The Connection Between Self Esteem And Income - 1690 Words

It is often speculated upon whether there is any relationship between the amount of money a person has and their level of happiness. Whilst many researchers have directly investigated such a link, most have found little-to-no correlation (Quoidbach, Dunn, Petrides Mikolajczak, 2010; Devoe Pfeffer, 2009). However, a less discussed relationship is that between a person’s self-esteem and their income levels. As it has been found that self-esteem is strongly linked to a person’s happiness (Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger Vohs, 2003; Swann, Chang-Schneider Larsen McClarty, 2007), this paper aims to investigate the connection between self-esteem and income, in order to better understand the link between money and happiness. Mandara and Murray (2000) defined self-esteem as the favourable or unflattering views a person has of his or her own attributes. There are several theories that explain how a person’s level of self-esteem is determined, however the one that will be of focus in this essay is known as the ‘Self-Discrepancy Theory’ (Higgins, 1987). After explaining the intricacies of this theory, it will be linked into the various findings about the connection between self-esteem and income from multiple sources. First termed in 1987 by Higgins, the Self-Discrepancy Theory describes how different sorts of disparities between self-state representations can be connected to various emotional vulnerabilities. Higgins (1987) suggested that there were three domains of the self.Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Arts And Music In Music And Education1524 Words   |  7 Pagesraise money through levies and taxes. Both options have shown to be ineffective. Research suggests that Arts and Music should be included in the educational system as it is critical in learning because it promotes cognitive development, develops self-esteem, and helps in understanding all other subjects. Cognitive development is vital in a child’s education. Anything that educators can do to help in this is beneficial. â€Å"Making art is a highly cognitive process that involves problem solving, criticalRead MoreInfluence Of Tobacco Use. â€Å"The Prevalence Of Current Smoking1162 Words   |  5 Pagescannot prove the connection of a causal relationship, but researchers have reported an association between relatively poor self-esteem and substance use initiation (kwon, Ratner, Richardson). â€Å"Considering The relationship between self-esteem and the initiation of tobacco use, the results of this study support previous research reports of a potentially protective role of self-esteem against the initiation of tobacco use (Kwon, Ratner, Richardson).† This research suggest that self-esteem has more of aRead MoreCan Single Parents Raise Successful Children?1468 Words   |  6 PagesChildren? Lavern Francis COM 220 Instructor James York August 17, 2008 Are children who grow-up in a single parent household more likely to struggle in school, get into trouble with the law, and develop serious social problems such as low self-esteem and unhealthy relationships in the future? The myth is that a single parent cannot raise a successful child. That child who grows up in a single parent household is more likely to struggle in school, get into trouble with the law and develop seriousRead MoreBenefits And Costs Of Extracurricular Activities Essay826 Words   |  4 Pagespurpose of this literature review is to examine the benefits and costs of extracurricular activities. First, I discuss how participating in extracurricular activities benefits students. Among the benefits I discuss are academic performance, enhanced self esteem, and respectful behavior. Secondly, I will discuss the cost of participating in extracurricular activities. The costs I discuss are time management, and expenses. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITES Students who participate in extracurricular activitiesRead MoreThe Theory Of Self Efficacy1645 Words   |  7 PagesSelf-efficacy is defined in this article as: beliefs in ones capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action requires to produce given attainments. This article according to Ross (1998) says that research suggest that teacher self-efficacy often influences the teachers willingness to implement new instruction in the classroom. Research also suggests that teachers with high self-efficacy tend to be more effective in the classroom and helping students especially minority students achieveRead More Does Economic Wealth Mean Happiness? Essay1348 Words   |  6 Pageseconomic wealth affects happiness. This paper will conclude that rises in economic wealth do not correlate with happiness. Many factors influence happiness, and the method of enhancing happiness. The essay will begin by discussing the relationship between economic wealth and life standards. According to Mankiw Taylor (2011), the quality of life in countries with high economic wealth could improve. Economic wealth can be measured by materials, goods, services, and GDP (gross domestic product),Read MoreTax Issue in the First Wives Club Essays1284 Words   |  6 Pagesmovie actress whose husband also left her for a younger woman, has now become reliant on plastic surgery to keep her career afloat. Her husband, Bill, is demanding a divorce and half of her fortune. Annie, meanwhile, is separated, suffering extreme self-esteem issues, and going through a therapy with her husband Aaron. Shortly after Cynthias funeral, Annies husband asks her for a divorce to leave her for the therapist. After talking to each other and getting angry about their situations, Brenda, EliseRead MoreSocial Class And The Future Career1686 Words   |  7 Pages In the article, there were total of four research questions. The first research question was examined whether there is a relationship between the social class and the future career, political, religious views, gender roles attitudes to identity development. Does it play a significant role in depending in people with the difference social class upbringing? The second research question was examined under what circumstances is the social class of identity exploration and does the exploration differRead MoreAlarm For Childhood Obesity Is On The Rise Of European Countries Such As Norway Essay1470 Words   |  6 Pagespressure, joint pain, and on a more psychological level they may experience low self-esteem and depression. A study by Bjornelv, Nordahl, and Holmen (2010) examined the association between adolescent obesity and psychological factors. The study was conducted using 8,090 children aged 13-18. The participants completed a questionnaire during one school hour which measured man y factors including eating problems, self-esteem, personality, anxiety, depression, along with having their height and weight measuredRead MoreLow Income Students And Academic Achievement1515 Words   |  7 Pagesn the introduction of this paper, I mentioned that low-income students tend to have decreased academic achievement. However, students living in poverty do not always fall privy to the generalizations that face them. At Walt Disney Magnet School, where I have the pleasure of working, sixty-six percent of students are low income, but sixty-eight percent of students meeting or exceeding the state standards (Illinois Report Card, 2015). I reflected on my own teaching experience at this school. In my

Texting And Teen Literacy Understanding And Knowing How...

Texting and Teen Literacy My personal interest in researching this topic is understanding and knowing how texting affects literacy overall, especially with teenagers. I know that communication has evolved and as we move forward with technology, there are/will be positive and negative results that will arise and affect our daily and normal lives in how we communicate This will affect not only our day-to-day communication but also in how we learn. I would like to know more about this topic because I wonder how technology, non-verbal communication and writing can be impacted by the lack of writing and verbalizing normally. In addition, how well teens are able to transition into the working world. I believe this area is important to research, because it has become a topic of discussion and reality. Cell phones are a ubiquitous and necessary part of most people’s lives. Young people, especially teens, do not know a world before the cell phone. Many parents believe that a cell phone helps maintain connectedness and personal safety. However, with every advancement in technology comes unforeseen consequences. There is a concern among parents, and I am one, about how teens are using the shortcuts afforded by this technology to perhaps, their academic detriment. How does texting affect Teen Literacy? How will teens be able to write and spell in complete sentences, given their reliance on the phones capabilities and limitations? How will teens adapt in the â€Å"real world†Show MoreRelatedTechnology Essay11684 Words   |  47 Pagestechnology, many diseases that before  were the cause of massive death, now  are things of the past. With the advances in technology,  scientists  and doctors find different vaccines to help people be healthier. The medical ... Most importantly, we can see how  scientists are in the process of looking for the solution ... ... and they can infuse  this information into a lesson, making the lesson related with real life situations for students. --- very good!! In the final analysis, I think the benefits technology  offers  to

The Authors of Our Own Stories free essay sample

Book stores smell like nothing else in the world. The resin-scent of paper, ink and the acidic snap of binding glue all mixing together to create an encompassing aroma—there’s nothing else like it. That smell was on my fingers the day that I discovered a novel and a novelist that changed my idea about how beautiful life, and sadness, can be and inspired me to change the way I experienced those beauties. Maggie Steifvater is an international bestselling author with over six publications; The Scorpio Races soon to be released. Shiver, was the book that introduced me to Steifvater, and from there the effect began. The saying, â€Å"Never judge a book by its cover,’ has always been a phrase that comes to mind when I peruse the shelves of a book store. Don’t judge them by what they look like, I thought stroking the spines of new prints. We will write a custom essay sample on The Authors of Our Own Stories or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I would be lying if I said that I was attracted to Shiver for more intelligent reasons than the glossy red blood-droplet dotting the â€Å"I†. The cover intrigued me to read the front panel; the panel drew me in. Suffice to say, I read the whole book over the course of a single day, a week later, I read it again. The writing made curious about the writer. The books captured sadness through stained glass. I had discovered before that an author’s writing can be incredibly different from the author themselves; something that concerned me because I always put myself into everything. With Steifvater’s name in ‘Google,’ I came across her blog; her words, outside the story, were just as inspiring—I realized that she was realistic and therefore real. I had found previously that published author’s blogs become impersonal quickly—Steifvater, in comparison writes to a small audience, not general. This inspired me to write, not for a large audience, but as if I were speaking to an individual. A change in my writing-style that soon became a change in life-style; writing for people and sharing with them became easier. Humans share commonalities: smiling, laughing, walking on two legs, etc. People are unique: the way they smile, the way they laugh, the way they walk on their two legs. Music, writing, reading, and painting: all were things that Maggie Steifvater presented to me with a quirky humility that simply put, proves that it can be done. Her achievement of creating for herself a lifestyle that allows for her to do the things she loves, has ultimately, inspired me to do whatever I have to in order to build for myself what I want my life to be because I have the power to do so. We all have the power to be who we want to be and to make ourselves into people who have time to do what we love. Like books, our dust jackets may be glossy or dull, or boring or beautiful, but our pages are printed in the ink and font we choose.

