College application essay moving from the “maybe” pile to “yes” pile

Everyone has a story, an experience  that leads to a life changing moment. Most students feel that their life is not exciting enough or lacks  Ã¢â‚¬Å"fun†.  Asian students especially tend to downplay personal experiences, and often feel mired in what appears to be a life spent studying and engaging in serious-minded, prescribed extracurriculars, such as English and math tutoring or intense training in a musical instrument that gives them no particular joy. Despite all of these negative distinctions, what  sometimes  students don’t realize is that  application essays are not the place to complain.  Telling yourself –  or the admissions committee -  that you have nothing  interesting  to write about will  send  your essay  directly  to  the  Ã¢â‚¬Å"rejection† pile. You may be a straight-A student  with a wide range of traditional extracurriculars,  but when applying to any university there are thousands of other students just like you.  When reading application essays, American schools do not want to hear about how you are a perfect, disciplined student – they can see your accomplishments  on your CV and transcripts – rather, they want to discover your personality. Stories that reveal your personality can come from seemingly minor events: an encounter with some interesting person or favorite teacher, a story about your 16th  birthday party, a description of a solitary walk through the city, or the feeling of hiking in the countryside. Anything goes, as long as you tell the story creatively, in a way that expresses who you are and how you have grown and developed your own identity, or how you came to be interested in your chosen field. Try to link the story to the major for which you are applying or, if you are undecided, to your personal quest for knowledge and academic interests. Most of all, show confidence in yourself, your worldview, and your ideas; do not resort to negativity, putting  down yourself or others. While bragging is a bad idea, being too modest can make you appear self-defeating and focusing on negatives can make you appear insecure. Higher education is not about rigid conformity and following rules – it is about boldly revealing new insights and making contributions to human knowledge. The admissions committee not only wants to see you are a good student, but also that you will be an active and contributing citizen of the academic community, able to provide fresh ideas and challenge established beliefs. Openly showing passion, self-confidence, and a sense of individuality in your essay makes you more attractive to the admissions committee, and will help assure them that you are committed to their mission.

Roe vs Wade Ruling

Roe vs Wade Ruling This refers to the 1973 controversial case where the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional all state laws that prevented women from procuring an abortion. In many states, abortion was considered the killing of the unborn hence it was unconstitutional.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Roe vs Wade Ruling the Result of the Supreme Court specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The states regulated abortion since they only allowed it when the life of the mother was in danger. The Dallas court ruled that women had to be allowed to procure an abortion at any stage. The court observed that a woman would conduct an abortion at the first trimester, as well as the second, but it outlawed abortion at the third trimester. However, the decision of the court was that abortion could still be conducted at the third trimester provided the health of the mother was in danger. The ruling of the court was controversial since it divided the nat ion into two factions, with one side supporting the decision while another faction was opposed to the decision. The culture wars that are currently experienced in the country are the result of the Supreme Court on Roe v. Wade ruling. The states restricted abortion mainly because women had no right to make decisions on reproduction. The decision came at the time when feminism was taking root in the country. Some of the feminist law scholars claimed that the constitutional rights of Roe had been violated since the Texas law could not allow her to procure an abortion, yet she was uncomfortable with it. Roe observed that she could not tour a different state since she was pregnant. In this regard, she had to be permitted to end the pregnancy in a safer setting. The District Attorney, Wade, was mentioned as the correspondent. The jury established that the Texas law had violated the rights of the complainant, Roe. The state attorney was not satisfied with the decision of the Dallas Court a nd he decided to appeal to the Supreme Court to review the case once more. The Supreme Court conducted an assessment on the decision of the Dallas court in 1971 and 1972. The Supreme Court gave a decision that upheld the previous ruling, claiming that the Texas law had violated the constitutional rights of Roe. It was established that her right to privacy had been compromised hence she had to be allowed to procure an abortion. The Supreme Court invoked the First, Fourth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments in issuing the ruling. In the constitution, the above amendments suggest that issues related to marriage, the use of contraception, ant the upbringing of children are private. In this regard, the court upheld that women have the right to decide whether to keep the pregnancy or terminate it.Advertising Looking for essay on administrative law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The ruling of the Supreme Court on Roe v. Wad e is still under review among societal members since some individuals believe that life is sacred and should be preserved under all conditions. Some are of the view that abortion should only be procured at some stages, but once a fetus is five months old, it should not be disturbed unless the life of the mother is in danger. Some conservatives suggest that abortion should not be allowed to go on in society since it amounts to murder. In this regard, it should be illegalized and all those found doing it should be prosecuted. On the other hand, liberals argue that abortion should be legalized and the government should offer free abortion to all women since it is their constitutional right.

