Counselor`s Corner - Counseling Office

Counselor’s Corner
Winter 2015
“Spectacular achievement is always preceded by painstaking preparation.”
–Roger Staubach
November/December “Most Valuable Panthers” Nominees
Paradise Honors High School is proud to honor a select group of students for their efforts in and out of the
classroom during the months of November and December. Nominated students were given a certificate and
have their pictures and reason for nomination displayed on a bulletin board on campus.
**Recipients are listed below with accompanying teacher that made nomination**
Gianna Gamboa- Ms. Koblinski
Sterling Turner- Mr. Delmont
Cydney Taylor - Mrs. Campbell
Owen Gauntt- Mrs. Lara
Jonathan Propst- Mrs. Holmes
Aaron Le- Mr. Alessio
Brittney Hintz- Mrs. Fogelson
Mecca Whitfield- Mr. Hughart
Jessica Hamilton- Mr. Jones
Sarah Kalmbach- Mr. Nichols
Cassidy Young- Mr. Otten
Madeline Wright-Mrs. Patterson
Chandler Douglas- Mr. Gonzalez
Ashley Campbell- Mrs. Ramirez
Andres Castro- Ms. Sessions
Tiffany Lewis- Ms. Snyder
Tyler Johnston- Mrs. Turner
Bank of America Student Leaders Program –Apply Today!
Preparing high school students for leadership is an essential component of our community investments. We also
recognize the pressing issue of finding youth employment as large numbers of young people search for work
experience that will translate into long-term success. Our Student Leaders program connects young leaders with
employment that helps to give them the necessary tools and resources they need to advance. Through the
Student Leaders program, we recognize high school juniors and seniors who step outside of the classroom to
contribute service in their own communities and beyond. Student Leaders are awarded paid summer internships
with local nonprofit organizations and participate in a Student Leadership Summit held in Washington, D.C.
The Student Leaders program is an eight-week summer experience which includes a paid internship with a local
nonprofit organization as well as the Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. The program gives
Student Leaders the opportunity to develop and apply leadership skills through hands-on community work
experience while discovering their own talents for serving their community and leading others.
Interested in our 2015 Student Leaders program?
The application period for the 2015 Student Leaders Program is now open through January 31st, 2015. Visit
http://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/global-impact/student-leaders.html to apply.
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The Alexander Hamilton Leadership Academy—Apply Now!
What is the Hamilton Award?
The Hamilton Award recognizes outstanding high school juniors for their academic, personal, and service
achievements and selects students for the Hamilton Leaders Academy – a three-year, no student cost program
that helps students get into college, transition to college, succeed while in college and transition to the post
college world.
A Hamilton Award Winner…
• Is a college-bound junior in high school with a strong record of community service and shows a strong
commitment to their academic studies.
• Is a self-starter and has proven this through activities such as: organizing a fundraiser, starting a business,
creating a club or organization or working to help support their family.
• Shows passion and commitment to their interests, often times manifested in athletic, artistic or academic
achievements.
• Has financial and/or personal need. Hamilton Friends serves students from low-income households. When
choosing our winners we take the applicant's financial, family and community situation into consideration.
• Is committed to participating in the Hamilton Leaders Academy.
Winners are enrolled in the Hamilton Leaders Academy and receive:
• A $500 cash scholarship
• Leadership training in Seattle (2016) and Central America (2017)
• College application assistance
• Scholarship and financial aid search assistance
• Internship and mentorship opportunities
For more information, please visit http://www.hamiltonfriends.org/index.php.
Applications are due March 4th, 2015.
Health Careers Institute for High School Students Summer Program – Apply Today!
The Health Careers Institute for high school students is a free hands-on opportunity for high school junior or
senior students to explore a variety of health professions. In addition to workshops and labs with Midwestern
University faculty and students, institute participants will experience a behind-the-scenes fieldtrip to Arrowhead
Hospital and an Emergency Response Workshop with the Glendale Fire Department.
Featured professions include:
Osteopathic Medicine
Physician Assistant Studies
Pharmacy
Occupational Therapy
Biomedical Sciences
Dates:
Time:
Location:
Contact:
Dental Medicine
Cardiovascular Perfusion
Podiatric Medicine
Nurse Anethesia
Clinical Psychology
Physical Therapy
Optometry
Veterinary Medicine
July 9th – 18th, 2015
9:00am – 4:00pm
Midwestern University, Glendale Campus
Office of Communications
623.572.3298 (phone)
[email protected]
For application, please visit https://www.midwestern.edu/azhealthcareersinstitute.html
Space is limited to the first 48 students to enroll in the program.
Applications are due no later than May 1st, 2015. Sign up today…Don’t hesitate!!!
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Arizona State University W. P. Carey Summer High School Programs
The W. P. Carey School of Business provides unique opportunities to connect with business education – while
you’re still in high school – and get an early look at life as a college student. These innovative outreach
programs are ideal for current high school students of any background, including, but not limited to:
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First-generation college students
High achieving scholars
Economically disadvantaged students
Minority students
Whether you already know business is the path for you or you are interested in learning more about a number of
business disciplines at one of the top-ranked business schools in the country, attending one of our summer
residential experience programs will help you take your first steps to success as a future Sun Devil.
About the Programs
 Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP) June 21st -25th Location: ASU West Campus
The Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP) is an innovative week-long summer residency
program designed for underrepresented high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. You’ll build your
understanding of accounting and discover new career and networking opportunities, including
involvement with the National Association of Black Accountants. Students selected for ACAP receive
free tuition, room and board, books, materials, corporate tours, and mentoring.
Deadline: 5/8/15

Business Scholars Institute (BSI) June 15th -19th Location: ASU Tempe Campus
The Business Scholars Institute (BSI) is a new week-long summer residency program designed for highachieving high school juniors interested in pursuing business education and career opportunities. BSI
provides exposure to business careers, access to top business faculty, connections to collegiate honors
programs, and information on post-graduate education. You will be surrounded by ambitious peers,
experience challenging business projects, and begin building a network for your future. You'll also learn
about the W. P. Carey Leaders Academy, an exclusive community for our top business students,
and Barrett, the Honors College at ASU. Apply early and give yourself the best chance to join the
Business Scholars Institute. A complete application includes a submitted online application, letters of
recommendation (2) and high school transcripts. Space to the Business Scholars Institute is limited!
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all seats are filled. Applicants are encouraged to
apply early to ensure program availability. Submit your application today! There is a $200 program fee
for the Business Scholars Institute. This fee will be used for administrative processing and a portion of
the materials for the program. Housing accommodations and all meals for the week are provided by the
W. P. Carey School of Business.
Deadline: 3/20/15

Fleischer Scholars Program July 6th -10th or July 20th – 24th Location: ASU Tempe Campus
The Fleischer Scholars Program provides high school juniors a great opportunity to experience college
life, entrepreneurship, and business during a week-long residential program. The program is tailored for
economically disadvantaged Arizona high school students interested in pursuing business as a career.