Your Rights Essays - Law Enforcement In The United States

Your Rights Don't Talk to Cops By Robert W. Zeuner, Member of the New York State Bar " GOOD MORNING! My name is investigator Holmes. Do you mind answering a few simple questions?" If you open your door one day and are greeted with those words, STOP AND THINK! Whether it is the local police or the FBI at your door, you have certain legal rights of which you ought to be aware before you proceed any further. In the first place, when law enforcement authorities come to see you, there are no "simple questions". Unless they are investigating a traffic accident, you can be sure that they want information about somebody. And that somebody may be you! Rule number one to remember when confronted by the authorities is that there is no law requiring you to talk with the police, the FBI, or the representative of any other investigative agency. Even the simplest questions may be loaded and the seemingly harmless bits of information which you volunteer may later become vital links in a chain of circumstantial evidence against you or a friend. DO NOT INVITE THE INVESTIGATOR INTO YOUR HOME! Such an invitation not only gives him the opportunity to look around for clues to your lifestyle, friends, reading material, etc., but also tends to prolong the conversation. The longer the conversation, the more chance there is for a skill investigator to find out what he wants to know. Many times a police officer will ask you to accompany him to the police station to answer a few questions. In that case, simply thank him for the invitation and indicate that you are not disposed to accept it at this time. Often the authorities simply want to photograph a person for identification purposes, a procedure which is easily accomplished by placing him in a private room with a two-way mirror at the station, asking him a few innocent questions, and then releasing him. If the investigator becomes angry at your failure to cooperate and threatens you with arrest, stand firm. He cannot legally place you under arrest or enter your home without a warr ent signed by a judge. If he indicates that he has such a warrent, ask to see it. A person under arrest, or located on premises to be searched, generally must be shown a warrent if he requests it and must be given to chance to read it. Without a warrent, an officer depends solely upon your helpfulness to obtain the information he wants. So, unless you are quite sure of yourself, don't be helpful. Probably the wisest approach to take to a persistant investigator is simply to say: "I'm quite busy now. If you have any questions that you feel I can answer, I'd be happy to listen to them in my lawyer's office. Goodbye!" Talk is cheap. When that talk involves the law enforcement authorities, it may cost you, or someone close to you, dearly. This info came from a leaflet that was printed as a public service by individuals concerned with the growing role of authoritarianism and police power in our society. Please feel free to copy or republish. This info also applies to dealing with private investigators, and corporate security agents.

Printable Chemistry Quiz - Atom Basics

Printable Chemistry Quiz - Atom Basics This is a multiple choice chemistry quiz on atoms that you may take online or print. You may wish to review atomic theory before taking this quiz. A self-grading online version of this quiz is available, too. TIP:To view this exercise without ads, click on print this page. The three basic components of an atom are:(a) protons, neutrons, and ions(b) protons, neutrons, and electrons(c) protons, neutrinos, and ions(d) protium, deuterium, and tritiumAn element is determined by the number of:(a) atoms(b) electrons(c) neutrons(d) protonsThe nucleus of an atom consists of:(a) electrons(b) neutrons(c) protons and neutrons(d) protons, neutrons, and electronsA single proton has what electrical charge?(a) no charge(b) positive charge(c) negative charge(d) either a positive or negative chargeWhich particles have approximately the same size and mass as each other?(a) neutrons and electrons(b) electrons and protons(c) protons and neutrons(d) none - they are all very different in size and massWhich two particles would be attracted to each other?(a) electrons and neutrons(b) electrons and protons(c) protons and neutrons(d) all particles are attracted to each otherThe atomic number of an atom is:(a) the number of electrons(b) the number of neutrons(c) the number of pro tons(d) the number of protons plus the number of neutrons Changing the number of neutrons of an atom changes its:(a) isotope(b) element(c) ion(d) chargeWhen you change the number of electrons on an atom, you produce a different:(a) isotope(b) ion(c) element(d) atomic massAccording to atomic theory, electrons are usually found:(a) in the atomic nucleus(b) outside the nucleus, yet very near it because they are attracted to the protons(c) outside the nucleus and often far from it - most of an atoms volume is its electron cloud(d) either in the nucleus or around it - electrons are readily found anywhere in an atom Answers: 1 b, 2 d, 3 c, 4 b, 5 c, 6 b, 7 c, 8 a, 9 b, 10 c

Meet Hera, the Queen of the Greek Gods

Meet Hera, the Queen of the Greek Gods Hera (Juno) is the queen of the gods. She is usually plotting either to favor the Greeks over the Trojans, as in Homers Iliad, or against one of the females who has caught the roving eye of her philandering husband, Zeus. At other times, Hera is shown plotting mischief against Heracles. Myths re-told by Thomas Bulfinch about Hera (Juno) include: Monsters Nisus and Scylla - Echo and Narcissus - Clytie - Hero and LeanderJuno and Her RivalsHercules- Hebe and Ganymede Family of Origin The Greek goddess Hera is one of the daughters of Cronus and Rhea. She is the sister and wife of the king of the gods, Zeus. Roman Equivalent The Greek goddess Hera was known as the goddess Juno by the Romans. It is Juno who torments Aeneas on his trip from Troy to Italy to found the Roman race. Of course, this is the same goddess who so vehemently opposed the Trojans in the stories about the Trojan War, so she would try to put obstacles in the path of a Trojan prince who escaped the destruction of her hated city. In Rome, Juno was part of the Capitoline triad, along with her husband and Minerva. As part of the triad, she is Juno Capitolina. The Romans also worshiped a Juno Lucina, Juno Moneta, Juno Sospita, and Juno Caprotina, among other epithets. Attributes of Hera Peacock, cow, crow and pomegranate for fertility. She is described as cow-eyed. Powers of Hera Hera is the queen of the gods and the wife of Zeus. She is the goddess of marriage and is one of the childbirth goddesses. She created the Milky Way when she was lactating. Sources on Hera Ancient sources for Hera include: Apollodorus, Cicero, Euripides, Hesiod, Homer, Hyginus, and Nonnius. Children of Hera Hera was the mother of Hephaestus. Sometimes she is credited with giving birth to him without the input of a male as a response to Zeus giving birth to Athena from his head. Hera was not pleased with the clubfoot of her son. Either she or her husband threw Hephaestus from Olympus. He fell to earth where he was tended by Thetis, the mother of Achilles, for which reason he created Achilles great shield. Hera was also the mother, with Zeus, of Ares and Hebe, the cupbearer of the gods who marries Heracles.

SWOT Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

SWOT Analysis - Essay Example The strengths and weaknesses define the internal environment while the opportunities and threats represent the external environment to a business (Ferrell & Hartline, 2011). Managers should analyze all their internal positive characteristics of their organization with an aim of exploiting them. These attributes represent the strengths of such an organization and the analysis helps in indentifying the extent to which these factors can be utilized. The strengths include the resources at the firm’s disposal that ensure all the business practices run smoothly (Ferrell & Hartline, 2011). In addition, the positive characteristics are considered as strengths from their capability to sustain the organization’s competitive advantage and the positive aspects of the human resource. The managers should focus on these attributes in order to add value to the business operations. These organization’s strengths are within the management’s control. The weaknesses represent the factors that work toward minimizing the capacity to add value through an organization’s operations. Consequently, these factors reduce the expected value of an organizations operations and leads to a decrease in their competitive advantage in the markets. Such weaknesses include inability to utilize the existing resources maximally, poor quality services and poor positioning in the market. These factors are also within the management’s control (Ferrell & Hartline, 2011). Opportunities are aspects of the external environment to an organization. They symbolize the incentives for the existence and the possible progress of business operations in the market. These incentives present an opening to advance business practices and improve the current benefits. They also offer a chance for growth and development of activities that add value to the organizations and its stakeholders (Ferrell & Hartline, 2011). These opportunities also lead to

U08a1 Compensation & Benefits Assignment Template Essay

U08a1 Compensation & Benefits Assignment Template - Essay Example Legally mandated benefits involve guaranteed pay; these are monetary reward provided by an employer based on the relationship between employee and employer. In most cases, guaranteed pay is best presented in basic salary (Andrus, 2012). On the other hand, variable pay is an example of voluntary benefits paid by an organization to a worker that is based on management discretion, effectiveness or results realized. Usually, voluntary benefits are best represented in bonus forms and sales incentives. Benefit communication should involve offering employees the right information on the incentives they stand to gain and allowing them adequate time to make hard decisions, if any. The practice also involves helping them go about permanent conditions, which is usually easier to manage than awaiting the eleventh hour. Employees should be educated on behaviors like maintaining good health and refraining from drug use (Tacchino, & Littell, 2011). Compensation policies are often riddled with different problems. These include the challenge of hiring the right employee to a given position. Unfavorable Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental conditions hinder the implementation of better compensation policies (Szendrei, & Rodriguez, 2010). Pros. Formal pay structure is advantageous because an employee can make permanent plans based on it. Non-monetary compensation enables the employee to save monetary resources, and feels part of the organization. Cons. Monetary compensation can be easily wasted by the employee. Non-monetary compensation may sound a long-drawn burden to an employee, especially those who have access to better non-monetary compensation offered by an organization. Organizations carry out a cost benefit analysis to find out how effective, or how badly, an intended action will impact organizational goals. Even though, the analysis can be employed for almost any case, it is usually executed on

