Graduation season is here, and millions of students will soon be making their way across
auditorium stages to receive their hard-earned diplomas and degrees. One or more graduates
may be tasked with the honor of speaking at their commencement ceremonies.
Valedictorian or commencement speeches are honors only few students will ever experience.
The responsibility of delivering such speeches can make students nervous as their graduation
ceremonies draw near. But preparation can help calm those nerves and help students deliver
thoughtful, memorable speeches.
Honor the audience Remember your audience when crafting your message.
This includes not only the graduates, but also the administrators, family and faculty who
helped you and your fellow graduates over the years.
Speak from the heart Many graduates in the audience will be proud of
themselves for earning their diplomas and degrees. But many may also feel insecure or even
fear the unknown that awaits after graduation. Touch on these emotions when crafting your
speech, assuring your fellow graduates that the same hard work and perseverance they
employed to earn their diplomas and degrees can benefit them in their future endeavors.
Choose your message When crafting your speech, find a message you want
to convey and stay true to that message. If your message is that hard work will help grads
achieve their goals, cite examples of that and offer encouragement to fellow grads.
Share personal stories dotted with humor The best way to
decide what to speak about is to use personal examples from your life that the audience can
relate to. Mix humor into the message so that you reconnect with the audience time and
again, but don’t try to be a stand-up comedian.
Keep it brief Graduation ceremonies can be long, especially when graduating classes
are large. Keep the audience engaged by conveying your message concisely. A speech that is
10 to 15 minutes in length cuts to the point and keeps the festivities moving.
RECOMMENDED TECH
FOR STUDENTS
Evaluating seniors’ biggest expenses
CYBER SAFETY IS IMPORTANT
FOR EVERY GRADE
Shopping for school supplies once entailed stocking up on pens, pads and
notebooks. Students today still buy many of the same items, though they
also now stock up on electronics.
Technology and education now go hand-in-hand. For students to find
success both in and out of the classroom, the right tech can make all the
difference.
High-speed internet Connectivity is key in a digitally driven world. Students
need access to the internet for homework, lectures, email, entertainment,
and much more. The faster your internet speed the better. According to
the resource HighSpeedInternet.com, streaming videos on a single device
or web browsing requires between five and 40 Mbps. Downloading large
files or using multiple devices simultaneously requires high speeds. When
accessing the internet via smartphones, make sure your plan has unlimited
data or provides enough data to ensure interruptions do not occur.
Laptop or notebook computer: Laptops and notebook devices are similar in
that both offer many types of software preloaded that a student will need.
The devices seem interchangeable, but there are some differences. Laptops
are generally larger than sleek, light notebooks. Notebooks are sized to fit
easily into backpacks. Notebooks tend to have minimal features, including
less RAM capacity and slower speeds, helping to keep their costs down.
Some notebooks may have very small amounts of hard drive storage space,
requiring users to purchase external storage devices.
Headphones: Most schools now require students to have their own
dedicated pair of earbuds or over-the-ear headphones so that work
conducted on a computer does not disturb others also working on their
own devices. Headphones also can make it easier to hear and comprehend
videos and other digital lessons while doing homework.
Chargers/battery packs: Devices must maintain power to help kids learn.
Students can benefit from having a backup charger or battery pack to
maintain functionality on their devices.
Storage and charging base: Keeping electronics neat and accessible for the
family may mean rethinking countertop or other storage spaces. Charging
stations hold multiple devices and allow them to charge simultaneously.
Touchscreenpen: Many notebook and laptop computers have touchscreens
that respond to pens/styluses and make drawing or writing on the screen
more detailed.
Printer/scanner: While many schools have adopted paperless formats,
there may come a time when printing an assignment or report is necessary.
A quality ink-jet printer can fit the bill. A scanner to scan photos or
documents also makes it easier to complete assignments.
The above are just some of the many gadgets that can assist students with
their studies. SOURCE: METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS
People rely on the internet every day. In recent months, reliance
on digital technology was pushed even further as social distancing
measures had the world going online for school and work and to
maintain relationships with friends and family.
