Bookworms and A-students may be able to flash a winning report card to admissions directors and employers, but high marks lose their value when they are not accompanied with the social skills necessary to succeed in the workforce. These studious perfectionists are only setting themselves up for failure in the future. A balance between social and academic affairs is crucial to successful life post-graduation. Instead of pulling a nightly 4-hour study session, these students need to get out into the world and experience life, not only relying on the description of a textbook. Without the proper life-skills, these students will realize that success after school will not be an easy “A”.
Academic stress among high-school and college students can have lasting effects. To relieve stress, many students turn to binge drinking, smoking, and stimulant abuse to take the edge off their stressful schedules. The American Journal of Health Studies surveyed 249 undergraduate students in 2000 concerning stress-level, time management, and health issues.This study revealed that much of the stress was “self-imposed” due to “changes, conflict and frustration. This study also covered the physiological effects of leisure activities, and many reported that they experienced no physiological changes after leisure time. Two main stressors found in this study were pressure to complete school work and the learning process as a whole. Behavioral stressors did not appear as often as what the study dubbed self-imposed and school-related stressors.
These types of stressors can—and have been proven to—lead to drastic escape measures such as acting out, becoming withdrawn and in the most extreme cases: suicide. According to another study conducted by The Boston Globe, 11 undergraduate students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) had committed suicide since 1990. This averages to be about one student per year when the study was conducted in 2000. MIT’s undergraduate suicide rates are the highest in the nation according to the study.
Often some under the stress to compete with other students for top marks will resort to academic dishonesty. In a survey conducted by the Electronic Journal of Sociology—sent to more than 15,000 students at 31 major universities—found that over 60 percent admitted cheating at least once. Many resort to cheating on tests or plagiarizing entire papers to get the competitive edge they need for a higher rank.
Any over-achieving student will tell you that their disciplined techniques will pay off in the long run. That student would be wrong. Becoming overly-stressed can actually have negative effects on your marks. Stress affects your health, which in turn will affect your ability to participate in classes and studying. It is almost guaranteed that an unhealthy student will not be giving 100% in all of their courses, leading to lower marks and in turn more stress. Stress also affects memory retention, meaning those six-hour cram-jams are all but worthless.
Though most will agree that academic performance is a major deciding factor in one’s future, there is a limit to how much pressure one can take before breaking. Keeping a balance between social and academic affairs is crucial to becoming a well-rounded student, which is what college admissions officers and employers are really looking for. It’s great to have unscathed “A’s” all through your academic career, but not so beneficial if you do not also have the social and civic skill to carry yourself through the working world.
Okay students, time to review. Too much stress can lead to lasting health affects as well as affect your grades poorly. So, put that study guide away and go for a jog. Call your grandmother. Experience life and you will be a success. After all, it’s not the letters on your transcript that decide who you are.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Newspapers: Is the Web Worse?
With each passing year, as newspapers lose daily circulation, many have begun the transition to online publications. Those still stubbornly residing in the realm of printed news should cut their losses and follow their example.
The benefits of making the stride toward complete online distribution overwhelm those of printed news. As our nation’s economy spirals downward, more businesses have cut back on advertisement. Newspapers’ revenue has taken a significant cut due to the many businesses that cannot afford print advertising. According to Gaebler Ventures, some bigger-name papers can price up to $10,000 for a half-page advertisement. In a local paper, you’d pay an average of $1,000 for a full-page ad. Advertising online, businesses will find themselves paying far less. I-advertising.com says that “there is no ‘average rate’ for advertising online. There is what you are willing to pay and what you are not willing to pay as an advertiser to reach the audience you need to reach and to generate the results you need to generate.” This simply states that paying for online advertisement can be as costly or as cheap as it needs to be for the audience you’re attempting to target. The New York Times has what is called Self-Service Online Advertising, which allows businesses and individuals to create or post their own ad for a price that fits their specific budget.
Subscription revenue does not have to be lost in the switch to online publication. Publishers could create a system in which access to the full text is limited to non-subscribers. Readers could then procure an online subscription in order to read the same stories they would be reading in print. Some of the paper’s audience would be lost, due partially to the fact that the generation who grew up reading it is now dying and are without computers. But the growing generation spends more of their time on the internet and less time reading newspapers. Few people these days can take the time to sit down and read the paper, and putting it online would be a convenient solution for the younger generations.
