Podcast

Episode 45- My top 5 books for 2020

Dec 14, 2020

As we begin to reflect on the past year and consider what 2021 may bring us I always appreciate others sharing their top reads for the year. Here are mine and why.

https://www.facebook.com/NotYourCollegeLife

https://www.instagram.com/NotYourCollegeLife

https://www.pinterest.com/bealslesa

The Bible

It has always been a goal of mine to read the entire Bible in a year. I can finally say I did it. I just committed to reading for 15 minutes every day. Did I miss some days? Yep, but I kept going. Going to do it again next year!
Joshua 1:9 Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Deuteronomy 4:29 And if you search for him with all your heart and soul you will find him.
Proverbs 4:7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgment.
Proverbs 12:29 Worry weights a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 History merely repeats itself. It has all been done...

Episode 44- End of term, now what?

Dec 07, 2020

This is a revisit of Episode 16 a bit because end of term business doesn’t change a lot. Even with COVID.

Let’s talk grades, what do they mean, how to access your GPA status and 3 things to do now.

https://www.facebook.com/NotYourCollegeLife

https://www.instagram.com/NotYourCollegeLife

https://www.pinterest.com/bealslesa

Final grades

When do grades become ‘official’?
Where do they find their grades?

What do those final grades mean?

Good Standing

What does that mean?
Honors
Deans list

Probation

What does probation mean?
In most cases, COVID-19 meant no drops/dismissals. They need to determine if that continues or not for fall 2020

Dropped/Dismissed

What does this mean?
Future registration impact
Housing impact
Student loan repayment may begin before they are enrolled again.
Readmission
Future episode

So now what? Three things

However your student with a low GPA more than one failed needs to really assess what happened.
- Was it...

Episode 43- All the portals

Nov 30, 2020

This one is dedicated to all the parents with highschool seniors. It’s my effort to help get you ready for what’s to come. In all fairness, you seasoned parents may get something new or yell out in solidarity with me!

All the portals

Admission

Apply
Accept
Change terms/cancel

Student

Address
Phone
Emergency contact
Financial obligations
Register
Holds
Transcript
Plan of study
schedule/where are my classes
Email link?
LMS link?

Payment

Student and/or parent
See bill
Make payment plans
Pay bill
Check fees- housing, meals, etc
Check status of scholarships/aid

Proxy

Students assign proxy
View only, typically no actions to update available
Can assign and revoke anytime
Passwords, reset, who to call for help
Why you’d use that vs the student login

What is it- Learning Management System
University tool
Textbook publisher tool
Grades
Assignments
chat/discussion

Financial aid

FAFSA
Scholarship status
Grant status
Eligibility requirements
Selected...

Episode 42- My Drew

Nov 23, 2020

In an effort to get to know why I’m the way I am, a few episodes will be dedicated to sharing some of my story. This week I’ve decided to share some of my Drew’s story.

https://www.facebook.com/NotYourCollegeLife

https://www.instagram.com/notyourcollegelife

https://www.pinterest.com/bealslesa

Our third child,we got our little boy after two beautiful girls.

Originally thought I wanted four kids
Part time work, full time mom
Newer home in country

Diagnosis

When
How we knew something was wrong
What it was
The grim reaper
Telling family

Figuring it all out

Doctor appointments
No longer breast feeding
Surgery
Meds
Therapies
Quit job

Life sets in

Therapies at home
Learning Drew’s behaviors
Our girls adjust
Warning from nurses about marriage
Family nearby

My lessons

I don’t regret a moment of time we had with him.
Lessons he taught us that I could have never taught.

Compassion
Empathy
patience

No one is promised tomorrow
My kids and family are...

Episode 41- Advice for home

Nov 16, 2020

If your student was lucky enough to go to campus then they are likely to head home soon. This is the last of four episodes to help you get ready.

https://www.facebook.com/NotYourCollegeLife

https://www.instagram.com/notyourcollegelife

https://www.pinterest.com/bealslesa

The homefront

Their study space. Is it ready? Do borrowed things need returned? Does the storage items need to find a new home?
The car...need maintenance?

Try to support whatever method of studying and class participation your student has developed during the pandemic. The last weeks of the semester are not necessarily the best time to nudge a change.

This means that all the changes that you, your spouse, the kids, the pets morphed into over the fall may come as a shock to your student.
So that means a ‘team meeting’ to talk about ground rules together.

Sleep schedules
Work schedules
Test schedules
Exercise schedules
friend/entertaining schedules

Maybe even creating a family calendar to...

Episode 40- Advice from the Techies

Nov 09, 2020

If your student was lucky enough to go to campus then they are likely to head home soon. This is the third of four episodes to help get ready.

https://www.facebook.com/NotYourCollegeLife

https://www.instagram.com/notyourcollegelife

https://www.pinterest.com/bealslesa

A reliable Mac or Windows PC

A second screen or tablet so they can view slides/video on one and take notes on the other.

Some tips students should know is to make sure their devices are up to date and to restart their computers every other day.
They can contact the helpdesk anytime once we go remote if they were to run into an issue.
For hardware I'd recommend webcams and headphones.

Checking to ensure they are always functioning and in good enough quality.
Headphones (a headset including microphone is best, but if the computer has a built-in mic this isn’t a must). Most students have laptops and those laptops have webcams integrated into them. He has nice bluetooth...

Episode 39- Advice from Dean of Students

Nov 02, 2020

Episode 39 - Advice from the Dean of Students and Parent & Family programs; the second in my four part series.

If your student was lucky enough to go to campus then they are likely to head home soon. This is the second of four episodes to help get ready.

https://www.facebook.com/NotYourCollegeLife

https://www.instagram.com/notyourcollegelife

https://www.pinterest.com/bealslesa

If your student is transitioning from on campus to remote, make sure that they have a defined “work space.”
- It’s easy to see home as comfort & relaxing. With the addition of Thanksgiving food & rest, it would be easy to break good habits in terms of studying & preparing for exams.
- Having a space where it’s for your student & then allowing them to make that space their own will help their success.
- What I found is providing your student a space that is just theirs (they don't have to set up and tear down for meals or daily)
  - Also this...

Episode 38- 3 Things to do before they come home

Oct 27, 2020

Episode 38 - Three things to think about before your student comes home for break

If your student was lucky enough to go to campus then they are likely to head home soon. This is the first of four episodes to help get ready.

https://www.facebook.com/NotYourCollegeLife

https://www.instagram.com/notyourcollegelife

https://www.pinterest.com/bealslesa

This one will cover your home.

*** DISCLAIMER***

I am NOT a healthcare professional. Seek professional advice from your doctor.

First, it’s COVID and flu season. Even if you don’t have any high risk family members I’m going to recommend your student plan to isolate at school if possible prior to returning home.
- Ask your student if isolation is possible for them. If yes, find their return to home date and go back 14 days. I realize they could be exposed on their travel home as well and there is so much flip flopping or contradictory information out there so these are only my...