#OP I am studying this like a student studies the skills of a master

[karlachgale95]

Hearts of the Multiverse-Chapter Seven: The Bidding

A/N: If you’re here from Tiktok, welcome! Yes, I saw it haha. I actually thought it was funny, and I thank the OP for all the reads it got me. I understand that this crossover is a bit…ambitious to say the least. However, I’m just paying homage to some stuff I love. I really love Sailor Moon S. It is my favorite arc of the series. If this goes successfully, I might do Super S and Stars multiverse style haha. I did change the rating to mature because I wrote some innuendos for Angel Dust and Astarion. However, I am not showing anything explicit. I don’t like writing that stuff, to be honest. No hate to people who do. It’s just not my thing. I’m more about fluff and adventure. So, without further ado, I hope you like this chapter. Be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below!

              And so, Miles and others joined Rei’s study group. It started as pure interest for Sokka. He wanted to see how stuff differed from the Southern Water Tribe (The Four Nations, really). Katara thought this was a great idea and became interested herself, reluctantly bringing Zuko into the group. Miles noticed that some *cough* Minako, Usagi, and Makoto *cough* would struggle with a lot of math, science, English, history, and anything that wasn’t the humanities. Considering he was a top student, he helped them. Giorno joined because he was great at math, especially anything statistics based. Arven was behind in his own studies, so he joined after Nemona insisted they join. Luz was on par with Giorno. Hunter was also a pretty fast learner; truth be told, Miles thought they joined because they had fun hanging out with everyone. Josuke joined because he also needed to study—like a lot. Lillie helped when she could, although most times, she was talking to Gideon. Pav and Kakyoin would occasionally come over and help, since there were a lot of people who needed it. Adora trained instead, and Starfire took an interest if Robin were in the study session. Anne actually did study with them, something about needing to master MLA skills (to which Luz and Miles gladly helped). Sometimes Kaiba, Robin, and Connie would stop by to report anything they found, or study. Connie and Robin seemed impressed by Ami. Connie wanted to keep up with Ami somehow even after everything had returned to normal. Though Miles would tell her, that’s not necessarily a good idea. Even Kaiba seemed impressed by Ami. And, admittedly, Miles was, too. She solved the hardest mathematical equations he’d seen.

              “Miles, is number eight right?” Mako asked, holding up her paper in front of him.

              He’d been popular around the study table. He did know what he was talking about, but it was a much-needed ego boost. Funny thing was, Mako asked him a lot more than the others, despite Giorno probably being the best at math.

              He glanced over the problem and gave her a smile. “Yeah! You got it, Mako!”

              “Haha!” Mako cheered, pumping her fists in the air. “Thanks Miles! I would’ve never understood these dumb logarithmic equations without you.”

              “You would’ve gotten it,” Miles assured her. “You just needed someone to show you a play-by-play.”

              “I suppose so,” Mako said with a small giggle.

              “WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S NOT NEGATIVE SEVEN?” Josuke and Usagi asked in unison.

              “You two really shouldn’t copy each other’s answers to try and get out of work,” Rei said, sipping a cup of tea. “You’re both really bad at math. Why didn’t you ask Ami, Giorno, or Miles for help?”

              “Because then the math will have won, Rei,” Josuke insisted.

              Usagi laughed. “Yeah! He’s right!”

              She slammed her homework down on the table and pointed to the problem in question, “In the name of the moon, I’ll punish you!”

              It was quiet for a minute before Josuke gave her a pity laugh. She hung her head. “Oh, come on, that was funny.”

              “We’re not here to make jokes,” Zuko said sternly. “We’re here to study.”

              “You’re just mad you had to join,” Katara teased.

              “I agree,” Giorno spoke up, albeit a bit hesitantly. “Zuko is right. We’re supposed to be helping you study.”

              Zuko, caught off guard a bit, seemed suspicious, and then a little guilty. Guy was hard to read. Giorno didn’t react, even if he noticed.

              He turned to Miles. “Miles, Minako is struggling with this bit of theory, I don’t have the answer, do you think you can help her?”

              “Sure,” Miles said, taking a glance at the textbook.

              It was on dark matter. It seemed so long ago that he was studying dark matter in his dorm room, trying to find a way to get back to the other universes. Now that they were in one messy conglomerate, he dreaded who would come by the shrine next. He was surprised Gwen hadn’t. Apparently, both Pav and Kaiba had stuck to their words of not letting her know where they were. He didn’t want to see her—not right now.

              “It’s matter that doesn’t absorb, reflect, or admit light,” Miles explained. “People theorized it could be used to cross dimensions—universes even.”

              “Then why aren’t we using it?” Sokka asked.

              “It’s all speculative theory, some people say,” Miles said. “Though, I know it’s real.”

              “How?” Zuko asked.

              “Used it before…by accident,” Miles said with a laugh. “And so have people I fought. They’re the scary ones. Villains who can travel through dimensions should be taken seriously.”

              Voice of experience.

              Rei frowned. “You don’t think the heart snatchers could be from a different universe, do you?”

              “It’s possible,” Miles said honestly. “I’d worry about those two senshi who seem to be out for their own ‘mission,’ too. They’re probably more dangerous than your villains of the week. Maybe THEY’RE from another dimension.”

              Usagi shook her head. “I don’t think so. We’re all senshi. We have to be similar somehow. They always give the crystals back.”

              “They almost gave Unazuki’s back too late,” Sokka pointed out. “She could’ve died.”

              “Maybe try talking to them?” Katara suggested. “I think both of you have a point. They fight the daimon just like we do. You could try to convince them to join up. After all, Usagi, you said the senshi are supposed to be a team. So, there could be other reasons why they’re hesitant to help our team.”

              “You need to be careful,” Zuko murmured. “People who are driven by their own goals and motivations, no matter how flawed, can be too determined to their own point of view. It might be hard to get them to talk to you—or compromise.”

              “Good advice,” Giorno said.

              Again, another stare. At this, even Giorno seemed confused.

              “Hey, excuse us for a second,” Miles said, pulling Giorno into a disconnected room. Once he was sure no one was watching, he asked, “Dude, what are you doing?”

              “…Trying to be friendly.”

              “Dude, that is not friendly. That’s suspicious! Muy sospechoso!”

              “It’s not as easy as it looks. The people I’ve dealt with did all the interpersonal stuff better,” Giorno said.

              “It’s easy,” Miles said. “You’ve just gotta relax, you know? Just be natural. Talk like you’re talking to your friends.”

              “Those aren’t a sure thing where I come from, Miles,” Giorno snapped back. He sighed. “Look, I appreciate the advice, it’s simply harder to know who’s your friend for the sake of business and who is eventually going to stab you in the back.”

              Miles was quiet for a minute. Of course, he knew what that was like. The insinuation of doubt was almost insulting.

              “I know you’ve said your friends betrayed you,” Giorno said. “But at least you have a good family. You’re fighting hard for your dad. It’s admirable. I never had any of that. Not that I’m whining, but you have to understand where I’m coming from Miles.”

              “I—,” Miles began. He cut himself off. He had a feeling this was the first time Giorno had opened up to anyone, maybe ever. “No. You’re right. I wouldn’t know. I’m sorry.”

              He kind of chuckled. “The first time I talked to Gwen, I ended up ripping her hair out.”

              Giorno blinked. “What?”

              “I was taking my uncle’s advice. He was super good with girls, and he taught me the shoulder-technique.”

              “Do I dare ask?”

              Miles reached his arm out and loosely touched Giorno’s shoulder. He raised an eyebrow and said, “Hey.”

              They were quiet for a minute before they both started laughing. Miles was sure it was the first time he’d ever seen Giorno laugh in the month they’d been here.

               “Did that actually work for him?” Giorno asked.

              “He swore by it,” Miles said.

              “I guess it would work better on someone who was actually interested in that kind of stuff.”

              “No girlfriend back home, huh?”

              “Not interested in it. Relationships would get in the way of my actual interests: reform. There’s too much corruption in Italy. A lot of things I’m still working on. Also, I’ve never been too keen on the idea of a relationship. It just never struck me as something I wanted.”

              “So, you’re ace. That’s cool.”

              It was quiet for a minute before Usagi called out, “Gio! Can you help me with this probability question?”

              Giorno smirked. “Future queen of the moon. Whatever that means.”

              “If you figure it out, let me know.”

              …

              This place was much more grandiose than most taverns he’d stayed in; the cobwebs were a nice touch. Astarion never knew demons to be incredibly hospitable creatures, but the lovely owner and proprietor of this place was kind and generous—her girlfriend—a bit more frightening. She reminded him of Lae’zel. Unfortunately, he also met someone who painfully reminded him of himself. And he could only trust people like himself so much.

              Fortunately, people like himself made for great conversation.

              “So, a vampire…I bet you’ve lived a while,” Angel mused. “Sleep around a lot?”

              “Darling, I lost count over a hundred years ago.”

              “Any of ‘em any good?”

              Astarion scoffed. “A seldom few.”

              He turned a coquettish smile to Angel. “And you?”

              “I do this shit for a living,” Angel bragged. “Though, I’m always better than the other guy.”

              “You must have a contract with someone, then,” Astarion said. “I’m sure neither of us believes in bodily charity.”

              Angel shifted in his high-heeled boots and chuckled nervously. “Heh. Yeah. That’s a good way of putting it.”

              Astarion had been at the hotel for a week now. He’d joined when some wayward priest and another vampire had found him, starved, and hiding from the sun. He wasn’t sure how they had gotten here, but he knew the blonde adonis and his loyal disciple were up to something. One didn’t live with Cazador as long as he did and not figure out when a plot was brewing. If it didn’t involve encroaching upon his safety, well, Astarion didn’t care. Besides, he’d shown him kindness by taking him to his hotel. Little Miss Demon Sunshine kept him fed.

              Though, one thing he did note is that he and the so-called radio demon did not get along. He sensed an unease, something the blonde had against the demon. Perhaps he was doing some sort of surveillance on him, but as to what purpose, Astarion wasn’t sure. Admittedly, the always-smiling, Radio Demon possessed a charm to disturb and set himself apart from the others. Astarion had talked to him once, and once was enough.

              The white-haired prosecutor mainly kept talking to Miss Sunshine, her angel girlfriend, and the bartender. They seemed to get along the best.

              Right now, Angel and Astarion were keeping a casual eye on the television (or the visual sending stone as he preferred) in the center of the room. Some broad-shouldered, tall, dark, and handsome was speaking: “Anomalies have been growing at an alarming rate. There has been no sign of universal disruption, but we are keeping a continuous eye out for anything or anyone who could prove to be dangerous for public safety and wellbeing.”

              “Manipulation at its finest,” A dark and deep voice mused near them.

              “Gods damned!” Astarion shrieked, shrinking back from the silent eavesdropper. It was the other vampire, Dio. “How did you bloody do that? I’m usually the first to sense if someone is near me, thank-you-very-much!”

