Essay On Self Esteem - 998 Words

Kindergarten through fifth grade was quite a journey for myself and my mom due to all the information and experiences I was accumulating. I began kindergarten at the age of five, and this being my first year of learning really tested my memory. Throughout the year so much information was being thrown towards me. From letters and numbers to colors and shapes, I realized I was expected to memorize these concepts and know them. â€Å"Children realize they need to remember some things, and they try to do so, usually via rehearsal (repeating an item again and again).† (Based on Meadows, 2006) during kindergarten I mainly remembering going home and repeating things I was expected to know into the mirror. During first grade I believe I developed†¦show more content†¦Our teachers were focused on expanding our knowledge base or â€Å"a broad body of knowledge in a particular subject† (Woolley Ghossainy, 2013) so the scores on our tests would be much higher. They tried motivating us to want to focus on our work by letting us know that if we were to not pass, we would repeat the third grade all over again. I definitely didn’t want to repeat the third grade, so I started concentrating on everything even more than I did before. Where I grew up, elementary school was only kindergarten through fourth grade, and fifth graders were all alone on their own campus. So during my fourth grade year my main focus just revolved around being in a new environment the upcoming year. For some strange reason to me, moving schools seemed as if I was going away to college. I’ve always had a maid at my house always doing everything for me, from my laundry and cleaning my room to preparing and cutting my food. After finding out about a different campus I acquired an â€Å"increasing ability to regulate themselves, to take responsibility, and to exercise self-control† (Hudson Ripke, 2006,p. 9). I talked to my mom about doing things on my own and she continued to insist I wouldn’t last long due to the way I was raised, but I kept nagging her on it and finally she let me try to out. After about a week I figured out my mom was absolutely correct. I was trying to force myself to do things that I hadShow MoreRel ated Self-Esteem Essay1122 Words   |  5 Pagesknown as: self-presentation. A great deal of human behaviour is, in part, determined or constrained by people’s concerns with others’ impressions and evaluations of them. Because all human beings are different from one another, the thought process used which results in the self-presentation of a person will also differ from person to person. In this case the potential factor effecting the self-presentation of an individual is that of the self-esteem of the individual. Self–esteem being: â€Å" AnRead MoreSelf Esteem Essay718 Words   |  3 PagesCan self-esteem really engender success, or does it induce the well-being of individuals? By success, I mean academic achievement and a college degree. Self-esteem is crucial to the well-being and happiness of individuals. However, too much self-esteem makes people become narcissistic, which is destructive and superfluous to becoming successful. Therefore, self-esteem cannot engender success, which is corroborated with the self-esteem movement, but it can cause the well-being of individuals. TheRead MoreSelf Esteem Essay798 Words   |  4 PagesIts your self-esteem! Self Esteem is defined as confidence in your own merit as an individual. Our self esteem is instilled in us during our youth. There are two types of self esteem. There is high self esteem which is when you feel good about yourself, and then there is low self esteem which is when you feel bad about yourself. Being constantly criticized by family, friends, and society tends to slowly strip us of our feelings of self worth. Our low self esteem strips us of our self confidenceRead MoreSelf Esteem Essay978 Words   |  4 PagesSelf-esteem is â€Å"the sense of underpinning self-values, self-acceptance, and self-love, thought to be a powerful buffer against perceived threats† (Seaward, 2015). Self-esteem is how we feel about and view ourselves. When someone puts us down, treats us badly, or gives us compliments and loves us that is what builds or brings down our self-esteem. Self-esteem is brought on by o ur feelings, thoughts, actions, and memories (Seaward, 2015). Self-esteem plays a big role with stress. If a person is broughtRead MoreSelf Esteem Essay748 Words   |  3 Pages Low Self Esteem is a very typical thing nowadays with people criticizing each other due to social media. Self-esteem is an important and valuable building block in having a prosperous life. Having low self-esteem can lead up to depression and to not wanting to do anything, you want to give up on life. Putting other people down will hurt their feelings which in then will make them start to think that they are not valuable enough. Having high or even a medium amount of self-esteem will make yourRead MoreSelf Esteem Essay702 Words   |  3 PagesIs too much Self-Esteem bad? Self-Esteem has existed since forever, however, over the years people have seen some inappropriate behaviors on adults than come since their childhood. In the article â€Å"Teaching kids Self-Esteem† by Love Our Children USA, they write â€Å"Good self-esteem is essential to a childs development. It’s the foundation of everything they do, everything they are--it’s the foundation of their future!† Of course helping children build their Self-Esteem is a great push for them toRead MoreSelf Esteem Essay1462 Words   |  6 Pagesone of the leading cause of low self-esteem ,we read about young adult going through teen issues such as bullying , fighting and many more other issues but in 2017 things have changed .Many teenagers are obsessed with social media sites such as Facebook, Snap chat, or even Instagram . these sites were either design for reconnection with lost family or friends to showing people bit a piece what you do on a day to day basis but now that’s not the case. Self -esteem is when an individual has confidenceRead MoreSelf- Esteem Essays1137 Words   |  5 PagesScenario Self Esteem There are many similarities and differences to self-concept, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Self-concept is the mental image or perception that one has of oneself. Self-esteem is the experience of feeling competent to cope with the basic challenges in life and of being worthy of happiness. Then self-efficacy is confidence in your ability to carry out a specific task in contrast to generalized self-confidence. The only person that can feel self-conceptRead MoreEssay On Self Esteem1280 Words   |  6 Pages Self-esteem is your assessment of your worth, value, skills, abilities, talents and appearance. Communication can enhance your self-esteem because when you know how to communicate effectively, you are able to express yourself in a clear and precise manner, which in turn, would boost your self-esteem. When you can convey positive thoughts or gestures, or have them conveyed to you, it’s no doubt a good feeling. When I feel that I’m communicating clearly and effectively, my confidence and self-perceptionRead MoreSelf Esteem Essay744 Words   |  3 Pages Low Self Esteem is a very common thing now a days with people criticizing each other due to social media. Self-esteem is an important and valuable building block in having a successful life. Having low self-esteem can lead up to depression and to not wanting to do anything, you want to give up on life. Putting other people down will hurt their feelings which then will make them start to think that they are not good enough. Having high or even a medium amount of self-esteem will make your life

Is Education A Good Thing - 1358 Words

Is education in our society today well rounded enough to prepare students for a successful future for themselves? â€Å"It’s time to educate the whole person, not just follow regulations and exam pathways† (Robinson.) We can all agree that having an education is a good thing, but can we really say that formal education, is really allowing a student to achieve their full potential? The system works great for information seekers, and it doesn’t really acknowledge the people who are creative, and the out of the box thinkers. Everyone is different; therefore not everyone is going to excel in an environment where it is based on memorization. Formal education restrains our minds and spirits rather than set them free because it’s industrialized, it†¦show more content†¦We’re discouraged to think outside of the box, and be creative. Instead of discouraging the student own individuality, why don’t they instead allow the student to take the ti me to figure it out him or herself, and if they get it wrong, let them try it again until they get it right. How many times in your life have you had people tell you that you shouldn’t do something, or tell you that something wasn’t a good idea? You hear it, but it’s when you do it yourself, and learn from it that you really take away the lesson that is to be taught. The facts that we have to memorize now could be completely irrelevant in five or more years from now. â€Å"The current K-12 system isn t preparing students for today s needs. An example of the gap in our education system is found in the shortage of graduates from the programs that meet the insatiable demands of our knowledge economy.† (Baker.) In schools is information all that really matters? The educational system today is discouraging students from reaching their full potential of actually learning. They do this by making them conform to their system, which is restraining them to think ou tside of the box and awaken their minds. Formal education values certain subjects over others. You won’t find an education system that values art and dance, the same way that they do, English and math. No matter where you go in the world, you will find that every educational system holds math, language, and science at the top.

