Foust Law - November 2019

Foust Law - November 2019

COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE NOVEMBER 2019 THE

PICKING THE RIGHT COLLEGE HOWDO YOU KNOWWHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOUR TEEN?

Raising kids can be a challenging endeavor. When Heather and I married in 2013, she agreed to take on not only a husband but also two boys: Andrew, 12, and Chandler, 11. The boys are now 17 and 18 years old and face growing up in a world very different from the one Heather and I knew when we were teenagers. We are far from perfect parents, but we do our best. Our newsletter chronicles some of our successes and some of our less- than-stellar moments. We hope you can learn from some of our failures and find some entertainment in the moments we share.

which schools spent less. Ironically, after visiting five schools in the region, we settled on a school Andrew had not yet visited.

In August, I dropped off my eldest son at the University of Montana Western, located in Dillon, Montana. It was a bittersweet experience: satisfying to see your son grow into a young man and tough to watch him go away. How Andrew ended up in Dillon was a decision he had to make and one I believe was the right one for him. In the spring of Andrew’s junior year of high school, we decided to take a little road trip and visit some schools in the region, including the University of Montana, University of Idaho, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, and Gonzaga University. What was interesting is how each school approached its recruiting/ touring process. While the guides at each school were friendly, you could see which schools had invested in the recruiting process and

In our family, cost and student debt were very big factors in evaluating which school our kids would be attending. Private schools, like the health care industry, have not followed the laws of supply and demand over the past 20 years, and their costs have significantly outpaced inflation. We are very fortunate in the state of Montana to have a number of very good state institutions where tuition has remained relatively affordable. The two main university campuses at the University of Montana and Montana State, along with MSU Billings, Montana Tech, and UMWestern, are all excellent

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another. For Andrew, the curriculum at the UM Western was a huge factor.

choices for in-state programs, particularly considering the population of this state.

The UM Western has a “block” system, which means students take one class at a time, attending that class for three hours each day for 18 days. Once they are finished with the class, they have a four-day weekend and they move on to the next subject. It seems crazy, but the professors at UM Western teach their classes for three straight hours, five days a week, and cover the entire semester in a little over three weeks. One drawback is skipping a day of class is a very, very bad idea! Although I am certain there will be ups and downs, Andrew’s experience at UM Western has been good so far. Not every college is right for every young adult. College itself is not right for every young adult, and far too often, it is pushed on folks as the only way to have a successful life. Trade schools and the military are not advocated nearly enough in our high schools. - Lucas Foust

Peterson’s College Search Tool lists other factors to consider, including the following:

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Accreditation

Types of majors and degrees available

Location

Cost

Financial aid opportunities

Admissions rate Admissions criteria

Graduation rate

Flexible scheduling options

Class size (student to teacher ratio) Internships and hands-on opportunities

Campus facilities

Academic support resources

Career services

Job placement rates.

Because each family is different and each student is different, your priorities in selecting a school will likely emphasize one of the above considerations more than

YOURVOTEMATTERS, AND, SOMEDAY, YOURKID’SWILL TOO! Teach a Lesson About Voting This Election Day!

opinions so your teen can develop their own view. Direct them to resources like Ballotpedia. org, where they can find information, practice voting, and see local sample ballots. And, of course, when Election Day rolls around, celebrate their first vote! DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOU! Voting is a right and privilege that comes with U.S. citizenship. Don’t miss your opportunity to have your voice heard. Learn more about your local election by visiting Ballotpedia. org or contacting your municipality, and be sure to register to vote if you haven’t already. Remember, your kids learn by watching what you do, not just by listening to what you say. Inspire them to get involved and, when the time comes, exercise their right to vote!

you’re looking for bedtime books to feed their curiosity, try out fun reads like “O, Say Can You See? America’s Symbols, Landmarks, and Inspiring Words” by Sheila Keenan. Various websites, like KidsVotingUSA.org, also have ample resources for educators and families. FOR NEW VOTERS Turning 18 comes with the newfound responsibility of voting for our country’s leaders, and, for new voters, the system, ballots, and restrictions can be confusing. Start by walking your teen through the registration process, which can be done in person at your municipality’s office or online at USA.gov or Vote.org. Next, talk with your teen about what’s at stake in the upcoming election. Be careful not to seed your language with

The 2020 presidential election is heating up, but Election Day 2019 still requires citizens’ voices to decide the fate of their cities, counties, states, and judgeships. As the U.S. enjoys a relatively quiet election day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, use the opportunity to teach your children about their civic duty and the power of voting. involved in local elections. Let your kids tag along to the voting area, and ask for help from city workers and local representatives to answer your kids’ questions. You can even set up your own family election by holding a vote over what to have for dinner or where the next family vacation should be located. If FOR THE YOUNG KIDDOS There’s no reason why children can’t be

