Studying Abroad

School has already started for a lot of children and many parents are anxious that their son or daughter is at an out-of-state university. For those who decided to study abroad, the following suggestions will definitely come in handy.

It may be a scary feeling to be by yourself in another state but be prepared to adapt and learn as much as possible to your circumstances; always keeping a positive outlook on things.  If you’ve decided to go to school in another country than it would be wise if you learned the culture, after all you may find it interesting to share some of your own and that way both can learn from each other.

It’s normal to be homesick especially if this is the first time you go off on your own and it’s okay to talk to the other person about how you’re feeling, don’t be embarrassed all of us go through that. However, try your best to get into your routine and environment. Keeping in touch with your family is a must but too many calls can hinder your adjustment to your new place.

If you’re living with a host family respect their rules and abide by them, do your chores so that they will see that who they have living under their roof is an exemplary person and one they can trust. If for some reason a misunderstanding occurs be sure to talk things out in a calm and reasonable manner.

Safety Tips

·    Keep your passport and money in a safe place

·    Make photocopies of your passport, entry ticket, return ticket and other important papers; send copies to your parents as well

·    Always have with you telephone numbers of parents or friends at home and of your host family

·    Maintain a good conduct with members of the opposite sex at the host family home, school, work or other places; it will definitely reflect well on you

·    Learn basic words and phrases in that language

·    Get a medical checkup before leaving and if you take medication have an adequate supply

Going to school and learning a different culture is all part of growing up especially when you’re not in familiar surroundings, but if you make the best of it, you will have fond memories to hold on to and guide you along the way.

That’s Entertainment

The other day I was watching TV enjoying the voice of Jackie Evancho from Pittsburgh. If you haven’t heard about her you will; that child whose only 10 years old was on “America’s Got Talent.” I knew when I first heard her she was going to be a hit and she took off.

The story behind her is quite unique; when her parents took her to see “The Phantom of the Opera” that changed everything. There was something about the songs that made her sing them over and over throughout the house. I’ve seen the performance live and can tell you the songs are breathtaking, so to have Jackie who as it is has a beautiful voice sing; it must’ve been quite special. When her parents noticed her voice she started to enter different competitions; she came in second place to a 20 year old opera singer.  Grammy winning producer David Foster took one look at her when she won a regional competition and liked what he saw. Afterwards she sang as he played the piano.

Despite having auditioned twice for “America’s Got Talent” and having been rejected, her parents submitted a YouTube audition; she won the most fan votes; that’s what got her on. They couldn’t pass her by after what they had seen. That just goes to show perseverance pays off.

What I enjoy most about Jackie is her poise; though she knows she has a beautiful voice, she’s not conceited and is extremely modest. This child has embraced classical music which is rare when it comes to children, you would think they go for pop, but that’s not the case with her and the reason is because it really allows her to show her emotions.  Her rendition of Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro” is something to listen to and take in.

Her parents are doing an exceptional job in raising Jackie and they don’t forget that despite her talent, she’s still a child and does things any other child would do with her friends.

http://www.jackieevancho.com/us/home

A Disorder That Has a Name

All of us suffer from it. At one time or another we’ve had to give a speech or speak in front of an audience and our hand freezes, we get tongue tied and start sweating, our heart beats fast, hands tremble and we almost feel like we’re going to throw up or have a heart attack.  It’s more than just being shy. What’s going on?

Social Anxiety

You’re having an anxiety attack and aren’t alone. The truth is it’s the third most common psychiatric disorder; 1 out of 8 Americans suffer from social anxiety disorder. However, there’s good news, this condition is treatable so if you had lost hope, sit back and continue reading. It may not happen overnight but with the right kind of treatment, you can get better. You’ll be confident to know that you can control your anxiety and live the way you want.

Signs and Symptoms

o   Fear of a situation where you have to meet others and be scrutinized by them

o   Intense anxiety of being in the presence of others

o   Physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, shaking, trembling, tense muscles, shaky voice, stuttering, dry mouth or a fast heart beat

o   Panic attacks

o   Repeated attacks of intense fear

o   Feeling something terrible is going to happen

o   Free of public speaking, giving a speech, going on a date or talking to your boss

o   Standing up for yourself

What Causes Social Anxiety?

It can start as early as childhood and sometimes runs in families, especially when you have close relatives like parents and children. Maybe you experienced something traumatic that scarred you and though it’s not something welcoming, it’s not biased when it comes to men and women; they can both suffer from it.

 Social anxiety disorder is also related to an imbalance of a chemical called serotonin that transports signals between nerve cells in your brain. It’s interesting to know that this same chemical has been linked to other mood and anxiety disorders.

Treatment

Cognitive behavioral therapy, which is talk therapy that teaches people to react differently to situations that trigger their symptoms

Social skills training where you rehearse problematic situations (role playing) where the person learns how to make eye contact, talk louder and slower, greet people, say good-bye, respond to requests, ask for favors and handle criticism. They’re shown to be assertive, not aggressive or passive. In other words not be a push over or someone they can walk over; by knowing what to do the person will have less anxiety.  Keeping a diary of your progress is extremely important. It doesn’t matter if you fall short, keep going.

Something to keep in mind is that people who have this anxiety tend to use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate and cope with their problem. This is NEVER a good thing to do. What may help short-term can become a long-term problem.

Recovery

o   Never let others discourage or make you feel ashamed

o   Learn as much as you can about social anxiety disorder

o   Seek others support; join a group with those who have the same problem

o   Be active in how you’re doing, talk to your doctor

o   Have a goal, no matter how small it may be, whether it’s to speak in front of a group or raise your hand

Always remember, no matter how long it takes, you’ll succeed.