Author: Becky Baughman

Guest Writer: Kirk Benner

**READ TO END TO LEARN ABOUT AHLI STUDENT CONTEST. TWO WINNERS WILL EACH RECEIVE A $10 GIFT CARD

What makes a successful high school student? There are many ways in which a young person can be successful, but planning ahead is essential. Planning for the college application process starts early in high school which involves college visits, completing high school classes to the best of one’s ability, becoming a well-rounded student who volunteers, participates in extra-curricular activities, and leads well with integrity.

A specific part of the college planning process that often happens in the junior and senior years involves college entrance exams. Along with international students needing to submit an English proficiency exam, like the TOEFL, colleges often require a college entrance exam like the SAT or ACT. During our current experience with the pandemic, some colleges are making these exams optional for admissions, but having a future plan to take these exams is recommended.

School counselors recommend students consider taking both the ACT and SAT (one without and one with the essay), along with SAT Subject tests if required by the college(s) of interest. In most high schools, students take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) in the fall of their junior year. These PSAT results will help a student better prepare to take the actual SAT/ACT in the spring of the junior year and then again early in the fall of the senior year. These exams are offered approximately monthly throughout a typical high school academic year and can be registered for online.

How can a student prepare for taking standardized college entrance exams?

• Take rigorous high school courses in all subject areas
• Continue reading, speaking and studying English to expand vocabulary
• Utilize free resources from ACT & College Board
• Consider taking test prep courses
• Have conversations with college admissions personnel about realistic, obtainable scores that will be acceptable for potential admissions

How important are test scores for getting into college?

While these test scores are often a significant part of the college admissions process, they are only a part of what makes an ideal candidate for college. Colleges also look at:

• High school grades 
• GPA
• Involvements and leadership in and outside of high school
• Volunteering and serving
• Demonstrating a strong sense of character

The above are all ways to work towards fulfilling the best version of yourself as a high school student preparing for post-secondary educational opportunities.

Sincerely,

Everywhere you look, you see political campaign signs, billboards, and media ads. Even if you are not currently in the United States, it is important to understand the U.S election process as the outcome influences all countries. While the presidential candidates get the most attention, in this election, citizens will also be voting for seats in Congress, which is where laws are written and passed. Congress consists of two chambers: House of Representatives and Senate. All 435 seats of the House are up for re-election, and 33 seats of the Senate.

The U.S. has a multi-party political system, but is dominated by two major parties- Republican, also known as GOP (Grand Old Party) and Democrat. In general, the Republican party, known as the more conservative political party, is founded on the idea of individual rights and justice. Recently, it has stood for lower taxes, gun rights, and tighter restrictions on immigration. Support for this party is often found in more rural areas.  The Democrat party revolves around community and social responsibility and takes a more liberal stance on issues such as climate change, health insurance, and the death penalty. Support for the Democratic party is stronger in urban areas.

Our current President, Donald Trump is Republican and is campaigning for a second 4-year term. The Democrat candidate is Joe Biden, former Vice President for Barack Obama. Candidates compete for electoral college votes. Each state gets a certain number of electoral college votes based on its population. There are 538 votes available, so a candidate needs to win at least 270 votes (51%) to become president. A candidate is trying to win each state-level contest rather than the popular vote. All but two states (Nebraska and Maine) have a “winner-takes-all” rule, so whichever candidate gets the highest number of votes gets all of the electoral college votes for that state.  In 2016, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received the most individual votes nationally, but Republican nominee Donald Trump had the most electoral college votes and therefore won the election.

Most states lean heavily toward one party or the other. But a few states are considered “battleground states”, meaning support is close to being evenly divided between the two parties. Examples of these states are Florida, Ohio, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. These are key states for the candidates to try win.

