9 Helpful Tips to Control Your Emotions

Introvert Whisperer / 9 Helpful Tips to Control Your Emotions Top 9 Tips to Tame Your Emotions The Key to a Happier Life Do you know U.K. has appointed a minister for “loneliness”? Isn’t that the sad reality of what uncontrolled emotions can actually do to us? As published in www.nytimes.com, about 9 million people in the country tend to feel lonely most of the times, suggests a 2017 report by Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness. While it is true that emotions over the ages in the history of humankind have always been there attached to every single action, and decision; we cannot deny the fact that exaggerated emotions on several occasions had ended up making things worse than ever. For instance, someone who’s emotionally wrecked would think that the entire universe has conspired against him/her, and might draw a conclusion that it is almost the end of the world for them. This, as a result, gives rise to stress, negativity, anger and emotional damage that eventually gets the better of them in many harmful ways. On the flip side, peace of mind and the strength to accept things that cannot be changed or controlled is what it takes to master the art of not letting emotions rule over you. Here are 9 actionable tried and tested ways to control emotions, because “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.   1. Get Over “I am the only one suffering.” People with weaker emotions are the ones who are less rational and mostly prioritize the problem, rather than looking for the solution. If you are an emotionally wrecked person, then chances are that you would often blame your fate for all mishaps that may occur in life. But to be frank is it even literally possible that out of 7.6 billion residents on this planet earth, you are the only soul to suffer a trauma or an emotional breakdown? No, it can’t be! 2. Involve yourself in activities you love Play, write, sing, dance, cook, laugh, socialize, travel, run, jump, hop; there’s so much to do in life, so much to achieve and explore. The more involved you would be in things you love doing the most; the happier will be your soul at the end of the day. And at times, activities like writing, singing and dancing can prove to be a great way to express emotions through creativity, instead of being too hard on yourself. 3. Look deep into your soul This won’t require you to understand rocket science; simply ask yourself a question “why do you think that you’re emotional?”  Seek deep within your soul and think for a moment in an attempt to capture and recollect every possible reason behind your emotional outbursts. Once you’re done figuring out the reason, simply ignore or let go of the obsession. You will feel better. 4. So you think social media and technology can always heal your pain? NO! The problem is we think technology and applications created by “humans” can actually treat humans in a better way. If you are truly looking forward to controlling your emotions, then get over the surrealistic and virtual support or at least refrain from relying on it every single time. In a post published in http://www.iflscience.com, it has been stated that according to a U.S. based analysis, backed by the National Institute for Mental Health, the level of depression has risen with the increase in the total amount of time spent by the users on social media and the number of times they pay a visit to social media sites each week. So, can you catch the drift of it? It’s time you decide to heal or control emotions more by interacting with humans; rather than being a couch potato, swiping through online apps all day long. 5. Meditate often for a peaceful life The key to happiness and a peaceful life, away from emotional damage and negativities is meditation. If you are focusing way too much on a particular thing over and again, then chances are, at a certain point of time, you would lose control over your emotions, resulting in giving rise to catastrophic outcomes. So, why would you like to get in between all these hassles? Take a deep breath, calm down, sit back and meditate. You will feel better. 6. Shake off all inhibitions; share your thoughts with your parents Remember, our parents have seen more sunrises than we did. There’s no denying that they would understand emotions better. People most of the times feel shy, perplexed and less confident to approach their parents. So, it’s time to keep aside such inhibitions, go hug your mom, call up your dad, dine-out together, spend some light moments, and watch half of your emotions being controlled by the happiness, care and affection you would find on their face. 7. Time to expect less and do more The expectation is the mother of all human emotions. So, here’s the age-old trick to keep aside all expectations and simply keep doing the needful. Help someone and be happy about it; don’t cry in a corner just because he isn’t helping you back. You do your own thing and let others do their own. 8. Reacting to every single thing isn’t always necessary If the other person realizes that you can be freaked out easily, then emotions and emotional blackmailing might just get the better of you.  This, as a result, will only give rise to frustrations, adding no significant value to what could otherwise be a much happier and peaceful life. Thus, the best trick is to stay calm and react less, unless the situation is too worse.   9. Try positive self-talk; it works Even if you are dealing with negativities, try talking to your own self, put up a smile, and let your soul be the best guide in this matter. There’s a reason human instinct and conscience exist; make good use of it. Self-talk is always a great way to boost confidence that can leverage the process of self-evaluation in a better way, and of course, an effective strategy to tame exaggerated emotions. Thus, to wrap up, it is to be mentioned that despite complications and every other challenge that life may bring forth, one should never give up or lose control over their emotions. That’s the kind of survival strategy we all should implement for a healthier and happier living. Cheers! Author Bio: Nathan William is an assignment help expert associated with MyAssignmenthelp.com, helping students with projects related to psychology. Apart from being a Cdr Engineers Australia academic writer, Nathan practices psychological counseling and loves to read almost anything interesting and thought-provoking. Go to top Let me emphasize that Self-Promotion doesn’t have to be obnoxious to be effective.  But, if you don’t Self-Promote you, who will? If you ever want to get ahead, you have to learn how to Self-Promote. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that shows you simple, yet effective ways to Self-Promote. Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Connect to a Real Live Tutor and Enjoy Live One-on-one Assistance