              Dio smirked. “Isn’t blasphemy contrary to what is supposed to be practiced here?”

              “He’s got a point,” Angel said with a small laugh. “You done sinned, gorgeous. You should be punished.”

              Astarion flustered and still perturbed, straightened out his clothes. He looked to Dio. “Did you want to speak with us?”

              “Only for a moment,” Dio said. He leaned in. “The cat-man can’t say anything, but I’ve noticed that both of you stay away from Alastor. Why is that?”

              “He’s a dealmaker,” Angel explained. “He makes unfair deals with other sinners to gain an advantage. Weird sinner named Mimzy once said he killed a lot of overlords just to gain their powers. It’s surprising that Hus…well, it’s surprising that anyone who ever makes a deal with him lives to talk about it.”

              “I see,” Dio said, rubbing his chin. He turned to Astarion. “And what do you make of him?”

              “Darling,” Astarion said, taking a swig from a shot-glass of blood. “I’ve met far too many people like Alastor.”

              ‘And like you,’ he wanted to say. But he held his tongue. He didn’t want to exhaust his resources in this strange, new world so quickly.

              “In any case,” Astarion said. “I’ve put my days of making deals with ever-lasting binding terms behind me.”

              “Hey, good for you, man,” Angel said, taking a sip from his own glass. “At least one of us can say that.”

              “Is there any way to get out of a demon’s contract?” Dio asked.

              “Don’t know,” Angel said. “It’s never happened before, I mean, unless the contracted dies, I guess.”

              This wasn’t the answer Dio was looking for. He grimaced and crossed his arms. “I’m sure there is…”

              Angel placed his glass down on the bar and put a hand on Dio’s shoulder, “Well honey, if you find one, let me know.”

              Dio chuckled. “I’m sure I will…and likewise, Anthony.”

              “Wait…how did you?”

              “Alastor has his ways of obtaining information, and I have mine,” Dio said simply.

              Astarion sloshed his glass and without thinking much guessed, “The priest?”

              Dio grinned, more devilishly than any of the inhabitants. “He’s knowledgeable, yes. And he helps when he can, but I’ve seen more to this world…this scheme than most. I refuse to give up. Perhaps if I kill the bastard.”

              “Uh, what?” Angel asked, almost in disbelief. “That’s the stupidest idea I’ve heard. Look, whoever you’re trying to get out of a contract, it’s like I said, it doesn’t stop at the contractor’s death. It stops with whoever’s signed a contract.”         

              “That’s usually how it works,” Astarion nodded. “It’s always stacked in the disadvantage of the poor bastard who’s signed the damn thing.”

              “I suppose you two would know,” Dio said, his face souring. He sat down on one of the more comfortable chairs and held his head in his hand. “To think I’d been brought back to finally fix my mistakes and to have such a huge disadvantage thrown at someone I was supposed to protect.”

              “Did…did someone you care about sign a contract with Alastor?” Angel asked. “Look, you don’t have to tell me, but I get it, you’ll want to help them. I want to help someone get out of his contract, too. Maybe there’s something we’re not seeing, huh?”

              Astarion didn’t respond. Something was off. He’d told his fair share of lies. Perhaps Dio was telling part of the truth, but there was still something lurking. Both he and Alastor, however much in opposition they may be, were the same men. He knew it.

              He knew it because he was much the same. And poor Angel Dust, just like Tav, more concerned for the emotional ramifications than his own safety, seemed genuinely upset. Internally, Astarion groaned. He’d do what Tav did for him; he’d make sure Angel didn’t get hurt or used for some nefarious purpose. He figured he owed that to someone.

              “If you can find a solution, I’ll help you break your contract, Anthony,” Dio said. “Anyone who should help I, Dio, will be greatly rewarded.”

              With that the blonde vampire stood. He gave Astarion an unreadable look. “And I mean anyone. I’ve been told you were freed from your own personal enslavement, correct?”

              Now Astarion shifted in his boots. “It was more of a group effort.”

              “Then you should find your group,” Dio said. “There are forces at work here—ones not to be trusted. I assure you, I will soon gain enough power to put an end to anything that would hurt those of us who never had a chance—those much like ourselves. If only you will help me, I’ll help you. I swear it.”

              “Alright then,” Angel said, surprisingly confident. A feeling Astarion wasn’t currently feeling. “If you’re so trustworthy, you could at least tell us who you’re fighting for. I’m not gonna help some asshole who wants more power for the sake of power.”

              Dio flinched and turned away. “It’s my son. He’s made a terrible error. I must help him.”

              “For real?” Angel asked. “How old is he?”

              “Only fifteen.”

              “Only fifteen?” Angel repeated. “Jesus, I knew Alastor was bad, but not making deals with kids bad.”

              “We shouldn’t talk about that too much here. The prosecutor has agreed to help find any loopholes. If we work together, there is a better world for all of us: no contracts, the sun on our faces, redemption. It’s within reach!”

              ‘Of course there is, Cazador,’ Astarion’s mind screamed.

              However, Angel looked, in that moment, hopeful. So hopeful that Astarion decided he would keep quiet.

              “I’ll do what I can,” Angel whispered. “But you’re right. Maybe we should talk about this somewhere else.”

              He grinned his voice dripping with suggestion, “Perhaps somewhere secluded. You can join, Astarion.”

              “I’m flattered, but I’ve decided to not do that for now. I have the choice, now,” Astarion said. “Still, I suppose I’ll dig around. I don’t exactly trust Alastor, either.”

              Not that he trusted Dio, but if Alastor were making deals like that, with children, no less, well, that was definitely Cazador behavior.

              “And I want that choice, too,” Angel murmured.

              Dio smiled, almost triumphantly. “Then we’ll meet elsewhere. I’ll give you the location later, as a precaution.”

              He sauntered off. Angel was clearly puzzled. At least Astarion wouldn’t fall for anymore tricks.

              Or he was almost sure he would not.

              …

              They’d split up. Bruno went with Abbachio, N (after promising to keep her safe) went with Maya, and he was with Edgeworth today. They’d been at this for a few weeks now. And there was no blooming friendship between Kaiba’s association and their own. Edgeworth frowned more than usual, which was an amazing feat to surpass. The two had gone to meet someone on a hiking trail. It was a woman, who worked with a doctor, apparently, she and her partner had been tipped off to a possible match of someone who fit Rose’s profile. Gideon had received the call and told Phoenix to go talk to her.

 As they walked the dirt paths in the woods, they noticed some people singing and playing instruments, just happily walking along. Something about two lovers divided by a war.

The one with the shaggiest hair stopped, realizing that he and Edgeworth were on the path. “Oh hey, fancy-dressed nomads.”

“We are most certainly not,” Edgeworth objected. He turned to Phoenix, “Well, perhaps him if we lose this case, but certainly not me.”

“Actually, we’re here to meet with a woman who might know of a man by the name of Rose,” Phoenix explained, cutting a quick glare at Edgeworth.

“Rose, huh?” the man repeated. He scratched his chin and drew out a red, wooden guitar (?). “I know a song about some roses.”

Before Edgeworth or himself could protest, the man started playing and singing a new song:

Rose of red

Rose of blue

Once with dread

Now bloom anew

Wanting more

May get to shore

Or perish on the journey

When a more deadly root

Takes their place

Edgeworth furrowed his eyebrows. “Those last few verses lost their rhyme scheme.”

“Scheme-schmeem,” the man said. “Name’s Chong by the way.”

He gestured to the woman, “My wife, Lily.” He pointed to the other, stockier guy, “And that’s our friend, Moku.”

“Charmed,” Edgeworth said dryly.

“Come on, Edgeworth, I’m sure they worked hard on that song,” Phoenix said with a small grin.

“Yes, well, we have places to be,” Edgeworth said, grabbing his arm.

“Hey,” the woman, Lily called out, as they shuffled away. “Be careful, there’s some bad vibes back that way.”

“That’s why we’re booking it now,” Mako said.

Edgeworth stopped and paused for a moment, almost making Phoenix trip over himself. He stood still for a moment and shook his head, pushing forward. “It’s nonsense, Wright. Pure nonsense from vagabonds who speak absolute gibberish.”

“I don’t know, couldn’t they have been talking about one of those monsters?” Phoenix suggested. “They’ve been popping up more, you know.”

Another pause. “Hmm…perhaps we should consider turning back. Though, if we do, we’re both ruined. It wouldn’t matter if a monster were up ahead or Gideon Graves, himself, really.”

Phoenix was quiet for a minute. Sensing the tension. He grinned and nudged Miles’s shoulder, “You sure there’s a difference between them?”

He saw, for a brief second, Miles crack a smile. Mission accomplished. Then back to a frown. Phoenix didn’t mind. It’s just how Edgeworth worked. Honestly, it was kind of admirable to be so dead set on his goals and sense of doing the job correctly. Preferable to his days as the so-called ‘demon prosecutor.’ Edgeworth’s whole perspective had changed for the better. At least now, they could work together to find the absolute truth.

At least now they could spend time together.

“We should take some caution, going forward,” Miles said, “After all, you have a horrible habit of injuring yourself on these cases. Monster or no, let’s make sure there’s no more hospital bills in your near future.”

The grin was still slightly there.

Phoenix shook his head. “Hah. You wish, Edgeworth.”

Solemn was the best way to describe his next look. “I don’t.”

And then there were times when Edgeworth was completely unpredictable. He walked ahead of Phoenix; what had he said?

The two walked in silence until reaching somewhat of a clearing. On one of three stone benches a pale woman with long, red hair sat, waiting patiently. When she spotted the two, her lips formed a small smile.

“Mr. Wright, Mr. Edgeworth. I’m glad to make your acquaintance.” She got up, and shuffled a bunch of papers, thumbing through them methodically. “I’m sure you know why I’m here.”

              “You are Dr. Knight,” Edgeworth assumed.

              The woman nodded and held out the stack of papers towards them. As Edgeworth hesitantly reached for the papers, the magatama activated. At least ten psyche-locks popped up around the woman. She was lying—lying more than anyone he’d seen so far.

              “Wait,” Phoenix said, pushing Miles away from the woman. “Why are you really here?”

              The woman seemed slightly taken aback. She quickly regained her composure and shoved the papers towards Phoenix. “I suppose you’ll do, too.”

              Not even thinking, Phoenix shoved the papers back, causing them to flutter—

              No. Not flutter. The papers glowed. Glowed and swirled around into a vertex, sticking together to form some sort of humanoid monster. Words moved and floated across its body.

              “Papella only needed one of your DNA signatures to attack,” the woman explained as Phoenix backed away. She turned to the monster. “Take this man’s heart and then Mr. Edgeworth, as well. I can make this into a double success for us! Come back to the lab when you’re finished. I have other places to be. More hearts to check.”

