Miss Building Blocks

? More about Me!

2008-09-19T10:45:00.006-04:00

Hi Readers-

Today, I will have my Blogging Orientation!

I will be sure to update you on my University Blogging Site, so that you will be able to keep up with what's going on at my campus!

New post coming soon.... REALLY SOON!

Ok- here's the URL to my University Blog- ENJOY!

Education & Employment: Take Advantage of Your Resources!

2008-09-17T10:06:00.006-04:00

So- I know a lot of you are wondering... "Where has Miss Building Blocks been hiding?" The answer is short and very much true!

I have been dealing with the hectic schedule that most college students deal with, so don't think that I am any different because I have time to blog. I'm actually at work browsing the web, and will soon be doing my homework. But enough about me, let's talk about you!

My post today will explain to you the value of resources, which I know a lot of you may or may not take advantage of. But this is sacred information for any and everyone!

Let's first discuss middle school. In middle school, most students are only concerned with one thing- and that's going to high school. Bigger and better things right? Of course! But you must remember that there are things in high school that you'll encounter, that middle school doesn't teach you, or doesn't make exactly 'readily available' to you.

So here's a few things to take advantage of in middle school that can prepare you for the future!

Join the National Junior Honor Society, if grades permit! Ask your school counselor if there are any scholarships (yes, for COLLEGE) that you can get your hands on now. Don't be afraid to ask someone to be your mentor. They prove to be very beneficial in the long run. And if you have a hard time finding one, ask me! I provide E-Mentoring through this blog. Email me at missbuildingblocks@yahoo.com for more information! Also, if you're having an issue with your attitude, ask your teachers if there are any programs that you can get involved with to better your communication skills. When I was in middle school, I was a Conflict Mediator. I helped students through their tough times and altercations, which in turn enabled me to be able to deal with my own internal issues!

Now, let's take a look at high school. If you haven't already done so, take advantage of an organized sport such as basketball, football, even GOLF! Pick up the skills necessary to be successful in these sports, and it can take you far. It's never too early to invest in your life!

In high school, there are a plethora of opportunities for you. Sports, pep club, all sorts of academic based programs such as Academic Games, Poetry Club, Drama Club, School Newspaper, National Honors Society! Seriously, the opportunities are endless.

For education's sake, please, please, please take advantage of test prep courses and materials. At my high school, our counselor's office had free practice ACT & SAT test booklets. You can also purchase book aids at local bookstores, such as Borders or Barnes and Noble. If you are in high school and short on cash, use Half.com! You can usually find good quality books for cheap!

Begin your search for scholarships IMMEDIATELY! Read my earlier posts about scholarships, and even find featured scholarships on my blog!

In high school, some things are handed to you! However, in college, things are the exact opposite.

Professors, faculty and staff expect students to be hands-on. They expect a great deal from you, that's why it's important to gain these skills before entering an institution of higher learning. Do not for 1 slight second believe that your professor is going to point you out and ask if you need help. You do have a handful of professors like that, but they are limited! Your instructor has office hours, email and phone, and those are the best ways to reach them. NOT DURING CLASS TIME. Not only is it rude to ask a billion questions during lecture, but it also takes away from the other students' learning experience. Be cordial, short and to the point. If you can't get the help you need from your professor, begin your search!

Do not wait until the midterm to decide that you need a tutor in math! It does not work like that. College is progressive, therefore you need to learn the foundation immediately in order to be successful in your courses.

Don't forget to meet with your academic advisor at least one semester. They can usually guide you toward the classes that you need to take, your expected graduation, etc. Keep regular correspondence with them.

Take advantage of the library. Check out supplemental information if you need to, videos, CDs, etc.

I mean, really I could go on about using your resources! But, I'll leave that up to you, the reader. Be sure to leave Miss Building Blocks a comment whenever you find a resource on campus, or in high school that you didn't know existed!

Take advantage of Technology!

Education & Employment: College Bound Students Beware!

2008-08-28T13:30:00.003-04:00

ALL OF MY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS!

I recently took a poll on Facebook and Yahoo Answers, for your benefit! The poll was to see which courses college students found the most challenging.

Now, my results have proved my theory wrong. I have always been good in both math and science, but usually had a harder time in math.

To my amazement, most of my colleagues have a harder time in science classes, i.e. Physics (ranked #1), followed by Chemisty, Botany and then Math! Gosh was I in disbelief when I received so many messages with Physics as the toughest subject. I LIKE PHYSICS!

Be very particular about your college studies, because it is much different than high school. You will not have a teacher on your back about coming to class or being tardy (although it is extremely rude to walk into your professors' class late, as well as disturbing to other students who are already prepared). Professors could care less about your attendance to their class, they get paid regardless.

