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Tag: education

  • What Do I Consider Success?

    What Do I Consider Success?

    Success has no age limit and it’s never a race. The concept of a predetermined age for success is merely a myth. Age is not a limiting factor in the minds of those who wish to succeed, and do. The speeds to which our minds mature over the years are not the same.

    The most prominent leaders we admire today accomplish goals at their own pace—and so can you. Whether you’re still in high school or coming towards the end of your college career, age should not be a worry when working towards your goals. Moving quickly at an unrealistic pace may foster more mistakes than warranted.

    Success is what we make of it. As students, it can become an overwhelming problem that bogs you down. Take your time and become an expert in your field of interest or expertise. There are no shortcuts to achieving success because the learning process is all dependent on self-motivation. Having the patience to move forward will bring you halfway to success already.

    If tomorrow morning you feel that it’s far too late to reach a personal or career goal you’ve set for yourself, leave the worry in the past and move forward. Success doesn’t just present itself to those that are prepared, but also those that are patient enough to see it through challenges.

    Whether you believe that money, grades or personal relationships are of the utmost priority right now, to most people, the end objective is happiness for the self. Given this as the end objective, we can better understand why it’s best to worry less about the speed to which we accomplish our short term goals.

    The key to defining your own success is to plan realistic goals. This involves the process of not only delivering tasks, but solving everyday problems, planning tasks and goals, scope of goals, analysis of resources, the search for solutions, environments, analysis and synthesis of information.

    If you’ve ever felt the need to follow the crowd, you’ve come down with a case called the “impostor system” like the rest of us. Instead of working hard to achieve goals, students might believe that there is luck in being in the right place, at the right time. Skills are what make for achieving goals and success.

    While there is much controversy over what higher education should be teaching students like you, whether this is work skills or academic knowledge and research, the intentions are still the same. Education is aimed to prepare students in leading self-sufficient and happy lives in the present and future.

  • School to Work

    School to Work

    Whether you plan to go to college or university, or you want to get right into the workplace after high school, there is co-operative education, internship, and apprenticeship programs all designed to aid students in making the transition from school to the workforce.

    Co-operative Education programs are available at the secondary and post-secondary levels. High school co-ops earn you credits toward your high school diploma, and provide you with first-hand experience in a potential career. Skills learned through a co-op also help to build up your resume, which will help you with future schooling or job applications. Check with your guidance counsellor to arrange a co-op program. Usually a teacher must monitor these programs, and provide a study curriculum related to your co-op work placement.

    Post-secondary co-op programs exist through many of Canada’s universities and colleges. These offer an educational experience combining work placements and academic studies. These tend to be complete degree or diploma programs, requiring formal enrollment in the program the same as any other college or university degree. Co-op programs may take longer to complete than a standard degree, since the work placements are interspersed between your class semesters. These programs are a great way to get hands-on experience in your chosen field, which will give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs after graduation.

    Internships operate a bit differently than a co-op. Many internships are posted, and applied for, in the same way regular jobs are: you need to apply with a resume and cover letter, perform an interview, and get hired for the position. Internships are great for students and recent graduates because you have a chance to work at a job to see if it is right for you, without committing to a permanent position, since most internships are only a few months or a year in length. Also, more awareness of un-paid internships is being recognized and in the future, laws may change to benefit the intern more than the corporation they are working at. When you become an intern, make sure you are getting what you deserve and want out of the internship; it needs to benefit the next step in your career path. There are too many grads walking around busting their backs for companies that do not pay them, or don’t pay them enough.

    Lastly, if you plan to go into one of the skilled trades, an apprenticeship is the way to go. Apprenticeships differ from co-ops and internships in that most of your learning takes place as a paid working apprentice, where you learn on the job in order to develop and refine the technical skills specific to that particular trade. Only a small part of an apprenticeship is comprised of class time, usually taking place at a technical school, union training centre, or through online study. You do have to register with your local or provincial apprenticeship office, who will help you track your hours, inform you of grants to help pay for your apprenticeship, and assist you in obtaining your professional certifications.

