The Scientific Method Of Scientific Methods - 1387 Words

The Scientific Method The scientific method has been used for centuries to create a structured and concrete way to study a question. When looking at it from a psychology stand point, the scientific method allows psychologists to formulate a way to study and make sense of human nature and support their â€Å"haunches and plausible sounding theories†(Myers, 2010). Within the scientific method a theory is formed by everyday observations. It predicts behaviors or possible outcomes. Next a hypothesis must be formed. A hypothesis is â€Å"a testable prediction often implied by a theory† (Myers, 2010). A hypothesis allows scientists to then research their question and support their theories with plausible data and concrete findings. The research methods that help formulate scientists’ data and results are case studies, surveys, naturalistic observations, experiments and correlations. Case Studies According to the Myers text Psychology, case studies are one of the oldest research methods. A case study â€Å"examines one individual in depth in hopes of revealing things true of us all† (Myers, 2010). A key advantage of case studies is it allows scientists to look in depth into a particular event or individual. Case studies can be very revealing and provide much information on a particular incident or person. However, this is also a case studies’ disadvantage. With case studies, most of the time scientists are only focusing on one individual or one circumstance in depth. With this being the case,Show MoreRelatedThe Scientific Method Of Scientific Methods1015 Words   |  5 Pages Research Methods Paper The Scientific method is a procedure that consists of systematic observation measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of the hypothesis. Scientific methods are what are done to see the outcome of an experiment before they decide to use it on a real human. A Scientific method is a research that helps people to develop good programs that will help in the long run. The Scientific method is a method that is used to figure outRead MoreScientific Method And Scientific Methods3048 Words   |  13 Pagesknowledge, or interpret and correct past knowledge, is referred to as scientific method. In order to be termed as scientific, a method involved in enquiry is usually based on measurable or empirical evidence (Karl, 2004). This is subject to precise reasoning principles. Scientific method can also be viewed as a procedure or method that has represented the natural science, going back as far as the seventeenth century. The method comprises of observation that is systematic, testing, measurement, formulationRead MoreScientific Method1034 Words   |  5 PagesThe Scientific Method Utilizing The Scientific Method SCI110, Introduction to Science May 1, 2015 The Scientific method is a process that scientists use to solve a problem. It generally involves four distinct steps that constitute the â€Å"Scientific Method†. This paper describes the steps of the scientific method, and its application in a real-world scenario we experienced. Step 1: Formulating a Problem Formulating a problem can range from simple to difficult solutionsRead MoreScientific Method2313 Words   |  10 PagesScientific Method Scientific Method is considered a series of systematic steps and tools that leads to scientific knowledge. These steps allow us to carry out an investigation. Arises as a result of the experience that man has accumulated throughout its history such as the transformation that has been going on in the field of some experimental sciences. It is based on a series of steps and procedures organized for the entire cycle of an investigation. (Makafoosh, 1979) Exploratory research: isRead MoreScientific Method Essay1164 Words   |  5 PagesScientific method what comes to mind? Do we start thinking of some type of formal process that will answer all our scientific questions or problems? When I was in school many years ago, we were taught that scientists go through a series of steps to find a solution to a problem or find evidence to support or disprove a theory. It all seemed rather cold, and formal. Going back to school, school has taught me that science has undergone significant changes and has moved away from the rigidity of a fixedRead MoreDarwin And The Scientific Method808 Words   |  4 PagesSummary Darwin and the Scientific Method There has been an apparent disagreement between how Darwin conducted his experimentation and how he publicized his findings to the public. Ayala describes that Darwin follows and inductive approach derived from British philosophers such as John Stuart Mill and Francis Bacon; they believed in making observations without criticizing as to their significance and to gather several of them in order to reach a final conclusion. As Darwin traveled on the H.M.S.Read MoreScientific Method and Steps in Scientific Inquiry664 Words   |  3 PagesScientific Method and Steps in Scientific Inquiry Thomas J. Tophia Jr. BSHS/435 May 26, 2016 Dr. Judith A. Geske Scientific Method and Steps in Scientific Inquiry This paper will define and describe the scientific method and the steps in scientific inquiry. This paper will further explain what the steps are in the scientific method of inquiry or research process and why each of these steps must be included to support the scientific method. Further the paper will briefly discussRead More The Scientific Method Essay1173 Words   |  5 PagesThe Scientific Method is the standardized procedure that scientists are supposed to follow when conducting experiments, in order to try to construct a reliable, consistent, and non-arbitrary representation of our surroundings. To follow the Scientific Method is to stick very tightly to a order of experimentation. First, the scientist must observe the phenomenon of interest. Next, the scientist must propose a hypothesis, or idea in which the experiments will be based around. Then, through repeatedRead MoreThe Steps Of Scientific Method843 Words   |  4 Pages The scientific method is when you have a specific problem and you go through steps to try and solve your problem. The steps of scientific method are develop a theory, check and analyze your theory, explain your hypothesis, and prove your hypothesis. Whether that hypothesis could be wrong, you can still change it. That is the best thing about theories, hypothesis, and the scientific method. An example of the scientific method is my automobile does not crank. I would check for gas because if thereRead MoreThe Method of Scientific Investigation779 Words   |  4 Pages The Method of Scientific Investigation Scientific investigation in my own words is when someone breaks down a problem to find a solution scientifically, but there can be more to it than just investigation a problem scientifically. Thomas Huxley explains scientific investigation in more depth in his â€Å"The Method of Scientific Investigation† essay, what is he trying to say in this passage? It could be many things, it could be nothing or it could be something, we’re basically trying to find out

What is Censorship Free Essays

I will discuss whether or not censorship is a good or bad thing and what affect it has on the people and whether this influence is helpful to society. The media needs censorship because discretion in viewers or censorship is necessary; it reduces the risk of exposing children of easily influenced ages to adult content as well as inappropriate content that should not be exposed to all. Media exposure is a powerful factor in influencing the values and opinions of children; for this reason, the need to control all that they see and hear from the media. We will write a custom essay sample on What is Censorship? or any similar topic only for you Order Now An example of this are rap songs, which usually contain swear words, say if a young child was in the room and heard this and then began to repeat the word, this is why some word in songs are censored. On the other hand there are cons to censorship. It compromises freedom of speech. Also not censoring can be a good thing as shock tactics are the best way to help children/teenagers to stay safe, for instance if a teenager saw a picture of a girl dead from a drug overdose it would help them to see that it is dangerous making sure that they stay away from it. Everyone should be able to choose whether censoring is better or not, seeing things like the example above will help children to think twice leading them to make the right choices rather than being reckless and irresponsible with their decisions. In conclusion I believe that censorship is good because it protects the privacy of the people. We should all have a choice, some may rather prefer content be censored like if they live in a family environment with children around. Whereas others would choose not censoring for example if they live on their own and are an adult, listening to swear words would not cause any harm or have any impact as most likely they already know these certain words. How to cite What is Censorship?, Papers

