values essays

values essays Geographically close but rather different The United States and Mexico are located geographically besides each other. They are interrelated in many aspects, such as economy, traditions, and ways of life, but they differ in some minimal aspects. People in each of the countries have a different way of living the values of parentship and personal control over the environment. People from different parts of the world get along with their families in different ways. A value related to this is called parentship meaning the relationship between parents and their children. Even if relationships between parents and their children exist all over the world, there are countries that have different customs. In Mexico, children depend a lot on their parents. Children in Mexico live with their parents even after graduating of high school. There, parents support their children until they have plenty of money to survive and get married. In comparison with the United States, children are more independent of their parents. There, most of graduates leave their houses to go to a foreign university. They believe that the future would bring even greater happiness. (Kohls, 4). In Mexico there are a lot of parties, and holidays where families get together to celebrate. This differs from the United States in that there are not enough reunions to get families together. A la st thing that can be seen different in these two countries is how advice is given to children by their parents. In Mexico when there is a problem, children ask their parents for advice to help them solve it. In the United States since most of the adolescents live away from their parents, it is not common for them to ask their parents for advice. Parentship is very different in Mexico compared to the United States. The environment is getting worse each year. Pollution, garbage, and the ozone layer effect is increasing a lot with time. This is be ...

Learn More About Inventer Thomas Elkins

Learn More About Inventer Thomas Elkins Dr. Thomas Elkins, an African-American inventor, was a pharmacist and respected member of the Albany community. An abolitionist, Elkins was the secretary of the Vigilance Committee. As the 1830s drew to a close and the decade of the 1840s began, committees of citizens were formed all across the north with the intention of protecting fugitive slaves from re-enslavement. As slave catchers sought fugitives vigilance committees provided legal assistance, food, clothing, money, sometimes employment, temporary shelter and assisted fugitives in making their way toward freedom. Albany had a vigilance committee in the early 1840s and into the 1850s. Thomas Elkins - Patents and Inventions An improved  refrigerator  design was patented by Elkins on November 4, 1879. He designed the device to help people have a way of preserving perishable foods. At that time, the common way of keeping food cold was to place items in a large container and surround them with large blocks of ice. Unfortunately, the ice generally melted very quickly and the food soon perished. One unusual fact about Elkins refrigerator was that it was also designed to chill human corpses. An improved chamber commode (toilet) was patented by Elkins on January 9, 1872. Elkins commode was a combination bureau, mirror, book-rack, washstand, table, easy chair, and chamber stool. It was a very unusual piece of furniture. On February 22, 1870, Elkins invented a combined dining, ironing table, and quilting frame. The Refrigerator Elkins patent was for an insulated cabinet into which ice is placed to cool the interior. As such, it was a refrigerator only in the old sense of the term, which included non-mechanical coolers. Elkins acknowledged in his patent that, I am aware that chilling substances enclosed within a porous box or jar  by wetting its outer surface is an old and well-known process.   Unique Folding Table A patent was also issued to Elkins on February 22, 1870, for a Dining, Ironing Table and Quilting Frame Combined (No. 100,020). The table seems to be little more than a folding table. The Commode The Minoans of Crete are said to have invented a flush toilet thousands of years ago; however, there is probably no direct ancestral relationship between it and the modern one that evolved primarily in England starting in the late 16th century, when Sir John Harrington devised a flushing device for his godmother Queen Elizabeth. In 1775, Alexander Cummings patented a toilet in which some water remained after each flush, thereby suppressing odors from below. The water closet continued to evolve, and in 1885, Thomas Twyford provided us with a single-piece ceramic toilet similar to the one we know today. In 1872, a U.S. patent was issued to Elkins for a new article of chamber furniture which he designated a Chamber Commode (Patent No. 122,518). It provided a combination of a bureau, mirror, book-rack, washstand, table, easy chair, and earth-closet or chamber-stool, which might otherwise be constructed as several separate articles.

Bussiness concepts Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bussiness concepts - Assignment Example The efforts that a company puts into corporate social responsibility supersede the expectations of the various groups that protect the environment and different regulators. Another name for Corporate Social responsibility is Corporate Citizenship. Corporate Social Responsibility may involve the organization incurring short-term costs without immediate benefits to the company in terms of finance (Hunnicutt, 2009). A company that involves itself in Corporate Social Responsibility stands to benefit in several ways as discussed below. Corporate Social responsibility enables an organization to market itself and the products and services to the society. By getting into contact with the consumers and potential consumers of the organization’s products or services, the organization has the opportunity to explain in detail the products and services it offers. Further, the organization’s staff may answer any questions that the consumers and potential consumers may have. This helps the organization to ensure that it retains its customers aside from ensuring customer loyalty. The company is also able to sell an image of a company that considers the concerns of the society and takes the initiative of undertaking corrective or mitigating measures (Chen, 2011). Corporate Social Responsibility gives an organization an opportunity to improve the knowledge of the employees on the products and services that the company offers. The organization takes advantage of Corporate Social Responsibilities to train their employees on the company products, services and policies so that as they interact with the members of the public they can represent the organization well. Engagement of the employees also boosts their morale, since they feel like they are involved in the building of the organization by being ambassadors. Employees also engage in activities that they may consider noble, therefore increasing their pride in working for the organization