Connect to a Real Live Tutor and Enjoy Live One-on-one Assistance 0SHARESShare Online Tutoring dont feed students the answers to homework problems. Instead, they guide them how to solve problems on their own. They have a panel of experienced teachers who help students to understand conceptsnot just remember them. The teaching style followed is friendly and encouraging. The online lessons are planned to meet standards for all subject areas. The curriculum of the math tutorials are continuously updated. The main objective is to present different math topics in a step-by-step fashion, in order to help students to get a better understanding of the topic in question. TutorPace is your one-stop for entire math solutions. Math is a fairly vast subject, including algebra, statistics, and geometry, calculus, trigonometry and word math problems. Interactive math worksheets make concepts clear and easy to understand. Students and parents can browse around to find what they exactly necessitate. Internet learning allows students to take breaks. When you are attending a session for a long duration or completing a big assignment under the supervision of a live tutor; you can enjoy breaks as and when required. To avoid burnout you can stand up, walk around, or relax for a few minutes… this will keep you focused on the sessions. Students learn to time management. It is easy for students to watch TV or play with friends, and still finish the set assignment. This is a 24/7 service and students thus can enjoy sessions anytime from anywhere. [starbox id=admin]

French Grammar Rules Your Guide to Verb Tenses

French Grammar Rules Your Guide to Verb Tenses Suzy S. French verbs throwing you for a loop? French tutor  Carol Beth L.  breaks down the differences between the most common verb tenses youll study in French class French verbs can be a difficult aspect of  learning French for many students â€" but it doesnt have to be. If you can mentally organize what kinds of verbs are out there and when to use them, learning French grammar will be much easier to do. Here are the most common tenses studied in typical French grammar classes: Check out our Ultimate French Verb Guide to learn more! 1) Le Présent (The Present Tense) This tense grammatically corresponds to the English simple present, e.g. “I do,” “he goes,” “we eat.” In English, this tense is used to talk about states of being and regular, repeated actions that are in or include the present time. Le present in French often plays this role, but it also plays a role similar to the present perfect in English Jy vais for “I am going (there)” or Je mange maintenant for “I am eating now.” 2) Le Passé Composé (The Past Tense) This tense usually corresponds to the simple past in English.  It describes one-time events and actions, or things for which a definite time or time period can be defined. Je suis allé(e) au parc.   I went to the park. Jai fait mes devoirs hier soir.   I did my homework last night. 3) Limparfait (The Imperfect Tense) The imperfect tense is also in the past, but unlike the passé composé, it describes events that happened repeatedly or over a long period of time. Jallais au parc tous les jours.  I went/used to go to the park every day. Elles étudiaient a luniversité pendant quatre ans.   They studied at the university for four years. Do not use limparfait in reference to an action to which you attach any description or reference to a specific time, such as an hour, year, month, week, or other time reference like yesterday, today, or tomorrow. 4) Le futur  (The Future Tense) This tense corresponds fairly well to the English future tense, formed with the modal “will” plus the verbal root. It describes events that have not yet taken place but are expected to occur. Jirai en France la semaine prochaine.   I will go to France next week. On mangera ensemble.   We will eat together. 5) Le conditionnel  (The Conditional Tense) The conditionnel  describes actions or events whose occurrence depends (or would have depended) on something else. The “if” is key here. If there is no condition (provided by the “if” clause), there is no conditional in the other half of the sentence, either. You may see the conditional tense use in the present (e.g. I would do something if something were different) or the past (e.g. I would have done this same something in the past if something were different). The other part of the sentence usually uses limparfait. Present Conditional: Je viendrais a la plage si mes amies voulaient venir.  I would go to the beach if my friends wanted to come. Je mangerais la pomme si elle était mure.  I would eat the apple if it were ripe. Past Conditional: Je serais venu(e) a la plage si mes amies auraient voulu venir.  I would have gone to the beach if my friends had wanted to come. Jaurais mangé la pomme si elle avait ete mure.  I would have eaten the apple it if had been ripe. 6) Le subjonctif (The Subjunctive Tense) This is notoriously one of the most difficult tenses for native English-speakers to learn. We do technically have the subjunctive in English, but we dont use it much. Le subjonctif is used at times when the topic at hand is clouded or influenced by emotion. If you see the word qu introducing the sentences dependent clause, that is a signal that you likely need to use le subjonctif. Je souhaite quil vienne avec moi. I wish him to come with me. Nous voulons que vous partiez. We want you to leave. On aimerait quils attendent. We would like them to wait. Be careful not to assume that que always implies le subjonctif, however. If the topic at hand is of definite certainty, le subjonctif is not called for. For example: Cest vrai quon est allé en France cet été.   It is true that we went to France this summer. 7) Le passé simple (The Simple Past or Preterite) Le passé simple is a literary past tense in French. It used to be found more often in common speech, but for about the last century or so, it has more frequently been used in fiction. In modern times, some writers have begun to prefer more colloquial verb tenses found in everyday spoken language. Unless you plan to write fiction in French, recognition is more important. If you can recognize the passé simple of the most irregular French verbs (which are also the most common), then you will likely also be able to recognize other regular verbs based on their roots. Les étudiants parlèrent de leurs idées philosophiques.  The students spoke of their philosophical ideas. Elle vit son frère lapprocher.   She saw her brother approaching. These are the primary verb tenses you will encounter in your study of French  grammar. You may see what appear to be combinations or re-combinations of these tenses as part of the pluparfait (past of the past), passé antérieur (literary pluparfait), or Frenchs other complex tenses. French grammar also has a unique grouping of verbs called reflexive verbs that require special attention, especially when it comes to gender agreement. Mastering the seven tenses above, however, will greatly increase your proficiency and provide you with verbal functionality in the French language. For more help studying French grammar, working with a private tutor is the best way to get targeted, specific instruction and achieve your language goals. Tutors are available to work with you online via Skype or in-person depending on locations and availability. Search for your French tutor now! Carol Beth L. teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by Arslan

