#and you get to be more in that teacher/mentor/listener/facilitator role for them

[whentherewerebicycles]

WORKSHOP WENT SO WELL!!!! the students got really into the activities and just did SUCH a good job in the debrief conversation at the end. one of the students also works for our office under my coworker's supervision (although i'd never met her before) and my coworker said the student messaged her after to rave about how fun the workshop was and how good the group discussions were. and at the end one of the professional staff who worked at the center just got up and spontaneously gave a little speech about how much undergrad research had meant to him and how much doing community-engaged work helped him untangle these complicated questions and feelings about his identity and his relationship to his community. it was just really nice!! good group, very good energy, and i think/hope they are going to want to invite us back to do more programming with their students this year. fingers crossed!!!

[tiredassmage]

A, S, T, O, R

My friend thinks she is funny.

And she is correct. Because I snorted when I got this.

Anyway, @fatewalker-phoenix 500 years later, its time to actually answer this aknsdlkadnfasdf. She also claims she didn't specify who these were for but she KNOWS I have too many pretty boys to do all of this is one post. I think someone would kill me. Probably tumblr with the load of how much words in one post that'd be.

ANYWAY, this was from like, a month+ ago?? I'm surprised I even found the original ask list with how great tumblr's tag search system is at times, but here it is for reference! And if y'all would like to see any more, lol.

A - Advocate - How do they show their support for others? Are there any causes that they publicly support? Why?

Astor does his best to be there for friends, companions, etc. in... whatever capacity they require that he can fulfill - whether that be just someone to listen while they talk through things or that person you call at 2 am because you blew a tire and you need a ride.

I also consider him, in general, to be a somewhat cuddly person, so his modes of support often tend to be physical contact - from simple hand holding to hugs, if you're comfortable with them. I'm weaksauce for hugs and Astor gets to deal with a lot of what I give him, so that's another lil thing we share. Love hugs. He also tends to be pretty decent at pep talks - knowing what someone needs to hear and, more often than not, usually be able to speak from the heart on the matter.

Don't mistake that as he'll lie - because that's not it, but he spends a lot of time looking for and believing in the best of people, especially those he cares for or admires, so he remembers those qualities and can be good at bringing up what matters when its important as a little extra nudge of encouragement.

Being a Scion and Warrior of Light, I admittedly haven't spent a lot of time delving into what little things he might personally advocate for, since the WoL ends up in... quite a bit just as is, lol. But one cause that was close to home for him was peace following the Dragonsong War and Ishgard's reformation. He grew up in the Dravanian Hinterlands not too terribly far from Tailfeather, and Anyx Trine was always quite a sight over the trees. He really took to the dragons there, and, on the matter of Ishgard's changes, it was just good to see people make that choice and have hope and faith that they could manage that path. Particularly in his AU verse, of course, as one of Ysayle's closest followers - in that series of events, Astor actually remained with the dragons of Anyx Trine for a time after the close of Heavensward to better facilitate the budding relations before finally joining the Scions to, hopefully, seek out a new purpose and something of his own to believe in after losing Ysayle.

S - Seeker - How do they go in search of new information? Do they accept ideas on faith or do they need to test out information for themselves?

Astor tends to be pretty trusting - he's got faith in human decency, for the most part. If he doesn't know something, they've built a pretty good network around the Scions to find things out just by asking the right people. Unless he comes across something that implies maybe he should reconsider or there's more to the story than meets the eye, he's generally content to accept what he does learn.

Failing asking around, he isn't opposed to doing his own reading on the subject and, in more practical or hands-on things, try it out a few times to check his understanding.

T - Teacher - How often do they have to teach others? How do they go about it? How do they learn best? Do they dive in first and reflect later or study the theory of something new before putting it into practice?

He does generally enjoy working with others and admittedly has a not-so-secret soft spot for taking on something of a mentor or fatherly role. He just kind of... does that. He's the character that spontaneously adopts the younger member of the party. "I'm adopting a child. It's you, sign here."

Astor tries to explain and show because I think its how he learns best, too. An explanation, maybe a showing of the how, and a chance to try himself and then practice. Also by making connections or comparisons. He is someone who tries to make sure he has a grasp of the basics of something before diving into something - asks questions before the leap kind of thing.

O - Organiser - How organised are they? Do they have any unusual organisation systems? What would cause them to be uncharacteristically (dis-)organised?

Generally speaking, he's alright. I would not say he has everything labeled nor would I say his desk is completely neat and orderly, but he knows - most of the time - where things are when he leaves them. It's not exactly to my extent of just dropping things in place and knowing I left them there in my disorganized organized chaos, lmao, but.

He tries to be at least somewhat neat and kind of clean. Keep relevant things together. Put tools or utensils away when you're finished. Nothing that I'd say is unusual.

Stress, unsurprisingly, can make him a bit more careless. Or even when he gets really deep into researching something or just invested in reading into something or a certain subject. He can easily fill his desk with a lot of items and materials and that can look chaotic - and sometimes be a bit chaotic. While he may have everything he need, he can just kind of... bring it over and put it down and just... get to work. Which can leave some things scattered about in a less organized manner than a simple step by step process.

R - Rebel - Do they follow rules, bend or break them? Do they find rebelliousness in others attractive?

I have absolutely made a few jokes about Astor being a goody-two-shoes in his time and, yes, for the most part, he's generally alright to stay within set parameters - so long as he believes in them and they're beneficial for most or all parties. That being said, Astor can also be incredibly, incredibly bullheaded. To both ends - both in following set rules or expectations, or in... bending them. Or just straight up telling them that they're wrong.

He could balk at something like trying to go around an established chain of command, for example, not wanting to get anyone in trouble. But he also won't settle for things that he considers unfair. For example, though practiced and rather gifted in White Magic, Astor does not exactly shy away from aiding those despite whatever archaic permission may or may not have been granted to him by the elementals. He is, in all sense of the words, a healer main through and through to the heart, and he will not sit by and let someone suffer when he has the power to aide or alleviate even a fraction of that suffering. That is never the right thing to do.

That being said, he's a lot more bold about it when its only him he's risking. He's a selfless bastard to a worrying fault and he doesn't like to wager with other peoples' lives or safety.

And... generally speaking, Astor has... a small distaste for the rebellious for the sake of rebellion type. While there are certainly some rules he may agree were made to be broken or bent, he'd have a hard time with anyone who acted in a selfish manner.

[uclavapae]

Emmanuel Galvez Machuca | Teaching Artist of April 2019

Hometown: Mexico City

Major: Fine Arts and Minor in Arts Education  

Q: How did you discover your interest in the arts and how did you know that it was something that you wanted to pursue professionally, as an artist or as a teaching artist?

A:  I started skateboarding in middle school and came to understand that to learn how to do a trick, I had to keep trying. That if I fell on the ground, I had to get up and try again. Eventually, I was able to land a trick. And, if I continued to work, I could perfect my style. When I began to draw cartoons, I naturally fell back on the lessons learned while skateboarding. My first drawings were clumsy, but eventually, through sheer determination and work, I became rather good at drawing cartoons. So, I learned that working on a skill, despite a failure, could lead to expertise.

I used this same process in art making. When I first start an art project I may not be successful, but if I spend time working, it improves. And the more I work, the better it gets. Generating new concepts also comes after much soul searching and mining memories. From 2010 to 2015 I have been involved in creating a series of paintings on the concept of “Pan Dulce.” The concept came to me as I thought of the days when I lived in Mexico City as a child and I walked with my Mom to the bakery where I could smell the fresh aromas of bread and see a beautiful spread of pan dulce. Those memories touched me so personally that I decided to set up a still life of these breads. As a result of these works, I now have gallery representation and have had two solo shows. Searching through my past experiences solidified what I wanted to do: to connect more closely with my childhood memories.

My success pushes me to work harder and make better art. I plan to become the first person in my family to receive a college degree. My motivation and hunger for knowledge inspires me to explore who I am as an artist, a teacher, and a student. I remember my mother’s words, “Echale ganas, mijo!” which means to [work hard, son!]. Her words allow me to push forward, to keep going, to perfect my greatest talent: art.

Q: Describe what the student artists in your VAPAE Afterschool or Arts Enrichment Program are working on and the process they’re using.

A:   Before I transferred to UCLA, I was working with two nonprofits. One of them was Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to K-12 underrepresented students interested in sports, music, and the arts. As the artist in residence at HOLA, I assisted in teaching art classes from teaching drawing, mix-medium and mentoring individual students. In 2010, Dan McCleary started Art Division, a nonprofit organization dedicated to training and supporting underserved artistically inclined youth in the Rampart district where I have been an active participant since its inception. HOLA and Art Division have given me the tools and practice to give back to the community.

Because of my experience working with these nonprofits, I was offered the opportunity to work with one of the VAPAE Afterschool programs where I worked with another nonprofit. Latino Producers Action Network (LPAN) is a program that provides art workshops by Fabian Debora that brings youth from various communities together with their parents to collaborate in art projects. It was my pleasure working with the East Los Angeles community. In this VAPAE Program, I worked as a teaching artist assistant with Fabian Debora and I was able to learn several skills how to work with this is specific community intergenerational families. While in my participation at the program, I had the chance to assist every person and see them grow in their process and skills. I was really impressed with the mothers and daughters and how well they work with each other. I thought that the daughters would end up helping the mothers more but both of them created an equal balance.

Q: Why is an enrichment opportunity like this important for those participating? What do they gain?

A:  If I had not had Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) program when I was younger and Art Division as a young adult, I probably would not have followed my dream as an artist. Today, as a result of these opportunities, I have confidence in my art skills and in my capacity as a student of the arts.

Since I participated similar programs, I understand the value and the impact that it can provide to a student's lives. I think students can gain so much knowledge, critical thinking, and work collaboratively. Understanding these basic elements can help students discover the different possibilities of creating art pieces. Therefore, applying similar process outside of the arts into different environment allows students to navigate their own personal experiences. At a very personal level, art has always been there for me. The role of art can definitely play a huge role in students’ lives.

Q: Did you have an opportunity like this when you were a younger artist? If yes, how did it help shape your love of art? If no, in what ways could a program like this have helped you?

A: In middle school, I found my voice by drawing cartoons. I would often lose myself in my drawings, especially during English classes. “You’re going to be good, but without reading and writing you’re never going to be successful,” my English teacher would say. I knew I should have listened, but I chose not to. Instead, I continued with the pattern of doodling and daydreaming and kept wishing of one day being an artist. The possibility of becoming an artist became more real when at 14 years old I found Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA). HOLA had tutors, classes, and other support systems to help usher us to college. Through college prep programming I discovered the possibility of the arts as a potential career with social benefits.   

Q: What do you personally gain as a teaching artist, arts facilitator?