All American citizens who are 18 and over are eligible to register to vote. Many, but not all states allow you to mail in your ballot or vote in person on the day of the election, which is November 3rd. Mail-in voting is an important issue this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It can take several days for all of the votes to be counted, but often the winner can be announced by the next day. If the incumbent (current) presidential candidate loses, the new president will be sworn in during an inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2021.  We all want to have a safe, and fair election process. One of the fundamental values of being an American citizen is the right and privilege to vote for America’s leadership.  AHLI invites you to learn more about the American election process by talking with your host family, watching the presidential debates, and following the election night news coverage.

Sincerely,

Tiffanee M. Wright, MA, MPH | Executive Director

AHLI – International Education and Homestay

Developing new habits is not easy, but as you have returned to school you have seen the importance of needing healthy habits to be successful in your social, physical, emotional, and academic life. Last month we talked about the Habit Loop and how we need to be consistent with a new routine to create a new habit. This month we are focusing on how small changes add up to big results. Let’s look at ways you can start this school year with little steps to build better habits.

10 Good Habits to develop:

1) Turn off your phone and other electronics 30 minutes before going to sleep- The blue light from electronics decreases the production of melatonin, which is a natural chemical in the body that makes us sleepy.

2) Listen to music that makes you happy– Listening to music when you’re feeling sad or upset is a positive coping skill to boost your mood.

3) Be inspired, not jealous– Don’t compare yourself to others- what they have, what they can do, what they look like, rather be motivated to improve yourself by finding your own passions, skills and hobbies.

4) Print papers and projects at least a day before submission– Don’t wait until the last minute and be rushed! Give yourself time to review your paper in print to make corrections.

5) Get Involved– Try new clubs, activities, and sports at your school to meet other students and expand your skills. Not only will you make new friends, but it will help your college application.

6) Celebrate small victories– Be proud of yourself! Set small goals, and celebrate when you reach each one.

7) Write down all your due dates– Stay organized by keeping a planner book so you do not miss turning in a school assignment. Daily assignments are important, so missing just a few homework assignments can bring down your grade.

8) Wake up 1 hour before school starts– Wake up early enough so you are not rushed to get to school. Have time to eat breakfast so you have energy to be focused in your classes.

9) Set goals now at the start of the semester– There is a saying, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” Your performance will improve if you have a goal to focus on.

10) Ask questions– Don’t be afraid to ask questions in school.  Teachers like students who ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to learn more, or to be sure you are understanding correctly.

3 Bad Habits NOT to fall into:

1) Skipping meals or not eating healthy– Being in a new culture can make it difficult to develop healthy, balanced eating habits. Remember to avoid a lot of snack food and soda, and include fresh fruit and vegetables.

2) Not studying for tests– Exams are an important part of your grades. Do not wait until the night before to start studying for a test.

3) Staying up late chatting with friends or playing video games– A teenager needs 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Research has shown that teenagers who get enough sleep have higher grades, better memory, and stronger emotional health.

Focusing on just a few of the small changes above will help you meet your goals this year, whether you are with your homestay family or at home. Your Coordinator would love to hear what you are planning to do this year to be successful in school, as would I! 

Remember last month I said I wanted to focus on putting down the ice cream and getting back to exercising? It’s not been easy…but here are some pictures of me being active. 

Sincerely,

Tiffanee M. Wright, MA, MPH | Executive Director

AHLI – International Education and Homestay

Welcome back to a new school year!  Whether you are learning virtually from your home country or attending in-person classes, we are glad to have you part of our AHLI family. Our Staff, Directors, Coordinators, and homestay families have been eagerly preparing for you to join us. Of course, this year will look different than previous years; however, with challenges come new opportunities.

As you work to get into new routines- setting the alarm clock to get up for class, wearing a mask when going to school, keeping track of homework assignments, let’s look at ways to build good habits to start your year off strong. A habit is a regular practice or way of doing something that becomes part of life. Almost 40% of our day is made up of habits- things you do every day, like brushing your teeth, taking a shower, doing laundry, going to sleep on the same side of the bed.

Sometimes we hear more often about “bad habits” like biting our nails, leaving dirty clothes on the floor, or eating too much junk food. We should remind ourselves to focus on developing good habits instead of the bad. Psychological research tells us there are three important phases for developing any habit- good or bad. By focusing on the 3 “R’s,” we can create new patterns to start off the school year successfully.

