How to Develop an Effective Resume Career Profile: The Basics

In today’s competitive job market, it’s important to stand out from the crowd and including a well-written career profile can help you do just that. Your career profile should appear immediately after the objective. This section highlights the most important information included on your resume – work experience and achievements, educational background, and other items that may be relevant to the position. A career profile is only a few lines long but a well-written one can encourage hiring managers to keep reading so they can find out more.

Let’s look at a sample career profile:

Chartered accountant with 15 years experience as a chief financial officer for Fortune 500 companies.

Chief financial officer with a solid history of financial record keeping, risk management, accurate economic forecasting, and reducing debt by an average of 15%. Increased shareholder investments by an average of 20% by presenting a long-term financial analysis which increased existing shareholder investments by 15% and attracted 200 new investors.

This resume career profile is effective for several reasons. Regardless of what type of position you are applying for, follow the tips below (which have also been observed by the person who wrote this profile) to ensure your profile is as effective as possible.

Remember your purpose: When you’re writing your resume career profile, always keep in mind that its purpose is to explain your value as an employee and outline what you can offer your prospective employer.

To achieve this, you should highlight specific achievements that benefited the people you worked for. Keep it concise: Your profile is just a brief advertisement of your skills and should be limited it to a few lines.

Remember, hiring managers can always read the rest of your resume for more details. Use action statements and be specific: Rely on strong action statements when you are describing how you have benefited companies and give exact financial figures when possible. “Boosted company profits by 3%, or $200,000, during the first quarter” is much better than “company profits were increased.” Perfect grammar is not required: Most times, it’s imperative to use proper grammar and complete sentences but you can bend the rules a little when you are preparing a resume career profile. Feel free to use phrases instead. Some effective ones include “boosted sales by $-.--/year (or -%/year),” “reduced refunds by $-.--/year (or -%/year) through improved customer satisfaction,” or “reduced employee absenteeism by -%/year, saving the company $-.--/year by introducing and enforcing new policies.”

Don’t be vague: A resume career profile should always be specific. After you’re finished writing, read it over to make sure there are no general statements that might make it appear as though you are padding your resume. For example, don’t say you are an effective leader and a good communicator unless you have something concrete to back those statements up. If you increased profits, be sure to include numbers and proof. Hiring managers can instantly spot the difference between catch phrases and real achievements that led to real results.

Teens Making a Difference-Simple Things Teens Can Do to Change the World

Too often I hear teenagers say that nothing they do makes a difference. You do not have to effect change on a global level to make a difference. You change the world with the daily interactions you have with your family, friends, and people in your community. The simple things you do make the world a better place.
Kindness is a trait that many people seem to be lacking these days. We have all had experiences with road rage, bad customer service or someone who did something that was unkind to us. That is part of life. We do not have to be part of that trend. People remember kindness. You never know what difference a small act of kindness will have on someone else. You will be happier because of the way that you live your life.
Volunteer for a local organization. You do not have to go far to find someone who needs your help. There are organizations in all communities that help the homeless, provide support for battered women, provide daycare for families that are having a hard time, or build houses for those in need. There is a huge need for teens that are willing to help. I volunteered in the Special Olympics as a teenager and it is an experience that I will never forget. When you reach outside of yourself and help someone it is easier to forget your own problems.
Teens can be politically active. You may not be able to vote yet but you can do a lot to support the causes that you feel are important. Write letters to your senator. Write letters to your city government. Let them know what issues are important to you and what ideas you have that can improve the community. Organize your thoughts well and write them clearly and your ideas will be listened to. Volunteer to help the political candidate you support in their campaign. They always need people to make phone calls or deliver flyers.
Get the education you need to have a successful career. You may have a desire to work in a career field that has the potential to touch many lives. You may touch the lives of your coworkers and customers. It doesn’t matter how far reaching your influence is. What matters is that you have an influence. An educated person is in a much better position to make a difference in the world and determine the avenues that they need to take to make a change.
You have the ability to make the world a better place because you were a part of it. The small things that may seem insignificant make up our lives. Our actions create our character. Live up to the potential you have and make a difference in the world right where you are.

Feeling single?

It is better to be single and happy, than desperately unhappy in a relationship. You can never be as lonely by yourself as you can be in a relationship that is clearly not working
Tired of spending Sundays by yourself? Of going to parties alone or suffering through blind dates organized by your friends? Of looking at the personal columns in the newspapers with more than a passing interest? Are you tired of winching when someone asks the dreaded question, “How’s your love life?”
Right. There are many people around you who are either in relationships or are married. All of them must have been single at some or other time. So how did they do it? How can you do it too?

"Get Happy By Yourself"
Putting your life on hold while waiting for the Perfect One to appear is a mistake. Being happy and self-contained is much more attractive than the clinging-vine-routine. Extreme neediness is not a social asset when looking for a balanced and pleasant new partner.