English Expressions about Friendship English Lesson via Skype

English Expressions about Friendship English Lesson via Skype Where would we be without friends? Friendship is very important for everybody. Today, lets have a look at some English expressions about friendship. These expressions will help intermediate English students to talk about friendship in English correctly. English Expressions about Friendship TO MAKE FRIENDS EASILYWhen someone has a pleasant personality and is quite easy going and everyone wants to be his/her friend. They are said to make friends easily.Example: Declan was looking forward to going to University. He did not mind leaving home. In a few weeks he would be having a good time. He found it easy to make friends wherever he went.TO HIT IT OFFWhen two people really like each other from almost the first minute they meet we can say they hit it off immediately or they really hit it off.Example: John was introduced to Kevin at the party. They had a lot in common and agreed to meet for a beer the next week. Within a short period of time they were very good friends. They hit it off  from the first time they met.STRANGE BEDFELLOWSIn the previous expression to hit it off we referred to two people who get along immediately as  soon as they met each other.However,  we sometimes can not see the reason why two people such  as these would be friends at all. We do not see anythi ng in common or anything that we feel would  make them become so friendly.In this situation we say they are strange bedfellows. What have they got in common?GET ALONG WITH or GET ON WITHAnother way to describe when someone has no difficulty making friends with other people.Example: Sally is a really nice girl. She is always helping others. She is easy to get along with (or easy to get on with). Everyone likes her. English Expressions about Friendship CLICKEDAn informal word used to describe how two people became friends very quickly.ex. They clicked the moment they met. So Barry and Yvonne were celebrating their 10th  Wedding Anniversary. They had been together for 12 years. They liked each other the first moment they met. Neither of them could explain it really they  just clicked!HAVE YOUR BACK or LOOK OUT FOR YOUThese are English expressions about friendship that used by really good friends.It means they are there to support each other through good and bad. When you are going through a tough time it is good to know that you have a friend who will protect you. Someone who has your back.ex. David and Tom had been friends since their school days together. They did everything together. They played on the same team, went out at weekends. They were quite protective of each other. They promised to look out for  each other (protect) no matter what took place. I will always have your back Tom said to David, Likewisereplied David.Friends is the very common word used to described those closest to us who are not family members. We can also use several other words that have the same meaning:BUDDY American EnglishMATE (plural MATES)  British EnglishPALSCHUMSOther English expressions about firendship include  best friends or close friends.We can also be childhood friends (a long time) or school friends.When we have these sort of friendships the adjectives we can use to describe the friendship in English include:inseparable   always togetheror a noun to describe such a relationship is:a bromance a relatively new English word which is a combination of Brother and Romance.Scroll down for English Idioms and about Friendship + infographic English Idioms and Expressions about Friendship A SHOULDER TO CRY ONWhen there is a serious crisis in our lives and we really need a friend to help and listen to us we  often look for a shoulder to cry on.  Someone friendly and helpful who will listen to our woes  (problems).Example: Joanna had just lost her mother (her mother died suddenly) and now she had learnt that her father needed immediate surgery. She called Kate, she could always rely on Kate to give her a shoulder to cry on when she needed it.TWO PEAS IN A PODHave you ever taken peas out of their pods when they are growing in your garden?The peas are identical. It is very difficult to see any difference.When two friends are very close, like the same things, do the same things people will say:Example: Oh look at those two. Always together always doing the same thing they are like two peas in a pod.JOINED AT THE HIPSimilar in meaning to like two peas in a pod.Joined at the hip refers to two friends who are always seen together. They are always hanging out together (in each others company). They are inseparable.Example: Those two are joined at the hip. Where ever one is the other is sure to be close by.THROUGH THICK AND THINWhen a friend has shared all our ups and downs  (positives and negatives)  with us and we have  shared all of his/hers we can genuinely say we have been through everything together. We have  been through thick and thin. We have seen the positives and the negatives. True friendship.  