N1 How are you going to pay for college?

So many high school seniors are under pressure when it comes to paying for college. How are colleges trying to offset the crazy cost of tuition? Well, usually when a student applies to a private college and they are accepted, the acceptance letter will contain the amount of an awarded scholarship that the college itself will offer. “The most common of these are merit-based academic scholarships, awarded based on SAT or ACT score, high school GPA, community service experience, or other criteria by a college, university, or state higher education agency,” says www.scholarships.com. It’s extremely important for freshman, and any other underclassmen, to know that it is never too early to think about college. Start getting involved in as many things as you can, without letting your grades drop. Colleges are not the other source of receiving scholarships. There are so many out there, and all you have to do is apply. Some great scholarship websites are http://scholarshipamerica.org/open_scholarships.php, http://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/4119-2014-scholarships, and https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search#!welcome. Every little bit helps when you’re paying for college on a tight budget, so don’t rule out any scholarships that don’t necessarily seem like a large amount. There are also athletic scholarships that are offered. But keep in mind, there are extremely hard to get. US News says “There are roughly 138,000 athletic scholarships available for Division I and Division II sports. That might sound like a lot, but it isn't. For instance, more than 1 million boys play high school football, but there are only about 19,500 football scholarships. Nearly 603,000 girls compete in track and field in high school, but they're competing for around 4,500 scholarships.” Don’t have your heart set on it, because it is rough competition. You don’t have to be the smartest kid in your class to get a decent scholarship. For example, I’m currently 54^th in the senior class of 2014, out of 154 students. My overall GPA is a little above honor roll. When I applied to Elmira College, I received a scholarship for $23,000. Average tuition, before fees, is around $36,600. That is just one of the many colleges that have offered me exceptional scholarships to help me pay for college. Don’t get discouraged if your SAT score doesn’t really reflect your grades. Colleges look at a lot of things, but make sure you give them something worth looking at.

M2 How to Handle Your Anxiety

Now for the second question: What are the best anxiety treatments who don't want (or are afraid) to take medicines? Is there anything that might ease their concerns? Is there a point where medication becomes essential? Dr. Raison states that, "By far the best studied non-medicine treatment for depression or anxiety is psychotherapy. Literally hundreds of studies have shown that on average psychotherapy works as well for these conditions as do medications." The best study of psychotherapy is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. Talking to a therapist about your problems in any way can do nothing but promote positive mental health. Exercise has been famously known to help with the problem of depression. St. John's Wort has been known to decrease depression in patients. But does it actually work? "The data for St. John's Wort is plus/minus. Some evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids and N-acetyl-cysteine may hold promise for the treatment of depression," CNN states. There are many traditional, as well as non-traditional, ways to end suffering from anxiety and depression. "If someone has a pattern of becoming depressed every winter, bright light therapy with a light box delivering at least 10,000 lux of light has been shown to be very effective. About 10% of the population suffers from some degree of low mood and energy in winter. This phenomenon is more common in cold, dark, gray places than in warm, sunny Southern ones. The power of a light box to lift mood and give energy can really be exceptional. This is an option that is sadly too often overlooked," Raison states. There are so many different kinds of depression and anxiety and different levels of severity. The fact of the matter is if someone is dedicated to solving their mental health issues, they will be resolved. 

M1 How to Handle Your Anxiety

Dr. Charles Raison, CNN's mental health expert, explored the two most common questions about dealing with anxiety that we all have asked ourselves before. Can using marijuana or having a drink or two be helpful for people with anxiety? What should they watch out for? Using alcohol or drugs to deal with anxiety may not be the best option. Studies conclude that using such tools can lead to increased risk for a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. CNN states "Increasing data suggests that regular marijuana use in adolescence may also be a risk factor for developing very serious psychotic disorders, especially schizophrenia." Obviously teen drug and alcohol abuse a huge issue among society today. Parents aren't stupid. Teachers aren't oblivious. They know what kids do these days. But that's not the real issue. The problem is that teenagers believe that using such tools will help when they've had a long day at work, or fighting with their boyfriend/girlfriend. Having a bad week is an excuse to get into drugs and alcohol on the weekend. "But as Socrates noted almost 2,000 years ago, alcohol is both a blessing and a curse to mankind. Indeed, now we know that the regular modest use of alcohol actually promotes a number of health factors. Similarly, it is increasingly clear that many of the chemicals within marijuana hold great promise for the treatment of physical pain. The endocannabinoid system in the brain -- which is a primary target for marijuana -- has profound effects on how people think and feel," CNN states. The case isn't the same for everyone, though. People have been having a drink or two in the evening when coming home from work has been around since time immemorial. Experienced psychiatrists are actually recommending small doses of marijuana to depressed patients who haven't been responding to antidepressants. "Answering the question of what people who use these substances should watch out for is easier. They should watch out for the possibility that they become more anxious or depressed after drinking or using marijuana. And they should keep a close eye on their use, especially use of alcohol, which can be highly addictive. Whatever potential benefit alcohol and marijuana may offer is 100% lost once they are abuse," CNN states.

P2 Things you probably wouldn't know on your own

CNN did a roundup of 4 studies that were posted last week. Most people probably miss this, though. Here are 5 studies that might cause you to make different decisions regarding your physical and mental health.

Study #1: Caffeine can improve your memory. There's not much evidence when it comes to long term memory, but in the short term, caffeine can improve your memory for over 24 hours. Too much caffeine will not do anything but harm. There must be a balance between how much caffeine you consume, so be aware.

Study #2: Humans burn half the calories other mammals do. We have a slow metabolism compared to other mammals, and that's the reason why we live such long lives. All primates require half the amount of energy as non-primates to get through an entire day. Scientists have no significant reason why this happens; all they know is that it does.