"Avoid Looking Desperate"
Desperation can be smelt at fifty paces and it does not smell nice. For both men and women, being over-interested and coming on too strongly is turn off.

"Check Your Appearance"
Ask a good friend for advice and try out what they say. Remember that the difference between a good and a bad haircut is six weeks. Go to the gym, get a few new clothes and make a dramatic change or two. Remember that whether we like it or not, first impressions court.

"Get Your Own Interest"
Join a library, learn a new language, join a sports club and enroll for the persona growth course. These are things you will most likely enjoy and you are also likely to meet people there – of both sexes – who share your interests.

"Friends Are Important"
No, you don’t have to get involved with friends, but ask around and you will be surprised how many people met their spouses or partners at dinner parties or social gatherings or weekend gatherings hosted by friends. Organized blind dates have been known to work for a lucky few, but for many, they can be embarrassing and uncomfortable occasions.

"Accept All Invitations"
Unless someone really makes your skin crawl, accept invitations to social occasions. The overnight party at the house of the office born might not make your pulse race, but who knows what his brother, sister or best friend are like? So go ahead and take that chance.

"Initiate Social Events"
Don’t sit around waiting for things to happen. Even if you know only two people in new city, cook dinner, invite both of them and ask each of them to bring two friends.

"Invite Others Along"
Get people to join you in activities you have already planned for your-self. A good sentence to remember is “I am going to the movies on Tuesday night – do you want to join me?” This does not sound like you are inviting someone out on a date. You are going anyway, whether they want to come or not.

"Show Interest"
Everyone likes to be listened to. If you are a good listener, you are unlikely to be lonely for long.

"Don’t Be Too Distant"
Get a healthy balance between being too available and being standoffish. People who are playing too hard-to-set also experience what it is like to be easy-to lose. On the other hand, there is little that is less attractive than someone who throws him or herself at someone who is clearly not interested.

"Get Out As Much As Possible"
Sitting around in front of the TV or moping in your flat night after night is not going to get you meeting any new people.

"Don’ T Ignore the Obvious"
The neighbour, your siblings’ friends, people at work and the attractive person you see in the supermarket every now and then.

"Become a Regular"
If you go to the same coffee shop every morning before work, you will eventually be on greeting terms and later on speaking terms with other people who also follow this routing. Ti is probably less traumatic than going to singles’ bars.

"Sometimes Single Is Great"
Remember that it is healthy to be single between relationships. If you rush straight, chances are that you have dependency issues and are scared of being alone and experiencing personal growth and change.

"Better Single than Hitched and Unhappy"

And lastly, it is better to be single and happy, than desperately unhappy in a relationship. You can never be as lonely by yourself as you can be a relationship that is clearly not working. So don’t rush into a relationship.

Ways to Get Your Ex Boyfriend or Ex Girlfriend Back

When break ups occur, it can shake a person’s confidence. No confidence in themselves; confidence in making others happy. Your feelings are extremely hurt but what if you had a chance to get your ex boyfriend or ex girlfriend back. How would you handle it all? Would you have the relationship start fresh or pick it back up from where you left off? Has the thought of getting back together with your ex even crossed your mind? Sure it has!
Did you know that most relationship problems can be fixed. You may not realize it but most of the bigger problems come from you on the inside. You may also not realize it but the problems you have from previous relationships can affect your present one.

So what can you do to get your ex boyfriend or ex girlfriend back?
First off, leave your ex alone in the very beginning. If you start pursuing them right after the break up, it may lead them to put a restraining order against you or them never talking to you again. It helps to give your ex some time and space to think about what has happened. Both of you need time to think about what went wrong and each of you can figure which problem or problems you were responsible that led to the relationship’s demise.
Remember as much as you would like to you cannot fix what was wrong with your ex boyfriend or girlfriend. It is not possible. They have to fix their own problems. Just like only you can fix and face your inner demons. If you want to get your ex boyfriend or ex girlfriend back, they have to fix their own… you can’t do it for them.

When you are dating someone, you begin to make compromises for the ones you love. Your relationship is a matter of give and take and you should remember that to find an equality for the both of you. Both of you want to make the other person happy. So whatever you say and do, you will be held accountable for all.
When you do get your ex boyfriend or ex girlfriend back, be sure to take the relationship slowly. Picking up where you left off can be damaging for the relationship. Also, do not call, email, text message or anything else on a daily basis when you are working to get back together with your ex. Eventually, you get to spend more time together and the memories you shared before can be rekindled.
When you want to get your ex boyfriend or ex girlfriend back, you have to make some compromises and changes on some issues. Otherwise, what was the point of getting back together? If you want a serious shot, just remember these simple little issues. Also, if your ex turns out not to be your life long partner, the change can help you out in future relationships.

Clicking Your Way to Love with Online Dating

It can difficult to find a romantic interest when looking for a relationship, especially with so many demands on peoples' time in today's modern life. Many people find it hard to go out there and meet someone, whether through a lack of time to do so or a lack of confidence. However, thanks to the internet, it has never been easier to look around and meet a potential partner.

