Monday, May 8, 2017

Crocheted Leaf Sculptures by Susanna BauerTo truly appreciate... crss



















Crocheted Leaf Sculptures by Susanna Bauer

To truly appreciate the delicacy of Susanna Bauer‘s leaf sculptures, think of crunching a dead leaf in your hand, how it disintegrates into dust with the slightest effort. To work with dry and fragile leaves as a medium for crochet seems nearly impossible, but Susanna somehow manages it with ease, turning leaves into cubes, tunnels, and geometric patterns with techniques that might be more appropriate for the durability of leatherwork. She lives and works in Cornwall, England. You can see more on her website and Facebook


Want to keep up with art?  Check out our Twitter feed.

posted by tu recepcja  via

crss

Base Arquitetura - Family house, Espinho 2017. Photos © do...

Crocheted Leaf Sculptures by Susanna BauerTo truly appreciate...



















Crocheted Leaf Sculptures by Susanna Bauer

To truly appreciate the delicacy of Susanna Bauer‘s leaf sculptures, think of crunching a dead leaf in your hand, how it disintegrates into dust with the slightest effort. To work with dry and fragile leaves as a medium for crochet seems nearly impossible, but Susanna somehow manages it with ease, turning leaves into cubes, tunnels, and geometric patterns with techniques that might be more appropriate for the durability of leatherwork. She lives and works in Cornwall, England. You can see more on her website and Facebook


Want to keep up with art?  Check out our Twitter feed.

posted by tu recepcja  via

nu.ma - Family house, Avanca 2017. Via, photos © Ivo...

Photo #tattoo



forever

Photo #tattoo



forever

Vermeiren - De Coster Architecten - DC-V house and...

actegratuit: DeerDandy Aka Momothecat







actegratuit:

DeerDandy Aka Momothecat

How to Be Assertive Without Being Too Aggressive

Have you ever been in a situation where you are in a group whose opinions are not aligned with yours? What did you do? Did you keep quiet or did you express your opinions just as they express themselves?

Assertiveness is a skill of those people who can express themselves straightforwardly, without stepping on the rights of others. However, not everyone knows the importance of assertiveness for both personal and professional lives. Some people find it difficult to be assertive. But what most of us don’t know is that assertiveness is not a unique trait a person can possess that others don’t have. It is actually a skill which we can learn.

Why Do Some People Find It Hard To Be Assertive

To be assertive requires three points of the triangle; the passive, aggressive and assertive . You need to find the right mix of these three important points to be assertive.

The Passive

When we were kids, adults always taught us to be kind and friendly to other kids. Most of us have adapted this teaching to a point where we oftentimes become hesitant to express our opinions and thoughts. We believe that it is not nice to argue and disagree with others.

We develop a passive behavior because we are programmed to believe that those who goes out of the norm and are not afraid to say what they want to say are rude, disrespectful and are often rejected. But what you don’t know is that by being passive no one else gets upset but you. We are stepping into our own rights and it can negatively impact our self-confidence.

The Aggressive

Completely opposite to being passive, aggressive people tend to fail in considering other people’s rights and feelings. They are not aware that by expressing their opinions, they have undermined the self-esteem and the rights of others.

Aggressive behaviors come in so many ways. By simply demanding someone rather than asking, rushing them or ignoring them, we are encouraging them to be passive while we become aggressive.

The Assertive

Assertiveness is finding the right balance between being passive and being aggressive. It is a two-way communication where we can convey our message and listen to others as well. It encourages an exchange of views so the rights of both parties are exercised and opinions and feelings are expressed appropriately. It means sharing, appreciating others and seeing them as an equal.

It can be a struggle finding the right balance. Our current roles, past experiences, how we view ourselves, the stress we experience and our incorrect assumption that these traits are by nature affect our responses and our communication with others. But if we become self-aware and we open our minds, we will realize how important it is to learn how to be assertive.

How Can Being Assertive Help Our Professional And Personal Lives?

As mentioned earlier, assertiveness can provide significant growth both in our professional and personal lives. Forbes reported [1]that leaders who are assertive are perceived to have higher integrity than those who are not. Also, it is vital for an organization to have a team of assertive individuals that promote cooperation, support, unity, training and developments . This is to successfully establish an effective project management process which is essential for project success.