Jaws and the Growth Machine Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Jaws and the Growth Machine - Movie Review Example At a time when there is little growth of the economy in general and that of cities n particular, it is worth re-looking at the idea of the city as merely an engine for growth. This movie seeks to enlighten us that what binds alll the eople in cities s their desire for growth. This seems a plausible argument because after all, people move to cities to seek employment opportunities and access other services that villages might not offer. Even more provocative however, is the attemt by the movie to suggest that the city mostly serves the interests of a few elite at the expense of the majority. This will be a provocative idea for all of eternity. The idea that people who apply themselves to the same extent cannot reap the full benefits vis a vis some who barely apply themselves is hugely controversial and for good reasons. America is knon as a land of opportunity. Those who work the hardest should be most rewarded! On the whole, this is a controversial movie that is worth watching from time to time. It suggests that the desire for growth seems to have overtaken the desire for equality and fairness. It is even more so because in the current economic climate, brought about by unbrided capitalism, remedies should be sought to correct the ever-growing poverty

Commentary on the eco friendly shoes Essay Example for Free

Commentary on the eco friendly shoes Essay Blackspot Sneaker and Nike considered. The best way to have the biggest share of the market is not really by advertisements or sweet talks; it can only be done by the use of economic friendly products. The product that every Tom, Dick and Harry would be able to afford without going for a loan. Commenting on the economic friendly shoes of Blackspot and Nike, apart from producing a user friendly shoes, they also put other factors into consideration and it is in view of this that made them dominate the shoe industry. Why will a buyer purchase a pair of shoe for the same price he/she can purchase 3 pairs? Since those two companies put the end users into thought by producing shoes that would be durable, cheap and firm, they have been able to control the target market and every advertisement rolled out to the audience is accepted as a contract or agreement to purchase a pair or more of the advertised shoes and this has really increased their sales not for a particular manufactured shoes but all shoes on which Kalle Lasn or Nike is written on.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In an excerpts from Blackspot website,   Kalle Lasn, CEO, Blackspot, said â€Å"all shoes manufactured by Blackspot are earth friendly, anti sweatshop, cruelty free and prograssroots   and he ended it by saying that Blackspots are the only rough and ready shoes that has the ability to beat NIKE†. When a shoe company comes out with a good product, and at the same time a relatively cheap product, it is very certain that the demand will be higher than the supply because everybody will like to be seen with the product on his feet. As this increases, the shoe company will continue to make name and refrain other competitors from coming to the market scene.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conclusively, it could be seen that the society has really impacted in the advertisement and sales of eco friendly shoe producers because without the society there would be no turnover.

Explore the Medicinal Benefits of Green Tea :: Essays Papers

Explore the Medicinal Benefits of Green Tea Tea, especially green tea, has been touted in many sources as having a plethora of medicinal properties. Much of the hype surrounding tea is in fact true. Tea is not a wonder drug, but it can combat some of the causes of the most deadly diseases in the United States. For over 4000 years it has been used as a medicine in China (Cheng 2397). By taking a cue from the Asian cultures, we in America are beginning to discover the benefits of this drink. Since green tea is not fermented, and thus enzymes do not destroy many of the polyphenolic compounds, it contains more beneficial compounds than either oolong or black tea. Tea is so powerful in fighting disease because the polyphenolic compounds it contains work as antioxidants. There are thousands of antioxidants compounds that help to inhibit the oxidation reactions caused by free radicals. The antioxidants latch onto free oxygen particles in the body and prevent them from doing damage to cells or tissue. The most prevalent antioxidant in green tea is a compound called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (Voelker 262). Epigallocatechin-3-gallate is unique because in lab tests it induced cell death in cancer cells, but left healthy cells unharmed. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio exposed it to cancerous skin, lymph, and prostate cells from both humans and mice and to healthy human skin cells. The compound killed the cancerous cells, and left the healthy cells untouched. Present in just 2 mg of green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate is a powerful chemical (Voelker 262). Green tea doesn’t always have to be ingested to combat cancer. A study published in the August 2000 issues of the Archives of Dermatology found that green tea polyphenols have both anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties on the skin (Katiyar, et al. 989). Experimental studies conducted on mouse skin found the polyphenols afforded protection against both chemical carcinogensis as well as photocarcinogenis (Katiyar, et al. 989). This information could be big news for those worried about the detrimental effects of the sun and daily chemical exposure on their skin.

