Goals essays

Goals essays Its Not Making a Goal, Its Raising the Bar Many people accomplish tasks by making goals and working to achieve what they set out to do. I do not think of it like that. To me, Life is almost like the high jump: In order to go places, one must consistently raise the bar. In American History, My bar is at an area where I am comfortable with interpreting historical facts and writing essays based on primary and secondary sources. However, as said before, I must raise that bar this year to become a better historian, in the sense of interpreting and analyzing ideas, sources, and theories. For If I did not do this-raise the bar, what would be the point of having ambition? This will not be an easy task. There are many factors which can inhibit my progress such as schools, sports, social life, family life, and so on... Probably the hardest thing for me will be staying focused in History, because to be honest, it is not my favorite subject. However, I will achieve my goal by listening, practicing, and thinking. My teacher, I feel, will be the biggest factor in my progress as a historian. By introducing new and innovative ideas to history and by making it fun, while helping me, I feel my focus will constantly be enhanced, thus making me want to work harder. Other resources such as the Internet and libraries can help me too, by introducing many documents which will most likely interest me. In six weeks time, I will probably have just written an essay that must be comprised of primary and secondary sources. I will take it and compare it to one from last year. Only then will I see if I truly have become a better historian. In addition with raising the bar mentally, I also want to raise the bar physically for myself. Up until now I have gotten myself in reasonable shape. This new raising of the bar will be to not only lose weight, but more importantly lose body fat and have a better physique and cardiovas...

Reasons Behind the Case for School Choice

Reasons Behind the Case for School Choice When it comes to education, conservatives believe that American families should have the flexibility and the right to a variety of school options for their children. The public education system in the United States is both expensive and under-performing. Conservatives believe that the public education system as it exists today should be an option of last resort, not a first and only choice. A majority of Americans believe that the education system is broken. Liberals say that more (and more and more) money is the answer. But conservatives argue that school choice is the answer. Public support for educational options is strong, but powerful liberal special interests have effectively limited the options many families have. School Choice Shouldn't be Just for the Wealthy Educational options should not only exist for the well-connected and wealthy. While President Obama opposes school choice and props up the education-affiliated labor unions, he sends his own children to a school that costs $30,000 per year. Though Obama likes to portray himself as having come from nothing, he attended the elite college prep Punahou School in Hawaii, which today costs almost $20,000 per year to attend. And Michelle Obama? She attended the also-elite Whitney M. Young Magnet High school. While the school is run by the city, it is not a typical high school and it closely resembles the way a charter school would operate. The school accepts less than 5% of applicants, highlighting the need and desire for such options. Conservatives believe that every child should have the educational opportunities that the entire Obama family has enjoyed. School choice should not be limited to the 1%, and the people who oppose school choice should at least send their kids to the school th ey want the regular folks to attend. Private and Charter Schools School choice would allow families to choose from a number of educational options. If they are happy with the education that the government provides, and admittedly some public schools are excellent, then they can remain. The second option would be a charter school. A charter school does not charge tuition and it survives off of public funds, however, it operates independently from the public education system. Charter schools offer unique educational opportunities but they are still held accountable for success. Unlike with the public education system, a failing charter school will not remain open. A third main option is private schooling. Private schools can range from elite prep schools to religiously-affiliated schools. Unlike with the public school system or charter schools, private schools do not run on public funds. Typically, expenses are met by charging tuition to cover part of the cost, and reliance on a pool of private donors. Currently, private schools are the least accessible to lower-income families, despite the per-pupil cost to attend typically being less than both the public school and charter school systems. Conservatives favor opening up the voucher system to these schools as well. Other educational opportunities are also supported, such as home-schooling and distance learning. A Voucher System Conservatives believe that a voucher system would be the most effective and efficient way to deliver school choice to millions of children. Not only would vouchers empower families to find the best fit for their children, but it saves taxpayers money as well. Currently, the per-pupil cost of public education is close to $11,000 across the nation. (And how many parents would say they believe their child gets an $11,000 per year education?) A voucher system would let parents use some of that money and apply it to a private or charter school of their choosing. Not only does the student get to attend a school that is a good educational fit, but charter and private schools are typically far less expensive, thus saving the taxpayers thousands of dollars every time a student leaves the status quo educational system in favor of a parent-chosen school. The Obstacle: Teacher's Unions The biggest (and perhaps only) obstacle to school choice is the powerful teachers unions who oppose any attempts to expand educational opportunities. Their position is certainly understandable. If school choice were to be embraced by politicians, how many parents would choose the government-run option? How many parents would not shop around for the best fit for their children? School choice and a publicly-supported voucher system would inevitably lead to a mass exodus of students from the public school system, thus endangering the currently competition-free atmosphere that teachers currently enjoy. It is also true that, on average, charter and private school teachers do not enjoy the salaries and benefits that their public counterparts do. This is a reality of operating in the real world where budgets and standards exist. But it would be unfair to say that lower salaries equal lower quality teachers. Its a valid argument that charter and private school teachers are more likely to teach for the love of teaching, rather than for money and benefits offered as a government employee. Competition Could Improve Public Schools and Teacher Quality It is likely true, similarly to how capitalism promotes private programs and diminishes public programs, a competitive private school system would require fewer public educators, but it would not mean a wholesale firing of public school teachers. Implementing these school choice programs would take years, and much of the reduction in the public teacher force would be handled through attrition (the retirement of current teachers and not replacing them). But this could be a good thing for the public education system. First, the hiring of new public school teachers would become more selective, thus increasing the quality of public school teachers. Also, more education funds would be freed up because of the voucher system, which costs thousands less per-pupil. Assuming this money is kept in the public education system, it would mean that struggling public schools could financially benefit as funds become more available.