Google Inc Swot Analysis Free Essays

Google Inc. : SWOT analysis Introduction: Google was started as a research project by two Stanford PhD students named Sergey Brin and Larry page. They registered the domain name google. We will write a custom essay sample on Google Inc: Swot Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now com in the year 1997 and in September 1998, it became a privately owned incorporate Google Inc. With its extensive research on search algorithms and use of state of the art technology, Google successfully established its brand name in internet search engines market. By the year 2004, Google came up covering over 75% of US web search market. Though Google is a dominating player in internet searching market, it has to compete with its rivals in this field where there is no long time entry barrier. Google can expand / change its business model to survive in this best search engine race. SWOT Analysis:* Strengths:* †¢ Google – Already number one search engine has established a brand name, in which its users trust. It’s dependable, reliable and fast. †¢ Google needs very little end user marketing as the name itself is getting word by mouth publicity. Google has a simple interface and it gives comprehensive results without confusing its users. †¢ Google has low operation cost as it uses low cost UNIX web servers for indexing millions of web pages across internet. †¢ Google has hired PhDs who are continuously working hard in order to enhance search algorithms and make searching faster, efficient and relevant. †¢ By 2003, Google has already powered over 75% of the 300 million searches cond ucted daily in the U. S. and 300 million plus outside the U. S. Google provides an interface to 88 languages to make it comfortable to search for its users in different countries. †¢ Google uses state of the art search technology to index pages regularly in order to give most updated results to its users. †¢ Google also weights the votes and ranks web pages with its PageRank technology to give its user access to most important pages first. †¢ Google is not biased towards advertisers. It clearly separates relevant advertisements and actual results by giving â€Å"Sponsored Links† tag to sponsored results when user searches to get information with some keyword. Moreover, it also ranks sponsored links to keep most relevant sponsored links on the top. †¢ Google offers localized search called â€Å"search by location† where users can get results showing vendors, products and services nearby their areas. †¢ Google also has a range of innovative additional services like Images, Groups, Directory, and News. Google didn’t complicate its website by making itself a portal; rather it kept tabs for these services on its homepage so users can easily navigate and that also keeps the website as simple as it was earlier. Google has also come up with solutions for wireless handheld devices, personalized toolbars, catalogues which are added essence strengths. †¢ Google quickly routes the user to the webpage and doesn’t linger for ad revenue. *Weaknesses:* †¢ Many spammers manipulate Google’s ranking technology by creating dummy sites with thousands of links to pages that they wanted Google to rank highly. â₠¬ ¢ Google’s link based ranking did not employ actual traffic analysis. Google’s Cost Per Click advertising charging and ranking policy is confusing and makes it difficult for marketers to predict where their ads would be positioned and how much they would cost. †¢ Google’s contextual advertising was perceived by marketers to be less effective in generating sales because visitors to web pages showing editorial content were less likely than searchers to be ready to buy. †¢ Contextual search algorithms are not 100% perfect and many times make mistakes. Google’s localized search algorithms too sometimes result in errors due to automated indexing. †¢ Google’s business model is complex, depending upon both google. com and mass market portals for its revenue. †¢ Although Google is a dominating player among search engine websites, only 50% to 65% of web search queries are answered accurately by it. †¢ Google doesn’t have â €Å"sticky† like Yahoo! And MSN have which can attract users. †¢ Google doesn’t have highly personalized search by which it could charge users with switching cost if they decide to leave Google’s services. How to cite Google Inc: Swot Analysis, Papers

Ethical Point of View Click to Get Free Solution with Examples

Question: Define in your own words what "the ethical point of view" means. Discuss the question/solutions/answers based on your personal experience and by citing additional resources found online or in other readings that support your position. Providing the link of the course is fine. Answer: Meaning of Ethical Point of View Ethical point of view primarily talks about virtues of the character rather than merely principles. Many philosophers in the last few decades have advocated it and so did Aristotle. Business ethicists were urged by Solomon to consider virtue from a serious point of view. They have enough reasons to hold discussions on the character as a whole apart from virtue. One may become an improved manager after having a deeper understanding of character from moral perspective. It is okay if one is expecting rewards for being good. However, it shouldnt give rise to the confusion to be good or not. There is no logic in persuading people to do good by talking about the rewards that could follow. One should have the inner realisation to be good based on the definition of the term. Good behaviour could be rewarding at times which itself gives the motivation. However, ethical point of view may be not the topic of discussion if it were primarily in ones interest to be good all the time. It is quite simple to act selfishly and not care about obligations. Ethics are not always coinciding with self interest and thats the reason people invented them (Asec 1998). Ethics differ from self interest but business executives like to be assured that both of them are similar. A majority would like to believe that it is possible to achieve the finer things by being good. It signifies that by being ethical, one could be successful in any business venture. It cannot be denied that good deeds will lead to finer achievements in future. A company would like to do things from an ethical point of view to develop a solid reputation. It more often gives a better chance to have financial rewards in the long term. However, a good behaviour shouldnt be measured in terms of the following tangible rewards. There are two different categories of people. One of them will behave ethically for their own convenience and purpose. As soon as the rewards and incentives change, they are likely to go astray. The other category of people will behave ethically irrespective of situation and circumstances. Confusions may cloud the mind while understanding ethical point of view. To consider ethics for deriving motivation is like misunderstanding what they represent. It would be like learning about finance to find a way of making as much money as possible. The subject of finance never teaches the methods to get richer. It only shows the right direction to the reader. This is quite similar with the ethics. It teaches the learner to be good assuming that he or she wants to stay good. One should know that it is possible to achieve the finer things by being good. It debates that ethical people go with an elevated risk of failure in a business venture. In terms of business, the managers aim to do something worthwhile with their lives and explore the possibilities to accomplish it through business. Here, business success and profit is seen as a way to achieve greater things (Econ 2001). References Asec 1998, The role of character in business, accessed on 14th January 2015. Econ 2001, Processes and Consequences in Business Ethical Dilemmas: The Oil Industry and Climate Change, accessed on 14th January 2015.

The Murderous Miracle Sherlock Homes - Creative Story Essays

The Murderous Miracle: Sherlock Homes - Creative Story The Murderous Miracle A Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Style Mini-Mystery I awakened from my morning slumber and groggily entered the foyer to find Holmes sitting in his chair in a speculative pose while thoughtfully smoking on one of his many pipes. "Good Morning Holmes!, " I said in one of my Cheeriest tones, which wasn't very impressive, due to the fact I am not a morning person "And what wakes you up so early this fine morning?" "Early?" Holmes replied "Why it's nearly noontime, it's you who have been sleeping in! And making an awful racket with that dreadful snoring of yours!" I was struck by a paroxysm of coughing as Holmes' smoke entered my lungs, "Noontime? Nonsense, That pipe must be doing more damage than I thought! It is a tad early for that kind of thing anyway!" said I, a bit less cheerier than before due to Holmes' mindless banter. He only smiled and said "See for yourself,my good man, look through the window onto the common, and tell me what you see..." I did as he told, clearing my eyes, and to my shock I saw the townspeople all about in their daily hustle and bustle which was common to northern London preceding teatime. "Well, it appears you are right! People are at work, conducting their business and the like. I'm awfully sorry, I'm just rather irritable in the morning." "Quite alright my friend, it's understandable, tell me, what else do you see at the window?" Holmes calmly stated. "Well, Nothing out of the ordinary, as I said before, just..wait! There is a crowd of people around a car right next to our doorstep!" I exclaimed. " Is the man a shady character with a dark beard and an umbrella on his shoulder?" Holmes asked. "Why Yes! That describes him perfectly! Who is he and how do you know him?" I asked. "Well,that happens to be Sir Reginald Chaucer of Pottingshire, and also one of the most wealthy men in all of England." said he. "So? What importance is he to us? And why does he happen to be on our doorstep?" I voiced. "He happens to be suspected of the murder of one Friedrich Nietzche because of financial reasons, and is presumably our newest client." Sir Chaucer was a very strange man, very eccentric, those were the first two thoughts to enter my mind, even as he was climbing the stairs to the designated "meeting room". I thought this, not because he was rich, for I do not like to stereotype a man that way, but as he progressed up the stairs occasionally he would pause, mutter something to himself, and go on. Those were not the doings of a sane man. But for every bit that he was strange, I was ten times more intrigued by this man, and in wondering why he was here had piqued my curiosity to the highest mark. But as he came through the door I tried my best to disguise the inquisitive look upon my countenance and took a seat. "Welcome!" my friend called "I assume that you are Sir Reginald Chaucer of Pottingshire?" "Of course I am! Who else would I be? I do hope I haven't come to a drunken sod and not an private detective. At any rate, I don't want to speak here at all, it's too much peasantry for my taste, and I fear I could not stay here long without quickly becoming nauseous." Sir Reginald, who obviously had no need for formal introductions, replied. "Therefore," he continued, cutting off a reply from Holmes "you will come with me to my estate in Pottingshire whether or whether not it pleases you to do so." "But, kind Sir," I interjected "Most of our best work is conceived right here, and you might be interrupting the detective process!" "I did not pay you for your own comfort, but for mine! And if you are the sort of detectives who rely on a certain room for your brain power, I think I'll be looking somewhere else!" Sir Reginald complained. "Don't worry good man," my friend said "It's just that Dr. Watson here is a bit bold for his own good, and I can assure you that such extensive methods need not be taken," And as he saw the look of astonishment on my face he cast a discreet wink my way. "If only," Holmes

Several Grinding Mill Phenomenons of Ball Mills Essays

Several Grinding Mill Phenomenons of Ball Mills Essays Several Grinding Mill Phenomenons of Ball Mills Essay Several Grinding Mill Phenomenons of Ball Mills Essay Wet ball mill is grinding equipment production, one of the rolling mill is a cylinder with a special support structure in accordance with the new concept design of a new mill. Let solves the system under harsh environmental conditions and prolonged sealing problems arising from the work cylinder traverse problem. Now, come to you to talk about the wet ball mill installation process sequence, base unit installation, we hope that this knowledge a help: Understanding the detection of ball mill load is significant. Grinding Jobs appear package ball, the grinding of the material and the gas temperature is high, end mill sieve take water vapor, the product has a thin sheet materials, while the large tile mill outlet temperature is high, the grinding of cement tacky. So pack the ball mill produces grinding phenomenon with full, what does? L . Into the grinding material is too dry, too little water, fine powders prone to static electricity and adhere to the surface grinding. 2. Duct blockage, poor ventilation, the eat can not be discharged in the mill, the mill will lead to overheating and package materials ball. . Into the grinding material temperature is too high, or if the material is too long residence time in the mill, or poor ventilation, the temperature Inside the mill is too high, generating static electricity, so fine powders adsorbed on the surface of the grinding balls causes packet. Most customers in the production process for the mill appeared packages balls and full grinding phenomena do not know, a problem I o not know in what way the rescue, resulting In ball mill not normal production operations.

