Research Paper on Being a Doctor

Introduction: A flame sparked a passion early in my life a desire to become a surgeon. My first exposure to the medical field was when I visited my aunt in her residency in Venezuela. â€Å"A surgeon is responsible for the success of his scheduled surgeries. He’s a leader who coordinates each operation with a highly qualified staff, assesses the patient’s need for surgery and is in charge of his post op recovery (Baylor). † A surgeon possesses qualities above those of a general physician, requiring years of additional schooling.Few choose this path and I hope one day I will succeed in reaching my ultimate goal and to also be able to help people. [pic] Research Process: The career cluster choices offered were business management, construction and health sciences which is the one that captured my attention because a surgeon fits in that category. I was excited because I got to write about something in which I was passionate. My research was primarily based on expan ding my knowledge and getting a deeper insight into the medical career of a surgeon and how to arrive at this destination, which the career cluster helped clarify.The next step was to locate the right person of prominence in the field. Although difficult, my pediatrician helped me find the him. Dr. Schierling is a general surgeon working with the Medical Clinic of North Texas. Knowing that surgeons have many responsibilities, I knew that contacting him early was necessary as well as having back up surgeons. I developed my interview in a thoughtful and detailed manner covering all the requirements making sure I had the right information to write a detailed and informative paper.I sent the interview by email Wednesday and first received his response on Sunday, learning the importance of backups and contacting people early. Dr. Schierling’s information was exactly what I was looking for; helpful and detailed information which really helped me develop my knowledge about the medic al field. Job Specifics: To become a doctor the path is long and hard. Under normal circumstances you need a four year degree in any university. You can major in anything you want, â€Å"but at least two years of you college experience will be trying to build up your prerequisite credits for med school.It is better if you major in English or science as it will be easier to meet those credits(Schierling)†. In the charts below are the ACT and SAT scores for acceptance into Southwestern University as well as class rank for acceptance. This is one of the thousand universities that offer a four year degree. To get more requirements and learn more about this university you should visit the Southwestern website. First-Year Acceptance Rates By Class Rank (2010) CLASS RANK | |185 students enrolled | |Average undergraduate GPA: 3. 8 | |Average MCAT scores: 11. 15 ( out of a 15 point scale) | Remember that it is not imperative to go to a prestigious med school to be successful (Schie rling)†. â€Å"After Medical School you will apply for residency in surgery in one of the thousands of hospitals across the country. Then after you are matched to a residency program you move to the state and get a license to practice medicine which takes about one year. Residency for surgery is usually five years, then if you want to do a sub specialization it can take about one to two years in a fellowship(Schierling). † While you do your residency you earn about 35,000-41,000 dollars, depending on the area.After you are a surgeon and depending on your specialty your salary can vary from 258,000-700,000 dollars. Hours, traveling and even dress are flexible after med school. â€Å"You also have to remember that surgeons are few and they are always in constant demand. Below are some statistics for job outlooks from the â€Å"Bureau of Labor Statistics†: Occupational Title |SOC Code |Employment, 2008 |Projected Employment, 2018 |Change, 2008-18 | | | | | |Number |Percent | |Physicians and surgeons |29-1060 |661,400 |805,500 |144,100 |22 | |Another important responsibility of a surgeon is to be a good businessman. Thinking of the patient’s ability to pay for care always needs to be taken into consideration. â€Å"This brings long hours and a difficult quality of life if you have a family, but the patient always needs to come first. A surgeon’s work week generally consists of a few days in the operating room, some days of patient evaluation and post op care. They also cover emergency calls and sometimes you are on call late at night; loss of sleep and not having the time to eat are normal.Surgeons have opportunities to attain higher positions within the hospital community; chief or head of certain departments. These positions are more managerial and can redefine your role to more leadership and less clinical care. This is a decision that every surgeon needs to make early on in his career. (Schierling)† [pic] Reflection: T he I-Search project was very eye opening and educational. This really encouraged me to start preparing to be more knowledgeable in my subject and choice of university and education.I now understand the surgeon’s general work days and the path to get there. I had the opportunity to meet people in the career field in which I was interested. I also learned about possible secondary career choices such as business management in the health care industry and the career possibilities related to managing a hospital. I discovered that while studying medicine you can also get a secondary degree such as a PHD or an MBA. The survey, therefore did manage to cover a specific interest of mine and it also opened other possibilities.I also learned that to be a doctor â€Å" you have to have good studying an organizational skills to manage all the rigorous training required as well as honesty and a good work ethic. Looking back at all the work I did put into this paper, I would only change one thing. I would have been more organized with my time. A time line would have helped me better approach all this work. This experience will help me in the future by having given me the necessary tools to complete bigger complex projects in an organized manner.

