Reader's Email Question: "why should I care about my high school grades?"...Answered!

The other day, I was going through my emails and I received a question from a high school student (who chose to stay anonymous knowing that her question would end up here) who happened to stumble upon my blog. She stated that she enjoyed reading some of my posts about scholarships, and especially the one about making money while in university.

But then, she said...

"I'm in grade 10. I have no clue what to do with myself, and I just can't seem to wrap my brain around why I should care about my grades when I'm 2 years away from graduating. So tell me, why should I care about my grades? I'm in grade 10 and I just want to have fun! Grade 12 is where it's at."

My response to her was along the lines of the following...

Hello dear (sender's name),
I understand exactly how you feel about high school, and not knowing what you will do for the rest of your life. It is a common thing that almost all young people worry about.

However, I can tell you this. Worrying about what you will do in the future will not bring you the success that you are hoping for. For now, focus on doing the best that you can while you are in Grade 10, and young and have a long road ahead of you. Do not take this as "advice to not care about your future", but you have to know how to balance between "caring vs. worrying yourself to death".

While in high school, you have to care enough about what you are doing so that whatever you choose to do after graduation becomes more of a choice, rather than "Oh...darn, I did terrible in school, couldn't get into university, and now I'm stuck working this minimal wage job that I did not choose". I am not saying that if you do bad in school that you won't be successful, but I AM saying that your chances of success decrease the worse you do at school.

And finally, the long awaited answer to your very last question about why high school grades matter, even early on. Considering that most universities primarily look at your grade 12 marks, I can see why you would be asking this. However, a habit is a habit. If you get into the habit of being organized, getting your homework done and having a good work ethic while you are in grade 10 (or younger), then you are more likely to carry those good habits with you to university and into the workplace. In addition, some of the higher caliber universities DO look at your grade 10, 11 and 12 marks, especially when they see your transcripts. It is better to be safe than sorry. :)
Thank you for your question, and I will you all the best in all your endeavors!

That's kind of interesting for me to get readers' questions. I love to answer them! :)
So, if you have a question you can email yhempler@gmail.com or simply post a comment here. Please state if you would like to be anonymous, since I want to protect the privacy of my readers.

Yana Hempler Reviews StudentAwards.com

StudentAwards.com is a resource site for college and university students. It is a site where they can find information on scholarships, awards, cash prizes and grants, which will help them finanace their education.

When signing up for StudentAwards.com, you are asked to fill out a profile with your interests, work experience, volunteer experience, as well as your intended area of study/career objectives. Other bits of information that you are asked to provide are: contact information, biographical information, parental background, memberships/affiliations, activities, religion, cultural background/heritage, hobbies, important criteria and circumstances, and much more.

The reason you are asked for all the personal and private information is so that you are matched with scholarships that best suit your criteria. Therefore, StudentAwards.com is much better than many scholarship info sites because it matches you to scholarships on a much deeper level.

Some of the scholarships are available only to people who are of a certain ethnic/religious background or have afilliations with certain clubs. Therefore, it is very important not to leave this information blank.

Here are some tips for using StudentAwards.com:
1. Fill out your profile accurately and completely. Do not leave blanks, because the more honest and detailed you are the higher the chance that you will be matched with a scholarship that you can win because you are eligible.

2. Check StudentAwards.com often, at least once a month. I missed quite a few scholarship opportunities because I was away from the computer for a while and realized that the deadlines have passed. :( Don't let this happen to you.

3. Check the scholarship deadlines. Sometimes StudentAwards.com posts expeired scholarships into your "awards inbox", so keep that in mind.

4. Make a printout or a list of scholarships that you have to apply for and their deadlines as well as what you are required to include in your application. For example: are you asked for reference letters from 3 people? do you have to have your official transcripts? etc. Make sure to get those well ahead of the due date, so that you do not put together an application package in a rush and end up missing deadlines or risk having your application rejected because you do not have everything they need.

