A True Meaning of Happiness

Photo via http://24hoursofhappiness.com

“Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.” Wikipedia

Happy International Day of Happiness!  Yes, this day is celebrated on March 20 to basically help make the world a “happier” place.  Do we need such a day, or is there a way to celebrate happiness all year round?  Of course, asking this question raises questions like: “Do we need St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate being Irish?” or, “Why do we only give presents at Christmas?”  What it comes down to is really our awareness of what qualifies as happiness in our lives.  The key of celebrating a day of happiness is to develop your understanding of what makes you truly happy.

Did you know that Denmark ranks #1 as the happiest country in the world, while the United States is #17?  Why is this?  Americans spend an exorbitant amount of money on anti-depressant drugs, self-help books, and inspirational speaking conventions.  Yet we are always in search of the “perfect” happiness.  An article from Forbes tells us that happiness is a choice, rather than something that is merely attained; in other words, one has to consciously make the decision to be happy.  The article goes on to give 5 “Ingredients of Happiness":

1. Positive Emotions – choose to look at things from a more positive perspective
2. Engagement – get involved/curious
3. Positive Relationships – surround yourself with people who energize you
4. Meaning – find something that speaks to your soul (give back)
5. Accomplishment

Have you ever considered that this recipe for happiness could actually equal our success?  Think about all those positive, optimistic, happy people you know…Studies show they could end up being more successful and fulfilled in their life than those of us who believe in the mantra that success equals happiness.  The reality is we have it backwards: happiness equals success!

So today, and every day, celebrate being happy and learn to live and love your life!  Try taking on one or all of the “Ingredients of Happiness” above and see if making the choice to be happy actually leads to your lifelong happiness.

If you need something to get you started, check out this link with music videos of the “Happy” dance from around the world, featuring Pharrell’s popular song.  http://24hoursofhappiness.com

Tips for Those Interested In Scholarships

Photo Source: https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/2963-12-tips-on-winning-a-scholarship

Some of you are seniors this year and some of you are not quite there yet, but all of you should be thinking about what you want to do after high school.  For some students, college is the goal and graduating with a Bachelor’s degree.  Others may be more interested in earning their Associate’s degree or obtaining a certificate from a trade school.  There are many options for students interested in continuing their education after high school.  We hope each of our students at MEWA goes on to pursue a higher education, but we know money can sometimes be a factor in making this decision.  To help with this, there are a number of different opportunities for students to earn money towards their education.  Today’s blog is going to offer some tips on one of these: scholarships.

1. Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for scholarships! For everyone who is not yet a senior, start looking at the ones you may qualify for now so that you don’t get caught off guard when all the sudden it’s May of your senior year.  Also, keep in mind there are some scholarships that can be won for students who are already in college, or who have not entered high school yet.
2. If you use a scholarship matching website (such as Fastweb.com), give answers for the optional questions.  This will help the site return twice as many scholarships that give you a better chance of winning them.
3. Keep an eye out for local scholarships.  Ask your counselors if they know of any in the area that you may qualify for.
4. Apply to any and every scholarship you qualify for, no matter how big or small the monetary return is.  Many small scholarships can add up quickly and can be less competitive.  Be sure to save any of your essays as often they can be tailored to fit the responses required in multiple scholarships.
5. Don’t miss any deadlines.  Stay organized as you work through the process of finding and applying for scholarships.
6. Read the instructions and tailor your responses to match the goals of the scholarship sponsor.
7. Personalize your essay responses and show who you really are through your writing.  Bringing out your passion and community impact will help you stand out among the other applicants.
8. Google your name and clean up your digital footprint.  Make sure your Facebook or other social profiles are free of immature or inappropriate posts.
9. Proofread your essays for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
10. Make a copy of your application before you mail it.  Save the copy for your records and reference it for future applications.

(Source: https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/2963-12-tips-on-winning-a-scholarship)

Talk to your academic counselor about what opportunities are available to you.  They are here to help you choose the right path and find the means to help you achieve your goals.

What other opportunities are you pursuing to fund your education?

Olympics: Going for the Gold

The Winter Olympics are in full swing in Sochi, Russia and it seems that is where the focus of the media is right now.  Watching the athletes is certainly something spectacular and it makes you wonder whether they just got an extraordinary set of genes, or if it is something more; is it the character and personality of the individual that gets them to where they are, competing for an Olympic Gold Medal?  What does it take to “go for the gold”?  How can you, as a student, parent, teacher, or guardian, go for the gold each and every day?

Determination

Being an Olympic athlete takes determination.  It means picking yourself up off the ground when you fall, again, and again.  It means never quitting, even when you are tired or sore.  This determination allows the Olympic athlete not to focus on the losses, but strive for the victories.  It means understanding the difference between just winning, and achieving greatness.  An Olympic athlete is determined to put their best effort into every practice, every match, and every day of their life.  They train hard, study hard, find their limit, and then push past it.  Greatness and success is in the level of effort, not necessarily in how many trophies are won.