Stage 1: Reminder– First, we encounter a trigger in our daily life that reminds us we are about to start a pattern of behavior- it’s like the “green traffic light” in our brain. 

Stage 2: Routine– This is the behavior that gets kick-started in our brain as a result of the trigger; it can be a healthy or negative action.

Stage 3: Reward– The reinforcement from the behavior keeps us repeating the pattern. This repetition results in the formation of habits.

An example of this habit loop that I found myself recently fighting during quarantine started like this…

1) Reminder: At 9 p.m., my daughter and I liked watching Mandalorian on Disney+ together.

2) Routine: While watching the show, we always eat a bowl of cookies and cream ice cream.

3) Reward: It tastes good and is a relaxing way to end the day.

When this repeats day after day, 9 p.m. became a cue for my taste buds craving ice cream before bed! The benefit of sweetness became a desire, and what became a nice treat quickly became an unhealthy habit resulting in several extra kilos of weight gain!

But how do we apply these same principles to develop good habits for going back to school?  Start by identifying the habit you want to develop. Find a way to remind yourself to take action- it can be a time of day, or location, or an emotional feeling, or even an event that you want to focus on to cue you to start a new action. Then put the new routine behavior into practice. Lastly, don’t forget to reward yourself for making progress on your new habit to encourage you to keep going! People say it takes consistently doing a new behavior 21 times to develop a habit.  You have to keep going, even when it gets tough. But persistence will pay off, and you will quickly see the sweet success of new habits. 

Tiffanee M. Wright, MA, MPH | Executive Director
AHLI – International Education and Homestay

Part 2

Last week, we looked at depression. We discussed what some of the symptoms can be, and the importance of talking to others if you feel you might be depressed.  This week, we’ll look at things we can do to help us reduce the risk of becoming depressed. We’ll also look at what we can do to help us overcome being depressed. 

1. Interact with others as much as possible, even if you don’t feel like it. It is normal to feel like isolating yourself, but this only makes things worse. It may seem easier to be alone, but after surrounding yourself with others, you will be glad you did.

2. Choose positive people to spend time with. Spend time face-to-face with your host family, and friends who make you feel good. Friends who are active, positive, and understanding are great to be around. Avoid hanging out with friends who are a negative influence by getting you in trouble or making you feel judged and insecure.

3. Look for ways to be helpful to others. Studies have repeatedly shown that one of the best ways to feel less depressed is to do something good for others. Whether it’s being helpful to your friends and host family, or volunteering with an organization, it’s a great feeling.

4. Take better care of yourself. 

• Get moving! Exercise releases a natural chemical to help your body feel happier.
• Eat healthier! Junk food, sugar, and a lot of snack foods can make you feel slow and tired. This can make depression worse. Make sure you are feeding your mind with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Reduce the time spent on social media!  Online interaction is no replacement for in-person contact.  Also, there is much on social media that tears us down or makes us feel “less-than” rather than building us up and encouraging us.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs! You may be tempted to drink or use drugs to escape from your feelings and get a mood boost. However, as well as causing depression in the first place, substance use will only make depression worse in the long run. Alcohol and drug use can also increase suicidal feelings.  
• Get a proper amount of sleep!  A growing teenage body and mind needs at least 8 hours of sleep. Too much or too little sleep can disrupt your mood.
• Manage stress! Practice deep breathing, journaling, and positive thinking to keep stress under control.

5. Connect with God.  God says in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy: “I will never leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.” Your host family can pray with you to have peace and lessen your feelings of worry and loneliness.

6. Seek help from an expert. If symptoms of depression are starting to interfere with your life, and are not going away, it may be time to talk to a professional. Sometimes talking to a therapist, counselor or physician can give you skills to cope with stress, or improve your health. If this is something you think would benefit you, talk with your AHLI Coordinator. There is no shame in seeking help for a physical or mental concern.

