How To Find an Acting Coach

How To Find an Acting Coach How To Find An Acting Coach? ChaptersWhat Is An Acting Coach?How Can An Acting Coach Increase My Chances Of Success?How To Go About Finding An Acting Coach?retired, not taking on new clients or there may be new coaches on the scene that didn't get a look in when the list was published.Some lists include the price of acting lessons with that coach while others merely have some means of contacting him or her.If you do your homework, at least you know that you couldn't have done more to find your perfect acting coach.Use Every Resource PossibleIf you have friends in the industry or family members who have experience in acting roles, then you might be lucky enough to already know some coaches, or at least have some recommendations to pursue.Feedback from clients is a very good first-hand representation of what it is like to be on the receiving end of that teacher’s style of tuition. While you can’t ascertain if you will get on well just by reading others’ comments, you can get the inside scoop on what it’s l ike to be their pupil.Similarly, don't be afraid to get in touch with drama teachers past and present to ask if they know of any good coaches or agencies. All it takes is for a friend to talk to a friend and there you have it - a word of mouth recommendation!Or Let Fate Take Its CourseSome call it brave, some call it being lazy, but it is possible to find a coach without actually doing all that much... just as long as you aren't in a rush.In a complete U-turn to what has been discussed so far, there are some aspiring actors out there who let the coaches come to them. This may seem a little arrogant, but in fact, if you have time to spare then taking more time to look or wait for a coach (whether casually or more seriously) could help you to cover a much wider and therefore comprehensive search.In taking this approach, you need to have  confidence in your abilities and be  more flexible on time, but it doesn't mean that you don't have to do anything at all. Any trainee actor will nee d to be working on their career on an ongoing basis: getting annual or bi-annual headshots done, keeping their website, blog or social media accounts up to date, posting adverts for acting coaches or auditions, participating in an acting course etc... without keeping on top of these things, your career is more than likely going to come to a standstill.If you are in no rush, you might be at liberty to sit back and wait for the right coach to come to you. Photo on Visualhunt.comAnother bonus to taking your time and encouraging coaches to approach you is that you can view meetings and auditions as a way for you to scrutinise them just as much as they will be watching you. It is always worth remembering though, that you are the beginner and  they are the qualified ones and they deserve every respect for their achievements.   They certainly won’t be impressed by a trainee actor pushing boundaries or taking silly risks from the start  as it doesn’t bode well for a good team and workin g atmosphere!An older student who wants to launch their career now might not have the time to sit around and wait for opportunities. Likewise, if you are impatient by nature  (like many energetic performers!) and have no intention of missing an opportunity, then you may not be able to sit still long enough to wait for your career to get moving. Try pouring this energy into finding a great acting class or coach and you could be on your way to a successful acting career in little to no time!Find drama classes LondonFind drama classes Glasgow