Dissertation2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Dissertation2 - Essay Example A similar pattern of social influence was also reported by those who were identified as in-group members and as protà ©gà ©s. In-group members and mentored individuals reported greater use of expert and referent power than out-group members and non-mentored people. Further, out-group members and non-mentored individuals both reported a greater use of coercive power than did in-group members and protà ©gà ©s. Research interest in mentor/protà ©gà © relationships developed during the 1980s. It arose largely without articulated conceptual links to other topics in social/organizational psychology such as leadership, social influence, pro-social behavior, or social exchange. The first studies of this developmental relationship were descriptive and exploratory, such as Krams early research (2003) which identified two functions that mentors provide their protà ©gà ©s: career and psychosocial. More recent research (Noe, 1998a, 458) has examined the process and outcome of formal assigned mentor-protà ©gà © pairings and, in particular, the difference in outcomes between formal and naturally developing informal mentoring relationships (Chao, Walz, & Gardner, 2002, 619). Noe (1998b, 68) reviewed work on mentoring as it pertains to womens career development. He recommended clarifying the nature of the mentoring construct, suggesting several research questions about the development and effectiveness of these relationships. Noe also stated that "the use of leader-member exchange theory may further understanding of the dynamics involved in the formation of mentorships" (p. 73). Consistent with Noes recommendations, the present study was designed to investigate the convergence of mentoring relationships with another construct in social/organizational psychology: high-quality leader-member exchange (LMX). To explore the convergence of LMX and mentoring, we propose that

Nigel Slacks transformation process model Essay

Nigel Slacks transformation process model - Essay Example However, this was only the first Dimension of the whole project. In fact, a second Dimension follows in which should answer the following question: what the relevant technology could offer to the transformation of resources in the particular firm. More specifically, the business process technology would improve the firm’s resources mainly offering a framework for the increase of their productivity. If such a target could not be achieved by the above procedure then the firm should avoid the transformation of its processes by first instance. On the other hand, the value of the business process technology for the completion of the business transformation process would be examined thoroughly before the implementation of the relevant technology. Finally, the role of business process technology in the whole procession would be evaluated in terms of its importance for the achievement of the targets set by the firm attempting the transformation of its processes.The effectiveness of th e relevant procedure was examined by Slack et al. (2005) with a specific reference to five firms: a fashion clothing retailer, a retail bank, a full-service airline industry, a food company and a company operating in the area of laboratory services. Their research led to the following results: a) the market performance opportunities associated with BPT (business process technology) are far broader than the traditional narrow focus on cost reduction; as a result, any evaluation of BPT must reflect its impact.

MIH 521 Health Program Evaluation (Mod 2 SLP) Essay

MIH 521 Health Program Evaluation (Mod 2 SLP) - Essay Example In this case the evaluation would be done of FitKids which is a program to keep kids healthier through activity. If we do not evaluate the programs we set up, we do not know how well they are doing and what their results are (attc-ne.org). The plan to evaluate according to Harvard Medical School plans(2009) includes the following things. Identify with precision what it is that the specific program has as a purpose and in the case of FitKids, the reason is to have healthier more active kids which prevents chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and orthopedic diseases. It is important to know whether the program has the potential to meet its goals and the terminology that is used in the evaluation study must be explained up front to assure a thorough understanding of the results. Threats to validity are always a problem in any kind of research but it is particularly so in an evaluation study. There are according to the Harvard School plan (2009) seven threats that must be watched for. Those are a history of events happening during the study that were not planned to occur. There is a maturation problem that can occur when the passage of time changes the study and one does not realize or plan for that as well as the fact that a testing issue could happen. Testing issues usually happen when there is bias in the choice of controls though, which is not likely to happen in this particular evaluation.

The Importance And Significance Of Self Awareness Social Work Essay

The Importance And Significance Of Self Awareness Social Work Essay Self awareness, according to Wong (2003), means recognition of our personality, strengths and weaknesses and likes and dislikes. As a social worker, self awareness is an essential element to prepare oneself to encounter the clients personal matter, their attitudes, thoughts, etc. The essay is going to discuss the importance and significance of self awareness. Then talk about what I have learnt about myself, in terms of my personalities, attitudes, strengths, limitations and how my past experiences affect me. Finally correlate how self awareness can help my professional development as a social worker. According to Rothman (1999), everyone has its own attitudes or viewpoints towards something. Our thoughts and values are shaped during the time of infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood. These thinking may be based on our own experiences, education received or society influences. It is clear that our past experiences, social norms, values from the others, characteristics, prejudices or stereotypes shape Knowing how my past experiences influence my own values helps me to be more aware of my own self. Having an uncle who committed suicide that made my family, especially my grandmother, sad and miserable, I personally hate people who have the intention to end up their lives. However, this hatred may make me unable to make the most appropriate decision when a client who has the will to commit suicide seeks help from me. Moreover, as suggested by Biestek (1961), the relationship between the social worker and the client has been called the soul of casework. It may be hard for me to develop appropriate relationship with the client. It is possible that I will have uncontrolled emotional involvement and judgmental attitudes towards the client. Without self awareness and knowing what experiences shape my thoughts, I will experience difficulty in providing sensitive and skillful services to the clients. I may also unknowingly reject the client and avoid talking too much about death unconscious ly. However, by knowing what experiences are affecting my values and thoughts, Rothman (1999) suggested that it assists the worker to work with clients, and to control and minimize the influences of personal attitudes and beliefs that may be harmful and prejudicial toward clients. Prejudices, biases and stereotypes may be great barriers on my professional development. It is common that when come to minorities such as prostitutes, homosexuals or the street sleepers, people may regard their behaviors as unethical. It may due to their personal values, cultural, religious and other beliefs which people take for granted to adopt when facing these issues. I also have prejudices and stereotypes on them and they may be expressed in conversations, acts or behaviours since they are hidden in the subconscious as suggested by Rothman (1999). I may unknowingly have words that harm them and make them defensive or not trust in me. Thus making it hard to develop good relationship with the client and hard to have intervention processes. For example, I have been exposed to a strong heterosexual bias and may incorporate some homophobic reactions such as discomfort or hatred of homosexual people. Without self-awareness and knowledge, I may not be able to provide skillful services to gay or lesbian clients. If a worker has religious belief, he or she may even have a strong belief that homosexuality is a sin. According to Sheafor and Morales (2007), one of the competences required for social work practice is the capacity to engage in ethnic-, gender- and age-sensitive practice. In order to achieve this, it is essential for a worker to find ways and methods to separate their personal belief system from their professional values, ethics and roles. Knowing my strengths and weaknesses also helps me with my professional development. I am glad and patient to listen to others. At the same time, I am also empathetic to others experiences and difficulties. It makes the clients feel being respected and thus it is easier to develop a proper client-worker relationship. It is of utmost importance that the client trust you Reflecting on our own experiences and developmental stages helps when working with clients. For example, I was shy and not willing to express my care towards others in my childhood. And I would have no opportunity to show my love to my grandmother who died years ago. The losses in my life make me re-think the way I used to be and strive for a change, that is, be more outgoing and caring to others. I can thus draw on my personal experience when working with young people and guide them in the changing process. However, it also makes me consider my limitations, that is, when working with elderly clients. I can relate my experience that is similar to a teenagers, however, it is impossible for me to have certain difficulties faced by elderly clients such as the aging process. As suggested by Berman-Rossi(2001), a social worker thus must develop aging relevant knowledge, self awareness, sensitivity and skill. Knowledge about aging demographics, age-related changes and developmental tasks i s essential. Although there are limitations to my service provided, there are ways to minimize the inadequacy. Increased openness to other ways of thinking My family is a blissful one, sometimes having some conflicts but still harmonious on the whole. I once thought that it is normal to have the kind of family like mine, and at least most of the families are alike. However, it is wrong as there are diversities in family structure. Some families are single-parented, while some may have huge communication problems among family members or having family members that are drug addicts that greatly affects the family. Sharing own feelings and thoughts among a group of peers helps to make up ones own viewpoint towards the population. By listening and sharing, one can know more about the peers attitudes on the issue, to examine their own attitudes and to exchange opinions in an overview. One can also have a broader view on an issue and Social workers must confront their own prejudices and stereotypes about minorities. Making myself known about losses in my own life helps me to understand what past experiences or feelings are affecting my own values and thoughts today.

Rates Of Reaction :: Papers

Rates Of Reaction Aim: To find out the effect of acid concentration in dilute hydrochloric acid and magnesium ribbon, and how much hydrogen gas is given off. Prediction: I predict that as the concentration of the hydrochloric acid increases the time taken for magnesium ribbon to dissolve will decrease. Apparatus: Saturated test tube Rubber bung Bowl water Magnesium ribbon Concentrated hydrochloric acid Plastic tube Stopwatch Conical flask Measuring cylinder The concentration of the acid is going to be my only variable. It will vary the time taken for the magnesium ribbon to dissolve into the acid. Other things that I will be using are not going to be varied these are volume of hydrochloric acid and magnesium ribbon. The magnesium ribbon dissolves into the hydrochloric acid because then it collides with the particles inside the hydrochloric acid. Activation energy is minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to take place. For each of the concentrations I use the activation energy will be different. If the activation energy is high then only a small amount of particles will have enough energy to react but if the activation energy is low then a lot more particles can react. The reaction will also be exothermic because it will be giving off heat and hydrogen gas. A change in concentration is a change in the number of particles in a volume. If we increase the volume the particles will collide more because they are crowded. Factors: The factors that could affect the rate of reaction are as follows: Concentration of Acid This could affect the rate of reaction because the higher that concentration of the acid the more particles there are so there is more collision per second. Temperature: If the starting temperature of the acid is different each time then the speed at which the atoms will collide will increase or decrease depending on what the temperature is.

