FIND YOUR GIFT

Comprised childhood's, in fact an honest examination of one's impressions of a life can open the door to untold gifts. Sharing as an extension of my yesterday's status, a little anecdote. My first learning center was located in a basement on Court Street in Brooklyn Heights. This to my knowledge was the first of its kind outside of the great Stanley Kaplan who was focusing on test preparation. My brother happened to be in town, and quietly observed me working with a high school student named Matthew. This young man was having social and academic problems at school. He was Gay at the beginning of the AIDS pandemic in 1982, parents divorcing, and Mom diagnosed with Breast Cancer. His reputation amongst many was horrific. When I spoke with him, perhaps and yes tapping into my own memories-he left our session with Hope, and returned often. My brother later told me, "You have found your gift"--and that is my hope for all...

Avoid College Debt

I know that I often pontificate about colleges-that is my job. Here goes, many families tell me that attending a community college will not provide a 'college experience'. These good folk have been putting aside funds since the birth of their child and have about $70.000 or so. Sounds like enough to pay for college? Hardly, just a little over 2 years at some and 1 year at others. Of course their is merit awards at some schools, and scholarships--but not all will quality. It is important to read the fine print on individual college websites. Then why not think about a 2 year start at a place like Bucks County Community College. This college and others like them have activities, sports, and in this case an Honors program. Doing well at a Community College, can assure a successful transition and lack of debt. What a student experiences is up to them be it Ivy or a commuter school. Debt ties a noose around someone's neck, freedom from debt in my opinion is a much better choice.

http://www.bucks.edu

Personal Statements Rock

I liked it better when college essay's were called Personal Statement's. What formally, were reflective pieces that delved and perhaps illuminated a person's heart, are being plucked over as if they were in school essays. The problem is many become generic-and not probing. Over the years, I have known so many students that shared really unique interesting pieces from Math problems they designed (Princeton acceptance), poetry, and fictional noir romances 9

Tray Lovejoy---

Oberlin)...have always been careful to tell my students not to share too much until spring perhaps-as the reflection should be their own.. copy-editing of course for grammar--but ah...probably this is the wave of the future and it will be almost impossible to tell one essay from another..except for those that really stand out-the creative iconoclast that goes right to the big envelope.