“I just applied to a job in a bookstore because I consider myself a bookworm. I love reading and I want to help more people read books. At the interview I asked the manager to put me in the customer-service division so I can speak to people and learn more about people and gain presentation skills,” said Ahmed Saeed, a 22-year-old university student in Jeddah.

“I see summer as an opportunity to gain experience and make extra pocket money. I can easily start my resume with summer jobs, as they are small highlights that gives extra points when I graduate and look for a job.”

Every summer holiday, many high school students apply for a part-time job as cashiers in one of Jeddah’s famous supermarkets.

“The owner of the supermarket supports the younger generation and makes sure to hire a number of them in order to encourage them,” said Jalal, a manager at one of Jeddah’s chain supermarkets. “We offer them jobs like standing at the cashier, organizing the aisles or just a training job at the head office. We believe that we should invest in our youth for a better tomorrow.”

Even though the money earned in summer jobs isn’t much, students look to gain experience and spend their time in doing something beneficial.

“There is nothing to do during the summer in Jeddah. I have tried to look for sources of entertainment to spend my free time, but other than gatherings and shopping there is nothing much to do,” said Jana Wali, 19-year-old college student.

“I have just started working as a receptionist at an English institute and I believe that I am very entertained. I am having fun working even if the money is very little as I’m still doing something beneficial to me and to my future.”

Omar Sallam, 24, is helping his father in the summer. He plans to work with him when he graduates.

“I have been working for my father for five years now. My father is supporting me and helping me learn more about his business so I can work for him when I graduate,” he said. “I cannot say that I enjoy working all day, but knowing that this is my future makes me want to discover and learn more about the business.”

Other students turn to volunteering to invest their time in helping society.

“I just signed to volunteer with a cleaning campaign to improve my city and to devote my time in doing good,” said Ayah Essam, 15-year-old school student. “I look forward to contributing along with a group of my school friends who aim to help our city even with a small gesture like picking up trash from the floor.”

Recently the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) offered 7,000 summer jobs for diploma holders and college students. The RCCI announced this during the first three days of its recruiting program, which ended Monday. Nearly 1,000 applicants and more than 365 employers participated.

The RCCI was expected to hire candidates for the rest of the 7,000 available jobs and training positions. Training, according to a source at the chamber, includes English language and computers, as they are the main demanded skills in the private sector.

The RCCI had previously addressed its associates to interact with the program presented to serve and help young men and women invest their spare time in acquiring necessary skills to enter the manpower market.

The RCCI is cooperating with the Riyadh Recruitment Office in accordance to a royal decree calling for accepting college and diploma students for training in companies during the summer vacation to equip them with necessary skills for their own benefit and the country’s future.

© Arab News 2011

Click here for the latest from the LAUSD.

Los Angeles Unified’s nationally recognized Academic Decathlon program took several hits this week as the district finalized a budget that threatens its status as a national powerhouse in the scholastic competition.

The district is reducing Academic Decathlon coordinator Cliff Ker’s position to a part-time job, and assigning him to also work part time as an assistant principal in Bell.

LAUSD has won 12 national championships in the last two decades, and Ker has run the program for the last 11 years.

As part of the reductions the district had to make this year to close a $408 million budget gap, individual decathlon coaches will also see cuts to the stipends they receive for the massive number of hours they devote to their school teams.

“Over the years there have been times where it’s seemed like I’m the only one who cares about this program, but I’ve tried to make it work as best I can with all obstacles,” Ker said.

“I don’t know how this is going to work, but I will do my best to make sure that it does… I can’t let the kids and coaches down.”

Ker, who lives in Chatsworth, will also be assigned as a part-time assistant principal at Bell High School

– more than 45 miles from his home.

Decathlon coaches, who often work six to eight hours a day after school for much of the school year, used to receive stipends in the fall and the spring but will now only receive a spring stipend of about $2,100.

The Academic Decathlon program pits teams of students from around the country against each other in a series of local, regional state and national scholastic contests, each with 10 tests on a common theme.

The Academic Decathlon has been a particular point of pride in the San Fernando Valley, where local high schools, including El Camino Real and Taft, have won a combined nine titles.

