Neutrality and Racism free essay sample

As children were taught to never fight back when a classmate steals a beloved smack time treat or retaliate when they take our cubby. And as we continue to grow older, were constantly reminded to turn the other cheek when someone is spiteful towards us- after all, forgiveness and love is considered to be of utmost importance according to the word of God. However, while remaining neutral to situations may avoid conflict and confrontation, it also leaves us undecided and apathetic towards any remote yearn for change. By not demanding change, we are allowing unacceptable behavior to continue. With historical events such as the civil rights movement and current events such as bullying, neutrality sets a limit on human capability for improvement and understanding. Change is spearheaded by a shift in mindset rather than staying neutral to the norm. And in order to change someones mindset, we must be wholly determined ourselves. We will write a custom essay sample on Neutrality and Racism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page From the famous words of Martin Luther Kings, I have a dream speech, we can feel his burning desire to inspire the American people. Although King refused to remain neutral to the treatment towards people of color, he always advocated nonviolent protests. Through pleas of judging someone on their character rather than their skin tone, he urged America to end lynching, grant everyone full, equal, and promised rights, and grant well deserved tolerance of race. If King and other activists such as Malcolm X and Rosa Parks chose to remain neutral to their maltreatment, the United States very well may have been stuck in the same 1950s mentality for years to come. These African American leading figures prove the point being made- identifying and finding solutions are necessary to move forward. Staying neutral, in essence, means we are condoning the inappropriate behavior or actions being done. Currently in the 21st century, technology is becoming a vital role in our everyday lives. However, with new ways of technology and outbursts of social media, a new trend has been created- cyber bullying. Granted the security of a monitor and the comfort of an office chair, millions of online users are using the internet as an outlet to bully others. When we are online and see this type of behavior, often found in forms of curse words or appearance jokes, we are often following the bystander effect and staying neutral to these acts of hatred. By being a bystander, we are not taking the initiative to stop this bullying, therefor not instilling a need for change. Thankfully, organizations such as stopit and endbullying have taken it upon themselves to find solutions to this ongoing and severe problem. Bullying online leads to thousands of suicides, specifically in teenagers. Staying neutral to this situation may mean one life wasted; and by trying to end bullying may mean hundred of lives saved. Looking from history to modern day issues, remaining neutral is almost never an effective route. By remaining neutral we limit our capability to really understand and accept others. Awareness and being proactive is key to an improved world. Neutrality and Racism free essay sample As children were taught to never fight back when a classmate steals a beloved smack time treat or retaliate when they take our cubby. And as we continue to grow older, were constantly reminded to turn the other cheek when someone is spiteful towards us- after all, forgiveness and love is considered to be of utmost importance according to the word of God. However, while remaining neutral to situations may avoid conflict and confrontation, it also leaves us undecided and apathetic towards any remote yearn for change. By not demanding change, we are allowing unacceptable behavior to continue. With historical events such as the civil rights movement and current events such as bullying, neutrality sets a limit on human capability for improvement and understanding. Change is spearheaded by a shift in mindset rather than staying neutral to the norm. And in order to change someones mindset, we must be wholly determined ourselves. We will write a custom essay sample on Neutrality and Racism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page From the famous words of Martin Luther Kings, I have a dream speech, we can feel his burning desire to inspire the American people. Although King refused to remain neutral to the treatment towards people of color, he always advocated nonviolent protests. Through pleas of judging someone on their character rather than their skin tone, he urged America to end lynching, grant everyone full, equal, and promised rights, and grant well deserved tolerance of race. If King and other activists such as Malcolm X and Rosa Parks chose to remain neutral to their maltreatment, the United States very well may have been stuck in the same 1950s mentality for years to come. These African American leading figures prove the point being made- identifying and finding solutions are necessary to move forward. Staying neutral, in essence, means we are condoning the inappropriate behavior or actions being done. Currently in the 21st century, technology is becoming a vital role in our everyday lives. However, with new ways of technology and outbursts of social media, a new trend has been created- cyber bullying. Granted the security of a monitor and the comfort of an office chair, millions of online users are using the internet as an outlet to bully others. When we are online and see this type of behavior, often found in forms of curse words or appearance jokes, we are often following the bystander effect and staying neutral to these acts of hatred. By being a bystander, we are not taking the initiative to stop this bullying, therefor not instilling a need for change. Thankfully, organizations such as stopit and endbullying have taken it upon themselves to find solutions to this ongoing and severe problem. Bullying online leads to thousands of suicides, specifically in teenagers. Staying neutral to this situation may mean one life wasted; and by trying to end bullying may mean hundred of lives saved. Looking from history to modern day issues, remaining neutral is almost never an effective route. By remaining neutral we limit our capability to really understand and accept others. Awareness and being proactive is key to an improved world.

Passive vs. Active Voice

Passive vs. Active Voice Passive vs. Active Voice Passive vs. Active Voice By Erin English teachers like myself love to warn new writers against the evils of passive voice. Here at Daily Writing Tips, Michael has written about passive writing, and I recently wrote about dummy subjects, but it looks like theres still some confusion about passive voice and its use. For more on passive vs. active sentence construction, I turn to two books that should be staples in any writers library: William Zinssers On Writing Well, and Constance Hales Sin and Syntax. First, lets review what passive voice is. In most sentences, we have a subject performing an action. For example: Jason threw the ball. Jason is the subject. In a passive sentence, the subject of the sentence is acted upon rather than performing the action, as in: The ball was thrown by Jason. The ball is the subject and it is being acted upon. Verbs in the passive voice have two parts: some form of the verb to be and a past participle form of the action verb: was thrown. (The helping verbs has or have can also appear in a passive verb: the ball has been thrown.) A writer may choose to use the passive voice in order to emphasize one thing over another. In the second example, the ball (rather than Jason) becomes the most important component of the sentence. Zinsser says that passive voice should be used sparinglyonly when theres no way around it. The difference between an active-verb style and a passive-verb stylein clarity and vigoris the difference between life and death for a writer. In most (but not all) cases, the passive construction is longer, clunkier, and more vague. Take these examples from student research papers: The poorer people were deprived of their opportunities. Documents were cited to prove that an estimated 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants have been admitted to the United States. Talks have been conducted on the subject of starting a worker program for the illegal immigrants. In each of these examples, the passive voice construction gives us unnecessary words and clunky sentences that can be easily revised: Harsh immigration laws deprive poorer people of opportunities. State Department officials estimate the number of illegal immigrants at from 12 to 20 million. President Bush has proposed starting a [guest] worker program for the illegal immigrants. In part, the use of active voice over passive voice is a matter of word economy and simplicity. If you can say something with fewer words, you probably should. Its also a matter of making your words work for you. As Zinsser says, active verbs push hard and passive verbs tug fitfully. Using an active verb helps make the sentence more vivid and precise; does your subject walk, or does he saunter? Does she fall, or does she stumble? Hale warns against relying too heavily on is and are (and to be in all its forms): Novices tend to rely on is and other static verbs and lose momentum by stumbling into the passive voice. That said, you still have to be careful not to overdo it. Sometimes, passive voice is useful. Sometimes its even necessary. As commenter Bill G pointed out, the dummy subject it is necessary in describing weather phenomenon (it is raining). In Sin and Syntax, Hale gives us this example: Writers and editors can get too literal-minded about eschewing the stationary passive. They forget that the passive voice does exist for a reason. One syntactically challenged slot editor at the Oakland Tribune, sticking adamantly to a policy demanding the active voice, changed the screaming, above-the-fold headline I-580 killer convicted to Jury convicts I-580 killer (which screamed less loudly, since the stretched-out phrase required a smaller type). In Hales headline example, we can see that the sentence was better served by the passive construction. The action (the killers conviction) was more important than the subject of the sentence (the jury). The trick is knowing when to use active voice, and when passive voice is more effective. Many writersespecially beginnersrely too heavily on passive construction, allowing their prose to become limp and lazy. You can keep from falling into this trap by being conscious of your use of dummy subjects (it and there) and be verbs. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should Know45 Synonyms for â€Å"Old† and â€Å"Old-Fashioned†How Do You Pronounce "Often"?

