Transition From High School to College

For many students, high school is a breeze. They go to class, do the minimal amount of work and still get good grade. While this may have worked in high school, it probably won't get you very far in college. There are several things that high school students should know about college so they can make a smooth transition from high school to college. Of course, they choice is yours when it comes to you preparing for college.

When you are at college, you will be treated differently, not in a bad way though. Most students are about 18 when they go off to college. This means that legally you are an adult and will probably be treated as one. This may mean that teachers won't by the excuses you might give for missing class or not turning in an assignment. As an adult you will be held accountable for your actions and expected to do what you say you intend to do. This means you will need to keep on top of things like tests, homework, events. If you feel as though in high school you are very dependent on others, try doing something that you will have to be accountable for, you and you alone. This could mean getting a job so you can by something you have been wanting for a while, or maybe becoming the head of a committee or group.

You will also have to get used to a different structure. In college, you may not have the same classes every day and for most campuses you are allotted only so many absences for that class. The classes will be set up a lot differently then classes you had in high school. Some instructors give lectures and lectures only with no visual aids, and then expect you to take maybe two tests a semester. You may have another class that has quizzes every day and several tests. You may have to constantly get used to a different structure depending on the classes you take. After a while though, you get used to the teachers style and things become a little easier to navigate.

The way you live will be completely changed when you are at college. There are no parents there to tell you when to be in by or what you can and cannot do. While many college students take this as a sign they can party all night long and not go to class, that simply isn't the case. No, I'm not saying you should only go to class and not make any friends and hang out. You need to find a happy balance so that your social life doesn't affect your education. You will also need to think about money. Some parents pay for college completely, or students get financial aid and scholarships, but you may still need some money for bills or other expenses, so you will have to get a job.

The best thing you can do to transition from high school to college is to become more independent. Being able to take care of yourself is very important while you are in college. Part of being independent is time management. So, if you do have a job, still want to go out, but need to work on your class work, then you will have to learn how to juggle these things so that you can still earn a living, do well in class, and still have a social life.

Advanced Online High School

Many states are making cuts to their budgets and one of the hardest hit areas are high schools and advanced placement programs. Due to this many parents are seeking quality oriented alternatives to provide their children with the education they feel they need and a learning environment their child can excel in. One of the largest alternatives that they are turning to is accredited online high schools. These schools provide accreditation through respected organizations like SACS, CASI, and international accreditation through organizations like CITA.

The accrediting facility is a very important aspect of choosing an online high school or homeschooling program. If you do not have accreditation of curriculum by an organization that colleges and universities recognize, then you can find yourself in a situation where your diploma or education is not at a level they require of admission and you may find yourself having to jump through a lot more hoops to further your scholastic future. Provided you work with a school with this symbol on its website you will be moving in a good direction.

Online high schools also provide you to learn at your own pace environment. This allows children to do two things. First, take their time to graduate due to a hectic home life or work schedule. Secondly, it will allow accelerated children to be able to dedicate more time to their classes that will allow them to graduate far fast then they can with traditional schools.

In addition to this element, online high schools allow parents who prefer homeschooling to provide education to their children from anywhere in the world. This allows parents to have their children learn from a safe home environment, but also has other advantages and markets like international students and expatriates. In the last year online high schools have received a significant boost of enrollment from foreign students from countries like Dubai, Morocco, Egypt, Libya, and Saudi Arabia are all using American online high schools as a way for their children who are planning on attending American universities to have the necessary requirements out of the away when they come to the states for their secondary education needs.

As you can see from the few areas mentioned above, online homeschooling high schools are providing great opportunities for students which have attributed to this type of school to grow considerably in the last two years and will have great momentum for years to come.

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High School Graduation Gifts

Graduation is one of the most awaited events in the life of a high school student. It is definitely a cause for celebration especially for the graduate as it is a mark of success after years of diligent hard work. It is also a passage into the higher level of education - college. For the high school graduate, to graduate is also symbolic of freedom. They would be heading out to different colleges and universities. Thus, the perfect gifts to give a high school gr`duate, which they will surely appreciate, are those that are practical and useful.

At this point, any gift will surely be well-received. Money or gift certificates would perhaps be the most practical. But you can also give practical and useful gifts such as lap top computers, mobile phones, mp3 players, portfolios, and personal digital assistants. For sure, the graduate will be able to use these gifts well into their college years. A round trip ticket to home is a thoughtful gift for a high school graduate who is about to head to a college or university far from home.

Other excellent high school graduation gift ideas include jewelry and other prestige items. An engraved bracelet or a nice watch would be a memorable gift. A fine pen set or personalized stationery is a sophisticated gift to give. You can also give a gift certificate to the graduate's favourite clothing, books or music store. These gift certificates are readily available from most department stores and shops, even online. Another great graduation gift idea is a food or supplies basket which the soon-to-be college freshman can use while at the dorm.

All the same, it's not really the price of the gift that matters. Even the simplest gifts can be the most meaningful. When choosing a grad gift think about what the graduate is really wishing hard for. You may not be able to fulfil that wish at once, but the effort you put in will definitely be highly appreciated - simply a gift in itself.

Graduation Gifts provides detailed information on Graduation Gifts, College Graduation Gifts, High School Graduation Gifts, Graduation Gift Ideas and more. Graduation Gifts is affiliated with Free Printable Thank You Cards.

High School Tennis Drills


High school tennis coaches sometimes struggle to find new tennis drills to do with their team. Players can get bored of doing the same drills over and over again. Boredom results in less intensity which leads to poor performance. For this reason, high school tennis coaches need to seek out new tennis drills to make practice more interesting and fun.

