smart girl's guide issue no. 2

Smart Girl’s Guidemay 2012

issue no. 2

As I write this, I am above the North Pole. Seriously. I am on my way home from Wenshan, China. For the past 10 days, I have had the privilege of working alongside truly inspiring individuals on an Operation Smile medical mission. I would tell you more about Op Smile, but for that, turn to page 32 and read Gabbi’s wonderful article on the organization. What I will tell you is my outlook on life has drastically changed.

On the second day of the mission, I was walking through the hospital wards, when sud-denly a little girl in a worn, pink sweater tugged on my back pocket. She was absolutely adorable, with her big brown eyes and beautiful face. I noticed she was terribly dirty and her teeth were beginning to rot. At six years old, Yuenmeng was the definition of a smart girl, not because she was able to solve a Rubik’s cube or count to ten in English. She was a smart girl because she loved learning and spread her smarts with others. After I explained to her how to properly brush her teeth, she shared the information with her family. Now, with the help of their new toothbrushes and newfound knowledge, they can avoid a multi-tude of diseases and maintain better hygiene.

Sharing smarts can have an incredible impact and it begins this chain reaction. You may just tell one person, but then they tell someone else, who may tell their group of friends, who each share the information with their own families. Do you see where I’m going? We all have something to offer at least one person and you don’t have to go to China to do that. All we have to do is look within ourselves and channel our smarts to help others. In doing so, we will help ourselves in ways we never dreamt possible. I cannot describe in words my connection to Yuenmeng but I know that she will forever be a driving force for The Smart Girls Group. Share your smarts for girls like her so that through your ef-forts, they can be their own smart girls. As we welcome May, I challenge you to share your smarts in a new way. Start a chain reaction.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting The Smart Girls Group and I am so thrilled to introduce to you our second issue. This experience is still so surreal to me and I feel so lucky to work with these girls. I hope that this issue provides you with all that you need to share your own smarts. Who knows, the impact you may have on the world around you.

Be smart and share your smarts,EmilySmart Starter my little smart girl, Yuenmeng

2~the smart girl’s guide

The Sm

art Girl’s G

uide to...The Presidential Electionpage 6

Study Stylepage 10

The Music of Maypage 12

The Art of Being Gratefulpage 13

Lacrosse Lessonspage 16

SmartChoicespage 20

Cultural Confidencepage 26

Workspaces That Workpage 28

College Columnpage 22

Spreading Smilespage 32

Goals for the Monthpage 42

The Live Listpage 37

3~contents

The Guide Girls

hannah hollidayconnecticut

“Wear bright nail polish to add some color to your

day!”

sophie raleighnew jersey

“However busy you are, try to always get a

good night’s sleep. You’ll be more energized

and healthier!”

royar loflinvirginia

“Make a tray at the entrance of your room that holds all your essentials you need in the mornings: Keys, Phone, Wallet, etc. You’ll never be late from losing things again!”

dorothy waltonalabama

“Don’t wait until the night before a big test to start studying.

Begin studying the material at lest a day before the test so that

you spread out the amount of information you must know.”

christina lanlokuncanada

“Do not be a discourager; help others

find the courage they need to arise in difficult situations.”

hannah buchannew jersey

“You can save money by using olive oil spray as

makeup remover!”


emily raleighnew jersey

“Remember that every action defines who you are. Think of how you want to be defined and

work to be that.”

hannah o’boylepennsylvania

“Just focus on the present and the future will fall

into place.”

gabbi oppenheimerillinios

“Take risks! You never know when you’ll fall into something fantastic.”

annie phelpsrhode island

“Stretch every morning to feel more energized!”

courtney brooksnew jersey

“Keep a list of the items you want most in your wallet to

resist the temptation of pointless spending. It works!

Take it from this shopaholic!”

amber ausleykentucky

“When you’re feeling stressed, take a moment

to unwind. For me, a buble bath or a fresh coat of nail polish does the

trick.”

5~guide girls top tips

The Presidential ElectionThe political system is complex in every country. This year in the United States, Americans are about to make a decision that will change the course of our future. As Smart Girls, we need to be informed about these candidates and their policies which will affect our lives.