5. Keep your profile updated. If you got a new hobby/interest: fill it in. If you've changed your career objective: edit your profile, etc. It is very important!

6. Take advantage of the Uthinkonline surveys that StudentAwards.com forwards to your email. After filling out a survey, you are always entered into a draw where you can win cool prizes, cash money, and much more. Those surveys usually take anywhere between 5-30 min, and ask basic questions about stuff that you are most likely doing anyways. They are easy and who knows, you might get lucky!!

So I definitely suggest that students check out StudentAwards.com and sign up. My experience with them has been quite good. The site is easy to navigate, well worth it.
Good luck!! :)

Financial Resource Websites for University Students

Are you planning on going to university? Worried about not being able to pay tuition?
Well, I am in the process of compliling a list of websites that provide information on applying for scholarships. If you know of any legitimate scholarship websites, please submit them here.

www.studentawards.com

Yana Hempler: BP scholarships to local students

This article was taken directly from the website of BCLocalNews.com
It was Published: December 15, 2009 5:00 PM

Two North Island students are twice winners of business scholarship funded by Black Press.

The scholarship program administered by the University of Victoria grants s a $5,000 scholarship to one student in each of B.C.’s 37 school districts.

The purpose of the scholarship program is to encourage the development of business skills in students to encourage them to build strong businesses in their home towns, generating economic diversity and stability in communities throughout B.C.

Yana Hempler is a graduate from North Island Secondary in Port McNeill.

“I am entering my second year of studies at the university (UVic),” said Hempler, who also won the Black Press scholarship last year.

“In my fourth year, I am planning on specializing in International Marketing or Entrepreneurship. I hope to one day work for one of the top accounting firms in North America, or open up my own accounting firm or a talent agency.”

Fellow recipient Russell Murray was born and raised in Port Alice. Russell is entering his fourth year of UVic’s Business program and is two-time winner of the Black Press Scholarship after learning about it from the UVic’s website last year. Upon graduation, he plans to attend law school and become a corporate lawyer.

Reference: http://www.bclocalnews.com/business/79352102.html

51 Money Making Ideas for University Students

Through my personal experience, as well as the experience of others, I have done a lot of research on ways to make money in university. If you don't want a minimum-wage part-time job since it doesn't fit into your schedule, and you want to make money on your own terms, please read on.

WARNING: Results may vary. Not everyone can do everything, but I can guarantee that there is a way for everyone. Some things require a lot of talent and skill, but other things are trivial and require very little thinking. Even with these ways, you need to put in some time if you want to make money. If you are looking for a guaranteed get-rich quick scheme, this posting is not for you. But, if you are committed, and want to make some pocket money, and possibly more, then keep reading.

Not all of these ways apply to every area, province, country. Be sure to check out bylaws/policies for some of the things, such as raffles, etc.

1.Get good grades and be an active member of the community/school in order to have a chance to apply for and get scholarships

2.Start working while you're in high school and save money to go to university. Put that money into a high-interest savings account

3.Find something you are good at and use it. Examples include: photography, web design, etc.

4.Tutor high school and elementary students (some people make $20 or more per hour)

5.Babysit: you can earn good money from regular gigs.

6.Event Hosting: If you are a social butterfly, you could bring tonnes of people into a club and share in commissions.

7.Collect Bottles: although it does not pay much, it is good quick cash

8.Promo-work: If you love to talk to people and hand out flyers, that's awesome!

9.Life-drawing model: If you are not the typical model material, you can find paid work in art classes (However, you may have to work nude)

10.Create a simple affiliate/link building website: charge people small amounts (like $5/link) to place their permanent link there.

11.If you know a language,become a translator for tourists/new students

12.Sell on EBay: You can buy things cheap in bulk/wholesale and then everything will sell.

13.Paid Surveys: some sites pay you to take product surveys, but you have to be very careful and check a site thoroughly before applying, so you don't get scammed or spammed.

14.Coaching athletics: If you're good at sports, it's awesome.

