Since it’s time to get greeting cards sent out, I thought I’d start December off with a free watercolor Christmas postcard to help you out. It features stunning blue and red watercolor plants that are subtle but still very festive. If you are not sending cards this year, you can still use it as a cute poster to add some festive decoration to your office. We rarely send physical Christmas cards nowadays, so I hope this printable will motivate you to send some this year.
Free Watercolor Christmas Card & Poster
Printable posters are perfect if you do not have much space available for holiday decorations. Moreover, they are easy to change, so you can easily swap them whenever you need them.
Today’s card/poster is 4×6 inches and features stunning watercolor shades of blue and red. Pair it with some red ornaments or a white frame and it will be all you need this holiday.
For Personal Use Only.
Are you sending Christmas postcards this year? I must admit that I prefer to send all greetings via chat or email but I will definitely print some posters to decorate the house. This free watercolor Christmas postcard will be perfect as a small decor for my kitchen.
If you are looking for more Holiday Freebies, make sure to check our free printables library
Looking for something specific?
If you have an idea for a printable, let us know in the comments! We are always looking for inspiration. If you decide to print today’s free printable Christmas decorations, make sure to share photos of your decorated room with us via Instagram or Twitter.
“It’s Never Too Late” is a series that tells the stories of people who decide to pursue their dreams on their own terms.
It was nearly 4 a.m. one Wednesday in May 1999 when Devon Simmons came home to find some acquaintances gathered outside his home in Harlem. They fell into an argument. Mr. Simmons was 17, set to graduate from high school in three weeks.
The argument escalated, and as he would later tell authorities, he thought he saw a gun. He drew his own. In a flash, one person lay mortally wounded and another injured. Mr. Simmons was convicted of first- and second-degree assault, as well as criminal possession of a weapon. En route to Coxsackie Correctional Facility, he felt a grimly familiar narrative close around him: another poor young Black man in handcuffs.
“Once you’re arrested as a young person, it’s like a pathway,” he said.
Mr. Simmons spent 15 years in prison. Since 2014, he’s been a free man — one whose trajectory was dramatically rerouted not once, but twice. As a reader and writer in prison, and then the first graduate — summa cum laude — of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s Prison-to-College Pipeline program, he broke free of that dark narrative. In the years since, he’s devoted himself to rewriting it altogether.
At 40, Mr. Simmons has been named a 2017 David Rockefeller Fund Fellow, a 2019 Soros Justice Fellow, a Senior Atlantic Fellow and vice chair of the Canary Impact Fund. He’s a father now, too, and he’s made it his mission to remake not just his own life, but to change the educational and career opportunities afforded to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, and the way society thinks about that population in the first place. (The following interview has been edited and condensed.)
What were you like as a kid?
I always thought I was a good kid. I wanted to go to college, though not for the right reasons — I wanted to sell weed to white boys. But I was a good kid, didn’t want to do harm to anyone.
I’d say I got a passion for education when I was young, because my mom used her work address so I could go to a better school rather than in our own district in Harlem, which was horrible. I got to leave the neighborhood every morning to go to school. I saw all the great architecture, saw there was another world, two train stops away.
What was that first year in prison like?
I got my G.E.D. my first year, but there was no higher education after that, because of the [1994] crime bill, which canceled Pell grants for people in prison. So I just started reading. I don’t think I ever read an entire book until prison. I began to read autobiographies. “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” I was trying to see a world outside prison.
I was starting to change. I would take new words and try to use them — I’d be in the yard and be like, “Why you so loquacious?”
What was it like trying to change while also serving time?
Reading a lot of books helped with that. I went to South Africa in my head before I actually went there, years later.
I had to be really intentional about what I thought about, and talked about. I had to not engage with who got stabbed last week, or who’s selling drugs. Those thoughts aren’t positive. I was trying to have a positive mind-set.
What did you think when you heard about the Prison-to-College Pipeline program?
It was intimidating — I hadn’t been in a school setting for 12 years. But I was already litigating, because I had to file for my appeal. Being a jailhouse lawyer kept me sharp academically.
A lot of people in jail or prison have to learn the law as a means of representing themselves — writing briefs, submitting motions. But when they come out, they’re not able to utilize those skills. It’s a missed opportunity for us as a society.
What was it like pivoting from prison life to student life?