My suggestion is that you spread your difficult and easy classes evenly. For example, if you have Calculus, Chemistry, Accounting, Composition, Biology, Music History, Sociology and Information Systems to take over the course of one school year, then here is my suggestion: Semester 1; Chemistry, Composition, Sociology and Information Systems. Take Accounting, Biology, Music History and Calculus during your second semester.

Have fun! If you need any advice on what classes to take, email me at missbuildingblocks@yahoo.com!

What you must remember is how to study these subjects.... until next time!

Miss Building Blocks... A Little About Me

2008-08-28T13:03:00.002-04:00

So I thought I'd keep my reader's up-to-date with what's going on in my life, aside from blogging...

I am getting ready for the Fall Semester... Getting ready for Kappa Omega Chi Sorority Recruitment (I love Rush!!!)... Helping my boyfriend get the Golf Team going... Planning for my 21st bday... AND------

I HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO BE A VOLUNTEER UNIVERSITY BLOGGER! I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, BEING THAT I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO WRITE FOR THE UNIVERSITY BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO ACTUALLY WRITE FOR THE PAPER! SO NOW I CAN REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY, AND SHARE MY THOUGHTS WITH THE ENTIRE CAMPUS COMMUNITY... I'LL ADD A LINK ON HERE SOON SO THAT YOU MAY FOLLOW ME THERE!

MAN DO I HAVE SOOOO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT... ANYWHO, BACK TO MY DAILY ROUTINE!

GO BLUE!!!!!!!

Education & Employment: Scholarship #1

2008-08-22T17:26:00.000-04:00

Yes All! I'm back, and in full effect! As promised a few weeks ago, I will be providing soon-to-be high school seniors (or whomever will benefit) with scholarships on a weekly basis.

So, here's the information for my first scholarship:

Writers of the Future

Amount: $500-$5000

Deadline: The Contest has four quarters, beginning on October 1, January 1, April 1 and July 1. The year will end on September 30. To be eligible for judging in its quarter, an entry must be postmarked no later than midnight on the last day of the quarter.

Applicable Majors: Science Fiction, Fantasy Writing, Horror Writing, Speculative Fiction

Scholarship Information: The Writers of the Future Contest is open to amateur writers. Your entry must be a new short story or novelette with a science fiction, fantasy, horror or speculative fiction theme, that has not been previously published. Poetry and children's literature cannot be accepted for this contest. There are four quarterly deadlines each year (September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30) with three prizes per quarter of $1000, $750, $500 and a yearly grand prize of $4000 is offered.

For more information pertaining to this scholarship, follow this link: Writers of the Future

You can find this scholarship, and other scholarships pertaining to your major at FastWeb!!!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2008-08-11T13:27:00.001-04:00

Please excuse the fact that I haven't been updating my blog as often as you would like. But please understand that I am working on content, finishing a class, and planning a retreat. So I'll be back within the next week! Wish me luck!

Life Issues: Teenage Affirmations

2008-08-06T12:52:00.000-04:00

Today, we're talking about teenage affirmations, the power they have, and a brief list of some that I find to be great (along with an explanation of what they mean for teens today). I hope you enjoy!

To begin I would like to define an affirmation as being a statement that is declared to be true. Let me rephrase that, it is a statement that is declared to be true by the person doing the affirming! They are true across the board, and unique to the individual using them.

Many teens today do not understand the power of affirmations, and even less actually use them. I never did, until I became older and able to understand that these are important in anyone’s life. The simple act of telling yourself that ‘I am wonderful’ works wonders. Reading the list that I have compiled for teens can have a positive effect on their lives. It can cause them to think differently of themselves and the people around them. These affirmations can be read in any order, day or night! They can be used to lift your spirits or to start your day off on the right foot! And so the list begins:

I am a responsible individual; irresponsibility is not in my vocabulary.

This affirmation applies to any and everyone. It’s a basic statement meaning that you are responsible for your own actions, whether they are good or bad. By saying this, you are accepting that being irresponsible is unacceptable. Ex: your chores every Monday is to take the trash to the curb. If you forget next Monday, you agree to take full responsibility for your actions!

If I love myself, others will learn to love themselves as well.

It is true that people rub off on each other! Loving yourself completely and accepting your flaws is very important in life. Ex: if you and your best friend are both having issues with being accepted by the ‘in-crowd’ at school, chances are once you decide that it’s ok to be different and that you love yourself regardless, your friend will do the same. They will begin to see the same qualities in themselves and will appreciate them more!

I am ME; I am creative, unique, smart, and beautiful. I am all of the above.

Accepting yourself for who you really are! These tie in with loving yourself, and loving the individual traits that you possess.

Yesterday is history, today I will make memories, tomorrow is only a dream.

