Narration essay

It was early morning, and I was driving to my vacation house. I was not really in a hurry, so I stopped at a McDonalds to grab a burger. It was a typical dingy place you often see in a quiet town, and I was the only customer. Everything was running as usual, and I was in for another 100 miles of monotonous driving through a rural countryside. And then something happened. I walked out of the joint and saw a little boy. He was about seven, and totally alone on a deserted parking lot where my car was the only one at 7 a.m.   He was thin, even skinny, and had a dreamy, absent-minded look on his face. I felt at first like leaving him alone to whatever dreams were weaving together in his mind, but then decided to find out what was going on. After all, he was just a little fellow, and it certainly was not good for him to be here together all on his own. â€Å"Are you waiting for anybody?† I asked. â€Å"No†, he replied. â€Å"Do you live here then?† â€Å"No, I was here with my Dad and Mom, and then they drove away.† â€Å"Away? Are they coming back?† He looked amazingly quiet. â€Å"They said I do not behave myself.† â€Å"How long have you been here then?† Now the little guy looked sad. â€Å"Two hours.† â€Å"Two hours?† I realized I had to take him to the police, to contact somebody in that little place to get the boy back to his normal comfortable life. But was it really that normal if his folks leave him on the road like that? Or did he misinterpret their words? While we were sitting in the police office, he told me about his family. His mom seemed like a good person in his words, but too intimidated by his father. â€Å"She never speaks her own mind if he thinks differently,† the boy said. â€Å"If she says something different, he starts yelling at her.† I did not fell a shade of bitterness in his voice. He was merely narrating a story. â€Å"Does your Dad ever beat you or your sister?† â€Å"It is just me. He slaps me across the face sometimes. He loves her. She is his daughter.† Then he gave me the first warm smile in all the time I had been speaking to him and pulled a picture out of his pocket. â€Å"Isn’t she cute?† The girl was sure lovely, very much like her brother, but with curly blond hair that turned her into a little princess. â€Å"He always brings her presents when he comes back from his trip. She has tons of toys.† I imagined to myself the unhappy lot of a child who lives with the stepfather. He probably suffered a lot, poor little thing. Well, when the parents did come a few hours ago, they were hysterically happy to find their child there. He just ran away on his own, they said. They had not the least intention of leaving him out in the cold. They were nice and loving parents. You’d think they were role models for other families. But I watched the passivity with which the guy moved into the van, and I could not shake off the feeling that something was missing from their words. They were smiling to me, to the policemen, but they seemed oblivious to the boy except the first moments of embraces. I was standing there thinking how the boy’s life will turn out in the long run. Will he ever learn to be loved? Will his relationships later be warmer than his family? I watched them drive away, then turned and walked back to my car. I tried to consider your remarks. If you have other comments, send it back and I will try to fix it as soon as possible.

Deception Point Page 55

A leviathan was rising from the water beside the iceberg, breaching the surface with an ominous hiss. Like some mythical sea monster, it came-sleek, black, and lethal, with water foaming around it. Tolland forced himself to blink his eyes. His vision cleared slightly. The beast was close, bumping up against the ice like a huge shark butting a small boat. Massive, it towered before him, its skin shimmering and wet. As the hazy image went black, all that was left were the sounds. Metal on metal. Teeth gnashing at the ice. Coming closer. Dragging bodies away. Rachel†¦ Tolland felt himself being grabbed roughly. And then everything went blank. 64 Gabrielle Ashe was at a full jog when she entered the third-floor production room of ABC News. Even so, she was moving slower than everyone else in the room. The intensity in production was at a fever pitch twenty-four hours a day, but at the moment the cubicle grid in front of her looked like the stock exchange on speed. Wild-eyed editors screamed to one another over the tops of their compartments, fax-waving reporters darted from cubicle to cubicle comparing notes, and frantic interns inhaled Snickers and Mountain Dew between errands. Gabrielle had come to ABC to see Yolanda Cole. Usually Yolanda could be found in production's high-rent district-the glass-walled private offices reserved for the decision makers who actually required some quiet to think. Tonight, however, Yolanda was out on the floor, in the thick of it. When she saw Gabrielle, she let out her usual shriek of exuberance. â€Å"Gabs!† Yolanda was wearing a batik body-wrap and tortoiseshell glasses. As always, several pounds of garish costume jewelry were draped off her like tinsel. Yolanda waddled over, waving. â€Å"Hug!† Yolanda Cole had been a content editor with ABC News in Washington for sixteen years. A freckle-faced Pole, Yolanda was a squat, balding woman whom everyone affectionately called â€Å"Mother.† Her matronly presence and good humor disguised a street-savvy ruthlessness for getting the story. Gabrielle had met Yolanda at a Women in Politics mentoring seminar she'd attended shortly after her arrival in Washington. They'd chatted about Gabrielle's background, the challenges of being a woman in D.C., and finally about Elvis Presley-a passion they were surprised to discover they shared. Yolanda had taken Gabrielle under her wing and helped her make connections. Gabrielle still stopped by every month or so to say hello. Gabrielle gave her a big hug, Yolanda's enthusiasm already lifting her spirits. Yolanda stepped back and looked Gabrielle over. â€Å"You look like you aged a hundred years, girl! What happened to you?† Gabrielle lowered her voice. â€Å"I'm in trouble, Yolanda.† â€Å"That's not the word on the street. Sounds like your man is on the rise.† â€Å"Is there some place we can talk in private?† â€Å"Bad timing, honey. The President is holding a press conference in about half an hour, and we still haven't a clue what it's all about. I've got to line up expert commentary, and I'm flying blind.† â€Å"I know what the press conference is about.† Yolanda lowered her glasses, looking skeptical. â€Å"Gabrielle, our correspondent inside the White House is in the dark on this one. You say Sexton's campaign has advance knowledge?† â€Å"No, I'm saying I have advance knowledge. Give me five minutes. I'll tell you everything.† Yolanda glanced down at the red White House envelope in Gabrielle's hand. â€Å"That's a White House internal. Where'd you get that?† â€Å"In a private meeting with Marjorie Tench this afternoon.† Yolanda stared a long moment. â€Å"Follow me.† Inside the privacy of Yolanda's glass-walled cubicle, Gabrielle confided in her trusted friend, confessing to a one-night affair with Sexton and the fact that Tench had photographic evidence. Yolanda smiled broadly and shook her head laughing. Apparently she had been in Washington journalism so long that nothing shocked her. â€Å"Oh, Gabs, I had a hunch you and Sexton had probably hooked up. Not surprising. He's got a reputation, and you're a pretty girl. Too bad about the photos. I wouldn't worry about it, though.† Don't worry about it? Gabrielle explained that Tench had accused Sexton of taking illegal bribes from space companies and that Gabrielle had just overheard a secret SFF meeting confirming that fact! Again Yolanda's expression conveyed little surprise or concern-until Gabrielle told her what she was thinking of doing about it. Yolanda now looked troubled. â€Å"Gabrielle, if you want to hand over a legal document saying you slept with a U.S. senator and stood by while he lied about it, that's your business. But I'm telling you, it's a very bad move for you. You need to think long and hard about what it could mean for you.† â€Å"You're not listening. I don't have that kind of time!† â€Å"I am listening, and sweetheart, whether or not the clock is ticking, there are certain things you just do not do. You do not sell out a U.S. senator in a sex scandal. It's suicide. I'm telling you, girl, if you take down a presidential candidate, you better get in your car and drive as far from D.C. as possible. You'll be a marked woman. A lot of people spend a lot of money to put candidates at the top. There's big finances and power at stake here-the kind of power people kill for.† Gabrielle fell silent now. â€Å"Personally,† Yolanda said, â€Å"I think Tench was leaning on you in hopes you'd panic and do something dumb-like bail out and confess to the affair.† Yolanda pointed to the red envelope in Gabrielle's hands. â€Å"Those shots of you and Sexton don't mean squat unless you or Sexton admit they're accurate. The White House knows if they leak those photos, Sexton will just claim they're phony and throw them back in the president's face.† â€Å"I thought of that, but still the campaign finance bribery issue is-â€Å" â€Å"Honey, think about it. If the White House hasn't gone public yet with bribery allegations, they probably don't intend to. The President is pretty serious about no negative campaigning. My guess is he decided to save an aerospace industry scandal and sent Tench after you with a bluff in hopes he might scare you out of hiding on the sex thing. Make you stab your candidate in the back.† Gabrielle considered it. Yolanda was making sense, and yet something still felt odd. Gabrielle pointed through the glass at the bustling news room. â€Å"Yolanda, you guys are gearing up for a big presidential press conference. If the President is not going public about bribery or sex, what's it all about?† Yolanda looked stunned. â€Å"Hold on. You think this press conference is about you and Sexton?† â€Å"Or the bribery. Or both. Tench told me I had until eight tonight to sign a confession or else the President was going to announce-â€Å" Yolanda's laughter shook the entire glass cubicle. â€Å"Oh please! Wait! You're killing me!† Gabrielle was in no mood for joking. â€Å"What!† â€Å"Gabs, listen,† Yolanda managed, between laughs, â€Å"trust me on this. I've been dealing with the White House for sixteen years, and there's no way Zach Herney has called together the global media to tell them he suspects Senator Sexton is accepting shady campaign financing or sleeping with you. That's the kind of information you leak. Presidents don't gain popularity by interrupting regularly scheduled programming to bitch and moan about sex or alleged infractions of cloudy campaign finance laws.† â€Å"Cloudy?† Gabrielle snapped. â€Å"Flat out selling your decision on a space bill for millions in ad money is hardly a cloudy issue!† â€Å"Are you sure that's what he is doing?† Yolanda's tone hardened now. â€Å"Are you sure enough to drop your skirt on national TV? Think about it. It takes a lot of alliances to get anything done these days, and campaign finance is complex stuff. Maybe Sexton's meeting was perfectly legal.†

Architecture, as a science must be associated with mathematical logic and reasoning

