The Young Leader

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One Opinion: Why Should A High School Student Take A Year Off Before College

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When a senior graduates from high school, it is the start of a new life. The ending of high school is shared with tears of joy and tears of sadness. The joy is formulated by the realization of completing the journey of semi-adulthood. While in high school, a student is responsible for committing, regardless of their feelings. However, once the high school diploma is in their hands, it is exactly in their hands. The future of the high school student is right in front of their faces and it is a joyous feeling.

After high school, a student will pack up, leave, and move into a dorm with another person or rent am apartment with five other roommates, right? Somewhat. There are other ways to have a life before attending college, and that can taking a break. One may be confused about which direction to take in college, and another may not be financially stable. These reasons are more common than you might think, and it can detour many plans, and offset goals that most students have after graduating from high school.

The ones that graduates confused may already be in the mindset that they have failed in some big type of way. In this case it us untrue. Taking a year off before starting college because of being unsure can be smart in a way, if thought out, worked on with parents or other close advocates who want you to be successful in the future.

School can be tiresome for those not best designed to spend a lot of time in classrooms sitting still, and taking a break can be a great way to energize oneself to become more focused. The process of being in school takse twelve-plus years, and in those twelve-plus years, a student is required to learn something new every single day, and each year it gets harder and harder. When the time comes to choose whether you want to go to college right away, or perhaps take a semester or year off (like many students in Australia do), get the advice of those you trust. Make a plan, and set a goal about when to return for your education, so you don’t lose track. Getting a job or volunteering at a local hospital or senior citizens’ home to build up your skill sets and experience until going back to school might even light that spark, and get you back in the frame of mind for learning.

Contributed by Tyler Dickerson

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Why THIS Summer is the Perfect Summer to Travel to Europe for Teens

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For many of us, looking at Instagram photos and checking out Pinterest boards of European landmarks and food inspire us to one day travel to Europe. However, even though it seems that waiting till college to study abroad on the continent might be the way to go, in actuality, the summer of 2016 is shaping up to be the absolute best time to go to Europe in years.

Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at some of these facts:

Money

Though prices in Europe might always be a bit more expensive than their American counterparts, going to Europe now allows you to get more bang for your buck with the historically high return the dollar gets on European currencies. At the moment, 1 US dollar will fetch you .88 Euros and .69 British pounds. While that might not seem like a lot, the current exchange rate is the best it has been this decade and waiting to go to Europe might cause you to miss out.

In addition, though Europe has always been known for cheap domestic airlines such as RyanAir, new low cost carriers such as Norwegian and Icelandic Air not only allow you to travel across the pond at a fraction of the cost as legacy carriers, but with the stopovers sometimes built in, you might get to experience 2 countries for the price of 1 ticket.

Once In a Lifetime Events

The summer of 2016 is shaping up to an exciting one throughout the continent full of activities and festivals that are best experienced firsthand. For the political wonk, being in Britain while they vote on the Brexit will not only give you a firsthand perspective on a possible historical moment, but might also be the ideal topic of your college essay. And for the sports fan, how about joining in with other soccer junkies from around the world as the UEFA 2016 tournament looks to crown its new champion in France in July.

The Old Standbys of Western Europe

While Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, and London might always be there, what better way to get a head start on life then experiencing these cities while you are young. Studies have shown that traveling abroad before college improves maturity and open mindedness in students as well as enriches them culturally and intellectually.

Even if you are a year away from going away to school, having a summer full of reflection, contemplation, and most of all fun will allow you to return to high school better equipped to take on the year and a firsthand perspective for that AP European History or AP Art History class you just happened to sign up for.

 

Contributed by Matt Zonis

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What Does It Take to Be An Animal Shelter Teen Volunteer?

Animal Shelter Volunteer for Teens

A Guide to Being an Animal Shelter Volunteer for Teens

As a teen in high school, one of the best ways for colleges to consider a student for a scholarship or admission is the work that a student does outside the classroom. Many students play sports, join clubs, or even tutor other students.

But what about the students that volunteer in other places like senior citizens and animal shelters?

Teens that contribute these types of work are helpful and are really are trying to help their cause. The animal shelters that teens will volunteer at want students with a love for animals, a caring heart, and an understanding of the needs on how to take care of an animal. When volunteering at an animal shelter, it’s just not about the hours that are put, in but the love, time, and personal attention a volunteer has to have for animals.

Dogs, cats, snakes, horses, pigs even hamsters often end up in an adoption situation, even though most except dogs and cats don’t end up in a typical shelter situation. However, people will adopt animals for many different reasons, and knowing these could help convince an on-the-fence adopter to commit and bring home a new friend and companion. Some of the most persuasive reasons include: protection of the household, having a reliable cuddle buddy, or to give a child a companion to grow up with.

The work that animal shelter teen volunteers may have to do at an animal shelter will vary on what the manager decide, and the hours you’re able to work between school and other extracurricular activies. Don’t overlook that this may involve cleaning (very, very smelly) rooms, grooming the animals, separating those that don’t get along well, playing with the animals, feeding the animals, etc.

You have to be a animal lover and that means the love has to spread widely, but also worldly. A team player is a must as well because taking care of animals takes multiple hands. The most important thing to remember though is that a volunteer, or anyone working with animals at a animal shelter, has to care for all of the animals. Not just your favorite. Not just the ones that are easiest to handle.