Discussing and Evaluating Conceptions of Social Justice

Question Do you think more recent ideas such as Amartya Sens (1999) capabilities framework is a useful way of thinking about social justice? Answer Introduction Social justice mainly refers to a just society where everyone has equal social, economical and political rights and opportunities and where there is no discrimination or prejudice on the basis of sexuality, gender, race, religious beliefs, social class, political affiliations, or any other characteristics. Social justice has three dimensions to it. It is expressed in distributional terms or using the recognition paradigm and the more recently characterised third dimension, recognition-redistribution paradigm (Fraser, N., 2005). Poverty and inequality in terms of income and wealth are the social problems termed under distributional justice whereas recognition paradigm is more concerned with non-material dimensions of social justice such as domination and oppression. It is about how people in a society are treated and about how valued their opinions are. The third dimension is a combination of the two (redistribution and recognition) and argues that when there is a conflict between div ersity and solidarity, the public policies should be more in favour of solidarity. In spite of years of legislation to tackle the problems of inequality, discrimination, and poverty, barriers to social justice still exist even today. In Britain, the coalition Government, with a clear intent to eradicate these barriers came up with a new approach which focussed on creating equal opportunities for all, giving them equal chances to progress in life, devolving power to people, transparency of governing, supporting social action by involving social and volunteer institutions and embedding equality. These principles in turn led to the governments identification of its key areas of focus in the attainment of their equality strategy which are: tackling problems of inequality related to family background by providing early years and education, health care, child care and social mobility, eradicating child poverty, creating a labour market that is fair and flexible, opening of public services and changing the attitudes of people by building respect for all and reducing crime and violence (Pearce, N., and Paxton, W., 2005). The main objective of this assignment is to discuss the applicability and usefulness of Amartya Sens Capabilities framework in tackling and overcoming these problems and support the idea since, Amartya Sens theory may be a promising approach for social justice analysis because it can reflect the many ways in which human lives are blighted. Amartya Sens Capabilities Framework Amartya Sen, an Indian economist and philosopher has made big contributions to the theory of social justice. He came up with a framework for evaluating poverty, inequality and development, known as the Capabilities Framework. According to his arguments the freedom to achieve things is primarily important and that depends upon peoples capabilities to do what they value or to be what they value. It is concerned with the identification of these value objects and sees the evaluative space in terms of functioning and capabilities to function. The Capabilities approach is essentially a people-centred approach which puts the people at the centre of the stage rather than any organizations or the governments (Sen, A., 2002). According to him, measuring the quality of life based on growth of a country is bad since it doesnt take into consideration the lives of those who are deprived. Either the nations are compared by international welfare measures or internal striving by a nation to achieve development for its people; capabilities provide the best basis for thinking about development since they provide us with an excellent way of understanding the idea of development (Nussbaum, M., 2003). The capabilities approach makes explicit, the implicit assumptions in the basic needs approach about the value of choice and participation freedom. It extends beyond the analysis of poverty and inequality. Foundation of the theory The basis of Amartya Sens theory began with him distinguishing between the commodity, capability (to function), human functioning, and utility. He disagreed with traditional welfare economics where well-being was typically related to opulence (commodity command and income) or utility (fulfilment of desire, happiness). Like Aristotle, Sen emphasizes that, though economic growth, goods and commodities are necessary for development, it is not everything. It is just a means of attaining something else (Sen, A., 1990). What people are able to achieve with their wealth/commodity determines the quality of their life which depends upon their capacity to convert the wealth into something valuable. Instead of looking only at the commodities, it is important to consider how well they are able to function with what is available to them. Similarly utility approach concentrating on happiness is also challenged by Sen. He argues that desire fulfilment is not the only aspect of human life and there are intrinsic values of welfare neglected in this approach. Considering these, he came to a conclusion that a more direct approach focussing on human functioning and capability is required. He distinctly defines functioning and capabilities. Capabilities approach in thinking about social justice The prime strength of Amartya Sens capabilities approach is that it is very flexible. He describes a set of intrinsically valuable capabilities such as being well nourished, being well educated, live long, escaping avoidable morbidity, writing and communicating and so on but the important part of his theory is that he does not describe a specific set or list of capabilities (Sen, A., 1984). This point has been argued upon a lot and has been criticised as being a short coming of the theory. But this gives flexibility and according to Sen, the weighing of capabilities by a particular person depends upon his personal value judgements and it is only practical. Sens work has also been criticised for underplaying negative freedom with positive freedom. Critics argue that sometimes negative freedom tends to feature more prominently in capabilities approach that distinguish internal capabilities from external conditions required to achieve these capabilities. But Sen has acknowledged the sig nificance of negative freedom as intrinsic and instrumental and argued that capability failure can stem from absence of positive freedoms as well as violation of personal rights. Next, this theory can be used to assess individual advantage in different spaces. This theory also helps in broadened understanding of the informational base of evaluation and changes the focus back on people as ends in themselves instead of just using them as a means to economic activity, recognizing that different people from various cultures and society may have different values and aspirations. It also draws attention to group disparities based on class, caste, gender, race, sexuality or age (Clark, D.A., 2005). Martha C. Nussbaum furthered the research on this theory and came up with a list of capabilities answering the main limitation of this approach according to critics that is the capabilities not being defined. According to her, the capabilities included life, health, bodily integrity (freedom from assault and reproductive choices), emotions, practical reason, affiliation relating to social interaction, senses, imagination and thought relating to literacy and education, respect for species relating to the ability to co-exist and control over ones environment (Nussbaum, M.C., 2000). In the normative focus capability framework, in the analysis of a particular context, the selection of the functioning and capabilities as the informational space is done before identifying the context. The context being analysed may be poverty, justice or anything while conceptual focus, the analyst might first decide the context of analysis before deciding the informational space. For example if the context is poverty, whether to measure it using income, opportunities or consumption. In capability approach, poverty is defined as being deprived of basic capabilities which may vary from being well fed (well nourished), being clothed and properly sheltered, to complicated capabilities such as being able to take part in a community. People have varying needs and will require varying amounts of resources to achieve same standard of living. For example, the difference between an able-bodied person and a person with disability, the disabled person definitely requires more resources to att ain similar living standard as the able bodied person. This variability in translation of resources into capabilities is referred by Sen as Conversion factors (Hick, R., 2011). The Capability approach allows the inclusion of deprivation, conditions at work, and so forth to be included in analysing poverty thus providing with a broader focus than the direct approach of analysis. The basic capabilities refer to the innate talent of humans that is necessary for developing advanced capabilities. It is the foreground for moral concern. With the support of surrounding environment, many of these capabilities are converted into internal capabilities over the course of a persons life and become developed states of the person which, as far as the person is concerned, are sufficient conditions for the exercising of requisite functions. These internal capabilities combined with suitable external conditions for the exercise of the function is what defines combined capabilities. The latest version of the capabilities approach explicitly recognises five broad categories of instrumental freedoms that include: Economical facilities freedom, political freedom, social opportunities, transparency guarantees, and protective security. These instrumental freedoms contribute to the expansion of human capabilities. In capabilities approach, the empirical links between different capabilities and freedoms have also been examined. But one approach involving the building of a matrix of means and ends to help through the many complex interconnections between various capabilities with policy implications, has not been fully worked out. Operational ability of the Capabilities framework The question on whether the approach can be operational has been around for a long basically owing to the fact that Sen refused to endorse a list of these capabilities. In their Capability-based approach in monitoring human rights and equality in England, Scotland and Wales, researchers have adopted a deliberative approach (Burchardt. and Vizard. 2011). From existing human rights frameworks, they drew on a minimum core of dimensions and by deliberative consulting with the general public and with people groups at risk of discrimination and disadvantage came up with a list of dimensions that include life, health, education, security, standard of living, participation, influence, productive activities, self-respect, identity, social life, and freedom of expression. This approach is definitely a broad focus and an example of using consultative process to apply the capabilities approach. Martha C. Nussbaums list of ten philosophically derived capabilities that, she argues, are every citiz ens rights demonstrate the feasibility of the using the capability approach to support empirical analysis though it is termed non-trivial (Anand, P., Hunter, G., et al., 2009). There have been studies where the approach is used with a variety of non-resource based capabilities. For example it has been used in a multi-dimensional poverty analysis focussing on health, employment, education and learning, shelter (housing), social relationships and economic resources (Brandolini., and dAlessio., 1998). There are studies focussed on the outcomes in health and housing and studies that emphasize the importance of capability for work and capability for voice. These studies together demonstrate the ability of the capability approach to support various empirical analyses and the ability to extend the focus beyond resource-based dimensions to non-resource based capabilities. The capability approach provides a lens for analysing various social justice parameters and is normative. It stresses that peoples capabilities are intrinsically important as opposed to the importance of their wealth or income (means). It argues for the multi-dimensional approach in assessment which helps to ensure that informational indicators employed have a clear and accepted interpretation. Unlike more limited approaches such as the low income approach or the material deprivation approach, the capability approach with its multidimensional characteristics can contribute in a practical way to the study on social justice. By systematic approach to this framework can help ensure omission of inclusion errors (inclusion of parameters that do not come under the particular framework) and exclusion errors (failure to include important dimensions) by ensuring application of appropriate indicators (Hick, R., 2011). The capability framework would provide the basis for assessment of social and economical changes between countries and within a country. The approach may even provide an adequate evaluation of capitalist society. In focussing on ability of people to be or to do what they want and not the resources (means) involved but still in focussing on both the monetary and non-monetary constraints and dimensions, this approach can help to assess the outcomes of a capitalist society in terms of resulting unequal capabilities. An advantage of the capabilities approach is that, by focussing on the capabilities of people from the beginning, it easily addresses the inequalities that some suffer; inequalities in resources, opportunities, educational deprivations and failure of recognition. The capability approach overcomes traditional approach by overcoming the central problems in them which use the resources as being the core and has limited not only the constraints but also the indicators. The important insights in capability approach include; whether or not a researcher can be neutral between direct and indirect approaches to the analysis. But, any concepts that we apply should only reflect on the concepts that are enforced and not self-inflicted or voluntary non-participation. The theory also emphasizes that the lack of resources cannot be the only constraint of interest in an analysis. Thus, by putting focus on the absence of some very important capabilities instead of proxy resources like income, the approach towards ones capability can provide foundations not only to understand social injustice but also to fight them. Conclusion According to the Capabilities approach, the overriding objective of development is the expansion of human capabilities rather than economic growth. Despite the questions on how plausible this theory is in practice, the number of attempts to apply the theory to Social justice has multiplied in recent years. This theory has been very useful in investigating poverty, inequality, gender discrimination, social exclusion, disability, child poverty, well-being and identity and has also been related to human rights, human needs and security. Numerous attempts have to apply Capabilities approach in the measurement of poverty and well-being (Clark, D.A., 2005; Martinetti, C., 1994), in identifying the human development index covering income, life expectancy and education. Researches in identifying the links between income and expenditure and various capabilities are in favour of the Capabilities approach and suggest that income and capabilities do not go together. And it is useful in identifyi ng group disparities by referring to gross inequalities in terms of life expectancy, literacy, nutrition, gender, class, race and so on. These researches in the recent years prove the practical applications of this theory and the possibility of making the theory operational. Based on this, Capabilities framework is definitely a useful way of thinking about social justice. References Lister, R. (2007). Social Justice: Meanings and Politics. Loughborough University Institutional Repository, 15 (2), pp. 113-125. Pearce, N. and Paxton, W. (2005).Social justice. London: Politico's. Craig, G. (2006). N. Pearce and W. Paxton (Eds) (2005), Social Justice: Building a Fairer Britain, Institute for Public Policy Research/Politico's.Journal of Social Policy, 35(4), pp.714. Nussbaum, M. (2003). Capabilities as Fundamental Entitlements: Sen and Social Justice.Feminist Economics, 9(2-3), pp.33-59. Clark, D.A. (2005). The Capability Approach: Its Development, Critiques and Recent Advances. ESRC (Economic and Social Research council) Global Poverty Research Group. Martinetti, C.E. (1996). Standard of Living Evaluation Based on Sens Approach: Some Methodological Suggestions. Notizie di Politeia, 12(43-44), pp.37-53. Clark, D. A. (2005). Sens Capability Approach and the Many Spaces of Human Well-Being. Journal of Development Studies, 41(8), pp.1339-1368. Hick, R. (2011). The Capability Approach: Insights for a New Poverty Focus.Journal of Social Policy, 41(02), pp.291-308.

