FALL
2013
RIBE C S B U S NOW /mag
fe.com teenli EE!
MAGAZINE FOR PARENTS
IT’S FR
How Volunteer Award Winner
Teaching Teens Effective Budgeting
Zach Certner Got Inspired
The Impact of Reality TV
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TeenLife.com VOL. II., Issue 2
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TIPS TO SEARCH FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
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Welcome to
The Magazine for Parents with Teens! It’s Finally Back-to-School! Now that classes are in full swing, chances are that you and your family are settling into the well-oiled school year routine. Our article Getting Teenagers Off to a Good Start: Tips from the Trenches for Launching a Successful School Year on page 18 may provide some additional insights for making this academic year a success! TeenLife is committed to helping teens connect with meaningful volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. However, commitment to community service is hard for many teens because of their busy schedules. That’s why we chose to profile, on page 14, one of this year’s amazing Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Winners, Zach Certner, for his initiative to start and grow his own non-profit, an organization called “Special Needs Athletic Programs” a.k.a. SNAP. But as you will see, Zach didn’t “go it alone”—his family played a supporting role in inspiring him to help others. The article Nurturing the Seed of Giving: How Parents Can Instill a Sense of Service (page 12) showcases how you, too, can help instill a lifelong interest in giving back. We all have to have “The Talk” (more than once!) with our teens. On page 27, expert Stephen Gray Wallace, M.S.ED. provides some conversation starters on the topic of sex. Some of the other “must-reads” in this issue of Life with Teens cover the impact of reality TV shows on teens, how teens can learn to budget their money, and searching for college scholarships. We hope you enjoy our fall issue and encourage you to read it from cover to cover! Feel free to share it with your teen—it’s chock-full of tips for both of you. Encourage other parents you know personally, at school, and at work to get their own free digital subscription by signing up at www.teenlife.com/join. I welcome your feedback and comments, so please reach out to me! Now, let’s all get moving!
Marie Schwartz Founder & CEO mschwartz@teenlife.com
FALL 2013 LIFE WITH TEENS
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TS WITH TEENS FOR PAREN
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MAGAZINE FOR PAREN TS
Teaching Teens Effective Budgeting
How Voluntee Award Winnerr
Zach Certner Got Inspired
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A RT & P R O D U C TI O N Kathryn Tilton, Designer PUBLISHED BY Life with Teens, Volume II, Issue 2 Fall 2013 is published four times a year by TeenLife Media, LLC, 1330 Beacon St., Suite 268, Brookline, MA 02446, (617) 277-5120, info@teenlife.com, www.teenlife.com
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s What It Take to Be a High Performance Athlete The Impa ct of Reality TV
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LIMIT OF LIABILITY TeenLife Media, LLC, (TL) does not verify claims or information appearing in any advertisements contained in this magazine. While advertising copy is reviewed, no endorsement of any product or service offered by any advertisement is intended or implied by publication in Life with Teens.
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FALL
2013
LifeWithTeensMag.com
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DID YOU KNOW? New groundbreaking stats
6
MONEY SENSE: What’s Your Teen’s Money I.Q.? By Liz Schick
8
CAREER TRACK: Guiding Your Child Toward the Right Career By Rebecca Rosenthal
12
NURTURING THE SEED OF GIVING: How Parents Can Instill a Sense of Service By Vicki Ritterband
14
GOOD AS HE GETS: Zach Certner’s Non-Profit Pairs Special-Needs Kids with Mentors, Benefitting Everyone By Vicki Ritterband
18
GETTING TEENAGERS OFF TO A GOOD START: Tips from the Trenches for Launching a Successful School Year
See his story on page 14
By Rebecca Rosenthal
HOT TOPIC: 24 The Reality of Reality TV
By Kimberly Wolf, M.Ed.
HEALTH & WELLNESS: 27 Let’s Talk About Sex: How to Approach Your
Teen About the Topic By Stephen Gray Wallace, M.S.Ed.
CAMPUS CONNECT: 28 Scholarships Can Add Up to Big College Savings
By Randi Mazzella
STAY CONNECTED!
2013 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION 32 COUNSELING (NACAC) NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIRS
FALL 2013 LIFE WITH TEENS
3
DID YOU
KNOW?
NEW CHANGES TO THE COMMON APP!
As of this fall, the free online undergraduate application used by over 400 colleges and universities will no longer include “topic of your choice” as an essay prompt and will require applicants to choose one of four essay topics. www.commonapp.org
59% OF TEENS BELIEVE THEY WILL DO BETTER FINANCIALLY THAN THEIR PARENTS. Charles Schwab 2011 Teens & Money Survey Findings
One out of four Americans eats fast food every day. Ohio Medical Group, 2012
4
LIFE WITH TEENS FALL 2013
TEACHERS SPEND
$1.6 BILLION OF THEIR OWN MONEY ON EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS FOR THEIR CLASSROOMS. Study by the National School Supply and Equipment Association, 2013.
Among the class of 2013 graduating seniors who have applied for a job, 45.9% have received at least one offer and, of those, 63.9% have accepted an offer. Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) Class of 2013 Student Survey.
ACCORDING TO MTV,
58%
OF KIDS VIEW THEIR PARENTS AS A BEST FRIEND. Ohio Medical MTV Millennial Study commissioned by Intel, 2012.
FALL 2013 LIFE WITH TEENS
5
SENSE
READ ON MOBILE DEVICE
What’s Your Teen’s Money I.Q.? B Y LIZ SCHICK
oes your teen have a good sense of how to handle his money? Does she spend her allowance too fast and then beg for more? Will a part-time job interfere with school? Making sure your teens are smart about managing money, and being able to wisely budget what they do have, is one of the more important lessons that you, as a parent, can teach. As Rachel Cruze, the daughter and co-presenter of personal finance author and radio host Dave Ramsey, who speaks to young adult audiences around the country at the Dave Ramsey Show’s Total Money Makeover Live! events, says, “If you don’t teach your kids about handling money, who is going to? The Kardashians? MasterCard? Who is influencing them?” Cruze strongly suggests your teens get a part-time job, because it’s vital they understand that money comes from working. You don’t want them growing up with what Cruze calls an “entitlement mentality. ” If your teens don’t understand what it takes to earn money, they’ll continue to think it comes from your back pocket. So establishing a work ethic early on is extremely important.
