Table of contents for July/August 2024 in girlworks

Ah summer, when school is out and opportunities abound. Along with a healthy dose of fun, plan to do, learn and experience new things. Otherwise, the summer will slip away like sand in your hands, only for you to arrive back at school wishing you had done more. Check out the Summer Adventure List for some ideas to make your summer memories. When you arrive back to school do it in style and comfort - check out the spread for inspiration. It’s always a great time to learn and do something new. In this issue: • Explore Vietnam • The incredible life of singer Billie Holiday • Choose a career as a Nurse Anesthetist • Creating a Summer Adventure List • Best AI tools for school work Coming in September/October:…

The summer months lay tantalizingly before you, but before you know it September will arrive and a teacher will ask you what you did. Make the most of the summer, plan an adventure list you can actually live by, then get out and create lasting memories. BEACH DAY Grab some snacks and sunscreen and headto the beach. Stash away the phone and letthe day melt away. No beach nearby? Findan outdoor pool or set up a kiddie pool in the backyard. OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT Set up a projector in the back yard (basement if it rains) and pick a theme. Is it movies from the 90’s, rom coms, fantasy…maybe make it a weekly event? ATTEND A CONCERT OR THEATRE EVENT Summer is the perfect time to enjoy live music and…

Cone Confusion Last year, I was trying out for my school’s soccer team. I love soccer and have been playing it for many years and I always make the team. The coach made us do the standard runs where we have to kick the ball into the net. I was moving towards the net and suddenly tripped on my own feet, and fell face first into the ground. Not only was it embarrassing because people were watching, but because I’m usually really good at soccer! Thankfully I still made the team, but I still cringe when I think about it. Sneaker Squeaker I had just bought a new pair of sneakers and was excited to wear them to school, since my last pair was basically falling apart. They felt great…

The art of paper folding evolved in many cultures, but today, most use “origami” as an umbrella term for this practice. Origami has existed for nearly as long as paper has existed, with the Chinese likely having been the inventors over 2,000 years ago. Origami pieces can range from very easy to extraordinarily complex, with some people having made origami with over 10,000 folds! Today, origami is highly accessible; there are many resources online with instructions for origami figures, and all you need to start is some paper! How to Start: Though you can buy origami kits with decorated pre-cut paper, you can also just practice on plain paper. Almost all origami starts with square paper. If your paper isn’t already square, you will have to cut it into squares.…

It’s wonderful to have money and reach an age where you and you alone are responsible for it. But it’s so easy to spend. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that young people see over 40,000 ads a year—and that was way back in 2006. Young people average viewing at least 5 food ads daily, most for fast food. One study suggests teens see over 550 brands a day! So, there are a lot of folks out there who want your money. Globally, women control over $25 trillion in annual consumer spending, yet many feel disrespected by brands and have turned toward smaller, local, female-owned businesses. Environmentalism is at the heart of most young women too which is why vintage clothes and second-hand items are at a premium. The best…

When you think about exercise and sport, you may focus on the physical or social benefits. Maybe you are just super competitive. How many young women would say that their #1 reason for engaging in sport and exercise is mental health? Probably a lot of yoga enthusiasts would put up their hands. Most North American teens do not get enough exercise yet the beneficial role of physical activity in healthy living and preventing mental health disorders is well documented. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as: a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The WHO states that “there is no health without mental health.” The National Institute of Mental Health notes that the prevalence of any anxiety disorder…

Eleanora Fagan, who was known by the stage name Billie Holiday, lived an exceptional life, but it was hard by any standard. Holiday was a victim of poverty, abandonment, sexual violence, abuse and systemic racism. Even after becoming known throughout the United States, Holiday turnedtodrugsand abusive men who took advantage of her success and wealth. She excelled as a performer, but suffered through her short life, from beginning to end. By 1947, at her commercial peak, having made $250,000 in the three previous years (3 million today), Holiday was one of the highest earners in American show business. When she died at the young age of 44 she had .70¢ in her bank account and $750 strapped onto her leg. Her life story is intense. Eleanora Fagan was born in…