Students selected for the program benefit from a multitude of resources, and they learn necessary skills
for success in college and beyond.
o
o
o
o
Discover academic and career opportunities in business
Interact with current W. P. Carey students, faculty, staff, and alumni
Find out more about university admission and available financial assistance options
Learn the keys to academic and professional success
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Apply early and give yourself the best chance to join the Fleischer Scholars Program. A complete
application includes a submitted online application, letters of recommendation (2) and high school
transcripts. Space to the Fleischer Scholars Program is limited! Applications will be reviewed on a
rolling basis until all seats are filled. The program is free for accepted student participants. Housing,
meals, and materials are all included.
Deadline: 3/20/15
For more information, please visit: https://wpcarey.asu.edu/undergraduate-programs/hs/high-school-programs
United States Naval Academy High School Summer Programs
Summer STEM Program
Science Technology Engineering Mathematics
Engineering is all about creating, building, and making things better! So what does it take to be an engineer? If
you like math and science, you are off to a great start. If you enjoy discovering new things, solving problems,
and learning how things work - even better! Creativity, persistence, and the desire to make the world a better
place are also important qualities. Becoming an engineer requires hard work and a good education. Our summer
program will be a great start to your career in science and engineering. When applying, be sure to use an
email address that is checked often. All correspondence will be sent via email. In addition, please note
that we do not accept recommendations for the STEM program.
2015 SESSION DATES
Session 1: Rising 9th Graders
June 1 - June 6
Session 2: Rising 10th Graders
June 8 - June 13
Session 3: Rising 11th Graders
June 15 - June 19
All students selected to participate will be required to pay $425 which will include room and board, meals, as
well as a variety of materials. Plan on bringing extra cash for snacks and souvenirs.
Each student is responsible for arranging transportation to and from the Naval Academy. Those flying
commercial air should make arrangements to arrive at Baltimore-Washington International airport (BWI)
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Day 1 of the program, and depart after 3:00 p.m. on the last day of the program.
Buses and midshipmen escorts will be on hand to get you to and from the Academy and BWI.
Applications now available at http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/STEM/.
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Summer Seminar
The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is a fast-paced, six-day experience for high achievers who
have completed their junior year in high school. Summer Seminar teaches you about life at the Naval Academy,
where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation's
leaders. If you think that you may be interested in pursuing an appointment to one of the nation's service
academies and serving your country as an officer, you should seriously consider attending the Naval Academy's
Summer Seminar. Be sure to apply with an email address that you check often, as all correspondence will
be sent via email. Please note, we do not accept recommendations for Summer Seminar.
2015 SESSION DATES
Session 1
May 30 - June 4
Session 2
June 6- June 11
Session 3
June 13 - June 18
Tuition is $450. The tuition covers room and board, as well as a variety of materials. Students should plan on
bringing extra cash for snacks and souvenirs. Each student is responsible for arranging transportation to and
from the Naval Academy. Those flying commercial air should make arrangements to arrive at BaltimoreWashington International airport (BWI) between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Day 1 of the seminar, and
depart after 3:00 p.m. on the last day of the seminar. Midshipmen will wait in the baggage claim area for
Summer Seminar students during the pick-up window. We will only provide bus transportation to students
arriving at BWI within the scheduled times. Those who cannot fly into BWI or are unable to book a flight
within the pickup times are responsible for booking their own travel to the Naval Academy via Super Shuttle,
taxi, or car. On departure day, buses will begin leaving the Academy at noon and should arrive at the airport by
1 p.m. DO NOT schedule your departure earlier than 3:00 p.m. You must stay for the ENTIRE length of
the program and early departures WILL NOT be accommodated.
Applications can be found at http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/NASS/. The application period
opens at 12:01 a.m. on January 15, 2015, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2015.
Coffee With The Counselors
Be sure to keep an eye out for an email regarding the date, time, and location of our next meeting in February!
Attendance has been great at the first two meetings and we are hoping to keep that trend going! Hope to see
you there!!
Campus Tour Thursday
The Counseling Department is sponsoring a new four-year initiative to educate and encourage more students to
consider attending colleges and universities throughout the United States. Each Thursday during the lunch
shifts, students will have the opportunity to take a virtual campus tour of 2-3 colleges. The videos are
approximately 6 minutes in length and are shown inside the cafeteria on large projection screen. Colleges
shown will cover small-large schools, a variety of religious schools, art and music schools, schools from every
state in the U.S., 2-year schools, 4-year schools, trade schools, military academies, expensive schools, value
schools, highly selective-less selective schools, and much more. Since we are using a four-year rotation, once a
college or university has been shown, the students will never see that school again before they graduate. This
means that our freshman will have access to viewing over 400 colleges and universities prior to graduation.
Colleges and universities shown to date include:
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University of Arizona
University of San Diego
Chaminade University (Hawaii)
Xavier University (Ohio)
Rochester Institute of Technology (New York)
Idaho State University
Colgate University (New York)
Dixie State University (Utah)
Trinity University (Texas)
University of Wisconsin
University of Montana
Mercer University (Georgia)
Air Force Academy (Colorado)
Adams State University (Colorado)
Presbyterian College (South Carolina)
University of Louisville
Eastern Oregon University
Barry University (Florida)
Butler University (Indiana)
South Dakota State University
Embry-Riddle University (Florida)
University of Mississippi
Tennessee Tech University
California University of Pennsylvania
University of Iowa
Holy Cross College
Full Sail University
University of Minnesota
OTIS College of Art & Design
Lake Forest College
Dartmouth College
Prescott College
Regent University
UCLA
Johnson and Wales University
Drake University
Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Tampa
University of Southern Maine
Tulane University
University of North Dakota
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
California State University – Long Beach
Cogswell Polytech College
Ask your children if they are watching these videos. If they are not watching these videos, they
are missing out on valuable information needed for the college search process. The videos cover
topics such as the GPA needed for admission, SAT/ACT scores needed for admission, athletics,
extracurricular activities offered, majors offered, cost of attendance, average amount of financial
aid awarded, scholarship information, special campus events, graduation rates, etc., etc., etc.
Don’t let your children minimize what some of the smaller schools (typically the schools that
they have never heard of) have to offer. Remember…there is a lot of money out there for
students that are willing to leave the state of Arizona. If you want your child to stay ahead of the
curve, this is a great way to help them reach that goal. For as little as 12-18 minutes per week,
the students at PHHS have the opportunity to educate themselves on the college search process
and gain a major advantage over their high school peers throughout Arizona.
