Thursday, December 27, 2012

13 Education Dreams to Achieve During 2013



The best way to achieve your dream is by making a commitment to start today.  Determine that you will not let another year go by where you have not pushed the limits to achieve your dream.  Even if you get half way there during 2013 you will be closer than you have ever been.  The greatest thing that you should fear is procrastination.  It will be your greatest enemy on the days when you do not feel like working toward your dream.  There are many outstanding and creative ways to get started. I suggest that your start by keeping a weekly list of things to do.  It’s time to cast off the old and focus on new opportunities. The year 2013 is a chance to make a big difference in the way that you feel about yourself and others. So here are 13 things that you can do to achieve your dreams during 2013:


1.  Write your own mission statement for the year

2.  Identify a song that will be your theme for the year.

3. Start working on your dream today by putting a plan on paper

4  Get started an associate, bachelors, masters or a doctorate degree or attend a trade school

5. Get physically fit so that your can have a strong body and a clear mind

6. Start training on your job that you put off

7. Use a journal to record what you are accomplishing each week

8. Start writing that book that you have planed for several years

9. Break into a new career by upgrading your resume and submitting to different companies

10. Identify at least mentors and keep them informed of your progress

11. Start a community organization to have a positive impact on parents

12. Eat healthy meals that you did not eat last year

13.  Try something new that you have not done before.  You may uncover a skill that you did not know about.

Feel free to add to this list. The year 2013 is full of possibilities. It's time to think out of the box. Dr. Stephen Jones is an education expert, authors and keynote speaker at http://www.drstephenjones.blogspot.com or 
call 610-842-3843.

Friday, August 24, 2012

7 Ways to get the Most out of College

Attending college is one of the best ways to grow intellectually, emotionally, socially and personally. As you take classes and listen to lectures look for opportunities to do a self-assessment. You should uncover how much you do or don’t know about a topic. Then ask yourself how does this knowledge apply to your life? Active engagement with the learning process will be tremendously rewarding. Take time to talk to your advisor ansd visit the career center to talk about your career plans. It can help you to maintain the motivation do your best work in all of your classes. One of the best things that you can do is get to know your instructors and visit him/her. Don’t allow yourself to get nervous and talk yourself out of visiting your professor. Your professors are full of knowledge that you need. Research the articles and books that they have written. You should also show up when they ask you to listen to a guest speaker. It will enable you to have another type of conversation with your instructor. Many instructors never have a visitor during their office hours. You can be the first to visit and get personal help from your instructor. Make it your goal to take full advantage of all that college life has to offer. Here are seven important ways to get the best out of college: 1. Talk to a faculty member about doing undergraduate research 2. Join a club and take on a leadership role 3. Learn another language so that you can function in a global economy 4. Go on an international studies experience 5. Volunteer to represent your university on a service learning trip 6. Attend a student conference in your major 7. Serve a as a mentor/tutor for other high school students You should work to develop new skills while you are in college. It is extremely important to develop good speaking skills. It will take you a long way. It is also important to increase the quality of your writing and reading skills. College professors and corporate professionals are looking for students who have good communication skills. College will pay when you are able to get the job that you desire. In addition take time to learn how to network. Get to know professors and administrators who are not teaching your curriculum. You will have many more people who are available to help you throughout your college experience. Networking is a good way to form study groups and to get tutoring when you need it. One of the best aspects of college life is all of the students that you meet who are from diverse backgrounds. You can get the most out of college by taking it as an adventure and an early preparation for your future. Dr. Stephen Jones is an author, keynote speaker and educator. His books are the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide. You can reach at http://www.studyskills2u.com.

Friday, July 20, 2012

How to Find Money and Resources for Your School

One of the biggest challenges facing schools today is how to maintain an effective level of resources for teachers and students. This is the time to get creative and think of alternative ways to obtain resources. Often people and companies just need to know your needs and they will get involved. It’s important to have a mindset that the resources are available so that you will be an active participant in the effort to locate resources. If everyone in the school gets creative, you can identify resources all throughout the school year. Here are twelve things you can do to find money and resources. 1. Contact new companies that are coming into your town. They want to find a way to get connected to the community. 2. Get students who have graduated from your school and are working to purchase specific items. 3. Get time on a radio program to talk about your needs 4. Have a carnival involving the students and parents 5. Create a list and get sororities and fraternities to have a campaign to get supplies for your school 6. Organize a school wide car wash on a specific Saturday 7. Offer a certain item (i.e shirt, cup) at a school sports event and let the participants know that it is a fund raiser 8. Purchase the chronicle of Philanthropy. It list foundations and corporations who have given to school. 9. Don’t limit your search for funding to local corporations. Go after funds from large corporations 10. Write a proposal and a separate executive summary for funding that you can send out at any time. 11. Join a crowd funding network (i.e. IndIegogo.com) that allows people from all walks of life to contribute to your needs 12. Use the internet to conduct your search for “free school resources.” The important aspect of getting these resources is active participation. You may have an alumni or PTA that will help you with your efforts. Ask others in your school to help to create a list of contacts who are ready to help your school. You will be surprised at who is really interested in helping schools to succeed. Know is the time to get started. To contact Dr. Stephen Jones visit http://www.studyskills2u.com or call 610-842-3843