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Carpe diem. How many times have we heard this expression, not being fully aware of its meaning? The 1989 film Dead Poets Society captures the true sense of "seizing the day". Personally, it is one of the most impactful films I've ever watched. I discovered it when I was 15, at a moment when I didn't know I needed it. The plot Dead Poets Society tells the story of an English teacher, Mr. Keating, who shows the boys in Welton Academy how to think for themselves, be free, find their own passion and, consequently, he inspires each student to become the person they want to be. Many of the situations these characters go through are so real that it's impossible not to relate to them in some way. You might identify with the energetic and passionate Neil Perry, who finds himself having to choose between living up to his father's expectations or doing what really makes him happy, which is acting in plays. Or, on the other hand, Todd Anderson's story might appeal to you. He's an introvert, shy and caring boy who gains confidence throughout the film and learns to stand up for his beliefs. He's also a talented writer who needs to become aware of his potential. Then, there's Knox Overstreet, the hopeless romantic. And Charlie Dalton, the rebel who likes getting into trouble. Mr. Keating manages to touch and inspire most of these characters, changing their views of life and making them believe in themselves. By having an impact on these people, he also gets to move the viewers of the film. Who is this film for? If you're into literature and theater, this film is a must watch. It mentions authors such as Thoreau, Shakespeare and Walt Whitman, as well as some of their best works. However, every teenager should give Dead Poets Society a try. At the end of the day, no matter our academic preferences or hobbies, we all feel the same: we're at a point in our lives where we are not sure what we really want, we're too focused on doing well at school and we have insecurities about our life, friends, future… Everything gets so overwhelming and stressful that sometimes, we just need to be told that we should follow our dreams without being afraid of being judged; it's okay to be ourselves and to do whatever makes us happy. This is what Dead Poets Society will make you feel. No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world. Some inspiring quotes: “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love; these are what we stay alive for.” “You must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.” “(Seize the day) Because we are food for worms, lads. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold and die.”

High school can be chaotic. You might find yourself in complex friendship situations, struggling to balance a social life with school, fitting in some 'me' time, and getting enough sleep can seem impossible. It's amidst all this chaos that society and the school ask you to plan your future by choosing a university course and a career path. I am sure I am not alone when I say this is not an easy task. Personally, the biggest problem I face is that my passion and grades do not match. The things I don't enjoy are the things I achieve the best grades in and the things I enjoy are not (grade-wise) my strengths. This is frustrating, confusing and I feel as though I am being pulled in two opposite directions. Fortunately, I still have time to improve my grade in the subjects I love most. Gap year, the right option? Nevertheless, if you are nearing or in your final year at school and you are completely lost on what to study at university, then many people advise taking a gap year. A gap year will allow you to gain some life experiences that may help you find where your interests truly lie. Remember university can be attended at any age, the 'right' age for everyone will differ. So do not be afraid to wait till you're older if that is what's best for you. Finding what’s is best for you Another challenge I constantly hear about from my peers is that they simply don't know what subjects they like. This makes sense as going to school every day can be very repetitive, hence you are less aware of the progress you're making or what you enjoy. Additionally, during lessons students are often focused on taking notes, doing the task at hand, etc. without thinking about whether they are enjoying it or not. Simply taking some time to assess how you feel about what you're learning can give you some clues. My other tip is to write a list of all the subjects you don't like or jobs you don't want to do and see what you have remaining. If you realize you don't like any subject, investigate careers that are not related to subjects you study in school. As an alternative, think about the everyday things you do: do you love doing your make-up or hair? Maybe you’ll like the idea of being a make-up artist or hairdresser? Above all, I recommend finding ways you can pursue your interest further before starting university, whether it's reading a book on the topic or taking a placement/internship. Try out new things! In the book, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the father of Monique says: "When you're older. You have to find a job that makes your heart feel big instead of one that makes it feel small..." This is a noteworthy and insightful piece of advice, yet how can we follow it? Monique explains she was able to find something that made her 'soul expand' by joining and trying out everything she could, from orchestra to football to debate club, before finding her passion for journalism. I do believe, in real life, that taking risks and trying out new things will help you find your passion. All in all, this is my list of tips to find what you may want to study later on: Take some time to reflect on what you enjoy and what you don’t - pay attention to your feelings Write a list of subjects that you like and don’t like Reflect on the things that you do every day, they may provide you with clues as to where your interests lay Spend more time trying activities/experiences to figure out your interests (internship/books) If you still struggle with what you want to study, consider taking a gap year!