Journey

My life has been very interesting, living In Morocco and then moving to California and now I'm in Massachusetts and the Journey continues. Throughout the years I lived in so many houses and picked up so many memories. Each house had Its own design that made it some how special and unique. But after all they're all places that I spent my everyday at and had fun with family and friends. The first time I entered Oakland, I felt the vibe of the city and It was Like love at first sight. The city was so energetic and so much different than my hometown.So I went to my ether's neighborhood and It was In a very quiet area which I really liked because I'm not used to the city and all Its noise. Walked In home and looked around and knew that place going to be so fun to live In, the best place In the inure house was my bedroom which was so big you could open a super market in it. Then I walked out to the back yard that had all the essentials to a great barbeques party with all the seats and the grills and thanks to the weather the sun was there everyday.Because of my dad's job we had to move from place to place. So we moved to Malden ND it was a big move because the area and the city was so different from what I'm used to. We moved to a house near the Malden river and I really liked the fact that it was in a quite area and the house itself was big enough for both of us. I spent my entire first day exploring the house from the first floor down to the basement. T was a really clean house and because it was renovated everything was basically brand new, but of course what really mattered to me was my bedroom which I wasn't Disappointed about at all because it met all my needs with the really comfortable bed ND the big windows that showed the river and let sunshine light up my room. The best room in the house was the kitchen even though I don't know how to cook. But after all I really spent great days at my house and IM really grateful that its close to school. Rooney By amine- mean ENG 111 My life has been very interesting, living in Morocco and then moving to years I lived in so many houses and picked up so many memories. Each house had its own design that made it some how special and unique. But after all they're all places time I entered Oakland, I felt the vibe of the city and it was like love at first sight. The father's neighborhood and it was in a very quiet area which I really liked because I'm not used to the city and all its noise.Walked in home and looked around and knew that place going to be so fun to live in, the best place in the entire house was my Because of my dad's Job we had to move from place to place. So we moved to Malden used to. We moved too house near the Malden river and I really liked the fact that it but of course what really mattered to me was my bedroom which I wasn't best room in the house was the kitchen even though I don't know how to cook. Journey Area of Study Essay- Journeys The Oxford Dictionary defines Journey as â€Å"an act of traveling from one place to another†; this could, of course, be taken literally. Instead, why not think of â€Å"places† as emotional or mental situations? So you take a Journey between different emotional states. â€Å"The journey, not the arrival, matters. † This statement is correct for all four texts I will be discussing. The Journey is more important than the arrival because it is the Journey that makes people who they are.On a life Journey there are tipping points that define who we become. On our life Journey, what Is the end, death or meeting beyond? What significance does death have to the person you have become? Nothing: in death we look back at who we've become, but we have become like that, not because of the situation that you are in at that moment in time, but the choices or paths that we took on our life Journey. A life Journey has bumps and dips that can sometim es feel like mountains or craters as deep as hell, but the Journey will always continue.It could be argued that we never really have a specific arrival point in the Journey, but have multiple points of arrival and departures. Does a life Journey ever really end? The journeys that are shown in the texts are inner journeys (spiritual, mental and emotional) that revolve around certain significant points in the subject's life Journey. The four texts that will be compared are; â€Å"God's Grandeur†-Gerald Manley Hopkins, â€Å"l wake and feel the fell and dark. To day-Gerald Manley Hopkins, â€Å"Reign Over Me† written and directed by Mike Binder and a visual representation of Journey. â€Å"God's Grandeur† contains a significant inner Journey. In the flirts four lines of the octet Hopkins describes a natural world through which God's presence runs like an electrical current. Alternatively in the last four lines of the octet he talks about how humans are robbed of t heir sensitivity to the beauty of what is left in nature, people have become unaware of the wonders of the world around them.The sestets shifts In argument again, even though humans do not realize It, nature continuously offers the potential of power and re-blurt. Hopkins Is In awe of the beauty of God's presence all around him. Hopkins uses a metaphor of God's grandeur as an electric force. This suggests an undercurrent that is not always seen, but which builds up as a tension r pressure that occasionally flashes out in ways that can be both brilliant and dangerous. In this moment Hopkins is amazed at how rich and full of life God can make him, Hopkins emotions peak at a high at this point in time.Hopkins uses repartition of the word â€Å"trod† and triple rhyming words; have trod, have trod, have trod, all is seared with trade blared and smeared with toil† to emphasis the struggle of humans, continuous Journey, they have been on a journey for so long that they can't s ee God clearly anymore, and the use of the word â€Å"smeared† is to exaggerate he same thing again, the screen between God and humans is getting murky and dirty, not easy to see through, so they are losing contact.. Hopkins is disappointed that humans have destroyed the land by building factories.Seeing this makes that man does not recognize His power and the beauty of nature; â€Å". †¦ The soil is bare now, nor foot can feel, being shod. † This may mean that because humans are wearing shoes we are disconnected to nature, and we cannot feel God's presence because we have a barrier between us and the earth. Humans have been cutting down trees and ruining the Earth for centuries, we have made the soil bare. Once Hopkins realizes that humans have stopped being one with nature, it made him almost annoyed that we can Just ignore God's presence.Hopkins spirits are finally lifted again when he notices that there will always be the promise of re-birth, new life and â₠¬Å"dearest freshness†. In the last four lines of the sestets Hopkins employs imagery from nature to convey rejuvenation by saying â€Å"†¦. Last lights off the black West went Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs†¦. Ah! Bright wings† meaning; that even though the sun goes down in the west he knows that God will bring it back up in the East, he as faith that God will keep the Earth surviving long enough that a similar cycle will happen with nature; that things will go back to how they were, fresh and rejuvenated.Also, Hopkins believes that eventually if God keep the Earth turning someone will eventually notice the beauty and wonder that God's presence makes. In this poem Hopkins is on an emotional Journey, he first starts by being amazed at God's presence, then his emotions change to almost angry at how human can be so ignorant, then when he realizes that God will always be there his emotions transform to astonishment at Gods persistence. WSDL it m atter that he was astonished at the end of the poem, if you didn't know how what occurred to redder him this way?The second text that I will be discussing is â€Å"l wake and feel the fell of dark, not day', this is a terrible sonnet by Gerald Manley Hopkins this poem, is an emotional Journey also. In this poem Hopkins is suffering from insomnia, he longs for the brightness of the day time. The darkness of night makes Hopkins feel claustrophobic, the poem emphasis his feelings of loneliness and isolation. The sonnet finishes with the consolation of sleep, while it opens with its impossibility. Hopkins starts this poem by stating that he wake up expecting day light, but unfortunately he is still stuck in the fall of darkness.The clever use of â€Å"fell of dark†, relates back to the fall of Adam and Eve, or how the Lucifer (the devil) is a â€Å"fallen† angel. Hopkins is trying to get across the meaning that darkness is cruel or the equivalent to â€Å"Lucifer†, compared to the brightness of daylight. Hopkins is exhausted and he feels as though the night time is endless â€Å"But where I say Hours I mean years, mean life†. The last four lines of the octet describe how Hopkins is wondering where God really is, â€Å"†¦ Eke dead letters, to dearest him that lives alas! Away. Hopkins has been trying to get a response from God for all the hours of the night, but he feels like pleading with God for sleep is pointless. He thinks that God is Just ignoring him. The first line of the sestets has a metaphor â€Å"l am gall, I am heartburn. † Hopkins is now feeling so terrible that is feels like he is the pain; the darkness is so overwhelming that he feels that he himself has become the insomnia. â€Å"The lost are like this†¦. As I am mine, their sweating selves; but worse† Hopkins now feels like he can understand how â€Å"the lost† (damned) feel, hat they too; are trapped in never ending darkness.Hopkins emot ional Journey in this poem moves from a pleading state with God, through self-pity then to an his suffering of insomnia, but disappointed with himself for being so. Between the two poems Hopkins emotions change of emotions from the Joyfulness of ‘Gods Grandeur† to the despair of â€Å"l wake and feel the fell of dark, not day' is a journey in itself. Hopkins must have experienced a pivotal moment in his life for his emotions to change so dramatically. â€Å"Reign Over Me† written and directed by Mike Binder has a very powerful inner journey (both mental and emotional).It is the story of a man named Charlie and his struggle to deal with the loss of his family in the tragedy of 9/1 1, Charlie suffers from Postgraduates Stress Disorder (PETS) and is helped through the struggle by his former college roommate Alan. In the movie, Charlie starts off weaving through the traffic on this motorists scooter, symbolizing that he is in his own world. Charlie is stuck in a loop the whole way through the movie, every day is a struggle to Just get up out of bed. He lost his family and he is constantly trying to shut that out, he pretends he doesn't remember any of that pivotal moment in time. He Just shut down.Quit work. He stopped wanting to talk about her. Then he acted like he didn't remember them. Then he pretended like he didn't remember us. † Charlie's in-laws are constantly trying to talk to him, while Charlie is Just trying to forget. He is in a state of denial for most of the movie, until Alan gets him to talk to someone. First he tries a therapist, but Charlie refuses to talk. Eventually Charlie confides in Alan and tells him the story of how he lost his whole world â€Å"†¦.. And I felt them burning. † This is the beginning of a new Journey for Charlie; he has finally realized that he must member them to enable himself to move on.Charlie's emotions peak at amazing highs and drop so low at times that he doesn't know if he can liv e with the pain of losing his family, but with the help of his in-laws and his friend Alan, Charlie's journey has gotten back on a more stable path. What Charlie went through, made his mind and soul so distressed that his Journey to recovery will never end, it will be a constant struggle to stay on the stable path. So this particular example of Journey has no arrival, but the process of his emotional peaks and falls has made his Journey a lot ore important than where he will end up.Again, does a life Journey ever really end? Will Charlie ever arrive at a point where is can Just stop? No, he must always continue The final text in a visual representation of a Journey, in the middle of the frame you are looking at a set of steps (outside) leading up to darkness with a caption above reading â€Å"Life is a Journey-EnJoy the Journey. † The steps in the visual are not perfect or straight, they are rough and uneven. This is a symbol meaning that life may not be easy; it will have pa rts that are unstable and scary.Also, the steps are leading up to rankness, this represents that we do not know where life will lead us, and it is unknown. If we knew where we were going what would be the point of the Journey? Why wouldn't we Just Jump around the hard parts and go straight to our destination? No one knows where life will take us; each decision has a separate path leading us to another choice. It doesn't matter where we end up if there was no story of how we the place where we are standing at a certain moment in time is lit up, we can only see so far ahead of us. Once that light ends it is unrevealed where the path will lead.The caption above the image reads â€Å"Life is a Journey-EnJoy the Journey. † A life Journey has multiple inner Journeys; each inner Journey is important and significant. There would be no point to the Journey if we didn't not enjoy each moment. Enjoy life; it is the only real Journey we ever undertake. Each inner Journey is experience di fferently by the main subject of the individual texts. In both of Hopkins poems he experiences two vastly opposing emotional states. One is admiration for God's presence, while the other is disappointment at how God can Just ignore Hopkins suffering.Neither one of his poems bring him to any kind of conclusion, therefore his Journey continues and does not arrive anywhere. In â€Å"Reign Over Me† Charlie's grief moves through the seven stages but does not conclude. He will always grieve but is stable enough for his life Journey to continue. Like Hopkins, Charlie's Journey is not over when our involvement is over. In the visual representation we cannot see the end of the path so the only option is to persist up the steps, even though it is scary and unknown still the Journey continues. So what is the arrival without each separate step of the Journey? Journey Each person’s life is a journey on a contorted road dotted with bumps and craters. At certain points, the bumps could seem as high as mountains and the pits as deep as hell, making this journey called life appear quite despondent. Although occasionally, your predicaments are entirely fate’s blunders, but perchance, they are your own. Your personal characteristics roughly resemble a steering wheel for your journey. They could be positive traits, which could steer you on a more decent path; or negative traits, which could steer you to a path that’s, well†¦ not so decent.Although you have no control over fate, you have power over your own â€Å"driving skills†, and could thus widen or narrow your chance for a smooth, prosperous journey. Also, it is beneficial to remember that you are not alone, for there are many other roads that coincide with yours, where others are conducting through their own journeys and floundering through their own bumps and crater s as well. Drive together, and you could purvey support and encouragement for one another, and thus institute milder paths for all of you.Most prominently, no matter how harsh the terrain of your road becomes, just remember that you will pull through and be transformed for the better because of it. This optimistic philosophy that I’ve adopted had been much solace to me in my own journey in becoming a successful high school student. It was not at all easy. Although fate has been overall lenient to me, it was my â€Å"driving skills† that tended to direct my course towards huge bumps. Despite my awareness of my own flaws and omissions, I still compulsorily reproached others and sought ways to exonerate myself.This was one of the worst traits I retain. It precluded me from obtaining responsibility for my choices and learning from past oversights, thus impeded my maturing process. For example, my projects were oftentimes undone till the last minute (including this one). I would think to myself, â€Å"I don’t feel like doing it today, so I’ll work on it tomorrow†. Thus the project was delayed further and further until there was no â€Å"tomorrow† for it anymore, and then I would end up working well over midnight while secretly scowling at the teacher for giving out such a tedious and inane assignment.Immaturity and refusal to admit my errors caused me to plunge into countless pits in my journey. The one positive trait that had proved to be highly efficient in boosting me out of these pits is ambition. I know that too much of it could corrupt a person, but so far it had only empowered my spirit with much-needed optimism. My greatest ambition is to become a renowned novelist; therefore every hardship and pain to me befits an inspiration for a potential novel. It is a most optimistic perception of things, and it had succoured me through many phases of emotional turmoil.Although my own choices and personal characteristics had p rompted many of my dilemmas, a certain number of large bumps on this road did bluntly materialise without my causing them. An example of that would be my kindergarten teacher. Back then, I was excessively shy and timid. (I still am, but not as much). I mainly kept to myself and was far too apprehensive to participate in class activities. Consequently, I might have appeared to be rather slow or mentally challenged. That was exactly what my teacher assumed.She would openly denounce me as a retarded child in front of myself and all my peers, and I was at that stage in my life of accrediting whatever adults told me. Thus for a long time, I subconsciously retained the impression that I was somehow less than other kids. The lack of self-esteem had often induced me to fail before I even try. The other major obstacle that I’ve contended with was during my first years in the States. I had moved to Philadelphia, PA at the age of nine with primitive English comprehension.In addition, we were coerced to dwell in one of the most delinquent and precarious districts in West Philadelphia due to our low budgets. The despicable socio-economic status of my neighbourhood could be seen from the school I attended, which had metal detectors installed at its doors. I underwent a great deal stress both academically and socially due to problems of communication. Plus there were a number of students that discriminated against me because I had the lightest skin colour in my school. As a result, I developed paranoia towards my peers, which ensues me even now.Nevertheless, everybody undergoes their own adversities, shed their own tears, and abide their own pains. At these times of needs, friends, family, and other favourable resources are to be treasured more highly. I was never alone on this road, for many other roads that coincided with mine have brought much joie de vivre upon my journey. One of which who was always there behind me was my dad. I am not abashed to say that he is m y best friend. There was a period in my childhood when he was not there for me. However, he made up for it by being the best father one could have.Not only did he did take the time to assist me with my homework when needed and spent plenty of quality time with me, he was always there with wisdom, encouragement, and consolation. The other momentous source of benefit is Canada. Moving across the Atlantic Ocean was undoubtedly the best thing that ever happened to me. The reason is that the education system in China is not only relentlessly harsh; it is sadistically cruel. Society has deemed that if you failed to attain a university degree, you’d be a disgrace. Your career and marital opportunities would be despicably downtrodden.In addition, China possesses an enormous population and too few universities to match, thus eliciting nervous breakdowns among many high school students, some were even impelled to commit suicide due to the immense pressure. I, on the other hand, am inde scribably glad to be here in Canada, where I am much more likely to do well in high school and thus hold a promising future. Now here I am in grade 10 with a tolerable grade average and a healthy attitude towards school and life in general. Although this journey had been difficult and even toilsome at times, I pulled through.One of the merits that I have acquired from my past experiences is strength. (I’m not referring to muscles, of which I have none). Strength in mind and spirit is like steel, and the most sublime of its quality can only be heated through suffering. I do not mean to pity myself, but I do believe that I’ve suffered more than many other teenagers have. There are certain things that I have not mentioned in this assignment, deeper pits in the hidden trails of my memory. Nonetheless, each time I fall, I was obliged to obtain strength in order to rise.Thus each time I rose, I was a little stronger than before. My kindergarten teacher’s abuse, for ex ample, had brought me much self-loathing, but not anymore. What’s left is a searing urge within me to spite her by proving her wrong. Another lesson that I’ve learned through my journey up to this point is to appreciate all that life has to offer. Life is short, and my road could abruptly come to a halt at anytime. Thus it is prominent to savour each and every moment of it by focusing on the positive things. My struggles and desolation have procured me to value what I have in order to overcome depression.My family, friends, and other fortunate events in my life have been lights in times of darkness, reminding me that the world is not completely forlorn and bleak. Optimism, along with strength, is all that I need to carry on. And thus I go forth on this journey with the memories of all the people and places I’ve left behind. I know that as long as I possess a goal, I will never be lost. My goal as a successful high school student had been so far adequately accomp lished, however, as always, there is much room for enhancement. It had been a most arduous but rewarding journey.My friends and family, especially my father, had made this journey much easier. Also, I would not overlook Canada, which is such an enlightening and lenient learning environment. All of these allies and resources have presented me with guidance in the right course. However, some of my personal characteristics, like irresponsibility, were inclined to steer me astray. Then again, other traits that I possess, like ambition, succoured me in the continuance of my journey. The bumps and craters that I’ve met along my journey held a large role in constituting the person that I am now.I have fallen so many times into the seemingly abyss of despair and struggled against the mirror for just a speck of self-esteem, but I have survived. I understand that there will be greater obstacles and barriers in the future, but I personally believe that pain is a thing to be prized. Some one who does not know pain would not appreciate joy, nor would he obtain the strength to make his journey worthwhile. You can also order a custom research paper, term paper, thesis, dissertation or essay on journey from our professional custom essay writing company which provides students with high-quality custom written papers at an affordable cost.

Where Do I See Myself in 10 years?