Rigid journey Essay Example for Free

Rigid journey Essay It was a â€Å"rigid journey† that started with two voices and that ended with one. One is the voice of meaningless modernity. Disjointed and syncopated, this voice hopes to fit in with the norm, tirelessly finding meaning through misconstrued words. The other is the voice of an ailing past as it struggles to keep up with the present. It is the words of fable and myth, lost in the humdrum of everyday life. Coming in contact through an unexpected dialogue, these two voices collide but, further on, reveal their similarities in order to address the issues of their looming futures. Jonathan Safran Foer’s critically-successful debut novel Everything is Illuminated relishes in these two voices, speaking to its readers in dual tones as a metaphor of the different perspectives that arise from a problem of identity that epitomizes this generation: a generation fraught by issues brought about by concerns of industry, capitalism, and materialism. Part memoir, part travelogue, this novel primarily chronicles the travels of Jonathan Foer, a young Jewish-American writer of the same name as the author, who attempts to research his grandfather’s life in Ukraine and discover the woman who had saved him from apparent execution in the hands of Nazi soldiers. To make his trip remotely easier, he employs the help of Heritage Tours, a tour company that specializes in aiding Jewish-Americans retrace their roots in the Old Country. His guide and translator for this trip is Alex Perchov, a Ukrainian of the same age who is utterly enraptured by the American culture that reaching the State’s worshipped shores and becoming an accountant is all he has ever dreamed about. Along with the ride are Alex’s Grandfather, their supposedly blind driver, and his â€Å"seeing-eye bitch† Sammy Davis Junior, Junior. But, Foer, the author, also incorporates a second and third narrative amidst this backdrop of identity-searching. One, told in Jonathan’s voice, tells the story of his Grandfather’s shtetl or town, TrachimBrod, its fabled rise and evident fall during World War II. We can initially perceive the novel as a seeming coming-of-age story that finds its core in the retelling of the happenings of the Holocaust and its evident impact on its Jewish survivors and their kin. But, it also echoes of the capitalist ideologies that define our era and how it has come to mold our youth, as seen through the depiction of Jonathan and Alex. With this in mind, this paper aims to create an understanding of the hegemony within the text through the use of Marxist literary criticism. An Overview of Marxism and the Communist Manifesto At the heart of Marxism lies the struggle between classes, a definitive clash of ideologies brought about by the fight over the right of power. It is primarily a critique of the current Industrial Age society, wherein an apparent discrepancy between the growing bourgeois class and the working class began to be noticeable. Promulgated by Karl Marx in the early nineteenth century, Marxism finds its roots in the analysis of the source of power, the base of power, within a society and how this social class determines the course of production within a society (Marx and Engels 1848). Heralded as the core ideology of Communism, it is a politically-driven social theory that deems to see that the proletariat be considered a class, that the reigning bourgeois be overthrown, and that political power should be reverted to the proletariat (Marx, Engels, and Jones 15). Applied to literature, Marxism becomes a critique of the social structures and the point of authority found in the text, as concocted by the writer’s own perceptions of the history of class within the novel. The Communist â€Å"bible†, Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto, co-written by Frederick Engels, calls the proletariat to arms in what they see as a social revolution unlike any other. They deem that Capitalist rulings of the working class as exploitative, seeing these people merely as dispensable commodity to yield production. They deem the bourgeoisie as state of â€Å"the abolition of individuality and freedom (22). † They narrate series of possible events to the dissolution of the bourgeoisie that would mean the rise of the proletariat and the erasure of any other remnants of the feudalist system (Marx and Engels 17). Over-all, it is deemed that the only answer to a social revolution is the forcible overthrow of the present reigning base of power, the denouncement of past social conditions, and the creation of a strong network of representative that would protect the individual rights of working men and women. A Dichotomy of Roles What makes Foer’s novel a definite stand-out in the literary scene is its experimentation with form and its boundless potentials. For his novel, he follows three narratives as told by the two primary characters of the text, Jonathan and Alex. Placed in the context of Marxism, there is an evident inner struggle between the two characters that is representative of their own social statuses and how they manage to deal with the issues specific to it. According to Marx’s groundbreaking treatise, â€Å"society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat (Marx and Engels 9). † Although, most may deem this social division as outdated, it still reveals much about our current social structure that expected. In our globalized view, such structure can now be attributed to cultures dominating over each other, cultures that manipulate the flow of international relations given the power they retain through their economic superiority—a system that Marx had initially suspected. As with today’s society, American culture (though flailing amidst the rise of new economic powers) remains the power base and controls much of the world’s economic activity, and hence, becomes the source of all human institutions and ideologies, or what Marx calls, the superstructure. With this power behind them, the base is able to influence the direction that society is driven to, characterizing each element as they see fit. Evident in the novel is undisputed hegemony of American culture as presented through the character of Alex. Ensnared by the allure of money and progress, Alex is the quintessential American â€Å"wanna be†. He is driven to create an image of himself that is allegedly reminiscent of this culture: a womanizer, an excessive spender, a big talker. Evidence of this fascination with American culture can also be read in page 69 wherein Alex speaks with Jonathan over dinner and bombards him with questions about American life: â€Å"Are there good accounting schools? Are there Negro accountants? How much is the coffee there (Foer 69)? † All the answers elicit an excitement for this prevailing culture, all the more pushing Alex to value it more than he does his own. In a letter to Jonathan written purportedly after the his visit to Ukraine, he mentions that he is saving up to go to the States, and that in order to save money (despite his Father’s belief that he isn’t so), he stays at the beach and just thinks. He thinks that Jonathan is so lucky (52). These ideas of American culture, the American Dream, are in fact disseminated through the film medium as presented in the text when Alex says: â€Å"I dig American movies (2). † It is, in essence, a diluted imagery of what American culture is like as shown through the limited capacity of film. Gone are seemingly politically correct ideologies and from the vantage point of Alex’s restricted viewpoint of American culture we see the flaws of a race and gender divided structure. It is also necessary to note the importance of the Alex’s use of language in the text. His language is a mix of profundity and slang in an attempt to sound as American as possible, but failing miserably to communicate what he actually means in the process. His misconstrued language echoes the attempt of the working class to attain a level of equality with the bourgeois (American culture), but unsuccessfully doing so because the line that separates the two arenas can never be crossed. Alex’s character, in this sense, epitomizes the proletariat desire to obtain an amount of power (how miniscule) it might be from the dominating bourgeois by inculcating themselves within a culture created by the elite. When he took on the role of translate for Jonathan, Alex believed it to be an â€Å"unordinary (Foer 2)† experience. By taking on this Americanized persona, Alex believes he is setting himself apart from a family of three Alex’s, from his own culture. He yearns to â€Å"depart† from his class and seek a brighter one in another. But, I believe, that this is the tragedy of Alex. He deems to create for himself a new personality, an individuality, but through the acceptance of another ideological structure that might even be stronger and far more dangerous than the one he opts to leave behind. This is, as what Marx says, is a sense of false consciousness (Eagleton 103). â€Å"People are conditioned by the material world to accept certain ideas and beliefs as objective fact. They misunderstand their position and the meaning of their position. (Progreba 2). † On the other hand, we see Jonathan who departs from the States and its culture to find his roots in Ukraine. Armed with the picture of his grandfather and the picture of the woman who rescued him, he embarks on a journey to understand his muddled identity. Whereas, Alex looks at the American culture as one that would finally define him, Jonathan temporarily denounces it and searches for it in his history. This is evident in his chronicle of the history of his grandfather’s little village. But, similar to Alex, he finds fascination in a culture other than his own and looks up to it as a medium to understand his own identity. By narrating the events that led to the destruction of the village, from its establishment and his grandfather, Safran’s, rescue from the Nazis, Jonathan communicates with his past and forms a dialogue with it. For both young men, this search for identity traces itself to their yearning to reclaim their place in a society that alienates them. According to Marxist theory, the capitalist society alienates people in three different levels: first, the worker is alienated from what he produces; second, the worker is alienated from himself; and third, the worker is alienated from society. â€Å"The work of the proletarians has lost all their individual character, and consequently all charm for the workman. He becomes an appendage of the machine, and it is only the most simple, most monotonous, and most easily acquired knack that is required of him (Marx and Engels 14). † Jonathan, who has taken a leave of absence from university, finds himself at a loss regarding his future goals in life, some of which are imposed on him by the requirements of his social circle: fame and fortune. By following these, he would have to let go of his roots, of his own identity, and deliver products as what society needs of him. Hence, he finds his travel to Ukraine an opportunity for soul-searching, a method to deliver himself from the constraints of social responsibilities and discover his own potential as a person. When Alex questions Jonathan about his yearnings to be a writer, Jonathan answers him half-heartedly, as if questioning even his own decision to take on this career (Foer 69). But, by the middle of the novel, as implied in one of Alex’s letters to Jonathan, he had gone on back to university to pursue this career, perhaps already with an inkling of his own identity discovered during his visit in Ukraine. Alex, on the other hand, seeks deliverance in American culture. He detests his Father who bullies him and his â€Å"miniature† brother, Little Igor. He yearns to separate himself from this abusive authority and find solace in a culture that is â€Å"free† and â€Å"progressive†. We can view his Father and their travel company in the Marxist context as the Capitalist. Their company, Heritage Tours, having been a family business for three generations ties Alex intensely to the family that he hopes to leave behind. As his mother had said, she is extremely proud that her son had decided to taking the responsibility of acting as a guide for the â€Å"Jewish boy† instead of wallowing around doing nothing and wasting money (Foer 2). Marxist theory also expands on the notion of a â€Å"counter-hegemonic† culture that should be developed in order to retaliate against the prevailing social norms as promulgated by the ruling class. Essentially, the novel revolves around this, as with any text that centers on a search for identity and individuality. Alex and Jonathan both are at war with their societies which is why they seek to find it another, whether in more direct forms (like Jonathan’s) or discreetly (like Alex’s). There remains, in the story of these two individuals, a definite struggle to fight against hegemony and the norm. Conclusion The third narrative, as we have mentioned, are letters from Alex to Jonathan, still written in the same manner as he had spoken to us in his usual narrative. These letters, from mere discussion of their positions in life finally show the kind of relationship these two young men are able to foster. They are the acceptance of their brotherhood amidst the flurry of modern life, amidst the demands of their social classes and their inherent responsibilities. But, most importantly, as the novel proves, it serves as an insight into a quiet counter-revolution that prevails today. Works Cited: Eagleton, Terry. Criticism and Ideology: A Study in Marxist Literary Theory. William Clowes Ltd. : Suffolk, Great Britain. 2006 Foer, Jonathan Safran. Everything is Illuminated. Houghton Mifflin Books: New York, New York. 2002 Jones, Gareth Stedman. â€Å"Introduction. † The Communist Manifesto. Penguin Books Ltd. : USA, 1967 Marx, Karl and Frederick Engels. â€Å"The Communist Manifesto. † Socialist Labor Party of America. 2006. Retrieved from http://www. marxism. net/pdf/marx/comm_man. pdf

