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Category: Featured Articles

  • The Importance of being true to yourself

    The Importance of being true to yourself

    Each and every single one of us has a unique set of values, beliefs, and even inspirations that make us who we are as individuals. Naturally, as we progress through life, these very important elements that lie at the very core of our existence will slightly alter and adjust in a manner to allow for the new experiences and situations that we have endured. Life is much like a sea… at one time; we may drift peacefully and quietly atop the glistening waters. Then, there will be situations in which we must work to keep ourselves afloat waters that are ferocious and ominous in nature.

    Yes, it is true, there will be treacherous waters and frightening and intimidating clouds that linger among us throughout life, but it is essential that we each realize the importance of being true to ourselves. Is it not true that in the roughest of seas men learn to survive? Is it not among the violent waves that men learn to welcome and appreciate the calm surfaces of the water? Is it not true that when men face the evil of the storm that they relish in the calm that occurs after the thunders and treacherous waves have passed? If you are searching for the importance of being true to yourself, consider the man that was consumed by something much larger than he.

    In order to be true to yourself in the midst of peace and calmness, you must stand firm in your beliefs when staring opposition in the face. This is what assists in developing who you are, this is what defines you… your ability to overcome and learn.

    Many times in life, we will be faced with temptations that may defy who we are as individuals. It is so much easier to go with the natural flow of the tide than to push against it. It is human nature to want to experience as little complications as possible. What you must consider is if you are denying yourself of some important lesson, of something much bigger than you or you ever imagined. If floating with the direction of the tide defies you as an individual, and you feel as if you will not gain any type of insight as to who you are, or it does not allow you to stand alongside of your personal beliefs and convictions, turn that boat around and push with all of your might against the tide.

    It is better for a man to be true to who he is, rather than deny himself of all the rewards he will experience as standing alone in his personal convictions and beliefs.

    Being true to yourself is a very rewarding experience. Many experiences and situations will come your way and threaten the very existence of your unique stand in life. We pass over many different waves in life, many ships come in, and many ships pass us by. In many cases, animals of the wild such as sharks will want to engulf us in order to define their existence. Stormy skies will sometimes linger over us, and violent wars sometimes rest on the banks of life. In all of these things, you must stand strong in who you are. Allowing these situations to overcome you, violate you, and even control you in any way, just may be the point in which you lose sight of the horizon, sight of who you truly are.

    Compromising your values, compromising your beliefs, compromises not only who you are, but your place in the world. By compromising your place in the world, you may very well be denying another the strength to remain to true to themselves… remember the important and wise saying by Aldous Huxley:

    “Experience is not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you.”

    http://my-personal-growth.com

  • Top 8 Canadian Employers for Youth

    Top 8 Canadian Employers for Youth

    Out of school and looking for the right job?

    Well, Jobs People Do (JPD) is excited to announce the winners of our Top 8 Employers for Youth Awards! Through a collaboration of innovation and forward-thinking JPD’s Top 8 have created work environments that attract and maintain student employees, and the winners are:

    1. YMCA of Greater Toronto
    2. Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
    3. Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation
    4. Point2 Technologies Inc.
    5. Lush Handmade Cosmetics Ltd.
    6. Loblaw Companies Ltd.
    7. L’Oreal Canada
    8. Corus Entertainment Inc.

    Each of our award winners possess characteristics that, when combined with a young workforce, develop some of the most effective companies in the country.

    A few of the qualities JPD looked for when deciding on recipients of the award included vacation time after your first year of work, tuition subsidies, mentoring and co-op programs, employee sports teams, flexible hours and environmentally conscious initiatives.

    But why is it so important for a company to cater to their young employees?

    Besides the obvious reason; retaining up and coming talent, the satisfaction of young people in the work place is important because it is partly responsible for a company’s image as reflected in the media and popular culture.

    As pop-culture journalist Chuck Klosterman noted in his recent novel Eating the Dinosaur, “the short-hand way of saying something is culturally vital right now is to say that it is what all the kids are into”

    As companies age they need to remain connected with youth in order to keep up with new trends and ideas.  Staying current allows companies to understand a segment of the market that would otherwise be shrouded in mystery, the age group of 16-30 year olds.

    All of our Top 8 Award winners are well connected with youth as can be seen through their successful youth oriented employment strategies. These companies are in fact “what all the kids are into” and as a result they have become vital to current culture.

    For students these companies are a great career choice. Co-op programs, mentoring and career planning services help expand your resume and strengthen abilities. Great employee benefits means a more balanced work life and social life as well as less financial burdens on new recruits. For the company, investing in young employees means investing in some of the brightest leaders of the future.

    Do yourself and your career a favour by checking out our winners websites and potential careers!

