Tuesday, March 24, 2020

5 Ways to Tailor Your Workspace for Success - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / 5 Ways to Tailor Your Workspace for Success - Introvert Whisperer 5 Ways to Tailor Your Workspace for Success Introverts in the workplace can feel like a fish out of water. American workplaces are often filled with commotion, talking, and a general acceptance of outspokenness that can drain even the most well-adjusted introverts. You might even start to feel that your personal workspace isn’t giving you what’s required to balance your needs with the interpersonal connectedness required by your job. Struggling to be introverted in an extroverted work environment isn’t fun. So, before you do something that makes someone feel you are antisocial or shy, try a few of these strategies to create a workspace that fosters creativity, boosts productivity, and delivers a necessary element of quiet. Create Your Own Privacy Many open office plans have low cubicle walls or wide openings that can allow others to pop into your space without any notice. Try creating a sense of privacy without being too obvious. Build a shelter with a freestanding bookshelf or large potted plants. You can also mount a coat hanger to one side of your cubicle to create a makeshift curtain by merely hanging your jacket up every morning. If there isn’t any way to build your own privacy, talk to your supervisor to see if a move could be set in motion. Relocating to a cubicle that’s up against a wall can give you some security at least on one side. This might be just enough to provide you with a sense of privacy so that you can concentrate and work a bit more like yourself. Enjoy Lunch at Your Desk Introverts need their lunch break to recharge and restore balance. Instead of dodging others in the breakroom, consider eating alone at your desk. While some people think that a table for one sounds awful, one research study found that the types and amounts of food you eat are influenced by who is around you at mealtimes. So, eating alone might be better for your soul and your waistline. To get the most out of your time noshing at your desk, consider doing weekly meal prep or subscribing to a meal delivery service. Meal services send you the foods you need to prepare healthy meals at home. Many of these services offer options for special diets, such as low carb, gluten-free, or heart healthy. You should also pack healthy snacks like fruits and veggies in small jars. Keep them on your desk so that you can grab them quickly. These options give you more control over what you’re putting in your body than running through the line at a fast food restaurant or eating from the vending machine. Increase Workplace Wellness You want to keep your introverted creative juices flowing and your brain power fully intact throughout the day. This means you need to make sure your physical health is just as cared for as your personality type. Along with creating physical and symbolic barriers, try to set up your workspace in a way that promotes health. Be sure to take a few breaks throughout the day to get up and move. Consider apps like Stand Up! or Awareness to be sure you get enough activity and rest from the computer throughout your day. Too much sitting can be tough on your back and bottom, but staring at a computer for eight-plus hours each day can leave you with digital eye strain. Your posture is essential for workplace wellness, too. Sit up straight and ensure that you’re not holding too much tension in your neck or shoulders. Add in Some Comfort The sterile look of a cubicle can leave just about anyone lacking creativity. To help bring bits of home to the office with you, add a few pictures of your favorite people or pets to your desk. If a particular scent calms you, try adding an oil diffuser or candle to your workspace. Another excellent idea is to keep a roller ball dispenser of your favorite calming essential oils handy and place them on your wrists or temples throughout your day. Music can offer a fantastic escape for introverts. Pop in a set of earbuds or wear headphones to buffer out the commotion of the office. Have fun with your playlist and choose songs all introverts should have â€" some of which even tackle the subject of being introverted. Try Flexible Work Space and Hours If you really struggle to find balance in your workspace, consider changing your hours, if possible. Coming in an hour earlier or staying an hour later than co-workers might be enough of a buffer to keep you productive. You can also practice an hour of power to kickstart your day and get moving in the right direction. Consider reserving community space, like a conference room, when you know you have looming deadlines. Book a place for an hour and take work with you that you can do without your desktop, or travel light and bring your laptop and a notebook. Introverts aren’t necessarily shy or antisocial. However, they can suffer from being over-stimulated in a world that seems to cater to their extroverted counterparts. Try these strategies to find the balance you need in your workspace. Author Bio:   Sam Bowman is freelance writer and introvert who enjoys getting to utilize the internet for community without actually having to leave his house. In his spare time he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Friday, March 6, 2020