              As she disappeared, someone yanked Phoenix away by the collar of his shirt. “Wright! Move!”

              Having their situation sort of register, Phoenix acquiesced and started running with Edgeworth. However, they weren’t too far when something grabbed Phoenix’s ankle, sending him careening to the path below. The monster chuckled as it put down its foot (which looked and felt like a heavy paper weight) down on his chest. It outstretched its palm toward his chest.

              For its effort, a suitcase was launched at its head and the prosecution threw a right hook. However, it caught Miles’s hand. He winced.

              “Edgeworth!”

              The monster, almost effortlessly, tossed him in the air and sent him colliding into a tree, knocking him out cold.

              “How annoying. He’ll have his turn,” the monster said, glaring at Edgeworth. It turned back to Phoenix, a nefarious grin on its face. “Now it’s your last chapter.”

              “Oi oi!”

              Someone literally swung in, faster than any human he’d ever seen. They kicked the monster in the head so hard, it went face-first into the stone benches. The figure landed just a few inches away from him. He kind of looked like Spider-Man. But he wore a vest and a lot of spikes, even on the back of the mask. He held out a hand to Phoenix.

              “You alright, mate?”

              Phoenix barely nodded. He, at that moment, had to get to Miles. He needed to know he was okay. The monster, having regained its composure, looked from Phoenix to the possible Spider-Man. It leapt into the air, landing directly beside Miles. It grabbed him by his collar, holding him up in the air.

              “Don’t come any closer or pretty boy gets it.”

              “Put him down!” Phoenix yelled.

              “No way! Maybe I’ll kill him first, and then you! I’m sure my boss doesn’t care which way it gets done. So long as it gets done.”

              “Right, and who was that boss again?” the British Spider-Man asked.

              “Like I’d tell you.”

              “Sure you don’t want to?”

              “Hell no! I’ll kill all three of you!”

              A bird tweeted in the distance. Another echoed in another tree. And then the creature’s arms were severed from its body. A blond girl in a cheerleader’s uniform covered by scaled armor held the arm in one hand and a pink sword in the other. Edgeworth was caught by a person who leapt down from one of the lower branches. They had teal hair, glasses, and dressed like they were in some sort of English, medieval society. Another boy with brunette hair, similar armor, and two hooks impaled the creature, tearing two gashes through its side.

              He kept a specific hold on the monster. “Hey, Guzma, you want your Golisopod to help drench this old wad of tissue?”

              From the opposite tree came a voice that chuckled darkly. “Heh. Sure. Golisopod! Water beam!”

              One man with white hair and strange shaped glasses, Hawaiian shirt, t-shirt, shorts, and gold necklace resembling the letter ‘S,’ beside him was a hulking, white monster with huge claws. It spat out a plume of water at the monster, drenching it.

              The monster cried out at the teenage boy tore through it with his claws, ripping it in half. It lost its form and turned into regular papers, as it had been before.

              Phoenix was almost too stunned to speak. However, there were pressing matters at hand. He looked to the teal-haired individual holding Miles. “I-is he okay?”

              This person was checking his pulse and nodded. “Yes. Just seems like he hit his head hard. I don’t sense any serious damage, though.”

              Phoenix was quiet for a minute. “Not that I’m not super grateful, but who are all you people?”

              “I’m Guzma. I’m the big, bad boss who beats you down and beats you down…well…I’m Guzma. Not so much a boss anymore. If I’m gonna fix the system, gotta break those hierarchy roles, right HB?”

              “You learn well young Golisopd,” the British Spider-Man said with slight amusement in his voice. “I’m Spider-Man. Well, one of them, at least.”

              “Name’s Jet,” the kid with the hooks said, sticking a grain of wheat in his mouth.

              “Sasha Waybright,” the girl with the sword said with a bright smile. “Man, these things are waaay too easy to kill.”

              “Don’t jinx it,” the teal-haired person warned. “My name is Raine. Who are you two?”

              “Come off it, Raine,” Spider-Man said. “These two are those famous ace attorneys. All about keeping the current system in place, yeah? Even I’ve heard of ‘em.”

              “The three of us,” Sasha said, gesturing to herself, Spider-Man, and Jet. “Keep up with news way more than these two do.”

              “Hey, I invent the news,” Guzma protested.

              “Look, it doesn’t matter,” Raine said. “We need to get these two to safety. Those monsters have been popping up way more. Let’s get out of the park.”

              Raine began by trying to shoulder Miles alone. Phoenix hopped up and ran over to help them out, ducking under his other shoulder.

              “You two must be close,” Sasha remarked. “He basically dived in front of that monster for you. It’s sappy, really. Cute couple goals, though!”

              “You shouldn’t make assumptions,” Raine said.

              “Oh, don’t worry,” Sasha said, showing off a bi-pride pin on her cape. “I would know.”

              “It’s not like that,” Phoenix said. Even if he felt that way.

              But why had Edgeworth done that? He made fun of Phoenix for being careless and reckless. Hell, he’d thought he’d never live down the Kurrain-shrine-bridge incident. Miles yelled and yelled at him, even when he was still in the hospital. And it wasn’t like Edgeworth to be so hypocritical.

              So why?

              …

              A day like this was rare ever since he’d hopped over to this new universe. Everyone was inside, having fun, and Miles was able to take a break outside, by himself. “United in Grief” played through his headphones, letting him escape, if just for a minute. There were no monsters, no impending doom heading for his family, no Miguel O’Hara, no radio demons, and no need to be Spider-Man.

              And then someone tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

              He looked up to see Makoto holding a piece of cake that smelled and looked delicious. It even had a small candy flower at the end.

              “You were missing out. I thought I’d come find you,” she explained. “I’ve been told my cakes are pretty good by one of the hungriest princesses I’ve ever known.”

              Miles grinned and took the cake. “How many princesses do you know?”

              “Including Starfire and Adora? Three. And Zuko’s a prince, so…”

              “He’s a prince?” Miles asked in disbelief.

              “Yeah. He’s pretty open about it now. I guess you just have to get to know him. He’s got a girlfriend and everything. And Sokka said something about his first girlfriend turning into the moon. Maybe they have a moon princess, too.”

              “Wow. I really don’t know a lot about anyone here,” Miles remarked.

              That creeping guilt over being so reclusive seeped into his consciousness again. Maybe it wouldn’t kill him to make more friends than Giorno. Though, the thought of trusting anyone still seemed stupid.

              “I don’t blame you, you know,” Makoto said out of the blue.

              “What do you mean?” Miles asked, raising an eyebrow.

              “Back at Mr. Iroh’s tea place, you said you’d do anything to save your dad, even if all those other people who told you to sacrifice him for the ‘sake of the greater good’ told you otherwise. I’d give anything to go back in time and save my parents.”

              She stared off into the stars. “Sometimes, at night, I wait for them to come home. But they never do. When I go home, to an empty apartment, sometimes I just feel like crying so bad.”

              Miles felt something tug at his heart. She’d been alone? For how long? Did anyone else know about this? He reached out to put a hand on her shoulder but thought better of it.

              “I’m sorry. That must be really hard to cope with.”

              Mako nodded. “It is. No one should have to go through it.”

              She dabbed at her eyes and pulled him in for a hug. “Which is why I’m going to help you! I’m sure Usagi will, too! You two kind of remind me of each other, doing things your own way. I’ll beat up any other Spider-Man who tries to stop you!”

              He laughed. “Thanks, Mako. If…if there’s any way I can help you, I’ll repay the favor.”

              He meant it. She seemed so genuine. It almost threw him off his guard. Almost.

              “Just…try to make more friends here. Talk to Usagi. I know you two would get along. Her dreams are similar to yours. Don’t be so secluded. We need other people to help us. I think even Giorno is getting the hang of it.”

              A slight breeze coursed through the air. Makoto shivered. Miles took off his big, puffy coat and handed it to her. “Don’t worry. My suit keeps me warm. Let’s head back in.”

              She hesitantly took his coat and nodded. “Thank you, Miles.”

              “Don’t worry about it.”

              Maybe he could make more friends here than just Giorno.

[maybeyouwereboring]

I am currently taking a class that teaches design students skills to get a job or internship. Since I know it is more common to not go to college in the design field, I figured I would share some of the information where people could find it useful!

RESUMES

Customize Each Resume

Consider having a “master copy” that has EVERYTHING that you have ever done or all the skills you have, then for each job, pull out the relevant experience and skills

Header

Make your name bold and obvious

Do not include a photo of yourself

Include a professional email, not a personal email or one that does not include your name

Include a phone number

You can include your home address, but you should at least include your city and state

Objective

50% of hiring managers like you to include a general objective, some prefer a tailored objective

State what you will bring to the company, not what you want to get out of it

You may include the position you are seeking

Use the template: To obtain a __position__ at __Company name__ where my __skill__ and  __skill__ will bring __result__.

Summary of qualifications

Optional 

Tailor this to the job

Highlight certain skills or experience that are especially relevant/ that they are specifically looking for

This should be a bulleted list

Education

List the school, location of the school, major or minor, graduation date, relevant coursework, study abroad (if relevant)

Include your GPA if above 3.0, otherwise omit

Don’t put years of attendance, only graduation date/ anticipated graduation date

Don’t need to put high school information unless you have relevant experience or accomplishment such as a project or club

Don’t use abbreviations for school or major

Work Experience

If you don’t have much paying experience, call this section “Experience” or “Related Experience”

Put month and year of employment

Include company name, city/ state, and job title

Be consistent between jobs, for example if you use bold title in one, use it in all, or if you write MM / YY in one do not write MM / YYYY in another

List in reverse chronological order, with most recent at top

List skills statements

Skills Statements

Use the correct tense, present or past tense

Action Verb + Details + Results

Action Verb: use a variety of verbs, should be a single verb, for example: assembled, created, designed, developed

Details: include the who, what, where, how, what skills you used, and quantify your actions

Results: list your conclusions, effects, outcomes, for example: ensured that___, resulting in ___, leading to ___, to increase ___

Skills Section

List certifications, computer program skills, design skills, languages

Explain level of mastery, but do not use a ranking system (like using 5/5 dots or 2/5 dots)

Avoid hanging skills-- for example don’t say “good communication skills,” instead list “presented to 20 people…” under your work experience

Activities and Involvement

Anything that is particularly relevant that wasn’t a paying job

Professional organizations, groups, or projects

ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) or HR

A computer or HR person may scan the resume first

This means that they may not completely understand what the job is, but will be looking for relevant words or key  phrases

Integrate your key words in a meaningful way, eventually a hiring manager will read it so it needs to make sense

If you know an ATS is going to scan it, avoid using tables, logos, or other things that the computer may not understand

Designers tend to prefer a resume that includes tables, logos, and other design skills, so consider having two resumes: one for ATS and one if you know a real person will be reviewing it

Note the file type requested and ensure that you submit that format

Job description

Look through the job description

Highlight words or concepts that are repeated more than once or things that are especially important

Make note of the exact wording that they use and echo it

Biggest Mistakes

Errors/ quality of writing-- make sure you proofread or get someone else to look it over

Poor visual appeal or hard to read

Not articulating skills

Not customized to job

Excluding relevant experience

Too much information

What Employers Rank as Important

Work experience-- if you do not have much relevant experience, include irrelevant work experience as well, there are skills that you need for any job like communicating with coworkers, so you need to show that you have any experience

Education

Skills summary

Co-ops or internships

Technical skills

Graduation date-- this will tell your employer if you will have graduated by the time you start the job

Visual Appeal

Need some white space to break up different sections, so all of the information doesn’t blend together

Make sure formatting is consistent between sections

Use the entire sheet, there should not be much white space on the right or left

Don’t use a basic template, especially in a job with many applicants because you don’t want to use the same template as someone else, at least customize things like fonts and colors

Keep in mind how it will look if it is printed or changed to black and white

Most hiring managers prefer a one-page resume, but some don’t mind if it is two pages if you have enough relevant skills and experience

Personalize it!

