Developing Life Goals

Think about what you want. Many people have only a vague sense of what they
want from life. In this first step, your task is to starting converting ideas like
"happiness" or "security" into things you would like to do.
Get a pen and some paper and start writing down things that are important to
you in life. It's okay to be general at this stage, but try not to be vague.
For example, if the first thing that pops into your head is "happiness," that's
fine. But try to define that term. What does "happiness" mean to you? What would
you consider a happy life?
Imagine your future
Think about your ideal future. What does it look like? Ask yourself questions that
will help you get to a detailed picture.[4] For example, imagine you are trying to
decide on a long-term career. Here are some questions you might ask:
What time do you want to wake up every morning?
Where do you want to live? The city? A rural area? A foreign country?
Who will be there when you wake up? If it's important to you have to have a
family? If so, a job that requires a lot of long trips out of town might not be the
best choice.
How much money do you want to make?
The answers to these questions may not be enough to point you toward a
single dream job, by they can certainly help you rule some out.

Make your goals specific. After all this brainstorming, you should have some
ideas about what you'd like to do with your life. In fact, you probably have several!
Now is the time to make them as specific as possible.[5]

For example, you may at this point have the idea that you might want to
become a scientist. That's a good start. But now, think about what type of scientist
you'd like to be. Do you want to be a chemist? A physicist? An astronomer?

Be as specific as you can. Imagine you've decided becoming a chemist

might be the right path for you. Now, ask yourself what type of work you'd like to
do within that field. Do you want to work for a private company, developing new
products? Do you want to teach chemistry at a university?

Think about why. By now, you probably have a few strong contenders for life
goals. Examine each one and ask yourself: "why do I want that?" Your answers
may lead you to revise your goals.[6]

For example, let's say you've decided to put "become a surgeon" on the list.
You ask yourself why, and determine that it's because surgeons make a lot of
money and are well respected. Those are valid reasons. But, if you discover that
those are the only reasons, you might want to consider other careers that could
provide the same benefits. Becoming a surgeon requires a lot of education. It can
require keeping very unusual hours. If these things are less appealing, consider
other goals that might achieve the same benefits of wealth and respect.
Navaratri
The word "Navaratri" is a conjunction of two words "nava" (means "nine") and
"ratri" (means "night"), spread over for 9 nights and 10 days, it is one of the most
sacred festivals in Hinduism where we worship Goddess Durga or Shakti, which
represents the energy of the universe, in her 9 beautiful forms with great reverence.
Historical Significance of Navaratri - According to the legend, it is said that
Shiva gave permission to Durga to see her mother for nine days in the year and this
festival also remembers this visit. Families make an attempt to return home on
these days, and leave on the tenth. The festival is dedicated to Durga, the mother
goddess who also represents power. Durga annihilated the demon Mahishasura
after a relentless battle lasting nine days and nights. During Navaratri, we invoke
the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to
as "Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. Goddess Durga
is also referred to as "Shakti" .
Traditions of Navaratri: Navaratri is celebrated Four times a year. They
are Vasanta Navaratri, AshadhaNavaratri, the Sharad Navaratri, and
the Paush/Magha Navaratri. Of these, the Sharad Navaratri of the month of
Puratashi and the Vasanta Navaratri of the Vasanta kala are the most
important.Other two are observed only by shaktas only
1. Vasanta Navaratri: Vasanta Navaratri, it's nine days are dedicated to the
nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Chaitra (March
April) and is observed during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of

Chaitra. The beginning of this Navaratri also marks the start of the new year
as per the Hindu mythological lunar calendar (Vikrami Samvat).
2. Ashad Navaratri : Gupta Navaratri, also referred as Ashadha or Gayatri or
Shakambhari Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti
(Mother Goddess) in the month of Ashadha (JuneJuly). Gupta Navaratri is
observed during the Ashadha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon). This
is mostly observed by shaktas only
3. Sharad Navaratri: This is the most important of the Navaratris. It is simply
called Maha Navaratri (the Great Navaratri) and is celebrated in the
'pratipada' (first day) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvin.
Also known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is celebrated
during Sharad (beginning of winter, SeptemberOctober).
4. Pausha/Magha Navaratri: Pausha Navaratri, also referred as Shakambari
Navaratri, is eight days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother
Goddess) in the month of (DecemberJanuary). Paush Navaratri is observed
during thePausha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon). Shakambhari
Purnima is the last day in the 8-day long holiday of Shakambari Navaratri.
Most Navaratri begins on Shukla Pratipada except for Shakambari
Navaratri, which begins onAshtami and ends on Purnima in Paush month.[6]