First Day on the job Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

First Day on the job - Essay Example This includes security measures outside the office like parking facility and security guards. There should be no discrimination in the office both male and female employees should be treated equally. Power of recognition – acknowledgement is a very important motivator. If the employees are praised and their efforts acknowledged, they will work hard and feel better about themselves (Smith & Mazin, 2011 p.90). Importance of incentives – incentives given to employees should have a monitory value. Incentives are categorized into praise with physical form. This is a reward for a job well done. This has looked down upon by most managers, but it has been proved that it increases employees’ sense of worth in relation to the completed work. These physical incentives could be shirts, company logo, or even business card holders. Employees effort should be recognized no matter what incentive is given to them whether through small office gifts or verbally. Power of praise – all the manager must be well informed that leadership and fairness alone cannot encourage their staff to work hard. Each and everyone feels good and determined when appreciated. When praise and affirmation is given to an employee after doing something, he/she will work harder to receive same appreciation next time. Power of recognition – if the management praise and acknowledge the efforts of employees they will feel better and work with one spirit. This will improve the quantity and quality of production, which will automatically increase the profits of the company. Safety measures – when employees are provided with maximum security, they will work hard even up to late hours knowing they have enough security. This will enable employees to trust the management and the company as whole. It will enable the company to run continuously which will lead to continuous production. All the employees both male and female will be proud of themselves in the office as they are treated