These people are just lazy thinkers or do not thin Essays - RTT

These people are just lazy thinkers or do not think about the issue at all. Because it is their business which makes their ally planned parenthood millions or billions of dollars. Just like the victims of the holocaust were denied right to life, because they were considered not equal humans to the ones who are controlling the killing and wanting to increase the killing. Life is the human right of every life,It is not "progressive" to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life. All persons have a right to life, and violinists are persons. Viruses need host cells to replicate and they don't replicate themselves so they aren't technically alive for example, but the general population thinks of viruses as alive. In 1973, the Supreme Court decision based on Roe v. Wade opened the door to legalize abortion nationally. However, the Constitution does not mention abortions, so therefore, this issue belongs to the states. This has been a serious controversy for 38 years. As indicated by insights, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA or PP) conducts the best number of premature births in America. In the wake of doing cautious research on both sides of this issue, I trust that premature birth is still ethically and morally off-base. A few people trust that a fetus removal is, and ought to keep on being socially and ethically satisfactory. Premature births are legitimate and essential for a few people to proceed with their employment/instruction/vocation/ways of life. They don't consider appropriation as a decision. A few people trust that a fetus removal is simply a "blob" of tissue in the most punctual phases of human incubation. (Propel Slide) Planned Parenthood's site alludes to "discharging the uterus" while never expressing "child." I beleive it isn't right, one motivation behind why premature birth isn't right is on account of there are numerous other more secure arrangements. In the article, Why Do More Peopl e Choose Abortion Over Adoption?, Kristi Burton Brown expressed: "In the USA, there are roughly two million barren couples holding up to embrace, ordinarily paying little respect to the youngster's restorative issues, for example, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, HIV disease or at death's door. Dr. Brad Imler, President of America's Pregnancy Helpline, affirms the test of holding up couples by expressing: Only 1% of the Helpline's yearly 40,000 customers asks about selection." Putting him/her up for reception will give them a superior possibility at a more joyful life as opposed to fetus removal. The answer for a child ought not be demise. In the event that it was for a narrow minded arrangement, you're giving up an existence numerous different families would love to raise as their own. Another motivation behind why I don't bolster fetus removal is on account of it can hurt the mother too. You are exceedingly taking a chance with the mother's life and influencing her. Not exclusive ly does it affect the USA at the same time, it influences different nations also like Spain. As per specialist and individual from the Right to Life Committee, Carmen Gomez-Lavin states that: "Sixty five percent of ladies who prematurely end endure side effects of post-traumatic anxiety disorder in the wake of experiencing the technique." Many ladies are lamenting that decision around the globe making it a disputable issue. Fetus removal can likewise come about into not having the capacity to get pregnant later on, many ailment's and even passing. Premature birth influences both casualties in unsafe and physical ways A last reason of why premature birth isn't right (out of many) is that it is viewed as severe murder. In 1982, Ronald Reagan stated: "Simple morality dictates that unless and until someone can prove the unborn human is not alive, we must give it the benefit of the doubt and assume it is (alive). And, thus, it should be entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happ iness." You are ending an existence and slaughtering a person. The infant is alive and not quite recently some 'gathering of cells' premature birth specialists call them. You are horrendously killing a tyke. It isn't right to think somebody has the ability to end an existence so hurtfully. Individuals who are expert decision have

Computer Of My Dream

Computer Of My Dream Computer of my dream First, I need a motherboard because it's like the backbone of the system, without a good motherboard it won't be able to support the CPU, the brain of the system, very well. I choose a Pentium 4 motherboard because I want to keep myself up to date and the ASAU brand is a popular one. Then I chose a Pentium 4 CPU for its speed, also because Intel is a well-known brand. I chose an expensive RAM product, made by HP, because I want top notch quality for the RAM as it is very important in a computer. For video card I chose a Voodoo 5500 PCI as it is recommended by many sites. For sound card I will just buy a cheap one because I don't think it's going to make a big difference in the sound quality. I am going to buy a hard drive with 60 gigabytes because I like to install a lot of software and download a lot of songs.The information technology sector was a significan...

The Difference Between an Informative Essay and a Descriptive Essay

The Difference Between an Informative Essay and a Descriptive Essay The Difference Between an Informative Essay and a Descriptive Essay Essays help gauge a writer’s understanding of a topic, and many teachers require students to submit them as part of their academic curriculum. Essays can improve both written and communication skills, improving a person’s spelling and grammar. In an academic setting, informative essays are usually the most likely to be assigned. However, they are often confused with descriptive essays; both communicate with their audience. Read on to understand the difference between an informative essay and a descriptive essay: Informative Essay This is a piece of writing that educates the reader about a specific topic. An informative essay takes a neutral stand, much like a journalism piece. It doesn’t present arguments or try to persuade the reader to change their opinions or beliefs. It presents facts. Descriptive Essay A descriptive essay gives the readers a vivid depiction of a person, event, object, or place. A good descriptive essay is not necessarily based on statistics and facts, but on an artistic representation of a specific topic. The goal is to give the reader a well-rounded impression of what you are trying to convey. How to Tell the Difference While it may seem difficult to differentiate between an informative essay and a descriptive one, they each have distinctive features: An informative essay is focused on research-based facts and statistics, while a descriptive essay allows the writer more artistic freedom of expression. An informative essay is strictly objective, while a descriptive essay may depend on the perception of the writer. For example, if you’re writing about about the history of Niagara Falls, it would be considered an informative essay. On the other hand, writing about the beauty of the Falls would be considered a descriptive piece. Essay-writing Tips Choose your topic When considering your essay topic, choose a subject you find interesting. A topic that is either too broad or difficult to cover may not be a good choice. Instead, narrow your subject to address a specific question or issue. This also keeps readers engaged and helps them understand what you’re trying to convey. Stay faithful to the essay type Knowing the difference between an informative and descriptive essay will help you comply with the assignment, ensuring that you have a greater understanding of the essay’s ultimate goal. When writing an informative essay, stick to well-researched facts. Review whether the sources you cite are reliable. When writing a descriptive essay, be creative with the words you use. Be mindful that everything is written correctly: review grammar, spelling, and word usage. Incorporate the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) when writing your descriptive piece. Edit your work more than once Your first draft will not be perfect, and that’s okay. Reread your piece and determine how it can be improved. You may wish to ask a trusted friend, fellow student, or loved one to go over what you’ve written to help determine areas that need strengthening. Some students find essay writing difficult, but when you’ve done your research and have chosen a topic that interests you, it can be enjoyable and informative. offers assistance with essay writing at any level.

Categories of Legitimate Reservation Term Paper

Categories of Legitimate Reservation - Term Paper Example However, every scientific experiment needs validation. The Categories of Legitimate Reservation are those set of rules, which validate or invalidate the relationship and connection between facts, hypothesis and conclusions. Their roots particularly lie in Aristotle’s logical fallacies (Dettmer, 2007). Broadly speaking, the purpose of the categories of Legitimate Reservation includes testing the validity of the cause and effect trees (Dettmer, 2007). The paper shall attempt to describe the eight categories of Legitimate Reservation and the application of these categories. Lastly, it shall examine the relationship between these categories. The first rule of testing the logic of any cause and effect tree includes clarity. For many people, miscommunication can result in less clarity. If the listener does not comprehend the speaker or understand the importance of the statement of the speaker, then there is no mutual agreement upon a certain factor (Dettmer, Year). This category demands more explanation of a certain fact so that the hypothesis can be validated easily. Clarity reservation, therefore, requires further explanation of a certain thing (Goldratt-TOC Ltd EU Home, n.d). For example, if the statement is, ‘It is hot in this room’. The statement is unclear because there is no ‘cause’ of the ‘effect’ of the level of temperature in the room. Therefore, the sentence requires clarity. The cause would perhaps include ‘It is hot in this room because the air conditioner is not working’. This is a complete statement. The existence of the entity forms the second CLR. If a certain statement is not fully complete or structurally sound or at the face value does not seem valid to the listener, then the entire logic is wrong. Therefore, for an entity to exist, it has to be complete and grammatically sound. The term â€Å"economic growth† cannot exist on its own.  

