Crowdfunding Tackles Student Debt Crisis

(NewsUSA) – For college hopefuls and college grads alike, the reality of higher education is growing remarkably dim. Tuition rises every year, employment opportunities aren’t improving, and student loan debt has surpassed the $1 trillion mile marker.
As owner of NBA team the Dallas Mavericks and successful entrepreneur Mark Cuban noted on his blog, “We freak out about the trillions of dollars in debt our country faces. What about the trillion dollar plus debt college kids are facing?”
More than 37 million Americans are burdened with student debt, and they’re falling more behind on their student loans than ever before. Long-term delinquency rates for student loans are higher than delinquency rates of car loans, mortgages and home equity lines of credit.
This isn’t too surprising, though, given the sluggish job market. According to a recent labor analysis by the Associated Press, over half of bachelor’s degree-holders under 25 are underemployed or can’t find a job at all.
“Although the situation is growing worse, the federal government hasn’t been able to find a real solution to the student loan crisis,” says Amy Mintz, founder of Student Body of America Association (SBAA). SBAA is a nonprofit organization that provides resources and viable solutions to American students struggling with student loan debt and the skyrocketing cost of education.
SBAA is the fiscal sponsor of CrowdFundEDU, a social fundraising platform with tangible results and real-world applications. In short, it could be a critical piece in the student debt puzzle.
“CrowdFundEDU is basically KickStarter for education,” explains Mintz. “People hold an online fundraiser for any education-related goal. That includes tuition, student loans, seminars, equipment, study-abroad programs, activities, you name it.”
Like KickStarter, CrowdFundEDU capitalizes on social networks to rally supporters to donate to a worthwhile educational cause. People can either donate directly to fundraisers or make a donation to SBAA, which is tax-deductible and disbursed to students and school fundraisers.
While CrowdFundEDU can be used for all levels of education — from K-12 all the way to a PhD and trade schools and certifications — it has sparked particular interest for its valued potential to change the current unsustainable system that is caught in a debt trap between the unforgiving cost of higher education and a dismal job market. See how crowdfunding will provide help for student loans and overall support for higher education at www.crowdfundedu.com.

10 Questions to Ask About the Medicines You Take

(NewsUSA) – Sponsored News – How many times have you been prescribed medication by your healthcare provider, only to arrive home to find that you’re unsure about possible side effects? Or the correct dose? Or the risk of taking the new medication together with other medicines you already use? Have you ever felt too embarrassed — or too rushed — to clarify medication information or instructions with your provider?
If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone. Nearly half of Americans take a prescription medicine, and more than 20 percent of Americans take at least three. However, according to a recent study conducted by the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), more than 6 of every 10 patients are not aware of the risks associated with the medicines they take. Communication with your health care provider about your medications is critical. Yet too few patients speak up, or even know the right questions to ask.
In an effort to open the lines of communication between patients and providers, NCPIE, in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)*, has created the Talk Before You Take campaign, a public education initiative to increase communication about medications between health care professionals and patients.
“Open and effective communication between patients and health care providers is important and helps to ensure patients make informed decisions about their health care and the medicines they take,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The Talk Before You Take campaign provides a list of questions and other resources that can make it easier for patients to talk with their health care providers about medicines.”
Talk Before You Take urges you to ask your health care provider these 10 questions about your medicines:
1. What’s the name of the medicine, and what is it for?
2. How and when do I take it, and for how long?
3. What side effects should I expect, and what should I do about them?
4. Should I take this medicine on an empty stomach or with food?
5. Should I avoid any activities, foods, drinks, alcohol or other medicines while taking this prescription?
6. If it’s a once-a-day dose, is it best to take it in the morning or at night?
7. Will this medicine work safely with my other medications, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and other supplements?
8. When should I expect the medicine to begin to work, and how will I know if it’s working?
9. How should I store it?
10. Is there any additional written information I should read about?
Asking your doctor, nurse or pharmacist these 10 simple questions can help you stay healthy and safe. For more information, visit www.talkbeforeyoutake.org.
*This work was supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research under grant number 5U18FD004653-03. The content is solely the responsibility of NCPIE and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Food and Drug Administration.

Learn How to Set a Goal

NewsUSA) – To paraphrase Mark Twain, “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.” Setting a goal, whether it be to lose weight, earn a promotion or spend more time with your family, is easy — it’s carrying through that proves problematic.
And yet, the world’s most successful people are intensely goal-orientated. They know what they want, and they focus on achieving it every day. So what’s the difference between a top executive and everybody else?
“The fact is that successful people fail far more than unsuccessful people,” says Brian Tracy, a top management consultant, in a recent Q&A with SUCCESS Magazine. “Successful people try more things, fall down, pick themselves up and try again — over and over before they finally win.” So how can you learn to quit giving up on your goals? SUCCESS Magazine offers the following tips for more successful goal-setting:
– Write down a list of goals. Cynthia Kersey, author of “Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You,” suggests focusing on how you want to be remembered. “List the qualities, deeds and characteristics for which you would like to be remembered by your friends, spouse, children, co-workers, the community and even the world.”
– Set out a plan to accomplish your goals. Tracy suggests listing what little steps will take you to your goal, then organizing them by priority and sequence. Figure out how much time and money you will need to accomplish your goals, and revisit and revise your plan accordingly.
– Manage your mindset. Keep your focus by surrounding yourself with people who will help you accomplish your goals. Arrange your workspace and home so you’ll be reminded of your commitments. “When you form the habit of starting your productivity earlier in the day, associating with more positive people, managing the news and information you feed your mind, controlling the language you use — especially the ways in which you describe yourself — you will find it easier to succeed,” says Jim Cathcart, professional speaker and founder of the Cathcart Institute Inc. “Become the person who would achieve your goals and who would deserve them.”