Why We Need Youth Social Entrepreneurship

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Community Service: How and Why

By: Angelina N. 

Although it is important to study intensively, discover your interests, and pursue your aspirations in high school, it is also crucial to acknowledge the significance of giving back to the community. It is undeniable that the quality and welfare of the community depends on the individuals within it. If the members of a community readily contribute to it, then the community will have a thriving and healthy environment, but if the members of a community only focus on their own individual pursuits, then the community will have a much more distinguishable characteristic of inequality. To prevent this, you can begin at a local level by doing community service, which will not only benefit numerous members of your community but will also increase your appeal to college committees. 

So, what exactly is community service and how can you acquire volunteer hours? Community service encompasses all activities relating to benefiting the community. Due to the countless possibilities of community service, it is a great way to not only improve your local area but also a great way to exercise your strengths and spend time doing your hobbies. Below is a presentation providing a list of options for community service hours depending on your hobbies and strengths: 

The choices for benefitting your community are endless, and you can view it as a way to spend time doing your hobbies while spreading your passion to others. Community service hours make your college application stronger, serve as an exemplary opportunity to exhibit leadership skills, and have a direct positive impact on those around you. 

Have No Fear! Time Management is Here!

By Isabella S. 

Deadlines can be hard to keep, especially if you don’t have a teacher telling you to submit an assignment every day. This is where time management comes into play! If you can manage your time wisely, avoid procrastination, and keep a regular schedule, online classes will become abundantly easier! This may seem like a difficult task, but with three easy steps, you can take charge of your workload and submit assignments on time.

Step 1: Commit.

The first step of becoming a time-managing wizard is to commit to deadlines and WANT to do your best. You must have a desire to achieve. Ask yourself: Why should I commit now? Every student has a different reason that pushes him or her to stay on track. For some, it may be to allow more time to other activities, such as sports, academic teams, and clubs. For others, the idea of earning a higher education and knowing that every grade received in high school affects their chances of achieving in this area will push them to submit assignments on time. Lastly, some students simply want to free themselves from the stress and anxiety that can come from falling behind.

Whatever your reason, you must understand that online classes will take commitment in order to help you steer clear of procrastination. If you are not sure you are ready to commit to your class, talk to your teacher and ask them what is expected of you. Knowing what your teacher is asking of you is extremely crucial. Make a list of your goals for this semester and what you want to gain from the class; this may be a particular grade, knowledge in a certain area, or completion of all of your assignments. Whatever your reasons for commitment and goals are, time management can help you steer clear of procrastination.

Step 2: Plan.

The second step for taking control of your online classes, and probably the most important, is to plan. Developing a schedule is essential to turning in assignments before or on the due date. Try making a list of the assignments that you need to work on by breaking them down into simpler tasks. For example: If you have to write an essay on zombies for your biology class and the paper is due in two weeks, you can dissect (excuse the pun!) your project into multiple sections and give yourself shorter work periods so that the assignment becomes less mind-boggling. You can allow yourself only a week or less to complete research- that’s the beauty of time management! You can customize your deadlines, as long as you pledge to keep them. You can decide to give yourself five days to conduct your primary research. You can choose to finish your introduction and conclusion in three days, and your body paragraphs in four days. Suddenly, this monumental task has become three smaller projects that are easy to complete within the time period.

One important element that you must remember is to always finish your assignment at least a day in advance. This will give you flexibility and an opportunity to allow others to review your work. Another important part of planning is looking at assignments ahead of time. Open the Pacing Guide for your online class and look at the work that you think will take the most amount of time. Keep a planner that includes all of your assignments that are due and ask someone you can trust to remind you in case you forget. You could program your phone to send you an alert when it is time to start working on a project. Make a plan, and everything will be much easier!

Step 3: Do.

You must follow through on all of your plans or nothing will ever get done!  If you have decided to spend a certain amount of time on an assignment, you must act on this decision. Sometimes this involves rescheduling personal events and/or missing them. A great tactic to use is to look ahead at the time you have scheduled to work on your assignments and treat it as an appointment that you must keep. You must learn to say “no” to friends and interferences.

One easy way to avoid wasting time is to remove distractions. Turn off the television, cell phones, and social media. Find a quiet place with adequate lighting, minimal distractions, and seclusion. Go ahead and remove the issues that may call for a break. Eat a snack ahead of time, start with a sharpened pencil, and collect all of your materials. When you start with everything laid out and ready to work with, you avoid stopping in the middle of your studying.