Should I Go To Boston University

Should I Go To Boston University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Jason is a 2013 graduate of Boston University with a Bachelors degree in Biochemistry Molecular Biology. He is a Chicago tutor specializing in numerous levels of Biology tutoringand Calculus tutoring. Check out his review of his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Jason:Boston University (BU) has a very safe campus. The majority of the campus runs along a two-mile stretch of Commonwealth Avenue, very near the downtown area of Boston. You get a nice mixture of an urban setting while still being isolated in a university environment. BU also has their own police force that actively works with the Boston Police Department to ensure the safety of the students. As far as transportation goes, the subway runs right along campus and the university even offers its own bus, free of charge to BU students. A car is totally unnecessary, but some students (myself included) found a bike to be useful if they lived a bit further from the main parts of campus. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Jason:I have had nothing but incredible experiences with the faculty at BU. Professors often go significantly out of their way to offer office hours and individual appointments to assist students who are struggling. The teaching assistants are also very well qualified for their positions. They are required to take pedagogy classes to ensure that they perform to the best of their abilities. Academic advising can be a little tricky, however. It mostly depends on how quickly you are able to decipher what you would like to be studying. The university offers plenty of help when it comes to choosing a career path, but the sooner that you decipher what you would like to study, the sooner you can be placed with an advisor for your specific interests. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Jason:Unfortunately, living arrangements are probably the worst part about going to BU. The food options are actually very good as far as dorm food goes (they always have vegetarian and vegan alternatives), but the living spaces are pretty shoddy. The first few years of school, you live in large dormitory style buildings with hundreds of other students and communal bathrooms. On one hand, it is great for socializing and meeting new people, but on the other hand, it is often difficult to find some peace and quiet. Once your reach junior/senior status, living arrangements get a little better, but I have found them to still be inferior to options provided by other universities. It is also very difficult to live off-campus as the cost of living in Boston is incredibly high. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Jason:BU has an incredibly diverse range of strengths. From the School of Hospitality Administration to the Biochemistry Molecular Biology program in the College of Arts and Sciences, you will find BU ranked amongst the very best. The School of Management is world-class. I cannot stress enough that BU provides a phenomenal education in almost any field of your choosing. From my personal experience as a Biochemistry Molecular Biology major, I can say that my undergraduate education more than prepared me for the job market and chances to achieve higher education. Compared to programs at similar schools, I have gotten a significantly higher amount of hands-on experience working in laboratories with some world-class scientists. No matter what youre studying, the faculty or your peers will not disappoint you. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Jason:Making friends as a freshman at BU is incredibly easy. The first week is almost entirely dedicated to fun programs and activities aimed at introducing the freshman class to their peers. On top of that, you will most likely be living in a large dormitory style residence with plenty of other freshmen in the exact same situation. The floor you live on will often host activities to promote floor bonding and you will almost immediately have a good group of friends. Greek life is a small part of the social scene at BU, but those who participate in it tend to find it very rewarding. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Jason:I personally never used the Career Center at BU, but from what I have heard, it offers a lot of useful services. Students typically use the Career Center for help updating resumes / cover letters and finding leads for internships. I also know that, particularly in the School of Management, many reputable companies often attend recruitment events at BU to look for prospective employees. Departments also routinely send out information on open positions that are specifically seeking BU graduates. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Jason:BU has a large amount of excellent libraries that offer quiet study spaces. The main library, Mugar, can become relatively crowded, but there are always plenty of smaller libraries that have open areas for study. Some of the dorms also offer rooms or even entire floors dedicated to providing quiet space for students to study. Overall, it is not difficult to find a great place to study at BU. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Jason:One of the main advantages of going to BU is that you have the entire city of Boston to explore. Weekends can be spent exploring the many historical sites scattered throughout the city or enjoying a nice walk through Boston Common. The city also has an excellent art museum and aquarium. Even just staying on campus can be exciting as BU often provides many interesting activities like concerts or performances by student groups. From my experience, most students end up staying on campus during the week and heading downtown to enjoy themselves on the weekends. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Jason:BU has about 16,000 undergraduate students, which is relatively large compared to many other universities. I found this class size to be refreshing because you always get the chance to meet new people. However, this does affect some class sizes negatively. Freshman and sophomore year, you will most likely be stuck in one or two large lecture style classes with around 200 enrolled students. This did not bother me too much, but for those who like one-on-one interaction with instructors, it can be a bit off-putting. However, BU does an excellent job of maintaining discussion-oriented classes at reasonable sizes. Any literature or foreign language classes you take will hardly ever exceed 25 students. As you progress further into your specialization, class sizes begin to get smaller as well. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Jason: One of the most memorable classes I have taken, and likely my favorite course at BU, was my sophomore year Cell Biology class. The class was taught by a professor named Geoffrey Cooper who, without a doubt, is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. The reason that this class stood out to me in particular is because it made me realize my passion for the subject. Attending lectures became exciting, and for the first time, I really felt like I was in a field in which I belonged. An experience like the one I had in this course is truly what college is all about. Check out Jasons tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