Between Subjects Design

Between-subjects Designs Instructions Psychology students need to learn how to look at each factor within a study and the Interaction between those factors. This assignment will assist students In learning how to understand this concept: 1) For this assignment, you will test the following hypotheses: a) Frequent users of Backbone will have a significantly different level of self-esteem than infrequent users of Backbone. I) Definition of Frequent users- spend 2 hours a day on Backbone. II) Definition of Infrequent users- spend less than 2 hours a day on Backbone. ) Module 2: Part I – Survey ) Each team member will access and complete the â€Å"Backbone Survey. † Save the survey results for the next part of this assignment. 3) Module 4: Part II – Data Collection a) Collect data from the surveys of each team member: b) Locate all the answers to the questions specifically about self-esteem: l) Self- esteem Question #s- c) Hold onto the survey results for the next par t of the assignment. 4) Module 6: Final Study a) part Ill -T-Test I) As a team, you will use data you compiled (means from the average scores- self- esteem questions only) from the surveys to calculate a T-test on the two groups: (1)Frequent users of Backbone- separate mean (2) Infrequent users of Backbone. – separate mean b) part – F-Orator l) use the data you compiled from the surveys to calculate an F- ratio on the 4 groups (4 means to calculate): (1) Male- Frequent/lunette-separate means (2) Female- Frequent/lunette separate means [If your group consists of members of the same sex, then use ages to separate the groups: For instance, â€Å"under-30, over-30, etc. â€Å"] c) Part V- Compile the team's final results into a study (750-1,000 words) detailing the steps of the assignment.Include n your study: I) Introduction- Briefly explain the reason for the study. Include the hypothesis and how it was tested. II) Method- briefly explain how the experiment was conduct ed: (1) Participants- How many? What were the relevant characteristics (male/female, ages, etc. )? (2) Instrument- Briefly explain the survey used to compile the data. Ill) Procedure- Were there groups? How was data compiled? How was the data measured? Make sure you clarify the study for the reader. Iv) Results- Record the mean differences on how you scored on self-esteem in these different groups.How 2) Include the F-ratio v) Discussion: Include interpretation of results, ethical concerns, limitations of study, and suggestions for future research. (1) Was the hypothesis supported? (2) What can you generalize from the study? V') References- List all references of literature used for this study. 5) Prepare the Final Study portion of this assignment according to the PAP guidelines found in the PAP Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. 6) Submit the Final Study assignment as one deliverable to the instructor by the end of Module 8.

Negative outcomes of French Revolution Essay

Total collapse of the economy, finances, and capital. Hyperinflation devastated the economy, and country had to default on obligations and debt. Improvements happened after Napoleon’s reforms and by widespread confiscation of wealth from Europe (for example by asking Austria to pay for a war reparations). Anarchy and mob violence, counter-revolution, and civil war caused death to hundreds of thousands citizens. Entire regions were depopulated by burn land tactics, and cities like Lyon destroyed. It was the biggest outbreak of violence in Europe between 30Y War and WWI. The extreme measures during the crisis brought a legislation that ended democracy and created first modern totalitarian system under Terror. Constitution was suspended indefinitely, and state implemented widespread judicial murders of its critics and the opponents. Intellectual potential of the state was decimated at the guillotine or by exile.  One point, almost entire French academy was tried for treason in May/June 1794. Revolution was negatively taken by rest of Europe, which was dragged for 25 years into coalition wars with France.