When it comes to our personal development, assertiveness sure helps a lot. Here are some of them.

Provide Yourself More Value. Assertiveness increases self-confidence and improves self-image. You develop the awareness that you have are not only entitled to your own opinions, but you have the right to express them. Also, you adopt a more realistic view of yourself.

You Learn To Value Others. Rather than seeing other people as a threat, an assertive behavior allows you to see them in a realistic context. You understand the individualities of a person and you see them as collaborators which can help you achieve things.

Gives You An Opportunity To Achieve More. When you convey your message appropriately and clearly, you never have to worry about unresolved issues or not being able to please other people. You can channel your effort and time for more worthy things which can help you unleash your full potential.

Overall, one major benefit of being assertive is that it allows us to h ave a healthy relationship with other people while improving ourselves. It may not be easy, but over time, we can learn to develop this behavior.

So, What Does It Takes To Be Assertive?

Each person has different ways of developing assertiveness in them. For others, it can be pretty easy, while for some it may require them a lot of efforts to be assertive. But here are some tips we can work on to develop our assertiveness.

Know Your Value As A Person

Never allow other people to let you feel less important as them. Don’t allow them to make you feel inferior. Understand that your opinions, thoughts, feelings and your right to express them are as valuable as others.

We have a full control of ourselves. Some people may treat us poorly because they can see us doing that on our own selves. That gives them permission to treat us the way they do. Our confidence, energy and our attitude convey a message to people. These trigger their actions towards us.

If they see us as someone who has high regard of ourselves and someone who knows how to protect our rights and dignity, they will treat us as such as well. So it all starts with ourselves. When we know our value as a person, people will start to see us as their equal.

Identify Your Needs And Wants And Address Them

If you wait for people to address and satisfy your needs, you might wait for forever. Be independent. You need to put yourself in action to satisfy your own needs and wants. Moreover, when you learn to work towards satisfying your needs, you are more likely to reach your true potential and you become self-fulfilled. Thus, you boost your self-confidence and self-esteem.

However, in your desire to achieve your goals, do not forget that there are limitations. Do not be over-fixated with your dreams that you ignore and undermine other people’s rights. They too have to work for their own desires so make sure you don’t sacrifice other people’s needs to achieve yours.

Acknowledge The Fact That You Have No Control Of People’s Response

As the cliché saying goes, “you can’t please everyone”. You are not responsible for other people’s response towards your actions. So stop fretting about upsetting them because of your assertive behavior.

We are only responsible for our actions. We should not concede to their wants and needs for as long as we are not violating their rights and feelings. If they don’t like how we assert our own views and opinions, it is not our responsibility.

Express And Accept Criticisms In An Appropriate Manner

We have an imperfect life and that is why we give criticisms to others and receive criticisms as well. It is important that we should learn how to express negative thoughts to others in a way that we don’t violate their rights. Point mistakes and opinions, but express it in a way that it will be useful for the improvement and development of that certain person.

Likewise, when we receive criticisms, we should not take it personally. It’s okay to be upset or angry for a moment, but we should never lose our respect for the person. Instead, let’s view criticisms as a useful feedback which we can use for our personal or professional growth.

Say “No” When You Feel It’s Not Right For You

We always have to go for what’s right for us. We can’t just go with other people’s demand, especially if it is not aligned with our principles. If we do, we are losing our self-worth. We should always remember that it’s okay not no please everyone for as long as we are not stepping on their rights. But, if there is really a need to do things which are beyond our capabilities, we can learn to find other alternatives to meet halfway and provide a win-win solution.

Learning how to be assertive is not as complicated as we think. It may take some time to master assertiveness, but with constant practice, we can slowly make a transition. So give it a try and who knows, sooner or later, you will enjoy the long-term benefits of being assertive.

Reference

The post How to Be Assertive Without Being Too Aggressive appeared first on Lifehack.



from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2pUdHoy

Real-Life Love Stories That Will Remind You True Love Does Exist

A long time ago, someone told me one of the truest love stories. It was this: the real value of your life is how well you loved and were loved back.

In an age where people, places and moments are too easily replaced, societal norm has acclimatized to a kind of social media dating that is anything but normal.

