A quick piece of advice to start the week.
One of the most beneficial things I have done is serve on committees for the hiring of new people in the places where I have worked.
This exercise gives a person much better insight into the hiring process (valuable for the next time you are trying to get hired somewhere). Additionally, it gives you a chance to both better understand your company and to have a real impact on the future of your company.
TBL: Search out these opportunities.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Another dilemma
The great discussion of the last few days has brought forward another challenging issue.
"Here's another topic related to the last baby thing.
One big issue that I'm having some trouble with is balancing my time with my family and being involved as much as possible with social activities at work, which also potentially affect career development. I was asked to be on a broomball team and found out that the two people who asked me are a manager and senior level research scientist. It's very hard to say no to them, but at the same time it's very hard to say yes because that cuts in on the time I spend with with my son, which I feel isn't enough in the first place. I don't want to miss any opportunities (especially when they are amazingly fun) to extend my network at work, but I don't want to miss out with family, either. Right now there's not an ideal solution except if it turns out the league happens late at night when he is asleep, but it's an issue that's tough to deal with. And since none of my close friends are really going through the same stuff right now either that makes it hard to get advice or share with anybody."
"Here's another topic related to the last baby thing.
One big issue that I'm having some trouble with is balancing my time with my family and being involved as much as possible with social activities at work, which also potentially affect career development. I was asked to be on a broomball team and found out that the two people who asked me are a manager and senior level research scientist. It's very hard to say no to them, but at the same time it's very hard to say yes because that cuts in on the time I spend with with my son, which I feel isn't enough in the first place. I don't want to miss any opportunities (especially when they are amazingly fun) to extend my network at work, but I don't want to miss out with family, either. Right now there's not an ideal solution except if it turns out the league happens late at night when he is asleep, but it's an issue that's tough to deal with. And since none of my close friends are really going through the same stuff right now either that makes it hard to get advice or share with anybody."
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Maternity Leave -- Part Two
Wow! We have reached a new high with 4 comments on one blog entry!!
Let's analyze the options:
1. Quit work completely to raise children. Maybe go back much later when the youngest child reaches an appropriate age.
2. Work full-time except for the few months after each birth.
3. Work a flexible schedule that allows for balance between work and children.
Now with those options stated, here are some of my observations:
*Each of us as sets of parents, need to decide what is best for our own children.
*A mother staying home with her children, while the father works, is an acceptable and good thing to do.
*A father staying home with his children, while the mother works, is an acceptable and good thing to do.
*My three children went to daycare. There are no evident scars. In fact, they seem like normal, talented, and kind people to me. The reason we did this is we felt it was necessary to both work in able to provide the lifestyle we wanted for our family.
*A person who stays home with children has to have a certain mentality. I couldn't have done it. I need the social interaction with adults.
*Today I am staring empty nest straight in the eyes and I do not like it. 2 of my children are gone and the 3rd turns 16 in 2 days. The time went wayyy too fast and as was said in one of comments, you can't rewind time.
Now, I will give my opinion of what I think I would do in the case presented to us. I think I would take the option in the middle that allows for good work a little more than half time. This keeps you active in your career, keeps you involved with your child(ren), and involved with real adults. When, the time comes to work full time again, you can then be a project manager and succeed at the high levels. You will still have 20-25 years left in your career.
This entry has led to another great topic emailed to me today for posting tomorrow.
Let's analyze the options:
1. Quit work completely to raise children. Maybe go back much later when the youngest child reaches an appropriate age.
2. Work full-time except for the few months after each birth.
3. Work a flexible schedule that allows for balance between work and children.
Now with those options stated, here are some of my observations:
*Each of us as sets of parents, need to decide what is best for our own children.
*A mother staying home with her children, while the father works, is an acceptable and good thing to do.
*A father staying home with his children, while the mother works, is an acceptable and good thing to do.
*My three children went to daycare. There are no evident scars. In fact, they seem like normal, talented, and kind people to me. The reason we did this is we felt it was necessary to both work in able to provide the lifestyle we wanted for our family.
*A person who stays home with children has to have a certain mentality. I couldn't have done it. I need the social interaction with adults.
