FAFSA is due on March 2, 2012

Reminder.....Reminder...... the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (otherwise known as FAFSA) is due March 2, 2012 for California initial awards.  This is the document that colleges use to evaluate your financial need and to determine the type of financial aid you qualify for.  This is an extremely important document that will form part of your file in the 2012-2013 school year.

In order to not forfeit your financial aid for next school year, make sure you submit it on time.  I recommend you print the online confirmation page or you obtain proof of mailing form the post office if you decide to mail the form in.

Colleges may have a different deadline for the FAFSA.  Please check with colleges you are interested in attending to verify when they need to receive your FAFSA by.

For more detailed information please check the FAFSA website: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/options.htm

Your Older Sis

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice- is there a difference?

Thank you for your question. I am so proud of you- we need more female police officers!

As a former Los Angeles Police Commissioner, law enforcement has a very special place in my heart. You ask, "What is the difference between criminal justice and law enforcement?" Since you are in high school and applying to college and for scholarships, you want to make sure you know the difference. Criminal justice focuses on the entire justice system and the role each piece plays in upholding the law and preventing or punishing the violation of it. Parts of the criminal justice system include, police officers, attorneys, courts, punishment (penalties), prisons and rehabilitation. Law enforcement focuses on "enforcing" the law (that is, making sure the law is followed and what to do when it is not). Police officers, sheriffs, FBI/CIA agents are some examples of those who enforce the law. Law enforcement is one part of criminal justice system.

Remember, each school or program you are applying to may have a slightly different definition for criminal justice and law enforcement than the one above. You should research each individual program in order to understand what their definition is. Also, regardless of what you decide to major in, do well. The application process to a law enforcement agency is very competitive and a good GPA will be a huge advantage. Lastly, each law enforcement agency will have its own training program or "academy" that you will have to complete, in addition to your degree. More than likely, a lot of the information you learned in a law enforcement major will be covered at the academy.

I encourage you to pursue your dream- it would be an honor to see you in uniform!

Your Older Sis

Happy New Year- 2012

The new year is always a good time to reflect on where we are and where we want to be. Are we any closer to our goals than we were 1 year ago? If we are, that is great! After all, that is all we can hope for if our goals are long-term goals. If we are not, What went wrong? Do we need more training or more encouragement? Do not lose hope, 2011 was a difficult year for many. Remember, it is never too late to try again. You will never know what is possible, until you attempt the impossible. Wishing you the best in 2012.

Photography, Proposals & Protection (Part I)

Lily Magallanes is a photographer (http://lilyphotography.org) who is taking her services to the next level. Yay Lily!! She has started writing proposals for her clients and is wondering what information should be in the proposal in order to protect her and the client. Great question! I will answer it in three parts.

The first thing to do is research your industry--not meet with your potential client. Don't get me wrong, you can set up the meeting, but before you talk with them make sure you have done the following:

a) Understand what others in the industry would offer your client and at what price point. Be realistic in this assessment, you should take a close look at who your competitors are. Your competitors are those who have similar training and experience to you;

b) Ask yourself if you can provide a competitive level of service in your current situation. If the answer is yes, then you can meet with the client. If the answer is no, then you should think about what you need in order to provide a more competitive level- experience, equipment, education, assistance, etc. and how you will obtain that. If you are confident that you can provide an excellent final product, but experience is what you need, you might consider performing the services for free or for a below market price (so long as you disclose the level of experience to your client) in order to obtain the experience and get word-of-mouth going; and

c) Set up a meeting with your client. Since you have done a & b above, you should attend the meeting with an idea of what you can provide and at what price.

Phenomenon-Protecting our Parents

It is a common phenomenon for children of immigrant parents to feel that we have to protect our parents and shield them from the challenges we have in our lives. It sounds odd, namely because parents are suppose to shield their children. However, since our everyday life is so different than that of our parents, we feel that sharing our challenges with them will simply be a source of stress for them. In order to avoid being a source of stress to our parents, we choose to share only the triumphs and an occasional simple challenge--- provided it has already been resolved. This situation, of course, only elevates our own stress, since we are trying to navigate life on our own plus make it seem easy (and challenge-free) at the same time.

Yes We Can...

It seems that most of our lives we go about feeling out of place. We place such high standards on ourselves and so little value in who we are-- that we are always falling short. Are we smart enough, trendy enough, thin enough? These might be questions that pop into our mind everyday. It is so easy to have our own thoughts about how we measure up prevent us from deciding to pursue our goals. Our negative thoughts make us feel defeated before we even start down the road that will lead to success. Lets figure out what our goals are and then lets make a road map to achieve them. Let's get rid of such negative views of ourselves and focus on the fact that we are capable of achieving our goals.

Unique & Valuable

We are all born with special talents and skills. Maybe you have never been told that before, or you have, and due to circumstances, self-perceptions or negative influences you have forgotten. I am here to remind you. You are the only person on this earth that is just like "YOU." That is special and valuable. With proper motivation, training and influences you are unstoppable.