Composite Role Rating Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Composite Role Rating - Essay Example Measurement tools viz., rating forms, observational checklists or questionnaires are used to obtain measures (numbers) that are valid and reliable (Arreola, 2007). In the hypothetical Impact Matrix (Appendix A) that I have prepared, I have used typical activities that university teachers engage in namely, Teaching, Scholarly Activity, and Service as the 3 major roles to evaluate faculty performance. Under ‘Teaching’, the role components identified are ‘instructional delivery’, ‘instructional design’, ‘content expertise’ and ‘course management.’ In my impact matrix, students, being the target entity, will be the sole judge for instructional delivery skills. This component is best evaluated through the following list of desirable attributes of faculty teaching performance whereby â€Å"the instructor creates an intellectually stimulating environment by : demonstrating interest and enthusiasm in the student learning proce ss; demonstrating effective communication skills: writing, speaking and listening; eliciting responsible student participation; †¦being available to students outside of class time to discuss course materials; †¦and returning student work in a timely manner† (Clarke University Faculty Evaluation Manual, 2008, pp 4-5). These are qualities in a teacher that are especially needed for effective guidance of students in their academic course work; therefore, I have assigned 35% as the source impact. With an arbitrary source rating of 4, the weighted rating works out to 1.4 (as shown in Appendix A). The ratings are based on a 5-point performance scale which is: 1 (Unacceptable); 2 (Satisfactory); 3 (Good); 4 (Very Good); and 5 (Excellent). For the instructional design component, students (source impact weight, 10%); peers (15%); self (10%) all contribute the data. The weighted rating from all these sources adds up to an arbitrary value of

Environmental Pollution Essay Example for Free

Environmental Pollution Essay Environmental pollution is the biggest menace to the human race on this planet today. It means adding impurity to environment. The environment consists of earth, water, air, plants and animals. If we pollute them, then the existence of man and nature will be hampered. It is true that trees are being cut down rapidly. Our earth is becoming warmer. If pollution continues, the day is not far when our earth will be a boiling pan and become a desert. Or it will be covered with sea water causing destruction of mankind. Pure air is always needed for inhaling. If we take pure air, our health improves. On the other hand impure air causes diseases and impairs our health and causes our death. Smoke pollutes the air. It is the root of air pollution. The smoke which is discharged from industries, automobiles and kitchens is the mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane etc. These are all poisonous gases. These cause lung-cancer, tuberculosis etc. which take a heavy toll of life. The glaring incident is the Bhopal gas leak in December 1984. Thousands of the residents of Bhopal died due to lungs problem which was caused by methylamine gas from the Union Carbide Plant. The garbage emitting foul smell, the decaying plants and animals also cause air pollution. Hence the doctors advise the patients having lungs trouble to settle in some rural places because the air of villages is pure and free from population. Then comes sound pollution. The harsh sounds of buses, its, mopeds etc. affect our power of hearing and causes fart trouble. It has been reported that there are two villages named Biraspalli and Devadas Palli near Dum Dum airport m Calcutta where a large number of people have lost their power of hearing. This is because of the frequent sounds of planes coming in and going out of Dum Dum Airport. The evils of sound pollution can be imagined from this example. The water of rivers and seas is being constantly polluted all over the world by various dangerous chemical and biological wastes. Mills and factories discharge very harmful waste waters into many rivers and sea. The water of the Ganges flowing by the side of both Varanashi and Calcutta is extremely polluted and contains all sorts of dangerous bacteria. It is really very strange and laughable that large number of the Indians regard this water as holy. They even drink this water for salvation. There is no doubt that the fish that grow in such waters are poisonous too. Reckless application of chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides pollutes the soil. Vegetables and fruits are quite injurious today, because they contain the poison of insecticides and pesticides. If the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil which produces our crops, vegetables and fruits, all become more and more impure, then our chances of good health and longevity will be very less and less. Environment pollution is a serious menace to our existence. Realising the danger, we must plant trees in large number to absorb impure air. Impure water from industries can be sent back for purification and then it can be used for irrigation purpose. Our government is well aware of the fact and is taking steps to save environment from pollution. We have also I minister to look after the environment.