I have often pondered what impact this modern re-invention of romance would have on me if I were 10-years-old today. I grew up where liking a boy meant a stomach of fluttering butterflies if he looked at me. At 10-years-old, my idea of romance or love stories was the way your reflection danced into someone’s eyes and how that made you feel.

I have never stopped believing that or living by that.

Here are some inspiring love stories to restore that faith in love that the 10-year-old you had:

1. True love knows no obstacles or distance.

Despite abject poverty and social stigmas of his “untouchable” caste, Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia[1] earned a place as a student at the College of Art in New Delhi.

Following his painting of Indira Gandhi, many people wanted him to draw them. One of those was Charlotte Von Schedvin, who was traveling in India.

They soon fell in love and got married. Charlotte, however, had to return home to Sweden. She offered to pay for Pradyumna’s plane ticket, but he had too much pride to accept and promised he would make the money on his own.

After a year, he had still not saved enough.

Selling all of his possessions, he made enough to buy a bicycle. He then cycled for four months and three weeks, covering 4,000 miles across Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Germany, Austria, and Denmark to get to Sweden.

They are still happily married 40 years later, and live in Sweden with their two children. Pradyumna became a well-known artist and is a cultural ambassador.

When asked about his arduous journey, his reply was, “I did what I had to, I had no money but I had to meet her. I was cycling for love, but never loved cycling. It’s simple.”

2. You are never too old to find love.

In 1946, Anna and Boris had only been married for 3 days in Serbia when he left for the army.[2] Afterwards, Anna and her family were exiled and despite both their frantic searching, the two were unable to find each other.

Years passed and they both married other people, yet neither forgot their first love.

When their spouses had died and after 60 years, they coincidentally visited their hometown at the same time. When Boris saw her, he ran up to her and said: ‘My darling, I’ve been waiting for you for so long. My wife, my life…’”

They remarried not long after.

3. Love as first sight does exist.

Nacho Figueras is universally recognizable as the polo player with the striking model looks, featured in many of the “Polo by Ralph Lauren” adverts.[3]

He first saw Delfina Blaquier in their native Argentina when they were just teenagers. He knew immediately that he would marry her and decided to pursue her properly.

Every night, he would travel for almost 2 hours to see her, after working all day at a ranch. He would sit with her on her porch and play his guitar to her for a short while, before going home to sleep for another long day at work.

The couple married in 2004 and have since had four children

4. True love means loving each other until the very end.

Princess Charlotte was the daughter of George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) and Caroline of Brunswick.[4] She was the future heir to the throne and was adored by the people, which was a stark contrast to the rest of the Royal family who were loathed.

Her upbringing was turbulent amidst her warring parents. At 17-years-old, Charlotte was pressured into agreeing to marry a Prince she didn’t like, until she met the handsome and dashing Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Her father finally relented and permitted her to marry the impoverished Leopold.

Following their wedding and two miscarriages, Charlotte again became pregnant with the entire country elated.

In 1817, at 21-years-old and after two days of a difficult labor, Charlotte delivered a stillborn 9-pound son by breech birth. Prince Leopold was so worried that he refused to leave his wife’s side and insisted on helping her–something that was unheard of at the time.

After the third day, Charlotte’s condition seemingly improved. Leopold was urged to take an opiate to rest, as he had not slept for 3 days. Unfortunately, Charlotte’s condition worsened and it was not possibly to rouse the sleeping Leopold as she died.

Her death elicited international grieving on an even bigger scale than Princess Diana’s. Britain ran out of black cloth because everyone wore black–even the homeless found black scraps to tie around his or her arms.

Prince Leopold plunged into depression and eventually took a mistress who resembled Charlotte. Years later, he remarried and named his daughter Charlotte.

The Princess’ final wish before dying was for Leopold to be buried beside her when his time came. Shortly before he died, he asked Queen Victoria for this wish to be fulfilled but it was denied. His last words were: “Charlotte Charlotte”.

5. Remembering your love stories will keep love alive.

Jack and Phyllis Potter met in 1941.[5] Jack frequently wrote in his diary about their story and continued to do so for his whole life.

After seventy years together, Phyllis had to be moved to a nursing home as her dementia became too much for Jack to deal with alone. Unperturbed, Jack visited her daily and read to her each day from his diaries to help her to remember their love and life.