‘Architecture, as a science must be associated with mathematical logic and reasoning, lest it is identified as a non-exact science like the visual arts’ (Allen, 2000, p 7). Just like the exact sciences, biology and physics, wherein formulated hypotheses can be tested over and over again through experiments in generally controlled environments; architecture is tested through a very different method. In architecture, hypotheses, in the form of design ideas and concepts are reflected in drawings and representations which are in turn, balanced by mathematical equations.However, the process can only be repeated once. The reasons, which are quite obvious, pertain to the unavailability of a vast range of resources. The ultimate outcome can be a structure, encompassing and infinite, in the form of a design space or built-environment. Drawings are a very important aspect of architecture. An architect’s or artist’s ideas and concepts are translated in such using the principles of perspective, vanishing point, viewpoint, tracing, orthographic and isometric projections, and the likes.To start with, there is already difficulty transcribing an idea into a physical drawing. From the drawing in pen and paper into a live, standing and habitable building or structure poses the biggest challenge of all for the proponents. Architects must be very careful in minimizing the deviation of each component from the other. ‘Thus, there is always an attempt to relate the abstract realm of geometry with the material stuff of the building’ (as cited in Petrescu, 2007, p 93). What might have been conceived may not be drawn accordingly and consequently, may not totally materialize into reality.‘Strict observance of the principles in perspective is fostered in that non-linear lines are edited out’ (Petrescu, 2007, p 102). Tracing, as one method of drawing, showcasing a beautiful conglomeration of artists’ and architects’ works, is a kind of copying from something that is already there. It is primarily based on outlines, thus the term, â€Å"outline loving†. Orthographic drawings on the other hand are comprised by some of the basic architectural drawings namely elevations, plans, sections, and the likes. Perspective drawing enables the viewer or audience to experience both fore- and back- grounds.It was even believed that perspective portrays a narrative history through which the past and present are crossed. ‘In this reference, perspective serves as a time check: ordering, surveying, and recreating the past from the viewpoint of the present’ (Allen, 2000, p 7). Some principles govern perspective drawing namely the convergence of parallel lines into the centric point and the apparent decrease in distance between equidistant transverse lines could be determined by geometric method. Interference is introduced, with changes in scale, sampling and decontextualising, distortion and overlays.O n the other hand, vanishing points and viewpoints, which are interrelated, affirm an ideal viewing distance between the observer and the building, in spite of the offer of different angles and perception. ‘Enfilade, an architectural spatial connection technique, is defined as the alignment of the centrelines of doorways or openings to a series of spaces’ (Goldschimdt, 2004, p 17). It has been widely used in photography, and associated with one-point perspective; however, the result of a visible depth even in the presence of compressed physical distances is commendable.A plan provides a description of a whole, if only in two dimensions – a series of equidistant spaces or openings will be translated into a compressed image by an experienced architect who has a trained eye. The drawings are non-predictive for the conditions and the end results are case-sensitive. An architectural drawing may or may not be authored by only one person. ‘In a false-etymology, to â€Å"de-sign† becomes the collaborative efforts of a team of architects and artists’ (Petrescum 2007, p 100).But when the orthographic drawing had been made, this appears to be created by a single hand although amendments and comments by the team may be indicated by the hasty notes and markings on the drawing. Evans (1997) suggests that the modality of conventional architectural drawing is an expression of the perceived equivalence of wall and paper, with the drawing acting as both surface and veil for authored intentions in a manner readily transferrable into a building (as cited in Callicott, 2001).This explicit advantage poses as a disadvantage as well, in that drawings can possibly mask the realization of a great building through inherent constraints. As cited in Petrescu (2007), Evans noted that the architectural drawing is not simply a reductive and failed representation (or â€Å"pre-presentation† since the drawing is usually prior to its object) of a bu ilding-to-be but is also an operator. (p. 93). The transaction between the two components is vital as both can be considered communication tools. ‘The underside of drawings reveals its materiality but they are unlooked or unread’ (Petrescu, 2007, p 102).Architectural drawings supposedly communicate the architect’s idea to the builder, but historically this actually caused separation. ‘Any type of drawing, orthographic or isometric, which is constructed of real proportional dimensions and relative coordinates cannot provide the designer any insight into the qualities of appearance to the subjective viewer’ (Goldschimdt, 2004, p 16). Even when designers are endowed with exceptional experience in the matter, the physical manifestation of an abstract representation is still questionable. Indeed, there is a great disjunction between drawings and buildings.The drawing (almost an accumulated partial representations), from which all else emanates, disappears with the onset of construction. Allen (2000) states ‘that the capacities and logics of drawing are necessarily distinct from the potentials of construction; practice disrupts the easy characterization of drawing as the realm of absence and building as the realm of presence’ (p 6). The abstract realm of representation and geometry, the initial phases of any architectural process, should be perfected as well as the physical aspect – that is the building phase. Architecture is not the only science justified through geometry.It is likewise useful to pin down music properly to its visual harmonics. ‘Cosmological, religious and philosophical consonances were played out on the basis of geometry of space and its relation to an idealized body’ (Allen, 2000, p 7). An important example showcasing the sensitivity of the relationship between drawings and buildings is the Pavilion of 1929 by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. ‘It is an architectural icon, not only b ecause it is seductive and much copied, but also because it has most often been perceived in conditions similar to that of the artwork’ (Hill, 2001 p 66).Unlike most of Mies’ works, the Pavilion, now popularly called Barcelona Pavilion, recognised as to have a horizontal symmetry, does not focus on landscape. The imagined symmetry no longer exists because the horizontal bypasses and cuts the vertical planes in the form of a physical plane. The Pavilion was widely known even through photographs from 1930 to 1986 until its reconstruction as an exhibit, gallery, and historical monument – the reason for the discontinuance of its display to the public.Whether the building was taken in black and white or coloured photographs, there is no great difference because as was conceived by the designer, it reflected vision, and not any or all of the senses. ‘Smaller buildings with emphasis on the horizontal plane, wherein the top and bottom are symmetrical with respect to the horizon, is also commendable such that the â€Å"floating† ceiling planes above and the grid of the floor pavers below are distanced equally from the eye level of the average viewer’ (Goldschmidt, 2004, p 16).As cited in Hill (2001), ‘Mies’ architecture is formulated by representations rather than by plastic realities and the goal of projection as an empty space was successfully transcribed into the Pavilion’ (p 66). Water lilies abound in the reconstructed building, although as studies suggest, their presence was unintentional. As an embodiment of the ideals and principles of a locality, the Pavilion is more just than an attribution to Germany. It is the relationship with the general surroundings and Barcelona as well as the association with international modernism that makes the Pavilion a big hit.Another characteristic of great architecture is the will to triumph over the tricky unbalancing relationship between rationality and aesthetic. M ies, one of the great modernists, had won over this battle in his design of the Pavilion, imploring the use of skinny little I-beams suspended in mid-air. Evans (1997) noted ‘that some of the finest detailing of the modern movement was displayed by the immaculate lines and cruciform columns of the German Pavilion – columns that are notorious for their structural sleight of the hand’. He also noted that the perception of light and depth as exhibited by the Pavilion is admirable.The Hubbe House in Magdeburg designed in 1935 by Mies is also of special interest because of the treatment of the outdoor and indoor areas as illusory; nature could be easily replaced by a photomontage. Over the time, the types and techniques of drawing have changed. Increasing exponentially, drawings used by architects are not only confined to the â€Å"footprint† of a building or its elevations. A discourse on whether perspective is truly an equivalent of the â€Å"sight† or merely a conventional representation based on the West had been raised. Computer-aided machines (CAM) can do lots of things with just a click of a finger.This compensates for the difficulty of traditional drawing and traditional palette to translate the proposed and desired outcome. Traditional palette may not be realistically portrayed in the building from the drawing (or even from the imagination). Evans related that unlike the visual arts, to which architecture is closely associated with, the former is product-directed while the latter needs to utilize a medium – drawings. The technology of building materials is always and never a step ahead or behind drawing techniques.There is always a discrepancy which may be caused by the changes in the shape of the materials, i.e. deformation or phase change. This is where the ultimate problem arises. ‘The most intense activity is the construction and manipulation of the final artefact, the purpose of preliminary studies to giv e sufficient definition for final work to begin, not to provide a complete determination in advance, as in architectural drawing’ (as cited in Cunningham, 1998, p 9). According to Allen (2000), ‘to pay close attention to the transactions between the culture of drawing and the discipline of building, the architect must simultaneously inhabit both worlds’ (p.6).Computers are deemed useful in almost any undertaking of a project in line with almost any profession; architecture is not a stranger to this. The most complicated structure and built environments that are seen standing today have not denied the vital role that had been performed by computers. However, engineers confirm an avenue for a â€Å"low technology† in the building and engineering world for sketching will always be a big part of communicating the design language to the participants of the process.‘It is crucial in accessing the body of tacit knowledge on which the profession depends†™ (Callicott, 2001, p 61). It is therefore confirmed that in the practice of architecture and engineering, the need for employing high technology is very much just the same as that of low technology. One moral imperative for an architect besides evoking that architecture is a symbol of its time, buildings and structures should reflect the spirit of the age. In the time of modernism, architecture has been described as less in design and material and more in functionality and efficiency.Rampant and popular issues governing a current time period may be well reflected into architecture not only through its design but also in its building techniques and materials. The growing concern for the conservation of the environment and its natural resources may be a responsible consideration addressed in design. The common trends in urban and modern architecture are summarized in its tag line â€Å"folds and bends†. Traditional drawing techniques like perspective and orthographic project ions may no longer be enough for such aspirations exhibiting utmost complexity.Technology is architecture’s gauge, guiding or misguiding it to the future, to either progress or regress. â€Å"Landscape urbanism† was a term coined by Charles Waldheim that describes the practices of designers who replaced architecture as the primary medium in city-making. ‘It is like interstitial discipline that operates in the spaces between buildings, infrastructural systems, natural ecologies which advocates worthy attention for the marginal spaces’ (Waldheim, p 59).It bridges the gaps between structures by preparing the ground and extending the functionality and efficiency of the buildings and its surrounding spaces like the strategic open parks and walkways aesthetically arranged with landscape components. Contemporary urban landscapes maximize the functionality of the open spaces to compensate for the commercial value of land in the city; unlike before, formal themes o f landscape designs in the urban were spacious and lack immediate purpose. The development of urban forms is explained by Conzen through the use of concepts such as fringe belt and burgage cycle.The former is characterized by a land initially occupied by large sites having low access to commercial space, which finally, transforms it (land) into a full-fledge built-up area. ‘The progressive filling-in of plots with buildings, leading to a climax phase of maximum coverage and, ultimately, the clearance of plots preparatory to redevelopment describes the latter’ (Whitehand & Larkham, 1992, p 6). There is a certain hierarchy in which the urban forms namely town plan, building forms, and land use is arranged within the plots or land-use units and consequently, converged to form the general framework of the town.Urban landscape cells, the smallest conglomeration of the morphologically homogenous areas that are composed of the site and the above mentioned forms, complex to for m urban landscape units. Several features of urban landscape i. e. high-tech corridors, festival settings and pedestrian shopping malls are associated with post-modernism. The latter is noted to be undergoing widespread economic restructuring, including architectural manifestations.The study of urban forms that comprise the urban landscapes is essential not only in shaping these landscapes but also for future urban planning and architecture. The design and layout of former towns, evident in the existing buildings and structures, provide information on how future ones will be established and managed. Continuity in function and elements is revealed specifically on same sites even of different time periods. Whitehand and Larkham (1992) used Worcester, a cathedral town with a complex multi-phase plan as an example to demonstrate this point.The central sites, which are prone to redevelopment, allow for road construction and widening. To analyze the evolution of a certain town, a combinat ion of the surviving elements of a not-so-distant urban landscape as well as cartographic, documentary and archaeological evidences are important. Although the towns and plan units are not permanent and vary through a towns and periods, a certain parallelism can indeed be derived. As was concluded, this is essential in making future planning and designing of towns.