A:  Even though I already have some experience teaching, I don't have words to describe the amount of knowledge that I gained from completing the Arts Education Teaching Sequence in VAPAE. It has reinforced my teaching philosophy and enriched my practice as artist. Personally, I have gained more structure of how to create lesson plans. And also I had the opportunity to work with a public school. When I came to this country I went to public school. Having this opportunity to teach at a public school, it was very rich experience. Many of the students whom I taught were their first time having art lessons. Another reason why I want to continue to teaching because I understand that not every community has access to the arts. Therefore, I do see myself working with marginalized communities. The VAPAE minor would reinforce my practice as an educator and artist. I hope my discipline in the arts and my educational pursuits serve as a model and that we can all continue to make our community a better place.

Q: What are the benefits to you as a student/graduate in the UCLA VAPAE program? Was this program a good choice for you? If so, why?

A: Even though I already have some experience teaching, I don't have words to describe the amount of knowledge that I gained from working with Fabian Debora through the VAPAE Program. I know for sure that everything that I learned will be reinforced and enrich my practice as both an educator and artist. When I started teaching I never took a formal class about art education. Through my previous history of volunteering for the arts as a teacher assistant, I was able to learn a lot of knowledge from both the classroom and the teacher. When I was offered a position of teaching art, of course, I said yes. Even though I did not have the proper training I still wanted to do it. It was not easy from the beginning. The more I communicated with other teachers and also with my supervisor, I was able to understand and get little more training about art education.

Once I transferred to UCLA, I was interested in taking classes in art education, and also became interested in completing the Visual and Performing Arts Education program. When I came to this country, I was part of the after school program, HOLA. I learned a lot from their academic education, especially when taking their art classes. Art has its own language, and not having been able to speak English, the arts allowed me to express and share my ideas with my classmates without language interfering. From my personal experience I want to complete the VAPAE program because I do see myself teaching art to kids and adults while still being able to continue with practice in the studio.

Q: Are there any anecdotes from your time as a VAPAE Teaching Artist at an Afterschool or Arts Enrichment Programs that stand out to you? Perhaps you had a breakthrough with a student or saw some particularly noticeable growth in that student through this program, collaboration etc. Maybe something surprised you or made you think about art or teaching in a new way.

A: Since I already have some experience working with nonprofits, I was able to adopt Fabian's style of teaching. Basically, he would give me instructions of what would the class be working before the class would start. For the most part, a lot of his lessons are very straightforward. Having my own artistic practice definitely helps me to follow him with his approach of having a responsive style of teaching that feels really community-based instead of a student vs. teacher approach. Within the two classes that I have taken at UCLA through art education, the way we approach art is so different than Fabian’s style of teaching. It was really interesting to see both styles of teaching. But as a teaching assistant, I have to recognize that one is working with the community and the other one it focuses on the education system. And also with various philosophies of teaching. As educators, we have to recognize the circumstances of this community such as understanding and learning how we help these communities. During my sessions, I was just starting to understand the difference between these teaching styles working both with Fabian and the community.

Q: What are your short-term and long‐term career goals?

A: One of my short-term goal is completing the Visual and Performing Art Education program. I would love to continue teaching with VAPAE after school programs. Another long-term goal is getting ready to apply graduate school. My dream would to one day go back to Mexico City and teach arts in communities that do not have access to the arts.

[stradivaristrings]

Opt for Beginner Guitar Lessons and Enrich Life to The Optima

During these mid years of life, are you finding it a toll to carry on with the responsibility-loaded daily flow of livelihood? Are those rushes to balance ‘family chores’ and ‘official projects’ in a routine way appearing way-too agonizing for you these days?

Then may be it is time for you to add one real rejuvenating dimension into life. Are you voicing out that as an endeavor to ‘freshen up’ you do engage in the activities of movie watching, dining out and socializing with friends during weekends?

Such ‘acts’ undoubtedly ‘blend in’ spontaneous merriment into your mind and ‘lighten up’ your mood for the moment.  But, focus over one thing. Do these become able to bring you out from that persistently experienced feeling of exhaustion these days?

‘Momentary refreshments’ –these all serve, right? Learn that no matter how much ahead the world progresses towards, one medium of revitalizing self will continue to prevail as the optimally perfect one.

And what that is? The discrete venture of bonding up with music, not as a listener, but in the profile of a player.

What Role It Plays?

You undoubtedly now will be putting forward the viewpoint that the overwhelming pressure of livelihood prevents you from the upkeep of a proper diet & sleep schedule –let alone the time and energy for enrolling into a novel endeavor.

Nevertheless, think over. Don’t you devote an optimum quotient of time every weekend or between the official days to ‘hang out’ and eventually end up being ‘for the moment’ happy?

Gain awareness that replacing such actions with the holistic venture of learning a musical instrument can counteract the ‘low’ feel of yours to the optima and turn you into an ever-energetic and passionate-about life person.

As opine the prominent psychologists of the world, resorting to music emerges to be more significant for the adult phase of life in comparison to the youth span. The divine potentiality comprised within it empowers an individual to out beat all the ‘tiresome’ challenges in the most spirited fashion.

The magic imbibed within those earnest melodies, that ‘zest’ of unique beats and the passion hidden inside the striking tempos – all contribute to uplift your worn-out soul not just at the class or during the practice, but in a rightfully permanent maneuver.

If prominent amateur alumni of guitar lessons are to be believed, then the rhythmic fervor experienced while remaining engaged with own acoustic or electric guitar enacts as the possibly best relaxation over a stress-filled mind.

They vow that the all-new quotient of energy experienced post the ‘session’ surpasses the refreshment, which even the world’s premier spas find difficult to provide.  

The ‘feel’ makes them more prepared and stimulated to actualize and accomplish the diverse and complex chores as and when coming up in adulthood.

As The Best Remedy of All

Along with ‘regenerating’ your ‘torn down’ mind from the core, a lesson of music also aids you to ‘stay fine’ in an all-inclusive sense.

Tell one thing. Don’t you experience a serious ‘ill’ feel aftermath of undergoing an anxious phase or tolerating some real tensed hours? And assuredly to get rid of that unpleasant vibe, you opt for those anti-depressant pills?

Learn that if strumming the harmonious chords can be selected as an option during these circumstances, then it fetches you with far better results in comparison to even the famous medicine in this regard.

Continuation of such a fitting habit, in effect strengthens the inside ‘you’ to prevent the feel’s very causes from effecting the mind in future.

As claims one renowned violin school of recent-times, adopting the custom of playing the violin aftermath of returning from work for few minutes daily works as one therapy-level calming agent.

The pure fervor of melody lets the day’s agony disappear and soothes your worried persona with optimum quotient of intellect. In a most standardized sense, it makes you tension-immune to the ultimate.

Medical studies further reveal that adults taking up music learning as their recreational activity remain preventive towards the agonizing consequences of blood pressure and diabetes for longer stretches of time, given to the negligible existence of stress in their lives.

Advanced-level researches also showcase that acquiring gradual expertise over one definite instrument enhances the functionality of your immunity system and makes it virus-resistant to the optima.

Heightens too the level of your IQ, since practicing one musical instrument in a scheduled maneuver keeps the brain responsive by a consistent pace and in effect nourishes its inherent competency. Most of the regular practitioners claim to experience much sharper memory and better perception at the daily activities of life over their non-practicing counterparts.  

In the long run, this exquisite activity also contributes in securing your memory from the old age-related issues of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Moreover, making music learning a part of own life assists you to enjoy the benefits of a maximally fit physique. Remember those frequent complaints, which friends and family members make about aching joints and muscle inflexibility?

Through the regular practice of ‘picking’ a notation over a guitar and rightfully creating a tune at the violin, you facilitate your elbow and shoulder joints to remain in movement and thereby safe from the fatalities of sudden cramps and sprains.

Then again, at the time of undertaking the beginner guitar lessons, you will be taught about the correct postures to sit and hold the instrument, exact method of positioning both the hands while at ‘play’ and the tactic to develop the so-vital finger calluses.

Dedicated practice to perfect the first two ‘acts’ blends in optimum of flexibility into the muscles ‘involved’ and focus over the third one contributes in making the fingers good-enough ‘free’ and fast in motion and rightfully strong.

As a collective effect, your physique gets safeguarded from all the harmful effects of arthritis and stays vigorous for activities every time.

The Benefit of Exquisite Socialization

This is perhaps one of the most distinctive perks that music learning fetches to an adult individual.

Amidst the boredom of life, when comes the scope to get familiar with a group of like-minded individuals and spend some pure ‘quality’ moments with them, a person authentically experiences a ‘fresh air’ of happiness.

It intensifies the one’s zeal to cultivate life at its more depths and live it with fullest of passion.

Ask yourself. Doesn’t sometimes the ongoing dullness of days urges you to explore a new ‘world’ or fraternity?

Music learning perfectly satisfies your this desire. For instance, when as a guitar fan, you find yourself amidst a group of similar devotees and receive the chance to ‘talk’ about nothing but R&B, Country, Pop and all the trend-setting celebrities, what ‘feel’ will you realize?

The best of pleasure, right? It assuredly will also become the most desirable extra-curricular activity of yours than passing simple time over the T.V or at the mall.

Know that dwelling within an environ of musical peers for a scheduled quotient of time and cherishing the experience of learning together cultivates your humanitarian skills most effectively.

As its enduring effect, you tend to feel a constant happiness at heart, turn more patient towards various spectrums of livelihood and in effect become able to nurture relationships with more of care.

Music lessons also infuse well-enough flexibility into your character. That habit of accepting own shortcomings amidst all, taking suggestions from  fellow learners and helping them in every possible fashion enriches your adaptability capability and therein aids to become one smart survivor at all situations.

‘Living with the peers’ also mentors you over the fitting methods to deal with kin and colleagues and nurtures inside you one spontaneous respect for every fellow human being.

In the adulthood, when initiating one new venture of learning, especially a complex one like music, indeed appears to be a tough task, Stradivari Strings promises to make your rhythmic education most exciting one.

This matchless musical establishment of Singapore is committed towards one singular goal. To turn an amateur into an ace player. In the very same way, your received education from the ground level to the higher point at school, knowledge over music is imparted in here.

The internationally applauded teachers in here are ever enthusiastic to guide you from the beginning till the time you turn into a composer with entirety of own expertise.

‘Confused’ or ‘Lagging behind’ students are the least accepted realities for these masters and they commit all of the patience and strength to ensure that the delight of learning to strum fills up every student’s life.

The foundation is particularly preferred across the nation for the exclusive offering of customized guitar lessons Singapore.

The house understands the dilemma of time in an adult learner’s life and that is why has come with the service of offering guitar education at the student’s home at the time and date set by the one.

Get close to the unparalleled quality and proficiency preserved by Stradivari Strings and ‘re-boost’ life with the merriment and worthiness of melody.

[sayantandodo]

What is a mentor, and why do you need to go to SkillPal?