Corporate Culture and Corporate Identity Case Study

Corporate Culture and Corporate Identity - Case Study Example Also, corporate structure is an accessory for inducing the aligned motivation as well as emotions which are often interpreted by corporate identity or firm allegiance. According to Koch and Godden, a number of advocated of management's termination have suggested that the organizations are evolving from an outmoded bureaucratic appearance (Koch and Godden, 1996). Like Tajfeel suggested, Hold ups for the corporate culture hypothesis appears to be facilitated by the experimentations that implement a minimal group paradigm (Tajfeel, 1970: 98). Despite of this, there are some artificial ways of unscrambling one commune of participants from another to be sufficient enough of inducing in-group preferences and extrinsic prejudices. The emotional as well as recognized associations and knots of corporate culture appear to be much authoritative than those which are entirely a result of the labels. As a consequence of such bonding, the members of other organization would generally do what they construe as the agreed-upon job of the corporation. As a matter of fact, this pays no attention to the requirement of coordinating behavior to some restraints, however, can bestow formal rules unnecessarily. With appropriate consideration to the Corporate Identity of a particular firm, one comes across the agency intricacies. In Holmstrom and Tirole's view-point, even though the principal-agent hypothesis presumes without the payment of incentives, many scholars prove the contrary, although, there is enough space for opportunists (Holmstrom and Tirole, 1989). In point of fact, the principal-agent investigations delineate that the trust of principals as well as the cooperation of the agents by working and not neglecting, can prove to be as efficacious as or even more efficacious than the schemes in association with the incentives. Nevertheless, it transforms with experience. With appropriate significance, the principal-agent hypothesis aches from a critical drawback in the negligence of hiring competition for its silhouette. The intend for this study is to analyze as well as determine the factors associated with the corporate culture and corporate identity with regards to the hotel industry with meticulous orientation towards the Hotel Restaurant Erbprinz in Ettingen, Germany. The aspects that are associated with Corporate Identity as well as Corporate Culture can be efficaciously determined through the insight of the members of this organization, keeping in mind the restrained scope of the analysis, albeit a detailed study can be brought in to existence by making an assessment with the customers. Erbprinz Restaurant is a part of the Hotel Erbprinz in the

Articles of Confederation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Articles of Confederation - Essay Example Constitution was written in 1787, ratified the next year, and George Washington assumed its presidency one year after that. (Bush Defends Rate of Progress in Iraq, p. A03) However, it is also believed that the cause for the alterations was widespread mistrust of the fundamental authority and jealousy of some states involved in this issue. Unfortunately, these were some reasons which resulted the emasculation of the articles of confederation. When the 13 original American colonies met in 1774 to ratify the Articles of Confederation - the first draft of the US Constitution - smaller states were frightened of domination by larger states and every state was frightened of losing its independence. (United State of Confusion p. 8). Moreover, Strang also believes that "the Articles established a "confederacy" and "firm league of friendship" of "free [] and independent[t]" states. It purported to create a "perpetual Union" between the same". (Strang, P. 909) In fact, when ratified the articles of confederation the articles declared solemnly that each of thirteen states would enjoy freedom, independence and sovereignty. Soon after the ratification of articles of confederation each thirteen states enjoyed equal rights and privileges, freedom of movement, and most importantly the articles of confederation clearly outlined the trials of criminals accused. ... Nonetheless, in this regard, neither separate judicial branches nor executives were provided for. According to Golove D the articles of confederation, though in some few respects national, were mainly of a pure federative character and were treated as stipulations between states.( Golove, p.1697) As a matter of fact, congress was the only authority that had major obligations such as declaring war or peach, maintaining or rotating foreign relations with other nations, army and navy command, foreign disputes regarding boundaries, conducting and settling postal services and so forth. Nevertheless, some aforesaid obligations were shared among states and in one way or another in this respect congress was the alone authority who was dependent upon cooperation of the states for carrying out any of them. "Four visible weaknesses of the articles, apart from those of organization, made it impossible for Congress to execute its constitutional duties. These were analyzed in numbers 15-22 of The FEDERALIST, the political essays in which Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay argued the case for the U.S. CONSTITUTION of 1787". ( Golove, p.1697) In this regard, the very first weakness of the articles was that according to it the congress could not legislate for individual peoples; however, it could legislate only for state, consequently, congress could not enforce legislation. Secondly, congress under this article could evaluate its expenses and can distribute those among the states, and it was calculated on behalf of land's value, but congress had no right and power on taxes. In order to raise the money for these expenses and turn the proceeds over to congress, States had rights and powers to mark tax their

U.S. and Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

U.S. and Terrorism - Essay Example A balance exists between the actions of the police and the needed approaches to ensure the Americans safety against terror and the liberties of the citizens. Patriotic act is one of the examples. In patriotic act, the content was designed in such a way that the country and the citizens are protected from any recurrence of the terror act like what happened on September 9th. The patriotic act seems dangerous to the liberties of the citizens when put in practice. This seems like an attack to the premises that founded the country. The act of cybercrime and terrorism has also risen to be a major concern in the country and the law enforcement agencies. This plot was to be used to bring down the government, and it prompted the establishment of the new act. As the government steps up its operation against terrorism, the enemy is taking advantage of our weakness. The enemy is aggressively taking advantage of the information that we post in our open sources and use it against our forces. Sensitive information is being post in the blogs and internet. Such operations security leakage places the lives of the American citizens at risk and degrades the effectiveness of the governments operation to fight against