*Today I am staring empty nest straight in the eyes and I do not like it. 2 of my children are gone and the 3rd turns 16 in 2 days. The time went wayyy too fast and as was said in one of comments, you can't rewind time.
Now, I will give my opinion of what I think I would do in the case presented to us. I think I would take the option in the middle that allows for good work a little more than half time. This keeps you active in your career, keeps you involved with your child(ren), and involved with real adults. When, the time comes to work full time again, you can then be a project manager and succeed at the high levels. You will still have 20-25 years left in your career.
This entry has led to another great topic emailed to me today for posting tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
A Real Topic for Discussion
Below is an email I received today. I am going to post it here for a day or so, before responding. The topic is one that any of us who have children are going to face. There is no right answer only tough decisions. I will post my response tomorrow:
"Maternity leave…
I have asked to work part time as an engineer after the baby arrives. I asked for 3 months off and then 3 days per week for the next 7 months or so. I’m planning the days so that the time off will equal less than 6 months total so that I don’t have to push back my original PE exam date at all.
My employer has a Project Manager position open in the next two years and would like for me to be able to fill it. Which is really cool.
However, it looks like working part time may not allow me to perform the tasks to prepare for the Project Manager position. Also, it is not possible to be a Project Manager and work part time.
Fortunately my employer is willing to find tasks that will still use my skills and engineering knowledge without requiring full time work.
I’m still struggling a little with the decision between being there for our child versus advancement of my career.
Should we be blessed with more children this situation could continue for a few years.
Any experience to share or advice?"
"Maternity leave…
I have asked to work part time as an engineer after the baby arrives. I asked for 3 months off and then 3 days per week for the next 7 months or so. I’m planning the days so that the time off will equal less than 6 months total so that I don’t have to push back my original PE exam date at all.
My employer has a Project Manager position open in the next two years and would like for me to be able to fill it. Which is really cool.
However, it looks like working part time may not allow me to perform the tasks to prepare for the Project Manager position. Also, it is not possible to be a Project Manager and work part time.
Fortunately my employer is willing to find tasks that will still use my skills and engineering knowledge without requiring full time work.
I’m still struggling a little with the decision between being there for our child versus advancement of my career.
Should we be blessed with more children this situation could continue for a few years.
Any experience to share or advice?"
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Young Workers: U Nd 2 Improve Ur Writing Skills
This is from a research study done on young professionals in Minnesota:
"A generation ago, employers were still lamenting the poor technical abilities of their entry-level workers. Well, that's not much of an issue anymore, thanks to the omnipresence of computers, cell phones and the Internet.
In a survey of 100 human resources executives, only 5 percent said that recent college graduates lacked computer or technology skills, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the outplacement firm.
The problem now is more basic. Nearly half the executives said that entry-level workers lacked writing skills, and 27 percent said that they were deficient in critical thinking.
It seems that some young employees are now guilty of the technological equivalent of wearing flip-flops: they are writing company e-mail as if they were texting cell phone messages with their thumbs.
In response, employers are sending a message of their own: When you're in the office, put on those dress shoes and start spelling your words correctly, and in full.
Survey Results
Human Resources executives were asked: "What skills do entry workers lack the most?"
Respondents could select more than one answer.
Written communications 45%
Critical thinking 27%
Other 27%
Workload time management 9%
Listening 5%
Computer/Technology 5%
Verbal Communication 0"
TBL: I love texting and being efficient in doing so, but we must make the transition to using proper writing in our professional emails!
"A generation ago, employers were still lamenting the poor technical abilities of their entry-level workers. Well, that's not much of an issue anymore, thanks to the omnipresence of computers, cell phones and the Internet.
In a survey of 100 human resources executives, only 5 percent said that recent college graduates lacked computer or technology skills, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the outplacement firm.
The problem now is more basic. Nearly half the executives said that entry-level workers lacked writing skills, and 27 percent said that they were deficient in critical thinking.
It seems that some young employees are now guilty of the technological equivalent of wearing flip-flops: they are writing company e-mail as if they were texting cell phone messages with their thumbs.