The program has been on the LAUSD chopping block before.

In 2000, the district covered all $300,000 of the competition’s expenses, which includes banquets and prizes for the winners. That amount has dwindled over the years, while corporate sponsors were asked to pick up more and more of the total.

In 2009 district officials threatened to shut down the program if $100,000 in donations could not be raised. Ker helped raise the money.

LAUSD Chief Academic Officer Judy Elliott assured the cuts would not threaten the quality of the program.

“The program is not being eliminated,” Elliott said.

“But this year, as we’re laying off teachers, counselors, psychologists… nobody can escape budget cuts.”

connie.llanos@dailynews.com

You see, we have all these tips around us that can dramatically increase our productivity, but we fail to incorporate them into our life.

I have heard some of these tips over and over again. I dismissed them and never used them because I thought they were nonsense.

Oh, how wrong I was!

By using the tips below, I was able to increase my productivity by over 500% practically overnight, and you can do the same.

1. Get Clear on What You Want

The first step is to get clear on what you want. In other words, set clear goals that motivate and inspire you to take action, right now.

Set one primary goal that if you achieve will have a dramatic impact on your life. When you focus on one goal, something funny happens: All of your secondary goals get the benefits as well.

But if you dilute your focus and try to do too many things at once, you won’t succeed in any of them.

So set specific, measurable, realistic and time sensitive goals in order to give your subconscious mind a target to aim at.

2. Figure Out Your Valuables

After you’ve set your goals, it’s time to figure out the 20% of tasks that will give you 80% or more of the results.

Focus only on high-value tasks that catapult you toward your goal. These tasks are usually the ones that you tend to procrastinate most.

The difference between productive and unproductive people is that productive people are willing to tackle the uncomfortable tasks head on. They have cultivated their self-discipline, and they know that while focusing on these tasks may not be the most fun thing in the world — this produces dramatic results.

3. Plan Your Day

Number three on our list is to plan your next day before you go to bed at night. This is as simple as writing down the top five things that you have to get done the next day. If you can accomplish these five things, your day will be a success.

Again, make sure that these tasks are high-value and produce dramatic positive consequences in your life if you accomplish them.

By planning your day before you go to bed, you give your subconscious something to chew on during the night. If you want to take it one step further, you can visualize every task going perfectly the next day.

4. Single-Task

We are inundated with distractions in this digital age. We have Twitter, e-mail, and Facebook distracting us all day long.

By single tasking and focusing on one thing at a time, you can dramatically increase your productivity. This step alone can make a huge difference in not only the speed at which you work, but the quality of work that you produce.

You can also take this one step further by setting an egg timer for each task. Estimate how long one task will take you and then set the timer for half the time.

You will be surprised at how fast you can get stuff done under pressure.

5. Practice Relentless Focus

It is easy to get distracted by other projects and opportunities that seem much better than the one you’re working on now.

Constantly focus your mind on your primary goal and let everything else fall to the wayside. You will be much more successful and get much more done.

Cultivate the habit of saying no to the things that do not bring you closer to your primary goal. And don’t worry, because you can always come back to other projects later on, but first you have to finish what you have in front of you.

6. Get Passionate

One of the big keys for me has always been to do work that I love to do. When you find your passion and go after it, you will be on fire and feel extremely motivated to get results.

I accept no other alternatives other than getting paid to do what I love. I’m willing to face my fears, overcome obstacles, and take risks to make it happen. When you have this kind of determination, your productivity will skyrocket, and you will feel amazingly good.

–
These are just some of the tips that if incorporated, you will increase productivity by many times.

And if you keep reading and applying just one new productivity tip into your life each and every week, you will be amazed at the results within just a year.

It all starts with the decision to become more productive. The choice is up to you. What do you choose?

A common question among NFL fans during the lockout is, “What is my favorite player up to?”

In most cases, he’s doing the same thing he would normally be doing: practicing, training and getting ready for the season. He’s just doing it in alternative locations with team facilities unavailable.