The transition from print would cost some people their jobs – your average newspaper boy and the press printing the papers each day would be out of a job. Despite this, the changeover would also open new doors and new jobs for Web designers and site maintenance technicians. Through this, the most important people involved with the newspaper, the editors and the journalists, would still retain their positions.
With the thousands of newspapers being printed across the country each day, there is a considerable amount of paper being used. There is no doubt that this is both incredibly costly and harmful to the environment. It can be assumed that the majority of the budget a newspaper spends is on the ink and paper that goes into a publication. According to Marshall Brain, the New York Times spends approximately $664 million a year between the raw materials that go into printing the paper and the labor it takes to print and deliver the news. If every newspaper were to make the transition from print to online publications, not only would the newspaper be saving a large sum of money, but they’d be saving many trees in the process.
When thinking about making the transition from printed news to an online publication, a newspaper must take into consideration both the benefits of the switch and the needs of their new target audience. As their original audience passes on and the new generation becomes increasingly involved and enraptured by technology, an online publication would be a more realistic way to spread the news. Not only would it be a more convenient method of mass communication, but it would be of great benefit to both the environment and their wallet.
The benefits of making the stride toward complete online distribution overwhelm those of printed news. As our nation’s economy spirals downward, more businesses have cut back on advertisement. Newspapers’ revenue has taken a significant cut due to the many businesses that cannot afford print advertising. According to Gaebler Ventures, some bigger-name papers can price up to $10,000 for a half-page advertisement. In a local paper, you’d pay an average of $1,000 for a full-page ad. Advertising online, businesses will find themselves paying far less. I-advertising.com says that “there is no ‘average rate’ for advertising online. There is what you are willing to pay and what you are not willing to pay as an advertiser to reach the audience you need to reach and to generate the results you need to generate.” This simply states that paying for online advertisement can be as costly or as cheap as it needs to be for the audience you’re attempting to target. The New York Times has what is called Self-Service Online Advertising, which allows businesses and individuals to create or post their own ad for a price that fits their specific budget.
Subscription revenue does not have to be lost in the switch to online publication. Publishers could create a system in which access to the full text is limited to non-subscribers. Readers could then procure an online subscription in order to read the same stories they would be reading in print. Some of the paper’s audience would be lost, due partially to the fact that the generation who grew up reading it is now dying and are without computers. But the growing generation spends more of their time on the internet and less time reading newspapers. Few people these days can take the time to sit down and read the paper, and putting it online would be a convenient solution for the younger generations.
The transition from print would cost some people their jobs – your average newspaper boy and the press printing the papers each day would be out of a job. Despite this, the changeover would also open new doors and new jobs for Web designers and site maintenance technicians. Through this, the most important people involved with the newspaper, the editors and the journalists, would still retain their positions.
With the thousands of newspapers being printed across the country each day, there is a considerable amount of paper being used. There is no doubt that this is both incredibly costly and harmful to the environment. It can be assumed that the majority of the budget a newspaper spends is on the ink and paper that goes into a publication. According to Marshall Brain, the New York Times spends approximately $664 million a year between the raw materials that go into printing the paper and the labor it takes to print and deliver the news. If every newspaper were to make the transition from print to online publications, not only would the newspaper be saving a large sum of money, but they’d be saving many trees in the process.
When thinking about making the transition from printed news to an online publication, a newspaper must take into consideration both the benefits of the switch and the needs of their new target audience. As their original audience passes on and the new generation becomes increasingly involved and enraptured by technology, an online publication would be a more realistic way to spread the news. Not only would it be a more convenient method of mass communication, but it would be of great benefit to both the environment and their wallet.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
iDog May be Overly-hyped
Hasbro's 2006 release of the iDog sparked America's younger generation to purchase iPods in conjunction with the product for a different kind of entertainment experience. iDog is a potable speaker system in the form of, you guessed it, a robotic dog. This mechanical pup "dances" to the rhythm and melody of any song played on it. The toy also forms a sense of what the owner likes to listen to, and reacts to frequently played styles and songs much more than to an off-beat selection (no pun intended). This product is sold in many toy and department stores nationally and currently comes in many different colors and styles.
However, iDog's performance falls short of the company's advertisements. The speaker quality on the product leaves much to be desired. In addition to this, the iDog does not put on much of a show either. The product gives more of a light show with the different colored lights in the toy's "face" than an actual dance. Overall, this product is not much to listen to or watch.