The election of 2012, taking place on November 8th, is only a few months away! The Democratic party is the incumbent, or party that holds the Presidential seat. The Republican party is currently split three ways, between Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Newt Gingrich. Currently, primaries are taking place, in which each Republican candidate is voted for, since Barack Obama will be the Democratic Party’s Nomination. There are many things that influence a party’s selection of a candidate. The media, as well as the public, play a huge roll. This spring, I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of ads for each candidate. Super Tuesday is the day when the most primaries are held. This year, ten primaries and caucuses took place. Mitt Romney won six states, Rick Santorum won three, and Newt Gingrich won one. Since then, Rick Santorum has suspended his campaign. Keep watch for a few elections on the horizon: Indiana, North Carolina, and West Virginia on May 8th, Texas on May 29th, and California on June 5th. The last primary of the 2012 election will be on June 26th in Utah.

7~the smart girl is...aware

smart shots by Emily Raleighby Royar Loflin, Smarts Sharer

In a primary, citizens cast their votes for who will go into the general election. The whole point of a primary or caucus is for a candidate to win delegates so that he or she can win the nomination of their party. A majority of the 2,286 delegates is needed to win. Delegates can be almost anyone, usually people who are very involved in politics. Mitt Romney is currently in the lead as of April 28, with 659 delegates, and is currently the favorite for the nomination. Although I will not be able to vote this election, I still truly enjoy being involved in the political race. One of the most com-mon questions I’m asked is how you choose a political party and candidate. My favorite response? Google it! Read everything you can about a candidate! Have an issue that’s super important to you? Use a website like Vote Smart to see how the candidates stack up. For example, type in Ron Paul and Social Security and see what comes up! Al-though every candidate might not fit every-thing you’re looking for, I can guarantee that you can find a candidate that’s right for you. Election years are always exciting, since ev-ery four or eight years, our country contin-ues to make history as it starts over, some-thing that still amazes the rest of the world. The election of 2008 truly jump started my interest in politics, why not let 2012 do the same for you? Sources: 2012 Presidential Election, How Stuff Works: Prima-


The Smart Girls Group wants YOU!

We welcome all girls to get involved in The Smart Girls Group. Join us on our

mission to be smart and share the smarts!

If you have an idea, suggestion, or want to see what The Smart Girls Group can do for

you, email us at: [email protected]

Study Styleby Hannah Holliday, Smarts Sharer

Spring! It’s coming! Finally the sun and the looming freedom of summer is getting closer and closer…but unfortunately, with the end of the school year come final exams. Hours of study-ing, late night caffeine runs and maybe even a touch of a slight mental breakdown: doesn’t it sound fun? The life of the high school and college student is a glamorous one. The impending doom of exams may cause some girls to completely disregard their outside appearance, focusing more on the tiniest detail of an AP US History unit rather than choosing clean clothes and applying makeup. I’m all for focus, don’t get me wrong, but I tend to feel better when I look better! Exams should not be an excuse to look like a slob, plain and simple. So, in order to combat the study-style-slump, I’ve put together a few looks using the fantastic outfit-creating website, Polyvore! Enjoy!

10~the smart girl’s guide 11~the smart girl is...stylish

11~the smart girl is...stylish

The Music of May

M o o n d a n c e { b y Va n M o r r i s o n }

D - D - D a n c e { b y T h e C o n c e p t }

T a l k { b y C o l d p l a y }

I n Yo u r E y e s { b y P e t e r G a b r i e l }

B l u e S k i e s { b y N o a h + t h e W h a l e }

L a n d s l i d e { b y S t e v i e N i c k s }

L i t t l e T a l k s {by Of Monsters and Men}

Somebody I Used to Know {by Walk of the Earth}

M y Wa y { b y F r a n k S i n a t r a }

C l a r i t y { b y J o h n M a y e r }


by Sophie Raleigh, Music Mind

The Art of Being

~Grateful~by Christina Lanlokun, Smarts Sharer

How many times have you forgotten to say thank you to that lovely bus driver or that girl in your English class who lent you a pencil during an important lecture? It’s so easy to forget to say thank you to those who have helped us in our time of needs. Though we don’t mean to, we usually get so busy with other activities or so caught up in a moment that we forget to show our appreciation and gratitude to an act of kindness. It doesn’t take much effort to acknowledge a good deed; a simple thank you can also help brighten up someone’s day and can open more doors to other possibilities. It’s not only an admirable quality to possess, but it shows that you are a genuine and sincere individual.

