Learn From Those Who Have Been There

About this project:

I think it’s important for high school juniors and seniors who are getting ready to start out on their own [whether it’s at college or in a job or both] to begin thinking about money and credit.  I also feel that it’s important to ask people who have really “been there.”  As an adult, if I want to know who has the best cell phone plans or the cheapest texting, I ask a teenager.  If I want to know the best new video games, I ask a teenager.  I do that because they have the experience to help me make a smart decision.  As a teenager, you should seriously consider who has the most experience getting out on their own, getting credit, saving money, being successful, getting in financial trouble, etc. 

That’s why for this project I want you to interview “those who have been there.”  You will choose people whose opinions you respect, and ask them a series of questions.  You will use the answers to these questions to write about what you have learned.

Instructions:

        

You will choose four people (men or women from different age groups) and interview them.

• Take notes as they answer the questions – especially on things for which they offer advice.
• Try to ask follow-up questions if you want to know more about a certain subject.
• After each interview, summarize your experience (what was interesting, what were their reactions to the questions, what was surprising, etc.) in a paragraph.
• Next week we will write an essay using these results and what you have learned in this class.

LEARN FROM THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE

#1: A person between ages 18‐23 who has been on his own for over two years:

• What kind of things did you buy before you started out on your own?
• How did your spending patterns change when you were really on your own?
• What do you wish you had known about spending or saving money when you started out?
• How do you feel about using credit?
• What were your parents/caretakers attitudes about borrowing money and being in debt?
• What would you have done differently with your spending patterns if you started over again?
• What advice can you offer a person starting out?

#2: A person between ages 24‐30 who has a family:

• What kind of things did you buy before you started out on your own?
• How did your spending patterns change when you were really on your own?
• What do you wish you had known about spending or saving money when you started out on your own?
• Now that you have a family, have your spending patterns changed?
• How do you feel about using credit?
• What were your parents/caretakers attitudes about borrowing money and being in debt?
• What would you have done differently with your spending patterns if you started over again?
• What advice can you offer a person starting out?

#3: A person between ages 35‐60:

• What kind of things did you buy before you started out on your own?
• How did your spending patterns change when you were really on your own?
• How have your spending patterns changed since you were 35 years old?
• What do you wish you had known about spending or saving money when you started out?
• If you have a family, have your spending patterns changed?
• How do you feel about using credit?
• What were your parents/caretakers attitudes about borrowing money and being in debt?
• What would you have done differently with your spending patterns if you started over again?
• What advice can you offer a person starting out?

#4: A person older than 65:

• What kind of things did you buy before you started out on your own?
• How did your spending patterns change when you were really on your own?
• How did your spending patterns change during your child rearing years?
• How have your spending patterns changed since you were 60 years old?
• What do you wish you had known about spending or saving money when you started out?
• Did you use credit during your younger years?
• What were your parents/caretakers attitudes about borrowing money and being in debt?
• What do you wish you had known about spending or saving money when you started out on your own?
• What would you have done differently with your spending patterns if you started over again?
• What advice can you offer a person starting out?

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Download the Worksheet Here

Making a Difference: Jellico Area Revitalization

Club Name Brainstorming:

• Jellico Pride
• C4: Campbell County Community Cleanup
• MAD: Make A Difference
• MADJ: Made a Difference: Jellico
• JAR: Jellico Area Revitalization
• JCC: Jellico Community Cleanup
• ROCKETS: Revitalizing Our Community & Keeping East Tennessee Successful

We are a club based at Jellico High School in Jellico, Tennessee.  The idea of the club is to revitalize our communities in Jellico, LaFollette, Elk Valley, Duff, Clairfield, Stinking Creek, Caryville, White Oak, Newcomb, etc.  If you have suggestions or information that can help us achieve any of these goals, please contact Mr. Griffith (askgriff@gmail.com).