If you are looking for a book to relax and to spend a calm moment The things you can see only when you slow down by Haemin Sunim is the perfect book you need! Indeed, sometimes you are just tired of everything that is happening in your life, too many things in one day and you feel that you are overwhelmed, just take a break! Slow down and enjoy the present moment because 'now' is only what you have and will always have. In the book, I discovered how to appreciate the present moment, how to find peace in my inner self, and the author helped me with simple messages to calm the anxieties of my daily life. I believe that it will definitely help you as it benefited me. During my reading, I can feel the author's wisdom, and his words almost have the therapeutic power to calm you down and leave your stress behind you. Read this fantastic book written by Haemin Sunim, a zen Buddhist teacher, born in South Korea and educated at Berkeley, Havard, and Princeton. My favorite quotes:💖 The person leading you toward spiritual awakening is not the one who praises you or is nice to you. Your spirituality deepens because of those who insult you and give you a hard time. They are your spiritual teachers in disguise. Of all the words that pour out of our mouths every day, how many are borrowed from others? How often do we say something original? Is there such a thing as our own words anyway? Life is like theater. You are assigned a role. If you don’t like a role, keep in mind that you have the power to re-create the role you want. Being right isn’t nearly as important as being happy together. An emotional reaction often leads to a regrettable outcome. Do not expect others to follow your way. When things always go your way, it is easy to become arrogant. Just remember that the person who has made your life difficult today could be an undercover teacher sent from above, tasked with your spiritual growth. Politicians always say what sounds good. But what they say does not always resonate with us – because their words are coming from their head, not from their heart. Do you know why that conversation is so boring? Because we are trapped in politeness, unable to speak from the heart. Any conversation can become interesting and lively as soon as we start speaking with real honesty. What our mind focuses on becomes our world. It suggests that the world is experienced according to the state of one's mind. Nothing is intrinsically good or bad. Good or bad is always relative. Compare your situation with someone that is worse. Now yours does not seem so bad after all. You are so eager to help your friends, but you treat yourself so poorly. Life teaches us through our mistakes. When you make a mistake, simply ask yourself what you were meant to learn from it. When we accept such lessons with humility and gratitude, we grow that much more. Has something disappointed you? Has something made tout sad? It's the school of life trying to teach you an important lesson. When you feel ready, take the time to understand the lesson. The flaw that you immediately notice in someone you meet is probably a flaw of yours, too. If you didn't have it, you wouldn't have noticed it so quickly. No one is inherently good or bad. Only the circumstances in which we encounter each other are good or bad. Why can't you trust that friend? Because you know all too well that you, too, are capable of lying in similar circumstances. An exceptional relationship is not one with a good beginning but one with a good ending. Relationships often begin accidentally, but when it comes to ending them, we usually have choices. Choose the ending wisely. This concerns me. If we consider someone's identity as rooted primarily in his hometown or the school he graduated from, we end up looking only at his past and not paying attention to his current skills or future vision. Always go with your first choice if you can afford it. It is better than a life filled with regrets. Where you live shapes you. Do you live in a place conducive to the pursuit of your dreams? If we are brutally honest with ourselves, most things we do for others are in fact for ourselves. Do not let people's opinions of you determine who you are. Instead of worrying about what others think, devote yourself to your dreams. Dream big but start small. Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive, because your habits become your habits. Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive, because your value becomes your destiny. Actions speak louder than words. Some say they don't really know what they are looking for in life. This might be because of getting in touch with how they feel, they have led their lives according to other people's expectations. Live your life not to satisfy others, but to fulfill what your heart desires. If you are raising a child, then remember this: it is okay for your child to do well in one area and not so well in others. Try these two things at the same time: pretend you are a champion and work diligently at becoming one. The gap between belief and reality will soon be close. It is a sign of great spiritual strength to keep someone's secret.

