Time management in college don t let it get away from you

One of the biggest concerns of college students is how they are going to juggle everything and keep everyone happy. Most people think (sometimes parents included) that college is a time of fun and little stress. Those that have gone to college may remember that studying, keeping up and lack of sleep is far from a walk in the park. There are several issues, events and social interactions that college students are expected to maintain all in limited time. There are many stressors during this time of life and can leave students frustrated as well as exhausted. The worries of balancing academics, sports, friends, family, employment and sleep are worrisome. Managing time is not only a difficult task for college students, but also the general population. Here are some great ways to manage time and still get everything done, or close to it anyway! Understanding Your Internal Clock No, we are not talking about your alarm clock that rings two hours too early every morning. Did you even know that you have an internal clock? This can be seen by the difference in people and their sleep habits. Ever noticed that some people regardless of an alarm clock or not wake up 7:00 am on the dot, regardless of what time they went to bed the night before. Others have trouble waking up regardless of the fact that the alarm clock has been screaming for an hour. This is because their internal clock is preset and is different from person to person. So what does this have to do with time management? Understanding when you have the best concentration, feel your best and are the most alert will help you determine the best time to study. Studying is a huge factor and time stealer of college students, so make the most of the session. If you are an early bird then plan on studying in the morning, at breakfast or shortly there after. If this is your alert time and when you are best able to learn or retain information than make the most of it. On the other hand if you are a night own and are best able to work or understand at dark then study at night. The only concern with studying at night is the fact that you may be tired from a hard days work and have trouble concentrating. Remember the importance of knowing your body to understand when you are at your best, that way you will not spend hours spinning your wheels and not get any studying done. Having Appropriate Tools Make sure that you invest in a pocket calendar so that you can manage your time and make sure that you make your appointments as well as engagements. Keeping up with events and upcoming dates is one of the most important aspects of managing time. That way you do not overbook yourself and promise the weekend meal with your family the same time as a banquet or other social engagement. As far as academics it is important to have the appropriate material, texts and study guides to make the most of your academic time. If you will spend a little extra time and take good notes, keep your material organized then you will not spend half your time looking for your homework! Unorganization is a leading loss of time for everyone on the planet! Balancing Social VS Academics Finding time between keeping up with your academic work and your friends is sometimes very strenuous. Everyone wants to go out and eat, spend a day on the lake or watch a movie instead of writing an English essay. It is important to keep your studies up though because it is easy to fail a class. Not only does this cost you or your parents an arm and leg, but it also puts you behind. You came to college to earn a degree in academics not socializing. There is a time and place for everything, but put your college career first. Allot so much time to your friends, sports and other activities in order to avoid running out of time. If something must be skipped make sure that is not your school work. If you miss a test or perform poorly, your grades, scholarship and other financial aid status can suffer, but your friends will forgive you. As for balancing sports and academics, you have to do just that, balance it. This can be a very trying feat because both can take a great deal of dedication and time. Again remember that you will not be able to continue your sports and be the star of the basketball team if you flunk out. Ever heard of the “no pass no play rule”? It gets excellent athletes all the time, how good are you on the bench? Rid of Distractions If you are trying to achieve a goal and there are several distracting factors you probably will not accomplish them. Ridding or removing the distractions is the best way to get your wish list completed in record time. Background music or other slight noise is acceptable during study time, but rap music, loud music or the blasting television needs to be eliminated. You can not study when your friends are having a party or a loud get together in the next room either. Pick a time and place that is quite and free of distractions to study.