A mentor may share with a mentee or protege information about his or her own career path, as well as provide guidance, motivation, emotional support, and role modelling. A mentor may help with exploring careers, setting goals, developing contacts, and identifying resources. SkillPal is the best platform for getting a perfect mentor. Good mentors of SkillPal have not only a willingness but a keen desire to share this information. They possess empathy and understand what it was like to be just starting out in their career or field. This drives them to pay it forward, so to speak, through mentorship. A mentor is a person with specialized knowledge whom you may enlist to educate and motivate you, either in your personal life, your career or both. Similar to coaches and teachers, mentors guide less-experienced people through the learning process by establishing trust and modelling positive behaviours. Mentors differ in that they generally do not receive payment for services. Many mentors choose to help educate others because they understand the value of their wisdom and knowledge and wish to pass it on. Others enjoy the challenge of helping people achieve their goals. A mentorship works much like an agreement. The level of formality depends on your desired outcomes. When you've taken the time to decide who you'd like to have in this role, schedule a discussion with your mentor to work out any agreement details. Knowing how much time this person plans to invest in mentoring you helps guide future meetings.

The purpose of mentoring is to tap into the existing knowledge, skills, and experience of high performing employees and transfer these skills to newer or less experienced employees in order to advance their careers. The SkillPal mentorship is a relationship between two people where the individual with more experience, knowledge, and connections is able to pass along what they have learned to a more junior individual within a certain field. In today's competitive landscape a mentoring relationship can give you an edge that differentiates you from your peers and/or your competition. You may be ready to make a career change or advance in your present career but something is holding you back. Wouldn't you benefit from a relationship with someone who may provide knowledge, insight, support, guidance, and open doors for you? It may surprise you that some of the world's most rich and famous had mentoring relationships to help them in their quest for excellence.

· Brian Mulroney (former Prime Minister of Canada) mentor to Karl Péladeau (Quebecor CEO)

· Marc Andreessen (multi-millionaire founder of Mosaic and Netscape) mentor to Mark Zuckerberg (billionaire founder of Facebook)

· Warren Buffet (billionaire financier) mentor to Donald Graham (publisher, Washington Post) and Michael Lee-Chin (CEO, AIC)

· Bobby Orr (Hall of Fame hockey player) mentor to Dr Robert Thirsk (astronaut, physician, engineer, scientist)

· Ingmar Bergman mentor to Woody Allen

· Joe Weider mentor to Arnold Schwarzenegger

· Richard Burton mentor to Sir Anthony Hopkins

Having a SkillPal mentor can provide you with many advantages. "Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction." Source: John Crosby. A mentor can help to shorten your learning curve, open your mind to new ideas and possibilities, identify opportunities and advise on how to promote yourself. If you select a mentor who works at the same company as you do, they can provide invaluable insider information on how to navigate the company politics and achieve your goals. Mentoring is not just a great idea; it is a proven concept: Source: Dr Belle Ragins for Catalyst

· Employees who received mentoring were promoted FIVE times more often than people who didn't have mentors. Source: Sun Microsystems

· 75% of executives point to mentoring as playing key roles in their careers. Source: ASTD

· 95% of mentoring participants said the experience motivated them to do their very best. Source: The War for Talent

· 96% of executives say mentoring is an important development tool. Source: Account Temps

· 44% of CEOs list mentoring programs as one of the three most effective strategies to enhance women's advancement to senior management.

Early on, graduate students learn that advanced study differs vastly from their undergraduate experience. As undergraduates, the goal was to obtain knowledge, while in graduate school the goal is to contribute knowledge to a field of study. Graduate school is the professional training ground where students learn the skills to be successful in their fields and gain an understanding of how their disciplines work. Research confirms what most faculty and graduate program directors already know: many students enter their graduate programs with little understanding of the complex landscape of higher education or how different philosophies in graduate programs drive expectations for academic excellence and ideal career pathways. In fact, despite very articulate statements of purpose in their applications, many graduate students initially are unsure of what they will do with a graduate degree. SkillPal democratizes celebrity and industry-leading knowledge sharing for fans and aspiring talent through personalized, bite-size video advice and live guidance.

This is not a problem but rather an opportunity for good mentoring. Students' career goals are evolutionary and good mentors assist students with their professional evolution. Mentoring is important, not only because of the knowledge and skills students can learn from mentors but also because mentoring provides professional socialization and personal support to facilitate success in graduate school and beyond. Quality mentoring greatly enhances students' chances for success. Research shows that students who experience good mentoring also have a greater chance of securing academic tenure-track positions or greater career advancement potential in administration or sectors outside the university. A mentor of SkillPal can help you advance within your field and connect you with opportunities that you might not have otherwise had access to. They do this by sharing their knowledge, helping you identify opportunities in your path, and potentially opening doors for you when the time comes. Almost every great achiever in history has claimed that they had a great mentor at some point during their rise to excellence. Mentorship is a valuable tool for turning one’s vision into reality. SkillPal Mentors are expected to guide and advise their mentees, helping them build a successful career or gain a solid footing within a certain organization.

[mitthroughmylens]

Celebrating a mentor, Professor Amah Edoh

#YouCanDoItOnlyYouCanDoItYouCantDoItAlone

Summary: We often take for granted the statement “you can’t be what you can’t see” but it is a phenomenon that is ingrained in the human psyche; even if it doesn’t ring true for you, it will certainly come up when you are in crisis. When you are a minority in a position of power, rising stars look up to you. Sometimes they may be dealt a blow that throws them off balance ; where possible, please support them.

———————————————

Professor Amah Edoh. A role model. A confidante. A teacher who prepares students for life.

Almost all my professors at MIT have been amazing teachers. Actually, all but one of them have facilitated my growth as a scholar and a community-minded individual.

One day I was in the middle of clarifying my question to a professor in office hours when they slammed the table. They said to me “This is a waste of my time! You should have figured this out long before...” I was so shocked that I couldn’t even form sentences. I managed to string words together to apologize to them, thanked them and left. Then I stopped in the nearest bathroom and called Isabelle crying. This professor had been subtly trivializing my contributions in class but I had convinced myself that I was overthinking their actions all along.

I wasn’t sure what to do so I cold-emailed Professor Amah Edoh asking to speak with her about a personal issue. Although she had not met me before, she responded promptly on the same day and offered to meet me as soon as possible. I was pleasantly surprised by how she went the extra mile to respect my privacy by offering to meet me in a more private space (instead of her office which had thin walls) so that I could feel comfortable speaking.

When I met Prof Edoh, I told her what had happened. So many things had compounded to this point that I wasn’t sure what to do next. Prof Edoh listened as I shared my experience. She empathized with me and tried to shed light on the professor’s perspective. She told me that their action was by no means acceptable, but that they may have had a bad day that they didn’t get a grip on. She also mentioned that sometimes there is an insane amount of pressure on a professor to crank out research papers or do a stellar job at something and that pressure can cause them to say/do things that they typically wouldn’t. However, all of that was not to say that what they did was okay. It absolutely was not. We brainstormed ways to navigate my situation.

As I listened to her speak, I started to wonder if it was possible to switch into her class instead. Here was a professor I knew from NOWHERE who had graciously offered me her time. The way that she empathized and calmly explained to me that the other professor’s action may not have been deliberate really touched me; she made sure to not invalidate my experience while helping me see the other side.

I decided not to report this professor and I will tell you why. They were not a monster. Even with the friction that I sometimes experienced, they had been nice to me on occasion. Their actions on that day were inappropriate but I thought that everyone deserved a second chance.

I believe that every instructor at MIT is brilliant. So when you are choosing a class, it is important to choose an instructor who will not just teach technical knowledge, but will also teach you to become a better person for your community and for the world. Prof Edoh struck me as one of those people; right before we parted ways, I asked her if I could switch into her class (literally the Wednesday before add date - look at God! 🙏🏾)

Long story short, moving into 21G.026 was one of the best decisions I made at MIT. It was my first HASS in which I read every single reading more than once (we had 3-4 each week).

Prof Edoh knew how to get everyone to engage with the material. The readings complemented each other so well and provided an enriching learning experience. They forced me to think about Africa through many different perspectives ; the subject’s perspective, the narrator’s perspective and the reader’s perspective. She taught me to engage with material and think critically not just about the content but the lens and the voice through which the content was presented.

During lectures, she asked people to elaborate on their one-liners so that they could shed more light on their ideas. She knew how to steer conversations to avoid monopolized, two-person discussions.

Prof Edoh has remained a mentor and confidante over the years. Every conversation I have with her enriches me as a global scholar and as a person who cares about my community.

That professor who lashed out at me gave me one of the biggest gifts I have received at MIT even though at the time it broke my heart. Dear friends, you too can be a silver lining in a stranger’s cloud. You too can help a helpless student to navigate difficult situations. You too can help to rebuild their confidence. You can be a Prof Edoh to someone today.

[lewishamledger]

A positive path

Lewisham Youth Theatre is a lifeline for young people in the borough – but as funding cuts continue, it needs more support

WORDS BY DANI MOSELEY

Theatre can help tackle knife crime. You might doubt me – but hear me out. According to the Evening Standard, 40 knife offences are reported to the police every day. But all we hear about is the need for more police on the streets; the need to contain the problems we face; the gangs these young people must have been part of for it to happen to them.

Well, I’m here to tell you a different story. I’m an actress and writer – that’s my job. Being part of Lewisham Youth Theatre (LYT) as a teenager and now as a trustee has shown me another way. I’m not talking West End glamour here – I’m talking Catford, south-east London, and working with budgets that seem to get tighter by the project.

Every year more than 700 kids from Lewisham borough come through our doors. Over 70% are from deprived backgrounds. Some have mental health conditions, some have been excluded from school, some have just lost their way. Come what may, we take them in. LYT is free and all we ask for is commitment and respect.

Life as a teenager can be hard. I always hear people say, “Kids should be at home, not on the streets” – but maybe that’s easier if your parents have a big house or can pay for you to go to nice after-school clubs. At LYT kids know they are safe, they know they are valued. They know we believe in them and that goes a long way.

Drama can be transformative. It’s about being in a place where you feel you belong – a “safe haven”, as some of the kids call it – where you can be yourself and try new things without fear.

I’ve seen loud and disruptive kids become thoughtful; quiet kids find their voice; and teenagers struggling with self-worth find their inner value, all through creating and playing different characters and working together on a piece of theatre.

I was born and raised in the heart of Catford. From the age of eight I already knew I wanted to be a world-renowned actress. But before I’d even hit my teenage years I had accepted that this was a pipe dream.

Growing up in the borough of Lewisham was always eventful and more times than not, in a negative way. McDonald’s in Lewisham was always the hangout spot, for the person you fancied or the school rival you wanted to settle the score with.

Your day would start off happy, safe and family or community orientated, but you knew, no matter what the security checks or police presence, that by a certain time you’d need to leave because something was always guaranteed to kick off.

There weren’t any youth clubs I can think of, but there were dance, drama and sports clubs in and around the area. These were great because it would allow young people from different schools to mix and get to know each other.

This would create a connection and then when it came to school rivalry, sometimes it could be easily diffused because it would be like, “Nah, I know him, I did dance with him a couple of months back, he’s cool.”

But these were four-week programmes, which, although effective, were only short-lived. LYT is a pillar, because it has been running consistently for more than 30 years, changing the lives of young people for the better.

When I was 14, Helen Stanley from LYT came to my secondary school and did a drama workshop. She let us know that if we had enjoyed it, we could explore acting further by joining LYT. I was there.

