Virtual Tutors become possible with Ahead Interactive

Remember the times when tutors would visit the homes or worse when tutees need to go to their tutor's residences for an excruciating hour just to help students finish assignments for the day?

As parent, worrying about the tutor's snacks and how she'd get home is a concern. As a student, especially if you're lagging behind, the tutor's visit becomes embarrassing specially if there are visitors in the house.

Ahead Interactive has seen the need to make tutorial sessions hassle free using internet technology. With high speed internet bandwidths, clear audio and video machines, and a tutorial software that makes tutorials as if the tutor is there beside the student, tutorial sessions become fun and much awaited. Try Ahead Interactive and see the difference in your child's progress.

Ahead Interactive helps students get quality time at home

Students in this e-generation are faced with increasing academic challenges. Reviewing seven subjects a day can cause stress to an eight or nine year old child. But how can children be ahead of the pack and reach their dreams if they are devoid of tutorial access? With Ahead Interactive, stress from daily tutorials is canceled out. This is made possible via the online tutorials made possible with high-speed internet access. Teachers and students come face to face using the virtual tools.

Ahead Interactive enables students to:

1. Work their homework at home.
2. Go home early instead of travel to the tutor's place.
3. Finish early with homework thereby getting to relax with family.
4. Experience the positive benefits one can get from the computer machine.

Back to school with care

Yes, it’s definitely school time once more! It’s nice to see old friends and meet new ones. But before you begin the usual hugs and handshakes, take note of the tips on how to be physically virus free!

Some precautions so that we’ll stop the spread of the A(H1N1) virus:

1. Clean your hands with soap and water. You can also use 70% alcohol or alcohol-based rubs as an alternative.

2. Try to avoid severe contact with other people, if possible. Stay at least 1 meter away from everyone with influenza-like symptoms.

3. If in public area, use a mask to help prevent the spread of droplets.

4. Eat healthy food/snacks. These will make your body stronger and resistant from any virus.

5. Take vitamins, minerals and other immune boosters. These greatly helps protect your body from getting virus and sorts. Choose your nutritional supplements wisely – always go for quality, potency and not the cheap price.

6. Contact a health professional or visit your doctor for other information.


There you go, hope you’ll enjoy the start of your classes! Remember that it’s cool to be healthy and wise!

A Summer Spent Well

by Marvin Diegor (Student Contributor)

It was another perfect morning. The sun was up and it was the 6th of May. Ah. What a beautiful way to welcome the day, if not for the annoying little alarm that kept on ringing since 9:00 AM! Argh! What in the world could an alarm be doing beside my bed, at an early time, at a summer morning, at the last month of my vacation, with the words: “Time for school!”?
And it all came down crashing in my aching head. It is my first day of studying what teachers took 4 years to teach me… in 19 days: High School.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

***
THAT, up there, was my initial reaction to my summer class in Ahead. Now, a week later, I completely have no regrets whatsoever in waking up that day and taking the effort to take myself to what maybe my only hope to achieving the key to my future (nosebleed cue, right here).

Nope, I wasn’t taking summer class because I failed a few subjects. I’m taking them because I want to improve my grades, and most importantly, make sure that I can pass the college entrance tests which will be my turning point in life. Ultimate nerd? Yeah, I know. Well, we’ll just see about that 5 years from now, after graduation.

You see, I had realized that even if you are the son of the richest man or the daughter of the CEO of a leading company, you are not excused, in any way possible (and impossible), from failing in life because somehow you thought that education is not an important part of your existence that you actually planned to “skip it.” No, keine, iiya, nyet, ninguna, HINDI.

That, I realized quite some time ago, but I only saw it in action just a few days ago, in the 5th day of my class.

I hope you’re not yet bored because I still plan on telling you this story:

It was my language proficiency class. We were just about to start the discussion when our lecturer wrote something on the board: “Obama – Language.” And then, he asked us why US President Barrack Obama is crucial to our discussion. He asked everyone, but once you answer, you can’t answer anymore (his policy of giving everyone a fair chance). Anyways, I actually answered an earlier question so I can’t answer that one. I was irritated for that.

What disappoints me more is that no one was standing up to the challenge of answering it. It was a fairly easy question for anyone who has been watching the news. Finally, this girl stood up and said, “It’s because of his speeches.” And that’s how our lecturer started to tell how an African man became a master of the English language.

Well, what can we say about that? I know the news is one of the last things a teenager would watch. I’d be in another world if a kid would line up CNN with MTV and HBO. But just simply knowing what’s happening around you is a completely different thing. Knowing is not being “out” (or being baduy for most Pinoy kids). In fact, it puts you in the league of the “in.”

Knowing is learning. Learning is education. Education is crucial. And, as any other crucial thing, it’s hard to do. But it pays off in different ways; one of them would be an easy time to find jobs after graduation. A high salary might sound good too.