Classical Approaches to Teaching English as a Second Language Essay

During the last hundred years, English has become the most important language in the world. In the contemporary age, learning any foreign tongue has become both fashionable and necessary. But is there a perfect method which can be applied to achieve the appropriate level of English? I have been learning English for more than 10 years, but have never realized that there are so many different techniques and approaches to teach English as a second language. While studying, I have noticed that I had experienced some of them at the primary and secondary school. In this essay I would like to present my personal opinions and reflections about the approaches I encountered, the ways they were presented and exploited by my English teachers. First, I want to concentrate on the Grammar-Translation Method. Personally I think that many teachers use this technique while teaching a foreign language, but they do not even realize it. We may contend that it is the most common method, due to the fact that it is considered to be quite easy. I contend there is nothing more complicated than to give students a passage to translate from one language to another. Is it interesting or challenging for the students? I do not think so. I remember I did a lot of translation at school and that was not my favorite activity. Besides, it was hard for us to find any purpose in them. Apart from that, most of my classmates were simply bored. Sometimes it was too difficult and we had to spend many hours to find the meaning of a particular word in a dictionary. Without a doubt, that was not the way I wanted to learn English. Furthermore, translating a literary text was something entirely useless for me. And although we were rarely exposed to such a t ranslation... ... teacher and gave the commands to the class. Our favorite game was â€Å"Simon says†. It was considered to be quite easy because students did not have to repeat the commands but respond physically. Even when somebody made a mistake and showed something in a wrong way, he or she was not discouraged, because for us it was like playing not learning. In the final analysis, I must admit that I did not come across the perfect method to teach English. Every technique has its advantages and disadvantages. It all depends on the teacher; how and what he/she is going to adopt from a particular approach to his/her lesson. One thing I know for sure: we should not force students to learn a language in a way that is the best for us. To sum up I would like to quote a sentence which I found very interesting: â€Å"If the students don’t learn the way you teach, teach them the way they learn†.

Coffee Shops Essay

Whenever I am in need to study or just want to find a place to hangout, what instantly springs to my mind is a coffee shop. There are many different coffee shops around me, but only one is my absolute favorite. My favorite coffee shop is Beca House. Beca House is a locally owned business and is only about twelve minutes from my house. It is the coziest little nook, where I usually spend my mornings before class eating breakfast and drinking my favorite espresso coffee drink. After all, coffee is the best way to wake up and get the body moving. As I walk into Beca House every morning, the strong bitter aroma of ground coffee beans drift through the air, soaking into my clothes as I make my way to the counter to place my order. The smell was circulating because the coffee bar is located near the left side of the shop. The first attraction for me was the baked goods. They are tidily placed in the transparent glass cabinet, lining up and waiting for me to eat them all. There were all different types of baked goods like muffins, streusels, cheesecakes, cookies, and biscotti’s. Up above near the ceiling of the bar, there were an assortment of coffee beans packed into brown bags. The barista takes my order, large campfire frappe, double espresso. On a cooler day, I order a hot vanilla cappuccino. The delicious smell of coffee generates from the espresso machines. There is also a blackboard on the counter near the menu with a quote written with chalk that will change from day to day. The barista hands me my custom beverage order, and I stroll back to the front of the coffee shop to find a place to get comfortable. All along the walls of the shop are strategically placed vintage paintings and inspirational quotes. Dim lights shine on the spaced out vintage furniture, making for a very soothing and quiet atmosphere. No two pieces of furniture are the same, big couches, small wooden chairs, dark colored pillows, and rustic end tables. I like admiring this type of environment: soothing and calming, yet still inviting. In comparison to most restaurants, coffee shops are by no means a noisy place. The sound of chatters and laughter blends together with the background music playing around the shop, and the volume is set at a medium tone. Coffee shops provide a comfortable, yet sociable gathering spot for people of all ages. I often find peers of my own studying for big tests, writing papers, or maybe just reading a new book and relaxing. The Beca House is my favorite part to my day. I cannot start without it. Even on days that I do not have class, I find myself getting my daily cup of coffee at the crack of dawn, just before work. Stopping at Beca House has become part of my daily routine, and I do not see it being cut out any time soon. I know I go there a lot when the barista’s know my order when I walk through the door. There’s something so perfect about it being just me, my thoughts, and my morning cup of coffee.

A Haunted House Essay

â€Å"A Haunted House† by Virginia Woolf, is a short story that tells the experience of a young couple, living in a house with a ghostly couple. The story begins with a â€Å"ghostly couple† looking for their treasure, in the house they previously lived in while alive. While alive, the ghosts lived in the house more than a century before the current residents. The woman died first, this is when the man left her and the house, he â€Å"went North, went East, saw the stars turned in the Southern sky. † Later when the man died, he returned to join the woman ghost at the house they occupied while together. Fearing, that the new couple may have found their treasure, the ghosts go from â€Å"room to room they went, hand in hand, lifting here, opening there. Opening windows, whispering not to wake us, the ghostly seek their joy. † The narrator, being aware that there are ghosts in the house, never feared being harmed. In the end, the author reveals that the buried treasure is â€Å"the light in the heart,† referring to all the different places in and around the house, where they had expressed their love to each other. The female ghosts says, â€Å"Here, sleeping; in the garden reading; laughing, rolling apples in the loft. Here we left our treasure. † It had never been missing. The major characters are the â€Å"Ghost† couple and the minor are the living couple; the ghosts are both dynamic characters. Through the entire story, the ghosts go from frantically searching for their treasure, even believing that the current residence may have found it. To realizing, what they were searching for was there the whole time. Therefore, changing the thought that they had lost their treasures, when truly their â€Å"treasure†, which was the love and joy they shared in the house was never lost and remained in the house all this time. As for the living couple, I believe they are both static characters. Their opinion of the ghosts or house never changes through the entire story. The conflict in this story is internal. As the ghosts search frantically going room to room. They realize, that the treasure they are looking for is not an actual tangible item, but â€Å"the light in the heart,† which is the love they held in their hearts and the memories they had in the house. The setting for this short story takes place in a centuries old two story house with a garden. The house sits on a tree-lined avenue close to a farm. With the description of â€Å"all the leaves were green in the glass†, you might think the season is most likely spring or summer. Therefore, I believe the setting to be general. The story is written from the first person point of view, through the perspective of the narrator who’s the new resident in the house. She lives in the house with her husband and she tells the reader about the ghost’s conversations and activities. Using first person point of view in this case builds suspense as the reader follows the narrator through this living â€Å"haunted† house. Woolf uses irony, stream of consciousness, and repetition to explain what is happening. By using stream of consciousness, she is able to tell the lives of the characters by revealing the associations and thoughts they have. For example, â€Å"Here we slept,† â€Å"Upstairs†, â€Å"In the garden†. These quotes let the readers know all the different places they shared their joy and love. The first use of irony is clearly in the title, â€Å"A Haunted House. † This haunting is unlike the stereotypical kind we might expect that produces a sense of fear and/or dread. The living couple had no fear of these ghosts in their house. The irony is the total opposite. Throughout the story, the author shows the reader the love and great memories the ghost couple shared in the â€Å"haunted house†. Virginia Woolf uses the repetition of the words â€Å"here† and â€Å"it† to describe the â€Å"treasure† and where it may be. The reader is informed that the ghost are trying to look for something, it’s not until the end of the story that the reader is informed what â€Å"It† was. With the use of streaming consciousness, irony, and repetition Virginia Woolf was able to portray the meaning of â€Å"A Haunted House. † That the joy and love shared between the ghost couple is the treasure of life and love. The theme of the story is man vs love. The central idea is that love is everlasting and conquers all. Even after death, the love and joy remains hidden within us all, if you know where to look.

Free Essays on The Language Of Laughter

Laughter is part of the universal human vocabulary. All members of the human species understand it. Unlike English, French, or Swahili, one does not have to learn to speak it. We’re born with the capacity to laugh. One of the remarkable things about laughter is that it occurs unconsciously. You don’t decide to do it. While we can consciously inhibit it, we don’t consciously produce laughter. That is why it’s very hard to laugh on command or to fake laughter. It provides powerful, uncensored insights into our unconscious. It simply bubbles up from within us in certain situations. We also know that laughter is a message that we send to other people. We know this because we rarely laugh when we are alone. Laughter is social and contagious. We laugh at the sound of laughter itself. A whole room can erupt in laughter when actually only about a third of the people may know the joke. That is the power of laughter. Most laughter is not about humor; it is about relationships between people. When we laugh, we’re often communicating playful intent. So laughter has a bonding function within individuals in a group. As Victor Borge once said, â€Å"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.† It’s often positive, but it can be negative too. There’s a difference between â€Å"laughing with† and â€Å"laughing at.† People who laugh at others may be trying to force them to conform or casting them out of the group. Laughter puts things into a new perspective. Everything that makes us laugh is typically something we relate to, but by laughing our brain is opened and sees everything in a different way. Laughter has the remarkable power of making an object come up close, of drawing it into a zone where one can finger it familiarly on all sides, turn it upside down, inside out, and break open its external shell. Laughter demolishes fear and piety before an object, before the world; making of it an object of familiar contact and cle... Free Essays on The Language Of Laughter Free Essays on The Language Of Laughter Laughter is part of the universal human vocabulary. All members of the human species understand it. Unlike English, French, or Swahili, one does not have to learn to speak it. We’re born with the capacity to laugh. One of the remarkable things about laughter is that it occurs unconsciously. You don’t decide to do it. While we can consciously inhibit it, we don’t consciously produce laughter. That is why it’s very hard to laugh on command or to fake laughter. It provides powerful, uncensored insights into our unconscious. It simply bubbles up from within us in certain situations. We also know that laughter is a message that we send to other people. We know this because we rarely laugh when we are alone. Laughter is social and contagious. We laugh at the sound of laughter itself. A whole room can erupt in laughter when actually only about a third of the people may know the joke. That is the power of laughter. Most laughter is not about humor; it is about relationships between people. When we laugh, we’re often communicating playful intent. So laughter has a bonding function within individuals in a group. As Victor Borge once said, â€Å"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.† It’s often positive, but it can be negative too. There’s a difference between â€Å"laughing with† and â€Å"laughing at.† People who laugh at others may be trying to force them to conform or casting them out of the group. Laughter puts things into a new perspective. Everything that makes us laugh is typically something we relate to, but by laughing our brain is opened and sees everything in a different way. Laughter has the remarkable power of making an object come up close, of drawing it into a zone where one can finger it familiarly on all sides, turn it upside down, inside out, and break open its external shell. Laughter demolishes fear and piety before an object, before the world; making of it an object of familiar contact and cle...

