Ask Denny Strecker

Layla asked:


I am not one of those people who was born with a knack for numbers. I tend to get overwhelmed with harder/more complicated math problems. I did fine in all of my Math classes through 7 grade. However when it came to high school I opted to do an independent study program so that I could take photography classes at a Junior college and get a more full time job. Let’s just say that as a teenager I did not have the self discipline for independent study and it didn’t help that it was a charter school, so the curriculum was a little more lax. I was allowed to choose what I wanted to do, for example, I had to have some kind of Math, but which kind was up to me. I also was allowed to have all of the answer books at home with me so that I could have someone check my work if I wanted to before I took my assignments in to my weekly school appointments. So when the day before my appt came around and I hadn’t done all my work the answer books came in pretty handy. I thought this was great as a teenager however now that I am an adult I regret not having the education that I could have. I am fairly good with math as far as the education i have had.

The reason that I am wanting to improve my skills now is that I would like to be a program analyst at work. I have passed the required test however I still don’t feel that my math skills are up to par and I think that I would end up getting overwhelmed and frustrated.

What kind of classes would be the best to take in order to improve my skills? Don’t tell me math classes cuz yeah……I realize this. What kind of math classes would be a good place to start?

Brady

BlackForest asked:


If I do cardio in the afternoon when everyone is eating lunch… is it okey for me to go back to the gym 4 – 5 hours later to do another round of cardio?

For breakfast this morning I had about 2.5 slices of pizza which are 460 calories each — 1150 calories for breakfast!!!

Then… because I thought I needed protein and could not afford to buy meat, I went to Mcdonalds and had a cheese burger, as well I won a free hashbrown…; so ate that as well, and then had a medium tea with 2 creams…

I exercised for an hour and burned 600 calories…

Now I think I need to this for another 2 hours to burn off what I ate today for breakfast and lunch…

I am not an experinced athlete… I just started exercising 2 days ago… and I do it more to teach myself self-discipline then for any other reason… as I think I need to improve myself as a person.

I am 53, and 195 pounds… AFter about an hour of exercise, my calves and thighs are exhausted… The first round of exercise, the main difficulty is trying to breathe properly…

The second hour.. it’s muscle soreness…

I have never done a third hour of exercise… so I can’t say….

As well they say you need to work out a minimum of 40 minutes before you start burning fat… is the additional pain I feel around my upper and lower leg a sign that I’m burning fat or a sign that I’m burning muscle?
You guys are idiots… I don’t eat like that everyday… It’s just there was no food in the house other than these slices of pizza…

Joshua

Molly M asked:


So, I’m here at college, and today, everything was going my way. I got a lot of sleep, got up early, worked out, went to breakfast, then to chem class. Did good throughout the whole day, and even had a nice, healthy lunch with friends. Then, it all turns around. At 2:45 I get back to my dorm, and my new boyfriend wants to see me… I think might as well make it an even more perfect day than it already is and see him for a little bit. He comes to my dorm and we chill watching youtube videos and then listening to music. We were just talking on my bed (promise we weren’t doing anything except the occasional peck kiss). The time FLEW! I had in the back of my mind that I had a chem assignment due online, as well as reading, and choreography for a dance practice tonight. I kept glancing at the clock and then back at him and thought, maybe just a little bit more time won’t hurt. .. IT’S 6:00 PM and I still haven’t done anything… I am on here submitting this question because I am stressed and feel incredibly guilty and ashamed. I knew I should have stopped. He also suggested to go but… I couldn’t spit out that I needed him to leave.

Where is my self-discipline? What are some ways I can get it and keep it, improve it and make it strong? I hate this feeling. HELP ME!

(Sorry for the long message)

Claire

matt asked:


Ok, I will be 17 on Aug. 22, I will be graduating in 2011 (If all goes well). After high school I would really like to try to get into the military. First off, I am mainly interested in ground combat. I like the idea of a job being physically demanding ( Since I started exercising on a daily basis I have drastically improved my grades, social life, attitude and mood, so it’s something I value greatly), builds solid self-discipline, requires complete devotion and is beneficial to my family, my country and myself.

I really like the idea of being in the infantry. I would like to be on a team that develops/uses strategies in combat or preparation for combat. Also the bonds formed between you and your team, the responsibility you have for watching each others backs, and the idea of, No man left behind.

I would be willing to go through rigorous training, having a lot of responsibilities, signing away my rights and being in hazardous situations.

I am at a stable point in my life where I have lost the childish attitude, learned the value of respect, developed goals that are positive towards my future, have been receiving consistent (acceptable) grades in school and matured overall.

From what I have read and heard from people in the military, the Marine Corps go through a lot of extra courses and generally always need to be substantially mentally and physically fit. On the contrary, I have heard the U.S Army has better equipment than the Marine Corps, but is not known to be as disciplined or physically/mentally fit as the Marine Corpse. (Note- I am in no way trying to offend anyone in the military by saying one branch is better than the other, they all deserve respect and honor.)

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! I realize this is a big decision and I don’t know all there is to know before I make the decision. I still have two more years of school, but I see it as more time to prepare( getting in shape, learning new things that will help if I join the military) and more time to ask questions and read up on military life to see if this is really right for me.

Thank you.

Caroline

Barbara asked:


Essay topic is – Please express your educational and professional career objectives.

