Returning to Card Games

I really didn’t expect to be getting back into card games lately.

It started as research for a project I am working on, but now I find myself going back to card games, whether on my computer or at my desk, to help pass the time and unwind.

These days, it is so important to find time to relax that allow us to focus and shut out the noisy world outside. Card games are a great way to do that. They can be played solo or with others, can be quick to setup, and are easy to keep fresh since games often don’t last long. They also balance skill and luck, which I like. I don’t tend to do anything enough to get really good at it, so anything that partially takes that out of the equation is great for me.

I’ve found the classic Solitaire to be my go to. I remember playing it a lot when I was younger so coming back to it now is quite nostalgic. It took me a couple of rounds at first but it was great to finally win a game.

I definitely encourage you to grab a deck of cards or get on your computer to check out your favorite card game again. You’ll thank me later.

5 Ways To Preserve Your College Memories

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For many of us, our college days are among the best in our lives. We meet new people, explore new destinations, and learn more about ourselves as we take our first tentative steps away from home. Oh, and we also get to grips with academic subjects that can be the foundation of our future careers. The coursework and exams we have to endure may not be highlights but the knowledge we gain can shape the people that we become. 

But what about when college ends? It would be a shame to forget about all the wonderful experiences that have blessed our lives, no matter how many other new memories we make in life. 

So, if you have just started college, or if you are currently preparing for life after college, here are some ideas for preserving your college memories. 

#1: Take lots of photos

It's an obvious thing to say but photographs are ideal for preserving memories. The earlier you start taking photos the better as the more memories you will be able to accumulate. 

So, get your parents to take pictures of you as you first step through the college gates. Take photos of the friends you make and get bystanders to take groups shots of you all together. And at pivotal moments throughout your college life, such as a weekend away with friends or moments during your college graduation, make sure you have a camera (or a phone) handy. 

You can upload any digital photos you take to the cloud, so you can be sure they will be there forever. There are tips here on how to clear iCloud storage if you need to make space for the hundreds of photos you may take. 

You could also create a scrapbook of photos, be that one that can be stored online or a scrapbook made the old-fashioned way with paper, card, and sellotape or glue!

Include a few words with some of the photos you preserve, with details of where you are, who you're with, and how you were feeling at the time. A memorable quote or two from the day might also be useful for bringing up old memories. 

#2: Write a journal

People may say a picture is worth a thousand words but a photo can't always convey the emotions and personal tidbits of information that a journal entry can. A daily or weekly recap covering the things you have been doing or thinking will give you something to look back on, and it might trigger other memories in the process. You can express certain feelings by relaying moments that made you feel happy, excited, and even sad. And as we said in the last point, you could write down memorable quotes too, be they from yourself, your fellow students, or your college professors. 

Your journal doesn't have to be deep and meaningful. It could simply be a recollection of jumbled-up stories, no matter how insignificant they are at the time. It might be only later when you look back on these stories collectively that you will start to remember just how important your time at college was.

#3: Start a blog

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There are loads of great blogging platforms online, including WordPress and Tumblr, each of which can be ideal for starting a student blog. 

Initially, your blog can be a way for you to stay in touch with family and non-college friends about the adventures and experiences you are having. You can include photos of your time at college too so people can see what you are getting up to. Your blog can also be a personal thing, sort of like an online journal, with posts that are for your eyes only. 

The good thing about a blog is that it will (hopefully) be online forever. Of course, this can be a bad thing if you post entries that you later regret, although you could always delete these before potential employers or relationship partners get to see them! 

#4: Keep a memory box

The size of your box will depend on the items you decide to keep. But whatever the case, it will be good to have something tangible to look back on in years to come. 

There are loads of things you could store away, such as ticket stubs to sports games you attended, letters you received from family members, post-it notes left on your college dorm walls, photos of specific events and people, graded coursework and exam papers, study notes, greeting cards, and more. 

The only thing you shouldn't keep in there are meal samples from your local canteen, for obvious reasons! If you think they look and taste bad now, imagine how they will look and taste years down the line. 

#5: Transform your keepsakes

If you have creative bones (not a medical term) in your body, you could do something with the keepsakes you collect. 

You could make a framed collage containing your favorite photos. You could turn your college t-shirts into a blanket. You could turn old photos into works of art by creating sketches or paintings that are based on them. And you could make a calendar each year using the different photos you have taken. If you have a good memory, you could also use these photos on the corresponding months they were taken. Be sure to send these calendars (and other creations) out to your college buddies as gifts they can treasure.

If you aren't skilled creatively, there are bound to be people who could do some of these things for you. Ask your college chums or look online for the relevant professionals. 

Finally

The final thing we need to say is this: Make memories. If you live a cloistered life in your college dorm room, you won't make many good memories at all. So, if you're still living out your college days, get out there, make friends, break out of your comfort zones, and have fun! You will then experience lots of moments that you can document and look back on for many more years to come!

BONUS Episode #136: Maximizing Mobile Student Engagement with Full Measure Education

Welcome to another great episode of the podcast!

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We have a merch shop! Go find tons of cool gear and support the show at our storefront.

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Support the show on Patreon to get exclusive perks!

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Our guests for this week’s bonus episode are Rohan Thakkar and Dr. Christopher Silva from Full Measure Education. They discuss the importance of modern digital and mobile student engagement strategies throughout the student lifecycle at their respective institutions.

