EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS - WHY THEY MATTER

When students take the SAT or ACT to test for ATYP eligibility, we are checking to see if they have the cognitive ability to do the work required. In other words, can they handle the intellectual level of the work we are asking them to do? These test results answer this question for us.

What these test results can’t tell us is this: are the student’s executive function skills where they need to be in order to sustain and support the effort this very fast-paced and sometimes independent learning environment requires?

What is executive function? This term covers skills such as:

• Impulse/emotional control
•  Working memory
• Planning and prioritizing
• Time management
• Organization
• Task initiation
• Task persistence
• Sustained attention
• Metacognition
• Shifting focus

Chances are, even though a student’s brain can do 10^th grade math or 12^th grade English, they still have the executive function of a typical 7^th or 8^th grader. Which is fine when you’re doing 7^th or 8^th grade work but may require an upgrade to get a handle on ATYP.

If you think this is an area where you can improve, we will be discussing these skills more in upcoming blog posts, and Dr. Kelly is adding tips to her weekly email. So don’t panic, just like playing soccer or the flute, this is an area where you can practice and grow your abilities!

Tip #1: If you are really struggling, ask for help! Knowing when to persist on your own and when you need a hand is an important first step. Many people (including adults!) are embarrassed when they feel like they can’t get things together. They think everyone but them knows how to be organized/on time/doesn’t procrastinate, etc., so they ignore their problems instead of trying to find a solution. This could sound like any number of people you know, but the reality is, lots of people can’t figure out how to do these things. So reach out! We will try to help!

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVILITY IN OUR DISCOURSE AND DEBATE

In case you haven't noticed, we're in the middle of an election season. It's been kind of hard to miss. 

Your family may be among the many that are divided politically. Your parents (or you) may not be speaking to someone who disagrees with them on who to vote for. People are arguing endlessly, and social media isn't helping. Relationships, even with those you may have known for years, are strained. What does that have to do with ATYP?

One of the foundational strategies we try to teach at ATYP is open discourse and debate - not just providing an argument and knowing how to defend it, but listening to someone else's argument respectfully. Listening not to RESPOND, but listening to HEAR what the other person is saying. Considering it thoughtfully. Thinking about why you agree or disagree. Understanding what makes it a position you can support or deny.

What should you consider when listening to another person's opinion or point of view? Is their argument persuasive because it tugs on your heartstrings and evokes sentiment, patriotism, or some other emotional twist? Is the argument based on data and facts that are widely supported? Does it appeal to a cultural norm you have heard repeated at home or among friends? Does the argument rely on the logical fallacies that many of you are learning about in English classes? Know the strategies that others will use to convince you, and be wary of tactics that are not based in truth or rationality. 

Regardless of whether you end up accepting or rejecting the other person's point of view, HOW did you receive it? Was there yelling and screaming? Was there eye rolling and deep sighs of disgust? Or was there measured contemplation and thoughtful consideration? Some people will attempt to frame these types of responses as "politically correct," but we like to think of them as decency and civility. Intelligent people from all sides of the political spectrum can disagree about policies, options, and courses of action, and they can do so in a way that does not demean, dehumanize, or "other" the opposing side. 

Hopefully, once we are past November 3 we can all go back to being friends, families, and neighbors. In the meantime, try to stay above the fray, and remember, HOW you disagree with others may be just as important as why.

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

REMEMBERING JOHN LEWIS

On July 17 we lost a great American icon, Representative John Lewis. 

As a child, John Lewis was denied a library card because he was black, an incident that would spark a flame for justice that would never go out. As a teenager, he helped to found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, organizing sit-ins at lunch counters and voter registration drives. At 23 he was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington. And at 25 he was nearly killed in a march across the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama, when a peaceful protest for voting rights was met with violence. He was bloodied and beaten, but he was not broken.

In 1986 John Lewis was elected to the House of Representatives, and represented his constituents in  Atlanta, Georgia, for 34 years. He would become "the Conscience of the Congress," and in 2011 received the Congressional Medal of Freedom, our country's highest civilian honor. In 2016, he led a sit-in on the floor of the U.S. House to protest gun violence. He was 76 years old. Think about it. He was 76 and he was still fighting for what he thought was right.

These may just sound like dates and numbers to you, but to me they make it clear - you can never be too young, or too old, to stand up for what you believe. To use whatever gifts and talents you have to make a difference in the world. John Lewis's gifts were courage, perseverance, and the ability to inspire others toward a more just world.

