Perry Said:

How do I become more open to the world?

We Answered:

My situation was and still is slightly similar to that. I went to a very small school (which my mom chose for me, when I wanted to go to a larger high school with more activities and classes to choose from). It probably wasn't as small as your school, but I still hated it and had a hard time finding friends. The only thing I can suggest is maybe trying to get into a college that has what you're interested in... like maybe an art school, or a regular college that offers a good art program? I know it may be difficult (I thought about going to art school for a while, and my mom wasn't supportive... same thing has happened to all of my other art-inclined friends) but the only thing you can look forward to is the future. Trust issues are... a good AND a bad thing, I guess... I get told that I have trust issues as well, but I just see it as 'guarding' myself (even though I DO worry about it sometimes, since I wonder if I will ever trust anyone enough to get married, and things like that...) Just hang on... the future can be unexpected at times, so maybe some good things are coming your way without you even realizing it.

Rick Said:

What are some good career ideas going off my personality/likes?

We Answered:

It's a bit hard right now in this economy to get a job in a career that you may be interested in. With me, for example, I've been pretty much steadily employed ever since I was 16. I had no real gaps between my employment. My interest in computers for a career, but it's not my job primariy right now, only a little bit. All of the jobs I've had in the past have had something related to computers going on, like my first job, being the library at my high school. I had to do a little bit of computer work and things related to technology. My second job, I did a little bit of data entry. My current job is probably the furthest I've gone out of them all, as I maintain the computers at my work (we probably have around 40 computers at my work) aside from my other duties, only really when they need fixing though. I would like to do that for a living, repairing them and doing computer work, like programming, If you don't have a job right now (I'm not sure what your employment status is like right now), based on several of the things that you mentioned above, you may be a good waitress. You've listed the following things that makes me think that's where you should start if you're currently not employed: socializing, meeting new people, smiling and laughing, exercising, good listener, straight forward with people, polite, enjoys conversation, would not enjoy being confined to a desk all day or handling phones, and being good at what told to do. I can understand that being a waitress is not exactly a career, per se, but what you should do is find an interest in something. Try new things, things that you currently enjoy, and try to think if you can make a career out of it. If you're asking this question for college, then if you're not sure yet, don't set yourself down on a major yet until you're absolutely sure that's what you want to do. I've known a few people who have been interested in one thing, and change their minds the next year. It's a waste of time and money doing that. Take your basics first and when the time comes for you to understand what you want to do, then lock that down as your major and work on those classes. If you're young like how I was when I was 16, nobody wants to pay you anything. They'll usually have a lot of jobs at minimum wage. But the nice thing about being a waitress is that you get tip money. The job I'm at right now is the highest I've ever been paid at any job. There's no shame in being employed, no matter what the job description tells you to do. It's just a way of making money. That's the best advice that I can give. Good luck, and keep looking strong.

Alma Said:

Why do so many people underestimate children?

We Answered:

You've got the right idea. My daughter has danced for 8 years now. She began when she was 3 yrs old with tap. I remember how amazed I was that the dance instructors were able to have a calm control over their classes. So very different from my exposure to other children's activities.
Even on the day of the dance recital, backstage was not chaotic at all. The teachers expect the girls to act like young ladies, and they do. It's wonderful that they can learn this self-control. More people should expect it.
Keep it up!

Christian Said:

Everybody, I need some poetry help!?

We Answered:

Here's an example I cooked up:

Step by step, I stop and look, and step by step I thought
Back on the life from West to East I’d lived, almost forgot;
The western hub, the USA, encompassed by my books and toys,
Then on to Ethiopia, Injera(1) , soft, and other joys.
Only toys and only books with Yonny(2) and myself existed,
Then to a land of lessons, learned, more than bread and yet insisted
On the speaking of new phrases, Tchh(3) and other vocal kinds.
Rainbows, I learned, of skins, and sounds, of spirits and their minds;
Oh yes, there were toys and books galore in America’s liberation,
And yet no tutoring took place’ til I reached the darker nation.
Oh, God! Yes, here I learned to pray, celebrating His forgiveness.
I saw the variance of his grace in the people’s joyful semblance.
This decade void of decadence, filled full with understanding;
No toys for play or books for thought, I met a life demanding
Of my mind and soul, not flesh, I learned of joy without the play;
I learned of peoples, prayers and learned; not where, I am from those days!

Footnotes:
1)- Injera: soft, spongy, yeast flatbread
2)-Yonny: my older brother
3)-Tchh!: a phrase I learned to favor there


The trick with poetry is to not state the obvious and really play around with meanings and sounds. Feel free to play around with this in whatever way you want, but it's a good, rough guideline and you may feel free to take credit for it as well since it was your words that guided my hands and thoughts. The recurring theme here is that there were toys and books in America, but you really learned things and enjoyed life in Ethiopia. At the end it says I am from those days, implying that you really discovered or began to discover who you were during that time and it didn't matter where you were. I hope this helps and I wish you an A on this and some realization as well!

Namaste'- Elizabeth

Eileen Said:

rate my creative writing essay? can u help me end it?

We Answered:

This is a good essay with only two minor errors that I saw. I would include a paragraph about anorexia and other such illnesses and then finish by referring back to your opening statement, ending with a quip about your choosing to work on the getting rich side rather than the getting thinner side because you feel that it's just healthier for you all around.

The errors I saw were:

“How To Loose Those Pounds In 24 Hours”
It should be "How to Lose Those Pounds in 24 Hours"

and

...my jeans have to be sent to the tailor for a refitting to prevent it from falling to my ankles.
Should be: ... my jeans have to be sent to the tailor for a refitting to prevent them from falling to my ankles.

Good Luck.

Marc Said:

What are some activities I can do for fun for little kids & teens in after-school care?

We Answered:

In my experience most teens don't want to do anything that they are told to do. Maybe, if you sat them down and told them you want this to beneficial to both you and them and asked what they want to do? I think you've covered about all the activities that everyone could think of. Possibly giving them some responsibility for the younger ones may help. Otherwise, I'd say that teens in this situation unfortunately tend to be uninterested in most things on the surface. It's part of the nomenclature that you can't be interested in anything that the athority does or your not cool. If you have the space and resources breaking up the teens so there not near one another may make them a bit more cooperative so they aren't trying to put on a show for each other.

Peter Said:

What is a pun for team sports?

We Answered:

Theres no "I" in team, but if you rearrange the letters, theres a "me".
I would just call it "Theres No "I" in Team"