Started from being a little girl who didn’t know what was right or wrong, a girl who just looked at everyone thinking they were weird looking or funny, a girl who loved her family just as much has she loved her binky. To being a woman today with big hopes and dreams, a woman who one day will pursue her goal to being an athletic trainer, and to one day have a family of four. Ten years from now I desire to finish college with a masters in athletic training and work with a professional sports team. I want to save lives in the future and in order for that to happen, I must complete my goals.The beginning of sixth grade was when I first was involved with sports. I loved basketball, but it also was the only sport I did for a year. The next year was when I really got involved with all sports. I participated in volleyball. I never really thought that I, not the smallest or bravest girl, would enjoy volleyball but I did. It was so fun and I was actually good at it! I was so surprised b y the end of the season. I was able to block, reach over the net, hit, pass, and I wasn't afraid to fall to the ground.Now, being a senior in high school and over half way to graduating I absolutely love volleyball. My dream ever since freshman year when we went to a WSU volleyball game was to be college student playing volleyball on a college court in front of a big crowd shouting of my name because I have played great. Since then I have come to realize that I am too short to play college volleyball. I feel really tall next to my friends and family members but when I stand next to the college volleyball players I am a shrimp.I want to do something with my life that involves sports. I feel like sports make up my personality. Even if I am weak at some sports, it helped build up my leadership, my confidence to achieve something that I need to work on, and my ability to stay competitive against others. The closest career that dealt with sports and made a decent amount of money was athl etic training. Taping injuries, teaching the players’ different exercises, and much more sounds so fun and a career that I can spend the rest of my life to doing.I someday hope to be working at a college that I graduated from hoping to be either Boise State University or University of Montana. My goal is to have started a family business to help my family out with money and also to help people that are in need of sports injuries. I want my business to be a gym where members can workout. When they get an injury or have a question about an injury, I will have employees by their side in no time to answer their questions.If the member wants they can have a personal trainer to help him or her out. This business will have a gym and such others there they can play basketball, tennis, racquetball, weight room, and etc. I hope to make the business fun but yet a serious place where people with such injuries can get the help that they need to make their lives better. My future ahead of me looks bright and exciting. I want to achieve my goals in order my future to end up what I have wrote above.

Art Management ,Collector management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Art Management ,Collector management - Essay Example First of all, the site will incorporate smart points where consumers will get loyalty points from which they can redeem them. For example if a consumer buys a piece of art through the website then the more they spend the more they get loyalty points. For every 100 dollars a consumers spends through the site they will get one loyalty point hence the more a consumer uses the site to buy art the more the accumulate loyalty points. These loyalty points can be redeemed in order for a consumer to enjoy a discount, a gift hamper or specific fine art for free depending on the amount of points a consumer has. For instance, a twenty percent discount can be given by redeeming 10 points. For some fine arts one can get them at no cost at all by redeeming one hundred loyalty points. This is systems will encourage consumers to use the site since currently no online auctioning site for fine art offers loyalty points to its consumers. JFlora.com will use social networking to ensure that its customers are always up to date with any new work of art that is for sale. This is another aspect of the website that currently no online auctioning website for fine art is using. The use of social networking marketing has proved to be cheap, convenient, and reliable since it has worked for other companies in other industries. Social marketing will be incorporated into the website in that once a customer registers in the website then they will be able to get information about art galleries, art events, and art products on sale making it easy for them to know what and when to buy. For instance, if a painting has been posted to be on sale on the website, then customers do not have to wait until they log in into the website. They can simply place their bids using social networks such as twitter and face book then if they are the highest bidder they will be contacted by personnel from the website informing them on their successful bidding. This is when they will be prompted to log into their acc ount where they will choose the method of payment they see fit. Jflora.com will also be conspicuous from other online auctioning websites for fine art such as paddle8 and VIP Art in its wide list of payment option. Normally such auctioning sites usually offer a limited range of paying options which are credit and debit card. However, J Flora has come up with a system where a customer can pay for the items purchased using Bank transfer, Credit card, internet currencies, wire transfers, mobile money, and personal cheques. This wide variety of payment options will be made available by the website through a system where, instead of the customers paying directly to the owner of the painting, he/she will pay to the company where the company will release the item to the buyer once they have received proof of payment. This means even if the customer pays for a painting using a personal cheque, the company will release the item to the buyer as long as a copy of the personal cheque is receive d by the company meaning that the buyer does not have to wait until the cheque matures. The J Flora company will incorporate security measures not being used by other websites to ensure that customer information is treated with a lot of privacy ensuring that they do not lose their money to identity thieves or fraudsters which has been the case in online buying and selling. In fact, quite a number of consumers

Johann Sebastian Bach Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Johann Sebastian Bach - Research Paper Example The Baroque period of music stretched from the 17th to the 18th century. J.S. Bach was a contemporary of Telemann and Vivaldi. He would influence Mozart and Beethoven. This period produced the many forms of music that we know today. The music, chosen for this paper, will show the diversity of Bach's compositional abilities. It will also be shown how his music has influenced other composers. His composition gave early examples of the symphony, the cantata and the fugue. Fugues and Symphonic are forms which were carried over to the classical period. John Sebastian Bach came from a family of musicians. He was born in 1685 in Eisenach and died in 1750 in Leipzig. It is important to note that his brother Johann Christian, who was also a well established musician, had studied with Johann Pachelbel, a famous composer. His Pachelbel’s Canons are well known. J.S. Bach married two times, fathered 20 children and trained his children to be musicians. When Bach's father died, J.C. Bach to ok over his musical training. He studied piano, organ and violin. His first courses in composition were given by his brother when he was a child. In essence, J.C. Bach was J.S. Bach's first teacher. From 14-17 years of age, he studied in Luneber, where he sang in the school choir. It is important to note that he also had access to the large musical library where he studied the scores of manuscripts of the Dutch school of music (Grout 416). When he finished his studies in 1703, he became employed as a violinist in Weimar and then in the same year he became organist in Arnstadt. He stayed there for four years. He had left because of the lack of musical respect of his compositions. He went back to Weimar to become Concert Master which meant he supervised an orchestra and a choir. This was an excellent environment to be able to compose as he could try his music in the orchestra, within minutes from having composed it. He composed most of his Cantatas then. From 1717, he was able to conc entrate upon composing during most of his time. As concert-master, he had access to the orchestra in Kothen where he composed the majority of his instrumental music. Bach wrote in the Baroque style. In the 17th century, the Catholic Church no longer controlled the music life. Composers were under the system of patronage. They either had jobs in churches or worked for courts. Germany and Holland were no longer Catholic. They had become protestant. Music had become an important part of their church service. Most music in the Catholic Church remained in the form of heavily voices with instruments. The protestant or Lutherans relied on full orchestras and voices. This period of history had much more freedom in the arts. Baroque music meant freedom in composition, style and instrumentation. Bach’s music was performed in the 19th century by Felix Mendleson. Bach would influence composers up to today. The music was much more technical in terms of polyphony. This was partly due to th e type of instruments used. The harpsichord accompanying an instrument or voice did not interrupt but played in alternating with the voice. The strings were used as an accompaniment of the soloist. If the choir sang, it was the full orchestra. Compositions were orchestrated for multiple arrangements. The compositions were set to form and the form was respected. Freedom in composition meant freedom to compose following rules that didn't exist during the Middle

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 50

Ethics - Essay Example One of the common unethical practices in retailing is lack of honesty. Lack of honesty is unethical because when a business man or woman fails to be honest to his/her employees and customers, it will highly affect their trust. Most clients like to trust the people who give them the products they need, and when a retailer fails to be honest, most of them tend to run away from the retailer (Robinson, 2009). Most customers question the ethics of their retailers and, therefore, it is vital for the retailers to be honest to their customers. Dishonesty is an unethical practice in retailing and it comes with consequences. First of all, lack of honesty in a business can lead to the loss of customers. For instance, many customers will run away from a dishonest retailer because they cannot trust him/her anymore. In addition, it can affect the business’ economic stability especially when customers are gone because of lack of honesty. Unethical sales practices such as dishonesty can also cost the employees and the community at large. Most employees will always leave after they realize the management of the employers are not honest with their clients. Employees will be happy if the employer is honest with them because retail business plays a vital role in the lives of the people in the community. Dishonesty in retailing can lead to legal consequences and possible lawsuits. Whysall (2009) highlights a case where a customer was sold a counterfeit electronic product. The retailer had stocked counterfeit Sony items intentionally. Upon realization, the customer filed a law suit that he was deceived prior to the transaction (Whysall, 2000). In the legal proceedings, the retailer was found for guilty for malpractice and counterfeiting. The retailer’s permit to operate was revoked. In addition, the customer was compensated in full for the money spent

Advocacy letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Advocacy letter - Essay Example If there was only a small amount of trash, they picked it up and put it into a plastic bag. They then took this same plastic bag out of the restroom, and took an elevator to go to another floor. One student was eating a muffin in the elevator, and he then pushed a button that a janitor had touched with dirty gloves. Also janitors went to from one classroom to another to empty the trashcans in each room. They touched all of the classroom door knobs with dirty gloves. In the hospital, they did the same thing. They went from patient’s room to another to empty trash cans and hampers. If there was only a small quantity of trash or dirty linen, they transferred this into one bag to save trash bags. Janitors never changed their gloves both in school and in the hospital, and also they touched the dirty area first and then the clean area with the same gloves. Janitors usually have a low educational background. They need to be educated in the concept of germs and how germs are spread. They need to know what the clean areas and the dirty areas are, so that they can start working in the clean area first before touching the dirty ones. The best way to solve this problem is to provide a compulsory training program for all janitors which deals with issues like the way germs are passed on, and the dangerous implications of using the same gloves over and over again. I recommend that you consider implementing this suggestion immediately, for the sake of all our patients, visitors and

Effect of Industrialization on the Environment Essay

Effect of Industrialization on the Environment - Essay Example It is this industrialization that has helped many countries to manufacture goods which were beyond human imagination (World Bank 1992 p.71). Industrialization was not only experienced in the developed countries but also in the undeveloped countries. Ever since the economies of countries have improved because of industrialization many countries are still striving hard to industrialize their states. It was noted that the rate of industrialization in Asia was even higher than the developed countries in the years of 1990 to 1995 (WHO 1997 p.130-132). However, these countries are not recognizing as to how much effects are they causing on the environment through industrialization. The health hazards and environmental pollution have become the least important of all aspects when it comes to industrialize an area. However, with growing concerns, it has been noticed that different countries all over the world have taken a stand so as to avoid any mishap. This essay would further analyze diffe rent effects of industrialization and environmental pollution on the society and the possible outcome of these effects. It would also put forward some measures through which their effects can be decreased. Environmental problems have had a negative effect on both a global and local scale due to the exhaust fumes from vehicles, factory emissions, cigarette smoking and the burning of waste and these problems would be discussed in detail in this essay (Vallero 2008, Goudie 2000 & Cooper 2001) As mentioned above industrialization has been of immense importance to the economies of many countries and because of this reason many countries have adopted the strategies of industrialization. Industrialization is causing a deteriorating effect on the environment of this earth and is also playing a great role in influencing the environmental pollution. Industrialization has also had some good effects on the society as it has improved the living standards of many.