    While asking your school guidance department, and family or friends, are good places to start your search for a co-op, internship, or apprenticeship, there are also a number of online resources dedicated to helping Canadian students connect with these opportunities.

    Sources:

    Canadian Association for Co-operative Education

    http://www.cafce.ca/

    Public Service Commission of Canada – Post Secondary Co-op and Internship Program

    www.cappa.ca/index.php/en/students/post-secondary-co-op-internship-program

    Careers in Trades

    http://www.careersintrades.ca/

    Government of Canada Services for Youth

    www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/career_planning/coop.shtml

     

  • May Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    May Scholarships of the Month – Apply Now!

    With the school year almost finished, the time to apply for your scholarships for September has officially arrived. As always, we’ve rounded up some of the latest and greatest scholarships and bursaries that will help fund your educational dreams. Remember to read the applications requirements carefully – some ask that you write a short essay, while some simply need your contact information. Here’s what we found for May:

    1. Wado-Kai Student Development Fund – Open to students across Canada who are involved with Wado-Kai Federation. Must have sensei recommendation. Amount: $1000. Deadline: June 30, 2015.

    2. The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Scholarship Program – Available to grade 12 high school students who are aspiring to a career in medicine or the health sciences. Amount: $1000 per year for 4 years. Deadline: June 10, 2015.

    3. The Larry Cripps Scholarship Fund (OPSEU) – The scholarship is open to dependents of OPSEU members in good standing who are confirmed as enrolled in either a Police Foundations course or a Law and Security/Corrections course at a publicly-funded, publicly-run post-secondary institution in Ontario. Amount: $1000. Deadline: June 13, 2015.

    4. CrossLites Essay Contest – Open to High School, College, and Graduate School students. As an applicant you will write a reflective essay (400-600 words) based on one of Dr. Parker’s quotes or messages (see website). Amount: $2000. Deadline: December 15, 2015.

    5. Roger Neilson/Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni Scholarship Award – Awarded to graduating student-athletes, in any sport, proceeding to post-secondary education in Canada. Amount: $10,000 spread over 4 years. Deadline: June 1, 2015.

    6. Ontario Power Generation – John Wesley Beaver Memorial Award – All Ontario residents who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis, and enrolled in a full-time post secondary institution in Ontario are eligible to apply. Amount: $3000 – $5000. Deadline: June 1, 2015.

    7. Global Solidarity Scholarship (OPSEU) – Applicants must be children, foster children or wards of OPSEU members in good standing who are studying at a publicly-funded, publicly-run Canadian university or college. Amount: $1000. Deadline: June 14, 2015.

    8. The Worker’s Health and Safety Centre (WHSC) Scholarship & Bursary – Open to any student residing in Ontario and beginning full-time studies leading to a diploma, certificate or degree from any publicly-funded Ontario college or university. Amount: $1200. Deadline: June 13, 2015.

  • Learning Disabilities and Work

    Learning Disabilities and Work

    We most often think of learning disabilities that impact a student in school, however, LDs are lifelong and don’t magically disappear once a student has graduated and entered the workforce. The National Center for Learning Disabilities lists five areas where people with LDs may experience difficulties:

    Inefficiency – this could be working at a slower pace than coworkers, having organizational challenges or needing additional time to complete tasks

    High error rate – this could be errors resulting from poor reading or math skills or could be because someone takes longer to process information and react to situations.

    Problems with sequencing – this could cause problems with completing tasks requiring multiple steps or following directions

    Time management – this could be poor planning, tardiness or having problems with meeting deadlines

    Social skills – this could be problems with interactions between coworkers, customers or vendors or in verbalizing the impact of a LD to the employer to receive needed accommodations/modifications

    The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with LDs, but only if the person has requested protection, identified their LD, and provided documentation to his or her employer and with needed specific accommodations included. In addition, a person must be able to complete the job, with modifications. Any company employing more than 15 employees is required to provide reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities that interfere with the ability to complete the job.

    Accommodations/modifications should be specific to the individual needs of the employee, therefore, there is no single list of acceptable accommodations. A person requesting protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act will benefit from understanding the job description and duties and knowing what accommodations/modifications will help him or her perform the job duties.