Small Business in the United States

Small Business in the United States It is a common misconception that the U.S. economy is dominated by huge corporations when in fact roughly 99 percent of all independent enterprises in the country employ fewer than 500 people, meaning small businesses technically dominate the market in the United States, accounting for 52 percent of all workers according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). According to the United States Department of State, some 19.6 million Americans work for companies employing fewer than 20 workers, 18.4 million work for firms employing between 20 and 99 workers, and 14.6 million work for firms with 100 to 499 workers; by contrast, 47.7 million Americans work for firms with 500 or more employees. Customers Appreciate the Interactivity and Accountability Of the many reasons small businesses traditionally do so well in the United States economy is their readiness to respond to changing economic climates and situations, wherein customers appreciate the interactivity and accountability of small businesses to their local community wants and needs. Similarly, building a small business has always been a backbone of the American dream, so it stands to reason a lot of small businesses were created in this pursuit. By the Numbers With just over half of the American workforce employed by small businesses - those with under 500 employees, small businesses produced over three-fourths of the economys new jobs between 1990 and 1995, which was even larger than their contribution to employment growth than in the 1980s, though slightly less than 2010 to 2016. Small businesses, in general, provide an easier entry point into the economy, especially for those facing a disadvantage in the workforce like minorities and women - in fact, women participate perhaps the most heavily in the small business market, where the number of female-owned businesses rose 89 percent to 8.1 million between 1987 and 1997, reaching over 35 percent of all sole proprietorships by the year 2000.​ The SBA specifically seeks to support programs for minorities, especially African, Asian, and Hispanic Americans, and according to the Department of State, in addition, the agency sponsors a program in which retired entrepreneurs offer management assistance for new or faltering businesses. Small Business Advantages Over Corporations One of the greatest strengths of the small business is its ability to quickly respond to economic pressures and local community needs, and because many employers and owners of small businesses interact with their employees and are active members of their local communities, company policy is able to reflect something much closer to the local ethos than a major corporation that comes into a small town. Innovation Is Prevalent   Innovation is also prevalent amongst those working in small businesses compared to major corporations, though some of the tech industrys biggest corporations started out as tinker projects and sole proprietorships, including Microsoft, Federal Express, Nike, America OnLine and even Ben Jerrys ice cream. This doesnt mean that small businesses cant fail, but even the failures of small businesses are considered valuable lessons for entrepreneurs. According to the United States Department of State, Failures demonstrate how market forces work to foster greater efficiency.

Charismatic behavior leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Charismatic behavior leadership - Essay Example In regard to communication, charismatic leaders need more than just the distribution of information in order to communicate effectively. Therefore, to be effective, emotional appeals in their rhetoric are often incorporated, this includes use of symbols, metaphoric and dramatic language hence lending credibility to communication. Moreover, when charismatics communicate with inspiration, passion, motivation and emotion, followers are expected to attribute charisma. Additionally, charismatic leaders are renowned for passionate exciting public oratory thus, making the audience full of excitement. Therefore, the charismatic behaviours in this context lead to a self-serving style, since this leaders seek to appeal themselves to the people (Levay, 2010). Moreover, founding a trust connection with followers is so vital for charismatic leaders. Further integrity is created by signifying consistency and honesty among said personal actions and actions. In order to constantly adhere to a morals base, values and needs of followers must be understood by charismatic leaders. Therefore, by trying to gain trust, the charismatic leaders are trying to lead a self-serving style where their main aim is to create a positive impression of themselves, among those that they lead. However, followers do not regard charisma to be founded on visions, but they regard visionary attributes of charisma to be existing in a leader who customizes the vision with persistent resolve. Thus, it is the follower’s internalization on visions that direct them to regard charisma to a leader (Conger, Kanungo, & Menon, 2000). There are two types of charismatic leaders, the positive charismatic leaders and the negative charismatic leaders. The personality and values of a charismatic leader will provide evidence on whether a leader is viewed negatively or

Macro Environment assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macro Environment - Assignment Example o detect impact it will basically involve the use of transistors or other semiconductor components that involves the use of Silicon as the basic material for building the device. The technology also involves the use of mobile and other communication technology such as GPS. The mobile technology will be used to automatically dial 911 in case of accidents and GPS would be used to give the location of the accident site to the 911 operator so that help can arrive swiftly. The GPS technology is very much an essential component in this case as no human being might be present or the driver himself might not be in a position to physically communicate the occurrence of the accident or the place to the operator. All of the required resources are easily available in the US and non availability of resources won’t be a problem with regards to the manufacture of the device. The US is a country which has been a mixed breed of different cultures races and ethnicity. The country is a hot bed for migration and most of its population is made up of migratory people from different countries across the globe. This has led to a diverse and multifaceted cultural diversity in the country. The country has a population that is comprised of people of different age group but most of its population is of the older generation. The buyer for the new technology has been identified as Ford motor company. However the ultimate buyer of the new technology is likely to belong from every culture or races that are present in the country. Since safety is an issue that is seen as a major area of concern irrespective of the culture or religion or race or creed or sex to which one belongs. However, with aging population the concern for road safety and the likely adoption of this potential life saving technology is likely to increase. The America represents a country which is led by innovations. The American economy has been fuelled by innovations. There are large of new start-ups that are formed in