     

  • I Want to be a Robot: Discovering Career Choices at an Early Age

    I Want to be a Robot: Discovering Career Choices at an Early Age

    Miss Inglis’ kindergarten class at Parliament Oak elementary school had to answer a special question this week. The question: what do you want to be when you grow up?

    The study of childhood occupation aspirations has been going on for decades and approached from many different angles. From the psychological transition of fantasy to realistic choices, to gendered influences on the traditional roles children choose.

    In a 1952 Ginzberg study, it was noted that children go through three stages in choosing occupations: “fantasy choices (before age 11); tentative choices (ages 11 to 17); and realistic choices (ages 17 to young adulthood).”

    Parliament Oak kindergartener Jack wants to be a robot. Maddie wants to be a rock star and James wants to be a spy.

    These children’s choices are fantastical. But as the workforce in Canada shifts towards the service industry and technological occupations, even a mail carrier may soon be considered a fantasy career choice.

    However, some career choices will stand the test of time. For example, kindergartener Ciaran wants to be an animal scientist, and Alexander wants to be a doctor. Career choices in science are likely to continue to be in high demand despite rapid changes in technology.

    Gender influences noted by scientists Levy, Sadovsky, Troseth, and Stroeher determined that early in life, especially from ages four to seven, young boys and girls are likely to choose traditionally male or female careers.

    This was a very common theme in Mrs. Inglis’ class; Oskar wanted to be a soccer player, Brian a policeman, Sophie a hair stylist, and Katherine a bride. However, social psychologists Garrett and Tremaine reported, “as children get older, they tend to be more flexible in choosing non-stereotyped careers”.

    An interesting aspect of these studies done in the 1970s is that boys reported to have double the amount of fantastical career choices than young girls. Garrett and Tremaine’s research noted, “girls learn early on that few adult vocations are open to them.”

    Today, we are living in the crossover effect of male/female college enrolment rates. According to the Population Reference Bureau organization, it officially occurred in 1993 and now leaves males seven percentage points behind females when it comes to college populations.  This change improves the likelihood of female success in the workplace and increases their vocational opportunities.

    Mrs. Inglis’ class did not reflect that change, with boys and girls averaging at very similar amounts of choices. The students are set to graduate this week, and it will be neat to see what they will become, and who will find success in the workforce of the future. My money is on the robot kid, but only time will tell.

  • Becoming an Architect

    Becoming an Architect

    What is Architecture all about?

    Architecture is the art, the science and the business of building.

    Architects create homes, office towers, schools and churches. They are talented people with a flair for design, an awareness of social trends, keen business sense, solid engineering skills and an understanding of the law. The word “versatile” may have been invented to describe Architects!

    Today’s Architect may practice alone or be part of a small, medium or large firm. Some Architects are self-employed. Others may be on salary, as employees of government, real estate developers or large corporations.

    “Clients” are the people who use the services of Architects. A client may be a family, a school board, a company, a housing authority, a government department or a building contractor.

    Why does Architecture matter?

    There’s no place like home

    The design or re-design of a home is one of the most fascinating and important things an Architect can do. Homes house the daily activities of families and individuals. Sometimes they offer privacy and shelter. On festive occasions, they are places of open hospitality. Rural or urban, row house or apartment, the home may be used year-round or only for vacations. Beyond our homes, the community takes shape.

    Keeping the past alive

    Old buildings add variety to city streets and remind us of our links to the past. Public interest in restoring old buildings is as strong as the economic pressure to re-use them. The result ? Architects are using modern techniques and ideas to renew historic buildings across Canada.

    Inside the home and office

    Respected Architects have designed chairs, tables, cabinets and fabrics–objects that lend comfort and pleasure to people’s homes and work spaces. When the desire to create something “organic” or whole, is strong, Architects design not only a building and the space around a building, they will also shape the space inside the building.

    Mirrors of time

    Great civilizations leave behind great architecture. Think of the pyramids of Egypt, the columns of Greece and Rome, the great Gothic cathedrals. Architecture reflects the religious, political and social values of the day. Today’s buildings express our society’s common purposes and will tell our story long after we are gone.

    Where is Architecture going?

    Big and sleek

    In giant cities, the voices of commerce, finance, business and government call out for giant buildings. Big buildings can cause big problems, such as increased traffic flow. They also create a need for parking, water, sewer and fire-fighting access. Putting large buildings into a city involves balancing the technical, planning and aesthetic problems posed by size. Architects with special design skills are needed to tackle these big jobs.

    Designing the city

    Cities are where the action is. The social and economic character of a city is often expressed in urban design. Many Architects serve on planning boards or help people who live in urban neighbourhoods shape the city around them. Sometimes Architects get involved in restoring parts of a city, developing housing projects or industrial parks, or designing shopping centres.

    What do Architects do?

