The Importance of Leadership Essay -- student leadership program

When I first found out about the school's leadership program, I thought it was something I wanted to do. However, I almost did not apply for it. I filled out the application on the last day it was due and waited in anticipation for an answer. The leadership program has been a positive experience in my life. It has helped me to experience new things and change my way of thinking; it has helped me to become more direct, open and sincere; and it has introduced me to new, interesting, and wonderful people. Â   Through The leadership program, I have experienced many different things and have been introduced to new and different ways of thinking. The new and different experiences I had include working on a community service project with 25 of my peers (with help from our instructors and mentors) and working on an individual leadership project. The numerous and diverse speakers that taught the class each week brought with them unique perspectives. The speaker that I found most enlightening was Lance Brunner because his presentation awakened new emotions in me. Lance Brunner's session was about Mindfulness. The way he taught was attention grabbing. It focused the whole class's attention on what he was talking about. I especially like the point he made about thoughts being impermanent and how we should not let them control what we do. Lance taught me that a thought is as permanent or impermanent as everything else... ... leadership project and the group project helped me very much in my evolution as an Emerging Leader (Individual). I have become fond of all these people, and will know and work with a lot of these individuals throughout my college career, and maybe life. Â   Through the experiences I have had in the leadership program, such as the weekly sessions that featured speakers on diversity and individual ethics, and working on individual and group leadership and community service projects, I have learned to look at things from different perspectives and experienced new and different things that I will carry with me and use the rest of my life. I am glad I filled out that the leadership program application.