SAT & ACT Information
CEEB CODE: 030694
**PHHS will offer the SAT this year on May 2, 2015 and June 6, 2015.**
SAT
Registration
Late
ACT
Registration
Late
Dates
Deadline
Deadline
Dates
Deadline
Deadline
Mar. 14
Feb. 13
Feb. 27
Feb. 7
Jan. 9
Jan. 16
May 2
Apr. 6
Apr. 17
Apr. 18
Mar. 13
Mar. 27
June 6
May 8
May 22
June 14
May 8
May 22
***Juniors: Remember to register for a Spring SAT or ACT date. Visit
www.collegeboard.com for SAT registration or www.act.org for ACT registration. Fee
waivers are available to qualified students. See your counselor for more information.
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SAT and ACT Prep Websites and Tutoring
(Free Test Prep Material)
Visit website or contact organization for more information.
ACT Test
www.actstudent.org
Princeton Review
www.princetonreview.com
SAT Test
www.collegeboard.com
PSAT Score Report
www.collegeboard.com/quickstart
Surprise Public Library
Dozens of test prep books are
available for checkout. Search
for ACT test prep or SAT test
prep. www.mcldaz.org
Study Guide Zone
www.studyguide.org
Commercial SAT and ACT Test Prep Websites and Tutoring
The information below is listed for your information. Paradise Honors High School and counselors
do not endorse or recommend any specific courses, tutors, or company.
Please visit website for more information.
Kaplan
www.Kaptest.com/college
Princeton Review
www.princetonreview.com
Sylvan Learning Center
tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/
PowerScore SAT Test Prep
www.powerscore.com/sat/
ScoreUp Test Prep
www.scoreuptestprep.com
WyzAnt Tutoring
www.wyzant.com/Surprise_A
Z_sat_test_prep_tutors.aspx
What Do I Do With My PSAT Results???
Counselors will be conducting a workshop with all 10th and 11th grade students that sat for the
PSAT exam last October. Individual results will be returned to students along with information
on how to interpret their score report and what to do with this valuable piece of information.
With SAT Prep classes costing as much as $3,000 per class, students were encouraged to take
advantage of using the free online SAT Prep program provided by CollegeBoard. Students can
access My College Quickstart by visiting https://quickstart.collegeboard.org/posweb/login.jsp.
Students will need to enter the 10-digit alphanumeric code listed on their score report in order to
log in to the program. Once they log in, they will have access to all of the following:
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See your scores and your projected SAT score
Review questions you got wrong - and why
Practice for the SAT with hundreds of practice questions
Take a practice SAT test for free
Save your college searches
Take a personality test to find majors and careers fit for you
Make it a point to sit down with your child and see what this program has to offer. The more
that you work as a team through this process, the more that you will be able to assist your child
in making sound decisions about their future!
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Most Friendly Colleges and Universities Serving Students with IEP/504’s
***Sample List***
ADELPHI (NY)
AMERICAN (DC)
AMER INT’L COL (MA)
ANNA MARIA (MA)
AQUINAS (MI)
ARCADIA (PA)
ARIZONA, U OF (S.A.L.T)
AUGSBURG (MN)
BALL STATE (IN)
BARTON (NC)
BAYLOR (TX)
BEACON (FL)
BECKER (MA)
BLAIR (DE)
BRADLEY (IL)
BRENEAU WOMEN’S (GA)
BREVARD (NC)
BYU (UT)
BROWN (RI)
CABRINI (PA)
CALDWELL (NJ)
CAL POLY (SLO)
CAL (BERKELEY)
CAL, U OF (DAVIS)
CAL, U OF (SANTA CRUZ)
CAL POLY (POMONA)
CAL ST (BAKERSFIELD)
CAL ST (STANILAUS)
CAL ST (CHICO)
CAL ST (NORTHRIDGE)
CAL ST (SONOMA)
CAL UNIV OF PA
CASE WESTERN (OH)
CENTENARY (NJ)
CENTRAL CT ST (CT)
CENTRAL FLORIDA
CENTRAL MISSOURI ST
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
CHAMINADE (HI)
CHARLESTON, COL OF (SC)
CHARLESTON, U OF (WV)
CINCINNATI, U OF (OH)
CLARK (MA)
CLARKE (IA)
COE (IA)
COLBY-SAWYER (NH)
COLORADO
COLORADO (UCCS)
COLORADO (PUEBLO)
COLORADO COLLEGE
COLORADO MESA
COLORADO STATE
COLUMBIA (MO)
CONNECTICUT, U OF
CTY COL/MORRIS (NJ)
CUNY-HUNTER COL (NY)
CURRY (MA)
C W POST (NY)
DANA (NE)
DARTMOUTH (NH)
DEAN (MA)
DENVER, U OF (CO)
DE PAUL (IL)
DOMINICAN (CA)
DOWLING (KY)
DUQUESNE (PA)
EASTERN KENTUCKY
EAST STROUDSBURG (PA)
EASTERN WASHINGTON
EDINBORO (PA)
ELIZABETHTOWN (PA)
ELMS (MA)
EMORY & HENRY (VA)
EMPORIA STATE (KS)
EUREKA (IL)
FARLEIGH DICKINSON (NJ)
FERRIS ST (MI)
FERRUM (VA)
FLAGLER (FL)
FITCHBURG (MA)
FLORIDA, U OF
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
FLORIDA GULF COAST
FORT LEWIS (CO)
FRANCISCAN (OH)
FRANKLIN PIERCE (NH)
FRESNO STATE (CA)
FROSTBURG (MD)
FURMAN (SC)
GEORGE MASON (VA)
GEORGE WASHINGTON (DC)
GEORGIA, U OF
GEORGIAN COURT (NJ)
GETTYSBURG (PA)
GLENVILLE ST (WV)
GONZAGA (WA)
HAMPSHIRE (MA)
HARTFORD, U OF (CT)
HARVARD
HASTINGS (NE)
HEIDELBURG (OH)
HIGH POINT (NC)
HOFSTRA (NY)
HOOD (MD)
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HOUSTON (TX)
HUMBOLD ST (CA)
HUSSON (ME)
IDAHO, COLL OF
IDAHO ST
ILLINOIS ST
IMMACULATA (PA)
INDIANA ST
INDIANA UNIV
INDIANAPOLIS, UNIV OF (IN)
IONA (NY)
IOWA, U OF
JOHNSON ST (VT)
KEENE ST (NH)
KENNESAW ST (GA)
KING’S (PA)
KNOX (IL)
KUTZTOWN (PA)
LAKELAND (WI)
LAKE FOREST (IL)
LANBUTH (TN)
LANDMARK (VT)
LA ROCHE (PA)
LASALLE (PA)
LEBANON VALLEY (PA)
LEE (TN)
LEMOYNE (NY)
LENOIR-RHYNE (NC)
LESLEY (MA)
LEWIS (IL)
LEWIS & CLARK (OR)
LINCOLN (IL)
LOCK HAVEN (PA)
LONG BEACH ST (CA)
LONGWOOD (VA)
LONG ISLAND UNIV (NY)
LORAS (IA)
LOUISVILLE, U OF (KY)
LOWELL, U OF (MA)
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT (CA)
LYCOMING (PA)
LYNDON ST (VT)
LYNN (FL)
MCDANIEL (MD)
MADONNA (MI)
MAINE, U OF
MAINE, U OF (MACHIAS)
MANHATTANVILLE (KY)
MALONE (OH)
MANKATO ST (MN)
MANSFIELD (PA)
All Work and No Play….Not So Fast My Friend!!!
