The Budget Bookworm

Most girls love a good pair of heels.  They make our legs look longer, our butt look better and our bodies taller, but when we’re running from class to class, this fabulous footwear isn’t always the best idea. But just because we’re busy doesn’t mean we want to give up on cute shoes.  Here’s my list of cute and campus-friendly shoes.

Sandals:  If your campus is warm, sandals are a great way to go, but not always flip-flops.  For a shortened day, or on a day when most of your classes are close together, flip-flops might be OK, but they are not the best choice for long days when you’re hauling a heavy bag from English to chemistry to business administration.  For an all-day sandal, go for a more strappy option that has a strap around you

r ankle to keeps these sandals in place.  Find a sandal that is relatively flat, but has a thick supporting soul so you don’t feel like you’re walking directly on the concrete.  The gladiator sandal is still big this year and the half-shoe, half-sandal look is new and updated for a great transition into summer.

Wedges: Although your heels need to stay in your closet, wedges are a great alternative.  For those days when you really need a boost, go for a strappy wedge sandal with plenty of ankle support.  Wedges typically don’t have a steep incline, so you’re not constantly putting pressure on the balls of your feet.  This will keep your feet comfortable and your back pain-free while still looking fabulous. 

Flats: Flats began taking over the fashion world a couple of years ago and they are definitely here to stay.  Even celebrities are turning in their 4” heels for a cute pair of comfy flats.  When choosing flats, find a pair that is comfortable around the edges, doesn’t dig into your toes and isn’t too small.  Choose a flat with a substantial sole and a waterproof outer layer, avoid complete fabric flats unless you are sure the forecast won’t bring rain.  When wearing flats, always try to wear a thin, no-show sock.  These socks will provide a layer of comfort between you and your shoe which will keep your feet dry and comfortable all day.  

Sneakers: A great pair of everyday shoes should be a staple in every wardrobe, but that doesn’t mean they have to be Dr. Martin’s or brown loafers.  Go for a great pair of Pumas, a colorful pair of Nike’s or a slip-on Sketcher.  You can look preppy and cute at the same time by choosing a shoe that will last you through your college years without looking like you took it from your mother’s closet.

Boots: If it’s a rainy season, embrace the rain-boot.  These wellie-style of boots can be found nearly everywhere in a million great colors and styles.  Don’t worry about matching your wellies to your clothing, rain boots are made to stand out, so pick your favorite color and go for it.  When winter comes along, trade in the wellies for a great pair of leather riding boots with a low heel.  These boots will keep your feet warm, cozy and comfortable.

Facebook is not just a form of entertainment or an online time waster.  It is now literally an extension of every teenager’s life.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 22 percent of teens access their social media site more than 10 times a day, over 50 percent access more than once a day.  While Facebook may provide another positive avenue to make friends and socialize, it can also provide a negative source of rejection, cruelty and bullying leading to “Facebook Depression”.

Most mental health experts agree there is a definite link between internet usage and depression, but what they don’t agree on is what came first.  Are teenagers depressed because they spend too much time online? Or, are teenagers spending more time online, because they are depressed?  This question is debatable, but there is no denying the strong and distinct link between depression and online time.

            Depression in teenagers is commonly a result of social comparison.  Whether subconsciously or deliberate, teenagers will constantly size themselves up against anyone and everyone else. Social media provides them another way to do this.  Through this medium, teenagers will inevitably and constantly find circumstances where they are inferior to others.

In addition to increased comparison, the internet itself can also be a trigger for depression.  Internet addiction occurs when a teenager has trouble controlling how much time they spend online and it begins to interfere with their daily life. Online socializing can detract from or even eliminate human interaction which can affect a teens ability to personally communicate, understand others and develop healthy social skills, vocabulary and cognitive development.  After teenagers spend a majority of their time on social media sites, and lose that element of personal communication, they are at risk for slower language development, social isolation and internet addiction.  All of these lead to an increased chance for teenage depression. 