There are many reasons why people are unable to meet someone for a prospective romantic affair, with the most limiting factor often being work commitments, meaning there is limited time to spend socialising in situations where one can meet other singles. A lot of people might also feel pressured while approaching strangers in social settings, making it harder for them to display their full worth to new people.

With the advent of the internet and online dating services, the effects of these issues have been reduced; in fact, such services can increase your chances of finding love through attempts to match individuals of similar interests in a non-intimidating setting and at a pace to suit. Through these services people can be encouraged to strike up a communication with prospective suitors without the complication of peer-pressure in the hope of meeting the right person.

Although it might once have been thought of as a reserve of the less romantically desirable, such thoughts are erroneous and misplaced. There is no longer a stigma attached to online dating and their services now appeal to people of all social groups, meaning it’s just as likely you’ll meet a potential partner online as it is in a pub, club or other social setting. What's more, as online dating offers a pressure-free environment, people are less likely to fall into an age-old dating trap: trying too hard to impress.

While some dating sites are free, others require either a joining or subscription fee – generally speaking, sites that require payment offer a more comprehensive service including; state of the art matchmaking tools and customer care, so giving users the best possible chance of finding love. In addition, online dating sites which charge a fee are more likely to feature those who are actually seriously looking for a relationship and not just a casual fling.

Another advantage of dating online is that it can help build up an individual’s confidence through interaction with people with similar tastes and interests before meeting up, making that first date all the more easy. It also makes it easier to quickly find out if your different personalities gel and takes away the pressure if you decide the person isn’t quite for you.

Online dating may not be for everyone, but there is no doubting the role online dating services can potentially play in successful matchmaking. As a result, people can now meet people they otherwise wouldn’t have met, thanks to the internet.

Finding a partner with whom you want to spend your life with is something many people worry about. The longer a person goes without their special someone, the more anxious they get that Cupid and Fate isn’t going to find that person for us.

A lot of people fret about where they might find their ideal partner and there are generally three main places to find them – social events, in daily life or through a friend. Many find their dream girl on a night out but this thought scares some – do you really give out the best first impression you could after a few drinks? The work commute often puts you in close proximity to that cute someone you've had your eye on for a while – but do you really feel confident enough, that early in the morning, in front of all those other people, to charm someone like him or her? Perhaps your friend knows someone who would be ideal for you – but how much do you trust their judgment?

Once you’ve spotted the object of your affection and plucked up the courage to speak to them, things unfortunately don’t always go smoothly. The biggest obstacle is that they may, unsurprisingly, already be in a happy relationship. Dating sites on the other hand are filled with people looking for a partner.

Long gone are the days when online dating site was seen as a last resort. Today online dating sites are filled with stunners in your age range and who live nearby.

Getting to know a little about someone online can give you the confidence to speak more fluently when you do meet in person and will help you avoid that first date going wrong because of a clear mismatch of interests or no background knowledge of each other.

The idea of running the rule over a potential partner is not a new one. In 16th century Japan, in a courting ritual known as Omiai, participants hired a matchmaker to provide resumes and pictures of potential spouses before, hopefully, arranging a formal meeting. The plan then was to ascertain whether or not after a few dates the couple would decide they were right for each other and so plan to live the rest of their lives together. Of course, this method wasn’t foolproof, but much like online dating today, it greatly increased the participants’ chance of finding a significant other.

Furthermore, the beauty of meeting someone online for the first time is that if you feel that they are not right for you then that’s fine; you can simply move on. Also, apply the same attitude with dating online as you would from offline by staying sensible on your dates – always meeting in a public place and letting someone know where you’re going can never be stressed strongly enough.

Overall, online dating can be a lot of fun, can give you a bit of confidence and, if you’re really lucky, can help you find your one true love.

How to Manage Your Boss’s Expectations?

Writing a report after you’ve been fired doesn’t accomplish anything, because you’re already fired. Also, I suspect that what seemed “firm but gentle” to you may have seemed a little bit different to him. Your primary mistake was not managing expectations. For future reference, here’s how it’s done:
STEP #1: Discover What’s Expected. Yeah, this seems obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people simply assume that they know what they’re supposed to be accomplishing. You need to ask, very specifically, what it is that you’re supposed to do, when it’s supposed to be done, how the boss would like it done. You also need to know if there are secondary goals that are also important. For example, building a network of contacts in a new country might be important and valuable, even if no sales are made.
STEP #2: Negotiate the Expectations. If you are given goals that are entirely unrealistic using the resources you’ve been assigned, then you must either negotiate a change in the goals, or a change in the resources assigned to help you acheive those goals. In your case, you were asked to “open a new country.” You not only needed to identify what that meant exactly, but also ensure that you had the kind of support that would make that goal achievable.
STEP #3: Agree Upon a Plan. Once you’ve confirmed that the goal is achievable and that there are sufficient resources to make it possible, build a plan that shows, step-by-step, how you’re going to achieve that goal. Make sure that your boss understands the plan and agrees that it makes sense and that it will work. If there are action items for the boss (e.g. secure sales support resources for first customer), make sure that they’re explicitly identified and given a deadline.
STEP #4: Report your Status. You’re now in a position where you can manage expectations. Both you and your boss know what needs to be done and how you’re going to do it. However, you must frequently (i.e. at least weekly) provide a report of how your actual activities are tracking against the plan. Important: NEVER identify a problem or delay without an actionable plan or recommendation to fix the problem and get the plan back on schedule.
Readers: Just a quick reality check — is the above list complete? Or am I missing something?