Being a student gave me agency. Like before, if I was just a parolee complaining about stop-and-frisk, people would be like “chill out.” But if I said those same things in school, as a student, I’d be commended for it, and it’s considered critical thinking.
Do you remember your first day out?
The day of my release I was shot twice and left for dead — it was the guy involved in what sent me away back in 1999. You’d think it’d be the greatest day of my life, but it didn’t turn out that way. I stayed in the hospital about a week, got a plate in my right arm.
I think the world anticipated me focusing on the shooting. I chose to focus on school instead. I had a special pen that would record the lecture, because I couldn’t write. I decided it’s up to me to choose my narrative. Is it that I was shot immediately upon my release? Or is it graduating summa cum laude, and trying to change the criminal legal system?
How did the world respond to you in general?
You’ve got to find a way to reinvent yourself and promote yourself to the world.
But there’s a stigma. For a long time, for example, any application for school, housing, a job, you needed to check the box saying you’re formerly incarcerated. The disenfranchisement pushes a lot of people into the informal market — selling drugs, for example.
That’s why I’m trying to change not just the education opportunities for formerly incarcerated people, but public perception. That stigma — it shouldn’t be that a bad choice you make at 15 follows you the rest of your life.
What’s it like being asked about what got you arrested?
There’s a dignity piece. I wasn’t a bad kid. I was in a bad situation. It’s definitely part of my journey, but I don’t feel it speaks to who I am today. I’d hope people would reassess whether that information is actually relevant to how they understand me today.
What’s your focus now?
I cocreated the Paralegal Pathways Initiative, at Columbia Law School, to help those jailhouse lawyers find a way into the legal field. It’s a 14-week training course that teaches tech skills, legal ethics, soft communication skills, a little legal history — all the basics that would allow you to be a paralegal. After the course, our participants either get a fellowship or job placement, or move on to law school.
I’m also trying to create more pipeline programs like John Jay’s around the world. As global ambassador for the Incarceration Nations Network, I’ve traveled to South Africa, Cuba, Jamaica and the U.K. I’m also working to change thinking about parole, too. I’d also love to help law firms diversify better, too. I wear a variety of hats.
What does the future look like for you?
That’s challenging for formerly incarcerated people. I struggle with that. I try to live in the moment. I would love to continue the work I’m doing. And maybe one day I’ll write a book or do a documentary. But I’m always cognizant that tomorrow is not promised.
Also, I’ve come to the realization that people are flawed. That got me to learn empathy over the years.
What is your takeaway from your experience?
I’m blessed. The universe wasn’t supposed to let me live to see 40. I’m a formerly incarcerated person and I can never take that away. But if I can use my platform to create change, that’s a blessing.
We’re looking for people who decide that it’s never too late to switch gears, change their life and pursue dreams. Should we talk to you or someone you know? Share your story here.
Despite the popularity of digital media, bookstores and libraries are still valued places in a community. Are you a book lover? Do you enjoy going to bookstores? How often do you visit your local bookstore or library — and how much time do you spend there? Do you prefer to read “real,” tangible books or electronic versions?
Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to learn more about a landmark bookstore in Portland, Ore.
Want more Picture Prompts? Find them all in this column.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
We ought to name — first for ourselves and then our children — the enduring shock of grief, without grasping for silver linings or platitudes. As parents, we must become more comfortable with the language of death. As researchers who study sex ed remind us of that subject, it shouldn’t be “the talk” but rather a series of small conversations woven into the fabric of family life. Death is not so different.
I see a dead blue jay on the sidewalk — pitiful and luminous — and my instinct is to avert my gaze and hurry my preschooler along. But really, the tiny corpse provides a relatively neutral opportunity to explain to him — gently, honestly — that all things die, that bodies can become so hurt or sick that they simply stop working and life ends.
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word avert in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.
If you want a better idea of how avert can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.
What excites you about the possibility? The chance to express yourself creatively? The opportunity to move and thrill audiences? The fame? The fortune? The prospect of signing autographs and taking selfies with fans?
In “On Their Small Shoulders Rest Some Big Films,” Sarah Bahr talks to five children who are winning acclaim for their roles in “Belfast,” “King Richard,” “C’mon C’mon” and “The Tender Bar.” Here are excerpts from three of her conversations:
Jude Hill
The 11-year-old plays 9-year-old Buddy in “Belfast.”
