When Should You Stop Helicopter Parenting?
5 Things Teens Who Want to Work With Animals Should Do Before College
To a true animal lover, it is not how much we love our animal friends, but how we show love for those animals that counts. At a young age we form exceptional bonds with the animals we choose to love, and feel deeply when they leave us. It’s easy to notice this connection in passing, but it’s hard to realize that for some of us, that bond to animals resonates more deeply than we knew. You begin to not only want to work to love and protect your pets, but every animal out there who doesn’t receive such love and affection.
Maybe you want to be a veterinarian. Or perhaps you’d like to be a lifelong volunteer at an animal shelter. Even if you don’t want your career to revolve around animals directly, you may also want to help animals in other ways.
If any of those sounds like you, here are five ways you can get a leg up if you are thinking involving animals in your future:
1. Remember that all animals are special to someone.
Being a dog or cat person simply won’t cut it for those of you looking to work with animals for the rest of your life. Love all animals and know that their owners love them just as much as you love your pets. Understanding this will make you more open to the various animals that others choose to love.
2. Volunteer with rescue animals.
Volunteering is not only important to those who want to work hands-on with animals, but for those who want to ensure the health, safety, and long-term success of injured or sick animals. Working with rescued and or relinquished animals can be especially difficult, as their rough pasts may lead to unexpected actions. Volunteering is the perfect way to learn how to handle the more difficult breeds and types of animals in a safe manner.
3. Volunteer with animals outside your traditional pets.
Study up. If you truly want to work with animals, there is going to be information you need to know that doesn’t come first-hand from the animals. This is particularly true once you move beyond dogs, cats, and birds. Do you know when an elephant is behaving normally? How about when a tortoise has eaten something that’s not part of its natural diet? Having a better grasp on the inner workings of an animal’s head and body will allow you to better understand them.
4. Wait to adopt if you’re uncertain about what’s next.
As contradictory as it may seem, having your own personal sidekick can be a little bit too much work for those making the transition from high school to college. If you adopt your sidekick at the wrong time, you are sure to make your life and his/hers a whole lot more hectic, and you may not be able to provide a safe and loving environment for your new best friend. If you feel that you fall in this category, save up all of that love for the animals you are studying and helping, and pick your own personal sidekick when the time is right.
5. Broaden your horizons.
Opportunities to work with animals are everywhere. If you are looking to work with exotic and large animals, you may think it’s impossible, but then again, there’s a specialist out there for just about every major species. Regardless of whether mice, giraffes, or humpback whales are your cup of tea, there’s a way for you to work with them if you follow the right path. If you know what you need to do, for the sake of the species’ well-being you can play a part too.
Original article contributed by Joshua Schwartz
Seven Things Teens Who Want to Work in Medicine Should Do Before College
So you know you want to enter the medical field, but right now, you’re “just” a high school student. What can you do? Well, there are several ways you can prepare for your medical career right now, and here are seven of them:
1. Investigate. While you may not know yet exactly what you want to become, try to narrow your search to a certain field, like cardiology or dietetics. Then research it (a lot). The field of medical careers is vast, so try to get specific now.
2. Learn to balance. “[A]nother big thing is to try to start building good study habits and time management skills…,” says one student beginning an intensive medical program. Health-related careers are rewarding, but it takes a lot of hard work and time. So, learning when to study and when to relax will be a great habit to develop now.
3. Grades… Grades shouldn’t consume your soul, but they can be important if you’re looking at medical programs. Try your best to succeed in your classes; the hard work will pay off later.
4. College-hunt now. Here’s where those grades can pay off. Research different colleges, medical schools and programs, and see what it will take to get into your favorite ones. Keep those schools in mind so that you can have a goal and a dream to work towards.
5. Chat with some role models. Befriend someone who has experience in a health career, preferably in the field you are interested in. Ask them about their stories and get tips on how to prepare for med school and internships. Your role model could very well become your best friend as you prepare for college.
6. Become a shadow. No, not literally, but you will be like a shadow. Find out what a career in health will be like by taking advantage of job shadow opportunities. Follow doctors and nurses and even get to help them. Not only will you be getting experience (which will look good on a resume) but you’ll also get a chance to see if becoming a medical professional is what you want to pursue.
7. Volunteer! Gain even more experience. Help out with blood drives; start disease-awareness campaigns at your school; visit people in hospitals and nursing homes. You could even help international communities improve their health through options like Global Leadership Adventures public health programs! These medical programs for high school students are designed to show you the way traditional health care blends with western-style care in developing countries. There are countless opportunities to volunteer, and you will be advancing your medical career and doing what you love to do: helping other people.
Do you have more tips to prepare for a medical career? Share them in your comments! We’d love to hear from you.