Role Of Education in Sustainable Development Essay Example for Free

Role Of Education in Sustainable Development Essay Sustainable development is that development which will meet the present needs of the community without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Environmental education involves among other things the provision of information, recognizing values, clarifying concepts etc in order to develop skills and attitudes that enable the community to understand and appreciate the relationship between their cultures and their physical surroundings. At international fora, attempts have been made to promote environmental education. In the year 1975 in Belgrade, the program for international environmental education was started followed by the conference in Tsibilisi in 1977, Nevada 1979, Moscow 1987, †¦. . Since then the council of European countries has twice called on member countries to advance on environmental education in all sectors of education. There is required a dominant policy to ensure that the findings of research on environmental science are properly applied to ensure that the world is safe for further development with no further destruction of the natural resources. It is therefore necessary to involve the players in political, economic and cultural sectors in designing environmental programs. By doing this, we will notice that all these players have turned environmentalists and we can expect a conflict of interest of style in the approach of environmental matters. This is because sustainable development is a contested territory with its ownership disputed by forces with very diverse interests. Its thus difficult to foresee any slackening of the effort on those who will continue to impose development to suit their ends invoking â€Å"modernity, national integration, economic growth and other slogans† (Adams 1990, p199). With challenges as these, education is a must in order to bring these interests groups together and come up with sound policy on sustainable  development, infact one that is conscious of future needs. OBSTACLES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT There are various obstacles to sustainable development which include:- 1. Lack of awareness on issues involved, 2. Political unacceptability of obvious steps forward, 3. Opposition by groups with vested interests, 4. Inadequacy of institutional mechanism for integrating environment and development. SOLUTIONS To overcome these obstacles, there is a feeling among many groups that there is a need to replace the ideas and values that underlie the complex and visible obstacles with a new approach and reshaping of ideas and values. To do this we need not just a modification, but a total revolution of our thinking. This can well be achieved through a well-designed education approach. ROLE OF EDUCATION Education plays a major role in enhancing people’s awareness about bio-diversity conservation as well as sustainable development. It leads to actualization of conservation knowledge and skills which in turn help in broadening people’s knowledge about conservation, thus making them functional members of the society. Education will enlighten stakeholders on various issues relating to sustainable development and bio-diversity conservation. Also education will sensitize them to participate fully in campaigns against any act or development that threaten future sustainability. Consequently, education empowers stakeholders to take increasing charge of their own developments as key ingredients combined with a clear knowledge of environmental constraints and of requirements to meet basic needs. This enables people to understand their need for and importance of biodiversity for now and in the future. It is this education which will enable us realise  that sustainable development confronts not just society, but each of us at the heart of his or her purpose. It invites us to give practical support to the values of social equity, human worth and ecological health. Education questions our readiness to involve ourselves in the struggle for change, it challenges our willingness to contribute in greater measure to the activities of NGO’s and dedicated individuals who campaign on our behalf. Moreover, education asks us to accept that the small beginnings from which so many successful campaigns have started resides within ourselves. As Laszlo (1989) puts it, â€Å"we contemplate changing almost anything on this earth except ourselves,† and this is due to the inner constraints in our visions and values that can only be removed through education. This is because education will explain the need for and importance of attitude and behaviour change in our pursuit for development, as a result we will realise that we owe the future generations what we have today. It is education that will enable us reach a conclusion as Max-reef (1991,P113) explains: -â€Å"I have reached the conclusion that I lack the power to change the world or any significant part of it, I only have the power to change myself. And the fascinating thing is that if I decide to change myself, there is no police force in the world that can prevent me doing so. It is my decision and if I want to do it, I can do it. Now the point is that if I change myself, something may happen as a consequence that may lead to a change in the world†. As such awareness becomes more general, sustainable development will be regarded seriously by the people who really count not just elites but people generally. Education whether formal or informal has been proved to be a powerful tool in promoting changes in the attitudes and perceptions of people about a resource. A series of conferences under the auspices of UNDP have been held to address issues pertaining to the link between sound natural resource management and sustainable development, environmental conservation and improved human welfare. Education for sustainable development will not only create awareness of the  global crisis but must place it at the heart of the curriculum. It must be â€Å"ecological† rather than â€Å"environmental† encouraging broad holistic thinking, teaching the need for structural change and promoting the correct application of reductionist thinking to specific technical problems. It will embrace all the means of the change discussed in this paper and alert stakeholders to the feasibility of alternative practices. Further, education will not only inform stakeholders, but also allow them to participate in decision making process about biodiversity conservation and thus promoting change. Through education, stakeholders will not only become acquinted with one another’s vision about healthy ecosystems but also stimulates them to formulate their own visions relating to biodiversity. It will not only teach them about holism but will require them to think holistically. Holistic thinking is a particularly important means of change for sustainable development because it attempts to figure out the consequences. Holistic approach tries to anticipate the problem â€Å"simple† solutions, create and to identify more satisfactory structural solutions. Holistic thinking led one farmer in Kenya, sickened at having to shoot the elephants ruining his crops, to adopt an alternative form of land use, accommodating not only his own interest but also those of elephants, of tourists who wanted to see elephants and of local people who could supplement their subsistence economy with income from tourism. Education will also help us to see the need of putting people first in all our endeavours in sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. Putting people first means quite simply valuing people for themselves, for what they are rather than for what they can do, or how they can perform in the service of some interest whose ends may be quite radically opposed to the meeting of human need. Putting people first also means empowerment- a process by which those who are or feel excluded from decision making are enabled to participate in it. It involves the transfer of power from those in authority to smaller groups. In some countries this has to begin with establishing or re-establishing political rights and other basic freedoms. (A recent example is the return to free elections in Malawi and Kenya). Only  then can a start be made to provide education and training to raise awareness and allow stakeholders to play an effective role in political process. Empowerment also refers to what Paul Freire, the Brazilian educationist calls â€Å"Conscientization† or education for consciousness, by which communities and individuals become aware of the reasons for their poverty and oppression and begin to discuss what they themselves can do about it without enabling action by the authorities. Ecological education will not only teach about empowerment but will enable stakeholders to fulfil their aspiration by helping them to develop their full range of abilities. By paying equal attention to emotional and intellectual development, education will teach the basic life skills people need to establish identities and grow as individuals. By encouraging creativity, commitment and initiative, it will equip stakeholders to take responsibility for themselves and their future, and to avoid dependency on biodiversity without ensuring its sustainability through sound management practices. It will also focus on relationships and teach what Harrison (1990,p203) calls the â€Å"work of human communication of caring and nurturance, of tending the personal bonds of the community†. It is envisaged that well organised education will also enhance our ability to relate with each other, not just on the level of day to day communication skill, but more importantly by acknowledging others identities and rights to a resource. This education will initiate a process of lifelong growth in awareness and aspiration. An individuals readiness to participate in that process, at however lowly or rudimentary a level, will be more important than acquiring impressive qualifications, for as Paul Freire (1972) points out, we are all â€Å"unfinished† human beings with a commitment to improve â€Å"unfinished† reality. Without the opportunity to develop their potential, individuals can not develop fully in discussions and initiatives on which progress to more sustainable development depends. Therefore, properly resourced and directed education will ensure that all stakeholders become the beneficiaries of the care, concern and skills of others. CONCLUSION In a world where the challenge of sustainable development is an imperative, rather than an option, we can not afford to debar people from participating by making them feel failures, whether academic failures as a result of the rigid application of elitist standards, or social or personal failures as a result of inadequate evolutions of both their needs and their potential. Therefore, I envisage that properly resourced and directed education aimed at encouraging the development of sensitivity, awareness, critical thinking, problem solving and active participation in biodiversity conservation campaigns, will enable stakeholders not only to become aware of the issues and be able to act on that awareness, but will be equipped with the skills required to contribute effectively to the debate. They will learn to plan, organise, communicate with others, develop strategies and create alliances with an aim of promoting sustainable development and ensuring biodiversity conservation.

wwII profile Essay -- World War 2 II Two

Thought there have been movies and documentaries made about the events of World War II the story of the common man has been underrepresented. Movies like Pearl Harbor glamorize the hero and his epic love story. Untold are the graphic accounts and emotional stresses that were experienced by the common soldier.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Henry Wedman was born December 10th 1922, in the small town of Arkansas City, Kansas. Spending most of his time working on the family farm he barely had time for school let alone time to pursue the love of his life, Laverna Adler.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wedman eventually accomplished his goals; he graduated high school and married Laverna in 1941. Wasting no time the two gave birth to their fist child Shirley, shortly after they were married. While Wedman was starting his family the war was starting to effect American soil. The Bombing of Pearl Harbor sparked the mobilization of the United States. Henry’s budding family was put on hold when he was drafted in October 1942. He completed his basic training at Ft. Riley Kansas. Ft. Riley was not too far from his home of Arkansas City. Leaving his beloved wife Laverna and 1-year-old daughter Shirley behind, Wedman crossed the Atlantic arriving in Italy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wedman’s first action was on the hills of Mt. Della in support of Company â€Å"B†. Wedman describes the movement down the slope and up the far side attempting to reach the crest o...