Travel to spain for language immersion programs

Learning to speak Spanish is very beneficial today, particularly if you will be spending time in Spanish speaking countries whether for business or pleasure. One of the most convenient ways is learning Spanish online. There are several method options available, and many online programs allow you to learn without ever leaving your home. The money spent and time invested will be well worth it. Speaking Spanish can also give you an advantage in the job market since often prospective employers are, often, especially interested in bilingual employees to help communicate with the Spanish speaking clients and customers. There are many websites offering at home Spanish courses. Some are even free, though the websites charging a fee usually have more resources and a more thorough program to help you learn the language faster. But, there is no harm in trying a free site at first. You can always find an alternative online course f you do not feel you are learning at a good pace. The largest organization for teaching the Spanish language is the Instituto Cervantes. It is a public instituted that was started in Spain in 1991, but it is now on four continents. The organization aims to promote the teaching of the Spanish language as well as the Spanish culture throughout the world. The courses offered cover vocabulary, grammar, phonics and spelling as well as the Spanish culture, diversity among those Spanish speaking countries and socio-cultural issues. The program at the Instituto Cervantes is a great way to learn the Spanish language. Online is a good way to learn the basics of the Spanish language, but immersing yourself in the language is the best way to become fluent. By traveling to a Spanish speaking country, you can not only practice speaking and understanding the language but you can also experience the culture, food, traditions and history of the area. There are language immersion programs available throughout the world. Many programs are available in cities such as Madrid or Barcelona in Spain, though programs are available in many Spanish speaking countries around the world. Language immersion programs require that you live in that country for a pre-designated period of time. The courses are offered in groups or one-on-one instruction and often include afternoon and evening activities outside of the classroom. You will have time to travel on your own which helps you gain confidence in your speaking skills by interacting with Spanish speaking people in the market, stores or restaurants. Choices for accommodations vary from staying with a host family to sharing an apartment with another student. There are benefits to both. A host family enables you to interact and experience the culture continually, while sharing an apartment gives you the opportunity to study with another student.

Piano playing and excuses a sour mix

You’ve just finished playing the piano for family members or some friends. If you’ve truly played poorly, the instinctive thing to do is to delve into a repertoire of excuses, some of which might include: “Who can play at this time of day?” “Of course that wasn’t good. You try playing when someone in your audience has a whistling nose.” “I just started his piece last week. What do you expect, Liberachi?” “Okay, so you try playing it. It’s difficult, man!” Although there may be truth peppered in these thoughts, the last thing that a pianist wants to do is to get into the habit of jumping into an excuse. It is unprofessional and, although beginners are by no means professionals, they must aspire towards the habit of behaving professionally for a smoother road in the future. Almost worse than the ‘excuse for poor playing’ statements, are excuses given when a performance is actually good. Not being able to take a compliment is one of the worst habits that you can acquire. Here’s why. If an audience member throws a compliment your way, they may actually be sincere, rather than just attempting to be nice. If you deny them their opinion, then you lesson yourself and them. Here’s an example. Audience member: “That was so great. I loved your playing.” Here are three atrocious responses: “Oh, come on. I stunk! I can’t believe anyone really liked that garbage performance.” “Ya, but did you hear all of those mistakes that I made? I’m so embarrassed.” “You’re just saying that to be nice. You don’t have to be nice, you know. Just tell me the truth for a change. My playing was terrible.” In the first response, you’ve destroyed your audience member’s credibility. If they really liked your performance, then they’ve just told that person that their opinion is uninformed and blatantly incorrect. In the second response, you’ve just told an unsuspecting admirer that you made a lot of mistakes. Perhaps they really didn’t hear or focus on that aspect of your playing. You’ve now downgraded your performance. Your admirer may possibly be convinced that you did not play that well, after all. The third response is downright offensive. Just because you’ve hit rock bottom in an emotional roller-coaster ride, doesn’t mean that you have to take a passenger along with you on that ride. So how can you rid yourself of excuses, and ineffective and unprofessional responses? That’s easy. Practice stating the correct responses. For example, if someone asks you to play the piano and you don’t play well, then try: 1. smiling at the end of the performance, 2. taking a bow even if you don’t feel like it, 3. saying “there you go” or “thanks for letting me play for you”. Of course, if you played poorly to the point that you couldn’t even get through the intended piece, then you can most certainly have a sense of humor about the situation without putting yourself down excessively. “Oops” or “Okay, I guess I need a bit more practice” are acceptable. However, the better solution would have been not to have played in the first place. Play only if you are very prepared mentally, physically and emotionally.