Does the thought of college make you nervous? Does your heart start to race when you think of the oodles and
oodles of papers that you will have to write before you earn your bachelor’s degree? Does reading an average
of 100 pages per night make you sweat profusely? Who says college is all about work? Take a look at all of
the fun club and intramural sports offered at universities in the Southwest:
Action Kart Racing
Aerobics
Aikido
Alpine & Nordic Ski Racing
Archery
Arena Football
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Billiards
Bowling
Broomball
Cheerleading
Chess
Crew
Cricket
Cross Country
Cross-Country Skiing
Curling
Cycling
Dance
Disc Golf
Diving
Dodgeball
Equestrian
Fantasy Sports
Fencing
Field Hockey
Figure Skating
Flag Football
Floor Hockey
Fly Fishing
Football
Frisbee
Golf
Grass Volleyball
Gymnastics
Hunting
Ice Hockey
Ice Skating (Synchronized)
Inline Hockey
Innertube Water Polo
Karate/Martial Arts
Kayaking
Kickball
Lacrosse
Logging Sports
Marathon
Mountain Cycling
Outdoor Adventure
Paintball
Pistol/Rifle
Polo
Racquetball
Rafting
Rodeo
Rowing
Rugby
Running
Sailing
Sand Volleyball
Scuba
Shao-Lin Kung-Fu
Skiing
Snowboarding
Soccer
Soccer (Indoor)
Softball
Squash
Swimming
Taekwondo
Table Tennis
Tai Chi Team Handball
Tennis
Track
Trap & Skeet
Triathlon
Tube Water Polo
Ultimate Frisbee
Video Gaming
Volleyball
Wallyball
Water Polo
Weightlifting
Wiffleball
Wrestling
Mountaineering Rock
Climbing/Rappelling
8 Things Admissions Officers Wish You Knew About Applying to College
By TANYA ABRAMS
Whether students are applying to a
small, private college or a large,
public university, there are some
universal missteps that college
applicants make year after year, much
to the dismay of the institution’s
gatekeepers who decide whether the
student should be admitted.
To help readers of The Choice avoid
these pitfalls, we’ve asked admission
officers at a small sampling of
colleges and universities to describe
the one thing they wish students knew
about the college admissions process.
Their excerpted responses are
arranged by theme.
Start Early
Choosing a college is a long but
rewarding process. It takes time to
find which college is the best fit for
you. The sooner you complete your
application (including transcripts, test
scores, personal essay, and so on) the
sooner you will receive a decision and
your merit scholarship award. This
provides you more time to investigate
and weigh your options.
— Michael Joseph, vice president of
enrollment management, Valparaiso
University
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I wish students knew to contact their
universities of interest and research
the steps of the application process
before their senior year. Pre-planning
can eliminate some of the trials and
errors of applying to school. The
sooner students conduct research on
the application process and what it
takes to be admitted, the better they
understand which classes they need to
take and how they should organize
their past, current and future activities.
— Janie Alcala, associate director,
office of admissions, Texas A&M
University
College ‘Fit’ Goes Both Ways
I wish more students applying to
college understood just how important
“right-fit” is. Do we want to see
people who were successful in high
school and had a bunch of
extracurricular activates? Yes,
absolutely. But you can make an even
better case for admission by showing
us that you are going to be able to be
highly successful and benefit most
from the uniqueness of our institution.
Do your research. Don’t only make
the case that you’re great, make the
case that you’re a great match great
for us.
— Micah A. E. Canal, chief admission
officer, Antioch College
“Fit” is a real thing, and there are
many ways to tell if the college you’re
looking at could be the right one for
you. Of course, a campus visit is a
great way to get a good feeling for the
personality of a place, but there are
lots of ways to engage with and learn
more about a school. Most schools
have comprehensive Web sites and
use social media to connect with
prospective students.
— Shelly M. Placek, communications
specialist, office of undergraduate
admissions, Johns Hopkins University
Do Your Research
Since narrowing down the list of
schools that you’re interested in has to
come before the application process,
we wish that more students knew how
important it is to dig a little deeper
during the college search. Do your
research about each college, and have
the courage to allow your perceptions
to change; keeping an open mind
during the search process can lead you
to unexpected places.
— Ms. Placek, Johns Hopkins
University
Students often choose a major a
because they think it will lead them
into a certain professional field. That
is not always the case. Students should
understand the field that they’re going
into, and what path they have to
follow in order to be successful.
Becoming a doctor, for example,
requires a total of 11 years of higher
education before a student gets to
practice medicine.
Students need to understand that not
all colleges offer the same major or
degrees, and that not all universities
have law, dental, and medical schools.
After earning a bachelor’s degree,
some students will have to apply to
graduate school, medical school or
law school to continue their career
path.
— Ms. Alcala, Texas A&M University
We’re Interested in Who You
Really Are
In your essay, tell me something I
can’t find anywhere else in the
application.
— Dr. Zina Evans, vice president for
enrollment management and associate
provost, University of Florida
Be authentic. We want to know what
your real interests and passions are,
not what you think we want you to be
interested in.
— Dr. Tom Bowling, vice president
for student and educational services,
Frostburg State University
Mind the Deadline
Deadlines: Know them. Follow them.
— Dr. Zina Evans, University of
Florida
If you’ve taken dual-enrollment
classes while in high school, you are
still considered a first-year student and
the first-year deadlines apply. At least
here at VCU, there is more aid
available for first year students, so it is
to your benefit to be considered a firstyear student.
— Amy C. Hutton, director of
admissions, department of music,
Virginia Commonwealth University
Keep in Touch
Put yourself on the mailing list.
Contact a current student, alumnus, or
admission representative. The more
you know about the university and
what it offers academically, socially,
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and financially, the better informed
you will be. This also helps you set
and manage realistic expectations
concerning the university that you
ultimately choose.
— Linda Sanders-Hawkins, director
of admission, Howard University
Stay in touch with the admissions
counselors. They can be a big help
navigating a very challenging process.
The personal touch can also help give
the student an additional advocate
when it comes time for decisions to be
made.
— Wray Blair, associate vice
president for enrollment management,
Frostburg State University
Check the e-mail account you listed
on your application daily. This is our
primary communication tool. If your
contact information changes, tell us!
— Ms. Hutton, Virginia
Commonwealth University
Parents Need Not Apply
Students should be the ones to keep in
contact with admissions counselors,
not parents. When the time comes for
a school to make the decision on who
gets the “fat” envelope, it will help
them have a better sense of who they
are admitting and how well that
person will fit in as a student.
