Hello Friends,
Clutter in a teenager's bedroom or elsewhere — no matter who is the clutter bug — has a solution. Find out how to de-clutter your home, and encourage those around you to do likewise in our feature article for the month of November, "Overcoming the Negative Impact of Clutter."
On a happy holiday note, we are dishing up tasty and fascinating historical tidbits about November's big holiday in this month's bonus article, "Wild and Wonderful Facts About Thanksgiving."
Catch up on my latest favorite book in our special feature for November: "What Is Betty Reading? Outlive by Peter Attia, MD."
Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, as well as assistance in overcoming or coping with Executive Function Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Specific Learning Disability.
Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Best regards,
Betty
Overcoming the Negative Impacts of Clutter
A teen’s bedrooms and a mess. Those two things are a given, right? College dorm rooms and tight space creates a mess. It’s a given, right? Wrong. And let’s not just point at the teens, because we all have our junk drawers and closets crammed full of who-knows-what. But there is a point where that clutter begins to cause a problem, where it impacts our environment, and mental and physical health in a negative way.
Those piles of paper, magazines, books, clothes, and dirty dishes actually increase stress levels, and have been directly associated with anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Clutter also affects our ability to focus, and it can prevent us from getting a good night’s sleep. Let’s face it, constantly looking for things that get lost isn't fun.
Furthermore, clutter can have a negative impact on our ability to be creative, process social situations accurately, think critically, and frankly, it has a negative impact on the visual appeal and comfort level of our living space.
So as parent, if you see that your teen or college-aged young adult has a clutter problem, jump in and help them to become more organized. And if you, as a parent, have a home in a similar state, think about setting a good example and taking steps to de-clutter.
To begin:
Start by cutting the clutter. Toss items that aren’t needed or that don’t bring you joy.
Set up separate work areas, stocked with the supplies needed for that work, study, or hobby.
Set a consistent daily time, perhaps before heading to bed, to give your home/room/living area a quick once-over and make sure that everything is put away. Additionally, schedule a weekly time to clean and re-organize.
If the de-cluttering or clean-up ahead of you is too overwhelming, then here are a few ideas that might help:
Instead of doing a marathon clean-up, break the job into smaller steps. Set a timer (20-25 minutes) to tackle a task and when that timer goes off, stop. Take a break, and start all over again after a short breather or even later in the day, but do get back to it again.
Forget about making your space perfect. Perfection is over-rated. Focus on the "good enough" theory. Make the space presentable.
Put on music to set an upbeat mood and make the task more fun.
Put away your phone. Silence it and stick it in a drawer so that it doesn’t become a distraction and you lose your motivation, train of thought, momentum.
Ask a friend to help if it’s just too overwhelming or if you need the extra motivation. The caveat here though, is to make sure you stay focused on your goal and don’t get distracted by your company.
Specific de-clutter strategies::
Have a place for everything. This part may take a little time to accomplish but once done, maintaining an organized space is much easier. Have a basket for mail, a tray by the TV for the remote, a box or hook next to the door for keys. Everything needs its own space and everything needs to be in its space. You’ll save yourself a lot of time not having to search for these frequently lost items over and over again!
Put a trash can in every room in your home. If a trash can is always handy, you’ll be more likely to throw items away.
Put a laundry hamper near your closet for use whenever you change your clothes. No more clothes piled on the chairs or floor!
Identify the areas where piles consistently accumulate, such as the table where your mail piles up, or the corner where shoes are tossed. Identify those spots and once sorted, manage them daily before heading to bed.
Create and keep an organized desk or study space. Books on a book shelf. Thumb drives, printer ink, pens, tape, stapler, etc in a drawer. Paper into desktop shelving.
Organizing aids such as baskets, tubs, and small shelves can be purchased very cheaply at your favorite big box, dollar, or office supply store. Shoeboxes work well too! Once you have your containers, label them to make it easier to see what goes into what bin more quickly
Do your dishes or load your dishwasher after every meal.
Do your laundry as soon as you have a load, rather than letting dirty clothes accumulate.
Do you shop as a form of entertainment? Bear in mind that this can be a real clutter hazard, so buy intentionally. When you get your item(s) home, find a place for them immediately, and use the one-in-one-out trick. For every new item you bring into your home, one item has to go out. Believe me, following this rule will save you some angst in the future.
And now for a few words of encouragement:
We realize that cleaning-up and de-cluttering can bring up negative emotions, even physical discomfort. For this reason, it is especially important to break up your tasks into smaller bits in order to overcome the situation where you’d rather avoid the job all together. Smaller tasks work just fine and still get the job done.
Reward yourself after finishing each step! Take a hike, visit your favorite coffee shop, hang with friends. After tackling a difficult task, you’ve earned it.