Write a report discussing The state of the graduate market now and Essay

Write a report discussing The state of the graduate market now and what prediction for the future when you graduate - Essay Example Although the employment rate may have reduced in the past few years, the resultant rise in salaries and the emphasis on better productivity of the human resource by the employers is giving a more economically sustainable perspective to the labor market. A number of surveys and researches carried out on the job market scenario for the Graduates of 2012 and the possible projections for the up-coming years point out the basic factors on which recruitment in today’s market depends. The general scenario for graduates appears to show a decrease in job openings, with a significant raise in starting salaries for graduates, hired on the basis of student experiences acquired prior to completion of the degree course. Among these, the number of job openings in comparison to the number of graduates joining the job hunt is the greatest determination factor for the level of competition present. After the major decrease of job vacancies in 2008 and 2009 by 6.7% and 17.8% respectively as a resultant of the recession, the general trend for graduate job openings has improved in the past two years. Consequently, it is expected that the job market of 2012 will supply a 6.4% increase in the U.K. (H.E.C.S.U & HighFliers Research Limited, 2012), 3% being graduate job openings. This figure, however, is the lowest since the economy recovered from the crisis in 2010. Therefore, in spite of the apparent increase in the number of jobs form the last year, there are other factors which have impeded the growth. While evaluating the unemployment rate, it is essential to take into account the rising number of graduates competing for the available jobs. According to the latest publication of The Graduate Market in 2012 by Higher Education Career Services Unit (H.E.C.S.U), a single job vacancy attracts an average of 83 applications (H.E.C.S.U & HighFliers Research Limited, 2012). Furthermore, the rise of the Global Unemployment Rate has not resumed to the original level of 5.5% in 2008,