    It all starts with a commission–or contract–from a client. The commission may involve the design of a single building or a group of buildings and the spaces between them. The client may be a person, a board of directors, a government department or a business.

    Usually, the Architect leads a team of specialists including structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, as well as others. The Architect must also understand and deal with building codes and bylaws set out by municipal, provincial and federal governments.

    The Architect keeps everyone on time and on budget. Technical knowledge, good people skills and no-nonsense business sense are all important to this task.

    What’s the bottom line? Architecture is a business. Being creative and designing something beautiful are only the first steps in making a vision come to life.

    What is a typical day?

    Such a thing may not exist. But on any given day, an Architect may have to:

    • Meet with clients.
    • Win contracts.
    • Solve problems.
    • Estimate costs.
    • Meet with consultants.
    • Produce drawings.
    • Present at public hearings.
    • Draw up specifications.
    • Call tenders (bids).
    • Visit construction sites.

    It can be a real challenge to juggle all the aspects of this demanding job.

    What do Architects do?

    They Draw

    Simple diagrams show the link between spaces or activities. Detailed working drawings show every last detail. Contractors and sub-contractors estimate the cost of the work based on the working drawings of an Architect. When the time to build comes, these drawings will be the building plan.

    Taking a drawing off the page and onto the computer screen through 3-D computer modeling can bring an Architect’s design to life, in living colour! Scale models or animated videos that help the viewer “see” the project from start to finish are other ways Architects present ideas to the public or clients.

    They Write

    Architects must

    • Write business letters.
    • Document all aspects of a project.
    • Develop charts and tables to analyse the project.
    • Develop specifications which define the building.
    • Prepare articles for professional journals and magazines.

    They Speak

    Being able to think on your feet and communicate clearly is a big part of being an Architect. Explaining, discussing, teaching and persuading are tools of an Architect’s trade.

    Architects are often called upon to:

    • Make presentations to clients.
    • Outline concepts, discuss options and offer creative solutions to problems.
    • Appear before public bodies as an expert.

    They Calculate

    It has to add up! Architects must be able to prepare accurate construction and office budgets. They also have to understand structural analysis, heat loads, electrical distribution and traffic flow.

    They Take Responsibility

    When an Architect “signs-off” on a certificate, it means that part of the job has been completed to the Architect’s satisfaction. Several certificates are signed-off during a contract.

    They Manage

    Architects often manage their own offices and businesses. They must also manage projects from the first spark of an idea to the ribbon cutting at a new building. During the construction phase, Architects manage contract administration, oversee drawings and specifications, handle problems that arise on the job site and monitor work in progress.

    What does it take to be an Architect?

    Ask yourself these questions:

    • Do details matter to me?
    • Do I understand and get along with people?
    • Do I truly value the things I see?
    • Can I analyze what I see?
    • Am I a creative thinker?
    • Do I think in a logical and orderly way?

    Spend some time in an Architect’s office. Ask questions. Read all you can about architecture. (Your local library can help you find books on the subject). Look at professional magazines. Visit the Schools of Architecture.

    How can I become an Architect?

    To be a licensed Architect, you will need

    • Education
    • Experience, and
    • a passing grade on an Examination.

    Education

    The vast majority of Architects complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture from a university program approved by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB).

    An alternative way to become an Architect is through the “apprenticeship” offered through the RAIC Syllabus Program.

    Experience

    To get experience, you must complete the Internship in Architecture Program. This program is offered through the associations of architects in each province. If you are accepted into the program, you will require a “Mentor” (a licensed Architect) who will guide your work over a period of time, according to the rules of the Internship in Architecture Program. Usually, interns or intern architects complete the program in about 3 years.

    Examination

    In all provinces, passing a computerized exam is one of the final steps in becoming a licensed Architect. Architects in Canada are licensed at the provincial or territorial level.

    Some provincial or territorial associations may have additional requirements before licensing or registration.

    Why must Architects be licensed?

    Architects are professionals. The public must be sure that people who call themselves Architects are qualified to practice in their field. So, all across Canada, Architects are licensed by provincial or territorial associations of architects. The goals of the associations are:

    • to encourage members to improve their skills and knowledge, and
    • to maintain high standards in the practice of architecture.

    Like other professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, Architects are legally responsible for the decisions they make. In some provinces, all licensed Architects must have professional liability insurance if they wish to practice architecture. This insurance protects both the public and the Architect. As well, each province and territory has an “Architects Act” which regulates the practice of architecture. It is against the law for anyone who is not licensed to use the title “Architect”.

    What courses should I take in high school?

    It’s hard to say which courses are best, because Schools of Architecture vary greatly in what they offer students at the university level. It is a good idea to find out now what is required for admittance to a university you would like to attend.

    Mature students (people who are not recent high school graduates) are also welcomed by most Schools of Architecture.

