Keys to Success

Richard St. John calls himself, "an average guy." He is the founder of a successful marketing company, The St. John Group. Over a seven year period, he interviewed more than 500 successful people and asked them what they felt was the key to their success. In one of the many popular TED Talks, Mr. St. John distilled those hours of interviews into 8 key words and a 3 minute presentation. Enjoy!

Better than a Parade

I love parades. The floats, the fire trucks, the smiling waving people and the great marching bands. Actually, I'm usually a little disappointed if a marching band is playing as they pass me. I much prefer just hearing the drummers' cadence... the rythmic drumming they play when they are marching and not playing a tune. I can't stand still. I have to move when I hear it.

If you enjoy percussion as much as I do, you will love this great video from YouTube and Animusic.

Making a Difference on Planet Earth

I get to know many homeschooled students through the enrichment classes I teach. Twenty-one-year-old Rachel is one of my former students. She and I have kept in touch, off and on, over the years. Last fall, she wrote to tell me about her exciting twelve week internship with the Student Conservation Association (SCA).

Rachel spent the 12 weeks working at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Potomac, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. She worked with rangers and volunteers to run a mule-pulled 19th century replica canal boat. During her internship, she and other college students lived together in a house in the park. Rachel loved the experience. For her work, she was paid a weekly stipend of $225, which was more than enough to pay her living expenses. At the end of her term of service, she also, qualified for an optional education award of $1,250 from AmeriCorps, which she can use to pay toward her college tuition.

SCA offers a wide variety of internships and volunteer opportunities. In addition to having fun, making money, meeting new friends and living in unique places, students, also, have an opportunity to make a difference in the world. What could be better than that!