The Perfect Apps for Introverts Everywhere - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / The Perfect Apps for Introverts Everywhere - Introvert Whisperer The Perfect Apps for Introverts Everywhere Have you ever wanted to spend time with people physically, but do not know where to begin. Do you feel overwhelmed in crowds or front of a large audience? Would you rather spend time alone than go out with your friends during the weekends? If the answer is yes, then perhaps you have an introverted personality. Living as an Introvert As an introvert, it can be quite difficult for you to interact with someone in a normal setting. Most introverted individuals resort to using various apps to compensate for the lack of social skills and interaction that they deal with daily. Whether it be for dating or shopping, online applications can serve as a way for introverts to connect to the outside world without going through the hassle of meeting people face-to-face. Here are some examples of applications that introverts can use to simulate social interaction online. Dating Apps Dating applications such as Ok Cupid or Grinder can help you find someone to connect with without having to go through the awkward stage of physically traveling out and going to a restaurant for a date. You can easily swipe right or left if you like or dislike someone’s profile. These apps also will allow you to send instant messages that could help you start a conversation; something that you might not be able to do in the flesh. Social Media Platforms and Applications Social Media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can afford introverts like you the opportunity to create a community online that allows you to share your thoughts and feelings without the added pressure and awkwardness of meeting in person. These applications will be able to connect to 24 hours a day without having to deal with the limitations of real life. Just send a message, and you will be able to start a conversation easily much like you would in a dating site. However, social media platforms are used primarily to connect with people that you already know personally. It would be best to keep this in mind when trying to get in touch with others on social media. VoIP Applications VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. If you are fond of using programs like Skype or Viber and Facebook Messenger, then you are using Voice Over Internet Protocol technology. This particular type of application allows a person to communicate with another despite large distances. For introverts, this would be a great way to communicate because you will not have to be there to talk to another person. You can use it as a phone, or you could turn on the camera and see the person you’re talking to through the screen. Either way, it’s a great way to communicate for those people who want interaction in a much more limited and controlled environment. Through these applications, you will be able to send files and documents which can help facilitate conversation even further. You will not have to think about what you want to say, which can create a gap between you and your chat partner. Online Shopping Sites and Applications This portal is another way for you to communicate with other people who tend to have similar tastes in a musical instrument as well as other related products. My shopping online regularly, you will be able to connect with like-minded individuals who may have the same interests as you do. These sites will also remove the awkwardness of having to pay for exorbitant amounts of merchandise in person. If you love to shop and have no limits when it comes to spending, online shopping applications would be the best alternative for you. Why Use Online Applications? The main reasons why we recommended these particular applications for introverts is because it will help minimize the awkwardness that introverts might feel when meeting people. The main issue with introverts is that most of them are not equipped to handle large crowds. These specific personalities also tend to be socially inept. This ineptitude is why they resort to using online applications to make up for the lack of social interaction in their lives. Applications above will help them trained their mind into communicating much more eloquently through written words. We hope that they can further develop communication skills and use them in live interaction sooner rather than later. These online applications will expose them to humans in small doses at first, and then once they feel comfortable interacting with the person online, chances are they would be more open to meeting them in person eventually. It also helps introverts deal with rejection and a much more controlled environment. As we all know, online applications are open to everyone. Because of this, criticisms from other users, whether it be positive or negative, can reach the user quite freely without filter. The open communication line then allows the introverts to be exposed to both positive and negative criticism, which can train them to become more accepting of society as a whole. It can help the people around them teach the introverts that not everyone would be open to their way of seeing things. In turn, this will help them accept other people as they are and allow them to hopefully not judge others too harshly down the line. The Pitfalls of Using Online Applications Much like any other product out there, there also some disadvantages to using online applications too much. Because of the limited and controlled environment that an online application of Ford’s user, chances are he will not learn to develop social skills in a much more normal way. They ensure word might learn to rely on social media as a form of curing a quiche and wait for too much and forgets how it is to live with others as a normal human being. They should be a balance between online interactions through applications and real-life connections. Conclusion If you feel that your relationships with your family and friends are already suffering because of social media connections, then it would be best for you to take a break. Try to interact with one person at a time, and you will eventually be able to handle yourself in a much larger sighting for sure. Author Bio: Lydia Lee  is a fashion blogger. She works at a Tech company and writes as a freelancer for several fashion magazines both local and international. She has a pet terrier named Fugui.

