Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

Back-To-School Tips for Adults!!

Yes friends, it's back-to-school time for our adult friends !

So the tips given in our previous post, "Back-to-School Tips for Pre-Teens and Teens", apply to you adults, too. :)

But adults also need to bear the following things in mind:

As an adult student, you need to maintain a delicate balancing act among your spiritual, family, work and school lives.

Where Your Spiritual Life is Concerned:

1) Like it or not, as human beings, we're spiritual beings.

The sooner we realize this, the less confusing life will be. :)

2) As an adult student, you'll need to nurture yourself spiritually...get in touch with God,continuously.

This is necessary for you to maintain balance, when competing interests of school, work and family, are being thrown at you.

This is also necessary for you to have direction in all areas of your life so that you can be at peace with the decisions you'll make.

This involves saving at least 10-15 minutes of your day to read God's word - the Bible, reflect on what God has been doing for you; to talk to Him about the things that are happening in your life and to ask Him what His purpose is for you, here on earth!

3) For Christians, you may also have to cut down on your hectic church schedule, but please don't become so busy with school, that you shut God out of your life.

Where Your Family Life is Concerned:

1) As an adult student, your family has to understand that certain things, like household chores, will have to be re-assigned, with them doing most of what you used to do.

If you have a partner, he/she will have to understand that school is very demanding and that the children, if you have any, will have to be more responsible for themselves, for you to be successful at school.

2) He/she will also have to take on some of the responsibilities that you had, so that you can do well in school.

Family talks are essential, so that the entire family understands that this is a new phase in the family's life  and that each member has to do his/her part.

Please help your children to understand that you're pursuing further studies in the family's best interest, so that the family income can be improved or that you can be fulfilled in this area of your life.

3) If you go to school in the day, then you and the children can arrange to study and take breaks together...

Your partner will have to take over most of the responsibility to assist the children with homework, however, as it's impossible for you to help them with their homework while you're studying - this is especially important if you go to school at nights.

4) If you go to school at nights, it means that your partner will have to be more attentive to children's homework and study life, so that  your children can balance their spiritual lives, play, extra curricular activities and other areas of their lives, too.

5)  Please don't neglect your responsibilities to your partner, especially, where your love-life, is concerned.

You still need to be attentive and caring, especially in the bedroom, as your partner might resent your giving all your time to the books and not him/her.

6)You also need to spend time with your children, as they too need your attention,  even though you are studying.

Where Your School Life is Concerned:

1) You must read ahead of the teacher, so that you don't fall behind in your schoolwork. This means that you should ensure that you get a Syllabus or Course Outline, so that you can know what will be covered in each class.

2) You should do your homework and do so on time, so that you can identify problem-areas early and ask the teacher/lecturer for help, in class. You may have difficulty reaching him/her outside of class.

3) Ensure that you get the contact numbers or e-mail addresses for your teachers/lecturers, so that you can ask them about anything that needs to be clarified,  as well as to alert them (in the odd case) when you're not able to attend class and so that your absence is not held against you.

(Most universities take class participation seriously and if you're absent, this may be held against you.)

4) Ensure that when you work in groups, that each group member understands accountability to the group. (This means attending group meetings on time, doing group assignments on time and being prepared for group meetings.)

This is especially important when the group has imminent deliverables, as everyone has to play his/her part for the group to get good grades.

Where Your Work is Concerned:

1) Your employer should know that you are doing further studies.

This is important, as some companies demand that employees do courses or degrees, to enhance their professional development.

This will affect your ability to get management or senior management positions in your company.

You may even find that your employer is willing to pay for half to all of tuition fees if you get a B+ average or more...so please check with your Human Resources Department or with your boss, to find out what options you have, regarding this.

[Please, if your employer will pay all of your tuition fees for your entire Programme (especially a Degree) that will last 2-3 years and bond you (where you must work for the company upon completing your Programme, for the same time period), this is not a problem, ok? :)

At the end of your Programme and your bond time, you'd have had your degree (tuition-free on your part), plus the option to look elsewhere for another job, so don't go ballistic if they want to bond you.]

2) Ensure that time alloted, by your employer, for school, is given back. You are accountable to your employers. If they give you the time off to study, and require you to work back the time, the least you can do is give them back the hours you took off, ok?

3) Please keep your employer (your employer's Human Resources Department, your supervisor and boss) abreast of how you're  progressing in school. This will make them more open to looking out for promotional opportunities that may open up within the company, for you, when they know that you are making strides to further your professional development.