How does Steinbeck present the character of Crooks in chapter 4? Essay

Chapter 4 of the ‘Of Mice and Men’ novella introduces a character named Crooks. Crooks isn’t shown as a main character of the story, but is given much light in this chapter. Crooks is a black man set on a 1930’s ranch, working as a stable buck. Steinbeck presents the Character of Crooks to us as he wouldn’t of been considered during the times of the ‘Great Depression’ and shows us the negative stereotypes of black people in an American 1930’s society. Crooks is a minority character introduced in chapter 4. Page 66 reads â€Å"negro stable buck.† Crooks’ character is introduced exactly the way he would be seen by other ranch workers. Steinbeck’s intentions of presenting Crooks for the first time to us in this way, is to give us the outline of the black workers of 1930’s America. Steinbeck wanted us to instantly recognise the prejudice black people faced before we got to know his character. A white person of the 1930’s would of saw Crooks as a black worker and nothing. Steinbeck chose to introduce Crooks’ character in the way people then would of saw him to the way we continue to see him as we learn the extent of his character. Steinbeck gives careful detail of Crooks’ room. At the beginning of chapter 4, page 66 reads â€Å"a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung.† Crooks’ bunk is described as an untidy and uncomfortable place to rest, much similar to the animal’s with whom he shares the harness room with. The importance of Crooks’ room is to demonstrate the segregation of America in the 1930’s. As Crooks is a black man he isn’t allowed to sleep in the bunk house with the white workers. In addition, nobody considers Crooks’ disablement, when leaving him to live in these inhumane conditions because he was a black man who they saw had no standing. Crooks’ room suggests the means of his life. The description of his room, on page 66 reads â€Å"which hung broken harness in process of being mended.† This suggests that Crooks has no separation from his working life to his personal life. Linking back to the previous point, segregation of the white men and  the black men consequences Crooks to remain in the harness room where he works. Therefore, his life revolves around the four walls of his room merely swapping from his work to his rest in an uncomfortable bed. Crooks is presented to us an intelligent man despite his race. On page 67 of chapter 4, the description states â€Å"a mauled copy of the California Civil Code 1905.† This is proof that Crooks is able to read, which suggests his intelligence, but also shows us he is aware of the rights he is entitled to as a black man. Furthermore, because Crooks knows his rights and standing, he understands that he is a minority among the ranch workers as he is the only black worker. Crooks is a lonely character amongst the ranch workers. Nearer the beginning of the chapter, amongst Lennie’s entrance, on page 68 Crooks states â€Å"Don‘t come in a place where you‘re not wanted.† Crooks is shown being harsh to Lennie, and trying to push him away. This suggests that Crooks’ loneliness has caused him to no longer accept any kindness, whether its from a white or black man. However, because of the segregation between the black and white workers, Crooks seems to be talking to himself rather than to Lennie. This is suggested by Crooks, already being aware of the discrimination he faces by being excluded from the bunk house with the white workers, he is ’not wanted’ by them which is exactly what he says to Lennie. Crooks comes across as defensive towards Lennie being in his room. He states on page 68, â€Å"I got a right to have a light.† He is very quick in his response to Lennie. Crooks does this because he is afraid of being hurt by anyone, holding a barrier up towards the other workers who already discriminate him. He being the ethnic minority, more than likely considers any comment to be a personal criticism of a black man’s room. This is symbolic and he declares having a light is a basic human right he is entitled to. Lennie being mentally much less able gives the ideal opportunity to help exercise some authority in Crooks‘ life. Page 71 for instance, â€Å"S’pose George don’t come back no more. (†¦) What’ll you do then?† is terminative. By  this stage of the chapter, there has been a power shift. Crooks is fully aware of the distress this would cause Lennie, as he would struggle to manage alone. The terminative comments are cruel and are linked to his jealousy of the companionship of George and Lennie, page 71 one quotes a â€Å"private victory† and even pleasure in some way. Steinbeck is presenting the bad streak that loneliness is drawing from Crooks, as a minority character. Being in most ways isolated, Crooks has excitement and great curiosity due to his desperation for social interaction. In chapter 4, page 69, he questions Lennie, â€Å"You travel around’ with George don’t ya?†. Crooks is being shown as curious and nosy into Lennie’s relationship with George. However, this is suggesting more into Crooks enjoyment into having a conversation with someone other than himself, by asking questions he keeps the interaction going because he isn’t used to having company. Crooks continues to hide his excitement upon Candy‘s arrival. Page 74 of chapter 4 sees Candy‘s entrance to Crooks‘ room, â€Å"You can come in if you want.† Crooks’ reply to Candy is less defensive than previously, as Lennie’s child-like kindness has created a domino effect. This is showing him to be much more welcoming, which suggests he doesn’t want to be obvious about his excitement. Crooks is at ease as his barrier is broken down, and his excitement is buried whilst he still craves the conversation Crooks is faced with racial prejudice from Curley’s wife in chapter 4. For example, page 80 reads â€Å"Listen. Nigger (†¦) You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?† Curley’s wife brings trouble to his door, thinking she has the moral high ground, power to play god in his life. Steinbeck’s intentions were to show how being a ‘nigger’ is a human being portrayed as simply nothing, having no traits, or feelings. Crooks has no standing and is powerless as a minority. Any defence he may put forward would not even be heard, because of the racial prejudice he faces. As the story unfolds Crooks becomes very pessimistic in his outlook towards the American dreams of Ranch Workers. Chapter 4, page 73 Crooks states â€Å"They come, an‘ they quit an‘ they go on; an‘ every damn one of ‘em’s got a little  piece of land in his head.† Crooks’ views are very pessimistic but also realistic, as he has experienced dream after dream after dream that has failed. Steinbeck presents Crooks with cynical views at this point of the chapter, which supports Crooks‘ understanding that loneliness drives you to insanity. Crooks feels nostalgic about his childhood. Page 70 shows Crooks tell Lennie â€Å"The white kids come to play at our place (†¦) some of them was pretty nice.† This suggests his nostalgic feelings, making him vulnerable at this stage. Willingly disclosing such a personal memory helps with our understanding of this character, he is wise and able to distinguish the fact that not all white people are racist. This is a contrasting point in the chapter, as we understand Crooks’ want for social acceptance, because during his childhood he wasn’t exposed to the racial discrimination he faces at his present day. Crooks needs a dream to give him hope during the great depression of the 1930’s. Page 73 of chapter 4 reads â€Å"Had a strawberry patch. Had an alfalfa patch.† This shows us Crooks’ childhood of him already experiencing the land, which suggests Crooks’ understanding of the freedom of the American dream lifestyle the ranch workers want. Furthermore, the use of the repeated word ‘had’ suggests that Steinbeck has written George and Lennie’s dream in reverse through Crooks’ childhood. Crooks character has a need for companionship due to his loneliness. Page 73 of chapter 4 sees Crooks explaining to Lennie â€Å"If some guy was with me, he could tell me I was asleep, an‘ then it would be all right.† Crooks is trying to emphasize the fact he has no reassurance when he has bad dreams or pessimistic thoughts. This shows Crooks’ character dwelling on how alone he is without anyone to talk to or interact with. Companionship creates confidence in Crooks’ character. Page 77 shows Crooks in defence to Curley’s Wife â€Å"We don’t want no trouble.† The use of the word ’we’ shows Crooks having confidence to defend himself alongside Candy and Lennie. This shows that having companionship makes Crooks’ character more confident. Furthermore, this suggests that after Crooks lets his barrier  down to Candy and Lennie, and starting to have hope, Crooks could gain companionship by achieving the American dream. In conclusion, Steinbeck’s character of Crooks is used to convey the effects of racial oppression and loneliness for black people during 1930’s America. Using his situation on the ranch to give us a glimpse of society and the realism. Steinbeck presents Crooks on a personal level in chapter 4. He does this by letting us experience the racism and discrimination Crooks receives for being black, not so much disabled, after we get to know and understand the intelligence and extent of his character. Therefore, our emotions are heightened and we are led to feel sympathy for Crooks.

