ae ial Gottamentor.com SR gaa eomneresean ne TR ERE RE ER Gotta Mentor connects you to the Advice and People you need to achieve your career goals ENTOR sere ermecarensiuen emesis nome sera mmo aeae | Customize your experience by indicating your career interests: By Trevor Doré, Opinions Editor s you sit in class listening to another lecture about concepts and theories that will be useful in your future career, you start to drift. You try to picture this future scenario. How practical will this knowledge really be? Eventually your thoughts drift to general post secondary plans. Although you may be able to picture this future scenario, all you can really do is imagine. Perhaps, you have worked at a part-time job throughout post secondary. Then again, maybe you opted to forgo working entirely in order to focus on your studies. In any event, much of the knowledge you have about the workplace is limited. You know what others have told you and what you think the working world will be like. Most of us attend post secondary with hopes to go on and get a “good” job, a job where some of the knowledge learned in school will be applicable. Unfortunately, this lack of knowledge and experience can make the transition awkward. How do you really know what to expect? What will it really be like? Although there is no real way to know for sure what to expect until you actually get out there and get some experience, there is help. One day, I was looking to get in touch with a city planner. I was interested in the job description but wanted to talk to someone who was actually doing the job. I managed to touch base with someone working for a local municipality who was kind enough to share her experiences with me. When all was said and done, she left me with a better perception of the | Caren Ongnetive industry: | Ate Reach Caroe Teereses Cl Ameen 6 Cees | G)GecPromoee fan 1 tonpeote © ED etioprenmecati Eloweueg (ieee tanato i 2 Bawcamae SAmes 5 Graduate Schoo: Ey Peencs £m Merete A | Goma anes | A Govecmers 2 Senet Servos : j Eitawketent ft remecere & eence [Seer 6 Late job and a piece of invaluable advice. She recommended that I check out gottamentor.com. The homepage of the site immediately prompts you to identify your career interests. What is it you hope to get from the site? There’s information for individuals enrolled in graduate school programs, and for those looking to find a job. Industry specific guidance and information about how to get that next promotion is also available. Once you have narrowed down your career goals the advice is seemingly endless. There’s information on everything from resume writing and interviewing to career dilemmas and elevator pitching. Information and examples on every aspect of getting a job and moving up the corporate latter is also provided. Guidance on one topic is tied to recommendations on other related topics. After the advice is offered, industry experts are able to comment much like a blog post. It provides a great opportunity to find out what actually works and what employers are looking for. There are opportunities to network with industry experts and search for jobs that you are interested in. While I only occasionally browse the pages of their website, I frequently receive career advice courtesy of their mailing list. Concerned about more junk mail? Don’t be, this is useful stuff! So the next time you’re sitting in class wondering what’s it really like or how you’re going to find a job once you’re finished school, check out gottamentor.com. You might just find some information that will put you a cut above the rest. Svcre Not all pills are good for you By Andrea Glenn, The Xaverian Weekly (St. Francis Xavier) ANTIGONISH, N.S. (CUP)— According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, 40.1 per cent of Canadians take vitamin and mineral supplements. Most of the dietary supplement users are females and older persons, are of higher socioeconomic status and have healthier lifestyles. But is it really necessary for everyone to be taking a daily vitamin and mineral supplement?~ The answer is no. Not everyone needs to supplement his or her diet to maintain good health, and the fact they are so universally accepted as harmless products is cause for concern. A diet that contains a variety of . different foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy or alternatives and meat or alternatives, should provide a person with all the essential vitamins and minerals they need. In fact, taking supplements when not needed can have adverse side effects and toxicity can occur if too much of one vitamin or mineral is consumed. Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are of more concern than those that are water- soluble (such as vitamin C and the B vitamins) as the body stores fat- soluble vitamins while excess water- soluble vitamins are usually excreted in the urine. Vitamin A toxicity is one example, and can lead to liver damage, gastrointestinal problems and possibly birth defects, while Vitamin E toxicity can cause impaired immunity, fatigue and weakness. Mineral toxicity, such as from calcium, can cause kidney stones and abdominal pain, and too much zinc can interfere with iron and copper absorption. So who should be taking multivitamins? Canada’s Food Guide recommends that all women of childbearing age take a folic acid supplement to prevent neural tube defects, and that all pregnant women take an iron supplement. The guide also recommends that those over the age of 50 take a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU/ day. Individuals with special dietary concerns may also need to take a daily multivitamin. Vegans and vegetarians may need to supplement vitamin B12 or iron, and those with a milk allergy may need to supplement with calcium and vitamin D. People who are recovering from surgery may also need to supplement with vitamins and minerals to help aid in their recovery. If you fall under a special dietary concern, talking to your doctor or dietician is recommended ~ before supplementing your diet as they can suggest whether a supplement would be beneficial in your situation and the appropriate dosage. Overall, the general population does not need to supplement with vitamins or minerals. You should be able to obtain all required nutrients from your diet if your diet is well- balanced and includes foods from all food groups. Food-derived vitamins and minerals are more beneficial because they are more easily absorbed, and the food may contain other components important to health, such as fibre. Despite the ubiquity of supplements and their widely believed health benefits, this is one bandwagon you may want to avoid jumping on. So if you have not been directed to take a supplement by a health professional, or fall in the category of those mentioned by Canada’s Food Guide, then do your research before taking a supplement. Talking to your doctor, dietician, or pharmacist before you take any supplements can help you avoid the adverse side effects of vitamin or mineral toxicity. 15