The quality of your life will be better and your living space more enjoyable when you make decluttering a part of your routine. Think about it: no more overflowing kitchen sink or laundry basket, no more missed deadlines because important papers got lost, no more lateness to class or work because you’ve been looking for lost keys, no more struggling with an overly crowded closet when you’re trying to get ready for the day, no more late bills or lost gift cards or tossed food that got pushed to the back of a too cluttered fridge. Just think of it!
Final thoughts:
Your home should be your haven, your soft place to land in a world that is sometimes too hard. Having a messy home has nothing to do with your worth as a person, it just means that you’re human. By spending time de-cluttering, cleaning up, and organizing, you’re transforming your home into the oasis that you deserve.
Wild and Wonderful Facts About Thanksgiving
In reading through a past issue of House Beautiful recently, we discovered this fabulous list of wild and wonderful facts about Thanksgiving. Enjoy!
Thanksgiving was originally celebrated in mid-October. President Lincoln moved the holiday to it’s current November date to coincide with the Pilgrim’s landing on Plymouth Rock.
Although pumpkin pie has been an important part of the Thanksgiving meal since the 1700’s, it is apple pie that is America’s favorite, with pumpkin coming in second, according to the American Pie Council.
Female turkeys don’t gobble. What?! The female birds purr and cackle.
The tradition of football on Thanksgiving was started by college teams, beginning in 1876 with a game between Yale and Princeton.
Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to his daughter, wrote, "For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country...For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird."
The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, held in 1924, included monkeys, bears, camels, and elephants from the Central Park Zoo, instead of the giant balloons we enjoy today.
Snoopy has made more appearances in the Macy’s parade than any other character.
Sarah Josepha Hale, who wrote to President Lincoln, asking that he declare a national day of thanksgiving in order to help heal the trauma of the Civil War, also wrote the favorite childhood song, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Thanksgiving leftovers led to the invention of those iconic TV dinners we so fondly remember. How? In 1953, Swanson overestimated the number of frozen turkeys that the company should order for Thanksgiving, leaving the company with 260 tons of extra turkey after the holiday. Rather than eating the loss (pun intended), a salesman with the company came up with the idea to create and sell individual turkey dinners, complete with cornbread dressing, gravy, peas, and sweet potatoes, all on reheatable trays. By the end of 1954, Swanson sold 10 million frozen turkey meals and thus, the TV dinner was born.
In 1989, George H.W. Bush was the first president to pardon a turkey. But did you know, that in November of 1926, Calvin Coolidge was gifted a live raccoon, intended to be his Thanksgiving dinner. He hated the idea of eating a raccoon, so decided to keep it as a pet instead.
The day after Thanksgiving, aka Black Friday, is the busiest day of the year for plumbers. We’ll leave that factoid there.
Have you wondered if there is a connection between the turkey bird and the country of Turkey? Well, there is. During the Ottoman Empire, guinea fowl were exported from East Africa via Turkey to Europe, and Europeans started calling the birds turkey-cocks or turkey-hens due to the trade route. So, when Europeans first sailed to North America and discovered birds that looked similar to guinea fowl, they called them "turkeys."
Before becoming the Christmas anthem we all know and love, “Jingle Bells” was titled “The One Horse Open Sleigh” and it’s composer, James Pierpont, had intended it to be a Thanksgiving song. In 1859, the title of the song was officially changed.
What Is Betty Reading? Outlive by Peter Attia, MD
I just finished reading and annotating Outlive by Peter Attia, MD. This book was recommended to me by a college student I am currently working with. After our weekly meeting to develop his Executive Functioning skills, he and I spend time reviewing the book. He brings the the perspective of a 19 year old and I bring the outlook of someone much older(!), so we each have a lot to add to our conversations.
Dr. Attia addresses the "Four Horsemen" or diseases that are causing medical problems in today’s world and what can be done to mitigate these illnesses. He offers advice on what a college student can do to stay healthy as well as exercises/diet and sleep pattern changes an older person can make to do their best to ensure that they are as healthy as possible in their last decade. An informative and fascinating book for anyone who is interested in living the best life possible.
Letter from Betty for October 2023
Hello Friends,
Attention parents of college-age children: the convergence of winter months and young adulthood is often when symptoms of SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, first present themselves. Learn more about how to help your college student (or anyone else) get through these moody periods in our feature article for October, "The Winter Blues: Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder.”
Speaking of coping with difficult moods, each of the four seasons of the year requires a different strategy for taking good care of yourself. Find out about the winter, spring, summer, and fall of it all in our bonus article for October, "You Can Do It! Fours Seasons of Self-Care."
Catch up on my latest favorite book in our special feature for October: "What Is Betty Reading? Strip Cuts and Wayward Son: Travels and Reflections by David Drayer."
Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, as well as assistance in overcoming or coping with Executive Function Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Specific Learning Disability.
Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Best regards,
Betty
The Winter Blues: Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder
Daylight hours are getting noticeably shorter this month and you might be noticing the beginnings of the “winter blues” in yourself or in loved ones. It’s not unusual for moods to change along with the seasons, as symptoms may start to develop in October, worsen around daylight savings time, and become a bit more prominent until spring, when we get longer daylight hours again. What is this phenomenon? It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, for short.
What are some of the symptoms of these “winter blues?”
Feeling down, having problems with sleep, having trouble concentrating, having low energy, changes in appetite, loss of interest in usually fun activities, wanting to hibernate, craving carbohydrates, and unusual weight change may all be indicators of SAD.
In truth, millions of people suffer from SAD, which occurs much more frequently in women, and is more common in those living in northern states. In most cases, these “winter blues” seem to crop up during young adulthood.
What causes this to happen?
There doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer, but there are theories that during the winter months, people may experience reduced serotonin levels in the brain, a chemical that is important in mood regulation. Another theory is that there may be an over-production of the hormone, melatonin, which regulates our brain’s sleep cycles. Since both of these chemicals are tied to our body’s daily rhythms, changes in those levels can result in seasonal disruption as the daylight hours become shorter.
What should a person to do to fight against these seasonal blues?
Consider light therapy. Getting as much exposure to daylight and/or a bright lightbox can certainly help. Light boxes are about 20 times brighter than ordinary sunlight, so sitting by the box for 30-45 minutes each day may do the trick. Note: people with certain eye diseases or who are taking certain medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight should get permission from their physician before trying this. No light box? Wrap up and take a walk each day for about an hour or so. Better yet, take friends along to enjoy your stroll and enjoy some good conversation and companionship. The exercise will be good for both your physical and your mental health.
Here’s another train of thought: since we experience less daylight during the fall and winter months, there may be a decrease in our vitamin D levels, so adding this nutritional supplement may help to improve symptoms.
Additionally, watching what foods you are eating can help to increase your energy during these months. A diet rich in protein, simple carbs, and loaded with vitamins can help. Enjoy some yummy carbs! Cold weather is a perfect time to enjoy some pasta and potatoes too, just don’t forget to eat your fruits and veggies!
Spend time with people who make you happy, and enjoy those activities that feed your creative side. It’s a great way to lift your mood, and even if you don’t feel like it initially, jumping into those activities or into a social situation will likely lift your mood without you even noticing that it’s happening.
Get as much natural light as you can by sitting near a window whenever possible throughout the day. Even if it’s cloudy, you still can benefit from natural daylight.
Do you have a stressful event or situation coming up? Are you becoming overwhelmed by the upcoming holiday season and all the business that comes with it? Plan ahead to purposefully reduce activities during this time, and make sure to make time to relax and unwind.
Speaking of those holidays, remember all the parts of the season that bring you joy: the festivities, the comfy sweaters, the hot cocoa, the crackling fires in the fireplace, and the company of friends and family. Immerse yourself in the holidays and really let the holiday cheer envelope you.
And importantly, if you need additional help, seek it out. A trained mental health professional can offer you advice to help you through the dark season. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but is a real show of strength, so take advantage of their services if needed.
These “winter blues” are not just your imagination. Millions of people are mood-affected during these darker months, so don’t just brush off your low mood. There are things that you can do to counter the effects of SAD until spring and summer comes again!
You Can Do It! Four Seasons of Self-Care
From Duke University Department of Integrative Medicine: Health and Well-Being, comes a wonderful reminder that as the seasons change, opportunities arise for self-care, for paying attention to our well-being and for taking better care of our loved ones.
Embracing Seasonal Changes for Self-Care
As the seasons change, so too can your self-care routines. Each transition allows you to reevaluate your well-being and make mindful adjustments to support your physical and mental health. Let’s explore how you can use the changes of the season to practice self-care, drawing inspiration from nature’s cycles.
Autumn Reflection
As the leaves change color and fall, it’s an ideal time for introspection. Practice mindfulness and meditation to ground yourself amidst the changing world. Consider journaling to reflect on your goals and priorities. Embrace comfort foods and teas that warm the soul.
Winter Restfulness
Winter encourages us to slow down and find solace in stillness. Create a cozy environment with warm blankets and soothing scents. Dedicate time for self-reflection and setting intentions for the year ahead. Embrace the restorative power of restful sleep.
Spring Renewal
Spring brings forth a sense of renewal and growth. Just as flowers bloom, you can refresh your self-care practices. Spend time outdoors, soaking in the increased sunlight and fresh air. Engage in spring cleaning to declutter your space and your mind. Consider planting a garden or nurturing houseplants to connect with nature’s vitality.