Arguably, one of the greatest pleasures of life is creative writing. Generating ideas and putting them into words to create a story is most rewarding. Even though many enjoy the delight and gratification that comes with writing, very few people have the talent to engage an audience. Luckily, the art of entertaining people by writing is something that can be learned. As someone who has been writing for pure fun throughout all of my life, I will be giving you four tips to improve your creative writing. Hope this helps! 1. Show, Don’t Tell “Actions speak louder than words”. When writing, instead of telling the reader a piece of information, splash details that could lead the audience into inferring something. This will make your writing more immersive and help you develop your character. For example: When telling: Isabella was terribly afraid of drowning. She never went anywhere near a boat. When showing: As she stepped inside the boat her shoulders tensed, holding her breath and gripping tightly into her coat. A splash of water brushed her skin and a wave of anxiety rushed through her as she closed her eyes and closed her eyes, ready for another flashback of her nightmare. The imaginary water started filling her lungs as she slowly drifted into unconsciousness. She shook off the thought, but it always came running back. 2. DO describe scenery, but Don’t be TOO detailed A lot of times, authors believe that by being more descriptive they can make the readers feel involved in the story, this is a total misconception. Even though being detailed is engaging, it is also important to leave some things to the readers’ imagination. One of the joys of reading is speculating something that isn’t described or explained in the book. It is important to leave space for the readers to create their own theories because this is a great part of what makes a book engaging. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go into detail when describing scenery, just don’t cross the line, leave space for imagination. 3. Only write a prologue if absolutely necessary Some people think that a prologue is used to talk about the main character’s backstory, which is untrue. Many writers dump the whole backstory of their main character into the prologue. Even though it has been an effective technique in a few books, the backstory of the main character should be revealed either slowly, as the book progresses, or at the very ending, in a jaw-dropping moment. A prologue should only be used if absolutely necessary (i.e. if you want to foreshadow something). Try to not use a prologue when writing, only use it as a last resource and/or if you think it is absolutely necessary. 4. Don’t overwhelm readers in the first few chapters Sometimes, introducing a lot of information and/or characters will overwhelm the readers. Naturally, the human brain cannot remember everything learned in a short period, therefore if you put every character in the first chapter, the reader will, most likely, not remember most of them. The same thing happens when you write too much new information from the beginning. A better strategy that can help keep the audience engaged throughout your piece of writing, is to sprinkle the characters at different times or whenever you think is more convenient. Thank you so much for reading and I hope these tips help! Now go and write!

A decade ago, Simon Sinek started a movement with this book and his TED talk - which had over 56 million views - which explored the core of all successful movements: WHY. Table of content: 😄 Who must read this book? 🧐 The book in one sentence ✏️ Best Quotes 😄 Who must read this book? ​ - Understand the importance of defining the 'WHY' - How do outstanding companies distinguish themselves from other - Why everyone should set their 'WHY' before taking any initiatives ​ 🧐 The book in one sentence ​ Everyone should define their 'WHY' (what is the purpose of doing it?) because knowing the 'WHY' will help you to keep motivated even during hard times. ​ ✏️Best Quotes ​ ‘Fear, real or perceived, is arguably the most powerful manipulation of the lot.’ ‘If anyone has ever sold you anything with a warning to fear the consequences if you don’t buy it, they are using a proverbial gun to your head to help you see the ‘value’ of choosing them over their competitor.’ ‘People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.’ ‘No matter where we go, we trust those with whom we can perceive common values or beliefs.’ ‘Leaders win hearts before minds.’ ‘Everything you say and everything you do has to prove what you believe.’ ‘A WHY is just belief.’ ‘The role of a leader is to create an environment in which great ideas can happen.’ ‘Growing up with somebody and having a common life experience increases the likelihood of a share common worldview.’

