LIFE SKILLS
MS. OLSON
Topics to Cover
 College Information
 FASFA, Endowments, Classes to Choose, Majors/Minors
 How to Pay for College
 Scholarships, Loans, Grants, Tuition
 Social Networking
 First Interview, Etiquette, Documentation, Emails
 Car Maintenance
 Changing a Tire, Checking Oil, AAA, Shopping for a Car
 Your First House/Apartment
 Safety, Accommodations, Price, Landlord Issues, Reviews
 Resume Building
 Time Management
 Budgeting Your Money
 Getting to Know Yourself!
 Living a Healthy Lifestyle
Introductions
 Name
 Graduation Class
 Why did you join Life Skills?
 What are you looking forward to?
 What could you add to the list?
Knowing Yourself
Personality Types
Type of Learner
Social Context
Personality Type #1
 I typically eat meals very quickly.
 My kitchen or desk is extremely organized.
 I get very impatient and sometimes angry in traffic.
If the majority of your answers are 4s and 5s, you fall into Personality Type 1.
This personality type, also known as the classic Type A personality, is impatient,
competitive and ambitious. They’re often tightly wound workaholics. Usually
aggressive if they don’t get their way, most CEOs and executives are Type A.
Organized and compulsive, Type A personalities act quickly and make impulsive,
snap decisions.
Health Implications
The health risks for this personality type are associated with their impulsivity. A lot of
the stress associated with being impulsive can cause increased acid production,
leaving this personality type at higher risk for gastric ulcers. The rash decisionmaking is also connected to poor food choices. Consequently, this personality type is
likely to have higher BMIs. Additionally, they are neurotic, which researchers
believe makes them less effective at coping with stress, resulting in chronically
challenged immune systems. Accordingly, they are prone to asthma and headaches.
The Good News
Despite these risks, this personality type also reaps the benefits of being conscientious,
a trait associated with a long lifespan – they are likely to pay close attention to
what’s going on in their bodies.
Personality Type #2
 I’d rather be home alone than out with a group of friends.
 I pay my bills as soon as I get them.
 I enjoy planning and organizing vacations and events.
If you answered a majority of 1s, you tip the scale toward Personality Type #2.
Relaxed, easygoing and even-tempered, this personality type takes life one day at a
time. They are essentially the opposite of Personality Type #1, or Type A’s; while
they feel stress, they’re largely unaffected by it. They’re laidback and patient. They
can be prone to procrastination because they feel no rush or impulse to do things
quickly. While they seldom plan or organize anything, they’ll always attend social
events!
Health Implications
People that are laidback tend not to worry about anything. When it comes to your
health, this can be problematic. This personality type can underestimate health risks
or overlook necessary precautions. As social beings, they are more likely to engage in
behaviors like smoking and drinking without considering the risks.
The Good News
On the flip side, this personality type is also confident and tends to have strong social
support systems, a trait connected with strong immune systems and lower risk for
infections.
Personality Type #3
 I am unlikely to confront someone if they upset me.
 I’m sometimes relieved when people cancel plans.
 I often put other people before myself.
If you answered a majority of 5s, you have the tendencies of Personality Type #3.
Known as “people pleasers,” this personality type is passive and accommodating.
They often put other people before themselves, avoid confrontation, and are not
outwardly emotional or social. They’d likely be relieved to spend a night at home
as opposed to out in a group and are not inclined to share their emotions or
feelings. They often do not recognize their own needs.
Health Implications
This personality type is shy, a trait that studies connect to a weakened immune
system and increased vulnerability to viral infections. Additionally, they suppress
emotion, which creates anxiety and leaves them more likely to search for comfort
in things like food or alcohol. Consequently, this personality may have addictive
tendencies.
The Good News
Because this type is also eager to please, it makes them more likely to follow their
doctors’ medical advice.
Personality Type #4
If I see an acquaintance at the supermarket, I’m likely to say “Hi” first.
I usually look forward to family events like holidays and weddings.
If I’m stressed, I’m likely to tell my close friends.
I spend the majority of my time being happy.
I usually think problems will somehow work themselves out.
If you answered mostly 1s or 2s, you have qualities of Personality Type #4.
Personality Type #4 is likely to experience negative distress, but is unlikely to
communicate those emotions in social interactions. They are characterized by
indecision, irritability and poor mood. They avoid social interaction and feel a great
deal of anxiety, stress, and loneliness, which they do not express.
Health Implications
Type #4 personalities are more at risk for cardiovascular problems. In fact, they are
three times more likely to suffer from heart disease than other personality types.
The reason lies in their stress-management skills. While Types #1, #2 and #3 are
affected by emotions and anxiety, their bodies process and expel this stress. For
Type #4, however, emotions, bad moods, and anxiety build up, but are never
released. The chronic suppression of emotions and avoidance of social interactions
throws the body’s stress response into overdrive, causing inflammation. This can
contribute to everything from high blood pressure to heart disease and stroke.
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Adjusting Your Personality: The
Optimistic Solution
 Despite the health risks inherent to your personality type, there is good
news: You have the ability to change aspects of your personality. While
many of your character traits are set by genetics and established in your
early childhood and adolescence, with effort and cognizance, you can
control your responses to certain situations.
 Personality consists of three major things: thoughts, emotions and
behavior. As long as you are willing to change one of these elements, the
other two will follow. Managing your perceptions and gaining selfawareness is half the battle. Luckily, the most important factor in deciding
your personality type is something you can control: your attitude.
 Unsurprisingly, the healthiest kind of attitude is an optimistic one. One
study found that, on average, optimists live about 7.5 years longer than
pessimists. Research has connected those who see the glass half-empty to
having an increased risk of developing neurologic disorders like
Alzheimer’s and Parkison’s.
 Pessimism and optimism are less about how the world really is and more
about how you see the world.