Summer Revitalization
Summer invites us to embrace relaxation and adventure. Take vacations or staycations to rejuvenate. Enjoy seasonal fruits and vegetables to nourish your body. Engage in outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, or picnics to recharge your spirit.
Year-round Connection
Regardless of the season, prioritize regular self-care practices like exercise, healthy eating, and maintaining social connections. These habits form the foundation of your well-being and can be seamlessly integrated into each season’s unique self-care routine.
Incorporating self-care that aligns with the changing seasons supports your well-being and connects you to the rhythms of nature. By being attuned to these shifts, you can cultivate a more balanced and harmonious life that reflects the beauty and wisdom of the world around you.
What Is Betty Reading? Strip Cuts and Wayward Son: Travels and Reflections by David Drayer
Over the summer I picked up a habit from my older sister, so while I was away in western Pennsylvania, I purchased a book by a local author. Actually it was two books by David Drayer: Strip Cuts and Wayward Son: Travels and Reflections. Wayward Son took me throughout many parts of Pennsylvania, even here in the East, as the author/motorcyclist took a sabbatical from work to explore and write about his surroundings. In Strip Cuts Drayer recounts stories in small town America and the challenges that come with living in such an environment. I enjoyed the easy relaxed reading of both books and becoming familiar with many of Pennsylvania's precious nooks and crannies.
Letter from Betty for September 2023
Hello Friends,
College is a special time for students as it introduces a whirlwind of new experiences. Find out how college students (and all of us) can look after ourselves better and reduce stress in this month's feature article, "The Importance of Self Care for College Students."
Speaking of stress, one sure-fire way of overcoming it is to immerse yourself in nature and the natural world. This month of September is a great time to go star-gazing at night. Learn about heavenly sights visible this month in our bonus article, "You Can Do It! Just Look Up." Enjoy the views!
Catch up on my latest favorite book in our special feature for September: "What Is Betty Reading? The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand."
Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, as well as assistance in overcoming or coping with Executive Function Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Specific Learning Disability.
Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Best regards,
Betty
The Importance of Self Care for College Students
The new school year is upon us, and college students are facing a whole new world. With this new world comes stressors, challenges, and a level of decision-making they’ve not had to face before. Stress-related anxiety is very common among students as they focus on academics, a new communal living situation, extracurriculars, and other life-management demands, so focusing on self-care is especially important, and setting up a healthy routine now rather than when situations become too difficult, should be a priority.
College students, this article is for you, but really, self-care and wellness is important for everyone, so read on!
Beginning any new endeavor, whether it’s a new job or entering into college life, requires a readjustment that can be difficult to navigate. Studies have found that the steepest increase in stress and anxiety usually occurs during the initial transition to college and during the first few semesters. After that, those stress levels typically remain elevated, so it’s important that a focus on self-care begins right from the start. Does this mean that if you’re well into your college experience that it’s too late? No! Paying attention to self-care has its benefits, no matter when you start, so begin now. The human body can withstand occasional stress, but long-term or chronic stress can impact not only mental health, but physical and behavioral health too, not to mention how much it impacts the college experience and quality of life. Paying attention to self-care can help to manage stress, lower risk of illness, enhance self-confidence, boost productivity, and increase energy and feelings of happiness as well. Even small acts of daily self-care can have a big impact.
Recognizing stress symptoms is key to maintaining wellness during college years and beyond. Red flags include increased number of headaches, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, feelings of restlessness, anger, irritability, sadness, depression, problems with focus, unhealthy substance abuse, over/under eating, social withdrawal, lack of energy for exercising or other physical activity, and a general feeling that your life demands far outweigh the resources that you have to meet those demands.
So where do you start?
Healthy eating, adequate sleep, and daily exercise, to begin with. It’s good, not only for the body, but for the brain as well.
Practice good time management and keep a structured routine. Set and protect study time and personal time as well. Use alarm clocks to get to class on time (or early!) and make to-do lists to complete academic work as well as personal chores.
Surround yourself with people who are supportive. Maintaining those relationships are important while you juggle the demands of college life. They can be a good source of motivation, and can help with problem solving as they too are moving through the challenges of their college experience.
Stay connected with friends and family, for they can cheer you on during hard times, they can remind you of the reasons why you’ve chosen to follow this path, and reaching out to your supportive circle will help you avoid feelings of isolation and loneliness while at the same time, help you feel grounded.
Make yourself a priority by occasionally checking in on your work-life balance. With so much on your plate, it’s easy to slip away from self-care, and that balance is important to your over-all wellness during college and beyond.
Take time for relaxation and “escape.” Listen to music, read a book, practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, video chat with an old friend, get coffee with someone and don’t talk about school at all, take a walk in the woods, or join a club,. These activities are vital when trying to maintain a good life balance and help you to avoid burnout.