How to Deal With Being Homesick at College

How to Deal With Being Homesick at College As exciting as it is to be living the highly anticipated college life, moving away from home certainly has its tough aspects. Although different students experience varying degrees of homesickness, it is only natural for that emotional feeling to come up at least every now and then. But for those who experience it more frequently, necessary forms of support and reassurance are extremely important to get through college in a healthy and happy way. If you do find yourself getting homesick more often than some of your peers, dont be concerned and dont worry that youre not enjoying the college experience as you should be. Youre allowed to miss your family and hometown friends and still be able to appreciate this new world youre in. However, if you dont know how to handle this homesickness just right, you do risk losing sight of the positive experiences of college. The key here is figuring out the best way for you personally to get through this emotional state in such a way that allows you to stay invested in your college career at the same time. Learning to acquire such a stable mindset isnt always easy, especially with so much pressure on you to do so. By identifying ways to feel comfortable with these emotions, consistently staying in touch with your distant loved ones, and recognizing all forms of support available to you, managing these unsettling sentiments can be much more feasible than youd think. Set up regular phone and Skype conversations: Its one thing to simply say youll catch up on the phone soon with an old friend, but incorporating weekly or monthly chats into your schedules can immensely help your ability to stay in close communication. There is something very comforting about the fact that you definitely have a time set up to talk, rather than just assuming and hoping it will happen. Moreover, making sure you are regularly conversing with those family members and friends that you miss so much is vital to staying secure with your relationships with them. If being apart from them is really hurting you, just talking on such a consistent basis will prove to be an effective way of maintaining that closeness. You may be apart physically, but your bonds can stay strong. Have your favorite photos nearby: This is a little thing that helps a ton. With all of our pictures so conveniently stored on Facebook and in our smart phones, we tend to get lazy when it comes to printing them out. Its certainly not unheard of to print out pictures and frankly is still pretty common but college students who have moved away are particularly encouraged to do it. Although you can scroll through your photos online at any time to re-live some old memories, having them posted on the wall right in front of you is a big comfort. When youre working on a killer assignment in your dorm and start randomly feeling lonesome and nostalgic, a nice photo of your family or prom pictures with your friends can really warm up your mood. Taping these pictures up at your desk or by your bed is a small gesture that can immediately make you feel at home in the midst of whatever events you are going through. Here is a great list of 8 things to bring to your dorm roomthat may help you feel more at home. Schedule the right amount of visits: Depending on how far away your school is from your home, this could be easy or it could very difficult. Either outcome, it is something that is worth looking into and executing rightfully. Similar to the routine phone/Skype conversations, scheduling visits ahead of time will make you feel relieved and reassured that you are seeing your family and friends. There is a thin line, though, between visiting too often and visiting just enough. While it is healthy and essential to make sure your visits are more than just rare occurrences, it is advisable to avoid making these visits too frequent. For instance, if you plan these trips both here and there every single weekend, youre ultimately going to have an even tougher time adjusting to living away from home since youll barely have the chance to actually be on your own. The more you see these people, the harder it will be to say goodbye each time. Certainly set aside a good amount of weekends to travel home and/or have your family and friends travel to you, but dont make the situation even harder on yourself than it needs to be by avoiding the reality you are trying to transition into. You may also want to check out this information on how to choose your first college roommateas they may have a large impact on how you adjust to your life away from home. Find things at school that remind you of home: Was there a really fun concert venue in your hometown? A coffee shop you loved going to? A school club you had a blast with? Odds are there are similar places and groups in your new college town. Take some of the things you miss most about home and try to find their equivalents on campus. If music or volunteering was an integral part of your high school career that brought you happiness, join a similar organization now. Specifically joining clubs in college is a terrific way to bond with a tight group of people very quickly, and the results are even better when the group is based on something you genuinely love doing. Find places as well that you just enjoy going to. Youre not going to find exact replicas of the hang-outs you enjoyed back home, but have an open mind and give these new places a chance. You may find something that complements you even better. Here are some great tips to help you choose extracurricular activitiesthat will b est suit you! If you establish such supportive tactics for yourself, youll be calling your campus your second home before you know it. The next time you go back home, you may ironically be feeling a little homesick for college. Always remember that its completely okay to feel this way about both places and that by staying strong with a mature attitude about it, the issue will minimize in no time.

Paraphrase Checker

Paraphrase Checker Students sometimes inadvertently plagiarize because they dont know how to paraphrase. To remedy this gap in their  learning, I created a paraphrase checker for the Virtual Writing Tutor. The concept is simple. The system shows you which words are the same and need to be paraphrased. This feature is very useful for students and for blog writers who want to avoid being sued or being penalized by Google for identical wording on their blogs. Try this experiment. How to Use the Paraphrase Checker on the Virtual Writing Tutor Experiment Try VirtualWritingTutor.com with the following texts. Notice the feedback. Original Text First Paraphrase Second Paraphrase Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the legal sector and threatening to replace paralegals with data-mining algorithms. Computers are revolutionizing the legal sector and beginning to replace paralegal technicians with data-mining algorithms. Robots are beginning to compete with paralegals for jobs at law firms. Use the Virtual Writing Tutor to ensure that your article summary is written in your own words. Looking for an article to summarize and paraphrase? Look no further. Click here for 200+ career-related articles. Please follow and like us:

Signs Students Need Outside Tutoring

Signs Students Need Outside Tutoring Its probably pretty obvious when a student is struggling in class, but as you know, getting that child help sooner than later is crucial. Here are a few signs that one of your students needs tutoring help: The student is very behind. When students fall behind, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to catch back up, especially if the class moves at a fast pace. Also, falling behind tends to be a cumulative problem that worsens with time. The student is disengaged. Students who are disruptive, uninterested, or even angry often have something else going on that requires addressing. It could be that theyre embarrassed about their school struggles. Apathy is a big red flag that shouldnt be ignored. The student performs poorly on tests and quizzes. When a students homework grades are acceptable but they get low test grades, you might be dealing with poor exam prep and study skills. The student struggles to work on pace. Some students work quickly while others take their time. This is to be expected, but if you have a student who consistently takes longer than seems reasonable to do tasks, supplemental tutoring might help them learn where they can be more efficient and build skills theyre missing. Your efforts to reach the student arent working. Maybe youve tried talking with a student and his parent, but your attempts have been ignored or met with resistance. A customized program of instruction that addresses the students areas of weakness might be just what they need. Have a student who you feel could benefit from one-to-one, individualized tutoring? Refer parents to Huntington: 1-800 CAN LEARN. Well talk with them about how we help children of all ages raise their grades and their confidence.