    The following list of examples is to provide ideas only. Please adapt to your specific situation:

    • Written instruction cards, laminated to help with performing multi-step job duties
    • Adjusting the font or background color on the computer screen to help people with dyslexia
    • Receiving company communications in written form, such as via email or memos. Written communication can be provided either before a company meeting to provide the person time to process information or after the meeting to allow the person to have a written copy of what was discussed.
    • Use of spell-check software or having a coworker edit written work.
    • Use of assistive technology, such as software that translates the spoken word into the written word
    • Using a tape recorder during company meetings or when given instruction.

    Again, these are ideas to help people with learning disabilities think about what may help them perform their job duties. By thinking about how you learn, how you work and problems you have had in the past, you will be able to determine what accommodations or modifications you may need in your job.

  • Educational Assistant

    Educational Assistant

    Description

    Educational assistants help primary educators by working with students with special needs and implementing the education plan. They apply intervention strategies, create a climate for learning, assist with life skills development, and supervise the students’ use of specialized equipment.

    Certification Requirements
    • The Educational Assistant apprenticeship consists of 2,268 hours of on-the-job training.
    • Apprentices must also complete 432 hours of in-class technical training.
    • Once you have successfully completed the apprenticeship requirements, you receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship and are certified as a journeyperson in the trade.
    • A person with at least 2,700 hours of related work experience is eligible to apply for a Trade Equivalency Assessment (TEA) and, if successful, becomes certified as a journeyperson in this trade.
    Educational Prerequisites

    Grade 12 or equivalent.

     

     

  • Which University is Right for You?

    Which University is Right for You?

    Deciding to go to university is one thing, but deciding which one is another matter altogether. What factors should you consider when evaluating your options?

    Take university rankings with a grain of salt—have a look not only at each school’s reputation, but also what they’re famous for. Many institutions focus their attention on one or two extremely strong programs. Unfortunately, this may mean they neglect other fields. The best thing to do is to choose an overall renowned university (with no defining program), or a university that places a focus on your program. In either case, you ensure you’re getting a good education.

    Regardless of awesome residences or an amazing party scene, when making your choices you have to remember what’s important. The main reason you’re going to university (presumably) is to learn: education should be your priority. Maybe you’ll have a ton of fun at University X—but then again, maybe you’ll achieve your academic goals (and have a better chance of finding a job) with a degree from University Y. Consider that.

    Of course, post-secondary being such a crucial (and expensive) decision, you also want to make sure you’re seeing the issue from all sides. Here are some other factors you can consider when evaluating your options.

    1. Location. Would you prefer to study in a big city or a small “university” town? If your school is close enough to home, commuting may be a cheaper alternative to residence. If your school is far away, consider the adjustments you will have to make (potential homesickness, a new city, and in some cases, even a different culture).

    2. Size. Giant institutions offer some of the most comprehensive resources and talented faculty—but it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. Meanwhile, at tiny schools it seems like everyone knows your name. What’s going to work better for you?

    3. Accommodation. If commuting isn’t an option, where are you going to live? Many universities have different residences (single suites, apartments, etc.), and there are always off-campus options. Residence is an expensive investment, so do your research and make sure your school’s amenities are satisfactory.

    4. Social opportunities. What are you interested in? School is important, but involvement in your school community can be vital to a comprehensive education. (Fortunately, most universities have literally hundreds of clubs and associations, but see what they’re offering anyway.)

    5. Identity. Whether you like it or not, you may come to find you are perceived a certain way because of your university. It’s an unfortunate bias, but you can actually use this to your advantage. Pick a school that will reflect a part of you, and one of which you’d be proud to call yourself a student.

    University research may seem daunting, but you can usually find all of this information on school websites. For a more in-depth look at academics and student life, check out open houses, attend academic sessions, or speak to current students about their experiences.

  • Campus Disability Services

    Campus Disability Services

    If you’re a student with a disability looking at your post-secondary options, we’ve provided a handy link to the NEADS website where you can access information about campus disability services all across Canada.

