This is the plant that all the other options (called “cultivars”) were cultivated from. It has a narrow reddish purple band around the edges of its green leaves. This plant has a yellowish white band on its leaves that separate the red from the green. It may even appear white or yellow from a distance. This is perhaps the most unique-looking of the cultivars. Its outer red band is very prominent, leading it to appear red or pink. This tree has the same color pattern as the original marginata, but its leaves are a bit different. The stems will produce growths that have wider and tougher leaf patterns than the other trees. Groups of leaves grow in dense sphere shapes.

Summary: Pick the Dracaena marginata for the original variety. Choose the marginata tricolor cultivar for a greenish gold plant. Go for the marginata colorama cultivar for a reddish look. Grow the marginata Tarzan cultivar for spikier leaves.


This may seem simple, but it’s the most important aspect of any tutoring position. You need to know the subject inside and out. Don’t hesitate to use books, online resources, or your own teachers as resources to brush up on algebra before you begin tutoring students. When you schedule the tutoring session, be sure to get all the necessary information from the student, so you can provide adequate assistance. Find out what they’re currently studying, what they’ve struggled with in the past, and what their goals are. You should also request access to homework assignments, quizzes, and tests. This will give you a clear idea of where they’re struggling, and how to help.  Some tutors create a short questionnaire to help them make a good start. This can include all the important data like the student’s name, their availability, and their current course schedule. You might want to consider making a quiz for new students. This can help you determine their knowledge level, and better prepare to offer them superior tutoring. Don’t “wing it.” You want to make sure you’re making the most of your time. Make a brief outline of what you’re going to do, how much time each thing should take, and what the student will learn, during each lesson. Continually adjust these expectations based on your student’s progress. The last thing you want is to have your student arrive only to discover you can’t actually work the problem. Work through every problem a few times in advance, so you’re certain to be able to offer them guidance as they solve the problem. Remember there is often more than one way to solve the problem, so keep track of the student’s method and give them a chance to find the right answer. Then, walk them through the simplest way to solve.

Summary: Know your stuff. Get information from students. Create a lesson plan. Practice the problems.


Presenting yourself depends on how you feel about yourself. Without genuine confidence you lack the key elements of a positive self-image. Believing in yourself and living with confidence improves your success in dating, leads to upward mobility at work, and leads to greater achievement of personal goals. Many of the steps listed above in this article can help build confidence. Exercising, dressing well, and being a gracious and friendly conversationalist all lead to improved levels of confidence. Nobody is perfect, and even if you present yourself as perfect you’ll still have flaws in your personality. Remember, it’s ok to be yourself even if you have faults. Try to work to improve on the aspects of yourself you don’t like. If you feel you aren’t well spoken or don’t have interesting stories, try reading more and sharing what you learn. If you can’t lose weight no matter how you change your diet and exercise, embrace it as a part of who you are, and learn to take pride in yourself. When focused on your own flaws, it’s easy to forget other people aren’t perfect either. If you actively work to better yourself, people will notice and admire you for it. You aren’t always out in the world trying to impress people and make a good impression. Maybe you’re at home by yourself, or making a routine trip to the grocery store. Keep these tips in mind during the smallest interactions and make presenting your best self a part of your routine. Compliment a cashier, exercise when you’re tempted to watch television, and practice other healthy habits that will pay dividends down the road for presenting yourself to others. Even when you’re working to present yourself to others, don’t get bogged down worrying about how they’ll judge you. Be yourself, and be content with the effort you put as long as you are comfortable with who you are. These changes won’t come overnight, so be patient. Remember, while it’s important to present yourself to others, it’s far more important to present a positive image to yourself. When you’re happy with who you are, it shows in the way you present yourself to others, so focus on yourself as the person you want to impress the most.

Summary: Build your confidence. Understand your strengths and your flaws. Maintain your efforts to present yourself to others even when you’re by yourself. Don’t worry about what other people think.


If your bank closed your account, you may have negative information on your ChexSystems report. However, not all banks use ChexSystems. There also are some that review all applications on a case-by-case basis.  Likewise, if your bank used a different service, you should look for banks that don't use that service. These banks will be more likely to open an account for you because they won't know about what happened between you and the bank that closed your account. You may be able to find this information on the bank's website. If not, you can always call the toll-free customer service line and ask. Many branches also have the logo of the service they use on their doors. Smaller community banks are far more likely to review applications on a case-by-case basis, and typically are more forgiving if you had your account closed because you over-drafted or made a mistake.  If you apply for an account at a small community bank, go into the branch in person rather than applying online (many of these small banks don't even accept applications online). Dress presentably in clean, neat clothing so you make a good impression with the banker. Be as open and honest as possible about your past relationship with your old bank and the reason you want to open an account. This can prevent you from having problems again with this bank if they discover you lied on your application or failed to disclose important information. Since credit unions are owned by their members, they tend to be more forgiving of past mistakes. Credit unions also typically offer more assistance with budgeting and financial responsibility, if that has been a problem for you in the past.  Credit unions typically only allow certain types of people to be members. For example, they may only accept employees of certain companies, people who live in a certain community, or people who fit other criteria. Check the credit union's website to find out if you meet their membership criteria before you apply. You also might ask your employer if there are any credit unions you qualify for because you work there. In the United States and some other countries, a number of large banks offer second chance checking accounts for people who have a history of troubled banking relationships.  Use these accounts as a last resort. They typically have annual fees and may require you to maintain a fairly substantial minimum balance at all times. They also may have other requirements that you would have difficulty meeting. If you do get a second chance checking account, you typically have the option of converting it to a regular account after you maintain it responsibly for a year or longer.
Summary: Identify banks that do not use ChexSystems. Try a small community bank. Consider a credit union. Look for a second chance checking account.