Whether it’s birthday money or their salary from a job, going to the bank with your teens to open a checking account is a must. As teens learn to reconcile their account online, they learn to watch their cash flow. And while it doesn’t hurt for them to know how to write a check, it’s more likely they’ll use a debit card, which helps them learn how to understand “plastic” without the possibility of incurring debt. “I’m really against credit cards,” Cruze says, as she encourages parents to talk to their teens about the importance of not having any debt. “Lastly,” Cruze says, “when it comes to helping your teens be financially responsible, it’s important to remember that your children are watching you. So ‘just do what I say, not what I do’ doesn’t cut it. Do you lease a new car every two years, or go on a shopping spree on your credit card when you get stressed or depressed? Your kids see this and think that to live this way is normal.” It’s not just financial experts who agree that it’s good to set up a bank account that your teens can access online. Leslie Jackson, a parent of three, made sure her tech savvy kids had online accounts and found that they loved knowing exactly how much money they had from a pretty early age. While jobs
for teens in her area were tight, she found a summer job listed on Craigslist for the 16-year-old parking golf carts, and now he’s working part-time at the local Tenplex on weekends year-round. “College is just around the corner,” Leslie says, “and he’s recognized the need to save for it.” Jessica Horton, community manager for the non-profit community service organization Money Management International, says, “It’s important not to let teens buy everything in sight, or worse, you buy it for them. They need to become savvy shoppers. Whether it’s clothes or video games, show them how to shop around and wait for a
TOP 1. Show Me the Money: Have your teens spend 1–2 months using an Excel spreadsheet or just writing down every purchase so they can see where their money is going. 2. After Tracking: After keeping the money diary, help them make a list of potential cutbacks. Making adjustments each month as they discover what they can truly afford and what they can’t. 3. Monthly over Weekly: Provide a monthly allowance, requiring they make it last. With a prepaid student card or debit card from their checking account, they will have a spending record to review. 4. Needs vs. Wants: Help your teens categorize expenses as needs (expenses that are unavoidable) and wants (expenses that can be cut if necessary). 5. Make a Wish List: Have them make a list of all the things they would like, or need, but can’t afford. Once they stick to a budget, many teens learn they can purchase what’s on their wish list. 6. Addressing Shortfalls: A part-time job, or cutting back on expenses, such as renting a DVD rather than going to the movies, can help if the money in the bank account isn’t lasting as long as it should.
sale or coupon. Teach them to compare prices online, and at different stores. Giving your teens the freedom to make mistakes when they’re 14 or 15, so they don’t repeat them at 24—when they’re responsible for rent and a car payment while earning an entry-level salary—is a great life lesson,” says Horton. According to Forbes magazine, the average college graduate has four credit cards and $4,100 in credit card debt, plus student loan debt. So it really behooves you, as a parent, to be sure your teens understand the best way to conserve, spend, and budget their money before they’re in debt over their heads. LWT
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7. Control Impulse Buying: Encourage your teens to think through spending decisions, rather than impulsively buying right away. Show them how to compare prices online and save money by waiting for a sale or coupon. Many stores offer deep discounts if you download their app. 8. Responsibilities and Age: As you shift spending responsibilities to your teens—a car or trip with friends, for example—they’ll need to effectively manage their own money by putting these big-ticket items into a spending plan. Help them look at the overall costs and strategize making the purchases happen.
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9. No Bailouts: Don’t be your teens’ financial savior or, they’ll never learn to manage money. No doubt they will make spending mistakes along the way, so be sure your teens know they can come to you for information, support, and advice. Just not more money! 10. Some Rapid-Fire Tips for Teens: • Resist impulse buys. • Don’t shop with friends who spend a lot. • Bring lunch to school or work. • Stay away from vending ma- chines and convenience stores. • Only visit an ATM once a week. • Entertain at home.
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FALL 2013 LIFE WITH TEENS
7
CAREER
READ ON MOBILE DEVICE
TRACK
GUIDING YOUR CHILD TOWARD THE RIGHT CAREER B Y RE B E C C A R OS E N TH AL
Call it a career odyssey. Four recent college graduates who were good friends didn’t know what should come next. So they crisscrossed the U.S. in a lime green R.V., interviewing inspiring people along the way about how they found their life’s calling. One friend eventually peeled off to become a teacher, and the remaining three went on to help other young people answer the defining question of young adulthood: What do I do with my life? “My advice to parents? Don’t dismiss your kid’s interest, whether it’s in math, gaming, or comic strips,” says Brian McAllister, whose cross-country journey eventually blossomed into Roadtrip Nation, a career “empire” that includes a film, a book, and a successful PBS series that chronicles road trips of other searching young people.
TOP-HIRING INDUSTRIES/ NUMBER OF HIRES Educational Services
455,400
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
307,900
(e.g., accounting, bookkeeping, architecture, engineering, and computers)
Healthcare and Social Assistance
274,300
Federal, State, and Local Government
203,500
Finance and Insurance
100,200
Salary Charts: From the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2013 Salary Survey
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LIFE WITH TEENS FALL 2013
“Maybe your kid wants to be LeBron James. He can take that same drive and work at Nike designing equipment or do art for ad campaigns for Gatorade. What we try to do with Roadtrip Nation—and what parents should try to do— is show your kid there are many different pathways that start with their passion.” Like McAllister, author and speaker Chad Foster agrees that following one’s passion is one of the wisest pieces of advice parents can give their kids. “It’s in the pursuit of these dreams that many other doors will open for these young people,” says Foster, who also hit the road a couple of decades ago to research how teenagers can better prepare themselves for life after school. “If these doors are related to their passion, their chances of success and gratification are much, much greater.” Not so fast with the “explore your passion” advice, cautions Jared Chung, the founder of CareerVillage.org, an online community that links students with career questions to working adults with answers. “You know how quickly a teen’s passions can change as they experience more. We prefer to encourage students to do something valuable. That framing helps them explore with purpose, and find causes they care about supporting and problems they’re good at solving.”
McAllister, Foster, and Chung offered several other tips for parents trying to guide their kids toward fulfilling careers: • Encourage part-time jobs while in school: “Part-time work as a teenager is the number one common denominator among successful people,” says Foster. “During those experiences, young people learn the skills they’ll need for full-time work, including developing a work ethic.” The people they meet in the workplace may also be helpful contacts in the future. • Support your child’s involvement in extracurricular activities: “In these experiences, kids are learning all the same skills that will apply in the workplace: teamwork, dealing with people, and handing failure and success,” says Foster.
• Provide your child with meaningful intellectual and cultural experiences, guided by your child’s interests: Wherever you go, whether it’s to a museum, a zoo, or a historic landmark, help your kids engage the people who work there. “Encourage them to ask them, ‘How did you get to where you are? What were you into when you were a teenager?’” advises McAllister. “A lot of kids don’t think adults were ever kids. Yet many teenagers are doing the things these adults were doing when they were the same age.” • Look for local “career” experiences that align with your child’s interest: “If your child loves trucks, drive through the industrial part of town,” advises McAllister. “Go to a welding shop or a building site and talk to the people who work there.” Find friends and colleagues who
will allow your child to shadow them for a day, suggests Chung, and consider internships and volunteering. YouTube day-in-the-life videos can also be helpful. • Don’t guide your children to careers based solely on how much money your child will make: It may lead to a dramatic quarter-life-crisis that disrupts so many careers. LWT Average Starting Salaries for the Class of 2013 Bachelor’s Degree Graduates Business Communications Computer Science Education Engineering Health Sciences Math and Sciences Overall
$54,234 $43,145 $59,977 $40,480 $62,535 $49,713 $42,724 $44,928
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FALL 2013 LIFE WITH TEENS
9
PROMOTION
10
Back-to-School
CARS OF 2013
BEST
s the fall kicks into full swing, what better time to think about the best car for your teen driver. Here’s a list of the 10 Best Back-to-School Cars of 2013 recommended by the expert team of editors at Kelley Blue Book, hand-picked for students who may be considering not only their MPG but also their GPA. Criteria for selection included earning high grades in not just fuel economy but also safety, style, versatility, and, of course, value. Each of the KBB.com editors’ new-car recommendations starts below $20,000, with a few even available for less than $15,000. “Parents and students alike will be surprised at the variety of amenity-laden, affordable new cars available on our 10 Best Back-to-School Cars list for 2013,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. “We chose the all-new Nissan Versa Note as our No. 1 Back-to-School Car this year because it not only checks the requisite boxes of low price and high fuel economy, but the Note also stresses good looks as a key portion of its value story. It’s an attractive fivedoor hatchback, featuring plenty of new-tech offerings inside.”