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Engage Your Kids on Thanksgiving

WITH THESE GRATITUDE-THEMED GAMES

Thanksgiving is an excellent time to teach children about gratefulness. By planning some fun, gratitude-themed games, you can impart a valuable lesson and spend some quality family time together. Get your kids in the holiday spirit by adding a Thanksgiving twist to these classic games. PICTIONARY Want to bring out your kids’creative sides? Pictionary is the perfect way to encourage artistic expression and grateful thinking. Try adding a rule where players have to draw something they’re grateful for. This will get your kids thinking beyond turkey and stuffing and give them an imaginative way to express their gratitude. Plus, who doesn’t love a good art contest? GUESS WHO? To play gratitude-themed Guess Who?, have each participant write down their name and something they’re thankful for on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl. Then, at the dinner table, have each person draw a random slip and read what it says without saying the name while everyone else tries to guess who wrote it. While Pictionary may get your kids talking about what they are thankful for, Guess Who? will tune them into what others around them are thankful for too. PICK-UP STICKS Like regular pick-up sticks, the goal is to remove a stick from a haphazard pile without disturbing the others. However, by using colored sticks that

represent different kinds of thankfulness — such as places, people, or food — you can make players think outside the box. This will ensure you get a wide range of creative, thoughtful answers whenever the kids pick up a stick. These modified games are great for helping your kids realize how much they have to be thankful for. Use these to spend some fun, educational, quality time with your family this Thanksgiving.

Take a Break!

LEFTOVER THANKSGIVING DOG TREATS

Inspired by TwoHealthyKitchens.com

If the leftovers are your favorite part of Thanksgiving, then this recipe is for you! Show your dog how thankful you are for themwith these post-feast dog treats.

INGREDIENTS

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2 cups cooked turkey, finely chopped 2 cups whole wheat flour

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1/2 cup cooked sweet potatoes, plain and mashed

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3/4 cup water

1 egg

DIRECTIONS

rectangles using a knife or pizza cutter. 4. Bake for 30 minutes, until the dog treats are lightly golden brown. 5. Remove from oven and let treats cool completely. Break treats apart along score lines.

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a medium bowl, combine sweet potatoes, water, and egg. Add turkey and flour and stir again until dough is thick and sticky. 3. Use a rubber spreader to spread dough evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut dough into small

6. Serve fresh or store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

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Foust Law Office

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

www.lucasfoustlaw.com 406-587-3720 Fax: 406-879-4400

3390 South 30th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Finding the Right College for Your Teen PAGE 1 Teaching Kids the Power of Voting PAGE 2 Gratitude-Themed Games for Kids PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Post-Feast Dog Treats PAGE 3 The Gift of Giving PAGE 4

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CELEBRATING GIVING TUESDAY Supporting the People You Believe In

that lasts well beyond that day and touches every person on the planet.”

November is usually all about Thanksgiving, but it isn’t the only holiday that encourages generosity. Giving Tuesday is a phenomenal celebration in which millions of people from across the globe are inspired to spend 24 hours giving back to the communities they love. ORIGIN AND GOAL Giving Tuesday is celebrated every year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, and this year, the holiday lands on Dec. 3! It was established in 2012 by the United Nations Foundation and New York’s 92nd Street Y as a response to consumer-driven holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The purpose of the holiday was to spread the spirit of giving, not only for the people in our nation but individuals across the world. The goal is “to create a massive wave of generosity

TECHNOLOGY AT ITS BEST Through the use of social media and technology, the organization hopes to encourage and spread generosity on a global scale using the hashtag #GivingTuesday. The website states that “... technology and social media could be used to make generosity go viral; that people fundamentally want to give and talk about giving.”Through massive social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the individuals and companies participating in Giving Tuesday can spread their missions and messages all over the world, encouraging others to do the same. HOW YOU CAN CELEBRATE Now is the perfect opportunity to support your community and the causes you believe

in. The best part of this holiday is that “giving” doesn’t just refer to donating money. People can give back by volunteering their time to help a nonprofit business, donating goods and food, or just buying a stranger some lunch. Even the smallest actions can have the biggest impact. If you’re interested in participating in Giving Tuesday, get together with your friends, family, sports team members, or neighbors to brainstorm on how you can give back. To learn more about how you can participate, visit GivingTuesday.org.

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