'Make it stick' is a must-read for everyone especially for students because it tells you the truth about effective learning strategies. You will discover that most students are told ineffective learning strategies which explains why only a few students get excellent grades. If you struggle with school and want to level up your grades, read this amazing book that helped me get the best grades that I ever had from an average student to a top-grader! 'Make it stick' is written by two outstanding scientists with an exceptional story-teller Peter Brown and their book will open your eyes to the science of successful learning. Table of contents 😄 Who must read this book? 👍 How did the book change my life? ✏️ My favourite quotes 📍 TAKEAWAY 📎 Poster Summary 😄 Who is this book for? Students Anyone who doesn’t want to forget what he/she has learned before Anyone who wants to know the best approaches to learning Anyone who cares about his/her time and wants to study efficiently 👍 How did it change my life? I realized that my learning strategies were completely ineffective (but like really ineffective) I became better at memorizing things I got excellent grades I now know how to learn quickly without wasting your time I have more free time to enjoy rather than studying ✏️ My favourite quotes 📒 'Effortful retrieval makes for stronger learning and retention.' 📍 TAKEAWAY The book first introduces you to the most popular and counterproductive techniques of learning used by the majority of students (you'll see, the number of students who are using the wrong strategies is ridiculous). ​ Ineffective learning strategies: ❌ Re-reading ❌ Highlighting ❌ Cramming (Believe it or not, this one is particularly popular among the student, lord knows why?) ​ Shocking right? Most students waste their time highlighting what they have read, re-read again, again in the hope that our brain memorized our notes. This is not going to work guys! So, please stop and use instead effective learning strategies! But what are they? ​ ​ MAIN Effective learning strategies: ​ ​ ​ ✔️Retrieval ❌ Re-reading ✔️Spacing ❌ Highlighting ✔️Interleaving ❌ Cramming​ ​ ​ ✔️Retrieval Means self-quizzing. Relieving knowledge and skill from memory should become your primary study strategy. Asking questions, quizzing, and flashcards. ✔️Spacing Means studying information more than once but leaving considerable time between practice sessions. Schedule and chronometer. ✔️Interleaving This means studying more than one type at a time so that you are alternatively between different problems that all for different solutions. Mixing up problem types improves your ability to discriminate between types. ​ ​ Other approaches that are effective: ​ ​​ ​✔️Elaboration ✔️Generation ✔️Reflection ✔️Calibration ​ ​ ​ ✔️Elaboration Means incorporating new knowledge into what you already know. Explain to somebody else in your own words. ✔️Generation This means an attempt to answer a question or solve a problem before being shown the answer to the solution. ✔️Reflection The act of taking a few minutes to review what has been learned in a recent class or experience ad asking yourself questions. Asking questions to discover the ‘principle’ that has worked and how to improve better in the future ✔️Calibration The act of using an instrument to clear away illusions and adjust your judgment together reflects reality. Quizzes, practice tests... 📎 Poster Summary Download a summary of this review here!

School can be very hard sometimes, they are periods where nothing seems to be going the way we want it, and somewhere the fear of getting a bad grade or comment can really come to push us down. This often creates more stress which makes things seem much bleaker than they really are. This is something that we all go through at least once, school is stressful at times and it's important to realize that it's okay to feel anxious or nervous. If you don't feel stressed, then good for you. But it's still important to be aware of its impacts and how to deal with it when the time comes. Table of Contents: What is stress? Symptoms of stress Finding the source of stress How to deal with What is stress? Stress is a natural reaction of your body towards an upcoming event. Whether it takes the form of excitement (for a joyful occasion) or a negative one (which is what stress is most often associated with), too much, unaddressed stress can have long-term negative impacts on your physical and mental wellbeing. Stress can take three general forms: Acute stress: this is a short-term feeling that you get for example when you're running late or forgot something. This day-to-day stress doesn't have very significant impacts on your body as you return to normal state relatively quickly. Episodic acute stress: this is characterized by acute stress happening on a more than regular basis over a long period. This can lead to symptoms such as migraines and headaches and it feels like we are constantly in a state of crisis. Chronic stress: this is when someone simply can't escape a stressful situation. Such as a difficult major or class, or