10 Ways to Upgrade Your Look

Dressing for success doesn’t have to mean becoming a fashion maven or spending a lot of money. Here are 10 simple ways to upgrade your look from passed-over to promotion-ready.
Boss Material
1. Dress shoes with broken shoelaces
Casual shoes with a fresh shine
2. Pants cuffs that drag on the ground
Pressed jeans or slacks with a sharp crease
3. Forgetting to shave
Neatly trimmed facial hair
4. Bedhead
Regular haircuts (even for the long-haired)
5. Frayed shirt collar and cuffs
Clean, wrinkle-free knit shirt
6. Visible skin between shirt and pants
It’s called a belt
7. Flip-flops
Leather mules or sandals
8. Tube tops, spaghetti straps, halters
Tops that will accommodate a bra
9. Loose, unstructured clothing
Clothes that fit your figure
10. Fleece vest
Sport coat

Are You Going To Marry?

For increasing the all-around tension of at least two families, there's nothing as effective as a wedding. You're throwing strangers together in a situation that may be alien to all of them. You're encouraging a clash of styles and tastes, with you and the person you love most right in the middle of it.
It seems like a situation wrought with danger, disaster, and debt. But there are ways of defeating all the monsters between you and the wedding of your dreams.
How about – organization?
Yes, the old-fashioned concept of organization can stand you in good stead. Writing everything down. Keeping detailed forms with lists of caterers, musicians, guests, tasks, things to pick up on shopping expeditions.
Organization can be better than a purple-haired, Miss-Manners-reading great aunt. When you get organized, you find yourself in control again. You know what's going on, and you know you haven't forgotten anything in the shuffle – like the ring, or the table and chair rental.
And the best organization comes from a genuinely complete book.
The Ultimate Wedding Planning Toolkit
This is a new book on the scene. The Ultimate Wedding Planning Toolkit gives you advice on every aspect of your wedding, from how to do an outdoors wedding to how to manage your budget, how to keep your RSVPs in order, how to keep your divorced parents in order, and how to keep your mental state in order.
How about these bits of advice:
• Keep an emergency kit at hand for last minute medical issues (Benadryl to treat those hives!) or fashion emergencies.
• If you have unruly relatives, enlist your minister or other officiant to help you maintain peace within the family using a neutral party.
• Plan your wedding budget early, and take advantage of discounts by catching venues and caterers at off-peak times.
But the Toolkit has more in it than just advice. It's a complete repository of all the checklists you'll need for your wedding. From the master checklist of everything that needs to be done, to later checklists of things you need to do for photography, the day of the wedding, and the honeymoon, the Workbook you'll find included in the Ultimate Wedding Planning Toolkit will help you through the whole ordeal – and help you turn it into the event of your life.
The Workbook's lists are also included in the form of Excel worksheets, with handy calculations that help you easily keep track of RSVPs, of your music playlist, and of your budget.You can modify them in any way necessary for your wedding.
The earlier in the process you find the Toolkit, the more useful it will be. It covers everything from the day you say "Yes," to the day you say, "I do," and afterward.

You know the feeling you have when you get in the car and know exactly where you're going? The Ultimate Wedding Planning Toolkit gives you the same feeling with your wedding. What better way to start your marriage than with a beautifully-planned ceremony?

