Volume 2, No. 3
December 2012
The Navigator
Three R’s: Rio’s Results and Resources for Success in the
Early Childhood and Human Development Program
From the Program Director
Keep Priorities Straight- A Jar of Life
In Stephen Covey’s book, First Things First, Covey helps the reader to see that in
order to really manage our lives, since we cannot manage time; we need to really
understand how to fill our jar of life.
If you are unfamiliar with this parable, watch this video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpau5YXk46Y&feature=related
In This Issue…
Meet Your Instructor
(Page 2)
Student Success Today
(Page 2)
Gold Time Management - The
Second Secret for Success
(Page 3)
What is a college education worth
(Page 3)
Supporting
Your Success
More
inside!
(Page 5)
Now that you have a better understanding of this simple lesson, how do you fill
your jar? I am a struggling “recovering workaholic” – having spent the vast
majority of my adult life pretty much putting in the big rocks known as “family” and
“work” (which included going back to college in my 40’s)………..I really did not resize
the “family” and “work” rocks to include “play” or “friends” until I found myself
facing two major life crises: my own journey with breast cancer in 2010 and my
husband’s diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s, just six months before my diagnosis
of cancer! I used to fill my jar with more and more water and let everything just
float along. However, my two life crises in the past two years have really made me
slow down and rethink the size and quantity of the “rocks” in my life.
Is your jar of life filled with the things that are most important to you in life, or
filled primarily with pebbles and small stuff?
Meet Your Instructor
Melanie Alexander
Student Success Today
Kris Cederstrom
I am a mosaic; I believe people are mosaics. I am a woman, a
wife (to Sean for fourteen years), and a mother to four
incredible, creative and unique children. I am a sister to seven
siblings, a daughter to four women; my mother, my adoptive
mother, my stepmother, and mother in-law. I am a
businesswoman and I own a childcare group home, Ruckus
Kids, in Gilbert. I am a student at Rio Salado, and I am a
mentor with several agencies, which focus on quality of
programs, providers, and directors. I have many names and
many titles, but I prefer to be called Kris.
Hello, my name is Melanie Alexander, and I have been an
instructor for the Early Childhood and Human Development
Department here at Rio Salado College for the past five years.
This past year, my husband and I were blessed to have
doubled the size of our family, from three boys (ages 17, 10,
and 8) to five boys and one girl. In April, we welcomed our
fourth son into this world, and in August we adopted a boy
(13) and a girl (8) into our family. We are also foster parents
and currently have one foster daughter (6). So, it goes without
saying that we have a busy house!
My family and upbringing was unique in that I was adopted.
My life was supposed to be terminated, however I was
adopted and raised by the Gynecologist that delivered me. I
have two sisters who are also adopted, one is Korean and one
is Puerto Rican. In addition, my adopted family had four
natural children. I have met my natural Mother, sister, and
maternal grandparents, and have been told that I am a
quarter Cherokee Choctaw, which is exciting. My adopting
family has many cultures and faiths; Cherokee, Scotch, Jewish,
Mormon, poker and keno. There was diversity and a constant
coming together as a family, with cultural awareness and
respect always expected. I had the opportunity to live in a
number of states growing up and to experience the richness
that each had to offer. My senior year of High School, my
father lost his job and our family had to relocate to Utah. I
worked on an assembly line with my father and sisters until
we had enough money to move to Arizona where my father
had a new position. I lived in Pinetop for a few months then
moved to Mesa so I could attend Mesa Community College.
Like most college students, I had many jobs and at one of
them, I met my husband Sean. After we were married, I quit
school and worked forty to seventy hours a week to help put
him through school for eight years, teaching children in my
own home childcare.
Continued on Page 7
I can relate to your busy lives and hectic schedules. At one
time, I was in your place as a Rio Salado student. It took almost
ten years to graduate with my Associate’s degree in Early
Childhood Development. I was a wife, a mother, and working a
full time job as a childcare provider. But I did not give up on
achieving my academic goals. Eventually, persistence paid off
and I walked across that stage to receive my first college
diploma.