If you need additional help from a trusted person, go get it! Talk to your advisor, find a mentor, reach out to the school’s counseling center. All of these folks can help guide you and are there for you.
The college years can be exciting, but they’re also demanding and require a great deal of you. Be patient with yourself as you navigate your way. Taking the time and learning self-care skills now will benefit you, not only during your college years, but well into the future.
You Can Do It! Just Look Up
The nights are getting cooler and it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the planetary spectacular that this month brings. The Farmer’s Almanac offers a daily list of what to look for, so get your telescope and get out there!
The Evening Planets
Jupiter and Saturn are the planets to see in the evening. For Jupiter, look toward the east and high in the sky. For Saturn, took to the southeast after sunset. In the early evening, Mars lies very low in the west shortly after sunset.
The Morning Planets
Venus shoots rapidly higher each morning, before dawn, reaching its greatest brilliance of 2023 at midmonth. Venus will cast shadows on Earth. Above the same Eastern horizon, look for Mercury to reach its highest position on the 6th.
September 4 to 5: Jupiter Near Moon
Jupiter is high overhead during September nights. Look on September 4 and 5, when the Moon serves as a guide to locate the King of Planets. Jupiter will rise about 10 p.m.
September 11 to 12: Venus on Display
Witness a breathtaking sight just before dawn when Venus stands to the right of the crescent Moon within the constellation of Cancer.
September 19: Neptune in Opposition
Neptune comes into opposition this evening, which means that the Earth is directly between the planet and the sun. However, if you want to look at this tiny, blue disk, you will need to use your trusting telescope to bring it into view.
September 21: Mercury Dangles Below Venus
Very low in the east, Mercury will rise one hour before sunrise. It will dangle right below Venus. Mercury reaches its greatest elongation from the Sun on September 22; the nearest planet to the Sun is now at its best as a morning star. Venus is much higher in the sky and will climb higher each morning and will reach its greatest elongation on October 23.
September 22: Moon in the Milky Way
Head outside around 8 PM, and look to the Southern sky for a spectacular view. The First Quarter Moon hovers in front of the Milky Way’s center, in the constellation Sagittarius.
September 23: Autumnal Equinox
Saturday morning, September 23, brings the autumnal equinox—at 2:50 A.M. This marks the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. The equinoxes occur twice per year when Earth’s tilt with respect to the Sun is the same for both hemispheres. Both north and south receive the same amount of sunlight, and day and night are, briefly, of nearly equal length.
September 26: Saturn Sighting
Saturn, the ringed planet, is easy to locate this evening. You can observe the golden planet shining steadily (versus the twinkling stars) as it hovers just above the Moon nearly all night long.
September 29: Full Harvest Moon Rises
The month of bright planets closes out with a magical Full Moon on September 29, which peaks at 5:58 A.M. Unlike other full Moons, this full Moon rises at nearly the same time—around sunset—for several evenings in a row, giving farmers several extra evenings of moonlight and allowing them to finish their harvests before the frosts of fall arrive.
What Is Betty Reading? The Five Star Weekend, by Elin Hilderbrand
After two months of enjoying reading students' summer books, I dove into a book of my choice. I chose the popular The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand. I enjoyed this light, but emotional read about a group of women who convene on Nantucket to help a member of the group who has experienced a traumatic event. Hilderbrand's visual descriptions had me sitting on her back deck mesmerized by the ocean view!
Letter from Betty for August 2023
Hello Friends,
Scholarships might be on your mind if you are applying for admission to college. But for the uninitiated, it can be a daunting task to successfully secure a scholarship. There is great advice for this endeavor in our feature article for August, "Tips To Help With Your Scholarship Search."
It is summertime and it has been a hot one. Find some relief from the heat and make your own chilled refreshments by utilizing our bonus article for August, "You Can Do It! Cooling Drink Recipes." Ahhh!
Catch up on my latest favorite book in our special feature for August: "What Is Betty Reading? Beach Read by Emily Henry."
Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, as well as assistance in overcoming or coping with Executive Function Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Specific Learning Disability.
Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Best regards,
Betty
Tips To Help With Your Scholarship Search
Are you looking ahead to college? Here are some tips to help you with your search for scholarships.
If you already have a school in mind, then the first step is to start your scholarship hunt right there. Most times the application for admission is separate from the process for applying for a scholarship or other financial aid. So contact the financial aid office at your prospective school and talk to someone there about the process for application, and what different opportunities might be available to you. Also, make sure to heed to application deadlines!