    As well, there is an important place in architecture for people who do not wish to pursue a university degree. You could take courses at a technical school, community college or university to become:

    • an architectural technologist,
    • an architectural technician, or
    • a draftsperson or CAD (computer assisted drafting) technician.

    What other work is available for Architects?

    Here are some job titles that tell you the kind of work Architects can do :

    • Architectural Critic
    • Graphic Designer
    • Architectural Photographer
    • Heritage Planner
    • Architectural Programmer
    • Illustrator
    • Architectural Renderer
    • Industrial Designer
    • Builder Inspector
    • Interior Designer
    • Building Envelope Scientist
    • Landscape Architect
    • CAD Coordinator
    • Market Researcher
    • Campus Planner
    • Model Maker
    • Carpenter
    • Municipal Architect
    • Cartographer
    • Museum Curator
    • Computer Presentation Designer
    • Printmaker
    • Computer Systems Analyst
    • Professor
    • Conservator
    • Property Assessor
    • Construction Inspector
    • Publisher
    • Construction Manager
    • Real Estate Agent
    • Contractor
    • Real Estate Project Manager
    • Corporate Consultant
    • Researcher
    • Design/Build Team Manager
    • Set Designer
    • Developer
    • Structural Engineer
    • Document Designer
    • Technical Writer
    • Environmental Planner
    • TV/Film Producer
    • Furniture Designer
    • Urban Planner
  • What is a degree worth?

    What is a degree worth?

    Western’s enrolment rates are staggering. This year campus is teeming with more undergraduate students than ever seen in the university’s 133-year history. Boasting around 26,500 full-time undergraduates, Western has seen enrolment climb by 5,700 since 1996.

    Last year, Western’s full-time undergraduates paid more than $100 million in tuition. The question is — what are students getting in return?

    Politicians and policy-makers are starting to consider how rising enrolment rates are affecting the quality of education and the value of an undergraduate degree in a workforce saturated with university-educated workers.

    “The greater number of students who have an undergrad degree, the more competitive its going to be to get an entry level job, and an entry level job with the kind of pay a student is expecting,” says Meaghan Coker, vice-president university affairs for the University Students’ Council.

    “We’ve come to an understanding that a bachelor’s degree isn’t enough and that you must have a second degree to complement yourself and succeed in life.”

    In 2005, the Ontario government pledged to invest $6.2 billion by 2009 to boost enrolment rates and improve the quality of post-secondary education in the province. Western increased its enrolment by over a thousand full-time students in the last five years. Now the government projects another 50,000 undergraduate spaces will be introduced to Ontario universities by 2015.

    Students, meanwhile, are stuck in the middle, vying to become competitive in the workforce while staying out of debt.

    The value of an undergraduate degree depends on what students are looking to gain from it, says Philip Oreopoulos, a visiting professor from Harvard University specializing in the economics of education. Oreopoulous argues that while the material students learn during their undergrad might be useless to a career, the education still distinguishes a graduate from someone without a degree.

    “Post-secondary education merely differentiates between those who have it and those who don’t. If obtaining [a degree] is the only difference, it enables employers to consider degrees as equal. Even if the schooling hasn’t done anything to enrich you, it allows employers to distinguish you from those who didn’t attend university, and that is advantageous.” Oreopoulos says.

    While an undergraduate degree will differentiate a candidate from their non-degree holding counterparts, Oreopoulos questioned what skills are really being learned in today’s university classes.

    “There’s a lack of motivation and intellectual curiosity among students. University is what students make it out to be and there are plenty of opportunities that I see less and less students taking advantage of. It’s hard to say if they’re learning anything,” he says, noting if students put in minimal effort they could reap great academic rewards.

    As enrolment levels at universities continue to mushroom, the curriculum needs to be restructured, according to Coker, to better teach a growing and changing student body.

    “Although there’s been challenges in understanding what students leave [university] with, it’s clear that we need to teach students in innovative learning environments. There needs to be an investment into changing the way we teach at universities,” Coker says.

    While the value of the degree is under scrutiny, its necessity is not. According to David Molenhuis, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students, a rapidly changing economy makes an undergraduate degree essential to a person’s future prosperity.

    “Post-World War II, the economy had changed where more and more individuals required high school as mandatory minimum education for participating in the economy and job market,” Molenhuis notes, adding that 70 per cent of current jobs require some form of post-secondary education.

    “We’re seeing history repeating itself. The undergraduate degree is becoming the new high school diploma,” he continues.

    In an era where post-secondary education is vital to success to most careers, it’s even more imperative for graduates to differentiate themselves and find value in their degree.

    For some, added competitiveness may come from more education after their undergrad, such as a master’s degree. Since the 1996/97 school year, graduate enrolment at Western has grown by 2,400 students, now encompassing 17 per cent of all full-time enrolment at Western.