You cannot change things that happen yesterday, it’s the past. Today you can learn from those things, and possibly do things differently. Tomorrow, you can do the same thing you did today, only better! Remember that the only thing that is constant in life is change!

I am successful in absolutely everything I do.

Self-explanatory! No exceptions. You are successful because you said so, and that’s all that matters!

I control my own destiny.

Yes you do! Your destiny could include landing a job, attending an Ivy-League school, or simply raising your GPA. All of these goals start with YOU!

I am the creator of my own problems. I will not bring others into the fire with me.

This is a tough one to sometimes understand, and a lot of people mistake this affirmation as being about ‘snitching’. Let me explain to you what I mean. Any problem that you create, you are RESPONSIBLE for. When I say don’t bring others into the fire with you, I mean don’t intentionally try to make people feel down because of your problems. Again, you are in control of your own problems; therefore blaming your mom because you failed a class simply will not cut it! Get my drift?

I am different and so is everyone else; therefore I cannot judge.

Everyone was created equally, yet differently. Sometimes people are not in control of their differences, so who are you to judge them because of their differences? Just like they are different from you, you are different from them. That’s the point of being different; you’re not supposed to be the same!

I control my emotions; they don’t control me.

Now I must say that this gets complicated. Sometimes your emotions do control you and you have no choice but to release them. However, you control your reaction to these emotions. For instance… your GPA drops, which in turn causes you to be upset. Instead of taking your anger out on your teachers, you can control this reaction. This is when thinking before acting comes into play. If you think beforehand, you won’t have to explain your actions. You can simply think about why your GPA dropped, and it may be because things changed at home that interfered with your study habits. So doesn’t this mean that your teacher had absolutely nothing to do with it? Indeed it does. Think about it.

Start your list today... I'm not joking! Feel free to add to this list! Also, check out my guest post on Vanessa Van Petten's wonderful site: On Teens Today!

Relationships: "He Said I Was Different"

2008-07-31T16:41:00.001-04:00

Ok, so we've heard it all before. Whether you're male or female. However, I'm writing this post specifically for my young female readers, because... well I'm female myself!

Today, I will talk about why girls may hear this, some variations of "you're different", how to avoid feeling bad about being different, and the result of being different.

I'm going to group all of my teen readers together (13-18 y/o), so when I speak of 'you', it's not direct, it's across the board.

Scenario: Jane has known John since middle school, and she's always had a little crush on him. When they entered high school together, Jane knew that things were destined to be perfect. John would be her homecoming date, her prom date, high school sweetheart, partner in marriage... blah, blah, blah! Yes, a lot of girls think this far into the future when considering the next potential. Don't be sucked into the hype!

Anywho, Jane never worked up enough courage during freshman year to actually tell John how she felt. Sophomore year rolls around, John has made the JV basketball team and Jane has been secretly obsessing over this guy, for what 4 years now? You'd think that she'd say something by now, to avoid him being swept away for the captain of the cheer squad.

So, mellow Jane (very pretty and smart, might I add) builds up the courage to tell John how she feels. It's Wednesday evening after dance practice, and John is standing outside the gym with his fellow team members. And then the words just fall out, soooo unexpectedly...

"John, I, I, I... I like you,"

"You what??? But why?"

"Well, it's been a while and I just thought that now was the best time to tell you. Can we discuss this over ice cream Friday after school?"

"Sure Jane, I don't see why not. See you then"

Jane runs home, overly enthused to tell her mother, who by the way has known about this crush for some time. Her mothers only words were, "be careful Jane"...

So Friday rolls around, and Jane is waiting for John at the local ice cream parlor, and sure enough he comes strolling around the corner.

"Ok... lip gloss check!"

They chit chat for what seems like forever, and Jane is reassured that this is the perfect match. They continue to go on these random after-school excursions for about 3 weeks, only to come to a screeching halt when John announces over the phone that he can't date her anymore... get this! Because she's different...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, so of course I have to give my synopsis of this story (yes, it's made up. I didn't mean to stereotype anyone, just written to create suspense and a storyline to follow)... Anywho, back to my synopsis... I know there are some ladies and/or men who have heard this line far too many times and can relate to Jane. And like most, they probably took it the wrong way or out of context.

Let me be the one to say, there is absolutely, positively, nothing wrong with being different! We all want to be different sometimes, whether we want to stand out on our college application, or if we really want that job we've just interviewed for. WE ALL WANT TO BE DIFFERENT.

However, in Jane's case... being different=being an outcast=BAD!