— Mr. Blair, Frostburg State
University
Choose Wisely
Students are more likely to succeed if
they choose a college and major based
on passion rather than potential
earnings. You are more likely to be
fulfilled and follow through with your
intended field if money isn’t your
primary motivation. If you aren’t sure
what you want to do for the rest of
your life, that’s okay. Choose a school
that allows you to pursue your passion
and gives you the flexibility to change
your mind as you find direction.
— Tom Delahunt, vice president for
admission and student financial
planning, Drake University
Is Your Career Hot or Not?
Will your degree actually help you find employment after college? You might be surprised by what you see!
Below is a list of the 20 fastest growing occupations through 2022. “Great athletes don’t run to where the ball
is, they run to where the ball is going to be.” -Alessioism
OCCUPATION
GROWTH RATE
(2012-2022)
2012 MEDIAN PAY
Industrial-organizational psychologists
53%
$83,580 per year
Personal care aides
49%
$19,910 per year
Home health aides
48%
$20,820 per year
Insulation workers, mechanical
47%
$39,170 per year
Interpreters and translators
46%
$45,430 per year
Diagnostic medical sonographers
46%
$65,860 per year
43%
$28,220 per year
Occupational therapy assistants
43%
$53,240 per year
Genetic counselors
41%
$56,800 per year
Physical therapist assistants
41%
$52,160 per year
Physical therapist aides
40%
$23,880 per year
Skincare specialists
40%
$28,640 per year
Physician assistants
38%
$90,930 per year
Segmental pavers
38%
$33,720 per year
Helpers--electricians
37%
$27,670 per year
Information security analysts
37%
$86,170 per year
Occupational therapy aides
36%
$26,850 per year
36%
$81,140 per year
Medical secretaries
36%
$31,350 per year
Physical therapists
36%
$79,860 per year
Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons,
stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
Health specialties teachers,
postsecondary
10 Best Cities for New Grads
By Stacy Rapacon
The world beyond campus can seem big and scary to new graduates, and finding where you belong in it can be
daunting. But don't be discouraged. The best places to live and work after college often share certain traits, chief
among them good-paying jobs, an affordable lifestyle and an active social scene. To make the transition from
dorm life to real life easier, we identified ten promising cities for new grads.
Because those student loans won't pay themselves, we focused first and foremost on places where recent
graduates are likely to take home above-average paychecks. Payscale, a compensation research firm, provided
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us with the median salaries of bachelor's-degree holders with up to three years of work experience in the
nation's 200 largest metro areas.
Next we sought out the big cities that, relative to income potential, are friendly to young adults' budgets, based
on average monthly living costs for renters, as tallied by the Council for Community and Economic Research.
We also scanned for above-average concentrations of twenty-somethings, according to Census Bureau counts.
Finally, we screened for cities with low unemployment rates — both for the overall population and for people in
their twenties.
Take a look at the 10 best cities for new grads.
10. Seattle, WA
9. Dallas, TX
8. Washington D.C.
7. Phoenix, AZ
6. San Diego, CA
5. Anchorage, AK
4. Houston, TX
3. Boulder, CO
2. Ann Arbor, MI
1. Salt Lake City, UT
FAFSA Workshop Event
Arizona’s College Goal FAFSA is a financial literacy initiative that provides students and families much needed
assistance in navigating the student financial aid process. Each February, sites statewide host FREE in-person
FAFSA workshops that allow students and families to get assistance from financial aid professionals to
complete the online FAFSA and access all available financial aid funds. Twenty-eight (28) sites Statewide will
host events. Please see below for locations, dates, and times:
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NCAA Student-Athlete Information
Any senior student-athlete wishing to compete on the NCAA Division 1 or 2 level must complete an application
through the NCAA Clearinghouse. Log on to http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp to
register. You must complete this process to receive any type of athletic scholarship money! Student athletes
are reminded to send their SAT and ACT test scores to the Eligibility Center by entering the code “9999” in the
box when registering for the tests.
Financial Aid Information
Looking for national scholarships? Complete the registration at www.fastweb.com to receive email
notifications of scholarship programs.
Visit www.meritaid.com to find merit-based scholarship opportunities from colleges before you apply. This
website can help students with merit-based scholarships from colleges that reflect your accomplishments and
interests.
Paper FAFSAs will no longer be delivered in bulk to high schools. Students are able to obtain a paper FAFSA
by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Students are
encouraged to file the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov for faster processing. A PDF version of the FAFSA
is also available for download at www. studentaid.ed.gov.
The US Department of Education sponsors www.studentaid.ed.gov, which provides helpful information on
preparing for college, types of financial aid, determining who is eligible for financial aid, how to apply for aid
with the FAFSA, and information on repaying your loans.
Scholarship Information
Arizona Community Foundation Scholarships
The Arizona Community Foundation allows high school seniors and current college students throughout
Arizona to apply for more than 75 scholarship awards online with one general application. Our system
automatically matches applicants with every award for which they qualify. High school seniors, current college
students, or graduate level students attending schools anywhere in the U.S. can apply. Scholarships are
available for two-year and four-year colleges and universities as well as technical and vocational schools. The
general application opens in January each year. Students should apply early to qualify for the most awards.
Complete the general application online at
http://www.azfoundation.org/Scholarships/ScholarshipOpportunities.aspx
Deadline: Varies (ranges from January – May)
Amount: Varies
Bank of America Joe Martin Scholarship
This scholarship is named in honor and memory of Joe Martin, former Principal Corporate Affairs Executive
and Special Counsel to former Chairman Hugh McColl. Joe sacrificed much time and effort to better his
community. He represented the kind of well-rounded, knowledge-seeking character that Bank of America hopes
to mirror in its quest to provide opportunities to students with the determination to excel.
The Joe Martin Scholarship program is a competitive scholarship program available for college or vocational
schools in the U.S. to dependents of Bank of America employees. Scholarships are awarded based on financial
need, academic achievement, leadership, character, and contributions to school and community. Please visit
https://www.scholarsapply.org/bankofamerica/ to apply.
Deadline: February 28th, 2015
Award: $2,500 (renewable for 3 additional years)
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Writers of the Future/Illustrator of the Future Contest
Established and sponsored by L. Ron Hubbard in 1983, the "Writers Award Contest" was a budding competition aimed at
discovering, and eventually publishing, deserving amateur and aspiring writers. The field of speculative fiction and
fantasy, was chosen not only for Mr. Hubbard's love of and success within the genre—but for the freedom of imagination
and expression it provided as what he described as the "herald of possibility."