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 16

It was the lone hoot of an owl–a long, plaintive sound–that caused my eyes to snap open. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I felt a pulsing pain on the side of my neck that seemed to keep time with the owl's cries. And suddenly I remembered everything–Katherine, her lips drawn back, her teeth sparkling. My heart pounding as though I were dying and being born all at the same time. The awful pain, the red eyes, the dark black of a dead sleep. I glanced around wildly. Katherine, clad only in a necklace and a simple muslin slip, sat just steps away from me at the basin, washing her upper arms with a hand towel. â€Å"Hello, sleepy Stefan,† she said coquettishly. I swung my legs out of bed and tried to step out, only to find myself tangled in the sheets. â€Å"Your face,† I babbled, knowing I sounded insane and possessed, like a town drunk stumbling out of the tavern. Katherine continued to run the cotton cloth along her arms. The face I'd seen last night was not human. It had been a face filled with thirst and desire and emotions I couldn't even think to name. But in this light Katherine looked lovelier than ever, blinking her eyes sleepily like a kitten after a long nap. â€Å"Katherine?† I asked, forcing myself to look into her eyes. â€Å"What are you?† Katherine slowly picked up the hairbrush on her nightstand, as if she had all the time in the world. She turned to me and began to run it through her luxurious locks. â€Å"You're not afraid, are you?† she asked. So she was a vampire. My blood turned to ice. I took the sheet and wrapped it against my body, then grabbed my breeches from the side of the bed and pulled them on. I quickly shoved my feet into my boots and yanked on my shirt, not caring about my undershirt, still on the floor. Fast as lightning, Katherine was at my side, her hand gripping my shoulder. She was surprisingly strong, and I had to jerk sharply to wrench myself away from her grasp. Once free, Katherine stepped back. â€Å"Shhh. Shhh,† she murmured, as if she were a mother soothing a child. â€Å"No!† I yelled, holding my hand up. I would not have her try to charm me. â€Å"Y ou're a vampire. You killed Rosalyn. Y ou're killing the town. Y are evil, ou and you need to be stopped.† But then I caught sight of her eyes, her large, luminous, seemingly depthless eyes, and I stopped short. â€Å"You're not afraid,† Katherine repeated. The words echoed in my mind, bouncing around and finally taking residence there. I did not know how or why it was so, but in my heart of hearts, I suddenly wasn't afraid. But still †¦ â€Å"Y are a vampire, though. How can I abide ou that?† â€Å"Stefan. Sweet, scared Stefan. It will all work out. Y ou'll see.† She cupped her chin in my hands, then raised up on her tiptoes for a kiss. In the near sunlight, Katherine's teeth looked pearly white and tiny, and nothing like the miniature daggers I'd seen the night before. â€Å"It's me. I'm still Katherine,† she said, smiling. I forced myself to pull away. I wanted to believe that everything was the same, but †¦ â€Å"Y ou're thinking of Rosalyn, aren't you?† Katherine asked. She noticed my startled expression and shook her head. â€Å"It's natural that you'd think I could do that, based on what I am, but I promise you, I did not kill her. And I never would have.† â€Å"But †¦ but †¦, † I began. Katherine brought her finger to my lips. â€Å"Shhh. I was with you that night. Remember? I care about you, and I care about those you care about. And I don't know how Rosalyn died, but whoever did that†Ã¢â‚¬â€œa flash of anger flickered in her eyes, which, I realized for the first time, were flecked with gold–â€Å"they give us a bad name. They are the ones who scare me. Y may be scared to walk ou during the night, but I am afraid to walk during the day, lest I be mistaken for one of those monsters. I may be a vampire, but I do have a heart. Please believe me, sweet Stefan.† I took a step back and cradled my head in my hands. My mind whirled. The sun was just beginning to rise, and it was impossible to tell whether the mist hid a brilliant sun or a day of clouds. It was the same with Katherine. Her beautiful exterior cloaked her true spirit, making it impossible to ascertain whether she was good or evil. I sunk heavily to the bed, not wanting to leave and not wanting to stay. â€Å"Y need to trust me,† Katherine said, sitting ou down beside me and placing her hand on my chest so she could feel my heart beat. â€Å"I am Katherine Pierce. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm the girl you watched for hours on end after I arrived two weeks ago. What I confessed to you is nothing. It doesn't change how you feel, how I feel, what we can be,† she said, moving her hand from my chest to my chin. â€Å"Right?† she asked, her voice filled with urgency. I glanced at Katherine's wide brown eyes and knew she was right. She had to be. My heart still desired her so much, and I wanted to do anything to protect her. Because she wasn't a vampire; she was Katherine. I grabbed both of her hands, cupping them in my own. They looked so small and vulnerable. I brought her cold, delicate fingers to my mouth and kissed them, one by one. Katherine looked so scared and unsure. â€Å"Y didn't kill Rosalyn?† I said slowly. Even as ou the sentence left my lips, I knew it to be true, because my heart would break if it weren't. Katherine shook her head and gazed at the window. â€Å"I would never kill anyone unless I had to. Unless I needed to protect myself or someone I loved. And anyone would kill in that situation, wouldn't they?† she asked indignantly, jutting out her chin and looking so proud and vulnerable that it was all I could do not to take her in my arms right then. â€Å"Promise you'll keep my secret, Stefan? Promise me?† she asked, her dark eyes searching mine. â€Å"Of course I will,† I said, making the promise as much to myself as to her. I loved Katherine. And yes, she was a vampire. And yet †¦ the way the word came out of her mouth was so different from the way it sounded when Father said it. There was no dread. If anything, it sounded romantic and mysterious. Maybe Father was wrong. Maybe Katherine was simply misunderstood. â€Å"Y have my secret, Stefan. And you know ou what that means?† Katherine said, throwing her arms around my shoulders and nuzzling her cheek against mine. â€Å"Vous avez mon coeur. Y have ou my heart.† â€Å"And you have mine,† I murmured back, meaning every word.