10 Study Tips for College Students

10 Study Tips for College Students The following is a guest post written by Alexa Styliadis of NextStepU. One of the most common issues college students face is not knowing the correct way to study. The go-to study technique many students use is reviewing notes. If you find that reviewing your class notes the night before a test is just not cutting it, here are some helpful study tips for you to use! 1. Take good notes Taking good notes during class can drastically improve your test scores. The key is to write down key points without getting into too much detail. When you look over the notes you have taken while you are studying, you want them to be clear and concise. In class, you may write down a couple of words thinking you will remember what they meant later on, but oftentimes, you will not. You want the information in your notes to be understandable as well as legible. Write your notes as if you were going to let someone who missed class borrow them. 2. Find a good study space While your friends may swear by studying in the library, that may not be the best space for you. Some cognitive scientists suggest that alternating your study space can help you remember more information. If you change your location every time you study, your memory may be more likely to remember what you have learned. A quiet place might be best for you to be the most productive. It is important to find a space that works best for you. 3. Make flashcards Although it may be looked at as old school, a very helpful study technique is making flashcards. Writing notes and definitions more than once is proven to help you remember information. Once you write out your notecards, go over a few at a time throughout the week, and your memory will begin to recognize the information and save it for later. 4. Dont cram While its tempting to put off studying until the very last minute, it is not in your best interest to do so. Good study habits come from pacing yourself and not waiting until the night before a test to look over your notes. Start studying at least a week in advance to give yourself enough time to prepare and to reduce your test stress. 5. Get enough sleep Similar to it being important not to cram the night before, it is also important to get enough sleep! When you are tired, you are not going to perform as well as you could. Getting the recommended eight hours of sleep will do wonders for your mind and body. 6. Stay organized When you have everything organized, you are going to have less anxiety and feel more prepared. Keep a detailed calendar of your exam dates and time blocks you are going to devote to studying. When you write down study times, stick to them. Do not fall into the trap of pushing your study time back when it gets to be that time. Procrastination is not your friend! 7. Take breaks Studying for exams can be difficult. Make sure you take short breaks while you are studying to allow your brain to process and retain the information you have reviewed. Although you may think studying hours on end without taking breaks is helpful, it is not. Reward yourself with a 15-minute breather, and then return back to your work. 8. Use mnemonic devices This method of studying can help you more easily recall definitions, formulas, key concepts, and so on. A popular example of this is the math term, PEMDASalso known as, Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally, which stands for parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. Mnemonics can be extremely helpful when studying. 9. Eat nutritious foods What we eat and drink affects our concentration and memory. It is important to provide your body with the brain food it needs to retain information! If you eat something high in protein before studying, you will be more alert. If you skip eating, or if you eat something high in carbohydrates, you will likely feel more sluggish and be less productive. Caffeine can also have negative effects on our brain chemistry. While you are studying (and before an exam), you should try to avoid drinking too much coffee or tea. 10. Test yourself Repeat, repeat, repeat. Students remember more information when they force themselves to retrieve concepts they have reviewed. Look at a definition and make yourself remember the term that goes with it. Quizzing yourself, or having someone else quiz you, is one of the best ways to prepare for the real deal. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Receive Accounting help online and increase your knowledge