In 2014, Congressman Lewis was the commencement speaker at Emory University. Here is just a portion of his remarks:

If you see something that’s not right, not fair, not just, do something about it. Say something. Do something. Have the courage. Have the backbone to get in the way. Walk with the wind. It’s all gonna work out.

I was beaten, yes, several times, left bloodied, but I didn’t give up. I didn’t become bitter. The way of peace, the way of love, the way of nonviolence is a much better way. And it doesn’t matter whether we’re black or white, Latino, Asian American, or Native American. It doesn’t matter whether we’re straight or gay, bisexual, transgender. We are one people, we are one family, we are one house. We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters.

If you go out and do what you must do, you have the power, you have the ability, not just to change America, but you have to change the world and create a world community at peace with itself. Go out and redeem the soul of America, the soul of the world, help create the Beloved Community. So I say to you today, walk with the wind. And let the spirit of peace, justice and love be your guide.

At ATYP we teach English, math, and computer science, but there is so much to learn outside of the classroom. Learn from John Lewis. You can read more about his life in his two autobiographies, Walking with the Wind and Across that Bridge, or in the graphic novels March One, Two, and Three. You can also watch the movie Selma. Although Selma is not a documentary, it details those days around the march on the Edmund Pettis Bridge. You can also see and hear all of the commencement speech on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvD6Zfvih3g.

Much of what we can learn from Congressman Lewis is how to respect one another, and how to be kind to one another. We can live out his legacy by remembering that every day, and especially right now. People are stressed and on edge, but we all need grace. Let that be the lesson we learn and set as an example for the rest of the world.

Til next time,

Ms. Nan

FUN SUMMER READS!

This summer reading recommendation is all about FUN! Although these books may have important messages in them (because a lot of great books do), they are also just great reads! Since 2020 has been a stressful year, we hope you will take some time this summer to read a book just because you love it and want to escape from reality for a few hours.

Again, all of these books were recommended by past or current students. We hope you’ll check them out!

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

A gifted girl with cerebral palsy who refuses to be defined by her disability. Many of you can probably relate to figuring out how to best communicate your talents to the world.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

A mystery involving a French orphan who lives in a train station. This Caldecott Award-winner may skew young, but several students recommended it. The movie is also supposed to be great!

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

A West African-inspired fantasy that conjures a world of magic and danger. There’s also a second book in this series, Children of Virtue and Vengeance. 

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Amazon calls this a “brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.” It’s also an unflinching look at obsessive-compulsive disorder and how it can impact the life of a teenager. You should check out all of John Green’s books. If you’re reading The Fault in Our Stars, keep tissues handy!

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This book is hard to describe – mystery? thriller? fantasy? AND photographs? My daughter loves scary movies and loved this book! Also recommended by John Green. It’s a series, so plenty to dig into.

If you have a great book to recommend, we hope you’ll add it in the comments below!


Until next time,

Ms. Nan

READING TO FIND MEANING THIS SUMMER

I don’t know about you, but I find one of my favorite summer pastimes is reading. I can read in a big comfy chair when it’s rainy, I can read on the beach or by the pool when it’s sunny and warm, I can read on the porch in the evening…I confess, I probably am reading when I should be doing other things.

This summer, because so many of the “other things” have been canceled, I am reading perhaps more than ever. Usually summer reading has a reputation for fun and escapism that may or may not qualify as “literature,” but this summer there is a LOT going on in the world, so I am thinking about books that talk about the human condition and the particular moment of time in which we find ourselves.

Below are a number of books recommended by past and current ATYP students that you may find meaningful. Some may be younger than you normally read, and some may be more mature…and one may surprise you. But all provide a new way to consider what others live through, offer an opportunity to develop empathy, and allow the reader to grow as a human being.

 Refugee by Alan Gratz – Multiple stories show how the experiences of refugees from three different time periods are interconnected and how history sometimes repeats itself.

Writings on the Wall by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “Discusses political and social issues in current day America from a refreshing and open perspective” (Julia). Another student called it “eye-opening” and called the solutions offered “achievable” (Alex).

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. A classic, recommended by multiple students. A story of survival during the Holocaust.