6 Keys for Attaining and Maintaining a Positive Mental Attitude for Success Especially for the YOUTH

Attaining a successful mindset is just like building the foundation for a house. If the foundation is strong, you can build whatever you like above ground. But if the foundation is weak, even the best house in the world is destined to collapse. The same thing is true with your mindset. If you have the right mentality, you can build whatever life you wish. But if your mental game is weak, your world will eventually collapse. Below are six keys to building a positive mental foundation. Take 100% responsibility in your life. Jack Canfield teaches the equation E (event) R (response) = O (outcome). You generally have no control over the external events in your life. However, you have 100% control over your response to that event. Respond wisely. Stop making excuses. You are not a victim. Choose to be positive. Every day you have the choice to view the world through a positive filter or a negative filter its completely up to you. Successful people choose to be positive, always looking for the lesson in every challenge. Unsuccessful people choose to be negative, always believing the forces of evil are out to get them. Whichever choice you make, you will always find what you are looking for. Put yourself in the best environments. Success is contagious. Its just like chicken pox the only way to catch them is to hang around other people with chicken pox. When you surround yourself with people who support and stretch you as a person, its impossible to stay as you are. Just as water seeks its own level, you too will grow or shrink depending on the environments you choose. Erase from your vocabulary the word failure. Failure exists only in your mind. There is no such thing as failure. It cant be seen. It cant be touched. It cant be heard. It is merely an interpretation, or a negative opinion, that someone makes about an outcome. Successful people, however, know that in life you either win or you learn. You never lose unless you quit. Be a true leader. Regardless of your circumstances, somebody looks up to you, which makes you a leader. So lead. Contrary to what many people think, you dont need superhuman strength or incredible talent to be a leader. You just have to be willing to help other people achieve what they want and feel good about themselves. The most powerful phrase you can use as a leader is,I believe in you. Reprogram your brain for success. To combat all the negative programming you are experiencing through the media, your peers, friends and family, it is imperative that you feed yourself constant, positive affirmations. The subconscious mind believes whatever its told, regardless of the source. So replace all the restrictive, negative thoughts with empowering, positive ones. Tell yourself,I am somebody. I have places to go. I have big things to do. Before long, you;ll believe it to be true. When you believe it, you can achieve it.

Gang Involvement and Membership among Homeless and Runaway Youth

The present study documented the extent of gang involvement and gang membership in a sample of 602 homeless and runaway youth from four midwestern states. The study also compared gang members, gang-involved youth who were not members, and nongang youth on several dimensions including sociodemographic characteristics, family background, school experiences, street experiences and exposure, emotional problems, alcohol and drug use, and other delinquent and deviant behaviors. Findings indicated that a significant number of these youth were gang members (15.4% of the sample) or involved in gangs (32.2% of the sample). Youth gang members and gang-involved youth reported more family legal problems, had been suspended from school more, ran away at a younger age, used more alcohol and drugs, were exposed to more deviant peers, and attempted suicide more than did nongang youth. In addition, youth gang members reported less parental monitoring, more severe abuse, more street victimization, and more deviant subsistence strategies than did either gang-involved or noninvolved youth

Changes in Youth Smoking, 1976–2008

During the past several decades, smoking prevalence among youth has fluctuated in puzzling and unexpected ways. To help understand these changes, this study tests seven explanations: (a) compositional changes, (b) sample selection, (c) adult smoking, (d) social strain, (e) cigarette prices, (f) tobacco advertising, and (g) other drug use. Figures on smoking prevalence come from the Monitoring the Future (MTF) Surveys from 1976–2008, whereas figures on aggregate determinants for the same time period come from government publications. Graphs of the time-series trends to determine temporal correspondence and time-series regression models to test for statistical influence reveal two variables that have expected effects. Increases in cigarette prices reduce smoking, particularly in the most recent years, and higher marijuana initiation (or use) is associated with greater smoking during most of the time period. However, much of the change in youth smoking, particularly the most recent rise and fall, remains unexplained

Helping Teens Express Feelings-The First Step In Effective Emotional Management

Teens who are skilled in managing emotions have insight into their own experience, feel understood by others, and are empowered to find their own solutions. On the other hand, teens lacking in these skills often have little self-awareness, feel alone and helpless, and have few coping resources.
Avoid Fixing. When we experience messy feelings, our natural response is often to try to make the pain go away as quickly as possible. We rush to downplay the experience (“It’s really not so bad.”) or offer false reassurance (“Everything will be okay.”). Often we attempt the quick fix by offering solutions, or worse, taking on the problem as our own and solving it for them. These responses often make things worse. They give kids the message that they are overreacting, their experience is trivial, and they are incapable of solving their own problems.
Instead, the goal should be to validate a young person’s experience by helping them to recognize, express, and cope with all of the feelings they experiences. A few simple strategies can help facilitate this process.
Modeling. Teens watch how you deal with your feelings and take their cues from you. Get into the habit of using “I messages.” When you do, you take ownership of your own feelings, explain yourself clearly, and keep the lines of communication open. Comments such as, “I’m feeling overwhelmed at work,” or “I get scared when you drive like that,” are more helpful and productive than, “My boss is a pain in the neck,” or “You’re being a jerk!”
Use reflective listening skills. When talking with teens, listen closely for both the content (what is being said) and the feeling behind the content. Paraphrase what you hear back to check for accuracy. “It sounds like you’re frustrated because you didn’t do as well on the test as you would have liked.” Offer your observations tentatively to give her permission to correct you. Avoid the impulse to rush to solve the problem!! The most important part here is for her to feel heard. She will not be ready to talk about solutions until that happens.