Animal Abuse Essay

The Greyhound is an ancient breed of dog. It is the only dog mentioned in the Bible, and has been depicted in many ancient Egyptian paintings, dating back over 4,000 years. Greyhounds were so revered, that the Greyhounds were allowed to share their tents. In ancient Arabic countries, the birth of a son was the most important event, the second was the birth of a Greyhound. The history of dog racing can be traced back to Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century when Greyhounds were brought over to England from Egypt, where her majesty created the first formal rules of dog coursing, naming it the â€Å"Sport of Queens†. In the 18th century, England exported the sport to America, and soon the sport was comprised of racing and gambling. In 1912, the dog racing as it is known today, was established by Owen Patrick Smith, the man who invented the mechanical lure used in today’s dog racing. The first official dog track was opened in 1919 in California, and in 1931, wagering was legalized in Florida, paving the way for the development of the Palm Beach Kennel Club. The Palm Beach Kennel Club operated permits for dog racing, which officially started in America in 1932. Unfortunately, the once grandeur and majesty of the sport is tarnished with the unethical abuse these animals endure. The definition of animal abuse is â€Å"the crime of inflicting physical pain, suffering or death on an animal, usually a tame one, beyond necessity for normal discipline. It can include neglect that is so monstrous (withholding food and water) that the animal has suffered, died or been put in imminent danger of death. † (Hill, 2005). Many Greyhounds are the subject of abuse in the racing world. The Greyhounds are subject to horrible conditions. Many people enjoy watching a good race. The anticipation of the race and the thrill of their prized dog winning would make anyone want to attend a race. But it’s what happens before and after the race that has many people up in arms over the whole dog racing scene. When the dogs are not racing, they are kept in crates stacked one on top of the other. The dogs are not exercised regularly; the only exercise they get is from racing, and a race lasts for only a few minutes. If an Greyhound is injured during practice or during the race, the dog is killed and ground up for food for the other dogs. Many Greyhounds also die during the race due to exhaustion and dehydration. It is important to address this issue because animal abuse is a crime, and most people who commit these heinous acts are never brought to justice. It is also important to understand why someone could harm an innocent animal. According to the ASPCA, there are three main reasons why someone would be cruel to animals in their article titled, Why people abuse animals. The first reason is that some people abuse animals is that they do not know they are abusing the animal. Some people just don’t think about what they are doing to the animal, and others think excessive force is necessary to maintain control of the animal. A person who hits their dog when he or she does something wrong, like poop in the house, will use excessive force to show the animal that what he or she did was bad. Other people forget to roll down a window on a hot day with the animal in the car. The second reason a person would abuse animals is that the person will do it purposefully, but not for a continuous amount of time. Young kids who throw rocks at cats or kick a dog are an example of this type of abuser. Many young children can be taught through support groups and educational programs to show how an animal feels when it is abused in such a way, and many children learn to respect animals. The third reason a person would abuse an animal is the most serious form of animal cruelty. The third reason a person would abuse an animal is for power. Many of these types of people enjoy hurting the weak and helpless animals, as it makes them feel in control. Most of these people who intentionally hurt an animal have serious psychological issues that need to be addressed. If left unchecked, these issues may lead to more serious acts of violence. According the article, most people that were mentioned in the first and second reason for animal abuse can be educated through materials, counselors and educational classes. But even with the educational classes, what most people don’t understand is the psychological effects of the abuse has on animals. All animals want is to be loved and cared for, especially dogs. Humans have breed dogs to be our companions, and are the only animal that sets out to please us. When a human abuses an animal, we lose that trust that the animal places in us. The main psychological effect abuse has on dogs can be devastating. A dog may feel threatened by any human that it comes in contact with, and the dog can turn aggressive out of fear. Other dogs are fearful and maintain their fearfulness throughout the rest of their lives. These dogs may cower away from humans, shunning away when a human has an object in their hand or hide when they hear raised voices. L. Kalef wrote an article titled Psychological effects of animal cruelty, and in the article, he talked about the effects of animal abuse in Eastern Europe. For those who have traveled to Eastern European countries, it is not uncommon to be privy to packs of dogs roaming in some of the major cities, and sometimes being aggressive out of fear, hunger or abuse have led to provoke a similar reaction by the population by way of harm and abuse. Sadly, these neglected animals are under constant scrutiny and possible attack, which has become all too common. For years, welfare activists have been speaking up for the plight of the strays and the brutal inhumane abuse and killings; but no one until now has suggested that the constant exposure of this violence may instigate other and further violent activity within the community. In other words, growing up in a society being exposed to animal abuse causes further abuse and lack of compassion. (Kalef, 2012) But there are many people who argue that dog racing is not the only animal sport that has animal abuse and that it is part of the sport. Throughout the world of animal sports, there are some instances of animal abuse. In Mexico, bullfighting is a very popular sport, where the object of the game is to kill the bull or else the Matador will be stampeded or stabbed by the bulls horns. The bulls are starved and tortured, and they meaner the bull becomes, the more entertaining the sport. Also, horse racing has had its fair share of animal abuse cases. Many Thoroughbreds that receive an injury are killed, just like the Greyhounds, and made into meat that is sold for human consumption. J. Frater wrote an article titled 10 Debated acts of animal cruelty, which outlines a few instances that can be considered animal abuse. For those who have traveled to Eastern European countries, it is not uncommon to be privy to packs of dogs roaming in some of the major cities, and sometimes being aggressive out of fear, hunger or abuse have led to provoke a similar reaction by the population by way of harm and abuse. Sadly, these neglected animals are under constant scrutiny and possible attack, which has become all too common. For years, welfare activists have been speaking up for the plight of the strays and the brutal inhumane abuse and killings; but no one until now has suggested that the constant exposure of this violence may instigate other and further violent activity within the community. In other words, growing up in a society being exposed to animal abuse causes further abuse and lack of compassion. (Frater, 2010). But to most people, that is just the way the sport is. What is someone going to do with a prized race horse that has a broken leg and can no longer race? Why take the money to fix the injury, when the owner can make money off of selling the animal for food? It’s just part of the sport. But there is one question that needs to be answered. Which side is right? The truth is both sides are right. There will always be animal abuse in sports, as well as throughout the world. We as a people will not be able to completely stop the abuse, we can just diminish the amount of animals are abused. Through the use of stricter laws and more regulations, we as humans can help the voiceless. In conclusion, though there is no one way to solve animal cruelty in the world. There will always be animal cruelty in the sporting world, but as long as we humans can educate the younger generations, the amount of cases of animal cruelty will drastically decrease. Only one can hope that the â€Å"Sport of Queens† can return once again to the grandeur and majesty that the sport once was.