[krinsbez]

GI Joe: Remixed, Grootslang

Grootslang (named after a monstrous serpent from South African folklore) is Cobra Commander’s elite personal goon squad. While technically members of the Crimson Guard, in reality. they answer only to CC and Croc Master (whom we have made CC’s chief of security, and one day I hope to do a post about him)

It comprises (note, everything that follows was created by Night_stalker, I am just porting it to tumblr)...

Name: Alexander Popov Codename: Apep DOB: August 12, 1987 Former Affiliation: Russian Spetsnaz, 45th Guards Independent Reconnaissance Battalion Specialty: Long Range Threat Neutralization Orientation: Hetero. Bio: Originally studying to be an art student, he joined the Army after times got rather tough, financially. Discovering a talent for sniping, he was slotted into Spetsnaz soon after joining. However, Popov was discharged after an op in Ukraine went South, involving considerable amounts of property damage and civilian casualties. More worrying for the Russians was the fact that apparently, some news crews caught the incident on TV, which is what really caused the tea cups to rattle in Moscow. As the highest ranked survivor of the incident, he was given a inquest, blamed, shown the door, and told to not come back. Intel suggests that the verdict was contested, heavily so, behind closed doors. Dissatisifed with the world, and lacking any family or friends, he wandered the globe, utilizing his sharpshooting skills to pay the bar tabs he racked up along the way. While passing through Eastern Europe, he was hired on for security at a party where The Baroness was attending. Apparently, she stormed off to one of the art galleries to distract herself, and they got to chatting about art. She offered him a spot in Cobra, and his skills, combined with her endorsement earned him a spot in the best of the best. Hobbies: Sharpshooting, Art collection/appreciation, Painting (Models and oil paintings).

Name: Carol Spencer Codename: Crotalus DOB: December 2, 1987 Former Affiliation: Central Intelligence Agency Special Activities Center, Special Operations Group Specialty: Counterintelligence Orientation: Bisexual Bio: Born as a Army brat bouncing around internationally, Carol picked up quite a few things. A knack for languages, a inability to take shit from anyone, friends all over the place, and most of all, a searing hatred for her abusive father. So naturally, on her 18th birthday, her idea of celebrating was a punch to his nose and a quick trip over to the Marine recruiter's office. Couple tours of duty later, Carol was all but ready to retire from being a jarhead, or at least ready to take some leave. Alas, a spook from the State Department disagreed, and naturally, pressed the matter. Shockingly, she fit right in there, a fact which shocked both her and her superiors. After awhile though, she started having ethical qualms about what they were doing. Too much red in her ledger, she felt. She wanted out, and was willing to go to the press over the matter. Alas, hindsight says you probably should sweep your house for bugs before making appointments with a reporter. She walked into that cafe a decorated hero, a scion of a long military family. She ran out of there a wanted criminal, with her former co-workers in hot pursuit. Shockingly, when you burn someone, they tend to want revenge. In this case, it meant Cobra. She'd only heard whispers about them, but that was reason enough for her to seek them out. Trading some of her evidence for a job, she parlayed her honed talents into a rapid ascension up the ranks. Hobbies: Learning new languages, Ham radio, Photography, Geocaching, and Acting.

Name: Eline Luiten Codename: Echinda DOB: January 14, 1983 Former Affiliation: Penose Specialty: Demolitions Orientation: Lesbian. Bio: Born into a family of criminals, Eline grew up not wishing to follow in her parents footsteps. Instead, she was interested in becoming a chemical engineer, and going straight. However, after she got her degree, the Recession happened, and being a recent hire, was let go. Desperate to pay off student loans, she went right back to her family, and was welcomed in with open arms. Turning her talents to more lucractive lines of work, she soon fell back into her old ways, manufacturing drugs and on occasion more exotic materials. Soon, her talents shifted from making ectasy and heroin into making RDX and other substances. This tied in nicely with her changing politics, leading her into more radical steps. This was a rather bad idea, as the Dutch police were closing in on her, and the family wasn't going to stick their necks out for a radical. So she was forced to flee, literally barely making it out the window of her workspace before a team of BSB operatives kicked down her front door. Now on the run with little to lose and a burning hatred of the government, she drifted, until Cobra gave her a chance at revenge. Hobbies: Political commentary, Urban Exploration, Parkour, and Debating.

Name: Lily Shen Codename: Lamia DOB: Redacted Former Affiliation: Section G, Division 4, Hong Kong Police Department Specialty: Close Protection Orientation: Hetero. Bio: Born to British ExPats in Hong Kong, Lily grew up in a orderly household. So naturally, she joined the police force as soon as she got old enough. There, she developed a hobby for martial arts, which suited her fiery temperament just fine, and helped earn her a transfer into the VIP Protection unit. People were whispering that she was on the fast track to being a captain, if not higher. However, those plans were derailed. A corruption scandal occurred, and some of her political opponents used it to force her out of the department. The fact that her attitude was rather fiery at best didn't help matters anyway. Left without a job, and feeling betrayed by the organization she'd worked at for years, she remembered a old contact she'd made over in Japan, and gave him a call. Storm Shadow was rather surprised to get a contact from Shen, but agreed to put her in contact with a recruiter, seeing the value in having a former police officer on the payroll. From there, she was rapidly promoted to the Crimson Guard, where she fit right on in. Hobbies: Meditation, Martial arts, Blackjack (Chinese and conventional), and Parkour.

Name: Filip Tadych Codename: Perun DOB: June 19th, 1983 Former Affiliation: JW GROM Specialty: General Combat Orientation: Het Bio: Filip was born back in the final days of the Polish People's Republic, which caused considerable gaps in his records to emerge. The first concrete records that Cobra has access to suggests he joined the Polish Army at the age of 18, and after a couple of years, was transferred into GROM where he excelled in the high stress environment. However, he soon wound up being shown the door, when some rather unsettling political ties were uncovered, mostly through friends and some distant family members. While he himself didn't actually express any of them, he was still asked to leave the army. Furious, he became a solider of fortune, wherein he made a few contacts, the most important of which was one Apep, who he wound up in a bar brawl with in Tunisa. Once the local police arrived though, they promptly joined up and proceeded to smack down the cops and flee. The resulting 9 hour drive to the border did actually make them fairly solid friends. Hobbies: Tennis, Baking, dart throwing, and rock stacking.

Name: Karena LesProux Codename: Orleans DOB: February 18th, 1979 Former Affiliation: 11th Parachute Brigade, French Army Specialty: Tactics Orientation: Formerly Het (Married, 2 children), currently Bi, dating Nina of Crimson Guard Bio: Karena had it all, a loving husband, a solid army career, and two wonderful children. However, that was all a sham, as her husband was an artist as he called himself, while Karena called him a drunken slob, as well as other, more insulting terms. This was usually about the time he attacked her, so as one can imagine, their relationship was not very solid. Karena endured it for two solid reasons. The first being that, as her drunken asshat of a husband was the son of a prominent politician, she would be subjected to quite a bit of harassment from him and his ilk. The second reason was her children, who she loved very much. So she endured the fists and occasional rolling pin thrown her way, bottling up her rage deep inside. One night, that all changed. Instead of going after her, he made a move towards the kids room, while still holding a rolling pin. According to her, she saw red, and next thing she knew, her husband was lying on the ground, dead, with a steak knife sticking out of his throat. While her first instinct was to call the police, something stopped her. Namely, that she was likely going to be convicted of murder, and sent away to prison, as well as separated from her beloved children. So instead, she made a call to a former coworker she had run into while serving in the French Army. Meanwhile, in a Terror-Dome near the Med, Turul's ringtone went off, as luck would have it, in the middle of a rather boring meeting. One rapid conversation later, he was booking a flight out to his homeland, and she was packing up the kids to go visit "Uncle Francois" in Nice for a few days. Surprisingly, she fit right in with Cobra, while her kids were off in a nice high quality daycare, she was in a environment she loved dearly. In fact, if anything, she loved it more, knowing she wasn't going to have to hold herself back in the field any more. Hobbies: Wine tasting, Clay Sculpting, The Werewolves of Millers Hollow, and Knitting.

(These were the first sets of OCs Night_stalker created for us, though the last two were edited in later, which is why they don’t quite fit and mention other OCs)

[ediplace]

A Story for Introverted New Marketer

It was an unusual year for everyone, especially for a new graduate international student. Since 2020, I have applied for over 100 jobs and composed over 50 versions of my resume and cover, yet did not network with professionals on LinkedIn over 5 times. A meek and introverted personality makes me used to looking for problems in myself instead of chatting with new friends. The seminar held by Lori Nave in George Brown College provides me with an invaluable experience to take a peek at the life of those who I would like to be in the future. Through this course, I have learned their methodology, career developing trajectory and insights on the future of the marketing industry and exchanged my premature thoughts during the case study project. Karen Makedon, the expert in B2B marketing of technology, shared her story of leveraging limited resources to build up a healthy small business through technicals other than digital marketing. Nicole Hutzul, who has over 20 years of experience in CRM and SaaS-based marketing fields, depicts her adventure of career choice along with the development of the technology. The unquenchable desire of seeking the opportunity that integrates the data-driven and innovative mindset with the current marketing landscape motivates her to become a pioneer of experimenting these new ideas and tools to solve the real business issues. Jefferson Darrell, a public relations master, displayed the social aspect of marketing and the customer-oriented methodologies to design marketing strategies. And so many other remarkable professionals and alumni poured out their precious experience to the green-hand marketers like me. 