    “If everyone had a master’s it would be the same problem at a different degree,” Coker says.

    Coker suggests using extracurriculars and out-of-class experiences to differentiate yourself and add value to your bachelor’s degree.

    “Ultimately it’s beyond the classroom learning. And there is a lot of focus on classroom learning and the paper you walk away with, but students who are involved in extracurriculars know that those experiences are what really bring value to your degree,” Coker says.

    “Those experiences are invaluable towards the type of skills in leadership that you can develop, so in addition to the classroom we need to put emphasis on expanding involvement opportunities, internships, co-ops, and service learning – those types of experiences are valuable in this growing undergraduate economy.”

    While it may be difficult to judge the value of a bachelor’s degree, it is evident that an educated population has a positive effect on Canadian society and economy.

    “Individuals with a post-secondary education are in a higher tax bracket. They’re not putting as much pressure on public spending programs like public safety because they tend to commit fewer crimes. They don’t use the employment systems because their generally employable and working, and they’re generally healthier so they don’t put as much pressure on the healthcare system,” Molenhuis notes.

    That being said, perhaps the value of your bachelor’s degree lies in its ability to do greater good for society. In terms of personal value, it seems to be what you make of it.

    “We are pushing for you to get your money’s worth at university so that you feel when you’ve walked out that door you haven’t just got a piece of paper. That you’ve walked out with something that’s changed you, something that’s engaged you and something that’s set you on a path to fulfilling what you want to do,” Coker said.

     

     

     

     

  • Becoming a Registered Nurse

    Becoming a Registered Nurse


    Never, ever, ever let anyone tell you it’ll be easy…

    JUST worth it.

    Nursing, your career… your future.

    Thinking about a career? Think registered nurse! It’s more than a job, it’s a growing profession offering an astonishing range of choices and opportunities.

    You believe in a healthy lifestyle? Janet has been talking to teenagers about how to deal with sex and drugs. “These kids have their whole lives before them and I feel it’s so important to help them now when they need it. With some groups I get into fitness and diet, too. They really want the information and someone to talk to.”

    You want excitement? So does Robin, so she works in the emergency department of a city hospital. “When people burst through those doors, they need help, fast and our ER team gives it. I have to think on my feet here, make immediate decisions about what a person needs. No other job could give me the same challenge – or satisfaction.”

    Intrigued by health questions? So is Nicole, and she’s finding the answers. Nicole is the head of a research team studying the care needs of AIDS patients. “I used to give nursing care to people in their homes and then a great AIDS patient I had motivated me to move into research. I was shocked by how little knowledge and how few resources there seemed to be to care for people like Ted, so I decided to do something about it.”

    More interested in helping people over the long term? That’s what Michael wants, so he’s head nurse at a rehabilitation centre. “A lot of rehab patients start out fighting against our care; they’re depressed, angry, and worried about their future. Helping them work through that is as important as their physical therapy. It’s an incredible feeling to help a person go through the whole process back to health.”

    Michael, Janet, Robin and Nicole became registered nurses because they wanted to work with people in a career that offers challenges and the independence to make decisions. Nursing involves caring for the whole person – the physical, intellectual and social needs. Nurses also plan and deliver health programs for groups or communities.

    Nurses are the heart of care. As a registered nurse, you can make a difference in one person’s life through one-on-one, and in the health of all Canadians through research and leadership.

    Jobs, the real story

    This is an excellent time to enter nursing as there is a shortage. At some point in their life, every Canadian will require the services of a nurse. Since many nurses will soon retire, Canada needs bright young men and women to choose nursing as a career. Changes in the health care system continue to broaden the opportunities for nurses. An especially important trend is the increasing number of services that emphasize illness prevention and health promotion programs. Many of these are planned and staffed by registered nurses.

    Registered nurses earn salaries that compare with other professionals with a similar amount of education. Health care is offered 24 hours a day, so expect to work some nights and weekends, like doctors, law enforcement officers and others who provide essential services.

    As in any profession, salaries vary across the country, and people make more as they gain experience and responsibility. Graduates of degree programs usually have more opportunities for advancement, and in some provinces, make more money than graduates of diploma programs. Your provincial or territorial nurses’ association can provide current salary ranges.

    To see nursing jobs across Canada, visit NursingCareersCanada.ca, The National job board of the Canadian Nurses Association.

    Choices… lots!