Never stop learning. Those are words I live by. I continued my
education receiving a Bachelor’s Degree and then a Master’s in
Early Childhood Education. I have two Arizona teaching
certificates, Early Childhood Education and Career and
Technical Education. After working in preschool and childcare
for ten years, I went to work in the public school system, as a
first grade teacher and later teaching early childhood
education to high school students. I currently teach early
childhood education for a local school district and have
partnered with Rio Salado College to support high school
students as they set goals and start working towards a college
certificate, providing encouragement to never abandon their
goals, and to become lifelong learners.
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Continued on page 6
s
Ask Di….
-The Second
Secret to
SuccessQ: How much more does a college graduate earn
over a lifetime?
A: College Grads can expect to earn twice as much
as Non-College Grads
*Having a Bachelor’s Degree is worth about $1.1 million
more in lifetime earnings than an Associate’s Degree
In the last issue we focused on commitment as a means to
producing success. We covered the first three traits of
successful people and wrapped those traits into
commitment strategies. In this issue we will cover traits 4-6
and wrap it into Gold Time Management strategies. Take a
moment and review the 10 traits and grade yourself from 1 5 (1 the best, 2 good, 3 okay, 4 needs improvement and 5
unacceptable). This will give you an idea of where your
strengths lie and where you need improvement in your
practices for success.
*Workers with a Bachelor’s Degree earn 45% more than those
with an Associate’s Degree
*Workers with an Associate’s Degree or some College earn
26% more than a High School Graduate
Societal Benefits of earning a degree include:
*INCREASED VOTING: College graduates vote at a higher
rate than citizens who did not graduate college
Ten Traits for Success
1.
How you think is everything. Always be positive.
Think success, not failure. Be aware of a negative
environment.
2. Decide upon your true dreams and goals. Write
down your specific goals and develop a plan to
reach them.
3. Take action. Goals are nothing without action.
Don’t be afraid to get started. Just do it.
4. Never stop learning. Go back to school, read
books or get training and acquire skills.
5. Be persistent and work hard. Success is a
marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.
6. Learn to analyze details. Get all the facts, all the
input. Learn from your mistakes.
7. Focus your time and money. Don’t let other
people or things distract you.
8. Be innovative: Be different.
9. Deal and communicate with people effectively.
Learn to understand and motivate others.
10. Be honest and dependable: Take Responsibility:
Otherwise 1-9 won’t matter.
*INCREASED VOLUNTEERISM: 43% of citizens with a
BA or higher report that they volunteer at some organization
during the year
*INCREASED STATE TAX BASE: College graduates have
higher employment rates and contribute higher income
earnings towards state taxes
*LOWER RATES OF POVERTY AND USE OF SOCIAL
SUPPORTS: Only 4% of citizens with a Bachelor’s Degree
qualify as being in poverty
*INCREASED HEALTH: At every age and income level,
the report shows there is come correlation between more
education and better overall health
Forecasts indicate by 2018, 63% of available jobs in the US will
require at least some college education; 72% of these will require a
Bachelor’s Degree or better
(Information was provided by the University of Washington. To
read more on this topic, visit
http://admit.washington.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/WhatIsAC
ollegeEducationWorth.pdf)
Continued on Page 4
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Gold Time Management - Continued from Page 3
What is Gold Time Management?
It is a system of self - management that is driven by your values. It leads to balance,
integrity and results in self-respect, a sense of empowerment and fulfillment. Traits 4-6
will assist you in setting up a system of Gold Time Management that will lead to
personal, professional and academic success.
Trait # 4 never stop learning. Go back to school, read books or get training and acquire skills. You are already going to school and
reading books. It is time to take a look at your time-management skills.
Trait #5 Be persistent and work hard. Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up. This trait will help you tackle the things that
get in the way of managing your time effectively. As you read the list of things that get in the way of Gold Time Management make a
list of the things that apply to you.
What gets in the way of Gold Time Management?
We all have a good intention for focusing and sticking to our priorities, and then life happens. It is an email, phone call, text message,
requests for help, family, friends and daily chores that draw our attention away from the most important things. We set out to stick
to our plan and do not set a system in place that keeps the focus on that plan. Be aware of what happens when we say such things as:
“I wanted to do my assignment/go to the library/meet with my coach/other……” BUT…………..
“I will do it later”
“I am too busy”
“I need to respond right away to this call, interruption, request, and distraction.”
Trait #6 Learn to analyze details. Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes. Once you have identified ways you distract
yourself, you can practice Gold Time Management. This system helps you identify the most important things, create a plan, and
ensures you maintain your focus.