The Grand Celebration

Ganesha Chaturthi, the great Ganesha festival, also known as 'Vinayak Chaturthi'
or 'Vinayaka Chavithi' is celebrated by Hindus around the world as the birthday
of Lord Ganesha. It is observed during the Hindu month of Bhadra (mid-August to
mid-September) and the grandest and most elaborate of them, especially in the
western India state of Maharashtra, lasts for 10 days, ending on the day of 'Ananta
Chaturdashi'.
For 10 days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha
is worshipped. On the 11th day, the image is taken through the streets in a
procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea

symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash
while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man.

Stories behind Lord Ganeshas Birth

There are two different versions about Ganesha's birth. One has it that Goddess
Parvati created Ganesha out of dirt off her body while having a bath and set him to
guard her door while she finishes her bath. Shiva who has gone out, returned at that
time, but as Ganesha didn't know of him, stopped him from entering. An angry
Shiva severed the head of Ganesha after a combat between the two. Parvati was
enraged and Shiva promised Ganesha will live again. The devas who went in
search of a head facing north of a dead person could manage only the head of an
elephant. Shiva fixed the elephant's head on the child and brought him back to life.
The other legend has it that Ganesha was created by Shiva and Parvati on request
of the Devas, to be a vighnakartaa (obstacle-creator) in the path of rakshasas
(demonic beings), and a vighnahartaa (obstacle-averter) to help the Devas.

Diwali Festival of lights

The religious significance of Diwali varies regionally within India, depending on
the school of Hindu philosophy, regional myths, legends, and beliefs.Many see
Diwali honouring the return of the god Rama, his wife Sita and his
brotherLakshmana from exile of 14 years, as told in the ancient Hindu
epic Ramayana.[36]To some, Diwali marks the return of Pandavas after 12 years
of Vanvas and one year of agyatavas in the other ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata.
Many other Hindus believe Diwali is linked to the celebration of Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth and prosperity, and wife of the god Vishnu. The five day festival
of Diwali begins on the day Lakshmi was born from the churning of cosmic ocean
of milk by the gods and the demons; the night of Diwali is the day Lakshmi chose
Vishnu as her husband and then married him.[16][37] Along with Lakshmi, devotees
make offerings toGanesha who symbolizes ethical beginnings and fearless remover
of obstacles;Saraswati who symbolizes music, literature and learning;

and Kubera who symbolizes book keeping, treasury and wealth management.
[16]
Other Hindus believe that Diwali is the day Vishnu came back to Lakshmi and
their abode in the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of
her good mood, and therefore are blessed with mental, physical and material wellbeing during the year ahead.
Pongal - Harvest Festival
Pongal festival is celebrated in the month of January every year and is also one of
the longest celebrations in the Tamil calendar, spread over four days. As part of
age-old belief and in the hope that the month of `Thai' will usher in good fortunes,
people go agog with joy.
The festival of Pongal is held dear particularly by the farming community as it
marks the end of harvesting season. The markets start receiving stacks of
sugarcanes, turmeric saplings and a horde of farm produces. The run-up to Pongal
is as exciting as celebrating the occasion that is believed to ring in prosperity.
Pongal is also celebrated as a thanksgiving festival for various Hindu deities. The
festivities begin with `Bhogi' and the first day is considered to be a prelude to the
celebrations that follow. `Bhogi' is observed as a thanksgiving occasion to Lord
`Indra', the God of Heavens. The next day is the `Pongal' day, which is celebrated
to pay respects to `Surya', the Sun God. It is the day of a new beginning and makes
people go for joyful celebrations. As a mark of respect to the cattle, the farmer's
best friends, the third day of Pongal festival is celebrated as `Maattu Pongal'.
`Kaanum Pongal' marks the end of the four-day celebrations.

What is IQ?
Have you ever wondered how smart you are compared to the people in your
life, or even compared to all people your age? You can get a good idea of your
intelligence level by determining your IQ. An IQ, or intelligence quotient, is a
score you receive on a test that assesses intelligence. But what exactly are these
tests?