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KBB.com’s 10 Best
Back-to-School Cars for 2013 Rank Vehicle
1
Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined mpg)
2014 Nissan Versa Note 31/40/35
2 2013 Ford Focus
27/38/31
3 2013 Chevrolet Sonic
27/37/31
4 2013 Mazda Mazda3
28/40/33
5 2013 Honda Civic
28/39/32
6 2013 Kia Sportage
21/28/24
7 2013 Volkswagen Golf
24/31/26
8 2013 Toyota Prius c
53/46/50
9 2013 Subaru Impreza
27/36/30
10 2014 Fiat 500L
24/33/27
PROMOTION
CAR SHOPPING AND BUYING TIPS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS: To help ensure driving and ownership satisfaction in the coming school year and beyond, follow these guidelines for getting the right car at the right price. • DO YOUR RESEARCH: All the information you need to make a smart car-buying decision is available at KBB.com, including expert and consumer reviews and ratings, Fair Purchase Price side-by-side comparisons, safety and reliability ratings, and more. • KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST YOU: Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few models that you are interested in, be sure to check out not only what it will cost you up front to buy the car but also what it will cost you over time to own the vehicle. KBB.com’s 5-Year Cost-to-Own information for new cars can help you determine both. • DRIVE AT LEAST TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT MODELS: It’s easy to enjoy a test drive in the vehicle at the top of your list, but without driving one or two others to compare, you might easily miss out on something you’d like even more. • IF BUYING NEW: Always use a vehicle’s Fair Purchase Price, not Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), as your basis for comparing vehicles and negotiating with the dealer. Kelley Blue Book’s Fair Purchase Price is the price people are typically paying a dealer for a new car, based on new-car transactions and adjusted regularly as market conditions change. Kelley Blue Book’s Fair Purchase Price may be hundreds or even thousands of dollars less than MSRP. • IF BUYING USED: Whether buying from a private party or a dealer, it’s always a good idea to have any used vehicle checked out by a reputable independent service shop. When purchasing from an individual, check out the private-party value from KBB.com as well as Kelley Blue Book’s Quick Condition Quiz. These items will help you determine the “actual” condition and value of the vehicle. • CONSIDER CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED (CPO): When you buy a CPO vehicle, you get the value of buying a used car with the peace of mind that comes from getting new-car-like features, such as a manufacturer-backed vehicle warranty, full vehicle inspection, and more. Learn more about buying CPO, compare all manufacturer CPO programs, and even search for CPO vehicle inventory in your local area, also on KBB.com.
• SHOP ONLINE: Use the Internet to find the exact vehicles local dealers in your area currently supply on their lots. To save time and the hassle of driving around from dealership to dealership, you can check out inventory in the “Cars for Sale” section of KBB.com. This way you can choose wisely which models you want to go test-drive. • PARENTS: Make sure to drive the car, too. Your experience test-driving a particular car may identify problems or shortcomings that your teen probably may not notice. Also, trust your own judgment and don’t let your teen talk you into buying a vehicle with which you’re not fully comfortable. • TEENS: Do all of your homework before you meet with mom or dad; show them you are responsible and ready for a car, and make it easy for them to say “yes” to your well-researched choice.
To see K BB.co coverage m’s full of the 10 Best B ack-to-S chool Cars for 2013, including pricing d vehicle photos, etails, an d editoria reviews, l p le a s e www.kbb v .com/car isit -reviews and-new s/top-10 / b est-back to-schoo l-cars-20 13.
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READ ON MOBILE DEVICE
Nurturing the Seed of Giving: How Parents Can Instill a Sense of Service B Y V I C K I RIT T ERBAN D
When Craig Kielburger was a kid, his mother would talk to homeless people on the street, which used to embarrass him and his brother Marc. “She would stop, ask them their name, where they were from, how long they had been on the street,” recalls Kielburger. “It was nothing overly dramatic, but Marc and I would always be racing ahead. She would literally pull us into the conversation.” It wasn’t until years later, after Craig and his brother had started an international charity called Free the Children, freethechildren.com which has built more than 650 schools and school rooms around the world, that he realized the impact of his mother’s chats. 12
LIFE WITH TEENS FALL 2013
The Small Things “Parents think it’s the big things,” says Kielburger, 30, whose 18-year-old non-profit has also provided more than a million people with clean water and shipped $16 million worth of medical supplies around the world. “I think it’s the small things—modeling behavior and creating those teachable moments—that have such an enormous impact on people’s lives.” Interestingly, when Kielburger first interviewed his parents for a book about this very topic, The World Needs Your Kid: How to Raise Children Who Care and Contribute, his mother was hard-pressed to recall ways she may have influ-
enced her sons’ future activism. In an age when children are bombarded with messages that they are the center of the universe, when the annual school portrait is rendered irrelevant by curated galleries of Facebook “selfies,” how can parents instill a sense of service in their children—a social conscience that goes deeper than dutifully completing community service hours mandated by their high school? Keep newspapers open on the kitchen table; talk to your kids about what’s going on in the world; encourage, but don’t lead, their activism; and let their passions dictate where they want to channel their energy, advised several parents of youngsters who serve with a capital S. Model Caring Like Kielburger’s mother, Sharlene Dewitz is unsure of what she did to produce a 10-year-old who would read an article in her local Orlando, Florida, newspaper about an economically distressed town, then decide that she had to collect books for its youngest readers. “Maybe she learned it by example,” says Dewitz, who volunteers full-time with her daughter’s charity, Just 1 Book (just1book.org), which has distributed well over 150,000 books to needy communities. “I was a volunteer caretaker for a neighbor who had a stroke for a year. I make a dish when someone’s sick. Your kids watch you.” A Family Affair For Zach Certner’s family, giving back was woven tightly into the fabric of family life. Certner and his older brother Matt co-founded Special Needs Athletic Programs, or SNAP (snapclinics.org)—a non-profit that provides sports, social, arts, and other opportunities to special-needs children, particularly those with autism. Their New Jersey synagogue’s service days were family affairs, when Certner’s parents, together with their
three boys, would do things like collect food outside of a grocery store. Every family trip abroad included a visit to the local orphanage, where they distributed gifts and spent time with the kids. Hanukah was a time for giving presents to those with little, never receiving them, and Certner’s parents made sure the boys bought the presents. “That is the key thing,” says Sandy, Certner’s mother. It can’t be parents doing it. It has to be something that the kids are part of.” Zach Certner, who recently was one of 10 teen winners of the prestigious Prudential Spirit of Community Award, is profiled on page 14. Let the Kid Drive It’s also the parents’ duty to enable, but not direct, according to those interviewed. “For the most part, we followed our child’s lead,” says Stacy Stagliano, whose daughter Katie started Katie’s Krops (katieskrops. com) at age 9, after growing a 40-lb. cabbage and using it to feed many people at a soup kitchen. Today, Katie’s witnessing the power of growing food has blossomed into a South Carolina-based organization that boasts 61 youth-run gardens in more than 25 states, feeding poor people all over the country. Katie’s activism even predated her cabbage epiphany, according to her mother. “There was a huge drought in our area, and she was watching the news and saw a nearby lake that was bone-dry. We decided we would take a ride and explore it,” recalls her mother. Katie was shocked by the dead fish and cracked earth and began investigating ways to conserve water. “She wrote a long letter to her headmaster, telling him the things the school should be doing to conserve water. He implemented a lot of her ideas,” says Stagliano. Stagliano, like other parents, says that what Katie receives from her good works far exceeds what she gives. “She