Examples of the most important things
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Benefits of Gold Time Management
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Create a Plan - set goals as described in the last issue
Building Relationships - having fun at home and work
Self-Care Activities - exercise, nutrition, rest, relaxation
Completing relevant tasks that move the plan forward
Resolving obstacles - think solution, next steps
Creates balance
Produces results
Improves performance
Create and Implement a System for Gold Time
Management
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Place plan in visible location
Set monthly goals - 30 days
Set weekly goals - align weekly goals with monthly goals
Review weekly goals and score - set next week’s goals
Review monthly goals and score -set next month’s goals
(Continued on Page 5)
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Gold Time Management - Continued from Page 4
Note that Gold Time Management activities are in the Important and Not Urgent quadrant. By reviewing this chart you will see where you
are spending your time and how you can develop practices that improve your time management skills.
Time is a constant and we can learn to manage it in ways that create a sense of well-being and empowerment. Below are five
Gold Time Management strategies that will improve personal effectiveness and success.
1. Strategy: Take the first 15 minutes of every day to plan your day. Don’t start your day until you complete your timemanagement plan. The most important time of your day is the time you schedule to schedule time, this is why it is called Gold
Time: Important, Not Urgent.
2. Build Relationships: Know your resources and ask for help when needed. Make a plan to get together with family and
friends to maintain existing relationships. Take a break to call a friend and set up some fun time.
3. Exploring New Possibilities: Take five minutes before every task to decide what result you want to achieve. This will help
you know what success looks like before you start. Take five minutes after each activity to determine whether your desired
result was achieved. If not, what was missing? How do you put what’s missing in your next activity?
4. Personal Development: Choose a week and carry a notebook to record your thoughts, conversations and activities. This
will help you see which part of the quadrant you spend time in. You will understand how much you can get done during the
course of a day and where precious moments are going. You will see how much time is spent producing results and how much
time is wasted on unproductive thoughts, conversations and actions.
5. Progressing Projects Proactively: Set time aside every month to create goals. As the holiday approaches it is a perfect time
to practice Gold Time Management. Keep your eye on the plan and designate time for meaningful planning and executing the
things that are most important to you.
When you implement Gold Time Management, I guarantee you will feel more relaxed and more accomplished. Please contact
me with any questions or comments and I wish you a relaxing and memorable holiday. [email protected].
Di is the founder of Arizona Partners, an international coaching and consulting business. Di
has been in business for over 29 years and for the last 11 years has provided Best Year Yet
programs and presentations throughout the United States and Europe. She currently serves
as their International BYYO Coaching Certification trainer.
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What is the Electronic Student File System (ESF)
Rio Salado advisors use a dynamic web-based database called the Electronic Student File
(ESF) system to create with you, an individualized check sheet, which will be a critical tool
to use as you plan your future coursework. ESF check sheets are available and suggested
for all of the certificates and degrees offered by the ECEHD program. ESF helps you keep
track of your academic progress, check the status of your transcripts, review contact notes
posted from your advisor, and review your program plan. It is secure and available online
24/7 with a valid username and password.
You may access your check sheet online by following the directions below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
https://matrix.riosalado.edu/ (through Internet Explorer)
Enter MEID in the “Username” textbox.
Enter your password.
Click “ESF” to access your student file.
If you do not remember your MEID and password, follow the directions below:
1.
2.
3.
https://matrix.riosalado.edu/ (through Internet Explorer)
Click on “Get Your Username/MEID and Password.”
Enter Student ID, Partner ID, or National ID/SSN along with your First name and
Last Name.
4.
Enter your Birth Date (mm/dd/yyyy) or National ID/SSN as indicated.
5.
Enter the code shown in the box.
6.
Take note of your Username/MEID.
7.
Enter your Current Password, New Password, and Re - type New Password.
a.
If you do not know your Password, click “Forgot your password?”
b.
Enter New Password, Re-type New Password, and Answer Your Security
Question.
8.
Click “Submit”.
9.
A confirmation message will indicate that your information has been updated.
10. Close the window.
11.
Enter MEID in the “Username” textbox on sign-in screen.
12.
13.
Enter password.
Click “ESF” to access your student file.
If you are a first time student with the Maricopa Community College District, please visit the
my.maricopa.edu website and click on “New Student? Start Here” to set up your MEID and
password.