            Between classes, friends, homework, scholarships, studying and part-time jobs, most students carry a pretty full schedule.  If social networking and surfing Facebook is merely one of many activities in a student’s life, it can be a positive and fun outlet.  When Facebook begins to take over other activities or replace more productive time management it can begin to cause problems on and off the screen. 

When you arrive to your first college class and sit down with your notebook open and your pen ready, you might be surprised to see how many students plop down a tape recorder and go to sleep. 

While taping lectures is not an excuse for sleeping in class, this method might be something to take advantage of before it’s too late.  One advantage of online classes is that most material is always available to go back and review, but if you’re in class you might not have that opportunity unless you are recording your lectures. 

Recording a lecture has many benefits including the fact that you have access to your professors own words when you’re studying.  This can help you fill in the blanks on notes that you didn’t quite get down or allow you to review more difficult topics.  You can also become the most popular kid in class by sending the recorded lectures to classmates who missed the class. 

Keep in mind that idea isn’t to listen to the entire lecture again in your spare time, but merely to skip around to review points you missed or didn’t understand. 

On the other hand, recording a lecture has a tendency to make you a lazy student and who really wants to listen to a lecture over and over again?  Relying on recorded lectures alone can waste hours of valuable studying time when you chose to sleep through class the first time.  Even if you choose to record, understand that the recording is a backup, not an excuse and try to forget it’s even there until you need it.  You also have to be prepared in case your recording stops, your battery runs out or your pause button is hit in the middle of class.  

There are lots of options when it comes to recording devices, pick one that is small and discrete.  While most professors don’t mind students recording lectures, they also don’t want a large microphone in their face in the middle of class. Here are a few of the best options:

Your computer. Most computers now come with built in microphones. If you have one, just download a free recording program, (Mac’s use Garageband, PC’s go for Audacity) and hit record.

A digital recorder. These are small, cheap and store your files that you can later download to your computer as an mp3.  From there, you can throw it on your iPod, or play it back directly from the device.

Your iPod. Most of the newer iPods have a recording feature, or you can download an app that allows you to use your iPod just like a digital recorder. 

If you choose to record class lectures, it’s important to sit near the front of the class (this will help you from falling asleep too).  Be sure to title each recording with the date and topic, if possible.  Keep your recordings organized so you’re not sifting through 50 mp3’s the day before finals.

If you like to review cool gadgets, you probably like to play around with them too. This is understandable – they are pretty cool to mess with. Have you ever thought about making that into a career though? Indeed, you could actually make a pretty good living as a computer repairman (or repairwoman) if you knew what you were doing. Assuming you either have a degree or some kind of experience working with computers, you should be able to look forward to a pretty good salary in this profession. You won’t know that for sure until you actually get out there in the field. In this article, we will go over some of the average salary rates for computer repairmen so you can determine if you may want to do this in the future.

Average Salary by Years of Experience

The amount of experience you have as a computer repairman may not impact your income much at all. There is a high demand for these kinds of professionals across the country, so you really shouldn’t have trouble finding a job that will pay well. This will depend on the area you live in, but your income will be about the same no matter how long you stick with this job. Here is a look at the average pay for computer repairmen based on years of experience:

• Less than 1 year: $17,739 – $73,974 per year
• 1-4 years: $16,232 – $50,464 per year
• 5-9 years: $20,673 – $46,476 per year
• 10-19 years: $23,489 – $62,404 per year
• 20 years or more: $19,797 – $77,253 per year

Average Salary by Degree

If you already know a lot about the computer, you may not have to get a degree. However, most people are more comfortable working with people when they know they have a formal education in computer repairs. Thus it may be in your favor to get a degree if you have the time and resources to do so. Here is a look at the average pay for computer repairmen based on their college degree:

• Associate’s Degree: $14,838 – $58,780 per year
• Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems (CIS): $21,516 – $31,200 per year
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: $22,000 – $55,500 per year