    NEADS EdLink is the most comprehensive Canadian directory of college and university disability service providers and links to service centre websites, with listings from coast to coast. Each entry provides current contact information for service providers at Canadian post-secondary institutions. The links to disability centre websites allow access to detailed information on accommodations, physical access, services and supports.

    Access the Campus Disability Services search engine via NEADS on their website.

  • 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!

  • Following Your Heart Into the Trades

    Following Your Heart Into the Trades

    Sometimes it might feel like you’re pressured to have your entire future planned out already. This is a false misconception, especially with the rapid way education and workforce demands are changing. The idea that you need to pursue one life or career path is an outdated one in today’s fast-paced, technologically driven society.

    Unlike in past decades, in the last few years education and work has shifted. It is now becoming more and more common for students to take several programs before they decide on one that they actually enjoy. It is also becoming more common for older members of the workforce to go back to school to re-train or take on new skills and professions to keep up with the competitive job market.

    It may seem like there is a lot of pressure to get into a good college or university or else you won’t be considered “successful”, but this is simply not the case. Many other fields, especially the trades, are accepting employees right out of high school. Due to the growing demand in Canada for tradespeople such as welders, plumbers, pipe fitters, and electricians. Some trades workers are making $50 or more an hour at the age of only twenty-four.

    Money isn’t everything, however, and the most important part of life is enjoying it, which pretty hard to do when you’re doing something that you hate. Yes, money is necessary for things like rent, food and entertainment, but its much more important to be happier and emotionally stable than depressed from spending every day doing something you do not enjoy.

    The world is a large place, and with the internet at your fingertips there is almost no limit to what you can be and accomplish if you set your mind to it. Just because one thing doesn’t work out it doesn’t mean something else won’t. You may even stumble into something that you really enjoy without thinking about it.

    In today’s constantly evolving job market, it’s not uncommon for people to re-train, re-educate and switch professions many times in their life. There are students who spend years at university for a Master’s program but end up going into the trades.

    So while it seems like there is a lot of pressure to choose an education path now, it is important to remember that money and prestige aren’t necessarily going to bring you any sort of happiness – but finding something that you love to do certainly will.

  • Working In the Trades

    Working In the Trades

    When considering working in the trades, there are a few important questions to ask.

    Firstly, you should find out how much the job pays. Thinking this may make it may feel that you are only looking to make money, but the reality is that, at some point in your life, your parents will not be there to pay the bills for you and you will have to step up to the plate and pay for your lifestyle. Whether you are a “stick-to-basics” kind of person or a “lavish lifestyle” kind of person, you will need to pay for your life and so you will need to make enough money to feel comfortable.

    There is a realistic way to evaluate how much money will really be enough for you. I suggest creating a budget for yourself to identify exactly how much money you spend on the various aspects of your life. You could try tabulating a spreadsheet and counting up all the different aspects of your life that cost money, including the major categories like rent, food, clothing, hygiene products (like shampoo, toothpaste, etc.), entertainment (movies, cable TV connection), school tuition and so on. Once you’ve identified how much money you expend each month, you can multiply that by twelve to find out how much you need per year.  This should give you a good idea of how much you NEED to make per year, and from there you can evaluate what you WANT to make per year. Factor in long-term goals, like buying a car or a house.

    Secondly, you will want to evaluate what type of work interests you. Do you like physical work like what is demanded in plumbing and carpentry, or do you prefer to work in an area more focused on being indoors (like a job peripherally related to the trades, such as being a sales manager or receptionist)?  Knowing what the requirements are for the career you are looking at doing for the rest of your life is essential, because you will spend so much of your time doing this work; It is important to love it.

    Thirdly, it is important to consider what resources are available to you to help you get yourself the job you want. Sometimes a job may seem great in your mind, but the potential for landing a job in that field can be difficult. A current example of this conundrum is teaching, where there are very few teaching positions available that are full time and permanent. Looking into volunteer, internship and permanent positions available in your is great way to do some research and prepare yourself for working in your chosen field.

    Thinking about the above three factors should help you to identify what career in the trades is best suited for you. Good luck!