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There are no shortage of people who dream about having a different career or job, but few people act on their desire to do something different for a variety of reasons that often boil down to one word: fear.

Fear of going back to school, fear of making a wrong move, fear of uncertainty, fear of starting over. The list goes on and on. But sometimes circumstances conspire to make the decision for you as happened to Tim Holt, a 2014 Ph.D. graduate in Educational Leadership.

Let’s face it. We all experience stress. We know we should meditate to find our inner Zen, but sitting down and trying to let thoughts go? That can be a challenge. There may be another way to reach a meditative state that is much more fun: coloring.

“Coloring is like meditation because it encourages engagement with the present moment,” said NCU professor Dr. Mary Jill Blackwell. “When we focus on the present moment, we do not worry about the future, ruminate about the past, or engage in negative self talk. “

Most of us, especially graduate business students, know the importance of a business plan. We’re told without it, our entrepreneurial idea will never take flight. But how many of us have a business plan for our lives?

As a result of the Supreme Court ruling making same sex marriage legal nationwide, the LGBTQ community has been in the spotlight.

As these new couples enter marriage, it’s inevitable they’ll experience many of the same challenges as heterosexual married couples do, and one day may end up on the therapist’s couch.

Ah, the holidays. Merriment, good cheer and Irving Berlin postcard moments. We all know that along with the falala’s come a whole bunch of stress. From dealing with family, to traffic at the mall to endless social obligations, the holidays can easily turn us into the Grinch. But there is hope and a way to cope with the challenges of the season. We can focus on the joys the holidays have to offer. Dr. Jeannine Klein, NCU Director, University Curriculum, shares with us her Top Five Tips to Stay Sane During the Holidays:

Did you know that the typical American spends about one hour every day looking for things? If you haven't already started doing the math in your head, that's seven hours per week, or a total of 15 days each year! Right about now you should be thinking about just how valuable your time is and wondering what you might do with an extra 15 days per year!

In recent years, scientists have realized that the brain isn’t set and fixed, but instead fluid and changing throughout life. This means that you can teach an old dog new tricks, and today is the perfect day to start.

“Learning, reading, engaging in daily cognitive challenges/tasks as simple as reading books, taking college courses and doing word puzzles confers a significant degree of protection against mental illness and degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease,” said NCU Professor Patrick McNamara, Ph.D.

Every July, the U.S. celebrates its independence. Embracing freedom means we can pursue any path we choose and create new opportunities for ourselves.

In keeping with this spirit, Northcentral University is extending the NCU Bright Future Scholarship to July. Three new students will be selected to receive full tuition scholarships for an NCU master’s or doctoral degree.

Recipients will be awarded scholarships based on the strength of their 500 – 700 word essay on the topic, “How would an NCU degree help you gain freedom from obstacles and create new opportunities?”   

If you are looking for ways to improve your memory and concentration and also relieve stress, reading will help. The brain-stimulating activities from reading have shown to slow down cognitive decline in old age with people who participated in more mentally stimulating activities over their lifetimes. It also has shown a slower rate of decline in memory and other mental capacities.

Too often LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) students fall victim to discrimination – simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.