MiG-17 Fresco Soviet Fighter

MiG-17 Fresco Soviet Fighter With the introduction of the successful MiG-15 in 1949, the Soviet Union pressed forward with designs for a follow-on aircraft. Designers at Mikoyan-Gurevich began modifying the earlier aircrafts form to increase performance and handling. Among the changes that were made was the introduction of a compound swept wing which was set at a 45 ° angle near the fuselage and 42 ° farther outboard. In addition, the wing was thinner than the MiG-15 and the tail structure altered to improve stability at high speeds. For power, the MiG-17 relied on the older aircrafts Klimov VK-1 engine. First taking to the sky on January 14, 1950, with Ivan Ivashchenko at the controls, the prototype was lost two months later in a crash. Dubbed the SI, testing continued with additional prototypes for the next year and a half. A second interceptor variant, the SP-2, was also developed and featured the Izumrud-1 (RP-1) radar. Full-scale production of the MiG-17 began in August 1951 and the type received the NATO reporting name Fresco. As with its predecessor, the MiG-17 was armed with two 23 mm cannon and one 37 mm cannon mounted under the nose. MiG-17F Specifications General Length:  37 ft. 3 in.Wingspan:  31 ft. 7 in.Height:  12 ft. 6 in.Wing Area:  243.2 sq. ft.Empty Weight:  8,646 lbs.Crew:  1 Performance Power Plant:  1Ãâ€" Klimov VK-1F afterburning turbojetRange:  745 milesMax Speed:  670 mphCeiling:  54,500 ft. Armament 1 x 37 mm Nudelman N-37 cannon2 x 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannonsup t0 1,100 lbs. of external stores on two hardpoints Production Variants While the MiG-17 fighter and MiG-17P interceptor represented the first variants of the aircraft, they were replaced in 1953 with the arrival of the MiG-17F and MiG-17PF. These were equipped with the Klimov VK-1F engine which featured an afterburner and significantly improved the MiG-17s performance. As a result, this became the most produced type of the aircraft. Three years later, a small number of aircraft were converted to MiG-17PM and utilized the Kaliningrad K-5 air-to-air missile. While most MiG-17 variants possessed external hardpoints for around 1,100 lbs. in bombs, they were typically used for drop tanks. As production progressed in the USSR, they issued a license to their Warsaw Pacy ally Poland for building the aircraft in 1955. Built by WSK-Mielec, the Polish variant of the MiG-17 was designated Lim-5. Continuing production into the 1960s, the Poles developed attack and reconnaissance variants of the type. In 1957, the Chinese began license production of the MiG-17 under the name Shenyang J-5. Further developing the aircraft, they also built radar-equipped interceptors (J-5A) and a two-seat trainer (JJ-5). Production of this last variant continued until 1986. All told, over 10,000 MiG-17s of all types were built. Operational History Though arriving too late for service in the Korean War, the MiG-17s combat debut came in the Far East when Communist Chinese aircraft engaged Nationalist Chinese F-86 Sabres over the Straits of Taiwan in 1958. The type also saw extensive service against American aircraft during the Vietnam War. First engaging a group of US F-8 Crusaders on April 3, 1965, the MiG-17 proved surprisingly effective against more advanced American strike aircraft. A nimble fighter, the MiG-17 downed 71 American aircraft during the conflict and led the American flying services to institute improved dog-fighting training. Serving in over twenty air forces worldwide, it was used by the Warsaw Pact nations for much of the 1950s and early 1960s until being replaced by the MiG-19 and MiG-21. In addition, it saw combat with the Egyptian and Syrian Air Forces during Arab-Israeli conflicts including the 1956 Suez Crisis, the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, and the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Though largely retired, the MiG-21 is still in use with some air forces including China (JJ-5), North Korea, and Tanzania.

Global Marketing project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Global Marketing project - Essay Example They would even want to know about the number of buyers and suppliers of toothpaste in the market and whether suppliers are price takers or price makers. 2. Information regarding the political environment of the foreign nation, the rules and regulations pertaining to employment laws and laws concerning foreign organizations opening their business in a particular nation can be obtained through secondary data. Secondary data obtained through research organizations such as Gallup can even help the company in identifying the size of the customers, the size of buyers and suppliers and the existing competition in the market. Primary data will even be required to identify the organization’s internal strengths and weaknesses. Primary data will be collected in order to identify the current demands of the customers that have not yet been satisfied by other companies and the taste of the customers (Terpstra

A Critical Gaze of Scientific Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Critical Gaze of Scientific Medicine - Essay Example In the novel, the different levels within the cosmopolitan medical system itself also embody the class structure during the 1920’s and 1930’s in China. In the hierarchy of the cosmopolitan medical system the upper class is composed of foreign physicians and foreign-trained Chinese male physicians, the middle class is made up of local-trained Chinese male or female doctors, nurses, therapists, and technicians, and the working class consists of Chinese female service personnel. Foreign physicians and foreign-trained Chinese physicians play the dominant role during the interactions between the patients and the cosmopolitan medical system in Gold-dust Dynasty, whereas nurses and service personnel are almost silent, which implies that the cosmopolitan medicine in Gold-dust Dynasty lays stress on the training of physicians, rather than the provision of care to patients. During the treatment, experiences of suffering and symptom expressions are explained as the depersonalized site of isolatable sickness episodes by physicians. Patients seek but do not get answers to their questions about their suffering and therefore develop their own understanding of their situations. For example, the formal wife of the biggest son of the Jin family is sick during her pregnancy. The physician prescribes her medicine without any explanation of her ailment. As a result, the lady begins to perceive her baby as the cause of her physical and psychological afflictions, leading to plans for aborting the baby.

Analysis of the Economic Impact of the Major Social Problem of Poverty Assignment

Analysis of the Economic Impact of the Major Social Problem of Poverty - Assignment Example Indeed, the article vividly shows that the government of New York City must aid the residents in their desire to climb out of their current poverty debacle. Subject: Business Topic: Article Analysis Introduction In terms of discussing the model or economic theory that relates to the issue presented in the news article, the economic theory in focus is a supply and demand theory. As prices of goods and services increase, the demand for the products and services decrease. Likewise, as the prices of goods and services increase, the supply of the goods and services increase (Arnold, 2008). In terms of discussing what economic theory states and predicts about the issue presented in the news article, as the prices of goods and services increase, the poverty level people will reduce their demand for the higher priced products. On the other hand, as the prices of goods and services increase, the business entities are eager to supply more services and goods in order to generate more profits (B oyes, 2010). Analysis of the Economic Impact of the Major Social Problem of Poverty The April 12, 2012 issue of the New York Times article is reflection on poverty. The title of the article is New York City’s Poverty Rate Rises, Study Finds (Roberts, 2012). The paper shows strong evidence there has been an increasing number of New York residents joining the ranks of the poor over the last years. The number of New York City residents has literally increased by 100,000 individuals. With the increase, the poverty ratio soared by as much as 1.3 percent. The new poverty rate is 21 percent. The percent indicates that one out of every five New York residents qualifies as poor. The article further states that New York has one of the highest poverty levels in the U.S. Once New York has implemented a more detailed description which defines who can be classified as a poor individual, current New York City’s statistics of the poor has the largest annual rise in poverty ratio. As J an Windebank emphasized, â€Å"Throughout the advanced economies, the widespread consensus is that employment is the best route out of poverty. Not only are the approaches of both the Old Left and New Right grounded in such a belief, but so too is the employment-focused third way approach of New Labor. In this book, however, our intention is to begin to explain why an alternative third way discourse has started to emerge that rejects an employment-centered approach to poverty alleviation† (Windebank, 2003). The current recession, which started in 2008, is blamed as the major culprit for the ballooning of the poor individuals in New York City. The recession brought a lot of the United States companies into the unfavorable quagmire of bankruptcy. With bankruptcy enveloping some of the companies in the United States skies, those that cannot innovate are forced to close shops. With the closing of the shops, many employees are retrenched. With the loss of their jobs, the retrenche d employees could not afford to retain their previous lifestyle. The retrenched employees had to join the long line of New Yorkers waiting for their turn to grab a set of food coupons. With the slowing of the United States economic wheel into a snail’s pace, statistics showed that one out of every four New York residents, under the age of 18 years, joined the poor of New York, the city that never sleeps. New York City’s Center for Economic Opportunity reported the latest poverty report. Likewise, the 2008 U.S. Economic crisis is