3.03 Two Idealists: Double Feature

Part I. Ralph Waldo Emerson In an essay published in 1841, Emerson addressed one of the central characteristics of the American sensibility: individualism. Before you read, take a moment to think about the term â€Å"self-reliance† and what it means to you as a teenager and a student. As you read, determine what â€Å"self-reliance† meant to Emerson and how your meaning and his overlap. †¢ Read â€Å"Self Reliance. † †¢ Open and complete the questions on the Emerson Questions page. †¢ Then, continue to Part II.Part II Henry David Thoreau â€Å"Civil Disobedience† was inspired by a night in jail, which Thoreau had to serve for not paying his poll tax. His refusal to pay a tax to the state stemmed from his opposition to slavery. The state supported it, and to show his disdain towards the state's position, he refused to pay this tax. Some people have suggested the essay shows that Thoreau merely wanted to withdraw from life and all its hard que stions. Others see Thoreau's position as the only one he could take to justify his stand.Upon completion of this assignment, Part II, you will have to decide for yourself how this essay affects you. †¢ Read â€Å"Civil Disobedience. † †¢ Write a letter to the editor either in support of, or in opposition to this statement from the excerpt above, â€Å"That government is best which governs not at all. † – Thoreau †¢ Before you begin writing, continue to the Report page, where you will receive further instruction on how to formulate this letter. †¢ You will be adding this letter (Part II) to your Part I assignment to submit as your assessment for this lesson

Funny Fathers Day Quotes to Make Dad Smile

Funny Father's Day Quotes to Make Dad Smile We celebrate Fathers Day to honor our fathers. Laughter is an excellent gift. Get your father to laugh with one of these chuckle-worthy funny Fathers Day quotes: Bob Monkhouse My father only hit me once - but he used a Volvo. Robert Orben Life was a lot simpler when what we honored was father and mother rather than all major credit cards. Ann Richards I have always had the feeling I could do anything, and my dad told me I could. I was in college before I found out he might be wrong. Jay Leno A lot of controversy over this possible invasion of Iraq. In fact, Nelson Mandela was so upset, he called Bushs dad. How embarrassing, when world leaders start calling your father. Barbara Kingsolver It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didnt. Jimmy Piersall Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then, fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitchers mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again. Bertrand Russell The place of the father in the modern suburban family is a very small one, particularly if he plays golf. Brad Pitt Man, if I can get a burp out of that little thing I feel such a sense of accomplishment. Ernest Hemingway To be a successful father theres one absolute rule: when you have a kid, dont look at it for the first two years. Gabriel Garcia Marquez A man knows when he is growing old because he begins to look like his father. Tim Russert The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get. Mark Twain When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. Bill Hicks I never got along with my dad. Kids used to come up to me and say, My dad can beat up your dad. Id say, Yeah? When? Jack Handy Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis. Alice Roosevelt Longworth My father always wanted to be the corpse at every funeral, the bride at every wedding, and the baby at every christening. Donald Trump I love producing children. Its fun! I dont like taking care of children, but I love producing children. Jerry Seinfeld There is no such thing as fun for the whole family. Patrick Dempsey Heres the cycle: They wake up, they cry, they go to the breast, they eat, they poo or pee, you change a diaper, and they go back to sleep. Its much harder for my wife than for me because shes pumping or nursing. Lionel Richie Forget about surviving 40 years in the music business. Just surviving 27 years of Nicole Richie has been a struggle-and-a-half, I want to tell you. I stand here as a survivor, I want you to know, for all the parents out there. Chris Martin Men should always change diapers. Its a very rewarding experience. Its mentally cleansing. Its like washing dishes, but imagine if the dishes were your kids, so you really love the dishes. Bill Cosby My father confused me. From the ages of one to seven, I thought my name was Jesus Christ!

Gram Stain Procedure in Microbiology

Gram Stain Procedure in Microbiology The Gram stain is a differential method of staining used to assign bacteria to one of two groups (gram-positive and gram-negative) based on the properties of their cell walls. It is also known as Gram staining or Grams method. The procedure is named for the person who developed the technique, Danish bacteriologist Hans Christian Gram. How the Gram Stain Works The procedure is based on the reaction between peptidoglycan in the cell walls of some bacteria. The Gram stain involves staining bacteria, fixing the color with a mordant, decolorizing the cells, and applying a counterstain. The primary stain (crystal violet) binds to peptidoglycan, coloring cells purple. Both gram-positive and gram-negative cells have peptidoglycan in their cell walls, so initially, all bacteria stain violet.Grams iodine (iodine and potassium iodide) is applied as a mordant or fixative. Gram-positive cells form a crystal violet-iodine complex.Alcohol or acetone is used to decolorize the cells. Gram-negative bacteria have much less peptidoglycan in their cell walls, so this step essentially renders them colorless, while only some of the color is removed from gram-positive cells, which have more peptidoglycan (60-90% of the cell wall). The thick cell wall of gram-positive cells is dehydrated by the decolorizing step, causing them to shrink and trapping the stain-iodine complex inside.After the decolorizing step, a counterstain is applied (usually safranin, but sometimes fuchsine) to color the bacteria pink. Both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria pick up the pink stain, but it is no t visible over the darker purple of the gram-positive bacteria. If the staining procedure is performed correctly, gram-positive bacteria will be purple, while gram-negative bacteria will be pink. Purpose of the Gram Staining Technique The results of the Gram stain are viewed using light microscopy. Because the bacteria are colored, not only is their Gram stain group identified, but their shape, size, and clumping pattern may be observed. This makes the Gram stain a valuable diagnostic tool for a medical clinic or lab. While the stain may not definitely identify bacteria, often knowing whether they are gram-positive or gram-negative is sufficient for prescribing an effective antibiotic. Limitations of the Technique Some bacteria may be gram-variable or gram-indeterminate. However, even this information may be useful in narrowing down bacterial identity. The technique is most reliable when cultures are less than 24 hours old. While it can be used on broth cultures, its best to centrifuge them first. The primary limitation of the technique is that it yields erroneous results if mistakes are made in the technique. Practice and skill are needed to produce a reliable result. Also, an infectious agent may not be bacterial. Eukaryotic pathogens stain gram-negative. However, most eukaryotic cells except fungi (including yeast) fail to stick to the slide during the process. Gram Staining Procedure Materials Crystal violet (primary stain)Grams iodine (mordant, to fix crystal violet in the cell wall)Ethanol or Acetone (decolorizer)Safranin (secondary stain or counterstain)Water in a squirt bottle or dropper bottleMicroscope slidesCompound microscope Note its better to use distilled water than tap water, as pH differences in water sources may affect results. Steps Place a small drop of bacterial sample on a slide. Heat fix the bacteria to the slide by passing it through the flame of a Bunsen burner three times. Applying too much heat or for too long can melt the bacteria  cell walls, distorting their shape and leading to an inaccurate result. If too little heat is applied, the bacteria will wash off the slide during staining.Use a dropper to apply the primary stain (crystal violet) to the slide and allow it to sit for 1 minute. Gently rinse the slide with water no longer than 5 seconds to remove excess stain. Rinsing too long can remove too much color, while not rinsing long enough may allow too much stain to remain on gram-negative cells.Use a dropper to apply Grams iodine to the slide to fix the crystal violet to the cell wall. Let it sit for 1 minute.Rinse the slide with alcohol or acetone about 3 seconds, followed immediately with a gentle rinse using water. The gram-negative cells will lose color, while the gram-positive cells will rema in violet or blue. However, if the decolorizer is left on too long, all cells will lose color! Apply the secondary stain, safranin, and allow it to sit for 1 minute. Gently rinse with water no longer than 5 seconds. The gram-negative cells should be stained red or pink, while the gram-positive cells will still appear purple or blue.View the slide using a compound microscope. A magnification of 500x to 1000x may be needed to distinguish cell shape and arrangement. Examples of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Pathogens Not all bacteria identified by the Gram stain are associated with diseases, but a few important examples include: Gram-positive cocci  (round)  -Staphylococcus aureusGram-negative cocci  -  Neisseria meningitidisGram-positive bacilli (rods)  -  Bacillus anthracisGram-negative bacilli  -  Escherichia coli

Patient Safety and Medication Administration in Nursing Research Paper

Patient Safety and Medication Administration in Nursing - Research Paper Example The understanding that is developed is that in order for a nurse to avoid medication errors, the nurse ought to ensure that whatever medication is being administered is being given in the right format (Elliott M and Liu Y. Zhang, Patel & Johnson believed that nurses must ensure that all these right procedures are followed but Conrad et al. (2010, p. 141) on the other hand stated that it may not all medications that would have to go through all the 9 rights but at least in all cases, 5 of these should be used. Reflecting on the 9 rights, Palmieri et al. (2009, p. 36) noted that the 9 rights have been made to cover aspects of medication, which when ignored, can lead to serious errors with the administration. To have a better understanding of how the 9 rights helps to prevent or minimize errors, Elliott M1, Liu Y. stated that one may simply turn the ‘right’ to ‘wrong’ and know the effect that a refusal to abide by the procedures can bring. Another important int ervention that has been noted to be very effective with the minimization of errors is the organization of medications within the medication room (Alldred et al. 2008, 320). In order jurisdiction, this is referred to as sorting, labeling, or nomenclature (Alldred et al. 2008, 321). Nurses have been noted to make the Accidental mistake of confusing the labels of some medical products for others. Because of this when there is a mixture of drugs with similar packages, the chances that there will be mix up leading to errors are higher.