A Historical View of The Three Musketeers Essay -- essays research pap

In the novel The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, King Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu are in authority in France, each struggling to gain absolute power. As a result conflicts emerge that will lead to the progress of France. France was constantly in external conflicts with England and in internal conflicts with the Huguenots that provoked war against the Catholics and even the King, but never against the Cardinal (Dumas, 1). Queen Anne’s romance to the Duke of Buckingham, who at the time was an enemy of France, was not unknown to the Cardinal, like nothing else that escaped him from knowing it. The story’s protagonist, D’Artagnan faces the most dangerous spy of the Cardinal, Lady de Winter. This lady is the one entrusted with the task of assassinating the Duke of Buckingham. This novel is regarded as fictional and the events may not be as accurate as the actual ones. On the contrary there is much historicity behind it. There really lived a King Louis XIII, a Cardinal Richelieu, an Anne of Austria, and George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Most events that occur throughout the story happened in reality. The siege of La Rochelle being the one of the major political and religious conflict in the book was a great event of the reign of Louis XIII. The Cardinal may have had the greatest influence in cause and resolution of this war against the Protestants. The results were in favor of the Cardinal as might have been expected. He is presented as an antagonist to the Queen, mainly in her romantic affair with the Duke of Buckingham. However the result does not turn in the favor of the Cardinal this time, not as it had been expected. In the absolute monarchy of France two parties ruled the same nation under two men (Dumas, 73). ... ...ings musketeers by his antagonist throughout the novel, the Cardinal. Every conflict described here has lead to the progress of one thing, mainly to the advancement of the Cardinals power in France and to the victory of the Catholics in the siege of la Rochelle. This is just a glimpse of how conflicts can lead to historical progress. This novel is also famous for its saying â€Å"All for one and one for all† (Dumas, The Three Musketeers). The musketeer’s friendship is part of the reason that progress occurred in the conflicts mention above. It is not just in novels where the conflicts lead to historical advancement, but this was a great source to portray the progress. Throughout history conflicts have been emerged to lead to the progress of one thing and the other that has lost makes its necessary improvements but at the final stage both have reached a necessary object.

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory According to Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, microsystem refers to the groups that immediately influence and directly impact the development of a child. In my life this impact came from my family and church. As a young child I was very timid and shy. My family taught me how to be resilient in challenging situations. For example during large family gatherings, where confrontations occur among my cousins and I, there were several opportunities to voice my opinion and stand for what I feel was right.The church I attended gave me a different paradigm on life. Being a part of this ministry allowed me to see my potential on a greater level. Over the years, I was given many chances to interact with children in a supervisory position. This experience helped me to discover my gift for teaching young children. Exosystem is the link between a social setting in which the individual does not have an active role. Being a military family, exosystem, also had a strong influence on my development as a child.My step father was enlisted in the US Navy. At the age of eight years old, my family and I relocated to Virginia from Florida. We resided here for 4 years. During my time in Virginia, I discovered that school was more challenging than that of Florida schools. I struggled academically, especially the first two years. The academic lessons are a little more than a year worth of difference between the two school systems. So the two systems that impact me the most are the microsystem of my family and the exosystem of being a military family.Nurture and Nature does have an influence on adult development, but not as great as it is on children. Let’s look at nurture, as a child you are still developing. A child has minimal control over his or her environment and development has not reached maturation, that’s why children need adult supervision and guidance. Once a child becomes a mature functioning ad ult he or she can make sound decisions what is accepted in his or her environment. For example, Victor does not enjoy the city that he resides in. There are not a lot of opportunities for the career field he is working in.Victor can make a conscious decision to move to a more suitable location. A minor has very little influence on where he or she lives. With the latest advancements in science we are fortunate to have the knowledge to counteract the negative effects of genetics. Nature influence on our quality of life is weakening. Maria’s family has a history of heart failure and diabetes. Maria’s, physical make up is that of her biological father. She is petite and pear shaped. Her paternal great grandmother, great aunt and grandmother died from complications of heart disease.Maria has control over the foods she eats and activity levels. On the other hand, children foods and playtimes are decided by consenting adults. Through proper education and a healthy lifestyle s he has a better chance of a life free of this illness. Even though nurture and nature have a minimum influence on adults, ultimately adults make the final decisions on their lives. Choose Wisely. 1. Witt, G. A. , & Mossler, R. A. (2010). Adult Development and Life Assessment. Retrieved from https://content. ashford. edu/books/AUPSY202. 10. 2