In 1988, under L. Ron Hubbard's inspiration, the Writers of the Future Contest was joined by a companion competition—
The Illustrators of the Future Contest. It was intended to do for new illustrators what the writers contest had done for new
writers—discover new talent, acknowledge them, bring them to the attention of publishers and help launch their
professional careers. These scholarships aim to provide budding science fiction authors/illustrators the opportunity to get
some exposure in the field. Every three months, an award of $1,000, $750 or $500 is distributed to a winner, and each
year, one recipient receives a grand prize scholarship worth $5,000.
More information can be found at http://www.writersofthefuture.com/contest-rules
Sports Unlimited Scholarship
Sports Unlimited makes sure you can perform at your best on the field, but in the classroom, you're on your
own. Until now…this year we're offering a $1,000 college scholarship to the athlete who can best describe a
coach or mentor you've looked up to in your sporting career. It can be a rec league volunteer who first
taught you how to throw or a high school coach that guided you to a championship. They're all important and
we want you to tell us why.
Here’s how to enter:
 Write an essay on the above topic in 500-1000 words.
 Email a word doc attachment of your essay to [email protected]
 The file name should be your full name, state, and date of birth. Example: Chase-Utley-PA-12-171978.docx
 Include your high school in the essay
 Submit by April 20th, 2015
Here’s how you win:
 Write a convincing, heartfelt essay.
 We will pick a winner around May 1st, 2015 and notify you.
 It’s subjective, we’re going to pick our favorite essay.
 We will send you a check to spend on tuition, books, room, board, etc.
To be eligible:
 You must be a graduating high school senior or a freshman/sophomore in college.
 You can’t be related to anyone at Sports Unlimited.
 We reserve the right to verify the date of high school graduation and/or college enrollment.
For additional information, please visit http://www.sportsunlimitedinc.com/scholarship.html
American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarship Program
It doesn’t get any easier than this….all you have to do is read an essay and answer a 10-question quiz. Open to
all high school seniors and winner NOT based on financial need. Please visit http://www.afsascholarship.org/
for a chance to win. Contest winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship and contest ends April 1st, 2015.
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The secret phrase for this month’s prize package is scholarship. The 5th person to call Mrs. King at 623-4557422 will win a college gift package!
Teen Wellness
10 Ways to De-Stress
Chill Out – It’s Easier Than You Think
By: Mia Simonsen
It’s a fact of life that everyone confronts stressful
situations at one point or another. Maybe it’s a big
test, a first date, a crucial debate. But some people
seem to be stressed 24/7, while others seem to glide
through life. So what’s their secret?
It’s all about how you react to stress that makes all
the difference. If you can stay calm and centered
and realize that some things are just out of your
control, then you’ll feel less stressed out. You can
also avoid a lot of stress if you simplify your life,
slow down, learn to manage your time, and breathe.
Read on to learn 10 simple ways you can stop being
a mess and de-stress.
activities and sports are. So, if you feel like you
can’t keep up with your schoolwork, then you’ll
have to decide what activities mean the most to you
and let go of things that are keeping you from doing
your homework or studying. Even if you don’t want
to drop a sport, you have to realize that your coach
will not let you stay on the team if your grades are
too low.
4. KNOW YOUR STUFF: Be Prepared
It’s survival of the fittest, so whoever is the most
prepared will succeed. If you know your material
and have studied enough, you’ll do well on exams.
If you eat well, get enough sleep and are fit, you’ll
do better in sports. But if you wing it and think that
you can make do with little preparation, you’re
fooling yourself. Whether you’re in school or in the
workforce, you need to be one step ahead of the
game to do well. It’s a competitive world so make
sure you’re not caught off guard.
10 Best Ways to De-stress
1. GRRRR: Avoid Stressful Situations and
Confrontations
If you find yourself in a stressful situation or
confrontation, try to take yourself out of the
equation. Don’t hang out with people who make
you uncomfortable or who are confrontational.
There are plenty of people in this world to be
friends with. You don’t have to try to please them
all. And if someone tries to pressure you to do
things that you don’t want to do or bullies you, it’s
OK to ask for help from a teacher, parent or
counselor. You don’t have to suffer in silence.
5. TAKE IT EASY: Relaxation Techniques
If you’re feeling stressed, breathing exercises, yoga,
meditation, stretching and Tai Chi are some great
relaxation techniques that can help you lower your
blood pressure, heart rate, and calm your mind. Pop
in a yoga or meditation DVD and take your mind
away from your worries. When you’re done, you’ll
be much more relaxed and ready to tackle whatever
comes your way with a clear mind.
time-out.
2. IT’S ALL SMALL STUFF: Set Realistic Goals
and Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
There are only 24 hours in a day and a third of that
time you need your ZZZs, so set realistic goals that
you can achieve. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you
feel overwhelmed and on circuit overload, take a
look at your schedule and see what you can cut out
to ease your workload.
6. FIND AN OUTLET: Talk to a Mentor or
Guidance Counselor
If you are having a problem deciding which classes
to take, where to apply for college, or just need
someone to talk you, find a mentor, pastor, or
guidance counselor who can help you. There’s no
sense worrying about things all by yourself when
you can bounce ideas off someone with more
3. FIRST THINGS FIRST: Set Priorities
Going to school is not negotiable. But after-school
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experience in dealing with teachers, colleges, and
life in general.
9. BURN BABY BURN: Blow off Steam Through
Exercise
Exercise is a great way to blow off steam. Do
whatever exercise you like – walking, jogging,
swimming or skateboarding. Try to make time to
exercise often so it’s part of your daily routine.
Your body and your mind will thank you for it.
7. WATER WORKS: Take a Hot Bath or Shower
There’s nothing like a relaxing hot bath or shower.
Even if it’s only for a few minutes, you can practice
doing some relaxation techniques while soaking in a
tub or standing in a steaming hot shower. It can be
as simple as concentrating on your breathing and
meditating. Or you can just focus on the water,
relaxing your muscles and washing away your
stress.
10. WRITE ON: Journal
Journaling is an excellent way to put your worries
down on paper. Just writing down what you’re
feeling can be therapeutic. Check out the online
Journal in your My Page. That way you don’t have
to lie in bed thinking about everything that’s
stressing you out because you’ve already written it
down in your journal. Every day, try to write down
one or two things that you like about your life or
yourself to keep things in perspective. No matter
how horrible or stressful your life may be, there will
always be one nice thing that you can be thankful
for each day (the sunshine, your dog, your parents, a
best friend, etc.)
8. TUNING IN: Listen to Music or Do a Hobby
That You Love
If you need to take a break, listen to some music,
paint, dance, sing, or play an instrument. Everyone
needs to take a break from studying sometime, so
doing something that you really love to do is a great
way to recharge your batteries and unwind.
Beating the Winter Blues
Tips to Lighten Your Mood
By: Natalie Engler
Do the short days, long nights, and slushy sidewalks
of winter make you sad—as if you want to curl up
under the covers and stay there? Think you may
have teenage depression? Don’t despair. It’s
common to get the blues when the skies turn gray.