The Material And Process Requirements In Disc Brake Engineering Essay

The Material And Process Requirements In Disc Brake Engineering Essay The disc brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of wheel. Disc brakes can be used on all 4 wheels of vehicle, or combined with disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear. Before we go in detail about the material selection, I would like to discuss the disc brake operation generally to let us understand how a disc brakes able to operate well. When the brake pedal is depressed, a push rod transfers the force through a brake booster to a hydraulic master cylinder. The master cylinder converts the force into hydraulic pressure, which is then transmitted via connecting pipes and hoses to one or more pistons at each brake caliper. The pistons operate on friction pads to provide a clamping force on a rotating flat disc that is attached to the wheel hub. This clamping tries to stop the rotation of the disc, and the wheel. On non-driving wheels, the centre of the brake disc or hub contains the wheel bearings. The hub can be part of the brake disc or a separate assembly between the wheel and hub with nuts or bolts. On driving wheels, the disc is mounted onto the driving axle and may be held in place by the wheel. On front wheel drive vehicles, it can be mounted on the front hub and wheel bearing assembly. The brake caliper assembly is bolted to the vehicle axle housing or suspension. Besides that, in most cases the brake is positioned as close as possible to the wheel, but there are exceptions. Some high-performance cars use inboard disc brakes on its rear wheels. The makers claim improved vehicle handling for this design because it reduces unsprung weight. Moreover, applying brakes can absorb a lot of vehicle energy so friction between braking surfaces generates great heat. Brake parts withstand very high temperatures. Most of the friction area of a disc is exposed to air so cooling is far more rapid than for a drum brake. Unlike with drum brakes, brake fade is rare. Because of their shape, discs tend to throw off water. So after being driven through water, they operate almost immediately. Disc brakes need much higher pressures to operate than drum brakes, so almost all disc brake systems need a power brake booster to help reduce the pedal forces that are needed from the driver. Due to the high forces needed to apply a disc brake, using it as a handbrake is less common. Therefore, some vehicles build a drum brake into the centre of the rear disc to provide for park brake operation. Possible Disc Damage Modes Discs are usually damaged in one of three ways: warping scarring cracking In addition, the useful life of the discs may be greatly reduced by excessive machining. 1.2.1 Warping Warping is caused by excessive heat buildup, which softens the metal and can allow it to be disfigured. This can result in wheel shimmy during braking. The likelihood of warping can be reduced if the car is being driven down a long grade by several techniques. Use of a lower gear to obtain engine braking will reduce the brake loading. Also, operating the brakes intermittently braking to a slower than cruising speed for a brief time then coasting will allow the brakes to cool between applications. The suitability of this is of course, dependent upon traffic conditions. Riding the brakes lightly will generate a great amount of heat with little braking effect and should be avoided. The wheel shimmy during braking is caused by thickness variation of the disc. Tests have shown that high temperature does not permanently warp discs. 1.2.2 Scarring Scarring can occur if brake pads are not changed promptly, all the friction material will wear away and the caliper will be pressed against the metal backing, reducing braking power and making scratches on the disc. If not excessive, this can be repaired by machining off a layer of the discs surface. This can only be done a limited number of times as the disc has a minimum safe thickness. For this reason it is prudent to periodically inspect the brake pads for wear (this is done simply on a vehicle lift when the tires are rotated without disassembly of the components). When practical they should be replaced before the pad is completely worn. 1.2.3 Cracking Cracking is limited mostly to drilled discs, which get small cracks around the drilled holes. These cannot be repaired. Material Requirement for Disc Brake Based on the function and the possible disc damage modes above, certain material requirement for disc brake is needed to be taking into consideration. The material requirements for disc brake are as below: High strength even at elevated temperatures High stiffness (modulus of elasticity) Low density High thermal conductivity Excellent abrasion resistance Good creep resistance 2.0 Material Selection Based on the material requirement for disc brake in section 1.3, Metal Matrix Composites has been chosen as the material for automotive disc brakes. This is because Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) is suitable to use for manufacturing automotive parts such as brake components, brake rotors for high speed trains, bicycles, and others vehicles. 2.1 Introduction to Metal Matrix Composites Metal composite materials have found application in many areas of daily life for quite some time. Often it is not realized that the application makes use of composite materials. These materials are produced in situ from the conventional production and processing of metals. Materials like cast iron with graphite or steel with high carbide content, as well as tungsten carbides, consisting of carbides and metallic binders, also belong to this group of composite materials. For many researchers the term metal matrix composites is often equated with the term light metal matrix composites (MMCs). Substantial progress in the development of light metal matrix composites has been achieved in recent decades, so that they could be introduced into the most important applications. In traffic engineering, especially in the automotive industry, MMCs have been used commercially in fiber reinforced pistons and aluminum crank cases with strengthened cylinder surfaces as well as particle-strengthened brake disks. These innovative materials open up unlimited possibilities for modern material science and development; the characteristics of MMCs can be designed into the material, custom-made, dependent on the application. From this potential, metal matrix composites fulfill all the desired conceptions of the designer. This material group becomes interesting for use as constructional and functional materials, if the property profile of conventional materials either does not reach the increased standards of specific demands, or is the solution of the problem. However, the technology of MMCs is in competition with other modern material technologies, for example powder metallurgy. The advantages of the composite materials are only realized when there is a reasonable cost performance relationship in the component production. The use of a composite material is obligatory if a special property profile can only be achieved by application of these materials. The possibility of combining various material systems (metal ceramic nonmetal) gives the opportunity for unlimited variation. The properties of these new materials are basically determined by the properties of their single components. Figure 1 shows the allocation of the composite materials into groups of various types of materials. Figure 1 Classification of the composite materials within the group of materials Although increasing development activities have led to system solutions using metal composite materials, the use of especially innovative systems, particularly in the area of light metals, has not been realized. The reason for this is insufficient process stability and reliability, combined with production and processing problems and inadequate economic efficiency. Application areas, like traffic engineering, are very cost orientated and conservative and the industry is not willing to pay additional costs for the use of such materials. For these entire reasons metal matrix composites are only at the beginning of the evolution curve of modern materials as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 Development curve of the market for modern materials Metal matrix composites can be classified in various ways. One classification is the consideration of type and contribution of reinforcement components in particle-, layer-, fiber- and penetration composite