    Nursing is full of opportunities to grow, to advance and to change your career direction. Whatever your interest – working with children, scientific procedures and high tech equipment, teaching and promoting healthy practices, developing your management skills – nursing has something for you. Here are just a few examples:

    In the Community

    • health clinics
    • schools
    • wellness programs in the workplace
    • doctors’ offices
    • home care
    • family planning clinics
    • poison control centres
    • prenatal and well-baby clinics
    • rehabilitation centres
    • sexually transmitted disease units
    • AIDS hospices

    IN A HOSPITAL:

    • emergency
    • intensive care
    • operating room
    • post-surgery
    • maternity
    • cardiovascular (heart)
    • oncology (cancer)
    • psychiatry
    • pediatrics (children)
    • palliative (dying people)
    • geriatrics (seniors)

    One of the most exciting opportunities for nurses in Canada is Northern nursing. Often, community health centres in Canada’s North are run completely by the nurse – independent and in charge. Many Aboriginal nurses return home to help their communities, other nurses find they enjoy learning about a different culture.

    The great thing about nursing is that your choices never end. With some years of experience and further studies you could branch out in almost any direction imaginable. After a few years in practice you might decide to become an advanced practice nurse. An expert nurse with a master’s degree, an advanced practice nurse provides direct care to clients and serves as a role model and consultant to other practising nurses. There are currently two types of ANPs in Canada, clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner.

    Or you might decide, like Nicole, that you want to investigate current issues in health care. On the leading edge of health care discoveries, nurse researchers design studies, collect data and analyze results. Their findings contribute to the vast body of scientific knowledge that supports and improves nursing.

    Leadership

    All nurses are teachers, helping people learn to prevent illness and manage health problems. But you might want to become a nurse educator, preparing future nurses to enter practice. You could work at a community college or a university, and research would be part of what you do.

    A nurse administrator coordinates nursing services in a hospital or community health centre. Handling large budgets, supervising staff and setting the standards for excellent care takes strength and good management skills.

    The sky is the limit

    And any of these choices could lead you still further. Nurses’ ideas and opinions are sought after by the media, politicians, and national and international groups. Imagine being a consultant to Health Canada, or the World Health Organization.

    Or you could travel. Northern Canada is a close-to-home example, but Canadian nurses are so highly regarded that other countries – both developing and developed – actively recruit them. Your skills and knowledge could take you places. The possibilities are endless!

    Degree or diploma?

    If you’re thinking about a career in nursing, you should seriously consider studying for a degree (BN or BNSc). More career opportunities and the possibility of graduate study will be open to nurses with university degrees. Most provinces already require a baccalaureate in nursing (BN or BScN) to enter the profession.

    Degree programs take four years. Besides learning social and physical sciences, and nursing, as in the diploma program, university programs generally offer additional studies in leadership, health teaching, research and other disciplines.

    Diploma programs take three years. Graduates generally work in hospitals, nursing homes or other structured settings. Many colleges now offer their diploma courses in collaboration with a university with the option of continuing on after graduation to obtain a degree. However, getting a diploma and then a degree generally takes longer, and costs more, than enrolling in a degree program from the beginning.

    Nursing students in both university and diploma schools of nursing will study psychology, child development, sociology, anatomy and physiology. The nursing courses include theory and clinical practice. You will be supervised and supported in the clinical setting to ensure the safety of patients and your own safety.

    If you are interested in continuing your education, master’s and doctoral programs in nursing are available in many places in Canada.

    Get ready

    Entrance requirements differ from one school to another. Generally, the admission requirements are high school graduation with senior level English or French, mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology. You can contact your provincial nurses’ association or individual schools for their specific requirements and information on funding.

    Caring for people, the independence to make decisions, the challenge and excitement of being on the leading edge of health care. Sound interesting? Then ask today for more information about a career as a registered nurse!

    Provincial associations

    • * Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
    • * Association of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island
    • * College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia
    • * Nurses Association of New Brunswick
    • * Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec
    • * Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
    • * College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
    • * Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association
    • * College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta
    • * College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia
    • * Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut
    • * Yukon Registered Nurses Association
    • * Native Access Program to Nursing
  • Doing Scholarships the Right Way: Tips on Application

    Doing Scholarships the Right Way: Tips on Application

    Like getting a ton of free money? Of course you do!

    Those lines might sound like the beginning of an un-reputable online advertisement but the truth is there are plenty of scholarships aiming to do just that; hand you free money to support your education.

    So how do you score some of this free cash? Start by applying to any and all scholarships you can.  The more you apply to, the higher your odds of receiving an award.

    If you’re not sure of your eligibility for a scholarship, apply anyway.  Many scholarships are not given out due to lack of applicants. Even if your eligibility is hazy you may be the lucky winner by default.  This was the case when Sandro Rocco, Niagara College Photonics alumni, applied to the Walker Technology Grant.

    “I wasn’t entirely sure if I qualified but I thought why not give it a shot, a lot of people don’t bother,” he commented.

    “Turned out I was the only person to apply for the scholarship so I won. The award was really helpful and got applied directly to my tuition” Sandro continued.