Esperanza Rising by  Pam Muñoz Ryan – A girl from Mexico and her family immigrate to the United States after the death of her father. Takes what you think you know about immigrants and turns it on its head.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – Another World War II story recommended by numerous students. Heads up: several remarked that this
 story is really emotional and moved them to tears.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – A powerful look at racism, oppression, and protest told from the perspective of a teenage girl who witnesses the police shooting of a good friend and is caught up in the aftermath. My daughter describes it as “the best book I’ve ever read.”

Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson – Recommended by a student and by yours truly. Calvin is  one of the world’s greatest unidentified gifted kids, and Hobbes one of the world’s great philosophers. If you want to read about the world from the point of view of a kid who may think like you, Calvin’s your guy. And if you want to feel better or think about humanity, Hobbes is a good go-to. A great way to spend a drizzly afternoon.

Do you have books you'd like to recommend? We'd love to hear about what you're reading that helps to make some sense of the world. Give us your ideas in the comments below!

Til next time,

Ms. Nan

FOR UNWAVERING GRIT AND DETERMINATION...500 HOUSE POINTS TO THE ATYP STUDENTS!

It is nearly the end of the school year. Whew – what a ride!

We know that when you signed up for ATYP you thought you were signing up for challenging courses, extra homework, and maybe the chance to make new friends. You weren’t signing up for, well, whatever this turned out to be.

There are all sorts of lessons in life that you simply did not know you were going to have to learn. Parents (or at least, me as parent) spend a lot of time talking to their kids about being organized, keeping up with work so you are in control of your schedule, thinking about what might happen so you can be prepared. And then things like COVID-19 happen and it becomes very clear, very quickly, that we all only have so much control over the world and sometimes we just have to roll with whatever comes our way.

We did a LOT of rolling this year.

All of us here at ATYP, staff and teachers, want all of you, our students and their families, to understand just how truly grateful we are to you for sticking with us this these last few months. We know it hasn’t been easy. A lot of your friends went into quarantine with almost nothing to do for the first few weeks, and we kept asking you to turn in your homework and show up to online class every week. And you did.

We asked you to keep your brains engaged and to stay committed, and you did.

We asked you to think creatively and to be there for your classmates when they needed you, and you did that, too.

In other words, you all have been amazing!

It has been so much fun for us to watch – and post! – your pictures and videos, to celebrate your achievements, and to marvel at your capacity to learn and grow. We hope, no matter what you do from here on out, you will continue to develop those abilities, because continuing to learn and grow throughout your lifetime is what it is really all about. In the middle of stay-at-home, learning what you were capable of as students and as human beings are the lessons that will be most important to you.

We know you have another week left – YOU CAN DO IT! WE KNOW YOU CAN! – but we just wanted you to know, before classes are over and you all run off for the summer and forget us for a while, that we are so proud of you.

Yes, I sort of feel like Professor Dumbledore, standing at the head of the dining hall at Hogwarts handing out house points…all the cheers for you, friends, on this remarkable achievement!

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

APPRECIATING OUR ATYP TEACHERS IN TOUGH TIMES

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week; you should not take the fact that Dr. Kelly and I failed to talk about it much to mean that we don’t appreciate our teachers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Nothing makes ATYP successful more than the hard work and dedication of its instructors. That was true before quarantine, and it is even more true today.

Teaching is more than just a skill set. There is an art to exemplary teaching, and being a gifted instructor for gifted students is a whole other thing. It takes a full grasp of content (because no one is less understanding of a teacher who doesn’t have the answers than a gifted kid),but it also takes understanding, patience, a sense of humor, and humility. You have to check your ego at the door. You have to be willing to grow and learn every day.

The last two months have shown us just how gifted ATYP teachers truly are.

With almost no notice, they adjusted their teaching styles and curriculum to begin holding virtual classrooms. And although teaching for ATYP can be a fairly solitary existence, our staff were particularly impressive in the amount of collaboration they brought to this effort. Perhaps more than ever before in the program’s history, teachers relied on teamwork to guide them in the decision-making process. Pulling together made moving forward possible, and we could not be more grateful for everything they did to make it happen.

Just as importantly, even though ATYP is primarily known as a rigorous academic program, from the beginning, these same teachers took stock of their students and understood the social and emotional issues at play during these tough times. As one, they grasped the need to put kid’s mental health at the center of what they were trying to accomplish. We still need students to learn content, but more than anything teachers know that wellness is the key. They always have the best interests of their students at heart; to us this makes the difference between a good teacher and an amazing teacher.