Rebuild your hiring process into a successful one with 5 easy steps

Rebuild your hiring process into a successful one with 5 easy steps If you work in HR, you know how important it is to place real value on the hiring process- but does the company you work for feel the same way?Although it can be argued that nothing is more important to the short- and long-term viability of an organization than ensuring that the teams who work towards its success contain the best and the brightest candidates available, the truth is that some companies don’t take the hiring process as seriously as they should, and have a poor hiring process that reflects this thinking.Having a strong and well-defined hiring culture can really take your business to the next level and help propel it past the competition in your industry. It stokes the flames of motivation and innovation- key determinants of success that truly separate those businesses just looking to hang on from those looking to leap ahead of the pack. Conversely, if your company fails to commit to taking its hiring practices seriously, it can make it difficult to attract top-ti er individuals in today’s candidate-driven job market, where seemingly infinite opportunity is outpacing available talent, and those with the background and skill sets to disrupt the status quo and drive real change have plenty of options to choose from when looking for their next job or project.An article by the International Franchise Association (IFA) highlights the importance of having a well-defined hiring process for your company: â€Å"Every new employee will either contribute positively to customer satisfaction, growth and profitability, or contrastingly have a negative impact on the business. By adopting a structured and comprehensive hiring process, you’re taking the first step in positioning your business for success by attracting the right talent. The type of talent that will help build the company culture, drive sales and ultimately position the company as a leader in the industry.†So, it seems abundantly clear that having a well-defined hiring proc ess is a crucial element of any company- but how can you tell where your company ranks? As an HR professional, there are some key indicators you can use to determine if your company is taking its hiring culture and practices seriously (or not).hbspt.cta.load(2785852, '9e52c197-5b5b-45e6-af34-d56403f973c5', {});How were you hired?A key performance indicator you can use is the process you encountered when you were a candidate for your current position. Even if it was years ago, this information can help you establish a baseline regarding how your company is faring when it comes to hiring. Was the experience streamlined, polished, and completely effective at answering your questions, addressing your needs and concerns, keeping you updated during the process, and capturing your interest in joining the team? Were there clear areas for improvement? Do those areas still need improvement?How does your company treat HR overall?Does your company place a real value and importance on cultivatin g a top-tier HR department that’s made up of seasoned and well-trained staff who fully understand the company’s mission and culture? Are they prepared to support and bolster the company’s goals with each new position they’re tasked with filling? Take stock of your department and its position in the organization, which will help you determine if your company has a strong hiring culture, or if there’s room for improvement.Do you have a set process in place?Is your company’s hiring process structured for success? According to the IFA, the following steps are essential for a comprehensive hiring process for each open position:Define, create, and identify the role to be filled.Source, market, and promote your open position and receive applicants.Select, evaluate candidates for the position and company culture.Verify, follow up with ideal candidates to confirm the skills and information they’ve represented.Of course these are basic steps an d a lot of nuance goes into each hire, but if your company is falling down when it comes to any of these broad strokes, it may be an indication that your hiring culture can use some work.If you’ve read this far and are starting to feel as if your company’s hiring process and culture can use some real work, don’t despair. There is plenty you can do as an HR professional to help make lasting and positive changes in your organization.Improve recruitment efficiency.Make sure your company is taking full advantage of available professional tools to support the hiring process. This includes checklists for organizational efficiency when screening candidates, preparing for interviews, and aggregating candidate data; taking advantage of well-designed and well-maintained email templates for a wide ranges of tasks, from basic correspondence to scheduling interviews and sending feedback, and more; and using helpful recruiting software for tracking candidates through the hiri ng pipeline and analyzing data.Enhance the candidate experience.As an HR professional, you’re often the first point of contact for a candidate regarding your company, and are instrumental in effectively forming their first impressions. Do your best to ensure that each candidate’s experience during the hiring process is positive, regardless of whether or not they’re hired (because word spreads). Make sure the careers page on your company’s website is well-maintained and your application process is seamless and candidate-friendly, and keep all candidates in the loop and well-informed with friendly updates during the decision-making process. Candidates are people, and possibly even potential customers of your business and brand, so be respectful, helpful, and genuine with every one of them- as in most aspects of life, the Golden Rule applies here, too.Evaluate candidates more effectively.This one’s mainly designed to streamline the internal hiring pro cess, but it’s important to keep HR staff satisfied and engaged with their work in order for them to do their jobs effectively. Make sure that your evaluation process for each position is accurately capturing crucial data to assess the potential effectiveness and value of each candidate. Some key methods for obtaining useful candidate metrics include portfolio and work sample reviews, having candidates complete thoughtfully designed standardized tests, and structuring interviews for maximum impact and hiring efficiency. All HR personnel should be trained properly to evaluate candidates at all levels and positions- if they’re not, this is a worthy investment in time and resources for your company to make.Boost candidate sourcing.Help boost the effectiveness of your HR department, and in turn stimulate your company’s hiring process and culture by implementing effective candidate sourcing strategies. Take advantage of social media to build your company’s bra nd and keep followers and potential candidates informed about job openings, make sure your company is represented at key industry events and associations, develop an effective company referral program, invest in helpful sourcing tools to find qualified candidates quickly, and build and maintain an active candidate pipeline for current and future job openings.Attract top talent with top ads.This one may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised by how many companies run ineffective and sometimes downright confusing ads when seeking candidates for open positions- and you’d better believe that candidates notice poor ads, which factor into first impressions and can serve to pollute your organization’s hiring culture. Make sure your company is utilizing engaging and clearly crafted ads that include all key relevant details about the position, as well as candidate requirements and â€Å"nice-to-haves,† and make sure your company’s brand is well represented.Us e the advice and strategies presented here to help you figure out how strong your company’s hiring culture is right now. Take an honest look at the way you operate, and then determine how to make any needed improvements to your organization’s hiring practices and processes. Good luck!