A Time Travel with Mr. Swift: Restoring the Early 1800’s Society Essay

English satirist Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) was born in Ireland of English parents. He was educated in Dublin but before he could fix on a career, the troubles that followed upon the subsequent invasion of Ireland drove Swift with the other Anglo-Irish to England. During these years, Swift read widely and discovered his astonishing gift as a satirist (Abrams 1976). For the rest of his life, Swift devoted his talents to politics and religion – not clearly separated at the time, and most of his works were written to further a specific cause (Abrams 1976). In 1714, he returned to Ireland, became identified with the Irish life, and through such brilliant pamphlets as Drapier Letters and A Modest Proposal (1729), became virtually a ‘national hero’ (Hornstein et al 504). Ireland suffered from a number of social, political and religious crises that time when Swift reached a clear sense of his genius; famine, over-population, Irish’ materialism to English goods, Protestant’s suppression of Catholics over estate ownership and the Irish government being filled by English appointees resulting to irresolution and inaction of the gripping condition. Swift who saw the Irish suffering for its cause collaborated with his contemporaries for whom he established a good friendship. In a letter to Alexander Pope, he declared himself a misanthrope; a hater of mankind.   He opposed to the prevailing definition of man as a rational animal and offered his new definition of man as simply an animal capable of reason (Abrams 1978). He antagonised the optimistic view of human nature being essentially good and proclaimed it to be deeply and permanently flawed unless humanity would learn to recognize its moral and intellectual limitation. ANALYSIS: The Misanthrope Mind Jonathan Swift intended his works to be an absolute savage attack upon man and his institutions. His most celebrated works Gulliver’s Travels and A Modest Proposal expressed that personal indignation with moments of comedy and light-heartedness, though both written as much to reform the readers and satirize issues. Swift was a man of the Age of Reason; however, he used his reasoning to oppose the   people’s overindulgence to reason so as to let it dictate all courses of   human life – thus advocating to the Restoration of the 18th century. In Gulliver’s Travels, he made fun of the English society by using satirical symbols that represent the crooked civility of the time. Gulliver observed the shrunken humanity through the Lilliputians who have shrunken concerns. For example, in Lilliput, candidates for public office go through their fantastic acrobatic rope and stick dances in order to obtain appointment and hold office. â€Å"Whoever jumps the highest succeeds while the chief ministers are commanded to show their skill to convince the Emperor that they have not lost their faculty† (Swift Part I Chapter IV p38). It must be noted though that the author’s â€Å"greatest disappointment was his failure to become a bishop in England† (Hornstein et al 504). The system of favoring those of nobler descent in appointing for office seat must have influenced the Lilliputians’ ridiculous and circus political system. On Part I Chapter 7, p 74-75, 77, after the court declared Gulliver’s cruel execution, he tells the readers of â€Å"his Majesty giving many marks of his great lenity and †¦.mercy for which he was so justly celebrated†. Swift was obviously satirizing the sweet words of those in power to cloak their evil deeds. An interesting angle could as well be derived from the war between Lilliput and Blefuscu. Both states were prosperous and have enough to supply the citizens’ needs. Yet they did not live in peace with each other. In fact, when Gulliver learned of the plan to accuse him of high treason, he made an escape to Blefuscu where he was received (his exile from England to Ireland satirized). In exact contrary to his travel to Lilliput was his voyage to Brobdingnag – the land of giants wherein all of human flaws are magnified. There he realized that a human characteristic, whether physical or by manner, becomes ‘ugly’ when put to scale. The King, who prided on his ability at arithmetic, was a calculating leader who objected the knowledge on navigation, music, military affairs, laws and politics. Yet, upon Gulliver’s account of his country, remarked a conclusion of Gulliver’s â€Å"natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth† (Swift