Don’t overlook the opportunity to talk to your high school college counselor, as they may have a wealth of information regarding financial assistance and services that you can investigate outside of what is offered at your prospective college. There are scholarships that focus on not only your academic interests, but also on other talents, extracurriculars, career goals, and geographic location, and much more, including assistance that could be offered at your parent’s employers, the church you may attend, and from local service clubs and social or professional organizations. Some scholarships might be merit based, others are awarded because of a special trait, talent, or financial need.
Doing an online search may yield hundreds of results, but please bear in mind that you should never pay a service to scholarship hunt for you. Those services are likely scams.
Helpful hint: every scholarship has a different application deadline so do your best to stay organized, keep track of due dates, and work to get those applications in on the earliest date you can. If your application arrives late, it won’t even be considered. Remember too that many of those applications will require an essay from you, so get to work on that right away, giving yourself plenty of time to work on it and get it honed just right.
Consider taking both the SAT and the ACT. Even though some schools are beginning to make those tests optional for admission, many scholarships do ask for those scores.
Don’t get discouraged! You may have to put in dozens of applications before you find one that awards aid to you, but be patient, stay involved in your extracurriculars, and keep your grades up!
Listed below are a few websites you might dive into as a part of your scholarship search, compiled by finance wiz, Clark Howard:
Fastweb.com, which hosts more than 1.5 million scholarships that provide more than $3.5 billion in funding.
CollegeBoard.org. Yes, they’re better known for their college readiness tests, but they also have a division that focuses on scholarships.
Niche.com has a well-organized website that allows users to search by interest, career, major, and other areas.
Scholarships.com probably hosts the largest database available, with more that 3.7 million scholarships and grant opportunities.
Cappex.com hosts a database of more than $11 billion in opportunities.
Chegg.com is widely known for its online textbook store which allows students to either rent or buy their textbooks at a huge discount, but they also offer a list of over 25,000 scholarships, including a “top scholarships picks of the week” category to help you discover some opportunities that you may have missed.
Petersons.com hosts $10 billion in scholarship opportunities and once you fill out a short survey, can filter the results in order to personalize your search.
CareerOneStop.org is the US Labor Department’s search tool and is a great resource for scholarships and grants.
Federal student loans are a great way to help pay for your education, coming with much lower repayment interest rates than a loan from a private lender, so consider applying for a student loan as an additional way to cover your costs.
Again, you should never pay a service to scholarship hunt for you. Those services are likely scams.
There are loads of opportunities available to help you cover the cost of your college education, and though it may take some extra research and hard work filling out all of the required applications, it will pay off in the long run by helping you to avoid graduating from college with the burden of heavy debt, so get to work!
You Can Do It! Cooling Drink Recipes
This summer has been a scorcher, so we tried these cooling drink recipes from FifteenSpatulas.com and wanted to share them with you. Enjoy!
Strawberry Limeade
Ingredients:
1/2 cup lime juice
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1/2 lb sliced strawberries
20-30 mint leaves
2 cups cold water
Instructions:
To make the simple syrup, combine the sugar and water in a saucepan, and cook over medium high heat for 5-10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid is clear.
In a large mason jar or a pitcher, combine the lime juice, simple syrup, strawberries, mint, and water. Let sit in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Serve and enjoy!
Melon Sorbet Float
Ingredients:
assorted melon balls (watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, etc)
2 scoops lemon, raspberry, or other fruity sorbet
fresh mint leaves
seltzer water
Instructions:
Freeze the melon balls for at least three hours until frozen.
To make the drink, put the sorbet into the bottom of a glass, then top with the frozen melon balls. Drop in as much fresh mint as you’d like (anywhere from a couple leaves to a handful), then top with seltzer water.
Let the sorbet melt to sweeten and flavor the drink. Enjoy!
Raspberry Vanilla Soda
Ingredients:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
seltzer water
ice
Instructions:
In a small saucepan set over medium heat, combine the water, sugar, and raspberries. Cook for about 5 minutes until the mixture is bubbling away and the sugar is dissolved. Stir and cook this mixture for another 5 minutes, until the raspberries have cooked down.
Set a fine mesh strainer over a measuring cup or bowl and strain the saucepan mixture, pressing down on the raspberry pulp to squeeze out all the juice. Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract, and let this chill in the refrigerator.
To serve, fill a glass with ice and add 2-3 tbsp of the raspberry syrup. Add about a cup of seltzer on top, and enjoy!
What Is Betty Reading? Beach Read by Emily Henry
Beach Read is very appropriately named as I have heard several people talking about it this summer and with good reason! Emily Henry’s humorous, romantic novel warms the heart but also generates confusion and anger. While the plot is not unusual, as it revolves around summer romance, the twists and turns keep you turning the page and then, when you finish, searching the internet looking for a sequel!
