Hello Roots! Our second e-newsletter of 2020 finds most of us still socially distant with the school year on the horizon. In this newsletter you’ll find an article and videos about starting to think of a career path in your life. There’s also an article with tips for homework and online learning, a “Did You Know” article, as well as a word-find puzzle with a little adult coloring you can print off to enjoy. Please let us know if you have suggestions of things you’d like to see in this newsletter by emailing ejones@mwafcu.org.

Homework Tip & TricksA new school year is kicking off, and the dreaded “H”

word...HOMEWORK has all new meaning for those doing online learning full time or partially. We’ve got some simple tips on how to make your daily assignments a breeze to complete and even enjoy in the process.

• Homework Haven: Create a space that is comfortable, quiet, and unique to your personality and learning style. This could be a mobile space you set up at the dining room table or a more permanent space on your desk in your bedroom. Make sure there’s plenty of good lighting, easy access to an outlet for a charger, lots of room to stretch your legs, and room for all of your supplies.

• Remove Distractions: Everyone is a little different in what distracts them, but here are a couple of things to think about removing from your learning space. TVs and video game systems, can for obvious reasons, be a big distraction as well as cell phones and tablets. Turn them off or silence them so you won’t be distracted. Things like comic books and sports equipment can also pull you from your studies.

• Internet Distractions: Speaking of distractions, while studying online keep your tabs to a minimum and try to stay away from video sites like YouTube that will continually play videos to keep you away from your studies. Social media feeds can also keep you distracted from your work with their options for endless scrolling and videos that automatically play.

• Break Time: Be sure to take some mini-breaks in between your reading, writing, and arithmetic. A 10-15 minute break to use the bathroom, grab a snack, play a quick game, or sit quietly can make the difference between

homework feeling like a chore or feeling like a fun task.• Family Affair: Since a lot of families are at home together right now, try and get your work done at

the same time as other family members. It’ll be easier to concentrate when everyone is working on something. Then when everyone is done it’ll be time for something more fun to do than work.

Did You Know That US/Canadian Border Has A “No Touch” Zone?

Remember when you were a kid riding in the back seat of the car with a sibling or a buddy and to keep peace, a parent would declare a “no touch” zone? Did you know there’s a 5,500 mile long “no touch” zone separating the US and Canada? The border is kept clear of trees (10 feet on each side) and features 900 monuments, set by the surveyors who had only string and a compass to mark it along the 49th parallel. The men did the best they could in a non-GPS world, but the border is anything but straight. In fact, while you may need a hall pass to get around, teens in Point Roberts, Washington must cross international borders four times to get to school in their own state. For a fun video about the border go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMkYlIA7mgw.

Answer:

Careers & IncomeSince most of us have a little extra time these days with being home

more, it’s a good time to think about what kind of job or career you’d like to have in the future. It’s a process that takes a lot of soul-searching about what is most important to you and how motivated you are to get there. You can get a start by getting to know yourself and deciding what you want out of life. Does your dream job require several years of schooling to achieve or do you want to jump right into a career and train on-the-job? The It’s a Money Thing video titled “After Grad: Work or College” talks about options for your future and the many different paths you can take to get there.

Another way to start thinking about what career you may want is to consider the income that a career may earn and how it is earned. What is income? Income is the money received in exchange for work. Income can be earned as a wage, a salary, or a sales commission depending on the type of job you have.

• Wage: a set amount of money earned per hour of work. An example of this would be a grocery store cashier that earns an hourly wage of $12/hour. This means that in an 8-hour shift this worker would have earned $96 before taxes. Other types of jobs that can be paid an hourly wage include: administrative assistants, construction workers, bus drivers, retail workers, dental assistants, nurses, and more.

• Salary: a set amount of money earned per year. An example of a job like this would be a scientist with a salary of $50,000 per year. This means that all of the paychecks you earn that year total up to your salary amount before taxes no matter how many hours you work. Other types of jobs that can be salaried are: accountants, management positions, lawyers, architects, doctors, and more.

• Sales Commission: an amount of money based on part of a sale amount. An example of a position that earns a sales commission is a real estate agent that helps families buy and sell houses. When an agent agrees to sell a house they get paid a percentage of the sale. For example, a house sells for $200,000 and the realtor has a 5% commission, they would earn $10,000 on the sale of that home. Other types of jobs that can work on commission are: car sales agents, travel agents, insurance sales, publishers, recruiters, and more.

The It’s A Money Thing video titled “Income Essential” delves into this topic as well and gives you a greater understanding of how the balance between what type of career you choose, your education, your skills, and economic trends can affect the income you make. Finding your dream career is challenging on its own, and only made more difficult by others’ expectations and our own biases. Be mindful of your goals—any job that helps you achieve them is a benchmark for success. Remember that interests and skills change and develop over time, and therefore the need to make and reassess your career goals will continue through high school, college, and beyond. Your future career is important, and it deserves some serious reflection time. Happy Planning!