So, what should Jane do? First, I suggest that Jane talks to her mother. I'm sure her mother can alleviate some of the stress behind those words. But most importantly she's going to have to learn to cope on her own. So... I recommend that Jane evaluates herself, list the things that make her different from other girls and explain to herself why these are 'good' things.. Chances are her list looks like this:

I'm on the dance team (result: you're in the new dance production at school)
Involved in student government (result: you're in line to become the new Student Body President)
I consider myself very conservative and classy (result: hey, the results are endless)
I'm a straight A student (result: you've made the dean's list)
I have green eyes and strawberry blonde hair (result: you're not a blonde, or a brunette... but who really cares?)
I'm very tall and lean (result: you may one day become a model, or maybe even a basketball star)
etc, etc, etc.

DO YOU GET MY DRIFT? The things that make you different aren't always bad things. As a matter of fact, they're almost always good things just portrayed as bad things.

Variations of the line "you are different":

"It's just something about you"
"You're not my type"
"I've never had a girlfriend like you before"

I hope I've alleviated some unnecessary stress in your life...

If you have any other stories like this, or have had to deal with someone labeling you as "different", feel free to drop a comment.

Advancement: Credit 102

2008-07-28T14:11:00.000-04:00

Today's Credit Lesson will enhance your knowledge of the effects of bad credit and how to keep your good credit record, good! I apologize if this post is short in comparison to my other topics, however, I am working on the launch of my blog as well as keeping up with motivating posts. You'll thank me later!

Anywho, bad credit. In four words, YOU DON'T WANT IT! Trust me, I won't get into detail, but bad credit is something that you'll want to avoid. Now if you've read my previous post, Credit 101, I talked about some of the effects of bad credit, but didn't really get into detail. Today, I will school you on how credit affects you personally.

Bad Credit=

higher interest rates
more monthly fees than those with good credit
less job opportunities (especially those dealing with cash/asset handling)

less advancements in the workplace

insurance premiums
renting or buying a home
costs of utilities; cell phones, gas, electricity, etc.

These are only a few... gym memberships, apartments, and many more.

So, here is my advice for keeping your good credit, well good, and avoiding ever reaching what the world considers bad credit.

Pay your balance in full, and ON TIME! Nothing is worse than a nasty late fee which could be as high as $40, even higher!
Make sure that your monthly statements are accurate! Creditors are people too, and they can make mistakes. There may be a refund that was never processed, you never know!
Don't take the first credit card offer available to you. Shop for credit cards the same way that you shop for a bargain at the mall.
Make sure you keep cushion between your balance and limit. Ex. if your limit is $500, make sure your balance is < or =" to">
Don't run your bills up to $1,000 if you only make $650/month! PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE DON'T UPSET ME BY DOING THIS!
Don't apply for too many credit cards and/or loans. These = inquiries, which are also shown on your credit report along with all other accounts that are open, the balance, the amount past due, the monthly payment. So yes, people can see all of this about you! This helps them to determine your worthiness as a customer. If they see that you haven't paid any of your credit card bills in 3 months, you can just forget about receiving any sort of credit from them!

So, readers... please take care of your credit. This is an image as well, sort of like your personality. People do judge by credit worthiness, and it has become a case of labeling in America.

SAVE YOURSELF NOW!

Education & Employment: Financial Aid 101

2008-07-26T08:20:00.000-04:00

Today, I will only explore the basics of financial aid, what it is, how to obtain it, and a little bit more!

Ok, so what exactly is financial aid? Well, since you've asked I must tell! Financial aid is money awarded to students who are seeking higher education by the government. These funds could include students loans. However, most schools will also offer scholarships, grants, work-study (will talk about in a later post), merit awards, etc. in addition to the funds granted by the government.

The only way to receive financial aid is to apply either online or through the mail. The forms for financial aid could be found at your school's financial aid office, or in your high school's counselor office.

After you complete the application, which could take up to 2+ hours to complete if it's your first time, you'll receive a SAR (Student Aid Report) which has your calculated EFC (estimated family contribution). Your EFC will be one of the main factors when your award amount and type is determined. Other factors include your parent's income, money they have invested, saved or in a checking account, property owned, whether or not other members of the family are also attending college, other forms of income (SSI, Child Support funds, etc)... the list goes on. Once you begin to fill out the application, you'll understand just what I'm talking about. However, the government makes it fairly easy to re-apply for the next school year, pre-generating certain information such as your name, home address, ID number, etc.

One myth that I would like to demystify: "My parent's make too much money, so it's pointless to apply for financial aid" or "I didn't receive any funding last year, so I probably won't this year. I just won't apply"... These are the wrong attitudes to have! Apply anyway, even if you don't think you'll receive funding. Trying is way better than not trying, believe me! Take this situation for example...

Ex. Last year your mom win's $20k on a lottery ticket. This puts her in a different tax bracket, so instead of receiving grants and student loans for this upcoming school year, you receive nothing!

