Establish a Balanced Holiday Routine
Tuesday, November 29, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | December Tips
Most would agree that focus and intention are required to guard the holidays against becoming so exhausting they lose the special meaning that can provide grounding and a legacy of memories for individuals and families.
Too often, December 20 or 23rd rolls around and I have found myself regretting my mismanagement of the time surrounding the holiday season. Some of its joy and delight just get sucked away with the compounding of activities. More has NOT always been better. I promise myself an improved schedule for "next year", but in all honesty, it took years to learn how to more effectively manage these busy weeks. From the responses I receive to my frequent "how were your holidays?" questions, being too busy is a common complaint.
Today marks the first full week of December. If you identify with the problem I have described, I want to offer you suggestions and hope to establish a holiday routine that meets the balanced reality what your schedule can realistically embrace and the desires you hold which pump the season full of enjoyable, memorable experiences.
Create a list (or use a calendar) of the obligations (non-optional) events and responsibilities that the weeks leading up to the holidays hold for you. On this list you may want to include extra items like holiday decorating, gift shopping or making, student performances, your work schedule, and possibly an employer party or two. Create a second list with experiences and activities that you would like to add (in a perfect world). This can be called a "Desires List". Here is where the balancing act comes into play. Be realistic! Error on the side of caution! Consider the ages of your children, your finances, the amount of time and energy your family has to add activities and experiences to your holiday calendar. Coordinate with your partner and your older children, then select wisely from your "Desires" list and insert these activities onto your list or calendar. You may wish to block out some time for "impromptu" activities. Scheduling some "free" spaces opens up time and energy for unplanned or unexpected experiences that still enrich the season without sending your entire family team into overload function, creating ultimate meltdowns from "too much holiday".
Check back often during December for hints to finish the academic term strong, ideas for welcoming a change of pace for learning, topics and activities that are unique for this time of year, along with tips for choosing between good, better and best to avoid holiday overwhelm for children and adults alike.
Know Your Scholarship Committee
Saturday, October 22, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Scholarship Essays
Does your student know the audience for whom they write when constructing a scholarship application essay?
Scholarship committees seek specific evidence of who the student is on a deeper level. Judges ask, "Will this candidate provide an excellent return on the financial investment of our organization?" Clearly, all essay and application content is evaluated so that an estimation can be created of a candidate's success at their chosen institution and in life. In other words, those evaluating these essays look for confirmation of personal development, highlighted accomplishments, and evidence of the applicant's moral principle, integrity, ambition, and exemplary standards.
Students must present themselves so they stand out as unique in all the appropriate ways. Judges remember students who capture their attention! Highlight self by intentionally selecting topics and achievements to share that are uncommon. Choose to highlight lessons learned and skills developed that are less obvious and require more thought. Pick impacts that are noteworthy. The applications shared from personal experiences to other parts of one's life should demonstrate a depth of insight that causes the judges to take note.
As the student writes, they must remember the committees are looking for examples rather than direct statements! Students must draw their audience into their personal story, keeping them captivated by reflecting who they truly are. The accomplishments, projects, awards, and volunteerism that makes the student most proud of themself can be used as a strong base for expressing a written picture of their life. Alternatively, a student may choose to use the story of how they overcame hardship as the foundation for their text. To the foundation of the story, encourage your student to weave in evidence of intentional personal growth, their aspirations, how their own character and soft skills stand out from others, substantiation of their optimistic attitude, and examples of personal initiatives taken.
Students writing academic essays have honed that art for years by the time they are ready to graduate from high school. The type of writing required by scholarship committees is much less practiced, therefore students submitting these high stakes written pieces often benefit from specific instruction, personal guidance, and instructional feedback from a writing coach over a period of time. Begin the process early, even as early as midway through their high school years.
When to Apply for Scholarships
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Scholarship Essays
When should your student begin applying for scholarships?
One of the best kept secrets is that even in the 9th or 10th grade, students can apply for some scholarships and enter academic contests for others!
Tip: Consider incorporating challenging contests and competitions that compliment your student's interests and aptitudes into your family's education vision!
Check out the links below:
https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/scholarships
https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/scholarships
https://blog.collegevine.com/11-academic-competitions-to-boost-your-high-school-profile/
https://donotpay.com/learn/scholarships-for-8th-grade/
https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/top-scholarships-for-high-school-freshman/
https://www.cappex.com/scholarships/high-school-freshmen
https://www.weareteachers.com/student-contests-competitions/
Understanding the Scholarship Essay
Monday, October 17, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Scholarship Essays
Is your student prepared to write scholarship essays?
Students in high school should already be familiar with the construction of a formal academic composition. Award-winning scholarship application essays, however, are not the same as a typical composition submitted for a grade in school. Knowing the similarities and differences will enable a student to construct essays worthy of receiving the awards they seek.
True, there are likenesses in typical academic writing and scholarship application essays. Both must demonstrate that you follow directions, clearly organize content, and pay attention to all the details. All types of writing must also identify and write to a specific audience, be structured appropriately, include appropriate style, proper mechanics, thorough editing, and careful revision
When planning and constructing an essay to submit with a scholarship application, keep in mind that although the composition is structured, the requirement to follow a precise five-paragraph format is usually non-existent. Even the thesis is "unofficial", instead, being implied by the content of the text. This essay is about the student, their personal experiences, uniqueness, and aspirations. It reveals, often in story form, how these traits have shaped their lives and influenced the lives of those around them. Carefully crafted into the text, the student must demonstrate they will provide an excellent return to the investment of the scholarship organization along with value and success to the institution to which they are applying. Since the essay is very personal, its vibe will be a little less formal, and it will include first person pronouns, a definite "no-no" in more formal academic essays.
Students writing academic essays have honed that art for years by the time they are ready to graduate from high school. The type of writing required by scholarship committees is much less practiced, therefore students submitting these high stakes written pieces often benefit from specific instruction, personal guidance, and instructional feedback from a writing coach over a period of time. Begin the process early, even as early as midway through their high school years.