6. Young romance can stand the test of time.

Kate Middleton was just 19-years-old in 2001 when she first met Prince William, where they both studied at St. Andrews University.[6]

Unfortunately, the pressures of the media and a long distance relationship caused them to split up in 2007. They, however, decided to get back together later in the same year.

Prince William eventually proposed in 2010 with the late Princess Diana’s famous sapphire engagement ring. And in 2011, millions all across the world watched their wedding ceremony that culminated with “that kiss” on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

7. Love stories that are worth it, are worth the wait.

In the 1974, Irina and Woodford McClellan got married in Moscow.[7] Woodford, an American, had to return to the USA when his visa expired. He was repeatedly denied returning to Russia, and she was likewise refused entry to the USA.

It took 11 years of phone calls and letters to each other and unwavering endeavors before they were in 1986 in the United States.

Final Words: Live, Laugh, and Love

For those who have found love, remember the beauty of being in love is finding new ways to keep falling in love with that person.

For those who are still looking for love, don’t let the cynicism of the social media generation to cloud your hopes. It’s true that love happens when you are not looking and when you least expect it. Have faith in yourself and in the love that you deserve. After all, you owe it to your 10-year-old self.

Featured photo credit: Stocksnap via stocksnap.io

Reference

The post Real-Life Love Stories That Will Remind You True Love Does Exist appeared first on Lifehack.



from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2qTWXfu

How to Stop Nightmares and Get A More Restful Sleep!

Have you ever experienced a bad dream so horrifying that your heart was pounding when you woke up? Perhaps this is a regular occurrence for you, and you’ve started to dread going to bed?

Nightmares can ruin your sleep and leave you feeling exhausted during the day, but fortunately there are steps you can take to get a better night’s rest.

Nightmares are more common in young children, but can affect anyone. They are not harmful, but can result in fatigue if they continue every night or most nights over a long period of time.

Understand the science behind nightmares, as this may make them less frightening.

When we sleep, we progress through several stages throughout the night. You can think of sleep as occurring in waves or cycles, with each lasting between 90 and 110 minutes. This is further subdivided into five stages, known as Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, and REM sleep. It is in this final stage that dreams and nightmares occur. Scientists are not sure exactly why we dream or precisely how the brain generates this strange experience. One theory is that during REM sleep, the brain may be attempting to form a coherent “story” from fragments of knowledge and memories it previously stored away. Around half of adults will have nightmares occasionally.

So what causes nightmares? According to the [1], the following may trigger nightmares in adults:

1. Stress and Trauma

It is common for those with depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions to experience nightmares. For example, an individual with anxiety disorder may have dreams in which they feel overwhelmed and as though they are facing a danger beyond their control. People who have experienced trauma may also have nightmares in which they relive the incident.

2. The Undergoing Medication

Some medications affect sleeping patterns, which may trigger nightmares. For example, some anticonvulsants medicines used in the treatment of epilepsy) can result in especially vivid dreams.

3. You Health Conditions

Migraine, restless leg syndrome and sleep apnoea can all cause bad dreams as a result of changes to the sleep-wake cycle.

So if you suffer from nightmares, how can you treat them and enjoy a better night’s sleep? The following steps [2]

Implement Good Sleep Hygiene

Give yourself the chance to relax before bed. A calm mind is less likely to generate nightmares. Turn off your phone and other electronic devices at least an hour before trying to sleep. Keep your room cool and dark and get into the habit of going to bed and waking up at a reasonable hour. A warm bath or lighthearted book before you turn out the lights may also help.

How about fixing the root cause? Address Stress At The Source maybe?

Since stress and trauma are common causes of nightmares, you need to address these underlying issues in order to solve the problem. It may be a good idea to see a trained counsellor or psychologist if you find that you are plagued by negative thoughts and worries on a regular basis.

Maybe you are having other health problems! Treat Them!

If you know you could do more to manage your health conditions, start taking a more proactive stance! Always comply with the treatment prescribed by your doctor, and work on improving your overall health. For example, restless leg syndrome can result in poor quality sleep and nightmares, but can sometimes be alleviated using exercise and medication.