Receive Accounting help online and increase your knowledge When we are kids most of us think that our entire span of life has been spent in our education life only. We do not have any idea about what life would be without education and without knowledge. It is a true fact that knowledge is very important part of our life. With the help of education only one person can grow up. Schools and colleges are there to help you out to shape your life into a new direction and into a whole new way. Every parent wants to give their child the ultimate help and tries to bring them near to success with less time possible. After passing of so many days it becomes important for any parent to be cautious about which stream to choose. When you choose a good stream then it becomes easy for any student to grow with the stream easily. Being a responsible parent you should never force your child to choose any such stream that he or she does not like. It can destroy or can bring in lot of problems in future into a student’s life. It is very important that you should always encourage your child to go for those subjects that they enjoy to read and write. What is Accountancy? Accountancy can be said to be a tough and interesting subject side by side. It brings you to the world of money, balance sheets, counting of money, debits and credits and so on. Very few people can nurture the subject and can bring in to an ultimate height where they think of moving forward with the subject. For getting deep into the subject it is very important to have a good base over the subject and to know the subject pretty well. This is only possible when a good guide will be beside you and guiding you entirely from top to bottom with the subject. Facts about online teaching way In the present timing the availability of good teachers are very less and thus it becomes very difficult to get good guidance for a particular subject as well. Private tutors have also grown up to be utter professional and this decreases the value of good teaching as well. So this is considered as a big problem that being tough to be solved. To put you out of such problems only one way can be possible and that is through the newly invented and adapted way of online teaching facility. Very few of you may know the entire concept of what this online teaching is all about. The online tutoring process is having a teacher beside all round the clock without wasting much of your time and energy and also without loosening less amount of money from your pocket for such services. It is one of the very unique and new ways of learning that makes you aware of how to learn better with less involvement of time and energy. Today this concept of teaching and learning has increased to such a height that every single subject is handed with care and perfection is the word that speaks for the service. Various types of institutes have grown up that have helped in providing you with same service. While searching online as well you will come across various types of such institutes that help you to get such services and also claim to put up the grades of your child on a much higher level. TutorPace is a very reputed institute that helps you gets out of any kind of work related problem with ease and also with high level perfection. It is a renowned institute that is filed up with various types of intelligent and qualified teachers who help the students to gain from them to a high level. Some features of TutorPace TutorPace has some of the best teachers with them that help the students to bring out the best possible way of knowing any subject on a much better note. They are all qualified teacher who knows exactly what to say and how to say and this increases the domain of a teacher and the students also get lot of help under the support and guidance of such teachers. The appointment or the interview process is also very tough for the teachers and after they pass through the tough process then it becomes easy for them to teach the students also with same efficiency and same will power. Apart from such help you will also come across one great advantage or merit and that is unlimited time for the classes. It is very essential for all to know that you can avail the help of the teacher whenever you want and at whatever timing. This service or feature brings in great level of self confidence among the minds of the student and it also helps in growing up the mind of the student largely so that they get themselves prepared for a much better future. These are the basic qualities that TutorPace inhale. There are other such types of facilities as well that brings each student nearer to success. The rates that are found in limits and thus this helps the middle class parents also to invest certain amount of money in such institutes for giving their child a better future for tomorrow. As the entire process of such online tutoring facilities are conducted through online chats, video conferencing, tele conferencing and through all the means via internet it becomes easy for many people to fetch good teachers while sitting at home. It would not be wrong to say that the online teachers lessens your extra wastage of time and energy and it brings you closer to knowing the subject well. So, for your betterment you can easily fetch the help of TutorPace and increase your knowledge as well as pulling up your grades highly. This is the new way of learning and TutorPace will help you out with accounting help online in an easy and some good way.