A few may know that some companies don’t accept graduates who didn’t come from the Top 3 universities of the country, namely the University of the Philippines, the Ateneo de Manila University and the De La Salle University (trivia: they’re also among the Top 500 universities in the world). Call it elitism, call it underestimation, and call it inequality or any other term that means “unfair,” but quality service starts with quality people who came from quality institutions.

And now, I sit in a classroom in the leading review center there is in the country, studying what the difference is between “its” and “it’s.” It might be a long way from mastering the language, but it’s a pair of words that will do as any in beginning the road to success. Going back to the basics is the simplest way to get ready for what’s ahead: the rest of your life.

It is 6:33 PM. Another one of my class has ended. It’s tiring, I freeze in the aircon’s wrath (it’s right in front of me. *wink*), and it gives me pimples. But at the end of the day, I know it’s worth it, and as the sun sets down, I know this would be a summer spent well.

Agham

by Marvin Diegor (Student Contributor)

Another day, another class; and the subject for today: Science. It is defined as the study-of-the-physical-and-natural-world-and-phenomena- especially-by-using-systematic-observation-and-experiment! Well, that’s a mouthful isn’t it?

To be honest, I’m not very good at it. But for today, we were tasked to answer General Science, Biology, Chemistry and (heartbeat sound effects) Physics. I was lucky enough to correctly answer at least 7 questions out of 20 per topic! Phew, it was so hard.

Right then and there, I thought: would this be my situation when I’m sitting in the once-a-year UPCAT? Or maybe, the Ateneo College Entrance Exam or that of De La Salle University? Would my minimal knowledge in Science be a hindrance to achieving my dreams? I shuddered at the thought. Well, that won’t happen… I hope. AND I trust my lecturers at Ahead to teach the right things to me.

Just recently, I actually had fun learning about Science thingamajigs. We were grouped into fives and I was lucky enough to have knowledgeable group mates. But even with their knowledge, we still didn’t win. It was a close fight though. The winning team was only 2 points ahead of us. Anyways, I realized that I didn’t have to know everything, only the important things that I need to get through life. Most professionals didn’t need to know everything, but at least they’re not dumb-struck when they are asked, “What is the most abundant gas on Earth?” Well? FYI, it’s Nitrogen which comprises 70% of the Earth’s atmosphere (nope, it’s not Oxygen, which was my mistake too).

My confidence has developed a bit and that’s good enough for me! I still got a year left (which is my fourth year). Well, two months actually since UPCAT is on August 1 or 2, 2009 (heartbeat sound effects getting louder). Well, when the time comes, I’ll be sitting there with all the things I learned. And when I pass, the rest, as they say, will be history; and I shall never forget how a little group of five had fun on how they learned what kind of animals develop a placenta.

Good luck to all aspiring Iskolars ng Bayan, Green Archers, and Blue Eagles!

Thinking AHEAD

Remember how we used to imagine what we would like to be? Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions in our lives. After college graduation (once we have our dream job), your careers will act like a mirror and give you a piece of who you really are and what you are good at. This is also the reason why everybody tends to look at universities and other learning institutions as foundations before entering the "real world."If you still have no idea what path to take, or if you have no idea what course to take before entering college, think AHEAD. These guidelines would help you figure out what you'd like to pursue:

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Who am I right now?
  Take time to recall your attitudes, achievements, and aspirations.
  
• What do I enjoy doing?
  In what areas do I excel? Usually, we do things well because we love doing it. Remember the things you are passionate about, and the activities you did that gave you a lot of fulfillment.
  
• Science or Arts?
  Be involved in social activities such as seminars, community programs, and other curricular activities that will help you develop your skills and flesh out your interests.

Have your goals set. List down what you want to achieve in life. Do you want to be a doctor? An astronaut? Aim high but remain realistic. Are you disciplined enough to take medicine? Do you have the concentration and will to keep in tiptop shape for space flights?

Engage yourself in career guidance seminars or workshops. Take time answering personality or career tests online with your friends.

Attitude determines your perspective in life. Own that positive attitude. If you wish to be involved in the health care industry, believe that you have what it takes to be a good nurse or doctor and act on it!

Dig up pieces of advice. Don't be afraid to seek advice from your parents, career counselors, and friends. Listen to their ideas and suggestions before making an informed decision.

AHEAD Open Forum

How does AHEAD help you prepare for college entrance tests? Who’s your favorite AHEAD teacher or review assistant? Do you have a classroom crush? Would you like to be a student model for AHEAD? What are your “big” plans after highschool or college?

Share your AHEAD experience now, and let’s talk. : )

AHEAD Open Forum: http://aheadph.com/phpbb2/index.php