    Some students shy away from scholarship applications because they feel their grades aren’t high enough. However, plenty of scholarships are handed out as a result of achievement in other areas including extra curricular involvement, athletics or charity work. Financial aid and area of interest are also taken into consideration when handing out scholarships.

    Lara Muldoon, Relationship Manager with StudentAwards.com noted, “There are scholarships available that have nothing to do with academic performance or volunteer experience.  We have awards for everyone, from people of specific ethnicities to people that are tall ”.

    Take time out of your schedule to make great applications. Prioritize and spend time on scholarships that are most applicable to your skills and experiences.

    When asked what differentiates a successful candidate from an unsuccessful one Lara responded, “the number one thing is to be really passionate about your subject, pick applications that really speak to you, most providers are looking for students not with great marks necessarily but with a path in life that they are really passionate about”.

    Remember that scholarship application is not limited to your first year of studies.  Many students stop applying after their first year thinking that the majority of scholarship funding is reserved for new students.  This is not the case; many awards are reserved for students in their second, third and fourth year of studies.  StudentAwards.com commented that while the majority of their application pool stems from grade 12 students, their user demographic spans between 13 and 30 years of age.

    Students are sometimes intimidated by the amount of work involved in applying to scholarships, but by using an incremental approach and developing decent time management (yes, it is possible) you will be able to handle the stress and hopefully reap the benefits of scholarship application.

    Many online scholarships allow you to save your work in their own word processors, making it easy to finish one or two parts of the application at a time.

    Having a stock application template done in advance is another easy way to save time and minimize stress while scholarship hunting.

    Have a thorough list of your skills, past experiences, awards and academic achievements on hand as part of your application template.  This go-to list will make a world of difference in the quickness of your application process.

    Also, prepare a general, but flexible essay that highlights your personal qualifications and can be tweaked to fit specific scholarship criteria.

    Keep your audience in mind when filling out applications.

    If you are applying to an academic scholarship be sure to use academic language and keep the tone of your writing as professional as possible.

    In contrast, some scholarship review panels are looking to see a more personal response.  For these, don’t be afraid to use a less formal language and be sure to highlight your own opinion, giving judges a better understanding of your personality.

    Just like that summer job, it is never too early to start the search for scholarships! So good luck and happy applying!

  • Law school applications continue to rise

    Law school applications continue to rise

    As if law school wasn’t hard enough — applying to law school is harder than ever. Universities across Canada are experiencing record-breaking application rates as a weak economy continues pushing graduates back to school.

    “Every year [law school] is in high demand,” Catherine Legault, admissions coordinator at the University of Ottawa, said. She added the law program increased the number of spots from 280 to 300 this year. In previous years, the program only had 230 spots.

    Western has also felt added demand for spots in law school.

    “We received about 2,500 applications last year for 175 positions,” said Michael Lynk, associate dean of law at Western. “We increased our intake by 12 to 15 students over the last two years, but our LSAT scores have actually gone up.”

    Eleven years ago, Lynk arrived at Western’s law school when LSAT averages were around 155. Now he says they’ve jumped to 161, making the program “quite competitive.”*

    Lynk pointed to a weak economy as the culprit for a higher number of qualified applicants.

    “It’s a bad economy, so more people are staying in school after their undergrad rather than going out and working.”

    The competitive nature of law programs doesn’t stop after acceptance, according to Casey Marvin, first-year law student.

    “Avenues that are normally available to all are also a competitive arena, which sucks,” she said.

    While students are encouraged to enroll in first-year clinics, she said some had to turn students down.

    “People were shocked to not get into a clinic that usually lets in everyone,” she said.

    Marvin noted her classmates seemed to be in a league of their own in terms of the calibre of student admitted.

    “A higher proportion of people are mature students and have very impressive backgrounds. Some people are certified accountants or have done mergers and acquisitions, especially people in the economic and business sector that got laid off,” Marvin said.

    Like Lynk, Marvin suspected the depressed economy is the driving force behind increased applicant rates.

    “LSAT scores were significantly higher this year because of the recession. Lots of people have decided to go back to school. They can’t find jobs.”

    A highly qualified applicant pool means younger students will have to compete with mature students — who might be more qualified — when entering the job market after graduation.

    “We want to find jobs for our students, but now that law schools are letting in more students, we are running into a problem of slack economy,” Lynk said. While Ontario sees 1,300 to 1,400 law students graduate every year, Lynk said seven to 10 percent have a problem finding articling positions.

    “There doesn’t seem to be that many jobs for them.”

    Tyler Goettl, fourth-year economics student, has filled out his application but remains uneasy about getting accepted.

    “About one in nine or 10 applicants are admitted. Knowing your chances generally aren’t that great is frightening,” he said. “I’m confident but at the same time there’s a lot of confident people that don’t make it in.”

  • Why Study Philosophy?

    Why Study Philosophy?