has such an appreciation for the world at large now, and for agriculture, what farmers go through, the environment, and the importance of taking care of it. Her work has also taught her public speaking and writing skills and how fortunate and blessed she is.” LWT
FAMILY PROJECTS THAT INSTILL A SENSE OF SERVICE • Start a tradition of working in a soup kitchen as a family once a year. • Organize a day of service. Gather a group of families to help a cause. • Hold a yard sale for charity. • Help out a local fund-raiser; for example, charity runs usually need help with registration, water tables, and food tents. • Walk dogs or foster animals for a local shelter. • Unofficially adopt a local playground or beach. Visit regularly to pick up litter. • Get to know neighbors so you can lend a hand when needed. From The World Needs Your Kid: How to Raise Children Who Care and Contribute, by Craig and Marc Kielburger and Shelly Page
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CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO
NEW JERSEY TEEN GIVES AS
Good as He Gets BY V I C KI R I T T E R B A ND
Zach Certner’s Non-Profit Pairs Special-Needs Kids with Mentors, Benefitting Everyone 14
LIFE WITH TEENS FALL 2013
In 2006, at the ripe
old age of 10, Zach Certner and his 15-year-old brother, Matthew, started an athletic program for children with special needs. Three years later, the program received nonprofit status and was renamed Special Needs Athletic Programs or SNAP. New Jersey-based SNAP runs sports clinics, teaches art and Tae Kwon Do, hosts trainings for young people and educators on interacting with people with special needs, and—most importantly—pairs its participants with peer mentors. The mission of the organization is to enhance the lives of children with and without disabilities while creating a culture of acceptance of all. We recently spoke to Zach, a high school senior, 17, of Morristown, NJ, and a recent winner of the prestigious Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The award honors young people for outstanding volunteer service. How did it go from a good idea to an organization? We thought it was going to be much easier than it was. At first the community, schools, and recreational leagues were apprehensive about helping two kids. I don’t think people believed we had the determination to do it. So we took the back roads, getting our own gym space, buying sports equipment using Matt’s money from babysitting and his video editing business. We also found mentors through service groups at the high school. The mentors are really important. Our kids are always with their adult aides at school, and this gives them the opportunity to play sports and hang out with kids a couple of years older. Our philosophy is “Kids helping kids.”
How much has the organization grown since you started? Our first year, we ran bi-monthly sports clinics, for a total of 12 clinic sessions. We had 10 special-needs kids and 15 mentors. This year, we have 150 special-needs kids—about 90% are on the autism spectrum—and 450 mentors. We’re now running 11 different programs— including sports clinics, yoga, art, music, Tae Kwon Do, and tutoring— and have something going on five nights a week. We also bring anti-bullying sensitivity training workshops to schools and community groups throughout New Jersey, now reaching more than 2,700 students. The workshops use hands-on exercises to show what it’s like to be blind, dyslexic, and autistic or challenged in some other way. My goal is to get our sensitivity training in every school in NJ and then throughout the nation. How much time do you dedicate to SNAP? How do you fit in school and other interests? About 10-20 hours a week, depending on things like how many trainings I do and how many speaking engagements I have. I’m also head coach for the basketball, baseball, and soccer clinics. I would never give that up no matter how big we got. I also find and train new mentors, send out e-mails, make phone calls, and hold sensitivity workshops. So this must be your only extracurricular activity, right? No, I play three varsity sports—track, golf, and basketball. I’ve learned how to manage my time well. I get a lot of help with SNAP from my mom and the executive board.
have this opportunity. These children not only learn how to play sports, but gain confidence and self-esteem, and form strong and lasting friendships. Not only have their lives changed, but so have their families’. They’re so happy to see their kids happy. And I think the mentors get more out of SNAP than the kids. They learn such valuable life skills: empathy, leadership, and patience. I see a lot of mentors come in freshman year, shy and afraid to work with the kids. When they leave after four years, they’re true leaders, active in the community, giving more of themselves than they could have four years ago. Seeing them change and grow up is so powerful. What did it mean to win the Prudential Spirit of Community Award? It was such an unbelievable honor. I was picked as one of the top 10 among 102 other students at the awards ceremony (2 chosen from each state and 2 from D.C.). It really put into perspective that SNAP is truly making a difference at the state and now national level. The press attention has also attracted new donors and people
NATIONAL AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards spirit.prudential.com
Jefferson Awards for Public Service jeffersonawards.org
Princeton Prize in Race Relations princeton.edu/pprize
Discus Awards discusawards.com
National Coca Cola Scholars coca-colascholarsfoundation.org
Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program kohlscorporation.com/Community Relations/scholarship/index.asp
Do Something Award dosomething.org/awards
Our philosophy is “Kids helping kids.”
What do you get out of your involvement with SNAP? The rewards culminate at the end of the year when we’re giving out trophies and we see the smiles on kids’ faces because they don’t ordinarily FALL 2013 LIFE WITH TEENS
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calling me from all over to see how they can start our programs in their states. In the last month, I’ve heard from people in New Hampshire, New York, and Florida to name a few. Plus, the awards money helps to keep our programs free since so many of these families have to pay for programs outside therapy and special schools. Did your parents instill a sense of service in you and your brother? They’ve always stressed the importance of giving back and awareness of people less fortunate than us. If we went on a family vacation, we would always find a local orphanage to visit and spend time with the kids. Those small things really grew in me. I’m trying to instill that same value of service in the special-needs kids who participate in SNAP. For example we’ve had them collect nonperishables for a food pantry. Giving back has been important in my life from a young age, and I want to teach others to give back as well. What’s next for Zach Certner? I am about to start my senior year. Plan to go to college next. But will continue expanding SNAP’s reach. LWT
How to Apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States’ largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. If you’ve made a difference by volunteering in your community over the past year, you could win $1,000 and a fabulous trip to Washington, D.C., by applying for a Prudential Spirit of Community Award! Even more importantly, you could win recognition that might inspire other young people to follow your example. These prestigious awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, have honored tens of thousands of middle level and high school students over the past 18 years solely for their volunteer work. The application period for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards will kick off September 2013.