Erasmus and Machiavelli Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Erasmus and Machiavelli - Essay Example l prince in following the will of God: â€Å"though following Him is hard, not following Him is a sin.† Taking the Christian perspective, since God was the creator of the universe, he was then accordingly the source of all power. Since God was the source of all power, following the will of God would most assuredly brought his concept of a prince the most power. For surely, if a person were to ignore the will of God, then God would not protect that prince, or to the more extreme aspect of the situation, God would remove immoral princes from power. In the Christian view, since there was no way to avoid God or to avoid the consequences of ignoring the will of God, this would make the most appropriate way to gain power and to keep this power by merely following the will of God. According to Richard F. Hardin, â€Å"Erasmus thought it possible to dissuade kings and their subjects from the idolatry of power†1 Richard F. Hardin, â€Å"The Literary Conventions of Erasmusâ€⠄¢ Education of a Christian Prince,† Renaissance Quarterly, vol. 35, no. 2, (Summer 1982) p. 152.. They were to hold their power not for their own gains, but they were to try to improve upon the condition of mankind. Anyone in a position of power should attempt to do this, from a Christian perspective, and those who didn’t were guilty of â€Å"unmitigated tyranny.† Erasmus was not concerned with how useful this document turned out to be in the real world. What he hoped to accomplish in the end was to shape the way that the real world functioned. To many, though, this was viewed as â€Å"primitive and simplistic†2

Fr, Michael Porters Five Forces Analysis Coursework

Fr, Michael Porters Five Forces Analysis - Coursework Example The forces have been referred to a microenvironment in the framework. The businesses have to reassess the market place in case of any changes to the forces. On the other hand, it is also important to note that the level of profitability for the organizations may not be the same despite operating in the same industry. The five forces can also be classified as horizontal or vertical. The horizontal forces include threat of substitute products or services, threat of new entrants and industry rivalry. The vertical forces include the bargaining powers of suppliers and bargaining powers of customers. Porter five forces analysis plays an important role in terms of enabling the businesses to gain more profitability and stability. On the other hand, the government also uses the framework for the purposes of stabilizing the industries. This framework has is usually used by most of the companies that intent to enter a new market. The cycle wear industry that FLAB operates in faces a threat of new entrants since it is profitable. The government policies on the industry are not strict which makes it easy for new entrants to enter the market. The capital requirement is not too high although any new entrant in the market has to meet the demands of the cyclists including those with 60 inch waist. The entry barrier in the industry is high due to patent issues since different designs have to be made to satisfy the needs of the customers. However, despite the entry barriers, the exit barriers are low. The presence of high entry barriers and low exit barriers is an indication that the industry is profitable (Vining, 2011). In the industry, the customer loyalty is not a major issue considering that most of the companies are unable to provide the cyclewear for the people with up to 60 inch waist. The customers usually move from one company to the other in search of required products. The bargaining powers of the customers in the

Three-Phase Induction Motors Essay Example for Free

Three-Phase Induction Motors Essay Three-phase induction machines account for the great majority of applications that call for motors with power ratings over 5 hp. They are used to power pumps, fans, compressors, and grinders, and in other industrial applications. Rotating Stator Field. The stator of a three-phase induction machine contains a set of windings to which three-phase electrical power is applied. The stator field can be visualized as a set of north and south poles rotating around the circumference of the stator. (North stator poles are where magnetic flux lines leave the stator, and south stator poles are where magnetic flux lines enter the stator. Because north and south poles occur in pairs, the total number of poles P is always even. The direction of rotation of the field in a three-phase induction machine can be reversed by interchanging any two of the line connections to the electrical source. We will see that this reverses the direction of mechanical rotation. You may find the fact that interchanging two of the electrical connections to the source reverses the direction of rotation to be useful in working with three-phase motors. Squirrel-Cage Induction Machines. The rotor windings of a three-phase induction machine can take two forms. The simplest, least expensive, and most rugged is known as a squirrel-cage rotor. It consists simply of bars of aluminum with shorting rings at the ends. The squirrel cage is embedded in the laminated iron rotor by casting molten aluminum into slots cut into the rotor. In the squirrel-cage induction machine, there are no external electrical connections to the rotor. The other type of rotor construction is known as a wound rotor. Torque is produced in an induction motor assuming purely resistive impedances for the rotor conductors. However, the impedances of the conductors are not purely resistive. Because the conductors are embedded in iron, there is significant series inductance associated with each conductor. The rotor slows down from synchronous speed, the stator field moves past the rotor conductors. The magnitudes of the voltages induced in the rotor conductors increase linearly with slip. For small slips, the inductive reactance of the conductors is negligible, and maximum rotor current is aligned with maximum stator field, which is the optimum situation for producing torque. Thus, the torque tends to level out as the motor slows. Because the poles on the rotor tend to become aligned with the stator poles, the torque decreases as the motor slows to a stop. The torque for zero speed is called either the starting torque or the stall torque. The maximum torque is called either the pull-out torque or the breakover torque. The motor designer can modify the shape of the torque speed characteristic by variations in the dimensions and geometry of the motor and by materials selection.

Healthy and Safety Within the Setting Essay Example for Free

Healthy and Safety Within the Setting Essay You have a new member of staff starting and you are responsible for giving them all the information on health and safety requirements in your setting they need to be aware of. Prepare a document/presentation to give to them, which should include the following information: * A brief explanation of the relevant health and safety legislation * How you plan and maintain a healthy and safe environment * What factors do you consider when planning the environment to ensure safety for all. Health and safety legislation. Within the early years setting, we have a duty of care. This means looking after the children and keeping them safe when they are in our care. The health and safety at work act 1974 covers all employment settings within great Britain. The requirements within the act are that:- Buildings should be well kept and with the safety of who ever will be accessing it in mind. The environment as a whole should be kept safe and clean. All equipment should be stored in a safe place. The way in which the staff work should promote the safety of children. Health and safety within the setting. The will be policies and procedures covering health and safety within our setting. As en employee you should be aware of all of the health and safety requirements. The setting should be safe for everyone and not pose risk of danger or injury. A system of safe practice should be in place. Any chemicals or substances should be stored safely and out of the way of the children. All staff should be given the appropriate training and information on the health and safety of the setting and safety regulations. If any rotective clothing is needed then it should be provided free of charge. If and serious injuries or diseases were to happen then they should be reported to the health and safety executive. There should be first aid equipment provided. A representative of safety should be consulted about any issues affecting the work place. All employees should look after their own health and safety and the of the others around them, where their actions could affect others. The employees should cooperate with their employer on health and safety to ensure they keep a safe working environment. Within our setting. Within our setting we have daily checks covering all areas of the building. These are to be done at the beginning and end of each day. We have risk assessments as well which we use to prevent hazards. We keep all hazardous chemicals in the cupboard in the kitchen with a lock on the door. Also the children are not aloud into the kitchen. There is a gate with a lock on to stop them getting through. We have child friendly scissors which are only used under adult supervision. The cutlery that we provide the children with is plastic and so are their plates, bowls and cups. All the taps on the sinks that the children have access to have a block on them. This prevents them from getting to hot so the children cannot get burned. We have socket covers on all plug sockets. We do all the cleaning once the children have left the setting to prevent slips and trips. We have a lock on the front gate and back gate. This is so the children can not get out, but also so that nobody can get in without being let in. ll the radiators have covers on so the children cannot burn themselves on them. Any free standing unit’s the we have, have got locks on the wheels so they cant be moved or run over a child’s foot. We have things on all of the doors to prevent children shutting their finger in them. We make sure we think about all the risks within our setting and we address the problem to prevent an accidents happening. We have policies and procedures in place cove ring all factors of the setting, ensuring we make it as safe an environment for the children and employees as possible.