Test Anxiety in the youth

What are the Causes of Test Anxiety?
In the past several years, schools have been increasingly under the gun to raise student achievement. High stakes testing has become a way of life for most students and teachers. The pressure to do well on these tests, and to achieve academic success in general, is impacting students at younger and younger ages. Unrealistic expectations, perfectionism, lack of confidence, and poor skills can also contribute.
What are the Signs of Test Anxiety?
Students who feel the pressure may exhibit it through problems sleeping or eating, or attempting to avoid school or schoolwork. Obsessing over a test, frenzied studying, an inability to focus, or experiencing a sensation of the mind “going blank” during a test are also common.
What Strategies Can Lessen Test Anxiety?
Here are some ideas that may help you:
Before the Test
Know the test. Check with the teacher to make sure you know what material will be covered, and that you have all the notes and other materials you will need to adequately prepare.
Implement an effective study plan. Space study sessions out over several days rather than cramming the night before. Use a variety of study strategies, and enlist the help of parents, siblings, or friends to quiz you on trouble spots.
Use practice tests. Construct practice tests covering the test material. Use the same format your teacher will be using for the real test. Use test taking strategies and simulate testing conditions much as possible to get yourself used to them. The more experience you have, the less anxious you are apt to be during the real test.
Find ways to de-stress that take your mind off your studies, at least temporarily. Take breaks from studying, have a snack, or get some physical exercise.
Prepare physically. Get a good nights rest the night before a test, and be sure to eat a healthy breakfast in the morning. You won’t perform at your best if you are tired or hungry.
Put things in perspective. Avoid a perfectionist attitude about academic performance. Impossible expectations can increase stress levels and have a negative impact on achievement. Parents and teachers also need to model more realistic goals for test performance.
During the Test
Take it slow. Don’t rush through the test. Take one question at a time: cover the remaining test with a piece of paper if necessary to keep you from getting distracted or overwhelmed. Leave harder questions to come back to later, and make sure you read directions, questions, and possible answers carefully.
Try positive self talk. Negative thoughts and beliefs can become self fulfilling prophecies. Try replacing these with more positive affirmations that support and encourage your efforts.
When you feel your stress level increasing, stop and relax. Take some deep breaths, try some muscle relaxation, or visualize yourself leaving the testing room afterwards feeling confident and in control.

Problems Facing Today's Teens

Teen problems are growing. If you think that being a teen today is the same as it was when you were in their shoes, you are probably mistaken. Now, listen to yourself say how strict and how hard life was when you where young. But, you need to realize that teens today face huge, life threatening decisions just about ever day. What they face has a lot to do with where they grow up. Yet do not be fooled into thinking that your child is safe.

In the normal course of your teen's day, he or she may face any of these things; one or more of them.

Drugs

Think that drugs are simple like they used to be? They are not. Kids today are not just smoking the easy stuff. They are into crack or other strong and deadly drugs.

Sex

Not only are they exposed to it on the television, but they are encouraged by others. They may be engaging in sexual acts that you have never heard of. They may be doing it unprotected as well. At school, after school, on the car ride home - there are many opportunities you do not realize. Teens get pregnant and have babies.

Violence

Today's teen problems often revolve around violence. They see friends with guns at school or after school. They witness huge fights. They hear threats. They see anger and deal with it daily.

Depression

With all that they see and do, teens face depression today at an alarming rate as compared to just a decade ago. Depression is not something that just goes away, but can cause them harm and threaten their lives.

Driving

Teens drive drunk. Teens drive under the influence of drugs. Teens get in cars that others are driving under the influence. Teens may also be responsible drivers, but share the road with those that are not.

Teen problems that are at a lower level can be just as deadly. They face lying, cheating, emotional trauma, learning disabilities and divorce. All of these things a child will face daily in some cases. In those cases, it is no wonder that they have low self esteems, high drop out rates and some of the students will break under the pressure. Teen problems should be addressed and noticed by their parents first.

Are Parents The Cause Of Teen Suicide?

What drives a teenager to commit suicide? Is a dysfunctional family the cause of teen suicide or is it the peer pressure, low self-esteem, stress, access to drugs, guns, or an unyielding desire to make the pain disappear. Teenage suicide has and is becoming a pandemic in our country and around the world.

According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, "teen suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers -- almost 2,000 teens kill themselves each year." It is estimated that "over 90% of teen suicide victims have a mental disorder, such as depression, and/or a history of alcohol or drug abuse."

Our youth has become entrenched in an ideology doled out by those who seek to control, persuade, and coerce our teenagers. At the same time, communication between parent and child has become, in most situations, non-existent. This leaves teenagers to fend for themselves in areas they are too immature to understand, or too eager to become engaged in activities which can lead them astray.

There was a time when teens came directly home after school; were greeted by at least one parent; studied; had a family dinner, and off to bed. Today, the term “latch-key kid” has become the norm, rather than the exception. Teens arrive home late; often to an empty apartment or home. They engage in computer games, while eating junk food; and often do not see their parents until morning – and only because they are late getting out of bed. Homework is secondary or non-existent. One can argue a two income household is necessary; but at what cost? Furthermore, if you’ve ever graced a public school environment, you would find teens lack even the rudimentary necessities of life; yet, cell phones are tucked in their worn out jeans and skirts.