One morning I woke up for a normal school day, and my mum showed me an email. I only read about two words of it before I started running around the house screaming that I got the role, and I was going to get to work with all these amazing people — Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Ciarán Hinds, Judi Dench.
Me and Buddy aren’t that different — we both love football [soccer] and films and have the same personality. Every second the cameras weren’t rolling, I was playing football with the other actors.
Judi Dench is very, very funny, and sometimes very inappropriate. To have her play my grandma is insane. We bet two pounds to see who could guess the number of times it would take to film a scene, and I ended up winning. I’m keeping that money in my memory box forever.
The first time I saw my face on a poster I thought, “That’s not real.” I’m still just a normal kid, and this is my first film, but I think if you work hard, then you can achieve anything.
Saniyya Sidney
The 15-year-old plays Venus Williams as she’s first winning tournaments in “King Richard.”
When Venus and Serena came to set, what I took away was how close the family was. They told us, “Yeah, we all shared rooms and did talent shows together; we were so close that there was never a day we weren’t together.”
The tennis training was quite intense. The way Venus and Serena play is so unique, and I worked on Venus’s serve every day. My coach, Mr. Eric [Taino], and I were both so proud the day I got the serve down. I’m left-handed, but I had to learn to play right-handed for the movie.
Mr. Will [Smith] is the funniest person ever. It was amazing to watch him create Richard. He inspired me to push myself because he would come to work each day better than yesterday.
My family is like, “Oh my goodness, we know you as Saniyya, and now we’re going around town and seeing you on a billboard — that’s kind of crazy, girl!” They’re so proud.
I hope families all go see this movie and feel like they’re represented. I also want young girls who may be seeing themselves onscreen to know that it’s important to stay humble and keep your head up. Make sure to take care of yourself.
I’d love to do an action film. A Marvel movie star that plays tennis would be hilariously cool.
Daniel Ranieri
The 10-year-old plays the writer J.R. Moehringer as a boy in “The Tender Bar.”
My mom filmed me cursing about the lockdown, and a couple of months later it went viral. Jimmy Kimmel wanted me on his show, and right after we got done with the interview, George Clooney’s casting director contacted my mom and said George wanted me to be in his next movie. I was like, “Wait, what?!”
The best advice I got was when you’re filming, don’t act like you’re filming — just talk like you’re having a real conversation.
I didn’t always want to be an actor. I wanted to be a race driver, and then I changed my mind and wanted to be a firefighter, but now I’m really stuck on being an actor.
I did a lot of the scenes in one or two takes — George was so easy to film with and didn’t do 100 takes. But every time we got done filming a scene, I had to go back into school on set. It was so annoying because I couldn’t really watch anyone else film or learn anything from Tye [Sheridan] and Ben [Affleck].
I’d love to be someone from “Star Wars” or be in an Avengers film. My dream is to work with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Chris Evans or Chris Hemsworth.
Would you want to be a child star? Why or why not? What do you imagine are the thrills and rewards? What do you think might be the possible pitfalls and downsides?
Have you ever acted? If so, what was your experience like? If not, did reading the article make you want to try?
What did you learn about the life of a child actor, on and off the set, from reading the article? Which young actor’s story was most interesting or inspiring to you? What line or quotation stood out?
Do you have a favorite young actor? What makes that person appealing or admirable?
Demi Singleton, 14, said she would like to play “any role that highlights how powerful women can be.” Daniel Ranieri said his dream was to work with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Chris Evans or Chris Hemsworth. What’s your dream movie or TV show to star in, and why? Who would you want to be your co-star?
Most popular courses and projects show an increased interest in skills for entry-level digital jobs
By Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer, Coursera
Each year, we take a moment to reflect back on global content trends on Coursera. The most popular courses and Guided Projects of 2021 illustrate a year of continued personal and professional growth, even as challenges persisted around the world.
This year, we also saw more women learners around the world enroll in entry-level certificates and STEM content compared to pre-pandemic years. This promising trend emerges at a moment when women have been disproportionately affected by unemployment. It is heartening to see strong growth in women enrollments in content that will help them prepare for in-demand digital careers. We remain committed to expanding gender equity in online learning.