What Is a Gap Year Should You Take One

What Is a Gap Year Should You Take One SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Taking a gap year after high school is an option that more and more young adultsare choosing each year. Whether you want to learn outside the classroom, uncoveryour passions, or just copy Malia Obama, you can pursueall three goals by deferring college enrollment for a year. Gap years look different for everyone, but they all share an emphasis on experiential learning and personal development. This guide will explore what a gap year is, as well as discuss some of itspros and cons. If you’re thinking of taking a gap year or are simply interested inlearning more about it, read on for a full investigation into this growing trend. What Is a Gap Year? According to the American Gap Year Association (AGA), a gap year is an â€Å"experiential semester of year ‘on,’ typically taken between high school and college in order to deepen practical, professional, and personal awareness.† AGA emphasizes that a gap year is a year on, rather a year off, to combat the notion that students are taking a year-long vacation from schooling. Rather, students who take time away between high school and college design their year with specific goals in mind. They use thetime to gain professional skills, volunteer for an important cause, or travel the world, to name just a few popular gap year activities. Because gap years often require some financial investment from the student, they are typically not an available option for everyone. While scholarships and stipends are increasingly available, the ability to take a gap year still implies a certain amount of privilege. Volunteer programs at home or abroad are especially out of reachto students who areunable tocommit months of their time to working or traveling without pay. If you are able to take a gap year, you can fillyour year in a variety of ways, depending on your interests and goals. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular gap year activities. Before diving headfirst into a gap year, you should set specific goals for your "year on." What Can You Do During a Gap Year? Gap year activities vary widely, but most people are looking to experience personal, professional, and educational growth. When planning a gap year, you might try to gain work experience, develop professional skills, explore a personal interest, volunteer for an important cause, or travel the world. 1. Gain Work Experience While options for paid work aren’t as plentiful for high school graduates as they are for college graduates, you may be able to find paid employment. By spending the year working, you can save money for college, gain professional experience, and clarify what you want to study in college. Given the high cost of private colleges, you may not want to attend until you clarifyyour career goals. Working for a year can help you explore and narrow down your professional interests. You could work locally in a business or organization in your town. You can also explore jobs in other cities or countries at companies or nonprofit organizations. Another option for high school graduates is providing childcare locally or abroad as an au pair. 2. Develop Professional Skills Beyond getting a job, you can explore programs centered on skills development and career exploration. Some organizations charge a sizeable fee, while others are geared toward low-income graduates. Year Up, for instance, aims to provide low-income young adults with hands-on skills development and corporate internships for college credit. Job Corps offers training programs in over 100 technical areas. For wilderness and leadership skills, Outward Bound and National Outdoor Leadership School are popular options. Students with the means and interest to work internationally, furthermore, could develop skills working in a non-profit through an organization like AFS Intercultural Programs. Not only do these programs offer skills training, but many give you college credits that transfer when you matriculate the next year. Do you love camping? Some gap year programs help you develop wilderness and leadership skills. 3. Explore a Personal Interest Another popular motivation for taking a gap year is to explore a personal passion. According to Harvard, some of its students who took a gap year engaged in â€Å"drama, figure skating, health-care, archeological exploration, kibbutz life, language study, mineralogical research, missionary work, music, non-profit groups, child welfare programs, political campaigns, rebuilding schools...sports, steel drumming, storytelling, swing dance, university courses, and writing- to name some chosen at random.† When planning a gap year, you should think about what you love to do. If you could spend a day doing whatever you wanted, what would you choose? Even if you're not sure, you should search around gap year organizations to find opportunities that would let you practice, explore, and discover personal passions. 4. Volunteer for a Cause Another popular gap year activity that combines skills development with exploring a personal passion is volunteering. There are lots of opportunities to volunteer for social causes, like conservation, humanitarian relief, building infrastructure, girls’ empowerment, education, agriculture, or animal care. There are a variety of volunteer programs available, many of which you can find throughUSA Gap Year Fair. City Year, for example, places young adults in schools throughout the U.S. to help out in the classroom. International programs, like Volunteers for Peace, Global Service Corps, and Restless Development, appointyoung adultsin locations across the world to volunteer with kids, teach English, work on environmental restoration, or assist with social projects like HIV/AIDS awareness. Some of these volunteer programs are free, while others charge a considerable fee (not including airfare). By researchingvarious opportunities, you can find an option that both aligns with your goals and is financially feasible. Are you interested in animal care or environmental conservation? Some programs take you across the world to volunteer at animal sanctuaries. 5. Travel the World Finally, some young adults have one main goal during their gap year: to see the world. They hit the open road, backpack across continents, and visit global landmarks. Budget travelers might take advantage of cheap or free lodging options through CouchSurfing or WWOOF, an organization where people exchange farm work for lodging. Travelers use a gap year to learn more about the world, experience new cultures, and discover new interests. By experiencing new ways of being, they learn more about themselves and their role in the world. Potential Benefits of a Gap Year More and more students are taking gap years between high school and college, and an increasing number of colleges are explicitly encouraging the practice. Why are students attracted to this option, and what are some benefits of taking a gap year before entering college? Read on to learn about six major potential benefits of taking a gap year after high school. 1. Gain New Skills Through Experience Gap years offer an opportunity for experiential learning. They allow you to step out of the classroom and learn new skills and ideas through doing. You might find yourself in entirely new situations that call for unique problem-solving skills and a change inperspective. Whether you choose to work, volunteer, or travel, you’ll encounter new challenges and develop skills to overcome them. These new experiences, furthermore, might help shape your academic direction when you arrive on the college campus. Are you feeling foggy about what you want to study at college? Spending a year developing new skills can part the clouds and clarify what you want to do for the next few years. 2. Save Money for College Gap years don’t have to cost thousands of dollars. On the contrary, you might take this time to get a job, gain professional experience, and make money. Gainful employment can allow you to save money for college, get experience in a work environment, and clarify your professional goals. Job board websites like Idealist and Snagajob list opportunities that are available to high school graduates. 3. Learn About New Cultures Many students go through eighteen years of schooling in the same place with the same group of people. By taking a gap year, you can step out of your comfort zone and into an entirely new culture. Even if you’re not traveling internationally, you may experience a new culture by joining a workplace or taking part in volunteer gap year programs. You could learn new customs, try new foods, acquire a different language, or simply open your eyes to new ways of being in the world. Your gap year experience can broaden your horizons and transform your perspective on both yourself and the world around you. 4. Make New Friends Just as you can gain new experiences on a gap year, you can also meet new people of all different ages and walks of life. By building meaningful relationships, you can experience a great deal of personal growth and establish a network of support asyou navigate the next few years of your life. Whether you meet coworkers, fellow volunteers, or a home-stay family in another country, you and the people around you will benefit from forging new connections and friendships. During a gap year, you can make new friends and learn about people from all walks of life. 5. Refresh and Recharge Before College A gap year can be a great way to recharge after manyyears of schooling. Rather than immediately jumping into the next four years of your education, you can take a break from the classroom and rejuvenate your personal interests and motivations. Many selective schools, including Princeton and Harvard, encourage accepted students to take a gap year before enrolling. Harvard says, â€Å"Perhaps the best way of all to get the full benefit of a â€Å"time-off† is to postpone entrance to college for a year.† Harvard’s newspaper, The Crimson, reported that â€Å"students who had taken a year off found the experience â€Å"so valuable that they would advise all Harvard students to consider it.† ...One student, noting that the majority of her friends will simply spend eight consecutive terms at Harvard, ‘wondered if they ever get the chance to catch their breath.’† Some schools have even introduced â€Å"bridge programs† that offer a year of domestic or international service to accepted students before they matriculate on campus. Studies have shown that students who take a gap year before starting college have higher motivation and graduation rateson average than students who don’t. Taking this break from the classroom can help recharge your batteries and allow you to discover intereststhat motivate your studies once you arrive on campus. 