Parents and students know that ATYP teachers expect a lot, and they have to. We can’t get through the curriculum we do – at the pace and depth that we do – without having high expectations. Our teachers know what students are capable of and understand the standards we are setting. But they also love you, their students, and so much of what they have done in these last weeks demonstrates just how much they care. We knew that before – but now we REALLY know it. And appreciate it beyond words.

If your instructor has made quarantine more tolerable, shown kindness and grace, pushed you to meet goals, lent a helping hand, or just been there to listen, please show them some love back. Let them know that in 2020 we are not just having Teacher Appreciation Week, we are having Teacher Appreciation Year.

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

P.S. If you would like to show appreciation to your instructor in a meaningful way, please consider donating to ATYP in their name! They feel the love, and ATYP receives much needed financial support, which helps support those same teachers. You can donate now by clicking here.

BEING OKAY WITH 75%...OR LESS

Do you know all those sports movies where the coach gives this rousing speech and asks his players to give 110% every day? The implication is that in order to be successful we have to give it our all EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

It’s motivational. It’s inspiring. It’s…baloney.

Movies and books are make-believe, as is the idea that everyone has to run flat out, giving everything we have 24/7, 365 days a year in order to reach our goals and get where we want to be. But that’s not human. That’s not real.

Gifted kids especially seem to feel this way. Many of you are driven internally, you have big dreams and the capability to achieve them, and that compels you forward, which is great. Many are externally driven by families and a society who see your abilities and demand a lot. Wherever your drive comes from, expectations still need to be based in reality. And the reality is that everyone has off days. Kids. Grown-ups. Parents. Teachers. They just do. You have a headache, you didn’t get enough sleep last night, your best friend said something snarky to you in biology class. It happens to everyone.

This is true at the very best of times. Dr. Schultz and I expend a lot of effort talking to parents about being honest with their kids about days they couldn’t give 100%. When they make mistakes. When they failed at things. No one’s expectation should ever be that they are firing on all cylinders all of the time.

And now? Now we are all just muddling through, giving it what we can, when we can. Ms. Carr heard from a speaker “we should all be operating at 75% right now to allow reserves for emergencies.” And that sounds about right. We are all going to struggle right now. This week in our office we missed an important deadline, are grappling with the budget, and are completely scrambling to accomplish tasks that should have been finished last week.

You know what else is not helping grown-ups or kids? The people with the social media posts claiming they cleaned out the garage, knitted a scarf, and wrote 50 pages of their new novel today. That’s great for them, but we know that most everyone is binging Netflix and eating brownies and living in their pajamas, and that’s okay. Don’t compare yourself to others; it’s just fine if you are saving your energy for what’s important, which is getting through each and every day.

Yes, we still want you to try and do your homework. Yes, we still want you to do what you can to get along with your brothers and sisters. Yes, it’s nice if you can help your families out once in a while when they need you to contribute. But we also want you to show yourself grace. Acknowledge that some days are just 75, or 60 or 50% kind of days. Ask for help if you need to. Be kind to yourself.

If you have found a way to let go of expectations, an affirmation to lift your spirits, or want to confess a way you are wasting your time (I am reading tons of completely non-literary fluffy books right now), please let us know in the comments below.

Remember, even though what we’re living through right now feels like a dystopian novel, it’s the idea of giving 110% every day that’s fiction. Reality is what we’ve got, and we’re going to have to be okay with it.

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

WHY THE QUARANTINE IS SO HARD ON TEENS

A shout out to Ms. Carr, who shared with me this great article from wired.com, "The Reality of Covid-19 Is Hitting Teens Especially Hard," by Christopher Null.

I loved many things about this piece. First, it confirms what we already know: this pandemic is hard on our middle and high school students. The author is particularly focused on high school seniors, but being distanced from your friends and your routine, and feeling bored is difficult for most teens and preteens. Seniors are missing out on all of the rituals and not getting closure, but everyone is feeling the strain.