Study #3: Prolonged sitting jeopardizes older women's health. It's true-- a human body at rest will remain at rest. Older women who were not as active as others tend to die at an earlier age. The study concluded that "women with more than 11 hours of daily sedentary time faced a 12 percent increase in all-cause premature mortality compared with the most energetic group – those with four hours or less of inactivity."

Study #4: Parents accidentally confuse children's names more often when names sound alike. The study concluded that "When choosing baby names, parents often want something that is pleasing to the ear. Some even turn to alliteration when naming multiple children. But according to a new psychology study from The University of Texas at Austin, parents set themselves up for speech errors when they give their children similar-sounding names" So really, kids shouldn't read too much into their parents mixing their names up. 

P1 What's new for the New Year?

According to CNN, there are five things consumers will pay less for in the upcoming new year. Gold will continue to decrease in price, based on an increasingly strengthened economy. But even if the price of gold decreases, gold jewelry will not necessarily change in price. Gas is another commodity that will decrease. Avery Ash, a AAA spokesman, told CNNMoney at the end of 2013: "Our hope is that prices will continue to fall as cars grow increasingly fuel-efficient and refineries expand production to take advantage of the recent boom in North American crude oil." Electric cars will actually decrease in price since the cost of production decreases. The price of cellphone service will also decrease, which is good news for desperate customers. Cellphone service carriers are in competition to gain more customers. Tablets are also becoming less expensive since there are so many different models out there. In comparison, items used daily are becoming more expensive in the new year. Nuts are just an example of one of the items that are increasing in price. Nuts are in huge demand right now, and the poor crop conditions aren't allowing enough of them to be produced. Mailing a letter or package is also going to get more expensive. It will increase from 46 cents to 49 cents. Houses are expected to increase 5 percent this year, which will be a shock for people in the market. Houses aren't the only thing increasing, rent will also be going up this year due to a slowly increasing economy. Honey will be going up yet again, due to a bee disorder epidemic. Chocolate are going to increase in price this year as well, due to growing demand in emerging markets and bad weather in major cocoa producing countries. If satellite TV wasn't expensive as it is, it will be getting more pricey in the new year. It doesn't always pay to be green, either. Public transportation will be increasing as well.

Average Student Loan Debt Rises

CNN states that "The average debt load for the class of 2012 was $29,400 -- up more than 10% from the previous year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Institute for College Access & Success' Project on Student Debt." It's funny though, because colleges have been raising the tuition per year. As colleges become more expensive, family incomes' become less and less. According to research, seven in ten seniors graduate from college with student loan debt. Among them, a fifth of that debt was owed to private organizations. They usually have the highest interest rates, which equals more unnecessary money being paid. With that being said, a job after graduation is not even guaranteed. A college degree is much better than none at all. "Despite discouraging headlines, a college degree remains the best route to finding a job in this tight market. But students and families need to know that debt levels can vary widely from college to college," TICAS president Lauren Asher said. College debt is good debt. New Hampshire is reported to having the highest amount of average student loan debt. It racks up to $32,698. Needless to say you should shop around before drowning yourself in debt that will only increase.There are actually 5 myths of college costs that no one knows. Myth #1: Saving for college will hurt your chances of getting financial aid. Why? What matters most for federal financial aid is income. Myth #2: You can't afford a private college. Why? A $39,000 school may actually give so much merit aid to a good student that it would be cut down to $10,000, not including loans. Look for what colleges will give out the most money depending on the circumstance. Myth #3:  A liberal arts degree won't pay the bills. Why? The top-earning 25% of history majors earned a median annual lifetime income of $85,000 vs. $82,000 for computer-programming majors, per a recent analysis by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce. Also, lower paying jobs typically have better job security, so it would pay off in the long run. Myth #4: Student loans will cripple you financially. Why? Education is important, and student loan debt is good debt. Keep in mind that the loan has to be paid off eventually, it is NOT free money. Be reasonable. Myth #5: Starting at community college, then transferring, is a great way to cut the cost of a BA. Why? Students who start at a community college are less likely to earn their bachelors' degree. Many 4 year colleges make it difficult for credits to transfer over. Check before you put down your first payment.

Why are we such in a hurry to grow up?

Think about it. It's your first day of your senior year and your teacher explains student loans. Overwhelming, isn't it? And in the next minute you're buying a car, and then renting your first apartment with 4 roommates. In a blink of an eye, we move on to the next stage of life. It's so sad because, as teenagers, we forget to stop and take it all in. Every move we make have some impact, no matter how insignificant it seems at the time, on our future selves. There's a misconception that when we reach a certain age, something magnificent will happen. Truth is, even if you're 40, there will always be someone telling you what to do. At 35, there are going to be so many bills you won't be able to stand it. At 24, your car might break down. Just because you turn 18, you don't suddenly gain a sense of mature wisdom that you didn't have yesterday. Life isn't about getting to a certain point of absolute bliss. The real enjoyment is getting to take each step along the way. Be smart. Be savvy. Don't waste time wishing for the future, welcome it. So...what does yahoo answers have to say about being in a hurry to grow up? One answer was "Everyone is in a hurry to get where they think they want. Then once they get there, they realize that where they were, was where they they wanted to be." Another answer was "There is a lot of invincibility one feels at that age - kids just don't see that there are potentially dangerous repercussions. The real problem is that even when parents try to tell kids about the dangers, kids don't believe them because in most cases their life experience has never suggested that dangers exist. (seeing is believing)." Although these answers may be cliche and cheesy, they are correct. Think about the future, embrace the surprises, and change with the times.