A 2018 report from Pew Research Center indicated that nearly 25
percent of young adults in America reported being online almost
constantly. Common Sense Media says teens spend an average of nine
hours a day online, compared to roughly six hours for those between
the ages eight and 12 and 50 minutes for kids younger than eight.
Students must exercise caution when spending time online.
Connectivity can be empowering, but it also puts students at risk from
others and even their own, sometimes irresponsible behaviors. Staying
safe online should remain a priority for students who must spend more
time on the internet and using digital education tools. These are some
tips for maintaining cyber safety.
Exercise caution when sharing information like your name, address,
phone number, and other personal data online. Check with a trusted
parent or teacher before sharing private data.
Report any online activity that makes you feel uncomfortable, scared
or confused, whether it is directed at you or a classmate.
Think carefully before you post comments online. Data remains online
indefinitely, and your words and actions today can greatly affect your
future.
Respect others online by refraining from demeaning or bullying
comments.
Do not try to get around firewalls and blocked websites set up by
school administrators. These limitations are there for your protection.
Stick to school-sanctioned assignments and internet browsing when
using school-issued devices. Administrators may have the right to
monitor student activity without students’ knowledge and you can
easily get yourself in trouble.
It is easy to hide or fake one’s identity on the internet, so never take
someone you meet or speak with online at face value. Never meet up
with someone you do not know or only met online.
Talk to your parents or educators about extortion and ransomware
that tries to trick you into providing payment in some shape or form
to prevent a perpetrator from releasing private information about you,
advises the Readiness and Emergency for Schools Technical Assistance
Center.
Various steps can be taken to promote cyber safety among students,
parents and administrators. SOURCE: METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS
Applying to colleges is exciting for many high school students. But that excitement is sometimes tempered by
anxiety. The college application process can affect students’ lives for years to come, so it’s understandable why
some teenagers might feel stressed as they apply to college.
The National Center for Educational Statistics says 69 percent of high school graduates in the United States
enroll in college the fall after graduating from high school. Many students begin applying to college before
SOURCE: METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS
HOW TO MAKE APPLYING TO COLLEGE LESS STRESSFUL
entering their senior year of high school. Students can employ various
strategies to make applying to college less stressful.
Create an inventory of student experiences and awards
When completing their college applications, students submit a variety
of materials. In addition to students’ track records in the classroom,
schools will be interested in kids’ extracurricular activities, hobbies,
volunteer work, and even things they do during their free time.
Parents and students can work together to develop a master list
that includes information about what students have accomplished
during high school. These may include involvement in certain clubs,
participation in sports teams, advanced ranking in scouting programs,
or even a list of books read. Having this document handy will make it
that much simpler to fill out college applications.
Investigate the Common Application The Common Application began
as a niche program for select private liberal arts colleges, but now has
grown into an organization that services more than 750 schools. The
organization enables students to create an account and complete one
basic form that will be accepted by all institutions who are members.
The CA helps students streamline the college application process and
reduce redundancy. An alert system also helps applicants manage
application deadlines.
Avoid applying everywhere Some students think that applying to
dozens of schools will improve their chances of being admitted.
However, applicants may be wasting their time applying to schools
they have no intention of attending, and that only adds to the stress
of meeting deadlines. Narrow down the possibilities to a handful of
favorite schools and go from there.
Use the resources at your disposal Students who have access to
guidance counselors, mentors, college centers, or even teachers who
are willing to help with the application process should use these
resources wisely. In addition, iPhone and Android apps can help
streamline the college application process.
Consider scholarships concurrently Some schools automatically
consider applicants for scholarships, grants and work-study programs.
But that’s not so with every school, so students may have to apply on
their own or rely on third parties for scholarships. Fastweb is a leading
online resource to find scholarships to pay for school. SOURCE: METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS
POPULAR CLASSROOM
LEARNING APPS
It is impossible to ignore the immense
popularity of digital learning tools in
today’s schools. Teachers routinely
turn to online tools and available
applications to offer students all the
resources they need to become wellrounded
individuals.
According to research from Grunwald
Associates, LLC, 71 percent of parents embrace mobile devices and feel
they open up learning opportunities for kids that didn’t previously exist.