materials as shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 Classification of Composite Material with Metal Matrixes Fiber composite materials can be further classified into continuous fiber composite materials (multi- and monofilament) and short fibers or, rather, whisker composite materials as shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 Three Shapes of Metal Matrix Composite Materials 2.2 Reason Selecting Metal Matrix Composites as Material for Disc Brake There are different types of Metal Matrix Composites in the world. But, not all the type of MMCs is suitable to be taken as material for disc brake. Thus, the type of Metal Matrix Composites that can be selected as material for disc brake due to its attractive material property as below: Aluminum Matrix Composites This is the widest group of Metal Matrix Composites. The matrices of Aluminum Matrix Composites are usually based on aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) alloys and on the alloys of 2xxx and 6xxx series which is very suitable to be taken as material for automobile disc brake. Moreover, Aluminum Matrix Composites able to give properties as show below: High strength even at elevated temperatures High stiffness Low density High thermal conductivity Excellent abrasion resistance Besides that, the ideal Aluminum Matrix Composites stress strain curve for continuous unidirectional fiber composites is presented in Figure 5. Generally, this curve consists of two stages. During the stage I, both fiber and matrix remain elastic, during stage II, the matrix deforms plastically and fibers remain elastic. There is possibly a stage III where both matrix and fibers deform plastically, but generally the fibers break before their plastic deformation. Figure 5 Ideal Stress-Strain Curve of a Continuous Fiber metal Matrix Composite Magnesium Matrix Composite Magnesium Matrix Composites are reinforced mainly by silicon carbide (SiC) particles (particulate composites). The material properties of Magnesium Matrix Composites are as below: Low density High stiffness High wear resistance Good strength even at elevated temperatures Good creep resistance Magnesium Matrix Composites are used for manufacturing components for racing cars, lightweight automotive brake system, and aircraft parts for: gearboxes, transmissions, compressors and engine. According to research by Z. Trojanova .P, Department of physics of Metals, Charles University, he run the experiment on Magnesium Matrix Composites to understand its material properties in a more detail way. Figure 6 True stress-strain curve It is interesting to note that the microstructure of AS41/SiC composite exhibits similar features with Mg2Si precipitates on the grain boundaries. Figure 6 shows typical true stress-true strain curve of the ZC63/SiC composite deformed at different temperatures. It can be seen that the flow stress decreases with increasing temperature. At 200-C, the work hardening is close to zero. This indicates a dynamic balance between hardening and softening. The temperature variations of the yield stress and the tensile strength max are given in Figure 7. Figure 7 Temperature dependence of the yield stress and the maximum stress 3.0 Manufacturing Process There are difference manufacturing process way to produce Metal Matrix Composites and here, I would like to focus on few processes which is more suitable to produce disc brake which made by Metal Matrix composites. 3.1 Liquid-State Processes Casting or liquid infiltration involves infiltration of a fibrous or particulate reinforcement pre-form by a liquid metal. Liquid-phase infiltration of MMCs is not straightforward, mainly because of difficulties with wetting the ceramic reinforcement by the molten metal. When the infiltration of a fiber pre-form occurs readily, reactions between the fiber and the molten metal may take place which significantly degrade the properties of the fiber. Fiber coatings applied prior to infiltration, which improve wetting and allow control of interfacial reactions, have been developed and are producing some encouraging results. In this case, however, the disadvantage is that the fiber coatings must not be exposed to air prior to infiltration because surface oxidation of the coating takes place. One liquid infiltration process involving particulate reinforcement, called the Duralcan process, has been quite successful as shown in Figure 8. Ceramic particles and ingot-grade aluminum are mixed and melted. The melt is stirred slightly above the liquidus temperature (600−700 °C). The solidified ingot may also undergo secondary processing by extrusion or rolling. The Duralcan process of making particulate composites by a liquid metal casting route involves the use of 8−12 ÃŽ ¼m particles. For particles that are much smaller (2−3 ÃŽ ¼m), the result is a very large interface region and, thus, a very viscous melt. In foundry-grade MMCs, high Si aluminum is used to prevent the formation of the brittle compound Al4C3, which is formed from the interfacial reaction between Al and SiC. Al4C3 is extremely detrimental to mechanical properties, particularly toughness and corrosion resistance. Figure 8 Casting process for particulate or short fiber MMCs Alternatively, tows of fibers can be passed through a liquid metal bath, where the individual fibers are wet by the molten metal, wiped of excess metal, and a composite wire is produced. A bundle of such wires can be consolidated by extrusion to make a composite. Another pressure less liquid metal infiltration process of making MMCs is the Primex process which can be used with certain reactive metal alloys such as Al− Mg to infiltrate ceramic pre-forms, Fig. 3. For an Al− Mg alloy, the process takes place between 750−1000 °C in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, and typical infiltration rates are less than 25 cm/h. 3.2 Squeeze Casting or Pressure Infiltration Figure 9 Reactive liquid metal infiltration processes Squeeze casting or pressure infiltration involves forcing a liquid metal into a fibrous or particulate pre-form as shown in Figure 10. Pressure is applied until solidification is complete. By forcing the molten metal through small pores of the fibrous pre-form, this method obviates the requirement of good wet ability of the reinforcement by the molten metal. Composites fabricated with this method have the advantage of minimal reaction between the reinforcement and molten metal because of the short processing time involved. Such composites are also typically free from common casting defects such as porosity and shrinkage cavities. Infiltration of a fibrous pre-form by means of a pressurized inert gas is another variant of the liquid metal infiltration technique. The process is conducted in the controlled environment of a pressure vessel and rather high fiber volume fractions; complex shaped structures are obtainable (3, 4). Alumina fibers reinforced inter metallic matrix composites, e.g., TiAl, Ni3Al, and Fe3Al matrix materials, have also been prepared by pressure casting (5). The technique involves melting of the matrix alloy in a crucible in vacuum, while the fibrous pre-form is heated separately. The molten matrix material (at ∠¼100 °C above Tm) is poured onto the fibers and argon gas is introduced simultaneously. Argon gas pressure forces the melt, which contains additives to aid wetting of the fibers, to infiltrate the pre-form. Figure 10 Squeeze casting or pressure infiltration process 3.3 Sinter-Forging Sinter-forging is a novel and low cost deformation processing technique. In sinter-forging a powder mixture of reinforcement and matrix is cold compacted, sintered, and forged to nearly full density, Figure 11. The main advantage of this technique is that forging is conducted to produce a near-net shape material, and machining operations and material waste are minimized. The low cost, sinter-forged composites have tensile and fatigue properties that are comparable to those of materials produced by extrusion which is suitable for disc brake. Figure 11 Sinter-Forging techniques for producing near-net shape, low cost MMCs 4.0 Conclusion The early Lotus Elise models came with Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) brake discs. These brakes were lightweight and a cost effective alternative to the carbon ceramic variations available recently but the only difference is they cannot operate at the same temperatures. As conclusion, based on the research above, I am confidence to said that Metal Matrix Composites is still the best for automobile disc brake in certain situation.