a complicated relationship. This can lead to extreme weight gains or loss, sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, etc... Common symptoms of stress amongst students Physical: Sweating Increase heart rate/blood pressure Vertigo / dizziness Muscle tension Headaches Stomachaches/nausea Fatigue Mental: Difficult concentration Forgetfulness Struggle to make decisions Slight memory loss Negative outlook Procrastination A disconnection between thoughts, feelings, etc... Emotional: Hostile, irritable, etc... Increased worrying Loneliness Constantly feeling overwhelmed Finding the source of stress Realizing that you're stressed is important. But it's just as important to identify where the stress is coming from so that one can tackle the issue and find comfort in dealing with their stress. Often finding the source of your stress is harder than it may seem. You might have been feeling this way for longer than you can remember, you may not remember exactly what triggered your stress, there could be several factors, etc... Try to take an introspective AND retrospective view on events that have recently, unfolded. Was there a big assignment that you were more worried about than usual? Do you have an unresolved argument with a friend or family? Did you recently have to move city, country or school? Are you having a hard time finding friends or getting back into your old routine? Do you feel anxious every time you think about your homework? Do you have an ex you didn't completely get over? Did you recently lose someone you were close to? Are your grades not getting any better no matter what you do? etc... Once you can identify where your concern is coming from, you've already done half the work because figuring out for yourself what is making you feel stressed raises awareness of the underlying problem and gives you a chance to deal with it. Tips to deal with stress Here are some easy ways in which you can help alleviate your stress and put you into good habits to not develop chronic stress: Get enough sleep: As students, we often sacrifice our sleep for the sake of studying or homework. This may not seem like a big deal as you tell yourself that once in a while it's okay to only get 5-6 hours. But in the long run, this can cause a foul mood, make you perform poorly in exams, and increase the stress level. Getting a healthy amount of sleep for teenagers between 13-18 years old is around 8-10 hours and this can make a significant difference in school and home life but also in physical and mental health. Eat well: Eating well can also have effects on your mood. Restraining, yourself can lead to unhealthy relationships with food, and showing no restraint can lead to indigestions and discomforts. Moderation is important but be sure to treat yourself once in a while. There are also some foods such as bananas or salmon that can boost serotonin levels making you feel overall less stressed and in a better mood. Exercise: Regular workouts or sports are proven to increase the release of endorphins and improve cognitive activity and efficiency. Doing exercise to cut study time or work can help clear your mind or calm yourself. Whether it's just walking around in your neighborhood, yoga, indoor or outdoor sport, it's beneficial to exercise regularly 3-5 times a week for at least 20 min. Schedules/time management: When feeling overwhelmed, it's important to reorganize yourself. By managing your day, it can help you use your time efficiently and overall help you feel more in control. This can also help reduce procrastination, manage and include breaks, and avoid pulling all-nighters. Spend more time socializing: Oftentimes when we have work or studying to do, we think that going out with friends or family is of secondary importance. But maintaining relationships is vital for stress management notably in creating a support network. The people close to you are the ones that can alleviate stress and help you see through tough times and socializing can also be a break from school or any kind of work. Getting professional help: Sometimes, when dealing with chronic stress, the best solution may be to consult a therapist. There is no shame in going to see a professional for they can help to develop specific stress management techniques or methods for you and even detect the source of stress.