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Getting Teenagers Off to a Good Start:
from the Trenches for Launching a Successful
SCHOOL YEAR BY REBECCA RO SEN T HAL
he back-to-school shopping has long been completed, class schedules have been committed to memory, and the lazy days of summer are a hazy memory. Now—a month or so into school—is the time that school counselor Jeremy Goldman would like to be hearing from parents. “They should start making appointments with school counselors to see what our role is, what theirs is, and how we can work together to achieve their child’s goals,” says Goldman, the chairperson of the school counseling department at Pikesville High School in Baltimore, MD. “More often, we hear from parents only when there is a problem to fix. If we’re having an ongoing conversation, starting at the beginning of the year, we don’t have situations where we have to fix anything.”
Getting on Track Academically Checking in with school (guidance) counselors and teachers, helping your teenager establish a daily routine, carving out family time, and putting limits on screen time are several of the things that parents should be focusing on in the first couple of months of school, according to educators, parents, and a pediatrician interviewed for this article. Goldman says that the most common outreach from parents and students during the first months of school are the “change my class, change my teacher, change my level,” entreaties. Resist the temptation to “fix” your child’s problems by demanding these changes, advises Goldman. “It’s hard, because as a parent you don’t like seeing your kid come home in tears; it’s painful to see them struggling even though you realize that your child needs to become an independent adult,” says Goldman.
He urges parents to help their children think of ways they can solve their own problems, and to step in only when things begin to unravel. “What helps them grow and what’s best for their college and career readiness is to help your child develop the coping skills to handle these situations,” says Goldman. Virginia Beach school counselor coordinator Tracy Jackson is accustomed to seeing kids and parents panic during the third month of school. Because the first nine weeks are typically a review of what students learned the year before, they often find themselves receiving outstanding grades during that period, explains Jackson. “Then suddenly they’re getting a C or a D. It’s totally new content. They’ve never seen this material before. Don’t freak out. The kids will learn it and master it.”
Reaching Out to Teachers Like school counselor Goldman, Anthony Gabriele, a former English teacher, appreciated it when parents reached out to him during the first months of school. “Don’t wait until school conference time,” says Gabriele, who now works as an instructional coach in Glen Mills, PA. “Just say, ‘Hello. Here are a few things you should know about my kid. Here’s what my kid likes. Here’s what he responds well to. Here are his strengths and weaknesses.’ You have 125 kids and you’re trying to get to know all of them. Anything from the parent’s angle is helpful.” Gabriele says it’s also good to know a little about the parents, for instance, if the mother is working multiple jobs and doesn’t have time to answer e-mails immediately. With a relationship established, it makes dealing with challenges down the road that much easier, he adds.
Having regular face time with your teenager is also very important.
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Creating a Schedule A month or so into the school year Beth Altman, the mother of 10th grader Abby and two college-age girls, is making sure they’re back on a good homework and sleep schedule. “I’m monitoring them to some extent, really pushing them to go to bed at a reasonable hour and not letting them sleep forever on the weekends,” says Altman, who lives in Merion Station, PA. “I’m also trying to be more consistent with scheduling dinner, although that can be a challenge when they play sports.” Altman admits that there have been times when she was serving dinner at 6:30, 7:30, and 9:30 p.m. because of sports schedules and her husband’s work hours. Chilling and Talking Providing a predictable, stable environment and helping your kids with time management are important, says instructional coach Gabriele, but don’t forget to build time into their packed schedules for pure relaxation. “They need a break, whether it’s a video game, quiet time, walk around the neighborhood, or reading for pleasure,” says Gabriele. “Make sure every day is not the same grind.” Having regular face time with your teenager is also very important. “Ask them what they’re reading, what they saw on the news, what they painted in art, what’s going on in school, what they’re excited about,” says Gabriele. When he was a classroom teacher, it was often obvious which students had parents who engaged with them intellectually. “They have a level of comfort talking to adults, they’re curious, they have opinions, and they’re comfortable in their role as a student. They think that being smart and talking about smart stuff is cool.” Seattle pediatrician Cora Breuner, M.D., urges parents to check in with their kids about their emotional health as well. Depression and anxiety can be expressed through high-risk behavior like unprotected sex and
binge drinking, cautions Dr. Breuner, who specializes in adolescent pediatrics at the University of Washington. “They’re crying for help when they’re doing these high-risk things,” says Dr. Breuner. “They need resources that go beyond Facebook friends telling them they’re OK. They may require a mental health professional to talk to.” Talking About Transitions There’s another kind of conversation Dr. Breuner advises parents have with their young teenagers in particular—the dreaded one about you-know-what. The summer between seventh and eighth grade is when physical changes can be huge, especially for boys, who are having their big growth spurt and typically go through puberty about two years later than girls,” according to Dr. Breuner. “Try to sit down with your 12-yearold boy and bring up the changes in an open-ended way. Feel it out. Ask them if they have any questions about their bodies. Would they rather talk about it with their father?” “These are also conversations that teenagers can have with their pediatrician, but the fact is that many kids go missing from primary care providers’ offices once they’re done with their
childhood vaccines at age 7,” says Dr. Breuner. “They should still be coming in every year to have their basic health monitored. Most of the appointment will be discussing physical changes and safety, including using seat belts and helmets.” Monitoring Electronics Use The beginning of the school year is also a good time to tighten up and clearly lay out the rules about electronics use, according to Dr. Breuner. For young people ages 12 and older, they should have no more than two hours a day of non-educational screen time, which includes cell phones, television, and computers. In her house, there is a 10 p.m. curfew for electronics use. She has no compunction about unplugging the router and hiding it in her bedroom when her three kids are noncompliant. And there’s no better way to drive home the importance of limiting screen time than by modeling the same behavior, she says. Dr. Breuner does not believe in monitoring a child’s social networking activity unless they give you reason to do so. Her last piece of advice? Make sure your teen gets 8-10 hours of sleep each night. LWT FALL 2012 LIFE WITH TEENS
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The Reality of
REALITY TV B Y KIM BE R LY W OLF , M.E D.