Example: Antonio and Jaime had been friends since they were children. They went to the same school. They studied at the same university and had shared many other life experiences. They had been through thick and thin together.A friend in need is a friend indeed! English Idioms about Friendship - Infographic Enjoyed this infographic? Here’s what you can do next:Share on reddit

Tips for Requesting High School Recommendation Letters

Tips for Requesting High School Recommendation Letters At some point in your teens life, its likely that he will need to request a letter of recommendation. Many top-tier colleges and universities require or strongly encourage applicants to submit such letters. Or, your teen might need one for a scholarship, internship or pre-college program application. These letters can seriously bolster your teen as a candidate, so its important to take them seriously. Huntington offers a few essential guidelines for requesting recommendation letters: Build relationships. Before teens even get to the point where they need letters of recommendation, they should work on cultivating good relationships with teachers and superiors. That means being engaged in class, being a good classmate or teammate, and giving all endeavors, from school to extracurricular activities to part-time jobs, their very best effort. Ask the right person/people. Its imperative that students request letters from appropriate teachers/mentors. They should ask individuals who know them well enough to speak to their academic performance, character and willingness to persevere in the face of adversity. High school students should avoid asking for recommendation letters from the teacher who doesnt know them very well or the guidance counselor theyve only visited once during high school. Also, its important to pay attention to the guidelines offered by the college (or scholarship or other organization), as the committee reviewing applications might want the writer to focus on certain traits, such as the students communication or critical thinking skills. Give some background. Many teachers/coaches/mentors are willing to write recommendation letters, but students shouldnt assume those people know everything about them. They have lots of other students, after all. When requesting the letter, students should provide a resume if they have one (or a list of their accomplishments and activities) and a little background that the teacher might not know, such as their career plans or personal background. Allow plenty of time. Teachers and other recommenders are busy people and will likely receive requests from other students too. They need time to think about and write every letter requested of them. Giving notice is a good idea, and the earlier the better. Students might even consider making a soft request via email to confirm the teacher/other individual is willing before following up with a more formal request after they agree to the task (with all of the aforementioned details). Again, students should make sure the teacher has the application deadline (and recommendation letter, if different). Share any specific guidelines. Students can make things easier on the teacher/counselor/other individual that they ask by providing a rundown of the guidelines of the letter of recommendation. They should also include the application deadline and the website where the letter should be submitted or the address where the letter should be mailed. Be appreciative. Last and certainly not least, high school students should write thank-you notes or emails to the people who write letters of recommendation for them. Doing so shows their professionalism and appreciation and can help strengthen those relationships for the future. Theres an art to requesting recommendation letters. Encourage your teen to take this seriously, as arming those individuals from which they request letters with all the right information will result in a well-written letter that articulates your teens best assets.