Learners flock to trending digital marketing tools
Last year, we launched Guided Projects and they quickly became a popular way to learn new skills. Each project takes two hours or less to complete and incorporates hands-on learning through a virtual machine—no need to download tools or navigate software configuration.
In 2021, learners turned to beginner-level projects focused on digital marketing tools, including Google Analytics, WordPress, and Canva. As organizations increase investments in digital channels, entry- and mid-level digital marketing jobs are projected to grow in the coming years. Guided Projects are an efficient way to develop role-specific skills, be that web development or business analytics.
We are grateful for our committed educator partners who play a critical role in helping learners around the world reach their full potential. In 2021, we added more than 20 new university and industry partners, including Dartmouth College, Howard University, Queen Mary University of London, Khalifa University, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Oracle, and Microsoft. This coming year, we look forward to working together to make online learning even more effective and equitable through new content and tools.
Eager to kickstart your 2022 learning? Check out Coursera Plus, an all-inclusive subscription for unlimited access to 3,000 courses, projects, and certificate programs.
* Top courses and Guided Projects calculated based on total enrollments from January 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021
For anyone who’s just getting started in a development career, it’s exciting to learn about all the paths you can take to become an engineer. One particularly popular field is computer systems engineering.
Keep reading to learn what computer systems engineering is, what Computer Systems Engineers do, how much they make, and how to get into this very in-demand field.
What is computer systems engineering?
Computer systems engineering involves the design, assembly, and maintenance of networks of computers for individuals and organizations. This interdisciplinary field combines computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis.
Just about every kind of company and organization has its computer systems engineering challenges. Still, Computer Systems Engineers are especially in demand in the government, manufacturing, transportation, and telecommunications industries.
What does a Computer Systems Engineer do?
The next time you connect to a computer network at work or school, think about all of the components that make up that network. It’s not just the other computers connected to the network but also the routers, servers, cables, backup power equipment, and remote access systems. Plus, the software that lets all of these components talk to each other and work together.
So, who put the whole system together? Who decided what kind of equipment and components should go into it? It was all designed by a Computer Systems Engineer.
A Computer Systems Engineer works with people and organizations to create computer systems and networks that meet their needs. Keep in mind that different companies have different requirements and priorities for their computers and networks.
For example, while a manufacturing company may prioritize inventory tracking and payment systems, a government contractor may need to put security above all else. A Computer Systems Engineer can translate the needs of a company into the right hardware, software, and network structure to meet those needs.
Computer Systems Engineers typically work with components and hardware such as servers, routers, file storage systems, networking cables, desktop machines, and employee laptops. Their primary goal is to ensure that a company’s computers are connected in a way that meets business requirements while making the most efficient use of computing resources. They may also assess the effectiveness of a company’s current system and offer advice and improvements.
While Computer Systems Engineers used to focus on local systems, today, they also integrate companies’ computer systems with remote servers and other cloud-based tools such as virtual machines.
Though Computer Systems Engineers do work with software, they also work a lot with hardware, equipment, and components. This makes them different from Software Engineers. On the software side, Computer Systems Engineers work extensively with operating systems through shell scripting.
In short, Computer Systems Engineers are the go-to people for IT professionals and System Administrators whenever there’s a problem or concern. They’re trained to look at a computer system’s architecture and assess its stability, security, and interoperability.
What skills should a Computer Systems Engineer have?
Since Computer Systems Engineers work extensively with computer technology, they should have a solid grasp of computer science and how computers work. A significant part of their day-to-day job involves testing and troubleshooting systems. They also need to be able to tell when issues stem from the hardware, software, or something else.
Computer Systems Engineers are expected to know how to design, connect, and integrate computer networks, both local and remote. They also need to understand how proposed changes to a network structure will affect the costs and operability of the whole system.
Today’s Computer Systems Engineers must also understand the basics of cybersecurity to keep systems safe from cyber-attacks and data leaks.
Lastly, a Computer Systems Engineer needs to have top-notch communication and analytical skills. Communication skills are especially key because they work closely with Software Engineers, IT specialists, cybersecurity experts, and managers to understand both the technical and business requirements of a computer system. They should also be critical thinkers and good problem-solvers with a high level of curiosity and willingness to ask questions.
How much does a Computer Systems Engineer make?