The iDog products range in price from $19.99 to $50 and up. Frankly, you can purchase a much better speaker that is more appealing to look at for this price. To the folks thinking about taking their musical experience to new canine-related heights, save your money. There are much better portable speakers out there for around the same price.
However, iDog's performance falls short of the company's advertisements. The speaker quality on the product leaves much to be desired. In addition to this, the iDog does not put on much of a show either. The product gives more of a light show with the different colored lights in the toy's "face" than an actual dance. Overall, this product is not much to listen to or watch.
The iDog products range in price from $19.99 to $50 and up. Frankly, you can purchase a much better speaker that is more appealing to look at for this price. To the folks thinking about taking their musical experience to new canine-related heights, save your money. There are much better portable speakers out there for around the same price.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Rolling Stone's Latest Issue Doesn't Fail to Entertain
The Feb. 19 issue of Rolling Stone features many political, musical and pop culture references throughout the issue as well as young-adult geared articles and advertisements. The 42-year-old magazine, based out of New York City, can often be seen as a music-lover’s go-to for everything happening today. Rolling Stone publishes many “lists” annually such as the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and the “500 Greatest Artists of All Time”.
This issue, featuring many photos and commentary on President Obama’s inauguration, focused primarily on the musical performances following the ceremony. Performers such as Aretha Franklin, Sheryl Crow, U2 and many others were shown at what Rolling Stone calls the “Rock & Roll Inauguration”. Also, a six-page feature on Sean Penn, star of the new film “Milk”, was included in the entertainment line-up. As per usual, Rolling Stone featured the latest on the music charts, as well as film and album reviews. Though the organization of the magazine could use some tweaking, Rolling Stone does an excellent job of staying on top of the entertainment industry.
Rolling Stone winds every relevant musical, political and social aspect of U.S. entertainment today into one exciting magazine. Through incredible photography and cut-throat reviews, Rolling Stone never fails to please. Though geared towards 20-somethings, any Rolling Stone fan can agree that the magazine has something to offer everyone.
This issue, featuring many photos and commentary on President Obama’s inauguration, focused primarily on the musical performances following the ceremony. Performers such as Aretha Franklin, Sheryl Crow, U2 and many others were shown at what Rolling Stone calls the “Rock & Roll Inauguration”. Also, a six-page feature on Sean Penn, star of the new film “Milk”, was included in the entertainment line-up. As per usual, Rolling Stone featured the latest on the music charts, as well as film and album reviews. Though the organization of the magazine could use some tweaking, Rolling Stone does an excellent job of staying on top of the entertainment industry.
Rolling Stone winds every relevant musical, political and social aspect of U.S. entertainment today into one exciting magazine. Through incredible photography and cut-throat reviews, Rolling Stone never fails to please. Though geared towards 20-somethings, any Rolling Stone fan can agree that the magazine has something to offer everyone.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Robert Greene?
School teacher, journalist, editor? All are titles Robert Greene lends himself on his Website: soylentgreene.us. With many of these claims, Greene provides a link to another page where each fact can be checked. But, are these sources reliable?
After much investigation over the Web, I have come to the conclusion that only a few of these claims can be considered fact fact. After viewing and alumni Webpage of the college from which Greene graduated, Webpages of publications which Greene had claimed to work on, and the Institute for Humanist Studies page, it is clear that there is substantial evidence to back Greene’s history, but not enough to support each claim on his page.
On Wheaton College’s Webpage, a school that Greene claims to have attended, there is an alumni page where one can search for previous graduates. I happened to come across Greene’s name as well as the graduation year he had posted on his Webpage right on the site. Check. Greene indeed had graduated from Wheaton in the appropriate year, 1994, with a degree in Political Science, as he had stated.
After also viewing numerous Webpages for “The Oxx”, a motorcycle magazine of which Greene claimed to be the editor, I came across a few articles written by Greene, but never any actual documentation stating that Greene was the editor.
Nothing but Greene’s own page came across when searching for the Stephen L. French Forestry Camp, putting that claim to bed almost as quickly as it was made.
An ounce of truth did appear, however, when a photograph of Greene taken in 2003 was found on the Institute for Humanist Studies’ Webpage. Another solid claim from Greene.
An article published in “The Nashua Telegraph”, a newspaper based out of the school where Greene currently teaches, also quotes him on the 2008 Nashua teacher’s contract fiasco, identifying him as a journalism teacher from Nashua High School South.
Though many of these claims can be backed by outside information, there is not enough substantial evidence that would deem Greene a quality source. Unfortunately, there was more mystery in his claims than actual fact.
