2016/2017 Semester One Office Hours

I am available during Semester One on the following days and times:



Monday: 9:45-10:40
Thursday 9:45-11:50



If you make an appointment please ensure that you make every effort to arrive on time and with all necessary materials [if applicable].

Studying abroad

Each year thousands of Canadians begin new education or research adventures in foreign countries. Many countries, including Canada, encourage student exchanges in the belief that both countries will be enriched.

Moving to another country is a complex matter, and careful preparations are necessary. In most cases, you must obtain special permission – such as a study permit – to study in a foreign country.

For specific information on requirements for studying abroad, contact the destination country’s embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada.

• Research and complete any necessary visa or study permit procedures for your destination country.
• Explore scholarship opportunities in your destination country.
• Sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service.
• Ask your home institution about the recognition of credits or research completed abroad.
• Ask the appropriate office at your home institution about international travel procedures.

For more comprehensive information regarding international studies go to the links below:

http://www.studyabroad.com/countries.aspx
http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/living-abroad/studying

http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/education/studying_abroad.shtml

10 Things for High-School Students to Remember

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Believe it or not, if you’re in high school right now, you’re at a great point in your life. You have your whole life in front of you. And now is a good time to start thinking about your future, to make some initial plans; just remember that plans can be easily changed. Remember too, that experts predict that the average person will change careers — not just jobs — more than five times in his or her lifetime. Now is the time to pursue your dreams!

And as you start thinking about one or more potential educational and career paths, here are 10 things to remember in the days ahead.

1. Take time to think about what you like to do; dream and imagine ideal careers. There are so many opportunities, so many different types of jobs and careers in a wide variety of industries — and there are also other career paths that are just emerging. Even if you are fairly sure of a career choice, take the time in high school to explore similar (or even vastly different) careers. Explore all your options. Examine your likes and dislikes and take a few career-assessment tests. Answer the question, if you could have any job right now, what would it be — and why? Don’t let any barriers hold you back from finding the perfect career.

Example: Take the time for some career assessment and career exploration to expand your vision of potential majors and career paths.

2. Challenge yourself in high school, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Do get the most out of high school as possible. When you can, take the tough and challenging schedule of classes; you’ll learn more — and it will look good to the college admissions staff. Obviously, you need to stay focused on getting good grades, but don’t overload your schedule — or yourself — so that it makes you sick or burnt out. Be sure to include at least one fun course in your schedule.

Example: If you have a passion for something, such as photography, find a way to schedule a photography course along with your other tougher college-prep courses.

3. Work, volunteer, or otherwise gain some experience. As with your education, the more you are exposed to, the more options will open to you as you search out careers. There are even a growing number of internship opportunities for high-school students. Seek work and volunteer experiences in and out of school. And from a practical standpoint, work experience looks good on college applications — and on future job applications and resumes. And one other benefit if you are working in a paid position: spending money! Just remember that school and grades have to come first, so only work if you can balance your schedule, manage your time.

Example: If you’re interested in a career in journalism, create, or start writing for your school newspaper and look into a part-time job at a local newspaper.

4. Get as much education as you can. We are now a society in which many jobs and careers require additional education or training beyond high school. Some careers even require a graduate degree before you can work in the field. Take advantage of all educational opportunities that come your way, such as summer educational opportunities and educational trips abroad. If financially possible — and there are many ways to help make it so — attend college; college graduates make a much higher salary, on average, than high-school graduates.

Example: If you have a passion for science or math, instead of spending a summer goofing around the community pool, consider a summer math enrichment program or a space-agency program, etc.

5. Talk with as many adults as possible about careers and colleges. The best way to find out about different careers is to ask people — family, neighbors, friends, teachers, counselors — to tell you about their career and college experiences. If you have not already, begin to build a network of adults who know you and are willing to assist you in your educational and career endeavors. And for careers that truly interest you, consider asking each person if you can shadow him/her at work. You could also consider conducting informational interviews at the same time as the shadowing, or as a less intrusive method of learning more about jobs and careers.

