Organic Chemistry Exam Preparation - Learning Tips

Organic Chemistry Exam Preparation - Learning TipsWhen we are in the middle of preparing for an organic chemistry exam, there are a few things that we need to take care of. Some of these include making sure that our grades are high enough so that we can pass the exam and have an edge over the competition.One of the things that we need to do is that we have to make sure that we know what topics we will be covered in organic chemistry exams. This includes knowing the atomic structures as well as the structure of the molecule. Knowing the elements and atoms that are part of organic chemistry also gives us a lot of knowledge about the chemistry as well as the properties of the molecules.The next thing that we need to think about is that you will need to determine which students you are going to test with in your organic chemistry exam. This will be based on whether they have passed their exams or not. If you have not actually seen them fail in their exams, then it would be wise to just d ecide based on your own preference. However, if you are one of those who are certain about the students who have passed, then you need to prepare for them the same way as for the others.There are a few different ones that we need to prepare for such as having a test booklet with us, your study materials, and maybe some books on other subjects. You might want to check out what is taught in your school's organic chemistry curriculum.The other thing that you need to consider is that if you really do not want to be drenched in study material, then you can just check out what is provided by the labs and laboratories. The labs usually have materials that you can use in your practice sessions. You should check this out first before you actually start studying, since you may be taken back to your previous method of study.When you are preparing for your organic chemistry exam, you need to do research about the exam as well as how many people have already passed the exam. This will help you s ee what kind of notes that are needed in your exams. For this, you will have to simply write down the materials that you need to look for.These are some of the tips that we can share with you if you are trying to prepare for your organic chemistry exam. We believe that you can manage even if you do not know the answer for those questions, because you know what questions are being asked. In the end, this will help you pass the exam successfully.

From One Kumon Student to Another

From One Kumon Student to Another From One Kumon Student to Another: 4 Tips for Balancing School Work, Extracurricular Activities and Kumon Whether it’s Little League, ballet lessons or the chess club, extracurricular activities provide kids with a way to stay active, make new friends and explore their interests. In fact, about 60 percent of children between 6 and 17 years old participate in at least one after-school extracurricular activity. On average, children spend about five hours each week on extracurricular activities. Some can be particularly time-consuming, so parents often worry their children are under too much pressure. Finding a balance is the key to success. We first introduced you to Natasha back in 2014 when she was a finalist in Kumon’s Inspirational Student Success Story contest. Here’s a refresher on her impressive accolades: Member of the National Honor Society, Student Leadership Advisory Council and Student Government An accomplished pianist with six solo performances at Carnegie Hall Co-founded “Book-for-a-Cure,” an annual children’s hospital fundraiser Natasha knows firsthand what it takes to balance extracurricular activities and school work. Below she shares a few tips your child may find helpful. 4 tips for balancing school work, extracurricular activities and Kumon Be Picky About Extracurricular Activities. Stay focused on a few extracurricular activities that you actually like. Don’t pick an activity just because it sounds cool or because all of your friends are doing it. If you genuinely enjoy the activity, you won’t be stressed balancing your time. Develop A Schedule. It’s important to plan your week ahead of time. Every Saturday, I sit down and make a schedule for the activities that I have in the coming week. This allows me to manage my time wisely between school-work, Kumon, piano practice, marching band and spending time with my friends. Use Your Time Wisely. Kumon has helped me to become a very organized person, which is an essential skill in order to be successful in life. I’ve learned that in order to do the activities that I love, I have to focus, be disciplined, preserve and plan ahead. Never Give Up. As Kumon students, we are learning topics years before they are taught in school. The topic may be hard to grasp at first, but once you understand the basics it will get easier. Always remember that Kumon will help you in the long run and school will become that much easier, allowing you to spend more time on the extracurricular activities that you love. You might also be interested in: Finding the motivation to continue learning during the summer can be a challenge. 13-year-old Kumon dual program completer shares advice on perseverance. Motivated by his Peers, this Kumon Student Wants to be an Architect and a Doctor A Beacon of Positivity: How Kumon Developed this Student’s Focus and Patience One Students Journey from Kumon to Top University From One Kumon Student to Another From One Kumon Student to Another: 4 Tips for Balancing School Work, Extracurricular Activities and Kumon Whether it’s Little League, ballet lessons or the chess club, extracurricular activities provide kids with a way to stay active, make new friends and explore their interests. In fact, about 60 percent of children between 6 and 17 years old participate in at least one after-school extracurricular activity. On average, children spend about five hours each week on extracurricular activities. Some can be particularly time-consuming, so parents often worry their children are under too much pressure. Finding a balance is the key to success. We first introduced you to Natasha back in 2014 when she was a finalist in Kumon’s Inspirational Student Success Story contest. Here’s a refresher on her impressive accolades: Member of the National Honor Society, Student Leadership Advisory Council and Student Government An accomplished pianist with six solo performances at Carnegie Hall Co-founded “Book-for-a-Cure,” an annual children’s hospital fundraiser Natasha knows firsthand what it takes to balance extracurricular activities and school work. Below she shares a few tips your child may find helpful. 4 tips for balancing school work, extracurricular activities and Kumon Be Picky About Extracurricular Activities. Stay focused on a few extracurricular activities that you actually like. Don’t pick an activity just because it sounds cool or because all of your friends are doing it. If you genuinely enjoy the activity, you won’t be stressed balancing your time. Develop A Schedule. It’s important to plan your week ahead of time. Every Saturday, I sit down and make a schedule for the activities that I have in the coming week. This allows me to manage my time wisely between school-work, Kumon, piano practice, marching band and spending time with my friends. Use Your Time Wisely. Kumon has helped me to become a very organized person, which is an essential skill in order to be successful in life. I’ve learned that in order to do the activities that I love, I have to focus, be disciplined, preserve and plan ahead. Never Give Up. As Kumon students, we are learning topics years before they are taught in school. The topic may be hard to grasp at first, but once you understand the basics it will get easier. Always remember that Kumon will help you in the long run and school will become that much easier, allowing you to spend more time on the extracurricular activities that you love. You might also be interested in: Finding the motivation to continue learning during the summer can be a challenge. 13-year-old Kumon dual program completer shares advice on perseverance. Motivated by his Peers, this Kumon Student Wants to be an Architect and a Doctor A Beacon of Positivity: How Kumon Developed this Student’s Focus and Patience One Students Journey from Kumon to Top University