Even though it may feel like the black cloud of depression might never go away, there are many ways to help you regain your balance and feel more positive, energetic, and hopeful again. We at AHLI want you to be successful in all you do. We are here to help you achieve your goals now and into the future!

What is one goal you hope to achieve in the near future? I’d love to hear from you on WeChat!

Also, if you aren’t already aware of the new AHLI contest please keep reading down below to find out more information! 1st and 2nd place winners will receive a gift card.

SEND ME A TIK TOK VIDEO OF WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO AT YOUR HOMESTAY! IF IT IS CHOSEN, YOU CAN WIN A $50 or $25 GIFT CARD!

AHLI wants a Tik Tok video of what you’ve been up to at home during this quarantine time. It can be a 30-60 second video of you doing different things with your Host Family or what you most enjoy about being in a homestay. These can be as funny and creative as you choose!

1st and 2nd Prize given: $50 and $25 gift cards, plus your Tik Tok shared on the AHLI website and social media! Send your video to me at Tiffaneew@amhomelife.org‘

You can find me on WeChat, search for Tiffanee Wright or scan my QR below. I look forward to hearing from you.

This month’s blog is focusing on mental health, specifically depression. It is a 2-part series that will continue next week.

Teenage years can be really difficult. It’s normal to feel sad or irritable every now and then, especially living in a new country and culture. In this time of uncertainty with COVID-19, you may be feeling worried or anxious. It also can be lonely being forced to stay home and not able to be around friends at school.

When those feelings don’t go away or they become overwhelming, you may be suffering from depression. Depression is much more than feeling sad for a short period of time. It’s a mood disorder that can change the way you think, feel, and function in your daily life. When you’re depressed, you may feel hopeless and isolated, and it can seem that no one understands. But you are not alone. About 1 in 5 teenagers suffer with depression. 

It can be hard to describe how depression feels, but here are some common symptoms:

• You often feel irritable, sad, or angry.
• Things you used to enjoy don’t seem fun anymore.
• You feel bad about yourself—worthless, guilty, or just “wrong” in some way.
• You have trouble sleeping or have trouble staying awake.
• You’ve turned to alcohol or drugs to try to change the way you feel.
• You have frequent headaches or other physical pains or problems.
• You’ve gained or lost weight without trying to.
• You’re having trouble concentrating, thinking clearly, or remembering things.
• You feel helpless or hopeless.
• You’re thinking about death or suicide. (If so, talk to someone like your AHLI Coordinator or host parent right away!)

Depression is not your fault. It is not sign of weakness or a character flaw. There are many stresses in life, and sometimes this stress may change how well our body manages our emotions.  Fortunately if you are experiencing depression, there are ways to help your body recover. We’ll discuss these more in our next blog.  

The most important thing is to talk to someone about how you feel, even though it may be hard at first. It’s important to remember that many people struggle with feelings like these at one time or another. Even though it may not feel like it at the moment, people do love and care about you. It is very helpful to share your worries with someone who will listen and care about what you say. Asking for help is a sign of strength, and is the first step towards feeling better.

Feel free to WeChat me to share how you have been staying busy during your time home from school.  Have you been finding ways to use your creative skills? Or be active? Or stay engaged with your host family while still sheltering in place due to the coronavirus?

Also, we’re excited to announce a new AHLI contest you can take part in! 1st and 2nd place winners will receive a gift card. Keep reading to find out more information!

SEND ME A TIK TOK VIDEO OF WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO AT YOUR HOMESTAY! IF IT IS CHOSEN, YOU CAN WIN A $50 or $25 GIFT CARD!

AHLI wants a Tik Tok video of what you’ve been up to at home during this quarantine time. It can be a 30-60 second video of you doing different things with your Host Family or what you most enjoy about being in a homestay. These can be as funny and creative as you choose!

1st and 2nd Prize given: $50 and $25 gift cards, plus your Tik Tok shared on the AHLI website and social media! Send your video to me at Tiffaneew@amhomelife.org‘

You can find me on WeChat, search for Tiffanee Wright or scan my QR below. I look forward to hearing from you.