Second, I greatly appreciate that he offers practical advice for parents trying to help their kids work through the stress and upheaval. Specifically:

1. Listen when they talk to you about the stress, anxiety, and frustration they are feeling, and ask them what you can do to help. "It’s important to validate their feelings during this time, even if they are disappointed and sad. Ask your child how you can support them through this time. It is important to not try and solve their problems when they are upset. Just show compassion, validate, and be present.”
2. Maintain calm around your kids, and be a role model for how you would like them to react. If you need to have a freak out, do it privately. Parents are certainly experiencing their own anxieties about work, finances, the possibility of becoming ill, and being stuck at home, but remember - your kids watch what you say and do. 
3. Keep structure in the days and weeks where you can. I've talked about this in the blog before: structure is important for kids, and for now parents and teachers are going to have to do what they can to provide it. His suggestions: "family meals, workouts, and reasonable 'virtual learning time.'"
4. Celebrate the milestones where you can. If prom and graduation are canceled, if you can't have that great last-day-of-class party, come up with another way to honor the occasion. Zoom parties, restaurant take-out, and drive-by parades are just a few ways to creatively highlight those big days. 

I hope you will read this article and think about what the pandemic means for the children in your home - mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. It's tough. Some of them will be okay, but some kids will have a rough time. They are all going to need our help. 

You can read the entire piece at: 

https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-is-hitting-teens-especially-hard/?fbclid=IwAR3L2lH6TKArIyM4VhSNkkxe2JNc0Rp7xEyteXvMSUT3PlC5_EW4o_WmGA8

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

2020 - A DIFFERENT KIND OF DECISION DAY

May 1, this Friday, is Decision Day; that's the day that most selective colleges and universities have as their deadline for incoming freshmen to choose where they are headed off to school. This is usually a very big day in the lives of high school seniors, especially in the lives of ATYP alumni who frequently are choosing between elite schools all over the country.

In the middle of a pandemic, this might be...tricky? Difficult? Overwhelming? Insert your adjective here.

Most ATYP students see entering college as a significant goal. Even if you're the first in your family to go to college, gifted students are taught that this must be your path, that this is the road to take if you want to be successful. But what now? How do you make this decision NOW?

Many seniors may have already made their selection and thought they were set. Are you reconsidering your options? Was your initial choice far from home? Are your parents concerned about you moving away? Is money suddenly a more prominent issue than it was before?

For those who were waiting to hear from certain schools, and who waited until all admissions offers were sent out earlier in April, these questions and concerns may be playing a role in your thought process. Or you may be thinking about deferring for a year until the world sorts itself out.

Unfortunately, this blog post does not come with easy answers. It only comes with the acknowledgement that right now, these decisions are hard. Thinking this through and balancing the pros and cons will require maturity, self-awareness, and reflection about your needs, priorities, and goals. That's a lot to ask of 17 and 18-year-olds, even more so than in most years. 

One of the things we hope you learned in ATYP was how to work through a problem or dilemma and how to debate multiple sides of an issue, even if that debate is with yourself. The critical thinking skills you developed here should stand you in good stead as you determine which path to take.

What we really want you to know, and what we want our current students to understand, is that no matter what you choose and where you go, we are so proud of you. You have worked hard, you are taking steps into uncharted territory, and you are being courageous at a time when fear is our constant companion. We salute what you've accomplished and acknowledge the difficulty of this current task. 

All that being said - what did you decide? We would love to hear from all of our graduating seniors regarding their plans for next year! Whether you're attending college near or far, taking a gap year, joining the military, planning for trade school, or doing something else we haven't even thought of, we'd really like to know. You can tell us in the comments below or in a response on Facebook or Twitter.

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

STAYING TRUE TO YOUR VALUES, EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD

First, Dr. Kelly and I want you to know that we understand you are all – we are all – stressed out about what is going on with the quarantine. It’s a lot for students, families, instructors, and staff to take on, absorb, and deal with. We are right there with you, experiencing the same uncertainty, worry, and, sometimes, fear. It’s not easy to also be doing homework and trying to move forward in classes. We get it.

We also know that trying to do your schoolwork without having the friends in your class to talk to, maybe not feeling like you can get as much feedback as  you want from your instructor, or not asking questions as frequently as you want to might be adding to your stress. It might be tempting during this time to be a little…lax in your homework integrity. But please don’t be.

You may just want to hurry and finish your assignments so that you can relax the way that some of your friends are. You might be having trouble focusing because of, well, everything. The assignment may be difficult and you’re not sure how to get help. Whatever is causing you difficulties, copying and pasting from the internet, plagiarizing material, or copying a friend’s homework is not the answer now, any more than it was the answer before we were all forced to work from home.