Prolific effects of civil war on medicine Research Paper

Prolific effects of civil war on medicine - Research Paper Example Period prior to war During the time prior to the civil war, medical personnel’s received minimal training. Even those doctors who had attended medical institutions were poorly trained. This is because in America, medical students received only two years or less of training, gained no clinical or laboratory training experience due to lack of instructions. When civil war began in 1861, the army had only 98 medical doctors, and Confederacy had 24. The army recruits received only physical examination giving room for soldiers to enter the federal army camp with physical defects and chronic illnesses that would affect their performance at the battlefield as soldiers. The newly recruited soldiers were sent to large camp to gain skills and learn how to become soldiers. The first challenge they faced was disease even healthy soldiers were affected by illnesses that easily spread due to large concentration of people in the camp. In addition, the spread of these diseases was aided by poor diet of soldiers and unsanitary conditions in the camps which led to many people succumb to diseases such dysentery and diarrhea. According to statistics given by Shryock on his website (1962), they represent the real and grave statistics of deaths and wounds incurred by the soldiers in the Civil War and how medical doctors dealt with these numbers. During the battle of Gettysburg, the Union medical corps was armed with 1,000 ambulances, 650 officers, and 3,000 drivers but within 3 days, 21,000 soldiers were wounded. This left each surgeon with 900 patients that they were individually responsible for. According to Shryock report on its website (1962), these incredibly large numbers led to many amputations due to infections. This professional medical historian, one of the first of his kind, explores the fact that medical professionals of the 1860’s did not have a good understanding of bacteria. Since then, ‘cumulative experience’ of those doctors led to the improvement of techniques in medicine. Shryock gives a reflection of how severe the wounds of the Civil War were and how medical profes sionals used what they had available to treat them under great stress. This assisted

Mentorship Preparation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Mentorship Preparation - Essay Example In this paper, we would be discussing on the nurse mentoring a patient in a sexual health clinic. Integration of the mentor's role into the health care system has increased access to comprehensive health care in combination with the fulfillment of the client's need for prescription medications (Bailey, 1999; Le Bar, 1986). In the UK, resourcing issues such as a reduced number of doctors and the demand for the delivery of cost effective care, have led to plans to extend the role of mentors into prescribing as a potential way of meeting these demands. Nurses may teach individual clients in one-to-one teaching episodes. For example the nurse may teach about wound care while changing a client's dressing or may teach about diet, exercise, and other lifestyle behaviors that minimize the risk of a heart attack for a client who has a cardiac problem. The nurse may also be involved in teaching family members or other support people who are caring for the client. Nurses working in obstetric and pediatric areas teach parents and sometimes grandparents how to care for children. Because of decreased length of hospital stays, time constraints on client education may occur. Nurses need to provide client education that will ensure the client's safe transition from one level of care to another and make appropriate plans for follow-up education in the client's home. Discharge plans must include both information about what the client has been taught before transfer or discharge and what remains for the client to learn to perform self-care in the home or other residence. Nurses are often involved in community health education programs. Such teaching activities may be voluntary as part of the nurse's involvement in an organization such as the Red Cross or Planned Parenthood, or they may be compensated as part of the nurse's work role. Community teaching activities may be aimed at large groups of people who have an interest in some aspect of health, such as nutrition classes, CPR or cardiac risk factor reduction classes, and bicycle or swimming safety programs. Community education programs can also be designed for small groups or individual learners such as childbirth classes or family planning classes. Nurses are also involved in the instruction of professional colleagues. Nurses in nursing practice settings are often involved in the clinical instruction of nursing students. Experienced nurses may function as preceptors for new graduate nurses or for newly employed nurses. Nurses with specialized knowledge and experience may share that knowledge and experience with nurses who are new to that practice area (Courteney & Butler, 1999). Such specialized courses include acute care nursing, perioperative nursing and quality improvement/quality assurance. Nurses may also be involved in teaching other health professionals. Nurses may participate in the education of medical students or allied health students. In this capacity, the nurse educator is often clarifying the role of the nurse for other health professionals or how the nurse can assist them in their care of the client. The nurse may also teach health care colleagues knowledge or skills that are considered the domain of nursing. For a nurse who acts as a mentor, the areas for client education (NICE, 2002) include, promotion of health, increasing a person's level of wellness, growth and development topics, fertility control, hygiene, nutrition, exercise,

PhD research proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PhD research proposal - Essay Example common in most communications resulting to children whose parents use English as a second language communicating to them while young in both English and their primary language. This case is common among most Arabic children in Britain who are able to communicate in both Arabic and English languages effectively. After a thorough search at the literature, especially the one discussing issues related to interaction between first and second languages, it has been observed that most of these studies point to the effect of the first language on a second language, in terms of; phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax and many other aspects of linguistics, but there have been much fewer studies done on the effect of a second language on the first one with respect to phonology in bilingual children. This provides a perfect opportunity to analyse the impact of a second language on the phonological skills of the first language in bilingual children. On an anecdotal level, I have seen that some Arabic-English bilingual children’s mother tongue, which is Arabic, is affected phonologically by English which they learn at school. Children gradually lose the right pronunciation of unshared sounds in their first language, as a result, of the interaction between the two languages they master. This study proposes two hypotheses: 1- The phonological characteristics of children’s second language will affect their pronunciation of unshared sounds in their first language, in the same way; the first language influences a second language. Numerous studies have examined the issue of phonological interaction in children, especially in cases where children are taught to communicate in more than one language (Goldstein, 2004). Some of these studies are listed in the reference section of this proposal. This study will examine previous studies on this topic and hence develop a gap analysis that will culminate to the development of a problem statement. Currently, this study is fully aware

Introduction to Computer Networks TCPIP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Introduction to Computer Networks TCPIP - Essay Example If IP works so well, why a need is felt to change The primary motivation for change arises from the limited address space. When IP was defined, only a few compute networks existed. The designers decided to use 32 bits for an IP address because doing so allowed the Internet to include over a million networks. However, with a rapid exponential growth in the global Internet, the primary motivation for defining a new version of IP arose from the address space limitation, as larger addresses are necessary to accommodate continued growth of the Internet. Besides addressing, the most common problems faced by the TCP/IP were routing and connectivity issues. Secondary motivations for changes in IP have risen from new Internet applications. For example, applications that deliver audio and video need to deliver data at regular intervals. To keep such information flowing through the Internet without disruption, IP must avoid changing routes frequently. Although the current IP datagram header includes a field that can be used to request a type of service, the protocol did not define a type of service that can be used for real-time delivery of audio and video. New applications are being developed that require more complex addressing and routing capabilities. Thus, a new version of IP needs to include mechanisms that make addressing and routing possible. (Douglas) The current version of IP, which possesses the main drawback of address space, routing and connectivity, is version 4 so it is referred to as Ipv4. Ipv6 is the official name of IPng (Internet Protocol next generation) Features of Ipv4 and Ipv6 1. Connectionless - each datagram contains a destination address, and each datagram is routed independently. 2. The header in a datagram contains a maximum number of hops the datagram can take before being discarded. 3. Ipv4 places key information in fixed fields of the header and only appends variable-length options for less important information while Ipv6 header is always of variable size. (Douglas) Reasons for changing Ipv4 to Ipv6 Larger and better Network management of Address Space: The most considerable reason for the decision of changing from Ipv4 to Ipv6 is the smooth management of the IPv6 network. As the answer to the lack of address space, IPv6 holds a potential for a network the size of which has never been seen before. The manner in which the network is managed will to a great extent determine whether this huge network will function. The main objectives, which are visualized in network management, would be: 1. Display the distinct hierarchy embedded in the IPv6 address architecture, 2. Show topographical data simultaneously to the hierarchy, 3. Make peripheral data easily available, and 4. In doing so, aid in the process of network management. Ipv6 research and ideology basically revolves around network management. This is because most of the problems in IPv4, which IPv6 is created to