Admittedly, everyone has their own pace and path towards success. One thing that every lecturer mentioned is to network and get to know the thing that you didn’t understand. Marketing is a human-based science that requires people to experiment with the hypothesis and to publish the paper that can be testified by other marketers. Like lecturers have different opinions on the impact of emerging technologies such as Blockchains on the future of marketing, the tracks of marketing strategies are hodgepodge and theoretical unless I will be able to practice them by myself. I cannot feel more confident and optimistic about my choice on marketing automation, CRM as well as personalized marketing. On top of that, their story about failure, countless practice and challenging the status quo inspired me a lot to pursue the route that not many people would love to choose. Although marketing seems like a field with a low entry boundary and is looked down on by other sorts of analysts in the business field, the iteration of technology makes the industry interesting, humane and full of opportunities.

After receiving and absorbing all these practical knowledge and recommendations, I cannot wait to start my own networking adventure on LinkedIn. To be honest, I am an exceptionally active user of LinkedIn yet never posted any opinions or thoughts on others’ arguments or achievements. In the beginning, viewing people’s profiles was stressful and arduous. Whenever I find an awesome job post, I get used to searching the profile of an existing employee of this specific position in the company and then compare my experience with them. Although it was a shortcut to understand the hiring standard and company’s preference, it definitely doesn’t help to build up confidence before you start trying. In order to build up confidence, I tried to look for a person who understands the pain of international students as well as the industry’s landscape. I realized that one of my instructors graduated from GBC and has been the marketing manager in the leading hospital in Ontario. So in my leisure time, I booked an appointment with him to discuss my resume. Before the meeting, I took the initiative to research his background and interests in video games which is a common topic between us. Thus, in the conversation, I started with a small talk about the games and then touched on my failed experience in job hunting. I’m glad that he understood my attempt to get some recommendations regarding networking. He kindly provided me with websites where he receives the news every day so that he would start an interesting topic with strategies easily and then shared some profiles of his friends and previous co-workers who might be interested in hiring interns like me. Although he emphasized the networking taboo such as never asking for a job referral in the first meeting, don’t send a long message to someone who is likely to be busy etc., he cannot help to compliment the homework I have done before the meeting and the qualified and relevant skills I mentioned during the conversation. 

Through this unforgettable experience, I suddenly opened myself and felt much more prepared and confident about chatting with strangers on LinkedIn. In the following networking experience, I repeated the same process I did before; however, for this time, I introduced myself with confidence and a small talk that is relevant their background and industry. In this way, more and more successful chats with professionals in the industry I loved, such as ECommerce Analyst working for fashion retail companies, HRs in Big 4 consulting companies, and candidates just like me from other programs help me to build a clearer picture of my personal branding of a combination of hard-core data analytical skills and compassionate marketing strategy skills. In the end, I successfully landed on the E-Commerce Analyst co-op position at Harry Rosen through chatting with the previous employees in this position.

In the end, I would say I am definitely not a person who speaks perfect English or has a strong personality to motivate myself to confront the interpersonal challenges, but I tried hard enough to break the dilemma and start earlier. For any new fellows just like me, there is nothing to lose unless you just don’t want to start. All the resources I mentioned are free and possible for everyone. Find your pace and path and rush to the end. Thank you for reading my blog! 

[3dsrendercom]

Pt II: Questions to Ask the Admissions Office

Part II of our series: An Application Guide to Architecture School  Today, we are highlighting a few questions that you should ask admissions offices when considering which school to choose for your undergraduate or graduate degree.

What degree programs do you offer in architecture and related fields?

Associate degrees (A.A., A.S., A.A.S): This 2-year degree can be an entry point directly into the architecture workforce or a starting point to gain some foundational skills and transfer to a 4-year institution. It is not NAAB accredited and will not satisfy the education requirement for initial licensure. Bachelor of Art or Science in Architecture (B.A. or B.S. in Architecture, Architectural Studies, Environmental Design, Architectural Engineering…etc.): This 4-year degree is a common precursor to the NAAB accredited M.Arch. It develops a comprehensive knowledge of the discipline of architecture but is not NAAB accredited and will not satisfy the education requirement for initial licensure in most states. If you’re unsure about becoming a licensed architect, one of these degrees could still encompass everything you enjoy about design and construction. Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch): This 5-year degree is the most popular undergraduate degree that will satisfy the education requirement for initial licensure. Students develop a comprehensive knowledge of the discipline of architecture as well as foundational professional knowledge and a basic understanding of related fields. Most of the 55 U.S. licensing boards require that architects hold a professional degree from a NAAB-accredited program and this is the only undergraduate NAAB accredited architecture degree offered in the U.S. Master of Architecture (M.Arch): This 2-year or 3-year degree is a graduate level degree and can be paired with a B.A or B.S. in Architecture or a bachelor degree in a non-related field. This is the most popular graduate degree that will satisfy the education requirement for initial licensure. A student will develop an understanding of architecture including knowledge of the academy and the profession as well as some level of specialization. Master of Science (M.S. in Architecture): This 1-year or 2-year degree is a graduate level degree and is commonly a post-professional degree, meaning it comes after the completion of a B.Arch or an M.Arch. It is usually research focused and predicated on independent inquiry. It is not NAAB accredited and will not satisfy the education requirement for initial licensure. Doctor of Architecture (D.Arch): This 3-year or 4-year degree is a graduate level degree and, much like the M.Arch, can be paired with a B.A or B.S. in Architecture or a bachelor degree in a non-related field.

Are there any additional admissions requirements?

Many schools require an additional major-specific ? essay, but some schools of architecture also require students to submit a portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of your design work to date. This traditionally includes architectural drawings, photography, models, technical solutions or other artistic mediums. A few schools also recommend students participate in on-campus interviews.

Do you have an estimate of any additional expenses that are not included in tuition and fees?

Often times architecture students are required to purchase a specific laptop, a drafting board, and/or specific software and art supplies. Some schools require students to travel for studio projects and other schools require a semester of study in another country. It is a good idea to plan ahead for these expenses and add these expenses into your total cost of attendance. If you are hoping to save money, a good follow up question would be about the availability of computers and materials available for students to use free of charge.

What policies do you have to ensure student wellbeing?

The truth is, architecture schools are notorious for being rigorous and time intensive. Schools know this and should be able to articulate measures they take to ensure students are managing the balance between schoolwork and college life. Each school should have a studio culture policy and should be able to share how they implement that policy. Some schools close studios at certain hours to instill healthy work habits while others offer one-on-one mentoring for students to share successes and failures.

Does this program allow me to gain practical work experience while I am a student?

Depending on degree type, some programs will facilitate work experience. Some schools offer co-op programs that integrate working in an architectural practice as part of your degree and some programs offer the Integrated Path to Architecture Licensure (IPAL). IPAL schools provide a few students with the opportunity to complete the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®) and the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) required for licensure at the same time they are completing the degree.

Does this program offer study abroad or interdisciplinary opportunities?

An architectural education is dependent on a well-maintained balance between how much time you spend studying, and how much time you spend seeking inspiration from the world around you. Traveling outside of the United States can be helpful in finding that balance. Make sure the program you choose encourages opportunities to develop soft skills outside of the classroom because architects have to work well with people outside of their discipline. Download the Application Guide to Architecture Schools Part I and II as a PDF.  Read Part I of the Application guide here. The post Pt II: Questions to Ask the Admissions Office appeared first on Study Architecture | Architecture Schools and Student Information. Source link Read the full article

[studylifeusa]

Alejandra Humpierres Isava from Venezuela is studying English at the University of Texas in Austin

Why did you decide to study in the USA?

I believe the US offers the best education in Business Analytics, which is the field that I’m pursuing for graduate school. In addition, it is the perfect place for me to develop my skills and expand my horizons.

 Why did you choose the University of Texas, Austin?

I chose the University of Texas because of its location, and because I have relatives in Austin. Austin is also an exciting city with students from all over the world.

 What do you like best about studying here?

I love the freedom and flexibility that I have as a student. There are a lot more career choices here than at the universities in Venezuela. I also enjoy learning American culture.

 What do you miss most about home?

I miss Venezuelan food, and my friends and my family.

 How long have you been studying here? How has your English improved?  

I have been studying here for one and half years. My English has improved dramatically. My TOEFL score increased by 10 points, and I am now prepared to apply for graduate school. I feel ready to interact in class and I feel especially confident about my writing skills.

 What was your biggest surprise about U.S. life and education?

From an educational perspective, my biggest surprise was how much the teachers care about the success of their students.

 ...your biggest disappointment?

My biggest disappointment was how expensive life can be for international students. In addition, being on a student visa, you are subject to certain conditions and restrictions which makes your life not so easy in terms of getting a job.

 How have you handled:

...language differences?

I made a lot of American friends who helped me navigate the language barriers. Also, I have noticed that people are generally willing to help you learn idiomatic phrases when they realize you’re an international student.

 ...finances?

My family helps me financially, and I got a job at the university CO-OP bookstore.

...adjusting to a different educational system?

I rely heavily on the international office and my teachers. Everyone was extremely helpful during my adjustment.

 What kind of activities did you take part in?

I volunteered at the Zoo. I participated in a heart health run and I work part time.

 How easy or difficult was making friends in the USA?

It was very easy. I have friends from the USA, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and many other countries. In fact, my boyfriend is from the US.

 What are your career goals? How is your U.S. education relevant to your personal goals and to the needs of your country?

My goal is to be a business analyst at an impact investing firm. My education in the US is going to help me get a master’s degree in Business Analytics and a job with an investment firm. With that type of education, I can turn my ambition of helping my country into reality.

[chaosmagetwin]

The Wild Adventures of Ashley and Paul: Chapter 2

Lot’s to cover in this chapter! If you just want the story, but don’t want to get accidentally spoiled, don’t read the prompt list, or the Extra Errata (all in one link below). The Prologue and Chapter 1 are also linked below, so you can catch up on the story, or refresh yourself, if you are interested.

Enjoy!

The Prompt list with extra errata! : http://chaosmagetwin.tumblr.com/post/157916938995/100-dialogue-prompts-part-2

Prologue: http://chaosmagetwin.tumblr.com/post/157921576040/the-wild-adventures-of-ashley-and-paul-prologue

Chapter 1: http://chaosmagetwin.tumblr.com/post/157956747605/the-wild-adventures-of-ashley-and-paul-chapter-1

“Listen, I know you’re upset, but please put the baking soda down before someone gets hurt.”

“But, Paul! I can’t live without you! Once this baking soda hits the vinegar, carbon dioxide will fill this chamber, and we’ll die together! Free from the constraints of society!”

“Melissa, I am not the man you should be dying for. For you see... I am half machine! My lungs are steel, and your scheme would never fulfill it’s intended purpose.”

Ashley sighed, staring with glazed eyes at the old film from nearly a hundred years prior. Paul, the lead character, wore tinfoil and had a riveted steel body beneath his clothes, but otherwise looked like a walking trashcan. The science fiction story was supposed to be a classic in romantic tragedy. The woman, not caring that Paul wouldn’t die after he admitted he didn’t like her, commit suicide in the end. Paul would lament at the loss of the love of his life that he hadn’t realized he loved at the end. All in all, it was the most boring character study she’d ever been forced to watch by her ‘Genre’ Teacher. 