Consult Your Doctor About Changing Medication

If you have started experiencing regular nightmares since beginning a new medication or increasing your dose, consult with your doctor. They may reassure you that the nightmares will settle in time, in which case you will simply have to wait a few days or weeks for your body to adjust. However, they may also recommend taking your medicine at a different time of day. For example, taking it in the morning rather than at night may improve your quality of sleep. Your doctor may also be able to prescribe an additional drug to help you sleep more soundly.

Healthy and low stress lifestyle is the best prevent for nightmares!

It is unreasonable to hope that you will never experience another nightmare again. However, you can prevent them from becoming a regular occurrence by doing all you can to live a healthy, low-stress lifestyle. Ensure that you eat a balanced diet, take regular exercise, and maintain a strict routine that promotes good sleep hygiene. You can prevent stress from building up by taking a regular inventory of your overall lifestyle. For instance, if you realize that your job is causing you a great deal of worry even outside working hours, you need to start looking at ways to better cope with the demands placed upon you. If you find yourself often arguing with family members or friends, you may need to work on your communication skills. Striving to lead a less stressful life will benefit you in many ways that go far beyond your sleep patterns.

Reference

The post How to Stop Nightmares and Get A More Restful Sleep! appeared first on Lifehack.



from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2pUBMeO

Don't Need to Look Elsewhere: 10 Letter of Recommendation Templates That Fit Every Occassion

Writing a letter of recommendation for educational or job candidates can be surprisingly difficult. You may be puzzled at what exactly to be included in the letter. The format is also a big trouble. Should it be written in a formal or friendly casual manner? How not to sound cliche while persuasive? Writing a nice letter of recommendation with completely nothing to begin with is tremendously challenging. However, there are a number of great templates that provide you with the perfect Letter of Recommendation templates for every occasion and requirement.

Using these letter of recommendation templates will help to make light work of writing your letter. You can simply follow the format on the templates and benefit from detailed information on what you need to include in the letter. With a letter of recommendation template you will be able to following a step by step process in order to create the finished letter.

You will find a wide range of templates that you can use for your letters of recommendation. Some of the great ones you will find online.

1. A template that is personalized and shows enthusiasm

This is a nice template for an existing or former employee and helps to make light work of the task.[1]

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. [Last Name],

It’s my absolute pleasure to recommend [Name] for [position] with [Company].

[Name] and I [relationship] at [Company] for [length of time].

I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with [Name], and came to know [him/her] as a truly valuable asset to absolutely any team. [He/she] is honest, dependable and incredibly hard-working. Beyond that, [he/she] is an impressive [soft skill] who is always [result].

[His/her] knowledge of [specific subject] and expertise in [specific subject] was a huge advantage to our entire office. [He/she] put this skillset to work in order to [specific achievement].

Along with [his/her] undeniable talent, [Name] has always been an absolute joy to work with. [He/she] is a true team player, and always manages to foster positive discussions and bring the best out of other employees.

Without a doubt, I confidently recommend [Name] to join your team at [Company]. As a dedicated and knowledgeable employee and an all-around great person, I know that [he/she] will be a beneficial addition to your organization.

Please feel free to contact me at [your contact information] should you like to discuss [Name]’s qualifications and experience further. I’d be happy to expand on my recommendation.

Best wishes,
[Your Name]

2. A template that is simple and contains all the information required

The Balance: You will also find a simple template, [2] which provides details of the information you need to include and the format that you need to use. This means that you can create a professional and informative letter.

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to recommend Sharon Doe as a candidate for a position with your organization. In her position as Staff Assistant, Sharon was employed in our office from 20XX-20XX. Sharon did an excellent job in this position and was an asset to our organization during her tenure with the office. She has excellent written and verbal communication skills, is extremely organized, can work independently, and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done.

During her tenure with our company, Sharon was responsible for supervising the department office assistants. These assistants, under Sharon’s management, were responsible for many of the office’s basic administrative and clerical functions.

Sharon effectively scheduled and managed several assistants to maintain efficient office operations.

She developed a training program for these assistants that led them to become well versed in office operations in half the time they used to.

Sharon was always willing to offer her assistance and had an excellent rapport with the many constituents served by our office including clients, employers, and other professional organizations. Her ability to effectively communicate with all these people via email, on the phone, and in person made her such an asset to our office.

