Patrick G. Whalen

I am experiencing a few lingering issues in transferring all of my original posts to the new Uncommon History blog. Visitors to the new blog will notice very little change in the interface or feel of the site. It is with great intention that I am preserving the familiar look and feel. Many visitors and guests to the original site really enjoyed the layout and I am trying with great earnest to ensure there are very few changes.

Please feel free to visit the new Uncommon History site and let me know what you think about the new digs (if you so desire).

Please also update your bookmarks to point to:

http://uncommonhistory.blogconduit.com

If you’ve been a reader of my blog for any amount of time, you will no doubt recognize the importance I place upon education. Our nation has struggled recently with training up enough teachers for our growing population. In this period of economic downturn, funds for people to go to school is one of the greatest challenges that many can’t overcome.

Enter the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship. This great organization can help many achieve the dream of becoming an educator. Recent college graduates or those between careers interested in science, technology, engineering, or math may qualify for a $30,000 education stipend in order to obtain a master’s degree at one of fourteen participating universities.

In order to qualify, candidates must:

• Have completed an undergraduate degree in a STEM field by June 2011.
• Have graduated with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the program and its goals.

If accepted, Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellows will:

• Complete a field-based master’s degree in teacher education.
• Commit to teach for at least three years in a high-need school.
• Receive intensive support and 3 years of classroom mentoring.

The current deadline to apply for this year’s opportunity is September first.

A few years ago I realized I was struggling with various facets of the writing craft. I took a couple of courses and it seemed like some of what was missing came together. There was still something missing though and I wasn’t sure how to resolve the issue.

I let some family and friends read bits and pieces of my writing and they all seemed to indicate that the writing was sufficient. I didn’t want sufficient, I wanted the best I could do!

I began using the internet and different search engines (before the reign of the mighty Google) and I stumbled across a website called FaithWriters. I immediately created a profile and was soon enveloped by a warm, friendly and co-creative environment. The site has grown since then, but some of the very same friends I made so long ago are still active and helping out. I discovered how a community of helpful writers can truly come together to improve each one another”s craft.

Not long after discovering FaithWriters, I also discovered American Christian Fiction Writers. Their added dimension of local chapters and monthly meetings with face-to-face people really added on to the tools I needed to bring my writing to life.

If you are having difficulties identifying where your writing may be lacking, I encourage you to join a writing association of like-minded creative people.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Advances in modern medical and transportation technology have opened a new horizon for people who once were unable to drive vehicles. In the not-too-distant past, many people in wheelchairs were unable to drive a vehicle of their own and had to rely on friends, family or public transportation.

The beginnings of this transforming technology made attempts at accommodating many people with one solution, but over time it became very apparent that almost no two people or circumstances were alike. Individual solutions were needed and thankfully over time more and more people experienced the liberty of driving their own vehicle.

Even so, it can be difficult to identify the particular individual needs for each case, so it is important to have an advocate on your side when looking for an adapted wheelchair vehicle.

NMEDA is here for you and their experienced staff will help you find the equipment that is right for you. They are a not-for-profit organization that will help you locate approved Dealers near you.

Through the Quality Assurance Program (QAP), NMEDA will help you locate a dealer near you. Their website is very easy to navigate and they are there for you. Visit their website today to find a NMEDA qualified dealer near you.

The curtain is closing on the summer of 2010 and with the arrival of September, the curtain reopens upon a silver screen of opportunity. We all know what it is like to sit through the commercials and previews of coming attraction before the big show, but few of us take the time to write our own previews in the privacy of our own homes. We all want there to be a coming attraction with our name highlighted in big, bold letters, but unfortunately most of us don’t truly know how to get there.
Zig Ziglar published a saying that has stuck with me and I share it with many different audiences:

“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”

It is a short sentence that carries with it a ton of truth and meaning. To reconstruct this quote in a more positive light, one might say, “If you aim at something, you are bound to hit something.” Now, whether you hit exactly what you are aiming at is another question, but you HAVE to aim!

I encourage you to incorporate something new into your activities this fall. While you are arranging your calendar to fit school schedules and activities, why not begin setting achievable goals? You may have tried it in the past, but the truth is, many of us have never learned the secret to setting real and achievable goals.

If you have found yourself in the same position I have in the past, the path of setting goals that really aren’t possible or unattainable. There are some great tools and goal setting software available today to teach you how to begin the path to reaching your dreams!

Don’t procrastinate any longer. Make today the day that you set aside mediocrity and mere existence to reach for the stars. You will never know how far you can go until you actually make an honest effort to break free from the pack.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

Summer is drawing to a close and in most places around the United States, the cooler weather is an invitation to venture back out onto the open road. School is starting up again, but many parents are already hoping for a chance to get away.

Wherever you are and whatever mood you may be in, Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes is offering you a chance to get away. Whether it is just down the street or some location across the country, Hampton Inns is offering you the chance at winning a free weekend stay at any one of their Hampton Inns locations.

I know if it were me, I’d already be planning a quick getaway to a beautiful Pensacola Beach with my wonderful wife! Maybe you’d like to invite some friends along to get away with you. For writers, there are few things more rewarding or inspiring that a completely quiet weekend to spend with your craft. Either way, you just can’t beat a free weekend stay!