Self-Confidence
The Gift of Independence: An Encore Performance
03/Dec/2011 11:15 AM
Last year, I blogged about giving the gift of independence, by teaching your child basic domestic skills that he will use when he is on his own. I suggested that the holidays was an ideal time to instill these skills, including sewing homemade gifts, ironing the home-made gift, budgeting for store-bought gifts, setting a holiday table, and baking holiday treats.Read More...
A Positive Choice
15/Oct/2011 12:07 PM
The stress is increasing and the stakes are high. Colleges say they are looking for well-rounded students, with good academics in a challenging curriculum, extracurricular activities that support their passions, and volunteer experiences in their local and global communities. In addition to taking challenging curriculums, such as IB programs, AP courses, and pre-college post-secondary programs, many students are finding other ways to enhance their high school transcripts. Some participate in summer internships, volunteer in global service projects, or travel abroad to gain experience in the world, while others do it all.
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The Gift of Independence (Use the holidays to teach independence. Make it fun and profitable at the same time.)
08/Dec/2010 08:02 PM
During this season of gift-giving, why not give your son or daughter the gift of independence? We all know that we should be teaching our children skills to become independent, but the holidays lend themselves perfectly to these lessons. Make it fun now and it should become profitable in the long run. I think back to parents I know who never taught these necessary skills to their kids, and when it was time to go to college, they scrambled to teach them the art of cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and doing laundry. Or they just hoped that their children would eventually learn through others. I think it would be more rewarding to teach these skills through fun activities.Read More...
Taking A Break Could Bring Better Results
30/Nov/2010 02:58 PM
Parents can be fearful of allowing their child to take time off from school, before attending college. I was one such parent. My daughter took a semester abroad in 11th grade and had one of the best learning and living experiences of her young life. Her quote to me, at the end of this experience, was “ it was so great to hear of all the things I should try, instead of all the things I shouldn’t do because I might get hurt (physically and mentally). We learned to push ourselves, take risks, and deal with the consequences, whether good or bad.”
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What Should I Write About?
05/Oct/2010 07:02 AM
A typical question that I get from many clients about the college essay is “what should I write about?” The next question is “should I tell them that I have a learning disability?” Both questions are important and both are connected.
The second question is the one I always answer first. Unless you feel that your learning disability defines who you are, then the answer is “no.” Colleges are looking for what makes you tick, what your interests and passions are about, and how you will fit into their community. During the high school years, students are active in social organizations, community service, sports, and academic clubs, both in school and in the wider community. Many have traveled as part of a church or youth group, on school-sponsored trips, or with their families. One or several of these experiences could help define who the student is as a person, what he wants to pursue, how he sees the future, how he wants to fit in, or who he wants to emulate. Somewhere along the years, the student finds a passion for a subject, a hobby, or an activity. This is what colleges want to know about. Read More...
The second question is the one I always answer first. Unless you feel that your learning disability defines who you are, then the answer is “no.” Colleges are looking for what makes you tick, what your interests and passions are about, and how you will fit into their community. During the high school years, students are active in social organizations, community service, sports, and academic clubs, both in school and in the wider community. Many have traveled as part of a church or youth group, on school-sponsored trips, or with their families. One or several of these experiences could help define who the student is as a person, what he wants to pursue, how he sees the future, how he wants to fit in, or who he wants to emulate. Somewhere along the years, the student finds a passion for a subject, a hobby, or an activity. This is what colleges want to know about. Read More...