This also makes them more open to being flexible, where accommodating your school schedule is concerned.

Please note this word of caution, here: If you have a supervisor or boss, who is not progressing educationally and you are, he/she may become jealous or feel threatened by your progress and think that you are after his/her job.

Please tread carefully here, you know the personalities of the people you work with.

If educational advancement is not appreciated or encouraged by your present employer/supervisor/boss, maybe you need to consider the option of changing Departments, Divisions, or jobs, when you've completed your studies, so that you can be in a company/Division/Department, where this is strongly encouraged and rewarded!

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We, at Girl With a Purpose Blog, are concerned about your personal and professional development...

...As such, within the month of October, we will be introducing two (2) new products that will enable you to succeed in both areas of your life, so please stay tuned for these announcements,ok? :)

Gillian

Back-To-School Tips for Pre-Teens and Teens

Yes friends, it's back-to-school time again!

Many of our younger friends have gone(or will be going) to new schools and many have moved (or will be moving) up a grade, in their previous schools.

But no matter what stage you are in your education, you should be aware of the following, in order to have a great start to your school year :

1) The year that went is your past school year. Please treat it as such.

Do not dig up past failures and regrets and allow them to influence your new school year.

You need to treat the past, as your past and look forward to this new school year with a new attitude, a renewed sense of purpose to do your best and a willingness to try to improve in all aspects of your school-life.

2) Do have a plan to turn past mistakes and failures into successes.

If you failed some subjects/courses or barely managed to pass others, you need to re-examine your study habits  and routines and ensure that you are doing your homework on time and reviewing your notes within 1 day of getting same so that you can keep up with your schoolwork.

Also, examine why you didn't do so well and be bold and take corrective measures to improve.

You and your parents should have reviewed your report card and met with your teachers regarding suggestions they made for you to improve.

If you or your parents feel that you need extra classes, or the help of a tutor, then please get this additional help.

It will save you from a lot of embarrassment and crying in the future,ok? :)

3) Please keep positive friends.  They are essential in maintaining good emotional balance in your life!

Positive friends are people who show the following traits:

a) They try to be the best people they can be in all, or in specific areas of their lives. That is spiritually, emotionally, educationally, where their self development and professional development are concerned, despite their backgrounds.

b) They will encourage you to do the same

c) They come in all shapes (fat or skinny), colours (Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, etc.,) and sizes (tall or short) :)

4) Don't be afraid to put your hand up in class, if you don't understand something the teacher is saying.

That's the only way the teacher will know that you have a problem and are interested in solving it.

If you wait until after class is finished to ask your teacher to address a problem in class, you may find other students doing the same thing. Your teacher may not have time to deal with all those requests at the same time.

Thus putting off your getting the solution for a day or more.

If there is something you don't understand, be brave, put your hand up and to get real-time,on the spot, help, in class,ok?

5) Don't be ashamed to be an "A" student.

Do your best at everything you have to do. God expects it...and if only to please Him, you should do your best.

Getting "A's" also enables you to have access to scholarships that will not be accessible to students with lower grades. Thus saving your parents loads of money in providing for your schooling (including college).

Please remember, 'friends' who call you "nerd" and say hurtful things, just because you are performing well and they aren't, are not friends, they are enemies in friends' clothing.

Avoid them like the plague.

6) Do your homework. Make time to do your homework.

It helps you to remember what was taught in class and helps you to identify areas that were unclear, so that you can get clarification from your teacher.

It also decreases your stress level at test or exam time, since you would have already covered the material!

7) Take your studies seriously...you may never get another opportunity to do well in school!

Use your time in school, to perform at your best!

8) Have fun!

School should not just be about studies, you need breaks!

You should join school Clubs and take part in extra-curricular activities (after-school activities being held at school) so that you can have an appreciation for other aspects of life, that will help to make you a better-rounded person.

Additionally, doing so will be a big plus for you, since most colleges, want students who can balance their education with extra-curricular activities, as this indicates a sense of maturity!

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To our friends who are still in school,  Girl With a Purpose Blog wishes you, an excellent school year!

Please let us know how school is coming along and whether or not these tips have helped you,ok?

Thanks! :)

Gillian

School and the Working Woman

So you've decided to go back to school to further your education so that you can get that promotion or change jobs or even start your own business...but have you seriously considered how studying will affect the other aspects of your life?