Development of Indias Banking System

Development of Indias Banking System Introduction With a population of over 1 billion, India is one of the most important countries with accelerating economic growth. According to the World Bank (2009), the annual GDP growth of India has been more than 7% over the past ten years. The financial crises in 1997 and 2008 have revealed the importance of robust banking system towards economic development. Indian Government liberalized the banking system through Indian Banking Sector Reform in 1991. From the first bank in India in 1786, the development of Indian Banking System has three distinct phases. Early Phase (1786 1969) There were 1100 small banks in India. The Government implemented the Banking Companies Act 1949 to facilitate the functioning of commercial banks. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was authorized to supervise the Indian banking sector and became the Central Banking Authority. Post Nationalization Period (1969 1991) State Bank of India was formed to act as a principal agent of RBI and handle banking transactions in India. Fourteen major commercial banks were nationalized as there was a decline in public confidence during the early phase. Nationalization guaranteed the sustainability of banking industry and aroused public confidence. Post-Liberalization Period (1991 now) Liberalization of banking practices occurred. Foreign banks, ATMs, phone banking, net banking were introduced to make the banking system more convenient and efficient. The development of banking system is transiting. Public-Sector Banks contributes to 78% of total banking industry asset. Private-Sector Banks, on the other hand, are experiencing great progress in internet banking, ATMs and other technology advancements. They are likely to expand in India. Central Bank Reserve Bank of India It was established in 1935 and was nationalized in 1949. It has 8 functions explained as follows: Note Issuance: It has the sole right to issue bank notes of all denominations as an agent of the Government. Government Banker: It acts as Government banker, agent and adviser. It controls the banking system through licensing, inspection and calling for information. It also supervises and controls commercial and cooperative banks. Maintenance of Minimum Reserve Ratio: RBI set the cash reserve ratio is 5% and repo rate is 4.75 % in 2009. Lender of Last Resort: It acts as the lender of last resort by providing rediscount facilities to scheduled banks. Credit Controller: It controls the credit operations of banks quantitatively and qualitatively like open market operations, discount policies and reserve requirements. Settlement of Clearing Functions: RBI facilitates the inter-bank clearing of current accounts in 1050 clearing houses in India. Custodian of Foreign Reserves: RBI sets a limit on money transfer in and out of India under Foreign Exchange Management Act. It examines Indias reserve of international currencies and maintains the official rate of exchange with all member countries of International Monetary Fund. Promotional Functions: RBI is responsible to extend banking facilities to rural and semi-urban areas, and establish and promote new specialized financing agencies. Banking System Banks in India The Reserve Bank of India heads the Indian commercial banks. Banks in India can be categorized into three tiers scheduled commercial banks; regional rural banks which operate in rural areas not covered by scheduled banks; and cooperative and special purpose rural banks. There are approximately 98 scheduled commercial banks, both Indian and foreign, almost 200 regional rural banks, more than 350 central cooperative banks, 20 land development banks, and a number of agricultural credit societies. Commercial Banks Commercial banking is dominated by 28 state-owned banks controlling 69.9% of assets in the sector in 2007/08. Private domestic held 21.7% and foreign banks had the remaining 8.4%. Commercial banks can be categorized into domestic banks and foreign banks. Domestic Banks They include public-sector banks, private-sector banks and savings, mortgage and co-operative banks. The biggest domestic bank is a public-sector bank, State Bank of India with market share 16.83%. The second biggest domestic bank is a private-sector bank, ICICI Bank with market share 9.11%. Public-Sector Banks They have a country wide networks and each has its own geographic stronghold. They provide a full range of banking services and are an important source of short-term funds. State Bank of India is the largest bank providing 16.83$ of loan advances in 2007/08. In 2008, SBI merged its subsidiary, State Bank of Saurashtra, and is increasing its international presence. The introduction of stringent capital-adequacy, income-recognition and asset-classification norms in economic reform promoted public-sector banks to reveal true positions in financial statements. The gap between strong and weak banks is thus widened. Private-Sector Banks There were 41 private-sector banks and 18 of them were listed on the stock exchange as of 2009. They usually have strong regional client bases and upgrade their technology and services. ICICI, the largest private-sector bank, merged with Bank of Madura in 2001 and Shangli Bank in 2007. Life Insurance Corporation of India raised its stake in Corporation Bank to 27% from 12.32% in 2001. It is expected that more mergers and acquisitions will be found in the coming decade. Savings, mortgages and co-operative banks They are small and contribute slightly to the source of funds for most companies. They tend to finance rural and small sectors and have geographically-restricted operations. New RBI regulations have imposed restrictions on them in 2001 as some urban cooperative banks were discovered to have a high exposure to the stock market. Foreign Banks The biggest foreign bank is Citibank with market share 1.55%. Standard Chartered Bank ranked the second. Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC and ABN Amro Bank dominate the sector in the diagram shown below. Comparing the advances of foreign banks and that of commercial banks, it is shown that foreign banks play a small role in banking industry. They accounted for 8.4% of total commercial-bank assets in 2007/08. But the rising net profits of the banks to Rs66.12bn in 2007/08 from Rs45.85bn in 2006/07 suggested the increasing importance of this sector. Foreign banks offer borrowing terms similar to local banks, but their benchmark prime lending rates are 1 to 3 percentage points higher. Foreign banks usually form part of a lending consortium. Foreign banks without a branch presence can conduct business through representative offices. These banks concentrate on providing offshore currency loans and related foreign-exchange products, rather than retail banking or local-currency lending. Investment Banks and Brokerages Investment banks and brokerages rely on advisory business. They have a limited involvement in risk capital. They can weather the downturn without the risk of going out of business. However, if the downturn continues in 2010, some banks may leave the small Indian market. Citi(US) and JM Financial Group have the greatest market share in this sector with their contribution of more than half deal value. Given the growth of Indian market, major foreign investment banks have reworked their partnerships with investment banks to help them to capture a greater market share. Development Banks Public-sector development banks were traditionally the principle source of long-term capital. Development banks provide medium and long-term rupee and foreign-currency financing, underwrite and subscribe to stocks and debentures. Due to the financial sector reform, they offer new services and products, set up organizations to provide a variety of financial services. Some countrywide development banks are Industrial Finance Corp of India and Industrial Investment Bank of India. The Post Office Saving Bank It has the largest retail-bank network, with over 155,000 branches. A growing number of post offices are also connected electronically. Given its large distribution network, India Post now leverages its presence to become a general financial-services distributor. It provides various mutual funds and bonds. It also offers an inward international money-transfer service. Offshore Banks Banks are allowed to set up overseas banking units within the countrys special economic zones functioning as overseas branches of domestic banks. Six domestic banks set up overseas banking units: Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, ICICI Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India and Union Bank. Domestic banks can enjoy a tax deduction on the income from OBUs and advantages of global presence. Banks Deposit Composition The deposits of national banks dominate the banking industry because they are backed up by the government and the public thus have confidence in nationalized banks. However, regional rural banks have a small share of deposits. It is mainly due to the lower income level in rural areas. Although foreign banks have a second smallest share of deposits, liberalization of the banking industry will allow them to expand their business. Competitive Situation More aggressive merger and acquisition are stemming in India. One advantages stemming from merger is the ability to cross-sell a slew of retail products including housing loans, car loans, personal finance and credit cards. Further, merged entity will be able to compete with threats from global players, for instance, HSBC and Citibank. However, challenges of merger are the integration of financial and human resources, as well as satisfying statutory requirements. Also some FIs faced the problem of relying on an increasing cagey market to raise capital. As FIs were funding long-term projects with money rose short term, there was a critical asset-liability disparity. RBI then proposed to convert financial institutions into universal banks recently. A reverse merger with their own subsidiary banks will now give FIs access to low-cost funds. The trend of mergers and acquisitions will prevail in the coming years. Economic Conditions Indian banks balance sheets are not directly exposed to sub-prime mortgage leading in US. The GDP and GDP per capital are expected to grow in the coming decade. The global financial crisis does not undermine the banking industry in India in a great extent. The assessment of the banking sector risk is rather low compared to that in Asia and Australasia in 2009. The expansion of consumer credit does not pose a high risk to the banking industry as the level of debts per customer remains low. In contrast, RBI moved the focus of its policy from boosting economic growth to containing inflation. Interest rates are expected to rise and tighter monetary policy are expected to be implemented. Conclusions The liberalization of banking system has (1) strengthen the banking sector (2) provide more operational flexibility to banks (3) enhance the competitive efficiency of banks (4) strengthen the legal framework governing bank operations. This well-developed banking system is favourable when it comes to expansion in India. However, a keen competition is found in India. Each sector has various existing banks with strong customer loyalty. Numerous state-owned banks and FIs are the dominant players in India. Despite the stable Indian economy and the steady and slow movement towards liberalization of banking system, the Government will probably strengthen the financial regulatory system sufficiently before a complete liberalization. Therefore, it is concluded that India is not suitable for expansion. References World Bank (2009). Word Bank in India. Retrieved November 25, 2009, from http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,contentMDK:22398481~menuPK:2246552~pagePK:2865106~piPK:2865128~theSitePK:223547,00.html India Finance Investment Guide (2009). Introduction. Retrieved November 25, 2009, from http://finance.indiamart.com/investment_in_india/banking_india.html Maps of India (2008). Banks in India. Retrieved November 25, 2009, from http://business.mapsofindia.com/banks-in-india/ Kamath, G.B. (2009). Emerald. The Intellectual Capital Performance of Indian Banking Sector, pp.4. Retrieved from, http://www.emeraldinsight.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/Insight/viewPDF.jsp?contentType=ArticleFilename=html/Output/Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Pdf/2500080104.pdf Bank of India (2009). Main Functions. Retrieved November 25, 2009, from http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/AboutusDisplay.aspx#MF OneIndia News (2009, July 28). RBI Keeps All Key Rates Unchanged. Retrieved November 25, 2009, from http://news.oneindia.in/2009/07/28/rbi-keeps-all-key-rates-unchanged.html Hubbard, R.G. OBrien (2006). How the Fed Reserves Manages the Money Supply. In Macroeconomics (2nd Ed.), Money, Banks, and the Federal Reserve System (pp. 451-452). United States: Pearson International Edition. NK Infobase (2009). Reserve Bank of India. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from http://money-transfer.in/reservebankofindia.html Economist Intelligence Unit (2009, July). Country Finance, India. Domestic Banks, pp. 14. Retrieved from http://www.eiu.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/report_dl.asp?issue_id=1784732363mode=pdf Economist Intelligence Unit (2009, July). Country Finance, India. Foreign Banks, pp. 14. Retrieved from http://www.eiu.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/report_dl.asp?issue_id=1784732363mode=pdf Economist Intelligence Unit (2009, July). Country Finance, India. Investment Banks and Brokerages, pp. 16. Retrieved from http://www.eiu.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/report_dl.asp?issue_id=1784732363mode=pdf Economist Intelligence Unit (2009, July). Country Finance, India. Development and Postal Banks, pp. 18. Retrieved from http://www.eiu.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/report_dl.asp?issue_id=1784732363mode=pdf Economist Intelligence Unit (2009, July). Country Finance, India. Offshore Banks, pp. 20. Retrieved from http://www.eiu.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/report_dl.asp?issue_id=1784732363mode=pdf Subhash, D.V. (2002, February). Birth of a Universal Bank. Retrieved 2 December, 2009. from http://search.ebscohost.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/login.aspx?direct=truedb=bthAN=7210765site=ehost-live Economist Intelligence Unit (2009, October). India: Banking Sector Risk. Retrieved 28 November 2009, from http://www.eiu.com.eproxy1.lib.hku.hk/index.asp?layout=displayIssueArticleissue_id=1514868936article_id=1664868951 Scribd (2009). A Report on Non-Performing Assets Challenge to the Public Sector Banks, pp. 10. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/8817767/A-REPORT-ON-NPA-IN-BANKING