Part II Chapter VI, p147). This is a serious, direct last to the English society. Then Gulliver led us to a meeting with the Houyhnhnms – a horse race of the most rational mind and ideals who employ the Yahoos – human brutes who are incapable of reason and are therefore employed as animals (Gale 370). The Houyhnhnms were considered to be the wisest of all creatures and taught Gulliver the notion on truth and falsehood. The Master Houyhnhnm argued that â€Å"the use of speech was to make us understand one another and to receive information of facts† (Swift Part IV Chapter IV p273). Lying then defeats the purpose of speech. Given this, Gulliver accounted the Houyhnhnms or horses in his country, being tamed and trained from young years through cruel beating, in order to make a good tamed horse for the Yahoos (humans). He as well described how the horses are castrated in order to ‘hinder them from propagating their kind’ (Swift Part IV Chapter IV p 275). This savagery appalled the Houyhnhnm saying that in their country; even the Yahoos were less cruelly treated. This intellectual interaction between Gulliver and the Houyhnhnms could be a parody between Swift and the Enlightenment proponents. With the transcendentalists being too logical and ideal, learned of their flaws through the principle of truth and logic. But Swift’s most savage satire came out in 1729 with the pamphlet – A Modest Proposal. After almost two decades of constant battle against the English oppression towards the Irish Catholics with futility, he resolved to side with the English in a proposal any reader will be caught unprepared; the English to devour Irish children. He was angry with the English absentee landowners who bleed the Irish of everything they have leaving the Catholic peasants of Ireland hungry and hopeless. He was angry with the Parliament and the English aristocrats who see these impoverished as eye-sores in the street. The proponent, who appears to be naà ¯ve yet logical and kind, devised a superb plan to lessen the filthy population of the Papists and increase economic gain. Swift pointed the following as causes of the Irish poverty; the inability of the parents to provide their children with their needs, the attitude of the English aristocrats towards these unfortunate people, the government’s failure of providing a substantial solution to these problems and the uncontrollable population of papists that tend to have the largest families. Yet, the savagery that Swift presented in the pamphlet established a more grave argument and thus, only made the whole proposition more compelling. This made Swift a hero to the Irish, the official defender of the oppressed Ireland. However, much to his skeletal chagrin, Gulliver’s Travels TODAY is read with delight by children who are enchanted by its imaginative tales about strange creatures rather than its satire for which it was written for. In fact, instead of an adult audience, today’s children know more about this satire because of the prolific distribution of its cartoon version. While A Modest Proposal will remain an isolated commodity for import, appreciated solely as the first and finest of the satire only a master like Jonathan Swift could deliver. CONCLUSION Jonathan Swift is an example of a writer that we cannot study in isolation from the social, political and religious events of his time. First, his only goal as a writer is to advance his social, political and religious ideologies. Second, he himself is a parody of his time. Like what Immanuel Kant observed that though his age was an Age of Enlightenment, it was not an enlightened age at all (Gay 53). Thus, Swift used his genius, not to support the ideology in vogue, but to challenge the lack or excess of logic in all of human activities. In his characters in Gulliver’s Travels, he implied that humans in whatever form, whether Lilliputian, giant, horse or brute – are all flawed. Lilliputians with their shrunken ways of doing things, the giants in their misplaced vanities, the horses’ superfluous rationality on everything and the brutes’ incapability to reason – all described humanity as essentially imperfect. After reading his works, a momentary analysis may let us believe we have penetrated the mind of the genius. But after some moments of careful thinking, it feels futile to even try.   Indeed, only after a repeated reading will a contemporary reader reaches maturity and learns to appreciate this greatest satire in literary history.