Example: If you have a passion for history and are considering a career as a college history professor, contact a local college and ask one or more of the history professors if you canshadow them or conduct an informational interview.

6. Remember that everyone must follow his or her own path in life. Don’t spend too much time worrying what other people in your high school are doing — or letting their opinions about your dreams and ambitions affect your decision. And don’t worry if you leave high school with no clear career path — that’s partly what college is all about, discovering who you are and what you want to do in life. Everyone develops/matures/grows at their own pace, so don’t feel the need to rush to make a decision now… but don’t use the fact that you have plenty of time to make a decision as an excuse not to at least start learning and researching potential career options.

Example: Many colleges offer special “discovery” programs for entering first-year students who have no real idea of majors and careers. These programs expose you to a wide variety of classes, events, and speakers to help lead you onto a path of career discovery.

7. People change; don’t feel locked into any college or career now. It’s great to have an ideal plan for your life, but remember that things happen, and your plans may need to change… so keep an open mind — and keep your options open. Some of your friends — or perhaps you — already know, or think you know, what you want to do in life. If so, that’s fantastic, but don’t become so myopic that you lose sight of other interesting opportunities. There are career paths that have not even started today that may be big in five or more years.

Example: One of my college students, whose parents are both lawyers, is certain his fate is to be a corporate attorney, and his plans currently include law school after his undergraduate education; however, he is also taking a full set of business courses, as well as some interesting electives, in case “things change” by the time he graduates.

8. Don’t let anyone control your dreams and ambitions. You will be horribly miserable at best if you let a parent or other family member dictate your major or your career. Students often feel pressure to follow in an adult family member’s career path, especially if s/he is footing the bill for college, but the worst thing you can do is choose a career to please someone else.

Example: A former student of mine came from “a family of accountants,” and everyone was supposed to join the family CPA firm. The problem, however, was that she had no aptitude for numbers and hated accounting — yet could not summon the courage to tell her family. When she finally did confess her dislike, the world did not end, and her parents actually encouraged her to follow her passion.

9. It’s never too early nor too late to get organized and begin making plans. No matter where you are in high school, now is the time to plan the remainder of your high-school years — as well as your plans after high school. Research your options for after graduation — technical schools, community colleges, four-year universities, etc. Start or continue your preparation for the various standardized tests (such as the SAT [or in Alberta the Diploma exams] ). Start thinking about teachers who might be willing to write letters of recommendation for you — and approach them when the time is near. Finally, make plans to fill any gaps in your plans — such as striving for better grades, taking tougher courses, gaining experience, or earning community-service hours.

Example: Many teachers get swamped with last-minute requests for letters of recommendation for college admission, so the earlier you approach the teachers who can write the best recommendations for you, the better off you’ll be. 

10. Never stop learning… read, grow, and expand your mind. Don’t pass-up opportunities to learn and experience new things. Many teachers offer or assign summer and supplemental reading lists — look at these as opportunities for growth rather than a drag on your summer. The more you read, the more you’ll know. It’s a cliche, but knowledge is power.

Example: One high-school student was sure he wanted to be a teacher, but the more he read about cutbacks in educational spending and the decline in the educational experiences in many parts of the country, he decided he would be better off becoming a political activist for educational reform than as a teacher stuck in what he saw as a decaying system.

Final Thoughts About High School

High school is a real transition time for teens, as you move into adulthood and the more adult issues of work, careers, and college. It should be a time of growth as well as a time of challenge. Have fun, but get the best education you can so that you are positioned to take advantage of further educational opportunities… and no matter where you go after high school, never stop learning and growing.

Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO ofEmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of MyCollegeSuccessStory.com andEnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of Quintessential Careers Press, including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter, QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He’s often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his personal Website or reach him by email atrandall(at)quintcareers.com. Check out Dr. Hansen on GooglePlus.

