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From Dreams to Goals (poem)

9/30/2016

From Dreams to Goals

Place your dreams in a mode like academics.
Let prayer become central in your habit,
let your passion reflect your attendance,
let your success represent your grades--
in such a way that as time passes
in your matriculation,
you are closer to graduation,
rather than the first day of class.

(Poem taken from the book, The Maturity Factor II: Moments and Mindsets by T. A. Acker, ©2012, www.amazon.com, www.poetryandsense.com)

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Using Financial Aid Refunds Wisely

9/23/2016

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By this point in the semester, students have received their financial aid refunds. Usually, if all of the expenses are covered, any money left over from a scholarship, grant, or student loan goes to the awarded student. Now, I have much to say about student loans, in general, but I will save that for another post. It won’t affect what they already have accepted for this semester. Still, there are some smart ways to handle refund money. Consider the following:

Savings account: All college students need to have a checking/debit account as well as a savings account. If a student receives excess money in a semester, and he/she lives at home, then saving that money in an interest-bearing savings account may keep them from spending foolishly. If a student’s refund is the result of student loan usage, save any unused portion for emergencies like car repair.

Pay off expenses: If students are in dormitories or live in apartments, putting rent money or money for utility bills aside can be beneficial. This way, there is less stress associated with how monthly expenses are being paid, and that energy can go towards academic improvement. Also, if that student has a part-time job, day-to-day things like groceries or gas in the car can be handled without compromising rent or utilities. Save any unused portion for emergencies.

Repay student loans: This may seem like a stretch, but if a student has unsubsidized loans, interest is being compounded while that student is still enrolled. Subsidized loan interest begins post-graduation once the grace period ends. (I will talk more about this later.) If possible, save any unused portion, and while the interest on unsubsidized loans are small (between $1 -$20), pay it down and that will keep the loan amount from skyrocketing. (When you think about how much money is spent on unnecessary items, keep you student loans from inflating drastically is worth the $5, $10, or $20. The amount will decrease over time, and if you can keep it under $10, or even $5, then you won’t even miss that money.)

Necessary purchases:
- Cars: If you need a car, it isn’t strange to use refund money to help with costs. Honestly, it’s not much different than a person getting a car loan. The interest on student loans can be lower than that of a car loan in some instances. If it is scholarship money, then you really have far less restrictions on money that you worked hard to earn. The problem here is that students often foreshadow too far. Instead pursuing a reliable, slightly used, rather inexpensive vehicle, they often go for the brand new car with all of the amenities. The logic is that the newer car will last longer and have more value. Yet, the payments are higher, as well as the insurance. Sometimes, the student’s focus shifts from academics to picking up more hours at work to help pay for the car. There are nice cars that may not be ideal for long road trips across country, but are great enough to get to school, work, library, etc. and last longer than one may think. Again, I am not saying one should buy a “lemon,” but use common sense and proper judgment.
- Clothes: In some cases, clothes are necessary, but proceed with extreme caution. If you need more clothes for work (i.e. dress codes, scrubs, etc.), or you may have gained or lost weight, buying clothes is necessary. But don’t go overboard just because something looks good. (I may elaborate on this topic some more in next week’s post.) Still, you should not need to spend thousands of dollars in refund money just to update a wardrobe. Buy only what you need and buy only after you have made sure you have all of your school supplies. Determine priority and buy pieces at a time. You can look neat without being broke.
- Living arrangements: I understand that room and board fees are what they are, and must be paid. But if you live in an apartment, or thinking about it, weigh everything carefully. You are just trying to live somewhere safe, that isn’t nasty, and meets your needs. Having a swimming pool, tennis court, or gym on site shouldn’t matter to you. That only increases fees or rent. Choose wisely so that if you must use refund money to cover costs, you are depleting your funds.

Having good money sense can save students while enrolled, and give them a better foundation after they graduate. There is so much more to say about student loans and financial aid. In many cases, financial aid (in the form of loans) is the only way to pay for one’s education. Still, we must choose to do better with money and create savings and safe spending habits in order decrease dependence on loans. Continue to pursue scholarships and jobs to help decrease the need for student loans. This is a season of saving, not spending unnecessarily. I hope this helps. Much love to you all. -T. A.

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The P.E. Effect

9/16/2016

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Every semester, college students meet with advisors about which classes to take for the following semester. In the first two years of college, the majority of those classes, if not all of them, will be core classes that satisfy state requirements for that institution (for example – English, Mathematics, Social Sciences requirements). As important as the English, Science, and Math courses are, physical education (P.E.) credits are not only required, but can actually save a student’s grade point average (GPA). Here are a few reasons why P.E. should not be overlooked, but rather, strategically placed:

If P.E. courses are placed in the correct semester schedule, they create mental, physical, and emotional balance. While courses like Chemistry, Statistics, or Psychology can require extensive reading and studying, Physical Education is usually centered on familiar activities – running, jumping, playing, etc. that can serve as a break from day-to-day routine. That break can refresh both the body and mind, and give students a better attitude to handle the other courses.
Most P.E. courses are only one credit hour (and you must obtain 3 credits total), but some just require attendance and effort. No one is expecting you to be a supreme athlete, but just simply come to class, dress out, and participate. That makes an easy A, and those 4 credit points can only aid a GPA. (For every A, a student gets 4 points per credit hour of that class. For every B, 3 points per hour, and so on.)
Many P.E. courses are only 7 weeks (out of 15 week-long semesters). These are called mini-term courses. If a student can take and pass the class in the first half of the semester, he/she will already have an A and can use the time that becomes available after the 7th week to study for other courses or Midterm exams. This also gives a student optimism to finish strong for the remainder of the semester. On the other hand, if a student is struggling in the first half of the semester and either needs a “pick-me-up” or replace a class that is dropped, taking 1-2 mini-term P.E. classes and making an A in each will help the GPA somewhat. By knowing where you are at Midterm, adding a P.E. class in the latter 7 weeks can act as “insurance” that your semester won’t be horrible.
For those who like to work out daily, place a P.E. course during the times you would normally attend a gym (especially if the gym is off-campus). Doing so helps a student keep daily routine, but also can save money on gym fees. If you are a student, why not put your activity fees and athletic fees to use?

I hope you have enjoyed this week's post. Check out any previous posts you may have missed. It is my hope that my words inspire you to be great. Take care. God Bless.

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From Dreams to Goals (poem)

Using Financial Aid Refunds Wisely

The P.E. Effect

T. A. Acker

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