Letter from Betty for July 2023
Hello Friends,
They say your boss usually has a larger vocabulary than you. So if you want to be the boss, learn more words! Related to this phenomenon is the fact that we each have two distinct sets of vocabularies: those words we understand (a larger set of words) and those we can comfortably use (a smaller set of words). Learn more about the science of reading and its benefits in our feature article for July, "Reading Is Good For You."
To celebrate July 4th, read about how Chinese people invented firecrackers to ward off mountain men and other fascinating historical items about fireworks in our bonus article for July, "Did You Know? Facts About Fireworks." Boom! Ooh! Aah!
Catch up on my own latest favorite book in our special feature for July: "What Is Betty Reading? The Firm by John Grisham." Enjoy!
Whatever your educational needs, Foundation for Learning is ready to assist you with caring, one-on-one, individualized tutoring, as well as assistance in overcoming or coping with Executive Function Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Specific Learning Disability.
Please call 610-207-7811 or email betty.foundationforlearning@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Best regards,
Betty
Reading Is Good For You
From time to time, we like to pass a long a list of recommended books to you because we think you’ll enjoy them. But did you know that reading benefits both your physical and your mental health throughout your lifetime?
The process of reading utilizes a network of circuits and signals in your brain, and researchers have used MRI scans in their studies that show that as you read over time, those complex networks get stronger, and that effect occurs not only while reading but also for days afterward. Additionally, the language-processing and sensorimotor regions of the brain are also strengthened.
Does it matter what type of book you are reading? Here is an interesting find: studies show that reading fiction can actually increase your ability to emphasize with others. By exploring, connecting, and “experiencing” the lives of the characters in the book, the reader can develop a heightened ability to understand the thoughts, feelings, and personal beliefs of those characters. This experience translates directly to the reader’s real world, and is particularly important in developing and maintaining the readers own personal and social relationships.
Reading can help us to become more socially aware. Reading about different characters in different situations than our own, help us gain insight into different cultures, economic status, family situations, and more.
Reading helps to develop a larger vocabulary which can directly influence everything from scores on standardized tests and college admission, to job opportunities. A higher vocabulary equals a greater ability to communicate with others effectively.
Reading can help to reduce stress! Just 30 minutes of reading can lower blood pressure, heart rate, relieve muscle tension and feelings of psychological distress, such as anxiety, just as effectively as yoga, walking, or diving into a distracting movie. Why does this work? Scientists theorize that, in part, it’s because of the amount of focus that reading requires, directing the reader’s attention to a single task, just like in meditation. Additionally, getting lost in a good book helps the reader to escape into a state of consciousness, one free from the actual stressors in their daily life. It’s also been found that reading can give some relief to people who deal with depression by allowing for a temporary escape from feelings of isolation and estrangement by diving into the lives and experiences of the characters in the book.
Reading can help you get a better night’s sleep. In fact, doctors at the Mayo Clinic recommend reading as a part of everyone’s regular evening routine. There’s an additional recommendation: it may be best to choose a print book rather that reading from a screen, as the light emitted from an e-reader or other device could keep you awake longer. In fact, the blue light that is emitted from electronic devices has been shown to actually inhibit the release of melatonin in your brain, thus keeping you more alert and preventing you from sliding easily into drowsiness.
Another interesting point regarding reading on a digital device: studies have shown that people who read print books score higher on comprehension tests and remember more that people who read the same material on a digital device. That may be because people who read print books tend to read more slowly that those that read digital content.
Reading can help to prevent cognitive decline as we age. The National Institute on Aging recommends reading as a way of keeping your mind engaged, and suggests that seniors who read and work on math problems (think puzzles!) every day maintain and can even improve cognitive functioning. And though you may not be a senior just yet, the earlier you start, the better. A Rush University Medical Center study found that people who have been reading and doing other mentally stimulating exercises throughout their lives were less likely to develop the plaques, lesions, and protein tangles that are found in people who have been diagnosed with dementia.
The take-away here is: pick up a good book! It’s much more than a guilty pleasure. It’s making time to care for your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Escaping into a good book literally changes your mind.
Did You Know? Facts About Fireworks
From Smithsonian Magazine, here are some interesting facts about the history and science of fireworks:
1. The Chinese used firecrackers to scare off mountain men.
As early as 200 B.C., the Chinese were writing on green bamboo stalks and heating it on coals to dry. Sometimes if left too long over the heat, the wood expanded and even burst, with a bang of course. According to Scientific American, Chinese scholars noticed that the noises effectively scared off abnormally large mountain men. And, thus, the firecracker was born. By some accounts, fireworks were also thought to scare away evil spirits.
2. The invention of fireworks led to the invention of pyrotechnic weaponry—not the other way around.
Sometime between 600 and 900 C.E., Chinese alchemists accidentally mixed saltpeter (or potassium nitrate) with sulfur and charcoal, inadvertently stumbling upon the crude chemical recipe for gunpowder. Supposedly, they had been searching for an elixir for immortality.
