Saturday, March 21, 2020

What I Learned From My Own Advice When My Kids Went Off To College

What I Learned From My Own Advice When My Kids Went Off To College SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips I’m a dad. I give advice. It’s what I do. You can’t fight nature. When it’s time to go, you go. When it’s time to advice, you advice. So, it’s natural, really the divine order of things, that when my kids went off to college, I gave them advice. I was just doing my job. I told them just two things. 1. Don’t sweat the major. Yes, if you want to build bridges, it’s best that you major in Structural Engineering. For all of us. Most of the time, it’s just not that critical. Jobs change. Workplace needs evolve. New jobs are created. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most people go through 7 major career changes. Not different jobs - different careers. A teacher becomes an insurance salesman. A VP of marketing transitions to a non profit controller. Whitman was right. We contain multitudes. Study this: something you love. Learn about something that interests you. If you don’t know what you love, study until you do. Then, explore some more. Unless you’re a Kardashian, you don’t pick a spouse based on net worth. You don’t pick a major based on ROI. It’s short sighted. Does a major inspire you? Are you curious? Do you want to learn? If the answer is yes, that’s a good start. Graduating from college is not the end of education. You’re just getting warmed up. 2. Go out for the school play. Do something that makes you uncomfortable. Act. Sing. Debate. Play Rugby. Comfort is the enemy. Just do something new. Learn the fundamentals. Struggle. Adjust. Practice your craft. Help others. Repeat. It’s what you will do for the rest of your life. Start now. I can’t say this enough. Put yourself out there. Surprisingly, my kids took my advice. Who knew they were listening? My daughter is a dance and english major. She taps. She writes comedy. She is a Funk Dj for the college radio station. Tap shows are not selling out stadiums. They don’t sell out the Moose Lodge. There was only one Nora Ephron. Tina Fey is a limited job market. So is Mindy Kaling. I'm guessingthe Funk DJ job market is limited. I don’t care. You go girl. Play that funky music white girl. Play that music funky music right. Play that music till you die. My son wants to open a restaurant. He’s a Marketing major. He cooks. Most restaurants fail in the first year. You go boy. Cook that funky food right. Do what you love till you die. After I dumped the last Ikea instructions, after both kids were gone, it hit me. I wasn’t listening to my own advice. I wasn’t living you go dad. I wasn’t playing that funky music. The record player wasn’t even plugged in. It was buried in the garage, next to the guitar. I wasn’t growing. If anything, I was shrinking. Do something to pay the bills. Get by. I was a routine. It was time to learn from my kids. It was time to listen to my own advice. I was asked to be in my daughter’s ballet recital. â€Å"Dad, can you be Dr. Coppelia. It will be so much fun.† â€Å"What’s Coppelia? I’m in.† I did say no to the tights and the tutu. Step 1 on the road of putting myself out there. I became a high school basketball referee. Then volleyball. Football. Lacrosse. Except for the tights and tutu, I kept saying yes. Grow. Stretch. Be uncomfortable. This is the thing. Our kids grow up. Going off to college is an adventure. It’s time for them to put themselves out there. Try something new. Get uncomfortable. Stretch. Grow. As parents of these students, it’s our time too. We just need a reminder. It’s time to put ourselves out there. Try something new. Do something that makes you uncomfortable. Grow. Stretch. You go dad. You go mom. Play that funky music. Play it loud. After all, we’re just getting warmed up.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Explore the Basic Fundamentals of Physics

Explore the Basic Fundamentals of Physics Physics is a systematic study of the natural world, particularly the interaction between matter and energy. It is a discipline that attempts to quantify reality through a precise application of observation coupled with logic and reason. In order to make use of such a discipline, you must first understand certain fundamentals. Only by learning the basics of physics can you build upon it and dive deeper into this field of science. Whether you are pursuing  a career in physics or merely interested in its findings, it certainly is fascinating to learn about. What Is Considered Physics? To begin the study of physics, you must first understand what physics actually means. Understanding what falls within the realm of physics- and what does not- helps focus the field of study so you can formulate meaningful physics questions. Behind every question in physics lies four very important terms  you will want to understand:  hypothesis, model, theory  and law.   Physics can be either experimental or theoretical. In experimental physics, physicists  address a scientific problem using techniques such as the scientific method in an attempt to prove a hypothesis. Theoretical physics is often more conceptual in that physicists are focused on developing scientific laws, such as the theory of quantum mechanics.   These two forms of physics are related to each other and connected to other forms of scientific study. Quite often, experimental physics will test the hypotheses of theoretical physics. Physicists themselves can specialize in a variety of fields, from astronomy and astrophysics to mathematical physics and nanotechnology. Physics also plays a role in other fields of science, such as chemistry and biology. The Fundamental Laws of Physics The goal of physics is to develop precise models of physical reality. The best case scenario is to develop a series of very fundamental rules to describe how these models function. These rules are frequently called laws after they have been used successfully for many years. Physics is complicated, but it does fundamentally rely  on a number of  accepted laws of nature. Some are historical and groundbreaking discoveries in science. These include  Sir Isaac Newtons Law of Gravity  as well as his Three Laws of Motion.  Albert Einsteins Theory of Relativity  and the  laws of thermodynamics  also fall into this category. Modern physics is building off those monumental truths to study things such as quantum physics which explores the invisible universe. Similarly, particle physics seeks to understand the smallest bits of matter in the universe. This is the field where strange words like quarks, bosons, hadrons, and leptons enter the scientific dialogue that makes headlines today. The Tools Used in Physics The tools that physicists use range from the physical to the abstract. They include balance scales and laser beam emitters as well as mathematics. Understanding this wide range of tools and the methods for applying them is essential to understanding the process that physicists go through in studying the physical world. The physical tools include things like  superconductors  and synchrotrons, which are used to create intense magnetic fields. These can be applied in studies like the Large Hadron Collider or practically in the development of magnetic levitation trains. Mathematics is at the heart of physics and is vital in all fields of science. As you begin to explore physics, fundamentals such as using significant figures  and going beyond the basics of the metric system will be important. Math and physics go much deeper as well and concepts like vector mathematics  and the mathematical properties of waves are crucial to the work of many physicists. Historys Famous Physicists Physics does not exist in a vacuum (even though some physics is practiced in an actual vacuum). The forces of history have shaped the development of physics as much as any other field in history. Quite often, it is useful to understand the historical perspectives which led to our current understanding. That includes the ​many incorrect paths that were faltered along the way. It is also useful and intriguing to learn about the lives of the famous physicists of the past. The ancient Greeks, for instance, combined philosophy with the study of natural laws and are particularly known for an interest in astronomy. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Galileo Galilei further studied, observed, and experimented with the laws of nature. Though he was persecuted in his time, he is regarded today as the father of science (coined by Einstein) as well as modern physics, astronomy, and observational science. Galileo inspired and was followed by famous scientists like Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Richard P. Feynman, and Stephen Hawking. These are just a few of the names of physics history that have shaped our understanding of how our world works. Their abilities to challenge accepted theories and devise new ways of looking at the universe have inspired physicists who continue to achieve scientific breakthroughs.