Attitude Towards Credit Card And Financial Awareness Dissertation

Attitude Towards Credit Card And Financial Awareness - Dissertation Example ................................ 4.3 Attitude...................................................................................................................... 5.1 Discussion of findings............................................................................................... 6.1 Conclusions and recommendations......................................................................... REFERENCES APPENDICES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Research has indicated that there are three potential influences that will impact the credit card behavioural patterns of Chinese university students: financial awareness, attitude and social demographics. Chinese society is borne of long-standing cultural values related to the Confucian era, in which hedonistic self-gratification is present, where collectivist values are nurtured and respected, and where social in-group affiliation and reputation protection are considered important constructs of the Chinese lifestyle. Hence, there is ample evidence using t he theory of conspicuous consumption that Chinese university students might be adopting or increasing their frequency of credit card utilisation to gain important social opinion. Because the market is not in a stage of growth, but has become stagnated, business leaders need to know how to best target consumer segments and gain more profitability opportunities. The findings from the study provided a foundation for recommendations on how to improve business strategy develop for more effective strategic plans to gain university student interest and engagement with credit cards. Further implications from the study include how to build more effective marketing by credit card providers and how to potentially enhance education at the university to provide more financial responsibility and... By focusing on what actually drives existing sentiment about credit cards and the specific socio-psychological factors impact behaviors, utilizing qualitative research methodology, it will give a more concrete lesson about what factors influence and motivate credit card adoption and utilization patterns. This research project fulfilled all of its objectives, identifying the potential relevance of financial awareness, attitude and social demographics on the credit card behavior of university students. Though not all assertions and contentions provided in the literature review were supported, there were many factors related to university student credit card behaviors that create opportunities for new business model development that can better improve the competitive and revenue positions of credit card companies and banking institutions that offer credit card services.This project provided a new series of understandings about the relevance of social demographics, the tangible irrelevan ce of financial awareness and the strong relevance of attitude that could serve as a standard for marketing research practice and credit card policy development that could be better geared for exploiting market opportunities with male and female university students. Businesses that offer credit services should be aware of the identified predictors of certain credit card behaviors in the university student market segment in China in order to provide more relevant offerings and insulate the business from potential risks.

In what respects does the postmodern city differ from its modern Essay

In what respects does the postmodern city differ from its modern counterpart - Essay Example The way in which the cities are built and expanded, as well as the framework for different buildings and components create this difference and lead to an understanding of how the city has changed while those living in a specific society have also altered. The Postmodern City The concept of the postmodern city became associated with the 1960s and was parallel to the changing lives of those in Western cities. The buildings as well as the structure of the city was known to construct with the cultural components, specifically with individuals moving out of the industrial age of mass production and into the entrepreneurial spirit. This was combined with the desire to build a sense of diversity, both in terms of the structures and architecture of buildings as well as the way in which the economics of different neighborhoods were able to work together. It was the two concepts of diversity and expansion out of the mass production that began to drive forward the ideology of the city. This was combined with the imperialist thought that was still associated with the elite, specifically which became interested in cities that could express a sense of wealth and power in various areas. Each of these proponents changed the city as well as the architecture and designs associated with each neighborhood. The concept of capitalism and the growth of urban renewal that could offer restructuring for money then became the most important component to building structures (Harvey, 1990: 6). The idea of development and the associations with postmodernism became reflective of the culture in several ways. While there was a movement outside of the mass production, there was also an increase in the consumer society. Individuals were interested in expansion specifically from the viewpoint of capitalism and economic structures that would assist in the building of wealth. Building a consumer culture followed this, specifically by building diverse neighborhoods that combined systematic areas whi ch allowed individuals to consume easily and to maintain a heightened lifestyle through various products and goods. The consumption not only became relevant in the basic needs but also became reflective of one’s personality, social status and meaning of lifestyle which was associated with those in society. The result was the desire to create a sense of utopia by presenting the perfect image and by associating this with the neighborhoods which had been built, all which were based on consumer behaviors (Clarke, 2003: 167). Development of Modernism The concept of consumerism and diversity in is one which arose from a backlash among those interested in architecture and the transformations of society and culture. This came from the modernist approach of society. Many began to believe that the culture which was a part of each community was reflective of the values or loss of morality which occurred, specifically with the concept of creating and developing while maintaining a balanc e with those in society. Modernist thought was based first on the need to develop, specifically so individuals could come out of the communities and recognize a sense of diversity that was associated with a given region. The development was followed by reflecting this with the values and morality which one held as well as how this could create a reflection from the architecture and construction of the city (Berman, 1988: pg. 90). The idea of value which was built formed into the development of moving back into the natural and into

The Main Causes of Global Warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Main Causes of Global Warming - Essay Example Greenhouse gases are increasing in percentage in the atmosphere. A release of methane gas from the wetlands and the arctic tundra is a cause of global warming (. Methane gas traps heat in the atmosphere of the earth. Methane is also released from agriculture and landfills, as well as from the grazing animals’ digestive systems. Fertilizers release nitrous oxide which is also a greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide is another gas that is responsible for global warming and its percentage in the atmosphere is rapidly increasing as a result of deforestation. These are very powerful gases as causes of global warming. â€Å"A molecule of methane produces more than 20 times the warming of a molecule of CO2. Nitrous oxide is 300 times more powerful than CO2† (â€Å"Causes of Global†). Lack of sufficient or efficient recycling is another cause of global warming. Since more material gets wasted than is recycled, the deficiency thus produced is addressed by extracting new minerals, metals, and materials from the earth through operations and processes, that not only result in a depletion of the natural resources in the earth, but also generate tremendous amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (â€Å"Recycling†). Lack of sufficient recycling is thus an indirect cause of global warming. If proper channels and laws are established to thrive in the practice of recycling, there can be brought a considerable reduction in demand as well as global warming. Another cause of global warming is the carbon released into the atmosphere as a result of the burning of fuel. Ever since man-made vehicles and started driving them with the combustion of fuel, carbons have been released into the atmosphere.

Performing well academically and having a social life Essay

Performing well academically and having a social life - Essay Example â€Å"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.† Being a 16 years old sophomore I believe I have faced enough competition in the early academic years. Since my childhood, I’ve been a shy, reserved and quiet person. I don’t interact with people much due to my hesitation while talking to new people. I feel uncomfortable when I am surrounded by a group of individuals and I’ve always tried to stay out of group discussions. These natural personality constraints led me to the isolation from my social circle. I have had a few friends and even their knowledge was limited about my problems, likes, dislikes and issues. These personality traits seem normal and unproblematic to many people. However, I personally feel that these were the factors that affected my academic performance the most. I never wished to take a position in the class in order to avoid prominence and attention from others. I did not take part in class discussions as I felt awkward and uncomfortable speaking in front of all students and the teacher. I kept myself from asking question even if I had some confusion in my mind regarding the topic being taught by the teacher. When I was a kid, I used to avoid interactions with other kids. I kept myself isolated in the parks, play grounds and even in the school. I used to keep my feelings secret and ideas personal. All these traits resulted in inner conflicts arising in me. I felt irritated by the thought that people avoid talking to me. I felt aggressive and angry when people talked to each other and did not involve me in their conversations. Somehow these were the reactions of my responses to them when they started a conversation or tried talking to me which I avoided most of the times. My parents noticed these problems and were constantly making efforts to make me friendly, confident and sociable. At first I found the lectures of my parents and elder siblings completely meaningless. I was extremely disheartened by the way people ignored me while talking to each other. This was the most difficult phase of my life. I lost my hopes of getting good grades, having friends and making my way out of the isolation that I created in the past years. However, the constant struggles of my parents motivated me to talk to them about my issues. I started discussing my experiences, daily activities and secrets with them. Their friendliness, affection and loving nature made me confident enough to share everything with them. The main problem then, was to change myself in front of others. I felt comfortable with my parents but when it came to other people I still felt the same hesitation and shyness. I started motivating myself to take part in the conversations. I started writing a diary of my day to day activities in order to blow out the negative feelings. I used to feel relaxed after writing the diary. I made a plan to encourage myself on speaking in crowds. Firstly, I started asking questions during the class lectures when I found anything confusing. I started taking part in the classroom discussions and academic debates which greatly helped me to enhance my social skills. My class fellows started discussing their academic and other issues with me which again was considered as an encouraging gesture by me. The first effect of this step was a positive apparent impact on my

Rebuttal on Mark Twains the World Is Not Civilized Essay Example for Free

Rebuttal on Mark Twains the World Is Not Civilized Essay Mark Twain says that the human race I cruel, and uncivilized. Unlike the animals, humans have the ability to care for those who are weak, sick, and otherwise unfortunate. In the wild if an animal is sick or weak, they are abandoned by their own species and are, ultimately, a source of food for another. The wounded are killed without a hesitation. Man has compassion, not only for our species but for the others. There are many organizations that are created to help people in need. There is the Red Cross that steps in during an emergency to provide shelter, blood and food to those who need it. There are homeless shelters that take in the homeless to shelter them from the elements. There are soup-kitchens that feed the homeless. There are childrens homes that provide a safe place for orphaned or abandoned children to grow up. There is Breast Cancer Awareness, AIDS foundations, and a society to end world hunger. All of these organizations are founded to help someone or something that is in need. Twain says â€Å"I was aware that many men who have accumulated more millions of money than they can ever use have shown a rabid hunger for more, and have not scrupled to cheat the ignorant and the helpless out of their poor servings in order to partially appease that appetite. Even though it may be true that rich men want to get richer, the wealthy people are the ones that are most charitable. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, two of the richest men in America, give millions of dollars annually to various foundations and charities that help people all over the world Man also helps the animals. There are many organizations that help animals and the planet. Some of those include PETA and Green Peace. We even try to help the earth. New inventions are being created just to help the earth. They start business just to keep specific animals from going extinct. We share and support other countries. When the hurricane in Haiti happened people helped. Resources were given because of the generosity of man. When countries are in need they are helped. When the flood came to Tennessee the people gave some time for community service. Some people that didn’t get hit by the flood could have done nothing but they decided to help others. Man created governments to stop the fighting. Laws were created in order to have a calm and safe environment. Man Negotiates to prevent wars and battles from happening. We also come up with compromise and treaties in order to get peace. For example the Treaty of Versailles was ratified after negotiating and finally coming to a compromise. We don’t just go ahead and fight who ever walk across our territories like the lions.