If you are feeling just a bit stressed out at this or any time, check out this Prezi.  Some of the content may help you develop strategies or just give you a good laugh.
I would recommend viewing the two videos located in the top right of the prezi [just a suggestion].
http://prezi.com/ajdixeqym8xq/idenitifying-and-coping-with-stress/

The School Finder link below will allow you to research post-secondary schooling, scholarship information and other related resources.

Check it out!
www.schoolfinder.com/

Helping others and yourself

The following link will take you to the town of Drayton Valley's services and volunteer website:
http://www.draytonvalley.ca/services-and-volunteerism

http://www.counselor.org/be-understood-2.html
The link above will transfer you to the counseling website. If there is an issue you have a concern about it could be that this site may hold the answers.

Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help   someone else, and so on. Pay it forward.

You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected

Your relationship with that person will become stronger

It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person

You might be able to call in a favor later when you need some help

Because there are more people in this world than just you

You can't direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails

The following links will take you to sites that measure your aptitude in certain occupational areas.  The accuracy of your results will require the utmost honest self-evaluation of your abilities and interests.  Ensure that you

http://www.livecareer.com/career-test

through this site you can:
Discover which careers match you best.
Make sure your resume is effective.
For those advanced individuals this site will examine if you have what it takes to start your own business.
The good and bad reasons for going back to school and earning a degree
What is really getting in the way of your career happiness and fulfillment.

 Remember that career aptitude tests are all about what you already possess. The trick is to shine a light on your strengths and show you a path in which they can become your best intellectual assets. People who succeed at their careers do so because they would have scored well on a career aptitude test for their job. In that respect, we all have it in us to be successful, so long as we have chosen our career well.

The information above originates form the link below.

http://voices.yahoo.com/5-best-career-aptitude-tests-help-find-the-5870110.html

 
5 Best Career Aptitude Tests to Help You Find the Perfect Job

http://canadaonline.about.com/od/careerguidance/Career_Guidance_for_Canadians.htm

Career Guidance for Canadians: The link above will grant you access to a variety of other online guidance counseling sites.

 

Building an Effective Resume

Writing a résumé

Your résumé is one of the most important tools you have when looking for a job. This page will help you choose the right type of résumé for your situation. It will also provide you with tips to help you tailor your résumé to the job you’re applying for, and to make sure it stands out in a crowd for all the right reasons.

What is a résumé?

A résumé is a short, point-form document that you give to employers to tell them about your work experience, education, and skills. Before you write your résumé, you may want to complete a skills inventory to know what skills you have to offer an employer.

Types of résumés

Depending on your work experience, the job you’re applying for, or your personal preference, you may want to use a particular type of résumé. Here are three types of résumés to choose from:

A functional résumé focuses on your skills

If you haven’t had a lot of work experience, a functional résumé that focuses on your skills is a good way to market yourself to potential employers.
Instead of focusing on your previous work experience, a skills-focused résumé highlights the transferable skills you gained from previous jobs, activities, experiences, or volunteer work.
It’s most commonly used when you’ve had a large gap in your employment history, or if you have never worked before.
Example of a functional résumé
Template of a functional résumé

A chronological résumé focuses on your experience

Focusing on your work history is one of the more popular ways to structure a résumé. It shows employers all your work experience, focusing on positions you’ve held and your past responsibilities and accomplishments.
The chronological résumé is organized with your most recent information first. The goal is to give a comprehensive work history, organized by each job you’ve held. You give your position title, place of employment, how long you worked there, and a breakdown of your responsibilities or accomplishments.
This is a great multi-purpose résumé that works for most job applications, including retail.
Example of a chronological résumé
Template of a chronological résumé

A hybrid résumé is a combination of the two

A hybrid résumé is also known as a combination résumé. It combines the elements of a functional and chronological résumé to create a résumé that focuses heavily on skills, but also includes dates, titles of previous jobs, along with essential information about the position.
This is a good résumé to use when you want to prioritize your skills but also demonstrate how your career has evolved.
Example of a hybrid résumé
Template of a hybrid résumé