In recent years, reality TV shows have skyrocketed in popularity in two main categories: competitions and documentaries following stars’ everyday lives. Shows like The Voice, America’s Next Top Model, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and anything with a Kardashian headliner have become some of the most widely watched shows for the teen demographic—and some of the most influential. But what is the nature of this influence? Speaking to experts, parents, and teens themselves reveals that while reality TV poses significant problems, it can also play an important role in educating teens and improving familial communication. Why It’s Popular: Entertainment and Aspiration For teens, reality shows can be uplifting, inspiring, and informative—or just a mindless break from daily stresses. These shows capitalize on a widespread fascination with fame, drawing teens for reasons beyond pure entertainment. Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair, clinical psychologist, school consultant, and co-author of the newly released The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age (Harper Collins, 2013), notes that “reality TV plays into a huge shift in our culture where kids say what matters most is fame.” She explains that “[reality TV] plays into so many fantasies that teenagers have: the idea that your reality is star-worthy, the idea that everyday life, your ‘drama,’ could be watched by millions.” For teens, fame isn’t just about notoriety, it’s about the luxury and glamour that come along with it, and reality TV offers a window into this sought-after lifestyle. Competition shows play a dual role. They have documentary appeal, but they are also aspirational, giving teens 24
LIFE WITH TEENS FALL 2013
a road map to reality fame. While many shows revolve around existing celebrities like the Kardashians, other shows create celebrities and position fame as an achievable goal for anyone. As Alexander L., 17, of Los Angeles observes, these shows “provide hope for a lot of teenagers.” Teens everywhere can watch and think, “Maybe one day I can win The Voice or Idol.” The Drawbacks: Blurring Fact and Fiction Because teens take social cues from what they see, the negative impact of reality TV can be very real. Despite the fact that most reality TV shows are dramatized, scripted, and produced as much as non-reality shows (see inset), teens often comprehend them as being “real life.” As a result, Justin K., 18, of Los Angeles, articulates, “Whatever they [reality stars] say, people take seriously because they are playing themselves. [Teens] see people acting poorly toward one another and living glamorous lives. It makes people think ‘Oh, I can act like that.’” Over time, reality TV exposure can have a deep influence over teens’ perceptions of the world. “The division between fact and fantasy is blurred…heavy exposure [to reality TV] affects peoples’ realities in the real world,” confirms Dr. Mina Tsay-Vogel, Assistant Professor of Communication at Boston University, who has extensively researched the topic. Real to Me: Girls and Reality TV, a study from the Girl Scout Research Institute, explores the influence of these shows on girls. Researchers found that reality TV viewers were more likely than non-viewers to believe that: • It’s in girls’ natures to be competitive with one another (68% vs. 50%). • Girls often have to compete for a guy’s attention (74% vs. 63%).
• They would rather be recognized for their outer beauty than their inner beauty (28% vs. 18%). While boys may not be watching all the same shows or as many reality shows as girls, Dr. Steiner-Adair notes that the negative messages from these shows impact the beliefs and behaviors of all teens. “The reality TV norms are equally damaging to girls and boys,” she says. “Boys feel just as hurt and trapped by some of the crude stuff they are supposed to do in order to get together with girls.” The Technological Impact: Inspiring Teens’ Own Reality “Shows” Beyond its effects on their belief systems, Dr. Steiner-Adair connects reality TV and teens’ use of social media. She finds that young people, particularly girls, will go to a party and spend the entire time taking pictures of themselves and their friends. Then, just as reality TV producers craft their episodes to generate ratings, these teens will spend 1–2 hours editing their party photos, choosing the perfect ones, and planning the right time to post them on social networks in order to garner the most “likes” from their peers. Social media feeds reflect a series of “high points” strung together to create the image of the “perfect life” like those depicted on TV, a life marked by popularity, beauty, and glamour, while omitting any sense of struggle. “Reality TV is lending to a culture of not being in the moment and a kind of dual identity,” Dr. SteinerAdair says. “Teens and tweens are growing up in a culture where it’s not having fun that matters. Videotaping yourself having fun is more important. This mentality comes from reality TV,” she continues, “the idea that every moment is somehow newsworthy.” Importantly, teens’ stories are carefully crafted. There’s a discon-
nect between what they are doing and feeling and what they are showing their social networks. For teens, Dr. Steiner-Adair says, “There’s the me in real life, and there’s the reality show I project.’” Can You Place Limits? Parents and experts agree that while it can be effective and beneficial to govern the amount of media teens consume, placing limits on specific content is a challenge. Janice K. of Chicago, who has a teenage son and daughter, found that in trying to restrict her daughter’s media intake, she was “putting her [daughter] at a disadvantage socially.” She explains, “I was seeing her friends judge each other on what they were watching, on what they knew.” Wanting her daughter to feel more a part of the cultural conversation, she gave in. Adrienne L., also of Chicago, says she hasn’t restricted TV at all for her three children. “I don’t feel like restricting it benefits anybody,” she says. “You just pique their interest.” Not to mention the task can be insurmountable. With an array of personal devices, teens literally can have all programming at their fingertips. It’s Not All Negative: The Small Screen’s Silver Lining Despite its undesirable effects and the obstacles it can cause for parents, reality TV offers parents a rare window into adolescent culture and opens the door for discussion. “Even though [my children] are going online right there in the living room, it’s not a shared activity. It’s solo,” says Janice K. “The one thing about reality TV is that it’s something to discuss.” Adrienne L. agrees that it’s a chance to connect with her children. “They portray a lifestyle that I don’t want my children to aspire to, a lifestyle that I wouldn’t want them to navigate.” But, she continues, “I use it as an opportunity for conversation. It’s an opportunity for education, and it
Things You and Your Teens May Not Know About Reality TV Reality TV doesn’t exactly reflect the real world. Dr. Mina Tsay-Vogel and several Hollywood producers (who understandably asked to remain anonymous) weigh in on the facts behind many of your teens’ favorite “reality” shows: 1. “There are numerous casting rounds.” Producers and casting agents choose “talent” based on characteristics including background stories and personality type. 2. “It’s scripted.” Producers often lay a storyline before taping. 3. “No one wakes up that pretty.” Celebrity shows have hair and makeup every shooting day. 4. “It’s not typically a take one take two thing.” Producers will film scenes numerous times and coach the “talent” (reality stars) in order to get just the right look. 5. “It’s not always chronological,” says Dr. Tsay-Vogel. Video editors will “cut” footage together to create a good story; they may not be as concerned with the actual timeline of events. 6. “It’s oddly difficult playing yourself.” Their lives might look glamorous, but a lot of reality stars spend long, exhausting days on set. 7. “Products are integrated into the narrative,” according to Dr. Tsay-Vogel. That’s right, advertisers might be behind those bottled waters the stars are drinking or the cars they are driving.
FALL 2013 LIFE WITH TEENS
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keeps their ‘playground’ knowledge in check.” You can also argue that reality shows bring significant significant attention to people and problems often not presented in regular mainstream TV, as well as present useful information for teens. Flip the channels and you’ll find find people of diverse backgrounds and belief systems, and those battling very prevalent social problems. Shows like The Biggest Loser Family Edition presents important information on diet and exercise; Intervention highlights many teen success stories in the battle against alcohol and drug abuse; and The Little People portrays a family navigating the same everyday issues as most families, except they are diagnosed with dwarfism. dwarfism. And not all reality TV is aspirational. In 2010, a major study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy found
that 87 percent of teens that watched MTV’s Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant actually felt that these shows educated them about, rather than glamorized, the consequences of being a young parent. Using using Reality reality TV tv to Your your Advantage When it comes to starting conversations with teens around reality TV, Dr. Richard Weissbourd, a Harvard psychologist and author of The Parents We Mean to Be (Harper Books, 2010), encourages parents to focus on how their children are digesting what they are watching and to aim for an understanding of their children’s emotional experiences with the content. “If you have a child who gets excited by someone getting humiliated on Idol, you want to discuss that,” he says. Dr. Steiner-Adair recommends asking questions and making statements
designed to help teens “deconstruct the messages they are getting” and also plant ideas and phrases that they can use in their own lives. “The grown-ups who are the most effective effective are the ones who get in there and are not too intense and not too judgmental,” she says. The process can be awkward and imperfect. Adrienne L. doesn’t expect to always get it right, but she tries. “I don’t think I can undo everything the media does, but I think I have a responsibility as a parent. What we learn and what our values are starts in our home.” The good news is that the popularity of reality TV gives parents many chances. “It’s about building a series of mini-moments of small connection that add up over time,” Dr. Steiner-Adair says. “Teens need to hear over and over from parents what’s real and what’s not real.” LWT
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Let’s Talk About Sex: How to Approach Your Teen About the Topic BY ST EPHEN GRAY WALLACE, M . S. ED.