In fact, she was pretty certain the only reason they were being forced to watch it was because of her and Paul. Mr. Albrexek liked that sort of thing. He also enjoyed cringe-worthy line delivery and ancient movies with cliche characters. 

She looked over at Paul and saw him raise an eyebrow at her. “You’re not planning on trying to kill us both with a five year old’s volcano, are you?” They both grinned widely as the class burst out. 

“Yes. For my grand master plan, I must first visit the courts, and change my name to Melissa-”

“Quiet during the movie, please.” She bit her tongue and sighed. She had such a great joke lined up, too. She looked back at the movie, and felt like putting her head through her desk. These lines were going to kill her brain cells.

Ashley yawned as the English class ended, her brain feeling.... fuzzy. She watched as Paul stooped to exit the classroom door, feeling drained amusement as he struggled to hit his shoulder through as well. The people behind him were looking slightly frustrated; that was the days last class for Character High, and they just wanted to get home. 

A few moments of bemusement later, and he was finally through, with only minor damage to the frame of the door. She followed as they quietly headed for the exit. 

“Look, about the monkey...” Ashley blinked when she realized he was talking. “I was thinking maybe we could save some up for that new game you wanted. Maybe play co-op together or something?”

“... The monkey?” She asked, confused, her tired brain wheeling while trying to understand. Save up... monkey. For a game? Was there a game where they had to collect monkeys in order to unlock co-op?

“No, money. Money, Ash. The green. The coins. Da monah.” He raised an eyebrow at her as she realized what he had said. She flushed slightly and shrugged. “Wow, you are really out of it,” he said with a grin. “Want to grab some coffee before we go home, or just go and take a nap?”

She rolled her eyes. “No, I don’t need caffeine. How do you want to save up? I mean... according to our now dead author, we should be going out to eat.”

He grinned. “Yeah, but, I’ve never tried cooking before, and who knows, maybe I’m good at it. No reason to not try. We just keep on doing what we were doing already.”

She nodded. “I get the feeling, though, that you won’t be any better at cooking than me. He seemed pretty resolute that we should be going out.”

“Yeah, I get the feeling we both did things he didn’t like.”

She tapped a finger against her thigh for a moment, before saying “Do you think he wanted stereotypical characters? I mean, we’re... not exactly normal. You’re an emotional and intellectual cyborg who likes reading, and I’m a half demon-”

“Half devil.”

“.... Are we really going to argue over the semantics of my heritage? Half-demon girl who doesn’t worship Satan and make blood sacrifices to the old gods or whatever.”

“Also, you’re actually nice, not a ‘soul’ sucker, and you don’t get irrationally angry or try to make plans to take over the world. As far as I know.”

She grinned. “As far as you know. “ She pushed open the glass door to the exit and put her face into the sunlight to bask in the warmth. A beautiful spring day, the scent of flowers on the wind, with just the right amount of humidity to promise rain later in the afternoon. It was a lie, but it still felt nice. It was, technically speaking, winter, and South California didn’t exactly get rain too much. 

She flinched as the door crunched behind her, and she turned to look with an exasperated expression. Paul stood with his arm through the door, an embarrased look on his face, a single finger pointed forward. “I don’t understand! I only used a finger! A finger shouldn’t break glass doors.”

“It’s not as hard as you think, I promise.” She said through her face-palm. “You have a steel finger, and you used your entire arm.. not a single finger. You just... condensed the force of your entire arm into the finger. Come on, man, you know physics as well as I do.”

He sighed and carefully pushed on the bar to open the door and stepped onto the broken glass. “I took it slow and everything.” A moment later, a teacher poked their head around the corner. “Oh, boy.”

“NOT AGAIN! You’ve got to be kidding me! That’s the fourth time this week! What is it with you students and breaking doors?! Just OPEN them! Why is that so hard?!” Her shrill voice echoed in the concrete courtyard. “Just... get out of here. And be more careful! I swear, if i ONLY put students who broke doors into detention, I’d have a full class after school every day!” Ashley stepped back from the teacher and motioned for Paul to follow while she ranted. 

“Yeah... let’s... let’s be more careful about that. She looks like she’s about to have an aneurysm or something...”

“Come on, come on, go go go, NOOO! Damn!” Paul raised an eyebrow at the living room on the other side of the wall from the Kitchen. Ashley was obviously trying to beat something on one of her games. “Okay, now, this time, DON’T JUMP OFF THE CLIFF! Just... walk. Straight. NO! Straight! Now dodge! DODGE DAMN IT. Fuck! I HATE THESE CONTROLS!” He smirked as she vented her frustrations. Black Spirit 3 was giving her as much trouble as he expected it would. Still, she was already better at it than he was. He never was very good at action type games. Plus, if he got too focused on the game, controllers tended to break by virtue of accidentally increasing his grip a thousand-fold while trying to press a button harder or something. 

While she struggled with beating a couple of enemies, he struggled with cooking. He could watch videos on the internet literally while he was standing in the kitchen trying to cook what they were showing him, but it wasn’t helping his skill. The meatloaf he was trying to make had eggshells in it, and the various spatula’s he was trying to use instead of his hands weren’t doing the job of mixing the meat very well. He was seriously considering just ordering take-out and giving up for the night. He shuddered at the imagined feel of eggshell while he bit into what should have been tasty meatloaf. Gross. He checked the clock. Six. He had an hour before he thought Sarah, Karen, and Keith showed up, but that wasn’t enough time to cook the meatloaf and eat. 

“I’m going to order take-out!” He yelled from the kitchen. 

“Okay! What kind?”

“Chinese?” 

“Sure. Uhh.... Kung Pao. DAMN. No! Just... GIVE ME MY SPIRITS BACK, you ROLLING SKELETON FUCKS! THIEFS! AMBUSHERS IN THE NIGHT! I WILL END YOU!”

He grinned. “Just don’t curse the television, okay? Or the console!”

“Yeah, yeah... You know what the internet says when I look on it for help, or strategies? GET GOOD. Like thats helpful. Fuckers.”

“Hey, careful.Let’s try and keep the demon cursing to a minimum. Last thing we need is your brother showing up.”

“Ha, ha, very funny. HAH! TAKE THAT! BESTOC BUFFS! EAT MY SHINY METAL-” he ignored the rest of the sentence as he carefully typed in the numbers on his phone for the chinese resteraunt. 

“Ash, I’m on the phone in a bit.”

“And! Okay. I’ll be quiet now.” She lowered her shouting at the game to what he imagined was some angry muttering. 

A few minutes of talking on the phone, cleaning up his failure of a dinner, and getting the gunk out of the joints on his fingers, he sat down on the couch next to Ashley, careful not to come down too hard. She was furiously mashing buttons in a timed rhythm that somehow got her derpy looking anime character to dodge-roll a massive bosses swings and then poke it with a long, but exceedingly thin sword. The numbers were unimpressive at best, considering how much was being shaved off at a time. 

He could actually hear the moment she mistimed the dodge and got flattened into a pancake. 

“Okay.... I think I’m done for tonight. I can’t handle anymore.” She put the controller down and shook her head with a deep breath. She looked over him and raised an eyebrow, her eyes lighting up. “So... what do you want to do now?”

He blushed and quickly said “We have guests over in like... ten minutes. And the food will be here soon.”

She laughed raucously. “Okay, fair.” She leaned closer to him and seemed about to say something when the door knocked. Her face immediately darkened. “Darnit,” she muttered and got up.

He could only titter in response. Whenever Ashley got flirty, his mind didn’t work so good. Actually, it felt like the distinct impressions of a blue screen, without the actual crash. 

“Ah, thanks. Here you go... oh, wow, this smells great. THANK YOU!” She yelled as the car was already pulling away. He had barely realized she had actually made it to the door. He shook his head to clear it. She reappeared at the door, and set the take-out boxes on the coffee table. “So, uhm, question.” She was heading for the door again as he opened one of the boxes. “Why did you invite Keith?”

“To mess with you. Besides, the guy could probably use some friends, too.” He broke his chopsticks carefully along the seam and stirred the food. “He’s not that different from me. He’s just trying to fit in.”

“Yeah, but...” She sighed from the kitchen. Something clattered as well. “I dunno. You’re right, of course, it’s just that I don’t like him. He’s not funny, or knowledgeable like you. I’m not even sure what House he’s from.”

“He’s from Side Character Dorm, not a house.”

“Oh. Well, that explains a little bit, I guess. Still... are you sure?”

Paul nodded as she came back in with a couple plates. 

They’d been eating for a few minutes when a light knock sounded from the door. Ashley got up again, still chewing. 

“Agh! Kairn! Come onh en. Ah, sorry.” Karen giggled and and the two showed up at the entryway again. “Sorry, we’re still eating.”

“No problem! Hey Paul!” He waved carefully, his mouth still full from his own bite. He raised an eyebrow at her in a silent question.

“What?”

Ashley grinned. “You said you would bring pajamas, but I don’t think he thought you meant that you would only bring pajamas.” He nodded. It wasn’t that he minded. Karen was a tall but cute blonde-haired witch. Her pajama’s were simple ones with chibi anime witches patterned on it. Strangely, she still had her witches hat and a wand was stuck in the waistband of the pajama bottoms on her hip. 

“Also,” he said after swallowing, “didn’t you say you were bringing some others?”

She nodded, and made a small shrug. “The two I invited declined. They said something about needing a lizard-mammal, but... i don’t know what that is.”

“A lizard mammal?” Ashley and Paul echoed.

“Hey, I don’t pretend to understand. I asked my Magical Creatures teacher, but she didn’t know about anything like that besides a Chimera. The way they were talking about it, it sounded small, so... unless they were trying to get babies? I dunno. What are you guys up to?”

“Well, I was going to try mackin’ on my boy, but common decency, limited time, and food interrupted.” Ashley said quickly, her eyes darting to watch his face turn red. Karen giggled with a hint of nervousness. 

“Oh, uh, sorry to interrupt.” 

“Nah, it’s fine. Why’d you need to get out of your house?” Karen’s face darkened. 

“Ugh. My roommate. He’s a total douche. He keeps using scrying spells and and he tries spells he finds on the internet every few days. The last one turned him into a newt.”

“A newt?”

“Yeah. It’s unfortunate, but he got better. I just needed to get out for awhile, you know?”

Ashley nodded. “Wild House is pretty quiet, usually.”

“Except for the shouting at T.V. screens.” Paul added. Ashley shrugged in response. “I’ll grab you a chair or something.”

The door knocked again as Paul got up. “I got it. Might as well grab a few more chairs while you’re at it.” Ashley said as she went for the door again. “Sarah! Hi. Come on in.”