Developmental Issues in Identity Formation and Self Esteem

Developmental Issues in Identity Formation and Self Esteem Critically discuss the significance of understanding the developmental issues of identity formation and self-esteem as a guidance counsellor with reference to the work of at least 3 theorists covered on the module. Early adolescence is a period of obvious human development and growth which occurs between childhood and adolescence. Adolescence is the transition from childhood to adulthood, its when the form of attachment with their parents change as the child begins to seek autonomy from their parents and at the same time they need to keep their sense of relatedness to them. At the beginning of the adolescence the parent-child conflict approaches its peak. (Boyd Bee, 2014) During this significant stage of the life cycle, young adolescents, 10 15 year olds, experience rapid and momentous developmental change. During this phase of young adolescents education, to understand and respond to the distinct developmental characteristics is crucial. A person is not a composite of isolated attributes, but instead resembles a system of characteristics. (Schoon, I. 2006, p. xv) Identity formation, also known as individuation, is defined as the development of the distinct personality of an individual charac teristics that are possessed by one, by which one is recognised or known. Such traits include a sense of uniqueness from others and a sense of identity within society. From research we see that development is physical, cognitive or psychosocial is unique for every child. Some young people develop in certain areas faster than others but that does not mean that a slower or a faster development than the average is not uncommon. The assumption that the potential for development continues throughout life raises the question of what we mean by development. Are we to say that change and development are synonymous? (Sugarman, L. 1996, p. 3) In this essay I will be discussing developmental issues of identity formation and self-esteem as guidance counsellor, for this I am mostly going to concentrate on Erikson, Marcia and Kohlberg and their theories. Eric Erikson (1902-1994) was a German born, American developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst well known for his theory on psychosocial development of humans. The intrinsic affirmation affiliated with Eriksons theory of psycho-social development is that the personality is tenacious over the lifespan as the individual matures biologically and cognitively. Bee Boyd refer to lifespan perspective as the current view of developmentalists that changes happen throughout the entire human lifespan and that changes must be interpreted in light of the culture, and context in which they occur (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2003, p.14). The life-span perspective . Sees both the individual and the environment as potentially influencing and being influenced by each other (Sugarman, L. 1996, p. 3). At each stage of development there is an associated set of developmental tasks. The fundamental element to a successful route through lifes stages is the distinction of the social environment. Erikson referred to this development in terms of the Epigenetic Principle, an organic perspective. He referred to this in his book Identity, youth and crisis (1968), and used it to encompass the notion that we develop through an unfolding of our personality in predetermined stages, and that our environment and surrounding culture influence, how we progress. Erikson explained the factors which have been linked with healthy identity development, these include: security, trust, safety with having the freedom to explore their environment. According to Erikson, to a achieve a healthy personality, an individual must successfully resolve a crisis at each of the eight stages of development in, as summarized in the table below: (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2003, p.28). Figure 1: Eriksons Epigenetic Principle and Middle Childhood, 8 Psychosocial Stages: Stage Age Stages of Development Developmental Characteristics 1 Birth to 1 year Trust versus mistrust (hope) Attachment Bonding 2 1 to 3 Autonomy versus shame and doubt Potty training self-maintenance 3 3 to 6 Initiative versus guilt Academic success, adding, abcs, making friends 4 6 12 Industry versus inferiority Social competence, friendship network 5 12 18 Identity versus role confusion Loyalty friendship 6 18 30 Intimacy versus isolation Falling in love, maintaining a relationship 7 30 to old age Generativity versus stagnation Having nurturing children 8 Old age Integrity versus despair Imparting wisdom to others (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2003, p.29). Erikson believed the behaviour of the main caregiver (usually the mother) is critical to the childs resolve of this crisis, the caregiver must be consistently loving, and must respond to the child predictably and reliably. He goes on to state that infants whose early care has been eratic or harsh may develop mistrust. (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2003, p.29). It was Eriksons belief that throughout ones lifetime, they experience different conflicts or crisis. Each of the conflicts can arise at a certain point in life and needs to be successfully resolved before progression to the next of the eight stages. Failure to successful complete a stage can result in a reduced ability to complete further stages and therefore a more unhealthy personality and sense of self. These stages can be resolved successfully at a later time. Eriksons theory has not been without its critics. At times, he overemphasizes the symbiotic relationship between individual development and societal progress and, .. has been criticized for having a conformist theory (Sugarman, L. 1996, p. 93) Socially competent adolescents can strike a balance between their identity as individuals and as part of groups, the ability of maintaining equality, and their own wants, needs, desires and their ability to meet the needs of others. Identity is the major personality target that a child needs to achieve during this phase in order to become a content, productive and satisfied adult. The particular stage which is relevant to identity formation takes place during adolescence, known as Identity versus Role Confusion. Identity is influenced by how the adolescent sees him/herself and is also based on their relationships with others and their perception of how others see them. (OBrien, E. Z. 2013, p.151). In development stage five, adolescents need to decide who they are, which are their strengths and weaknesses and what their path in life is. Erikson considered Identity Formation as personality and role experimentation, with the number of choices it can be overwhelming so adolescents may se em to appear to go through a period of moratorium. Moratorium is defined as A crisis in progress, but no commitment has yet been made (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2003, p.312). Many teenagers during this period can try out roles to see if they right, for example a teenage girl trying to be glamorous and flirty (her sexuality maybe blossoming), or a teenage boy who is experimenting with the tough guy image. Erikson never saw identity as static or unchangeable but believed identity formation was a life-long process, across the life span. Also pressurising someone into an identity can result in rebellion in the form of chartering feelings of unhappiness and a negative identity. Erikson also referred to identity crisis which is period by which the adolescent is troubled by their lack of identity, which can result in the inability to continue responsibilities as adults or entering into isolation, or loosing ones identity in the crowd. This change in adolescence is usually an indication of an ind ividuals development of multiple perspectives in social relationships. adolescent adjustment predicted changes in authoritative and neglectful parenting styles more robustly than these styles predicted changes in adolescent adjustment. (Eccles, J., 2012, p.2) Marcia is another significant theorist who elaborated upon Eriksons perception of identity crisis and identify confusion. James Marcia (1937 ) a Canadian clinical and developmental psychologist took Eriksons theory further. He described the process as having four basic, main steps on the continuation of identity development, the structure is designed to classify adolescents into one of four main stages of identity. The identity statuses are used to pinpoint the progression of an adolescents identity formation. In Marcias theory, he states that identity is whether an individual has explored various alternatives and made firm commitments to: an occupation, religion, sexual orientation and political values. **REFERENCE Marcias four identity statuses are in the table below: Figure 2 : Marcias identity statuses Experienced crisis Not in Crisis Degree of commitment to a particular role or values HIGH LOW HIGH Identity achievement status (crisis is past) Foreclosure status Committed LOW Moratorium status (in midst of crisis) Identity diffusion status Not Committed Degree of crisis (OBrien, E. Z. 2013, p.153) Marcias theory does not conclude that each adolescent will go through and encounter all four identity statuses. Some may experience only one or two identity statuses throughout their adolescence. Furthermore unlike Eriksons, Marcias theory takes into account multidirectional movement between and among the various identity statuses. For example, an adolescent may experience a traumatic event such as their parents separating, or an assault, which may cause them to re-assess their perception of the world and its value system. The type of crisis may result in them reverting to a previous enacted identity status as to adjust to this new situation. These are four identity statuses proposed by Marcia, furthering Eriksons theory. Marcia described the process as having four main, reoccurring steps. Identity formation has two key parts: Crisis and Commitment. For fully achieved identity, young people must have both examined value/gaols and reached firm commitment. For Identity achievement: Marcia suggests that adolescents who have experienced crisis and reached an undertaking to ideological, occupational or other objectives. Moratorium: is when a crisis is in progress, but no commitment has yet been made. With foreclosure: adolescents who have made a commitment without having gone through a crisis. Then identity diffusion: this represents either an early stage before the crisis, or a failure to reach a commitment after a crisis. Marcia suggested that identity involves the adoption of ideals and values, sexual orientation and work possibilities. He formulated the idea of status which allowed for a more fluid conception of identity f ormation. (OBrien, E. Z. 2013, p.168) According to Schlossberg the best way to cope with a crisis or transition in life, is to adapt the 4 Ss System: Situation, Self, Supports and Strategies. (Schlossberg, N. K., 2011) Minority teenagers, especially those of colour in a predominantly white culture, face the task of creating two identities in adolescence. (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2003, p.316) Boyd and Bee define Ethnic Identity as a sense of belonging to an ethnic group. American developmental psychologist Jean Phinney, proposed in 1990 that in adolescence, the development of a complete ethnic identity moves through three stages: Unexamined ethnic identity: which is very similar to Marcias identity status called foreclosure. Ethnic identity search: parallel to crisis in Marcias analysis of ego identity. Resolution: Of conflicts and contradictions similar to Marcias status of identity. Young people of colour often develop two identities, a psychological sense of self and an ethnic identity. (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2003, p.317) In addition to establishing a sense of personal identity minority teens must also develop an ethnic identity. Some resolve this developmental task by creating a bicultural identity for themselves, one that allows them to interact comfortably with members of the majority group, individuals who belong to other minority groups and members of their own group. . (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2007, p.284) An ethnic identity is identification with definite ethnicity, usually on the basis of a presumed shared ethnic descent. Ethnic groups are often also united by common cultural, behavioural, linguistic or religious traits. They must also develop an ethnic or racial identity, including self-identification as a member of some specific group, commitment to that group and its values and attitudes. (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2007, p.284). Phinneys stage model is a useful general description of the process of ethnic identity formation. While others resolve the dilemma by consciously choosing their own ethnic groups patterns and values, yet this choice could limit their access to a larger culture but they make this as an informed decision. Also adolescents from different cultural backgrounds who try to compete and succeed in the most dominant culture might be shunned by their own peers. Based on the studies which have derived from Eriksons Marcias Theories there is a need to examine the pros and cons of both theories. Eriksons can be ambiguous about the causes of development and his theory does not have a universal structure for crisis resolution. Eriksons theory is more a depictive overview of human social and emotional progression that does not comprehensively explain why or how this advancement occurs. Furthermore Erikson does not clearly explain how the outcome of one psychosocial stage influence personalities at a later stage. Then on the more positive side of Eriksons theory is, its ability to bring together important psychosocial developments across the entire lifespan. Also Erikson was more positive than Freud as he believed that negative outcomes in a stage could be resolved at a later date. (OBrien, E. Z. 2013, p.22) Unlike Ericksons stage theory, Marcias theory accounts for multi-directional movement among and between the various identity statuses. Final ly Marcia formulated the idea of status, which allowed for a more fluid conception of identity formation. (OBrien, E. Z. 2013, p.168) Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987), an American psychologist best known for his work on the Theory of stages of moral development, also known as a stage theorist. Kohlbergs theory was developed from the research and principles of Jean Piagets identity development. Previously, Piaget (1932) suggested a two-way theory of moral development (moral realism and moral relativism). (Hearne, L., 2017, p. 11). Kohlbergs moral development is focused on the cognitive process rather than the actual moral actions of a person. Continually people who are able to cognitively discuss appropriate moral choices do not always exhibit moral behaviour. Furthermore, persons can know the right moral decisions to make and decide to respond in the opposite manner. However, the theorist whose work has had the most powerful impact has been Kohlberg (Bergman, 2002; Colby et al., 1976, 1981). Moreover, theories of moral reasoning have been important in explanations of adolescent antisocial behaviour. (Boyd, D and Bee, H. 2006, p.335). Kohlbergs moral judgement development seems to have a parallel relationship between age and stage. Before the age of ten years of age a child believes rules are fixed, handed down by a higher authority (such a parent or adult) and subject to change. After the age of ten, the child realises that rules are flexible and can be modified, with the agreement of others. (OBrien, E. Z. 2013, p.120) Kohlberg based his theory on interviews he conducted with children and adolescents regarding moral reasoning. He then devised moral dilemmas, the answers to which were used to categorise moral development, one of example of this is the Heinz dilemma. Where a woman was near death from a specific cancer but there was one drug which doctors thought might save her. But the drug was very expensive to make it was made in her same town, it was $2,000 for a small dose of the drug so her husband became desperate and broke into the laboratory to steal the drug for his wife. Kohlberg then suggested 6 responses for this moral dilemma to assess peoples reasoning on their decision. Listed below are the six stages of Kohlbergs moral development: Level 3 POSTCONVENTIONAL Shared standards, rights and duties Stage 6: Self-selection of universal values and principles Stage 5: -Sense of democracy and relativity of rules Level 2 CONVENTIONAL Performing right roles Stage 4: Fulfilling duties and upholding laws Stage 3: Meeting expectations of others Level 1 PRECONVENTIONAL Values in external events Stage 2: Getting what you want by trade-off or in exchange for behaving Stage 1: Punishment avoidance Figure 2: Kohlbergs Theory of Moral Development Various theorists have criticized Kohlbergs theory, by those who placed more emphasis on learning moral behaviour and by those who believe moral reasoning is based mostly on emotional factors rather than on their ideas of fairness and justice. Carol Gilligan claims Kohlbergs theory is flawed because his research was based on male responses and represents a male perspective of moral development and reasoning. . (OBrien, E. Z. 2013, p.138) From Gilligans work with women she deduced that women apply an ethic of care in the judgements rather than a male ethic of justice. Eisenberg has defined empathy as an affective response that stems from the apprehension or comprehension of anothers emotional state However .an empathic response usually turns into either sympathy or personal distress (Eisenberg, 2000, p.671) In conclusion young adolescents warrant educational experiences and schools try to care for their physical, intellectual, emotional/psychological, moral/ethical, social developmental and spiritual, characteristics. Parents, practitioners and others who work with young adolescents need to be aware of both obvious and subtle changes in their developmental characteristics. Changes like these can give adults intuitive into the demands facing young adolescents and emphasise possible logic for transference in their capabilities and behaviour. Educators and career guidance counsellors and policymakers today need to persevere with their support of initiatives that allow young adolescents with developmentally appropriate environment and learning experiences. Teenage aspirations, especially educational, in combination with academic attainment are an important predictor of adult social status. (Schoon, I. 2006, p. 138). Bibliography Schoon, I. (2006) Risk and Resilience; Adaptations in changing times, 1st ed., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Boyd, D and Bee, H. (2003) Lifespan development, 3rd ed., Allyn and Bacon, Pearson Boyd, D and Bee, H. (2006) Lifespan development, 4th ed., Allyn and Bacon, Pearson Boyd, D and Bee, H. (2007) The Developing Child, 11th ed.,Pearson, International Edition. Allyn and Bacon. OBrien, E. Z., (2013) Human Growth Development, 2nd ed., Gill and MacMillan Sugarman, L. (1986) Life-Span Development, Concepts, Theories and Interventions, 1st ed., Methuen Co. Ltd. Eisenberg, 2000 .. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_formation Hearne, L., (2017). Session 5: Theories of Social and Personality Development, Lecture Notes, University of Limerick. Eccles, J., (2012) Developmental Psychology, Vol 48(6), Nov 2012, 1540-1553. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0027720 Schlossberg, N. K., (2011). The Challenge of change: The transition model and its applications. Journal of employment counselling, Vol 48