Juveniles and Drug Abuse in America :: Substance Abuse Essays

Juveniles and Drug Abuse in America A drug is a substance that modifies one or more of the body’s functions when it is consumed. Therefore, many common foods qualify as drugs. According to this definition, some of our most cherished beverages such as tea, coffee, and cola are drugs. However this paper focuses on drugs that are abused by teenagers. Surveys show that cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and inhalants are the most commonly used drugs among teenagers age thirteen through eighteen. One of the most startling findings from recent data is the degree to which to which teenagers are now involved in drug use. This drug abuse problem has gotten worse. Perhaps our society must hit â€Å"rock bottom† before changes can occur. According to the Michigan Institute for Social research, reported the results of their 1992 and 1993 national survey of nearly fifty thousand American high school students across the country ages thirteen through eighteen. Studies show that a gradual decrease in the use of most illicit drugs by younger people. The peak year for illicit drug use by high school seniors was in 1980. The 1992 and 1993 surveys reported an alarming shift, a modest but statistically significant increase in the use of several drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and inhalants. This survey attributes the increase in drug use to students’ perceived risk or danger in using a particular drug. In 1992, thirteen year-olds were less likely to see cocaine, crack and marijuana as dangerous. But in 1993, there was a significant increase in marijuana use by seventeen and eighteen year olds and a significant increase in marijuana use by thirteen year-old students. Cocaine use by seventeen and eighteen year o lds declined in 1992. However there was a significant increase in cocaine use by thirteen year-old students between 1991 and 1992. In 1993, cocaine use increased for all ages thirteen through eighteen. Every teenager has used drugs at least once in their life. The literature review confirmed that teenagers engage in drugs on a daily basis. According to the National Survey on Drug Abuse conducted in 1997 and 1998, more than one-fourth (28.2 perecent) of the youth aged thirteen to eighteen report that marijuana experiences, and about four percent used cocaine, 1.1 percent admits to using heroin, and nine percent used inhalants. These statistics are about the same as the statistics in 1992 and 1993. Youngsters take drugs for many different reasons.