For about 2 months, I dropped my paper notebooks and switched to Goodnotes, Apple's note-taking app. Here is my review of it so far. Table of content: Introduction: What's Goodnotes? Pros Cons How to use it: Easy tutorial Introduction: What's Goodnotes? Goodnotes is Apple's note-taking app. Created on April 12, 2011, it is one of the most used note-taking apps in the world and is nowadays considered a must-have for iPad users. I don't really know what to say about it, except that it is truly amazing, so here is the link to their website if you want more information about it. -Goodnotes' logo Pros Easy to use, you will adapt to the app's features in no time. Makes your backpack much lighter. Everything is well-ordered If you have an issue, you can easily find help on the internet. Cons Quite expensive (if you count the iPad and the Apple pencil) The "paper feeling" for some people. Overall, you should definitely try it when you'll have an opportunity to. How to use Goodnotes? A very easy, well-made, complete, outstanding, beautifully written, practical, useful and amazing tutorial Goodnotes is an Apple app, and it only works with Apple devices. To use it, you'll need : An iPad (click on the link to see which one works) An Apple pencil (1st or 2nd gen) Money, to buy the 7.99$ fee to buy the app Ready? Let's gooo A)Create a notebook: Now that you're ready, you can start with the very first step: create a notebook: Go in your Goodnotes app, and you'll see this (minus all the docs). Click on "New..." Click now on "Notebook" About the other functionalities: Folder can hold many notebooks ("English" is a folder on the picture) Image imports an image so that you can annotate on it Scan Documents makes a pdf and lets you annotate it Take photo is straightforward... Import imports a file QuickNote created a blank notebook. It is a normal notebook except it is supposed to let you take quick notes when you're in a hurry, with the notes to be reordered later Now, let's design your notebook! Choose a cover and a paper. You can change both later on. Then, type a title. Cover Paper Once you hit "Create"... TA-DA! Here is your brand new notebook. B)Take notes: Now that you have created your notebook, I'll show you how to use it: Everything happens in this panel. It is on the upper side of your screen once you're in the notebook. I will briefly go through every single icon, the bold ones are important: To go back to the main page To see all the pages in a "gallery" view. To search a word (the hand-written notes also count) To bookmark your notebook (it will appear on the main page) To share the notebook/some pages Go back one step Do I really need to tell you? To add a page (you choose where the page is: before, after the current page or as the last page, and the format of the paper) To have a "not taking notes" view. I've never used this. OPTIONS: most of them are self-explanatory, I'll go through the less obvious ones Outline: Add an outline which will appear on gallery view > Thumbnails and gallery view > Outlines Show Resolved Comments: Comment is a recent feature that appeared on the latest update. You can add a comment by clicking long enough on the notebook and then clicking on "Add Comment". You solve comments by clicking on "Resolve" Study Flashcards: If you had any flashcards in your notebook, it will make you review them. If you want more information about flashcards on Goodnotes, tell me in the forum Zoom. Useless cuz you can just pinch with your fingers. Pen. You have a few features concerning your pen, but they are straightforward so I won't explain them in detail. Change colour and size on the right. Note the "Draw and Hold" option: you can tick it if you want Goodnotes to create a shape out of what you've written. Just try it because I don't know how to explain it. Eraser, another easy-to-understand tool. Just like the pen, change size on the right. Highlighter, same. (yes, I've caught something called laziness) Shape: It's the "Draw and Hold option" but as a tool. Quite useful in geometry, but most of the time useless. Lasso: Incredible tool. Easy to use and to understand. Click on the right part with "abc~~~~" to see the tools. Add some stickers. You can add your own stickers using the + button on the bottom Insert a picture, easy to use and really useful. Insert text, options on the right. Laser, try it, it's fun. C)Bonus: Little things that might help you: I've had a few issues when using Goodnotes. Here is my compilation of useful tips on Goodnotes: 1. Change language a. Go to your settings (NOT in-app settings, the settings of your device) and click on "Goodnotes" b. Go on language and choose your wanted language No need to thank me (actually, thank me in the comments) 2. Position of writing a. Go in the Goodnotes app b. In the upper-right corner, click the settings icon c. Click on Settings d. Click Stylus & Palm Rejection e. Change your Writing Posture f. Don't forget to click "done" 3. Change templates (Create and delete) a. Go in your Goodnotes app b. In the upper-left corner, click the settings icon c. Click Notebook Templates d. On your wanted category ("Essentials" or "Writing Papers"...), scroll to the right e. Click import f. You can import either from a file or a photo. Select it and click "done" If you want to delete a template, do steps a, b, c and then I. Click Edit II. Select your template III. Click on the red bin in the upper-left corner IV. Click done 4. Delete, export, duplicate and move a notebook a. Go in your Goodnotes app (why am I repeating this...) b. Click the select icon on the upper-right corner (a tick with a circle) c. Select the notebooks d. Click on your wanted action ("Export", "Duplicate"...) e. Click done (upper-right) Hope this was useful! If you have any questions, ask them in the comments below or in the forum!

