Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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16 UCW JULY 2-8, 2014 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM One of the most challenging aspects of college admissions is the dreaded entrance assessment. Fayetteville Technical Community College, like any other college, has admissions requirements that include an entrance assessment. Traditional and nontraditional students whose SAT or ACT scores do not meet certain criteria can take the ACCUPLACER© assessment to satisfy this requirement. However, as with any other "test," the ACCUPLACER© creates anxiety in students. After all, many students have been out of school for years. Adding to their anxiety is the belief that, with an assessment, there is no way to prepare. Either you know the information, or you do not. This is untrue! The brain, like any other muscle, needs exercise. A former athlete who has stopped working out is likely to incur an injury if he or she suddenly begins vigorous training. Similarly, students who attempt to jump right into the ACCUPLACER© will not succeed. Instead, they end up taking classes that they probably wouldn't have needed if they had taken a little refresher. At Fayetteville Technical Community College, we are pleased to offer free ACCUPLACER© preparation assistance for new, prospective and current students. One of our free services is a diagnostic test that has been designed to focus on areas where students may need extra assistance. Staff and faculty members are available to discuss the results with students and to work on plans to boost the skills necessary for doing well on the ACCUPLACER©. The free resources include workshops, use of the computer labs for online preparation and accessibility to faculty and staff who will meet with students for individual assistance on weak areas. Our goal is to prepare students for the ACCUPLACER©. Preparation can save time and money, and students who do not prepare for the test often place into numerous Pre-Curriculum courses. These courses do not count toward graduation and can add an extra year to a student's commitment to college. With the recent changes in Federal Financial Aid, students cannot afford to take unnecessary classes. For those of you who have already taken the ACCUPLACER© and did not do as well as you had hoped, all is not lost! Please come in, or call us at (910) 678-0140. We are happy to assess your scores and help you prepare to take the test again. We are located in The I-PASS Center in Rooms 313 and 314 of Cumberland Hall at FTCC's Fayetteville campus. Our summer hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. You can also visit us on the web at http://www.faytechcc.edu/student_ services/IPASS.asp. We look forward to meeting you and invite you to learn more about the many ways FTCC can help you succeed with your educational needs. FTCC Can Help Students Prep for ACCUPLACER© Testing by LOUANNA CASTLEMAN, Ed.D. LOUANNA CASTLEMAN, FTCC QEP Direc- tor and Interim Director of Admissions, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. Ahhh, summer. Long, warm days, outdoor activities galore and — ouch! — bothersome pests, burning sun and unexpected bumps and bruises (yes you did have to dive for that volleyball). But don't sit on the sidelines in fear of mishaps; instead, swing into summer with natural first- aid advice tailored to the season. For the Beach Sunburn. Prevention is, as always, your first defense. Liberally apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen (one that protects against UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of 30 or higher. Choose one with mineral ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that block harmful rays, rather than sunscreens that contain chemicals such as oxybenzone or octinoxate, which can disrupt hormone balance and cause allergic reactions. And remember, no sunscreen is truly waterproof — despite what the label says — so reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating excessively. What if you get sunburned? Aloe vera remains the tried-and-true cooling and anti-inflammatory burn remedy. Dab sunburned skin with an aloe- soaked cotton ball at least twice per day and take cool or lukewarm showers (not scorching hot) to further reduce inflammation. Got a tube of aloe languishing in your medicine cabinet since last year? Toss it. It's best to buy a new aloe gel every year and keep it in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness and healing properties. Also, rub sun-kissed skin with a thick lotion containing antioxidant vitamin E to reduce long-term skin damage. Choose an alcohol-free lotion to avoid further irritation. Lavender essential oil is also known for its healing and pain-relieving abilities. For the Park Bee sting. Given bees' and people's affection for all things sweet and sticky (s'mores anyone?) be prepared to deal with possible stings on your next picnic or campout. When a bee stings you or your buddy, check to see if the stinger is lodged in the skin. Rather than remove it with tweezers — which may squeeze more venom into the site — dislodge the stinger by sliding a straight-edged object such as a credit card across the skin. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water; then cover the sting with the mixture to neutralize the bee's toxins. After 10-15 minutes, wash off the dried mixture with warm water. For pain, apply ice for 10 minutes and then remove it for 10 minutes, repeating the process for an hour. And remember, shortness of breath or facial swelling may indicate an allergic reaction, so treat the situation as an emergency. Heat rash. Often occurring in children and infants, heat rash's telltale signs include hundreds of tiny red bumps on the abdomen, arms, neck or back. Heat rash occurs when sweat is unable to evaporate and becomes trapped under sweat glands; hot, humid weather, strenuous exercise, or constrictive clothing can make it worse. It's also a possible indicator of impending heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke. To treat heat rash, first move the affected person to a shady or air- conditioned area, and have him sip cool water. At home, mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar in 1 cup cold water; dip a washcloth into it and thoroughly but gently wipe down the irritated area. The apple cider vinegar will reset the pH balance of the skin and kill bacteria, while the cool water will calm down the rash. Change into loose clothing, too. Take the Heat by BRENDA HARRIS BRENDA HARRIS, Owner of The Apple Crate Natural Market. Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com.