Important information to include in your résumé

There are a variety of different headings you can use in your résumé, depending on what type of résumé you choose to write.
However, regardless of the type of résumé you choose, here are three of the most important things it should include:

Your personal information

The first thing your employer should see when looking at your résumé is your name. Make sure it is clear, stands out, and is easy to read.
Your résumé should include your full address, contact phone numbers, and an e-mail address that incorporates your first and last name.
Things
Writing a résumé

Your résumé is one of the most important tools you have when looking for a job. This page will help you choose the right type of résumé for your situation. It will also provide you with tips to help you tailor your résumé to the job you’re applying for, and to make sure it stands out in a crowd for all the right reasons.

What is a résumé?

A résumé is a short, point-form document that you give to employers to tell them about your work experience, education, and skills. Before you write your résumé, you may want to complete a skills inventory to know what skills you have to offer an employer.

Types of résumés

Depending on your work experience, the job you’re applying for, or your personal preference, you may want to use a particular type of résumé. Here are three types of résumés to choose from:

A functional résumé focuses on your skills

If you haven’t had a lot of work experience, a functional résumé that focuses on your skills is a good way to market yourself to potential employers.
Instead of focusing on your previous work experience, a skills-focused résumé highlights the transferable skills you gained from previous jobs, activities, experiences, or volunteer work.
It’s most commonly used when you’ve had a large gap in your employment history, or if you have never worked before.
Example of a functional résumé
Template of a functional résumé

A chronological résumé focuses on your experience

Focusing on your work history is one of the more popular ways to structure a résumé. It shows employers all your work experience, focusing on positions you’ve held and your past responsibilities and accomplishments.
The chronological résumé is organized with your most recent information first. The goal is to give a comprehensive work history, organized by each job you’ve held. You give your position title, place of employment, how long you worked there, and a breakdown of your responsibilities or accomplishments.
This is a great multi-purpose résumé that works for most job applications, including retail.
Example of a chronological résumé
Template of a chronological résumé

A hybrid résumé is a combination of the two

A hybrid résumé is also known as a combination résumé. It combines the elements of a functional and chronological résumé to create a résumé that focuses heavily on skills, but also includes dates, titles of previous jobs, along with essential information about the position.
This is a good résumé to use when you want to prioritize your skills but also demonstrate how your career has evolved.
Example of a hybrid résumé
Template of a hybrid résumé

Important information to include in your résumé

There are a variety of different headings you can use in your résumé, depending on what type of résumé you choose to write.

you should not include on your résumé:

• your height, age, weight
• a photo of yourself
• your Social Insurance Number

Education

List your education, starting with the most recent, and work backwards from there. Include the name of the school, the city or town where each school you attended is located (secondary and beyond), and the years you completed.
Be sure to list any certificates or diplomas you received, including those for mini-courses like computer or software courses, first aid, or any other training that might be useful in the job you are applying for.

Skills and experience

Use your résumé to show where you worked, what you learned, and how your skills and experience apply to the job you’re applying for. Highlight abilities, skills, and experience that relate to the job you're applying for. These can come from paid or unpaid work, volunteer experience, and even hobbies.
If all of your experience is in an unrelated field to the job you’re applying for, focus on the transferable skills you learned that can be applied to the new job you’re applying for.
When listing your work experience, include the location (city, province) and the dates you worked (month, year) for each job or volunteer position. Use action words to describe what you did in the positions you held. Focus on the top-five duties for each job.

Other relevant information

You may also want to include your job goals, the languages you speak, or any relevant achievements or awards. You can also include interests or activities that say something positive about you. Don’t forget, however, that the point of your résumé is to show why you are the right person for the job.
There are no official rules for what headings you should include on your résumé. Just remember to keep it concise, with the most important information at the top.
For example:

• Let’s say you are applying for a job in software development and, although you have never worked in that field, you have a diploma in software engineering. In this case, be sure to put your education section at the top.
• If you are applying to work in the food services industry and you have a lot of experience working in restaurants, be sure to list that information before your education details.