Theories Of Corporate Social Responsibility Commerce Essay

Theories Of Corporate Social Responsibility Commerce Essay In the olden days, businesses were mostly with the idea of making profits and existing into the unforeseeable future. Gradually, it has changed dramatically and has shifted attention to responsibilities that firms have. For many years scholars have learnt firms public concerns (e.g., Berle, 1931; Bowen, 1953; Davis, 1960; Dodd, 1932; Frederick, 1960). Still, it is only currently that attraction in Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) has become extensive (Serenko Bontis, 2009; Wagner, Lutz, Weitz, 2009). CSR is a practice with the purpose of embracing responsibility for organisations conduct and supporting a definite impact through its activities on consumers, employees, shareholders, environment, communities, and all other members of the public scope who may also be considered as stakeholders. Other names for CSR include social performance, corporate citizenship, corporate conscience, or Responsible Business or sustainable responsible business (D Wood, 1991). Part A of this paper describes the three theories of Corporate Social responsibility, which are the managerial, utilitarian and relational theories (Secchi, 2007). The practice and significance will also be discussed as CSR seeks to pay attention to efforts that is being put to communities which they are situated, and whether they are been used for the right purposes. The discussion will be on how Anglo-gold Ashanti, Obuasi mining operations has impacted the community both positively and negatively. A personal analysis will be made on whether company pratices the stakeholder theory and a conclusion at the end. Theories of Corporate Social Responsibility Utilitarian Theory The hoary idea of laissez faire business gives way to determinism, individualism to public control, and personal responsibility to social responsibility. Instrumental theories could also be taken evenly with Utilitarian theory (Garriga and Mele, 2004; Jensen, 2002) in which the business is perceived as simply a mechanism for wealth making, as well as its public actions are only a means to attain profitable outcomes. The business is considered as part of the environment that it is situated in. This theory assumes the business has a responsibility to incorporate CSR in their daily working business ethics. Part of the utilitarian approach which is the functionalist also describes the business as part of the echo system therefore has a duty to make profit for its stakeholders through investment in profitable ventures. Managerial theory Secci (2007) examinations explained the reasoning of managerial theory that points out corporate management in which CSR is approached within the corporation. The distinction between the two theories is that, managerial theory suggests that all things outside the scope of the business be taken into account when making decisions. Corporate Social Performance (CSP), theories on social accountability, auditing and reporting and social issues in international business are the divisions in the Managerial theory. This theory is connected to political theories based on bringing out an idea, explaining and planning it mentally, Garriga and Mele (2004), and supported by Wood and Lodgson (2002). It explains that the greatness and power a business has should show in his involvement in the community it is situated and that the business itself is a citizen in that community. Relational theory Relational theory has a root from the complex firm-environment relationships. The theory was unfolded by Garriga and Meles (2004) analysis of stakeholder approach and was backed by the work of Mitchel, Agle and Wood (1997). The focal point of this theory is between the business and the environment. It has four sub-divisions mainly the business and society, stakeholder approach, corporate citizenship and theory of social contract. It talks more about the business and its society and also emphasizing on the stakeholder approach. Anglo-Gold Ashanti, Obuasi Obuasi Gold mine started its operations in 1897 when it was known as the Obuasi mine. Since 1975, the mine has been severely condemned for its environmental pollution, but still continues till date. In 2004 the company merged with Anglo gold Ashanti- South Africa and changed its name to Anglo-gold Ashanti, Obuasi. The company employed over 5700 people in 2009, http://www.anglogoldashanti.com/subwebs/InformationForInvestors/Reports09/AnnualReport09/f/AGA_AR09.pdf (Accessed on 04/12/2012). Mr. Kwesi Enyan is currently the managing director of the company. Positive Impact of the company on the community Anglo-Gold Ashanti has a trust fund that was created by the government of Ghana and the company. One percent of the companys profit at the end of every year is directed to the fund which would be used to develop the community. The company built AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA) primary and junior secondary school. The school is still one of the largest and well-designed junior secondary schools in Ghana. The school developed many talented people with some going on to become managers and CEO of big companies in Ghana. The company also built a hospital near one of its shafts which attended to needs of people of staffs. The hospital was linked to the government as part of an inter-governmental HIV AIDS treatment program. The company distributed condoms with pay slips and also at maternity and child care sections at the hospital. The hospital proved very vital to the community as there were not many hospitals when it was built. The hospital treated a lot of diseases and infections of employees and their children. The company recently opened the Malaria Control department which is independent from the company now but works hand-in-hand with the company. The Malaria control programme has reduced the rate of malaria deaths drastically and also given opportunity to a lot of job opportunities for people in the community. Negative impact of the company on the community During the process of mining there are many gases which are released which pollute the air and spread a lot of diseases to the community. Many people fall sick and die due to some of these unbearable gases used in mining. Mining has accounted for a lot of deaths in communities that they operate. Companies still do not care because as long as they make profits for their shareholders and if company keeps growing, they are alright. The company has also been heavily criticized of mostly employing dependants of its workers. This has resulted to a lot of youth in the community practising illegal mining popularly known as galamsey. There are almost 500,000 small scale miners composed of illegal and legal miners. There have been clashes between company workers and galamsey boys which the workers were wounded. This epitomizes the tense relationship between the two parties. Immoral issues are raised against some managers of the company. There is criticism levelled against recruitment policies of the company. Some ladies are sexually abused before being employed. There are also issues of tribalism and how there is inequality in recruitment policy and bias on the part of some managers in awarding promotions. Many farmers also have to leave their lands because of mining activities, these mining activities has destroyed a lot of vegetation. Mining activities also destroys water bodies and other natural resources which deprive the society and government of required revenue. The company surprisingly also employs huge numbers of foreign labour which really worsens and increase unemployment rate in the community and the country as a whole. The unemployment rate in Ghana including the informal sector is estimated 11% with about 28% of the population living below the poverty line. Is the company practising relational theory and the Stakeholder approach? From 2007-2009, there were no deposits added to the trust fund and as at January 2010, no funds had been disbursed. People started raising question marks to the real usefulness of the funds and whether the projects were just made out of just the company being generous. Some of the companys corporate social responsibilities were not purposefully for the Obuasi community, but for the company itself. This is because the Anglo-gold school only admits dependents of workers and does not give opportunity to other children in the community. This is an unfortunate situation and is unethical because the companys pollution and waste it disposes affects the whole community. The hospital also only benefits the employees and those that the company has relations with. The company argues that the hospital also provides counselling and testing for other community members and also the education giving to the dependents of workers is turn is educating the community because the children are also part of the community. With the theories discussed above and the stakeholder theory, the company view of responsible business is not really geared towards the improvement of the society but making profits and the welfare of its workers only. It is also unethical to destroy the land and vegetation of the community with them not getting so much in return. This depicts the current situation of Anglo-gold Ashanti (Johannesburg) compared to Obuasi, since 2004 when the two companies merged. The city has had massive improvement due to a good CSR towards the city with Obuasi not seeing any major development. Conclusion The company has a point when it employs foreign labour because there are not so much skilled personnel in the country to handle certain job aspects but saying that there must be a win-win situation. The community cannot just be suffering whiles foreigners will be enjoying, so there must be intensive training of human resource in the country to be able to acquire the needed skills to take up these positions. There should be training on plants, chemicals and awareness also made for people in the community to participate in these training programs. There must be the need for our own local resources so that most of the machinery used for mining would not be imported. There must be laws to help improve the lives of the local people and the society as a whole. Government should also play his part in ensuring the company comply with all rules and acts concerning the human rights of people in the community. Finally, companies should see corporate social as a growth engine and not a form of something charitable. PART B (SECTION A) Introduction As individuals we work with people, interact with them and might disagree or agree with them on issues. Conflict management means putting in place ways that reduces bad aspects of conflict and raising the good aspects of it at standards the same or higher than the place where the conflict took place. Additionally, conflict management seeks to improve learning and group results, that is capability or performance in a business environment (Ra him, 2002). People might disagree in decision making because they might have ideas of their own. Conflict may be important to groups and businesses, when managed well; it increases group results (Alpert, Osvaldo, Law, 2000; Booker Jame son, 2001; Ra-him Bono ma, 1979; Kuhn Poole, 2000; Church Marks, 2001). Part B of this paper is divided into two, section A and B. Section A explains conflict, its theory and my experience of it at Mining Building and Contractors Ltd (MBC,Obuasi), Ghana and a conclusion at the end. Section B of this paper expla ins building trust, relationships and communications, theories of building trust, relationships and communication as well as a personal reflection on these skills and a conclusion. Theory of conflict management Conflict is defined as disparity amongst people. It sometimes differs from a slight misunderstanding to a win-or-lose or agitated clash (Kirchoff and Adams, 1982). There are two types of theories under conflict management. The traditional theory is centred on the theory that conflict is immoral, is instigated by troublesome people, and should be subdued. Contemporary theory identifies that conflicts amid people is unavoidable. They can be beneficial to an individual and emerge as a natural result of change and therefore should be managed efficiently (Kirchoff and Adams, 1982) reflects origination as a device for conveying collectively several thoughts and perspectives into a fresh and changed combination. An environment of tautness and resulting to conflict is therefore vital in every business devoted to emerging or operating with new thinking. Personal reflection I worked at MBC Ltd, Obuasi with a colleague at the Accounts Office. My colleagues uncle was the Marketing Manager but wasnt in good terms with Mr. Ocloo, the Accountant, who was our boss. I got to know our boss was someone who was really passionate about his work and disliked lazy and insolent people. I built a strong relationship with my boss and always listened to and respected his views. My boss observed my colleague most of the time missing at the office, this continued for a few weeks. My colleague had been visiting his uncle during periods which there were no work at the office. One day I returned from an errand to find out my colleague had had a confrontation with our boss because of his continuous absence during working hours. He also had reported the case to his uncle who had come and exchanged words with our boss and had worsened the situation. I quickly called my colleague and spoke to him about the way our boss had observed him for a long period before voicing out his fr ustration. I recommended to him outside apologizing to our boss. I also advised him to go back to his uncles office to calm him down. I then ensured he explained things to his uncle and admit it was his fault to make peace. I later talked to my boss for hours explaining that, my colleague was at fault but he really left when we had finished with our work. I wanted to make sure the case does not escalate to higher levels and wanted it solved that day. It wasnt easy because we had to stay behind after office hours when everyone had left to resolve the issue. Both my colleague and his uncle came back with my colleague apologizing and acknowledging the mistake that brought about the conflict. I helped solve the solution because it would have really developed into a real mix-up which would have brought other parties and disciplines into the matter. Conclusion Every day we work with people, who might wrong us or rub us in a way. I personally think conflict is unavoidable but can be managed. At the workplace individuals should always be thoughtful and always try to negotiate with fellow workers to resolve conflicts. Workers must be sensitive to the feelings of other workers and understand that individuals may react to anger, fear and frustration. Workers should provide viable solutions to problems amongst themselves. Mangers should identify and analyse the reason for conflict to understand the root cause of conflict. Any solution for resolving the issue should be aimed at doing away with the root cause. Managers need to have good communication skills to be able to empathize with all the concerned parties and put across their solutions convincingly. Conflicts should be resolved in a healthy way without favouring any individual; all parties involved should be treated with respect and spoken to politely. Managing conflict effectively is valuab le in the progress of an organization. SECTION 2 Introduction Nowadays, businesses are looking for ways to help maintain trust, build good relationships and acquire communication skills in helping them achieve growth in their workplace. Trust is explained as the condition of preparedness for an interaction with something or someone without protection (Duane C. Tway, Jr.,1994). Trust, relationships and communication at the workplace is very essential to the success of a business and wellbeing of people at work. Trust is seen by others as equivalent to trustworthiness, explaining trust in the subject of individual traits that stimulate positive expectations on other individuals behalf(e.g., Butler Cantrell, 1984; McKnight et al., 1998).Organisational relationships can be grouped into functions, departments and teams; union, staff and the management. These relationships are influenced by how people individually treat each other in the workplace, http://www.dol.govt.nz/er/bestpractice/prc/infosheets/GPG-WP-RELATIONSHIP.pdf (Accessed on 03/12/12). Culture of trust is beneficial in disorganized and uncertain places, (Bjerke, 1999). Theories of Building Trust, Relationships Communication Trust is the anticipation by an individual, group, or a business of moral activities, that is, ethically truthful judgments and ways built upon principled values of scrutiny in favour of another person, group, or business in a mutual effort or pecuniary dealing. This explanation highlights the significance of trust in private and workplace relationships, Hosmer (1995). Trust gives way to developing a relationship more effective between the trustor and trustee (Blau, 1964). Jarvenpaa and Leidner (1998) explained that a very fast trust cannot be maintained if there isnt sequential communication. As a result, swift trust is important but doesnt guarantee a situation for communication of trustworthiness. (Meyerson, Weick, Kramer, 1996) explain communication of trustworthiness as a joint way of controlling and directing peoples behaviours and ways in their interplay with each other, and that eventually shows the standard trust that exists between them. Personal Reflection When I started work at MBC Ltd, (Obuasi), the first thing I did was to learn and quickly adapt to the organisational behaviour and culture. The next thing was to win the trust of fellow workers and build good communication levels and relationships with them. I was humble, obedient and was always eager to work. I became more involved in issues of workers in the company. This made me my boss favourite and made him sometimes go to the extent of discussing his personal issues with me. I had already won his trust and had built a vibrant relationship with him. As a new worker of the company, it was not done overnight but through hard work I was able to achieve it. If I saw workers not in good terms at work, I will quickly try to address it. I will have a conversation with the people involved and if it was still not working, I will try a higher authority. I always made sure that no party felt betrayed or offended but it was always a win-win case. I also kept private information from others confidential. When we had finished with work and the place seemed boring I would suggest a group meeting where we thrived on issues to be addressed at the office. We did this at least two times and really helped us a lot and always brought the best in us. I suggested this to fellow workers but did not work at start because some managers did not agree with the idea. Gradually interest for it grew and the company now holds a special meeting once every month where selected workers from various departments share views and discuss problems facing them to managers. This really improved communication and enhanced good relationships and trust in the organization. Conclusion Communication, trust and relationships can be improved in all workplaces, no matter the size of the company. The basis of an individuals interaction in the workplace is through these skills. These skills are very important and should be amalgamated into team building in every organization. Individuals should be encouraged to stop engaging in activities that will reduce trust existing between workers. Workshops and meetings should be organized to prepare and educate workers on developing good communication skills and fostering healthy relationships among themselves. It is never easy to impress or satisfy everyone at the workplace because we are human but we must also know that it takes a lot of effort to fix a broken relationship or trust that existed between workers than to prevent it from happening. If any company wants to move from being just a working group to a high performing one these skills must be taking seriously. None of us is perfect but we can be much more effective and e fficient if we work on building good relations, having easy and simple communication systems and being trustworthy. This will inspire and influence others to help build a successful business environment. Bibliography for Part A Berle, A. A. 1931. Corporate powers as powers in trust. Harvard Law Review, 44: 1049-1074. Bowen, H. R. 1953. Social responsibilities of the businessman. New York: Harper Row. D Wood, Corporate Social Performance Revisited (1991) 16(4) The Academy of Management Review. Davis, K. 1973. The case for and against business assumption of social responsibilities. Academy of Management Journal, 16: 312-322. Dodd, E. M. 1932. For whom are corporate managers trustees? Harvard Law Review, 45: 1145-1163. Frederick, W. C. 1960. The growing concern over business responsibility. California Management Review, 2: 54-51. Garriga, E. and Mele, D. (2004) Corporate social responsibility theories: Mapping and territory. Journal of Business Ethics, 53, 51-74. http://www.anglogoldashanti.com/subwebs/InformationForInvestors/Reports09/AnnualReport09/f/AGA_AR09.pdf (Accesed on 04/12/2012). Jensen, M. C. (2002) Value maximization, stakeholder theory, and the corporate objective function. Business Ethics Quarterly, 12, 2, 235-256. Mitchell, R. K., Agle, B. R. and Wood, D. J. (1997). Towards a theory of stakeholder identification and salience: Defining the principle of who and what really counts, Academy of Management Review, 22(4),853-886. Secchi, D. (2007). Utilitarian, managerial and relational theories of corporate social responsibility. International Journal of Management Reviews, 9, 4, 347-373. Serenko, A., Bontis, N. 2009. A citation-based ranking of the business ethics scholarly journals. International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, 4: 390-399. Wagner, T., Lutz, R. J., Weitz, B. A. 2009. Corporate hypocrisy: Overcoming the threat of inconsistent corporate social responsibility perceptions. Journal of Marketing, 73: 77-91. Wood, D. J. and Lodgson, J. M. (2002). Business citizenship: From individuals to organizations. Business Ethics Quarterly, Ruffin Series, 3, 59-94. Bibliography for Part B Alper, S., Tjosvold, D., Law, K. S. (2000) Conflict management, efficacy, and performance in organizational teams. Personnel Psychology, 53, 625-642. Bodtker, A. M., Jameson, J. K. (2001) Emotion in conflict formation and its transformation: Application to organizational conflict management. The International Journal of Conflict Management, 3, 259-275 Bjerke, B., Business leadership and culture. National management styles in the global economy, Edward Elgar Publishing, 1999 Blau, P. M. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. New York: Wiley. Butler, J. K., Jr., Cantrell, R. S. (1984). A behavioral decision theory approach to modeling dyadic trust in superiors and subordinates. Psychological Reports, 55, 19-28. DeChurch, L. A, Marks, M. A. (2001) Maximizing the benefits of task conflict: The role of conflict management. The International Journal of Conflict Management, 12, 4-22. D. C. Tway, Jr., A Construct of Trust, Doctoral dissertation, University of Texas at Austin, 1994. Hosmer, L. 1995. Trust: The connection link between organizational theory and philosophical ethics. Academy of Management Review, 20: 379-403. http://www.dol.govt.nz/er/bestpractice/prc/infosheets/GPG-WP-RELATIONSHIP.pdf (Accessed on 03/12/12). Jarvenpaa, S. L. Leidner, D. E. 1998. Communication and trust in global virtual teams. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication, 3(4): 1-36 Kirchoff, N., Adams, J.R. 1982. Conflict Management for Project Managers. Drexel Hill: Project Management Institute. Kuhn, T., Poole, M. S. (2000). Do conflict management styles affect group decision making? Human Communication Research, 26, 558-590. McKnight, D. H., Cummings, L. L., Chervany, N. L. (1998). Initial trust formation in new organizational relationships. Academy of Management Review, 23, 473-490. Meyerson, D., Weick, K. E., Kramer, R. M. 1996. Swift trust and temporary groups. In R. M.Kramer (Ed.), Trust in organizations: Frontiers of theory and research: 166-196. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Rahim, M. A., Bonoma, T. V. (1979). Managing organizational conflict: A model for diagnosis and intervention. Psychological Reports, 44, 1323-1344. Rahim, M. A. (2002) Toward a theory of managing organizational conflict. The International Journal of Conflict Management, 13, 206-235.