13~the smart girl is...polished

Acts of KindnessDid you know that you can change someone’s entire day with one, simple, random act of kindness? Here are five random acts of kindness; hopefully you can make someone smile today.

1. Extra change – pass it on to the lady in front of you

fumbling with her wallet for a few pennies2. Opening a door for someone.

3. Helping someone out with directions.4. Leaving a generous tip.

5. A really easy one – smile.

Good HabitsWe’ve been developing habits ever since we were little children. From chewing our nails to forgetting pens and pencils. Habits, whether good or bad, shape our lives. However, many of us sometimes find it hard to shake off those bad habits that lead to unwanted /uncomfortable sit-uations. So I’ve compiled a 5 step process to help put a stop to those bad habits.

1. Identify your worst habit, and start with that.

2. Replace it with a better one.An example – Chewing gum pieces very

loudly – almost to the point of it being annoying and irritating to others. Most

people chew gum because they like

munching on something. A better substitution: mints.

3. Control and Practice. 4. Goal date

Give yourself time. You really can’t change a habit in 2 days; instead, you can count

down the days on your calendar. 5. Be consistent—don’t give

up.

Practice PatienceDo you often find yourself getting angry when waiting for...? •The waitress to deliver your food•Your classmate to finish copying your notes•Traffic…especially in the school hall-ways.•Your computer to finish loading a file

According to the dictionary, impatience is,“Having or showing a tendency to be quickly irritated or provoked: ‘impatient with any restriction.’”

As for the opposite of the word, many of us lack it. It is harder nowadays for people to learn how to be more tolerant and acceptable. However, finding what triggers our emotions and using them to improve our understanding can help us develop compassion, and empathy towards others.


“Patience is bitter,

but its fruit is sweet.”

~Aristotle

15~the smart girl is...polished

acrosseessons

by Hannah O’Boyle, Smarts Sharer

After playing soccer for eight years, I finally gave it up this year and replaced it with lacrosse. I joined lacrosse because so many of my friends were on it, and I love the feeling of being on a team. I was so scared at my first practice, but my teammates were so nice and encour-aging. It’s a sport that takes practice and technique. At our first scrim-mage I watched from the JV bench, admiring how the varsity players on offense quickly drove up the field and scored and how the defense kept the perfect low “stick-to-the-cen-ter stance.” In practice it’s a rewarding feeling when you catch a

ball that seems to be coming at you at 100mph speeds. If any of you decide to play lacrosse, the ball is pretty hard when it hits you, but it doesn’t hurt as bad as you’d think so don’t give up! So let’s get down to the basics of the game. There are two types of lacrosse that can be played on many different levels: Women’s and Men’s Lacrosse. Unlike soccer, where the game is generally the same for men and women, lacrosse differs based on gender. In the men’s league, they wear intense protective gear, that looks as though they were about to play football or hockey. In this


acrosseessons

league they are encouraged to hit each other with legal body checks. In women’s lacrosse, we wear only a mouth guard and goggles. The con-tact is very limited, although you can still be very aggressive. In both leagues each player has a stick, and the goalies should be much bigger. As with any other field sport, the goal is to get the ball into the opponents net; but unlike soccer or football, there is a circle around the goal that only the goalie can step inside of. In the men’s league it is known as the “crease”, and in women’s lacrosse it’s called the “goal circle.” There’s also a midfield, which contains the draw circle. As the defense you can play either man to man or zone, which is similar to basketball.

In lacrosse there are offensive players, defensive players, and midfielders. In the attack position the player stays at the offensive side of the field and can never pass the restraining line at the opposite end of the field. Then

there are the defensive players, like the offensive players they cannot pass the opposite restraining line or it will be off sides and they will be penalized. Finally, there are the mid-fielders. There are two attack wings, and they run up and down the field and communicate as to who will go back on defense. The opposite applies for D- wing. They both com-municate about who will help out on offense, and will always help out on defense. If you’re even the slightest bit interested in this sport, I suggest you do it because for me it was a great choice and I love it. It you have any questions please contact me and I’ll do my best to answer them!