Top-10 résumé tips

1. Think ahead. If you wait until the last minute to hand in your résumé, you could miss the deadline and risk not being considered for the job.
2. Tailor your résumé. Include information on your résumé associated with the job you are applying for.
3. Chunk it out. If there is a lot of information, break it into separate sections with specific headings.
4. Use action words. Focus on things you have accomplished, and avoid starting every sentence with “I”.
5. Proofread. Never rely on spell check.
6. Repeat Tip 5. Seriously, even one misspelled word could put you in the “do not consider” pile.
7. Make it presentable. Make sure your résumé looks clean and organized. Use white, letter-sized paper (8.5 x 11-inch) and a font that’s easy to read, like Times New Roman or Arial.
8. Keep it concise. Try to keep your résumé as short as possible—ideally one page, two pages maximum.
9. Be honest. Lying on your résumé is never a good idea. Many people who lie on their applications end up losing their jobs when their employers find out the truth.
10. Be professional. Remember, this is a business document, so don’t include unnecessary embellishments like flashy paper or a picture of yourself.

                                                                                                          Adapted from

                                                                                                          Youth Canada

                                                                                                        www.youth.gc.ca

How to Win at the Scholarship Game

 HOLY TRINITY ACADEMY COUNSELLING SERVICES

FROM THE COUNSELOR’S CUPBOARD

 (SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION)

There are thousands of scholarships, awards and grants available to help finance your education! Many scholarships are awarded on academic achievement. However, other awards are awarded for athletic involvement, leadership, community service, area of interest and the institution you plan on attending.

5 Steps to Winning Scholarships

Search

·         Visit the ALIS Scholarships website to find various scholarships and awards as well check out the post-secondary institution you plan to attend for possible scholarships and entrance awards.

• Talk to your parents and/or relatives – they may be members of a club or organization or their employer may offer awards to family members.

Apply

• Complete the appropriate scholarship application form. Keep a copy.
• Do you meet the requirements as outlined on the application?
• Apply well before the application deadline.
• Mail your application before the deadline (a late application may not be accepted).
• Photocopy and keep extra letters of recommendation and transcripts on hand
• Follow-up with award sponsor before the deadline to make sure your application was received.

Write the Essay

• Write that essay; if an essay is a requirement, it may be the deciding factor.
• Give yourself plenty of time.
• Read the instructions carefully, and seek advice from a knowledgeable person
• Go for quality, rather than quantity.
• Use clear and concise language and avoid the use of slang.
• Review your essay. Read it aloud. Refine it; proofread, or have someone proofread your essay.
• Keep a copy on file - with a few changes you may be able to use it for another scholarship.

Get the Money

• Make sure you meet all the conditions to receive the money: full-time enrollment, maintaining residency, institution you are attending, etc.
• If you move, advise the scholarship donor of your new address.
• If you are required to attend an awards ceremony, luncheon, etc., be there
• Thank the donor, when appropriate.

Maintain Your Scholarship Potential

• Keep your marks, athletics, leadership and volunteer work at an outstanding level and continue to look for scholarships as you progress through your studies.

Scholarship links

http://www.pwsd76.ab.ca/scholarships/Pages/default.aspx

Academic Invest Student Career and Scholarship Resource Site

Scholarships. Employment. Advice.

Academic Invest helps introduce students in Canada to scholarship opportunities, jobs
and advice.

Students Create a profile. Search listings. Fund your studies.
Not sure what to do with your degree once you have successfully c0ompleted your prgrams(s) of choice?
Our new feature can help you out!

Click on to the link Academic Invest link below
http://www.academicinvest.com/

Still don't know what you want to do.  Check out the information in the link below.
http://www.advancededucation.gov.ab.ca/media/198644/this%20is%20your%20life%20-%20student.pdf