Table of contents 😄 Who must read this book? ✏️ My favorite quotes 📍 TAKEAWAY 📎 Poster Summary 🛒Buy on Amazon 😄 Who must read this book? ​ - You want to improve your public speaking skills? - You want to learn what makes a presentation successful? - You want to be able to present like a TED Talker? - Then, this book is perfect for you! 👌 ✏️My favorite quotes ​ ‘Remember, if you can’t inspire anyone else with your ideas, it won’t matter how great those ideas are.’ ‘Only which is truly unique and unexpected can stand out.’ ‘Curiosity, he says happens when we feel a gap in our knowledge …Gaps cause pain we want to know something but don’t.’ To take away the pain, we need to fill the knowledge gap. Because it’s too painful not to know the answer.’ ‘Every No means you are one step closer to Yes.’ ‘Our bodies change our minds.’ ‘In my experience, there is something addictive about tasting life at the very edge of what’s humanly possible.’ ‘In the craziness, we see genius.’ ‘If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.’ ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ ‘Courage stands out. Courage gets noticed. Courage wins hearts and minds.’ ​ ​ 📍TAKEAWAY: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds ​ 3 categories: ​ ​ Emotional Be truly passionate while presenting Storytelling, do it as if you were telling a story to someone Have a conversation (use body language, gestures and play with the tone)​ Novelty Tell something NEW (try to awaken people's curiosity) Jaw-dropping moments are when people are very shocked because they have seen something very impressive that they never thought will happen. Add humor and laughing moment ​ Memorable Respect the 18-minute Rule. A good presentation shouldn’t exceed 18 minutes because people will be overwhelmed and their attention will drop quickly. Add mental pictures and multisensory experiences Be authentic while presenting, don’t tell a fake story because people pay more attention if you show them the courage to show them your vulnerability. Poster Summary: (Click on to download)

Even though being a boarder might not seem like much, it is responsible for the growth and development of the sense of community in an individual. Boarding life at an IB school in England has certainly proved challenging, and yet it has been the root for incredible experiences shared among the people that form part of the school’s community. I had never been to a boarding school before and I am now a boarder for a couple of months since the start of the academic year. Despite this fact, I treasure invaluable memories. Diversity is a big part of my school’s community, and it pushes people to make friends from all sorts of backgrounds and learn from other cultures. Being a boarder is more than just sharing a room, it is about the constant feeling of people being there for each other. To tell you the truth, my first few weeks at a boarding school were rough. As I felt overwhelmed by my battle against homesickness while I tried to adapt to an entirely new curriculum, everything seems like it was falling apart. I felt lonely. After living with my parents and younger brother for the last 15 years, adapting to a new situation in which they were not a part of the equation was difficult. I felt like I wanted to go back home. And there, in my darkest moments, I felt the complete support of a community of loving people. Inarguably, the comfort and warmth of new friendships and pristine experiences helped me get through a period of sadness. At a boarding school, everyone is there for you when you most need it. The beauty of an incredibly balanced community is incredibly appealing and attractive. Being a boarder is an experience that I definitely recommend. It has helped me grow in unimaginable ways. Not many people have the opportunity to form part of such a beautiful community at my school. Even though I admit I struggled to adjust to everything at first, now I always feel like there is someone there to support me. A good boarding school is more than just a school, more than a community, it is a big family.

As this website is made for international students, I had to talk about a special baccalaureate: the International Baccalaureate, or IB. Table of contents : Some context... How does it work? What universities think about it Sources 1. Some context : This paragraph will briefly resume the IB's history and aim. The sources are this presentation, available on the IB's official website and the Wikipedia page of the IB. If you want more details, please check these useful links. Creation and aim: The IB has been created in the 1960s in Geneva, where the 4 main founders wanted to create a new way of learning that would be shifted towards international studies and would "centre on learners develop effective approaches to teaching and learning work within global contexts, helping students understand different languages and cultures explore significant content, developing disciplinary and interdisciplinary understanding that meets rigorous international standards" -From the IB's official website Programs: They strengthened this program through the 1970s to 2000, and created 4 programs, for 3 to 19 year old students. Learner's profile: During the creation of the different programs, they came up with the Learner's Profile, which was the student profile they were trying to build : -The learner's profile, from the IB's official website 2. How does it work? The IB starts in grade 11 and ends in grade 12. You can choose 6 subjects between 6 groups of subjects, 3 in standard level (SL), 3 in higher level (HL). You also have to complete CAS hours, the extra curriculum activities, and the TOK (theory of knowledge, a 1600-words essay). The whole system is kinda long to explain, so I’ll divide it into small parts : A) Groups of subject There are 6 groups of subjects, shown in this image : The groups are : Studies in language and literature Language acquisition Humanities Sciences Mathematics Arts Every student has to choose one subject from each group. The Arts group is special: you can choose not to take any arts but instead take a second subject