After much investigation over the Web, I have come to the conclusion that only a few of these claims can be considered fact fact. After viewing and alumni Webpage of the college from which Greene graduated, Webpages of publications which Greene had claimed to work on, and the Institute for Humanist Studies page, it is clear that there is substantial evidence to back Greene’s history, but not enough to support each claim on his page.
On Wheaton College’s Webpage, a school that Greene claims to have attended, there is an alumni page where one can search for previous graduates. I happened to come across Greene’s name as well as the graduation year he had posted on his Webpage right on the site. Check. Greene indeed had graduated from Wheaton in the appropriate year, 1994, with a degree in Political Science, as he had stated.
After also viewing numerous Webpages for “The Oxx”, a motorcycle magazine of which Greene claimed to be the editor, I came across a few articles written by Greene, but never any actual documentation stating that Greene was the editor.
Nothing but Greene’s own page came across when searching for the Stephen L. French Forestry Camp, putting that claim to bed almost as quickly as it was made.
An ounce of truth did appear, however, when a photograph of Greene taken in 2003 was found on the Institute for Humanist Studies’ Webpage. Another solid claim from Greene.
An article published in “The Nashua Telegraph”, a newspaper based out of the school where Greene currently teaches, also quotes him on the 2008 Nashua teacher’s contract fiasco, identifying him as a journalism teacher from Nashua High School South.
Though many of these claims can be backed by outside information, there is not enough substantial evidence that would deem Greene a quality source. Unfortunately, there was more mystery in his claims than actual fact.
Draco and the Malfoys Make Magic
Draco and the Malfoys, a "Wizard Rock" band out of Rhode Island, is a current musical project designed to advocate reading and literature through rock and roll. Thier album, "Unsorted", consists of 12 tracks each based off the "Harry Potter" series. Made up of two brothers, Brian Ross and Bradley Mehlenbacher, the group performs at bookstores, libraries, and schools and also has made their music accessible on iTunes.
"My Dad is Rich", a song on the album, talks about the rivalry between two characters from the J.K. Rowling series: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Though sung in a whiney, teen-like tone, "My Dad is Rich" conveys important plot information from the series. One line of the song, "How's your mommy doing in the Mirror of Erised?", recalls a scene from Rowling's first novel when Potter gazes at his mother's reflection in the magic mirror.
Though the musical quality is not quite up to par, "Draco and the Malfoys" can definitely appeal to fans of the "Harry Potter" series. The tracks lend a catchy tune to the books, giving a unique personality to the plotlines and characters.
"My Dad is Rich", a song on the album, talks about the rivalry between two characters from the J.K. Rowling series: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Though sung in a whiney, teen-like tone, "My Dad is Rich" conveys important plot information from the series. One line of the song, "How's your mommy doing in the Mirror of Erised?", recalls a scene from Rowling's first novel when Potter gazes at his mother's reflection in the magic mirror.
Though the musical quality is not quite up to par, "Draco and the Malfoys" can definitely appeal to fans of the "Harry Potter" series. The tracks lend a catchy tune to the books, giving a unique personality to the plotlines and characters.
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Bushel and a Plan
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Emily Sullivan, a senior at Nashua South, thinks carefully about how she is going to spend this special holiday.
An interview by Amy Cote, also a senior at South, reveals that Sullivan plans to spend the day with her boyfriend. “We are going out to dinner” said Sullivan. When later asked where she and her boyfriend were planning to go, Sullivan said that they were both planning to go to Uno’s in Nashua to spend the romantic holiday together.
“I can’t wait” said Sullivan.
Both Sullivan and her boyfriend plan to travel to the restaurant in Sullivan’s car.
An interview by Amy Cote, also a senior at South, reveals that Sullivan plans to spend the day with her boyfriend. “We are going out to dinner” said Sullivan. When later asked where she and her boyfriend were planning to go, Sullivan said that they were both planning to go to Uno’s in Nashua to spend the romantic holiday together.
“I can’t wait” said Sullivan.
Both Sullivan and her boyfriend plan to travel to the restaurant in Sullivan’s car.
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About Me
- Alissa
- I'm Alissa. I should have totally lived in the 1940s. Writing is part of who I am, but not the only part. I'm inspired by the city, by its people, and by its glory. I know where I am going, and no one or nothing is going to hinder me. The one thing I desire most, what I strive toward... is a new beginning and a happy ending.