17~the smart girl is...sporty

Spotlight Athlete:Falynn McCartney

StatsYear: Senior

Hometown: Rhode IslandHigh School: LaSalle Academy

The Roots: I started playing boys lacrosse for my town when I was in 3rd grade. I played for two years and

loved the intensity of the game and everything about it. I eventually had to switch over to play girl’s

lacrosse which was an interesting transition but I still enjoyed it.

Motivation Movers: My mom is probably my big-gest motivator. She is constantly pushing me to do my

best and go to training every week so I can be faster, stronger, and better. My dad is another big supporter.

He’s the one that would always drive me to practice and all of my tournaments in Maryland and Virginia.

What’s Next: Next year I will be going to Central Connecticut State University to play Division 1

lacrosse. I can’t wait to play at the next level and see what I can do.

Long Term Goals: I hope to someday become a lacrosse coach for my high school, LaSalle Academy.

19~the smart girl is...sporty: spotlight athlete

Smart choicesby Annie Phelps, Base Brains

Your day begins when your alarm clock goes off – it’s time to start making good choices!

Do you get up now or hit the snooze button and sleep a little bit later? Let’s think about the pros and cons.

Cons: sleep late and hurry to get ready, you don’t know what to wear or how to do your hair, look like a mess, and now you either have time to eat breakfast or catch your ride to school.

Pros: wake up on time and open your closet, choose a nice outfit, fix your hair and make-up, eat breakfast, and get out the door in a timely fashion. The choice should be obvious! As a Smart Girl you want to look and feel presentable at all times. You have a busy day ahead of you – would it be smart to skip breakfast for a few extra minutes of sleep? I think not! If you haven’t already, you need to start mak-ing smart choices about your health!

Breakfast: the most important meal of the day. You probably hear that all the time, but believe me, it’s 100% true! Many girls I know say that they

are not hungry in the morning, which is understandable be-cause most of us are waking up early for school. Nevertheless, you should not be skipping any meals. If you really aren’t hungry in the morning, eat a piece of fruit or a slice of toast, if only to get your metabolism going. If you say you don’t have enough time, that’s nonsense! Grab a granola bar on your way out the door and eat it on your way to school! If you’re worried about having food stuck in your teeth, bring dental floss or a Wisp (on-the-go toothbrushes with built in toothpaste) to school with you.

Lunch: If you are like me and the thought of your school’s cafeteria food sickens you, then you probably bring your own lunch. You want to pack something healthy and filling so that you can focus on your schoolwork for the rest of the day. The classic pb&j sandwich never fails or you can pack any other type of sandwich as long as it is on whole wheat! Whether it is on bread, a bagel, pita, tortilla, etc., whole wheat is the way to go! You also want to include some fruit and/or veggie in


your lunch. I have an apple everyday in my lunch and find them to be ex-tremely filling! If you want, you can pack another serving of fruits or veggies or you can have crackers or some type of granola bar. Talk about an easy bagged lunch! However, if you buy lunch at school, you are probably aware of all the unhealthy choices your school offers. If your school offers salads, they will prob-ably be your best bet. There are most likely some healthy sandwiches as well if you’re not in the mood for a salad. Don’t go for the ones loaded with mayo and meats; instead, opt for a tuna fish sandwich. You can also grab a fruit and/or some kind of cracker-like snack. Avoid cookies and other sweets; you want to save treats like that for some place other than the school cafeteria!

Dinner is filled with endless possi-bilities for healthy foods! If your fam-ily eats healthy, this meal should not be a problem. Dinner can become a problem, however, if everyone else in your family does not eat as healthy as you or as healthy as you would like. If this is the case, you may want to inform them about how important it is to eat healthy! Maybe they want

to eat healthy but don’t really know how to. This could be your chance to teach others about the life-long benefits of eating healthy. Dinner can also become a problem if you are eating out at a less-than-healthy restaurant. Obviously, it is okay to indulge in an unhealthy meal every now and then, but if you are someone who eats out weekly, you should monitor exactly what it is you are putting into your body. There are some choices that clearly aren’t your best possible options. Fried chicken and biscuits? That would be a no. Chicken soup and a fresh salad? That even sounds healthier! If you are unfamiliar with the menu, it may not be as simple as “this soup” and “this salad”. If salads are available, order one. If not, look for some other type of vegetable on the menu. Look for a lean protein- chicken, shrimp, turkey, or a type of fish.

Whether you are eating breakfast in your kitchen, lunch at school or dinner at an unfamiliar restaurant, always remember to use your best judgment, and I promise you can make the right choice!