?? Rules For Spanish Verbs You Need To Learn Today

?? Rules For Spanish Verbs You Need To Learn Today Rules For Spanish Verbs You Need To Learn Today Written by Jesse ReyesAsk any native English speaker new to the Spanish language what the most difficult part of learning Spanish is, and you’re likely to hear something about Spanish verbs. While in comparison to most foreign languages, Spanish is closely related to the English language (this is largely due to their shared roots in Latin), there are still many aspects of Spanish that may be difficult to grasp for new learners; and verbs are one of the most prominent examples. So what exactly makes Spanish verbs so difficult? It all boils down to how they are used. There are some grammar rules Spanish verbs follow, that we’re simply not used to as native English speakers. In this post we’ll look at 3 unique features of Spanish verbs and give you some practical tips on how to handle them.ConjugationThe biggest difference between English verbs and Spanish verbs is conjugation. Spanish verbs change form based on the person or number of the person or thing performing the action. Th is change is called conjugation. This means that a simple verb such as “to eat” (comer), will take on six different forms in the present tense:I eat: comoYou eat: comesHe/She eats: comeWe eat: comemosYou all eat (Spain only): coméisThey eat: comenSo you can see from the root form of the verb “comer”, we form these six different conjugations based on the person who is eating. Keep in mind that this set of conjugations is only for speaking in the present tense. There will be separate forms for past and future tense verbs. Technically speaking we also conjugate verbs in English, it just doesn’t result in the variety of words that we see in Spanish.Tips for learning verb conjugationsThankfully in Spanish, verb conjugations typically follow a predictable pattern based on the root of the verb (usually called a stem). The ending of the stem will often dictate which ending a verb receives in a given conjugation. As you learn Spanish focus more on learning the patterns behind the verb conjugations versus trying to memorise each individual word. You’ll learn much more efficiently this way!Past TenseThere are two past tenses in Spanish: the preterite and the imperfect. The difference between the two isn’t always easy for native English speakers to pick up on. In general the preterite tense is used to describe an event or action that took place and was completed at some specific time in the past. The imperfect tense will describe past actions that either weren’t completed, are continuous, or were habitual. Take for instance the English sentence: “I walked home yesterday”. In Spanish we would use the preterite tense of the verb “to walk” because when we say, “I walked home yesterday…” we are speaking about a completed action. If I were to say “I walked home every Tuesday”, then the imperfect would be used because the action was habitual.If you’re having trouble understanding the difference from these two brief examples, don’t worry. T he concept of preterite versus imperfect tense is one of the harder aspects of Spanish grammar for most students. Tips for learning the Spanish past tense The number one way to learn the Spanish past tense verbs is to practice them. There’s no getting around it, you’ll have to use these verbs again and again until you begin to internalise the differences between them. That being said, once you do learn them the difference will feel like second nature. A good Spanish tutor may also be able to tear down some of the mystery surrounding this difficult grammatical concept. If you find yourself struggling it might be a good idea to give yourself some extra help by booking a lesson. MoodsIf conjugations and present tenses weren’t enough, there are also different moods in Spanish. The grammatical mood a speaker uses will be based on his or her attitude toward what is being said. There are a total of three moods in the Spanish language: indicative, imperative, and subjunctive. Each moo d uses a different form of a verb. Overall the indicative and imperative moods are pretty straightforward. The indicative mood is the most common and is used when talking about things that are believed to be true (think facts). The imperative mood occurs anytime you give a command or tell someone to do something. It’s the subjunctive that usually gives learners trouble. The subjunctive is used anytime you talk about something that is subjective or possible, but still not certain. For most native English speakers this can be an especially difficult concept to grasp, or at least to remember. Take for example the two English sentences “You work”, and “I want you to work”. In Spanish “you work” would look like this: “Tu trabajas”. But the translation of “I want you to work”, would look like this: “Quiero que tu trabajes”. Notice that the verb in each sentence changes form. The first example is in the indicative mood (it’s a fact that you are working right now ). The second example is in the subjunctive (I want you to work but it’s not certain that you will).Tips for learning the subjunctive moodThe best way to become comfortable with the subjunctive mood is to pay attention to the way that native speakers use it. Make note of any example you find of the subjunctive mood, whether it's in a lesson with a teacher, in a phrase from a Spanish movie, or from some other Spanish resource. Final thoughtsSpanish is a beautiful and intriguing language, but it’s not always a walk in the park if you’re learning it. Use the tips we’ve shared to help you become more comfortable with some of the tougher features of the language. However, also remember that the greatest thing you can do to improve your Spanish is to engage with the language as much as possible!