International Money and Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

International Money and Finance - Essay Example ompany name â€Å"Sunbelt Rentals.† Sunbelt Rentals has 358 facilities across the United States, and functions primarily in the commercial construction market. The company’s annual report from 2010 provides clues on the exchange rate risks. The operating statistics on the number of rental stores and staff strength provide a comparative view of the performance of the Ashtead Group for both Sunbelt Rentals and A-Plant in the years 2009 and 2010 respectively (Ashtead Group Press Release, 2011). Ashtead Group exposure to exchange rate risk develops from translation risk, which emerges from most of the company’s assets, liabilities, income, and costs being written in U.S. dollars. The changes in the comparative value of Pound Sterling and the U.S. dollar impact on the financial strength and functioning of the company. All of the company’s debt is shown in U.S. dollars in order to secure the revenue stream, hedging against the translation effect erupting from the shift in the dollar exchange rate. The company pays dollar interest on its debts to reduce the impact of any shift in the dollar exchange rate on its income (Moffett et al., 2009, p. 260, Ashtead Group Annual Report Accounts, 2010). Movement in the exposure of the company against the Pound Sterling or other currencies can create significant transaction exposure. Higher levels of exposure can affect the firm’s short-term cash flow and therefore may force the firm to borrow in order to meet its short-term cash requirements (Moffett et al., 2009, p. 253-255). Until the 31st of October, 2010, all company debts were shown in U.S. dollars and nearly 80% of the value of the company’s net assets was also in dollars. It proved to be a robust hedge against currency fluctuations. It reduces the impact of exchange rate fluctuations as interest is paid through dollars, thus reducing the effect on pre-tax profits and income. Based on the latest currency mix of Ashtead Group’s profits and dollar debt levels, in

International Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

International Business Strategy - Essay Example 30% of the 1100 joint ventures shaped before 1967 between one of the US firm and the company from the other developed nation did not survive largely due to organisational or strategic changes made by the management (Killing, 1982). The paper attempts to explore some key reasons behind the failure of large IJVs; at the same, it will also find the specific success factors of IJVS in emerging economies. Cultural difference between partners is considered one of the principal reasons that come in the way to the success of joint ventures. Before forming a joint venture, the companies do not conduct compatibility analysis. Most of the time, their management style differs from each other. One could be more decentralised in its decision making process while the other partner believes in more control and does not provide enough freedom to its line staff. Even after forming a joint venture, no efforts are made to create a suitable mix among the staff making the joint venture nonfunctioning. Farkas and Avny (2003) argue, "Difference in organizational culture is the reason for performance gaps in joint ventures rather than national culture differences. They also state, "The influence of cultural difference on the performance of international joint ventures is indirect, but highly influenced by the level of trust between its partners†. The researchers studied those joint ventures where one of the partners hailed from Israel. Cultural differences between western multinational enterprises and Japanese companies have also been determined as the factor behind the failures of their joint ventures (Brown et al. 1989). Chryslers merger with Daimler is worth mentioning here that could not evoke successful outcomes due to cultural mismatch between them. The Chrysler division was a profitable division prior to merger but its performance deteriorated after the merger. Management undertook several layoffs at Chrysler following the merger that was never anticipated in the beginning.

Guilt vs Acceptance Essay Example for Free

Guilt vs Acceptance Essay The power and impact that guilt can have on one’s life can be a positive and negative experience depending on how the individual deals with their situation and whether or not they learn a lesson from their mistake. The novels A Separate Peace by John Knowles and Fifth Business by Robertson Davies share the theme of guilt in their storylines through events and relationships but differ as to how to the characters cope with their reactions through reflection and confrontation. A Separate Peace tells the story of a young boy by the name of Gene Forrester who in an act of jealousy and competitiveness pushes his friend Phineas out of a tree. Fifth Business surrounds the character Dunstan Ramsay, who as a child, ducks a snowball with a rock hidden within thrown at him by his friend Guy. The snowball hits Mary Dempster at the back of the head, causing her brain damage and the premature birth of her baby Paul Dempster. Both plots surround two men who look back at their lives and how a single negative event affects their childhood. What would appear to be an insignificant moment of the past evolves into a lifelong mental scar that poisons the characters with guilt and the desire for acceptance. The novels’ protagonists share encounters in childhood fueled by competitive friendships; however, Gene Forrester accepts responsibility for his actions and is able to move on while Dunstan Ramsay does not and lets his memories and guilt plague his life. The two novels are similar in the aspect that both Gene Forrester and Dunstan Ramsay are involved in childhood incidents that curse them with guilt. In the novel A Separate Peace, Gene Forrester subconsciously moves the branch he and his physically and socially superior friend Finny are standing on. Finny falls and is heavily injured and the casualties lead to his early death later on. â€Å"†¦and then my knees bent and I jounced the limb. Finny, his balance gone, swung his head around to look at me for an instant with extreme interest, and then he tumbled sideways, broke through the little branches below and hit the bank with a sickening, unnatural thud† (Knowles 60). Gene Forrester feels solely responsible for this terrible accident and feels extremely guilty. â€Å"If Phineas had been sitting here in this pool of guilt, how would he have felt, what would he have done? (Knowles 66). In the novel Fifth Business, a rich and jealous enraged friend Percy Boyd Staunton pursues Dunstan Ramsay. When Percy throws a rock concealed in a snowball at Dunstan’s head he ducks and lets it strike the pregnant Mary Dempster. This accident is the cause of the premature birth of Paul Dempster and the destruction of Mr. and Mrs. Dempster’s marriage and family. â€Å"I stepped briskly†¦in front of the Dempsters just as Percy threw, and the snowball hit Mrs. Dempster on the back of the head† (Davies 2). Dunstan feels responsible for Mrs. Dempster’s mental health, Paul Dempster’s physical health, and their ruin as a family. â€Å"I was contrite and guilty, for I knew the snowball had been meant for me, but the Dempster’s did not seem to think that† (Davies 3). Both characters suffer from these self-inflicted negative occurrences and struggle with the realization of what they have done and how it affects those involved. Another similarity between A Separate Peace and Fifth Business is that both Gene Forrester and Dunstan Ramsay have intimate friendships infused with jealousy and competition. These poisoned relationships both ignite the impactful events that occur in their childhoods. Gene feels in constant competition with Finny, who appears to be good at everything. â€Å"That way he, the great athlete, would be way ahead of me. It was all cold trickery, it was all calculated, it was all enmity† (Knowles 53). He is superior in appearance, physical capability, personal stamina and respect gained from popularity amongst the other boys at the school. â€Å"I couldn’t help envy him that a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little† (Knowles 25). Dunstan knows that Boy Staunton wishes to be the best in everything. He aspires to be the most handsome, most successful in a romantic relationship, most successful in a career and most popular. â€Å"Percy Boyd Staunton†¦the only man who accepted his watch with an air†¦it was a fine effect, and as I grinned and clapped, my stomach burned with jealousy† (Davies 97). He feels aggressive resentment for Boy as he lives the life that Dunstan secretly wishes he could himself. â€Å"Boy wore a gorgeous pullover of brownish-red†¦and his demeanor was that of the lords of creation. A pretty girl with shingled hair and rolled stockings that allowed you to see delightful flashes of her bare knees was with him, and they were taking alternate pulls on a flask that contained, I am sure, something intoxicating†¦I was filled with a sour scorn that I now know was nothing but envy†¦I didn’t really want the clothes, I didn’t really want the girl or the booze, but it scalded me to see him enjoying them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Davies 113). The two novels capture the intensity of the character’s conflicted relationships with their closest friends as their constant struggle for a balance between hatred and respect fails to cease. The novels A Separate Peace and Fifth Business differ from each other within the main character’s thoughts and reflections on their memories. Gene Forrester accepts jostling the tree limb so Finny would fall, but understands the particular incident as a fragment of the past with no lasting effect on his life. Dunstan Ramsay however, remains attached to his guilt and responsibility for letting the snowball hit Mrs. Dempster and his actions haunt him for the remainder of his days. Gene Forrester revisits his old school and although experiences memories of fear from the past, it is only an echo not a current emotion. â€Å"Looking back now across fifteen years, I could see with great clarity the fear that I have lived in, which must mean that in the interval I had succeeded in a very important undertaking: I must have made my escape from it† (Knowles 10). He has not severed his feelings of regret towards the incident nor does he see Finny’s untimely death as unimportant but instead is able to appreciate his strong connection with this part of his past and can learn from his childhood errors. He understands that the experience matured him and was a crucial step in the climb of growing up. Gene visits the site where Finny fell with confidence and seeks the gratification of knowing that those years trapped at Devon school with an injured friend are behind him. â€Å"This was the tree, and it seemed to me standing there to resemble those men, the giants of your childhood, whom you encounter years later and find that they are not merely smaller in relation to your growth, but that they are absolutely smaller, shrunken by age† (Knowles 14). Dunstan Ramsay on the other hand, does not revisit sites from his past every 15 years but instead dedicates his entire life to the study of Saints and Mary Dempster’s impact on his life. He does not permit himself assessment of his child-self’s mentality during the accident and therefore, is never able to gain the satisfaction of learning from his mistakes. â€Å"Ramsey†¦You have paid such a price, and you look like a man full of secrets-grim-mouthed and buttoned-up and hard-eyed and cruel, because you are cruel to yourself. It has done you good to tell what you know; you look much more human already† (Davies 220). Instead of visiting places of his past or confronting those involved with his childhood, he sees his memories through a haze of anger and anxiety. An event that should have seemed insignificant and even negligible after so many years, is still important to him in his daily life and the emotions he felt 40 years ago have not changed but intensified. The fear and guilt he felt as a child is still fresh in his mind. â€Å"Cursing what seemed to be a life sentence†¦my association with Mrs. Dempster†¦It was as though I were visiting a part of my own soul that was condemned to live in hell† (Davies 182). The two characters, although faced with similar situations, choose different paths for their lives, which separate them from each other. A final contrast between the characters Gene Forrester and Dunstan Ramsay in the novels A Separate Peace and Fifth Business is the difference in their reaction to the event in their past. Both Gene and Dunstan suffer guilt about a single action in their childhood. Gene confronts his emotions and immediately tells Finny what happened, while Dunstan keeps the truth of the event a secret. While Finny is still recovering from his fall, Gene immediately visits Phineas after the accident and tells him the truth. Although he feels he makes things worse, it gives him a peace of mind and helps him to move on. â€Å"Finny, I’ve got something to tell you. You’re going to hate it, but there’s something I’ve got to tell you†¦This is the worst thing in the world† (Knowles 66-67). Gene is able to move past his guilty conscience of causing Finny’s fall and is able to focus his attention to mentally recovering and pushing forward in life. †¦in spite of everything, I welcomed each new day as though it were a new life, where all past failures and problems were erased, and all future possibilities and joys open and available, to be achieved probably before night fell again† (Knowles 105). Dunstan however, bottles up his thoughts and emotions concerning the events that occurred on the night Mrs. Dempster was hit on the back of t he head with a snowball. He does not tell anyone about the stone in the snow until the later years of his life. â€Å"Nevertheless this conversation reheated my strong sense of guilt and esponsibility about Paul, the war and my adult life had banked down that fire but not quenched it† (Davies 136). Dunstan keeps everything to himself and seeks out no help for his troubled mind and the stories and truths that are trapped within it. â€Å"The snow-in-the-snowball has been characteristic of too much you’ve done for you to forget it forever! † (Davies 270). The two outcomes of the two character’s lives is a reflection of how they handle the injury of the innocent and how they come to face the consequences of what they have done. The novels A Separate Peace and Fifth Business both display the lives of men who suffer a great deal in their childhood from unhealthy friendships and a singular bad event. Gene Forrester and Dunstan Ramsay share similarities in the occurrences of their lives but differentiate from each other in how they dealt with it. Gene faces his victim Finny with the truth of the accident, being that he deliberately jounced the limb so his superior friend would fall, and is therefore granted elation from his confession and a peace of mind. Gene matures free of guilt and the residue of the horrific event is but a memory he can briefly recall in his mind but not linger on. Dunstan Ramsey takes a different route, and on a downwards-spiraling path of shame, he lives a solitary life, left to face his childhood troubles every day, making ancient memories a constant reality. He matures with many emotional scars and does not feel any release from his inner torments. In conclusion, the two novels depict contrasting scenarios of self-reproach, one displays a character’s positive liberation of guilt and one shows a character’s negative manifestation of guilt.