In response, employers are sending a message of their own: When you're in the office, put on those dress shoes and start spelling your words correctly, and in full.
Survey Results
Human Resources executives were asked: "What skills do entry workers lack the most?"
Respondents could select more than one answer.
Written communications 45%
Critical thinking 27%
Other 27%
Workload time management 9%
Listening 5%
Computer/Technology 5%
Verbal Communication 0"
TBL: I love texting and being efficient in doing so, but we must make the transition to using proper writing in our professional emails!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
A Match Made in Engineering (ICC that is)
Most of you came to ICC to start your engineering education. But a few came here to meet your life-mate. First came Rick and Crystal, today Sami and Josh got married, and now Teresa and Ryan are engaged! Whenever I can make it a former student's (in this case students'!) wedding, I do. It is a great experience to see you progress through this step in life and often your friends are my friends too! 5 of the people in today's wedding party were ICC Engineers...plus many more guests. Here are some pictures.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Help
Hi and Help!
I am teaching Intro to Engineering right now. Our students are having one of the best experiences we have ever had. We are working really hard to combine 1. exposure to engineering principles, 2. exposure to engineering through doing (like the canoe experience), 3. exposure to careers in engineering by touring (yesterday we went to Boston Scientific -- thanks Alisha and Kari), and 4. exposure to real engineers. This is where I need your help.
I would like to be able to walk into class each day and show a highlight of a former student who is now an engineer (and I mean engineer in the broadest sense...see my former blog about being an engineer!). Here is my request:
Please send me an email with the following information:
name:
high school:
years at comm college:
transfer university:
major and year of graduation:
list of different places you've worked:
current job description (a paragraph here would be helpful):
thing you like best about being an engineer:
favorite class in college:
piece of advice to first year engineering student:
and a picture (any picture will work...even none if you don't want)
THANK YOU... THANK YOU... THANK YOU!
I am teaching Intro to Engineering right now. Our students are having one of the best experiences we have ever had. We are working really hard to combine 1. exposure to engineering principles, 2. exposure to engineering through doing (like the canoe experience), 3. exposure to careers in engineering by touring (yesterday we went to Boston Scientific -- thanks Alisha and Kari), and 4. exposure to real engineers. This is where I need your help.
I would like to be able to walk into class each day and show a highlight of a former student who is now an engineer (and I mean engineer in the broadest sense...see my former blog about being an engineer!). Here is my request:
Please send me an email with the following information:
name:
high school:
years at comm college:
transfer university:
major and year of graduation:
list of different places you've worked:
current job description (a paragraph here would be helpful):
thing you like best about being an engineer:
favorite class in college:
piece of advice to first year engineering student:
and a picture (any picture will work...even none if you don't want)
THANK YOU... THANK YOU... THANK YOU!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Aluminum Foil Canoe
Want to know what's going on at ICC Engineering?
Today, at Blandin Beach, Itasca Community College Engineering students raced the aluminum foil canoes they designed and built. Each of the 18 teams had one roll of duct tape, 100 square feet of aluminum foil, and 72 pieces of lath. They were allowed to use glue guns to connect the pieces of wood. Student groups joined either the stock class, where they used paddles to propel their craft, or the modified class where they could use any type of motor. Many engineering principles were learned by the students as they completed this project. Specifically, they learned the fluid engineering principles of buoyancy, stability, and hydrodynamics -- their boats had to float, not tip, and move efficiently through the water. The canoe race consisted of starting at one buoy, traversing 100 yards to another buoy which they circled and then raced back to the beginning. The top two scores were boats from the stock class which raced the course in 46 seconds each.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Grad School
Should you do it? If yes, in what?
My answer to the first question is yes. Grad school has a couple of important benefits - first it can open the doors to some jobs that weren't before and second it shows great initiative which many employers look positively upon. I couldn't have my job without a masters degree. There aren't many such jobs that require the advanced degree, but there are some.
Degree area - Well there are two main areas: engineering or business/management. The answer here, depends upon your ultimate career goals. If you want to ultimately work in the management side of things, then obviously you should head that direction. The degree can open the doors sooner and wider. If you really like hard engineering, then engineering makes sense.