Three-Time Spelling Bee Champion Always Welcomes a Challenge

Three-Time Spelling Bee Champion Always Welcomes a Challenge Three-Time Spelling Bee Champion Always Welcomes a Challenge Shaylen, 12-years-old, Math Level N “Proboscis” and “tokamak.” Two words that most don’t know the definition of, let alone how to spell without seeing them first. However, 12-year-old Shaylen is not like most people. Those words are just two of many that have won him first place at multiple spelling bees. Holding the title of spelling bee champion is far from this 7th -grader’s only accomplishment. An avid pianist, he performs at recitals and at various nursing homes. Shaylen is also a brown belt in Taekwondo, plays the cello in a local orchestra, and competes in his school’s Math Olympiad. Despite all of his extra-curricular commitments, Shaylen is far ahead of his class academically, often already knowing material upon introduction by his teacher. That’s because somehow, between it all, he is studying advanced high school math, years beyond his grade level, through the Kumon Math Program. “Kumon has been instrumental in helping me focus better and effectively manage all of my activities,” said Shaylen. “When it comes to mastering pieces on the piano or cello, I learned them bit-by-bit like the Kumon Method promotes, helps me learn and understand it to my full potential.” Shaylen’s parents enrolled him in the Kumon Math Program at five years old, where he started out counting numbers. In just seven short years, he has advanced to mastering infinite geometric theories, quadratic inequalities, and discontinuous functions. Being so far ahead of his class has enabled Shaylen to focus on his passions outside of the classroom, especially spelling competitions and attending religion class, along with being able to assist his peers in their understanding of grade level material they may be struggling with. “I stay motivated to continue on with Kumon, even if the work feels challenging,” said Shaylen. “My favorite thing about the program is the fact I am only given examples when I need it. If there was an explanation for every problem, where is the chance to be challenged?” Unsurprisingly, Shaylen was one of 56 students selected from around North America to attend Kumon’s 3rd Annual Student Conference. The event took place in Chicago, Illinois, and enabled extraordinary students like Shaylen to connect and challenge each other through group activities and presentations. We had the chance to catch up with Shaylen to learn more about his journey with Kumon, and what it all means to him. How has Kumon  helped  you academically? Because of Kumon, I find schoolwork and homework easier to do. In math, I already know the materialwhen the teacher introduces the new concept. When I notice someone struggling in class, I try to help them. Being ahead in math allows me to focus on other subjects like ELA and social studies. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Kumon has really helped me focus better to manage all my activities, along with improving my sense of responsibility and my time management. This plays a big part in managing my schoolwork, being able to practice my instruments, and participating in other activities almost daily. What is the most beneficial thing you’ve learned in Kumon thus far? The most beneficial thing I’ve learned in Kumon is to have perseverance and motivation to keep going. What do you want to be when you grow up? I don’t know yet, but I do love science! I’m very interested in biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, and astronomy. What achievements are you most proud of? I’m proudest of my achievements in the spelling bees I’ve participated in. For the past three years, I have won the grade-level bee, the school spelling bee, the district-level bee, and advanced to the Capital Region Spelling Bee for my area in New York State where the winner goes to the Scripps National Spelling Bee! This past school year I was most proud because I placed 11th out of 117 spellers! What advice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? My advice to new Kumon Students would be that you’re going to find some parts fun and easy, and some parts very difficult, but I can promise you that it’s going to help you in so many different aspects of your life. How did you feel when you found out you were selected to attend the Student Conference? When I opened my acceptance letter for the Student Conference, I had so many different feelings. I was ecstatic and very proud. I was so excited, and I couldn’t wait to go! Who is your biggest inspiration and why? My biggest inspiration is my parents.   I like their lifestyle of “Work hard, play hard.” I noticed that they work very hard day to day, but then take very big family vacations and enjoy themselves. I would like to be like them, and I know they want me to always challenge myself and be the best that I can be! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Slowing Down in the Face of Challenge is the Key to this Students Academic Success This Regional Spelling Bee Winner is Motivated by Success How One Girl’s Love for Reading Led Her to Become the Scripps National Spelling Bee Winner As Easy as Eating Cake: This Student Tackles Every Challenge that Comes His Way Three-Time Spelling Bee Champion Always Welcomes a Challenge Three-Time Spelling Bee Champion Always Welcomes a Challenge Shaylen, 12-years-old, Math Level N “Proboscis” and “tokamak.” Two words that most don’t know the definition of, let alone how to spell without seeing them first. However, 12-year-old Shaylen is not like most people. Those words are just two of many that have won him first place at multiple spelling bees. Holding the title of spelling bee champion is far from this 7th -grader’s only accomplishment. An avid pianist, he performs at recitals and at various nursing homes. Shaylen is also a brown belt in Taekwondo, plays the cello in a local orchestra, and competes in his school’s Math Olympiad. Despite all of his extra-curricular commitments, Shaylen is far ahead of his class academically, often already knowing material upon introduction by his teacher. That’s because somehow, between it all, he is studying advanced high school math, years beyond his grade level, through the Kumon Math Program. “Kumon has been instrumental in helping me focus better and effectively manage all of my activities,” said Shaylen. “When it comes to mastering pieces on the piano or cello, I learned them bit-by-bit like the Kumon Method promotes, helps me learn and understand it to my full potential.” Shaylen’s parents enrolled him in the Kumon Math Program at five years old, where he started out counting numbers. In just seven short years, he has advanced to mastering infinite geometric theories, quadratic inequalities, and discontinuous functions. Being so far ahead of his class has enabled Shaylen to focus on his passions outside of the classroom, especially spelling competitions and attending religion class, along with being able to assist his peers in their understanding of grade level material they may be struggling with. “I stay motivated to continue on with Kumon, even if the work feels challenging,” said Shaylen. “My favorite thing about the program is the fact I am only given examples when I need it. If there was an explanation for every problem, where is the chance to be challenged?” Unsurprisingly, Shaylen was one of 56 students selected from around North America to attend Kumon’s 3rd Annual Student Conference. The event took place in Chicago, Illinois, and enabled extraordinary students like Shaylen to connect and challenge each other through group activities and presentations. We had the chance to catch up with Shaylen to learn more about his journey with Kumon, and what it all means to him. How has Kumon  helped  you academically? Because of Kumon, I find schoolwork and homework easier to do. In math, I already know the materialwhen the teacher introduces the new concept. When I notice someone struggling in class, I try to help them. Being ahead in math allows me to focus on other subjects like ELA and social studies. How has Kumon helped you outside of the classroom? Kumon has really helped me focus better to manage all my activities, along with improving my sense of responsibility and my time management. This plays a big part in managing my schoolwork, being able to practice my instruments, and participating in other activities almost daily. What is the most beneficial thing you’ve learned in Kumon thus far? The most beneficial thing I’ve learned in Kumon is to have perseverance and motivation to keep going. What do you want to be when you grow up? I don’t know yet, but I do love science! I’m very interested in biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, and astronomy. What achievements are you most proud of? I’m proudest of my achievements in the spelling bees I’ve participated in. For the past three years, I have won the grade-level bee, the school spelling bee, the district-level bee, and advanced to the Capital Region Spelling Bee for my area in New York State where the winner goes to the Scripps National Spelling Bee! This past school year I was most proud because I placed 11th out of 117 spellers! What advice would you give to kids just starting Kumon? My advice to new Kumon Students would be that you’re going to find some parts fun and easy, and some parts very difficult, but I can promise you that it’s going to help you in so many different aspects of your life. How did you feel when you found out you were selected to attend the Student Conference? When I opened my acceptance letter for the Student Conference, I had so many different feelings. I was ecstatic and very proud. I was so excited, and I couldn’t wait to go! Who is your biggest inspiration and why? My biggest inspiration is my parents.   I like their lifestyle of “Work hard, play hard.” I noticed that they work very hard day to day, but then take very big family vacations and enjoy themselves. I would like to be like them, and I know they want me to always challenge myself and be the best that I can be! Discover even more student success stories. You might also be interested in: Slowing Down in the Face of Challenge is the Key to this Students Academic Success This Regional Spelling Bee Winner is Motivated by Success How One Girl’s Love for Reading Led Her to Become the Scripps National Spelling Bee Winner As Easy as Eating Cake: This Student Tackles Every Challenge that Comes His Way

