In another month you will be heading back to school.  This is a good time to review your résumé and BRAG Book to make sure they are up to date, and to look ahead to next term.   Below are our tips for reviewing and updating their résumé and BRAG Book. 

If you have graduated make sure your résumé indicates so and includes your GPA or class standing if warranted.  Look back at the academic year and update both the résumé and BRAG Book, so they include activities you participated in, and awards received in and out of school.  Below are some suggestions of items that you can be added or updated.  You may decide not to include everything you have done on the résumé or in the BRAG Book, but you keep notes and documentation of everything you have achieved.  You never know when an experience could be useful.

Since you are reviewing these tools, it is also a good time to make sure you have copies of everything digitally and have backed up the file.  We suggest that you have everything in one file folder on your PC and a backup or the information. 

If you are working this summer, ask your employer for a job description.  Be aware that you may be doing things that are not on your job description so make sure you jot them down so you have them at the end of the summer.  If you are unable to get a job description from your employer take some time every week to jot down your duties and responsibilities. Put those smart phones to use.  At the end of the summer make sure you get copies of any job evaluations you were given but most importantly make sure you get a letter of recommendation from your supervisor.. 

For more tips and to find out when we are having workshops in your area Like us   on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. 

Be safe and have a great summer!

List of items that should be added to résumé and Brag Book

• Make sure to get a good night's sleep in the few days leading up to the test. If you don't sleep well the night before the test, don't worry about it! It is more important to sleep well two and three nights before. You should still have the energy you need to perform your best.
• Eat breakfast and pack a few nutritional snacks and water.
• Make sure you have everything you need for the test –sharpened # 2 pencils, eraser, calculator with batteries and a watch so you can pace yourself.
• Anxiety before a test is natural. Take deep breaths and visualize a successful test.
• Be aware of the time you have to spend on each section. Don’t waste time on a question that is hard for you – skip it, mark it in the test booklet so you can find it later. Mark the answer sheet so you don’t inadvertently fill in the answer for the skipped question.
• Make sure you understand if you are penalized for wrong answers. If not then taking a guess is an effective strategy if you can eliminate at least one answer in a multiple choice question.
• Answer the questions on the page in the booklet and then transpose them to the answer sheet.
• Take deep breaths while taking the test to help you focus.
• During the breaks get up and walk or stretch.

This is a busy time for all parents.   If you are the parent of an 8th grader you probably have to add finding a high school for your child to this list.  Don’t panic if you have done nothing or very little with this process, you are in the majority and there is still time.  Here are some tips to get you started.   

• Have a conversation with your child about the criteria you both think is important for high school.   I know there are lots of parents out there that will disagree with me about involving the child in the decision-making process, but I believe it is important for them to be a part of it from the very beginning. Kids have definite ideas about what they want in a school and being involved in the process is a chance for them to learn how to make important life decisions. In your discussion let them know you want them to be involved and that you respect their opinions, but you will make the final decision.  In my experience if there is communication throughout the process, then the final decision is one that everyone agrees upon (for a list of items you may want to consider, contact Ultimate Success 2 and ask for the package for Finding the Right High School email us at
• Start with a list of schools that you want to investigate.   To find schools in your area check your local library for resources or visit Greatschools.org on the web.  
• Narrow your list by using the criteria that you and your child decided on.  You may be surprised at some of the schools that pop up based on your criteria, so keep an open mind.   Many parents dismiss high schools in urban public schools, but take a closer look.   Many of these school districts have special schools (i.e., charter, special admit) and/or programs that offer similar advantages to those of costly private schools.
• Develop a “School Comparison” checklist.   Then do your research by looking at the websites and by talking to parents whose kids that attend those schools.  Make sure your child is participating in this research phase by also talking to students at the schools and visiting the websites.  If they do not know anyone at the school, they can use social media outlets like Facebook to ask their friends for referrals.
• Once you narrow your list to 5 or 6 schools, contact the admissions office to get an application packet, to register for open houses and to inquire about the enrollment process.  Two important questions to ask are how many applications they receive and how many students are accepted.  There are private and specialty public schools that receive 30 applications for every open slot.  If you are considering one of these schools, you may want to revisit your list and add a few more to hedge your bets.
• Create a calendar for the enrollment process.  You want to capture important information such as date applications are due, test dates and school visitation dates.  Once you have the major dates put together a more detailed time schedule so everything is completed by the deadline. 
  

  Looking for a high school can be a daunting, yet manageable, process if you are organized. In our next article we will show you how to get the most out of your school visits and how to best prepare your child. 
  

   

   

Extracurricular activities are important!  Studies show kids who participate in extracurricular activities are more likely to graduate from high school, go to college, become leaders and earn more money than those that don’t participate.  If that isn’t enough employers and college admission officers also view participation in extracurricular activities favorably because of the lessons learned while being involved.  Participating in sports teaches self discipline, time management, teamwork and focus.  If you belong to a student or civic group you can learn problem solving, management and communications skills. 

Through participation in extracurricular activities, you can discover talents you didn’t know you had, explore career interests, and gain valuable experience that can enhance your future.  You may meet people who you otherwise would not have encountered and may learn about subjects outside your academic curriculum. Your school may have a variety of clubs, organizations and activities but also consider opportunities at civic and religious organizations.   

• Decide if you want to do something new to challenge yourself or to further develop a talent. 
• Look for opportunities that will help you meet your goal.
• Make sure you can commit to the requirements of the group.
• Don’t over schedule yourself or be so involved that your grades suffer. 

Once you pick an activity try to stick with it and have fun. 

Michele

August can be a frantic time for parents – trying to organize the last few weeks of summer vacation, getting your kids to complete summer assignments and the dreaded back to school shopping.
 
I hate shopping but find that it is a great time to teach my son a practical financial lesson.  There are lots of studies showing that most college graduates have no idea how to handle money and there are few financial education courses offered in school, so it is left up to parents.  I witnessed the problems that students get themselves into first hand with my own step daughters, so my husband and I decided that we needed to do a better job with our son. 

My husband and I realized early on that we needed to involve our son in picking out his clothes for school.  Because he would not wear clothes he did not like, we instituted a plan that not only involved him in choosing his clothing but also teach him how to work within a budget.  Together we determine his needs, decide on a budget and determine where to shop by looking at store circulars and online.  With list in hand, we go shopping. Our son selects what he wants, takes it to the counter and pays for it.  Over the years he has matured prioritizing the list and keeping track of what he has spent because when the money runs out, we are done.

We also thought it was important for him to understand the difference between “want” and “need” so we threw in a caveat - any money left over is his to spend as he wants, but he must get everything on the list.  Trust me, he has become a savvy shopper!  He is not paying for designer jeans unless he finds them in a discount store and when it comes to school supplies they are the basics.   He decides if he is going to spend money for the designer labels or if he is going to have money left over for a movie or video game.  We offer our opinions but ultimately he decides how to spend the money. 

Our son is learning lessons he will use throughout his lifetime: creating and prioritizing a list of necessary items, creating a budget, smart shopping and using cash not credit.  Parents have many responsibilities and making sure our kids are financially savvy is vital for their independence and the welfare of our country too.

See you out there – I’ll be the parent holding the bags while her kid is shopping.

Michele