Another option is to use your masters to expand your boundaries like I did. Even though my bachelors degree was in civil engineering, I got a masters in mechanical, thus opening my options up to two very broad career paths.
TBL: As engineers we have committed ourselves to be lifelong learners. Getting a masters degree (or two) along the way is a great option.
P.S. Get somebody else to pay for that degree. Don't take it out of your own pocket.
My answer to the first question is yes. Grad school has a couple of important benefits - first it can open the doors to some jobs that weren't before and second it shows great initiative which many employers look positively upon. I couldn't have my job without a masters degree. There aren't many such jobs that require the advanced degree, but there are some.
Degree area - Well there are two main areas: engineering or business/management. The answer here, depends upon your ultimate career goals. If you want to ultimately work in the management side of things, then obviously you should head that direction. The degree can open the doors sooner and wider. If you really like hard engineering, then engineering makes sense.
Another option is to use your masters to expand your boundaries like I did. Even though my bachelors degree was in civil engineering, I got a masters in mechanical, thus opening my options up to two very broad career paths.
TBL: As engineers we have committed ourselves to be lifelong learners. Getting a masters degree (or two) along the way is a great option.
P.S. Get somebody else to pay for that degree. Don't take it out of your own pocket.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Office Socialization
Do the people at your place of work ever get together outside of work for socialization? If yes, great. If not, you are missing out. The time spent over a beer and pizza with group of co-workers and their significant others is time well spent. The next time you pass in the hallway, the nod and the smile are brighter and the workplace is a better place to be. Your co-workers and even bosses become your friends and work is a much better place to go when you get to be with your friends. If you are in the "no" category and want to move to the "yes", then be the leader and set up an evening where people get together. If the first one isn't well attended, be patient and plan another. It will almost always catch on.
TBL: Being social with your co-workers will lead to a better work environment.
TBL: Being social with your co-workers will lead to a better work environment.
Friday, September 14, 2007
From Amanda
In all fairness to guys, here is an actual conversation two girls I met today had at the table during a training seminar. . . .
Nice girl "So, what projects are you assisting with?"
Evil wench (with an offended look on her face and in bitchy voice) "UGH! I don't ASSIST anybody. My boss only has me leading projects."
She was 100% serious with this comment even though she had been working here for less than 2 months. Nice girl continued to be polite. Later evil wench was telling us more about herself and said this. . . . .
"I'm arrogant, that's just how it is."
So I don't know who she was trying to impress or if she really thought that technique was working, but guys aren't the only ones who are aggresively insecure :-).
Nice girl "So, what projects are you assisting with?"
Evil wench (with an offended look on her face and in bitchy voice) "UGH! I don't ASSIST anybody. My boss only has me leading projects."
She was 100% serious with this comment even though she had been working here for less than 2 months. Nice girl continued to be polite. Later evil wench was telling us more about herself and said this. . . . .
"I'm arrogant, that's just how it is."
So I don't know who she was trying to impress or if she really thought that technique was working, but guys aren't the only ones who are aggresively insecure :-).
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The Dominator
Do you work with this guy? (and I do mean guy)
Let me tell you about him. He is 23 years old. He is your co-worker. He is the stereotypical "I have an engineering degree...I know everything...And I am better than you" kind of guy. You've met him, haven't you? He won't agree with anything you say. He's a brown-noser who takes credit for your ideas with the bosses. He thinks he's superior to you and let's you know it in everyway he can.
Let me tell you the truth about the Dominator. He is INSECURE! Whether he has talent or not, he is totally uncomfortable with who he is, and he uses the above described actions to compensate for that insecurity.
AND... the bosses see right through him. You might feel like he is taking all of your glory for the real good hard work you do, but the good managers know and in the long run your positive work ethic will outshine him...period.
As always TBL says "DON'T BE THIS GUY!!!!!!!"