The long and short of long island schools

Want to know more about Long Island Schools? Long Island Schools consist of 125 public school districts, 416,093 students and 29,901 teachers. About 88.4 percent of high school students on Long Island go on to enter post-secondary education. The biggest issue as a whole for Long Island Schools is determining the budget. A recent challenge to the state school funding system, by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, led the New York State Court of Appeals to require the state to adopt a special funding plan to make sure that all students are given access to a proper high school education within the public school system. The Court appears to be in conflict with Governor Pataki, who is trying to push through a $400 million voucher plan. Under this proposal, parents of 1.8 million school children throughout the state would be eligible for the new credit. State aid has increased 65 percent since 1995. Pataki believes that this education tax credit will give parents new resources and flexibility to meet the educational needs of their children, including the students of Long Island Schools. Pataki has many detractors, who don’t feel that vouchers are the way to go. Danny Donohue, president of the Civil Service Employees Association says that public schools still have too many unmet needs to spend $400 million on a voucher plan. Timothy G. Kremer, executive director of the NYS School Boards Association, says that the tax break is “a $400 million gift from taxpayers to families who don’t need it.” “The NYS PTA believes that every child deserves equal access to the same outcome, that is, an excellent education,” Donohue adds, “That means using our government’s resources to close gaps, not create them; to raise student achievement of all and not just for some; and to prepare students for a democratic society for which public schools remain the best forum.” How does all of this impact Long Island Schools as a whole? All the Long Island Schools reap benefits from additional funding, so help from the state would not be unwelcome. However, what each of the Long Island Schools spends their money on and what they need money for varies greatly. In the Baldwin District of Long Island Schools, taxpayers are actually getting a break, after representatives netted an additional $23.6 million in state aid. Since this district’s budget didn’t change this year, the extra state aid the district received lowers the amount that homeowners have to pay. Not every district in Long Island Schools is mired down in a budget quagmire. Consider these Long Island Schools. East Rockaway’s High School class of 2006 had one of the highest Regents diploma rates ever (91%), and 96% of students went on to college. The dropout rate at the school is ZERO, and students excel not only academically but in drama, music, and sports as well. Also seeing fantastic success within Long Island Schools is the Lynbrook School District. They have scored consistently high grades on the NY State Assessment tests: 100% of fifth graders passed the 2006 social studies exam. Nearly 90% of this Long Island Schools’ middle school students passed the English Language Arts test. Last year, just like the seniors at East Rockaway, 96% of Lynbrook High School seniors went to college. The district’s diverse academic programs have won many awards, and its Long Island Schools’ athletic teams continue to excel. In short, Long Island Schools have a lot to offer students and their families. Concern and involvement from families, community and political leaders over budget spending, and an impressive roster of successful schools are the tip of the iceberg in this area of our nation.