The music, movies, and educational system have let down our teenagers in the most rudimentary way. They lack guidance and care. Our child services, our family courts, and our caregivers have offered little to assert the importance of self-worth. Over the years, the make-up of the "family" has dramatically changed. A teenager’s family could be his gang members who, on a daily basis, feed into the destruction of that teen. Morality has become passé, and they have become self-absorbed in an underworld of hatred and self-loathing.

Have all teenagers talked or even thought about suicide? No. However, the statistics are still frightening. A teenager doesn't suddenly choose to die unless something terribly wrong has pushed him/her over the edge. We cannot allow them to choose that endgame. Teenagers do become depressed, alone, angry, hopeless and helpless. As parents, as friends, as educators, as guardians of this precious commodity - we cannot allow them to succeed in what they think may be in their best interest. They must be given a reason to live, to love, to become needed and useful members of our society.

As adults/parents, we must educate and interact with our youth in a positive, caring and thoughtful way to ensure they have the proper tools with which to grow and gain empowerment. To do less would without a doubt contribute to the cause of teen suicide, the ultimate tragedy.

Family Values: Are you sacrificing your family for your career?

Do you want to know what the worst feeling in the world is to a man or women who is working hard to create a better life for themselves? It is when we take a step back from our work and realize that what we consider to be the most important element in life, our family, is getting pushed down the list of important things and being ignored altogether. When this situation has been going on for a long time, virtually undetected, some family relationships get ripped at the seams.

I will never forget the night that this very same realization happened to me some years ago. I was spending days, even weeks, on the road working hard to close bigger and bigger accounts for my sales position. One night on the road I was in my motel and received a call from my wife. She was reminding me to be home early the next day to attend my daughter's big play at her local junior high school.

There was just one problem. The next day was my chance to close a huge deal that I was working on for months. I was sideswiped when my prospect called me back that very night, before I talked with my wife. The client wanted to meet and I was in his area by chance working on another deal.

I couldn't pass it up. It meant earning an extra thousand dollars per month if I got this sale and I felt that my family was just too important to pass it up. I'm getting to the worst part now, and that is that I lied to my wife and daughter on the phone when I said that I would be there. I already knew that my work was going to come first by signing up this big account, but I didn't have it in me to tell them over the phone. I knew that I was going to sign the deal, make a lot of money, miss my daughter's big day, and then make up an excuse why I was not there.

Now considering that I was already doing very well and considered pretty successful at the time, that night was a very low point in all areas of my life. I realized then and there that I was putting aside what matters to me the most, my family. And they were loosing faith in me, not expecting me anymore, not caring, breaking away...

The next morning I woke up and realized that I wouldn't have been able to live with myself had I gone through with the appointment and missed my daughter's special event. Money cannot replace love and family. I phoned my appointment and totally expected this man to hang up on me and find another company to do business with. However, I told him the truth. I explained that my family needed me and that I understand if he wants to do his business elsewhere with someone that is more reliable.

That was the day that I made the right decision to put my work aside and be there for my family, and risk loosing the “big account” that I was after. Needless to say the business man that I had to cancel on respected what I had to say, and he even rescheduled the meeting. One week later I successfully signed the deal. Moral of the story? Put your family first, work hard in between, and success in all areas of your life will follow.

Talking Dictionaries And Language Learning

Is it worth the extra money to purchase an elecgtronic dictionary with sound?

The following comments have specific reference to learning Spanish but I believe they are relevant to the learning of other languages as well.

Some people (curiously and unfortunately, not all) who learn a new language are interested in achieving a good accent in their new language. Nevertheless, it is not well known that there are three components of the accent of a given language: the rhythm or intonation (the music) of the language, the links between the sounds, syllables, and words in an utterance, and lastly, the proper pronunciation of the sounds of the language. The lesson here is that the formation of the vowels and consonants of a language is only part of the task of learning that language. However, it is where most learners begin. Let’s look at the place of the pronunciation of the vowels and consonants of Spanish.

Many language experts believe that the intonation and linkage contribute more to speaking like a native than does the proper pronunciation of all the sounds. This can be seen in the manner in which the people of San José, Cost Rica pronounce the Spanish letter “ere”. For some strange reason, which I have not been able, to track down historically or linguistically, they pronounce the word “arroz” just like a Gringo would. Their double “r” is not trilled as in most Spanish speaking countries; it is not velar as it is in much of Puerto Rico. It is pronounced just as an untrained American would pronounce it. Yet, the person hearing this “error” has no doubt that the persons speaking are native speakers of Spanish. The flow of their speech is perfect and the listener just thinks, “I wonder why they pronounce that word that way…” In other words, often the pronunciation of the sounds is the least important element of speaking well.