Paul snickered as he heard the response while digging in the hall closet. “Well, this is what I call a hell of a night!” Ashley groaned loudly. “Also, I passed by the school on the way here. Any of you guys see what happened?”

“See what?” Came Karen. 

“The schools gone. Just gone, like.. it’s an empty lot.”

Paul and Ashley spoke at the same time. “That’s impossible.”

Ashley continued. “How could an entire school just disappear?” Paul returned to the living room with three fold out chairs with cushions on them as Sarah shrugged. 

“How would I know? I’m from Murder Mystery House, not ‘School Disappearing Mystery House’. I would say one of our stories started, but the Magical Girls still go to school.”

“Yeah, but Magical Girls tend to have their stories in school.” Was Karen’s response.

“Says the magical girl.” Paul set the chairs up as he spoke. 

“Uhm, I’m a witch, thanks. Totally different.”

“... Unh hunh,” Everyone replied.

[manelyec]

Never Too Late - EC Staff Spotlight on Amber Smith

It is never too late to start living your dream.

Amber Smith took these words to heart when she decided to leave a stable full-time job to head back to college and pursue her dream of finishing her degree.

Amber’s journey to Emmanuel College has been an adventure, to say the least.

“I was a student here 10 years ago and left in 2007,” said. “In 2012, I was looking at finishing a four-year degree in Business. Before deciding on where to attend, I went to the Philippines for a month on a mission trip and God rocked my world.”

Coming home from her mission trip, Amber decided on Liberty University. That was until she saw a promotional video about Emmanuel College on Facebook and broke down.

“There were people in the video that I recognized from years before,” Amber said. “At that moment I broke down and cried knowing that God was telling me I needed to go back to Emmanuel.”

In the Fall of 2013, Amber began again at Emmanuel pursuing a Business Degree.

What was unique to her about Emmanuel?

“At Emmanuel, you’re not just a number,” she said. “What stands out here is that people make a point to acknowledge others here, you cannot get lost in a crowd at Emmanuel.”

While at Emmanuel, God continued to open doors for Amber so that when she graduated in May of 2016, she stepped right into a full-time position with Campus Operations.

“I started working with Campus Safety in the Spring of 2014,” she recalls. “I just continued to work and learn, I started as a work study for Campus Operations and God continued to open doors for me to progress to a part-time role, and now full-time.”

As the Executive Assistant for Campus Operations, Amber wears several hats.

“My main responsibilities include management of all rental property, supervising the campus ops work studies, and managing the travel fleet – scheduling, maintenance, approved drivers, insurance, etc.,” Amber said. “Additionally, I am also the purchasing agent for Campus Operations and work with the Maintenance guys to facilitate projects and help keep the campus running as efficiently as possible.”

In her role, Amber has been able to not only do administrative and accounting work which she is skilled in but work with people.

“I love people and enjoy having the opportunity to make someone feel special,” she said. “On both the internal level and dealing with the community, purchasing, and contractors, I get to interact with a lot of different people and I really love that part of the job.”

Looking back, Amber will tell you that her story is one of grace and provision.

“I was a lost teenager trying to figure out where I fit in, where I belonged,” Amber said. “I had no vision, no real hope for a future.”

One woman she credits for steering her towards Emmanuel is Emmanuel Board of Trustees member and former Chairwoman, Linda Thomas.

“One of the only reasons why I ended up here at Emmanuel is because of her,” Amber said. “She is from my home church and was always an advocate for Emmanuel and continues to be. I would have never known about this place if it wasn’t for her. She has a heart for youth and a stronger heart for Emmanuel and discipleship.”

When everything was stacked against her, Amber decided to take a leap of faith and go after her dream, which is something she advises other students to do.

“It’s never too late to start living your dream,” Amber said. “The mere concept of leaving my full-time job to chase my dream didn’t seem possible, but it’s never too late. It was difficult and there were so many times that I would get mad because it wasn’t what it looked like, wasn’t what I thought I was supposed to be doing but God called me to do this.”

Continuing to pursue her dream, Amber intends to begin graduate school next fall for her MBA with concentrations in Accounting and Operations Management. Her hope is to continue working in Campus Operations while teaching Business classes at Emmanuel once she attains her Masters, and to become more involved in Missions as well as ministry opportunities across campus and in the community.

Amber will tell anyone who asks that she is living her dream at Emmanuel College and encourages anyone who feels unfulfilled or hears God calling them in a certain direction to take the leap. It is never too late.

[aniketshahane-blog]

Turn Your Life Around While In College

A Collection of the Best Blogs From CareerNinja

##1. Ways to be Productive

● Wake up early and exercise or write/study :

---➤ Waking up Early usually adds 3-4 hours and Facilitates

Productivity.

● Have a definitive purpose or a goal :

---➤ It is Good to Channel your Efforts into Particular Stuff rather than just Beating around the bush.

● Try to have Small and clear Goals :

---➤ Constantly try to achieve Small Goals so that you get Satisfaction and Motivation for the subsequent ones.

● Use Technology to your Advantage :

---➤Simply complaining about addiction to smartphones isn't going to solve anyone's problems, it is best to smartly utilize them to Learn New things and drastically increase Productivity.

● No More Excuses :

---➤ Maybe you have Wasted your Time till this point in your Life, its fine

!! Its never too late to make amends. GET UP !! Do something that you always wanted to do... You Know You CAN DO IT !!

##2. How to be a Leader In College !!

● Organize and Discipline Yourself :

---➤ Be the change you want to see in the world. Being a Leader requires a certain level of Commitment and it certainly does not develop itself, so keep testing yourself to see where you stand.

● Be an Active Student :

---➤ Try to participate in all the activities that are arranged in your college. Two of the most important things that you'll get out of this is #1. A good network Of Contacts & #2. New Things to Learn. A Win-WinSituation !!

● Step Up !! :

---➤ Become a Responsible person. Start small, Volunteer for different activities and take Control. It exposes us to various different situations and steps up our Problem-Solving Game !!

● Boost Your Knowledge :

---➤ Leadership is 80 % knowing more than others. Be aware of the competition around, try to be good at academics and extra-curricularactivities as well. Naturally, with all this, you'll be placed above your peers.

● Important Behavioural Traits :

---➤ #1. Help your peers, #2. Do something no matter how big or small, #3. Own your mistakes, Everyone Makes Mistakes !! #4. Have an Ambition, Work Harder Than Others and try to constantly achieve goals #5. Be aware of your Strengths and Weaknesses.

  ##3. Why You Should Take up a course Besides Studying In College !!

Now that the number of peculiar sites providing numerous courses in various distinct fields is through the roof, it has become really important to smartly indulge and make use of 'em to advance your skill-set.

● Choose Sincerely :

---➤ The Internet is flooded with a supposedly endless array of courses.

Choose a course that you seriously like and would love to explore !! Your Interest will play the Role of The Motivator !!

● Constantly Challenge and Evaluate Yourself :

---➤ Try out New and Challenging stuff. Challenge - Complete - Repeat

!!! You will learn new things and develop important skills.

● Set A Goal :

---➤ Have a well-defined idea of what you would like to do in the future.

Don't Worry, if you don't have any ideas. Keep On Exploring & You're Bound to Find It !!

● Ask A Friend to join you :

---➤ Peer Pressure is very Effective. Doing the course with your friend will facilitate the development of a competitive nature which will eventually help you.

● Put Money into It :

---➤ Once money comes into the picture, seriousness follows. It will also drive you to perform better, not that it wouldn't otherwise, but it certainly increases the amount of attention devoted to the course.

##5. How to figure Out if you are Stressed and if you Need Help

●Life is a balance of every element, including stress. But when stress increases, you'll notice how imbalanced other aspects get. Mood Swings, Relationship problems and inability to concentrate are a few to name.

●A large chunk of the population suffers from anxiety and depression(when you feel sad for no specific reason). There are certain behaviours and emotions that you exhibit when you're stressed. If the stress is persistent, there could be a necessity for you to seek help.

●Four major symptoms of stress include:

#1. Emotional --➤ Moody & Frustrated, Fear of Losing Control,

Experiencing Negative Emotions, Avoiding Others

#2. Cognitive --➤ Feeling Anxious, Isolated, Memory Problems,

Racing Thoughts, Difficulty In Concentration

#3. Physical --➤ Constant Headaches, Chest Pain, Insomnia, High BP,

Low Energy, Body Aches

#4. Behavioural --➤ Anger Outbursts, Binge Eating/Eating Very Less,

Procrastination, Using Alcohol & Drugs

● If you happen to relate to these mentioned symptoms, you definitely need to seek help. Talk to Friends and Family about it. Don't be ashamed to admit and never hesitate to seek professional help !!!

       ##6. Studying Abroad: The Reality

●If you are someone who is in their 3rd / Final year of college or are just curious, listen up !! The apt time to start preparing for studying abroad is, undoubtedly, the Final Year. But to get an admission into the top universities its better to start planning and preparing from the 1st or 2nd Year since the amount of competition that everyone faces has, recently, become really high.

●Let's say that you have given your GRE and TOEFL (for which, the apt time to start preparing is the 2nd Year according to the observed trend), shortlisted a few colleges and are now deciding which ones to apply to for studying abroad. Short answer: apply to all of them. But Make sure before you give those exams you have thoroughly researched the choices of courses and colleges. Also its a good decision to go through a few domestic job offers as a backup.

●Once you begin studying abroad try getting as many research/project opportunities as possible, even if they don't offer any stipend. Never be enticed to take up off campus jobs which are illegal and try to keep your sole focus on what you actually came to do study but this does not mean that you turn a blind eye to the various internships, co-op and job fairs.

●First of all, if you are any older than 25, drop the plan right away because you'll be studying for two years, an then spending the next two years to earn back the education expense. This, practically, means that you'd be lucky if you've made any actual savings by the time you're close to 30. For the others, it's probably not a smooth road either. You'll be spending hours at the Laundromat, grocery shopping, struggling to cook a decent meal, eating leftovers for weeks and scrounging to save the last penny and having hell of a time trying to manage academics. Also, you'll end up missing home like crazy and the long distance calls to your family and friends are hardly of any help

●This, by no means, encourages any discouragement but to familiarize yourself with the reality is the best way to deal with such a unique and important life experience.