15.Dog walking: some people pay a lot if they are too lazy to walk their dogs. Imagine if you had 5 people paying you $50/week to walk their dog?

16.Research projects at the university: some studies pay for students to participate

17.Mystery shopper

18.Referee at Intramurals (pays well, esp if you have experience and a certificate)

19.Clean people's houses (some pay very well for you to come in once a week and do a great job)

20.Phone soliciting for commission: some companies pay up to 25% commission on sales/leads

21.Go to sites like craigslist, etc, and look for free things. See if you can then sell them to someone else at a yard/garage sale. Even if you sell something for $1, you will have still made a profit if you got that item free.

22.Medical trials (could sometimes pose a risk to your health though)

23.Become an extra

24.If you have a car/license, you could drive drunk people home at prices that are a little bit cheaper than a cab and still profit

25.Work for the university doing campus tours/be a community leader

26.If you're good at baking, you could sell your baked goods

27.If you live where there is snow, you could shovel people's drive ways

28.Mow people's lawns/do yardwork

29.Go through your things at home and see which clothing items/board game/CDs, etc you don't need and sell them. You'll get rid of your junk, and make some pocket money.

30.Sell your textbooks that you no longer need.

31.Sell other people's stuff (if they want to sell it) and charge commission.

32.Write articles for magazines, if you have some useful expertise in the area they are looking for

33.Share your rent with other people needing a place to live.

34.Do grocery shopping for someone else. Many people don't want to do their grocery shopping. Some are even willing to make a list, give it to you, and then you get all items, and they pay you for going.

35.Wash windows for businesses/private homeowners

36.Get paid to click on people's ads online. Make sure it's legit though.

37.Write articles for eHow.com. If your article is good, you can make a good amount of money.

38.If you have any musical talent, become a street performer

39.You can review music by listening to it on http://www.slicethepie.com/

40.Write a blog on a subject that you are passionate/know a lot about, then you might get advertisers in your niche wanting to place their ad there.

41.Traditional market research by providing reviews on a product.

42. Win some competitions: Bikini contest (if you can), fitness contest/competition, hair styling competition, artwork, local talent contest, etc,enter draws, send in mail entries. If you enter many things, you may be able to win some.

43.Set up a professional ironing business. Seriously, people will pay for it too.

44.House-sitting. Many home owners going on vacation may want someone to keep an eye on their nice house, so they will pay you.

45. Along with house sitting is pet-sitting. Come in, feed the cats/dogs/birds, etc, and leave. Then get paid.

46.Become an interviewer. Some research companies are looking for freelance interviewers to talk to their subjects. So, if you are good with people, this could be great.

47.Advertise on your car. Some companies can pay you a monthly fee to drive around with their ad.

48.Work at election/count votes (some places only get volunteers, so check to make sure they pay if you want money)

49.If you are knowledgeable of a subject matter, write a downloadable e-book and sell it to people who want it.

50.Offer marketing services to Offline businesses.

51.Hold a raffle.You may need licensing.

Black Press Scholarship

The Black Press Scholarship (valued at $5000) is given to University of Victoria Students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce program. Usually, two students from each of the school districts in British Columbia receive the scholarship.The preference is given to first year students who are entering the university right out of high school. However, just because you are a second, third or fourth year student at UVic, it does not mean that you should not apply. Sometimes, there are not enough qualified applicants that can receive this scholarship.

To be considered a qualified applicant, you usually need to be accepted into the business program upon entry into the university. You also should have a high academic average because that is one of the first things that people look for when searching for a winner. Another aspect of the scholarship is your involvement at your high school and in your community. Were you on the track team? Did you do fundraising for charity? If so, put that into your personal statement when submitting your application.