The following tennis drills are very popular among both high school coaches and players. They allow players to practice both their net game and their ground strokes. These tennis drills can be modified to suit the needs of individual teams. Tennis coaches can come up with their own set of rules to adjust the drills to the skill level of their players. Each tennis drill starts with the set up phase and then the detailed explanation of rules.

The first game is called "College Drill". Players divide into teams of 2. A random team starts on side A at the net (instructor can ask a trivia question to determine first team). The other teams line up behind each other at the baseline on side B. The instructor feeds the ball to the first baseline team, who tries to beat the net team 3 times in a row. If the baseline team loses the point, they go to the end of the line. Once a baseline team wins 3 points in a row, they become the new net team on side A. Teams can only earn points on side A. Teams keep their points even if they lose their position at the net. First team to 15 points is the winner. This is a very popular tennis drill.

The second game is called "One Point Tournament". Players divide into 2 even teams to side A and B. Each team forms a single line behind their baseline. The instructor feeds the ball in, and the first players in each line play out the point against each other. The losing player is out of the game (he can start picking up balls), and the next player in line from his team comes in. The winning player goes to the end of his line, and the next player from his team comes in to play the next point. The team that has players (or player) left is the winner. This tennis drill teaches players to deal with pressure situations.

The final game is called "Rush and Crush". Players divide into teams of 2. A random team starts on side A at the baseline (instructor can ask a trivia question to determine first team). The other teams line up behind each other at the baseline on side B. The instructor feeds a short ball to the first baseline team, who approaches the net. If they win the point, they are fed a volley. If they win this second point too, they are fed an overhead. Once they win all 3 points, they become the new defenders on side A. If the challenging baseline team loses the point, they go to the end of the line. Teams can only earn points on side A. Teams keep their points even if they lose their position at the net. First team to 15 points is the winner. This is a very effective doubles tennis drill.

High school tennis coaches should continually try to discover new tennis drills. They have to keep the interest and the attention of their students at all times. Rotating useful and effective tennis drills is the key to a successful high school team.

The author is a tennis professional with over 20 years of teaching experience. Find out more at www.protennisdrills.net which is the best resource online to find new tennis drills.

High School Wrestling: 5 Tips for Becoming a Winner

High school wrestlers can improve their wrestling dramatically by following the five tips I've outlined below.

1. Increase Your Knowledge Base

This probably seems like a no brainer but it needs to be covered. While your coach and teammates are your best source of wrestling knowledge you shouldn't stop there. Consider attending a wrestling camp during the summer that is hosted by a successful collegiate program. Read books on wrestling moves. You will certainly find moves you haven't heard of before or better ways of doing moves that you already know. Buy videos from wrestling champions demonstrating their winning techniques. If you can't meet with Olympic Champion John Smith in person you can at least buy a teaching video of him. Use inexpensive resources like the public library, free internet articles, and free online videos to expand your knowledge.

2. Develop Superior Wrestling Technique

Generally speaking, the wrestler with the best technique is going to win the match. Learn as many moves as possible. But, more importantly, know how to do each move correctly. Make sure you have impeccable technique on basics like single leg takedowns, double leg takedowns, stand ups, switches, and arm bars. Watch your coach and teammates closely. Ask questions in practice if you need to. And, once again, read books and watch videos on proper wrestling technique. Practice makes perfect. Drill moves over and over until proper technique becomes second nature.

3. Develop Superior Wrestling Conditioning

If two wrestlers of equal talent meet in competition then the better conditioned athlete will have an advantage. Remember that training should be sport specific. Training for wrestling is not the same as training for a marathon. Keep in mind that wrestling is an anaerobic sport. Anaerobic means "without oxygen." Wrestling involves many short bursts of high intensity along with less intense periods during the span of a six minute match. For example, you may shoot in for a takedown and then control your opponent for a while before you apply maximum exertion again in an attempt to pin him. You don't need to perform five mile runs to get in shape for wrestling. Sprints or interval training would be better. In addition, when resistance training keep in mind the muscles you most use when wrestling. For example, you need strong legs, a strong back, and strong forearms. Read books and browse website pertaining to wrestling specific conditioning.

4. Practice Proper Nutrition

Some wrestlers prefer to reduce their weight to wrestle in a lower weight class thinking they will have a competitive advantage. It's debatable whether this is true or not. If you decide to lose weight, you still need to practice proper nutrition. Make sure you get enough of all three macronutrients in your diet: carbohydrate, protein, and fat. Fat is important to your body so don't remove it entirely even when attempting to lose weight. Remember that carbohydrate is your body's preferred fuel source. Make sure to eat enough breads, cereals, potatoes, pasta, and rice. Make sure you stay hydrated. Water is a very important nutrient that your body shouldn't be short on. Try to limit the junk food and "empty calories in" your diet. Try to have at least 80% of the food you eat be natural, unprocessed, and healthy. Some good foods for wrestlers are breads, cereals, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, lean red meat, turkey, chicken, tuna, low fat yogurt, and skim milk. Make sure that your pre competition meal is light and carbohydrate based.

5. Develop Mental Toughness

Even if you are talented and in good condition you can still lose matches if you aren't confident and focused. Some wrestlers find that having a pre match routine or ritual keeps them focused and calms their nerves. Try to develop a certain warm up routine that you perform before each match. Using positive self suggestion can also be helpful. Try saying to yourself, "I am talented. I am in good condition. I know I can beat this guy." You can also use visualization before a match. Visualize the moves the moves you plan on doing in the match. Visualize yourself beating your opponent and winning the match. Then go out and win that match.

If you follow these tips your wrestling will surely improve and you will be a threat to your competition.

If you would like more wrestling tips then please visit http://wrestlingforglory.blogspot.com and http://essentialwrestler.webs.com and get all the information you need.