I have set up plans for my future to attend at a four year university . First of all, I intend to complete my study of freshman chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, English, calculus, statistics, and behavioral sciences. These basic subjects are necessary tools in my later professional learning and what is recommended to enter a graduate program in the medical field.
Based on the fundamental knowledge, I will work hard to finish the core subjects required for medical school, and would like to later on continue my studies to specialize. Then, I will effectively complete my courses that I will be able to apply my knowledge to the medical field. In addition, I will contact hospitals and seek more practical hands-on experience and communication skills, during my time in college to enhance my knowledge acquired at the university and improve my ability dealing with the real situations.
Not only will i have hands-on skills needed, but i have the motivation and self-discipline, skills for teamwork, and communication and leadership that doctors need and start my training in residency.I hope that, upon my graduation from the university, I can go out and start helping others with this profession. Thus, i will be able to provide the best care possible for my patients and civilians. Certainly, if the opportunity permits, I will continue my studies so i may specialize.

Jasmine

Saff asked:


I am soon going to join the army, but a psychic told me that she didn’t think I would ‘get on’ in the army. My mum thinks it’s my attitude.
Basically, I am quite sensitive, and get upset rather easily over negative comments, and am occasionally reduced to tears when my parents shout at me.I am fully aware that I will get pushed around and screamed at/insulted a great deal, and I know this is becasue they break you down and then build you up again. however I wish to save myself the embbarrasment of crying over a sgt./cpl or whatvers insults.
I also need to improve my self-motivation and discipline. I am desperate to join the army it’s what I have wanted for so long and I am willing to do anything to do it, and I realise that means i need to change some things about myself. One good thing about me is that I do have a good amount of determination and willpower when I want something. So at least thats one thing, but I need the others too
but can anyone help me as to how to do these improvements? to make it that little bit easier to ‘get on’ there?

how do I become less sensitive/ more mentally tough?
how do I improve my self-motivation and discipline?

thank you, I really appreciate it.
x

Morgan

BeamingScotty asked:


I have a college degree in history (probably useless) and I am interested in serving in the military. My interest spawns from the humanitarian efforts and self-improving aspects that the military brings (i.e. helping troubled people and getting you physically and mentally fit). It also comes from a belief that everybody should enter some sort of humanitarian service (i.e. peace corps, civil service, military, etc.) to help them better understand what is going on with the world and help them to be better human beings through discipline and (hopefully) good will service.
As for me, I am lactose intolerant 6′ and 131 lbs. I can do about 40 sit-ups (not the army double ones(?)), 15 push-ups, and I can jog for 20 minutes without resting. I’m also currently working out a bit to attempt to get myself into better shape.
Now, which branch? And can/should I go for Officer Training? In what?
I have a personal interest in languages, teaching English, and writing (excuse my grammar in answers.yahoo).
Air Force – Around here it is apparently hard to get in contact with an officer recruiter. The enlisted recruiter was hot though, even though we only talked for about thirty seconds.
Navy and Army I am going to see tomorrow.

Chase

Jada R asked:


After graduating from high school and earning a full tuition scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education, I have enrolled myself in the University of Jordan majoring in English Language and Literature and to graduate in February of 2009, I hold the excellent rank with a GPA of 3.69.
I am thoroughly enjoying the experience, since literature has always been a subject that I have excelled at and found incredibly enjoyable. Over the past three years, I have become extremely interested in analyzing, interpreting and critiquing different works. I have become more confident in expressing my opinions, engaging in group discussion, and exploring different ideas and approaches to literature.
After reading different plays written in Arabic, English and other languages at school, I wrote, directed and acted in my own play by which I earned a national golden medal in stage acting. My favorite playwright, putting Shakespeare aside, is Ibsen; I find his plays, such as Ghosts and Hedda Gabler, to be perfectly plotted and written.

My love for writing led me to write for my university’s newspaper. I focused in my writings on learning languages by interviewing international students and professors who teach English, Arabic and modern languages. This passion for languages has led me to many different extra-curricular activities. For the past three years, I have participated in the Language Club, Conversation Club and the Language Partner Program, by which I have gained communication, oral and social skills. Helping non Arabs with Arabic helped me to have a better understanding of the Western culture and its background.

I have a long-standing commitment to voluntary work. For several years I have held the position of an organizer in Zaha Center for Children, which helped me to improve my leadership skills. Besides volunteering to help children, I have always been interested in protecting the environment by participating in different activities and earning many thanks letters from various organizations such as The Jordanian Environment Committee.

On the whole, I believe myself to be a sociable, dedicated and self-disciplined student, although I can be overly competitive at times. I believe that studying in the UK is going to benefit me greatly as it will enable me to gain valuable life skills which will give me the opportunity to travel, to meet new people, to experience new cultures and above all a prosperous career in my home land.
thanks silenthia but would you add anything to it? i think it is simple !! i dont know .. i have never written a personal statement before !!

David

in the vortex asked:


I am improving my life have allot of questions about how others did this. Would polls be the place to go. An example of a question would be: Do you excercise meditate everyday? If so how much time do you spend on each? or another question might be about discipline tips in eating a balanced diet. I know I can ask that is diet but I am looking for how the person put their mind down to doing this…This question defaulting to the Yahoo Products sections is that the area I should go?

Maya