This “fire drug” (or huo yao) became an integral part of Chinese cultural celebrations. Stuffing the aforementioned bamboo tubes with gunpowder created a sort of sparkler. It wasn’t long before military engineers used the explosive chemical concoction to their advantage. The first recorded use of gunpowder weaponry in China dates to 1046 and references a crude gunpowder catapult. The Chinese also took traditional bamboo sparklers and attached them to arrows to rain down on their enemies. On a darker note, there are also accounts of fireworks being strapped to rats for use in medieval warfare.
3. Fireworks are just chemical reactions.
A firework requires three key components: an oxidizer, a fuel and a chemical mixture to produce the color. The oxidizer breaks the chemical bonds in the fuel, releasing all of the energy that’s stored in those bonds. To ignite this chemical reaction, all you need is a bit of fire, in the form of a fuse or a direct flame.
In the case of early fireworks, saltpeter was the oxidizing ingredient that drove the reaction, as British scholar Roger Bacon figured out in the early 1200s. Interestingly, Bacon kept his findings a secret, writing them in code to keep them out of the wrong hands.
4. Specific elements produce specific colors.
Firework color concoctions are comprised of different metal elements. When an element burns, its electrons get excited, and it releases energy in the form of light. Different chemicals burn at different wavelengths of light. Strontium and lithium compounds produce deep reds; copper produces blues; titanium and magnesium burn silver or white; calcium creates an orange color; sodium produces yellow pyrotechnics; and finally, barium burns green. Combining chlorine with barium or copper creates neon green and turquoise flames, respectively. Blue is apparently the most difficult to produce. Pyrotechnic stars comprised of these chemicals are typically propelled into the sky using an aerial shell.
5. China may have invented the firework, but Italy invented the aerial shell (and also made fireworks colorful).
Most modern fireworks displays use aerial shells, which resemble ice cream cones. Developed in the 1830s by Italian pyrotechnicians, the shells contain fuel in a cone bottom, while the “scoop” contains an outer layer of pyrotechnic stars, or tiny balls containing the chemicals needed to produce a desired color, and an inner bursting charge. Italians are also credited with figuring out that one could use metallic powders to create specific colors. Today, the shape that the firework produces is a product of the inner anatomy of the aerial shell or rocket.
6. Marco Polo probably wasn’t the first to bring gunpowder to Europe.
While Marco Polo did return from China in 1295 with fireworks, some argue that Europeans were likely exposed to gunpowder weaponry a little earlier during the Crusades. In the 9th century, China began trying to control the flow of gunpowder to its neighbors, in hopes of keeping the benefits of the technology to itself in case of conflict. Given that Arabs used various types of gunpowder-like weapons during the Crusades, gunpowder likely spread to the Middle East along the Silk Road in the intervening period, despite China’s best efforts.
7. Boom! Hiss! Crack! Some firework recipes include sound elements.
Layers of an organic salt, like sodium salicylate, combined with the oxidizer potassium perchlorate burn one at a time. As each layer burns, it slowly releases a gas, creating the whistling sound associated with most firework rockets. Aluminum or iron flakes can create hissing or sizzling sparkles, while titanium powder can create loud blasts, in addition to white sparks.
8. Americans have been setting off fireworks to celebrate their independence since 1777, at least.
Even some of the very first Independence Day celebrations involved fireworks. On July 4, 1777, Philadelphia put together an elaborate day of festivities, notes American University historian James R. Heintze. The celebration included a 13 cannon display, a parade, a fancy dinner, toasts, music, musket salutes, “loud huzzas,” and of course fireworks. Heintze cites this description from the Virginia Gazette on July 18, 1777:
“The evening was closed with the ringing of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks, which began and concluded with thirteen rockets on the commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated. Every thing was conducted with the greatest order and decorum, and the face of joy and gladness was universal. Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious and ever memorable day, be celebrated through America, by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more.”
9. Fireworks have been used in pranks for centuries.
After a series of fireworks shenanigans in 1731, officials in Rhode Island outlawed the use of fireworks for mischievous ends. At the turn of the 20th century, the Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary Noise campaigned against the use of fireworks (and other elements of urban hubbub), and their efforts are largely responsible for the first fireworks regulations in the United States.
What Is Betty Reading? The Firm by John Grisham
I have just finished enjoying a “fun read” with a rising sophomore. This young man chose the book because the adults in his world spoke so highly of the author. My student was not disappointed; he thoroughly enjoyed reading The Firm by John Grisham! He enjoyed discussing the actions of the protagonist and antagonists, the plot line and the many twists. Once mandatory summer reading is completed, he hopes to read another Grisham book before the summer is out.