Most financial aid offices will allow you to 'petition' their decision to limit your funding this year. But your case must be solid. These are considered special circumstances!

My advice for all of you college bound students would be to save yourself the trouble, and apply for financial aid EACH year! It's only to your benefit!

Stay tuned for more topics on financial aid: student loan info, work-study, etc.

Advancement: Opening a Savings Account

2008-07-18T13:53:00.000-04:00

Who knows the power of money? I know that I do, and I value it! That's why at the age of 14 (still a freshman in high school), I begged my dad to take me to the local bank to open a savings account. I really wanted to be able to write checks, I thought it was so cool, but wasn't old enough! So, one day after school my dad took me! I felt so important and encouraged, I couldn't wait to tell my friends.

That savings account ended up being to my benefit, as I started my first job that summer as an accounting intern for a very well-known company, worldwide! I planned to get my first car the same day that I passed my road test, and at that point I realized that I needed to save. So for the next 7 weeks of my internship, I made $320 a week! That is a great amount of money for a 14 year old believe me! I couldn't wait until payday, so I could march through the bank and show the tellers how I was spending my summer!

Anywho, enough about my experience as a first time account holder. Let's talk about the importance of a savings account in a realistic, teenage perspective!

Regardless of how much money you make, there is room to save! Even if it's only the change that you collect from your pockets at the end of the day. Now as an accounting major, I like to do calculations! So I'm going to provide you with an example of how much you could save, and what you could do with your savings.

Let's say, at the end of the day after all of your purchases, you accumulate at least $0.85 in change. With 365 days in a year, you can save $310.25! Without thinking, that is a nice amount of money to have as a teen, starting the year off on a good foot! Now if you could just manage to not touch it starting at 13 years old, by the time you're 18 you'll have $1,551.25 saved up!

Now, I mention a savings account, and not a piggy bank, because a savings account is more secure. There is less chance of you using the money for reckless expenses, like ice cream, CDs and friendship bracelets!! There is someone monitoring your savings, and with a parent involved it's even easier! The simplest thing to do is, take a jar or the piggy bank you've had since a child, collect your change every night. Hide the money somewhere where you rarely look, like under your bed... unless your room is a mess and you frequently check under your bed for shoes and whatnot! Then you may need to hide it under your parents' bed! At the end of each month, take your jar to the bank (I know a lot of them now have 'Coin Star' like machines that members can use for free. If not, make use of the coin wrappers that they give you for free to save the bank teller, and yourself, some time).

Some banks even offer (good) interest on savings accounts. Let's say (yes! another example) your bank offers 4% monthly interest for savings balances above $200. Once you reach $200, your account will look like this:

Month 1: $200 x 0.04 = $8, which means your account balance is now $208!
Month 2: $208 x 0.04 = $8.32, which means your account balance is now $216.32

This may be a little unrealistic for some institutions. The interest rate may actually be .4%, you never know!

In essence, the just of this post is to encourage you to save. Whatever the reason may be... you may want a car, pay for your first year of college, buy your parents a nice anniversary gift, or your boyfriend a hat! If you put your mind to it, YOU CAN DO IT!

Education & Employment: What is a Scholarship?

2008-07-18T13:00:00.000-04:00

For all of my readers who aren't aware of the word 'scholarship' and it's meaning, this post is being written to inform you of the benefits of scholarships and how some of them work!

Summarized, a scholarship is a form of financial aid that isn't granted through the federal government. Scholarships are awarded to help you pay for college expenses, i.e. room and board, meal plans, books, tuition & fees, etc. They are awarded to just about everyone, from athletes, volunteer students, students with high GPAs and standardized test scores, etc. The list goes on and on. Some scholarships are gender based, some are academic based (meaning you must be, say, a student majoring in a business related field in order to receive the funding). There are even scholarships for those students who wish to study abroad for a semester or two! There are partial scholarships, "full-rides", etc. I mean, the opportunities are endless!!!

What I do realize is that some students don't have access to this type of information. They are completely uneducated about the benefits of attending college, better yet, having it paid for by someone taking an interest in you! Students don't know how to get to these resources. Yes, there may be a list compiled in your counselor's office. However, that only represents a few of the thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of scholarships available to you.

Again, I suggest you all do your research! Yes, some of you may be scouted by recruiters who want you on their football team. But for others, that's not it. In Michigan, we take the MEAP test (I'm sure they've changed the name by now) in the 8th grade and the 11th grade. If you successfully pass the test in the 8th grade, you receive a $500 merit scholarship towards your college education. In the 11th grade, if you successfully pass, you receive a $2500 merit scholarship if attending college within the state and $1000 if attending outside of the state. Maybe your state has a similar test. If so, take ADVANTAGE of it, and study if you feel that you need to.