Delicious Language Podcasts for Learners to Devour

Delicious Language Podcasts for Learners to Devour Delicious Language Podcasts for Learners to Devour Are you hungry for a great new way to learn language?How about a tasty learning tool you can snack on anytime?Ive got something to make your mouth water: language podcasts!That’s right. Podcasts will satisfy your craving for bite-sized but filling content in your target language. Expect your listening, pronunciation and vocabulary skills to take on a whole new flavor!Let’s check out where to find the best podcasts for your language and level, plus some great recommendations from the chef.How to Add Podcasts to Your Language ProgramThere are tons of podcasts out there, right? So how do you know which ones to add to your program?There are two main types of language podcasts and both are useful. Some podcasts are designed to teach a language. Others are podcasts  designed for native speakers of your target language.At least in the beginning, most learners will go for the first typeâ€"language education podcasts. Its  a great way to get your foundational skills in top shape.As you be come more confident, try to incorporate some authentic podcasts in your target language. Even if you don’t understand all the words, you’ll get a feel for the cadence and nuances of the language as used by native speakers.Podcasts are great for both passive and active listening.For passive listening, turn on podcasts in the background while youre on your commute or getting ready for bed. Its a low-effort way to absorb the sounds of the language. For active listening, concentrate your full attention on the podcast and take notes. You can also compile a list of the new vocabulary you hear and then try to use those words in your outside language practice.Podcasts are like snacks. They’re a brief but welcome part of any dayâ€"and there are lots of moments where they would fit right in. Devote a percentage of your daily or weekly language study time specifically to  podcast listening.Delicious Language Podcasts for Learners to DevourBelow, well give you a smorgasbord of options to find great podcasts in your target language. Then well point you to some specific podcast series in several languages.Where to Find Podcasts in Your Target LanguageI’ve got great news! It’s super simple to locate addictive language podcasts! Lets see whats on the table.TuneInTuneIn makes it possible to locate a wide range of podcasts in many languages. Its also a source for foreign language radio broadcastsâ€"which is just a little extra!There are tons of different types of podcasts and the list varies depending on the language. Music, talk, sports, spirituality, news and culture are hot topics. Just click By Language in the lefthand search bar and select your language. Youll see all the genres and podcasts that are available.Not everything is available in every language, but theres at least some content for dozens of languages, including several lesser-known ones.Theres even a whole category especially for language learning podcasts! Youll find educational podcasts for Spanish, Urdu, German, Japanese and more.FluentUFluentU is a unique option that brings you the best of both worlds: authentic audio in your target language, but supercharged with language learning tools.Youll get real-world content such as inspiring talks, interviews, news reports and more. Each audio and video clip comes with interactive captionsâ€"just click any unfamiliar word for an instant definition, visual learning aid and native pronunciation. There are also flashcards and exercises tailor-made for each clip, so you can review and remember the words when youre done watching.Best of all, you dont have to search around for content in your target language. FluentU has several programs teaching Chinese, Spanish, Russian, French and more, with content from the beginner to advanced levels. You can even branch out to media that you wouldnt find in a standard podcast, like movie trailers, music videos, hilarious YouTube clips and more.With the FluentU mobile app, you can download audio clip s to take anywhere.You can explore the full library in your target language for free with a FluentU trial.StitcherMany language learners are familiar with Stitcher. They provide news, entertainment and other audio content from across the globe with their app. Chances are that if you’re studying a language, you mayve already listened to Stitcher once or twice.Head to the International page to find authentic podcasts in your target language. Stitcher conveniently categorizes the podcasts by both language and genre, so its easy to find, say, Spanish comedy podcasts or French sports podcasts.To get a taste of culture, consider listening to podcasts about contemporary social issues, politics or the arts. It’s a great way to bring more than language into your program. Podcasts on relevant topics show us just whats going on in other parts of the world.Remember to note idioms and gritty language that might show up on this sometimes casual resource.For language learner podcasts, head to the Languages category under Stitchers Education page.Of course you can always do your own searches from the Stitcher home page. They have over 65,000 podcasts available! Honestly, I spent a while using this app and being perfectly content to hear native speakers delivering news in Spanish or Italian. But when I learned there are language education podcasts to work with as well, a whole new level to my learning opened up.iTunesiTunes is a like a language-lover’s buffetâ€"filled with lots of different choices that all look pretty good! There are so many options it can be overwhelming but don’t despair, we’ll get to the juicy parts!If you’ve never used iTunes before, click the link above to download and install the program. Then just head to the Store and click on Podcasts.To access podcasts from another country, change your country by looking at the bottom of the page for the little flag icon. Click on it, choose the flag of a country where your target language is spoken and you’re in!You’ll find podcasts on a variety of topicsâ€"all in your target language. What’s not to love?Start with one and work your way through all those that catch your interestâ€"kind of like working your way down the  buffet table, if you know what I mean!LanguagePod101The LanguagePod101 program is designed to take language learners from beginning to advanced using a series of podcasts. It’s available in 34 languages!The podcast lessons focus on introducing essential communication skills  in a fun, natural format. Dialogues are set up using native speakers so youll hear proper pronunciation. Most dialogues include cultural information on entertaining, informative issues that bring the learning potential even higher!There are some great supplemental learning features with this resource. Use the line-by-line transcript feature to read and listen to the dialogue at your own pace. Youll also get PDF lesson notes, vocabulary flashcards and more.Check out the podcasts for:Span ishFrenchGermanChineseRussianJapaneseItalianPortugueseKoreanPlayerFMPlayerFM has a page strictly for podcasts for language learners! Honestly, I browse the site and feel like I’m looking at a dessert cart in a fancy restaurant. I want to taste everything.With podcasts on endless subjects in a dozen languages it’s no wonder I’m feeling the sugar rush. The awesome part of it all is that theres so much to choose fromâ€"such a variety of topicsâ€"that nearly every language-learning issue is addressed in this one spot.If you’re struggling with grammar or just need pronunciation practice, choose a podcast and get to work. If getting down to learning is an issue, there are even podcasts to help motivate learners.It’s possible to set up subscriptions based on your favorite topics so if you’re still feeling overwhelmed by all the excellent content, let PlayerFM do the choosing! Theyll provide personalized recommendations and all you’ve got to do is sit back, listen and learn!An yPod on AlexaDo you have Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-based virtual assistant, in the house? If you do, you probably already know she’s a total know-it-all (in a non-annoying sort of way!), but did you realize she’s also got the skinny on bringing you some fabulous language podcasts?It’s true! There’s an app called  AnyPod that enables Alexa to play podcasts.Once you add AnyPod to Alexa’s skills, just say, “Alexa, open AnyPod.” After she greets you, tell her what podcast you’d like to hear and she does the rest!There are thousands of podcasts to choose from so search until you find one in your target language that sounds interesting. If you want to check out whats available before getting AnyPod, search for your target language on this page.Hint: if you want to hear something a second (or even a third) time, just ask Alexa to rewind. It’s a great way to practice pronunciation, take notes on the topic or just jot down new vocabulary words.Tasting Menu! Great Language Edu cation Podcasts to TryTo whet your appetite, here are some tasty language learning podcasts for several major languages you might be interested in.30 Minute ItalianThis Italian learner podcast is for those who enjoy small, concise, entertaining bites of information. Their topics cover almost everything, from speed dating to holidays.Its very enjoyable, especially in the gym. When everyone else is scowling, I often find myself smiling!Russian Made EasyRussian Made Easy is a series of podcasts that teaches the language from a beginning level.  They provide a  transcript of every podcast episode, so if you miss a word or want to review, all the material is readily accessible.Learn French by PodcastLearn French by Podcast is filled with dynamic content and is worthwhile for any French learner. There are beginner, intermediate and advanced episodesâ€"and the topics cover everything from table manners to politics.LightSpeed SpanishThis podcast is a must for Spanish lovers. There are tons of episodes available for every level.Many are topic-specific and the topics are sorted according to learning level, which makes scanning them and choosing what to hear effortless.Japanese Bilingual NewsJapanese Bilingual News features two hostsâ€"friendsâ€"who basically just chat. Youll hear unscripted conversations where one of them speaks in English and the other speaks in Japanese. They have guest interviews, talk about current news and various topicsâ€"almost whatever comes to mind is open for discussion with this pair!Talk to Me in KoreanThis entertaining Korean learner podcast includes everything from jokes to information on securing employment. The content is relevant and timely, and perfect for Korean learners!Popup ChinesePopup Chinese beginner-level podcasts are for those who aren’t easily offended. Theyre very useful especially for getting the basics down. Just be aware they aren’t all G-rated and some content is a bit “gritty.”Slow GermanThe Slow German podcast series presents German culture and history in a straightforward manner. Fairytales are also part of their lineup. Some podcasts are for absolute beginners while many are intermediate level.All Ears EnglishThe All Ears English Podcast features speakers from the U.S. cities of Boston and New York. It offers a glimpse into American culture for intermediate to advanced learners. They provide exposure to idioms, expressions and give advice on making “small talk.”Podcasts definitely spice up a language learning program. And remember, all sorts of language listeningâ€"even the fun stuff, like podcasts!â€"adds to your skillset.They’re like potato chips. Try one and get hooked. Then devour a bunch for fun, fast and entertaining language learning.Your skills will increase with each episodeâ€"but I promise, your waistline is safe!