My first production through LYT was a National Youth Theatre “connections” festival, in which I played a captain at war. I marvelled at how professional yet nurturing the company and its directors were.

I had already accepted that I was never going to drama school and would never be on a TV or film set. I was resigned to this being as close as I would get. But LYT kept the dream alive for me, pushing me and others to be more and do better.

They took us to theatres we couldn’t afford to go to, allowed us to explore devised and scripted work, gave us bigger roles so we stepped up and supported those who struggled to read or weren’t fully confident yet. How many organisations do this in our borough for free? Other than chicken shops and fast food restaurants, where can young people with little money go to hang out?

LYT helped me hone my craft and build my confidence and compassion. I met so many different people, with different needs and backgrounds. As I grew up through LYT, my ability and belief in myself as a creative grew and I watched others experience the same.

Not everyone who attends LYT wants to be an actor – some have gone on to work as stage managers, IT consultants, teachers and more. Others who previously might have struggled to find work are now in employment.

As for me, I’ve been in TV shows on Sky and the BBC, modelled for MAC and won a script-writing award with Channel 4 and the British Urban Film Festival for a co-written feature film.

I do voiceovers for commercials and radio and facilitate workshops in schools around social-based issues. It’s a far cry from the nine-to-five office job that was expected of me.

Organisations like LYT are not the entire solution to keeping young people off the streets, but they are a major tool in getting them motivated and thinking more positively and productively about life and their place in the community.

You get to play different characters, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, so you can see people differently and gain a better understanding of why people do the things they do. Growing up, where else truly allows you to explore this for free outside of school?

LYT believes so much in the voice of its young people that it created a young members’ committee, where young people get to have a say in new projects and help run events throughout the year.

Recently our young people have been sharing their experiences with representatives from the mayor’s team at City Hall, where more connections were made as funding cuts continue to rise.

The GLA understands why places like LYT are vital to tackling the violence on our streets – and it’s time that central government starts to listen to these young voices too.

If we do not see more support for services like ours then we really will be failing a generation. When we invest in our future by investing in our young people, that’s when we’ll see change.

Children in Lewisham – and London as a whole – are amazing. Every time I work with them as a writer, director or mentor I feel inspired. Give them the space to find their voice, a place to articulate their dreams, a platform for the future and they will surprise us all.

[experiencingmyjoy]

Walking Within Wisdom #11 August 30, 2019

Have you ever had an experience where you heard the exact thing you need to hear at the perfect moment?

I have had a couple of memorable moments like this and was really grateful to have another such experience this morning. Although I wasn’t “walking” while participating in this Shakti Dialogue with Sujata Ameya, a transpersonal Psychotherapist from Hyderabad, India, I was certainly waking within wisdom!

Nilima Bhat described this dialogue as: Therapeutic needs on a leader's transformational journey - During a leader's conscious journey, invariably deep buried wounds and shadows come up. Join Nilima Bhat as she converses with Sujata Ameya, a Yogini and a highly trained psychotherapist, on how to identify such needs and partner with a therapist for a successful completion of the journey. Sujata is the author of the book "When the Beloved Calls" and her website is www.inner-horizons.com

A bit about Sujata from her website: For over 26 years, Sujata has facilitated the transformational journeys of over 12000 individuals, couples, parents and families. She enables individuals to use relationship issues and life-transitions as pathways to self-discovery and self-actualization. Sujata has taught Abnormal Psychology, Psychiatry, and Counseling skills as a guest faculty in India and the USA. She facilitates corporate workshops on Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Resolution, Empathic Leadership and Mentoring Skills.

MANY gems of wisdom in our time with Sujata let me share share a few of those with you here…

Nilima opened by describing the intent of today’s dialogue: to talk about what happens, what is the trigger when one takes on a leadership journey that is transformational in nature. On any selfmastry path 2 things need to be “handled” at the same time. One is to become a leader of one self but equally one needs to deal with the therapeutic process and the wounds that get surfaced as we undertake such a transformational journey. The main question is, how do we attend to these wounds and heal them so it does not derail the transformation and leadership process…

Sujata initially talked about the sensitive child, one who remains hidden who doesn’t allow themself to be visible so the child doesn’t get in the way of the adult nor does this child feel deprived because it isn’t asking for anything… These children are always very empathic and it takes an extremely present adult to see through it and not just see what looks like a model child who is least troublesome. This pattern of staying behind the scenes will conveniently work even in adulthood, these children grow up to enter in helping professions to fill themselves up… Everything seems to work…. UNTIL…. the sense of invisibility comes to call and a sense of hollowness and emptiness at the personal level with thoughts of I am doing great but I am also feeling empty seeps in and one becomes entirely depleted. Depletion is an indicator of inattention.

Sujata also described this idea of fear or resistance “to the dark place” being a defense that needs to be worked through and enter…

Did you know there was an 11th commandment? That commandment is “THO SHALL ALWAYS BE HAPPY.” Sujata explains If we can place that basket off of our heads and put them on the ground half of our problems would be solved! This idea that we shall always be happy, is both IMPOSSIBLE and foolish idea. We were not born to be happy, happiness is not a constant state, we were born to adventure, we were born to discover, we were born to create, we were born to contribute. Happiness is a side benefit and comes and goes making it goal sets you up.

Resistance to unhappiness, makes you remain where you are. Breathing, mindfulness, journaling, yoga although these are very important to do are things that keep you in a state of balance, those should not be done to AVOID or prevent a dark place - because it is only by going through the dark place that we are going to enter the light!

She talked about the idea when someone gets triggered it is often because the idea you are presenting to the person is ahead of where they are. You may want to ask yourself am I in a hurry to get that person to another place?

How do I retain my standards and my boundaries in the midst of the chaos that is everyday that is actually getting worse and worse.

I believe the most poignant part of this whole call was Sujata recounting a webinar she started listening to just last night… She went on to describe, when you look at the process of the caterpillar turning into a butterfly at the stage where they are in a cocoon is a place of complete and utter destruction, decay and complete chaos. The DNA of the cocoon is completely different than the DNA of the butterfly - they are two different species, they are called Imaginal Cells (side note I know this from the Pachamama Alliance awakening the dreamer symposium 💝) The key takeaway from the imaginal cells, is that they emerge one or two at a time and the immune system of the caterpillar attacks them, some of them initially die, then the imaginal cells network together until the immune system can no longer beat them down and kill them off then and only then can they become the butterfly.

Empaths, healers, teachers, leaders, coaches, therapists are all like these imaginal cells in this utter and complete chaos! Even us having this call peacefully in this time where the amazon rainforest is on fire and the iceland glaciers melting, what can be more of a catastrophe. Many of us are getting shot down regularly, negativity, the immune system of this world we are living in. However, if you remember your role in the world you are building the butterfly, you remember to connect to the other imaginal cells and hold tight EVEN THOUGH some days you wonder what is the point, eventually the imaginal cells will ensure that a really beautiful butterfly will emerge!

As of my posting time they hadn’t uploaded the webinar on YouTube, I will post that when it is ready 💗

THANK YOU FOR "WALKING" WITH US TODAY!!!

[eliteprepsat]

Sometimes being a student can feel a little more like being an audience member in a show you’d probably rather get a refund for, except that you can’t because you’re mandated by law (and probably your parents) to be in class five days a week where you are expected to pay attention, complete assignments, and pass tests. It sure can feel like you don’t have a lot of freedom. But actually, you do.

In any given situation, you always have the option to claim a certain amount of control.

One way to exercise this control is to choose activity rather than passivity whenever possible. And one great way to be more active is to develop positive relationships with your teachers. In fact, this could be the very key to revolutionizing your whole scholastic experience.

Teachers are so much more than experts on the subjects they teach. They are mentors who, given the chance, can provide you with support and even offer life-changing advice. They are also community members who may know about all kinds of local competitions, activities, internships, or scholarships. Plus, don’t forget that they are are the ones you will need to ask for college application letters of recommendation. If they don’t know you, how can they write letters promoting you?

If nothing else, having personal connections with teachers will deepen your investment in their classes, leading to more enjoyment, more desire to pay attention, and more motivation to do well.  

Before we get into some suggestions for taking an active role and cultivating good relationships with your teachers, a couple points of caution to keep in mind:

Don’t be too pushy. You typically want to stay away from interrupting people or taking teachers away from their work too often. Furthermore, careful not to instigate unnecessary conflict. Questioning a grade or asking to retake a test once is fine, but challenging missed points on assignments or asking for extra credit all the time may put a strain on your relationship with your teacher.

Don’t be a suck-up. Teachers can usually tell when your only motivation is to get a college recommendation letter or special treatment. Hogging teacher time or coming off as overly sycophantic will probably cause your classmates to resent you too.

WHAT TO DO IN CLASS

Show up to class regularly and on time.

Punctuality is about more than keeping up with class material and maintaining your attendance score; it’s about demonstrating respect and integrity. It’s showing you’re ready to take advantage of the opportunities  presented to you.

Act engaged in class.

To acknowledge you hear what the teacher is saying (and to aid in your concentration), try nodding your head in agreement, reacting with facial expressions, taking notes, and participating in class discussions. When you look and act interested in class, teachers notice and feel both appreciated and appreciative. Plus, you’ll feel more personally connected to the material, and the teacher.

Communicate openly.

If you know you will have to miss class or if you don’t understand something, clearly let your teacher know by asking questions before, during, and/or after class. You’ll stay caught up, increase self-efficacy, and demonstrate your commitment to succeeding.

Be agreeable.

If a teacher asks you to do something, such as group work, comply readily and even take a leadership approach if you can. Being a self-starter, rather than a dawdler who needs to be asked twice, will remind you of control you have while enhancing the positive bond between you and your teachers.  

Always treat everyone well.

I know you already know this one, but sometimes we get lazy and let our inner-bullies make snappy comments to classmates. Be aware that your teachers observe your interactions, which provide more data about your character. Only you have control over your kindness and helpfulness.  

WHAT TO DO OUTSIDE OF CLASS

Make an appointment with your teacher.

If there isn’t enough time before or after classes to interface with your teachers, you can often schedule a private conference during lunch or a free period. Now you’re really taking things into your own hands! Privately, you’ll be free to discuss topics such as your progress in class, mutual interests, and possible extracurricular opportunities. At the very least, you will have showcased your willingness to succeed.

Facilitate conversation.

When talking with a teacher outside of class, showing interest in anything about their lives can help you develop rapport. You can ask questions, and then remember to check in later about those personal details they’ve shared with you. Don’t forget that listening during interactions will tend to make you more likable, so aim for a good balance of talking and listening.    

Be your genuine self.

(First of all, always be your genuine self wherever you are!) In front of your teachers, you don’t need to be the perfect student. You can share honest details about your life, dreams, or concerns. Showing vulnerability humanizes people, leading to more understanding and appreciation of one another.

Get involved in activities outside of class.

Going to optional review sessions or volunteering for a campus cleanup your teacher is hosting shows initiative and that you care about yourself and others. When you volunteer, you show yourself you have choices, and you choose to invest in your life.  