By now you all have heard of COVID-19 (coronavirus).  This is a new virus that scientists had not seen before, and therefore is called a ‘novel’ virus.  The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, meaning a disease that is present across the whole world.

How is the virus spread?
COVID-19 is spread through the air by droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs.  It may also be spread by touching an object that has the virus on it and then touching your eyes or mouth, but that is not the main way.

What are symptoms of COVID-19?
Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of

• fever               • cough          • shortness of breath

Is there a vaccine for COVID-19?
Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent someone from getting the virus.  Research is on-going in many countries, and potential vaccines are being tested, but it will take at least a year before there will be a vaccine ready for distribution to the public.

Is there treatment for COVID-19?
There is no specific treatment for the virus, but there is treatment for the symptoms, if needed.  People who are sick should be seen and treated by medical professionals.

How can I protect myself?
There are many ways you can help prevent getting sick:

1.  Prevent contact with people that have the sickness
2. Wash your hands well and often. Wash for 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
3. Try not to touch your eyes, nose, mouth, especially if you haven’t washed your hands
4. Clean and disinfect your desk, computer and phone more often
5. Avoid large crowds of people
6. Do not share food or drinks with friends or people outside your host family
7. Stay home if you are sick

Should I wear a mask to protect myself?
Right now, the risk of becoming sick with the Coronavirus in the U.S. for the average person is very low.  The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) is not recommending people who are NOT sick to wear a mask for two reasons:

a)     Most masks do not protect against virus particles
b)     Respirators, which are more protective must be carefully fitted to size, and carefully disposed of.  If everyone wore these masks every day, everywhere, there would be a shortage of these masks for healthcare workers who need them to care for people who are sick.

Will my school close?
To be cautious, some private and public schools may close for a short period of time for cleaning or to help mitigate (slow) the spread the virus.  Many schools will continue their studies using online classes.  Your AHLI Coordinator will keep you informed if this change will impact you.
If your school closes, Remember:

• School is still in session, you must sign-in online EVERY day or you will be marked absent. This is not a vacation.
• You cannot travel during this time. You must be on-line for classes.
• You must turn-in assignments on time. You will not be given extensions.

Can I go home this Summer?
The epidemic is changing daily.  It is difficult to predict how the global situation will be by the time your school closes.  We urge you to have patience before making decisions. However, there are some travel bans for certain countries already in effect that may affect your ability to return to the States if you go home for Summer vacation.  AHLI will be offering summer programming for students who want to stay in America over the Summer and continue with their English studies and be assured their enrollment in school (high school or post-high). 

This is not a time to fear. God tells us not to be afraid for He is with us at all times, and strengthens us with courage, love, and hope. If you are feeling anxious, talk with your Coordinator or host family.

Here is a popular comic about virus basics that I would like to share with you:

English version of the comic – Press this link

Chinese version of the comic – Press this link

If you like facts, statistics, or graphs about the pandemic, follow this link to learn more: informationisbeautiful.net

Thank you.

Tiffanee M. Wright, MA, MPH | Executive Director
AHLI – International Education and Homestay

SEND ME YOUR BEST PHOTO AND IF IT IS CHOSEN, YOU CAN WIN A $50 or $25 GIFT CARD!

AHLI wants your best photo from the school year that shows you…with your friend at school or your host family! They say a picture is worth 1,000 words…what picture says it all for you?

1st and 2nd Prize given: $50 and $25 gift cards, plus your photo shared on the AHLI website and social media!

Send your photo to me at Tiffaneew@amhomelife.org You can find me on WeChat, search for Tiffanee Wright or scan my QR below.

It’s that time to get serious about your future, specifically your college application and essay!

This month’s guest writer is Mike Shank, Guidance Counselor at Shalom Christian Academy in Pennsylvania. Mike has been at SCA for 28 years, hosted 13 students and young adults. His sons, Ian and Sawyer are both students at Shalom Christian Academy.

College application essays can be intimidating but if you think of them as an opportunity for the college to get to know the real you, then it can remove some of the fear.  Here are some helpful hints to make college essay writing less stressful.