Yet pronunciation is the place where the learner should begin. Habits of bad pronunciation once ingrained become automatic and are hard to eliminate, while errors of intonation and linkage can more easily be consciously detected and corrected in later stages of the learning process.

The person learning Spanish has one advantage over the person learning another language. The advantage is that most the vowels and consonants of Spanish are close to those of English, and their pronunciation is perfectly regular.

First of all, the vowels sounds represented by the 5 letters, a, e, i, and u, have five sounds. That’s right, five! It is not like the case of the many English vowel sounds represented by the same letters, such as rough, cough, though, and through, or the case of the same sound represented by different letters in the words, ache, weigh, pay, hey, jail, and tape.

The major difference is that the vowel sounds in Spanish are pure; they do not have the little “tail’ that English vowels have.

The consonant sounds in Spanish are largely similar to those of English. This does not mean that they are all the same! There are differences with the “l”, “b” and “d” sounds. The main difference with some consonants in Spanish is that they are not “aspirated”, that is they are not made with a puff of air, as are those of English. If you put the back of your hand in front of your mouth when you say “Papa” or “tonto” in Spanish you should not feel the same movement of air that you feel when you say “Pope” or “tent” in English.

These differences are real but fairly manageable by the learner who wants to start off right in Spanish. Once the differences are known they can be worked on. For example, it is relatively easy to leave off the English glide at the end of the Spanish vowels.

Progress can be made with written descriptions of the Spanish sounds. The sounds can be described by comparing them with close English words. And the ear can be trained by listening to native speakers. There are many speech samples on the Internet and most large cities in the United States have at least one Television channel transmitting in Spanish.

All of the above has the purpose of leading into the issue of the value of a “talking” dictionary. Many people who want to learn Spanish think that they need a talking dictionary. Often the learner thinks that this will provide an advantage in learning the language. However, it is a mistake to invest in a talking dictionary. The very best are very expensive and most of them, even the most expensive, have such small speakers that it is impossible to hear the fine points of the pronunciation of Spanish.

The learner very soon knows how to pronounce Spanish since the rules are 100% regular. What is need is the effort to actually pronounce the sounds. Many learners are ashamed of imitating the sounds of the language they are learning and they speak the new language with the same intonation, linkage, and pronunciation of their own native language.

The end result of the learner’s pronunciation (as of his or her overall accent) will be the result of his or her own ability and of the effort expended. The talking dictionary does not contribute anything to the equation. A good electronic Dictionary such as the Oxford Spanish English Dictionary, found at www.LeerEsPoder.com/dicOxford.htm , will be all the learner needs.

Exercise Your Brain And Improve Your Memory

Everyone knows that the key to a healthy body is diet and exercise. Many people obsessively work out every day to keep in tip top shape. So, if we're so concerned with exercising our bodies, why do we often neglect to exercise our minds? Our brains are just like our muscles: use it or lose it. If we don't do daily activities to help keep our brain in top order, we lose important skills; particularly the skill of remembering. So if you want to remember your mother's phone number, your grocery list, or where you left your keys; start exercising your brain.


So, how exactly do you exercise your brain? There's no brain gym you can get a membership to with "memory classes", but there are things you can do on your own. Here are some things you can try to keep your neurons limber.


* Open a newspaper.

Sure, reading the paper might expand your knowledge, but if you really want to get your brain in shape, turn to the crossword puzzle. You can also try solving other puzzles that require using your language skills. These help you remember things by making you regularly access simple memories (i.e. certain words)


* Try the latest puzzle craze.

Go to a book store, go online, or look in the paper; you're likely to find Sudoku puzzles. These are number puzzles that are becoming increasingly popular. They help exercise your brain's deductive reasoning skills. Plus, they're fun and incredibly addictive.


* Learn something new.

You've probably heard people say that learning something new pushes old information out of your brain. This is not only wrong, it's just plain silly. The capacity of your brain is only determined by how much you want to put in it. Try learning a new skill or how to play a musical instrument. Learning a skill and continue to use it will keep your memory accessing skills limber.

* Books, games and services.

While there aren't actually gyms you can go to, there are ways to get exercises specifically designed to improve memory. You can find these in book stores, online, and even in video game stores.

While it's great to exercise your brain cells, don't skip out on your trips to the gym. Keeping your body in good physical shape will help keep your brain healthy too. While cardio is the best work out to keep you healthy, you can still keep your memory if you can't perform a strenuous workout. Even a simple walk for an hour a day can help prevent or slow memory loss. So get up and go as much as you can to keep your brain going.

Most people don't worry about memory loss until they start to notice it slipping away, but the best time to start is while your mind is still sharp. You may not be able to bring your memory back, but you can keep it from fading. Regularly working your mind has even been shown to ward off Alzheimer's. So if you want to keep your mind sharp, be sure to eat right, get enough rest, and exercise regularly.