She would add value to any company and I recommend her for any endeavor she chooses to pursue. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Yours truly,
Signature (hard copy letter)
Jane Smith

Best Job Interview: This website provides a letter of recommendation[3] template that is ideal for someone trying to successfully secure a new job. The format is simple and easy to follow so you can create the letter without any hassle.

Date

To whom it may concern,

John Smith was employed by ABC Company as a Junior Accountant from May 2012 to December 2015. He reported directly to me during this period.
John was responsible for the preparation of monthly financial statements and monthly financial reports. He assisted with tax computations and returns and with budgets and forecasts. In addition he helped administer the payroll and coordinated the audit process.

John performed all these tasks competently and with commitment and enthusiasm. He has demonstrated the ability to work under pressure and to plan and organize successfully to meet tight deadlines. His close attention to detail has resulted in meticulous and accurate work. His strong interpersonal and communication skills have allowed him to develop good working relationships with both his colleagues and management.

John was a great asset to this company and I highly recommend him for employment. Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely
Mike Manager
Title
Company Name
Contact number
Email address

3. A template that is best for a student’s recommendation

OWL: When it comes to writing a letter of recommendation for a student[4] , you will find loads of information, template, and format details at OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab. You can benefit from guided details on how to create the best letter.

Dear Admissions Officer Amy Adams:

It is with great pleasure that I am writing this letter of recommendation for Susie Student. In the past four years, I have taught Susie in a number of visual arts courses in all of which she has excelled. Based on my experience with Susie, I can say without the shadow of a doubt that she is one of the most naturally talented and hardworking art students with whom I have had the opportunity to work. She is exceptionally well prepared to move onto the collegiate level, and it is clear to me that she has a very bright future in the creative arts.

Susie is very mature for her age and she approaches her art with an astute sense of objectivity. She processes constructive criticism well and is always willing to go the extra mile in order to take her work to the highest level of formal and conceptual refinement. Susie has a very methodical creative process; she develops her concepts thoughtfully, creates interesting exploratory sketches, and builds meticulous scale models before she commits herself, with confidence, to the fabrication process. Once Susie begins fabrication, she works with precision and purpose. Her skills of craftsmanship are highly developed and she has an incredibly astute attention to detail. In addition, I have been impressed by Susie’s ability to couple her attention to detail with a broader stylistic focus that allows her to consider how effectively her compositions function as a whole. Therein, Susie creates sculptures that are cohesive in form and eloquent in their communication of sophisticated concepts. All in all, Susie is an incredibly well rounded art student who has found a way to balance all of the aspects of the creative process with apparent ease.

Aside from Susie’s natural artistic ability, it is important to touch on her work ethic and her presence in the classroom setting. Susie never settles for second best and she utilizes class time in a productive and determined manner. She arrives to class early and works late when the need arises. Due to this approach, Susie quickly became a role model for her peers in all of my classes. Students observed Susie’s commitment to the creative process and they strived to excel as she did. Though Susie is very talented, she is a humble young woman who never lets her abilities go to her head. She thrives off of the entire creative process both the successes and the challenges. Most importantly, Susie is always willing to help her classmates as they create. She offers both technical and conceptual support to her peers in a kind and caring manner that speaks to Susie’s patience and her understanding of the importance of collaborative learning.

In looking ahead to Susie’s college years, I am certain that she is ready to tackle the rigorous and challenging curriculum of the collegiate level. Susie will not take the path of least resistance, rather, she will push herself to continue to grow and develop as a creative thinker. She will immerse herself in her new community and she will share her energy, enthusiasm, commitment and talent with her peers and her professors. Susie Student is an exceptional candidate and it is with the utmost confidence that I recommend her to your college or university. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,
Timothy Teacher

Williamette University: Another letter of recommendation you may need to write is for a college scholarship[5]. This site provides you with the ideal template along wi th valuable information to write your letter, which helps to make the task far quicker and easier.

October 4, 2XXX

James R. Murray
Secretary of the Rhodes Committee Selection for Montana
Gordon Murray Tilden LLP
1001 Fourth Avenue
Suite 4000
Seattle, Washington 98154-1007

Re: Letter of Appraisal for _________

Dear Mr. Murray:
I write on behalf of ________’s application for a Rhodes Scholarship. I believe _______ to be an exemplary student-scholar as well as a person of tremendous character with significant leadership skills.