College Life Essay -- Personal Narratives Education Essays

College Life A new experience, a change from the norm, looking out for myself, and living on my own: for me this is college. The transition of high school student to college seemed immensely overwhelming and even a bit scary. The shift opened a can of worms and created challenges, both good and bad, behind every corner. Due to the change of scene, I am now dealing with the everyday acceptance of the greater world around me: the town, the people and my new life. Graduation: the last day that I would unwillingly set foot on the fields of Horizon High School. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest, and tried so hard to keep my feet moving one after the other in order to maintain my perfect stature. After the two hour wait of opening speeches, class songs, and the calling off of the five hundred plus names that were in front of me, it was finally my turn. As my row stood up and we walked towards the stage it had set in at last, this is it, I am done. My high school career ended on that night, but it didn’t close the book that is my life, it only started a new chapter, and with it came a whole slue of uncertainties. I had to ask myself, â€Å"What’s next?† The only thing that I could think of was the rest of my life, and college would start the rest of my life. With college being this important I knew that every decision that I made would affect my life in some way, and this did anything but calm my nerves. I then had the next three months to prepare for this step in my life. Once again I was a little rattled by this notion. So for the summer I prepared whenever I got a chance. I picked up bedding and storage, my roommate and I made sure that we had all of the necessary appliances (i.e. refrigerator, TV... ...t the strange thing was that it wasn’t my cocoon of a home that I missed. I had created a new life in the few short weeks that I had lived in Flagstaff. I found a family in the friends that I made, and wanted to see them again, ask them about their weekends and simply make sure that everything that I made was still there. My fears although real and still there, be it below the surface, are truly leaving. I never thought that I could feel safe and comfortable outside of the nice cushy box that I made for my self in the previous chapter of my life, but I stepped out. I ventured farther than anyone else in my family ever had gone. I have conquered my anxiety, or at least pushed it back for a while. I have faced my challenges of being out on my own, and maybe even created a few more that I cannot see yet on the horizon, but for now I am making it on my own.