If you aren't having luck with finding them, there are sites that will help you. You can build profiles, display your likes and dislikes, interests, goals, etc. and they will match you up with scholarships based on your profile. Not only will they match you up with scholarships, but colleges, internships and jobs, as well as volunteer opportunities! How neat is that... Here are two of the sites that I frequent the most and find to be very beneficial- FastWeb and Scholarships.com. I even found my first job on FastWeb!

Many local businesses and organizations offer scholarships that you may not know about. Ask around! Search the web, use your resources to your advantage! Trust me, it pays off!

So.... Guess what?! I'll be posting scholarships on here about once a week, if time allows. Sometimes more than once, if I have a busy week ahead of me! If there are any majors or concentrations that you would like to know scholarship information on, just drop your comment here along with the major/concentration or email to missbuildingblocks@yahoo.com and that'll be my next scholarship post! Until then, I'll just post scholarships on random, yet useful, interests! STAY TUNED!

Education & Employment: Greek Life

2008-07-16T12:33:00.000-04:00

For many, the terms sorority and fraternity, cause goosebumps! Believe it or not, I'm in a sorority myself. Therefore, I have all the answers to your many questions. But before anything, I want to alleviate some of the myths and stereotypes that people have of greek-lettered organizations, and actually encourage you to check some out while in college.

First and foremost, sororities and fraternities don't haze, well, at least they're not suppose to. What does this mean? Do your research before joining any organization on campus. Check to see if your university has an anti-hazing policy!

Second, greek life is not at all about drinking, partying, eating disorders and committing random sexual acts without thinking. In fact, if you ask around you'll see that greek life does consist of some of those things, but these are personal acts. Drinking and partying, etc. are not things that you are forced to do as a greek. These are things that people choose to do, based on their own personal beliefs and traditions. This goes without saying, 'no one can make you do something you don't want to do'.

Third, some sorority girls are considered promiscuous, and their male counterparts as players! My opinion is as follows; again, people are going to do whatever they wish to do regardless of whether or not they have greek letters plastered across their chest. Now I will say, being a greek may cause high percentages of dating within the greek community. However, these are people that you grow to trust and respect, and now idolize as sexual objects. Dating within the greek community may cause a little drama, considering all of your sisters and all of his brothers may know your business. Yea, it kinda creates a whole web of questions and comments. Trust me, I once dated a 'frat guy'...

Fourth, you do not pay for your friends. Listen up, our sorority dues are $10/month. $120/year. My sorority sisters are worth so much more than $120; therefore, you cannot put a price on friendship. For greek orgs that pay $400-$1000 (yes, dues can go that high depending on who you join) a semester/year, may seem like they are paying for their friends. However, they have fees that need to be paid as a whole. How about that nice 42 bedroom sorority house on Main St., that's always decked out during rush week?! Yes, they need to pay for that. And with the house comes bills; cable, electricity, phone, plumbing, maintenance, food, house mother, update library, etc.... the list goes on. Not to mention the money they raise for philanthropic causes and the resourceful events they host on campus. All of these things need to be paid for! Including national conventions, retreats, and much more. So in all, you are not paying for your friends. You are essentially paying for a terrific greek life experience!

Fifth, is greek life just like 'Greek' on ABC Family or 'Sorority Life' on MTV? After reading the above, you should be able to decipher the true meaning of greek life from there!

Sixth, are all organizations the same? Absolutely not! You have local sororities/fraternities (smaller orgs), nationals, professional, academic, social, multicultural, etc. Decisions about which type of org you would like to join should be assessed highly before attempting to rush! You want to know what you're getting into.

And last but not least, legacies. Yes, just like most universities and colleges, sororities and fraternities have legacies. This means that if your mom, dad, brother, sister (member of immediate family), etc. was a member of a certain organization, you'll more than likely receive an invitation to join this organization. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO JOIN JUST BECAUSE YOUR MOM DID. BE YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL!

Any questions or comments, feel free to drop them here or email me at missbuildingblocks@yahoo.com.

Relationships: What chasing a guy/girl can do to your long-term goals!

2008-07-14T14:48:00.000-04:00

HAHAHA!

I thought I'd never touch a topic like this. However, it seems to be a problem in my opinion.

Honestly, as a teen, having a boy/girlfriend isn't necessary at all. It tends to be a fad... "Everyone is doing it"... True enough, but what are they really gaining from the individual they're with?

I once told myself that I would no longer date guys who don't have a strong sense of self, LONG-TERM goals, an education, a platform and a clear view of the life ahead of him. Is that asking too much? Not at all. It's worked out pretty well for me too!

What we tend to do as humans is focus on the short-term; what will look/feel good now? But your ultimate happiness is key! Focusing on the now could put a damper on your future. It could cause you to make decisions that could change your life, FOR THE WORSE!

