The Value of an Hour by John Assaraf- AlphaMax's Message for 16th Day of Christmas.

For the last seven years I have given the following essay by John Assaraf to my  GAC students so that they can reflect on the value of time and how they use it.
As we head to the end of the year and we think about what we have achieved I think it is  useful to read this.
This is our post for the 16th Day of Christmas.
Milton Drepaul
AlphaMax Academy

Selina from Nativity Play 2013

When I was 21 years-old, a gentleman asked me what I thought the value of an hour was. I honestly did not know how to answer the question. He went on to teach me one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned.

He suggested that the value of an hour was priceless. This confused me some, so this is what he said to me.

“If you invest one hour each day in understanding yourself and your environment better, you will accumulate nine 40-hour weeks over the course of a year!”

Yikes! As you can imagine I was blown away when he put it to me that way.

Nine 40-hour weeks? This seemed impossible until I did the math. 365 days, times one hour each is…yup, nine 40-hour weeks!

He went on to ask me how good I could get at something if I did it all day, every day for just over 2 months. Well, you already know the answer to that.

I thought I could be awesome!

He went on to tell me that over the course of just five years, I would have invested the equivalent of 1,825 hours of focus on whatever I desired to accomplish my life.

Imagine for a minute, how good you can become at anything that you did one hour a day for the next year. How fit could you get? How much more in love would you get and give? How much more money could you earn?

Let me suggest that one hour is a small price to pay in comparison to the payoff. Just one hour a day may be the razor’s edge you need to really get the results you want in your life.

For me, the decision was easy. I have been studying human potential and the mind for over 20 years. Each time I think I’m getting a good handle on it, I am gently reminded of how much there is to observe and learn.

Is getting what you want worth an hour a day? I certainly hope so.

I still manage to set aside my hour to read motivational stories or listen to inspirational people. They are the fuel for my mind and it keeps me learning and yearning for more.

Please adopt an hour a day for yourself! Pick one area of your life that you want to improve and commit the next 90 days to that one thing.

I assure you that the results you achieve will be well worth the decision! And remember…you can’t take out of life more than you put in.

John

Renzo Tjon A Joe--riding forward to greater success.

AlphaMax Academy sends out advent greeting for the 15 December

Last year our talented swimmer Renzo Tjon A Joe ( ranked number 7 in the world in the 50m) gave a sterling performance as Herod in the school's unique version of the Nativity .

Renzo has moved from success to success. He became a professional swimmer for Auburn ( one of the leading teams in the US); he won silver and bronze .

Renzo Riding in the Desert 2014

Renzo as Herod

medals in the Carifta, Central American and Caribbean Games and the recent Doha World Junior Championships.

He continues to  break the national records in his events.

Here is Renzo--riding a camel in the Sahara desert.
We salute him and his achievements. This year we remember fondly your powerful acting performance which earned you a standing ovation.

Nativity Play 2013

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

AlphaMax Academy GAC class do Interviews

On December the 5^th 2014, eight members of the GAC class did a mock university admissions interview.  This activity, part of our GAC Level one courses, assessed our ability to be interviewed by university admission officers.  

This interview assignment was part of the GAC003 course, Study Skills for Independent Learning, assessment event 2.  The interview was to be least 10 minutes long, and was conducted in English by four interviewers.  Our interviewers   on Friday were: Mr. Taylor, Director of Studies and our 003 Facilitator, Mr. Drepaul, Director of the AlphaMax Academy GAC Program and Facilitator for our 001, 002 and 006 courses, Mr. Marshall, facilitator for 005 course and Reaan Kersenhout AlphaMax and GAC graduate

Mr. Marshall, Mr. Taylor, Mr.DRepaul 7 Ms. Kersenhout

Before the assessment, the students had to research their university course options, reflect on their study and learning skills, prepare a CV and Personal Statement, and rehearse effective interview skills. 

Friday was the first time the 2015 class were formally dressed for an assignment. We all tried to project images as earnest, successful students who were worthy of being accepted by the best universities.

AlphaMax 2015 GAC class

During the interview, students were asked to give reasons for choosing a particular university. They also talked about themselves and evaluated their own study skills and strategies. They also fielded questions on their time management, and the courses in which they wished to enroll.

            The students found this a very useful and rewarding experience.

Michelle Chow

Michelle Chow, Class of 2015 GAC and AlphaMax Academy

AlphaMax Students visit SAB

On Thu. 27th November the Chemistry classes went to Suriname Alcoholic Beverages (SAB), where alcohol for consumption and medical purposes is produced.

They were accompanied by  Chemistry teachers Atma Jagbandhan and Rick Seepersaud.

This field trip gave students an opportunity to see the practical uses of chemistry in society.

"This field trip was interesting and I learned a lot from it," Sven Lemmers, member of Chemistry class and an AlphaMax senior ( Graduating class of 2015).

Pictures: On the right the tour guide. We were all wearing helmets for safety and at some places also hair nets). At the end of the tour the group was served with non alcoholic refreshments .

Atma Jagbandhan

n

Startling Facts about US College life

n 2005, Psychology Today published an article entitled “The Perils of Higher Ed.” The statement beneath the title reads, “College life can be downright detrimental. Sleep deprivation, a bad diet, and binge drinking can lead you to memory loss, alcoholism, and even Alzheimer’s.”

Students walking to class

Here are some of the things we learn from the article:

80% of undergraduates and medical students at Stanford University qualified as sleep-deprived, according to a survey conducted there—and sleep plays a crucial role in learning and memory.

50% of students eat too much fat, and 70-80% eat too much saturated fat, according to a survey at Tufts University—and, as the article states, “They may literally be eating themselves stupid. Researchers have known since the late 1980s that bad eating habits contribute to the kind of cognitive decline found in diseases like Alzheimer’s.”

44% of today’s college students drink enough to be classified as binge drinkers, according to a nationwide survey of 10,000 students done at Harvard University — and we now know that even limited overindulgence with alcohol can produce long-term negative effects on the brain.

According to the National Mental Health Association, even one night of heavy drinking can impair your ability to think well for up to 30 days.

A USA Today article comments, “All this news makes you wonder how anyone’s ever managed to get an education.”

And the article doesn’t mention stress, anxiety, and depression:

More than 29% of college freshmen reported often feeling overwhelmed by school, and emotional health is at a record low, according to a UCLA study.

Nearly 45% of women and 36% of men reported feeling so depressed it was difficult to function, according to a National College Health Assessment.

Meditation for Anxiety

Depression and Anxiety among college students

College is supposed to be about learning. We know the factors that impair learning—stress, loss of sleep, alcohol, poor diet. Ironically, these are just the things that characterize the culture on many college campuses.