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| Discover Act Create Connect Departments President’s Page The Editorial We Letters Take It from Me |
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| Illustration: Keith Negley |
TAKE IT FROM ME
Teaching Kids About Money
Make it fun. Whenever the bill comes at a restaurant, play “guess the check.” Then tell the kids you want to leave a tip of between ten and twenty percent, depending on how good the service was, and ask them to calculate it in their heads.
Make it real. Teenagers can manage a small trading account at an online brokerage firm. Fund it with whatever you can afford and let them keep half the profits. But specify that before buying a particular stock, they must explain their choice.
Make it part of their worldview. Take kids to one of the currency exchange booths at the airport and have them convert some U.S. dollars into the currency of another country. Another good idea is to start a foreign currency notebook. Have them place a map of each country in the notebook next to the currency from that country.
Take the magic out of plastic. Have kids swipe your credit card in the grocery store checkout line and watch you sign for the transaction. Later, review your credit card statement with them. Show them the line item for the grocery store transaction so that they understand the relationship between signing and having to pay later on.
Save Your Athlete’s Brain
Get involved. Attend parent nights, and if you don’t see a comprehensive head injury management plan, offer to help develop one. It should align with recommendations of the American Academy of Neurology (aan.com). You could also inquire about a head-impact reduction plan. Such a plan might, for example, limit heading soccer balls to players older than twelve or fourteen and also limit heading during practices.
Stay informed. Consult the CDC’s “Heads Up” pages (cdc.gov/headsup) often, and freely use the BrainInPlay.com youth sports website. Coaches, parents, and players should complete annual computer-based concussion education programs, such as those offered by the CDC and the National Federation of High Schools (nfhslearn.com).
Get the right gear. Make sure helmet certification is current. The helmet should fit tight on the head and have a neck or chin strap to keep it in place.
I.R. Networking Advice
Get around. Join professional associations related to your area of interest and attend relevant conferences, lectures, and other events—sometimes you can convince organizations to waive registration fees by volunteering your services.
Speak up. Have a succinct, carefully phrased question ready at the beginning of the question-and-answer periods that are part of so many events. You’ll demonstrate that you were paying attention and are articulate.
Start a support group. Your fellow job seekers can be invaluable in helping you find the right position. Meet with them on a regular basis to exchange information, critique resumes, conduct mock interviews, and encourage each other.
Keep records. Maintain a database of the most useful connections you make. Each time you accept a business card from someone you find informative and interesting, record the details of how you met the person and store them, with the card, so they are easily retrievable.
Be “on” all the time. Remember that anyone you encounter may be important to your career. For instance, if you are waiting to meet the director of a program, try visiting with the administrative assistant stationed nearby. People who are lower in an organization’s hierarchy may have a great deal of information, and they are generally less guarded about sharing what they know.
Sunshine Where You Want It
Look at your home’s existing light conditions. Is there sunshine in the rooms when you want to use them, providing the light required for your family’s activities? Does the tree outside remain green even in winter and cast a cool shadow? Does the building next door block the low-angled light following the winter solstice? Keep all of this in mind as you make design decisions.
Use color wisely. Our physiology responds to the color of light. Blood pressure rises when we are visually stimulated by red, and we associate warmth and physical activity with this color. Remember, though, a little goes a long way. Warm whites can create the same effect with even more radiance.
Use surfaces to bounce light and magnify the power of color. Dark saturated colors absorb available light; white and light colors reflect it. Select a lighter wall color for rooms with limited sunlight, and be sure that it has some red/yellow in the formula to mimic sunlight. In a kitchen, the countertops can be used to bounce light from the windows directly onto your work area. If you choose a dark stone, which will absorb the light from outdoors, make sure that it is shiny and can reflect whatever light it does not absorb. A well-positioned mirror can also direct sunlight where you want it. Floors, too, can radiate the sun’s warmth. Stain them, leave them natural, or use a high-sheen coating based on how much light you want to bring in.
WE NEED YOUR ADVICE. What are you an expert on? Share your life-enhancing tips with “Take It from Me” (tuftsmagazine@tufts.edu or Tufts Magazine, 80 George Street, Medford, MA 02155). If we publish your submission, you will receive $50.