Videogames Don?t Kill People, People Kill People Essay -- essays resea

Videogames Don’t Kill People, People Kill People Every generation has pointed a finger at the recreational pastimes of young persons, accusing that these activities lead our nations youth astray and induce violent or antisocial behavior. Novels, music, TV, movies, and now the finger is pointing straight at one of the newest and quickest growing youth pastimes; videogames. This particular pastime differs from others in their reality and scope for direct participation, therefore allowing the crusty old curmudgeons to conclude that playing them leads all young people to commit acts of violence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Numerous studies have been conducted to determine whether or not there is a direct link between violent tendencies and videogames. Some tests claim there is a definite link, others refute it, but both often show very shaky statistics. Most tests simply prove inconclusive. According to an article by Anne D. Walling, a recent study by Drs Bensley and Van Eenwyk shows that: Rates of adolescent violence, homicide, weapon carrying, and other markers of antisocial behavior fell consistently during the period when violent videogames became ubiquitous, more graphic, and more realistic. (1) This would suggest that youths are using videogames as a form of escape. Instead of being out on the streets committing acts of delinquency, they are instead at home, safely playing videogames.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Walling also provides the combined results from twenty-nine other individual studies of this topic. The studies all varied greatly in design and quality, preventing any firm determination from being reached. Children of middle school age and younger showed no association between videogames and aggression in girls, and both increases and decreases in aggression among boys. Studies of high school students predominately dealt with boys, often using self-report. Both calming and arousing effects were again reported, and no consistent relationship was drawn between violent games and actual behavior. In college students and young adults, results were yet again mixed, but calming effects were more common, particularly if the prior mood was hostile or aggressive (2).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So-called experts like to point their fingers at Eric Harris as an example that violent videogames do indeed create violent children. Harris was one of the t... ...n that there seems to be no direct link to violent behavior and playing violent videogames. Studies even show that adolescent crime has decreased as videogames have become more realistic and graphic, showing that they seem to have a more calming effect on kids. As long as people can continue to differentiate between what’s real and what’s not, we should be just fine. However, as long as there are crusty old curmudgeons out there who are afraid of things they don’t understand, then videogames will always be under heavy fire. Works Cited Ahmed, Shahed. â€Å"Further Investigation of Violence and Gaming.† Gamespot. 6 August 2000. 8 April 2003 . â€Å"The Games Kids Play: Are Mature Video Games Too Violent for Teens?† Current Events 7 February 2003: 3. Grossman, Lev. â€Å"Busjacking for Grownups.† Time November 2002: 80-81. Satterfield, Shane. â€Å"IGDA Holds Game Violence Summit.† Gamespot. 8 January 2001. 8 April 2003. . Varanini, Giancarlo. â€Å"Violent Media May not be to Blame.† Gamespot. 8 February 2001. 8 April 2003. . â€Å"Violence is A-Ok.† Electronic Gaming Monthly August 2002: 13. Walling, Anne D. â€Å"Do Video Games Lead to Violent Behavior in Children?† American Family Physician 65 (2002): 1436-1437.

How Social Capital is Viewed by Different Communities Essay -- Social

Introduction The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast two different papers that highlight how social capital is viewed by different communities in any given society. The first article titled â€Å"Social Capital and Civil Society† was published in October 1999 by Francis Fukuyama from the institute of Public Policy, George Mason University. Fukuyama (1999) explores to examine in a wider context what social capital is? It’s key function in the free market, how social capital is measured and finally makes suggestions on how social capital can be cultivated for the good in any given society. In the second article titled â€Å"What is Social Capital and why is it important to Public Policy?† was published in 1998 by Robert E. Lang and Steven P. Hornburg from the Fannie Mae Foundation. The authors highlight that social capital has a clear link to government housing and urban policy formation and argue that the lack of social capital has a clear affect to community stability and housing provision. By using Robert Putman’s concepts and comparing six different articles on social capital the author’s further see the increase to social capital to an area has a high effect to the community and improves the lives of many people that are living in deprived areas of the society. Brief Outline Articles Article One â€Å"Social Capital and Civil Society† published in October 1999 By Francis Fukuyama from the institute of Public Policy, George Mason University. Fukuyama (1999) defines social capital as the cooperation of a group of people that are mainly formed by two or more people. He goes further to claim that the formation of the group can be between two very good friends or be more complicated like in the formation of religious group b... ...l suggested by â€Å"globalisation† where the involvement of the community is made not just for capital gain but by ideas of culture. In conclusion this two articles even though different and written for two different audiences, prove without a doubt the theoretical concept behind social capital whether the focus is in housing, public policy or civil society, an enhanced social capital within a community can generate good to any given society. Bibliography Fukuyama F., (1999). Social Capital and Civil Society. The Institute of Public Policy. Web. March 1, 2016 https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/seminar/1999/reforms/fukuyama.htm Lang R.E, and Hornburg S.P (1998) What is Social Capital and why is it important to Public Policy?. Housing Policy Debate. Vol.9, No.1, pp1-16. Web. March 6, 2016 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10511482.1998.9521284

How Flexible is the Brains Circuitry? :: Biology Essays Research Papers

How Flexible is the Brain's Circuitry? The brain is a complicated organ, containing an estimated 100 billion neurons and around 1,000 to 10,000 synapses for each of those neurons (1). This organ has the great responsibility of not only controlling and regulating the functions of the body but also sensing and perceiving the world around it. In humans, it is what we believe makes us the highly adaptive and intelligent organisms that we are, as well as give us our individuality. But with so many parts and connections to it, what happens when the brain's delicate circuitry is disrupted? We've all heard of brain damage, and its horrible results, whether is a news report on TV or science books. It seems that with trauma, disruption of blood supply, and disease; neurons and their connections could be destroyed and the organism's behavior exceedingly affected. Yet I've read about how people have overcome tremendous damage to their brains and gone on to function with very minimal handicaps. In elementary biology, we are all taught that cells in our body go through systems that replaces old, worn out cells with new cells. Most cell types go through programmed cell death, or PCD, but there was always an exception in the neuron; very early in mammalian development, neurons stop growing (4). PCD would be disastrous, as the depleted neurons would never be replaced. Since we need all our neurons and their connections to function, how do individuals with damage to both these neurons and connections survive, much less functioning within any definition of normality? After all, remove a few chips from a computer's motherboard and you won't have functioning computer. Yet there are children living their lives with only half their brains intact One of the most memorable case studies I read about in high school psychology was the procedure of removing large portions, sometime half the brain, to treat young children with epileptic seizures. This procedure, called hemi-spherectomy, was developed in the 1920's but rarely performed due to complications (8). With the advances in medicine today, it has become a more common practice in treatment severe epilepsy. At first, though the procedure was expected to stop the seizures, doctors did not expect these children to ever function normally. After all, with so much of the brain missing, it is hard to expect much of the mental functions of these children. Surprisingly, these children often retained much of their personality, memories and sense humor (8), awing their doctors with the flexibility of the brains to adjust after such invasive surgery.

Feedback to my classmate Essay

1.The four points about giving feedback that I plan to utilize while providing my classmate feedback on their skills check are as follows: Equality – My classmate is a valuable and worthwhile human being. Communication is generally more effective when feeling of equality exists. We are both equal in every way as we are both taking the Health Care Assistant program and both have home lives. Supportiveness – There has to be an atmosphere of trust and mutual support for effective communication between myself and my classmate Positiveness – To transmit positive feeling to other people. My classmate needs to feel liked and accepted by me and then they will be more apt to become involved in communication with me. Empathy – To try and feel as my classmate being assessed on their skills check would feel and to try and understand what they are experiencing. 2. Of the five components of caring communication the two that I utilized the most while providing constructive feedback to my classmate with regards to their skills check were supportiveness and equality. I utilized the two components as follows: Supportiveness – I felt I created an atmosphere of trust and mutual support with my classmate by reiterating that my classmate had requested me to provide constructive feedback on three components of their skills check and that I would only give feedback on the three components identified. When my classmate had completed the skills check, I proceeded to give my classmate constructive positive feedback on the three components identified. I addressed each component specifically and stated how my classmate had supported the component and where I felt the component had not been supported. I identified strengths and areas for improvement. Even if my classmate had successfully completed the identified component, I verbally identified the component and what behaviour my classmate performed to support the component. I explained descriptively on how my classmate’s actives matched their intention. At this point the instructor that was performing my classmates’ skills check asked if there were any other items that I would like to comment on. Before I proceeded, I took into consideration the reason for this exercise and considered what my classmate required and what had been requested of me. I questioned my classmate if they would like any additional feedback and  stated that I had not written any other comments on the feedback skills check form. My classmate indicated that they did want additional feedback. I provided by classmate with additional comments on 2 additional behaviours that had room for improvement. I asked my classmate if I should write the additional comments on the feedback formfor skills check, which was agreed on. Equality – Once my classmate had completed the skills check and before I proceeded to give any constructive feedback on the three components of the skills check that my classmate had identified for feedback, I thanked my classmate for asking me to give feedback and stated that this was the first time that I had given constructive feedback. I smiled and laughed a little stated that I was also nervous just as they were. I reiterated that we are peers and classmates and that giving constructive feedback can be difficult and that I hoped any feedback I gave was helpful to my classmate. 3. While I received feedback on my skills check, I took into consideration that constructive feedback is to give my classmate and myself the opportunity to learn. Constructive feedback is not about me or us, but about the behaviours that we are performing. I felt elated when I received positive feedback, so in turn receiving constructive feedback on behaviour where I needed improvement was much more positive. I felt receiving feedback that was descriptive and that identified strength and areas for improvement very informative and a creative learning tool. I found I was listening closely was able to rephrase the feedback that I had received. I felt very positive about the whole skills check feedback and was able to understand that it was â€Å"constructive feedback† and not criticism which in turn allowed me to thank all that were involved with a smile. 4.Upon reflection of giving and receiving feedback, I feel that it was a very positive experience. When I received the feedback from my classmate on my skills check, my classmate proceeded to give me additional comments. I was not prepared for this, nor did I expect this. I feel I may have projected this to my classmate by way of body language. I knew and I feel that I regrouped quickly and I did listen to what my classmate had to say. I understood that this was a learning tool for me, and that my classmate was  trying to help me with my behaviours that needed improvement and was not being critical of me. When I gave feedback I am not sure that I finished with a positive statement to my classmate. I now realize how important this is and I feel somewhat ashamed that I may have missed this step. Receiving any type of feedback can be daunting whether it is positive or meant to assist with areas that require improvement.

Australia-China Relationship

The following presentation shall be a major discussion on the different relationships that bind Australia and China, which also includes their economic, political, and education as well as the development of the said relationship between the two nations.Relationship between China and AustraliaIt was 1909 when China offered a proposal Of trade-based relationship with Australia, however, it was only during the year 1921 when Australia formally accepted the invitation to trade.The political change in China during the year 1941 however makes it harder for Australia to support the said trade relationship. The political stiffness in China has been a hard-to-deal-with situation for the Australian economic system, considering that Australia adapted to the democratic system of social government.(Lynch, 1989)Because of the above situation, it was December 1972 when the two countries signed a diplomatic agreement noting that although a trade relationship exists between the two countries, both a reas are to be free of being mandated by either of their political set up’s dictation on each countries’ private situations. (Murphey, 1996)At present, the relationship of China and Australia is made stronger through the regular communication that exist between both county’s administrative sections.The assurance of each other’s security in the relationship has made China the second top partner of Australia in terms of trade and political standing in the global situation. (Selden, 1979)As the years of progress in the international trade continues to advance, the relationship between Australia and China appears to step up towards a better situation that most likely ensures the loyalty between both countries’ situation as with trade and political trust.A Focus on the Political RelationshipFrom this discussion, it could be observed that the relationship of both countries have been primarily affected by the third parties that involved other situations t hat have affected the relationship of China [primarily] with other countries such as the United States.America has been mainly trying to change the relationship with China as a partner to becoming a competitor when the military group of the said country was noted by the US government as a spy. As a result, the relationship that China had with Australia was almost jeopardized. (Terrill, 2003)To fix the issue, both China and Australia tried to arrange their mutual understanding through fixing the different misunderstandings that have been evident in their relationship because of the situations mentioned herein. (Sang Ye, 2006)The situations were further fixed to regulate the relationship and as of now, the arrangements have made it possible for the two major economic assets of the global trade to have a considerable connection between each other in terms of social and economical progress. (Thurston, 1994)A Focus on Trade and Economic Stability between China and AustraliaIn terms of tr ade, it is essential that Australia and China have an understanding with regards the relationship that exists between them especially with regards economic stability.