Animals are like toddlers; they require a lot of attention and whether it’s playing, feeding, or even just being around, these are critical aspects of the gig. A volunteer doesn’t need a degree to show love and a volunteer doesn’t need money to make them care for loving creatures. We talk to animals because we know they love us and they will always be there no matter what happens.

Contributed by Tyler Dickerson

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Why a Teen Who Loves to Write Should Take Journalism in High School

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Attention all high school students who love to write: You may be a naturally-gifted writer if you are more than a shopaholic, you are a certified bookaholic. Your mug either has a quote from C.S. Lewis or resembles the book cover of  F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Last but not least, you love to write! Writing is more than a daunting task, it’s your healthy yet obsessive craft. Now that we have established your talented trade in writing, it’s time to foster and grow your writing into a masterpiece. One effective way is to enroll in a journalism class next semester or the semester after.

I did not have the opportunity to take journalism in high school; in fact, my first class wasn’t until the second semester of my freshman year of college. Let’s just say I was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. I was so used to writing in freeform that I found reprogramming my writing to follow the journalistic model of writing to be quite the challenge. As a self-proclaimed contender of challenges, I happily accepted and succeed in the challenge. I still to this day remember how the Inverted Pyramid works without any assistance from a cheat sheet: lead (who, what, when, where, why and how), body (background) and tail (extra information). The only aspect I would change from my experience with journalism is taking a course in it high school. To save you from making the same mistake that I made, here are some convincing arguments on why you should include a journalism class in your class schedule.

Broaden Your Writing

Like the assortment of literary genres available, there are different types of journalistic writing.

1.      News (Straightforward and to the point)

2.      Columns (Personal Perspective)

3.      Feature (Mixture of Column and News)

4.      Investigative (Literary Detective)

Having exposure to the above types of journalism will transfer well to other forms of writing. Some of the greatest writers dabbled in journalism: Claude McKay, Maya Angelou and Rudyard Kipling to name a few. From poetry to best-selling novels, you will become a master of all writing trades.

Learn Other Useful Skills

Learning the craft of writing and mastering Associated Press (AP) style are not the only skills you will obtain. You will develop strong creative, critical thinking and social skills that are transferable to your current and future studies. In the age of where digital technology runs supreme, you will also learn how to use Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and other software programs that are key for a journalist to succeed.

Gain Valuable Experience

Taking a journalism class is definitely something to consider if you aspire to be the next head anchor for Nightly News, columnist writer for The Washington Post or just a general career in journalism. The more hands-on experience you develop in your high school journalism class will prepare you for college and your dream career in journalism. Also, your journalism experience may provide opportunities to cover stories around the world (which is the win-win of all situations).

Still not convinced of all the benefits a journalism class can provide you? Take the class and experience the results yourself. You still need electives to graduate, right?

Contributed by Courtney Liddell

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Why You Should Take Spanish Classes in Costa Rica

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Costa Rica is a tiny country about the size of West Virginia in the United States. Because of that, it may not really even be on your radar when you think of places to study Spanish. You might be gravitating toward more conventional choices like Spain or Mexico, but Costa Rica is an amazing place to study as well. Here’s why you might want to consider studying abroad, and especially in Costa Rica.

The Power of Immersion

There are a lot of drawbacks to learning in a tiny little classroom in the comfort of your own hometown. Mainly, you lack the opportunity to use the language you’ve practiced in real situations.

School classroom situations are carefully manufactured and while useful, they are no substitute for the real thing. Also, in a lot of cases, you simply can’t go outside and use the language that you’ve learned, meaning you’re likely to forget it. We call that being in “the bubble.” You learn the language in your little bubble and then go outside and speak English the rest of the day (or week in some cases), popping that little Spanish bubble.

In a place like Costa Rica, where the language is spoken naturally, you can reinforce what you learn in class by going out among the people and using the language, further cementing it in your mind. You also get the chance to experience real language, which is often vastly different from the language being used in the textbook. Face it, how many times have you used “This is a pen” or “Hello, how do you do?” in your daily life speaking English? Well, that’s a downfall of the language learning industry. That’s why you need to get out there and experience “real language” how the locals use it. And that’s why taking Spanish classes in Costa Rica that combine immersion in the community with teachable moments in class is an ideal learning method.

Natural Beauty

Costa Rica is a country rich in natural beauty and a great place to go to experience something truly different and amazing.

The country is known for its beautiful natural hot springs, supplied by the country’s volcanic landscape, and its astonishing wildlife and scenery. Among the things to see include waterfalls, volcanoes, and the expansive rainforest.

Arenal Volcano, for instance, is a gorgeous hike that can be supplemented with an amazing zip lining or rafting experience. There are also an abundance of national parks, both inland and seaside, that allow you to take in the beautiful sights, see amazing animals like the famous sea turtles, and just relax. The natural beauty of Costa Rica is unmatched, and is definitely a very attractive point to studying abroad there.

The Experience of a Lifetime

Studying abroad is an experience you will carry with you for a lifetime. It will shape you in more ways than you can possibly even imagine as you sit reading this blog post.

Take it from a seasoned language learner and study abroad aficionado, a chance to immerse yourself in a vastly different culture will change for perspective and alter your life and your way of looking at the world for the better. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start your new adventure in Costa Rica. It’ll be an experience to treasure for a lifetime.

Contributed by Nick Bartholomew

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