But there are many things you can do to feel better
and de-stress.
lose energy, gain weight, and crave starchy foods
every winter, you might benefit from a special light
box, visor, or lamp designed to help people with
SAD. Even if you don’t have SAD, spending time
in the sunshine or cozying up near the fireplace will
warm and brighten dark winter days.
Get moving. Many studies have shown
that physical activity—shooting some hoops, going
for a run, dancing at a party, even walking the
dog—can boost your mood. Even ten minutes of
getting your blood pumping can make a difference.
Tips for teenagers dealing with seasonal sadness:
Feed your senses. Walk briskly outdoors, dance,
wear or smell essential oils (bergamot, rose,
jasmine, lavender, ylang-ylang, and peppermint are
all uplifting), listen to music, or put some fresh
flowers or green plants in your bedroom. Without
the bright summer sunshine or crimson leaves of
fall, our eyes, ears, and skin crave stimulation.
Indulge them.
Season for the season. During the winter it is best
to eat foods that give you energy and heat your
digestive system. Roasted vegetables, hearty soups,
and chewy whole grains are all good for winter
health. And if you spice winter dishes with warming
cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, they are even better.
Pick a recipe with these ingredients and give it a
try! (Or ask your mom or dad to help out, if it seems
too challenging.) As much as possible, avoid
anything cold or processed.
Lighten up. Seasonal affective disorder (also called
SAD) is a type of depression that is triggered by the
seasons. Although it usually starts after age 20,
some teenagers can get SAD. If you notice that you
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Count your blessings. Every day, write down 10
things you are grateful for. Make it as specific as
possible (yes, even “my little brother didn’t hide my
homework this morning” counts!). Focusing on
what’s good in your life shifts the way you see the
world. And who knows—it might even help you get
along better with your little brother.
to soulful music. Being creative is a great way to
energize and let off some steam. And remember:
you don’t have to share your creation with
anyone—unless you want to!
Get help. If your sadness feels overwhelming and
won’t go away, it might be depression. If you have
lost energy, your appetite, and interest in the things
you used to enjoy, you are having trouble sleeping,
and you have negative thoughts you can’t shake, tell
your family and friends. They can give you support
and help you find a mental health professional.
There are many tools for treating depression and
preventing suicide. And if you have thoughts that
life is not worth living, or have a plan for how you
would end it, seek professional help immediately.
There are many excellent resources for to help
teenage depression.
Check out yoga. Yoga combines breathing with
special poses that can help balance your mind,
emotions, and nervous system. If you feel tired and
sluggish, try a high-energy style of yoga that
includes heart-opening backbends. If you get
anxious and your mind races, you might feel do
better with a slower, more restorative form of yoga,
with a lot of forward bends and slow exhalations.
Go inward. Meditate. Spend time sitting quietly
with your feelings, whatever they are. Maybe
channel them into art. You can paint with moody
colors. Or play the blues. Or write a poem. Or dance
Remember: tell a trusted adult if you are feeling
blue.
Body Under Pressure
The Body’s Response to Stress
By: Remy Marin
We teens all know that stomach clenching, neck
cramping, finger twitching feeling of stress. It
creeps up on us before a big exam or when there’s
too many responsibilities piled on your plate, and
makes finishing everything that much harder. When
you think about it, it’s weird that stress,
an emotional response, is such a full-body affair. I
mean, why do you start sweating and tensing up
because of school work? It seems so random, right?
Body Time
When you start to feel stressed out, it means that the
events in your life are sending signals to your brain
that then activate the nervous system and hormones
like adrenaline. This is what causes your body to
react, especially kicking up your heart rate, making
you sweat, causing nervous ticks like nail biting,
and giving you the feeling of butterflies in your
stomach. This is called the stress response.
What Is Stress?
I learned in my psychology class that stress is
actually a response to a challenge change in the
environment and is completely natural. That means
it’s not always bad to feel a little stress, because that
feeling is what gets you going and powers you
through tough times. So if you’re wondering why
stress has such a bad reputation nowadays, it’s
because stress can become a negative thing when
it’s long-term. So feeling a little jumpy during your
driver’s text? NBD. Constantly feeling tense
because of all the schoolwork and activities that are
endlessly piled up? That’s where the trouble starts.
Over time, if stressful situations become long-term,
the body goes from sweating a bit to having
significant signs of stress overload. Symptoms of
this include:
 Anxiety
 Moodiness and Irritability
 Stomach aches, headaches, and chest pain
 Sleeping problems
 Depression or sadness
 Muscle tenseness and pain
Fight It Off
Feeling stressed out is not fun, and it can take a
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huge toll on your body. So if you’re starting to feel
the pressure, there are a few things you can do
to fight off the pain.
over? Are your teeth grinding? If so, take a few
deep breaths and let your body relax.
Relax. This may seem obvious, but it’s so important
to take the time to let your body unclench and let go
of the stress. Yoga is a great way to do this, along
with meditation and exercising.
Reassess your life. I was always the queen of
overscheduling myself, and though I still do it, I’m
trying to work on giving myself some down time
rather than taking every little opportunity, and that
has made a huge difference.
Go to sleep. Feeling sleep deprived only makes
stress worse, so make sure to get in your 8 hours
every night. It’s the best way to take care of your
body and soul.
Drop the little things. You can’t take on every
responsibility, and you can’t always be perfect. So
don’t let it get to you – accept your limits, give
yourself a break and let yourself enjoy life.
Unclench. When you’re sitting at your desk,
plugging away at textbook notes or an essay, pause
and take a quick check of your body. Are your
shoulders up by your ears? Is your back hunched
It’s impossible to avoid all stress, but don’t let it
build up and bring you down! Listen to what your
body is telling you, and use that to take care of your
body and soul.
Stressed? Breathe!
1. Lie on your back and close your eyes. Bring
awareness to your regular breathing pattern.
Belly Breath: A Simple Way to Relax
By: Tara Cousineau, PhD
It may sound weird, but the simple act of breathing
is an easy way to restore the body to a calm state.
Belly breathing – or diaphragmatic breathing
(breathing through your diaphragm) – is especially
helpful. When you’re stressed out or anxious, a
typical reaction is to start taking shorter breaths.
Think about that last history test you took, speaking
in front of a classroom, or any situation that might
make you nervous. It’s likely that you held your
breath, took short breaths, and you may have started
to sweat or feel your heart thump. That’s a typical
stress response.
2. Rest your hands above your belly button
with fingertips touching gently or place a
book (like a phone book) on your belly.
3. Take a long inhale and notice your belly rise
up as you fill your lower lungs. Exhale
slowly. You’ll notice your belly sink back
toward your spine as you release your
breath.