21~the smart girl is...healthy

College Columnby Emily Raleigh, Smart Starter

Freshman ladies, congratula-tions on completing your first step in the college application

process! You are on your way! Now that you have worked on identifying who you are and where your inter-ests lay, we can move on to our next line of business: how to channel those inter-ests into endeavors. The best way for me to do this is to give you my story. I have a strong passion for sailing. Of course, I joined my school’s sailing team and to be more competitive, I got involved in a travel team. These are the first steps to channeling your passion. Now think of different types of activities: community service, leadership, employment, and if it pertains to you, the arts. For me, I brought my passion for sailing to

service and leadership by joining my local sailing club’s youth program board. I was able to run a summer long fund raiser for a chosen char-ity with other local sailors. As far as leadership, as I got more involved, I was given more responsibilities until I was on the executive board. When it came time to get a job, I applied for a summer job as a sailing coach. As you can see, I brought my love of sailing to every area of my life. No matter your passion, you can do this as well! If you love, for exam-ple, painting, you can take art classes at a local studio, while running a TOMS Style Your Sole event to help put shoes on children’s feet, and you can work at a local art gallery as your part time job. Think of all of your resources and just jump in to your activities. If you need some suggestions, just e-mail [email protected]. We would love to help you get started on sharing your passions! Good luck!

Happy May, Sophomore girls! As you finish up the school year, I’m sure you

are looking forward to the summer days ahead. Summer, however, is not a time to just sit around, soaking up the sun. But don’t panic. I promise,


you will have time for that as well. You are approaching your junior year, which is when the college process seems to kick into full gear. You can avoid some of this unneeded stress if you follow a few simple tasks within the next three months. Here is the first: make your SAT/ACT plan of action. This will be a two part article; half this month and half next month. Your first task in making your plan of action is to decide which test you do better on naturally. This is the easy part! One way to do this is to take a practice test for each. My suggestion is to proctor this yourself to save some money and it is at your convenience. Many libraries have SAT and ACT books. Ask to make photocopies of one full practice test for each test. Then, find a quiet place and take the tests. Once you are done, see which one you get a better grade on. It is possible that there is a significant difference, but they may be relatively the same as well. If that is the case, then choose the one you felt more comfortable taking. Another option is to sign up for the SAT and ACT tests for the June dates. To sign up, go to

collegeboard.com for the SATs and actstudent.org for the ACTs. You do have to pay for these tests, but it is a good way to get the feel for each test in the actual test setting. Your results will come back in July. No matter which method you decide, make sure that you do not study for these tests. Bring the needed materials to your test (i.e. authorized calculator), but do not study. This way, you have the perfect identification which test you are go-ing to naturally going to do better on. Good luck!

Hey Juniors! This month, we are talking all about sum-mer. Sounds good, right?

After a long year with lots of college prep stress, it’s nice to know that the summer is coming. Summer is a great time to do something you love that college admission directors will also love hearing about. Use this time to really build your resume so that it is the best it can be. Similar to the freshman column, look at your interests and see how you can chan-nel your passions into a worthwhile activity or project. There are so many differ-ent paths you can go with this! I’ll

23~the smart girl is...prepared

give you some examples. A friend of mine, used her summer to do a for-eign exchange program in Australia, where she studied at her school’s sister school because she wants to study education in college. Another friend of mine spent a few days a week researching bio fuels, which was a great essay for her applications, considering she wants to go into the science field. My cousin volunteered as an EMT assistant on an ambulance because she wanted to become a doctor. One girl I know took an internship in a law firm. Someone else did a pre-college program at her top choice school. This is a great option if you already have a specific college in your mind. Personally, I did a big service project for Operation Smile and then went to China for a student conference, which worked into my anticipated major, International Business Management. No matter your interest, there is something you can do, whether it is in your town or in another country. The possibilities are endless! If you need help brainstorming, send us an e-mail: [email protected]. We know you will do something really worthwhile!