Drive

An Olympic athlete is motivated by their love of a sport, their competitive spirit, and the challenges they have faced.  Each step is forward, never backward.  They are driven by a passion to be the best, yet they concede to their comrades when someone else comes out on top.  Above all, the Olympic athlete has set goals.  These goals give them something to strive for, allow them to feel success and satisfaction when they are achieved, and constantly improve as they set new goals.

Support

One cannot possibly compete for an Olympic medal without support.  Olympic athletes are supported by their parents, brothers, sisters, and teammates.  For most, they feel the support and pride of their whole country that they are representing at the games.  It’s a position filled with responsibility and expectation, but not one that must be carried alone.  Through whatever defeat, or success, an Olympian’s support system carries them to the next challenge.

We may not all become Olympic athletes, probably missing one of those extraordinary genes, but we can all achieve greatness and success in our lives.  The key is not to worry about what we don’t have, but focus on what inside us gives us that fire that moves us to continually strive to be better.

What other Olympic traits do you possess?

Thoughts on a Snow Day

With the school and offices being closed yesterday and today, we have declared, officially that it is a snow day.  Yet the question remains whether or not snow days actually exist for MEWA?  The beauty of an online education is that it is completed online.  Unless the Internet goes out, which has happened on occasion during a storm, classes are able to continue as usual.  There is no need for “make-up” days to be added at the end of the school year because of snow, or wind, or flooding.  Students don’t suffer from not being in class for a few days.  They log in to their course, learn what was planned for the day, and complete their homework assignments as outlined in the syllabus.  Teachers benefit by not having to rearrange their pre-arranged lesson plans for the course of the term.  They don’t have to worry about cutting one chapter lesson short in order to cram in the missed lessons due to a snow day.  An online education means flexibility, in every sense of the word.  Students experience flexibility in the way they are taught, when they choose to learn, and how they choose to learn.  Teachers experience flexibility in the fact that they are not tied to one classroom each day; they are able to plan lessons for the entire academic year without worrying about planning around spontaneous days off.

So today is a snow day.  But is it really, a snow day?  Our MEWA students are able to continue their education without being in a classroom.  They can take a break from their work and go outside whenever they want today.  Being an online student comes with an understanding that you, as an individual, are responsible for your own education.  This is true for junior high students all the way to college students and beyond.  It is up to you to manage time efficiently so that you can take study breaks to throw a snowball or two.  The feeling of satisfaction when you know you are on schedule, on track, and still able to have fun is second to none.

MEWA students, enjoy today.  Continue learning both through coursework and through life experiences.  We encourage you to study and work on homework today, but we also want you to safely enjoy this snow day.

What are your thoughts on “snow days” for online students?

The Parent of Virtual Education

Are you new to the idea of online education for your student?  Or are you wondering what your role should be within the virtual classroom system?  It is important that parents, or guardians, are involved in the education of their student.  Here are some tips on how the parent can and should be involved in their child’s online education and what the school should do to encourage this involvement.

Parents should:

• Work closely with their children, guiding them through daily lessons and actively participate in their children's daily learning
• Record student academic progress to track their success
• Communicate with teachers on a regular basis to assess children's learning, academic achievement, etc.
•  Become actively involved in parent groups, workshops, school functions and events, and student activities

The School should:

• Keep open the lines of communication between the teachers & parents.
• Hold virtual meetings & webinars with parents & students alike to build rapport & put a face to the names
• Allow parents to be involved on field trips, class meetings, and as volunteers

Parent involvement is a key piece of student motivation and desire to grow and learn.  By acting as a role model for academic success, volunteer service, and dedication to the school, both parents and teachers can encourage our students to pursue and achieve their academic goals.

Sources:

http://www.k12.com/facts-about-k12-public-virtual-schools#.Uul6IKgSDbg

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-increase-parent-involvement-within-virtual-6320478.html

Student Showcase

Our students here at MEWA possess incredible amounts of talent and we want to make sure they are recognized for it.  Each student has contributed in some way to the development and growth of our program.  Their drive, determination, and willingness to push creative boundaries inspire us to take a close look at our own motivations.

Some of our students have shown us their ability to write incredible pieces of poetry, essays, and stories.  Here is an original poem written by Madison Laurent for her creative writing class.

Other students use their creativity as an outlet outside of the classroom; Ashley Newman painted this original self-portrait on her own time, not for a specific class project.

Still others, exercise their favorite hobbies in other states and around the world.  Our MEWA student, Fiona Wylde , is extremely active in the competitive windsurfing & stand-up paddle boarding circuit.  MEWA is a perfect fit for her because she is able to easily stay caught up in her education while travelling to competitions and doing what she loves.

This just goes to show you, no matter what your hobbies, talents, or interests are, there is a place for everyone at MEWA.  Thank you to all our students for being our inspiration! We hope to continue to grow our MEWA family and support each individual’s talent.  Our students' work will be posted to our Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest pages periodically.  We hope you will follow us through these channels to give our students the recognition they deserve!

Remember, keep the ME in MEWA.