Now, concentrate on taking deeper, longer breaths
and let your exhale linger a moment or two longer
than the inhales. Do this breathing exercise for
several minutes or longer and notice any
changes. Better yet, practice this every day and
before any situation that makes you nervous. You
can try variations of this exercise. Imagine that all
the stress and tension is leaving your body with
every exhale. Or visualize yourself on a warm
beach or taking in an awesome mountaintop view
while you breathe in and out slowly. Soon you’ll
feel more relaxed, grounded, and better able to take
on new challenges or deal with daily hassles. And
guess what? Your breath is something you never
leave home without. Just remember to use it.
By adulthood, this pattern of upper chest breathing
may well turn into an unconscious habit. (Think
about all the stressed-out adults you
know.) Literally, you could shortchange your body
with this inefficient way of circulating 02.
Easy breathing
Here are three easy steps to boost your oxygen flow
and de-stress:
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The Moody Blues
A study from the State University of New York
provides another biological reason for teenage
mood fluctuations: hormones. It seems that
hormones are to blame for everything that happens
during the teenage years: acne, awkwardness,
awakening sex drive – well, now we can add mood
swings to the list. Researchers experimented on
mice and found that the hormone THP, a steroid
usually released in response to stress, has the
opposite effect in adolescent mice than the preadolescent and adult ones. In teen brains, the
number of THP receptors located in the
hippocampus, the part of the brain that regulates
emotions, is far higher than non-adolescents.
Therefore in teens, THP raises anxiety rather than
calms. This results in what adults see as mood
swings: overreactions to stress which a teen really
cannot control.
Dealing with Your Emotions
By: Shi-Min Chin
“She’s so pretty but she doesn’t always act that
way. Her mood’s out swinging on the swing set
almost every day. She said to me that she’s so
happy it’s depressing, and all I said is, ‘Someone
get that girl a mood ring.”
While the lyrics above from the song “Mood Rings”
by Relient K are catchy, they also shed light on an
ever-relevant teen issue: mood swings. And no, they
don’t only happen to girls. If you ever thought about
why “moody teenager” is such a stereotype, or why
“emo” is so popular among the high school crowd,
it is because all teens are prone to moodiness.
Mood swings are, by definition, “Alternation of a
person’s emotional state between periods of
euphoria and depression.” This definition does not
cover the variety of other moods involved in the ups
and downs experienced by teenagers. Excitement to
anxiety, happiness to depression, sadness to anger at
the drop of a hat – teenage moods are as
unpredictable as New England weather. Now
researchers have discovered a biological link to this
phenomenon, proving to teenagers everywhere what
they already knew and have been asserting since
forever: it’s not your fault.
Biology aside, however, there are plenty of other
reasons for moodiness, and just plain being a
teenager is one of them. Being a teenager means
existing in that almost-always awkward phase
between being a child and being an adult – and how
many people do you know who went through that
phase smoothly? Not many, that’s for sure. All the
physical and social changes going on (“Where is
this crazy acne coming from? Am I popular? Or just
a loser?”) are more than enough reason for unstable
moods. Add the perpetually angst-filled
biologically-influenced mental state to this mix, and
it’s no wonder many teens always seem to be
having a rough time.
Research has been conducted on this aspect of the
teenage brain for some time now, and the research
study at the Child Psychiatry Branch of the National
Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., is just
one example. There, hundreds of teenage volunteers
allow government researchers to look into their
brains using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
What scientists have found is that as the brain
matures during the teen years, the brain’s individual
components mature separately. One of the last parts
in the brain to mature is the prefrontal cortex, the
part responsible for planning, judgment and selfcontrol. Adolescents are capable of very strong
emotions and very strong passions, but their
prefrontal cortex hasn’t caught up with them yet.
It’s as though they don’t have the brakes that allow
them to slow those emotions down.
If all that wasn’t enough, a Swiss study done at the
Psychiatric University Clinics in Basel asserts that
teenagers tend to feel love very strongly because of
their brains' tendency to cause extreme reactions.
They found that teens in love got “sweaty palms,
pounding hearts and increased and excessive energy
when they were around their beloved,” and that they
“showed extreme empathy…and were willing to die
for their beloved.” Other than explaining why
“Twilight," with its themes of unrequited teenage
love for a hot vampire, is such a phenomenon, these
findings also give another take on the issue of mood
swings.
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because you’ve had a few periods of feeling
irritable, sad, angry or giddy. It’s safe to say that
more often than not, mood swings in teenagers are
caused by just that: the fact that you’re a teen.
It is important to note that extreme mood swings
can be symptoms of diseases such as bipolar
disorder (experiencing extreme highs and lows in
mood) and clinical depression. If you're really
concerned about your mood swings, have a mental
health provider check your symptoms. But don’t
instantly self-diagnose yourself with depression just
In other words, don't get too wigged out by your
moods – they're normal!
The Teen Brain
A Neuronal Hormonal Soup
By: Tara Cousineau, PhD
Pouty. Silly. Confused. Impulsive. Angry. Clueless.
Determined. Happy. Sad.
much stress you might experience (taking an exam,
fighting with your mom or running a stop light with
your learner’s driving permit).
This list can go on and on with the range of
emotions and impulses that teenagers experience
over the course of a day. The emotional
rollercoaster – and often curious and erratic
behavior – of teens was once chalked up to
hormones kicking in at puberty. While it is true that
the adolescent brain is soaking in sex hormones,
recent research using sophisticated brain scan
equipment with healthy teens reveals a lot more
than meets the eye.
Then there is the DNA you inherit, the double
strands of genetic material that influence your eye
color, body shape, personality, predisposition to
certain diseases, temperament, aptitude, intellect,
and so on. Add life experience to the mix and it all
helps to shape the growing teen brain.
So what does this mean for you? It means your
brain is a work in progress. Tend to it mindfully.
How?
 Think through potential consequences.
 Don’t marinate your brain in drugs and
alcohol – which can seriously alter the
intricate and growing neuronal network of
your brilliant mind.
 Know that taking risks and making mistakes
is a part of normal development.
 Emotional highs and lows are expected and
will pass.
 When challenges come along, take the high
road.
Perhaps best described by Barbara Strauch’s
book, The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries
About the Teenage Brain Tell Us About Our Kids,
the teen brain is undergoing an astounding array of
changes that parallel the neurological leaps that a
baby’s brain experiences. In fact, the teen brain is
going through a phase of major
“discombobulation.” The areas of the brain – such
as the frontal cortex (command center) and
prefrontal cortex (working memory, inhibition and
impulse control) – are in a continual state of activity
and refinement. In essence, the brain is a garden of
neuronal synapses growing wildly and then pruning
itself back over time.
The brain also houses a complex set of
neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, that
travel from nerve cell to nerve cell and affect moods
states. These chemicals, such as dopamine and
norepinephrine, travel about the brain at varying
levels. They are linked to depression and other
mood disorders. Added to this alphabet soup are
stress hormones (cortisol) streaming through blood
vessels. This hormone fluctuates depending on how
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