How will you balance study with your work and family life?

Does your boss know that you will be studying and is willing to give you some time to do so?

Does your significant other understand that he'll have to take on more of the household chores and do more managing of the children at this time?

Are your children aware that mummy will have to wake up at odd hours to study and that this will affect time that she spends with them?

These are just some of the issues that arise when one wants to study and is working...

So how have women done it before you, and done it successfully?

Well they segment their lives...they find ways to decrease stress...and understand what is important at certain junctures of their lives.

1) They ensure that they eat properly...they ensure that each meal is well-balanced with all food groups and that they eat at least three times a day.

2) They manage their time...by revising each day , thus ensuring that schoolwork doesn't build-up and by ensuring that the people in their lives get quality time with them too.

3) They communicate with their significant other and children, to ensure that the entire family is up to speed with happenings in each member's life.

4) They communicate with their boss to ensure that he/she knows what's happening on the school-front as well.

5) They find ingenious ways to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively, so that there isn't a degradation in performance that would cause their boss or co-workers to become concerned.

6) They make studying fun and easier by studying in groups...with people who are serious about their studies and time management.

7) They use time spent with family and friends to relax and then go hit the books.

8) They decrease some extra-curricular activities.

9) They maintain intimacy with their significant others by ensuring that their needs are taken care of.

10) They involve their significant other and children in what's happening at school (significant others and children can help with schoolwork and studying as well:)

Are you a woman who is working and is studying?

Are you struggling with your work-school-life balance?

What has worked for you?..What hasn't?

I'd like to hear from you...please post your comments below:).

Are you ready for school?

Yes, it's back to school time...

Are you ready?

No doubt some of you have gotten new clothes, new bags, new shoes or fortunately for others, the ones you had from last year are as good as new and can be re-used!:)...but what about a change of attitude towards school and your schoolwork?

Who me? you may ask...yes you! :)

Let's review a bit...were your study habits so effective and efficient last school year that you got straight A's?

Did you understand your courses well enough to build on your foundation of the last school year?

Did you participate in any extra-curricular activities?

Even if the above is true, you still need to read this. :)

School can be fun and it's meant to be...you just have to know how to prioritize, manage your time and be disciplined in your studies.

Here are some tips to make school fun!

1. Ensure that you review you work at the end of the day. This means reading over your schoolwork, as soon as you've rested,to revise what the teacher taught. The sooner you do this the more you'll remember what was taught for the day.

2. Don't skip your revision time or waste that time goofing off...the longer you take to revise is the more likely you'll forget what was taught and the more schoolwork you'll have building up, thus giving you more stress.

3. Do your homework...this not only cements what you should have learnt..teachers love giving quizzes from the stuff they've given for homework!

4. Have a set time to study and stick to it! (Please see my upcoming post on study-tips).

5. Read over your schoolwork for the past week, on the weekend, so you'll be ready to add new knowledge in the coming week!

6. Clarify any topic that you're unsure of with your teacher within two (2) days. Make an appointment to see your teacher if you have a problem understanding anything that he/she's teaching. Let him/her know exactly what the problem is.

   This means that you will have to look over your work and pinpoint exactly what you don't understand. Sometimes, by looking over your work and/or reading the textbook (both referred to as revising) things become very clear and you may not need to see your teacher. But do see your teacher if things are still unclear after revising your work.

7. Ensure that you participate in extra-curricular activities you're interested in, or that may be important in helping you to decide what career path you'll take. So for example, if you want to become a lawyer, join the debate team.

   Not only will debating help you overcome the shyness of speaking in front of a crowd, it will also help you to put your ideas together and present them in an orderly fashion, giving you lots of confidence when you address an audience!

   If you want to own your own business, join a Junior Business Club or play a team-sport like football or netball or volleyball...you'll learn a lot about working with people by playing team sports!

8. Exercise! Exercising pumps more blood to the brain..helping you to release stress, so that you're relaxed and ready for your studies, and as a matter of fact, for life in general!

9. Do, make new friends and deepen the great friendships you had last year. (Please see my upcoming post on making new friends).

10. Do something wonderfully different this year, like wear your hair differently or wear clothes that really make you unique - Just make it your special project and make sure it happens!

It's my wish that you all do well in school/university, or wherever you may be in life!

Please let me know how you're doing and if the above-mentioned tips worked for you! Feel free to add any more tips or comments below!