Free Essays on Adolescence

Adolescence is a long period in a person’s life when they are making the transition from childhood to adulthood. This socially constructed period of growth is a time that entails a lot of transformations, including physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes. This time period lasts almost a decade and I have to agree that this stage in a developing child’s life is a very stressful period of unquestionable adjustment and change. Physical and biological changes that occur during adolescence are a rapid growth in height and weight, changes in body proportions and form, and attainment of sexual maturity. Hormonal changes during this time are associated with heightened moodiness and emotionality, aggression, and depression. A cognitive change that occurs with the adolescence period is a change in the thought process. The speed of information processing continues to increase and thinking may remain somewhat immature, but they are now capable of abstract reasoning and sophisticated moral judgments At a psychosocial level adolescents are often in search for their own identity. This process of finding one’s self is a vital process that builds on achievements of earlier stages in development and lays the foundation for coping with the crises of adult life. Relationships with family and peers, sexuality, and values all influence a person’s achievement of identity. Self image, attitudes, and personalities are all factors in determining one’s identity. After reviewing each developmental part of adolescence, it is obvious that there is a lot of change happening at this stage of maturity. This period causes stress for adolescents because of the new experiences and feelings they are being exposed to. Besides all of the unexpected biological changes, the social and cognitive changes that are occurring cause uneasiness and anxiety among them. Are they children or are they adults? This question is not clearly answered by... Free Essays on Adolescence Free Essays on Adolescence Adolescence is a time of â€Å"storm and strife†. Adolescence is a period of time between childhood and adulthood. This is the age when one can either make something of his life or destroy it all, this is the time when a person makes those friends who changes the how he looks at life and how he faces it. An adolescent's main goal these days is to fit in and not be different from their peers. In this paper I will explore the probabilities of the following grievances experienced by the adolescent youth which are drugs, suicide, and homelessness. : : Body of the Essay : : Adolescence is the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood; it generally refers to a period ranging from teen years through 20s. As now life is growing more complex, however, adolescents are increasingly cut off from the activities of their elders, leaving most young people with education as their sole occupation. Inexorably, this has isolated many of them from the adult world and has prolonged their adolescence. Now almost all over the world the adolescent years have become marked by violence to an alarming degree. The phenomenon of teenage suicide has become particularly disturbing, but risk-taking behaviors of many sorts can be observed, including alcohol and drug abuse. Adolescents only want to have fun and go to parties. They get addicted to drugs and start to revolve their lives around drugs. Some get arrested and others encounter death. Addiction is so powerful that it takes control of people's brains and only tells them to do wrong. Drugs are highly Addictive, and most of the adolescents main goal is to fit in the group by doing what the whole group does, this is how they get into crack, booze, pot and crystal. Dr. Nowinski's book in which he states his study of Adolescents drugs and addicts describes specific cases of adolescent drug abuse that he has worked with. He describes the different patterns of adolescent drug abuse and the causes of such ty... Free Essays on Adolescence Adolescence is a long period in a person’s life when they are making the transition from childhood to adulthood. This socially constructed period of growth is a time that entails a lot of transformations, including physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes. This time period lasts almost a decade and I have to agree that this stage in a developing child’s life is a very stressful period of unquestionable adjustment and change. Physical and biological changes that occur during adolescence are a rapid growth in height and weight, changes in body proportions and form, and attainment of sexual maturity. Hormonal changes during this time are associated with heightened moodiness and emotionality, aggression, and depression. A cognitive change that occurs with the adolescence period is a change in the thought process. The speed of information processing continues to increase and thinking may remain somewhat immature, but they are now capable of abstract reasoning and sophisticated moral judgments At a psychosocial level adolescents are often in search for their own identity. This process of finding one’s self is a vital process that builds on achievements of earlier stages in development and lays the foundation for coping with the crises of adult life. Relationships with family and peers, sexuality, and values all influence a person’s achievement of identity. Self image, attitudes, and personalities are all factors in determining one’s identity. After reviewing each developmental part of adolescence, it is obvious that there is a lot of change happening at this stage of maturity. This period causes stress for adolescents because of the new experiences and feelings they are being exposed to. Besides all of the unexpected biological changes, the social and cognitive changes that are occurring cause uneasiness and anxiety among them. Are they children or are they adults? This question is not clearly answered by...