Computer Systems Engineers are in demand worldwide and by companies in every field. That’s because companies are more reliant on functioning computer systems now than ever before.
According to a recent survey, the average Computer Systems Engineer salary in the U.S. is about $52,300 — with an average bonus of $5,500 per year.
What factors affect a Computer Systems Engineer’s salary?
Two major factors affect how much a Computer Systems Engineer can expect to make: the type of organization they work for and their location.
Field and organization
While $52,300 per year is the national average, some fields and organizations pay Computer Systems Engineers a lot more. Generally, government and research agencies offer well above the average salary. And in particular, many federal agencies, from the Navy to the Department of Commerce, pay Computer Systems Engineers over $100,000 per year on average.
Location
Many Computer Systems Engineers live on the coasts. That makes them far more in demand in the Midwestern states, where salary expectations are well above 25% of the national average. Major exceptions to this include Virginia and Maryland, where there’s high government demand for Computer Systems Engineers.
Interested in becoming a Computer Systems Engineer?
Computer systems engineering is an excellent career choice for anyone ready to start a new career in development. There’s high demand, and Computer Systems Engineers can look forward to job security and good pay.
“The Upshaws” has plenty of classic sitcom DNA. Bennie’s love-hate relationship with Lucretia is based on the dynamic between Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) in “Sanford and Son,” the hit 1970s comedy developed by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin. Fields is best known as a star of two long-running TV sitcoms: “The Facts of Life” and “Living Single.”
But Sykes was also inspired by the free-flowing verbiage of August Wilson’s plays (“Jitney,” “The Piano Lesson”) and said she wanted to create a comedy that “sounds like how real people talk” instead of one that relies too heavily on the dialogue-setup-punchline rhythm of most sitcoms.
Daily Word Challenge
Can you correctly use the word verbiage in a sentence?
Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.
Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.
If you want a better idea of how verbiage can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.
Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.
Gen Z artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Chloe Bailey and the Kid Laroi grew up admiring artists who are now their contemporaries. The playful competition between these young stars and their idols is “evidence of a dynamic that has been increasingly noticeable this year: the growing generational divide between pop’s millennial elders and their Gen Z heirs,” Lindsay Zoladz writes.
In this lesson, you will explore what makes artists of Generation Z unique and how they relate to older music legends. Then you will choose a Gen Z artist you respect and write an analysis of what makes that artist’s work innovative, interesting or inspiring.
Warm-Up
What kind of music have you been listening to recently? Do you enjoy listening to current artists or older ones?
In a quickwrite, respond to the following questions: Who are some of your favorite younger artists? What do you like about them and their music? In what ways do you connect to their music? What do you think their music says about your generation?
If you want, you can share your responses, and find out what other students from around the world are listening to, in our Student Opinion question “What Music Are You Listening to Right Now?”
1. The article starts with an anecdote about Drake’s album release and Lil Nas X’s response. How does this anecdote hook the reader and establish the thesis of the article?
2. According to the article, why has the generational divide between pop music’s millennials and Gen Z stars become more evident this year?
3. What are some examples of millennials’ mentoring or collaborating with younger artists? What do you think about these collaborations? Have you enjoyed witnessing the creative output from them? Why or why not?
4. How have Gen Z artists publicly shown their loyalty to, or acknowledged the ways in which they’ve been influenced or inspired by, millennial artists?
5. Why have some relationships between Gen Z and millennial stars become more complicated? Why do you think some millennial artists are distancing themselves — or asking for more acknowledgment — from Gen Z musicians?
6. How have stars like Olivia Rodrigo and Lil Nas X made choices that differentiate them from their millennial forebears?
Going Further
Who is your favorite Gen Z artist? Or, name a Gen Z artist who you think represents something interesting, innovative or inspiring.
Once you’ve decided on an artist, make a list of the person’s traits and characteristics. As you make your list, consider these questions:
What feelings, images or words come to mind as you think about this artist and his or her music?
How would you describe the artist’s music to someone who has never heard it?
What makes the artist unique? What do the person’s music, style and beliefs say about the generation the artist comes from?
Next, use the ideas from your list to write a paragraph about the artist and what his or her music, and artistic identity, says about Generation Z. You can share your paragraph in the comments section of this article.
Want more Lessons of the Day? You can find them all here.