Looking For A Free Online English Speaking Tutor? Heres What You Should Know

Looking For A Free Online English Speaking Tutor? Here's What You Should KnowThere are lots of sites available online that offer English speaking tutor services. You can actually get to meet the person who will help you with your learning process, whether you are just looking for a couple of lessons a week or a few hours a day of learning, there is probably a service available that is right for you.It may be very helpful if you are a person who would like to speak and write English. If you think you will be needing the assistance for your job, then you may want to start off by getting some basic knowledge. Some people do not feel comfortable speaking in front of a large crowd.If you are able to understand the terms used by the general public, then you will have no problems at all to speak with someone else. They can guide you in creating a vocabulary that you will be able to use for real. The sites that offer this service are available for free online.For those that need reading comp rehension and grammar learning, you can make use of those reading materials. You will not have to spend a lot of money if you are willing to put in some time on the other services. Online services are mostly free, because most people are happy to do something for free rather than spend money on the equipment they need.A site that offers an English speaking tutor is the only one that will really show you what to expect in the process. You can decide whether you will need someone to help you with listening, speaking, reading and writing. All of those will have to be done together if you are doing this for the sole purpose of improving your vocabulary.It would be great if you could actually find someone that has a good amount of experience. This is a pretty complicated process and you would not want to get it wrong. Someone with more experience will be able to guide you better so that you can achieve the success that you are aiming for.There are a few ways in which you can actually fin d a free online English speaking tutor. You could visit the Internet and find the information that you are looking for, the best way to go about this is by searching through several services, both free and paid. From this list, you can determine which site is the best for you.

Why is Divorce Chemistry So Important?