What Is a College Legacy What If Youre Not a Legacy

What Is a College Legacy What If You're Not a Legacy SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many high school students are curious about what it means to be a college legacy. Exactly who counts as a legacy? How much does it help you when it comes to admissions? And what if you’re not a legacy?In this article, we discuss what a college legacy is, which top schools favor legacies, and what you should do- regardless of whether or not you’re a legacy! What Is a College Legacy? Overview First off, what exactly is a college legacy? A legacy is someone who is related to an alumnus of a school- usually a child of a graduate. More distant relations (such as aunts, uncles, and cousins) rarely count. Grandparents sometimes, but not always, count. To take an example, if your mom graduated from Harvard College, you'd be considered a Harvard legacy. However, if your uncle graduated from Harvard Law School, you would not be considered a Harvard legacy.Basically,if one or both of your parents graduated from a school, you would be considered a legacy there. Note, though, that undergraduate admissions offices will be most interested if your parents went there for their undergraduate degrees. If your parents instead got professional degrees andnottheir undergraduate degreesfrom the school, it's less likely you'd be counted as a legacy during the undergraduate admissions process. Legacy status is valued by colleges mainly for economic and community-building reasons. The belief is that when schools admit children of alumni, those alumni will be more likely to stay involved with the school (such as by going to reunions, serving on committees, etc.) and donate money to it. Many schoolsalso believe that legacies will be very active alumni due to their family connection with the school. In short, colleges believe that admitting legacies is a way to not only keep alumni involved but also to ensure a new generation of active alumni. How Much Does Legacy Status Matter? Even though there are many perceived benefits to admitting legacies, legacies aren't even close to a majority of the student body at top schools. Furthermore, being a legacy is far from being a guarantor of admission at a top school. In most cases, being a legacy not going to magically transform a candidate’s chances of admission. If a student's standardized test scores and GPA are below a school’s averages and the student has no meaningful extracurricular involvement, being a legacy won’t guarantee admission. As a Harvard admissions officer once said, "Legacy can cure the sick, but it can’t raise the dead." Being a legacy is often referred to as a push, plus, or tie-breaker. If a candidate is on the bubble, being a legacy could tip him or her over the edge. In fact, here's what Harvard says about legacieson its admissions website: "Among a group of similarly distinguished applicants, the daughters and sons of Harvard College alumni/ae may receive an additionallook." In other words, being a legacy could be a tipping factor in admissions. That said,it’s still far from a guarantee of admission and won’t get an otherwise unimpressive candidate into a school. But this varies by school. Some schools value legacies more than others do, or give them more weight at different points in the admissions process. We’ll explore some of this variation soon. Examples of College Legacy Policies: Harvard, Penn, and MIT In this section, we’ll go over three examples of top schools to explore in what ways legacy status can (and won't) affect your admission chances. The schools we'll be looking at are as follows: Harvard University of Pennsylvania MIT We chose these examples because they reveal some of the sharp differences that can exist when it comes to legacy policies at top schools. Harvard College: "An Additional Look" Harvard is a school that values legacies, at least to a degree. As we mentioned above, Harvard says in their FAQ that the sons and daughters of Harvard alumni will get "an additional look" if the admissions committee can't decide between otherwise comparable candidates. But how much does this "extra look" matter? According to a class of 2021 survey, 17.5% of students at Harvard have at least one parent who is an alumnus. And according to a 2011 article in TheHarvard Crimson, legacies are admitted at a rate of 30%. Given that Harvard’s acceptance rate hovers just below 6%, this seems like more than just an "additional look"- it's actually a pretty big advantage! That said, children of Harvard alumni are more likely to have grown up with more money, gone to better schools, and received superior college counseling,meaning that their legacy status more likely inadvertently caused them to get in rather than acting as the deciding factor. This also helps to explain the huge disparity between the 30% admit rate for legacies and the 6% overall admit rate. All in all, if you’re a Harvard legacy, expect this "additional look" to be a factor in your favor if, based on your stats, you'd already be competitive at Harvard. Penn: Legacy Matters, but Matters More When You Apply Early The University of Pennsylvania notes on its admissions website, "An applicant’s affiliation with Penn, either by being children or grandchildren of alumni, is given the most consideration through Early Decision." We get two pieces of information here. First, at Penn, having a grandparent who is an alum will grant you legacy status, where Harvard seems to only care if your parents went there. But also, if you’re a legacy, you’ll get the biggest boost if you apply early (note that at Penn, early admission is binding). Legacies get a pretty significant admission boost at Penn. According to an article published in their alumni magazine, legacies get into Penn at a rate higher than 40%. That’s four times the overall admission rate of 10%! (For the class of 2021, 16% are legacies.) Furthermore, alumni get additional admissions resources. Here's what the article above says about this: "Other admissions resources for alumni include monthly 'First Friday Drop-In Hours,' which are information sessions especially for alumni, faculty, and staff and their children held on campus, and the 'Inside Penn Admissions' page, www.admissions.upenn.edu/inside." Even though legacies are particularly favored during early decision at Penn, between the additional resources for alumni and that high admit rate, being a legacy seems to be a significant plus. MIT: "We Don't Do Legacy" In contrast to Harvard and Penn, being a legacy will not help you a bit at MIT. This makes MIT unusual among other top schools, as explained in post by MIT Admissions that sharply criticizes legacy admissions: "It is, indeed, unusual for a school like MIT to have no preference for legacies.But one of the things that makes MIT special is the fact that it is meritocratic to its cultural core.* In fact, I think if we tried to move towards legacy admissions we might face an alumni revolt. There is only one way into (and out of) MIT, and that's the hard way. The people here value that." *Emphasis mine MIT prides itself on being as meritocratic as possible, so they don’t consider the legacy status of students applying.Even if both your parents graduated from MIT, it won’t help you get in! This makes for a more level playing field for students who apply to MIT, even though it’s still a very tough field to play on! Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. The Top 25: Which Colleges Care About Legacy? We’ve seen some pretty different policies regarding legacy admissions at three top schools. So out of the top 25 schools (according toUS News), which ones place value on legacy students? As it turns out, most of them do. Only a small handful of top schools (including MIT) don’t value legacies. Get a complete breakdown of the top 25 below. Colleges That Value Legacies These are the colleges in the top 25 that grant at least some favoritism to legacies during the admissions process. This varies from just taking the information into account as part of a holistic application review to specifically reaching out to alumni families and providing them with additional resources. Brown Here's what a 2014 article in theBrown Daily Herald says about legacy: "Having a parent who attended Brown comes into play when applicants 'are essentially equivalent,' in which case admission officers 'will tilt toward the candidate whose parents attended the college,' Miller said. Admission officers give 'small'consideration to grandparent legacy status and 'almost no' weight to sibling legacy cases, he added." Again, we see that legacy status is a tilt or push in an applicant's favor. Carnegie Mellon Carnegie Mellon offers special events for legacies and their families, including preferential seating at graduation. Note that Carnegie Mellon uses a rather broad definition of legacies, defining them as "those students who have family members that also graduated from CMU, including parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and other known relatives"(bold emphasis mine). Columbia Columbia has a legacy policy that's similar to Harvard's: "When an applicant is extremely competitive and compares favorably with other similarly talented candidates, being the daughter or son of a Columbia University graduate (from any Columbia school or college) may be a slight advantage in the admission process." Cornell Here's what theCornell Daily Sunsays about legacies(bold emphasis mine): "According to statistics released by Cornell, 15 percent of Cornell’s entire undergraduate population is comprised of legacy students. This figure is higher than percentages at many of Cornell’s Ivy League counterparts." Dartmouth Dartmouth Alumni Magazine says the following about legacies (bold emphasis mine): "We give all legacy applicants at least one additional review in this process. The dramatic increase in selectivity that we’ve experienced makes the admissions process more competitive for everyone, but our legacy applicants are admitted at a rate that’s roughly two-and-a-half times greater than the overall rate of admission. It’s never easy to turn away the children of Dartmouth alumni." Duke Here is what the Duke alumni website says in regard to legacy (bold emphasis mine): "Alumni affiliation by no means ensures admission to Duke. However, the university recognizes that applicants from alumni families possess a meaningful connection to Duke and its traditions. Admissions officers give special consideration to these applicants, including an additional round of review." Emory Here's what Emory has to say about how it values legacies, as written on its alumni website: "The admission staff and Emory Alumni Association (EAA) work closely to document legacy applicants through the admission-review process. During the initial application review, an applicant's legacy status is noted on the review sheet and admission evaluators are instructed to consider the affiliation. In addition, during the committee-review process, there is a separate committee that does an additional review of legacy applicants. Finally, the deans of admission for Emory College and Oxford College closely monitor legacy decisions throughout the entire process. Note that legacies at Emory are those who are the children, grandchildren, and/or siblings of Emory graduates and/or currently enrolled students. Georgetown We called the admissions office and got this information about legacies: "In early action we don't review legacy; during regular decision we will....It's not a huge factor [but] it's something that we will notice as part of an overall holistic review process." In contrast to Penn, which gives most weight to legacies during early decision, if you apply to Georgetown, legacy status will only be considered under regular decision. Furthermore, here's what a 2017 article in Georgetown's newspaper The Hoya reported about legacy: "While the Office of Undergraduate Admissions does not actively recruit legacy students, it does consider family ties to the university when