Coaching 4 Teens

The Stress of College, by Zach Pelka

KLoy — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:03:34 +0000

If you are currently a senior, you probably have sent out all applications and are just waiting and praying. If you’re a freshman or sophomore, college is looming in your mind, but your not too worried. If you’re a junior, you rightfully are stressing out; it’s ok, so are the rest of the juniors. Worrying about college can be helpful, but over worrying just causes unneeded stress. As a junior/rising senior, you should be narrowing down your college choices through college visits, financial aid analysis, and aesthetic preferences. Too ensure less stress next year, you should start working on your college essays, while formulating a resume. The more you do now, the less you will have to do amidst the stress of the college application process.

Music and Concentration, by Hailey Cleek, age 18

KLoy — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:46:11 +0000

Music and Concentration, by Hailey Cleek, age 18
Oliver Sacks, professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University, wrote, “Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears — it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear. But for many of my neurological patients, music is even more — it can provide access, even when no medication can, to movement, to speech, to life.” Few things provide communal interaction like music. Many of us have seen songs sway a room to lively dance or bring passionate fans to tears at concerts, yet though music certainly imposes dynamic group behavior, it also helps to shape the individual brain.
Beginning approximately in 1990, many parents of newborns began to play classical music in hopes to enhance mental functioning, or perhaps in hopes to fast-track these children to prestigious universities. This so-called “Mozart effect” later was disproven to have longitudinal influences upon development, yet neuroscientists again have begun to analyze the effects of learning an instrument while the brain is still undergoing development in childhood years. Notably, these musically adept children, as published by Scientific American Mind, have an enhanced interior frontal gyrus, a region responsible for the interconnectivity between the motor and auditory systems of the brain; furthermore, they are often better able to concentrate in classes and practice selective attention, i.e. they are able to ignore multiple voices and focus on one person speaking more easily.
Though music may not directly promote greater intelligence, its strengthening of neural connections leads to stronger information processing centers. Through music’s workings on our brains, we can demonstrate improved concentration and multitasking.

How to Build Good Time Management Skills, by Zach Pelka

KLoy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:35:23 +0000

We all experience the overbearing issues life concomitantly throws upon us; however, what makes certain people more successful is the management of these issues. When some of your friends are deciding to go to movie, and you are faced with the difficult choice between studying for a big test and attending this movie with your friends, you must set priorities. While the obvious choice is too go to the movies with your friends, you must reconsider, based on the best possible solution for your future. Acting providentially is one of the most important actions you can possibly do as a young adult. Through this, you will learn how to manage your time, based on the priorities you set up, whether it is faith, college, or family. I must emphasize how adamant I am on the fact that you must look forward to the future. This time in high school is extremely hectic, and I understand that it is quite easy to slack off on your studies, but you are not alone in this struggle. Rather than wasting time on TV or Facebook, you must regiment your time, or more specifically, set up a schedule that you can follow each day. While this is possible to change based on each day, it allows for habit, which is important in managing issues. Whenever you have extra time, whether it is in the mornings, during lunch, or after practice, you must dedicate time to studies. By managing your time successfully, you are acting responsibly, while further advancing your own cognitive reasoning. Through management, grades will raise, stress will drop, and free time will become far more prevalent.

Understanding Advertisements in the Holidays, By Hailey Cleek, age 17

KLoy — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:13:46 +0000

Understanding Advertisements in the Holidays
By Hailey Cleek, age 17

Making analytical, economic decisions is difficult for consumers, and it appears that markets are looking to solve this problem through advertising. Perception is notable in analyzing consumer behavior, as we unfortunately behave in self-defeating actions by spending more for essentially the same product even though we believe that we are really buying the best. In advertisements (like those for soft drinks), many people are shown in pleasant environments with friends or family with the advertised product; consequently, these ads essentially tell us that yes, we can be happy, but we will be much happier with this product. These “buying for the brand” advertisements directly manipulate the emotions of the viewer as we form associations between mental states and products.

When viewing these advertisements, it is important to consider what information is actually being presented and what the quality of the information is. Many brand-name gasoline companies advertise why their product is better for the environment or the individual consumer; however, several studies have concluded that gasoline is nearly the same everywhere across different companies. It is notable, however, that many “off-brand” companies often sell their gasoline at an average of twenty cents cheaper by the gallon, totaling an average savings of about $170 by the end of the year, according to a 2010 CBS report.

