Category: Tips for Students

What to expect when your children move out …

Paul Wagenaar

This past weekend the last of our three adult children moved out … well mostly … It is a difficult transition. It was hard when the first one left, equally hard with the second, and, although we knew it was coming, we still weren’t ready for it to be over. Sitting in your child’s room surrounded by books, toys, awards, pictures, and furniture that has been left behind is bittersweet. Few of us are ever ready for parenthood to be over.

Fortunately, it’s not over … its just changing, take a few moments and see what I mean, these have helped me, maybe they can help you or someone you know.

The best choice is the right one; the next best is the wrong one.

Paul Wagenaar

Decision paralysis is something all of us have or will face … making decisions is hard. What if you don’t make the right choice? What if you only have one shot it? Will my decision change my life forever? All good questions and you are going to make good decisions and bad decisions … its part of life and know that whatever happens you will learn and get better.

Starting your Journey to becoming a Servant Leader

Paul Wagenaar

Becoming a manager of any type of organization is a big accomplishment for anyone. My challenge for anyone in this position is to strive to be more than a manager … become a leader … and most importantly become a servant leader. The road ahead for a new manager is full of danger and chances for failure; however, as an aspiring servant leader, your chances for success increase dramatically when you put serving your team ahead of your own aspirations.

Building Teams by Developing People

Paul Wagenaar

High performing teams are often desired by most organizations; however, it is remarkable how few of these organizations take the time to put all of the building blocks for success in place. Effective organizational dynamics and “how” teams function doesn’t happen by accident. Creating an inclusive and evolving “team charter” should be one of the first “building blocks” all organizations have on their “to do” list.

Illuminating frustrating places

Paul Wagenaar

We all have good intentions when it comes to most things, including looking for a first job, a replacement job, or any job. It sounds simple enough but for some and for people who live with barriers to employment it can be easier said than done. I have found the best way to eliminate an obstacle or navigate a path through a frustrating situation is illumination. Illumination and the breaking down of the obstacle until I can work with the pieces.

This is a brief guide for people who find the process difficult, frustrating, and even a dark, scary place to be.

Being Aware is always better …

Paul Wagenaar

How do you stand out in a interview? How do you keep from being too nervous? How do you convince the interviewer you are the right person for their team? How do you not trip up? The answers to these questions and more will just take a few minutes …

– Common things we should do but don’t always.

Paul Wagenaar

I was inspired to write this because of a motorcycle at 6:30 on my one day to sleep in this week. After ranting for several minutes I decided to channel my energy into something positive. We all complain about what we don’t like … what if I wrote about all the things a good neighbour would and does do? This was the result, please feel free to add your comments and thoughts.

Changing a life, yours, your child’s, your student’s, or a life for one of your friends.

Paul Wagenaar

Equity doesn’t always seem to exist in our school systems. Some students thrive, some struggle just to survive. Some are highly visible and others seem to shrink and because invisible. Today’s post is a very brief series of suggestions and thoughts to help more of us to become visible, to feel supported, to become engaged and encouraged to welcome being noticed and to build the lives you want for yourselves.

What is accessibility? Are we compliant or complicit – Accessibility in 2025?

Paul Wagenaar

We notice the ramps, the braille on some washroom signs, we all sometimes use the power door options when we have large items to get through doors, but do we notice the places that aren’t accessible?

More than 20 years legislation became law that guaranteed accessibility standards for people who live with barriers and disabilities. The law promised action. It has been hit or miss, there have been some improvements, but not enough. We need to ask ourselves are we compliant or are we complicit? We also need to advocate and take action.

How well do you read social cues?

Paul Wagenaar

As a career advisor who works with people who live with barriers it is interesting reversing perspectives about social cues. Most people who live with barriers have to learn to adapt to social cues that are not intrinsic to them, what are you doing to recognize and accommodate their social cues?

This post is a brief introduction to social cues that could add understanding and appreciation to our daily interaction with people who experience barriers. The more we support diversity, equity, and inclusiveness; the more opportunities for growth we all have.