Why is Divorce Chemistry So Important?Divorce Chemistry can change your whole life and that means you must prepare for it, get ready for it and protect yourself from the emotional stress that can be associated with this event. Many people believe that they are alone in their divorces and that they cannot do anything about the situation because there is nothing that they can do about it except to accept it.This is absolutely not true. It can be done and will make all the difference in the world when the stress of divorce and the emotions of the divorce lawyers start setting in. The following is an overview of the process of what will happen after the end of the marriage and a person is seeking to stop the damage that can be caused by the divorce.Dissolving a marriage does not mean that you will no longer have a connection with your partner. This is not the case and that is the first thing that need to be taken into consideration. The divorce is not the end of the relationship and the bond that you have with your spouse will remain strong. In fact, the bonds that you had will probably be stronger as time goes on.It is possible to dissolve a marriage without a fight and the two spouses can agree to the breakup without having a fight. The second thing that you will need to consider is that this will not be easy for you to do. Some things can take a little more effort and some things can be done in a much easier way than others.Even though you know that your spouse wants out of the marriage, it will still be tough for you to put your heart and soul into this person will not always be there for you and all you can think about is what you need to do to get out of the situation. There is no need to feel like you have to make an emotional investment in your family.Some of the emotions that may be experienced include your volatile personality ifyou are a woman and your selfishness if you are a man. A large part of your life that you will want to get back is money so you will need to learn how to use those assets wisely spend them. You will also need to be able to stand on your own two feet and this is not something that happens overnight.Emotional and chemical reactions do not occur overnight. It is important to get into this kind of a situation before the divorce gets too messy and costly. Once you get into the right frame of mind, you will be able to handle this kind of emotional mess.

A Math and Science Tutor Can Help You Excel

A Math and Science Tutor Can Help You ExcelIt is fairly easy to find a good Mathematics and Algebra tutor in Sunnyvale, California. The Department of Education has a great reputation for providing excellent resources to help you excel in math and science courses. You will find that many of the institutions offering this service have an excellent reputation in this area. The following are some of the places you should check out.The University of Southern California offers a great deal of helpful classes for those seeking to improve their math and science skills. At the UNCF you will find that there are numerous courses available. There are courses that have the same subject matter as the ones offered at the University of California but offer more interactive learning environments. Some classes offer online study options to allow you to complete your work at your own pace. There are also courses for students who want to take them at their own pace.There are also Science classes offered at several campuses around the area. These can be found at several different universities. It is always a good idea to check out the classes that are offered at the many locations that offer these courses. There are also some specific courses that may be found at the University of California.If you are a new math or science teacher, you will definitely want to check out your local schools. Of course, you will need to consider the school's reputation for providing quality education. You will also want to consider how well they are managed. The schools will all provide the exact same curriculum so you will want to be sure that you will be able to provide your students with the learning experience that they are looking for.There are many different options when it comes to finding a tutor for the math or science courses you offer at your local schools. The most important thing is to make sure that you find a tutor that is not only the right fit for your students, but that they are also very approachable. You will also want to make sure that they are skilled in what they are teaching. You want a good tutor to be able to help your students excel in their math and science classes.There are other things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a math and science tutor. There are several different types of courses you can find a math and science tutor to teach. There are special classes that are designed to teach various courses such as pre-calculus, even elementary school math.You will also want to consider the cost of such classes. You do not want to pay a lot of money for a class that does not really make much of a difference.

Why Junior Year of College is Important

Why Junior Year of College is Important Although many college students may view senior year as the time to start thinking like an adult, junior year is really the time to do it. By no means does this imply you are obligated to stop engaging in student life and must spend all your time networking in business suits, but you do need to start shaping your mindset for that reality. Otherwise, you will enter senior year with no preparation for the real world that is ever so quickly approaching you. Possibly the biggest reason for all this is the fact that internship season is falling upon you. If you havent had an internship already, the summer between junior and senior year is crucial for landing one. But landing one is not easy you must be aware of that. The application process is no walk in the park either. Internships spots are competitive and employers choose wisely, so this isnt something you can blow off until the last minute or breeze through in no time. Allotting enough time to thoroughly research opportunities fit for your desired career path, write perfectly tailored cover letters, and polish your resum should be very important parts of your year. If you dont do everything you can to follow through on these opportunities now, you will find it much harder to impress employers when applying for actual jobs throughout your senior year, and therefore may need to take on internships as a post-grad; though this is increasingly more common in todays economy, it is still no t preferred among antsy college graduates. Odds are most of this is probably intimidating and foreign to you as a college junior, since your past two years of college were most likely focused on studying and socializing a.k.a. being a student. Since you are now coming to terms with the scary fact that you wont be a student forever, you need to learn the ropes of professionalism so you wont be blind-sighted when you get your first internship interview or networking meeting. One rude-awakening you must go through is getting the classic business suit. Nothing will freak you out more than looking in the mirror when you first put one on, but if you attend an interview in anything else, many employers will view you as young and unaware of real-world professional etiquette. Going along with the suit, do a little shopping to find a nice portfolio to carry your resum around in. This is another integral part of your adult image. Also, dont be afraid to start networking with alumni in your desired field so you can get as in-depth a look as possible into the substance of what youre training to be a part of. Plus, making connections is always a positive thing that will often help you later on. In conclusion, a good deal of junior year should be spent researching the adult world. Take comfort in the fact that you dont have to jump into it just yet, but youre relatively close, so this is a good time to prepare yourself without any immediate pressure. If you do this now, you will have much more of a clear head senior year and not have to waste your final semesters of college completely panicked and rushing to figure things out. Youre going to be hit hard with reality either way when you hit senior year and even more so when you graduate, so you might as well pave a good path while you have the time to balance it out with your student lifestyle.