• Unacceptable by Melissa Korn & Jennifer Levitz

• Future U Podcast

• EdUp Experience Podcast

• Higher Ed Social

• Collective Good Podcast

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Listen to the episode below, or subscribe and listen via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify.

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Thanks for listening!

4 Ways To Keep Your Brain On The Game

As you get older, you may realise that your memory isn't as sharp as it once was. Perhaps you missed a significant family member's birthday, or you failed to show up for a scheduled appointment. Memory issues can affect anyone at any age, but forgetting things as you become older might be a warning sign of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Fortunately, keeping your mind active can help prevent or even eliminate the onset of these ailments. Take a look at these suggestions for keeping your mind active!

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Continue to learn as much as possible

Continuing to learn throughout your life is one of the most tried and proven ways to ensure that your mind is sharp and your memory is sharper than ever. This isn't to say that you should always enrol in new college classes (unless you really want to), because there are plenty of other methods to learn. Watching the news, reading the newspaper, completing crossword puzzles, and even researching your interests online may all help your mind stay concentrated while also broadening your knowledge! Not only that, but you're more likely to remember anything when you're interested in it!

Play board games

Board games are a great way to get the whole family together and pass the time while having a good time. They are, however, excellent for brain training as well. This is due to the fact that they force players to consider their future actions while also keeping an eye on what other players are doing. Set up a regular game of scrabble or monopoly to help you stay attentive while still having fun!

You could also follow people like Dan Yarrington online to see what they’re playing if you’re struggling for inspiration. There are plenty of board games out there, you just need to find one that you really enjoy!

If board games aren't your thing, try downloading a brain training app to your smartphone or tablet. They operate on the same principle and can be a fun way to spend your time!

Use memory aids

Some people are simply forgetful by nature, yet it's natural that you want to do everything you can to avoid forgetting anything. Use memory aids like calendars, reminders, sticky pads, and even your phone's alerts to ensure you don't miss a beat. If you take a bag to work every day and need to remember to pick up the dry cleaning on the way to work, pop a note on your bag so you’re reminded just before you leave. Now it's only a matter of remembering to apply those aids...

Make sure you’re getting those all important zzz’s

Finally, while sleep is an important aspect of life, many of us do not get enough of it every day. It's easier than ever to delay bedtime to catch up on your favorite tv shows, but your body, like your mind, requires sleep to rejuvenate. Allow plenty of time for your mind to heal and renew in preparation for the next day!

Episode #135: Dr. Shirag Shemmassian on Counseling Prospective Students

Welcome to another great episode of the podcast!

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We have a merch shop! Go find tons of cool gear and support the show at our storefront.

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Support the show on Patreon to get exclusive perks!

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Our guest for this week’s episode is Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, Founder and CEO of Shemmassian Academic Consulting where he and his team have been supporting prospective students nationwide for nearly 20 years. Shirag shares his thoughtful approach on how he helps students genuinely work toward their goals.

• Shemmassian Academic Consulting YouTube Channel

• Med School Admissions Guide

• The Premed Years Podcast

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BONUS Episode #134: Julia Rogers on the Value of Gap Years for Students

Welcome to another great episode of the podcast!

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We have a merch shop! Go find tons of cool gear and support the show at our storefront.

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Support the show on Patreon to get exclusive perks!

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Our guest for this week’s bonus episode is Julia Rogers, founder of EnRoute Consulting. Julia talks about her work as a professional advising students on their gap year options and how they can positively impact student outcomes.

• Gap Year Radio

• Gap Year Association

• Gap Year Research at Colorado College

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Listen to the episode below, or subscribe and listen via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify.

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Choosing The Best Online Education Provider For You

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Online learning has rapidly been growing as a field in recent years. Distance learning has long been popular, but the internet makes it much easier for courses like this to be delivered to a wide audience. With options like this growing, it’s likely that most students will at least consider the idea of taking their education to the world wide web. Of course, though, much like going to a normal school, you need to take the time to pick the very best online education provider for you when you are doing this.

The Courses

While it may sound obvious, it’s always a good idea to look for schools that specialise in the type of topic that you want to learn. For example, it wouldn’t make much sense to study science at a school that focuses mainly on engineering and product design. This means that you need to do some research before you get started, taking the time to learn about the schools that you have on offer so that you can pick one that will offer the best results for you.

Accredited Qualifications

Over the last few years, many websites have hit the internet that offers online courses, but a lot of them don’t have accredited courses. This makes it very hard for employers and other educational establishments to take them seriously, and this can mean that your work wasn’t worth the effort. You need to make sure that the qualification you receive is recognised in as many places as possible, and this will usually mean looking for regular degrees.

Strictly Online

It’s becoming common for normal schools to offer distance and online learning options. While this can give you the chance to work with a very good school, it can also mean that you are left behind compared to physical classmates. A cyber charter school that focuses entirely on online learning can be a much better option. Not only will they be able to focus on you, but they will also have the experience to provide a great online education.

Methods You Like

Some online courses are largely coursework-based, while others will have a lot of exams. Different assessment methods work well for different people, and this means that you need to choose a school and course that uses the methods that work best for you. At this point in your education, you should already have a good idea of which aspect of assessments you prefer. Of course, though, this isn’t something that you can always control.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of choosing the best online education provider for you. This process can take some time, but it will be worth the effort you put into it to get the very best results.