Employment Of People With Mental Illness Social Work Essay

Employment Of People With Mental Illness Social Work Essay There is no health without mental health (Ki-Moon, 2010, para.2; World Health Organisation, 2005, p.11) and this is why this topic has become at the heart of many discussions. The World Health Organisation (1948) in WHO (2003), approaches this concept holistically and defines mental health as the balance between all the aspects of life; a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (p.100). Barry Jenkins (2007) add that mental health is an attitude that fosters in the individual a sense of control, hope, optimism and the capacity to build and sustain relationships in the society. Thus, mental health is said to be a measure of how people, organizations, and communities think, feel, and function, individually and collectively (Keyes, 2007, in Mc Collam, Mukkala, OSullivan, Rowe, Stengard, 2008, p.6). For this reason, Phillips (2008) affirms that the well-being and mental well-being, in particular, [are] a new frontier in the fight for social justice in the creation of a society which is fair; communities which offer the individual dignity and respect; the evolution of a people confident in their diversity. Given that mental illness has become the leading cause of disability in the European Community, with more than 130 million people expected to experience some kind of mental illness in their life (EUFAMI, 2004), many nations are acknowledging that they cannot ignore mental health and mental illness in their communities and workplaces anymore. As Gauci (2010) argues, countries that adopt legislations, policies and systems that protect vulnerable citizens, including people with mental illness reflects a society that respects and cares for its people (p.7). Extensive is the research carried out about mental illness, but for a common terminology of the different types of disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has been developed. The DSM-IV states that mental disorders are conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioural or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress (e.g., a painful symptom) or disability (i.e., impairment in one or more important areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom. (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.xxxi) Thus, for behaviour to be considered a disorder, it must be originally caused by a behavioural, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the individual (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.xxxi). Conversely, expectable responses to particular events (e.g. the death of significant other), deviant behaviour (e.g. political, religious, and sexual behaviour), conflicts between the individuals and the society are not mental disorders. These only fall into the latter category when the deviance or conflict is a symptom of a dysfunction in the individual (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.xxxi), as aforementioned. There is vast spectrum of mental disorders, each having their specific criteria, but for general use, Goldberg Huxley (1992) categorize mental disorders in two ways, namely, common mental illnesses and severe mental illnesses. The former are mostly evident in the community whilst the latter refers to disorders which are more common amongst people who receive mental illness services and thus, contrary to the above, may need special care to convalesce. Goldberg Huxley (1992) add that severe mental illnesses are associated with much greater social disability and are much less likely to resolve spontaneously with time. (p.5) At this point it is important to understand that despite its severity, mental illness does not lead to mental disability, and the two are different from each other. As aforesaid, mental illness impacts a persons behavior and feelings, however, the symptoms can be managed (Inclusion Europe and Mental Health Europe, 2007). On the other hand, mental disability, also known as intellectual disability refers to people who have difficulties in learning and understanding and whose skills in areas such as cognition, language, motor, and social abilities can be permanently impaired (Inclusion Europe and Mental Health Europe, 2007, p.2). Therefore, mental illness is not a disability, but the difficulties derived from the illness, can result in functional disability (Richmond, 2011). Functional disability is defined by the WHO (1976) as disability in which functional limitation and/or impairment is a causative factor, is defined as an existing difficulty in performing one or more activities which, in accordance with the subjects age, sex and normative social role, are generally accepted as essential, basic components of daily living, such as self-care, social relations, and economic activity. (para. 1.2 iii) 2.2 Employment In its simplest definition, work means the exchange of labour for wages (Danto, n.d, p.14). But employment has always had a higher value for humanity. Indeed the Ancient Greeks held that work formed part of the sphere of necessity (Haralambos Holborn, 2004, p.619). Notwithstanding the changes and revolutions that the world went through, work still remained a defining value of our culture (p.12) and this is so because the need to work is deeply rooted in our psychology and social existence (Dante, n.d, p.14). Work can take many forms but its benefits are rather homogenous. Cameron Conley (2010, in Topp, 2010) assert that work is meaningful because it connects individuals to their values and to their community. It is also acknowledged that good working experiences affect the individuals wellbeing and development, leading them to adopt more positive perspectives and attitudes. This is further reinforced by Finch Moxley (2003), who declare that employment offers much promise to people and is fundamental to their development as fully realized human beings (p.10). Underlining all this is the truth that employment is a human right. Hence, all people have the right to work; to free choice of employment; just and favourable conditions of work and protection against unemployment (Article 23, 1948, in United Nations, n.d). In the convention on the rights of persons with Disabilities, the United Nations (2006) accentuate that people who experience disability are also entitled to human rights and f undamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field (Article 2) and discrimination is proscribed, including the failure to provide reasonable accommodations for those who need it. This is sustained by Bassett Llyod (1997) in Bassett, Bassett Llyod (2001), when they claim that involvement in paid employment is a significant life occupation for many people and is a realistic goal for people who have experienced a mental health disorder (para.2). 2.3 The benefits of employment for people experiencing mental illness Therefore, work is not only important to maintain good mental health but also to enhance the improvement of those who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Enabling people to retain or gain employment has a profound effect on more life domains than almost any other medical or social intervention (Boardman, Grove, Perkins Shepherd, 2003,p.467). This is so because employment harbours inclusion, yields a sense of security, happiness and comfort; a sense of living needed for recovery. Recovery from mental illness is a reality nowadays and it has become a goal for many people. Recovery does not mean that symptoms disappear, but it is all about getting on with life beyond the disability (Deegan, 1988). Having experienced it herself, Deegan (1988) adds recovery does not refer to an end product or result. It does not mean that my friend and I were cured. In fact our recovery is marked by an ever-deepening acceptance of our limitations. But now, rather than being an occasion for despair, we find that our personal limitations are the ground from which spring our own unique possibilities (p.56). Work is central to the process of recovery (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005; HM Government, n.d). This is so because it provides both the financial means for living and also latent benefits. Olsheski Schelat (n.d) assert that employment is beneficial because it provides structures to daily activities, an identity, a sense of achievement, socioeconomic status and a sense of belonging. This is sustained through Hertzbergs theory who believed that work meets human needs in two ways. The acquisition of a salary, the working conditions and interpersonal relationships established at the working site make up the hygiene factors. According to Herzberg, their absence creates dissatisfaction in the individual, but does not lead him to feel satisfied and motivated (Herzberg, 1959, in Gawel, 1997). At this level, any changes towards job performance are only short-lived. Conversely, motivator factors produce long-term positive outcomes which appear to be a consequence of job satisfying events such as appraisals, achievements and advancements (Herzberg, 1959, in Gawel, 1997). Job satisfaction and longer job tenure have been found by Resnick Bond, (n.d) in URBIS (2007) to be co-related. As it is acknowledged above, the benefits of employment for people with mental health difficulties are various, yet the barriers for work are still a reality. In fact, people experiencing mental health difficulties rank low in employment when compared to other disabled groups (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2009; Duncan Peterson, 2007), despite that many of them have the aspirations to work (HM Government, n.d). In addition, Catalano et al (1990) claim that people with mental illness are many often employed in part-time work, characterized by little pay and possible insecurities. The reason behind this is that accessibility of the workplace most often is only associated with the adaptation of the physical environment through the use of various adaptive equipment, and adaptation of the social and emotional environment is often neglected. Accessibility also means opening up the labour market to facilitate participation in the economic activity and social funct ioning. While it is true to say that the illness often acts as an obstacle (Frado, 1993) and may create problems for the employee whilst in employment, but the working environment also lacks the tools to accommodate their interests, abilities and support needs (Bill et al, 2006, in URBIS, 2007, para.4.3.4). Some of the most severe forms of mental illness have their onset in late adolescence and beginning of young adulthood, whilst others strike in middle adulthood. As a matter of fact, both a persons education and working life could be significantly impacted; resulting in fewer credentials which are needed for employability and the disruption of employment for those who are already employed (WHO, n.d, in Richmond Foundation, 2011). Penrose-Wall Bateman (2007) in URBIS (2007) add that people with mental illness may experience a downfall in their confidence, motivation and social skills as a result of the episodic nature of the illness, and as a matter of fact, their employment is understandably disrupted (para.4.3.1). Once again, a persons educational and occupational attainment may be at a disadvantage (Robdale, 2008). Moreover, the level of severity of the illness has been linked to unemployment, with a percentage as high as 85% for people with severe mental illness (Crowther et al 20 01, in Duncan Peterson, 2007). Additionally, the medication used to treat the illness may pose some difficulties for the person whilst on the job. Some of which include drowsiness, tremors, blurred vision, nausea, agitation, bladder problems, dry mouth amongst others (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008). Despite the struggle to cope with the illness, people may also have to deal with bad financial issues that arise when their ability to work is affected. Thus in order to make ends meet, people with mental illness may force themselves back to work before they would have gained their health (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005). In the light of such delicate situations, Cappe (1999) avows that it is no longer enough to do the right thing, but we must also ensure that we are doing things right. It is no longer sufficient to be a place where people work-the workplace itself must be built around the people and give them the support they need (para.1) A place of work that is built around people is one that welcomes diversity. It signals the enthusiastic acceptance of the value to organizations of workforces that are diverse in terms of gender, age [and] (dis)abilityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Jackson Joshi, 2001, in Arnold, Burnes, Cooper, Patterson, Robertson Silvester, 2005,p.35). Mental illness is no longer a rare condition but it is has become one of the most common causes of disability with the World Health organization claiming that by the year 2020, depression will become the second leading cause of premature death and disability (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005). In the light of these statistics, employers cannot fail to acknowledge the concepts of mental health and mental illness in their workplace. It is time to do away with the misconceptions that people with mental illness are violent and have low intellectual abilities. To the contrary, they are usually the victims of violence and their intelligence and abilities are not dissimilar to the rest of the populace (Frado, 1993). Many people experiencing mental illness are able to work, want to work and can carry out their job successfully (Cook ODay, 2006). 