Do Childrens Feet Grow with Age Essay

Newman (2011:35) states ‘older kids have bigger feet’. This experiment will explore through an investigation whether childrens shoe sizes do get bigger as they get older. In order for this to be proven, data needs to be collencted, this will be done so by going into a local school and verbally asking pupils and their parents what shoe size they take. The main objective of this experiment if to find out if the hypothesis is correct or incorrect. Aim The aim of this experiment is to determine whether childrens shoe sizes get bigger as they get older. The hypothesis will be tested by completing an experiment, then by examining the results it will be seen whether the hypothesis was right or wrong. Hypothesis – As children get older their shoe size increases Null Hypothesis – As children get older their shoe size does not increase. Method It was decided to collect the data in form of a simple table. This was decided because only certain information was needed about an age and shoe size, therefore a questionnaire would not be suitable. Also, considering the investigation was mainly aimed at children, the table was the simplest way to collect the data. It was decided to ask the parents of the younger children what their shoe size was as it was assumed most younger children would not know their shoe size. Design and Materials The type of study completed is one which gives an outcome of qualitative data. Furthermore, this can then be shown to be ‘continuous data’, where the data can fall anywhere over a certain range and the scale is only restricted by the accuracy of measuring, in this circumstance, measuring children’s shoe sizes (Mathematics Enhancement programme 2000).

Department of Veteran’s Affairs’ Health Care Delivery System

In the past few decades, the role of the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) as a health care delivery system has raised awareness among health care administrators, veterans, and policy makers alike. The core mission of the VA delivery system is to provide primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). Some of the most common medical benefits awarded under the VA are to veterans who have become disabled by illness or injury in the line of duty during military service. As a result, the VA health care delivery system serves as a safety net because many of the veterans served are psychologically and economically disadvantaged and have a high disease burden (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). In addition, veterans who use the VA health care system have a higher level of illness than the average population, and 60 percent have no private or Medigap insurance. The VA health care delivery system provides many services for veterans, and also contributes greatly in managing health care resources. Research indicates that the availability of federal, state and local government funds to subsidize the care of persons left without services varies by state and community and may not match community need (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). In this way, the VA health care delivery system contributes in managing health care resources because it takes on the strains of existing alternatives. Within this patchwork, the VA health delivery system stands out as a significant, coordinated, nationwide safety net for veterans (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). The VA also cares for small vulnerable populations for whom care is expensive but generally unprofitable in the private sector (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). In addition to veterans with service connected injuries, illness and exposures and former prisoners of war, the VA is legislated to treat veterans with special disabilities of spinal cord dysfunction, blindness, amputation, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse and homelessness resulting from mental illness (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). The VA headquarters manages its networks by setting goals and defining strategies to maximize health care value throughout the nation. Value is defined as balanced performance of five factors: cost, access, technical quality, patient functional ability, and patient satisfaction (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). The VA headquarters also focuses on developing a standardized management and monitoring system that supports risk adjusted comparative analysis among networks (Wilson & Kizer, 1997). These efforts are designed to assure that high quality care is consistently delivered. The VA health care delivery system also plays an important role in transitioning patients from one level to another level of care in the health care continuum. This transitional role can be illustrated through the VA's treatment of serious health problems such as Parkinson's Disease, which currently affects about 1. 5 million Americans who are diagnosed with the disease (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2001). Parkinson's disease is a progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, with physical symptoms of tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia (Mitchell et. al. , 1996). It can usually be diagnosed based on the medical history and physical findings. To better address the needs of veterans with Parkinson's disease, in February 2001 the VA announced the creation of six centers specializing in Parkinson's disease (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2001). The VA Parkinson's centers also develop training programs for patients, families, students and health care professionals. Additionally, each site conducts a clinical demonstration program for evaluating new models of care delivery for veterans with Parkinson's disease and movement disorders (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2001). Furthermore, the VA hospitals are devoted to new research on Parkinson's disease in the development of surgical treatment for late-stage patients for whom medical therapy is no longer effective and development of new medications, which are more effective and have fewer side effects (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2001). In this way the VA health care delivery system assisting in the transition of patients from one level to another level of care. Finally, the available research indicates that the VA health delivery system contributes well overall in providing services and managing health care resources. This health care system appears to spread itself over the areas where other health care services are lacking, thus enhancing the quality of care and services provided. As long as market forces dominate the health care industry and state and local funding vary, the stabilizing influence of a national safety net such as the VA health care delivery system becomes more crucial. As improvements in health care become more necessary and evident, the VA system will continue to improve the standards of health care for all veterans. Future analysis of the VA health care delivery system in comparison to other health care delivery systems will assist in evaluating the quality of care offered by the VA.