Congratulations seniors, you are officially in college! Most, if not all, of us have

chosen where we are headed next year. What a relief! This is the col-lege prep part that is definitely the most fun. Why? Because it involves shopping! There are two areas that categorize a large area of what you will need for college: clothes (and the like) and dorm. This isn’t everything, but it is a good start. When it comes to clothes, accessories, shoes, etc, this really depends on the location of your school. If you are going to school in Florida, well, you won’t need a down jacket, but if you are going to be taking your talents to New England, bundle up! Check out the different seasonal climates, as well as what the general student population wears. Then, make a list of everything you will bring with you. Remember, you don’t have room for everything. The best thing to do is get versatile pieces that can be layered. That way, you will have more outfits for every occasion. As far as your dorm, you may or may not know your specific dorm building on campus yet. Ideally, that won’t matter too much. The first

24~the smart girl’s guide 25~the smart girl is...prepared

thing to do is choose a color scheme so that all of your décor matches. Last year, my best friend went off to college and she chose to do navy and yellow. These colors are great because a lot comes in them. Make sure that your color scheme won’t make it difficult to shop. Most colleges provide your basic furniture, but get fun things to really personalize your room! There are so many routes you can go with this. Personally, I plan on decorating my walls with framed pictures and sayings, along with sailing burgees (flags). You are not confined to just posters! Happy shopping!

Calling all Smart Girls forthe Class of 2012!

25~the smart girl is...prepared

We want to recognize all of our Smart Girls who are tossing their caps in our June issue. Whether you are

graduating from middle school, high school, or college, you can be part of the first Smart Girl’s

Graduating Class. Just send us your graduation picture, name, where you are graduating from, and where you

are going next. Send all information to [email protected].

We can’t wait to introduce the Smart Girls Class of 2012!

Cultural Confidence

by Hannah Buchan, Media Mindsmart shots by Emily Raleigh

We have all been put in situations where we might feel a little out of place, especially in a foreign country. Maybe we did something that was deemed appropriate in our society, but was considered rude in the one we were in. It is important to remember, whether you are crossing state lines or international borders, to be respectful and cognizant of your surroundings and the local population. Before you head out for your next adventure, read up on the customs and traditions of the area. This will help you with the initial “culture-shock” and could save you from an embarrassing experience. A smart girl educates herself prior to her trip to ensure that she travels more safely and most importantly, more confidently! Some traditions may seem rather bizarre to you. Remember to never put down another culture’s practices or show disrespect in any way. A smart girl keeps her mind open to everyone she meets and everything she sees! Take the opportunity to travel as a challenge. Eat those fried scorpions in the Chinese market, or learn to belly dance in Egypt! See this also as an opportunity to learn a new foreign language,


when you try to speak a little bit of their language, especially if you are staying for a long period of time. Natives absolutely love when you try to speak a little bit of their language, even if you butcher it! Lastly, pick up on some new customs and bring them home with you, as a reminder of how awesome your trip was!

27~the smart girl is...confident


workspaces that {work}

by dor o t h y w a l t o n , s m a r t s s h a r e r

29~the smart girl is...organized

This quote reassures me that I am not the only one who is obsessed with organization. I am sure this is obvious by now after last month’s article that explained my meticulous organization of school supplies. Well, this month is no different! I am still as organized as ever and ready to share my tips and tricks with all of you Smart Girls! But now that your school supplies are neat and organized it is time to talk about the setup of your workspace. Whether you do your work in your family office, at the library, at the kitchen counter or the desk in your room the most efficient way to get everything done is by having an organized workspace! I find it hard to make distractions for myself when the area around me is neat and in its proper place. For starters, the best way to maintain focus, no matter where you are accomplishing assignments, is to be in an area with good lighting or have a good light at your workspace. With good light, whether natural or artificial, you can be sure to have a good view of what you are doing. More must haves at your work station include writing utensils, paper, access to a stapler, printer, computer, and for me, Post-It Notes. When it comes to writing utensils I am typically found using every colored pen imaginable, mechanical pencils and highlighters. Because I use such a wide array of utensils I keep them separated in the top drawer of my desk in a container designed to organize eating utensils. Jars, cups and pouches also work well as writing utensil separators, making it easy for you to see and know exactly what you are grabbing!

“I’m an organizational freak. My label maker is my best friend.

It’s to the point where sometimes it annoys even me.”

