Monthly Archives: February 2009

My Favorite Hobby


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My favorite hobby is horseback riding. While some hobbies can be just that, a hobby, it’s difficult for riding horses to be just a hobby. It’s more a lifestyle. My mom rode, so as soon as I could sit up, she put me on a horse. I of course don’t remember it, but she tells me that I cried and cried when she took me off until she put me back on. My mom had put my older brother on a horse as soon as he could sit up, seven years before me, and he cried until she took him off. Naturally, I was a rider, and he wasn’t. People who ride sometimes joke about an “H” gene, you either have it or you don’t. I’m happy that I definitely have it, and have such an exhilarating, fun hobby!

Experts say that having a hobby is important for our health and well-being. Hobbies help us relax, take our minds off more stressful things, and even help us socialize and make friends. Choose a hobby by thinking of something you really enjoy doing, or something you want to learn how to do. For example, I recently joined a hiking club in order to learn about all the wonderful trails around my city. My friend took up knitting so she could make baby clothes for her newborn. My brother took up building model planes because he loves to fly.


Children and Learning


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Many experts say children learn things a lot faster than adults. That’s why it is so important for children to have a quality education. What they learn early on will stick with them for the rest of their lives. This includes information from their peers, their teachers, their parents, and schoolbooks. Much of their life information will come to them during their early, formative years. Reading to your children is a great way to learn together. Your children will learn to read by listening and following along, and you might pick up a few things from the books you choose to read to them.

When I was in college a good friend of mine was studying early childhood education. When I’d complain about my calculus classes, she’d complain about learning roman numerals, various types of adding, and how to write in “teacher script.” While these things seem simple, after talking with her I realized how incredibly important these seemingly simple things are. Our childhood teachers have to understand and be able to explain in detail the things that they teach. They have to learn to educate children in a supportive, constructive manner so that children will continue to enjoy their education.


Where Should I Live?


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Finding housing while getting an education can be difficult because an education itself may be expensive, and housing just adds to the cost. Luckily, we have a lot of options. One of my favorites is attending college online. It’s the wave of the future; it saves you money, helps conserve gas, and allows you to gain valuable work experience while earning your degree. The best part is that you can study on your own time from the comfort of your own home, meet up with other online students for great study sessions (but don’t have to see them on campus at 8 in the morning for a boring lecture), and complete your work as quickly, or as slowly, as you want.

The best part about online education is that it cuts down on the need to look for college housing. Gone are the days of stuffing yourself into a two-bedroom apartment with five other people (unless you choose to live that way). Instead, you can find housing in areas that you like (instead of on campus), and choose housing in your price range (instead of paying through the nose for that stuffy two-bedroom).


Home and Garden: Make Yourself at Home


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Decorating in the home and garden is a very fun hobby for some people. If this is something you enjoy, resources for you are endless. There are magazines, books, newspapers, and many Internet sites dedicated to home and garden.

It doesn’t matter if it is your passion, your job, or a simple little hobby; playing in your garden can be extremely relaxing and will make your home inviting. Just by planting some flowers outside of your house, it will show that you take pride in the appearance of your lawn. A beautiful garden is not just a welcoming sight to come home to; it can also be a sort of haven if designed well. Your home and your garden are a reflection of your personality, your style, and your preferences.


What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?


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How many times did you get asked as a kid what you wanted to be when you grew up? It seems like as soon as we can talk, people push the idea that we should know what we want out of a career. Finding a career (as opposed to a dead-end job) is important. A career allows us to continue to grow and advance. It offers opportunities that a job could never offer.

So how do we find the right careers for us? I started by making a list of things I liked to do. For example, I like to write, I like to be creative, and I like to schedule my own time. So I became a writer. My brother loved planes and loved to instruct others, so he became a flight instructor. My sister loves plants and wildlife, so she works for the state environmental agency. After you create this first list, dream up some careers (even if you’ve never heard of them before) that would fit your ideal career. Now, plan a meeting with a job coach or career counselor (like those at a college), and get some help locating your dream career.