6. Grow and Mature Putting all of the above benefits together, you can conclude that a thoughtfully planned gap year can be a tremendous opportunity for personal growth and increased self-awareness. Whatever you choose to do during your gap year, you’ll probably find yourself in new surroundings, like a workplace, school in a different city, or an entirely new culture. Simply planning a gap year can be an empowering experience, as it’s an unconventional path that requires a lot of thought and reflection. After planning and carrying out your year, you may show up to college with a more solid sense of personal identity and clearer understanding of your personal, academic, and professional goals. Keeping all of these benefits in mind, let’s also consider some potential drawbacks of taking a gap year. What are some possible downsides to this plan? A gap year can bean opportunity for significant personal growth. Potential Drawbacks of a Gap Year Taking a gap year has both pros and cons, and you should consider both carefully if you’re deciding whether or not to take a gap year before entering college. Below are the main potential downsides of taking a gap year. 1. Financial Expenses While there are lots of enticing gap year programs, they might be a lot more expensive than you realize. Many programs charge a sizeable fee for you to volunteer, and this fee doesn’t always include transportation. To volunteer in Cambodia for two weeks with Global Service Corps, for instance, you’d have to pay $2,000, and this fee doesn’t include airfare or insurance. When considering a gap year program, you should be realistic about how you’re going to pay for it. You might do a cost-benefit analysis to see if the experience is worth it. If you find that it’s not, you may instead plan to study abroad, volunteer, or intern for a semester incollege or during summer breaks from school. 2. Additional Planning and Uncertainty Taking a gap year can be challenging because of all the planning it entails. When you go right into college, your path is clear and largely defined for you. When you choose a gap year, you open up a huge number of new possibilities. Within all this choice can lie a great deal of uncertainty, and uncertainty cancause anxiety and stress. If you’re taking part in a gap year program, then you may also have to go through a lengthy application process. You may have to fill out paperwork, collect documents, and write essays around the same time as you’re applying to college, doing homework, and taking the SAT. All of this extra work could put a lot of pressure on an already busy and stressful year. When considering a gap year, keep in mind that all of the extra effort and decisions that planning onerequires. When you take a gap year, you have to get in the driver's seat and navigate the next year of your life. This total independence can cause a lot of uncertainty. 3. Graduate From College a Year Later While gap years are increasingly popular, most people still go to college in the fall following high school graduation. If you take a gap year, you could feel a year behind your peers, many of whom may be sophomores when you become a freshman. You may also graduate a year later from them, unless you come up with a plan to graduate in three years. Taking a gap year is a personal choice, but you should consider whether it could make you feel like you’re behind and have to race to catch up. 4. Culture Shock If you’re planning to travel, work, or volunteer in a new city or country, you should think about the challenges of adapting to a new environment.Moving can be thrilling at first, but it also has its hardships. If you’ve never traveled away from home before, then you might experience culture shock and homesickness. Being nervous about starting anew venture is natural, but you should also be self-aware about how you’ll handle an adjustment. If your plan feels too overwhelming, then you may want to scale back and start with smaller steps. Before you fly away from home, considerthe emotional ups and downs of adjusting to a new culture. 5. Loss of Academic Momentum For the most part, studies show that students who take a gap year have high motivation when they arrive at college. However, you might find it difficult to return to an academic environment after taking a year away from the classroom. Consider whether your gap year ideacould disrupt your plans for higher education and cause you to lose momentum. Would it be refreshing, or would you find it hardto return to the school environment? While you can’t predict the future, it’s important to consider all of these potential drawbacks as you decide whether or not to take a gap year. Given these benefits and potential challenges, how can you decide about a gap year? If you have the opportunity, should you take one? Should You Take a Gap Year? Questions to Ask Yourself Once you’ve done your research and considered your options, how can you figure out whether taking a gap year is the right choice for you? Before making the leap, you should ask yourself the following three questions. Before you take a gap year, take some time to reflect on your reasons for doing so. 1. Why Do I Want to Take a Gap Year? First and foremost, you should clarify your reasons for wanting to take a gap year. What are your goals? What do you hope to gain from this experience? Where do you hope to be at the end of the year? A gap year is an opportunity to engage in activities that you care about, develop skills, contribute to society, or save money. To make the most of the year, you should develop clear goals going into it. That way you can make sure that your gap year is, as American Gap Year Association defines it, a year â€Å"on† rather than a year â€Å"off.† 2. Are My Plans Feasible? Once you’ve reflected on your goals and motivations, it’s time for a reality check. While some gap year ideas, like volunteering with orangutans in Borneo, sound like a dream come true, are theyactually feasible? What will the financial costs of your plans be? What kind of application process is required? While it’s easy to get excited about a new adventure, you also need to consider logistics, like planning and costs. Without a clear idea of what you’re getting yourself into, a plan that started out exciting could become burdensome. 3. How Will My Gap Year Affect My College Plans? Finally, you need to do some research into how taking a gap year would affect your college plans. On the logistical level, does your college allow you to defer for a year? If not, would you have to re-apply? How would this timeline affect financial aid? On a more personal level, you should think about how taking a â€Å"year on† would affect your educational momentum,as discussed above. Would you get re-motivated about your learning? Or would you find it difficult to return to the classroom? Ideally, your gap year will be full of valuable experiences that help you learn about yourself and illuminateyour academic goals. You can’t tell exactly whatthe future will bring, of course, but you should still take time to self-reflect on your plans and how they fit into your long-term plans for college and career. As you do some soul-searching about why you want to take a gap year and what it would mean for you, you should consult resources for planning a gap year. Read on for the best gap year resources for high school graduates. Remember that taking a gap year after high school means that you'll startcollege a year laterthan most of your peers. Resources to Help You Plan a Gap Year People design their gap years in a huge variety of ways. Below are some resources to help you get started, whether you’re looking for a job or a volunteer program. Idealist.org - Idealist lists a variety of job, internship, and volunteer opportunities at organizations concerned with social issues, like environmental conservation and education. When you search on the site, you can filter for results that don’t require an education level beyond high school. Snagajob.com - Snagajob offers job listings for high school students and graduates. You can find openings in industries like food and restaurant, customer service, automotive, office support, and healthcare. USA Gap Year Fairs -This website has a comprehensive list of gap year organizations, along with descriptions and links to their websites. USA Gap Year Fairs holds fairs, exhibits, and speakers in the US and Canada throughout the year. Check out the site forthe full schedule and locations of gap year fairs. Gapwork.com-Gapwork is another comprehensive organization with lots ofgap year ideas, volunteer positions, and job opportunities for students looking to take a gap year. Check out the site to learn more about gap year activities, along with useful suggestions for ways to fund your gap year. Go Overseas - Go Overseas focuses on gap year programs in variouscountries around the world. You can find all kinds of volunteer programs, internships, and jobs in far-flung destinations. American Gap Year Association (AGA) -AGA is a nonprofit that is committed to increasing participation in gap year education. They have a variety of gap year resources for students, parents, and educators, as well as a list of AGA-accredited gap year organizations. Finally, some colleges now explicitly encourage applicants to pursue a gap year before matriculating on campus. Tufts University, for instance, offers the â€Å"1 + 4 Bridge Year Service Learning Project† for accepted students, and Princeton University offers a similar â€Å"Bridge Year Program.† As you research and apply to colleges, you should talk to the admissions office about gap year opportunities and how the schoolsupport students who choose this route. In closing, let’s go over some final thoughts about what it means to take a gap year after high school. The American Gap Year Association is a big advocate for gap years. AGA is committed to increasing participation in gap years among young adults. Taking a Gap Year: Final Thoughts Gap years are becoming more and more popular among U.S. students. Several organizations, like the American Gap Year Association, are strong advocates for the personal, professional, and academic benefits of taking a gap year. According to studies, students who take a gap year return to college more motivated and more likely to graduate than their peers who go directly from high school into college. Gap years can take a number of forms, and they require a good deal of intention and planning. If you’re interested in a gap year, you should carefully consider your goals and what actions you can take to reach them. You also need to consider the financial costs of your gap year plans. If you have a well-thought out plan for taking a gap year, then you should feel confident in your decision. There is no set timeline foryour education, and going straight from high school into college definitely isn’t for everyone. Designinga meaningful gap year between high school and college could be one of the best life decisions you ever make! What’s Next? Are you interested in volunteering abroad? Check out theseguides to learn about volunteering abroad programs for high schoolers and whether they are a good choice for you. Do you have the opportunity to study abroad in high school? This comprehensive guide discusses what it means to study abroad as a high schooler. Do you know all the steps to apply to college? Check out this article to learn about the full college application process, step by step. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness Essay - 3