We will:

• Work on community clean up and beautification projects
• Look for ways to improve infrastructure (missing / needed signs, road problems, safety issues)
• Support local business and buy local when possible
• Encourage potential businesses to consider our communities
• Celebrate and preserve our history and culture
• Attend City Council meetings to lend our voices to the mix
• Focus on School Climate / Making School a Community

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Action Alert: Suboxone Clinic: Resources: Tennessee Property Map: http://tnmap.tn.gov  Yelp! Reviews: https://www.yelp.com Google Images (Jellico): https://www.google.com Which cities have a City Council? Jellico: 3rd Thursday Caryville LaFollette Rocky Top: 3rd Thursday Norris

City Contact Information: City of Jellico (Campbell County) 410 South Main Street Jellico, TN 37762 Phone: (423) 784-6351 Fax: (423) 784-3131 City: http://www.jellico.tn.us City Email: cityofjellico@birch.net Governing Body / City Officials: Forster Baird (Mayor) Elsie Crawford (Alderman) Jamie Lawson (Alderman) Louise Walden (Alderman) Sarah McQueen (Alderman) [pool] 540 Wright Street, Jellico, TN 37762 Charlotte Lindsey (Alderman) Terry Basista (City Attorney) Don R. Moses (City Judge) Roy Price (Emerg. Mgmt. Director) Mark Bell (Fire Chief) Mark Tidwell (Library Director) Alvin Evans (Parks & Recreation) Christopher Anderson (Police Chief) JJ Hatmaker (Asst. Police Chief) Jerome Smith (Street Superintendent) Keith Blair (Water Manager)

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Some of the brainstorming/ideas students came up with so far include:

• More / New Police Officers
• Police Shouldn't Let People Off Easy
• Volunteering
• New Freedom (Building Help)
• 7th Day Adventiist (Store Work)
• Food Pantry (Exists)
• Homeless Shelter
• Drug Rehab:
• Springs of Life (Men)
• Shepherds Home (Women)
• Celebrate Recovery (Both)
• Need Adult Volunteers
• Teen Recovery Starting
• City Basketball League
• Build a Closer Community
• DMV / Department of Safety
• Attend City Council Meetings
• Community / Rec Center
• Tear Down Falling Buildings
• Fix Up Old Buildings / Storefronts
• Dog Park
• Animal Shelter
• Get the Pool Running Again: [Joe McCulley]
• Stop Sign / Hedges Blocking View
• Park Hours Extended (+ Lighting Trails:  [Joe McCulley]
• Clean / Trim Trails at Park  [Joe McCulley]
• Community Free Clothing for Kids / Teens
• 7th Day Adventist: Every Thursday
• Clothing Swap Meet (Possibly Between Schools)
• Fix the On/Off Ramps (Dangerous Circle)
• Fix the Roads (not just patch)
• Neighborhood Cookouts / Get to Know Neighbors / Block Parties
• Roadside Trash Clean-Up / Adopt a Road
• Railroad Trash Clean-Up
• Fix up the tennis courts
• Get community soccer/football field
• Jellico Towers Clean-Up
• Myrtle Street Clean-Up: [Rita Mclearran / Sarah Phillips]
• Day Care / Head Start
• Farmer's Market
• Community Gardens
• Fire Department / Firefighter Training
• Fix Up / Tear Down Jellico Motel
• Expand Skate Park: [Joe McCulley]
• Railing Along Roads (Guard Rails)
• Reclaim Empty Buildings
• Redo the Stage at Veteran's Park
• Report People Buying Alcohol for Minors
• Reduce Stray Animal Populations
• Organize Neighborhood Watch
• Volunteer Repair / Maintenance (fix loose boards, fences, paint porches, etc.)
• Helping Elderly: Cut grass, cut wood, cook, transport, walk dogs, shovel driveways, etc.
• Wellness Checks for Elderly -- Especially in very cold or very hot weather
• Visit Nursing Homes
• Hiking / Biking / Walking Trails & Greenways
• Tutoring for Children: [Brooke LeMarr]
• Raise Money for a Park
• Clean Up Cemeteries
• Restore Abandoned Cemeteries
• Cemetery Behind Jerry's Car Wash
• Plant Trees / 5k Tree Day
• Schedule Small Bands to Play at Veteran's Park Stage
• Visit People in Community to Make Lists of What to Work On
• Get More Vendor's for Fall Festival
• Raise Awareness of Jellico History / Promote Tourism / Speak to Travelers 
• More Playground Stuff (benches, equipment, shelters / gazebos)
• Classes for Parents to Learn Reading, Job Training, etc.
• Better Recycling Programs
• Shop Locally
• Fix Stop Sign Graffiti
• Remove Graffiti at the State Park (including the rock)
• 25W Sale: Annual "endless yard sale" along Highway 25