Your personal statement has to be well-written. You have to write something about yourself, and your goals. When talking about your goals, you should be clear on what you hope to achieve by being in the business program at UVic. It does not matter that you are unsure about what you want to do, or that you may change your mind later. The thing is, you cannot write "I don't know what I want to do, but I'm going into business to see where it takes me". You may also want to write about how well you did at school when it comes to academics. Did you receive any academic awards worth noting? Were you the top academic student? If so, put that in. There, you have your first paragraph.

In the next paragraph of your personal statement, you may talk about your community and school involvement. It is here that you discuss your athletic achievement, as well as whether or not you were a part of any school club. Examples include art club, drama club, school council, leadership group, anything...You should also mention if you were the top fundraiser for any charity, or if you were directly involved with any charity.

In the third paragraph, you may talk about what your interests are and what you like to do. Obviously, you want to highlight the good and not mention the bad.


For more information, check out this website: http://www.business.uvic.ca/undergraduate/prospective/blackpress/

GOOD LUCK!!

PS. I got this scholarship twice.

Canada is a Vertical Mosaic

WARNING: The content of the following essay may not be reproduced, copied, or sold.

Various degrees of inequality are present in every part of the world, including Canada. Some people argue that Canada is based on multiculturalism, which recognizes and respects the existence of different cultures within the country. Others, however, believe that Canada is not really pluralistic but rather a vertical mosaic, where race, gender, and social class may create disadvantages for certain people (Macionis, Jansson, & Benoit, 2009). According to Fuller and Vosko (2008), there are social divisions based on gender, race, ethnicity, and immigrant status. Race is defined as a “socially constructed category composed of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important”, while ethnicity is simply a “shared cultural heritage” (Macionis, Jansson & Benoit, 2009, pp. 283-284). When visible minorities (Asians, Arabs, East-Indians, etc.) and others come to Canada, they have to make a choice between assimilation and maintaining their ethnic identity (Beiser & Hou, 2006). If they choose not to assimilate, they may face segregation, as well as being more susceptible to prejudice and discrimination. However, race and ethnicity are not the only reasons for discrimination and segregation. According to Blackburn and Jarman (2006) “there is a degree of occupational gender segregation in the more industrialized countries (such as Canada)” (p.289). Lastly, a person’s original social class may create additional barriers to social mobility. In this essay, I am going to discuss the presence of racism, sexism and class inequality in Canada.

First of all, ethnic and visible minorities face prevalent economic inequalities and are consistently disadvantaged (Kovacs, 2007). According to Sager and Morier (2002), recent immigrants, especially those of specific ethnic origins, are selected into occupations of low skill and low wages. Sager and Morier (2002) also state that stereotypes and social exclusion may be the reasons for the ethnic hierarchy in Canada. Therefore, new immigrants and visible minorities are more likely to hold blue-collar occupations, which require more physical work for a smaller wage as opposed to the white-collar occupations. Also, “proponents of the ethnic inequality thesis have argued that the Canadian education system has been a mechanism to reproduce social inequality and that educational opportunity was not equally accessible to all groups” (as cited in Lian & Matthews, 1998, p.463). Even if all ethnic groups had equal access to education, Lian and Matthews (1998) argue that there are significant differences in the “returns for education” among various racial groups. Those of British and other Western European backgrounds earned significantly more than visible minorities at all levels of education. Gosine (2000) also states that “it is clear that visible minorities do not enjoy the same returns from their investment in human capital as white Canadians” (p.89). Although Canada is not explicitly racist, some elements of racism are causing the social and economic inequalities.

Another aspect of Canada’s vertical mosaic is sexism, “the belief that one gender is innately superior to the other” (Macionis, Jansson, & Benoit, 2009, p. 260). According to Macionis et al., “males remain dominant in many areas of Canadian life” (p.260). The dominance of males over females is known as patriarchy. Women, just like any other minority, are often disadvantaged when it comes to employment (Cornish, 1996). For example, “women are not promoted to the top academic rank, full professor, at the same rate and speed as men” (as cited in Side & Robbins, 2007, p.168). Side and Robbins (2007) also state that “the increasing numbers of women among full-time faculty appointments and their movement through the ranks have not secured their equal consideration as promising or established scholars, let alone as research experts and senior academic decision makers” (p.168).Women tend to hold lower-paying jobs in the tertiary sector of the economy, such as food services. Not only do women have low-paying jobs, but they are also more likely to live in poverty. The idea that women make up a large proportion of the poor is known as “feminization of poverty” (Macionis, Jansson, & Benoit, 2009, p.221). Although the employment equity laws attempt to decrease the income disparities between men and women, gender stratification is still present in Canada.

