Destination: Spring Break
Panama City... Cancun... South Padre Island... Acapulco...
After a long, cold winter and 7 months of mind-bending study, you deserve to pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Pack your bags, grab some sunscreen and shades, and get the heck out of town. Yes, it's SPRING BREAK!
Thousands of students will be heading for the beach, the islands, Europe, or anyplace away from school. Kick back, relax, and enjoy.
This annual vacation has developed a reputation for wild times and outrageous behavior over the years. Some students celebrate too much and then get in trouble with local police or are victimized by other students or locals looking to take advantage of intoxicated spring breakers. Don't let your good times land you in a serious situation that may involve the police, jail, or a hospital stay.
Instead of the traditional spring break party, consider an "alternative" spring break. Some students choose to forego the party scene and use their break to:
- Repair inner-city homes
- Work at homeless shelters
- Spend time with the elderly in nursing homes
- Visit children with terminal illnesses
- Volunteer with AIDS agencies
- Work to clean up the environment
This year, some alternative spring breakers will head to Haiti to help the survivors of last month's devastating earthquake.
Whatever you choose to do during spring break, remember to be safe and have fun. Spring break lasts for only a week, but if you do it right, it can be an experience you'll remember for the rest of your life.
The Benefits of Service Learning
Service learning is a great way for you to obtain tangible work experience in college. Service learning integrates classroom instruction with service projects. You're able to get involved with your community and can use newly acquired skills and knowledge in real-life situations.
A major component of service learning is reflection. Service learning provides you with a structured time to reflect, think, discuss, and write about your experience.
Service learning gives you the chance to grow as a student and as a person. It also gives you relevant job experience, which can help strengthen your resume and may give you an edge during job interviews. Employers look for well-rounded individuals with job experience. A service learning background provides you with a specific, career-related example of your skills that you can share with potential employers.
How to Project Self-Confidence
Several studies have revealed that career success increases in direct proportion to your communication skills—and 55% of your success depends on your nonverbal communication, or body language. Your body language should convey self-confidence: You know that you're capable and can be counted on to get the job done.
We've compiled some tips to help you project self-confidence:
- Make eye contact and shake hands firmly when meeting new people. You've probably heard it often, but it bears repeating: First impressions are important and lasting.
- Smile. A smile sends a message that you're at ease and confident in your abilities. Make it genuine, not forced or exaggerated.
- Take pride in your appearance. A missing button or a torn hem detracts from your appearance and your self-image. You should always dress in a tasteful and professional manner.
- Maintain good posture. The way you carry yourself says a lot about you. Slouching tells people that something is wrong and suggests an attitude of defeat.
- Walk briskly, in a purposeful way, not as if you're in a hurry. Dragging your feet projects a lack of interest, whereas rushing gives an impression of being out of control.
Projecting confidence—not in a boastful, overbearing way, but with calm self-assurance—is an important key to success.
Like it or not, there will be days when your confidence is not at its peak. On days like these, it pays to take a deep breath and act as if you feel confident anyway. The benefits are twofold: People are more likely to believe in your abilities, and most importantly, you're more apt to believe in them yourself!
Explore any or all of our websites. You'll be glad you did!
Manage your AES account online at aesSuccess.org.
YouCanDealWithIt.com gives you the real story on money, student loans, and life.
EducationPlanner.org is our award-winning career and college planning site.
You may forward this newsletter to any of your friends. If you received this newsletter as a forward and would like to subscribe, please visit our newsletter subscription page.
Let us know what you think about this newsletter, our websites, or whatever's on your mind. What topics would you like to see? Send us a message at aesnews@aessuccess.org.
Please note: Email is not a secure method of communication because it may be intercepted by third parties. Please do not include any sensitive or private information in your email correspondence directed to AES.