2.4 Stigma But stigma has the power to erode this willingness. As HM Government (n.d) outlines, barriers to employment and sustainability of employment for people experiencing mental health difficulties are also found to be derived from society itself, with stigma acting as one of the major obstructions. Stigma can be described as severe social disapproval due to believed or actual individual characteristics, beliefs or behaviors that are against norms, be they economic, political, cultural or social. It is characterized by a lack of knowledge about mental health, fear, prejudice and discrimination. (Mc Daid, 2008, para.2.1) These are also the prevailing beliefs amongst certain employers, who are still afraid to employ and support people with mental illness (Waghorn Lloyd, 2005, in URBIS, 2007; Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005; Mc Daid, 2011). They may have unwarranted fears and see persons with psychiatric disabilities as unskilled, unproductive, unreliable, violent or unable to handle workplace pressures (Fenton Payne, 2005, p.8). But mental illness does not always encroach with the workers job performance or it may affect the ability to work only for a certain time, during which, some limitations may arise (Frado, 1993). These may include consistent late arrivals or frequent absences, decreased productivity, frequent complaints of fatigue or unexplained pains, difficulty concentrating, working excessive overtime and expressions of strange or grandiose ideas, amongst others (Fenton Payne, 2005, p.7). In view of these limitations, the untrained employer and colleague may fail to recognize men tal illness, and interpret inappropriate behavior negatively, thinking that their work mates are violent, dangerous and erratic (Harnois Gabriel, 2000). This is further manifested in incorrect and discriminating behavior as people with mental illness are often given insulting names, refusals by their colleagues to work with them and not considered for promotions (Fenton Payne, 2005). Just like students who tend to see themselves as bright or dull according to their teachers definition of them, people with mental illness may come to believe that they are truly no good. This negative general idea about mental illness is then often internalized within the individual himself, leading to self-stigma. Self-stigma refers to the negative feelings about oneself; manifesting itself into feelings of hopelessness, difference and unworthiness (Barnes, Duncan Peterson, 2008). As a matter of fact, people with mental illness may not be so willing to try new job tasks, opportunities and promotions (Frado, 1993). The media is said to have a profound effect in all this. As findings indicate, Coverage of mental health issues that was biased, negative, sensationalized, or incorrect was seen as contributing to the negative stereotypes that surround mental illness. These in turn influence the attitudes and behavior of the people who believe them, including people with experience of mental illness. (Barnes et al, 2008, p.60) 2.5 Maintaining employment In the essence of a holistic policy that targets mental illness, Maltese citizens who experience functional disability due to mental illness can in the meantime benefit from the provisions of the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act (2000). In the light of this situation, Dr. C. Pace, social policy consultant and lecturer at the University of Malta, divulges that while we clearly and strongly distinguished mental health problems from intellectual or learning disability, I think it would be a disservice to persons with mental health problems if we fail to tell them and society that, in the case of a long-term impairment, they can have specific and important legal rights. (in a personal communication, January 2011, regarding how this was dealt with in a recent project) Therefore, under the provisions of this article, people with a mental illness who exhibit functional disability are to enjoy the protection against discrimination as well as reasonable accommodations in their working environment. It is the latter concept which encapsulates the commitment of employment corporations to create the necessary structures, be them legal, administrative or institutional, which facilitate both employability and adaptability at the place of work for persons with mental illness. As the Transition Strategies, LLC (2010) contend, Although the law prohibits discrimination against mentally disabled persons in the workplace, the economic impact of these numbers is so compelling that regardless of any concerns about disability discrimination lawsuits, employers cannot afford to ignore the problem. Even when a problem worker is fired, the odds are excellent that his or her replacement will be one of the remainingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.The solution? (para.2) In view of these emerging needs, the workforce is pressured to understand that people with mental illness may have certain needs to be met. However this does not imply that their skills and capabilities are of a substandard (Boardman, Grove, Perkins Shepherd, 2003). Employers and colleagues are suggested to increase their knowledge about mental illness and respond with anti-discriminative measures and reasonable adjustments so that people with mental illness can function in the working environment like their colleagues counterparts. Indeed, Frado (1993) claims that the antidote to stigma in the workplace is for the environment to be positive, encouraging and welcoming (p.6). However, there are people whose experience of mental illness does not affect their ability to work (Frado, 1993), and thus may not need help to maintain their job. Accommodation measures are in effect some of the tools which the employer can use to help bring about adjustments to the workplace. An accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done that enables an individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities, claims the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (2002, para.2). Research shows that that workers with mental health difficulties does not necessarily cause any excessive burden on the employer (Diksa and Rogers,1996; Tetrick Toney, 2002) but with practical modifications in the social and organizational structure, they can act capably and competently in their work and as contributors to the society (Frado, 1993). Starting a new job may be a stressful experience to people with mental illness (Mc Kee, 1996). This is so because they may be faced with certain challenges and thus may need accommodation to maintain the employment. In fact, Shankar (2005), states that keeping a job is more exigent than obtaining it. This is sustained by a personal disclosure of a person who says that Because of my medication, its really difficult for me to keep to a schedule I mean to get up on time. My employer is happy with my work and as long as I put in my eight hours, she doesnt mind if I dont make it on time every day. This is the first job Ive been able to keep without being fired for lateness. (as cited in Frado,1993, p.15) People experiencing mental illness may find it hard to follow the demands of daily living such as waking up early but a positive and constructive principle like this provides a strong foundation for accommodation. Additional policies include allowing people to work flexible hours or to work at home, enable frequent breaks, allow workers to shift work hours to attend hospital appointments, allow telephone calls to doctors or others for support, and permit a self-paced workload amongst others (Loy, n.d). A working place is not solely run by the manager, but people at different levels constitute different roles and all are important in the running of the company. Thus, even the attitude of the supervisors, colleagues and other staff adds to providing a climate that supports accommodation. Given that people still make negative connotations with mental illness, it is important to address these misconceptions by educating staff and colleagues about these illnesses, its course and consequences. Moreover, supervisors closely working with the employees should be given training on how to improve ones approach and teaching methods. Examples include giving constructive feedback, offering praise and providing direction (Frado, 1993). Nonetheless, in order for the employer to provide such accommodation measures tailored for the specific needs of the employee, people need to disclose about their difficulties but this is not an easy task given the stigma that exists. They may think that the advantages of disclosing about these difficulties are very little compared to the disadvantages and thus they may choose to remain silent. Others may have worked so much to restore their health that they do not want to be categorized as disabled (Frado, 1993). But as Mc Kee (1996) claims, the employee does not necessarily have to give a specific diagnosis of his illness. To the contrary, she suggests people with mental illness to focus on how the disability impacts upon [their] ability to do the job and what positive steps can be taken to accommodate [their] needs (p.7). Such a disclosure can potentially reduce tension whilst increasing support and help on the job. Employing people with mental illness is not only beneficial for t heir health but as the Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005 outlines, it also bring[s] a new perspective to the workplace, and a new level of sensitivity among all employees to one another (p.23). The supported employment scheme is another benchmark in the commitment to provide people with mental illness the necessary services to find and keep employment. It was originally known as the place and train approach which embarked on the idea that people with mental illness shall first be placed in the job and then offered training (EUSE, n.d). The job coach has the imperative role to provide the service users with the necessary support to perform ordinary work requirements such as accompanying them to and from work, training and education of the employee, advocacy, assistive technology, behavioral training skills and other support to make the employment a positive experience both for the employee and the employer (Parent, 2004). The European Union of Supported employment defines this scheme as providing support to people with disabilities or other disadvantaged groups to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market (EUSE, n.d, p. 13). Family members and friends may not be able to help in acquiring the skills needed for employment, but they can be a source of support and hope for people with mental illness along their working life experience. These social support networks are described as a nexus of interpersonal ties consisting of family, friends, or other individuals who provide some type of support that leads one to believe that he or she is cared for, loved, valued, and belongs to a network with mutual obligations (Milardo, 1988, in Pernice, 2010, para.2 ). These can aid in making long-term employment a reality (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005) and recovery a lived-experience (Pernice, 2010). 2.6 The Social Model and Medical Model of disability The measures outlined above are aimed to provide assistance for people with mental illness in finding and retaining employment in the mainstream workforce. However, as aforementioned, difficulties that arise in this scenario are not only a responsibility of the employee, but also of the society at large. Therefore this calls on the need to not view difficulties as the result of the individuals disorder only; as anchored in the medical approach, but to also consider societal factors responsible for difficulties encountered (Mor, 2005). This is the social model of disability which focuses on the complex ways that economic relations, cultural meanings, social practices, and institutional settings participate in the disablement of persons (Mor, 2005, p.22). This shift in locus on the integration of people with mental illness in the society did not happen instantaneously. Although change in the beliefs, perceptions and attitudes towards mental illness seem to be taking a gradual pace, much improvement has been done along the years. Before the means of acquiring knowledge and information increased, people were not educated about mental health. This goes back to few centuries ago when mental illness was thought to be caused by supernatural forces. They were thought to be moonstruck and thus were referred to as lunatic (Pritchard, 2006, p.3). In fact, Mount Carmel Hospital, currently responsible of the rehabilitation of mental illness in Malta, was called the Lunatic Asylum in the 1800s (Savona-Ventura, 2004). These perceptions of madness and possessions lead to the abuse of many people with mental illness. As Cauchi (1999) reported, people with mental illness were beaten and treated badly. People with mental illness were made to believe that they were incurable and insane and were even denied civil rights (Daub, 2006). This is the medical model which rooted in its teachings has the basic ideology that mental illness is just a chemical imbalance or a biological malfunction of the brain (Daub, 2006,p.2). In this period, the mental health practice suggested that people with mental illness who were interested to work should stay away from working in the community. Instead, they were suggested to work in highly protected and isolated settings like the sheltered workshops (Becker Drake, nd). These gave the individual the opportunity to work without having to risk competition and failure experiences which, it was assumed, would occur in normal work environments (Bussone, Cramp, Dakunchak Rosen, 1993,para.2). Activities in this category were meant to shelter persons from normal problems while exposing them to normal task requirements such as time clocks and supervision (Beck er Drake, n,d). But as years passed by, sheltered workshops became less popular because work was demeaning and it offered no prospects since people always remained in an institutional setting (Bussone et al, 1993). Then focus was shifted on teaching people the necessary skills for employability. This was referred to as the train and place approach in which people mental health difficulties were given training in order to find employment. Once trained, they were free to find themselves a job. However this probability was not plausible since the acquisition of the skills alone were not sufficient to gain and maintain employment (EUSE, n.d). The concept of supported employment was the last to be introduced but it is the one which offers much promise to people with mental illness as it emphasizes the need for integration into society and engagement in open paid employment. Whereas before, people with mental illness were only seen in the context of health services, now their strengths are being recognized and are considered to be potential contributors to our society (Frado, 1993). Supported employment schemes and accommodation measures both provide the employee with the opportunity to enjoy a working life that best meets their needs. 2.7 The Current situation It could be that people are no longer beaten and retained due to their illness and sheltered workshops gain less endorsement, yet it is still a struggle for people with mental illness to find and keep jobs. As Gauci, (2010) says, the lack of flexibility at the work place and the stigma and fears, which still exist in our society; most frequently results in the violations of peoples right to work(para.5). Unfortunately, circumstances that defy the rights of persons with mental illness are not always given the prominence that they require (Gauci, 2010). Locally, supported employment services are very limited, even if they proved to be successful. In fact, the Richmond Foundation (2009), in Richmond Foundation (2011) asserts that in the year 2009, a total of twenty six persons with mental illness benefited from this scheme. This service has been unavailable for a period of time but is currently in the process of being re-introduced. Also, the Maltese mental health Act needs to be update d as it continuous to result in the violations of the rights of people experiencing mental illness (Ameen, 2009). To further stress this point, Mc Sween (2002) claims that mental health still receives less government support than general health care (para.1). Indeed, Gauci (2010) avers that it is very basic and superficial when a country has policies and legislation which promote community care when in practice community services are inadequate, scare, uncoordinated, understaffed or staffed by persons who are not trained to deal with persons with mental health difficulties in the community. ( para.4) These support lacking systems are also a major concern to many parents who fear that their children will become unemployed, poor and homeless, with no one to look after them, rotting away and walking around the village looking dirty and alone(Calleja, 2010b, para.16). 2.8 Social work and mental illness Social Work has an imperative role in all this since its core values are crafted to address social problems and challenge social injustices (Johnson Yanca, 2007). Not only should social workers provide people with mental illness with the support and skills needed to help them overcome disadvantage but also seek to transform the society for the benefit of their clients (Payne, 2005). This is so because the social work profession calls on its associates the need to consider the person in environment as sometimes there is a tendency to ignore environmental factors responsible for social problems (Johnson Yanca, 2007, p.60). It is this aspect of social work that moves in line with the social model of disability, as it too takes into consideration the societys attitudes that act as a barrier for people with mental illness to maintain employment. Th