Do Video Games Cause ADHD

Do Video Games Cause ADHD Do an online search for causes of ADHD and youll find plenty of discussion about video games being a driving factor in the rising number of kids being diagnosed with ADHD each year. With so many people weighing in on the causes of ADHD, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. Lets start by talking about why people suspect that playing video games leads to the development of ADHD. In general, this idea stems from the belief that video games train the brain to focus only on activities that involve a high level of stimulation. Almost every parent of a child with ADHD has observed a big difference in their childs ability to focus when theyre playing video games versus when theyre doing just about anything else. When kids with ADHD are playing video games, they can be so focused that it almost seems like they dont have ADHD at all. So, its natural to wonder if playing video games has altered their ability to focus on anything that does not involve a high level of stimulation. But does existing research support the notion that video games cause ADHD? Overall, the answer is no. Time and time again, studies point primarily to genetic causes of ADHD, with a role for other environmental influences like prenatal factors or exposure to lead or other toxins during childhood. That said, there are numerous studies suggesting that excessive video game playing (usually defined as more than one or two hours per day) can make ADHD symptoms worse for kids who already have an ADHD diagnosis and cause higher levels of oppositional behavior. Why would video games make ADHD symptoms and oppositional behaviors worse? Interestingly, its not really the video games themselves that are to blame. Its the difficulty that kids with ADHD, and their parents, have with monitoring and moderating the use of video games. Once kids with ADHD start playing video games, they typically become hyperfocused, so much so that they have a hard time stopping when its time to do something else. This means that they: Are more likely than kids without ADHD to play video games late into the evening, leading to insufficient sleep. Study after study shows that poor sleep makes symptoms significantly worse for kids with ADHD. Are more likely to have conflicts with their parents. The challenges that parents have with trying to monitor and limit their childs video game playing often leads to serious conflicts between parents and kids with ADHD. Over time, these conflicts escalate and take a toll on family relationships. Whenever family relationships are negatively impacted, oppositional behavior increases. Experience greater opportunity costs. Playing video games excessively comes with what psychologists refer to as opportunity costs. Every minute that a child spends playing video games is a minute that they are not spending engaged in another activity. When the missed activity includes an opportunity to play with other kids offline, then they have missed a chance to improve their social skills. When the missed activity is related to academics (like reading, participating in an after-school science program, etc.), then theyve missed an important opportunity to improve their academic skills. When the missed activity is something physically active, then theyve missed an opportunity to get exercise that would help keep ADHD symptoms in check throughout the day. Over time, these missed opportunities accumulate and lead to ADHD symptoms and functional deficits that are worse for kids who play video games excessively than kids who dont play video games or only play them in moderation. So, knowing that playing video games dont cause ADHD, but can make ADHD symptoms worse, what should parents do? Should they keep their child from playing video games altogether? There isnt really a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. If a child already plays video games regularly, can they play in moderation without constant arguments and negotiations with their parents? If thats the case, then a moderate amount of video game play (for example, 30 minutes a day or limiting video games to one hour a day on the weekends) should be fine. If this is not the case, and parents find that their child is only interested in playing video games, doesnt seem to find anything else interesting or enjoyable, or there is a high level of conflict at home around video games, then playing in moderation might not be an option at least not right now. In these situations, I highly recommend that parents work with a mental health professional to figure out a plan for eliminating video games for a s pecified time (somewhere from 3-6 months) before gradually reintroducing video games with a very clear set of ground rules. It can be very challenging to make these changes successfully if your child has been playing video games excessively. If you are concerned about the impact that video games are having on your child and your family, then reach out to a mental health professional for help. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.