espite what you might like to believe, your teen is probably engaging in some type of sexual activity. Gulp. In my profession, I talk to teens regularly about the topic. And of course, it’s no surprise that many cite peer pressure as a primary motivator to “get in the game.” Fourteen-year-old Alex acted after his prep school dorm mates taunted him for being a virgin; sophomore Billy “did it” when a girl handed him a condom at a party and told him to take his clothes off; and Ellen said, “I turned 17 and it was like, ‘Well, I have to have sex now.’ So I did.” Likewise, when asked if their parents have broached the subject with them, most largely replied, “No.” Psychiatrist Lynn Ponton, author of The Sex Lives of Teenagers, confirms most teens have sex lives, whether in fantasy, with themselves, or with others. Yet, many teens report family conversations about puberty, sexuality, and sex are the exception rather than the rule. Frankly, that’s too bad, because as you would guess, young people clearly benefit from “the talk” with their parents—a candid dialogue about the good ol’ “birds and the bees”—and about their changing bodies and behaviors. According to research from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), more than half of teens whose parents provide a strong level of guidance on the topic say they avoid sexual activity (52 percent), compared with those whose parents don’t (27 percent). With puberty beginning earlier for girls and boys, intimate sexual behavior may begin when kids are younger than ever before. While older teens are more likely to report being sexually active than younger teens, nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of sixth graders report some type of sexual activity other than kissing compared with 73 percent of eleventh graders and 78 percent of twelfth graders. Source: Research conducted by Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).
So, what to say? Here are some “gentle” conversation starters you might try with your teen. There are a lot of changes going on now. You probably think it seems like everything is different, from how you interact with your friends to how you feel about me to what’s happening to your body. These are all things we should talk about. Sometimes young people can feel incredible peer pressure to engage in sexual behavior before they are ready. Do you know someone who has had to deal with that? Are you feeling this pressure? It’s important to know that you are in charge of your body and what to do with it! Whatever decisions you make, they should be decisions you want to make. Many teens wonder about their sexuality and what to do with sexual feelings, as well as when is the right time to become sexually active with someone else. What do you think is right for you? There can be a lot at stake when it comes to sex, and one decision can have long-term or even lasting consequences. What do you think some of those may be? Many young people confuse sexuality with sex. Sexuality is an important part of identity formation and helps us learn “who we are.” But that doesn’t mean having to have sex. Maybe you and I, together, can try to figure out when you feel you are old enough, and mature enough, to engage in sexual behavior.
• • • • • • •
Bringing up sex can be a difficult conversation to have for sure. But with patience and no small amount of courage, you can help your teen better understand the physical and emotional risks of sexual behavior, the responsibilities that come with mutually caring and respectful relationships, and standards for acceptable behavior. Remember, there’s no better time to guide your teen’s choices than now. LWT Stephen Wallace, an associate research professor and director of the Center for Adolescent Research and Education (CARE) at Susquehanna University, has broad experience as a school psychologist and adolescent/family counselor. He is also a senior advisor to SADD and director of counseling and counselor training at Cape Cod Sea Camps. FALL 2013 LIFE WITH TEENS
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Scholarships Can Add Up to
BIG COLLEGE SAVINGS BY RAN DI M AZZELLA
ith college costs at an all-time high and continuing to rise, it makes sense for students to apply for as many scholarships as possible. April Bell, Director at the College Board, explains, “Applying for scholarships may seem like a daunting process to students, especially for those already busy getting applications together for college. But for students willing to put in the time and effort, there are many scholarship dollars available.” Is Your Student Eligible for a Scholarship? College scholarships can be broadly divided into two categories: financial need-based and merit-based. Many families assume that to receive a merit-based scholarship, a student needs to be a top athlete or have stellar academic achievements. But in fact, scholarships are available to students based on a wide variety of eligibility factors. Sean Castillo, Community Strategist for Zinch, says, “There are many scholarship opportunities that do not heavily rely on GPAs and instead focus on unique skills, talents, or interests that may not be evident on a student’s transcript.” Plus, scholarships are offered by numerous sources including big corporations (Coca-Cola, Dell, Burger King), private foundations, and colleges themselves. Eligibility criteria can range from religious affiliation to community service to proposed college major. From the International Star Trek Fan Association to the National Potato Council, Chris Long, president of Cappex, adds, “You name it, there’s probably some scholarship out there for your student.” 28
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How to Find Scholarships Students can start their search by going to websites such as College Board, Cappex, Zinch, and Scholarships. com, all of which offer free access to peruse the many opportunities. On these sites, students set up a profile with their information (GPA, interests, activities, etc.), and the sites will generate a list of potential scholarships that directly connect with the student. Another great resource is a college’s own website. Every college will have a section on financial aid, where they will list scholarships available through the school along with eligibility criteria and deadlines for applications. Some colleges automatically consider students for merit aid who apply by a specific deadline. Ally Weissenberg, a high school senior, received this type of collegeoffered scholarship. Robbie Weissenberg, Ally’s mother, explains, “There was no additional paperwork. She just had to have her regular nonbinding application completed by the deadline. Based on her application, she was accepted by the college and offered a substantial monetary scholarship toward her tuition.” Guidance counselors and teachers can also be helpful in finding scholarships, especially those offered by local businesses. It was Carly Pancer’s art teacher that submitted her portfolio to a number of scholarships, several of which Pancer went on to win. Her mother, Debbie, credits the initiative taken by her art teacher: “Her teacher supported Carly and encouraged her. We would not have known about several of these opportunities without her.” Pancer received two of her scholarships from local
businesses—an art dealer and the town art council. Long continues, “It is always good to look locally for scholarships. Big corporations may offer a lot of scholarship money, but they will also have a lot of applicants. But community organizations, rotary clubs, etc., offer scholarships just for students in their geographic area, which means less applicants and better odds of receiving the award.” Lindsay Maron also got a college scholarship through a local community theater that she worked at during high school. Her mother, Abbe Maron, remarks, “We had no idea when she began working at the playhouse that they offered this type of scholarship to two seniors every year. It was a nice surprise.” Additionally, many companies offer scholarships to children of their employees; it behooves parents to check with their Human Resources Department.