Now it is time to get to work! Throw yourself at it and do not be afraid to ask questions. Find a nice stopping point by looking back at your plans and by seeing how much time you will have left to finish the assignment. Continue to keep your commitments and plans, and… Voila! You’re on track to an A+ performance!

Image: NasimAhmed96$ [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Studying for Tests

By Charlotte P

1. Take Notes and Review Them

More than half of your studying work is done in the classroom. Whether your teacher provides notes or not, take organized notes so you can review them later. These notes can be an outline, bubble map, t-chart, or any other organization structure, but keep them organized so you can review them later. Keep each subject’s notes separate, and make sure they are easy to read and review.

When you take notes, write down facts that your teacher emphasizes or writes on the board. Moreover, write in comprehensible short hand, and do not try to write every word of your teacher’s lecture or presentation. Practicing writing notes from your teachers’ lectures will prepare you for college lectures; learn to decide which facts are important and which aren’t.

At home, review your notes and perfect them. Add helpful diagrams and highlight important vocabulary words or key dates.

2. Plan Your Study Time

If you have several tests coming up on the same day, this is extremely important. Think about how much content will be covered on these tests and estimate how much time you need to devote to each test. A vocab test may need less studying time than a biology unit test or a U.S history test on the Civil War.

Consider “chunking” — breaking down large topics into smaller chunks — your test topics. Study each chunk each day before the test. Remember to review all that you have studied after each study session, however. If you have more than one test to study for, study for all of them a little each day.

Keep in mind that your mind will need a break when you study. Since most people can concentrate well for about 45 minutes, so give yourself some rest every 45 minutes.

3. Know the Type of Test You Will Take

Will your test contain multiple-choice? Math grid-ins? Free response? Essays? If you are not sure, ask your teacher for a breakdown of the test. For multiple-choice questions, focus on facts, such as dates or vocabulary words, as well as the basic applications of the facts. Find practice questions online and keep drilling. Math grid-ins are usually harder math problems; review the harder math problems from the content, and do some practice questions.

Free response and essay questions require a more thorough knowledge of important topics. Look at the sections of the notes that your teacher emphasized the most and has the most details. Your teacher probably gave clues as to what the free response or essay questions would be for the test. Also search for essay and free response questions and at least contemplate how you would answer those questions if they appeared on a test.

4. Do Not Procrastinate

This is easier said than done. It is tempting to put off studying till the last minute. The best way to battle procrastination is to stay organized. Write down the due dates of assignments and the dates of tests and quizzes. Plan out study sessions and homework sessions beforehand in order to not procrastinate and follow a schedule.

Also give yourself incentives for doing your work early or following your schedule, such as leaving time to hang out with friends, party, or watch a movie.

5. Start a Study Group

The positive aspect of a study group is that members can hold each other accountable for fulfilling their roles in the group and studying adequately for a test. The negative aspect is that friends can provide distraction instead of support. However, if you need others to push you to study, consider forming a study group.

Carefully choose the members of the study group as well as the location to meet. The members of your group should be familiar friends, but also known to be responsible and mindful of their academic performance. The location should be a place that encourages quiet study and not playful conversation, such as a library or a café.

Rewards of Studying

Despite feeling deprived of energy and social time, studying will raise your confidence for the test. Moreover, taking the full effort to study will have you perform your best on test day.

More Than Just Reading the Textbook

By Nicole R.

Have you ever found yourself reading a textbook for homework, and it just goes in one ear and out the other? If you answered yes to this question, then you should stick around. When I first started my AP Environmental Science class I had to read about 25 textbook pages a night and it felt pointless because by the time I got to class the next morning, I had forgotten everything I read. On the first test I scored poorly because of this. Then a solution came! I will do an outline of every chapter. This really helped and brought my grade up 10 points on the next test.

There are many different ways to do an outline. I do mine the way my history teacher taught me, but you should find the way that works best for you.

Mine goes like this:

Chapter # and title

Section #-# and title

Header Title

a. List a point you think is important to remember
b. List a point you think is important to remember
c. List a point you think is important to remember
d. List a point you think is important to remember ( I would try not to list more than four points.)

Header Title

a.

b.

c.

d.

You should keep going until you finish the chapter

Here is an example of one I did in my AP Environmental Science class. This is just one section.

4-6 What roles do species play in an ecosystem?

Each species plays a role in its ecosystem

A. Ecological niche- the role a species plays in an ecosystem. It is a species way of life in a community.
B. Generalist species have broad niches. They can live in many different places, eat many different foods, and live in many different environmental conditions. ex. humans, deer, mice, and rats. Cockroaches are very general.
C. Specialist species occupy narrow niches. They can only eat certain types of food and live in one of two places. They are more prone to extinction.
D. When environmental conditions are the constant is better to be a specialist with few competition, but when conditions change it is better to be a generalist.