Beijing International Bilingual Academy

Beijing International Bilingual Academy Beijing International Bilingual Academy BIBA is one of the fastest growing international schools in Beijing, with over 1600 students from 30 different countries. Our vision is to be the model for developing internationally-minded bilingual ambassadors, who promote inter-cultural understanding, respect and integration in a dynamic global community. The school is deeply rooted in appreciation of Chinese culture and is dedicated to global citizenship in the worlds historic journey towards a united human community. Teachers enjoy a rich community life with many teaching families, children, and singles, who plan and participate in various events and activities. There is a very active PTA, which runs an on-site PTA Cafe for teachers and students to enjoy lattes, delicious cakes, and lunch snacks. We are in Shunyi, a fast growing suburb of Beijing. There is a shopping mall within walking distance, which includes Starbucks, GAP, UNIQLO, a movie theatre, and much more. 15 minutes from the Airport and close to public transport allowing for easy access to exploring the rich culture and destinations of Beijing and China.

How To Get Over A Fear Of Speaking Up In Your First Grad School Class

How To Get Over A Fear Of Speaking Up In Your First Grad School Class pexels.com Read up. A great way to allay your fears about speaking up in grad school is making sure you are prepared to speak up! Especially while you are making first impressions, you want to do so positively and in a good light. Part of the fear of speaking up is accidentally saying something ignorant or wrong and appearing gauche. Avoid this by doing all your reading and homework (which you should be doing anyways) and making sure that you really do know this stuff. Prepare yourself before new lessons, especially on material that you are unfamiliar with. Give yourself a head start! You do not need to know everything yet as you are not an expert (that is what you are in grad school to become). Just take the time to really familiarize yourself with the material you will be discussing so that you come across as confident, poised and knowledgeable. Create talking points. Another reason speaking up in your grad school class can feel scary is because you can feel put on the spot and you end up scrambling for an answer that is both correct and urbane. It can be hard to sound intelligent on the fly! Help yourself out by creating a list of talking points that you can use to help guide your responses. As you are doing your readings or studying, jot down important notes and questions that you have. You have the syllabus, so you will have an idea of what will be discussed and what the focus of the class will be. Use this information! Write it out and avoid scrambling at the last minute and grasping at straws for important information. It will make you more confident, and writing it down or typing it out can also help you to remember these important points better as well. Breathe. Sometimes you know all the right things to say. You have the knowledge; you have the facts; all you need to do is speak up. But that can often be the hardest part. When you open up your mouth to speak, your voice escapes you and it feels like all the air has leaked out of you and no words can come out. Inflate yourself! Regulate your breathing and make sure that you actually are breathing! If you feel a twinge of anxiety, take a deep breath. The professor poses a question, take a deep breath. You have a response, take a deep breath. Fill your lungs so that you can have a voice. And then say it. After all, you know it. Breathe and then say it! unsplash.com Picture your classmates … naked? Look, when you start grad school you are all really beginning on an even playing field. You come from all different walks of life; there is the older adult student coming back to school in a bid to change careers or pursue their true passion; there is the perky, overachiever fresh out of their undergrad days; there is the laid-back student who took a couple years off of school between their undergraduate and graduate studies to get a feel for life and what they want to do. No path is perfect and no path is better than another. You are all there because you need, nay want, to gain more knowledge in this area because you are lacking in it for now. But remember, that is just for now. You can overcome this! But to do so you need to participate in your classes by speaking up. So if you are having trouble finding your voice, remember that you are all equal and you can take it one step further by putting yourselves on an equal level, or rather, a naked level. Imagine your classmates naked if it helps you to feel more confident speaking. You are all unique but you are all equal. Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.