The art of loving :: essays research papers

The Art of Loving is a slim volume of only a little over a hundred pages yet it packs one hell of a punch. Written some fifty years ago, here is a more damning indictment of modern society than anything the existential crowd of Bertrand Russell, Albert Camus or Jean Paul Sartre could cook up. The Art of Loving is a very concise and pithy read, it is written in the terse lucid style of gospel, each word in each line serving a critical function. This is not a writer’s style nor is a critic’s but that of a scientist, impartial and wholly objective – some may think of it as cold. But it is also easy to see that it is written by a man who is completely at ease with his ideas, who has followed them to their natural conclusion – that Love is a dead flower; and only one in a million may ever resurrect it in his or her life. Something as audacious a title as The Art of Loving could only have been pulled off by a man of the calibre of Bertrand Russell, and as a social philosopher, reformer and rebel Erich Fromm is no less great a name. As a psychoanalyst, he diverged from the typical Freudian obsession with unconscious drives and insisted on the importance of economic and social factors for mental well-being. His works are noted for their emphasis on a â€Å"sane society†, one which is based on rational human needs and where individuality is not compromised in the name of economics or authority. Erich Fromm is one of the pivotal figures in the Humanist movement that reared its head for a short flicker after World War II. His highly influential works (including Man for Himself, Escape from Freedom, The Sane Society, etc.) paint the pathetic picture of dazed consumer and encourage a renaissance of new, enlightened values to salvage our humanity. And it’s more than just talk – in The Art of Loving, Fromm quotes effortlessly from Marx, Huxley, Rumi and several religious texts to hammer in his points. Is Love really an art? Undoubtedly, he answers, in as much as Life itself is an art – which has a very nice ring to it, but seems to be a wholly outdated formula – and which is where our problems begin. The world is a Market today, Fromm says, and our whole culture is based on the idea of a â€Å"mutually favourable exchange†.

Base Details :: essays research papers

BASE DETAILS - ESSAY In the poem, "Base Details", SiegFried Sassoon expresses his great disgust towards the majors in the military. He is horrified and appalled at the way the majors act while men are dying out in the battle field. Mr. Sassoon is so furious towards the majors that it takes more than just one word to describe how indignified Sassoon is. These great feelings of anger are derived from the fact that the majors are living a life of luxury while sending young men "up the line" out into the battle field. This is all suggested in the title of the poem with the word "base" suggesting a military base, and/or a base person. And the word "details" suggesting a command, an assignment, and something or someone lowly. "Base Details" is a poem which expresses the feelings of the author towards military majors using differentiable types of imagery. The poem begins by Sassoon describing the majors as demanding, mean, and belligerent men. Bald, out-of-shape and full of gluttony. Sassoon categorizes the majors under the word scarlet signifying childless, bright redness from excessive drinking and yelling of anger. Sassoon presents to us the fact of the majors sending up the young men as soon as they are drafted "up the line to death." This attitude taken from the majors is what angers Sassoon to the point of hatred. To convince the reader of such horrific truth, Sassoon describes how disrespectful the majors are with their "puffy petulant faces" from eating and drinking excessively. Sassoon states how the majors are stuffing their faces and "Reading the Roll of Honor" in safe luxurious hotels while men are dying out on the field. For this, Sassoon feels so contemptuous towards the majors for they are demanding but hypocritical. They give out strict orders and boss soldiers around while they sit down and be tyrannical. They are just so barbaric and arrogant and show so much disrespect for those who have died in battle that it is not only ridicules to Sassoon but probably for the reader as well. It is just so unbelievable how these majors can sit scarlet and short of breath belittling and not recognizing the heroic actions of the men in the battle field by referring to them as "poor young chaps." When in comfort smoking their cigars, they use words which are definitely not suitable for the conditions.

