Summer is a great time to volunteer
February 27th, 2017Given the surge in warm winter weather, we’re thinking about plans for summer. School breaks, especially summertime while in high school, are perfect opportunities to volunteer for something you are passionate about. Not only does it benefit those you’re helping, but it benefits you in many ways, too. Volunteering exposes you to new experiences that you may not have had otherwise, and is a great way to build friendships and a track record of meaningful service.
There are many volunteer opportunities in your own community but if you’re looking for something outside of your comfort zone, then you may want to consider volunteering abroad. We link today to an excellent set of questions to consider as you explore possibilities.
We’re not endorsing a particular program, nor do we feel that there’s greater value to volunteering overseas versus close to home. Significant needs exist everywhere, and our individual efforts to address those needs can make a big difference.
Article below published by Quest Overseas on February 13, 2017
Written by: Jon Cassidy
Overseas volunteering can be a fantastic experience, giving benefit both for the local community and the volunteer taking part. Sadly, it can also be a negative experience for either or both sides, so it is important to make sure any project you want to be part of is not going to be guilty of this.
People who volunteer generally hope to do something they will find interesting, something they will learn from and something that will help other people. However, choosing between all the possible projects and organisations is more complex than just signing up with the first one to show you exciting pictures and an interesting blurb.
Read more at Quest Overseas >>Tagged: Opportunity, Summer, volunteer
Summer Fun
June 6th, 2016With the school year behind us (or nearly so, for some), it’s time to decompress. Fun with friends, relaxing activities that we only have time for in the summer … there’s a lot to look forward to! But I wonder: when you think about your ideas for summer fun, is reading included?
Some of you are nodding vigorously, eager to dig into books you didn’t have time for during the school year. Others, though, are wondering why in the world we’d include that in our list of fun activities. Reading is something that’s “important” and “good for us,” right? It helps us build vocabulary, polish grammar and understand new concepts, even new worlds.
Many of you have seen the whiteboard in my office filled with book titles that students have supplied, favorites that they urge other students to read. We call it the “Board of Good Books,” and it holds a wonderful array of suggestions. Here are a few:
– My Most Excellent Year
– Pendragon
– Keys to the Kingdom
– The Things They Carried
– House of the Scorpion
– The Giver
– The Beak of the Finch
– The Lacuna
– The Fault in Our Stars
– Brave New World
– The Prince
– Outliers: the Story of Success
– The Catcher in the Rye
– Hunger Games
– 1984
… and many more!
Need suggestions beyond those offered by Shrop Ed advisees? The Lexington Public Library has a list of 50 books recommended for high school students: http://www.lexpublib.org/50BooksInHighschool. For another great list of books to read this summer follow this link: https://www.noodle.com/articles/10-books-every-student-should-read-before-college. Let us know your choices and whether you’d like us to add them to our Board of Good Books.
Oh, and if you’re wondering what I’ve read most recently, it’s The Good Lord Bird, by James McBride. It transported me to a different place and time, with a protagonist so real that I felt I could reach out and touch him. McBride’s writing widened my understanding of both people and history.
“A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it or offer your own version in return.”
–Salman Rushdie
Tagged: Choices, Personal characteristics, Summer
Steps for Smooth Summer Transition
May 23rd, 2016Congratulations once again to those who are graduating and made a commitment to the college of their choice! Not only is it time to celebrate but also time to consider the next steps involved in transitioning to life on a college campus. Money magazine has come up with a checklist to ensure that you and your parents are prepared for what lies ahead. This checklist is a great way to stay on top of tasks that might fall to the wayside during summer vacation.
Our students heading off to boarding school in the fall will find that many of these suggestions apply to them, as well.
We look forward to hearing whether you find this article helpful. What would you add to the checklist?
Article published April 26, 2016
Written by: Kim Clark
You’ve decided on a college, settled on a financial aid package, and sent your deposit in. Maybe you even posted a picture of yourself in school garb for the White House’s College Signing Day festivities. Whew! Time to relax and celebrate the fact that you’re finally done with all those complicated forms, right?
Sure, take a little time to celebrate. But you’re nowhere near done with college forms or chores. In fact, graduating seniors have to do a surprising amount of paperwork in May and June to ensure, for example, that they have a dorm room to move into in the fall, health insurance that can be used on campus, and seats in the classes they want.
Read more at Money Magazine >>Tagged: Boarding school, College, Summer
Tips to Finish the School Year Strong
April 25th, 2016At this time of year, students and teachers alike may experience a bit of a slump. So few weeks are left in the school term – summer’s practically in sight – yet energy can be hard to find.
Here in Kentucky, I’ve learned that horses out for a long day’s ride seem to get re-energized when it’s time to go back to the barn. So, I’ve been wondering, how can we help students feel the same? Whether you’re in 7th grade and looking ahead to 8th, or in 12th grade and looking ahead to college, the importance of remaining focused and doing your best remains crucial.
If you follow this link, you’ll find a great set of suggestions that will give you the energy to go back to the barn, so to speak, so you’ll end your school year with a flourish:
http://thejetstreamjournal.com/3207/student-life/15-tips-to-finish-the-school-year-strong/
Tagged: Personal characteristics, Summer