Lord of the Flies †An Alternative Ending Essay

Ralph looked up. He knew he was imagining things, and that had to stop. He focused on the essential things in life. Pigs. Sharpening sticks. Killing. Ralph stood and, set with a determination to fuel his desires, he exited the cave. He had been living in the cave for the past month. There was nothing left on his body save for a loincloth and markings on his body. He had been different from the other people since discovering the power. The power to kill the remaining survivors. Ralph walked down to the beach. The palm trees and sandy beaches were once a haven to the boys. Once. Now they were just obstacles in a war for both sides. Since Simon had died, and Piggy had disappeared, the â€Å"hunters† were fighting a war against Ralph. But luckily, none of the boys had been brave enough to kill Ralph ever since that fateful night. Ralph closed his eyes and let his memories take over. ***** It was dark that night. The boys had given up trying to chase down Ralph. Ralph had retreated to a cave, but he was too impatient to wait till the morning. He wanted to try to persuade the Hunters to change their allegiances to him. He was walking towards the sandy beach towards the rocky outcrop, taking his time, anything to delay persuading the hunters. His new found conscience was urging him along. â€Å"Go, Ralph! You might never get another chance like this!† â€Å"No!† Ralph cried! The conscience retorted, â€Å"What happened if you were bullied by a boy? Would you go confront the boy, or run away like a coward?† â€Å"This is different! These are boys, humans, like me!† yelped Ralph. â€Å"Just do it. Get it over with.† The conscience insisted. Ralph considered, â€Å"5 minutes only.† When he reached the rocky outcrop, Ralph decided to climb up the steep and potentially hurtful rock in secret for fear that the hunters would see him and not allow Ralph up to discuss matters. As he climbed to the top, the rock he was reaching for suddenly came loose and gravity took hold. Ralph prayed that the rock that hit the bottom wouldn’t make a sound. Luckily, it hit the waves and was dragged out by the tide. As Ralph struggled over the top, he saw 5 spears pointed at him, like deadly stakes. â€Å"Why are you here?† spat a savage. â€Å"I need to talk †¦ to all of you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  gasped Ralph, tired from climbing up the rock. â€Å"Get lost†¦ We don’t need to talk to you. You and us have nothing to do with each other!† snarled a savage. Roger, Ralph guessed from the intensity of the words. â€Å"It concerns about being rescued.† Ralph said with the ferocity of being a leader. â€Å"How ’bout we just kill you?† â€Å"Because I want to speak with Jack!† Ralph said the last three words ferociously, hurling himself over the edge. â€Å"What do you want?† spoke a quiet, bored voice from the darkness. â€Å"I have come to offer a treaty† â€Å"Get out.† Ralph’s anger, hatred and bitter emotions flowed out of his body in a rush of fury. â€Å"No.† he spoke with hatred about Piggy. â€Å"Get out before I kill you!!† roared Jack. thump. thump. thump. â€Å"Ignore th-!† screamed the conscience. The savages jeered â€Å"We’ll just roast you on a spit, just like a pig!† thump. Thump. THUMP. â€Å"KILL THEM!!!† shrieked the conscience with a sheer overwhelming force of hatred and cunning. Suddenly, Roger lunged for Ralph. Without warning, Ralph’s hands came up †¦ and found them on Roger’s throat. Ralph could feel this reborn conscience taking over his body†¦ and his mind. He was powerless to do anything or stop his hands. He felt the conscience growing bigger, and making him weaker. Soon, he was the conscience, and vice versa. â€Å"STOP!!!† Ralph screeched, â€Å"You’re meant to be my conscience, not take it over!† The conscience laughed â€Å"Too late, Ralph. You missed your chance. What goes around, comes around.† With a growing sense of horror, Ralph was watching, through his own eyes, the terror that unfolded. He felt the conscience becoming more and more confident, and he closed his hand on the neck. Of course, Roger struggled, however, he was no match for somebody who was strangling him with two hands. After a few seconds, Roger stopped moving. Subsequently, everybody in the vicinity could hear a sharp snap. Suddenly, panic broke out. Everybody but Ralph and Roger started screaming, and all of them were in a frenzy trying to escape – from the monster that had become Ralph. The horror of killing something worse than just a pig, about killing Roger simply for absolutely no reason, or that Ralph was always the one to uphold justice but was practicing otherwise. Feeling the blood gushing down his hands, the screams of the littleuns and biguns, the feeling of a cold hard body in his hands. His heart beat faster and faster, and he screamed. His head spun and he dry heaved. He was becoming more and more nauseated as he plummeted into the abyss. Claws grabbed him from below and tried to rip his skin. Blood materialized in his vision, but it wasn’t Ralph’s – it was Roger’s blood. He felt a searing pain on his arms and his head hurt so much†¦ ***** Ralph painfully opened his eyes. He wasn’t used to the amount of sunlight on his face – not anymore. He climbed up the rock leading to the savages’ hideout, intent on inflicting pain onto them, not caring about being rescued, about the honor of the fire, or the conch. For he, had become the Beast.