Businesses to Bring to Town:

• Gym (that includes men and women)
• Factory / Assembly Jobs
• A Real Restaurant



• Cracker Barrel
• Steakhouse
• Cheddars
• Buffet
• Shoneys
• Donuts / Krispy Kreme
• Amusement Park
• Escape Rooms
• Roller Skating Rink
• Theater / Drive-In
• Candy Shop
• Bowling Alley
• Starbucks
• Chick Fil-A
• KFC
• Bed & Breakfast
• Walmart
• Jump Jam
• Veterinarian
• Car Lot / Dealership
• Book Shop / Comics
• Art Gallery: 
• Ice Cream Shop / Baskins Robbins / FroYo's
• Something for Teens
• Arcade
• Paintball
• Laser Tag
• Airsoft

School Climate / Improvement:

• Morning Assembly / Launch: Pledge, Moment of Silence, Announcements
• Student-Led Programs: Bullying, Drunk Driving, Drugs, etc.
• More Pep Rallies
• More Class Variety
• Girls Weight Lifting
• Clean the Bathrooms (Especially in Locker Rooms)
• Larger Library
• Better Technology
• Less Focus on Sports
• Too Much Basketball Focus
• More Sports (Soccer and Golf)
• Paint Football Field for Games / "J" on Field
• More Paved Parking
• More Bleachers on Field
• More White Boards
• No Study Hall / RTI
• Less Test Focused
• A Greenhouse / FFA
• Attend More Parent/Teacher Meetings
• Bring Back Breaks
• Fix Broke Desks, Lockers, Lights, Ceiling Tiles
• More Hands-On Activities in Classes
• Talk to People You Usually Don't Talk To
• Bigger Lunch Room
• Longer Lunch
• Fix Roads Near School
• Sidewalks From High School to Elementary
• Stop Bullying
• Recycling
• Teachers focus too much on keeping pace for the tests.  Some get left behind.
• Off-Campus Lunch (for students with good attendance and GPA).
• Life Skills Class
• "One hall for focus classes and the other for required classes."
• Clean / Wash Bleachers in Gym (White is Brown)
• Sex Ed Class
• Paint Murals in Classrooms
• Build Bird Feeders and Bird / Bat Houses for Town
• Find / Prosecute Drug Sellers at School
• Turn Grass Area Between Buildings Into Courtyard
• Get Morning News Back: [Brooke LeMarr]
• Host Movie Evenings / Casual Get-Together: [Brooke LeMarr]
• More "Mix it Up Day" like activities: [Brooke LeMarr]
• Equal Equipment/Programs With Campbell County High School
• Better Internet

Community Safety / Public Image:

• Focus on Drugs / Drug Dealers
• Focus on Prostitution

Local Property Owners:

• John Davenport, PO Box 856, Jellico, TN  37762
• Jellico Motel: 131 Douglas Ln.

To Consider:

• 1 Peter 4:10: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." (more)

Jellico: Rebirth of a Community

Save Indian Mountain State Park Pool:

Video that will change your life.

Unsung Hero:
The Inspirational Video Everyone Should Live By:

Portfolio & Letters of Recommendation

Employment Portfolio:  

Requesting a Letter of Recommendation:
During the course of this class we are building our portfolio's to prepare for the future.  An important component to a good portfolio is a "Letter of Recommendation" (or several of them, if possible).  The big question is, "How do I ask for a letter of recommendation?"

• First of all, make your request early:  Give the letter writer two weeks if possible.  The more time the writer has to think about your background and review the information you give him/her, the better job they will do in writing your.
• Assemble the necessary materials:  Include a brag sheet or at least a list of your accomplishments and activities, the abilities or qualities you would like them to focus on, who the letter should be addressed to [if applicable], and a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) if the letter is to be mailed back to you.
• Choose good references:  You want to choose someone that has a good reputation, who writes well, who speaks highly of you, and who knows you fairly well.  Think before you ask -- don't ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation if you have a 'D' or 'F' in their class or if they have had to send you to the office for being disruptive.  Think of someone you have impressed or really "been there" for.