So what can you do? Here are some suggestions:

• If you are doing research, rewrite quotes or paraphrase the material as you note it; it is much harder to accidentally copy something word for word this way (yes, you still have to cite the author).
• When answering a question or prompt in free-response fashion, close all the other tabs on your computer. Or better yet, disconnect from the internet. This helps keep the temptation at bay.
• Ask a friend to talk you through how they solved a problem or wrote a program – but do not copy down what they did. Make sure you understand the answer and write it down from your understanding of the solution.
• Read some of the earlier tips on organizing your time and your homework so you are in the best position to finish work in a timely manner. When you are less rushed you are less likely to take shortcuts.
• Use the help session! Tutors and graders are still available online for assistance; read the weekly email for directions and contact information.·         
• Your teachers are there to help you; all of them are willing to email and text with you, or talk on the phone if you need additional support. They are a great resource.·        
• Remember, it should be about the learning, not about the grade. Especially right now, we want you to be focused on continuing to feed your brain information so that you are intellectually stimulated. Getting the grade without learning is the opposite direction of where we want to go.

Over the course of this year, you have all proven that you are highly intelligent individuals capable of producing great answers and essays. Your own work. We are confident that you still have this capability, so we are asking you to continue to submit assignments that showcase your efforts, not someone else’s.

You’ve got this, we know you do. At the end of this year, maybe more than any other since this program began almost 40 years ago, you’re all going to be able to throw your hands up in the air and say “We did it! We didn’t quit! We didn’t surrender! We have conquered the challenge that is ATYP – and we did it in a way that makes us proud!” You just have to believe in yourselves the same way that we do.

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

FINDING PURPOSE IN LIFE - AND A BIG THANK YOU

When people ask you about what sort of career you want to pursue as an adult, the age-old "What do you want to be when you grow up?" question, do you also hear them ask "What are you passionate about?" Telling kids to pursue their passions is a very trendy way to talk about career goals right now.

What do you think? Do you think you need to be passionate about your job 24/7/365 in order for it to be a good fit?

I actually prefer the idea of finding a job that gives you purpose.

Dictionary.com defines purpose as:

1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
3. determination; resoluteness.

First, let's say I don't mean number one, because in general you are not your job and your job is not you, so your job should not be the reason you exist.

But what if your job helps you to live life with intentionality, to aim for something, to have goals that you find meaningful? Does that seem like work you would want to pursue?

If you can find this in your future employment you are one lucky person; certainly not everyone succeeds in making this part of their career. But your job is only one part of your day, and sometimes you can find purpose in hobbies, clubs, volunteering, or charitable works.

For instance, Charles and Lynn Zhang just created the Charles and Lynn Zhang Scholarship. The scholarship will cover the cost of registration fees, books, and calculators for ATYP students who qualify for free or reduced lunch.

 

The Zhangs both earned graduate degrees from Western Michigan University and run a Michigan-based fee-only financial planning and investment firm, Zhang Financial. In addition, the Zhang's two sons, Mitchell and Alex, are ATYP alumni. The Zhangs are supporters of many programs on campus, including the Zhang Career Center in the Haworth College of Business and the Zhang Legacy Collections Center. Lynn Chen-Zhang serves as vice chair of the WMU Board of Trustees, and is also president of the WMU Foundation Board of Directors. Charles Zhang has served as an adjunct professor of finance at WMU. 

While you can probably guess that the Zhangs have careers that are financially and professionally rewarding, you can also see that they have found purpose by giving back to their community. Their gifts are meaningful not just in terms of money, but also in terms of time and talent, and those are ways of giving that are especially priceless.

Henry David Thoreau wrote "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." So think about what gives you purpose, find a role model or two, and follow those dreams. We can't wait to see which path you take...

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

JOURNALING THROUGH QUARANTINE

If you're one of our English students, you know that we've been recommending (okay, in some case requiring) that you keep a journal during the stay-at-home order. Not only is this a great way to continue working on your writing skills, it's also a smart way to process what is happening in your life and in the world. As you journal, you think through everything that is going on - how it impacts you and your family, what you're seeing in the responses of friends and neighbors, how to think about new and different stressors, and also maybe what you have to be thankful for right now.

We actually recommend this activity not just for English students, but for EVERYONE - math students, AP Computer Science students, siblings, parents. You are living through history, and there's a good chance that one day you will want to remember exactly what this period of time was like for you. Or maybe you will want future generations to know. 