• The most basic task you have is to answer the question you are given. 
• Be sure your answer is a response to the question or essay prompt rather than a list of your accomplishments.  There are other places on the application to list your accomplishments.
• There is nothing wrong with “recycling” or reusing parts of other essays you have written if they are relevant to the question.
• Please make sure if you are writing an essay for one college, such as Shippensburg University, do not write about what a great fit Bloomsburg University would be for you!  
• Sometimes colleges ask odd, hard-to-understand questions that are so open-ended it is difficult to know where to start in answering the question.
  • The purpose of these questions is to get to know you.  If a college asks a question that you think is “weird”, maybe that college is not a good fit for you.  Whether a question is strange or not, answering in an authentic, “true” manner is of primary importance.
  • Your task is not figuring out what the admissions counselor wants to hear.  Your task is to communicate who you are in words.
  • Admissions counselors read many essays and they are skilled at detecting a lack of authenticity in essays. They can tell when essays are the result of heavy coaching or are written by a parent or other adult.  
• As you have opportunity and as it fits with the essay prompt, demonstrate interest in the college by showing how it is a good fit for you.  Your response must come from a place of integrity and authenticity; it will, if your reasons for attending a particular college is more about its values, strengths and offerings than it is about prestige and name recognition.  
• Stay within the suggested word limit.  Going over the word limit will not impress admissions counselors.  It may hurt your cause if your essay is too long. It is more impressive to be concise while still completely answering the question. 
• My final piece of advice—be sure to have someone proofread your essay. Another set of eyes can see things that we may not see.  

So face those essays fearlessly and let YOU shine through!  

From Tiffanee:

Invitation to WeChat or email Tiffanee:

Where’s your dream college? Why?

Seniors, where are you headed for college?

Stay tuned: Next Month…Enter the AHLI Best Homestay Photo Contest! Win a Gift Card!!

Happy 2020! Happy Chinese New Year! This month we have a guest writer sharing about an American tradition. Brian Kelley is an AHLI Student Director for schools in Maryland and one in PA. 

We just turned the calendar on a new year.  Many people seek to gain a new focus when flipping the calendar from December to January. We call these focuses, “resolutions.”  Resolutions are made for a variety of reasons.  There are students who want good grades, there are athletes who desire to perform better, people join gyms with the hopes of losing weight and/or getting in shape and finally there are some; particularly Christians who want to pray and read their Bibles more.  

Unfortunately, many fail in their resolutions. We know that we have the best intentions, yet we only make a couple of weeks into the new year, this can be discouraging. But each day, we can strive to continue with our resolution and make small improvements to become better individuals.

The God of the Bible had a resolution, to be reconciled (regain a relationship) with man (II Corinthians 5:18-21).  His way to do this did not make sense; He gave up his only Son to be the sacrifice for our sin (all the wrong we do).  Even when his Son came to earth to live as a man and even when people rejected his Son, He never broke his resolution.  He did not save his Son!  

I know this sounds crazy, but it is true.  His Son willingly died on the cross so his Father’s resolution would take place.  Why? This was not a resolution for only a moment or a new year.  This was a resolution for eternity.  God realized a bigger picture when it came to mankind.  He made a way for each person, including you to have a personal relationship with the living God and to live eternally with Him! Knowing God brings peace, comfort, and strength through the difficult situations of life.

Did you make a resolution? Here are some suggestions to make small improvements each day:

• Improve your academic performance
• Build a new friendship
• Help someone in your class
• Prepare for challenging high school courses
• Start researching colleges
• Remember to enjoy high school
• Learn more about God

From Tiffanee:

In America, we often share our resolution with someone to help us keep accomplishing our goal when we feel like giving up. Who can you share your New Year’s resolution with this month?  I’d love to hear about your resolutions on Wechat!  You can connect with me on WeChat or WhatsApp (TiffaneeWright).

P.S.  This month, I am meeting agents in Japan, I brought my two daughters, Kia and Kaiya with me.