Ndamukong Suh is no different, and I doubt anybody will question whether he is prepared when the season rolls around. But with the NFL lockout still firmly in effect, nobody is anxious to cut Suh a check for the work he’s putting in anytime soon.

Luckily, Subway has stepped up and given Suh another way to make ends meet during the hard times brought about by the lockout.

“I’ve acquired a part-time job delivering avocados and being a sandwich artist during the lunchtime rush here in Detroit,” Suh said in an exclusive interview before his shift Thursday morning.

That’s right. Suh, who certainly has a hunger for food almost as great as his hunger for winning football games, has taken up the task of satisfying the hunger of Subway customers, one five-dollar footlong at a time.

In the time I was able to speak to Suh, we discussed his teammates, the lockout, his shoulder and, of course, avocados.

“I like it, it’s a great twist,” Suh said of Subway’s new avocado topping. “It gives you nutrition and allows you to get the full flavor of the sandwich, but at the same time it’s healthy for you.”

I haven’t yet had a chance to try Subway’s new green offering, so I asked Suh what his favorite was.

Turns out, Suh may only be a part-timer at Subway, but he’s already developed some specialties. He even has a signature sandwich.

“My signature sandwich is the oven-roasted chicken breast,” Suh said. “Of course, I put some jalapenos and green peppers on there, then throw the avocado on there for that last little twist.”

I perked up at the mention of jalapenos, happy to hear that I was talking to a fellow spicy food enthusiast. When I asked him about it, he recommended the chipotle sauce and honey mustard for some extra kick.

He also recommended coming in for breakfast, which made sense considering it was just after 8:00 AM when we had our conversation.

I have to admit, my stomach growled a little bit when Suh mentioned a steak, egg and cheese sandwich, and he piqued my curiosity when he suggested I make it a healthier sandwich by adding a “little dose of green” with some more avocado.

In fact, there didn’t appear to be anything that wouldn’t benefit from some green avocado.

And considering he plays the Packers twice a year, this might be the only time Lions fans enjoy hearing Suh talk favorably about green.

TYLER, TX (KLTV) – According to Tyler Police, an off-duty officer was injured while working at his part-time security job at Dillard’s in the Broadway Square Mall in Tyler.

Authorities say J.R. Smith approached the two suspects inside the store, when they dropped two bags full of clothing ran.

Smith chased the suspects out of the store into the parking lot.

The suspects were able to get into a silver vehicle. Officials say Smith bashed out two windows on the car, before the suspects attempted to run him over as they fled the scene.

The suspects left the mall parking lot towards Shiloh/Rice Road.

It’s unknown at this time whether the suspects have any stolen merchandise.

Smith has been treated for minor cuts to his hands, and has returned to work.

J.R. Smith has been with the Tyler Police department for 17 and a half years.

Copyright 2011 KLTV. All rights reserved.

OTTAWA COUNTY — A part-time police officer for the cities of North Muskegon and Roosevelt Park is facing charges after she allegedly crashed her sport utility vehicle into an Ottawa County home while intoxicated, police say.

Jacqueline Cota, of North Muskegon, is scheduled to be arraigned July 31 in Ottawa County’s 58th District Court in Hudsonville on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Police say she was intoxicated on the night of June 28 when she ran a stop sign at the intersection of Barry Street and 8th Avenue in Georgetown Township and smashed into the home of Randy Vance, of 5225 8th.

No one at Vance’s home was hurt. Cota, 27, was taken to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital with minor injuries.

North Muskegon Police Chief Tom Korabik said he has not yet made any decisions regarding disciplinary action because he has not yet read the incident report.

“We’re not going to make a determination on her job status … until I get the chance to look at everything,” Korabik said. “I have not spoke to her; I have not read any reports on it.”

Korabik said Cota has worked at his department part-time for about 2 ½ years.

Roosevelt Park Police Chief Timothy Regan said he’s awaiting a
briefing from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office on Cota’s alleged
actions.

He said Cota has a “good record.” Typically, an officer would be disciplined if they were found guilty of drinking and driving.

Ottawa County Undersheriff Greg Steigenga said his department is awaiting the results of a toxicology test that will show Cota’s blood-alcohol level.