The Dawn of Ancient Greek Heroism

The unwitting defeat of Leonidas and the thousands of Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae has confounded the minds of many historians and has compelled them to deduce any possible logical explanation.Sparta was a superpower at the time of ancient Greece. The Greek historian Xenophon, stated that it â€Å"had the greatest power of any Greek community but also one of the smallest populations† (Powell, 2001, p. 218).The Spartan society was known for its patriotism, and courage in war.1 The way of education of the society was unique for Sparta, where it emphasized the development of the physique thru compulsory military training for both boys and girls at a very early age.2 This intensely strict mandate has produced the psychology of dying rather than defeat at war.3 The outstanding accomplishment that was born out of this way of living was a supreme military. Sparta seemed unconquerable with a population who would choose death over loss at battle and a military feared by other polis. The strength of heart of the Spartans, however, was put to the test during the famous Battle of Thermopylae.King Leonidas lead an army of 4000 to defend the straits of Thermopylae from the attacking Persians. They fought courageously, giving big losses to the army of Persian emperor Xerxes but suffered defeat when a Greek traitor told Xerxes of an alternative trail to attack the Spartans. Upon knowing this treachery, Leonidas sent away most of his army and faced the Persians with the remaining 300. Leonidas and his army fought with all courage and died as heroes.4That point of Greek history was arguably â€Å"Spartan’s finest hour† (Caltredge, 2002) and became an outstanding source of inspiration to poets and literary figures who tried to immortalize that event. Francois Rene de Chateaubriand (Bernard 2003) described the event, thus:I cannot describe the confused feelings which overpowered me. The hill at whose foot I stood was, then, the hill of the citadel of Sparta†¦. I dismounted, and ran all the way up the hill of the citadel. As I reached the top, the sun was rising behind the Menelaian hills. What a beautiful spectacle! But how melancholy! †¦ I stood motionless, in a kind stupor. A mixture of admiration and grief checked my steps and my thoughts; the silence round me was profound. Wishing, at least, to make echo speak in a spot where the human voice is no longer heard, I shouted with all my might, â€Å"Leonidas!† No ruin repeated this great name, and Sparta herself seemed to have forgotten it. (p. 1)Herodotus attributed that courageous decision of Leonidas and his army to die to the fulfillment of the oracle at Delphi, where Sparta would decide to sacrifice its king or to suffer the obliteration of the whole city.5 However, it would be unreasonable to always accept the truth of the oracle since it is only a conjecture, an alternative explanation to the fiasco caused by man’s wrong decision-making so he may n ot be blamed.6 In order not to attribute events to the supernatural, one must therefore, peruse the history book again, look for the most possible and grave explanation, and find the reasons that would satisfy logic.One can look at two things: the form of government and the way of life. These are mutually inclusive ideas however these are looked upon as factors that would affect the standards of morality of society. The Greek historian Theopompus sees democracy, the political system of Sparta, as a way leading â€Å"to luxury and dissolute living, and luxury is thoroughly corrupting† (Flower, 1994, p.79), assuming this is true for Sparta, democracy would not explain the heroism of Leonidas and his army.The Spartan way of life however, revolves around the education of its young to become the warriors that could protect its city. Therefore, the education of the Spartan society would explain the rationale behind this tragic decision.   Every man in Sparta underwent rigorous ph ysical training, and in this process, patriotism was being built. The decision to die for society was being taught along the process. When one sees death better to taste than defeat, it would become easy to die and accept the reality of dying. For this society, it is scornful to be a coward and glorious to die at the battlefield.Caltredge (2002) cited in his article:Spartan wives and mothers were not shrieking violets. They openly berated and chastised any hint of cowardice in their sons. They wept tears of pain if their son or husband came back safe but defeated from battle, tears of joy if he died in a winning cause.The Spartan way of educating their citizens that the way to glory is thru death at battle has driven Leonidas and his men to carry on fighting until death, because only then can they show that indeed, it is glorious to die for a good cause rather than be defeated.Notes1 See Pomeroy (1999, p.132).2 See Starr (1965, p. 258) for a detailed description of the education of men; Caltredge (2002) for the description of the education of women.3 See Caltredge (2002).4 See Platts (1865, p. 258).5 See Hodkinson (1994).6 See the footnote on Dyer (1894, p.52).ReferencesBernard, A. (2003 Spring). Common Place Book: Ruins.American Scholar, 72(2), 1.Cartledge, P. (2002 August). To Die For? Paul Cartledge Sees Ancient Spartan Society and Its Fierce Code of Honour as Something Still Relevant Today. History Today, 52(20), 1.Dyer, L. (1894). Studies of the Gods in Greece at Certain Sanctuaries Recently Excavated: Being Eight Lectures Given in 1980 at the Lowell Institute. New York: Macmillan and Co.Flower, M. (1994). Theopompus of Chios.New York: Oxford University Press.Hodkinson, S. (1994). The Shadow of Sparta.New York: Routledge.Pomeroy, S. (1999). Ancient Greece: A Political, Social andCultural History. New York: Oxford University Press.Platts, J. (1826). A New Universal Biography.London: Sherwood, Jones, and Co.Starr, C. (1965). A History of the Ancient World.N ew York: Oxford University Press.

