Being an Active Citizen: The Importance of Voting

Believe it or not, we are nearing the end of Term 3!  Spring is on its way (we hope!) and our seniors are thinking about graduation and life after high school.  As school counselors, we hope that we have given students the skills and tools they will need to become productive young adults and contribute to their local communities and the greater society.  One of the most important privileges that comes along with adulthood is voting.

Why is it important for you to vote as a young adult?

• The more young people who vote, the more politicians pay attention to issues that affect young people.  Politicians tend to be interested in people and groups who might be able to keep them in office.
  
• Elections influence key issues.  Security, health care, budgets, taxes, the environment - these are all things that affect everyone, no matter their ages.
  
• Democracy only works properly when everyone gets involved.  You have the right to be part of the decision making at the local, state, and federal levels - use it!  Young people in other parts of the world are fighting for this right every day.
  
• If you don’t use your right to vote, you lose your right to question or be critical of the government.  Don’t like the ways things are being done?  Your vote can help to make a change.

Fifty-one percent of this year’s graduating class at Nipmuc has already reached the age of majority.  Another 25% will turn 18 before graduation.  Registering to vote is a great first step to becoming an informed and active citizen.  You can register in person or by mail.  Click here to start the process!

Challenge and Balance: Picking Classes

As you read in Ms. Fagan's post last week, spring is just around the corner. As the weather begins (and hopefully continues) to warm up, the Nipmuc counselors are starting to think about what's to come, and so are students. We've begun course registration for the juniors and sophomores, and we'll finish up with the freshman students before April break. Particularly for the upperclassmen, this is an exciting time to pick out new electives for next year and push themselves to try new classes. The full program of studies is available for students who want to review course descriptions and other information.

In our individual meetings with students, we first take a look at what graduation requirements they've fulfilled, and which ones they still need. We also talk about their college and career plans and match up what classes may help prepare them best for the future. Next, we take a look at the teacher recommendations in ipass. Students' current teachers will put recommendations for what level (CPS, Honors, or AP) they feel would be a good fit for the following year. We talk with the student to determine how they feel about these levels, and then also about what electives they'd like to take.

There are two themes that we stress when we meet with students: challenge, and balance. We want students to take challenging courses and push themselves a little harder based on their current performance and future goals. For example, if a student is some honors classes with strong grades and gets an AP recommendation, I may recommend they go for it and sign up. Progression is key - we want students to continue to challenge themselves a little more each year.

However, there also needs to be balance. Many students are involved with an enormous load of extracurriculars, work, sports, volunteering, family responsibilities, and of course, homework. Students need time to decompress, enjoy downtime with friends and family, and relax. And on top of all this, they are expected to maintain strong grades and keep up with all their courses. It's important to maintain a balance when picking rigorous classes for next year. We stress this to students in our meetings. Maintaining sanity is just as important (if not more than) academic rigor!

If you have any questions about course registration, please feel free to contact us. When students complete their course selection with us, we will also print out a course registration form for them to bring home to parents. 

Nursing School Expo April 6th

Lessons from Winter

“Getting through the winter OK?”  Greetings such as these have become the norm for New England residents throughout the epic winter of 2015!  I have always thought that one of the best things about living in New England is the change of seasons.  I have enjoyed each season for all that it offers; the warmth and garden bounty of the summer; the colors and smells of the fall; holidays and beauty of a snow covered landscape in the winter and the new beginnings and growth of the spring.  There is no doubt that this record-setting winter has challenged these beliefs! Daily tasks and routines are so much more difficult with 4 feet of snow on the ground!  Even simple tasks like walking the dog and putting out the trash have required more effort, energy and time to complete. As the winter has progressed, I have noticed that my natural impulse to fight against these discomforts and inconveniences only leaves me more tired and frustrated.  Gradually, I have begun to accept the need to slow down and take extra time going about my day. 

The side benefit of slowing down is becoming more tuned into my physical environment and to my senses.  For example, I have recently noticed some early signs of spring.  I have sensed the days lengthening, the sun rising earlier in the morning and lingering later in the day.  I’ve noticed puddles and rivulets of water from melting snow signaling temperatures above the freezing mark.  Bird sounds have increased in the early morning and my dog has definitely noticed more activity from our local squirrel population.  I even smelled a skunk the other night, not normally a sensation I welcome or enjoy, but in this instance, I viewed it as another sign that the season was beginning to turn.  When walking my dog at night, temperatures have changed from 2 to 22 degrees; trust me, it makes all the difference in the world! On those same walks, I have noticed the stars brightly shining against the dark of the night sky.  I have realized that I am looking forward to spring with an enthusiasm and joy that I have not noticed in prior years.  I am imagining my crocuses beginning to stir under the soil, under the mounds of snow. I am anticipating the bloom of these and other early spring flowers, hopefully sometime this month! 

The opportunity to slow down this winter has offered me a lesson in mindfulness. I have practiced experiencing the present moment - my thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, with curiosity and without judgment.  The research is clear about mindfulness practices (meditation, yoga, etc.) and their positive impact on stress and anxiety and it is a concept I often teach to students. When teaching Nipmuc students to be mindful, I encourage them to really tune into their senses, or their breath.  I encourage them to be mindful as they go about their daily routines, slowing down, engaging their senses and really being aware of their experience. During a recent Advisory lesson, I asked students to see, touch, hear and finally taste a raisin or Hershey’s kiss, to truly engage all of their senses in this simple activity.  Some students enjoy this type of practice, others struggle with it and that’s OK.  For myself, it took years for me to even begin to try to incorporate mindfulness practices into my daily life and this continues to be a work in progress.  As the winter winds down, I encourage all of you to try some mindfulness activities throughout your day.  One simple way is to spend some time outside in nature!  The days are slowly but surely getting warmer, so get outside, and be aware of the sights, sounds and smells that herald spring’s arrival!

For additional reading on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, and for ways to incorporate mindful practices into your daily life, please see links below.

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/improve-your-life-7-reasons-and-5-ways-to-be-mindful/

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/06/09/7-easy-ways-to-be-mindful-every-day/