What is mental math and why should we study

What is Mental Math? Lot of you out there are trying to find an answer to this question. Well, answer is quite simple, mental math is nothing but simple calculations done in your head, that is, mentally. So now you are wondering – well, what is such a big deal, I can easily calculate 10 + 5 and 95 + 100, my 10 year old child can easily calculate 80 + 20. These are some simple calculations. But often in our day to day life, neither we come across such easy calculations nor will your children in future. Rather we come across a bit tougher calculations. Let me draw your attention to your visit to a restaurant. Have you ever wondered, jeez, how much is 15% of that or 18% of that. Have you been to a grocery store and wondered – how much tax was charged to you? These are the kind of simple calculations I am talking about and not just 95 + 100. So now you got the gist as to what to expect in this article? So before I show you some techniques, let me explain you why mental math is catching so much steam these days. First, let me tell you some of the long term benefits of learning mental math at early child age. Learning mental math at early age can help boost your child’s confidence when it comes to mathematics, develop mental calculation abilities, provide a sense of achievement as the child's proficiency improves, lead to greater mental capacity, promote intuitive thinking, enhance problem-solving capability, enhance creativity and last but not least, improve concentration and mental endurance. Read what past president of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) has to say about mental math: “the time has come to invest in helping students build the mental math skills in their tool kits as part of their comprehensive mathematical understanding. The payoff for this investment can be tremendous both in improving students’ mathematical abilities and in giving a visible sign that we are committed to preparing students with the kind of mathematical proficiency that the public can readily appreciate.” We all have had our share of difficulties understanding and learning math in the past. And the same difficulties face to our children. Let me tell you that yes math is difficult and boring if the numbers and the relation between these numbers are not understood well. Today, most of our public schools teach us mental math in some form or the other and I can guarantee you, more then ninty five percent of the time it will be the most adverse and boring technique of rote memorization. So what is the alternative? Alternative is what asian students have been learning for decades now. There are two different systems in Asia that can help you conquer and master math. You and/or your child can calculate 1478 + 3456 + 98 – 29 in less then 5 seconds and that too without any help external modern day electronic gadgets such as calculator. One system is the Abacus mental math method which has it’s origins in east Asia and another system is the Vedic mental math method which has it’s origins in south Asia.

Sat test not your big brother s exam

The SAT Test continues to evolve with every generation of students, and the current SAT Test is an exceptions. Gone are those old mental teasers known as “analogies” which required you to decide if Obfuscate is to Obscure like Dilly-Dally is to Linger. Of course, for those who loved these verbal games, this is a disadvantage, especially for those who are not so keen on writing. There is a new writing section added to the SAT Test which requires every student to compose an essay on a given subject. Most college bound students in the past were required to complete an SAT Achievement Test in writing, which is almost identical to the writing section on the SAT Test. The difference is that the Writing Test was taken separately, whereas the new Writing Section is taken as part of the SAT Test. This means a longer test, and it seems that taking the SAT Test nowadays is as much a test of endurance as it is of knowledge. The SAT Test stands for “Scholastic Aptitude Test” and is meant to measure one’s critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze and solve verbal and math problems. The SAT Test is not an IQ Test, and is not intended to gauge one’s native intelligence. Each section is given a score in the range of 200 and 800, and is given seven times a year in the United States and its territories, and is offered 6 times a year to overseas students. There is a Critical Reading Section, a Math Section and a Writing Section. The SAT Test is comprised of six 25 minute sections and two 20 minutes sections. These can occur in any order, but the essay is always first and the 10 minute multiple choice section is always last. There is one section that is not scored, but is used to test new questions on test takers (The College Board uses this as a means of evaluating which questions are good and should be used again, and which are not appropriate). There is no way a student can guess whether a test section is unscored or is scored (although many clever students claim to be able to guess). The Critical Reading Section of the SAT Test totals 70 minutes and includes two 25 minute sections and a 20 minute section. This is the same breakdown for the Math section of the SAT Test. The Writing Section is an hour long, and test writing skills along with grammar usage and word choice. The Critical Reading section tests reading comprehension and vocabulary. The Subjects covered in the Math Section of the SAT Test include numerical operations, algebra, geometry, statistics, probability, exponential growth, absolute value, functional notation, linear function, exponents, properties of tangent lines and other subject. A student is permitted to use a four-function, scientific or graphing calculator on the math section, but a calculator is not needed to solve any of the problems on the SAT Test. Many people once had the idea that the SAT Test was a measure of intelligence and only needed to be taken once. The idea of SAT Test preparation was unheard of. Nowadays, this is considered to be an outdated concept, and the test is seen as a gauge of skills rather than a measure of intelligence. Students usually take the test several or many time and often use SAT Test preparation booklets, software or courses to prepare for the test. Most colleges do not penalize students who performed poorly on one SAT test and well on another and have the policy of dropping the lowest scores when considering an application for admission. Therefore, many students feel that they have nothing to lose in taking the SAT Test as many times as they wish.