how to fail Essay

how to fail Essay how to fail Essay Learning Experiences The image which stuck out to me to was about a boy feeling the headstone of a relative. The good outcomes which involve learning experiences are wished upon at all times but sometimes do not occur. This boy is going to have a new learning experience after the horrible outcome of his relative. Depending on how close the boy was with the relative, the boy will have more emotional issues which he is going to have to learn to control either by himself or by a third party. However, this learning experience is going to be better for him because he now will learn how to respond from this situation which will most likely occur in the future. As a result, some values which will be taught during his learning experience are to be more independent, discovering a new identity, and knowing more of his emotional/mental psyche. Schools do a fantastic job of teaching you courses about subjects which will benefit you as an employee or a caregiver. One example would be accounting in which you could mak e your profession but at the same time, useful when doing your taxes. However, some of the most treasured values cannot be taught at school but through experience. Will Smith once said, â€Å"The things that have been most valuable to me I did not learn in school†. In this case, there are values being taught to this boy through the experience of his relative’s death. You cannot learn to discover a new identity and control his emotional/mental psyche at school but instead,

How to Teach Private English Lessons Successfully

How to Teach Private English Lessons Successfully Teaching one-to-one can help improve your teaching salary, and give you some flexibility in scheduling. Of course, teaching one-to-one has its drawbacks as well. Heres a quick rundown on the art of teaching English one-to-one, as well as some strategies and tips to help you get started or improve your  one-to-one teaching skills. Before You Get Started Before you begin teaching  one-to-one youll need to do a needs analysis to be effective. Performing a needs analysis for a new student can be a simple as having a conversation about what the student would like to cover, or as complicated as asking the student to fill out a questionnaire. However you go about delivering your needs analysis, understand that many students dont necessarily know what their needs are. English learners who havent studied in an academic setting for years might say something along the lines of I need to learn English. and leave it at that. Here are the basic questions and tasks you should ask or perform for a basic English learning needs analysis for  one-to-one teaching: Doing a Needs Analysis Have a short conversation in English to warm things up. If you speak the local language you might want to begin in the learners native tongue, but switch to English as soon as possible. This will give you a feel for the basic level. Ask why the English learner wishes to have  one-to-one teaching. If she is hesitant, make suggestions: work, travel, general interest in learning the global language of choice, etc. Based on the answer to this question, dig a little deeper. If your  one-to-one client wants to learn English for work, ask about specific tasks they need to perform in English (feel free to switch language if you speak it). If the client wants to improve English for travel, find out where they are traveling, what they plan to do there, etc. Ask if theyve studied English before. When was the last time they studied? Have they ever taken a test such as the TOEFL, FCE, etc.? Provide a quick listening and reading comprehension exercise to get a feel for their comprehension skills and vocabulary. If possible use the Internet to fish something out based on their responses to your previous questions. The closer you get to their interests, the better youll understand their true comprehension capabilities. Provide a short writing task if they need English for work or studies. If possible, give them a quick grammar review quiz. Planning One-to-One Lessons Once youve provided a needs analysis, you can decide on specific outcomes for your lessons. State clearly what you expect your one-to-one student will be able to do by the end of your sessions together. Once the student understands the specific goals youve outlined, and agreed to these goals, planning your lessons will become much easier. Make sure these outcomes are specific. Here are some examples: Instead of Improve listening skills: Improve comprehension skills at conferences by focusing on language commonly used in presentations.Instead of Improve grammar: Improve grammar in written communications such as emails and memos. Focus on better use of tenses to describe past situations, etc.Instead of Practice English for travel: Become comfortable with a wide range of expected shopping experiences. The bottom line is that the more specific you can make your lessons to the individual learner, the happier your  one-to-one students will be. Eventually, this will lead to lots of referrals. Advantages of One to One English Teaching One-to-one  teaching can take place based on your schedule. Youll develop an extensive understanding of tailoring lesson to individual needs. You can also focus on the type of learning that best fits students learning styles (i.e. multiple intelligences are much easier to teach in a  one-to-one setting) Referrals - if you do well, people will be asking for you. Most importantly: you can make better earnings than most language schools can offer. Disadvantages of One-to-One English Teaching Students might cancel at the last second. Make sure you create some rules (i.e. cancellations must occur at least 24 hrs before scheduled lessons) that will protect both your time and the goals of the student. Also, you might have to travel all over town if you decide to provide one to one teaching at places of work/home. This may have its own set of costs. One-to-one  teaching is illegal in some countries (South Korea, for example) and some schools frown on  one-to-one teaching on your own. Learn the rules ahead of time to save yourself a headache!