Mental Health Care for Latin Americans Essay Example for Free

Mental Health Care for Latin Americans Essay Abstract The Hispanic population in the United States has rapidly increased over the last decade and is underrepresented and cared for in mental health services. By understanding their culture and learning about the environment they live in therapists can better meet the patient’s needs. This paper covers Historical content, Family structure, Education, Rates of Psychiatric Disorders symptoms, and what to do as a therapist for Latino/Hispanic clients. Also discussed will be some research showing patterns of mental health changes between Hispanics that were born in America and those that were born in South America. This paper shouldn’t end your study in this area but serve as a motivator for further education. Mental Health Care for Latin Americans and Hispanic Americans When learning to counsel Latin/Hispanic Americans it is important to know a few facts about their culture and rates of mental illness. There are a few cultural bonds shared be Latin/Hispanic Americans. One of the biggest bonds is the Spanish language. The Spanish language and culture are common bonds for many Hispanic Americans, regardless of whether they trace their ancestry to Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Americas. The immigrant experience is another common bond. Nevertheless, Hispanic Americans are very heterogeneous in the circumstances of their migration and in other characteristics. To understand their mental health needs, it is important to examine both the shared and unique experiences of different groups of Hispanic Americans. One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the Hispanic/ Latin American population is its rapid growth. In the 2000 census the number of Hispanics counted rose to 35. 3 million, roughly equal to the number of African Americans (U. S. Census Bureau, 2001a). In fact, census projections indicate that by 2050, the number of Latinos will increase to 97 million; this number will constitute nearly one-fourth of the U. S. population. Projections for the proportion of Hispanic youth are even higher. It is predicted that nearly one-third of those under 19 years of age will be Hispanic by 2050 (Spencer Hollmann, 1998). Persons of Mexican origin comprise the largest proportion of Latinos (almost two-thirds), with the remaining third distributed primarily among persons of Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central American origin, (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001b). It is noteworthy that nearly two-thirds of Hispanics (64 %) were born in the United States (U. S. Census Bureau, 2000c). Another common bond is migration or immigration. Puerto Ricans began arriving in large numbers on the U. S. mainland after World War II as Puerto Ricos population increased. High unemployment among displaced agricultural workers on the island also led to large-scale emigration to the mainland United States that continued through the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1980s, the migration pattern became more circular as many Puerto Ricans chose to return to the island. One distinctive characteristic of Puerto Rican migration is that the second Organic Act, or Jones Act, of 1917 granted Puerto Ricans U. S. citizenship. Although Cubans came to the United States in the second half of the 19th century and in the early part of the 20th century, the greatest influx of Cuban immigrants began after Fidel Castro overthrew the Fulgencio Batista government in 1959. First, an elite group of Cubans came, but immigration continued with people making the dangerous crossing to the United States by makeshift watercraft (Bernal Shapiro, 1996). Some of these immigrants, such as the educated professionals who came to the United States during the early phase of Cuban migration, have become well established, where-as others who arrived with few economic resources are less so. Unlike immigrants from several other countries, many Cubans have gained access to citizenship and federal support through their status as political refugees. Central Americans are the newest Latino subgroup in the United States. Many Central Americans fled their countries â€Å"por la situacion†, a phrase that refers to the political terror and atrocities in their homelands. Although the specific social, historical, and political contexts differ in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, conflicts in those countries led to a significant immigration of their citizens. About 21 percent of foreign-born Central Americans arrived in the United States between 1970 and 1979, and the bulk (about 70 %) arrived between 1980 and 1990 (Farias, 1994). The circumstances that caused various Hispanic groups to migrate greatly influence their experience in the United States. Cubans fled a Communist government, and, as a result, the U. S. Government has provided support through refugee or entrant status, work permits (Gil Vega, 1996), and citizenship. More than half (51 %) of Cuban immigrants have become U. S. citizens, compared to only 15 percent of Mexican immigrants (U. S. Census Bureau, 1998). Puerto Ricans, whether born on the mainland or in Puerto Rico, are by definition U. S. citizens and, as a result, have access to government-sponsored support services. However many Central American immigrants are not recognized as political refugees, despite the fact that the war-related trauma and terror that preceded their immigration may place them at high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may make adjustment to their new home more difficult. Many Latinos who arrive without proper documentation have difficulty obtaining jobs or advancing in them and live with the chronic fear of deportation. Finally, many Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Central Americans, and recent Cuban immigrants come as unskilled laborers or displaced agricultural workers who lack the social and economic resources to ease their adjustment. Hispanics are highly concentrated in the U. S. Southwest In 2000, 60 percent lived in five Southwestern States (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas). Approximately half of all Hispanic Americans live in two States, California and Texas (U. S. Census Bureau, 2001b). While many Southwestern Latinos are recent immigrants, others are descendants of Mexican and Spanish settlers who lived in the territory before it belonged to the United States. Some of these descendants, particularly those in New Mexico and Colorado, refer to themselves as Hispanos. More recent immigrants from Mexico and Central America are drawn to the Southwest because of its proximity to their home countries, its employment opportunities, and its established Latino communities, which can help them, find jobs. Outside the Southwest, New York, Florida, and Illinois are home to the largest concentrations of Hispanics. New York has 8. 1 percent, Florida, 7. 6 percent, and Illinois, 4. 3 percent of all the Latinos estimated to reside in the United States in 2000 (U. S. Census Bureau, 2001b). Two-thirds of Puerto Ricans on the mainland live in New York and New Jersey, and two-thirds of Cuban Americans live in Florida (Population Reference Bureau, 2000). Although specific subgroups of Latinos are associated with specific geographical regions, important demographic shifts have resulted in the increased visibility of Latinos throughout the United States. From 1990 to 2000, Latinos more than doubled in number in the following six states: Arkansas (170 %), Nevada (145 %), North Carolina (129 %), Georgia (120 %), Nebraska (108 %), and Tennessee (105 %) (U. S. Census Bureau, 2000c). Of the six States, Nevada is the only one located in a region with traditionally high concentrations of Latinos. Thus, in addition to growing in numbers, Hispanic Americans are spreading throughout the United States. Latinos are often referred to as family oriented (Sabogal et al. , 1987). It is important to note that familism is as much a reflection of social processes as of cultural practice (Lopez Guarnaccia, 2000). Specifically, the shared experience of immigrating to a new land or of experiencing difficult social conditions in ones homeland can promote adherence to family ties. In many cases, family connections facilitate survival and adjustment. The importance of family can be seen in Hispanic living arrangements. Although family characteristics vary by Latino subgroups, as a whole, Latinos, like Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, are most likely to live in family households and least likely to live alone. In addition, children (especially the females) tend to remain in the family until they marry Overall, Hispanics have less formal education than the national average. Of Latinos over 25 years of age, only 56 percent have graduated from high school, and only 11 percent have graduated from college. Nationally, 83 percent and 25 percent of the same age group have graduated from high school and college respectively (U. S. Census Bureau, 2000b). Hispanics educational attainment is related to their place of birth. In 1999, only 44 percent of foreign-born Hispanic adults 25 years and older were high school graduates, compared to 70 percent of U. S. -born Hispanic adults (U. S. Census Bureau, 2000b). The dropout rate for foreign-born Hispanics ages 16 to 24 is more than twice the dropout rate for U. S. -born Hispanics in the same age range (Kaufman et al. , 1999). A recent study of middle school Latino students questions why foreign-born adolescents and adults have the worst educational outcomes (C. Suarez-Orozco M. Suarez-Orozco, 1995). The study concluded that recent immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador had at least the same, or in some cases greater motivation to achieve than white or U. S. -born Mexican American students. The educational achievement of three of the main Hispanic subgroups reveals further variability. Cubans have the highest percentage of formally educated people. Of persons over 25 years of age, 70 percent of Cuban Americans have graduated from high school, whereas 64 percent of Puerto Ricans and 50 percent of Mexican Americans have graduated from high school (U. S.Census Bureau, 2000d). Moreover, one-fourth of Cuban Americans have graduated from college, which is identical to the college graduation rate of Americans overall. In contrast, Puerto Rican and Mexican-origin adults have lower college graduation rates, 11 percent and 7 percent respectively. Although Latinos as a group have poorer educational outcomes than other ethnic groups, there is sufficient variability to offer hope for them to catch up. Another shared area is income. The economic status of three of the main subgroups parallels their educational status. Cuban Americans are more affluent in standing than Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans, as reflected in median family incomes (Cubans, $39,530; Puerto Ricans, $28,953; Mexicans, $27,883), the percentage of persons below the poverty line (Puerto Ricans, 31 %; Mexicans, 27 %; Cubans, 14 %) and the unemployment rates of persons 16 years and older (Puerto Ricans, 7 %; Mexicans, 7 %; Cubans, 5 %) (U. S. Census Bureau, 2000d). The current income levels of the Latino subgroups are also related to the political and historical circumstances of their immigration. Elite Cuban immigrants have contributed in part to the relatively strong economic status of Cuban Americans. Their experience, however, stands in stark contrast to that of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Central Americans, most of who came to the United States as unskilled laborers. Historical and Sociocultural Factors That Relate to Mental Health Historical and sociocultural factors suggest that, as a group, Latinos are in great need of mental health services. Latinos, on average, have relatively low educational and economic status. In addition, historical and social subgroup differences create differential needs within Latino groups. Central Americans may be in particular need of mental health services given the trauma experienced in their home countries. Puerto Rican and Mexican American children and adults may be at a higher risk than Cuban Americans for mental health problems, given their lower educational and economic resources. Recent immigrants of all backgrounds, who are adapting to the United States, are likely to experience a different set of stressors than long-term Hispanic residents. Key Issues for Understanding the Research Much of our current understanding of the mental health status of Latinos, particularly among adult populations, is derived from epidemiological studies of prevalence rates of mental disorders, diagnostic entities established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM; American Psychiatric Association, 1994). The advantage of focusing on rates of disorders is that such findings can be compared with and contrasted to findings from studies in other domains (e. g. , clinical studies) using the same diagnostic criteria. Although there are several advantages to examining DSM-based clinical data, there are at least three disadvantages. One limitation is that individuals may experience considerable distress-a level of distress that disrupts their daily functioning-but the symptoms associated with the distress fall short of a given diagnostic threshold. So, if only disorder criteria are used, some individuals need for mental health care may not be recognized. A second disadvantage is that the current definitions of the diagnostic entities have little flexibility to take into account culturally patterned forms of distress and disorder. As a result, disorders in need of treatment may not be recognized or may be mislabeled. A third limitation is that most of the epidemiological studies using the disorder-based definitions are conducted in community household surveys. They fail to include nonhousehold members, such as persons without homes or those who reside in institutions. Because of these limitations, it is important to broaden the review of research on mental health needs to include not only studies that report on disorders but include high-need populations not usually included in household-based surveys. Mental Disorders Adults A study found that Mexican Americans and white Americans had very similar rates of psychiatric disorders (Robins Regier, 1991). However, when the Mexican American group was separated into two sub-groups, those born in Mexico and those born in the United States, it was found that those born in the United States had higher rates of depression and phobias than those born in Mexico (Burnam et al. , 1987). The study found that relative to whites, Mexican Americans had fewer lifetime disorders overall and fewer anxiety and substance use disorders. Like some other findings, Mexican Americans born outside the United States were found to have lower prevalence rates of any lifetime disorders than Mexican Americans born in the United States. Relative to whites, the lifetime prevalence rates did not differ for Puerto Ricans, or for Other Hispanics. However, the sample sizes of the latter two subgroups were quite small, thus limiting the statistical power to detect group differences (Ortega et al. , 2000). A third study examined rates of psychiatric disorders in a large sample of Mexican Americans residing in Fresno County, California (Vega et al. , 1998). This study found that the lifetime rates of mental disorders among Mexican American immigrants born in Mexico were remarkably lower than the rates of mental disorders among Mexican Americans born in the United States. Overall, approximately 25 percent of the Mexican immigrants had some disorder (including both mental disorders and substance abuse), whereas 48 percent of the U. S. -born Mexican Americans had a disorder (Vega et al. , 1998). Furthermore, the length of time that these Latinos had spent in the United States appeared to be an important factor in the development of mental disorders. Immigrants who had lived in the United States for at least 13 years had higher prevalence rates of disorders than those who had lived in the United States fewer than 13 years (Vega et al. , 1998). It is interesting to note that the mental disorder prevalence rates of U. S. -born Mexican Americans closely resembled the rates among the general U.S. population. In contrast, the Mexican-born Fresno residents lower prevalence rates were similar to those found in a Mexico City study (e. g. , for any affective disorder: Fresno, 8 %, Mexico City, 9 %) (Caraveo-Anduaga et al. , 1999). Together, the results from the ECA, the NCS, and the Fresno studies suggest that Mexican-born Latinos have better mental health than do U. S. -born Mexican Americans and the national sample overall. A similar pattern has been found in other sets of studies. One study examined the mental health of Mexicans and Mexican Americans who were seen in family practice settings in two towns equidistant from the Mexican border (Hoppe et al. , 1991). This investigation found that 8 percent of the Mexican American participants had experienced a lifetime episode of depression, whereas only 4 percent of Mexican participants had experienced depression. The most striking finding from the set of adult epidemiological studies using diagnostic measures is that Mexican immigrants, Mexican immigrants who lived fewer than 13 years in the United States, or Puerto. Ricans who resided on the island of Puerto Rico had lower prevalence rates of depression and other disorders than did Mexican Americans who were born in the United States, Mexican immigrants who lived in the United States 13 years or more, or Puerto Ricans who lived on the mainland. This consistent pattern of findings across independent investigators, different sites, and two Latino subgroups (Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans) suggests that factors associated with living in the United States are related to an increased risk of mental disorders. Some authors have interpreted these findings as suggesting that acculturation may lead to an increased risk of mental disorders e. g. , Vega et al. , 1998. The limitation of this explanation is that none of the noted epidemiological studies directly tested whether acculturation and prevalence rates are indeed related. At best, place of birth and numbers of years living in the United States are proxy measures of acculturation. However, acculturation is a complex process (LaFromboise et al. , 1993); it is not clear what aspect or aspects of acculturation could be related to higher rates of disorders. Is it the changing cultural values and practices, the stressors associated with such changes, or negative encounters with American institutions (e. g. , schools or employers) that cause some of the different prevalence rates (Betancourt Lopez, 1993)? Before acculturation can be accepted as an explanation for this observed pattern of findings, it is important that direct tests of specific acculturation processes be carried out and that alternative explanations for these findings be ruled out. More research would be especially helpful in identifying the key predictors of Latinos mental health and mental illness. Older Adults Few studies have examined the mental health status of older Hispanic American adults. A study of 703 Los Angeles area Hispanics age 60 or above found over 26 percent had major depression or dysphoria. Depression was related to physical health; only 5. 5 percent of those without physical health complications reported depression (Kemp et al. , 1987). Similar findings associated chronic health conditions and disability with depressive symptoms in a sample of 2,823 older community-dwelling Mexican Americans (Black et al. , 1998). The findings from in-home interviews of 2,723 Mexican Americans age 65 or older in Southwestern communities revealed a relationship between low blood pressure and higher levels of depressive symptomatology (Stroup-Benham et al. , 2000). These data are somewhat difficult to interpret. Given the fact that somatic symptoms (e. g. , difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite) are related to poor health, these studies could simply document that these somatic symptoms are elevated among older Hispanics who are ill. On the other hand, presence of physical illness is also related to depression. Taken together, these findings indicate that older Latin/Hispanics who have health problems may be at risk for depression. Furthermore, a recent study suggests that the risk for Alzheimers disease may be higher among Latin/Hispanic Americans than among white Americans (Tang et al. , 1998). Symptoms The early epidemiological studies of Latinos/Hispanics examined the number of symptoms, not the number of mental disorders, reported by groups of Latin/ Hispanic Americans, and in some cases compared them to the number of symptoms reported by white Americans. Much of this research found that Latinos/Hispanics had higher rates of depression or distress than whites Frerichs et al. , 1981. In a large-scale study of Latin/ Hispanics Americans, Cuban Americans (Narrow et al. , 1990) and Mexican Americans (Moscicki et al. , 1989) were found to have lower rates of depressive symptoms than Puerto Ricans from the New York City metropolitan area Moscicki et al. , 1987; Potter et al. , 1995. In another line of inquiry, Latin/Hispanic American mothers who have children with mental retardation were found to report high levels of depressive symptomatology. It is important to note that measures of symptoms may reflect actual disorders that may not be measured in a given study, as well as general distress associated with social stressors but not necessarily associated with disorders. Two studies provide evidence that depressive symptom indices used with Latinos tend to measure distress more than disorder. In one study, rates of depressive symptoms were found to be similar among poor Puerto Ricans living in New York City and in Puerto Rico (Vera et al. , 1991), even though earlier analyses indicated different rates of major depression for the two samples Canino et al., 1987; Moscicki et al. , 1987. In the second study, symptoms of depression were less related to diagnosis of depression for those Hispanics who were economically disadvantaged than for those Hispanics more socially advantaged (Cho et al. , 1993). If an index of depressive symptoms were an indicator of both general distress and disorder, then that index would have been related to a diagnosis of depression for both economically advantaged and disadvantaged samples. Culture-Bound Syndromes DSM-IV recognizes the existence of culturally related syndromes, referred to in the appendix of DSM as culture-bound syndromes. Relevant examples of these syndromes for Latin/Hispanic Americans are â€Å"susto† (fright), â€Å"nervios† (nerves), and â€Å"mal de ojo† (evil eye). One expression of distress that is most commonly associated with Caribbean Latinos but has been recognized in other Latinos as well is â€Å"ataques de nervios† (Guarnaccia et al. , 1989). Symptoms of an ataque de nervios include screaming uncontrollably, crying, trembling, and verbal or physical aggression. Dissociative experiences, seizure-like or fainting episodes, and suicidal gestures are also prominent in some ataques. In one study carried out in Puerto Rico, researchers found that 14 percent of the population reported having had ataques (Guarnaccia et al. , 1993). Furthermore, in detailed interviews of 121 individuals living in Puerto Rico (78 of who had had an ataque), experiencing these symptoms was related to major life problems and subsequent psychological suffering (Guarnaccia et al. , 1996). There is value in identifying specific culture-bound syndromes such as ataques de nervios because it is critical to recognize the existence of conceptions of distress and illness outside traditional psychiatric classification systems. These are often referred to as popular, lay, or common sense conceptions of illness or illness behavior (Koss-Chioino Canive, 1993). Some of these popular conceptions may have what appear to be definable boundaries, while others are more fluid and cut across a wide range of symptom clusters. For example, many people of Mexican origin apply the more general concept of nervios to distress that is not associated with DSM disorders, as well as to distress that is associated with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders (Salgado de Snyder et al., 2000), and schizophrenia (Jenkins, 1988). Though it is valuable for researchers and clinicians alike to learn about specific culture-bound syndromes, it is more important that they assess variable local representations of illness and distress. The latter approach casts a wider net around understanding the role of culture in illness and distress. In the following quote, Koss-Chioino (1992) (page 198) points out that a given presenting problem can have multiple levels of interpretation: the mental health view, the folk healing view (in this case, spiritist), and the patients view. The same woman, during one episode of illness, may experience depression in terms of hallucinations, poor or excessive appetite, memory problems, and feelings of sadness or depression, if she presents to a mental health clinic; or, alternatively, in terms of backaches, leg aches, and fear, if she attends a Spiritist session. However, she will probably experience headaches, sleep disturbances, and nervousness regardless of the resource she uses. If we encounter her at the mental health clinic, she may explain her distress as due to disordered or out-of-control mind, behavior, or lifestyle. In the Spiritist session she will probably have her distress explained as an obsession. And if we encounter her before she seeks help from either of these treatment resources, she may describe her problems as due to difficulties with her husband or children. Individuals with Alcohol and Drug Problems Studies have consistently shown that rates of substance abuse are linked with rates of mental disorders (Kessler et al. , 1996). Most studies of alcohol use among Hispanics indicate that rates of use are either similar to or slightly below those of whites (Kessler et al. , 1994). However, two factors influence these rates. First, gender differences in rates of Latinos use are often greater than the gender differences observed between whites. Latinas are particularly unlikely to use alcohol or drugs (Gilbert, 1987). In some cases, Latino men are more likely to use substances than white men. For example, in the Los Angeles ECA study, Mexican American men (31 %) had significantly higher rates of alcohol abuse and dependence than non-Hispanic white men (21 %). In addition, more alcohol-related problems have been found among Mexican American men than among white men (Cunradi et al., 1999). A second factor associated with Latinos rates of substance abuse is place of birth. In the Fresno study (Vega et al. , 1998), rates of substance abuse were much higher among U. S. -born Mexican Americans compared to Mexican immigrants. Specifically, substance abuse rates were seven times higher among U. S. -born women compared to immigrant women. For men, the ratio was 2 to 1. U. S. -born Mexican American youth also had higher rates of substance abuse than Mexican-born youth (Swanson et al. , 1992). The study of mental disorders and substance abuse among Latinos suggests two specific types of strengths that Latinos may have. First, as noted, Latino adults who are immigrants have lower prevalence rates of mental disorders than those born in the United States. Among the competing explanations of these findings is that Latino immigrants may be particularly resilient in the face of the hardships they encounter in settling in a new country. If this is the case, then the identification of what these immigrants do to reduce the likelihood of mental disorders could be of value for all Americans. One of many possible factors that might contribute to their resilience is what Suarez-Orozco and Suarez-Orozco (1995) refer to as a dual frame of reference. Investigators found that Latino immigrants in middle-school frequently used their families back home as reference points in assessing their lives in the United States. Given that the social and economic conditions are often much worse in their homelands than in the United States, they may experience less distress in handling the stressors of their daily lives than those who lack such a basis of comparison. U. S. -born Latinos are more likely to compare themselves with their peers in the United States. Suarez-Orozco and Suarez-Orozco argue that these Latino children are more aware of what they do not have and thus may experience more distress. A second factor noted by the Suarez-Orozcos that might be related to the resilience of Latino immigrants is their high aspiration to succeed. Particularly noteworthy is that many Latinos want to succeed in order to help their families, rather than for their own personal benefit. Because the Suarez-Orozcos did not include measures of mental health, it is not certain whether their observations about school achievement apply to mental health. Nevertheless, a dual frame of reference and collective achievement goals are part of a complex set of psychological, cultural, and social factors that may explain why some Latino immigrants function better than Latinos of later generations. A second type of strength noted in the literature is how Latino families cope with mental illness. Guarnaccia and colleagues (1992) found that some families draw on their spirituality to cope with a relatives serious mental illness. Strong beliefs in God give some family members a sense of hope. For example, in reference to her brothers mental illness, one of the informants commented: We all have an invisible doctor that we do not see, no? This doctor is God. Always when we go in search of a medicine, we go to a doctor, but we must keep in mind that this doctor is inspired by God and that he will give us something that will help us. We must also keep in mind that who really does the curing is God, and that God can cure us of anything that we have, material or spiritual. (p. 206) Jenkins (1988) found that many Mexican Americans attributed their relatives schizophrenia to nervios, a combination of both physical and emotional ailments. An important point here is that nervios implies that the patient is not blameworthy, and thus family members are less likely to be critical. Previous studies from largely non-Hispanic samples have found that both family criticism and family blame and criticism together (Lopez et al., 1999) are associated with relapse in patients with schizophrenia. Mexican American families living with a relative who has schizophrenia are not only less likely to be critical, but also those who are Spanish-speaking immigrants have been found to be high in warmth. This is important because those patients who returned from a hospital stay to a family high in warmth were less likely to relapse than those who returned to families low in warmth. Thus, Mexican American families warmth may help protect the relative with schizophrenia from relapse. The spirituality of Latino families, their conceptions of mental illness and their warmth all contribute to the support they give in coping with serious mental illness. Although limited, the attention given to Latinos possible strengths is an important contribution to the study of Latino mental health. Strengths are protective factors against distress and disorder and can be used to develop interventions to prevent mental disorders and to promote well-being. Such interventions could be used to inform interventions for all Americans, not just Latinos. In addition, redirecting attention to strengths helps point out the overemphasis researchers and practitioners give to pathology, clinical entities, and treatment, rather than to health, well-being, and prevention. Availability of Mental Health Services Finding mental health treatment from Spanish-speaking providers is likely to be a problem for many Spanish-speaking Hispanics. In the 1990 census, about 40 percent of Latinos reported that they either didnt speak English or didnt speak English well. Thus, a significant proportion of Latinos need. Spanish-speaking mental health care providers. Presently there are no national data to indicate the language skills of the Nations mental health professionals. However, a few studies reveal that there are few Spanish-speaking and Latino providers. One survey of 1,507 school psychologists who carry out psychoeducational assessments of bilingual children in the eight States with the highest percentages of Latinos found that 43 percent of the psychologists identified themselves as English-speaking monolinguals (Ochoa et al. , 1996). In other words, a large number of Engli.