You can see how much control you can have over your classroom experience. You can start small; do something a little differently in class, and see how it feels. Be open to seeing your role as a student differently. If you feel intimidated by certain teachers, don’t forget that sometimes initial impressions can be quite deceiving. What you perceive as a “mean” teacher who “doesn’t like you” could just be a stressed out teacher. Or perhaps a strict, albeit caring, teacher hoping to use discipline as a way to motivate you.* Give them a chance and you might be surprised what you get out of connecting more with your teachers.  

In the end, of course, it’s completely your choice whether to be a passive audience member or an active cast member.

*Sometimes, teachers are legitimately mean or inappropriately harsh, in which case please let your counselor or school admin know as soon as possible.

[doodledialogue]

Interview series - What after B.Arch? #17

Interviewee: Ar. Ajay K. Jacob Post-graduation: M. Arch in Theory and Design | CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India

What prompted you to take up this particular program? I came to know about the program ‘Theory and Design’ through a senior who studied at CEPT. What fascinated me was the kind of ‘open-endedness’ in the way the whole program was structured, which I thought left a lot of room for exploration and self-discovery. And I had also heard a lot about the informal learning atmosphere at CEPT campus in general.

When did you take up Master’s? After my Bachelor’s degree, I worked for two years, spending one year each with two conventional architectural practices.  I had never thought about joining a Masters course then. But after working for a while, I found myself doing very shallow work, mostly driven by numbers and lacking in meaning. And I also started realising the handicaps of my earlier education as an architect, especially in terms of my theoretical knowledge, my ability to articulate ideas, my writing, etc. That’s when I came across this course and decided to apply for it.

When did you start with the application process considering the time for application, scholarship deadlines etc.? I don’t remember the exact dates. I followed the updates on the CEPT website and applied accordingly.

What preparation did you do before starting Master’s? Along with the application, I had to send a portfolio and a very short statement of purpose. I remember spending a lot of time writing the SOP. Since I had updated my portfolio on a regular basis, it was almost ready to be sent. I got shortlisted for the final interview based on the portfolio and SOP. And the interview was an impromptu kind of conversation, more than being asked a set of questions.

Did you have to give any entrance tests? How did you plan for them? I had already qualified at the GATE exams and was eligible for the scholarship. The selection for the course itself was based entirely on the portfolio and interview. For the interview, apart from my general reading on architects and their philosophies, I studied in detail about a few master architects whose works I liked the most. That did help me during the conversation.

How long was your program? It was a two-year program. In each of the first three semesters, we had a core design studio addressing a specific concern, and theory supplementing that. In the fourth semester, we had a choice between either undertaking a design thesis or a research thesis.

Did you have post-masters plans in mind when you took up Masters? No, I didn’t have any specific post-master’s plan. But I eventually wanted to evolve an independent practice, where I am responsible for the design and supervision of the projects in their entirety. I also wanted to find time for my other interests including sculpting, farming, writing, reading etc. And most importantly to be able to always maintain a sense of curiosity and keep myself intellectually moving.  

How was the experience at the school? My overall experience at the school was very inspiring. The design of the school itself encouraged chance encounters between students from different departments. Since the studios were open and you could also walk freely through other studios, there was always a possibility of meeting new people. One could be friends with people from different disciplines and age groups. There was an atmosphere of interdisciplinary interaction and informal learning. I think that’s one of the key factors that makes CEPT different from any other conventional institution.

Fig. 1. Conceptual Sketches, Studio Project 1 – ATMA

Fig. 2. Perspective of the Courtyard, Studio Project 1 – ATMA

Fig. 3. Physical Model, Structure and Form Workshop – Pavilion for an Exposition

How was teaching at your school? Teaching at the school was more about discussions and interactions that encouraged students to take positions and express themselves confidently. It was never prescriptive. And there were no written exams. For design reviews, we had discussions on a regular basis. And for theory subjects, there were presentations and written assignments. In the schedule, more time was assigned to design studios. And since CEPT had a 24-hour studio culture, one naturally ended up spending more time on the campus itself, which facilitated peer learning through informal interactions to a great extent. There were also electives offered in every semester besides the core subjects, which allowed us to explore other areas of interest as well. And of course, the CEPT library is something remarkable. One could find almost any book one needed there. Overall, there was a lot of room and resources for learning on your own. 

Fig. 4. Design Development Sketches; from the initial thumbnail sketch to the final resolution, Studio Project 2 – Marwar Knowledge Centre, Jodhpur

Fig. 5. Physical Model, Studio Project 2 – Marwar Knowledge Centre, Jodhpur

Tell us more about the mentors. We had really inspiring teachers at CEPT. One could always approach them and even chance encounters on campus could lead to discussions. And in the design studio, I especially had a very memorable experience under Prof. Kulbhushan Jain, who was also our department head. During design discussions, he was a great listener and would give us brief, indirect but very insightful comments on our designs. His teaching method was so subtle that he could make you conscious of your talent or inclination with minimum direct input. 

I also had a great time doing my thesis under Prof. Meghal Arya’s guidance. We had discussions on a weekly basis, and she would set smaller deadlines for every meeting. She was very persistent in making me completely occupied with the study. And it really helped in structuring the whole study into a tangible form on time.

Fig. 6. Conceptual Sketches, Studio Project 3 – Institute for Nature, Bhopal

Fig. 7. Physical Model, Studio Project 3 – Institute for Nature, Bhopal

Could you tell us what your thesis was about? I was very interested in organically grown traditional building complexes. Such complexes developed incrementally over centuries, be it the Alhambra in Granada or Katsura Palace in Japan or Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. Their plans, as we see them today, were never preconceived. They were allowed to unfold gradually with time. And that could be the reason for the ‘wholeness’ or ‘harmony’ that we feel in such complexes. So as an architect, I wanted to know how one can inform one’s design process by studying such complexes. I took Padmanabhapuram Palace in Kerala as my case study, and also decided to use only sketches and drawings throughout the study. I hoped that by sketching the whole thing one could also probably end up having some kind of a tacit understanding of the place. The study made me conscious about the role of organic growth processes in uniting buildings and surroundings.

Fig. 8. Padmanabhapuram Palace: Axonometric View, an illustration from the Research Thesis

Fig. 9. Padmanabhapuram Palace: Stages of growth of the complex, an illustration from the Research Thesis

How did you manage the finances? I had to take an educational loan of around 4 Lakh INR towards the tuition fee. And the living expenses were met by the 8000 INR monthly GATE scholarship I would get.

Did you volunteer/work part-time job/intern while studying? As part of the course, we had to either do a short internship or make a travelogue after the third semester. I chose to work with my previous employer on a competition project during that time. It qualified as an internship and also earned me some income.

How did you choose your accommodation? Did you have to commute to reach lecture halls? I stayed at the college hostel, which was very close to the campus and an economical option.

How did you manage the finances? I had to take an educational loan of around 4 Lakh INR towards the tuition fee. And the living expenses were met by the 8000 INR monthly GATE scholarship I would get.

Did you volunteer/work part-time job/intern while studying? As part of the course, we had to either do a short internship or make a travelogue after the third semester. I chose to work with my previous employer on a competition project during that time. It qualified as an internship and also earned me some income.

How did you choose your accommodation? Did you have to commute to reach lecture halls? I stayed at the college hostel, which was very close to the campus and an economical option.

Did you travel while/after studying? The sites allocated to us for studio projects were located in different cities. So as part of the design studios themselves we could travel to different parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. And it was a great exposure to work on design projects in different climatic and geographic settings. One realizes that regional architecture is nothing but a direct outcome of how people reacted to the climate and geography of their place. Especially the experience of Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur was really moving. It was something completely different from the kind of tropical buildings in Kerala I was familiar with.

Are there any notable anecdotes from post-grad studies that you wish to share? Prof. B. V. Doshi once came to our studio for a design review. It was a much anticipated review and we were all very keen to present our work before him. After the review, someone in the class asked him if he could make a sketch for the whole class and he agreed to do so. And we were all so excited to see Prof. Doshi sketch; such expressive lines drawn with a childlike playfulness!

I also have a vivid memory of the day Charles Correa came for a lecture at CEPT. The whole campus was fully packed even two hours before his lecture started. The atmosphere was exhilarating. For me, personally, it was an exciting thing to see him present his work, for I have been an ardent admirer of his work from my undergraduate days. The utmost clarity with which he could articulate his ideas and his sharp wit made my appreciation for his work even more pronounced.

How do you think doing a master’s degree helped you? I think the exposure really helped me build confidence and opened me up in many ways. Most importantly, the course made me conscious of different synthesising processes, than just approaching the design in a purely functional and problem-solving manner. One started to believe in the initial intuitive or gut responses; the immeasurable aspects of design process which begin much before conceptualisation.

Recently I got a chance to try out some of the themes I was pursuing during the master’s, when I was asked to associate with NMS Architects to participate in the invited competition for IIT Palakkad Campus. Even though we could only reach up to the financial bid stage of the competition, conceptualising a project of this scale and complexity in a very short time was a real test for my capacity for synthesis. The concept of the main academic complex was inspired from the organically grown Indian Palace Complexes, keeping in mind the incremental growth of the campus. Unlike the conventional campuses, the individual disciplines were grouped as a tightly packed building complex, ensuring mutual shading of the buildings and creating climate tempered in-between spaces for activities to spill over. And we hoped this network of shaded courtyards and pavilions connecting different disciplines will also encourage chance interaction between students and will create a milieu of interdisciplinary interaction and informal learning.

Fig. 10. Design Development Sketches, The main academic complex, Competition Entry for Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad (Associated to NMS Architects)

Fig. 11. Bird’s Eye View of the overall Master Plan, Competition Entry for Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad (Associated to NMS Architects)

Currently, I am really excited to be part of Prof. Kulbhushan Jain's new book on architectural education titled 'Learning Architecture'. The book is basically a collection of fifteen essays by young educators from different parts of India, edited and with an introductory essay by Prof. Jain. So, I think doing master’s degree opened up new avenues for me; organically leading to many opportunities, through the friends I made or through the goodwill of the very fine teachers I learned from.

Did the city/country you studied in play a major role during your postgraduate study? In Ahmedabad, the presence of works by many master architects and also the rich traditional architecture left a great impression on me. During my two years at CEPT, I visited the works of Claude Batley, Le Corbusier, Louis Kahn’s IIM and works by B.V. Doshi and Charles Correa. I was also impressed by the simplicity of projects by Prof. Neelkanth Chhaya and architect Leo Pereira. And I was really moved by the profound simplicity of Gandhi’s home at Sabarmati Ashram.

Could you please tell us about your current work and future plans? Currently, I am operating as a one-man practice and also teach design part-time. I am equally interested in farming and am trying to incrementally develop our place in Calicut into a house, studio and garden, where I hope to equally divide my time between designing, reading, writing, sculpting and farming.