Spiritual channeling

Spiritual channeling is a process whereby an individual becomes the channel and the spirit speaks for them. Instead of contacting departed loved ones the entities that normally come through are guides. The information may not have great impact, however, the source seems to hold more weight or at least provide a different perspective. Many channelers have the same entity or entities repeatedly. The entities that are being channeled, often discuss a particular subject that is normally spiritual and they would pass on their knowledge and their wisdom. Channeling is a skill that anyone can develop. All you need is the desire to grow spiritually and the determination to reach upwards. Channeling does not take years of special training, but what it does require is the ability to make ones mind calm and free of thoughts and you do need the ability to trust. If you go back over the years, priestesses and priests of the temples, psychics, seers, witchdoctors and shamans were the channel of energy from the unconscious to natural spirits and their own spirit guides. All civilizations and cultures have had mystics or trace channelers, who provided a service with their abilities. They tap into a different dimension and bring through knowledge, which is not obtainable to the masses. The shamans and the priests have kept this art form alive until this very day and when used with the right attitude it becomes available to almost anyone. Channeling is for those of you that wish to enrich and develop the wisdom of your higher self. This is not a way of solving your daily and emotional problems. Sometimes miracles can happen; however, your guide will guide and help you find the solutions to what you need to know. You guide does this by helping you to see a variety of options you have in your decision making processes. It is important to understand that channeling must not be confused with someone whose soul intention is to contact the dead and seek their assistance. When a medium uses spiritual channeling, they are leaving their ordinary waking consciousness and becoming a conduit for a source of energy not normally in their awareness. They may have a sense of reaching their higher self (the highest vibrational part of the self as this is still identified as individual), a spirit guide, or other light being, or they may feel a beautiful loving energy flowing through their body for the healing of themselves and in that of others. Thoughts or images that are not their own may enter their mind, or they may find they are self-speaking in a way that differs from there ordinary thought process. Channeling is one of the many gifts of spirit as it helps you to unfold spiritual growth. Channeling is not practiced as an end in itself, but as a part of the channelers deep desire to be close to the great spirit and to serve as an instrument for the expression of the higher planes of consciousness. The spiritual channeler does not seek glory; moreover, they feel deeply privileged to be part of the personal and planetary healing process. Having clarity in channeling comes from your ability to reach a higher vibrational source and maintain a clear contact with it. As you enter a deep state of relaxation or meditation, it brings the highest energies present for the session. If you are taking alcohol, medication, are stressed or have fatigue, in fact any form of illness, these will not give you a clear contact. Work only when you and your physical body are in excellent condition. The spirit guides who will work with you have a single purpose and that is to teach you to see yourself as they see you. A being of love, light and creative potential who is one with ones self. As you begin to accept these truths about your essence, past traumas dissolve and your daily reality begins to come into alignment with the desires of your higher self. A growing sense of peace and joy shows you that you are on the right path. You can achieve the best results by working with a group whose main goal is to grow spiritually and to become conduits of the energy of love and healing that they receive. All channelers filter the information that comes through them. It is in the purest form, when sent. The message will be of pure energy and a unit of total awareness and understanding can be seen as a light entering in the channelers aura. As the channelers physical body, mind and vocal chords are expressing the message it will then take on an earthly form, so that it can be understood on the earth plane. In the process of translating energy into words, the message is inevitable altered. If you want somebody else to channel for you, let your instincts be your guide. Choose a positive person and make sure that their presence makes you feel comfortable and accepted. Most people are apprehensive about the first time they have a channeled reading. So try to separate this anxiety from the sense you have of the channeler. However, if you feel acute discomfort or physic pain, you may want to work with someone else. Feel free to ask questions before the sessions begin. You may want to know what is the focus of the session, whether you can ask questions and what results other people have received. Ask