✦ A few other interesting and informative blogs:

1. 10 Best NGO’s To Work In!

http://careerninja.in/career/10-best-ngos-to-work-in/

2. Scores Or The Curiosity To Learn: What to build upon ?

http://careerninja.in/academic/scores-curiosity-to-learn-what-to-build-upon/

3. Should You Pursue Your Masters Degree Abroad ?

http://careerninja.in/academic/post-graduate/pursue-masters-degree-abroad/

4. 10 Things School Didn’t Teach But You Need To Know

http://careerninja.in/you/school-teach/

“”” I am pursuing Computer Engineering and currently studying in the 1st year. I have carefully read all these blogs and summarized the content with the writer’s words and a few of my own. This is absolutely not a list of all the awesome informative blogs that ‘CareerNinja’ provides. It has been created just to display the quality content that a lot of people don’t have access to, due to the lack of common knowledge about the CareerNinja Web Platform. Keep Visiting the website careerninja.in for more such information that will guide you throughout your academic life. I also want to take a moment to thank you if you have made it through this whole document. Thank You !! Cheers “”” ~Aniket Shahane

[itsnelkabelka]

Speech: Op-ed by British Ambassador Thomas Reilly on education

In 2006, when I moved back to London after nearly four years in the Middle East, to get married and start a family, I also went back to school. The British Foreign Office paid for me to study for an MBA. I studied in the evening after work, at weekends and holidays and took time off work to attend residential schools. At the end of four years, I had my MBA.

Education matters.

It matters at all points in our lives. It shapes our lives. It structures the way we think. It develops the way we interact with other people. It enables us to realise our own potential. It helps us challenge ourselves. Education is the bedrock on which we stand, it sets the pathway for our lives. Without it we are (to quote Shakespeare) ‘bound in shallows and in misery’. A failure to educate effectively stunts personal development and economic growth, increasing, as it does so, political and societal risks. Education is a liberator, an equaliser, a generator of social mobility and a realiser of opportunity. A good education is the single greatest gift we can give our children.

For the children we educate today, create our societies tomorrow. The values we impart through our children’s education shape how we will live – in a just, equal society where people are respected for their abilities; or an unjust, crippled society where people are respected only for their wealth or their power.

But education should not be viewed as a solely academic undertaking. A society that fails to develop and apply skills and knowledge will struggle to sustain economic growth. This is increasingly, recognised by companies and universities who offer combined syllabi where equal parts of the course are spent in each institution.

Education is not easy. Indeed, it is frequently scary and difficult. This September, my children went (with great fear and trepidation) to their first day at a brand-new school here in Morocco. Their fear was compounded by it not only being the first day in a new school, in a new country, but also by the fact that it was a French-speaking school and neither of them speak French. But in years to come, when both of them are bilingual, I hope they will look back on that fear and realise that the experience was worth it.

The process of learning never stops and it is not something that the young alone do. When my mother retired, she went back to university and studied first an undergraduate degree in Spanish and then a Masters, writing a ground-breaking dissertation on the Spanish in South America. When she graduated, in Canterbury Cathedral last year, in front of 5,000 other students, they stood and applauded her. It was one of proudest moments of my life.

Where education liberates, a failure to educate chains and limits, perpetuates inequality and locks communities into a cycle of poverty. One of the single biggest losses to a society is a failure to educate its women properly - young women who do not receive an education can never achieve either their personal or economic potential, robbing both them and society of enormous gains. That is why the work of charities such as Education For All (who build dormitories near to secondary schools to enable girls to continue their education past the age of 12) is so important.

I am constantly struck by how many Moroccans choose to pursue their university studies in the UK and I am delighted that is the case. Mobility of university students not only broadens their education outlook, but it also increases inter-cultural understanding and breaks down stereotypes – I remember my ERASMUS year studying in Strasbourg as the best of my university life and where I made the closest of my friends.

The UK’s Chevening programme, which operates in over 137 countries worldwide, has given bursaries to over 46,000 students to study in the UK. The programme gives future leaders the opportunity to develop personally and professionally and the Scholarships aim to support UK foreign policy priorities by creating lasting positive relationships with future leaders, influencers and decision makers around the world. We sent six Moroccans to the UK with Chevening Scholarships for academic year 2017/2018: it is not enough and I would like to considerably increase the number of Moroccans studying in the UK, both independently and through the Chevening Programme over the coming years.

The Times Higher Education World Rankings 2018, places three British universities in the top ten - with Oxford and Cambridge occupying the two top spots. The emphasis in British universities is on an open and stimulating environment where students are encouraged to ask questions, to challenge, to pursue independent thinking and to debate (an environment I try to emulate in the Embassy). But in addition to the excellence of the teaching environment, UK universities also offer the chance to learn and perfect the English language, which is increasingly the dominant international language for business and commerce.

The UK is renowned for its multicultural and multi-faith society and is home to many of the world’s most internationally diverse campuses and communities. The UK is the world’s second most popular study destination after the US, with its universities attracting more than 400,000 international students each year. The International Student Barometer gives the UK the highest international student experience satisfaction ratings for English-speaking countries.

One evening in 2003, I was sitting in a restaurant in London with my then girlfriend (now, happily my wife). She was telling me that her biggest regret was not studying medicine. We talked about what was preventing her from studying medicine. She quit her job the next day and went back to school. She studied every hour that she had and by the end of the year, she had the A-Levels necessary to get into medical school. My wife is now a top physio, working for the International Paralympic Committee.

Education is the key to unlocking human potential. Good education releases creativity, drives entrepreneurship, technology and innovation. It emancipates the poor and empowers the scientists, teachers, politicians and authors of tomorrow who will solve the great problems the world grapples with. Education is the basis for everything.

The centrality of education to the prosperity of a society is why education is my top priority here in Morocco and I look forward to working closely with my Moroccan partners to continue to improve the educational exchange between the UK and Morocco over the coming years.

from Announcements on GOV.UK http://ift.tt/2zvZItY via IFTTT

[pdiep]

Graduate Studies

I have expectations going into my graduate studies. Without a doubt, there are new obstacles I am anticipating and unfamiliar challenges I hope to conquer. There are also new forms of evaluation and new material to comprehend. In my undergraduate studies, I have become bored by the trivial course design: assignments, midterms, and final exams. By no means have I mastered these components as I am no excellent test-taker or 4.0 GPA student. My skills and abilities have simply grown out of these numerical assessments. I genuinely believe that the continued numerical assessment in this last term of my undergraduate is pointless. I recognize a numerical grade is necessary for grant applications, scholarships, and continued career success. And it for this reason I’ve striven to bring my average up over the past two years.

However, I’ve learned that what makes me the happiest are the opportunities to be challenged by scientific research objectives, rather than numerically assessed tests. The “real world” does not demand students meet their highest GPAs. What I think it demands are well-rounded students that can score decent GPAs, but have extensively explored their non-numerical abilities which includes leadership, teamwork, creativity, and work ethic. I think a “decent” GPA is important because it demonstrates you can pick up theoretical knowledge and self-learn new material. However, the actual application of this knowledge, infused with our unique abilities, can only be tested in non-numerical assessments. Graduate school is no longer about the grades. Of course, grades are still given to the out-dated grant-providing groups like NSERC, but they aren’t the focus anymore. The focus is the research output in the form of papers, and the ability to mentor others. The focus is the development of one’s passion for the sciences and the sharing of this passion. The focus is the personal growth, and the building of one’s career. I find that undergraduate programs like mine barely focused on all of these aspects. The co-operative education program (ie. co-op) was virtually useless in my career development, yet it was suppose to nurture all those aspects; I had to find my own positions that have brought me to where I am now. The Canadian Cancer Society and Environment Canada were merely fillers. As harsh as I am on these experiences, I do recognize their benefits. I needed the former to hone my project management skills; I needed the latter to develop a stronger appreciation for research. I am thankful for these experiences, but in no way did they play a major role in biggest undergraduate milestones.

My final year in undergrad features a selection of courses designed to satisfy my interests in the pharmaceutical sciences. Synthetic biology and protein engineering are my fortes at this point, and it is why I continue to participate in iGEM and take courses like Structural Bioinformatics. I love reading journal articles, and I love designing experiments and writing paper reports based on them. I have endless mental energy for lab work (though my physical energy can only go so far). I love engaging in conversation about the future of health and how synthetic biology may play a role. Among the iGEM leads this year, I don’t think there was anyone as passionate as I was about synthetic biology (and I don’t know why).

In graduate school, I want to have that luxury of focusing one topic and specializing in it. For now, I am tired of taking an arrangement of courses where I have to make them connect to each other. I want to take challenging courses that have obvious connections to each other. I want my main work to be laboratory research, and my courses to supplement them. I want a program where I can pursue my interest and there are resources to empower me. I don’t want funding to be a major problem, and I don’t want to be in a community of dejected graduate students that aren’t involved with non-academic interests. I want to be in a room where there’s at least one student I can eagerly share my scientific passions with. In my undergraduate, I have been, for the most part, surrounded by people who lose interest once I clarify to them that I want to do graduate studies in the form of a Master’s and not a PharmD. I understand why people are so interested in others entering PharmD programs: healthcare, the financial promises, the ability to help others, the professionalism, the socioeconomic boosts this can bring to your family, the recognition, the feeling of awesomeness when you tell others you’re studying pharmacy. Yet, the prospects of this program are so inflated and often superficial. We need innovation in PharmD students, and we need new thinkers. I want to experience first hand what PharmD students are doing, and that is a reason I want to do my Master’s at a pharmacy school. I want to know where the field of pharmaceutical sciences stands, and what role I can play to boost it further so it serves more people in the world.

The most important part of my graduate studies is that it is being done under the supervision of Canada’s Chair in Synthetic Biology and Human Health – Dr. Keith Pardee. I’ve had four different research experiences in my undergrad: two seasons on iGEM, an 8-month co-op position with Dr. David Rose, and an Honours Thesis Project with Dr. Marc Aucoin. In all of these positions, the only supervisor that has sparked new interests is my good friend Peivand from my first ever research position on iGEM. I’ve, in a sense, been deprived of a mentor. I’ve been a mentor to others, but I’ve really wanted my own mentor for a while now. Someone who is interested in synthetic biology and how it interfaces with human health. I also need a mentor that exercises creativity and innovation. In essence, this requires the mentor to be on the younger side and closer to my age. This is quite literally Keith, and I don’t think it’s possible for me to find someone like this so close to home and in such an optimal position.

There have also been a number of personal interests held back by the trivial problems of undergraduate studies. Reading and exercise. This course-based system of study is something I find to be a hindrance to my education, as strange as that is. The average six courses/term in the past few years has arrested all personal growth in non-academic interests. Only recently have I been able to read and to exercise, and this is because I only have 3 lecture courses last term and 4 this term. What I need is one or two courses only that are extremely in-depth and are not based on numerical assessments. Research papers are not graded. Research papers are provided feedback and revisions to allow for improvement up until a point where peer-reviewers think the written piece is as best as it can get (talking about legitimate Journals, not your run-of-the-mill-accept-everything Journals). A pass-or-fail course that teaches me about Canada’s healthcare systems and tests my understanding by having me write papers is a far better use of everyone’s time. With this kind of specialization, I think it will provide me with the luxury to enjoy fiction and maintain my body’s health. I won’t have to worry about stupid assignments and waves of midterms coming up. I can finally enjoy learning to my fullest extent. I can finally feel like I belong to a community of like-minded students interested in an over-arching field. I need this in my life.