Can Kids Still Be Kids?

Do we really allow kids to be kids today?  This question applies to academics (I still cannot believe what my niece and nephew had to do in kindergarten compared to what I had to do) and athletics (athletes today choosing one sport and having to devote 100% of their time to it) in our high schools. Right or wrong, we seem to expect kids to grow up more quickly today than ever before.  This interesting article from The New York Times discusses how some high school athletes are committing to colleges during or even before their freshman year of high school. 

Using Social Media for More

I am guessing many of you use at least one form of social media almost every day.  While Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (let me know if there are others I should check out) are great ways to keep up with friends, celebrities, and the latest news from around the world, there is an aspect of those social media outlets which could be much more important to you in the future - job/career listings and advice.

Someday each and every one of you will be looking for a job.  It might be right now while in high school or it might be after high school or college.  How will you find out when and where a job is available?  My guess is that social media will be the answer to that question both now and in the future.  In order to get ready for the future, I encourage you to start following various employers on social media so you can get an idea of what they are looking for long before you really need that job. 

To start following some of these employment outlets, search "Careers" on an app like Twitter and see what comes up.  Depending on your interests, you might want to follow businesses/corporations like @ESPNCareers (you will be amazed by the variety of careers they offer), @MicrosoftJobs, @CondeNastCareer (media brands like The New Yorker),or @TWDS_Careers (Disney Studios).  You could also follow career resources like @CareerBuilder or @MonsterCareers to see what kinds of careers might be available in the future and gain advice about building your resume, interviewing effectively, etc.

Ultimately, I want you to enjoy connecting with your friends on social media, but make the social media outlets work for you in the process of planning for the future.  Dream big when it comes to your future career.  I would love to someday say I know someone working at ESPN or Disney!

Can Video Games Make You Smarter?

Believe it or not, I am not a big gamer.  I did have an original Atari thanks to my uncle, and I took a Sega Genesis to college (NHL 94 was a great game).  I even have a Nintendo Wii sitting next to my TV as I type this blog post.  Regardless of having all of those gaming systems at one time or another (I forgot to mention playing Oregon Trail on my Apple IIGS computer when I was a kid), I don't make much time in my busy schedule to sit down and play video games.  Based on this video found on Digg.com, though, I might want to start taking a little bit of time each week to play some games.  According to the video, playing video games might actually make my brain stronger.  I'd be interested to know (you could add a comment to this post) how many hours a week each of you plays video games and what you think of the content of the video above.

Happy gaming, and hopefully you will make your brain a little stronger this week!

Completing the FAFSA

The new year has begun, and that means members of the Class of 2014 need to start thinking about financial aid.  A big part of that process is completing the FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  This article from the U.S. Dept. of Education gives some guidance regarding the completion of the application, but seniors are encouraged to talk to Mr. Zender regarding any other financial aid questions.

Remember - every dollar you earn in grant or scholarship money is a dollar you don't have to start paying back (plus interest) approximately six months after you graduate from college.  I encourage you to work hard to earn any money which is available through grants and scholarships.  Your future bank account will be glad you did!

To reinforce how important it is to try to limit the amount of money you have to borrow, check out this article from the New York Times.

College Shopping Sheet

This post is probably more for the seniors than anyone else, but it wouldn't hurt for the sophomores to look as well.  This article from the U.S. Department of Education contains some useful links toward the end related to college cost, etc.  One of the links in the article allows you see how much a school costs, how many of their students typically graduate, how many former students aren't able to pay back their student loans, etc.

Is What You Are Reading Online True?

Do you ever wonder if what you are reading online is true?  If not, you might want to ask yourself that question the next time you are faced with a story which seems a bit too extraordinary.  In this article from the New York Times, the author discusses how some of the stories which go viral are simply that - creative stories.

The next time you read something which seems too good to be true, remember it might be.

Freshen Up Your Notes With Classmint

Classmint is a website designed to help create flashcards which can be used as a study tool.  The flashcards can be annotated, pictures can be added, and audio can even be included.  If you are a person who likes to study using flashcards (you Spanish students know who you are), this might be a good website to visit.