For example... It's senior year and you've just met this cute guy. He has a car, a job at the local bookstore, and he's pretty much content there. You fall head over heels for this guy, to only find out that in August you'll be leaving for an Ivy-league school, and he'll be promoted to cashier at the bookstore. OH NO! What are you going to do 500 miles away from the guy that you think you're going to spend the rest of your life with??? Your solution... "I'll go to a local college and build my life around someone who clearly doesn't have any plans for his life!!!"

THAT IS THE WRONG ANSWER AND THE WRONG ATTITUDE TO HAVE. DO YOU SEE HOW CHASING THAT GUY HAS SENT YOU ON A DETOUR? LOW AND BEHOLD YOU DON'T GO TO SCHOOL AT ALL AND YOU GUYS BREAK UP. NOW WHAT?

This is truly something to think about considering the Fall semester is approaching and a lot of you guys will face that BIG question: "What will chasing him/her do to my goals?"

My advice is to stay true to yourself and evaluate who you are. Take time out and think about the person you want to be. Think about the person you are with, or wish that you were with, and evaluate them as well. If your goals in life don't match the least bit, RECONSIDER your options and focus on YOU!

Education & Employment: Attention Harvard Bound Students!!!

2008-07-11T11:37:00.000-04:00

Harvard University announced over the weekend that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition.

In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, 'When only 10 percent of the students in Elite higher education come from families in lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution.'

If you know of a family earning less than $ 60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free...no tuition and no student loans!

To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $60,000 a year, visit Harvard's financial aid website at: http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/ or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.

This is word of mouth information! Please visit the website to confirm it's accuracy!

Advancement: Credit 101

2008-07-10T20:07:00.000-04:00

LISTEN UP!!!

I know a lot of you guys out there aren't exactly concerned with credit right now; however, I would like to give you all a sneak peek of what credit really is and the risks you take obtaining it!

In simple terms, your 'credit history' is what people refer to when assessing your credit worthiness. Employers, loan agencies, car dealerships, credit card companies and many other organizations may access your credit history for offers.

Why am I telling you this now? Because once you reach the tender age of 18, sometimes months before your 18th birthday, you'll begin to receive credit card offers out of the hoo hah! You will be targeted because you are now a part of the 'real world' in so many words. You are now legal and can make your own decisions about purchases and your financial stability toward the future. You have become another entity that they can market to. Look at it this way, credit card companies are businesses too. Just like your local grocery store or nail salon. They are out to make money! So how will they make money off of you?

Yes, it is true. Having a credit card does sound like 'free money' or 'emergency cash', but once you have that power in your hands, for some it's hard to turn back. Those 'emergency' purchases turn out to be splurges at the mall, lunch for your best friend and you at your fav restaurant, or a pair of designer shoes that you probably wouldn't have bought with your 'real' money!

Let's see what a credit card really does to your pockets! Let's say that you want to purchase a new digital camera but can't exactly afford it right now and you just don't want to ask your parents to spot you the cash. So you're sitting in your room, alone and bored! You take out your credit card, go online and shop around for the latest, coolest, flashiest model you can find. Whhhhhooooooooaaaaaa! It's $299! Definitely not in your price range, but you figure if you put it on your credit card, you can pay it off a little at a time. True enough, you can! But how long is too long?

Your credit limit on your card is $350!!! And the percentage rate on your card is 12.7% a month... You buy the camera and receive your first billing statement from the card issuer. Your current balance is $299 bucks! Ok, you already knew that lol! But what's it gonna take to pay this off. Let's do the math:

$299 x 12.7%= $37.97 in interest

This means that on top of you paying $299 for the camera, you are also paying $37.97 in interest, on top of shipping costs and any hidden fees that they charge upon purchasing! This camera could actually run you $340+ dollars. Was it really worth it? Maybe, but as a college student you'll be scrapping pennies from every couch you sit on! So can you really afford it? Probably not. But there's still hope! RETURN THE CAMERA, GET YOUR 'MONEY' BACK, AND USE YOUR CARD ONLY WHEN ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NEEDED!

As you pay your bill down, GUESS WHAT?!?! Creditors will begin calling you to offer you higher limits on your cards for paying on time! Sounds good, right? Yeah, I'd have to agree that it sounds good. But do you know what higher limits provoke?

They provoke IMPULSE BUYING, which I like to define as purchases that you really don't need, but you do it in the heat of the moment (kinda without thinking about the consequences). Impulse buying is OK when you are using your own hard earned cash, but not when you are utilizing the creditors for this money. My advice would be to decline the offer, and maybe even consider lowering your limit, or getting rid of the card altogether.