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci, the Incidental Artist ChaptersA Short BiographyHow to Educate a GeniusLeonardo the Working ManWho was Lisa del Giocondo?In SummaryHere’s an interesting game for your next party: invite your guests to speculate on who they would like to meet if they could travel back in time.In fact, you could ask them to present three such people and the reasons they’d like to meet them.For me, Leonardo is invariably the first on my list; if said question were limited to only one famous personage long dead to meet, da Vinci would be my pick.This quintessential Renaissance man was possessed of such an active and curious mind that no topic was off-limits for him.He envisioned machines that would not be built for several hundreds of years as easily as he expounded on the scientific concepts of the day.There was no discipline he wouldn’t turn his mind to: science and mathematics, astronomy and cartography â€" mapping the stars, the world and the human body.His Vitruvian Man, a study of human proportions reflects his met iculous nature and patterns of parallel thought.As a drawing, it is perfectly scaled but its premise compelled him to delve into deeper philosophical questions by postulating that the human body is analogous of the greater cosmos.For all that da Vinci was a polymath â€" he was the very definition of ‘wide-ranging learning’, he was only incidentally an artist.That is to say: unlike Michelangelo or any other of his contemporaries, art was not his only â€" or even his first focus.Seen through these filters, it is rather strange that da Vinci would be considered one of the world’s most famous artists when he didn’t think of himself as an artist at all!We now look at Leonardo: his life, his works and his most famous paintings. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teach er 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaPainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsA Short Biography Statues of Leonardo were created from the self-portrait sketch found in his notes Image by wgbieber from PixabayLeonardo of Vinci was born either on the 14th or the 15th of April, 1452. He was the illegitimate son of a well-to-do legal notary and a woman named Caterina.For the first years of his life, Leonardo lived with his mother. Records show that he lived with his father starting at least in 1457.For a long time, he was the household’s only child; his father’s first two young wives died without producing any heirs.His third and fourth wives were apparently more fertile; each one bore him six children, all of them substantially younger than Leonardo.There are no records of Leonardo da Vinci marrying or fathering children, nor is anything indicated about any romantic relationships.Except for one court record indicting him and three other males â€" a charge that was quickly dismissed, da Vinci seemed to have no life outside of work.Interesting fact: like Leonardo da Vinci, Dutch Painter Vincent van Gogh did not have a true last name.How to Educate a GeniusWas his precocity evident from an early age?Despite being born to an unwed mother, Leonardo was treated as ‘legitimate’; he received a standard education in reading, writing and arithmetic. He did not study higher math until much later.Barely into his teens, Leonardo landed a position as a studio boy for a leading Florentine painter and sculptor. There is also speculation that, during this time, the handsome Leonardo posed for a few artworks.It wasn’t until three years later that he formally apprenticed under his mentor, Andrea del Verrocchio, alongside another future artist named Botticelli.After his three-year apprenticeship, the Guild of Saint Luke qualified 20-year-old Leonardo as a master among artists.His father, eager for his return, built him a workshop but, presumably enjoying the warmth and collaboration of Verrocchio’s digs, Leonardo opted to continue working there.Paul Cezanne, an outc ast of the impressionist art scene, would have loved to have enjoyed that level of camaraderie! We tend to think of da Vinci as a creator of famous art but he saw himself as an engineer first Image by Welcome to all and thank you for your visit ! ? from PixabayThe Adoration of the Magi.French impressionist Claude Monet â€" or, for that matter, any of the Renaissance painters would have sold their soul for such assignments but, apparently, Leonardo did not think very much of them because he left them both incomplete.Now we get to why Leonardo did not think of himself as an artist...Perhaps feeling stifled by the philosophies embraced by the Medici court he was a part of, he travelled to Milan and endeavoured to establish himself in Duke Sforza’s court.In his letter of introduction to the duke, da Vinci averred he could achieve great things in the field of weapon design and engineering, only mentioning as an afterthought that he could also paint.The gambit must have worked; Leonardo stayed in Milan for 17 years.While there, he