House on Mango Street Essay -- Book Review Poverty Education Essays

House on Mango Street The story; themes; and implications for teaching from the House on Mango Street come from showing how today’s society has low expectations for those in the inner city. This book can be used to show what inner life is like and how these people are looked at and treated by others in society. Using this book in the classroom can be beneficial because many people have negative preconceptions of what life is really like as a minority. I know that I think of inner city schools and the students that attend them as underprivileged and don’t hold them to the same standards as I do others from smaller more suburban towns. Going to Milwaukee this semester has been a culture shock and I think that reading this book compliments are experiences doing our observation and participation. This story is about a young Spanish girl, Esperanza, who is growing up in the Latino section of Chicago. She is embarrassed of where she lives because of the poor conditions of her house, the mice that run freely around her, and the neighborhood she comes from. Her neighborhood is inner city living where the cops are looked at as the bad people in the neighborhood, homeless people sleep in the streets, and she has seen many other bad things including rape and abuse. Esperanza struggles to fit into her new home because she has moved so often. She can’t find and keep friends. Esperanza doesn’t want to fit though because all she can think about is getting out of there and having the white picket fence in the suburbs someday. She does not consider her house on Mango Street her home. It is more of a temporary dwelling until she can get out of there. She works hard at a young age to help her family with the money problems. The story is also about finding some good friends in her new home and her adventures with them. The most interesting themes, issues and characters are Esperanza and her dreams of getting out of the house on Mango Street. This book keeps you captured by telling stories of how she wants to get out of the city and off Mango Street. They are all very interesting and this is what makes the book so fun to read. Making friends and keeping them is also an important issue in this young girls life because she moves so often. I think these things are interesting because I can relate to wanting to get out of where I was when I ... ...go Street. It is eye opening and after taking this class and others like it, I look at these books in a different light. This book seemed like an accurate portrayal of what life must have been like for this girl and I could tell I was emotionally into it. I could feel her pain even though I have not gone through these things first hand as she has. It was a sad story but I think it got the point across without saying â€Å"feel sorry for me because I live in the inner city.† This book can be used with students to show that people from diverse populations are just like you and me. They just want to live a healthy and fulfilling life with friends and family. Most of them are trying to make a better life for themselves any way possible. This will help my students see others as equals and not as people of lesser value. I think it can also be used with inner city children to show that nobody is going to feel sorry for them and if they want a better life than they have to earn it themselves. Nobody is going to give them free hand outs all their lives and if they want something bad enough then they have to work for it. This book can be a powerful tool in teaching that to students.