Yes We Can Newspaper September 2010

Page 1

Your Voice. Your Community. Your News!

Volume 1 Issue 5

Inland Empire Edition

September 201 0

w w w . Ye s W e C a n N e w s p a p e r. c o m

Social etworking- Playing It Safe By Christie Acevedo Social Networking has now become a major pastime for many people including both adults and teenagers. According to Facebook, just one social Networking website, there are currently over 500 million active facebook users, about 70% of those users being outside of the United States. About 50% of these users log in each and every day and they claim 700 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each month! Most users have about 130 contacts on Facebook, also known as Facebook friends. Why is this important to know? Social Networking could be a great tool to promote your business, keep in contact with friends or family, keep contacts all in one place, to send invites out to large groups or even to play some great online games. Many teens and even preteens are also using Social Networking as a place to keep in touch with their friend. Many of these social networking websites will import your contacts from your email, will search places of current or past employment or search for people in your graduating High School or College class. This could be great to help people with busy lives in order to keep them in contact with many friends at once.

A Guide to Safe Social Networking

Although social networking could be a fun pastime, it could also pose a danger to some that say just a little too much. For instance, it is probably not the best idea to mention that you will be leaving on vacation for the week because you just told your entire friend list that your home will be unattended. You may say, “But those are my friends, it should be safe”. If you would not hand them the keys to your home, it is probably better not to mention your vacation You can

always post all those great vacation pictures and brag about everything when you get home. Also, if there is any chance you will be searching for employment anytime in the future be very careful of the pictures you post and the things you say. A future employer may not hire you because you posted about you getting drunk at a party and making a fool of yourself or if they see photos of you in revealing clothing posted for all to see. Many employers do

search your name to get information about who they may be hiring and how they will represent their company. Always make sure to adjust your settings to what you are comfortable with. Most of these social networknig websites will show your email address, your phone number and address to your entire friend list and some even will have that information visible to anyone searching your name. It is probably not a good idea to have that information

Community College (CCC) system. There are 72 districts and 112 colleges, 69 of which are in Southern California. These colleges offer unique options for the right students. They are cheaper, accessible, and flexible. Enrolling into a CCC is comparatively simple. Basic requirements are that applicants possess a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 18 years old. High school grades do not determine eligibility, but they are used for course placement. Low grades may mean taking remedial classes before moving into college level courses. There are no application fee, letter of recommendation, personal essay, or extracurricular activities requirements. This process is especially comfortable for those who wish to ease into college life

rather than diving in wholeheartedly. Another serious consideration for college is the cost. Again, the CCC system offers relief. Current tuition is $26.00/unit plus books, materials, health services, parking, and student government fees. Comparing these expenses with other California college systems, it is evident that starting college at this level saves a considerable amount of money. If the student is in a degree program, it is economical to take lower division classes at a CCC and then transferring to a four­year university where everything costs considerably more. Even with low tuition, there’s financial help if needed. Depending on the student and family’s financial status, it may

be possible to receive a waiver of some fees. Beyond that, there are loans, grants, and scholarships to help defray the costs. The financial aid office provides assistance in finding help. Also, the Internet provides lucrative websites where a student may search for other means of support. Books and materials are expensive, but there are ways to save there as well. As the name suggests, these colleges are local and students save on transportation and housing expenses. Because applying for financial aid is free, students should file the application even if they think they don’t qualify. Don’t miss out on an opportunity. Finally, community colleges offer goal flexibility. Students decide if they want to enter a degree or certificate program.

available if you have children because this may cause a risk to them. As far as photos, it is probably a good idea to at least hide photos and personal information for anyone not on your friends list. You do not want to make yourself impossible for friends to find but you do want to keep yourself and your family safe so adjust your settings accordingly. Children using the internet could be risky all around and social networking can build a bridge for predators to get in contact with your child. Your child could also say something that could affect their social life or other aspects of their future. If your child is online at all, make sure it is in a open area where you or another adult can keep an eye on what he/she is doing. It is also recommended that you know the child's log in information so you could check if you have any suspicions. As parents it is not an intrusion of privacy, if what we are doing is being done to keep our child safe it is the right thing to do. With social networking becoming so popular we all need to be wise about what we share and how it could effect us. So be safe, keep your children safe and have fun.

Affordable College Choices Community College Alternatives For Your Child

By Josephine Williams Another school year – another chance for opportunities and they are boundless! It’s time for middle schoolers to begin channeling their focus as they prepare for their futures. High school students are nearing a crossroad – graduation – and important decisions must be made to insure they are ready to follow their dreams. What to do after graduation? Undoubtedly, higher education is the definitive answer. With competition in the work force so keen, job seekers need every advantage to overcome the competition. But discovering which level of higher education to pursue requires some careful thought and research. One option is the California

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The certificate program allows the student to finish his course work in a short period of time and then enter the work force. Those who wish to transfer to a four­year university earn an associate degree from the community college and then a bachelor’s degree from the university. It is extremely important for transfer students to know the requirements for the university of choice early on. Don’t waste money and time on classes that aren’t transferable. This article has offered very basic information about the CCC system. If this option seems right, be sure to investigate further. Visit the college websites and the campuses themselves.


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