What message would you like to give to those planning to take up your program in your school? In Vitruvius’s ‘The Ten Books on Architecture’ the first chapter talks about ‘Education of the Architect’. When I came across that, I was fascinated by his opening passage on ‘Theory and Practice’. For me the course ‘Theory and Design’ almost resonated with Vitruvius’s advice, who wrote: “…It follows, therefore, that architects who have aimed at acquiring manual skill without scholarship have never been able to reach a position of authority to correspond to their pains, while those who relied only upon theories and scholarship were obviously hunting the shadow, not the substance. But those who have a thorough knowledge of both, like men armed at all points, have the sooner attained their object and carried authority with them…”

About the interviewee... Ajay graduated from College of Engineering Trivandrum and completed his post-graduation in Theory and Design with top honours from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. His practice Thinking Dwelling Studio revolves around a passionate desire to make architecture that unfolds in time in a manner that draws upon history. His master’s thesis on Padmanabhapuram Palace explored his interest in the nature of ‘unfolding’ and also won him a commendation at the Indian Institute of Architects’ National Awards. Ajay has a keen interest in the architecture of the past and considers research and pedagogy as a means to nourish his practice. Apart from architecture, his interests include literature, sculpting and farming. You can follow his work on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/ajayjacobk/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/Thinking-Dwelling-Studio-680062388788126/

[sayantandodo]

Why should one have a SkillPal mentor?

Having a mentor can provide you with many advantages. "Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction." Source: John Crosby. A mentor can help to shorten your learning curve, open your mind to new ideas and possibilities, identify opportunities and advise on how to promote yourself. If you select a mentor who works at the same company as you do, they can provide invaluable insider information on how to navigate the company politics and achieve your goals. In today's competitive landscape a mentoring relationship can give you an edge that differentiates you from your peers and/or your competition. You may be ready to make a career change or advance in your present career but something is holding you back. Wouldn't you benefit from a relationship with someone who may provide knowledge, insight, support, guidance, and open doors for you? It may surprise you that some of the world's most rich and famous had mentoring relationships to help them in their quest for excellence. A mentor of SkillPal can help you advance within your field and connect you with opportunities that you might not have otherwise had access to. They do this by sharing their knowledge, helping you identify opportunities in your path, and potentially opening doors for you when the time comes. Almost every great achiever in history has claimed that they had a great mentor at some point during their rise to excellence. A mentorship is a valuable tool for turning one’s vision into reality. Mentorship is very important in education technology and SkillPal is the best to serve. SkillPal is a platform where students can learn from experts, who are there in the industry for a long time. Students and curious people who are dealing with a lack of confidence and knowledge can ask the experts via SkillPal. Many guys who do not have proper education but want to gather proper knowledge can use this platform of SkillPal.

A mentor is a person with specialized knowledge whom you may enlist to educate and motivate you, either in your personal life, your career or both. Similar to coaches and teachers, mentors guide less-experienced people through the learning process by establishing trust and modelling positive behaviours. Mentors differ in that they generally do not receive payment for services. Many mentors choose to help educate others because they understand the value of their wisdom and knowledge and wish to pass it on. Others enjoy the challenge of helping people achieve their goals. Whether for personal growth or career goals, mentors play a valuable role in the lives of people looking to achieve new levels of success. Hiring the right mentor for your specific needs takes time and research to find the best person. SkillPal is here to serve you. If you are with SkillPal you can get lifetime mentors and coaches, who can tell you what to do and how to earn. The process is to provide a personalized video message. After college, the passion and wisdom gripped students that they should turn up in different fields. But the problem is students can’t make it in their ways. Here they need a mentor who can suggest to them what to do and how to do. If anyone needs to make a career plan he or she should join SkillPal for personalized video chat with a solid mentor. Someone wanted to be a guitarist or someone wanted to be a musician. In many cases, parents will say that it may not be a line of success in career. But the passion meets wisdom here. If they got an industry expert mentor or a coach then they can be a milestone in their field. SkillPal is here to provide industry expert mentors who can lead anybody.

A mentorship works much like an agreement. The level of formality depends on your desired outcomes. When you’ve taken the time to decide who you’d like to have in this role, schedule a discussion with your mentor to work out any agreement details. Knowing how much time this person plans to invest in mentoring you helps guide future meetings. Informal mentorships may involve calls, texts or emails to your mentor when you need guidance. Formal mentorships may have a defined schedule that details the specific dates and times you plan to meet. What you choose depends on your unique situation. Mentors are valuable sources of knowledge. Whether you’re starting a business, going back to college or changing careers, mentors have experienced similar milestones. Choose mentors who will give you the best insight into your current phase of life or career level. Because they have already been through it, they’ll provide advice on issues like how to save money, reduce stress and be more efficient, for example, and be able to connect their experiences with your own. SkillPal Mentors are expected to guide and advise their mentees, helping them build a successful career or gain a solid footing within a certain organization. Typically, a mentor has one mentee at a time and can focus on shaping their trajectory. Skilled immigrants and international students who want to quickly advance in their career in a new country should take advantage of mentorships. Mentoring is important, not only because of the knowledge and skills students can learn from mentors but also because mentoring provides professional socialization and personal support to facilitate success in graduate school and beyond. Quality mentoring greatly enhances students’ chances for success. Research shows that students who experience good mentoring also have a greater chance of securing academic tenure-track positions or greater career advancement potential in administration or sectors outside the university. Besides the school education and professional training, every amateur needs a mentorship. And it is better if they get them from SkillPal. SkillPal is the platform and source where people can get evolutionary ideas.

[creativesage]

(via 10 Reasons Why a Mentor Is a Must | Inc.com)

From not making certain business decisions to fostering certain partnerships, a mentor can help guide you through your entrepreneurial journey.

By John Rampton

As an entrepreneur, it's exciting to go it alone and create something on your own. However, the reality is that, while you have a great idea, you may not know exactly what you should be doing with your business at which times to develop it into a sustainable business.

I've had several mentors over the years and learned a large amount of valuable lessons from each and every one of them. From not making certain business decisions to fostering certain partnerships, a mentor can help guide you through your entrepreneurial journey.

Here are ten other reasons why you need someone like a mentor:

1. Mentors provide information and knowledge. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." When I was starting out, I had no idea what was involved in running a business, including making a business plan, budgeting, handling daily operations, making strategic decisions or running a marketing campaign. With a mentor there from the start, I tapped into a wealth of knowledge that got me up to speed faster and shortened that learning curve.

2. Mentors can see where we need to improve where we often cannot. Movie maker George Lucas noted, "Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults that we would like. It's the only way we grow." They will always be brutally honest with you and tell you exactly how it is rather than downplay any weaknesses they see in you.

This constructive criticism that my mentor offered helped me to see things in myself that I could not recognize. I appreciated that insight because I didn't want someone to pad my ego. (Well, I did want someone to pad my ego, but I had to decide that the business was more important.) Instead, I wanted to know exactly where I was lacking so I could improve those areas.

3. Mentors find ways to stimulate our personal and professional growth. Another famous movie director explained, "The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves." My mentor would often pose questions for me to think about and ask me to come back with answers later.

He would also set various goals for me and let me loose to see if I could accomplish them on my own, all the while watching from a distance to see how these projects helped me to develop. He then made a point to sit down and tell me what he'd observed about me through the project process, what he thought was worth keeping - and definitely what he would immediately throw out. He also focused on character and values, which nurtured my personal growth as well as my leadership abilities.

4. Mentors offer encouragement and help keep us going. Inspirational entrepreneur Oprah Winfrey stated, "A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself." They are there no matter what and offer moral support sprinkled heavily with cheerleading. There were times that, if there wasn't a mentor there for me, I could have easily, "caved-in," emotionally, or given up on the business. However, I had a mentor and each one I had wouldn't let me stop but provided the encouragement and guidance that gave me hope and confidence that I could do whatever was asked of me.

5. Mentors are disciplinarians that create necessary boundaries that we cannot set for ourselves. I experienced a lot of tough love from my mentor. He did this because he understood that being an entrepreneur can be challenging when it comes to self-motivation and self-discipline. He took on this role of parent to teach me good work habits and provided the boundaries for me to work within. This solidified my work ethic, sharpened my focus, (I really missed some important essentials), and clarified my priorities in a way that I could not do on my own.

6. Mentors are sounding boards so we can bounce ideas off them for an unfiltered opinion. When I started, I had numerous ideas for all types of business ventures and products. I relayed all of these to my mentor who then helped me see which ones had potential and why others were better left alone. I appreciated his candor because I might have otherwise pursued a business idea that had no legs.

7. Mentors are trusted advisers. In the world of business, it can be hard to know who to trust - and that you can trust someone, especially with proprietary information or intellectual property. Since he was an objective third-party with no stake in any idea or venture, he was happy to let me know what he thought. In return, I knew that he would keep everything I told him confidential rather than sell it to someone else or steal an idea from me.

8. Mentors can be connectors. Playing a dual role of teacher and connector, a mentor can provide access to those within your industry that are willing to invest in your company, offer their skills and expertise, introduce you to talent that can fuel your business and help you get closer to your target audience. My mentor willingly shared his network with me, taking me to events and making introductions that led to many opportunities I would not have otherwise had.

9. Mentors have the experiences you can learn from to prevent making the same mistakes beginners make. Starting a business is challenging enough, so if you can skip doing things the hard way, why wouldn't you? A mentor has been there, right where you are, and has made numerous mistakes that they can now use as a basis for helping others to skip the devastating effects of not knowing.

I am all about doing things smarter, so my mentor shared many stories about the mistakes he made along the way that became learning lessons for me minus the pain and lost resources that come from making those mistakes.

10. Mentors are free, which makes them priceless in more ways than one. Typically, a mentoring relationship will grow organically through connections within your industry and network. A mentor does not do it for the money. Instead, they are driven by the satisfaction of helping another entrepreneur, paying it forward from a similar experience they had when starting their own business.

I feel fortunate enough to have had this experience and am now in a position to return the favor to others that are just starting out. Not only is the price right, but your mentor is also providing priceless access to everything noted on this list and more.

Having a mentor is not a sign of weakness; it shows you are smart enough and are driven enough to succeed.

[Entire post — click on the title link to read it at Inc.com.]

***

You’re working on your goals, and your team’s goals. We can help you spring into action and develop a real plan that you can implement in a smart way, so you’ll start seeing results immediately, before you feel discouraged. If you feel that you’ve already gone off-track, we can help you get your focus, courage, and motivation back.

At  Creative Sage™, we often coach and mentor individual clients, as well as work teams, in the areas of change management, building resilience, making personal, career or organizational transitions — including to retirement, or an “encore career” — and facilitating development of leadership, creativity and collaboration capabilities. We also work with clients on work/life balance, finding purpose and meaning, focus and productivity issues, and how to present themselves and their ideas more effectively in professional situations.

We guide and mentor executives, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, artists, and creative professionals of all generations, to help them more effectively implement transition processes, and to become more resilient in adjusting to rapid changes in the workplace — including learning effective coping techniques for handling failure, as well as success. We work with on-site and virtual teams.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss your situation. You can also call us at 1-510-845-5510 in San Francisco / Silicon Valley. Let’s talk! An initial exploratory phone conversation is free. When you talk with me, I promise that I’ll always LISTEN to you with open ears, mind and heart, to help you clarify your own unique path to a higher vista of success.