Average Salary by Specialty

Some customers will have really specific problems, so ideally, you need to have some specialties you can fall back on. These specialties will relate to the money you make every month and the kinds of jobs you get in the future. Here is a look at the average pay for computer repairmen based on specialization:

• Cisco Networking: $19,265 – $63,023 per year
• HTML: $14,462 – $71,250 per year
• Linux: $21,050 – $58,705 per year
• Microsoft Access: $24,382 – $64,276 per year
• Microsoft Exchange: $24,534 – $53,901 per year
• Microsoft Office: $19,601 – $54,874 per year
• Microsoft Windows General Use: $19,449 – $54,984 per year
• Microsoft Word: $19,968 – $58,439 per year
• Network Management or Administration: $20,695 – $56,045 per year
• Windows NT, 2000, or XP Networking: $19,756 – $57,343 per year

Average Salary by Certification

If you don’t have a degree for your job, you at least need to have a certification in whatever field you want to work in. You can use this certification or these certifications on your resume, and that will show other people that you really do know your stuff. Here is a look at the average pay for computer repairmen based on certification:

• Certified Novell Engineer: $29,163 – $36,625 per year
• Cisco Certified Network Associate: $21,331 – $56,673 per year
• Comptia A+ Service Technician: $17,670 – $51,896 per year
• CompTIA Network+: $17,030 – $59,180 per year
• Microsoft Certified Professional + Internet: $8,579 – $73,407 per year
• Microsoft Certified Professional: $24,056 – $63,192 per year
• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: $21,532 – $56,257 per year
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: $22,090 – $67,871 per year
• Microsoft Windows NT: $29,163 – $48,834 per year
• Technician, Type Universal: $18,666 – $59,493 per year

Computer repair is not the easiest job to do in the world, but it comes naturally to some people. If you happen to be one of those people, you may do quite well in this profession. Take the time to figure out if this really is the career for you, and don’t be afraid to give it a try. Worse comes to worse, you go back to your parole officer requirements, or whatever it was that you were doing before this job.

To perform at your best as a pilot, you must be in top physical condition. To the extent that you are not, you are actually compromising safety. Physiologically, your body is, or may be, exposed to a number of environmental factors, including changes in temperature, pressure and air density. These may require immediate physical reactions, without hesitation. Some of this comes with training. But in addition, some of this will only be possible by pilots in the best physical condition.

Required Physical Condition
What is required by the FAA as minimum physical condition? What is recommended by aviation experts for the average private pilot, instrument pilot, commercial pilot or air transport pilot flying for a major Part 121 carrier such as United Airlines, Delta Airlines or American Airlines? What is required by the U.S. Airforce, Army, Navy or other armed services? How important is uncorrected, or corrected, 20/20 vision? These are just a few of many questions answered here at Physical Fitness In Aviation, which can help you decide on a career in aviation.

Airsickness and Motion Sickness
You sometimes, maybe often, suffer from either or both of these conditions. Should you consider yourself excluded from ever becoming a private pilot? How about becoming a commercial pilot or a military pilot? Is there anything you can start doing now, before or early in your flight training, to overcome airsickness or motion sickness? These questions too will be answered here at Physical Fitness In Aviation.

The Effect on Mental Fitness
Physical fitness and mental fitness are related. This will be recognized and emphasized. Decision making, situation awareness, mental alertness, reaction time and sound judgement are all directly affected by a pilot’s physical fitness. And all of these are integral parts of the teamwork so essential to all pilot operations. How and why these relationships are interrelated will also be addressed here at Physical Fitness In Aviation.

The “Superior Pilot”
To quote Transport Canada, as well as Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman,

“The superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which might require the use of his superior skills.”

This simply cannot be accomplished by the pilot who ignores physical fitness.

Do come back soon, as supporting articles will be published bi-weekly. Thank you for reading!