Literature Review: Open Visitations in ICU Oksana Bjorlie Walden Univer

Literature Review: Open Visitations in ICU Studies have shown that open ICU visitation is an asset rather than a hindrance with respect to a patient’s wellbeing. Since the 1950s, visiting has changed from a strict nurse-controlled regime to a more flexible patient-centered approach (Taylor, 2008, p. 30). Family inclusion in patient care is evolving into a collaborative model between patient, family and healthcare providers. In response to this collaboration of patient and family-centered care (PFCC), this method has been encouraged in order to achieve the most beneficial outcomes for patients and their families. Open visitation in the ICU should be encouraged, not because of the pressure of growing social awareness, but because it can provide comprehensive responses to the needs of patients and their families. Many studies are being conducted on this subject garnering a great deal of support prompting the implementation of PFCC, which encourages open visitation in ICU. The following is a brief summary of research studies concerning the current state of knowledge related to the promotion and benefits of open visitation in the ICU. Literature Sources The main purpose of conducting a literature review is to obtain the most usable and reliable studies that pertain to the topic of the interest. High reliability and quality of evidence-based studies are provided by filtered sources. For my review I was able to find systematic reviews and individual articles. All of these reviews pertain to the dilemma of open visitation vs. restricted visitation in Intensive Care Units. With multiple views from different perspectives I was able to utilize the comparison and trials approaches. Also, to prepare for this project I was able to utilize unf... ...ithin the context of patient- and family- centered care. International Journal of Evidence Based Healthcare, 9: 362-387. doi:10.1111/j.1744-1609.2011.00229.x Clarke, C., Harrison, D. (2001). The needs of children visiting on adult ICU: a review of the literature and recommendations for practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 34(1), 61-68. Giannini, A. (2007). Open intensive care units: the case in favor. Minerva Anestesiologica, 73(5), 299-304. Hoye, S., Severinsson, E. (2007). Methodological aspects of rigor in qualitative nursing research on families involved in ICU: A literature review. Nursing and Health Sciences, 9, 61-68 doi:10.1111/j.14422018.2007.00300.x Taylor, A. (2008). Exploring patient, visitor and staff views on open visiting. Nursing Times, 104, 30-33.