___________________________________________

PORTFOLIO CHECK:  When I do a portfolio check I will be looking for format, organization, and a variety of documents.  These are the sorts of documents I will be looking for when I do portfolio checks:

Format:

• Nice / Professional Looking Binder
• Sheet Protectors for Important Documents (Section One)

Section One (Your Portfolio):

• Résumé 
• List of References
• Letter(s) of Recommendation
• Awards or Certificates [Optional]
• Transcripts [Optional]

Section Two (Interview / Application Prep):

• Brag Sheet
• Cover Letter: Ad Response
• Cover Letter: Referral
• Cover Letter: Cold Contact
• Follow-Up Letter (To Job Application)
• Thank You Letter (For Interview)
• Sample Job Application (Completed As Reference)
• Handshake Etiquette Handout
• 25 Most Common Interview Mistakes
• 25 Most Common Interview Questions
• Questions to Ask During an Interview
• Extra's (i.e. Notepad, Pen, Breath Mints, Deodorant, etc.)

Friday Funny: Where will you sit?

When you get on the roller coaster that we call life, you have to decide where you will sit.

I see this picture as an example of this idea, and I relate it to what you decide to do with your life.  For example:

• The fourth row is sitting back and collecting a check from the government. 
• The 3rd row is an entry level (i.e. fast food) job that gets you by.
• The 2nd row is a good job with benefits and some vacation time. 
• The front row is getting paid to do something you love, every day of your life. 

You don't realize it now, but life is much shorter than you think.  Find your passions and figure out how to work that into your career.  Work hard now and then coast through life enjoying the ride.

Introduction to Block Letters: Letter to Yourself

Today we will be writing our first "block letter".  This is a standard block letter (see format below) which does not require any special formatting (bold, italic, underline, centering, etc.) so we are able to do it in writing -- but they are typically done in a word processor (like Microsoft Word).  Notice that everything is aligned along the left side of the page with NO indenting.

Block letters consist of the following sections:

• Return Address (your address)
• Date (in long form such as "September 16, 2010"
• Addressee/Destination (Name and Address)
• Salutation (Dear Mr./Mrs. __)
• Body of the Letter (at least two real paragraphs)
• Complimentary Close (Sincerely,)
• Signature (Written by hand in blue or black ink)
• Your Typed Name

In the theme of looking at your future, we will be writing a letter to yourself 10 years in the future.  Your current address goes on the top and your future address goes after the date -- feel free to make up an address where you think (or hope) you will be living.

Introduce yourself and tell "future you" about your favorite foods, books, movies, TV shows, music, actor/actress, game, teacher, etc.  Remind yourself about ideals or beliefs that you hope you still have.  Congratulate "you" on whatever achievements (job, marriage, children, etc.) you have made over the last 10 years. Tell yourself about important events going on in your life, your church, your country or around the world.

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Job-Specific Personal Statement

I would like you to have at least one job-specific "Personal Statement" for your portfolio. Sometimes there will be a box on an application (see below) and sometimes a prospective employer will want one typed up. Many colleges also look for a "Personal Statement" written up as an essay discussing who you are, what your philosophy of education is, and what you plan to do with your life -- but we may do one of those a bit later.  For now, I want you to think of a specific job you might apply for once you leave high school.  If you can't think of a specific job (i.e. a janitorial worker at Jellico Hospital... or a cashier at Wal Mart... or a waitress at Cracker Barrel) pick a general job and work from that.  You may come back to these later for answering the question on an application or if you are writing a letter for prospective employment.  (Paragraphs reflect yellow boxes)

Portfolio: Handshake Etiquette Guide

Today we are going to be discussing and demonstrating proper handshake etiquette.  I will be giving you a handout that you will keep in your portfolio as a reminder of proper technique.

Click to Download

Keep in mind that when you are looking for a job, you have to get over a series of hurdles:

1. You have to submit the proper paperwork (resume', cover letter, application, etc.)
2. You have to be vetted by the hiring manager
3. You get asked to a job interview
4. You meet the interviewer (first impressions are important)
5. You get through the interview successfully
6. Sometimes you get asked for a second interview

If you trip at any of those hurdles, someone else will pass you up.  That being said, take a look at Step 4 above.  If you dress poorly, have messed up hair, aren't groomed well, smell bad, etc. you will probably not fare well in the interview.  If you show up looking great and then you give a really horrible handshake, you can complete lose all of the progress you made by looking good.  First impressions are important.