was commissioned to paint The Virgin on the Rocks a s well as The Last Supper â€" the most famous religious painting in art history.Da Vinci and friends fled Milan when the Duke was overthrown. They sojourned in Venice, where he was employed as an engineer, devising ways to protect the city from naval attacks.Records show that his next court appointment came in Cesena in 1502. There, the son of Pope Alexander VI hired Leonardo as a military architect and engineer.Leonardo, along with his patron, travelled all over Italy drawing maps â€" a rare commodity at the time, and engineering a dam to keep inland water levels steady.His quest for work as anything but a painter and leaving commissioned work unfinished is why, in spite of his renown, Leonardo likely did not consider himself an artist.Believe it or not, of all the French artists, Henri Matisse had the most in common with da Vinci.Who was Lisa del Giocondo?Born into a family of good repute in Florence, she married a fairly well-to-do cloth merchant while still a teen. In spite of t heir great age difference, they were happy and devoted to each other.Lisa mothered her five children and Francesco’s son from a previous marriage while Francesco went on to become a public official.There are indications that this was a love match from the get-go rather than a marriage of convenience: her family paying an exceedingly low dowry, for one, and her raising his son as her own for another.By far the greatest testament of Francesco’s love for his wife was the commission of an oil painting of her by none other than the great Leonardo da Vinci.We know why Francesco commissioned the painting: to celebrate their new home and the birth of their new child. Why Leonardo accepted the commission is actually a mystery.It might have been because, at that time, he had no patronage and no money... but the truth is lost to history.Clearly, he already had plenty on his plate: he was under commission to paint The Battle of Anghiari (which he didn’t finish) and had several engineering projects in the works.Whatever his reasons, he accepted the commission. Lisa sat for her portrait, and they waited.  They waited in vain.Like so many other oil paintings Leonardo agreed to paint, the Mona Lisa did not see completion until 1519  and was never delivered. He took her on his travels (the painting, not the actual woman), eventually ending up in France, where she has been ever since.Today, the Mona Lisa reigns supreme among famous works of art; at the Louvre, her permanent home, and around the world.Reproductions of her likeness can be seen on everything from coffee mugs to shopping bags; even Andy Warhol got in on the painting reproduction act, titling his version Thirty are Better than One.Da Vinci is the artist behind not one but two of the world’s masterpieces â€" well, actually more than two, but, as illustrated by the events of his working life, he didn’t seem to appreciate he was one of the most famous painters of his time.He probably doesn’t care that he ma y well be the most talented painter in the history of art.Time to challenge your knowledge of the art world: what did Spanish painter Pablo Picasso and da Vinci have in common? Da Vinci's works are some of the most expensive paintings in the world Image by Welcome to all and thank you for your visit ! ? from PixabayIn SummaryLeonardo da Vinci trained as a painter and artist in an actual artist’s workshop, yet he treated his ability to create amazing works of art in an almost offhand manner.As his reputation grew and he travelled around, he billed himself not as an itinerant artist but as an engineer... at the time of the High Renaissance, when any original oil painting was highly sought after.Thanks to the excellent reputation da Vinci enjoyed, his must have been some expensive paintings indeed!We have to wonder what would possess such an intellect to swear off virtually all relationships and forego the possibility of having a family â€" a very dire prospect at the height of the Italian Renaissance.Clearly, da Vinci knew to conform to the societal norms of his day; equally clear is that he only did so to earn his keep.No matter whose court he enlightened or which town he improved through his feats of engineering, his mind was always on the next idea, the next project... the next thing he could realise.Probably, in light of that, landscape painting and portraiture would have seemed dull indeed.I often wonder what it would have been like to know da Vinci. Could one even keep up with his lightning-quick thoughts and staggering intellect?Leonardo always thought himself a failure; one wonders what his reaction would be to finding his work on display in The Hermitage museum, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence â€" where you can see The Annunciation, his first work, and the National Gallery in London.Are you interested in expressionism or does impressionism strike you more? Learn about the best paintings and the artists that created them.