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness - Essay Example Internet and telecommunications infrastructure are the major contributors of globalization as people from different can easily connect and interact. This global interconnection increases job opportunities, ideas and competitiveness in equal measure. In its expansion process, Disney targeted those countries whereby people were greatly aware of the company and the services it offered. Another strategic consideration was the stability of the economy and the disposable income, which the citizens of that country used on leisure. Trade policies, political and microeconomics stability also played a huge role in determining whether Disney opened a branch in that country. Globalization has led to the increase of the companies’ market and this has forced it to open many branches to cater for the high demand of its services. The company has opened up branches in UK, Spain, Italy, France, Japan and US. This new branches have led to the increase of the total revenue generated. In 2004, the company made a gross income of $2.5 billion (Krasniewicz & Disney, 2010). The emergence of new technology has led to the introduction of video editing software and 3D, which has led to the efficient production of the films. Global recession negatively affected the company. The Disney parks and resorts would suffer during winter as the rate of people going there reduced significantly. This led to the falling of its revenue resulting in a financial crisis. The company has been forced to increase its entrance ticket fee to counter with the reduced number of visitors. Industrial organization and resource based model impact on above-average returns The corporation needs to come up with measure that would help it get returns, which are above average. This would help ensure that it is not operating at a loss and that it can be able to sustain its operations. The resource-based model deals with how the corporation could use its internal resources to its advantage and avoid extra costs (Mon tgomery, 1995). The resources include the capital invested, the corporation’s workers, brand name and the patents. Once the corporation has identified its resources, the next step to take is to compare it with its competitors. This would help in identifying the area that the corporation is lagging behind and needs to improve on. The study would also help enable the company identify its unique resources as this gave them a competitive edge over their competitors. This competitive edge would make them reduce certain costs and thus maintain above average returns. The industrial organization approach is the examining of the relation of the boundary of the firm and the market it is operating on. It is hard to examine the market by mere observation and the corporation creates a situation that is similar to a perfect competition market. This makes the firm operate on limited information and assumes that there are many barriers hindering entry into the market. This would make the fir m gather information about the market as new entrant and in the process of doing this it identifies the measures it can take to enter the market. The research helps the firm identify its strengths and weaknesses and in the process, it can avoid overhead costs and losses. This overview is

