand accounts will really help you to put your choices into perspective. Good luck!

  • Accept Yourself: Dealing with Body Image

    Accept Yourself: Dealing with Body Image

    People are afraid of their bodies. They avoid mirrors, scales and eye contact with strangers; they are not confident when they walk down the street. Somewhere along the way, they realized that they are not pretty enough, or tall enough, or fit enough – and it is taking over their lives. It has become “cool” to bring yourself down, to shed light on the things you hate about yourself and toil tirelessly in order to get rid of them. This is a destructive habit that you need to break right away.

    The media is one of the biggest culprits of this craze; by presenting us with paper-thin female supermodels and impossibly muscular male icons, these unrealistic ideals become something we feel obliged to live up to. That’s not to say there is anything wrong with the bodies of the people in the media. Every person is special in their own way. The thing is, people come in all shapes and sizes and by asking everyone to conform to a cookie-cutter ideal, the beauty industry is shattering the self-esteem of its subscribers all around the world.

    There is absolutely no fault in looking how you look, nor should you ever feel that way. So what if you hate your freckles or you think your feet are too big? What you pick out as ugly may be someone else’s cup of tea. Diversity is beautiful and it is often our differences that make us stand out from the crowd. We only want what we don’t have, but our bodies are our selves and we’re stuck with them whether we like them or not. Everyone has assets and everyone has flaws – hold your head high and show off yours with pride.

    Body image isn’t only about image, either. Consider your well-being and how comfortable you feel in your own skin. It is important to take care of yourself: while overeating should be avoided and exercise is important, excessive physical activity and calorie counting to the point of obsession is definitely not good for you. Find a balance because, ultimately, your happiness is the most important factor.

    Look at your body in a positive light. Focus on what you like and don’t look to others for visual cues. Your appearance is your identity and you are free to do with it what you like. Why bother emulating someone else when you are unique? You can definitely express yourself using your appearance. If you decide to dye your hair, get a tattoo or start an exercise program, that’s great — but make sure you’re making these decisions for yourself, not just following the leader. If you want to make changes, these changes are up to you and you alone – don’t let others dictate what you should look like or how you should feel about yourself. After all, it is your body.

    Accept yourself for who you are. Respect yourself and expect to be treated accordingly.

  • What is an Internship?

    What is an Internship?

    An internship is a generally unpaid position with a company or other organization in which the student, or intern, learns the skills they need for their chosen profession while working hands-on in a real work environment related to their field.

    For example, if you’re becoming a journalist, educator or doctor, your program will most likely include an internship during or near the end of your time of study. In some cases an internship position will be provided for you, but in other programs you may need to go out and find an internship yourself. It really varies depending on what you intend to study, but internships are generally for high school, university or college students, whereas those in the trades would be finding apprenticeships.

    Intern work involves hands-on, on the job experience that is invaluable in your future career. For example, a medical intern would spend time at a hospital working with real doctors, nurses and patients in an actual hospital environment. A journalism intern would have to find a paper, magazine or website to intern for. This could involve whatever your company needs of you, from fact checking or setting up equipment, to going to events with professional journalists. It all depends on what you’re studying and where you get an internship.

    Try not to worry about how to get your internship – most companies are overjoyed to have students working for them and your faculty members will be able to help you out. The internet also has plenty of resources to help you find the right internship for you in your field of study. Don’t be stressed; an internship period is an excellent time to work for and learn from professionals to see what the job is like before deciding whether or not it is for you. An internship is a time to make mistakes and learn from them. Think of it as almost like a fitting room for your career; it lets you check it out and see what the job is really like.

    As well as providing valuable hands-on experience, internships look very good on resumes and are often part of the requirements to graduate from many college and university programs. Sometimes, if you impress your temporary ‘employer’ enough, an internship could very easily turn into a career. Companies are always looking for bright and driven young students to add to their staff.

    Hopefully this has given you some insight as to what an internship is and how to get one. They aren’t a part of every program, but internships are a valuable learning experience and are a perfect opportunity to get some real, hands-on experience in our field.