              ~Cathryn Hrudicka, Founder, CEO and Chief Imagination Officer of Creative Sage™, Executive Coach, Consultant, and Mentor.

***

[newstvstation]

Staff Perspective: Serving Others

Originally posted on Future Health Care

Few people outside the field of behavioral healthcare grasp the importance of the therapeutic alliance. Facilitating a process of self-change through which patients become determined to pursue recovery requires the building of trust and the practices of empathy and deep listening. The art and skill of talented therapists are based mainly on an innate desire to serve, and an ability to practice their calling mindfully.

In the following article, Futures Outreach Professional and experienced interventionist, Stephen Watts, shares his thoughts about the importance of bringing a servant’s heart and the gift of presence to the practice of therapy. Informed by decades of work helping individuals and families find recovery and well-being, Stephen discusses the fundamental value of the authentic connection between patient and practitioner. The insights Stephen shares contribute to our ability to maintain an environment in which therapists feel safe, comfortable, and supported in their mission, and encouraged to do their best work for the individuals and families in our care.

SERVING OTHERS

Written by Stephen Watts

“We only have what we give” – Isabel Allende

I believe that when we are serving others, helping, counseling, volunteering, or whatever the circumstance, there are some basics that we need to possess. Growing up in the family of origin that I had, accidentally “falling into” a helping/counseling role for lots of years has taught me that our ability to serve others effectively is dependent upon our willingness and motivation. We need to have a servant’s heart, be present, and know how to engage the other individual successfully. I have facilitated a bunch of interventions and have counseled thousands of people and their families and I have learned from this, mistakes being one of my greatest teachers! I was academically trained in the liberal arts, not counseling but had many strong teachers and mentors along the way in my early years of working with suffering chemically dependent people and their families. Here is what I came to believe concerning the helping situation. We have to become “naturally therapeutic” as the author Jaquelyn Small put it.

John Holmes said, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” Holding a servant’s heart has got to happen, I believe, before we can help others. There are degrees of servitude. There was only one Mother Theresa who possessed a tireless commitment to serving the abject poor of India. Not many of us can do this and I do not believe that level of service is necessary in most cases. Doing little unknown niceties to others daily is the character and behavior of many people who are never noticed. A heart of service comes from upbringing, is innate for some, and is learned through surviving some really difficult times and life events for others. The great twelve step movement of the twentieth century implores us to “clean house, trust God, and serve others.” There are countless occupations that require varying degrees of a dedication to service. The willingness, “the heart” for standing in the fire with others is not rare or uncommon. I see it regularly. It is a spiritual thing, a humanity thing, a paycheck thing, and a feel-good thing, though I seldom heard other counselors say “I feel good about doing ____________”.

Service is a great thing, but I believe that we have to practice being present when doing so, whether it’s a therapy session or serving a bowl of soup to the homeless. I found that when I showed up 100%, mentally and physically, things generally went well. The other person that we are helping knows if we are only partially present. They do. When we practice this presence, we can listen deeply, as Thich Nhat Hanh extols, empathize, and sit with the clients discomfort more easily. This IS a practice. The practice of truly being present in all ways while helping someone else improves our ability to serve. Many times, being present for the other person means listening with no response, judgement, counsel, or advice giving. People want to be heard. This is important and is a large part of being mindfully present. We sit, we breathe, and we listen deeply. We practice patience and acceptance when we hear stuff that is repetitive or makes us feel uncomfortable, or leads to wanting to fix the other person. We sit and keep ourselves in the present moment by noticing when we “drift off” and need to return to the room. Read “The Miracle of Mindfulness” by Thich Nhat Hanh, or “Start Where You Are” by Pema Chodron, and pretty much anything by Jack Kornfield, to help you improve being present for your clients. If you are successful with being present for the people that you assist, you cannot help but be more present in your day to day life which will lead to feelings of gratitude and appreciation. Be patient with yourself, again, being present is a practice.

Engaging others in a way that will lead them to talk to us honestly and openly is, what I believe, a major fundamental in the service of others. If we have the desire to help the person in front of us, are able to remain present with them most of the time, then we engage them in a conversational exchange that is coming from a place of sincerely wanting to help the other person move forward in positive direction and solutions. William Miller and Stephen Rollnick, the authors of “Motivational Interviewing” state in this important counseling text that if we have the intention of the other person, our client, improving then that intention translates as greater outcomes for the client. These two author-teachers set forth four basic tenets of motivational interviewing. These are; listen with empathy, develop discrepancy, roll with resistance, and support self-efficacy. Help the client by really listening, showing them that there is a difference in the life they are living and the life they want to have, do not argue or push back with resistance from the other, rather “roll” with it, and support the client when they make progress toward a goal. I mention these because they are great guidelines for daily interactions, because I have used them in interactions other than counseling ones. Engagement has to be non- threatening. Back in the early days of chemical dependency treatment, confrontation of the client was acceptable and the preferable mode of addiction counseling. I will say that some confrontation is effective if; you have the client’s trust, have a therapeutic alliance with the client, and do it professionally and non-judgmentally. There is a way to inform others that their reality is not reality without sounding harsh or judging. This is hard to pull off for rookies in service to others. Confrontation without the aforementioned components is not only ineffective, but can turn into a negative outcome for both client and server. Engagement with others who need our help also is much more successful when we set aside the results or outcome of our service to others. It is not up to us. If we engage others in conversations that offer sincere support, listening to their response, concerns, perspectives, without judgment, and have the intention of helping that person get better, solve their issue, assist them in some way that makes their life better, then we have successfully met them and helped them.

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed” – Maya Angelou

About Futures Recovery Healthcare

Futures Recovery Healthcare is a specialized addiction and co-occurring mental health disorder treatment provider with residential and outpatient programs in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Contact Futures Recovery Healthcare

701 Old Dixie Hwy Tequesta FL 33469 United States

(561) 475-1804

Website: https://futuresrecoveryhealthcare.com/

The post Staff Perspective: Serving Others appeared first on News TV Station.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2yCBwbg via News TV Station

[allthetimenews]

Staff Perspective: Serving Others

Originally posted on Future Health Care

Few people outside the field of behavioral healthcare grasp the importance of the therapeutic alliance. Facilitating a process of self-change through which patients become determined to pursue recovery requires the building of trust and the practices of empathy and deep listening. The art and skill of talented therapists are based mainly on an innate desire to serve, and an ability to practice their calling mindfully.

In the following article, Futures Outreach Professional and experienced interventionist, Stephen Watts, shares his thoughts about the importance of bringing a servant’s heart and the gift of presence to the practice of therapy. Informed by decades of work helping individuals and families find recovery and well-being, Stephen discusses the fundamental value of the authentic connection between patient and practitioner. The insights Stephen shares contribute to our ability to maintain an environment in which therapists feel safe, comfortable, and supported in their mission, and encouraged to do their best work for the individuals and families in our care.

SERVING OTHERS

Written by Stephen Watts

“We only have what we give” – Isabel Allende

I believe that when we are serving others, helping, counseling, volunteering, or whatever the circumstance, there are some basics that we need to possess. Growing up in the family of origin that I had, accidentally “falling into” a helping/counseling role for lots of years has taught me that our ability to serve others effectively is dependent upon our willingness and motivation. We need to have a servant’s heart, be present, and know how to engage the other individual successfully. I have facilitated a bunch of interventions and have counseled thousands of people and their families and I have learned from this, mistakes being one of my greatest teachers! I was academically trained in the liberal arts, not counseling but had many strong teachers and mentors along the way in my early years of working with suffering chemically dependent people and their families. Here is what I came to believe concerning the helping situation. We have to become “naturally therapeutic” as the author Jaquelyn Small put it.

John Holmes said, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” Holding a servant’s heart has got to happen, I believe, before we can help others. There are degrees of servitude. There was only one Mother Theresa who possessed a tireless commitment to serving the abject poor of India. Not many of us can do this and I do not believe that level of service is necessary in most cases. Doing little unknown niceties to others daily is the character and behavior of many people who are never noticed. A heart of service comes from upbringing, is innate for some, and is learned through surviving some really difficult times and life events for others. The great twelve step movement of the twentieth century implores us to “clean house, trust God, and serve others.” There are countless occupations that require varying degrees of a dedication to service. The willingness, “the heart” for standing in the fire with others is not rare or uncommon. I see it regularly. It is a spiritual thing, a humanity thing, a paycheck thing, and a feel-good thing, though I seldom heard other counselors say “I feel good about doing ____________”.

Service is a great thing, but I believe that we have to practice being present when doing so, whether it’s a therapy session or serving a bowl of soup to the homeless. I found that when I showed up 100%, mentally and physically, things generally went well. The other person that we are helping knows if we are only partially present. They do. When we practice this presence, we can listen deeply, as Thich Nhat Hanh extols, empathize, and sit with the clients discomfort more easily. This IS a practice. The practice of truly being present in all ways while helping someone else improves our ability to serve. Many times, being present for the other person means listening with no response, judgement, counsel, or advice giving. People want to be heard. This is important and is a large part of being mindfully present. We sit, we breathe, and we listen deeply. We practice patience and acceptance when we hear stuff that is repetitive or makes us feel uncomfortable, or leads to wanting to fix the other person. We sit and keep ourselves in the present moment by noticing when we “drift off” and need to return to the room. Read “The Miracle of Mindfulness” by Thich Nhat Hanh, or “Start Where You Are” by Pema Chodron, and pretty much anything by Jack Kornfield, to help you improve being present for your clients. If you are successful with being present for the people that you assist, you cannot help but be more present in your day to day life which will lead to feelings of gratitude and appreciation. Be patient with yourself, again, being present is a practice.

Engaging others in a way that will lead them to talk to us honestly and openly is, what I believe, a major fundamental in the service of others. If we have the desire to help the person in front of us, are able to remain present with them most of the time, then we engage them in a conversational exchange that is coming from a place of sincerely wanting to help the other person move forward in positive direction and solutions. William Miller and Stephen Rollnick, the authors of “Motivational Interviewing” state in this important counseling text that if we have the intention of the other person, our client, improving then that intention translates as greater outcomes for the client. These two author-teachers set forth four basic tenets of motivational interviewing. These are; listen with empathy, develop discrepancy, roll with resistance, and support self-efficacy. Help the client by really listening, showing them that there is a difference in the life they are living and the life they want to have, do not argue or push back with resistance from the other, rather “roll” with it, and support the client when they make progress toward a goal. I mention these because they are great guidelines for daily interactions, because I have used them in interactions other than counseling ones. Engagement has to be non- threatening. Back in the early days of chemical dependency treatment, confrontation of the client was acceptable and the preferable mode of addiction counseling. I will say that some confrontation is effective if; you have the client’s trust, have a therapeutic alliance with the client, and do it professionally and non-judgmentally. There is a way to inform others that their reality is not reality without sounding harsh or judging. This is hard to pull off for rookies in service to others. Confrontation without the aforementioned components is not only ineffective, but can turn into a negative outcome for both client and server. Engagement with others who need our help also is much more successful when we set aside the results or outcome of our service to others. It is not up to us. If we engage others in conversations that offer sincere support, listening to their response, concerns, perspectives, without judgment, and have the intention of helping that person get better, solve their issue, assist them in some way that makes their life better, then we have successfully met them and helped them.