The Golden Lily Chapter 11

I'M NOT A PHYSICAL PERSON. I'm decent in volleyball, and Eddie once taught me to throw a punch. But I make no claims to having the kind of training that guardians get. I certainly don't have their reflexes. So, in this situation, unable to break free of restraint, I pretty much did the only thing I could. I screamed. â€Å"Help! Somebody help!† My hope was that it would delay Sonya's captors from decapitating her or whatever it was they planned to do. I also hoped it would, well, bring help. We'd departed from the main downtown roads but were still close enough that someone should hear me – especially since there had still been a decent number of people out earlier. One of the attackers holding Sonya flinched, so I supposed I was partially successful. My own captor clamped a hand over my mouth and pushed me harder against the brick wall. Then, a strange thing happened. He – because he had the right build to be male, even though I couldn't make out his face – froze. He was still holding me, but his body had gone rigid. It was almost like he was shocked or surprised. I wasn't sure why. Surely someone screaming for help when assaulted wasn't that weird. I didn't think I could overpower him but still hoped I might take advantage of his stunned state. I pushed forward again, trying to get out of his grip. I only managed to move a few inches before he locked me back into place. â€Å"We need to go!† exclaimed one of Sonya's captors. Another guy. From what I could tell, they all were. â€Å"Someone will come.† â€Å"This'll only take a second,† growled the one holding the sword. â€Å"We need to rid the world of this evil.† I watched in terror, my heart seizing in my chest. I was afraid for myself, but I was especially afraid for Sonya. I'd never seen a decapitation. I didn't want to start now. Half a second later, I found myself suddenly free. Someone new had joined our fray, someone who ripped my captor away and tossed him easily to the pavement. It looked painful, and the guy landed with a grunt. Even in this poor lighting, the height and coat gave my savior away. It was Dimitri. I'd seen him fight before, but it never got old. He was captivating. He never stopped moving. Every action was graceful and lethal. He was a dancer of death. Ignoring the guy he'd just thrown, Dimitri surged toward the others. He immediately went for the guy with the sword. A swift kick from Dimitri sent the assailant flying backward. He dropped the sword and barely managed to catch hold of one of the churchyard trees. Meanwhile, one of the men holding Sonya simply turned tail and ran back toward downtown. Dimitri didn't pursue. His attention now was on the last guy, who was foolishly attempting to fight back. This freed Sonya, however, and she wasted no time getting to her feet and scurrying over to my side. I was rarely touchy-feely with anyone – certainly not Moroi – but I clung to her without even thinking twice. She did the same, and I could feel her trembling. Once, as a Strigoi, she'd been a force to be reckoned with. As a Moroi, one who'd just had a sword at her throat, things were understandably different. The guy facing down Dimitri actually managed a couple of good dodges. His mistake came when he attempted to hit Dimitri. It opened his guard, and like that, Dimitri punched him hard in the face. The tall guy who'd hit the tree earlier attempted an attack, but he was an idiot if he thought Dimitri was distracted. Dimitri dispatched him easily, and he landed near the guy Dimitri had just punched. The tall one struggled to his feet and looked like he wanted to attack again. His friend grabbed hold of him and tugged him away. After a moment's struggle between them, the two finally ran off. Dimitri didn't pursue. His attention was all on Sonya and me. â€Å"Are you okay?† he asked, swiftly striding over to us. I managed a weak nod, even though I was shaking uncontrollably. â€Å"Let's get out of here,† said Dimitri. He put a hand on each of our shoulders and began to steer us away. â€Å"Wait,† I said, moving toward the churchyard. â€Å"We should take the sword.† I scanned in front of me, but it was even darker than before. Dimitri found the sword right away with his superior eyesight. He tucked it under his duster, and the three of us quickly got out of there. We walked to Adrian's apartment, since it was much closer than Clarence's property outside of town. Even so, the brief trip seemed to take forever. I kept feeling like we could be attacked again at any moment, but Dimitri continued giving us assurances, while still pushing us at a good pace. Adrian was surprised to see us at his door. He also looked pretty drunk, but I didn't care. All I wanted was the security of his four walls. â€Å"What†¦ what's going on?† he asked, as Dimitri urged Sonya and me inside. Adrian's eyes looked at each of us, resting longest on me. â€Å"Are you okay? What happened?† Dimitri gave Sonya and me a once-over, double-checking for injuries despite our protests. He reached out and gently held my chin, turning my non-tattooed cheek toward him. â€Å"A little scraped,† he said. â€Å"Not serious, but you should clean it.† I touched the spot he'd indicated and was astonished to see blood on my fingers. I didn't even remember getting hurt but supposed it had come from the brick wall. Sonya had no physical marks but admitted to having a pretty bad headache from where she'd hit the ground. â€Å"What happened?† Adrian asked again. Dimitri held up the sword he'd retrieved from the scene. â€Å"Something a little more serious than a mugging, I think.† â€Å"I'd say so,† said Sonya, sitting on the couch. Her attitude was amazingly calm for what we'd just endured. She touched the back of her head and winced. â€Å"Particularly since they called me a creature of evil before you showed up.† Dimitri arched an eyebrow. â€Å"They did?† I hadn't moved once I'd reached the living room. I simply stood there with my arms wrapped around myself, feeling numbed. Movement seemed too difficult. Thinking seemed too difficult. As Dimitri examined the sword, however, something caught my eye and made my sluggish brain slowly begin to function again. Seeing my interest, he held the sword out to me. I took it, careful of the blade, and examined the hilt. It was covered with engravings. â€Å"Do those mean something to you?† he asked. My mind was still cloudy with fear and adrenaline, but I ignored it and tried to dredge up some facts. â€Å"These are old alchemy symbols,† I said. â€Å"From the Middle Ages, back when our group was just a bunch of medieval scientists trying to turn lead into gold.† That was all the history books knew about my society. That, and we'd eventually given up on gold. The organization had later found more sophisticated compounds, including vampire blood. Interacting with vampires had eventually evolved into our current cause, as ancient Alchemists realized the terrible and dark temptations vampires represented. Our cause became a holy one. The chemistry and formulas my society had once worked on for personal gain became the tools needed to hide the existence of vampires, tools we now supplemented with technology. I tapped the largest symbol, a circle with a dot in the center. â€Å"This is actually the symbol for gold. This other one is silver. These four triangle things are the basic elements – earth, air, water, and fire. And these†¦ Mars and Jupiter, which tie into iron and tin. Maybe the sword's composition?† I frowned and studied the rest of the metal. â€Å"No gold or silver actually in it, though. Their symbols can also refer to the sun and moon. Maybe these aren't physical at all. I don't know.† I handed the sword back to Dimitri. Sonya took it from him, studying what I'd pointed out. â€Å"So, are you saying this is an Alchemist weapon?† I shook my head. â€Å"Alchemists would never use something like this. Guns are easier. And the symbols are archaic. We use the periodic table now. Easier to write ‘Au' for gold instead of drawing that sun symbol.† â€Å"Is there any reason these would be on a weapon? Some greater symbolism or meaning?† Dimitri asked. â€Å"Well, again, if you go back, the sun and gold were the most important to the ancient Alchemists. They revolved around this whole idea of light and clarity.† I touched my cheek. â€Å"Those things are still important in some ways – it's why we use this gold ink. Aside from the benefits, the gold marks us as†¦ pure. Sanctified. Part of a holy cause. But on a sword†¦ I don't know. If whoever did this was going off the same symbolism, then maybe the sword is sanctified.† I thought back to the attackers' words, about returning to Hell. I grimaced. â€Å"Or maybe its owners feel it's serving some kind of holy duty.† â€Å"Who were these guys anyway?† asked Adrian. â€Å"Do you think Jill's at risk?† â€Å"They knew about vampires. But they were human,† said Dimitri. â€Å"Even I could tell that,† I agreed. â€Å"The one was pretty tall, but he was no Moroi.† Admitting our assailants had been human was difficult – and baffling – for me. I'd always believed the Strigoi were evil. That was easy. Even Moroi couldn't always be trusted, which was why the thought of Moroi assassins coming after Jill didn't seem that far-fetched. But humans†¦ the people I was supposed to be protecting? That was tough. I'd been attacked by my own kind, the so-called good guys, not the fanged fiends I'd been taught to fear. It was a jolt to my worldview. Dimitri's face grew even grimmer. â€Å"I've never heard of anything like this – mainly because most humans don't know about Moroi. Aside from the Alchemists.† I gave him a sharp look. â€Å"This had nothing to do with us. I told you, swords aren't our style. Neither are attacks.† Sonya set the sword down on the coffee table. â€Å"No one's making accusations about anyone. I assume it's an issue you'll both want to bring up to your groups.† Dimitri and I nodded. â€Å"Although, I think we're overlooking a key point here. They were treating me like a Strigoi. A sword's not the easiest way to kill someone. There'd have to be a reason.† â€Å"It's the only way a human could kill a Strigoi, too,† I murmured. â€Å"Humans can't charm a silver stake. I suppose they could set you on fire, but that's not practical in an alley.† Silence fell as we all mulled this over. At last, Sonya sighed. â€Å"I don't think we're going to get anywhere tonight, not without talking to others. Do you want me to heal that?† It took me a moment to realize she was talking to me. I touched my cheek. â€Å"No, it'll heal fast on its own.† That was one of the side effects of the vampire blood in our lily tattoos. â€Å"I'll go clean it before I go.† I walked to the bathroom as confidently as I could. When I reached it and saw my reflection in the mirror, I lost it. The scrape wasn't bad, not at all. Mostly, what upset me was what it represented. Sonya had had the blade to her throat, but my life had been in danger too. I had been attacked, and I'd been helpless. I wet a washcloth and tried to bring it to my face, but my hands were shaking too badly. â€Å"Sage?† Adrian appeared in the doorway, and I quickly tried to blink away the tears that had started to fill my eyes. â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"Can't you tell from my aura?† He didn't answer but instead took the washcloth from me before I dropped it. â€Å"Turn,† he commanded. I did, and he dabbed the scrape with it. With him standing so close to me, I could see that his eyes were bloodshot. I could also smell the alcohol on him. Nonetheless, his hand was steadier than mine. Again, he asked, â€Å"You okay?† â€Å"I'm not the one who had a sword to my throat.† â€Å"That's not the question I asked. Are you hurt anywhere else?† â€Å"No,† I said, looking down. â€Å"Just maybe†¦ maybe my pride.† â€Å"Your pride?† He paused to rinse the washcloth. â€Å"What does that have to do with anything?† I looked up but still didn't meet his eyes. â€Å"I can do a lot of things, Adrian. And – at the risk of sounding egotistical – I mean, well, I can do a lot of pretty awesome things that most people can't.† There was amusement in his voice. â€Å"Don't I know it. You can change a tire in ten minutes while speaking Greek.† â€Å"Five minutes,† I said. â€Å"But when my life's on the line – when others' lives are on the line – what good am I? I can't fight. I was completely helpless out there. Just like when the Strigoi attacked us and Lee. I can only stand and watch and wait for people like Rose and Dimitri to save me. I†¦ I'm like a storybook damsel in distress.† He finished cleaning my cheek and set the washcloth down. He cupped my face in his hands. â€Å"The only thing true about what you just said was the storybook damsel part – and that's only because you're pretty enough to be one. Not the distress thing. Everything else you just said was ridiculous. You're not helpless.† I finally looked up. In our conversations, Adrian wasn't usually the one accusing me of being ridiculous. â€Å"Oh? So I am like Rose and Dimitri?† â€Å"No. No more than I am. And, if memory serves, someone told me recently it was useless trying to be like other people. That you should only try to be yourself.† I scowled at having my words thrown back at me. â€Å"This isn't the same situation at all. I'm talking about taking care of myself, not impressing someone.