Contributed by Addie Davis
Swim/Play/Relax/Volunteer: Best Beaches for Teen Travelers
Have you come down with a serious case of wanderlust? I bet you are feeling the stress of school, home, and responsibilities. One of the best remedies for that is a nice hot, sandy beach where you can tan, swim, play, and relax. You can even volunteer to assuage your guilt for taking some time off – beach communities have plenty of opportunities! Here are 6 of the greatest beaches from around the world. Book your ticket now and you’ll thank us later.
When it comes to beautiful beaches in Asia, you need to head to Thailand. The Thai word “Koh” means “island”, so most places with Koh in their name are sure not to disappoint. One great place to kick up your feet is Koh Chang because it is a great mixture of a backpacker vibe, good food, and a gorgeous beach. You might have to take a plane, a train, and a boat to get to some of them, but the beauty and excitement of Thai beaches is something to write home about.
Maybe you need this beach getaway during the winter, maybe the 4 feet of unshoveled snow outside is going to drive you crazy any minute now. Well, winter here means it is summer Down Unda! Head to the Gold Coast of Australia for amusement parks, surfing, shopping, and of course golden beaches. Or if you want some more focused on nature, head to the beaches north of Cairns, Queensland where the rainforest meets the reef. Beaches up there have scuba diving, snorkeling, parachuting, the Daintree Rainforest, and the Great Barrier Reef. Go find Nemo!
Reading Darwin’s dry account of the Galapagos islands may not make you want to hop on a plane and fly to Ecuador, maybe it does. Either way, if you’ve heard of Tortuga Bay on the Santa Cruz Island, you’d want to book that flight. This is a pristine long, beautiful beach that will show you the abundance of wildlife around; iguanas, crabs, birds, and mangroves cover the shore. If you head to the end you can snorkel amongst the mangroves and see tons of white tipped and black tipped reef sharks.
The Riviera Maya has the best beaches in Mexico, and definitely competes for some of the top in the world. Playa Paraiso (Paradise Beach) has warm turquoise waters, palm trees, and white sandy beaches. The list of activities to do seems endless, and an added bonus is you’ll be very near to the Tulum Mayan ruins.
On the other side of the world, we have the famous islands of Indonesia. Yes, you can head to the famous Bali and you surely won’t be disappointed. But, consider heading to the island of Lombok. Lombok often gets overshadowed by its neighbors, but it also offers beaches, surfing, volcanoes, scuba diving, backpacking, and even a sea turtle hatchery.
The beaches of the island of Seychelles, off the east African coast, are astounding and take quite a trip to get to. You will be plunged into a world of huge granite rocks, blindingly white sandy beaches, and unbelievably turquoise waters.
Contributed by Kristin Melody
5 Ways to Get a Head Start on a Career in Education
You don’t just want a career; you want to educate and inspire others to learn. This is often a daunting thought, but don’t let all the information about education careers overwhelm you. Here are five ways that will motivate you to get a head start in your future in education!
1) Learn about your passion. You can’t become a doctor and know nothing about medicine. It’s the same for a career in education, so study up on your dream profession! Research what you’re interested in; learn about what it takes to enter that job. Discover what your state’s requirements are to become a teacher. From lecturing on molecular biology to inspiring first-graders, there is a specialized path for you, so dive in and learn about what you love. And don’t forget to keep working hard in your current studies, too!
2) Become a tutor. Tutoring is a fantastic way to gain some teaching experience. If you’re interested in tutoring, check to see if your school can help get you started. Eventually, you could even branch out into your own small tutoring business. You’ll be helping others, and getting some great on-the-job experience.
3) Audit or watch a class. Many teachers/professors will be excited that you are interested in education as a career, and several schools have ways for you to become a teacher’s aide and audit a class. You’ll get to experience different teaching methods, classroom procedures, and you may even get to assist the professor in grading and lecturing. Needless to say, this kind of experience will be promising for your future career.
4) Help with summer education programs. Volunteer at your library and read stories to children. Or become a camp sponsor at a fun summer camp! Try to find one that has educational programs you’re interested in, like an arts and music camp or a science camp. You will get to work with what you’re passionate about, and have some summer fun along the way.
5) Volunteer abroad. Traveling will immensely broaden your knowledge about education and teaching. Global Leadership Adventures has an awesome opportunity that will whisk you to Costa Rica. You’ll discover the wonderful Costa Rican culture and participate in several activities that involve education, from teaching to serving and learning how the children study at their schools. And you will leave with a deeper appreciation for education and first-hand experiences with educational activities.
A career in education may sound difficult to enter at first, but you can get a head-start in it. So stay passionate about your dream and let it motivate you to educate! What about you? What ways have you pursued to start your career journey? Tell us in the comments below!
Contributed by Addie Davis
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