Species can play five major roles within ecosystems

A. Native species- normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem.
B. Non-native species- migrate into an ecosystem. They are also called alien, invasive, and exotic species. They can compete with native species and reduce the amount of them. This is not good.

Indicator species serve as Biological Smoke Alarms

A. Indicator species provide early warnings of damage to a community or an ecosystem. Birds and butterflies are these.

Case Study: Why are amphibians vanishing?

A. They are indicator species. They are the first vertebrates. They are better at adapting to environmental changes through evolution than many other species.
B. The eggs of frogs can not protect themselves from pollution.
C. The population is declining because of human population impacts.

Keystone species play a critical role in their ecosystems

A. Keystone species are species whose roles have a large effect on the types and abundance of other species in an ecosystem. They exist in limited numbers
B. They pollinate plants and regulate the population of other species.
C. The loss of keystone species can lead to population crashes and extinctions of other species in a community that depend on them for certain ecological services.

Foundation species help to form the bases of ecosystems

A. Foundation species play a major role in shaping their communities by creating and enhancing their habitats in ways that benefit other species. For example; beavers
B. The difference between keystone and foundation species is that foundation species help to create habitats and ecosystems. Keystone species do this and more,; they play a role in foundation and an active role in maintaining the ecosystem and keeping it functioning.

This is most commonly beneficial in AP classes where the teachers are not so demanding in how you learn the material as long as you learn it. They give you more flexibility. The key is to not write down everything. You can write too much and it will not be beneficial at all. If you are unsure what to write it is good to start with bold words and italic words. Another suggestion is that I always make my chapter # and title, my section #-# and title and my header # and title different colors. Then before you take the test refer back to these notes to study. GOOD LUCK!

The Value of Learning

by Charlotte P

“When will we use this in real life?” So many teachers have heard this question numerous times, and some have come up with clever answers. However, the question remains: what is the value of learning what we may not use in our future careers?

We are not talking about whether or not school should also teach necessary life skills such as filling out tax forms, budgeting, or cooking. This article is mainly about whether an aspiring scientist should be learning about literature, or whether an aspiring athlete should study calculus.

Possible Solution 1: There is actually no value in studying disciplines irrelevant to students’ future career plans.

Although highly opposed among adults, many of my fellow students have come to strongly believe this statement. And to a certain extent, they are correct. Time is precious, and life is short. All the time spent in those classes may have been used to further hone in on necessary skills. However, careers change over time. Are there any more telephone operators? Are there not less bank tellers at the bank than before? As for the jobs that withstand the test of time, they require skills in numerous disciplines. A medical doctor, for instance, though primarily focused on the sciences of biology and chemistry, must also be familiar with Latin, Greek, mathematics, and reading comprehension. Moreover, knowledge not used at the workplace can still be used in everyday conversation and, perhaps, in helping the next generation with their schoolwork.

Possible Solution 2: Education should be more work-related as students advance through their education

Of course, few would disagree that an elementary school student should have time to get a taste of everything before specializing. Then, according to this concept, a middle school or junior high student should be able to further specialize, but still must take core classes in math, English, social studies, and science, which generally cover the basics. However, in high school, students should not be required to take classes beyond the necessary level. For example, a student who only needs to know basic algebra need not take geometry or pre-calculus. The problem with this idea is that the high school student still does not know all the available career opportunities and changes his or her interests almost daily. We must admit that teenagers (us) are rather capricious.

Possible Solution 3: A well-rounded education allows for exploration and enrichment.

There is a reason why the Ivy League Universities (and other prestigious universities) believe in the liberal arts curriculum. They have core requirements in addition to major-specific degree requirements. Why? Because they believe that such a system would introduce their students to new fields and possible interests. Many students say that without such a system, they would never have found their interest in (insert academic field here). I believe this idea applies to high school as well. Although I love biology and hope to be a doctor, I also love calculus and literature, and I may indeed land a career in one of those fields instead. If that happens, I would still be content because I know I enjoy those fields. As for enrichment, it’s pretty much a big word for that sensation students get when they say, “Before I took this class, I had no interest (or hated) in the subject. Now, I actually find it to be quite interesting, although I’m still not passionate about it.” For human beings, it’s nice to learn something, whether at school or elsewhere.

So, when will we use (insert school subject name here) in real life? Honestly, maybe never. But learning a wide variety of academic disciplines, including derivatives and integrals, makes you a better person. It is not a waste of time if you learned something.