Google (Diversity) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Google (Diversity) - Essay Example Since employees are hired and retained at the Company purely on the basis of their professional merit, this helps to ensure that bright and smart people from every group of persons, including minorities, women, disabled people, etc are all represented at Google. The achievement of diversity is an important objective of the Company. It is not restricted merely within the HR department of the Company, but is actually an integral part of Company policy. The Company specifically has several support programs to provide a means for girls and people from minority groups to take up the study of subjects such as Science, Math and engineering (www.greatplacetowork.com) by working in partnership with other organizations. For example, Google works in tandem with Citizen Schools, Sally Ride Science Festival, FIRST Robotics, TechBridge and Expanding your Horizons, all of which are geared towards encouraging the participation of traditionally unrepresented groups such as women and minorities. Google aids in funding programs conducted by these educational institutions, such as organizing after school programs and competitions, as well as by providing mentoring relationships and technical skill workshops specifically for these particular groups. Google work practices and working environments are also tailored to meet the needs of female employees. For instance, the Company allows flexibility in working hours, mothers rooms and family programs, as well as transgender restrooms, thus demonstrating its commitment towards ensuring that minority groups such as women and trans-sexuals are also made to feel welcome and a part of the Google team.(www.google.com). Google comprises several different Employee resource groups, such as the Google Women Network, Google Disability Network, Hispanic Googler Network, Asian American Googler Network, etc. These support groups provide opportunities for interaction and networking among members of

How do Game Technologies affect the living world nowadays in different Essay

How do Game Technologies affect the living world nowadays in different category compared to the past and the near future - Essay Example Just like other computer technologies, this field also keeps on improving year after year in terms of speed, graphics, logical and skills requirements. Games have great effects on their users and these factors have been impacting the societies since their invention. Some of the effects of gaming technologies in the past, as well as predicted effects in the future will be discussed in the paper. The current trends and effects of the gaming technologies will also be discussed. 2. Gaming Technologies in the Past The gaming technology initiated in the 1970s and has seen remarkable response from the customers ever since. Kooijmans provided the information that Nintendo was one of the pioneers in the gaming industry; they were known to sell 3 games every second from the year 1983 to 1995. This figure meant that every teenager in the world possessed one of their games. The first generation of computers was based on geometrical shapes, slower motion of objects and limited quality of sound ef fects, for example PONG and Pacman. The technologies were limited in those days since gaming technologies have always made use of the prevailing technologies in the market. Only one or more objects screen could be controlled by the player. 2.1 Impact on Health Gaming technologies were considered to be a occasional source of entertainment, whereas other activities included outdoor activities and sports. Media and gadgets had not taken over the society; rather they were used as means to get work done. Gaming technologies had limited features, controls and possibilities that were soon conquered by the user. The limited nature of entertainment played a role in the technology staying as a source of entertainment, and not becoming a addiction. The situations and graphics were not very close to reality. The sound effects also did not participate in making the whole experience addictive. Due to the lack of addiction, individuals spent less number of hours in playing games, thus no health is sues became evident among the users in those times. 2.2 Impact on Social Skills Gaming technologies in the past were not available on a variety of gadgets which limited its usage and impact on the user’s lifestyle. The immobility of the gaming technologies helped the individual to maintain his personal relations and outdoor activities. People were still socially active and would participate productively in discussions. 2.3 Impact on Aggression Level The aggression level in gaming technologies was not a matter of concern till the 1980s and 1990s when Nintendo and Sony PlayStation launched new generations of games, respectively. Earlier, the games mainly involved the journey of a character to a certain place, coupled with minor barriers. The games were not known to have any element of aggression in them. On the contrary, Gardner used classic games, like Mario Bros, to help in the psychotherapy of children in activities like motor coordination, foresee and handle matters on the basis of past experiences etc. These games would not be chosen for clinical purposes if they had high levels of aggression in them. 2.4 Impact on Education There is no significant role of the gaming technologies in the field of education in the early years of the invention. 3. Impact of Gaming Technologies in the Current Times The advent of innovative technologies has improved games to a great extent as the game developers can incorporate greater