I hope I haven't scared you! Because, realistically, there is also good credit! Student loans are considered good credit because you are working towards something that will ultimately pay off: HIGHER EDUCATION! And your chances of being able to pay off a student loan with an education is much higher than paying one off without one!

I'm going to keep this one short today, but look forward to more lessons from Advancement: Credit 101!

Education & Employment: It's OK to need Help

2008-07-08T14:52:00.000-04:00

As a member of society, I have noticed that times have changed. I understand that resources are available for students today, and I took advantage of these resources as a student myself. But the real question is: how accessible are these resources?

According to recent studies conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, the high school drop out rate for students between the ages of 15-24 have increased over the past decade, due to what students call: non-interesting classes.

Because students feel that the material they are learning is absolutely redundant from year-to-year, they don't see the need to reorganize learned material and use it to their advantage during the upcoming school year.

I believe that students need to realize that higher education is a privilege! Not everyone can successfully complete high school and go on to college. There are many negative influences that can harp on a person's ability to seek a greater education including, but not limited to, not understanding life, family issues, financial instability, etc.

With that being said, I have come up with a way to help those students in dire need of assistance. It's every blue moon that a young adult can come on the internet and get honest help from someone who has been in there shoes.

INTRODUCING...
MISS BUILDING BLOCKS TUTORING

Tutoring is available in just about every high school course there is; from Algebra to Zoology. And if there are any questions that I can not answer for you, I will be sure to direct you to someone who can. This service is absolutely FREE for those students who would like to invest in their future!

To sign up for free tutoring services, you can subscribe to my blog and comment on this post. Or you can visit Miss Building Blocks at missbuildingblocks@yahoo.com!

Pursuit of Happiness: Get Happy

2008-07-08T12:45:00.000-04:00

'Get Happy'

Today's building block is the 'Pursuit of Happiness'.

I would like to begin by briefing you all on Webster's definition of happy, and how you can obtain ultimate happiness!

Happy: characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy...

I am human, and I understand the importance of being happy. But I also understand that ultimate happiness is hard to obtain, and that as humans we will never be completely satisfied with what we have or what we have accomplished.

For instance... working 40 hours a week would make some people content. But because they are losing out on family time, or socializing, they aren't completely happy. They play with the cards that were dealt to them. Or how about the 6th grader that skipped recess to finish his classwork. He's content with missing recess and finishing his work, however, playing outside would have made him happy.

In my opinion, instances like these cause people to realize that happiness is simply the pursuit of itself.

My life motto is 'Get Happy'. This includes doing whatever it is that you want to do with your life. Whether it be volunteering, not hanging out with friends just to get an 'A' in biology, pulling an all-nighter for that upcoming exam, getting accepted to the University of Michigan. Or simply dressing nicely, giving compliments, smiling at passerbys, etc. The list goes on and on!

Getting Happy is pursuing those things in life that will make you smile in your sleep, that will make you look to your parents and say "thank you for all that you've done". Getting Happy is going to get you through the rough times in your life. In the long run, being happy will cause a better spirit, a better attitude and a better YOU!

So, in what ways do you plan to get happy? Leave your comment!

Why Building Blocks?

2008-07-07T18:54:00.000-04:00

First and foremost, I feel the urgent need to introduce myself and my reason for starting Building Blocks.

I am a 20-year old college student residing in the state of Michigan. Because I am just beginning, I currently only have access to resources in the state of Michigan, but will eventually venture out to access information for those of you in neighboring states. I have been compelled to believe that young people need me! Not per se, but as a guide... as a mentor... as a go-between.

Building Blocks, as stated before, is a blog for young people between the ages of 13-18. On this site young people will not find solutions, they will find GUIDANCE.

So that my viewers can better understand my site, I will break down for you the blocks that I believe need to be built in order to evolve into a responsible adult.

Here's the Building Blocks that this site is built around (P.E.A.R.L).

♥ P-ursuit of Happiness
♥ E-ducation & Employment
♥ A-dvancement
♥ R-elationships
♥ L-ife Issues

Each day of the week will build on a different block, in no particular order.

My site is aimed towards those individuals who are interested in making an investment in their future (not only financially, but emotionally and physically as well).

They are implemented into each post, on a weekly basis. They are structured to provide the most insight into what I believe is the problem for most young adults: inaccessibility to the resources that should be available to them!

At Miss Building Blocks, I am dedicated to providing the most up-to-date, reliable information pertaining to, but not limited to:

Finding Scholarships and Grants
Resume Tips
Time Management
Relationship Advice
Establishing Credit
Greek Life
Tutoring
THE LIST GOES ON

I would like to thank you for visiting, encourage you to subscribe and tell all of your friends, and check out my biweekly polls at the bottom of my page! I hope that this information is useful to all of you!