Other red flags include being asked for confidential information such as a social security number. Maximizing Scholarship Opportunities Students should approach the scholarship process similar to the way they approached the college application process. Be meticulous when submitting applications. Read through the eligibility requirements, proofread essays, submit before the deadlines, etc. Students should not apply for every scholarship offered. Instead, they should focus their efforts solely on scholarships for which they meet the requirements. Nathanael Stover approached the scholarship process methodically by continually searching for scholarships throughout his senior year of high school. Stover says, “About once a month, I would look through the
applications that were coming due and then focus on putting my best work into a few of the most promising ones.” This diligence paid off. He was recently awarded a $4,000 scholarship. In addition, because Stover found this scholarship opportunity through a Zinch search, he became eligible for the Zinch-sponsored “Double Your Money” scholarship, and he won that, too. Unlike loans, scholarships are gifts and do not need to be paid back. Even small dollar amount scholarships can help students pay for discretionary spending, books, housing, plane fare home, etc. There are also nonfinancial benefits derived from winning a scholarship, including a sense of pride and accomplishment. But Paul reminds students, “If you don’t put yourself in a position to be considered for merit scholarships, you can’t win them!” LWT
When to Apply Nancy Paul, founder of Three Wishes Scholarships, suggests, “Every student can qualify for merit scholarships. The trick is taking the right steps to do so and beginning that process early.” Experts recommend students begin their search during their junior year of high school. Although many scholarships are geared toward incoming freshmen, there are ones for upperclassmen and graduate programs, too. Bell articulates, “Students may think they missed out by not applying for scholarships as a high school senior, but they can continue to search and apply for scholarships throughout their college years.” Avoiding Scams Although there are many legitimate college scholarships, be wary of scams. Scholarships should not require students to pay a fee to apply or to gain access to information.
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ANNOUNCING OUR TEENLIFE
“Sail Away Summer” Contest Grand Prize Winner! As the Grand Prize Winner, Garrett participated in Sail Caribbean’s Sierra Marine Biology program— a 21-day tropical sailing voyage working with marine scientists in the beautiful British Virgin Islands.
GARRETT H., 15 Weston, MA
From scuba diving and examining sea life to hands-on research projects in the field, Garrett arrived home brimming with knowledge and stories from his Sail Caribbean adventure!
“I was one of 12 kids on my catamaran. Throughout the trip we did everything from snorkeling and scuba diving to exploring the Islands. We also had classes and discussions below the cockpit to learn more about the area’s sea grass, mangroves, coral, and tropical fish. The most memorable part of my trip was definitely scuba diving The Wreck of the Rhone. We did our advanced open water certification dive exploring the 1867 shipwreck, which is covered in vibrant coral. One pane of glass is still unbroken and you are supposed to touch it for good luck. One dive at the end of the trip was called “The Dive Against Debris.” We took mesh bags down to the bottom of a mooring field and picked up trash. We found everything from bottles and cans to clothespins and blankets. I learned a ton about proper recycling and how to best protect the environment. We all need to be conscious of what we use and don’t use because a good portion of it will somehow end up in the ocean. I have always thought about going into Marine Biology. This program provided such an incredible few weeks exploring the sea with great new friends, all learning about sailing and marine life. It couldn’t have been better in any way!”
“It couldn’t have been better in any way!” Garrett pictured at left.
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About TeenLife
Join now for free access to all we have to offer—www.TeenLife.com/Join WHO WE ARE
TeenLife is the "go to” resource for parents, teens, and educators actively looking for meaningful learning experiences—regionally, nationally, and internationally—for students. Our award-winning site, handy guides, and face-to-face events feature an extensive number of opportunities, programs, and services that "bring out the best” in teens.
WHAT WE DO
Few students, parents, and educators have the time, resources, or knowledge to research interesting, learning experiences for teens. So, we do it for them. TeenLife scours the Internet and teen resources for new information and ideas on a continual basis. Our proprietary database containing thousands of listings for teens is unmatched by any other source.
BECOME A MEMBER
Information is offered online at www.teenlife.com and through monthly e-newsletters, email communications, and printed and digital guides in a number of categories. Families and their teens can also explore opportunities at live events, school and student fairs, and corporate meetings. Students, parents, and educators are encouraged to register online to take advantage of our comprehensive resources! Go to www.teenlife.com/join.
For more information about TeenLife, email info@teenlife.com or call (617) 277-5120.
FALL 2012 LIFE WITH TEENS
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2013 National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) National College Fairs Already looking at schools? Attend one of NACAC’s National College Fairs, where you and your teen can discuss admission and financial aid requirements, majors, and campus life with representatives from a wide range of colleges. September 9/15 BIRMINGHAM, AL Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 9/22 TORONTO, ONTARIO Metro Toronto Convention Centre 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 9/24 - 9/25 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Minnesota Convention Center Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 9/28 CHICAGO, IL Navy Pier 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 9/29 MILWAUKEE, WI Wisconsin Center 12:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 9/29 CINCINNATI, OH Duke Energy Center 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Ocotber 10/1 INDIANAPOLIS, IN Indiana Convention Center 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 10/1 NEW ORLEANS, LA Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 10/2 BATON ROUGE, LA Baton Rouge River Center 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
10/5 DENVER, CO Colorado Convention Center 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 10/6 LONG ISLAND, NY Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 10/10 - 10/11 KANSAS CITY, MO Kansas City Convention Center Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 10/12 JACKSONVILLE, FL Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center 9:00am – 1:00pm 10/13 ORLANDO, FL University of Central Florida Arena 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 10/13 PHOENIX, AZ Phoenix Convention Center 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
LIFE WITH TEENS FALL 2013
11/1 -11/2 PORTLAND, OR Oregon Convention Center Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 11/5 SPOKANE, WA Spokane Convention Center 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 11/6 WASHINGTON DC Walter E. Washington Convention Center 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 10/8 - 10/9 SEATTLE, WA Washington State Convention & Trade Center Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 11/10 PHILADELPHIA, PA Pennsylvania Convention Center 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
10/20 ST. LOUIS, MO Saint Louis University – Simon Recreation Center 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
11/12 - 11/13 BALTIMORE, MD Baltimore Convention Center Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
10/23 FT. LAUDERDALE, FL Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
11/14 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Atlantic City Convention Center 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
10/30 BOISE, ID Expo Idaho 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
REGISTER FOR A FAIR! WWW.GOTOMYNCF.COM
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November
To scan the QR code, you must download a QR scanner App. The QR code links to www.gotomyncf.com
Image Copyright Monkey Business Images, 2013. Used under license from Shutterstock.com.
nurturing our community, together. providing meals, together. stirring the public to act, together. 50 million people face hunger in America, even though billions of pounds of food go unused every year. Together let’s work to close this gap. Please join the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks this Hunger Action Month. When you get involved, you become part of a national solution while making an impact on your local community. Learn how you can solve hunger today at FeedingAmerica.org.
together we can solve hunger.
TM
THE EXPERIMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LIVING Make Your Summer Matter y Spanish Program Themes: Q The Arts Q Cultural Discovery Q The Environment Q Peace, Politics, and Human Rights Q Sustainability and Food Systems
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improved, I learned about ecological issues, experienced the beauty of Ecuador, and want to keep in contact with my amazing host family and new friends. I definitely want to go on The Experiment again! Saree Boutin Bowdoin, Maine
The Experiment in International Living has been a pioneer in the field of international cross-cultural education since 1932. Today, students can choose among three-, four-, and five-week summer programs in 20 countries around the globe.
www.experimentinternational.org Q 800 345-2929