Words, Words, Words - Private Tutoring

Words, Words, Words BobbiM May 6, 2014 Virago; n. A woman who is noisy, bold, or domineering. The mans wife was a virago. She yelled at him all the time. A strong, often large, courageous, and brave woman. She is a virago who is strong in her belief of education. Because of her belief she has opened up her own school. Brash; adj. Hasty, unthinking, and impetuous; quick to act without considering the consequences. I made the brash decision to not call on her birthday and now she wont talk to me. Capricious; adj. impulsive, whimsical. My decision to move away from home was capricious but in the end it worked out for the better. Daring; adj. Willing to take risks; bold and venturesome, sometimes without much sense. It was daring of me to cliff jump into the ocean. Derring-do; n. A reckless, daring, or careless action. My action to skip school was a derring-do. Plucky; adj. Having or displaying courage, tenacity, and resourcefulness under difficult or trying circumstances. I will demonstrate my plucky approach to life by laughing all the time throughout my trial of infertility. Resolute; adj. Firm, determined, and unwavering. I am resolute in my determination to finish reading this book. I will do it. Stalwart; adj. Strong, bold, daring, firm, and resolute; having determination and a stick-to-it attitude. I will stand stalwart in my decision to work from home. Steadfast; adj. Steady and reliable; dependable even during trying or dangerous times. She stood steadfast in her value of not doing illegal things. She left the party quickly. Tenacious; adj. Holding tight; not letting go or yielding to the opposition. I will not believe he doesnt love me. I am tenacious in my belief that he still cares. Valiant; adj. Brave; full of valor and courage. The valiant soldier did not run but stayed to fight. Audacious; adj. Fearlessly bold; possibly even foolhardy and daring. Her audacious behavior was helpful when she needed to stand up for her value. Unrestrained by convention or propriety; insolent. Her audacious outburst embarrassed me at dinner. Spirited and original. She is audacious in her bohemian style. Bravado; n. A tendency toward showy defiance or false expressions of courage. At the haunted house, I displayed bravado even though I was terrified. Dauntless; adj. Not easily intimidated; courageous and brave. I wish to be more dauntless and ask him out on a date. Defiance; n. Bold resistance; brave opposition. He withstood the bullying defiantly. Arrogant attitude, often rude and dismissive. He acted in complete defiance as he left and broke the rule. Fortitude; n. Showing great strength and bravery under adverse conditions such as pain and torture. I admired how she pressed forward with such fortitude during her trials. Gallant; adj. Bold and dashing. The gallant prince carried me over the mud puddle. Bravely daring; selflessly courageous. They made a gallant attempt to save the girl but with no success. Stately; majestic; seemingly regal in demeanor. That gallant china doll was very expensive. Intrepid; adj. Courageous; acting with much determination and little fear. She was an intrepid person to be one of the first to settle in Nevada.

The 4 Basic Principles of Problem Solving - Private Tutoring

The 4 Basic Principles of Problem Solving BobbiM May 23, 2014 Lets tackle problems!! Follow these four principles to become a master at solving problems.  You got this. By adopting a systematic approach to Problem Solving, you will have a clear, concise method for thinking your way to a response. You wont waste time by attacking a problem in a tentative or haphazard manner. A systematic approach will ensure that you find the most efficient solution to the problem and that you make as few careless and unnecessary errors as possible. 1. Develop the ability to decipher question stems quickly. Learn to quickly recognize exactly what youre being asked. 2. Decide how much effort to put into each question. Depending on where you are on the test, you might be better off guessing and saving time for other questions. Only you know what type if questions give you a particular trouble. If youre not that good at ratios and hit a ratio question in the second half of the test, you should move through it quickly to allow time to answer other questions more completely. 3. Consider alternative methods. If the question seems as if it will take too long to solve, look for shortcuts. There are many different ways to solve a given math question. Remember, youre not looking for an ideal method for everybody but the fastest method for you. Time is a key element on standardized exams, so you should maximize the value of your time with shortcuts or alternative methods. The Kaplan Method is all about time management. The right method is whatever method is quickest for you. -Picking Numbers Picking Numbers is a powerful alternative to solving problems by brute force. Rather than trying to work with unknown variables, you pick concrete values for the variables. Any answer choice that does not work for the concrete values cannot be the correct answer. How does Picking Numbers work? -Pick simple numbers to stand in for the variables. The usefulness f the strategy depends in large part on your ability to pick convenient numbers. -Try all the answer choices, ditching those that dont agree with the question information. Remember to keep the values youve picked for the variables constant throughout the problem. -Try different values when more than one answer choice works. Sometimes more than one choice will give the right answer. If that happens, pick some new numbers. The correct choice must work for all possible numbers. When you encounter a problem that contains variables, think of Kaplan alternative approaches to Problem Solving. Very often, Picking Numbers and substituting is quicker than any mathematical calculation. -Backsolving. Backsolving is a strategy that allows you to use the answer choices to work backward through the question stem. You plug the answer choices into the question to see which one works. The answer choice that agrees with the information in the question stem is correct. Youve probably used this strategy unconsciously when you ran into a multiple-choice question that you found difficult. Backsolving can save a great deal of time if you use it wisely. It is an exceptional method for solving questions when you have no idea where to begin on a problem. 4. Guess if youre stumped. If you simply cannot solve an equation using regular math or an alternative method, sometimes thats the time to make an educated guess. The key to good guessing is the elimination if wrong answer choices. Many questions will have answer choices that are obviously wrong or dont make sense. If you can eliminate some wrong choices using common sense, make a good guess and move on. Kaplans 4-step method for problem solving. Now that youve got a grip on the basic principles of Problem Solving, lets look at how to attack the questions youll see on the test. 1. Read through the whole question. Determine exactly what the question is asking. Is the question or situation complicated? 2. Decide how much effort to put into question. Is this the sort of question you normally do well on? Will you be able to solve it quickly? Be aware of where you are in the test and how much time you have left. 3. Choose the fastest approach to the answer. Choose the approach that you feel most comfortable with. Questions are often deliberately confusing and contain traps for the unwary. 4. Select an answer. Answer every question. Eliminate answer choices whenever you can. The more unlikely answer choices you can eliminate, the better your chances of guessing correctly. And if youre running out of time and several questions remain, make sure to answer each question by guessing something.