Psychology and the Bipolar Disorder Essay

Abstract Bipolar Disorder is a serious psychiatric condition that manifests usually in the late teens and affects about one in fifty people. Afflicted individuals experience heightened and extreme states of mania or elation to severe depression, with one in six sufferers inclined to commit suicide. Researchers have discovered biological and genetic links to this illness. Environmental factors such as stressful situations and even diet have been revealed to trigger its onset to those who are biologically inclined to have it, or aggravate its symptoms to those who are already diagnosed with BPD. Bipolar Disorder is a psychiatric condition previously known as manic depression. It is a mental illness that influences how a person acts, feels and thinks. Generally, people with bipolar disorder experience a cycle of mood swings that range from elation to depression. The degrees of these mood swings likewise vary from mild to extreme. The experience of extreme elation is also known as mania. Studies have shown an estimated one percent of the population develop bipolar disorder. Symptoms usually manifest itself in early adulthood. For many people with bipolar disorder, this condition usually lasts throughout their lives. The effects of bipolar disorder also extend to social and occupational aspects. Sufferers may withdraw from family and friends, and sometimes find themselves unable to work. There is a tendency for bipolar disorder to occur in sporadic episodes. Between episodes, the individual may experience no symptoms and function normally. About a third of them however may continue to experience mood difficulties or problems socially or with work between bipolar occurrences. People who have bipolar disorder often are not fully conscious of their condition. Those who fail to receive treatment may experience an average of four episodes in ten years. A minority of people with bipolar disorder (15%) may have many episodes in a year. Bipolar disorder is brought about by both biological (brain chemistry) and genetic (history of the disorder in the family) factors, as well as lifestyle (stressors and diet) and environmental (mania in spring, depression in winter) factors. In other words, both â€Å"nature† and â€Å"nurture† influence the occurrence of bipolar disorder in people. This paper will examine the inter-relationship between the various â€Å"nature† and â€Å"nurture† factors, in giving rise to the onset of bipolar disorder in people (The Australian Psychological Society, 2008). It is estimated that more than two million Americans have it. Men and women are equally affected. Onset of the condition is usually during late teens. It is also estimated that an additional one million children and pre-teens are suffering from the early stages of bipolar disorder. Detection and diagnosis are at most times delayed. Often people suffer for a decade before condition is diagnosed (Time Magazine – Young and Bipolar, 2002). In the United Kingdom, about half a million people are estimated to have bipolar disorder (University of Edinburgh, 2007). Bipolar disorder is a major psychiatric illness. According to a study in Australia, bipolar disorder affects around one in fifty people, and one in every six people with bipolar disorder will commit suicide (University of New South Wales, 2006). Biological Causes of Bipolar Disorder In the Seventh International Conference on Bipolar Disorder in June 2007, two studies have linked the brain as containing vital clues or markers for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Dr. Husseini Manji, chief of the laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology at the National Institute of Mental Health suggested that bipolar disorder occurs as a result of abnormalities in neuronal plasticity cascades. This is the complex machinery inside new cells which regulates various processes in the human body. Disruptions in these pathways were discovered to lead to many of the primary symptoms of bipolar disorder. Dr. Mary Phillips, Director of Functional Neuroimaging in Emotional Disorders at the Western Psychiatric Institute and the Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, has discovered patterns of abnormalities in the neural systems that bring about emotional processing and cognitive control uniquely attributed to the bipolar brain (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 2007). In Time Magazine’s interview with Dr. Wayne Drevets of the National Institute of Mental Health, five parts of the human brain were described to have abnormal activities in the bipolar brain. The Ventral Striatum is that which helps the brain process rewards. In the bipolar brain, this Ventral Striatum is over-active, with about 30% less gray matter in this region. The resulting behavior is a loss in judgment for certain behaviors such as overspending or being indiscriminate. The Prefrontal Cortex, or parts of it, regulates emotion. It is also vital in processing motivation and rewards. In the bipolar brain, braches that supposedly connect neurons are lost, leading to a 20-40% reduction of gray matter. The Amygdala is one of the brain’s emotional centers. It helps in the identification of facial expressions and tones of voice. When a person is emotionally stimulated, neural transmissions increase. When a person is repeatedly exposed to the same stimulating images or experiences, habituation or reduced response occurs. In the bipolar brain, habituation the repeated stimuli occurs slowly, thus the brain remains reactive even beyond the usual response period. The Hippocampus is one of the brain’s centers of memory. The subiculum, a layer of the hippocampus, helps recognize circumstances that represent reward or danger. In the bipolar brain, the branches that connect neurons are lost. Thus leading to a constant state of anxiety since the person can no longer identify situations that are safe. The nucleus in the brain stem contains the serotonin cell bodies. These create and disperse the neurotransmitter to various sections of the brain. In a bipolar brain, there is 40% less serotonin receptor in the nucleus. The resulting atrophy of neurons usually lead to depression (Kluger & Song, 2002). People with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have been discovered to have overactive protein kinase C (PKC) enzymes. This enzyme impairs higher brain functions, according to a study of Yale University in 2004. This study tested the effects of increased PKC activity in the prefrontal cortex of animals that performed working memory tasks. The regulation of thoughts, behaviors and feelings all takes places in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia renders the prefrontal cortex dysfunctional. Direct or indirect activation of PKC in animals dramatically impaired functions of the prefrontal cortex. PKC triggers the cognitive symptoms as a response to stress. When the chemical norepinephrine, the stress-sensitive messenger, binds to cell membrane receptors in the prefrontal cortex, the PKC is activated through a cascade of events. The PKC enzyme thus travels out to the cell membrance, opens the ion channels which heighten the cell’s excitability, and strokes the protein machinery which propels neurotransmitters into the synapse. Inhibition of PKC on the other hand, protected the prefrontal cortical function. For cognitive tasks that did not rely on the prefrontal cortex, no changes in performance were observed (NIH/NIHM, 2004; Yale University, 2004). This particular research results contributes to the mounting evidence of that excessive activity of the PKC may cause distractibility, impulsivity, disturbed thinking and impaired judgment seen in people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (Yale University, 2004). In Australia in 2006 scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the University of New South Wales discovered the first risk gene specifically associated with bipolar disorder. People with this particular form of gene are twice as likely to develop the disease. Studies with families, unrelated patients and therapeutic drug mouse models led to the discovery of this gene called FAT – a gene related to the connection of brain cells. The research’s initial findings pointed that the popular lithium treatment for bipolar disorder exerts a therapeutic effect by altering FAT gene expression and also alters the expression of genes encoding FAT’s protein partners. This particular research on the FAT gene continues to discover further how it functions, to be able to develop better diagnostic tests and treatment (University of New South Wales, 2006). Genetic factors of Bipolar Disorder It is unlikely that scientists will expect genes to tell the whole story about major psychiatric diseases. However, the persistent frequency of mental illness in one percent of the international human population, across ethnic and cultural differences, and its tendency to manifest itself in families point to a strong genetic link (Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 2003). Scientists have reason to believe in that bipolar disorder can be passed on to next generations of families genetically. In â€Å"gene penetrance,† families susceptible to certain illnesses develop it differently throughout generations. It is more common-place that later generations suffer worse than previous generations due to a genetic mechanism known as â€Å"trinucleotide repeat expansion.† Each time genes are inherited, defective sequences of these genes grow longer. This results in descendants coming down with the illness. Trinucleotide repeat expansion has been associated with Huntington’s disease, and evidence is currently mounting to this genetic condition increases the risk of having bipolar disorder as well. The National Institute of Mental Health has worked with eight research centers around the United States to study genomes of 500 families with a history of bipolar disorder to examine what genetic quirks are shared. Ten out of forty-six human chromosomes were discovered to show irregularities that may be linked with bipolar disorder. Chromosome 22 is the most interesting of which. This same chromosome has also been associated with schizophrenia, and velo-cardio-facial syndrome. All these disorders are related by patients’ experience of delusions (Kluger & Song, 2002). Environmental triggers of Bipolar Disorder Environmental factors in itself are not believed to singularly cause bipolar disorder in people. Dr. Michael Gitlin, Head of the Mood Disorders Clinic at the University of California in Los Angeles says that most doctors and scientists do not think environmental stress causes bipolar disorder. But these factors can trigger the condition in people who are already vulnerable (Kluger & Song, 2002). Like many latent emotional disorders such as alcoholism, anxiety conditions, depression, bipolar disorder can also be triggered by major life events such as death, divorce, losing one’s job, or rights of passage such as moving out to start college, marriage, birth of a child. These and other situations that cause stress and anxiety are believed to trigger bipolar disorder (Kluger & Song, 2002). The Yale University study has also revealed thatt mild stress can activate PKC, and thus contribute to the worsening of symptoms in patients already with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The link between outside stress as stimulating the PKC can thus be used to explain deterioration of higher brain function, and why bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients are most susceptible to dysfunctions that are stress-induced (Yale University, 2004). Dietary factors and ingested substances as triggers to Bipolar Disorder What a person eats and drinks are also believed to trigger bipolar disorder. Caffeine triggers mania for those with bipolar disorder. Teens are thus advised to stay away from coffee and tea. Children already diagnosed with bipolar disorder must avoid caffeinated foods such as chocolate and sodas. Teens and adolescents must avoid alcohol and drugs. The risks for addiction to these substances by bipolars is substantially higher, and treatment for bipolar disorder will be much more difficult since the patient’s mind is already clouded by these recreational chemicals (Kluger & Song, 2002). Lead poisoning was discovered to have links with distractibility and impulsivity that are evident in children with bipolar disorder. Even low levels of lead can activate the PKC enzyme, thus impairing the individual’s self regulation of his/her behavior. (Yale University, 2004). Lizzie Simon has bipolar disorder. She has written a book about her condition entitled â€Å"Detour,† which even inspired an MTV Special entitled â€Å"True Life: I’m Bipolar.† Time Magazine featured excerpts of her book, describing the first significant onset of bipolar disorder symptoms when she was seventeen years old, and her particular circumstances during this time. She was in Paris on her senior year abroad. She was having a wonderful time, and remembered thinking that she had never been this happy for this long in her entire life. She then received a letter of early admission to Columbia University. Early the next morning, after such a perfect day prior, she felt insane. She experienced an uncomfortable light fuzz building up in her head. She described the feeling as if her jeans were too tight and her shoes were too big, but in her head. She remembered her place ride home for Christmas, and getting intoxicated with a guy in the last row. At that point for Lizzie, things started to fade. Between Christmas and New Year, she felt drifting and drowning. Her walls swooned. She documented in her journals thoughts of suicide attempts, experiences of being broken- hearted, sadness and other dark experiences. After receiving an initial treatment of Paxil, an anti-depressant, Lizzie returned to Paris and brought her pills with her. In Paris, Lizzie was in a manic state. She remembers sitting in a cafà © on a sunny day, then standing up and announcing loudly that she was going to walk until she got laid. Lizzie experienced many more psychotic episodes from manic to depressive during this period – sitting in her bedroom and thinking that there were microphones everyone, expecting killers to enter her room, feeling that the Mona Lisa was smiling at her, thinking she was a cat infested with bugs. She even bit her hand until she broke her own skin. At one time, she was about to jump off a terrace, only to be disrupted by the ringing of her phone. She remembered the caller being a woman who sounded like her mother. But she then thought then it was the CIA. She sought treatment at the American Hospital in Paris. She was advised to stop taking Paxil, and was diagnosed to have bipolar disorder. She flew home and later on, started taking Lithium (Simon, 2002). It is interesting to note that Lizzie Simon’s grandfather had bipolar disorder. Since her family kept it a secret, Lizzy had no idea of this particular aspect of her family history until after she was diagnosed, and after the symptoms developed into more severe forms. He was diagnosed the year she was born. Lizzie was diagnosed the year her grandfather died (Simon, 2002). This is not an issue of nature versus nurture. What the evidence points out is more of a â€Å"nurture enhancing nature† inter-relationship. Although numerous studies have shown that there are people who are predisposed biologically and genetically to bipolar disorder, external factors such as events, stress and even diet can not only trigger bipolar disorder. These factors can also worsen the symptoms of already diagnosed bipolar patients. Lizzie Simon’s story is just one of thousands of incidents of people inheriting the genes that lay the foundation of bipolar disorder, the prominent symptoms of which are triggered by emotional and stressful external events and circumstances. In the same manner, people with bipolar disorder, or those who are most inclined to develop this condition (having parents or grandparents with bipolar disorder) can prevent its occurrences, or at least lessen the severity of its symptoms, depending on how they personally manage stressful situations in their lives. The principle of external and environmental factors as triggering the onset, or worsening the symptoms of bipolar disorder is already widely accepted internationally. But studies to better understand the details of these inter-relationships of â€Å"nature† and â€Å"nurture,† particularly to develop better diagnostic tests and treatments are on-going. References Australian Psychological Society (2008) What is Bipolar Disorder? Retrieved January 1, 2008 from http://www.psychology.org.au/community/bipolar/ Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions (2003, April 1). Families With Severe Form Of Bipolar Disorder Help Scientists Narrow The Search For Disease Genes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/April%20Santos/Desktop/Essay/4%20Bipolar%20Disorder%20$40/Families%20With%20Severe%20Form%20Of%20Bipolar%20Disorder%20Help%20Scientists%20Narrow%20The%20Search%20For%20Disease%20Genes.htm Kluger, J. & Song, S. (2002) Young and Bipolar. Time Magazine. Retrieved January 1, 2008 from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101020819-336003,00.html NIH/National Institute Of Mental Health (2004, November 3). Stress Impairs Thinking Via Mania-Linked Enzyme. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/April%20Santos/Desktop/Essay/4%20Bipolar%20Disorder%20$40/Stress%20Impairs%20Thinking%20Via%20Mania-Linked%20Enzyme.htm Simon, L. (2002). Everything was perfect†¦and then I went insane. Time Magazine. Retrieved January 1, 2008 from http://www.time.com/time/cov ers/1101020819/detour.html University of Edinburgh (2007, July 21). Manic Depression Linked With Brain Tissue Loss. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/April%20Santos/Desktop/Essay/4%20Bipolar%20Disorder%20$40/Manic%20Depression%20Linked%20With%20Brain%20Tissue%20Loss.htm University of New South Wales (2006, January 13). FAT Chance Of Becoming Manic-depressive. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/April%20Santos/Desktop/Essay/4%20Bipolar%20Disorder%20$40/FAT%20Chance%20Of%20Becoming%20Manic-depressive.htm University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2007, June 9). Brain Holds Clues To Bipolar Disorder. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/April%20Santos/Desktop/Essay/4%20Bipolar%20Disorder%20$40/Brain%20Holds%20Clues%20To%20Bipolar%20Disorder.htm Yale University (2004, November 5). Enzyme Linked To Mania And Schizophrenia Impairs Higher Brain Func tions. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/April%20Santos/Desktop/Essay/4%20Bipolar%20Disorder%20$40/Enzyme%20Linked%20To%20Mania%20And%20Schizophrenia%20Impairs%20Higher%20Brain%20Functions.htm