I heard of _________ before I met her. A top student of mine and Truman finalist came into my office and announced that she had met the next Truman finalist—a first year woman who was full of energy for leading the Students for Choice organization. The young woman I encountered in my American Politics class that next semester was, in fact, quite enthusiastic for her studies and a solid, conscientious student. Full of questions, ________ regularly participated in class discussions and probed the materials with a zest for learning. In her first year, however, I was more struck by her openness to the world than her analytic ability.

What happened over the next two years was rather astounding from my perspective and a lesson to me not to underestimate any student. ________ still has a refreshing wide-eyed quality about her but she is now more fully self-possessed and has a command of analytic reasoning that places her in the top 1% of the students I have encountered here at Willamette. Her enthusiasm and energy have been matched over the years with a discipline that is remarkable in someone her age. This discipline is not about study habits, though I would note that she always seems to be ahead of schedule, turning in assignments early and working on projects weeks and months in advance. Her discipline is a commitment to learning.

As evidence of this discipline, I offer her engagement with me. While _________ did not receive the top grade in my American Politics class and generally felt that she did not perform terribly well, she continued to seek out my advice and feedback. Although she went on to stellar performances in other classes with other professors, she sought me out on policy questions, asked for summer reading recommendations and generally kept a running dialogue with me. In fact, as I have watched her progress over the last three years, I note with amazement her ability to handle criticism and to grow and learn from it. Where other students turn defensive, __________ wades in absorbing other perspectives and viewpoints, debating ideas, adjusting her conclusions as necessary. She is undaunted but properly reflective, a rare combination that speaks volumes, I believe, about her abilities as a scholar and a leader. This past summer _________ engaged me in an email discussion about poverty and welfare issues, reading extensively on her own and asking me for more—more to read and more to think about.

This semester ________ is enrolled in two of my courses. Topics in Public Policy examines a number of case studies including tax policy, environmental policies, education and housing and asks students to evaluate different theories about the policy process based upon those cases. This is a difficult course because it requires that students grasp complex specifics; they have to know why, for example, certain elements of the business community might push for accelerated depreciation schedules in tax policy and what is the cumulative effect of rule changes governing the amendment process. However, I also ask them to step back and to draw lessons from the specific case studies in order to say something about the nature of democratic decision-making. While many students tend to be good at one or the other, ________ excels at both. She is well on her way to graduate level thinking and evaluation.

The other course in which she is enrolled is co-taught with three professors. ________ of the Politics Department and _______ of the History Department and I conceived of a graduate style seminar where we are as much participants as instructors in an examination of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. This is a year-long course where we spend the first half reading and analyzing the text. The spring semester is devoted to bringing guest scholars in both history and political science, who are completing works on Tocqueville. These guests will serve as models of scholarship for our students and give our students more resources and expertise to pursue a final research project. We accepted applications for this course and only admitted fifteen of the best students from the two departments. Even with this formidable group of peers, ________’s work shines. In the first writing assignment, based upon the first 200 pages of the text, we asked the students to identify a central puzzle that animates Democracy in America. Most of the students wrote competent essays, but ________ really got to the heart of Tocqueville’s problem and concern for preserving liberty given the dangers of democracy and equality.

In sum, I highly recommend ________ for the Rhodes Scholarship. I believe her proposed course of study is suitable and builds on her many strengths. Her animating spirit and disciplined approach to learning make her particularly well suited to take advantage of this opportunity.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Assistant Professor

4. A template to nominate someone for an award

Letters.org: If you need to create a letter of recommendation for an award,[6] head over to Letters.org. Here you will find details of writing a great letter along with tips to help produce the perfect end results.

From,
__________
__________
__________
__________
Date: _____ (Date on Which Letter is Written)

To,
__________
__________
__________
__________

Subject: Recommendation letter for award

Dear _____ (Sir or Madam),

I am familiar that the local council gives a __________ (name of the award) award annually to its residents who perform outstandingly well in that particular year.

This year I would like to recommend the name of Mr. __________ (name of the person) for this year’s award in recognition to his determined efforts in assisting the
community members for the last few months.