Organizational Skills!!

Organizational Skills

Many students sign up for online classes and then they can’t keep track of their work since there are no teachers in person to help them keep a notebook. Whenever one takes an online class, a notebook is essential. Online does not mean paperless. Printing off notes can make it a lot easier to complete the assignments. Not only will having a notebook and a few organizational skills help, but keeping a calendar is also suggested. Now, let’s break down the notebook and look at a few key points to becoming organized.

Becoming organized can be time consuming, but once it’s done, all is needed is a little maintenance here and there. One doesn’t need a large notebook to hold everything throughout the semester, but an average size should do (about an inch and a half.) One can adjust to his/her needs of course, but it is what goes inside it that it is most important. I recommend that it has a clear protective sleeve on the front, but it doesn’t need to have one, however it will come in handy later down the road. I suggest that tab dividers are used; they can be made or bought at the local dollar store. There should be at least four tabs designated Notes, Assignments, Review, and Paper. Under the Notes section, place anything that is printed off that may be beneficial to an assignment and keep it by date and lesson, dating work is very important! Under the Assignment tab, keep every assignment that has been printed off, once again, date everything! The Review tab should hold any information and assignments that are for test prep. The Paper tab is, of course, for loose leaf notebook paper and miscellaneous items.

Now that the notebook is organized, let’s make a calendar to help keep track of maintenance in an easier fashion and make meeting those dreadful deadlines more approachable and possible. The internet has many calendars that can be printed off. I generally use www.free-printable-calendars.com, because they give important dates such as Easter already labeled. Write down all of the due dates and other things that are of significance. Denoting different classes with different colors of high lighters and such forth is also a good organizational tool. As deadlines are reached, cross it out and take a minute to breathe! Calendar organization is very personal and optional, but I highly recommend it.

Another useful tip is to keep a daily planner in along with the calendar. The daily planner is a great tool because it can be changed, rearranged, and it’s always there. Write down everything that needs to be completed by the end of the day and work down the list. In addition, including such things as church events, sporting events, club meetings, birthdays and/or daily reminders of the upcoming weeks is also very important. Think of the planner as a personal assistant and use it as often as needed. Make sure to not over-plan, there is nothing worse than being over-scheduled. When the unexpected events arise, check with your “personal assistant.” Is there time to fit it in? If yes, then there is a decision to be made. If the answer is no, then simply say, “I’m sorry, but I can’t.” Of course there are exceptions to the rules, but use them as general guidelines.

Now that the hassle of organizing is over, how much time is left in the day that hasn’t been spent? I offer a challenge. Make a chart and write down everything that goes on during the day. How much time is being wasted? Can the schedule be rearranged so that productivity is maximized? Questions such as these are dependent upon the schedule, but I bet there will be at least two hours in the day that could be spent doing something enjoyable.

So, one may ask, “Why is organization important?” Simply stated, organization is the key to success and meeting deadlines. It is critical to passing any online class. Keeping everything “up top” is great, but remembering everything is impossible, so start organizing!

In conclusion, all of the things mentioned are completely optional, but are very helpful. Remember to keep a notebook, calendar, daily planner, and maximize productivity! Happy organizing!

-Felicia B.

Acing the Class

By: Mai-Gao X.
Do you ever have a hard time staying up to date with your classes? Having trouble focusing on your work while playing games? The answer for your problems is right here! While playing games ur attentiveness is reduced to a small amount. If a student knows what he or she needs to do and can organize his or her time efficiently success will come to you. With my five step crash course you can set your goals to guide a path for success. These tips to success are important for acing the online and daily classes you have:

1. Stay focused: When a student stays focused he or she tends to get things done quicker, and understand what is going on.
2. Be responsible: Give up your shopping time or your gaming time to work on your class because it is WORTH IT!
3. Set time intervals: Once a student gets accustomed to his or her assignments, start setting a time period for him or her to finish their work
4. Be prepared ahead of time: If a student knows that he or she cannot get something done in time ask for extended time and try to catch up because once they are behind it gets harder and harder to catch up. Many students have encountered this problem.
   I take a class and I see other students struggling just to catch up and I see other students who just give up on it despite their grades.
5. Stay organized: Organize your things in a certain order. Write notes and reminders using sticky notes. Having everything ordered and labeled for you gets
   you to save time, accomplish everything, and find things easily.

There are many things that tutors stress to you, but the main guidelines that can keep your grades and attitude up are listed here.Be sure to understand that this is a statement not a fact. There are trillions of people out there that may think differently and tell you differently, but here are some tips to succeeding an online class