Let me tell you about him. He is 23 years old. He is your co-worker. He is the stereotypical "I have an engineering degree...I know everything...And I am better than you" kind of guy. You've met him, haven't you? He won't agree with anything you say. He's a brown-noser who takes credit for your ideas with the bosses. He thinks he's superior to you and let's you know it in everyway he can.
Let me tell you the truth about the Dominator. He is INSECURE! Whether he has talent or not, he is totally uncomfortable with who he is, and he uses the above described actions to compensate for that insecurity.
AND... the bosses see right through him. You might feel like he is taking all of your glory for the real good hard work you do, but the good managers know and in the long run your positive work ethic will outshine him...period.
As always TBL says "DON'T BE THIS GUY!!!!!!!"
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
HR Unprofessionalism
This really gets under my skin. When a person is applying for a job, he has decided to make a big life change. So she goes through the application process and hopes for an interview. The timeframe that companies have from application deadline to notification of interview varies hugely. This is where I have my beef, any time frame longer than 2 weeks is just unacceptable. Those applicants have their lives hanging in the balance and need to know what is going on. Yet HR departments can have total disregard for the potential employees. Worse yet is when there is a long delay between the interview and notification of success/or not. Here, I think anything past a few days is out of bounds. I once waited 3 weeks between an interview and notification. It drove me nuts.
What can we do? Well when we serve on hiring committees, we should encourage our supervisors to push for reasonable notification of candidates. I do this with my supervisor all the time. We've all been on the receiving end and anything we can do to help those candidates is simply exercising our own professional responsibilities.
What can we do? Well when we serve on hiring committees, we should encourage our supervisors to push for reasonable notification of candidates. I do this with my supervisor all the time. We've all been on the receiving end and anything we can do to help those candidates is simply exercising our own professional responsibilities.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Locus of Control
On a scale of 1-10 (one low, ten high) estimate the level of control you have over your own life.
Now go to this site and take the survey:
http://www.dushkin.com/connectext/psy/ch11/survey11.mhtml
The site gives you a score relating to a level of control. Internal Control means you feel you are in charge of your life. External Control means you feel that something or someone other than you controls your life.
How does your score on my question compare with the survey? Are they similar?
Now for the important part. Do you feel comfortable with the answers? If you do, great. IF NOT, I ask you to write down a list of steps you could take to get you where you want to be.
This self awareness and self analysis are the most important steps in making change.
Now go to this site and take the survey:
http://www.dushkin.com/connectext/psy/ch11/survey11.mhtml
The site gives you a score relating to a level of control. Internal Control means you feel you are in charge of your life. External Control means you feel that something or someone other than you controls your life.
How does your score on my question compare with the survey? Are they similar?
Now for the important part. Do you feel comfortable with the answers? If you do, great. IF NOT, I ask you to write down a list of steps you could take to get you where you want to be.
This self awareness and self analysis are the most important steps in making change.
Monday, September 10, 2007
The White Devil
This post is about eating right. Coming from me, this is a little out of whack - I have not eaten right for about 90% of my life and I weigh 20 pounds more than I should.
But the evidence is clear, eating processed foods with high sugar content is about the worst thing a person can do for their health (other than smoking or drinking/drugs).
The real enemies are sugar (along with high fructose corn syrup) and white flour. They cause our bodies to chemically do some bad shit that ends up giving us big guts and a high propensity for diabetes.
The right way down the road to eating more healthily is to give these things up. Switch to getting your sugars from natural places like fruits and switch to 100% whole grain bread and pasta and eat wild rice instead of white rice.
I do my best to follow these rules and when I do, I feel better, my waist shrinks and occassionally I lose a pound or two.
But the evidence is clear, eating processed foods with high sugar content is about the worst thing a person can do for their health (other than smoking or drinking/drugs).
The real enemies are sugar (along with high fructose corn syrup) and white flour. They cause our bodies to chemically do some bad shit that ends up giving us big guts and a high propensity for diabetes.
The right way down the road to eating more healthily is to give these things up. Switch to getting your sugars from natural places like fruits and switch to 100% whole grain bread and pasta and eat wild rice instead of white rice.