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed” – Maya Angelou

About Futures Recovery Healthcare

Futures Recovery Healthcare is a specialized addiction and co-occurring mental health disorder treatment provider with residential and outpatient programs in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Contact Futures Recovery Healthcare

701 Old Dixie Hwy Tequesta FL 33469 United States

(561) 475-1804

Website: https://futuresrecoveryhealthcare.com/

The post Staff Perspective: Serving Others appeared first on AllTheTimeNews.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/3cEmErs via All The Time News

[newsperception]

Staff Perspective: Serving Others

Originally posted on Future Health Care

Few people outside the field of behavioral healthcare grasp the importance of the therapeutic alliance. Facilitating a process of self-change through which patients become determined to pursue recovery requires the building of trust and the practices of empathy and deep listening. The art and skill of talented therapists are based mainly on an innate desire to serve, and an ability to practice their calling mindfully.

In the following article, Futures Outreach Professional and experienced interventionist, Stephen Watts, shares his thoughts about the importance of bringing a servant’s heart and the gift of presence to the practice of therapy. Informed by decades of work helping individuals and families find recovery and well-being, Stephen discusses the fundamental value of the authentic connection between patient and practitioner. The insights Stephen shares contribute to our ability to maintain an environment in which therapists feel safe, comfortable, and supported in their mission, and encouraged to do their best work for the individuals and families in our care.

SERVING OTHERS

Written by Stephen Watts

“We only have what we give” – Isabel Allende

I believe that when we are serving others, helping, counseling, volunteering, or whatever the circumstance, there are some basics that we need to possess. Growing up in the family of origin that I had, accidentally “falling into” a helping/counseling role for lots of years has taught me that our ability to serve others effectively is dependent upon our willingness and motivation. We need to have a servant’s heart, be present, and know how to engage the other individual successfully. I have facilitated a bunch of interventions and have counseled thousands of people and their families and I have learned from this, mistakes being one of my greatest teachers! I was academically trained in the liberal arts, not counseling but had many strong teachers and mentors along the way in my early years of working with suffering chemically dependent people and their families. Here is what I came to believe concerning the helping situation. We have to become “naturally therapeutic” as the author Jaquelyn Small put it.

John Holmes said, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” Holding a servant’s heart has got to happen, I believe, before we can help others. There are degrees of servitude. There was only one Mother Theresa who possessed a tireless commitment to serving the abject poor of India. Not many of us can do this and I do not believe that level of service is necessary in most cases. Doing little unknown niceties to others daily is the character and behavior of many people who are never noticed. A heart of service comes from upbringing, is innate for some, and is learned through surviving some really difficult times and life events for others. The great twelve step movement of the twentieth century implores us to “clean house, trust God, and serve others.” There are countless occupations that require varying degrees of a dedication to service. The willingness, “the heart” for standing in the fire with others is not rare or uncommon. I see it regularly. It is a spiritual thing, a humanity thing, a paycheck thing, and a feel-good thing, though I seldom heard other counselors say “I feel good about doing ____________”.

Service is a great thing, but I believe that we have to practice being present when doing so, whether it’s a therapy session or serving a bowl of soup to the homeless. I found that when I showed up 100%, mentally and physically, things generally went well. The other person that we are helping knows if we are only partially present. They do. When we practice this presence, we can listen deeply, as Thich Nhat Hanh extols, empathize, and sit with the clients discomfort more easily. This IS a practice. The practice of truly being present in all ways while helping someone else improves our ability to serve. Many times, being present for the other person means listening with no response, judgement, counsel, or advice giving. People want to be heard. This is important and is a large part of being mindfully present. We sit, we breathe, and we listen deeply. We practice patience and acceptance when we hear stuff that is repetitive or makes us feel uncomfortable, or leads to wanting to fix the other person. We sit and keep ourselves in the present moment by noticing when we “drift off” and need to return to the room. Read “The Miracle of Mindfulness” by Thich Nhat Hanh, or “Start Where You Are” by Pema Chodron, and pretty much anything by Jack Kornfield, to help you improve being present for your clients. If you are successful with being present for the people that you assist, you cannot help but be more present in your day to day life which will lead to feelings of gratitude and appreciation. Be patient with yourself, again, being present is a practice.

Engaging others in a way that will lead them to talk to us honestly and openly is, what I believe, a major fundamental in the service of others. If we have the desire to help the person in front of us, are able to remain present with them most of the time, then we engage them in a conversational exchange that is coming from a place of sincerely wanting to help the other person move forward in positive direction and solutions. William Miller and Stephen Rollnick, the authors of “Motivational Interviewing” state in this important counseling text that if we have the intention of the other person, our client, improving then that intention translates as greater outcomes for the client. These two author-teachers set forth four basic tenets of motivational interviewing. These are; listen with empathy, develop discrepancy, roll with resistance, and support self-efficacy. Help the client by really listening, showing them that there is a difference in the life they are living and the life they want to have, do not argue or push back with resistance from the other, rather “roll” with it, and support the client when they make progress toward a goal. I mention these because they are great guidelines for daily interactions, because I have used them in interactions other than counseling ones. Engagement has to be non- threatening. Back in the early days of chemical dependency treatment, confrontation of the client was acceptable and the preferable mode of addiction counseling. I will say that some confrontation is effective if; you have the client’s trust, have a therapeutic alliance with the client, and do it professionally and non-judgmentally. There is a way to inform others that their reality is not reality without sounding harsh or judging. This is hard to pull off for rookies in service to others. Confrontation without the aforementioned components is not only ineffective, but can turn into a negative outcome for both client and server. Engagement with others who need our help also is much more successful when we set aside the results or outcome of our service to others. It is not up to us. If we engage others in conversations that offer sincere support, listening to their response, concerns, perspectives, without judgment, and have the intention of helping that person get better, solve their issue, assist them in some way that makes their life better, then we have successfully met them and helped them.

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed” – Maya Angelou

About Futures Recovery Healthcare

Futures Recovery Healthcare is a specialized addiction and co-occurring mental health disorder treatment provider with residential and outpatient programs in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Contact Futures Recovery Healthcare

701 Old Dixie Hwy Tequesta FL 33469 United States

(561) 475-1804

Website: https://futuresrecoveryhealthcare.com/

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[eliteprepsat]

Sometimes being a student can feel a little more like being an audience member in a show you’d probably rather get a refund for, except that you can’t because you’re mandated by law (and probably your parents) to be in class five days a week where you are expected to pay attention, complete assignments, and pass tests. It sure can feel like you don’t have a lot of freedom. But actually, you do.

In any given situation, you always have the option to claim a certain amount of control.

One way to exercise this control is to choose activity rather than passivity whenever possible. And one great way to be more active is to develop positive relationships with your teachers. In fact, this could be the very key to revolutionizing your whole scholastic experience.

Teachers are so much more than experts on the subjects they teach. They are mentors who, given the chance, can provide you with support and even offer life-changing advice. They are also community members who may know about all kinds of local competitions, activities, internships, or scholarships. Plus, don’t forget that they are are the ones you will need to ask for college application letters of recommendation. If they don’t know you, how can they write letters promoting you?

If nothing else, having personal connections with teachers will deepen your investment in their classes, leading to more enjoyment, more desire to pay attention, and more motivation to do well.  

Before we get into some suggestions for taking an active role and cultivating good relationships with your teachers, a couple points of caution to keep in mind:

Don’t be too pushy. You typically want to stay away from interrupting people or taking teachers away from their work too often. Furthermore, careful not to instigate unnecessary conflict. Questioning a grade or asking to retake a test once is fine, but challenging missed points on assignments or asking for extra credit all the time may put a strain on your relationship with your teacher.

Don’t be a suck-up. Teachers can usually tell when your only motivation is to get a college recommendation letter or special treatment. Hogging teacher time or coming off as overly sycophantic will probably cause your classmates to resent you too.

WHAT TO DO IN CLASS

Show up to class regularly and on time.

Punctuality is about more than keeping up with class material and maintaining your attendance score; it’s about demonstrating respect and integrity. It’s showing you’re ready to take advantage of the opportunities  presented to you.

Act engaged in class.

To acknowledge you hear what the teacher is saying (and to aid in your concentration), try nodding your head in agreement, reacting with facial expressions, taking notes, and participating in class discussions. When you look and act interested in class, teachers notice and feel both appreciated and appreciative. Plus, you’ll feel more personally connected to the material, and the teacher.

Communicate openly.

If you know you will have to miss class or if you don’t understand something, clearly let your teacher know by asking questions before, during, and/or after class. You’ll stay caught up, increase self-efficacy, and demonstrate your commitment to succeeding.

Be agreeable.

If a teacher asks you to do something, such as group work, comply readily and even take a leadership approach if you can. Being a self-starter, rather than a dawdler who needs to be asked twice, will remind you of control you have while enhancing the positive bond between you and your teachers.  

Always treat everyone well.

I know you already know this one, but sometimes we get lazy and let our inner-bullies make snappy comments to classmates. Be aware that your teachers observe your interactions, which provide more data about your character. Only you have control over your kindness and helpfulness.  

WHAT TO DO OUTSIDE OF CLASS

Make an appointment with your teacher.

If there isn’t enough time before or after classes to interface with your teachers, you can often schedule a private conference during lunch or a free period. Now you’re really taking things into your own hands! Privately, you’ll be free to discuss topics such as your progress in class, mutual interests, and possible extracurricular opportunities. At the very least, you will have showcased your willingness to succeed.

Facilitate conversation.

When talking with a teacher outside of class, showing interest in anything about their lives can help you develop rapport. You can ask questions, and then remember to check in later about those personal details they’ve shared with you. Don’t forget that listening during interactions will tend to make you more likable, so aim for a good balance of talking and listening.    

Be your genuine self.

(First of all, always be your genuine self wherever you are!) In front of your teachers, you don’t need to be the perfect student. You can share honest details about your life, dreams, or concerns. Showing vulnerability humanizes people, leading to more understanding and appreciation of one another.

Get involved in activities outside of class.

Going to optional review sessions or volunteering for a campus cleanup your teacher is hosting shows initiative and that you care about yourself and others. When you volunteer, you show yourself you have choices, and you choose to invest in your life.  

You can see how much control you can have over your classroom experience. You can start small; do something a little differently in class, and see how it feels. Be open to seeing your role as a student differently. If you feel intimidated by certain teachers, don’t forget that sometimes initial impressions can be quite deceiving. What you perceive as a “mean” teacher who “doesn’t like you” could just be a stressed out teacher. Or perhaps a strict, albeit caring, teacher hoping to use discipline as a way to motivate you.* Give them a chance and you might be surprised what you get out of connecting more with your teachers.  

In the end, of course, it’s completely your choice whether to be a passive audience member or an active cast member.

*Sometimes, teachers are legitimately mean or inappropriately harsh, in which case please let your counselor or school admin know as soon as possible.