Consumers should not simply choose to buy a product simply because a company has great advertising power. Rather, as we enter into the holiday season where we must make many financial decisions, we should note the influence that advertisement has on our perception and remember to consider all alternatives in order to employ frugal spending.

Coming soon! Student blogs!

KLoy — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:27:07 +0000

Coaching4Teens is excited to announce that in November, you will begin to see posts for students by students. Covering a range of issues, our writers will offer valuable information on topics that are important to them. Stay tuned!!

The finish line is ALMOST here!

KLoy — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:53:54 +0000

As the school year winds down, finals and exams are winding up. Talk about pressure in the final days of school- AP exams, finals, and continued assignments. As the pressure mounts, the light at the end of the tunnel also emerges. The last few weeks of school may be intense! During this time remember the importance of sleep, eating healthfully, and taking care of yourself so you can perform your best. If you have tips for others that work for you, or just need to blow off some steam, feel free to post here. Your words may be comforting for someone else and it’s always nice to know you’re not alone!

See you in the summer!
C4T

Valentine’s Day- Love it or Hate it?

KLoy — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:31:14 +0000

With February 2011 upon us, and Ground Hog’s Day behind us (did he see his shadow??), the next holiday approaching is Valentine’s Day. If you venture into a drug store or the mall anytime after Christmas, you’re bound to know this. Red and pink heart line the store aisles, huge teddy bears holding giant “I love You” signs are impossible to miss. The day can create some drama… question about dating and love arise, who will send flowers to someone? who will I ask to the school dance? All this drama over one day! It can be fun if you’re dating someone or have a crush, but what if you’ve just broken up with someone or feel extra lonely during this time? Remembering it’s just one day, and knowing that you are not defined by who you date (or don’t date) can be helpful thoughts to keep in mind. Whatever your take on the day, know that you’re not alone. There are other students out there that share your opinions of the day, good or bad. Feel free to express some of those opinions here, offer ideas about how to spend the day, and offer ideas about how to survive the day. Look forward to hearing from you!

Upcoming Holidays…Friend or Foe?

KLoy — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:35:00 +0000

With the Thanksgiving holidays past us and the winter holidays quickly approaching (or fully underway, depending on how you celebrate), many expectations and disappointments may arise. As a society, we often idealize what the perfect holiday should look like, expecting we “should” have the perfect family, the best gifts, and a time of joy. The reality, however, is that there is no such thing as a perfect family, and many times we can even feel disappointed, lonely or sad over the holidays. The reasons for the variety of feelings vary from person to person. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one this past year, your parents have separated or divorced, or your family argues a lot. The good news is that you are not alone. Many will share your feelings this year. Learning to have compassion for yourself during the holidays may mean saying kind words to yourself, planning time to do things that comfort you or give you energy, or focusing on ideas or values that are important to you. If you need extra support this holiday season, or would like to talk with one of our coaches, feel free to email us or give us a call. We’ll do our best to help you find balance this holiday season! If you’d like to share with others your holiday traditions, or ways you take care of yourself during the holidays, please leave a comment below!

Where do you feel your stress?

KLoy — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:56:53 +0000

Where do you feel your stress? For some people it is in the fluttering of “butterflies in the stomach” or perhaps tension in their neck and back. Clammy hands or pounding hearts are also commonly reported symptoms of stress. Being aware of specific locations of stress within your body may offer some clues into how best to manage stress. Pay attention to where your symptoms are, when you first notice them in your body, and see if you can link them to things happening around you. Perhaps symptoms appear when a certain person speaks to you rudely, or right before you take a test. Once you’ve identified what triggers your stress, you can plan to take care of yourself from the very beginning, when you first notice your symptoms arising. This can help reduce symptoms before they get fully under way! Try a few things out and see what best calms you when you get stressed; maybe it is talking about it with a friend, shooting some hoops, or meditating. If you’re not sure what works for you, talk to a coach, and you too can get started with better stress management!

Surviving Midterms

KLoy — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:09:52 +0000

As midterm exams approach and get underway, stress levels soar. You may find yourself experiencing anxiety, irritability, and exhaustion. During these stressful times, its important to try to get some sleep (it helps your memory) and not skip meals- both easy things to do when the pressure is on. A few other tips I can offer include: pay attention to what study methods work best for you and utilize them; one memory trick for remembering lists of information involves making a sentence or an acronym using the first letter of each word to help jog your memory; and finally asking someone to quiz you can help. These are just a few methods to use that can help when test taking time comes. I invite you to offer your wisdom to others by sharing what study skills work best for you by blogging about them below. Can’t wait to hear your ideas!