All students working towards one of the certificates and/or degrees offered through the ECEHD program will have to complete at
least one Internship and Portfolio course. Both courses are to be taken at the end of the certificate and/or degree course work,
and are designed to be taken together. In addition, both courses require department approval. To enroll in these courses,
students need to send an email to: [email protected]. The email needs to contain the following information:
student name, student ID number, contact phone number and course prefix/number AND preferred start date of the course for
which you are requesting admittance. The department offers extensive information on these courses, and encourages you to
visit the Early Childhood home page and review the information entitled: “Internship and Portfolio FAQ’s”. A link has been
provided below for your convenience as well. It is never too late to start planning for these future courses!
http://www.riosalado.edu/programs/earlychildhood/Documents/FAQ-Portfolio-Internship-classes1.2012.pdf
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Rio Salado College is here to support your success!
Rio Salado College is here to help you become the success
you want to be. Listed below are supports for you:
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Academic Advisement
Cashier's Office
Computer Labs
Counseling Services
Disability Resources & Services
Financial Aid
Helpdesks and Additional Assistance
Library
Testing
Transcript Requests
Tutoring
Veteran’s Affairs
Continued from Page 2
Student Success Today – Kris Cederstrom
In 2008, I was diagnosed with Bi Lateral Belspalsy. I had full
neural paralysis on the right and left sides of my face and
numbness throughout my body. I could not blink,
manipulate my jaw, and my face was drooped. It was a very
difficult personal struggle for my family and me. Today, I am
in full remission. In 2009, I was challenged by a dear friend
of mine to go back to college. I was terrified. I thought I
would be thrown out for not being bright enough. I allowed
my “self image” to dissolve because of the effects of the
palsy. It was a struggle. It was so hard to make the
commitment. Shortly thereafter, I received the T.E.A.C.H.
scholarship from First Things First. This scholarship made a
huge impact on my future. The support I received from my
specialist was what I needed to stay on my journey. I have
worked very hard, and there have been plenty of mistakes,
bumps, and frustrations through the journey but it has
taught me so much. I have learned that if I give the very best
of my abilities, through the challenges and with the support
of my family and friends, I have the drive to accomplish my
goals and to be successful. I believe where there is an
attempt, there is not failure. I may need to make several
attempts to achieve my goals, but to give up, that is failure.
Famous Einstein Quotes:
"Genius is 1% talent and 99%
percent hard work."
"Learn from yesterday, live for
today, hope for tomorrow. The
important thing is not to stop
questioning."
"You never fail until you stop
trying."
neither
especially
clevernew."
nor
"A person who never made a mistake
never
tried anything
especially gifted. I am only
very, very curious."
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to
I have a very strong commitment to my children. I want to
give them the best opportunity and take ownership of that
responsibility as their teacher. My role is to navigate the
children through their learning, providing resources that will
help further their understanding, and support their
curiosities and abilities. I rely on the trust that I am shown,
as their teacher and caregiver, and empower the children in
self-discovery, exploration of new things and developing
new ideas. I want each child to be successful. I want them to
know that I care for them and their well - being. I feel that if
a child knows someone is deeply invested in them, then
they will feel valued and confident in their life. I believe,
that I have the opportunity to create the possibility of a
cycle; a ripple pattern that can extend without end or
interruption, that would ensure the culture of protecting,
educating, and truly caring for children.
success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."
Albert Einstein, a German-born theoretical physicist revolutionized
physics with his discovery of the theory of general relativity and
the famous equation on energy: E = Mc2, making him the father of
modern physics. Though a genius, he was humble to put his
intelligence into perspective and believed in the value of hard
work. In 1895, at the age of 17, Albert Einstein applied for early
admission into the Swiss Federal Polytechnical School. He passed
the math and science sections of the entrance exam, but failed the
rest (history, languages, geography, etc.)! Einstein had to go to a
trade school before he retook the exam and was finally admitted
to ETH a year later. For his services to theoretical physics, in
particular for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect,
he was awarded the “1921 Nobel Prize in Physics.”
Rio Salado College is a
Maricopa Community College
(EEO/AA institution), is
accredited by the Higher
Learning Commission, and is a
member of the North Central
Association.
We welcome your comments and
thoughts about the content of
this newsletter.
[email protected]
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