    Many people, students and teachers, put-down philosophy as a degree that isn’t “practical” in the real world, that you need an education that trains you for a specific career. But is this true? The philosophy major does not provide specific training for a field but it does provide the necessary basis for graduate school and for future studies. In todays world where everyone has a BA graduate schooling is becoming a necessity for current graduates. Philosophy is a discipline that has marketable qualities and proven success in the business world and in applications to graduate schools.

    Graduate Schools

    Philosophy trains students for graduate studies arguably better than many other disciplines. They outperformmost other majors on the GMAT and GRE as well as outperforming business majors on the GMAT. As far as post-graduate schooling philosophy majors are open to medical, law, business and journalism schools. Philosophy majors regularly get accepted to these schools and as far as law is concerned philosophy is the best training because of its logic component.

    Writing Ability

    Philosophy majors are always expected to write papers. This contributes to philosophy majors generally having exceptional writing abilities. This skill is very marketable to all disciplines and employers are always interested in an applicant‘s ability to write.

    Thinking Critically

    Philosophy is literally translated, the degree of knowledge. Thinking critically is a major component of studying philosophy. Evaluating the validity of arguments is essential to success in philosophy and a philosophy graduate has spent years evaluating arguments.

    Business

    Adam Smith the founder of capitalism was not an economist or businessman, but a philosopher. Many of the fundamental problems in philosophy are common to the problems faced by businessmen on a day-to-day basis. Also, as I have mentioned philosophy majors are trained in critical thinking and writing. This is essential to anyone pursuing business.

    Teaching

    Philosophy provides training in critical thinking, writing and the history of thought (and much more). These qualities are essential for a teacher to transmit to students. I have found through experience that my favorite high-school teachers are philosophy majors.

    Law

    During a philosophy major a logic component is necessary. This logic component directly translates to law. Also, the practice of meticulously reading texts to discern an argument is a major part of philosophy and also a major part of practicing law.

    Research Yourself!

    But, as always do your own research, talk to philosophy grads ask them about job opportunities they have encountered and how they got them. I am intending a philosophy major and I would like to pursue a career in business. My philosophy major will prepare me for an MBA and provide me with many skills that I can market to potential employers. Philosophy, although not stressed in high school, is a very important discipline. Take an introductory level course, approach philosophy with an open mind and although it can be very intimidating even at a first year level keep in mind the advantage a philosophy background can give you.

  • C.O.W.S. !

    C.O.W.S. !

    Today’s world is filled with fast and convenient foods which fit in to our busy lifestyles. How many of you have given any thought to how the foods you eat make you feel and their affect our long-term health or appearance?

    At age15, my parents bought a convenience store and suddenly I had access to all of this junk food.

    I was in heaven for a while. Until my pants started getting tight and I felt terrible.

    I made the connection between what I ate and how I felt and looked. Small changes I made way back in high school paved the way for a healthy life.

    Together, let’s explore what today’s experts are saying we should eat to live a long and healthy life. The earlier in life we start, the better. In ‘The PH Miracle’ written by Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young, they talk about an acronym we should all remember COWS.

    C is for chlorophyll.

    “Vegetables are your new best friends,” especially the green ones. Chlorophyll helps the blood cells deliver oxygen, reduces the binding of carcinogens to DNA in our organs and help to neutralize dietary acids in the blood and tissues. They are nutrient dense and rich in antioxidants.

    O is for Oils.

    Know the good from the bad. Saturated fats found primarily in animal protein, partially hydrogenated oils found in processed foods are to be avoided. Good fats contain essential fatty acids. EFAs strengthen immune cells, lubricate joints, insulate the body against heat loss, provide energy, protect us from heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. It improves asthma, PMS, allergies, skin conditions, some behavioral disorders and brain function. Good sources of oils include fish, seeds, avocados, olives and flax.

    W is for Water.

    In the earliest stages, dehydration can lead to muddled thinking, short-term memory problems, trouble with math and expressing yourself verbally, difficulty focusing on a printed page, cold hands or feet, anxiety, irritability, depression, sugar cravings and cramps too. Water neutralizes acids and literally washes them (and all toxins) out of the body via urine and sweat and the bowels. When you don’t get enough water you will feel tired and weak. About two liters of water a day is generally recommended.

    S is for Salt.

    Salt is as essential as water or air. You cannot consume too much natural, unrefined salt. Processed foods are laden with the bad salts. The salt test: mix a teaspoon of the salt you use in a glass of water and let it sit overnight. If the water is clear in the morning, it’s a natural salt. If you can see salt in the bottom of the glass it’s processed salt. Salt that does not dissolve in a glass of water will not dissolve in your body and will collect in your body organs and tissues. This can lead to heart disease, arthritis, hardening of the arteries and calcium deposits in joints.

    Following COWS is an easy first step to a healthy life.