Lastly, class inequality is definitely present in Canada. According to Macionis, Jansson and Benoit (2009), “even in affluent Canada, families go hungry, live in inadequate housing, and suffer poor health because of wrenching poverty” (p.220). The low-income families will most likely not be able to send their children to university. Therefore, the cycle of poverty may continue for generations to come. Also, children born into poor families are more likely to have a shorter life span than those born into rich families due to the amount and type of health care they receive. Then, there are the privileged families in Canada whose yearly incomes are at least $135000 (Macionis, Jansson, & Benoit, 2009). They have the means to send their children to prestigious schools and universities, which allows the children to become as affluent as their parents had been. The rich people also have more power, which allows them to have more influence on the society. On the contrary, “society segregates the lower class, especially when the poor are racial or ethnic minorities” (Macionis, Jansson, & Benoit, 2009, p. 216). Therefore, social class is definitely the limiting factor for some people.

In conclusion, there are several pieces of evidence that show Canada is a vertical mosaic as opposed to a tolerant, multicultural nation where everyone has equal opportunities to reach his/her full potential. First, various visible minorities are consistently disadvantaged when it comes to employment and education due to some degrees of institutional discrimination and prejudice. They earn significantly lower wages and are also used as scapegoats when the rest of the society faces an economic downturn. Women are another group of people facing similar disadvantages to those of the visible minorities. Despite the attempts to decrease the gender inequalities, elements of patriarchy still linger in Canada. Also, one’s social class at birth can be a determinant of one’s future. For example, if someone is born poor he/she most likely will remain poor. Therefore, according to the intersection theory, a woman of color born into a poor family is disadvantaged on many different levels. Undoubtedly, Canada’s laws are attempting to create equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of race, gender, and social class, but more work needs to be done in order to make the vertical mosaic disappear.


REFERENCES

Beiser, M., & Hou, F. (2006). Ethnic identity, resettlement stress and depressive affect among Southeast Asian refugees in Canada. Social Science & Medicine, 63(1), 137-150.

Blackburn, R., & Jarman, J. (2006). Gendered occupations. International Sociology, 21(2), 289-315.

Cornish, M. (1996). Employment and pay equity in Canada--success brings both attacks and new initiatives. Canada -- United States Law Journal, 22, 265-278.

Fuller, S., & Vosko, L. (2008). Temporary employment and social inequality in Canada: Exploring intersections of gender, race and immigration status. Social Indicators Research, 88(1), 31-50.

Gosine, K. (2000). Revisiting the notion of a 'recast' vertical mosaic in Canada: Does a post secondary education make a difference?. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 32(3), 89-104.

Kovacs, Z. (2007). Dimensions of inequality in Canada. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 39(1/2), 239-241.

Lian, J., & Matthews, D. (1998). Does the vertical mosaic still exist? Ethnicity and income in Canada, 1991. Canadian Review of Sociology & Anthropology, 35(4), 461-482.

Macionis, J. J., Jansson, S. M., & Benoit, C. M. (c2009). Society the basics (Custom edition for the University of Victoria). Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada.

Sager, E., & Morier, C. (2002). Immigrants, ethnicity, and earnings in 1901: Revisiting Canada's vertical mosaic. Canadian Historical Review, 83(2), 196-229.

Side, K., & Robbins, W. (2007). Institutionalizing inequalities in Canadian universities: The Canada research chairs program. NWSA Journal, 19(3), 163-181.