in another group. For example, you can not take Arts and take 2 "language acquisition" subjects. For every group, different subjects are offered, and you have to go to the school's website to know what combination you can take. Here is the page from the IB's website with all the subject possibilities. B) HL vs SL HL and SL are a very important part of the IB. Chosen in grade 10, so before the IB, they are the way in which students specialize their studies. The students must choose three subjects in HL and 3 subjects in SL. Students sometimes take 4 HLs, but that's only if the student is very motivated and has a solid level. Click here to go to the IB's page dedicated to the courses. The subjects taken in HL will teach the student how to handle university. In some cases, students who have taken an HL can even skip university's first year! C) TOK The Theory of Knowledge is a 1600-word essay done through the 2 years of the IB. It is one of the components of the IB that you can't choose: every IB student has to take it. The TOK is the philosophical part of the IB: in TOK, students question the nature of knowledge (Go to this page to find examples of TOK topics). It helps students link knowledge acquired from all the subjects TOK is a very important part of the IB, and universities are often quite impressed by the students' ability to reflect as thinkers Go to this page to learn more. D) CAS Just like the TOK, the Creativity, Activity and Service is mandatory for all the IB students. It is a very important part of the baccalaureate as it demonstrates that the student is not only good academically, but also shows engagement in other non-academical activities. Sports, helping the community in any way, hobbies can all be counted as CAS activities. E) Other important stuff Here, I'm just throwing random stuff I find important. You can skip to my review if u want to. The Universities highly regard the IB. I'm talking about it in my review, but US IB is intense. It is one of the most challenging diplomas of the world. Taking it will truly broaden your knowledge and skills. Be ready (I'm still in grade 10, but I got to talk with some grade 11 and 12 and they all say that it's hard). 3. My review : The IB is a truly incredible diploma. It is well recognized internationally, and especially in the US. I mean, I can't really say anything because I'm not technically in the IB (I'm still in grade 10 and the IB starts in grade 11), but I'm still giving out my point of view from what I've seen so far about it. The IB's level is increadibly good: a survey showed that "the acceptance rate of IB students into Ivy League universities is up to 18% higher than the total population acceptance rate" !! This is a really short and lame review, isn't it ? I try not to say too much because I don't want to say fake things (again, I'm not in the IB yet) but if you want to learn more, don't hesitate to go to the forum and ask questions, I'll do my best to answer then. 4. Sources : The IB's official website : The Diploma Program page The University - IB page The presentation about IB's history, available on their website on this page Wikipedia's page about the IB's creation

Exams are coming, and you are on the verge of a breakdown when you realize how many papers you need to absorb. Don’t worry, I am here to save your day! Here are 4 tips that personally saved me in this situation. They are the main methods that work for me, I hope it will do the same for you! 1) The Cornell Method Okay, I cheated a little bit, this one needs to be applied while taking notes in class. It is a classic in note-taking, but it will always be useful. For those who never heard of it, here is how it works : The most important part of it is the « recall », or “summary” zone: here, you have all the key points that you have to know if you want to have a good grade. Did you know? The Cornell Notes System (also Cornell Method) is a note-taking system devised in the 1940s by Walter Pauk, a professor at Cornell University. 2) Flashcards Essentials and life saviors. A lot of people say they use them, but they do it the wrong way: don’t write your whole lesson on it! Of course, the content of your flashcards depends on the topic. In general, write down the principal titles, and the main ideas. And the vocab. If it is a history chapter, add some dates. In math and physics, write down some formulas. In biology, use LOTS of diagrams. Use your creativity! You may have seen some pics of them on social media. It is okay if they are not as pretty and aesthetic as those, as long as you feel comfortable with them! 3) Colors Use lots of colors. I insist on this point because the human brain likes when it sees colors everywhere; it helps to memorize better! Don’t use random colors; I use this color code with my highlighters for my notes : Blue: dates, important names Green: formulas, key numbers Yellow: important ideas or expressions Orange: definitions, vocab Pink: titles Purple: examples This is mine, but you can create one that fits you better! PS: yes, I invested in highlighters; they are really useful, as you can add colors in your lessons even if you didn’t write initially with colorful pens. 4) The 50/10 study session Recently I’ve been scrolling through the Internet and I found people using the Pomodoro technique, studying for 25 min and resting for 5 min. Why not? But I prefer the 50/10 min study sessions, as I can focus for a longer time (and have a longer break). At the end of two 50/10 blocks, I rest for 30 min. But as always, adapt according to your focusing capacities! Did you know? This technique was created in Italy during the 1980s. In Italian, “Pomodoro” means “tomato”. Why this name? Simply because the most popular kitchen timers at that time were in the shape of a tomato. 5) Bonus list A list of stuff I usually use during my study sessions: - Water (or hot chocolate) - A lofi playlist (perfect for studying) - Phone away!!!! - A study buddy (I use my cactus, but a pet or a friend will be okay too) - Why not a “study with me” video in the background? That’s it, folks! I hope this was useful :) Good luck with your exams!!