I do my best to follow these rules and when I do, I feel better, my waist shrinks and occassionally I lose a pound or two.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Touring Engineering
This past Friday, the ICC Engineering students and faculty went to Duluth to learn more about careers in engineering. We started with 6 engineers from Minnesota Power talking to the group about what they do in their different disciplines (Thank you Maggie). Then Rodney V set up a cool demonstration of a fluid system designed to test the different methods for cleaning ballast tank discharges in Great Lakes ships. The day ended with an awesome two hour tour of Cirrus that Amber M set up for us.
Here's the great part - the students were so totally pumped by the end of the day. We can sit in classrooms and talk until we are blue in the face about why these young people should continue down the path to becoming an engineer. But that doesn't compare in any way with what they get out of seeing engineering in practice and talking to practicing engineers.
Do you have place we can come? We've got lots of money for renting buses. We are looking for great places to visit. You are the people who can help us out. Let me know if you have any good ideas. Thanks in advance.
Here's the great part - the students were so totally pumped by the end of the day. We can sit in classrooms and talk until we are blue in the face about why these young people should continue down the path to becoming an engineer. But that doesn't compare in any way with what they get out of seeing engineering in practice and talking to practicing engineers.
Do you have place we can come? We've got lots of money for renting buses. We are looking for great places to visit. You are the people who can help us out. Let me know if you have any good ideas. Thanks in advance.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Contact
As engineers we have a scientific training that makes us want empirical evidence to explain every phenomenon. If we can't prove it, we don't believe it.
As humans many of us believe in a higher being and we do so based on faith.
These two approaches can clash in our minds at different times in our lives.
Tonight, Gordy put on a showing of the movie Contact (starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey and based on the book by Carl Sagan) for our engineering students. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. If you have, watch it again.
This movie can help us science based thinker come to grips with faith.
As humans many of us believe in a higher being and we do so based on faith.
These two approaches can clash in our minds at different times in our lives.
Tonight, Gordy put on a showing of the movie Contact (starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey and based on the book by Carl Sagan) for our engineering students. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. If you have, watch it again.
This movie can help us science based thinker come to grips with faith.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Scholarship Drive
Take a guess what the college budget is for an ICC student living in our dorms?
.... over $14,000!
Just a few years ago that number was less than half of what it is now. It is a crime against society as far as I'm concerned. Nonetheless it is a design constraint underwhich we must go forward as a program. I am trying to solve the problem on several fronts by searching for money from the NSF and from private foundations. In addition, I am in the beginning stages of raising money on an annual basis from engineering alum. I started in August by writing to my former HCC Engineering students (there are 87 of them) and asking them to donate to ICC for scholarships. Guess what? They have! I have commitments from HCC alum for over $5000 by January 1st.
Now I will be contacting ICC alum. You will hear from me soon as I look to ask you to pay back those who helped you by helping our future engineers attain their education.
I pay over $1000 per year to this account as do Aaron/Carol, and Brad. We hope that you may be able to help to.
TBL: We are all at different financial situations and in different stages of life. I would only ever ask you to contribute what you could no matter how little or how much.
.... over $14,000!
Just a few years ago that number was less than half of what it is now. It is a crime against society as far as I'm concerned. Nonetheless it is a design constraint underwhich we must go forward as a program. I am trying to solve the problem on several fronts by searching for money from the NSF and from private foundations. In addition, I am in the beginning stages of raising money on an annual basis from engineering alum. I started in August by writing to my former HCC Engineering students (there are 87 of them) and asking them to donate to ICC for scholarships. Guess what? They have! I have commitments from HCC alum for over $5000 by January 1st.
Now I will be contacting ICC alum. You will hear from me soon as I look to ask you to pay back those who helped you by helping our future engineers attain their education.
I pay over $1000 per year to this account as do Aaron/Carol, and Brad. We hope that you may be able to help to.
TBL: We are all at different financial situations and in different stages of life. I would only ever ask you to contribute what you could no matter how little or how much.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Friendship
Many of us take our friendships for granted. We have some really good friends who we rely on to help is in a huge variety of ways. This, of course, is one of the best parts about our lives. However, how often do we go out of our way and do something special for our friends to show them how much they are appreciated. In my case, I would have to certainly say not nearly enough. Tonight one of my good friends brought me a gift to thank me for being his friend. It is a handmade headdress. It is intricate and way cool. Here are some pics.