-Christina Aguilera


Another helpful time saving trick is to have all of your drawers perfectly organized and never put items in those drawers that don’t belong! For me that means in my top left hand drawer. I have blank notecards, a couple of small journals, and my wide array of Post It Notes. In the drawer below that one, I keep unused composition books, blank CDs, and my hot glue gun. In my middle drawer, I keep my stapler, tape, ruler, three-hole punch, and a large pen and pencil organizer so that each varied color has a place. When that drawer is perfectly organized, I know there is no way that I can be distracted by throwing random pens into the wrong color bin. On the other side of my desk, I keep items that I don’t use as often with the exception of paper clips and binder clips. In the top right hand drawer are unopened boxes of pens, pencils, and highlighters as well as a small container of paper clips and binder clips. In the drawer below that one I keep colored printer paper, a label maker, and a box of personalized list pads that don’t fit into my stationary box. With all of those drawers always keeping the same items I can easily grab supplies without ever having to look up from my textbook to rummage through drawers. Make sure to keep already used papers and assignments organized. It is very easy to buy an under-your-desk container and some file folders and whip out a label maker to clarify which each is for. I have my file folders separated with standardized test scores, college letters, and college pamphlets and those are only the ones I keep for preparing for Lcollege bin! I find this as an easy way to grab college information to read before visiting a certain school. I hope all of these tricks help you to be smart and save you valuable time while doing homework and studying!

Are you a college student

in need of an internship?

Contact us at [email protected] for details on some of our upcoming

opportunities! No matter your major, we can help you build your resume.

spreading smilesby gabbi oppeneheimer, smarts sharer

smart shots by kimberly simon-robert

Everyone who knows me knows that I am incredibly outgoing and social. I will talk to just about anyone about just about anything. My mouth moves a mile a minute, talking, laughing, smiling. Through all of this, I never really stop to think about how my life would be different if I wasn’t able to socialize, to laugh, to speak my mind freely. This is often the case with children born with facial deformities, often either a cleft lip or cleft palate. Research shows that clefts can also cause low self-esteem and negative self-image in children and adolescents. Since it’s inception in 1982, Operation Smile has been changing the lives of children and teens around the world with facial deformities. They provide reconstructive surgeries, free of charge, that are safe, effective, and will most definitely bring a smile to a young boy or girl’s face. Operation Smile has healed children in over 50 developing countries, and the 45-minute procedures give results that will last a lifetime. What’s unique about Operation Smile is the Student Youth Program. This program makes our getting involved in Operation Smile possible despite our age. We are young, but we can help. As a student, you can register through the Operation Smile website and start an Operation Smile club at your school to raise awareness and funds for the organization. As you become more involved in the program, you’ll have opportunities to attend the International Student Leadership Conference, which brings high school and college students from all over the world together. Last year’s


35~organization of the month

conference was held in Beijing, China! How cool is that? Following that, you can actually apply to be a volunteer on medical missions that serve children all across the globe. Within the organization, there are leadership opportunities available on the Executive Leadership Council, which is in charge of organizing the Leadership Conference, as well as Mission Training Workshops. I’m proud to say that here at The Smart Girls Group, many of the girls are highly involved in Operation Smile. There are so many different ways to get involved with the organization, from starting a club at your school to the “Sport Your Smile” program, which raises funds and awareness for children born with facial deformities through sports while promotingexercise and physical activity. To find out how you can start bringing smiles to children’s faces everywhere, visit the Operation Smile website today!


The Life Listby Amber Ausley,Smarts Sharer

Every day, I wear a bracelet my mom gave me with an Eleanor Roosevelt quote inscribed around it saying “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” I try to remember to not get too caught up in the midst of my busy high school schedule and preparation for college, but instead to envision where I see myself in the future. I want to leave a legacy behind me. At seventeen, have I made a difference yet? My hope for this column is to inspire and empower girls to go for their dreams. I hope to share my stories of crossing items off my bucket list and in turn hear stories of you crossing items of your lists as well.

Introducing....

37~the life list

#1: Have an Eye-Opening Experience

I chose this item because it combines all of my favorite things—traveling, culture, and service. Every year, a group from my church goes on a trip to the Dominican Republic, but I have always made an excuse not to go.

However, being my last spring break with my family before I go to college, we decided to take a chance and go.

April 11, 2012: “Successfully settled in Santiago” The first day, we unpacked all of our belongings and just prepared our-selves for the few days of work ahead of us. The culture that surrounded me was amazing. From driving through the streets (with no traffic rules), to having the little kids see themselves for the first time through my camera, I knew I was in for an eye-opening experience.