We will begin with an example of an IQ test, and then explain the different
components and what they mean. Following this, we will look at the various tests
used to assess IQ and examine some of their differences.
Do you have a Mechanical Bent ?
1.You want to get a stubborn screw out of your wall. It is already half out, but you
have no screwdriver with which to finish the job. The best substitute tool is:
a._________ A coin.
b._________ A table knife.
c._________ A penknife.
d._________ Pliers.
2.You want to remove the nut from a rusty bolt sticking out of your stove. Since
you have no pliers, you should use:
a. ________ A piece of wire looped around the nut.
b.________ Scissors.
c.________ A hammer.
d.________ Your teeth.
3.You want to drive a nail into your closer wall, but have no hammer. You should
use:
a._________ A knife handle.
b.________ A can opener.
c.________ Heavy pliers.
d.________ A riveting machine, if you happen to have one.

4.Your car has a flat rear tyre on a country road, and you have no jack. You can
change tyres by:
a._______ Placing your spare tyre on the road, then backing your car
till the flat tyre is resting on the spare tyre.
b. ______ Scraping together a pile of stones or dirt, placing your tyre
on the mound, then backing your car till the flat tyre is resting on
the spare and proceeding from there.
c. _____ Scraping together a pile of stones or dirt, then backing your
car so that the rear axle climbs the mound.
5.A box nailed together is stronger than the same box glued together.
a.______ Of course.
b.______ Of course not.
c.______ Not necessarily.

Test your Aptitude

1) If Bob sold 15 apples in a working week, What is the average number of apples he
sells each day?
2) If it takes 2 hours to drive to City A and the city is 120 km away, what speed was the
vehicle travelling at?
3)Boat is to water therefore Plane is to ____________

a) Fly

b. Sky

c. Float

d. Air

4) If Sally sells more tickets than Betty and Betty sells more tickets than Jodie,
who sells the most if we compare Sally and Jodie?
5) If all tugs are fugs, and all fugs are yoms, then all tugs are yoms?
a) True

b. False

6) How many people can you see in this picture

a) 14

b. 11

c. 13

d. 9

7) There are 10 people at a party. 3 leave, 2 fall asleep, and one dies from a heart
attack. How many people are left?
8) How many vowels appear in this question?
a) 14
b. 12 c. 16
d. 13
9) There are 12 pens on the table, you took 3, how many do you have?
a) 9
b. 7 c. 0 d. 3
10) Finish the sentence, Gym is to Healthy as Book is to?
a. Good b. Intelligent c. Knowledgeable d. fluent
11) Which number should come next in the pattern?
10 abc ,
100 bcd , ______, _______
12) Book is to Reading as Fork is to :
a) Drawing
b. writing
c. stirring
13) 3 + 3 x 3 3 + 3 = ?
a) 18

b. 12

c. 3

d. 6

d. eating

14) By changing the position of only one arrow, correct the below equation:

15) There are 17 pigeons sitting in a row on a wall. A boy shoots the fifth pigeon.
How many pigeons remain?

Pull Out Sheet - Test your Aptitude

1.Which city is known as the Big Apple?

a. New York
b. Tokyo c. Singapore
2.Which is the most common metal found in the Earths crust?
a. Iron
b. Carbon c. aluminium
3.Which is Indias first electric- powered car?
a. Electra b. Reva
c. Rita
4.Which country is credited with the invention of zero?
a. India
b. China
c. Egypt
5.What is the imaginary interactive world created by the internet called?

a. Wikipediab. cyberspace

c. Google

6. What is the full form of ATM?

a. Automated Teller Machine
Money

b. Any Time Money

c. All Time

7. The red colour of our blood is due to the presence of

a. Cholorophyll b. Haemoglobin c. Melanin
8.The normal temperature of the body is
a. 98.6 F
b. 105 F
c. 37 F
9. The percentage of water in human body is
a. 10%
b. 28%
c. 70%
10. The smallest bone in human body is found in
a. Leg
b. Tongue C. Ear
11. Which part of the body is affected in case of Jaundice?
a. Brain
b. Liver
c. Heart
12. The deficiency of iron in the diet leads to this disease?
a. Anaemia b. Rickets c. Baldness

What do you wish to become in future? Why? [Fill with the help of
your parents]

3.

Art Corner