TBL: What could you do in your life right now to show a friend how much you appreciate them?
TBL: What could you do in your life right now to show a friend how much you appreciate them?
Monday, September 3, 2007
Transitions
The beginning of college is a most tumultuous time. I have 75 new engineering students who are starting this transition and I brought my Liz to college this weekend. I shared this posting with all of them through facebook and thought I would add it here. Perhaps you remember this time in your life:
"The hardest four months of my life were those that comprised the first semester of college. There are so many conflicting emotions and fears.
I think the hardest part was feeling like something was over forever. I knew I was in the right place and that my parents fully supported me, but my life as a child was over and that hurt. This caused me to be homesick.
College is scary. There is so much unkown. Am I good enough? Is everybody else smarter than me? Will I do well in my classes? Will I like my major? Do I have enough money to get to the end of the semester? Will I let down my family if I don't do really well?
I could go on and on. There is just so much.
Well, that first semester was 23 years ago. Since then I have been a friend and teacher to thousands of students who have gone through this same semester. From these experiences, I have some insight I can share with you.
The first is for you to understand that if you are feeling any of the things I listed above, you are perfectly normal and almost everyone around you is feeling the same way.
The second is that from this semester forward everything gets much better. Time will go faster, you will be happier, you will do better in your classes, you will become comfortable with your new life.
Third and finally, I offer up these suggestions for how to make it through this semester:
*Don't ever skip class. Nothing good can come from that bad habit.
*Do your homework as early in the day as possible - in other words, get all of your work done and then go have fun. The other way around just doesn't work well.
*Stay in communication with the important people in your life. These people are the ones who have always given you comfort - get comfort of them now when you need it.
*Learn how to do well in your classes. Don't just go through the motions of studying, but invest yourself in learning the material so that you can take it with you - by doing this you will do better in your classes.
*Find some study friends. Learning with someone else is much more effective and more fun.
*Do all the things your mother would tell you - eat right, get enough sleep, and find time to exercise.
This is the beginning of a wonderful new life. But the transition to getting there will feel like hell sometimes. My life is about helping you through this transition. I am available to talk anytime by facebook, email, or phone."
"The hardest four months of my life were those that comprised the first semester of college. There are so many conflicting emotions and fears.
I think the hardest part was feeling like something was over forever. I knew I was in the right place and that my parents fully supported me, but my life as a child was over and that hurt. This caused me to be homesick.
College is scary. There is so much unkown. Am I good enough? Is everybody else smarter than me? Will I do well in my classes? Will I like my major? Do I have enough money to get to the end of the semester? Will I let down my family if I don't do really well?
I could go on and on. There is just so much.
Well, that first semester was 23 years ago. Since then I have been a friend and teacher to thousands of students who have gone through this same semester. From these experiences, I have some insight I can share with you.
The first is for you to understand that if you are feeling any of the things I listed above, you are perfectly normal and almost everyone around you is feeling the same way.
The second is that from this semester forward everything gets much better. Time will go faster, you will be happier, you will do better in your classes, you will become comfortable with your new life.
Third and finally, I offer up these suggestions for how to make it through this semester:
*Don't ever skip class. Nothing good can come from that bad habit.
*Do your homework as early in the day as possible - in other words, get all of your work done and then go have fun. The other way around just doesn't work well.
*Stay in communication with the important people in your life. These people are the ones who have always given you comfort - get comfort of them now when you need it.
*Learn how to do well in your classes. Don't just go through the motions of studying, but invest yourself in learning the material so that you can take it with you - by doing this you will do better in your classes.
*Find some study friends. Learning with someone else is much more effective and more fun.
*Do all the things your mother would tell you - eat right, get enough sleep, and find time to exercise.
This is the beginning of a wonderful new life. But the transition to getting there will feel like hell sometimes. My life is about helping you through this transition. I am available to talk anytime by facebook, email, or phone."
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