Rod Blagojevich Not Leaving Jail Early

Rod Blagojevich Not Leaving Jail Early Photo Via: http://chicagotonight.wttw.com Blagojevich’s defense was an apology, as well as a claim to being a “changed man” and a “model prisoner” during his sentence to date. Still, Judge Zagel imposed the same sentence originally given back in 2011. He claims, “I do not doubt that he is a loving father and that his children miss him deeply in his absence, but as I said four years ago, the fault lies in the governor.” Blagojevich, now 59 years old, will now be forced to finish out his sentence through May 2024. After the court adjourned, Amy gestured towards Zagel’s bench and claimed, “He stole my childhood!” Patti spoke with anger to reporters as well, claiming “Quite frankly, I’m dumbfounded and flabbergasted. This was unusually cruel and heartless and unfair … Somehow, we will get through this. We love Rod. And we’ll be here for him as we continue to fight.” So what is this long sentence being served for? Back in 2011 Blagojevich was convicted of misusing his powers for multiple different reasons. The most notable was his attempt to sell a U.S. Senate seat Barack Obama’s in 2008 when he was elected president. During the initial trial, the jury was deadlocked on all but one count. The conviction came less than a year later. An appeals court threw out five counts against Blagojevich last year on technicalities, though they still referred to the evidence against him as “overwhelming” and stated his sentence was completely within reason. Though it was predicted Zagel would shave a year or two off of this sentence, on Tuesday, he completely put these ideas to rest. According to Jeffery Cramer, a former federal prosecutor, “In the end, Judge Zagel remained steadfast in his view of the crimes and this defendant.” This is frustrating for Blagojevich, especially since he’s waited nearly four and a half years for this day in court. Blagojevich’s lawyer, Leonard Goodman, told the judge that the remaining charges against Blagojevich were “significantly different” and that he never profited, despite his attempts. According to Goodman, “we believe he is ready to come home.” Goodman asked for the sentence to be lessened to five years. His daughters also made their pleas, appealing to an emotional side. According to Annie, “I almost don’t want to grow up because I want to wait for him to come home.” Amy, however, is already in college, which she alluded to in her plea. She said it “kills” her father that he can’t meet the new people in her life. She says, “the longer my father is gone, the more and more estranged my sister and I become from him.” Blagojevich was given 15 minutes for remarks, during which he apologized, but didn’t state the crimes for which he was convicted. He said, “I recognize it was my actions and my words that led me here. This can be a beginning to make amends for the past.” Prosecutors, however, claimed the ex-governor hadn’t changed at all. They claim he never took responsibility, and his actions prove nothing has changed. According to Attorney Debra Bonamici, “As long as the defendant is unable or unwilling to accept responsibility for what he actually did and what he actually meant when he did it, there can be no rehabilitation.” According to Zagel, “He sees himself as less morally culpable, but I don’t draw such a clear moral distinction. As in many cases, political and personal gains were very much intermingled here.” After the hearing, Blagojevich conveyed his disappointment at the verdict to reporters. Despite a large show of familial support and the reading of letters written by prisoners that befriended Blagojevich during his sentence, the ex-governor ultimately failed to show any tangible change especially in his inability to address his charges head-on and accept his responsibility. However, this technically isn’t the end. According to Goodman, he could still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court at this point; however, they have already declined to hear the case in March so it’s unlikely they’re going to change their minds now. Ultimately, saying that you’re reformed apologizing with meaninglessness isn’t going to get you out of jail. So if, by some miracle, the Supreme Court picks up his case, Blagojevich is going to need a serious change of heart, or he’s likely going to serve out the entirety of his 14-year sentence.