Child Abuse Prevention Programs Essays -- Child Development

Introduction Child maltreatment is a pervasive problem in the United States, as well as other countries. Child maltreatment touches everyone, from the child to the nurse that cares for the child to the entire community. I have chosen to research this problem because of its far reaching effects on the community and its preventable nature. Research on prevention Research on the prevention of child maltreatment focuses on home visitation programs, abusive head trauma prevention programs, and parent training programs (Krugman, Lane, & Walsh, 2007). Mikton and Butchart (2009) also concluded that there are four promising intervention, which include: home visitation, parent education, abusive head trauma education, and programs that have multi-components. Krugman, Lane, and Walsh (2007) note that it has been hard to test the effectiveness of these programs because many programs have not integrated robust program evaluation or meticulous research methodology. Interestingly, laws banning corporal punishment have been looked at as a prevention technique. Sweden was the first country to ban corporal punishment of child by any caregiver and research found that there was a reduction of infant mortality from child abuse (Krugman, Lane, & Walsh, 2007). However, Roberts states that it was not the ban but the change in the attitude towards corporal punishment that caused the reduction in child abuse (as cited in Mikton & Butchart, 2009). Parent education programs, community child abuse prevention programs, abusive head trauma programs are all promising, however, they have not been studied well. It has been shown that these all decrease the risk factors for child abuse; nonetheless, there is insufficient evidence that these programs ... ... Care Professionals. Pediatrics, 127(4), 962-969. Hien, D., Cohen, L. R., Caldeira, N. A., Flom, P., & Wasserman, G. (2010). Depression and anger as risk factors underlying the relationship between maternal substance involvement and child abuse potential. Child Abuse and Neglect, 34, 105-113. Krugman, S. D., Lane, W. G., & Walsh, C. M. (2007). Update on child abuse prevention. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 19, 711-718. Leventhal, J. M., Martin, K. D., & Gaither, J. R. (2012). Using US Data to Estimate the Incidence of Serious Physical Abuse in Children . Pediatrics, 129, 458-464. Mikton, C., & Butchart, A. (2009). Child maltreatment prevention: a systematic review or reviews. Bulletin of World Health Organization, 87, 353-361. Newton, A. W., & Vandeven, A. M. (2010). Child abuse and neglect: a worldwide concern. Cerrent Opinion Pediatrics, 22, 226-233.