The Occupy Wall Street Movement

The Occupy Wall Street Movement The Occupy Wall Street Movement is a movement that has garnered extensive popularity in the last few months. The movement has been covered by all the major news agencies and magazines of our time and is considered to be an iconic representative of the unrest that is steadily accumulating and reaching bursting point in the masses. The movement has been the subject of countless debates that have sought to determine if the movement is justified or if it is an exploitation of the freedom of free speech and the right to protest.The discussion will highlight the moral and economic implications involved in the movement; while analyzing (with support from examples and evidence) each of the implications identified above against the utilitarian, Kantian, and virtue ethics to determine which theory best applies to the movement. In order to do so adequately, the discussion will explore who is responsible for income inequality and wealth distribution in the U. S. T his will be followed by the suggestion of an equitable outcome from the movement that would be appropriate for our capitalistic society.The discussion will come to a conclusion by predicting whether the movement will continue, fad away, or turn into something else. Occupy Wall Street Movement was a movement that began as a result of social unrest amongst the masses. It is perhaps because of the same reason that the Occupy Wall Street Movement was frequently supported with slogans that sought to highlight the fact that the masses were behind the movement. The moral and economic implications behind the movie are diverse (Klein, 2011).Firstly, the moral implications are apparent in the fact that the protestors have been recorded to engage in numerous unethical protest practices during the Occupy Wall Street Movement. In addition, there is a need to understand the fact that the Occupy Wall Street Movement is essentially a protest that is looking to bring about a radical change at an equ ally radical pace. Change management principles make it clear that change can never be expected to yield a positive outcome when it takes place with such a sudden intensity (Rushkoff, 2011).In fact, if the demands of the Occupy Wall Street Movement are to be met and implemented, it would be only fair to expect a complete collapse of economy since the demands will require radical changes that will leave economic elements incompatible with the functioning of the global economy. Occupy Wall Street Movement demands that wealth is distributed adequately and justly, but common sense dictates that if wealth has indeed been siphoned off to a select few in the last few decades, then it is unreasonable to expect that the situation will turn around within a few weeks or a few months (Jones, 2011).The rationale behind the Occupy Wall Street Movement may be reasonable and just in its own right, but the demands that the movement is propagating cannot possibly be considered applicable. In fact, th e moral nature of the Occupy Wall Street Movement is that which is similar to the morals of a kidnapping. In essence, a threat of civil conflict has been created and is being used to blackmail the authorities into a position where it seems they must comply with the demands of the movement.In addition, the large numbers in which the Occupy Wall Street Movement executes its protests also closely resembles the same dynamics that one would expect to find in a mob. The scary thing about that is a mob can be reasonably expected to go astray at any moment and cause widespread damage. The distribution of wealth, which is widely considered to be unfair by movements such as the Occupy Wall Street Movement, is a process that took place over a period of time that spans decades.Organizations matured and expanded as each new individual who came and went from the corridor of economic power played out his/her part. Some feel policies were formed and amended with the passage of time in order to crea te the set of circumstances that (in retrospect) appear to be clearly responsible for ensuring that wealth remains in the hands of a limited few. In addition, it is also perceived that the unjustified and biased distribution of wealth is also a sign of corruption. The current form of the economic system has been developed as a result of centuries of experience (Stewart, 2011).The policies and regulations that constitute this economic system have been developed after careful consideration of the experiences and expertise that have been collected during the past. As a result, there are mechanisms that may appear to be redundant at first sight but are actually in place to prevent the incidence of events that led to unwanted and disastrous consequences in the past. It is because of this reason that an alteration in today's economic system cannot be allowed unless there are sound and undeniable grounds for the amendment.The Occupy Wall Street Movement calls for a revisiting of the econom ic system in order to benefit the masses that have not benefited from it in the last century. The movement identifies that the current economic system has done little more than ensure that wealth and monetary proficiency remains in the hands of a selected segment. In the same vein, the Occupy Wall Street Movement cites corruption, greed, intentional social inequality and other such elements to be the cause of the unjust distribution of wealth.The Occupy Wall Street Movement has a near infinite supply of motivation since a large volume of the individuals who support it are those who consider that they have been treated unfairly, and that they have not been given the rights that were due to them. In addition, the individuals who found and support Occupy Wall Street Movement also perceive that they were stripped of what they have earned. Such individuals continue to drive the Occupy Wall Street Movement and other movements that have taken root from it (Watson, 2012).There are now count less movements spread out across the globe with similar mandates and procedures. They have objectives for which they hold protests when they believe that they have been wronged. There is a need to understand that there is no immediate plan that can be implemented to make things better for this group of people. There is no gun-shot solution that can be applied to the scenario in an attempt to better the condition of the individuals who perceive that they have been wronged.A more adequate solution would be one in which the protestors taking part in the Occupy Wall Street Movement organize and utilize their combined expertise and experience to form an organization that serves as a watch-dog and fights for cases in which individuals have been deprived of their rights to a prosperous life. If the members of the Occupy Wall Street Movement have reservations against the manner in which the corporate kings are running the show, then sitting on the street is not the right way to go about it. The people taking part in the Occupy Wall Street Movement need to realize that if they fantasize about bringing a major change in the way society functions. This will not happen through protests and/or strikes. There is a need for organization, direction and formalization so that changes in the system can be made the right way. This discussion will attempt to present a holistic elaboration of the Occupy Wall Street Movement and the characteristics of the movement that merit consideration.The above discussion shows that the Occupy Wall Street Movement may have its heart in the right place but it is not going about its objectives in an adequate fashion. The movement needs to revisit its modus operandi. In essence, the people running the â€Å"Occupy Wall Street Movement† are misguided if they think that Wall Street can be occupied by sitting on the Wall Street side-walks. The current financial and economic system that is functioning in the US shares cause-and-effect variables w ith countless international connections.A single change in the US economy has an extensive chain reaction in the most ordinary of circumstances. As a result, it will not come as a surprise to some if the Occupy Wall Street Movement eventually fades away after a few years. Other movements may sprout from it, but the movement itself will cease to exist since the present system demands a formal and proper approach to the resolution of reservations; which is something that the Occupy Wall Street Movement is not following at the moment. The mandate is there, but the method is not. References Jones, J. M. (2011).Most Americans Uncertain About â€Å"Occupy Wall Street† Goals. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from Gallup, Inc. : http://www. gallup. com/poll/150164/americans-uncertain-occupy-wall-street-goals. aspx Klein, E. (2011). ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protests gain steam, but movement’s goals remain unclear. Retrieved November 15, 2012, from The Washington Post: http ://www. washingtonpost. com/business/occupy-wall-street-protests-gain-steam-but-movements-goals-remain-unclear/2011/10/03/gIQAjZNjIL_story. html Rushkoff, D. (2011). Think Occupy Wall St. is a phase? You don't get it.Retrieved November 15, 2012, from Cable News Network: http://edition. cnn. com/2011/10/05/opinion/rushkoff-occupy-wall-street/index. html Stewart, J. B. (2011). An Uprising With Plenty of Potential. Retrieved Novembe 14, 2012, from The New York Times Company: http://www. nytimes. com/2011/11/19/business/occupy-wall-street-has-plenty-of-potential. html? _r=0 Watson, T. (2012). Occupy Wall Street's Year: Three Outcomes for the History Books. Retrieved November 14, 2012, from Forbes. com LLC: http://www. forbes. com/sites/tomwatson/2012/09/17/occupy-wall-streets-year/

Team Role Paper

Team Role Paper Learning Team A COM100: Introduction to Communication Jan Bozwell, instructor Team Roles Working in teams can be a tricky task for a good majority of people, but being able to designate roles to each team member can help promote the teams effectiveness, cohesion and advance the project completion. Designating roles for the members of a group can increase effectiveness because it helps cater specific roles to a specific need that supports the team’s collaborative effort. Some roles that help in this effort are the leadership role, the encourager, analyst, and a secretary.Each role has a certain responsibility that can ensure success and effectiveness. The leader is one of the most important roles, the leader helps keep the group on task; he/she maintains the schedule of meetings, and deadlines. The encourager helps guide the discussion to maintain a forward momentum. The analyst is the facts checker; their main responsibility is to make sure that information is correct (Indiana University: Bloomington,  2012). The final role belongs to the secretary, this person’s responsibility is to make sure ideas are recorded and submitted on time.Each designated role plays a major part in the effectiveness of the team’s final project. Effectiveness of a group is paramount in keeping a group on track and maintaining a deadline, but cohesion can be just as important for a team. By assigning roles to individual team members, you’re building cohesion. Individuals possess a variety of strengths and weaknesses which can often complement each other in a team setting. The strengths of one team member may help balance the weaknesses of another. By splitting a project into smaller tasks based on individual strengths, team members are forced to trust and rely on one another to omplete parts of the project. When tasks overlap or are ready to come together, communication between team members helps create unity as the team works toward a comm on goal. Giving roles to members of a team also creates a sense of ownership and pride in the overall project. When individuals are invested in a project, they are naturally drawn closer to others with a similar goal. According to Stahl (2012), â€Å"Working together, each bringing our gifts and not only valuing, but seeking those of others enables us to create the best possible solutions. † (p. 6) When people see the value others are able to provide to the quality of a project, a mutual sense of accomplishment brings them together. Being able to bring team members together on a project they feel pride in, allows for the best possible work to be put forth. But, not only does taking pride help, but effective meetings and an equal share of responsibility helps keep the team on task. Assigning roles and responsibilities in a team is essential for project completion. When a team leader wants to achieve excellence with the group, the selection of tasks will be optimized if they us e all of the member’s experiences and skills.The single most important goal in team success is having effective team meetings. Team meetings create responsibilities for team members so they are up to date on the project deadline. The more communication and the more goal oriented a team is, the better the outcome of the project. Kennedy (2008) says, it is always important to maintain focus and create responsibilities for the task and team. When these responsibilities and roles are established it creates common expectations. A timeline is essential as well, as far as setting date on completing projects and checking in.Successes of projects come with being responsible, and communication within a team. Being able to designate roles can help tremendously, allowing a team to complete their assignment promptly and efficiently. Team members are more engaged when they have a clear outline of the work at hand, and what is expected of them. As well as feeling like they’re part of the finished product, no matter what their role turned out to be. By focusing on individual strengths, sharing the work load and allowing for equal input, you push team cohesion and effectiveness to its limits.References Indiana University: Bloomington. (2012). Teaching and Learning. Retrieved from http://www. teaching. iub. edu/finder/wrapper. php? inc_id=s2_5_group_03_designate. shtml Stahl, M. (2012,  June). Creating Dynamic Teams–The Power of Working Together, Stronger, Bolder!†¦ Dynamics of Critical Care 2012, Vancouver, British Columbia, September 23-25, 2012.. Dynamics, 23(2), 36. Frances Kennedy. (2008). Successful Strategies for Teams. Clemson University. Retrieved from http://www. clemson. edu/OTEI/documents/teamwork-handbook. pdf