Although he is very old, he assisted the homeless and the displaced flood victims. His caring attitude deserves to be applauded.

Hence, I would recommend him for the __________ (name of the award) award for this year.

Thanking You

Yours truly,
________________
Name and Signature

5. A database which has everything you need

Reference-Letter.com: You can tailor-make the perfect template[7] on this site, enabling you to create a solid recommendation letter with minimum hassle. There are samples, letter generators, and information that you can benefit from on this site making it a very useful resource.

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Evan Grayrock for employment at your company. From January through April 2014, Evan was an intern at our corporation, Moneypenny Real Estate. I have been his direct supervisor during this time.

Evan primarily assisted us in two projects:

In one project, we were faced with a strained liquidity situation of a partnering business. We conducted a cash forecast and assessed the other parties properties for a potential partial asset takeover.

In another project, we prepared the sale of one of our regional real estate portfolios. Evan was of great help when it come to preparing sales documents, presentations and object description. The project was closed successfully shortly after the end of Evan’s internship.
Evan showed good knowledge of financial terms and cash flow analyses and was eager and quick to learn when he came across obstacles. His very diligent and sedulous work ethic was much appreciated especially when project deadlines came close. Evan was also a very likeable and loyal colleague. He integrated quickly into our team and gained everyone’s trust and respect by constantly delivering quality results.

Based on his performance at Moneypenny Real Estate, I have no hesitations in recommending him for employment at your company. Feel free to contact me with any further questions about Evan.
Daisy Trumpet
Head of Commercial Real Estate
Moneypenny Real Estate, Inc.

Write Express: You will find some great letter of recommendation templates at Write Express,[8] so you can choose the one that best suits your requirements and then use that to help you along.

I am very pleased to write this letter of recommendation for John Doe. I have worked with many teachers and teacher interns over my thirty-year teaching career, and he stands out among them. John was a sixth grade substitute Social Studies teacher during February and March of 2006, and I had the pleasure of working with him on our team. I found him easy to work with and a personable individual.

I was impressed that John took full responsibility as a permanent teacher, not as a temporary substitute. He put in time and effort above what was expected of a substitute, staying until 8:00 pm, if necessary. He participated in all conferences and meetings held during his interim.

It is never easy to replace a teacher. This sixth grade team can be a difficult group with many needs. John made the transition easy by developing a good rapport with both students and parents. Students respected John Doe, and responded to his caring manner and firm control of the class.

John is a very personable man. Attractive and professional-looking, he has good interpersonal skills and is easily understood by students and parents alike. He carries out every responsibility well and in a timely manner.

In closing, I would like to say that when John Doe leaves Imaginary Middle School, its loss will be another school’s gain. I believe he would be a tremendous asset to any school. He is a colleague with whom I am proud to teach.

You may reach me vial E-mail at me@doe.com or by phone at 555.5555. I will be happy to provide additional information or answer any questions, if needed.

Microsoft: You can quickly download a great template[9] that you can use from Microsoft. This is ideal for creating a letter relating to a co-worker or employee. It is also very simple to download and use.

[Your Name]
[Telephone] | [Email address] | [Street Address, City, ST ZIP Code]
[Date]
[Recipient Name]
[Title]
[Company]
[Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient]:

I am writing this reference at the request of [Name], who is applying for a position at [Company Name]. [Name] has worked with me [number of years] at [Company Name] in [roles].

[Name] has a number of strengths I’d like to share. He has exceptional technical skills. For example, [add a specific example]. [Name] is also a very fast learner. [Add additional strengths.]

In conclusion, I would highly recommend [Name]. If his performance in my [work group] is any indication of how he’d perform in the available position, [Name] will be an extremely positive addition to your organization. If you need any additional information, feel free to contact me at [telephone] or by email at [email address] anytime.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Title]

With the various resources, templates, and guidelines that are offered by these websites, writing a letter of recommendation for any purpose should be a breeze. You can write your letter with total confidence in the knowledge that it will come across as professional and well thought out.

Featured photo credit: Flaticon via flaticon.com

Reference

The post Don’t Need to Look Elsewhere: 10 Letter of Recommendation Templates That Fit Every Occassion appeared first on Lifehack.



from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2qTDI5I