The Best Gift You Can Give

As you rush around purchasing all your last minute gifts or stocking stuffers, I have a gift suggestion that has a very low cost. You don’t need to go online or request rush shipping, and you don’t need to max out your credit card, for this gift you can give without visiting a store or a web site. What is the gift? It’s the gift of TIME.

Last week our family lost my father-in-law, Sonny Childress, who lived a long full live to the age of 90. His passing so close to the holidays just got me thinking about all the times I got caught up in my life and didn’t stop by (he just lived down the road!) to visit with him. I’m not saying I was a terrible daughter-in-law--for example, we had many Sunday evening meals with Sonny, spent holidays and special family events with him, and took him to a family reunion this past summer. But, I know I could have done more and spent more time with him.

As you select those last minute gifts, add to your list the coupon you can fill out below where you can give the gift of time to a loved one or friend. Go spend the afternoon with your Dad doing something he loves. Take your little sister to see The Hobbit. Bake a traditional holiday favorite with your Grandma. Ask your Mom to go out to lunch. Have game night and invite over all your friends who are in town for the break.

Life is so fleeting. Give the people you care about the best gift you have to give – time spent with YOU!

Warm up for Spring 2014: Do these during Winter Break!

Now that finals are behind you, we hope you take some time for yourself to be with friends and family. Have a safe trip to your destination. After you relax, though, prepare for a busy Spring 2014 with these tips:

Thank you for your support!

Thank you to the many supporters of our blog, who helped us reach a milestone in a little less than a year: 10,000 page views!

We appreciate your support of our career advising blog! We invite you to follow our blog to stay up to date on new posts. And, please share topics with us that you would like us to address.

Thanks again for your support!

Claire Childress and Ariel Cohen

Remembering Deriek Crouse: Thankful the Hokie Nation Stands

In remembrance of Officer Deriek Crouse 

who gave the ultimate sacrifice on December 8, 2011

Finals: 5 Keys to Perform Better

Man, that 7:30 a.m. alarm seemed too early, but Brittany jumped up anyway to go grab breakfast at Deet's Place and do a final review before her 10:05 a.m. final exam. She's wondering if she should have stayed up another hour cramming last night, but feels pretty good that she got some sleep. At least Jacob helped her review the formulas she needs to know this morning. She can't wait for after the exam when she's going to meet Alex to go for a run on the Huckleberry Trail. That should clear her head.

Does this story sound like you? It should. Brittany is doing 5 key things this semester to perform better on her finals.

Eat 3 "squares" and make them healthy! My mom, a physician, used to always preach to me how important breakfast is to our bodies. "It's called breakfast for a reason, Claire," she said. "You need to break your fast and get your metabolism going." This is especially critical when your mind needs to be sharp for exams. I rarely ate a big breakfast as an undergrad, but when finals week came around, I had a hot breakfast every morning. I think it payed off.

Sleep. Get enough of it. You will fare far better if you get 8 hours of rest rather than pulling an all nighter to cram for your morning exam. I' m no scientist (thank God) but your brain will function better with more rest.

Stress: Reduce it. Be sure you take breaks from studying. Go for a run. Play a video game. Watch your favorite show on Hulu. Playing the piano helped me relieve stress when I was an undergraduate. My residence hall had a baby grand piano in the lobby and I took an hour break to play when there were no quiet hours. I also went running with my best friend, Ruthie, which brings us to the next key.

Exercise. Like it did for Brittany, getting exercise can help clear your head and make you feel better. If you reach a fitness goal for the day, you will be more energized for the next exam hurdle. and have a feeling of accomplishment.

Find a study buddy. The best way to learn a subject is to have to teach it to someone else. Studying with a friend can help you make sure you understand the material.

Try these key steps as you gear up for your finals. What other suggestions do you have for improved exam performance?

Oh yeah, and give your finals your best shot!

Counting the Gifts You Already Have

Thanksgiving week came and went, and I never wrote the post about things for which I am thankful. I was too busy having fun cooking (and eating!) and spending time with family.

Since the season of giving is upon us, and Tuesday is Giving Day, I created a list of 25 gifts for which I am grateful, one for each of the first 25 days of December. How many gifts do you already have? Can you think of at least 25? 

Here are mine:

1. My husband, Charles, and the family I married into: we just celebrated our 28^th anniversary on November 30.                                                                                                       
   
    
2. My two children, Preston and Maggie. Having a child is truly a miracle.
3. Being a mother - my most important job.
4. My parents, Professor Huey and Dr. Mary Tom Long, who were wonderful parents and two terrific role models for me to grow up around.
5. My brother, Darden Long.
6. All my nieces and nephews.
7. My second mama, Becky Ford.
8. Since both of my parents were only children, I don’t have any aunts or uncles. But was blessed to have relationships with relatives and close family friends I claimed as such: Frank and Liz, Aunt Frances and Uncle William, Uncle Bob and Aunt Marion          
   
9. So many dear close friends. Some I have had since growing up in Blacksburg; more since my four years at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. And even more: my Girls Night Out friends and my close friends in Career Services at Virginia Tech and at other schools!
10. My faith in God which keeps me grounded and going.
11. Growing up in the small Southwest Virginia college town of Blacksburg, VA.                 
12. Living in the country in Montgomery County and raising our children on a farm.        
    
13. Our dog, Lexi, and the many other pets (mostly dogs!) that have been a part of my life for most of my life.
14. My job as a career advisor. I love what I do!
15. The amazing team of co-workers I have the privilege to work with in Virginia Tech Career Services.                                                                                                                             
    
16. The leadership in Career Services and the Division of Student Affairs who support and encourage pursuit of professional development and leadership opportunities on campus, in professional organizations and across the US and embrace trying new initiatives.
17. All of the Career Services Interns and Graduate Assistants I have had the pleasure of working with throughout my time in Career Services. Still stay in contact with many of them, including Ariel Cohen who helped create this blog and still writes posts and maintains our site!
18. The multitude of students and alumni who have touched my life. That means you, Ashleigh Waddle.
19. The participants in our Friday English Conversation Group at Cranwell International Center. I have learned so much from people I have met on the Fridays I spend there.
20. Dr. Carl Stern who was one of my economics professors and supervisors when I was an undergraduate. Dr. Stern knew all about appreciative college instruction and applying positive psychology to teaching and advising years before the concept of appreciative advising was introduced.
21. The experience of studying abroad for a year at the University of Reading, England, as an undergraduate.
22. Having a liberal arts education from a single sex institution, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.
23. Being a Hokie MBA!
24. My mentors and personal board of directors. Feel fortunate to have them to lean on and miss the ones no longer with us, like Dr. Norrine Bailey Spencer.            
     
    
25. And finally, I am grateful for these co-workers and/or friends who left us way too soon: Barbara K. Tipton, Mark Hunter, Paul Driscoll, and Christine Lindell

A Child Hears the Voice of God

A childhood memory I recently shared with the Roanoke Times that was featured Sunday in their Corner Shot column.