20 Things to Do in Your 20s to Build a Successful Career

20 Things to Do in Your 20s to Build a Successful Career Feeling the twenty-something blues? Before you hit quarter-life crisis mode, try crossing a few of these off your pre-30 bucket list. Here are 20 things to do in your 20s in order to make your future better while you’re still young enough to get a head start.1. GraduateNo matter what your education goals are- whether an associates degree, a bachelors degree, a masters, or a PhD- complete them. Put the formal education stage behind you and let it bolster you as you move forward in your life.2. Get a jobIt’s much more difficult to find steady work that you like enough to keep doing after a certain point. Get in the workforce while you’re still fresh talent.3. Quit your vicesSmoking, drinking, partying, drugs: these all seem like fun now, but their time is at an end. This is the age to stop and focus on reality.4. Save moneySaving now can pay off hugely in the long run. Only spend what you need to spend, and save the rest. Your future (home-owning and retired) self will thank you.5. Buy a houseSounds crazy, but can also set you up for a healthier financial life in the future.6. Stop being boy/girl crazyPut your focus into building your life and career. The love part will sort itself out without your devoting every spare possible moment to the pursuit of booty.7.  Try out your dreamBefore you have a ton of family obligations, now’s the time to pursue a job, or a hobby, or a new city you’ve always wanted to explore. You’re young, you have your whole life to settle down and be responsible. Follow your heart!8. TravelVisit at least one foreign country before the big Three Oh. See a new culture, a new world, a new way of life and let it make you a better, more interesting and widely experienced person.9. Change jobsNow is the stage in your career when you can hop from job to job and figure out what you really want to do and be, and which industry is best for you. This will get much harder to do later in life.10. Call your par entsDo it every other day at least. They won’t be around forever, and they took care of you your entire life. It’s their turn to be cared for.11. Keep your friends closeRelish the people in your life who value you. And be good to them. Love who loves you.12. Make meaningful friendshipsThe friends you have and make now are probably going to be your closest circle in your old age. Put the work in now while you have the time and energy.13. NetworkYou’re going to need to rely on your network all the time as you get older- both personally and professionally. Get building!14. Stay healthySleep, healthy eating, exercise, hygiene- these all may seem trivial now, but they are the mark of taking good care of yourself. Aka adulthood. Be kind to your body now and it will be kind to you when things start to fall apart with age.15. Aim highIf you aim for the stars and fall a little short, you’ll still land on the moon. Start small, but dream big.16.  Push the envelop eNow is the best time to innovate, to think outside the box, disturb the status quo, change minds and hearts!17. Be respectfulStart shoring up the good karma you’ll need later in life. Be kind, humble, and generous. Do as little harm as possible.18. Know your limitsAccept your weaknesses and what you cannot accomplish. However small your role, play it with dignity and aplomb.19. Read and writeThese things keep the mind sharp and the intellect afloat. Read every day and write as often as possible. Stimulate your brain and keep your creative juices flowing.20. Follow your blissFigure out what the purpose of your life will be, and then devote yourself to moving in that direction. Your mission: should you choose to accept it.