Gay Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gay Marriage - Essay Example This issue aside from many others makes gay marriages a typical subject of debate. In order to determine whether it is best to legalize gay marriages within the United States or not, it is necessary to define the real meaning of matrimonial marriage in the United States aside from examining and analyzing the issue on human rights, the different point-of-views coming from different significant sectors such as religion, politics, and the social welfare as well as the actual experiences of other countries that has already legalized the same sex marriage in the past. By weighing the pros and cons of legalizing gay marriages all over the United States, the researcher will easily make a conclusion as to whether it is necessary to permit gay marriages in the country. Based on the U.S. Code, the true meaning of a traditional marriage is â€Å"a legal binding of a man and a woman as husband and wife wherein ‘spouse’ refers to the person of the opposite sex as either the husband or the wife.† (U.S. Code Collection -  § 7. Definition of â€Å"marriage† and â€Å"spouse†, 2008) Similar to the definition provided in the U.S. code, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1603) states that â€Å"the vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator.† (Wiker, 2008) ‘Human rights’ are all about the basic rights and freedom of all humans wherein ‘human rights’ is not limited to the freedom of expression and speech but also includes the issue on social rights and justice particularly on gender equality. Most people just believe that equal rights should be for everyone and not a gender-biased. According to Lorri L. Jean (2007) – the chief executive of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, gays and lesbians are also humans who deserve an equal right and treatment from other people. Aside from the basic human needs, gays and lesbians also has the right to decide on whether they want to raise their