April 13, 2012: “She was two years old with curls like mine. After tugging on my shirt and begging to be lifted up, she refused to let go. We walked together for a long time and she rested her tired head on my shoulder. When I said I had to go, she hugged me tighter and begged me to stay. When I got on the bus, she waved at me from a tree in the distance. It was absolutely heartbreak-ing to know that I will never see her again.”


This excerpt from my journal is from when the group went to a feeding station. Throughout the week, we quickly learned that the kids really didn’t want an extra serving of food or toys, they wanted attention. During the trip I found myself leaving the construction site for a “water break” and instead go-ing to play with the kids for an hour or two. Even though I didn’t accomplish much tangible construction work while on the trip, I felt like I was making a difference just by showing compassion. Even though I realized that I would never see those children again, I hoped that they would still have that memo-ry and moment of happiness.

April 15, 2012: “Love really has no language.” A small selfish reason that I really wanted to go on the trip was to prac-tice my Spanish. Since the Dominican Republic is a third world country, the children don’t have a need to learn English. Therefore, I was excited to be thrown into the role of translator for the crew and children. I’m the type of person who believes that it is essential to take your learning outside the class-room and really experience it first-hand. However, while there, I found there wasn’t actually a huge language barrier. Just through showing love (and a little bit of charades) the message got across.

38~the smart girl’s guide 39~the life list

During my stay in the Dominican Republic I did see poverty, sickness, and

corruption. However, I also saw beautiful culture, people, and was exposed to so many opportunities. For example, the construction work that we completed involved making frames to build a medical center. In a few years, I plan to go back and work

in the completed building as a medical intern!

Now I challenge you, the readers, to go out and make a difference—In the words of Duncan Penn, “Invest in beautiful memories.” International mission trips aren’t for everyone, but a smile in the hallway or a day working at an animal shelter leaves just as much of an impact. What legacy will you leave?

Have an idea for me to add to my list, or a story of you having an eye opening experience? Send us an email at [email protected]. I will feature my favorite stories of girls going after their dreams in the upcoming issue.

What’s next on The Life List? Here’s your clue:

-Soaring to New Heights-Check back with Amber in our June issue and tell us how you

are “soaring to new heights!”


Let’s Connect All of the Smart Girls!

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My Smart Goals for the MonthAs the May flowers begin to blossom and the puddles from the April showers dry up, it is time to set some new goals to get our month off to a smart start. Maybe you didn’t accomplish every goal on last month’s list, but no worries! Think of today as a new start. Set out this May for a new

beginning to a smarter you.

I am smart. This month I will share my smarts with ______________by doing ______________.

A Smart Girl is aware of the world around her. This month I am going to in-form myself about ______________.

To truly be smart, one must also present herself as such. In an effort to present myself as a Smart Girl, this month I will ______________.

I am a lucky girl and have been blessed with intelligence and potential. I will show that I am grateful this month by ______________.

Part of being grateful is being patient. I need to work on my patience with ______________.

With final exams coming up, I am going to get my workspace organized so that I can be as efficient as possible. I will do this by ______________.

I am a busy girl, but I that doesn’t mean I cannot make healthy choices. I will start by making the choice to ______________.

The Smart Girl looks to the future and sees what she can do now. In the future I want to ______________ so now I will ______________.

Want to share your goals with us? Tweet us! @smartgirlsgroup42~the smart girl’s guide

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

We are still shocked at the support we have recieved this month. While we wish we could personally thank everyone, we would

like to show our gratitude for a few in particular.

Samantha Jones, our very patient and sweet covergirl who read the same page of a biography about Jackie Kennedy for two hours.

Mary Jo Mikhail, who so sweetly volunteered her lunch period to help out a very grateful Smart Shooter.

Kim Simon-Robert, who shared her journey to China with The Smart Girls Group, through her beautiful pictures.

Lynda Moyer and Chris Weatherly-White, for all of their invaluable advice and support.

Brooke Buchan, for always showing us how to be creative with

a camera.

And finally, the wonderful people we could not do this without. who shared our links, retweeted us, and spread our story. We are forever grateful for all of you and we cannot thank you enough.

None of this would be possible without you.

We hope to see you next month!

43~thank yous

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”-Oprah Winfrey

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