The research also suggests that a similar percentage of parents would
like teachers to recommend apps for students.
Navigating learning apps can be daunting due to the sheer volume of
apps available. According to Apps for Education, there are more than
500,000 educational apps currently available for download. Apps can
be stimulating and fun, but finding quality resources may involve sorting
through those that aren’t necessarily valuable. The following are some
apps parents may want to consider.
Memrise: Learning a second or third language can be a boon to students
of any age. Some schools may be limited in the number of languages
they offer. Therefore, an app may be a great resource for students
looking to learn a new language. Memrise drills students on vocabulary,
phrases, aural recognition, and more.
Kahoot: Kahoot is a platform to create games and review content.
Players answer questions on their individual devices, while games are
displayed on a shared screen. Kahoot can be an ideal way for several
students to prepare for a test in a digital study session.
Reading Eggs: This comprehensive learning system covers essential
components of reading: awareness, vocabulary, phonics, fluency, and
comprehension. Parents can see progress reports and know if and where
extra attention may be necessary.
Edmodo: This app is designed to streamline workloads for teachers and
help make it easier for them to stay connected with the classroom and
their students. Parents can set up accounts and stay abreast of their
children’s activities, grades, messages, and progress. Though it’s not a
learning app, Edmodo can be a valuable tool for classroom management.
Epic: This online children’s subscription book service offers immediate,
on-demand access to high-quality reading materials for children ages 12
and under. Voracious readers will always have content they can access, in
addition to audio books, educational videos, and educational quizzes.
Photomath: This app enables students to snap pictures of complicated
math problems and get step-by-step directions on how to answer them.
Instead of simply giving the answer, Photomath provides students with
the tools to answer the problems on their own.
StudyBlue: Students can create and share mobile flash cards, study
guides, quizzes, and choose from other study materials to help reinforce
lessons. SOURCE: METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS
One final lesson:
Commencement speech writing guidelines
New parents may not be able to visualize that one day their largest expenditures won’t be
centralized around providing necessities for their children. Adults go though many years
of paying for diapers, toys, clothing, food, and education for their children. Yet, when the
children have flown the coop, spending patterns change, and even more changes await come
retirement.
According to a 2020 survey from the financial services firm Edward Jones, 68 percent
of workers soon to retire said they had no idea how much they should be setting aside for
expenses, particularly health care and long-term care. Professionals approaching retirement
would be wise to analyze the Consumer Price Index - Elderly (CPI-E). It is a good reference
to estimate which future expenses will cost the most after retirement. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics looks at consumer spending and uses various data to determine the rate of inflation
in key areas that apply to older adults starting at age 62.
Individuals may be surprised to learn about where they’ll be spending the bulk of their money
when they get older. Here’s a look at some key categories.
Housing
According to data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, in 2017, the most recent
year for which data is available, housing accounted for roughly 49 percent of all spending for
seniors. Focus should be centered on lowering those costs when a fixed income is imminent.
The possibilities include paying off a mortgage; downsizing a home to have a lower rent or
mortgage payment; refinancing a home to a fixed-rate loan so that costs are predictable; and
taking on a tenant to offset costs.
Food
The cost of food will not change dramatically, but it can eat into your budget. Even though
food costs may decline when there’s only two mouths to feed, food and beverage spending
may go up due to more leisure time and dining out. Utilize senior discounts by shopping on
days when stores offer percentages off purchases. Save money on restaurant spending by
eating out at lunch instead of dinner, splitting plates or skipping appetizers.
Healthcare
Experts warn that while many expenses decline in retirement, health care spending increases.
According to Fidelity, the average 65-year-old couple retiring in 2020 in the United States
needed roughly $295,000 just to cover their retirement health care expenses. Those with
family histories of severe illnesses or those with preexisting conditions will need even more. It’s
also important to realize that roughly half of the population will need long-term care at some
point, offers The Motley Fool, and that requires advanced budgeting as well. Many people find
that Medicare supplement plans can bridge the gap in expenses that government-run plans
will not cover. Saving through a health savings account (HSA) when employed also can create
extra cash on hand for retirement expenses.
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