How to Stop Eating Your Feelings

How to Stop Eating Your Feelings pexels.com Almost every student has used food to deal with feelings. Eating your feelings is a common practice for young people to deal with stress, emotions, or any kind of distress. Many studies have been done on the relationship between eating and stress and it’s been found that as stress goes up, so too does eating. While binge eating every once in a while is normal and mostly innocent, if it becomes a pattern it can start to negatively impact your well being. It can begin to make you feel shame, guilt, and out of control with your own body. It can also negatively impact your health since the foods that people often binge are high in sugar and/or fat. Chronic binge eating is a serious problem that affects many, many people. It is categorized as an eating disorder and should be treated as such. If you feel like binge eating or using food to deal with your stress or emotions, there are things that you can do to try and start taking steps to regaining a healthy relationship with food. 1. Identify risk situations One of the most helpful things you can do to try and stop binge eating habits is to identify which emotions or situations trigger a binge. Once you are able to identify situations that cause you to overeat, you can either find ways to remove yourself from the situation or come up with a specific plan for how to deal with those specific situations. 2. Food tracking Food tracking can be a bit controversial when it comes to overcoming eating disorders. It’s something that works great for some people but can exacerbate unhealthy eating patterns in others. It’s worth trying out for yourself because it can be very helpful. There are a lot of apps that are available for smartphones that act as food diaries. They help you track what you eat and how many calories and macros the food you are eating has. This can be a great way to structure your eating and keep to a plan that prevents binge eating. On the flip side, counting calories can be extremely harmful and lead to restricting habits which, often, then lead to bingeing. 3. Take time out to eat Plan out where and when you are going to eat. Refrain from eating on the go as this can cause overeating throughout the day. Take the time to sit down at a table and have a meal. By doing this, it’s easier to eat well-portioned meals instead of having too many portions over the course of the entire day. Be mindful about what and how you are eating. Pay attention to the smell, taste, and texture of the food and slow down when you are eating. By eating slower, you feel fuller faster. 4. Don’t diet It might sound counterintuitive, but dieting can greatly exacerbate binge eating habits.  By restricting yourself, you are more likely to go overboard when you do allow yourself a “cheat meal.” By dieting, you are more likely to take a mile when you give yourself an inch. Instead, change your lifestyle by including lots of healthy foods and don’t refrain from indulging in a treat because it’s not your “cheat day.” By treating yourself to a cookie or a slice of cake more often, you lessen the risk of eating an exorbitant amount of calories when you do finally let yourself “cheat.” 5. Exercise Working out has many benefits beyond just burning calories. Working out is also a natural appetite suppressant. Biologically, working out suppresses your appetite so that you don’t overeat. Mentally, working out can also be an appetite suppressant because you are less likely to go overboard on the sweets because you don’t want to cancel out your workout routine. Working out is also a great way to relieve stress and deal with emotions in a physical way. Instead of dealing with stress through food, going on a run can achieve an even better result than eating 15 cookies. 6. Understand nutrition labels Take the time to learn how to read nutrition labels. Nutrition labels reveal so much about food that you might not suspect by just eating it. Many packaged foods contain more than one serving size, so understanding how to read nutrition labels can help you navigate how much of a snack to eat and which snacks to buy. There are also lots of hidden sugars and fats in a lot of food, which are naturally addictive to our brains. By reading nutrition labels, you can parse out which foods are high in sugar and fat and are more likely to trigger a binge, and which ones aren’t. Binge eating is a serious problem for a lot of people. But there are ways to regain your control over your diet. If you don’t feel like you are able to take back control over your diet, reach out to a professional to help guide you through recovery.