† â€Å"Well, there's your other problem, Sage. ‘Taking care of yourself.' These encounters you've had – Strigoi, crazy guys with swords. Those aren't exactly normal. I don't think you can really get down on yourself for not being able to fight back against those kinds of attacks. Most people couldn't.† â€Å"I should be able to,† I muttered. His eyes were sympathetic. â€Å"Then learn. That same person who likes giving me advice once told me not to be a victim. So don't be. You've learned how to do a million other things. Learn this. Take a self-defense class. Get a gun. You can't be a guardian, but that's not the only way to protect yourself.† A cluster of emotions boiled within me. Anger. Embarrassment. Reassurance. â€Å"You've got a lot to say for a drunk guy.† â€Å"Oh, Sage. I've got a lot to say, drunk or sober.† He released me and stepped away. I felt oddly vulnerable without him near. â€Å"What most people don't get is that I'm more coherent like this. Less chance for spirit to make me crazy.† He tapped the side of his head and rolled his eyes. â€Å"Speaking of which†¦ I'm not going to give you any lectures about that,† I said, glad to shift the topic from me. â€Å"Lunch with your dad sucked. I get it. If you want to drown that out, it's fine. But please, just keep Jill in mind. You know what this does to her – not now, maybe, but later.† The ghost of a smile flickered across his lips. â€Å"You're always the voice of reason. Just try listening to yourself once in a while.† The words were familiar. Dimitri had said something similar, that I couldn't take care of others without taking care of myself first. If two people as wildly different as Adrian and Dimitri had the same opinion, then maybe there was something to it. It gave me a lot to think about when I returned to Amberwood later. One of the good things about Adrian's intoxication was that Jill hadn't been able to witness our talk. So the next day over lunch when I gave Jill, Eddie, and Angeline a recap of what had happened, I was able to edit the story and leave out my own breakdown. Jill and Angeline's reactions were about what I expected. Jill was concerned and kept asking over and over if Sonya and I were okay. Angeline regaled us with tales of all the things she would've done to the attackers and how, unlike Dimitri, she would have chased them through the streets. Eddie was quiet and didn't say much until the other two had left, Angeline back to her room and Jill to get ready for class. â€Å"I thought something was wrong with you today,† he said. â€Å"Especially at breakfast, when Angeline called a tomato a vegetable and you didn't correct her.† I managed a half smile at his joke. â€Å"Yeah. Well, it's the kind of thing that sticks with you. I mean, maybe not for you guys. Random sword attacks in dark alleys are normal for you, right?† He shook his head, face serious. â€Å"You can't ever take any attack in stride. People who do get careless. You have nothing to feel bad about.† I'd been stirring some sketchy looking mashed potatoes and finally gave up. â€Å"I don't like being unprepared. For anything. Don't get me wrong – I've been there when you and Rose fought Strigoi. I was helpless then too†¦ but that's different. They're larger than life†¦ beyond a human's scope. I don't really expect myself to be able to fight then. But what happened last night – even with the sword – was only one step away from a mugging. Mundane. And they were human, like me. I shouldn't have been so ineffectual.† â€Å"Do you want me to teach you some tricks?† he asked kindly. That brought my smile back. â€Å"What you do is a little larger than life too. Maybe I'd be better doing something a little more suited to my level. Adrian said I should get a gun or take a self-defense class.† â€Å"That's good advice.† â€Å"I know. Scary, huh? The Alchemists do gun-training, but I'm not a fan. I do pretty well at classes and theory, though.† He chuckled. â€Å"Very true. Well, if you change your mind, let me know. After working with Angeline, I'm ready for anything. Although†¦ to be fair, she's backed off a little.† I thought back to my last real conversation with her. Her fight and suspension had only been yesterday but felt like years ago. â€Å"Oh. I sort of had a talk with her.† â€Å"What kind of talk?† he asked, surprised. â€Å"I told you not to worry about my personal life. It's my problem.† â€Å"I know, I know. But it just kind of happened. I told her that her behavior was out of line and that she needed to stop. She was pretty mad at me, though, so I wasn't sure if it had gotten through.† â€Å"Huh. I guess it did.† The next words obviously were a big concession. â€Å"Maybe she's not as bad as I thought.† â€Å"Maybe,† I agreed. â€Å"And look at it this way. At least her suspension means you don't have to worry about her at the dance.† From the way his face lit up, it was clear he hadn't realized that yet. A few moments later, he toughened up again. â€Å"If there are attacks going on like this, I'm going to have to be extra cautious with Jill – especially at the dance.† I hadn't thought there was any way Eddie could be more cautious, but probably he'd prove me wrong. â€Å"I kind of wish Angeline was going.† Most of my classes were distracting enough to keep me from thinking too much about last night, but Ms. Terwilliger's independent study was different. It was too quiet, too low-key. It gave me a lot of time in my own head, bringing back all the fear and self-doubt I'd been trying to ignore. For once, I copied and notated the spells without really memorizing them. Usually, I couldn't help myself. Today, my mind wasn't there. We were almost halfway through the period when I finally tuned in enough to really process what I was working on. It was a spell from Late Antiquity that allegedly made the victim think scorpions were crawling on him or her. Like so many of Ms. Terwilliger's spell books, the formula was convoluted and time consuming. â€Å"Ms. Terwilliger?† I hated to ask anything of her, but recent events weighed too heavily on me. She looked up in surprise from her paperwork. After the cold war we'd entered into, she'd grown used to me never speaking unless spoken to. â€Å"Yes?† I tapped the book. â€Å"What good are these so-called offensive spells? How would you ever use them in a fight when they require concoctions that take days to prepare? If you're attacked, there's no time for anything like that. There's hardly any time to think.† â€Å"Which one are you looking at?† she asked. â€Å"The scorpion one.† She nodded. â€Å"Ah, yes. Well, that's more of a premeditated one. If you've got someone you don't like, you work on this and cast it. Quite effective for ex-boyfriends, I might add.† Her face grew distracted, and then she focused back on me. â€Å"There are certainly ones that would be more useful in the kind of situation you're describing. Your fire charm, if you recall, had a lot of prep work but could be used quite quickly. There are others that can be cast on extremely short notice with few components – but as I've said in the past, those types require considerable skill. The more advanced you are, the less you need ingredients. You need a lot more experience before you're at a level to learn anything like that.† â€Å"I never said I wanted to learn anything like that,† I snapped. â€Å"I'm just†¦ making an inquiry.† â€Å"Oh? My mistake. It almost sounded like you were, dare I say, interested.† â€Å"No!† I was grateful that the healing magic in my tattoo had cleared up most of the bruising on my face from last night. I didn't want her to suspect that I might have serious motivation for protection. â€Å"See, this is why I never say anything in here. You read too much into it and just use it to further your agenda to torment me.† â€Å"Torment? You read books and drink coffee in here – exactly what you'd be doing if you weren't here.† â€Å"Except that I'm miserable,† I told her. â€Å"I hate every minute of this. I'm almost ready to stop coming and risk the academic fallout. This is all sick and twisted and – † The last bell of the day cut me off before I said something I'd regret. Almost immediately, Trey appeared in the doorway. Ms. Terwilliger began packing up and looked over at him with a smile, as though everything in here was perfectly normal. â€Å"Why, Mr. Juarez. How nice of you to show up now, seeing as you couldn't make it to my class this morning.† Looking back, I realized she was right. Trey hadn't been in her history class or our chemistry class. â€Å"Sorry,† he said. â€Å"I had some family stuff to take care of.† â€Å"Family stuff† was an excuse I used all the time, though I doubted Trey's had involved taking vampires on a blood feeding run. â€Å"Can you, uh, tell me what I missed?† he asked. Ms. Terwilliger slung her bag over her shoulder. â€Å"I have an appointment. Ask Miss Melbourne – she'll probably explain it more thoroughly than I can. The door will lock behind you when you two leave.† Trey sat down in a nearby desk and pulled it up to face mine while I produced our history and chemistry assignments, since I assumed he'd need the latter as well. I nodded toward the duffle bag he had on the floor beside him. â€Å"Off to practice?† He leaned over to copy the assignments, his dark hair falling around the sides of his face. â€Å"Wouldn't miss it,† he said, not looking up as he wrote. â€Å"Right. You only miss classes.† â€Å"Don't judge,† he said. â€Å"I would've been there if I could.† I let it go. I'd certainly had my fair share of weird personal complications come up before. While he wrote, I turned on my cell phone and found I had a text message from Brayden. It was one word, a record for him: Dinner? I hesitated. I was still worked up over last night, and although Brayden was fun, he wasn't the comfort I needed right now. I texted back: Not sure. I've got some work to do tonight. I wanted to look up some self-defense options. That was the reassurance I needed. Facts. Options. Brayden's quick response followed: Late dinner? Stone Grill at 8? I considered it and then texted back that I'd be there. I had just set down my phone when another text message buzzed. Unexpectedly, it was from Adrian. How r u feeling after last night? Been worried about u. Adrian was articulate in email but often resorted to abbreviations in texts – something I could never bring myself to do. Even reading it was like listening to nails on a chalkboard for me, yet something touched me about his concern, that he was worried about my well-being. It was soothing. I wrote back: Better. I'm going to find a self-defense class. His response time was nearly as fast as Brayden's: Let me know what u find. Maybe I'll take one 2. I blinked in surprise. I certainly hadn't seen that coming. There was only one thing I could send back: Why? â€Å"Geez,† said Trey, closing up his notebook. â€Å"Miss Popularity.† â€Å"Family stuff,† I said. He scoffed and shoved the notebook into his backpack. â€Å"Thanks for these. And speaking of family stuff†¦ your cousin. Is it true she was expelled?† â€Å"Suspended for two weeks.† â€Å"Really?† He stood up. â€Å"That's it? I thought it'd be a lot worse.† â€Å"Yeah. It nearly was. I persuaded them to go easy on her.† Trey laughed outright at that. â€Å"I can only imagine. Well, I guess I can wait two weeks then.† I frowned. â€Å"For what?† â€Å"To ask her out.† I was speechless for a few seconds. â€Å"Angeline?† I asked, just in case he thought I had another cousin. â€Å"You want to ask out†¦ Angeline?† â€Å"Sure,† he said. â€Å"She's cute. And taking out three guys and a speaker? Well†¦ I'm not going to lie. That was pretty hot.† â€Å"I can think of a lot of words to describe what she did. ‘Hot' isn't one of them.† He shrugged and moved toward the door. â€Å"Hey, you've got your turn-ons, I've got mine. Windmills for you, brawling for me.† â€Å"Unbelievable,† I said. Yet, I wondered if it really was. I supposed we did all have our own â€Å"turn-ons.† Trey's lifestyle was certainly different from mine. He was devoted to his sport and always had bruises on him from practice, even now. They were more severe than usual. I couldn't understand his passions any more than he could understand my love of knowledge. My phone buzzed again. â€Å"Better get back to your fan club,† said Trey. He left, and a strange thought occurred to me. Were all of Trey's recent bruises really from sports? He kept making a lot of references to his family, and I suddenly wondered if something far more insidious than I'd suspected was keeping him away. It was a troubling idea, one I didn't have a lot of experience with. Another buzz from the phone pulled me out of my worries. I checked the phone and found another text from Adrian – a long one that spanned two messages. It was a response to my question about him taking a self-defense class. It'll give me a reason to avoid S&D. Besides, u aren't the only one who might need protection. Those guys were human and knew S was a vampire. Maybe vampire hunters r real. Ever think Clarence might be telling the truth? I stared at the phone in disbelief, processing Adrian's words and the implications of last night's attack. Ever think Clarence might be telling the truth? No. Until that moment, I hadn't.