How to Approach a Teacher With a Concern

How to Approach a Teacher With a Concern Even the best teachers make an occasional mistake. We are not perfect, and most of us will admit our failures. Great teachers will proactively inform  parents immediately when they realize they have made a mistake. Most parents will appreciate the candor in this approach. When a teacher realizes they have made a mistake and decides not to inform the parent, it seems dishonest and will have a negative effect on the parent-teacher relationship. When Your Child Reports an Issue What should you do if your child comes home and tells you they had an issue with a teacher? First of all, do not jump to conclusions. While you want to back your child at all times, it is necessary to realize that there are always two sides to a story. Children will occasionally stretch the truth because they are afraid they will be in trouble. There are also times that they did not accurately interpret the actions of the teacher. In any case, there is a right way and wrong way to address any concerns brought about by what your child had told you. How you confront or approach the issue may be the most crucial aspect of handling a concern with a teacher. If you take a â€Å"guns blazing† approach, the teacher and the administration are likely going to label you a â€Å"difficult parent†. This will lead to increased frustration. School officials will automatically go into defense mode and will be less likely to cooperate. It is imperative that you come in calm and level-headed.   Addressing the Issue With the Teacher How should you address a concern with a teacher? In most cases, you can start with the teacher themselves. However, it is crucial to note that if it involves the breaking of a law inform the principal and file a police report. Set up an appointment to meet with the teacher at a time that is convenient for them. This will typically be before school, after school, or during their planning period. Let them know immediately that you have some concerns and want to hear their side of the story. Provide them with the details that you have been given. Give them an opportunity to explain their side of the situation. There are times where a teacher genuinely does not realize they have made a mistake. Hopefully, this will provide the answers you are seeking. If the teacher is rude, uncooperative, or speaks in vague double talk, it may be time to advance to the next step in the process. In any case, be sure to document the details of your discussion. This will be helpful should the issue remain unresolved. Most issues can be resolved without having to take it to the principal. However, there are certainly times when this is warranted. Most principals will be willing to listen so long as you are civil. They field parent concerns quite often so they are usually adept at handling them.  Be prepared to provide them with as much information as possible. What to Expect Next Understand that they are going to investigate the complaint thoroughly and that it may take them several days before they get back with you. They should provide you with a follow-up call/meeting to discuss the situation further. It is essential to note that they will not be able to discuss the specifics if teacher discipline was warranted. However, there is an excellent chance that the teacher was placed on a plan of improvement.  They should provide details of a resolution as it pertains directly to your child. Again, it is beneficial to document the details of the initial meeting and any follow-up calls/meetings. The good news is that 99% of perceived teacher problems are handled before getting to this point. If you are not satisfied with the way the principal handled the situation, the next step would be to go through a similar process with the superintendent. Only take this step if the teacher and the principal absolutely refuse to cooperate with you in handling the problem. Give them all the details of your situation including the results of your meetings with the teacher and principal. Allow them plenty of time to resolve the issue. If you still believe the situation is unresolved, you may take the complaint to the local board of education. Be sure to follow the district policies and procedures for being placed on the board agenda. You will not be allowed to address the board if you have not. The board expects administrators and teachers to do their jobs. When you do bring a complaint before the board, it can force the superintendent and principal to take the matter more seriously than they had previously. Going before the board is the last opportunity to have your problem resolved. If you still are unsatisfied, you can decide to seek a change of placement. You can look to have your child placed in another classroom, apply for a transfer to another district, or homeschool your child.

Drugs and Alcohol in American Popular Culture Essay

Drugs and Alcohol in American Popular Culture - Essay Example As for the authors’ credentials, Dr. Primack is a faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania. He is also a faculty of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and therefore he has an authority regarding adolescent behavior in the context of medical science, for adolescent behavior is the main subject of this particular study. Moreover, he is also a recipient of the Physician Faculty Scholar Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The other author, Dr. Douglas is another faculty member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Dr. Kraemer is a third faculty member of the same medical school. Dr. Douglas and Dr. Kraemer are affiliated with the Center for Research on Health Care of the same educational institution, and so it implies that they already have considerable background on how to conduct research on health care. The authors, being experts in their fields, with their medical degrees, with Primack’s expertise with adole scent medicine, and with Douglas’ and Kraemer’s experience with research on health care, make up a team of researchers that possess full credibility. The study is published by the National Institutes of Health, particularly PubMed Central and the U.S. National Library of Medicine. This is a reputable institution when it comes to research on health. This source is barely 3 years old and is certainly not that old for it to be considered unreliable or obsolete. The thesis advanced by the authors based on the results of the study is that there is an â€Å"independent association between exposure to cannabis in popular music and early cannabis use among urban American adolescents†. ... authors based on the results of the study is that there is an â€Å"independent association between exposure to cannabis in popular music and early cannabis use among urban American adolescents† (Primack et al.). The objectivity of the presentation and analysis of data lies in three facts. First, the sample size of 1198 American and African-American students is large enough to become representative of the group of adolescents exposed to popular music with cannabis content. Secondly, the researchers used statistical analytical tools like multivariable regression, bivariate analysis, and additional analysis in the form of finding out whether there was a correlation between cannabis use and alcohol, but of which the researchers have not found any significant relationship. Thirdly, the study is objective and credible because the methods used in the study had been preapproved by the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board prior to the execution of the study (Primack et al.). If the procedure had not been approved by the board, it would not have been published by the NIH and it would not have been considered credible and objective. On the support to its claims, On the subject of comprehensiveness, the study was actually able to find the differences when it comes to various variables vis-a-vis the degree of correlation between exposure to popular music and cannabis use among the respondents: â€Å"Current use of cannabis was associated with higher exposure to cannabis in music, having a favorite artist with a higher number of songs with cannabis references, older age, lower grades, less demanding parenting, less supportive parenting, higher sensation seeking, and higher rebelliousness [while] ever use of cannabis was associated with higher exposure to cannabis in