You might want to record the trivial and mundane - what did I have for breakfast? Am I eating the same foods for breakfast? Did we run out of cereal and couldn't get to the grocery store to buy more? Or you might want to discuss the bigger picture. What do you think about the government's response to the pandemic, good or bad? What about the activities and people you've missed?  What did you discover that was important to you?

There are many different ways to journal; you don't have to write in an old-school diary to keep an account of what is happening or how you're coping. You could also keep a digital journal - one that's private, or you could write a public blog. 

Or you could consider doing something more creative. You could keep a photo journal, with pictures cataloging life at home. Or you could be even more creative, with drawings or art projects that express what you're feeling right now. It looks like the person in the picture with the laptop might be combining two of these ideas - creating digital drawings that are both personal and extremely meaningful.

My sister Sarah recently came across journals written by her grandmother, many during WWI. They are a priceless look at not just her personal life, but events throughout that important time. Just think, in 100 years, your descendants could be reading about how you and your family existed during the pandemic! If someone were exploring your thoughts and ideas 100 years decades from now, what would you want them to know? 

This blog is sort of my way to journal about what we're living through and how we're coping. What's your way? Tell us or show us below!

Until next time,

Ms. Nan

GOING OLD SCHOOL: CAN THE TO-DO LIST WORK FOR YOU?

I talked a couple of weeks ago about organizing my week, and I guess that's going...okay. Let's just say that I seem to be accomplishing the tasks I need to accomplish, by the deadlines that have been set, so if that's the goal of the organizing I'll take it as a win. Just like you, though, COVID19 is forcing me to rearrange some of my priorities, and sometimes that means I have to move to Plan B, C, or D, and that weekly calendar ends up looking like scrambled eggs. Which is fine. I'm trying to cut myself some slack.

Of course, my calendar is not the only way I keep myself organized. I like to use lists. A lot of lists. If you could see my desk right now, it is littered with lined sticky notes with all kinds of lists on them. Work tasks to finish. Homework to complete. Topics to blog about. Christmas presents to buy (yes, I know that it's April!). 

Not everyone writes down lists, and that's fine. My husband rarely writes down the chores he needs to accomplish at home; I suspect the idea of a "honey-do" list seems too much like me telling him what to do. Some people can just keep a running tab in their head, and that's great, as long as you're not as old and forgetful as I am. I find that if I don't write it down, it doesn't happen.

But what I'm discovering now is that making my lists as detailed as possible is helping me to feel accomplished and better plan my week. Here are two examples. Example A is what my lists used to look like. It got the job done, but it was pretty general. Now I really need to see that I've gotten something done. There's something about crossing items off my list that makes me feel empowered. Like I'm productive. And I really need to feel like that right now. So I'm using lists that look more like Example B.

Example B is exactly the same number of assignments that I need to complete as Example A, but I have a much clearer picture of what I've finished and what I actually still need to do. It helps me understand how much time I need to have set aside, and how many blocks I need to have available in the weekly calendar that you're already familiar with. 

I know it might seem silly, but if I say "finish book," and I've only read chapter one of twelve chapters, I don't necessarily compute that I need to allot time for eleven more chapters. This way, I know EXACTLY how much more reading I have to do, and I can do a much better job of making my schedule work the way I need.

Another strategy that people use is to prioritize their lists, either high priority items A, next highest priority items B, etc., or just numbering the list 1-10 in the order they need to be accomplished. If you have research or an outline to do before you write a paper, the second way might be helpful. If you have math to do and your list is for a certain number of chapters to tackle each day and you just naturally complete those in order, you might not need to prioritize. 

And of course, you may want to put everything you need to get done - homework, chores, practicing the piano, etc., on one list, or you may want to use different lists for different types of goals. Sometimes I put my homework list and my home to-do list on the same sheet, but most of the time I divide them, because that's just how my brain works.

You may be saying to yourself, hey, I don't really have much of a schedule right now, I'm good. And you may be. Everyone has different styles. But if you're like me and occasionally think, "I have plenty of time to do... whatever," only to realize that you need three times as many hours as you anticipated, maybe you could give this a try. It might be better than having to stay up later than you had planned, or missing your families' Zoom Scattergories game because you've still got homework to do for class tomorrow.

What else are you all struggling with during this time? What could I talk about that might be helpful? Put your questions or concerns (students OR families) in the comment section, and I'll be sure to cover those.

Til later,

Ms. Nan