Watching the World Fall Apart A Post

Watching the World Fall Apart A Post War is one of the most hideous concepts that the humankind has ever come up with. While it is quite understandable that at the current stage of the development of humankind, some conflicts still have to be resolved with the use of coercive methods, war as a massive homicide still remains a truly revolting idea; and nowhere is this confrontation of common sense and humanism as evident as in the artworks of the artists of the WWI period, the time when the entire world seemed to be crashing into little pieces.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Watching the World Fall Apart: A Post-WWI Vision of the World in the Works of Otto Dix, Max Beckmann and George Grosz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The artist whose name seems to be the most recognizable all over the world, Otto Dix and his works seem to be a perfect start for an analysis of the art of the WWI era. The frightening images in the given picture capture the horror th at seized the world as the WWI erupted. It is quite symbolic that the audience cannot see the faces of the people in the picture; however, it is not as much symbolic as the fact that the faces in the picture, with gas masks on them, remind much of skulls, with empty eye sockets looking like hollow tunnels leading to nowhere. Dix, O. (1924). Stormtroops advancing under gas. Definitely one of Dix’s strongest works, the given piece of art crosses with an artwork of another famous artist of the WWI era, Max Beckmann. Comparing the aforementioned picture by Dix with Beckmann’s Hell Series seems a touch far-fetched, seeing how the rest of Beckmann’s works are far from being as on-the-nose as any of Dix’s paintings. However, the Hell Series was created as a response to the WWI events, which makes the given comparison rather legitimate. Unlike Dix, though, Beckmann does not seem to have his signature work, like Dix’s Stormtroops. On the contrary, every si ngle piece of the Hell Series seems a piece of a single entity. Anyway, the Hell represents the author’s vision of the WWII and its insanity.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Beckmann, M. (1919). Hell. It is quite remarkable that in the given series, Beckmann avoided using his traditional color palette in several paintings, while in other ones belonging to the series, the color cast was quite aggressive, with a remarkable prevalence of orange and blue color. Beckmann, M. (1938). Hell of the birds. The given feature of Beckmann’s works draws the line between his vision of the WWI and the one of Dix; the latter considering war a blood-hungry beats that turns people into machines designed solely for killing, Beckman clearly sees the pain and torture that the nations were going through, as well as the humanist dilemma between the need to protect oneself and o ne’s family and the ethical unacceptability of a murder, even the murder of an enemy. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Watching the World Fall Apart: A Post-WWI Vision of the World in the Works of Otto Dix, Max Beckmann and George Grosz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Beckmann and Grosz: Selected works (n. d.). The last, but definitely not the least among the artists who made a difference by showing the world the true face of war, George Grosz also had a very distinct way of expressing his attitude towards the WWI. What is remarkable is Grosz’s being a German; therefore, by viewing his works, the audience finally gets to see the response from the other side of barricade. Weirdly enough, Grosz clearly focused on the bureaucratic implications behind the WWI process. For instance, the ink drawing Made in Germany, as well as Das neue Gesich der herrschenden Klasse, does not display either horror or magnif icence; on the contrary, it shows the measly details of the post-war life in Germany, therefore, offering a grotesque vision of the WWI processes. Grosz, G. (1921). Das neue Gesich der herrschenden Klasse. Despite the common theme, there are a number of differences between the artworks of the three painters, each of them reflecting his own experience and, therefore, personal vision of the war. To start with, the choice of the medium that the artists used to convey their ideas to the audience differs greatly. While Beckmann definitely preferred oil on canvas, Grosz and Dix clearly trusted in the powerful effect of lines drawn with the help of ink. However, the differences between the three artists are not restricted to the formal elements of the paintings. It is clear that each of the artists incorporated his unique experience to create the paintings, which sets the artworks in question miles apart.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As it has been mentioned above, Grosz was the only one of the three who consciously mocked the meanness of the German bureaucracy of the time (Lazzari Schleiser, 2011). The given mood in his art can be explained by harsh disappointment, which the artist had to go through after volunteering for the military service. The mockery of the German bureaucracy comes as a result of him being disillusioned. Beckmann’s motivations are a tad more complicated, yet nonetheless obvious. Having to participate in the WWI, which resulted in him getting injured, he had a very personal hatred towards the WWI and the people who started it (Huppauf, 1997). The given specifics of Beckmann’s vision can be traced easily in his post-war paintings, especially in Hell of the birds, where an individual is being crippled and executed by the crowd. In his turn, Dix indulges into depicting the macabre of the WWI, the revelry of death, which he observed in the Battle of Somme (Tatar, 1997). When comp aring the artworks of the three artists, one might notice that of all three of them, Dix was the only one who was able to see the grotesque side of this macabre, while the other two displayed the horrors of the war with trepidation and dread. Dix’s attitude towards the war seems to suck out all the emotion from the faces of the characters in his works; instead of portraying dismay and confusion, he left the faces covered, making it sure that the participants of the macabre in his artwork have little to no idea of what they are doing and why they are doing it. A complete loss of humanity and at the same time the hope for humanity is, thus, being depicted in a very graphic manner. Even though the three artists use completely different techniques, each having his own recognizable style, their paintings share a common idea, i.e., the fact that war is a hideous crime against humanity. With that being said, it must be admitted that the ways in which the three artists envisioned the WWI share the intense feeling of despair and fear. By far three most influential artists of the beginning of the XX century, Beckman, Dix and Grosz managed to embrace the horror that seized every single human being at the time and depict it in a way that makes the audience literally sense the atmosphere of the 1914–1918. Reference List Beckmann, M. (1919). Hell. Retrieved from https://www.metmuseum.org/~/media/Images/Exhibitions/Temporary/Max%20BeckmannHell2002491an534.ashx?mw=481 Beckmann and Grosz: Selected works (n. d.). A JPEG file. Retrieved Beckmann, M. (1938). Hell of the birds. Retrieved from artcyclopedia.com/index.html Dix, O. (1924). Stormtroops advancing under gas. Retrieved from http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/tamar.leroy/british-literature-ii/otto-dix-stormtroops-advancing-under-gas-1/image_preview Huppauf, B.-R. (1997). War, Violence and the modern condition. New York, NY: DeGruyter. Grosz, G. (1921).Das neue Gesich der herrschenden Klasse. Retrieved from htt p://payload10.cargocollective.com/1/2/88505/2516122/12-george-grosz-book-cover.jpg Lazzari, M. R. Schleiser, D. (2011). Exploring art: A global, thematic approach (4th  ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth. Tatar, M. (1997). Lustmord: Sexual murder in Weimar Germany. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Best Summer Memory of My Childhood

When I was 11 years old, I attended a Unitarian church camp for a summer vacation with my family. It was a pleasant area, with the Puget Sound not far away, grass fields, many old-style wooden buildings, an expansive forest, and an elongated pond between the road and the camp. Deer and other wildlife regularly visited the grounds. It was an ideal place to forget your worries and the routine of common life. As an 11-year-old boy, it was a place for me to meet my friends, and maybe fall in love with a girl. However, this summer camp was more spiritual than others—not because of a religious message, but because I had an awakening at the camp that year. I had been going to this summer retreat almost every year since I was very young. But somehow, this year was different. It seemed my mind and soul was ripe for a transformation. I recorded my first poem in my 11th year, and I seemed more introspective than usual. I was less interested in playing and joking around with my friends. I was searching for answers to deep questions about life and God. While walking down a path next to a grass field leading to the camp’s cafeteria, suddenly my vision changed. The grass was shining, the texture of the bark of trees was lucid, and each detail around me seemed like it was the first time I was seeing. In a sense, it was a feeling of rebirth. In church, there is talk of baptism, which is more of a ritual than anything else, in my opinion. The real baptism is an inner transformation. But back to the experience, this natural baptism came spontaneously. No effort was put into it. It was like a light was switched on in my consciousness, and I saw everything as new again. This sight was accompanied by a fresh sense of peace—a mental silence that I had not experienced before. Also, joy was coursing through my being at the exhilaration of such a happening. From that moment, the world around me and within me was never the same. The only problem was that I was too young to fully grasp what had happened. In fact, I thought I was some sort of prophet. Seeing a tarot card reader only made the issue worse. Through the reading, I thought I was â€Å"the victory of the people,† and someone no one else was like. However, there were many other people who had the same experience—I just did not know this at that tender age. Later in life, I learned there are many people just like me, and that I was not all that special. What I learned from this experience is that baptism, or spiritual rebirth, is a spontaneous happening, and not done only from the hand of a priest. Also, I learned about getting a spiritual ego, where you think you are important based on spiritual experiences. My natural baptism and my knowledge of spiritual ego has allowed me to gain much in life: more creativity, inner peace, and how to be humble in the face of achievements.