permission to tape the session. If a tape is provided, you will hear many new things when you later replay your tape. Attempt to suspend your judgmental self during the session and enjoy the flow of the session. You need not accept any statement that does not ring true to you; ask for more information or simply put it aside and you can consider it later. If you are pushing away positive statements about yourself, that can be a clue that you need to work on self-love. However, if you get no sense of inner confirmation about a statement, let it go. Remember that channeling often serves its best purpose by spotlighting things you already knew about yourself but were avoiding or denying. Spiritual channeling helps you deal with your fears, understand your options, and move forward more confidently. By pointing out your spiritual gift and confirming your intuitions, it can give you the support you need to be your true self. Preparing to Channel. I myself found that practicing channeling with others was easier than for me alone. However, taking time for solitude and meditation is also important as this helps strengthen your connection with your spirit guides. Whether alone or with someone else, take some time to sit quietly. Create a sacred space for yourself by lighting a candle, you can also burn some incense. Visualize and feel the white light from the heart flow into you. Breathe deeply and focus on the breath to give your brain a job (Sometimes the busy brain needs a job). You can tell your mind to focus on your breathing, as this helps to quieten the mind. How to connect with your guide. When you are relaxed, comfortable and your mind is clear, start to telepathically call out to your guide (you might like to call to your angel instead of your guide the choice is yours) ask them to come in to your sacred space. In your minds eye begin to see them coming towards you. When you feel their presence, imagine that a beam of light begins to radiate from your guide or angel and open your heart, so that the light passes through the feeling of love. Feel the energy flowing both ways from their heart to your heart and back to them. Once that energy is flowing strongly, imagine a second beam of light radiating from their third eye to yours. Open all your psychic senses and feel the flow of energy between your third eye and their third eye. I have found that connecting on both of these levels helps strengthen the telepathic communication link. If you are comfortable, invite your guide to come and blend with you. There is nothing to fear. Feel the loving energy coming from your guide. There is absolutely no harm that can come to you in allowing your guide to come close. There are no ulterior motives in the spirit realm, they simply want to love and help you. I let my guide come right up to me and blend with me. It is as if we share the same space for a while. Once you are in this state, open to the bliss of the oneness. Your guides are of the highest light, and always come in with a tremendous loving energy. You should start to feel comfortable, soothed and uplifted. If you feel any fear or you find you are uncomfortable, go back to the start and focus on bringing in more white light. Before you start, again ask yourself why you are afraid. Try to let go of the fear and understand that you have complete control over what you allow into your energy field. Working with your guides and your angels. Your guide and angel can offer you a loving, healing energy, as well as valuable insight from their unique perspective. Accessing these higher dimensions and the feeling of being, connected to your guide or angel can strengthen your soul and help you flow with life. To strengthen your connection with your guide, you can simply acknowledge their presence in your life. Talk to them telepathically and trust that they hear you. They will respond to you and it just takes openness on your part to “hear” them. They may communicate by a vision, sometimes by words or a feeling of knowingness. The way they communicate is dependent upon the amount of practice you have done. (It will always start slowly. Do not give up. Keep going, as practice always makes perfect). Keep a journal, notebook, pen or a tape recorder handy. Therefore, if you receive a message that you feel is important you can write it down. This allows you to work with the message until it feels integrated. It also allows you the opportunity to share the message with others, which is a way to validate your experiences. By practicing this exercise, you can come to know your guide in a deep and profound way. In these chaotic times, taking a moment to connect with your spirit guide can give you the reassurance you need. Even if you do not have a specific question, connect with your healing guide to send you healing energy to balance and energize you. An important point to remember is, that if your voice changes in tone slightly or your writing changes, do not be alarmed as this is quite normal when practicing channeling. Be sure to open your heart and let in their love. This can be quite profound and can help you to understand how your guide can help you through your life. Remember trust is important on both sides.