“She has been officially charged,” he said.

If found guilty, Cota could face “license sanctions” or “potentially jail time,” Steigenga said. It would be up to her employers whether she is allowed to continue to serve as a law enforcement officer.

Email: bmcvicar@muskegonchronicle.com

The Police Department has hired five part-time police officers, boosting the number of full and part-time officers to 29, the police chief said Tuesday.

Part-time officers must pass the Civil Service exam and attend a field training program with the department, Police Chief John Cowan said.

Part-time officers are paid $18 an hour and work varied shifts, depending on what is available, Cowan said.

“They can work shifts to cover for us, holidays. They can work road jobs, details,” Cowan said. “They’re expected to get involved in the community.”

The new hires are Adam Oliveira, Daniel Schwemin, Matthew Monteiro, Cara Osimo and Kevin Realini.

The department has 20 full-time officers, including the police chief, and nine part-time officers.

Part-time officers train with full-time officers before they go out on the job alone, Cowan said.

“When we look to hire full-timers, we look at how much time they’ve put in on their own,” Cowan said.

Maria Papadopoulos may be reached at mpapadopoulos@enterprisenews.com.

READ MORE about this issue.

ACTON – Sanford Superintendent Betsy St. Cyr, who ends a career
that has spanned more than 35 years in Sanford this week, will
start a new, part-time job on Friday as the superintendent of
schools in neighboring Acton.

Judie Shain, chairwoman of the Acton School Committee, said Monday
the board approached St. Cyr to see if she’d be interested in the
position after part-time Superintendent Alton Hadley announced his
resignation, effective June 30, in April. The school committee
accepted Hadley’s resignation April 12.

“She’s what we’re looking for,” Shain said. “She has the vision for
where our district should be going. I think she will work well with
our principal, and she’ll be a good liaison between Acton and
Sanford. I think it’s awesome.”

Acton has a contract to send its high school students to Sanford
High School, and the two departments work together on such services
as professional development, food service and transportation, Shain
said.

“I am retiring, but I want to stay active in the role of
education,” St. Cyr, who was expected to be honored with a Lifetime
Achievement Award at the 100th Annual Superintendents’ Conference
awards and recognition dinner in Augusta Monday night, said.

She said she would continue working on the strategic plan
established by the Acton school and would help the K-8 school
transition to a standards-based curriculum modeled after the
state’s common core principals implemented this year.

In addition, she said, she would work to find funding sources to
help re-instate foreign language, technology programs and other
programs that had been cut in recent years due to budget
constraints.

“I’ve been in Sanford 30-plus years. We’ve had a close working
relationship with Acton for at least the past five years,” St. Cyr
said. “It’s a bordering community, but it’s very different in terms
of the community, the direction and the governance. It’s a change
of direction.”

Shain said the Sanford superintendent was offered a standard
one-year contract, which goes into effect July 1, and would work
two days per week.

St. Cyr has spent all but four years of her 41-year career in
public education in Sanford. She was first hired as the
department’s first elementary learning disabilities specialist and
quickly moved into the role of Title I director and English as a
second language director.

In 1979, she became the department’s first special education
director, a position she held for nearly 30 years. She also served
in various teaching and administrative capacities within the
Sanford School Department, including interim superintendent,
assessment coordinator, homeless liaison and No Child Left Behind
Grant manager.

“I am grateful to past superintendents for having the courage to
take risks and allow me to enter new territories as the first
female full-time administrator in Sanford Schools,” St. Cyr said
when she announced her retirement in January.

Her three years as Sanford’s superintendent have been focused on
developing and gaining state funding for an innovative model for
high school and career and technical education. The school
department learned in March that a proposal for a new combined
Sanford High School and Regional Technical Center campus ranked
second on the state’s school construction priority list, the first
step in securing funding through the Maine Department of
Education’s school construction major capital improvement
program.

 Hadley, who came to Acton in 2009 and helped the school win a
“doughnut hole” exemption to the Maine school consolidation law,
could not be reached for comment prior to the Weekly Observer’s
Monday deadline.

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