5 Great Reasons to Volunteer this Summer

5 Great Reasons to Volunteer this Summer 5 Great Reasons to Volunteer this Summer All high school students need a certain number of volunteer credits to graduate. It can seem stressful to volunteer while also studying for standardized exams, writing college personal statements, and taking advanced placement classes, However; volunteerism is a great way to discover valuable information about college and career. Students can take the opportunity to experiment in a few different areas or put their focus towards one particular field. Because the academic year can be so time-consuming, summer is an excellent opportunity to gain a lot of those volunteer credits and start building the student resume. 1.Making a difference within the community Students who volunteer over the summer will have a great opportunity to make a difference within their local community. This can lead to a lot of self-satisfaction and a feeling of productivity that can build self-esteem and help set priorities for the future. If a student has a particular talent or if theyre interested in a specific cause, they are encouraged to see if volunteer opportunities exist in the area. Unlike school work, students get to choose which volunteer programs they participate in (READ: 5 Things to Do Before You Leave For College). 2. Networking and letters of reference Summer volunteerism can also result in some awesome networking opportunities that can help students later on when they want to apply to college or get a part-time job. Students can talk to professionals in the field and in their community as well as potential future classmates. Students who are serious about volunteering will also build a great student resume and have a better chance of getting into the college of their choice. When students start their volunteer commitment, they are encouraged to introduce themselves to each adult member of the team and ask what would be most helpful. This is a great ice-breaker and lets the other volunteers know that the student is serious about pitching in and being a helpful member of the team. 3. Exploring potential career fields For the most part, high school-aged students dont know exactly what they would like to do for their career. A great way to explore potential fields in a low-risk environment is to arrange for summer volunteer work. Students can get a taste of what working in that field might be like without committing to an internship or job. This is a great situation for students to either get excited about a possible field or perhaps eliminate certain opportunities that werent as interesting as they had originally thought. 4. Practice professionalism It can be a challenge to adjust from being a full-time high school student to exhibiting the professionalism required to work in an internship at college as well as during the college interview process. Volunteerism is a fabulous way to start practicing professionalism while gaining high school graduation credits. It takes a lot of effort and patience to communicate and interact as a professional, so its a great idea to develop some of these skills before getting to college (READ: Getting your community service credits). 5. Get recommendations from teachers In some cases, classroom teachers will arrange volunteer opportunities and invite students to join who they think will be a good fit for the service project. If this is the case, its a great way for students to develop a community service oriented relationship with that teacher and give them something to write about when theyre asked for a recommendation later on. Teachers only provide recommendations to students they know well and who they think will succeed in the college environment so its great if students can let them know theyre serious about college and their community. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.