RELATIONAL DATA MODEL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

RELATIONAL DATA MODEL - Essay Example I use a Windows 7 operating system; therefore I used the Oracle developer client Program to connect to connect to the database. However, I experienced some challenges while using the command prompt to type the required commands. Additionally, I was not sure at which step am I supposed to create my user name and password that will allow me to connect to the database. After a few trials the connection was set and I was able to test the connection successfully. According to the connection steps and instructions this allowed me to connect to the database as a developer. Hence, I was logged in to the Sql developer environment. Viewing data and properties of any table involves selection of the table and selecting data to be able to view the records that are stored in the table. The properties such as constraints can also be viewed by selecting the constraints tab in the connections frame. Other properties can be viewed by selecting the appropriate tabs in the connections frame. Selection of data from a table in Oracle database is achieved by using queries. The SELECT statement is used to select data and records from a table or views. By using additional commands, selection can be narrowed down to specific criteria. The SELECT statement is simple to use but requires mastery of the syntax to be used , it has both the select list such as columns from a particular table and a source list that specifies the table from which the records and data are to be sourced. SELECT statement helped me to select all the columns from the Employee table. Selection of specific columns required mentioning the column names in the SELECT statement command. These data could also be narrowed down to specific items matching specific criteria. The process is simple but requires mastery of the syntax to be included in the SELECT statement. Data can be selected from several tables from the same database. The data can then be used for reporting purposes. The

Organizational Theory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organizational Theory - Assignment Example Also, the paper will review the criticisms that have been generated towards the two assumptions. While ontology is associated with the nature of an event, epistemology is about the way people understand such an event (Gioia, 2003). The classification of the two assumptions, therefore, can be based on an individual’s belief considering that objective existence is inherent in the world, or because the reality of an event is based on a mediated social understanding. In this sense, prior to human judgement, objective ontology presumes that natural and social reality occurs independently (Johnson and Duberley, 2000: 180). In view of this assumption, objective epistemology takes into consideration the causal inter variable relationships, and assumes that the reality does not originate in an individual, but rather from sensory experiences. Having said this, the manner in which an individual understands an event is acquired from measurement, touch, taste, or observation (Johnson and Duberley, 2000). Furthermore, the epistemology of objectivity seeks to generalize theories by mak ing a very important presumption that the theory applies to all people in the world regardless of the context and circumstances. A good example of a research that best shows a theory-approach alignment is one conducted in by Cooper and Sobol (1969) investigating seniority and employment testing as a criteria for hiring and promoting employees. In this paper, the theory being used is the disparate impact theory while the approach is basically a case study complex, while epistemology is constructionism coupled with positivism. By analyzing the various cases where the use of seniority and testing were deemed to be violating the fair employment laws, Cooper and Sobol (1969) went on to suggest that depending on who is analyzing the cases may take different meanings because of their constructionist approach. They