Aphrodite the Greek Love Goddess

Aphrodite the Greek Love Goddess Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty. She was the most beautiful of the goddesses but was married to the ugliest of the gods, the limp smithy Hephaestus. Aphrodite had many affairs with men, both human and divine, resulting in many children, including Eros, Anteros, Hymenaios, and Aeneas. Aglaea (Splendor), Euphrosyne (Mirth), and Thalia (Good Cheer), known collectively as The Graces, followed in the retinue of Aphrodite. The Birth of Aphrodite In one story of her birth, Aphrodite is said to have sprung from the foam that resulted from the severed testicles of Uranus. In another version of her birth, Aphrodite is said to be the daughter of Zeus and Dione. Cyprus and Cythera are claimed as her birthplace. The Origin of Aphrodite It is thought that the fertility goddess of the Near East was imported to Cyprus during the Mycenaean Era. Aphrodites main cult centers in Greece were in Cythera and Corinth. Aphrodite in the Trojan War Aphrodite is perhaps best known for her role in the Trojan War, especially, an event preceding it: the Judgment of Paris. Arrayed with the Trojans, during the Trojan War, as described in The Iliad, she received a wound, talked with Helen, and helped protect her favorite warriors. Aphrodite in Rome The Roman goddess Venus is thought of as the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite. Gods and Goddesses Index Pronunciation: \ËÅ'a-frÉ™-ˈdÄ «-tÄ“\ Also Known As:  Venus

Quicksand, Identity, and Women's Experience Essay

Quicksand, Identity, and Women's Experience - Essay Example The thesis also tries to compare the work with a similar novel by Larsen which is more or less of the same concept. It then concludes by taking into consideration the criticism in both novels. The thesis shows how both novels portray female characters in three dimensions: they are original, capable of independence, and have a common tragic fate. Class, Race, and Gender in â€Å"Quicksand† â€Å"Quicksand† explores the ways women’s identities are represented through the struggle of Helga to find her place in the contemporary society. She struggles against sexual objectification and exploitation. Through Helga’s fight for sexual autonomy, the book illustrates two stereotypes of African American females which prevail throughout the literature. The novel depicts limitations of stereotypes held across Europe and the United States. The stereotypes’ pervasiveness is conveyed via constant change of settings. For instance, it criticizes reactionary stereotyp es that treated sex with reticence and caution to counterbalance literary and social myths about sexuality of the black women. Helga flees and faces assimilationism and school internalized racism. In Harlem, the novel exposes how the white culture exploits the culture of African American. Helga flees again as she fears sexual objectification. ... The stereotypes were shaped and established by African females in the US (French and Allyson 453). Women who were enslaved were denied their humanity and stripped off their race due to lack of autonomy. The rape legacy contributed to the ruthless exploitation female slaves, which totally deprived African American women of their sexuality. â€Å"Quicksand† connects the dehumanization and exploitation of black women’s sexuality with objectification and exploitation of African American women in the culture of Harlem renaissance. In the primitivism of e Harlem Renaissance, one can see that the USA denied African Americans their identity via enslavement. Celebration of African roots is emphasized as a way differ The Afro-Americans displayed as uncorrupted have become a metaphor. The novel illustrates the prevalence of stereotypes via Helga’s internalizing them. She rates her intelligence to be different from African American race. For instance, Helga while in Harlem v iewed the patrons of African American descent as jungle creatures. Helga felt that being white separated her from the situation of distorted childishness (Nella 59). This novel contests this setting’s unreality and illustrates the cabaret situation in the context of a broader society. Trying to adjust to the life in Harlem, Helga learns that she is an outsider and she is keen of the whites’ dominance which has an intention of intruding cabaret scene. This situation plays out the fear in Helga by personification of the taxi cabs like cabaret dancers, displaying their movements (58). Helga fears that primitive cabaret is in low esteem in the society of the white. Otherwise, they will not pay attention to the African American, which will lead to