My Autobiography

My Autobiography Name:Jasmin Ariane A. Vallo Sec:IV – Mendelssohn My name is Jasmin Ariane Arciga Vallo. I am 15 years old. I am from Philippines. My birthday is on February 9th, 1997. I have in my family my Younger brother, My Mom & My Dad.. My Father’s Name is Sonny G. Vallo and He is a Musician in Shenzhen, China. And My Mother’s Name is Mary-Ann A. Vallo and she is The one who’s With us. In my life I have bad and good experiences, but a fantastic life overall. These experiences help me to be happy, and I learn from them every day of my life.As a typical Filipina girl, I have brown eyes, brown skin complexion, dark hair and a height about 5’0 tall. I am a persistent kind of person, once I have a dream I will do all my best to achieve it. I started kindergarten when I was 4 years old and I finished it at 6 years old. In the kindergarten, I had very good times. There I made my first good friends in all my life, and I remember them for the games that we played together. Later, I started elementary school when I was 6 years old at Dau Central Elementary School.I remember school very well, because at first I was so scared of my new environment. I made friends there and I liked to study, do my homework, play with my friends, and talk with them about cartoons on television. In fact, I really enjoyed this time in my childhood. I finished elementary school when I was 12 years old. I was ready to go to high school to learn new things and make new friends there. After elementary school, I went to high school at School of the Infant Jesus. It was bigger and had more students than elementary school.There I had more teachers than I had before. My new friends were very friendly and some of them were shy, especially the girls. But I’m with my elementary friend so it is not hard for me to adjust because I’m with a close friend. When I was studying in high school, I went to all the activities there. In particular, I liked m ost the dancing and games activities, because I could spend more time with my friends. I really like to remember these moments from high school because I learned a lot. And about my friends, we are very good friends.I remember these happy moments with them and we laugh about it. And now I’m in 4th year and in a few months I’ll finish my high school. But I’m Still undecided on what Program I’ll take. But ill promise that I could reach my goal by studying hard and not going out with my friends too much. My favorite sport is volleyball. When I don’t have anything to do, I love to surf the net, open my mail, facebook, instagram, & twitter. Then watch comedy, romantic, and horror movies in Tom365. com. I can play some musical instruments like guitar, piano & flute.But I mostly loved to play Guitar. My first guitar was given by my Father, it is color pink and its body is sparkling & shimmering because of its Glitters. And I also like hanging out with my friends. 😀 All my success and trials  are experienced with me. Until I graduate  in my Program that I will going to take. I have many plans in my life, when the time was come  I’ll  find a job and I’ll help my parents. Because I want to repay those hard works and sacrifices that they did just to make us happy and to finish our studies. And that’s the short story about my life My Autobiography It all started nearly fifteen years ago, in a little industry town called Wigan, in a hospital called Billinge, when a 35 yr old woman gave birth to a baby boy called Shaun Graham weighing in at 6lb 4oz. Once born, he had to go straight into an incubator. He then went home to live his life for the next 15 yrs in an area called Gidlow and street Gidlow Lane. Once he got home he lived his life in the same house for 15 years. So here I am now to tell you the journey of me Shaun Graham for the best of my 15 years. You'll get the ups, the downs, the achievements and the disappointments. One of the main parts of my life would be my background. My dad is originally from Scotland a bad area called Grangemouth he lived in a flat with his Mum Dad and brother Ian. His mum died when my Dad was seventeen. That's when my Dad started to hate his Dad. This was because his Dad wouldn't have a head stone on his Mums grave. My Dad then went on holiday to Blackpool where he met my Mum. Her life is a completely different story. Her Dad came from Ireland, Cork. They lived their life in a nice area called Standish Lower Ground. Her Dad died on my Mums 6th birthday and her mum died not so long ago 24/2/2003. Once the two got married on 5/2/1983 and moved to the current area that we still live now Gidlow. It's not the nicest of places but its half decent. They gave Birth to Michelle 1 year on, and then another year on Marie was on her way. They lived together for four years then the best news ever was that I was on the way. All my mum ever wanted for four years was a boy and then that's what she got. People have told me as a child I was quite stupid just running around and running into everything like cupboards and lamp posts. There's one time when my shoes got to big for me as a baby. So my Mum took me to get some more, but the size up was way 2 big for my feet, my Mum looked at them and little did she know it I had pushed two dummies in them. Everyone says I was an active child but also was a very moody one too. It only took me 9 month to learn to walk. As I grew up to a small child I started then to like sports, didn't know the rules just liked playing on my local field, Gidlow field. The more I grew the more active I became and the less moody I got which was described as a miracle by my family. From my families earliest memories of me, to mine. Well this wont be in order of age or importance, just order as it comes to my head. First of all is my first ever football match. It was at Standish strikers a 6-a-side league. I played for Roma and this is where I found out I was going to be a goalkeeper. We lost that game 2-1 but I kept us in the game. The next memory has to be the time when Joseph and I used go to play school, I used always have the bike and Joseph the car we would play in them, all day 7 days a week. When I was in year five at Sacred Heart, I cracked my head open on some metal bars, Mrs Birchall rushed me to A&E, I waited in the waiting area for about 1 hour talking to a man who had fallen off some ladders. We both got called in at the same time, all I needed to have in my head was some glue, which later came off in 4 days. The cut did leave a scar for live though. I've had a few special events. They vary from athletics to funerals. Ill start with the sad news first, it was a school day Friday 28th 2003 the big day for the graham household as it was my Grandmas funeral. We waited and waited for the cars to pull up 2 take us to the church people in black all crying because a popular member of the family had gone. The cars pulled up, mum, dad, Marie, Michelle and I all in the first car looking onto the car which held the coffin surrounded in flowers. In the second and last car were my aunties and cousins, it was all tears as we went past the old folks home my Grandma had spent 7 yrs of her life their. As we approached the church loads of people were awaiting the arrival of the three black cars. Three males and one female carried the coffin to the front of Sacred Heart Church. The small beech oak coffin laid right in front of us speeches from my dad and Michelle. We then went on a long journey up to ST Marie's church where she was buried peacefully with her long missed husband and sister. Now to give you some happy news, it was happy for me anyway. It was 28th June 2003, Greater Manchester Youth Games. I was doing athletics 10 towns and cities competing. Manchester were the favourites, like always, but it seemed to be the Wigan team hadn't read the script. The Wigan squad was looking strong as I led the male team and Becky led the girls. It started off poor with none of our athletes winning in the 100m but after that it was all positive for the Wigan team. My first event was the discus, it was also my weakest. I ended up 8th out of twenty so it weren't a bad start were as my team mate got 6th. After that event we were both rushed to the next event which I was more confident at, the triple jump after three jumps, all beating my personal best, I ended up in a superb position of 3rd out of twenty again so I was over the moon with that. I was then rested for a few hours as my next event was a long time off, I was waiting watching all my mates winning and getting valuable points for us. I was then called over by Coach Claire, she told me to get warmed up with my running partner, Jordan. I was all mentally prepared for this with a crowd of hundreds watching. The loud speakers came on shouting out â€Å"can all 800m competitors please go to the finish line. † I was there within minutes of the call I could not wait. BANG! The gun had fired for the start. I was off, and in my favourite position, setting the pace at the front. 00m gone I was still at the front but something horribly went wrong, my calf muscle was giving in, but I wanted this race so bad I kept going. I was later taken on the 250m mark I was in 2nd. As I ran round the left bend, I could hear the roars from the Wigan camp. It gave me a huge urge to catch up with the leader. 50m go I was catching up to the lead it was going to come down to who had the sprint finish, unlucky for me he beat me by 2m. I was upset at losing the lead but happy I pulled through an injury and gave Wigan the points they needed. After a much needed rest we were all awaiting the results. They mentioned the seven loser, I'm glad to say Wigan wasn't mentioned but Manchester weren't either. 3rd place was then read out â€Å"BURY! † they took their time getting the medals and left Manchester and Wigan athletes in nerves. After all the medal ceremony to bury was over, it was then again the loud speaker â€Å"with 125 points in 2nd place. † Then this long delay bout 10 seconds but seemed hours â€Å"MANCHESTER! † a big roar came from the Wigan team. Once we picked up our medals we were quickly rushed to have our picture taken for the papers. I don't remember much after that just being so pleased to have captained a winning side. There are people who I have to mention, these people I tell you about next are my important people who have helped me all they way in my life. â€Å"It's not the fact you've lost it, it's the fact of what you do to get it back. † That is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given me. It was from one of the most important people in my life, my dad. He's always been there for me normally to help me in sports and so on. Obviously my Mum would be an important part to my life. She always helps me go down the right track and not the wrong. The main reason has to be she gave me my pocket money and still does. Then there's my sister Michelle who always, without fail, gave me money when I had no money at all. Well moving away from family ill have to pick 1 of the only people who know me inside out, and that is Joseph Hull, also known as Hully. I've known him since play school, he knows everything about me almost. When we played for the same football team 2 years ago, I played in net he played up front, we had a perfect connection off kicks etc. My character can change depends what mood people give me in the morning. It takes a bit for me to get moody. At times I like to be on my to realise what I am doing with my life and just sort all my problems out but I do like to be with my mates because they make me laugh smile n just are good mates. I am very energetic. I have been said to have the legs of a gazelle, the reactions of a cat and the height of an Irish lepricorn. I can also be very lazy, if I am in house alone I can just sit on couch and watch television or play on lap top. People don't think I'm a mystery, just think I'm stupid. For my future I've got a few things planned so in case one don't go to plan I've got another one to fall back on. More importantly I plan to go to collage and university maybe Edge Hill, I don't know yet. When I'm older I want to earn a living by coaching or P. E teacher maybe outside of Wigan, due to people have been telling me its better pay. When I retire im hoping to have a holiday home but instead of going to the future ill let the future come to me. That's been the main points in my life for the past 15 years, fair boring weren't it, I hope you enjoyed it. My Autobiography It all started nearly fifteen years ago, in a little industry town called Wigan, in a hospital called Billinge, when a 35 yr old woman gave birth to a baby boy called Shaun Graham weighing in at 6lb 4oz. Once born, he had to go straight into an incubator. He then went home to live his life for the next 15 yrs in an area called Gidlow and street Gidlow Lane. Once he got home he lived his life in the same house for 15 years. So here I am now to tell you the journey of me Shaun Graham for the best of my 15 years. You'll get the ups, the downs, the achievements and the disappointments. One of the main parts of my life would be my background. My dad is originally from Scotland a bad area called Grangemouth he lived in a flat with his Mum Dad and brother Ian. His mum died when my Dad was seventeen. That's when my Dad started to hate his Dad. This was because his Dad wouldn't have a head stone on his Mums grave. My Dad then went on holiday to Blackpool where he met my Mum. Her life is a completely different story. Her Dad came from Ireland, Cork. They lived their life in a nice area called Standish Lower Ground. Her Dad died on my Mums 6th birthday and her mum died not so long ago 24/2/2003. Once the two got married on 5/2/1983 and moved to the current area that we still live now Gidlow. It's not the nicest of places but its half decent. They gave Birth to Michelle 1 year on, and then another year on Marie was on her way. They lived together for four years then the best news ever was that I was on the way. All my mum ever wanted for four years was a boy and then that's what she got. People have told me as a child I was quite stupid just running around and running into everything like cupboards and lamp posts. There's one time when my shoes got to big for me as a baby. So my Mum took me to get some more, but the size up was way 2 big for my feet, my Mum looked at them and little did she know it I had pushed two dummies in them. Everyone says I was an active child but also was a very moody one too. It only took me 9 month to learn to walk. As I grew up to a small child I started then to like sports, didn't know the rules just liked playing on my local field, Gidlow field. The more I grew the more active I became and the less moody I got which was described as a miracle by my family. From my families earliest memories of me, to mine. Well this wont be in order of age or importance, just order as it comes to my head. First of all is my first ever football match. It was at Standish strikers a 6-a-side league. I played for Roma and this is where I found out I was going to be a goalkeeper. We lost that game 2-1 but I kept us in the game. The next memory has to be the time when Joseph and I used go to play school, I used always have the bike and Joseph the car we would play in them, all day 7 days a week. When I was in year five at Sacred Heart, I cracked my head open on some metal bars, Mrs Birchall rushed me to A&E, I waited in the waiting area for about 1 hour talking to a man who had fallen off some ladders. We both got called in at the same time, all I needed to have in my head was some glue, which later came off in 4 days. The cut did leave a scar for live though. I've had a few special events. They vary from athletics to funerals. Ill start with the sad news first, it was a school day Friday 28th 2003 the big day for the graham household as it was my Grandmas funeral. We waited and waited for the cars to pull up 2 take us to the church people in black all crying because a popular member of the family had gone. The cars pulled up, mum, dad, Marie, Michelle and I all in the first car looking onto the car which held the coffin surrounded in flowers. In the second and last car were my aunties and cousins, it was all tears as we went past the old folks home my Grandma had spent 7 yrs of her life their. As we approached the church loads of people were awaiting the arrival of the three black cars. Three males and one female carried the coffin to the front of Sacred Heart Church. The small beech oak coffin laid right in front of us speeches from my dad and Michelle. We then went on a long journey up to ST Marie's church where she was buried peacefully with her long missed husband and sister. Now to give you some happy news, it was happy for me anyway. It was 28th June 2003, Greater Manchester Youth Games. I was doing athletics 10 towns and cities competing. Manchester were the favourites, like always, but it seemed to be the Wigan team hadn't read the script. The Wigan squad was looking strong as I led the male team and Becky led the girls. It started off poor with none of our athletes winning in the 100m but after that it was all positive for the Wigan team. My first event was the discus, it was also my weakest. I ended up 8th out of twenty so it weren't a bad start were as my team mate got 6th. After that event we were both rushed to the next event which I was more confident at, the triple jump after three jumps, all beating my personal best, I ended up in a superb position of 3rd out of twenty again so I was over the moon with that. I was then rested for a few hours as my next event was a long time off, I was waiting watching all my mates winning and getting valuable points for us. I was then called over by Coach Claire, she told me to get warmed up with my running partner, Jordan. I was all mentally prepared for this with a crowd of hundreds watching. The loud speakers came on shouting out â€Å"can all 800m competitors please go to the finish line. † I was there within minutes of the call I could not wait. BANG! The gun had fired for the start. I was off, and in my favourite position, setting the pace at the front. 00m gone I was still at the front but something horribly went wrong, my calf muscle was giving in, but I wanted this race so bad I kept going. I was later taken on the 250m mark I was in 2nd. As I ran round the left bend, I could hear the roars from the Wigan camp. It gave me a huge urge to catch up with the leader. 50m go I was catching up to the lead it was going to come down to who had the sprint finish, unlucky for me he beat me by 2m. I was upset at losing the lead but happy I pulled through an injury and gave Wigan the points they needed. After a much needed rest we were all awaiting the results. They mentioned the seven loser, I'm glad to say Wigan wasn't mentioned but Manchester weren't either. 3rd place was then read out â€Å"BURY! † they took their time getting the medals and left Manchester and Wigan athletes in nerves. After all the medal ceremony to bury was over, it was then again the loud speaker â€Å"with 125 points in 2nd place. † Then this long delay bout 10 seconds but seemed hours â€Å"MANCHESTER! † a big roar came from the Wigan team. Once we picked up our medals we were quickly rushed to have our picture taken for the papers. I don't remember much after that just being so pleased to have captained a winning side. There are people who I have to mention, these people I tell you about next are my important people who have helped me all they way in my life. â€Å"It's not the fact you've lost it, it's the fact of what you do to get it back. † That is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given me. It was from one of the most important people in my life, my dad. He's always been there for me normally to help me in sports and so on. Obviously my Mum would be an important part to my life. She always helps me go down the right track and not the wrong. The main reason has to be she gave me my pocket money and still does. Then there's my sister Michelle who always, without fail, gave me money when I had no money at all. Well moving away from family ill have to pick 1 of the only people who know me inside out, and that is Joseph Hull, also known as Hully. I've known him since play school, he knows everything about me almost. When we played for the same football team 2 years ago, I played in net he played up front, we had a perfect connection off kicks etc. My character can change depends what mood people give me in the morning. It takes a bit for me to get moody. At times I like to be on my to realise what I am doing with my life and just sort all my problems out but I do like to be with my mates because they make me laugh smile n just are good mates. I am very energetic. I have been said to have the legs of a gazelle, the reactions of a cat and the height of an Irish lepricorn. I can also be very lazy, if I am in house alone I can just sit on couch and watch television or play on lap top. People don't think I'm a mystery, just think I'm stupid. For my future I've got a few things planned so in case one don't go to plan I've got another one to fall back on. More importantly I plan to go to collage and university maybe Edge Hill, I don't know yet. When I'm older I want to earn a living by coaching or P. E teacher maybe outside of Wigan, due to people have been telling me its better pay. When I retire im hoping to have a holiday home but instead of going to the future ill let the future come to me. That's been the main points in my life for the past 15 years, fair boring weren't it, I hope you enjoyed it.