evaluating students of equal academic standing, and gives preference to students with legacy status in those cases." Harvard As discussed above, Harvard will give legacy applicants "an additional look" and admits them at a higher rate than it does non-legacy candidates. Johns Hopkins We spoke to the admissions staff at Johns Hopkins to ask about how legacy status will affect an application. Here was their response: "It doesn't make a difference if you apply early or regular; you need to make sure that you correctly note your legacy status on the application. We'll look at it [but] it's not going to have a lot of weight." Northwestern Here's what was written an email from Northwestern's admissions office: "During the application process we do take into consideration whether a student has a sibling, parent, or grandparent that graduated from Northwestern. However, it is important to note that no admission decision will ever be made solely based on legacy status. In other words, this is just one additional positivepiece of informationthat we look at, but will not be the deciding factor." Notre Dame Here's what an article published in Notre Dame's TheObserversaysabout legacies: "The number of admitted legacy children remains higher than at most elite colleges, Bishop said. Twenty-four percent of this year’s admitted class is a legacy compared to about 12 percent at most top 10 schools, he said, but this is because legacy applicants tend to be very qualified." Princeton Here's what a 2015 article in the Daily Princetonianreports about legacy: "The acceptance rate for alumni children and step-children has wavered without a specific trend between 35 and 42 percent since the Class of 2000, with the Class of 2018 hitting a record low of 30.8 percent, according to the Princeton Profiles." Recall that Princeton's regular admission rate is just 7%, so this "low" of 30.8% is still quite high. Rice Here's what we received in an email from Rice's admissions office: "There is no specific benefit that is implemented across the board for the children of alumni. Often, legacy status is viewed favorably, but that is mainly a function of a student knowing about Rice-specific opportunities and being able to effectively communicate their interest in Rice through the supplement and visits to campus." Stanford Legacies are admitted at three times the rate of other applicants, according to an article in Stanford Magazine. Admission is also dependent on how engaged the alumni have been with the university. University of Chicago Here's what UChicago said on its Tumblr account in regard to legacy: "Legacy status is something that we can consider, but in a holistic admissions process, it is one of many many factors that will be a part of our decision-making process- and would not be something that could overcome an otherwise lackluster application." University of Pennsylvania As we discussed above, Pennfavors legacy applicants and offers extra services to legacy families. University of Southern California We called USC and spoke with an admissions representative who told us the following: "We certainly want to know you have a parent who graduated from USC ... that piece of information would certainly be of interest for us." USC only has a regular decision plan and an earlier deadline for scholarships (December 1). Legacy status will not factor at all into scholarship consideration. In addition, here's whata 2017 article on USC's undergraduate admission blog says about legacy: "Roughly 19 percent of the first-year students joining USC for the 2017-2018 school year are Scions. But, legacy status is, on its own, not going to be the deciding factor in the evaluation of a student’s application. There are many factors that we are considering when making our decisions, and legacy status is just one part of that." University of Virginia The University of Virginia has an admission liaison program set up to help children of alumni navigate the admissions process. This is noteworthy since UVA is a public university, and public universities are much less likely to notice and favor legacy ties. (The University of Michigan favors legacies as well.) Vanderbilt This is what Vanderbilt's FAQ pagehas to say about legacy: "The admissions office has received no mandate from the university administration to grant preference to the children or siblings of Vanderbilt alumni. When a student‘s record closely mirrors those of other students being offered admission, legacy status may be taken into consideration." Similar to Harvard's policy, legacy status could be a tipping factor if the admissions committee can't decide between two or more similar candidates. Washington University in St. Louis We contacted the admissions office at Washington University and received this reply: "We take into account that your family has ties to the university, however, we still evaluate each student on the merits of their own application." Yale Here's what a New York Times article has written about Yale's legacy policy: "'We turn away 80 percent of our legacies, and we feel it every day,' Mr. Brenzel said, adding that he rejected more offspring of the school’s Sterling donors than he accepted this year (Sterling donors are among the most generous contributors to Yale). He argued that legacies scored 20 points higher on the SAT than the rest of the class as a whole." Still, 20% of legacies getting in is still a much higher rate than the average admission rate at Yale, which currently hovers atjust 7%. Colleges That Do NOT Value Legacies These schools offer zero consideration or additional help to children of alumni in the admissions process. Caltech This is what a 2010 articlehad to say about Caltech's policies on legacies: "Throughout its history Caltech has never been interested in reaching out in any special way to alumni children, and according to one estimate, less than 2 percent of its current undergraduate students have a parent who attended the university. This compares with many other elite private colleges and universities where legacy students comprise as much as 10-15 percent of each entering class (at Notre Dame the figure is close to one-quarter)." Additionally, Caltech is often mentioned alongside MIT as a top research schoolwith no legacy preference. MIT As we discussed above, MIT grants no weight to legacy status during application review. UC Berkeley Like both Caltech and MIT,UC Berkeley does not consider legacy statusduring the undergraduate admissions process. UCLA UCLA is similar to Caltech and UC Berkeley in that it abolished legacy favoritism long agoand has no legacy policy currently in place. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. How to Maximize Your Admissions Chances, Legacy or Not Even though so many top (and mostly private) colleges favor legacies, it's important to remember that legacies are usually only 10-25% of the overall class- typically closer to 10% or 15%. The boost you'd get from being a legacy isn’t any bigger than the one you'd get from having an excellent SAT/ACT score or an intriguing "spike" in your application (which we’ll discuss below). The bottom line is to have the best application possible- legacy or not. With that in mind, here's how to deal with your legacy/non-legacy status when you apply to colleges: If You Are a Legacy †¦ First off, find out what your parents’ alma maters’ policies are regarding legacies. This could affect your admissions strategy. For example, if one of your parents went to Penn, you’re going to have to decide whether you want to take full advantage of your legacy status by applying early decision.Note, however, that applying early decision means you’re committing to go there if admitted (which you have a stronger chance of if you’re a legacy!). This brings me to my second point:don't apply to a school just because you’re a legacy. Colleges are looking for genuine interest in the school. True, you might be naturally interested in your parents’ alma maters since you likely heard a lot about them while growing up. But the final decision rests with you. If you’re only applying because you’re a legacy and don’t indicate your genuine excitement for the school, admissions offices will pick up on that. Furthermore, even if you do get in, you don’t want to end up at a school you’re not super excited about! Finally, remember that even with legacy admission rates between 20%and 50%, this still means many colleges are turning away more than half of legacies who apply.In other words, you’re not getting an automatic pass from admissions officers just by being a legacy. In the end, there is no substitute for a high SAT/ACT score, a strong GPA, and an overall compelling application. If You Are NOT a Legacy †¦ First of all, you can’t do anything to change your legacy or non-legacy status, so I recommend spending approximately zero minutes stressing about it. On a more serious note, though, don't forget that even at schools that favor legacies, legacies are never the majority in an incoming class. Rather, they usually account for between 10% and 25% of the undergraduate population. This means 75-90% of the students in a class are not legacies, so you’re in good company. At the end of the day, admissions officers are looking for top students. And though legacies are desirable, so are students with top scores, great grades, and impressive extracurriculars (a "spike," as we call it around here). Rather than worry about your lack of legacy status, focus on being as competitive as possible. That includes maximizing your SAT/ACT score! Tip the scales in your favor. Also, spend a good deal of time on your"Why this college?" essay. Most schools have spaceon their applications- whether it’s a short response or long essay- for you to explain what exactly it is that draws you to this college. Since you’re not a legacy, you won’t be able to talk about visiting the campus as a child or hearing your parents’ fond memories of the school- but that might be for the better. Make sure you have concrete, specific, and compelling reasons for why you want to go to this particular school, and state them clearly! Ultimately, an essay that discusses how excited you are to explore the computer science department and work with certain professors will likely look a lot better than a legacy’s essay about her fond childhood memories of visiting the main quad. At the end of the day, legacy status is a factor out of your control. That said, your GPA, SAT/ACT score, extracurricular activities, and essays are entirely within your control. So try to focus on those- and on being a strong applicant! Further Reading on College Legacy Legacy admissions is a pretty controversial topic at colleges, and we didn’t want to get embroiled in the debate, which is why we’re not taking a side in regard to whether legacy admissions are a good idea or not. Rather, our aim was tofocus on practical advice for you, given that the system is what it is. If you want to read more about legacy admissions, including how they work, how colleges benefit from them, and whether this system is good or bad, here are some articles to check out. First of all, I suggestlearning more about why some colleges value legacy ties so much. Next, get an in-depth look at the admissions process at Stanford and see how legacies seem to be favored. Also, learn about the other side- what happens when a legacy kid doesn’t get in? Finally, here is a study that found legacy applicants have vastly increased odds of admission. This studyhas been quoted in many op-eds against the practice, including those published inThe New York Times and The Harvard Crimson. What’s Next? Not a legacy? Not a problem. Read about how to make yourself a student that even Harvard and Stanford will fight over. Have you taken the SAT or ACT yet? Learnthe best time in your high school career to take the SAT (ACT version here). Thinking about an SAT/ACT retake? Learn the top nine ACT English strategies you should use as well asthe best methods and strategies for SAT Writing. 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:

Ann Richards Quotes

Ann Richards Quotes Ann Richards was governor of Texas from 1991-1995. When Ann Richards was elected State Treasurer in 1982, she was the first woman elected to statewide office in Texas since Ma Ferguson. Richards was reelected in 1986, unopposed, and then ran for governor in 1990. She came to national prominence with a keynote speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. In her 1994 reelection campaign, she lost to George W. Bush, the son of the presidential candidate shed skewered in 1988. Selected Ann Richards Quotations Im not afraid to shake up the system, and the government needs more shaking up than any other system I know. I have very strong feelings about how you lead your life. You always look ahead, you never look back. The here and now is all we have, and if we play it right its all well need. I have always had the feeling I could do anything and my dad told me I could. I was in college before I found out he might be wrong. They blame the low income women for ruining the country because they are staying home with their children and not going out to work. They blame the middle income women for ruining the country because they go out to work and do not stay home to take care of their children. I feel very strongly that change is good because it stirs up the system. I did not want my tombstone to read, She kept a really clean house. I think Id like them to remember me by saying, She opened government to everyone. Ive always said that in politics, your enemies cant hurt you, but your friends will kill you. Teaching was the hardest work I had ever done, and it remains the hardest work I have done to date. Let me tell you, sisters, seeing dried egg on a plate in the morning is a lot dirtier than anything Ive had to deal with in politics. Power is what calls the shots, and power is a white male game. If you think taking care of yourself is selfish, change your mind. If you dont, youre simply ducking your responsibilities. Im really glad that our young people missed the Depression, and missed the great big war. But I do regret that they missed the leaders that I knew. Leaders who told us when things were tough, and that we would have to sacrifice, and these difficulties might last awhile. They didnt tell us things were hard for us because we were different, or isolated, or special interests. They brought us together and they gave us a sense of national purpose. [1988 keynote address, Democratic National Convention] I have a real soft spot in my heart for librarians and people who care about books. You can put lipstick and earrings on a hog and call it Monique, but its still a pig. Women elected Bill Clinton this time. He acknowledges it, the country acknowledges it, and the columnists acknowledge it, and when you have that kind of political clout, you can effect change and do it well. And Im real proud to have been a part of that. I get a lot of cracks about my hair, mostly from men who dont have any. Let me tell you that I am the only child of a very rough-talking father. So dont be embarrassed about your language. Ive either heard it or I can top it. The public does not like you to mislead or represent yourself to be something youre not. And the other thing that the public really does like is the self-examination to say, you know, Im not perfect. Im just like you. They dont ask their public officials to be perfect. They just ask them to be smart, truthful, honest, and show a modicum of good sense. I believe in recovery, and I believe that as a role model I have the responsibility to let young people know that you can make a mistake and come back from it. There is a lot more to life than just struggling to make money. I thought I knew Texas pretty well, but I had no notion of its size until I campaigned it. Women, it was painfully clear, werent going to be allowed to use their brains and I certainly wanted to use mine. [Ive] been tested by fire and the fire lost. I hope all the WASP present and past will fly high on wings of our pride in their service ... you have my profound gratitude for the legacy you have given to us and the legacy you pass on to young women today. [about the Women Airforce Service Pilots] I believe Mama would have liked to have had more children, but times were hard and I was the only one. Daddy had the fear maybe that fear is indigenous to the Depression generation that he wouldnt be able to afford all the things he wanted to give me, and he wanted to give me everything hed never had. So they never had another child. Poor George, he cant help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth. [1988 keynote address, Democratic National Convention] I am delighted to be here with you this evening because after listening to George Bush all these years, I figured you needed to know what a real Texas accent sounds like. [1988 keynote address, Democratic National Convention] On How to Be a Good Republican: [excerpts] You have to believe that those privileged from birth achieve success all on their own.You have to be against all government programs, but expect Social Security checks on time.You have to believe...everything Rush Limbaugh says.You have to believe society is color-blind and growing up black in America doesnt diminish your opportunities, but you still wont vote for Alan Keyes.You have to be against government interference in business until your oil company, corporation or Savings and Loan is about to go broke and you beg for a government bailout.You have to believe a poor, minority student with a disciplinary history and failing grades will be admitted into an elite private school with a $1,000 voucher. Most of all, I remember those children in the classrooms and those kids who grabbed me around the knees, and I think of the old people who really need a voice when theyre trapped in wheelchairs in dirty nursing homes. The person in this office really must have a conscience to know that how they direct this government dramatically affects the lives of those people. Jill Buckley on Ann Richards: Shes sort of the female good old boy. You paid the price to some degree. You lost the governorship of Texas because this country still is a little bit schizoid, isn’t it, about the role of women in American politics? [1996 question of newsman Tom Brokaw to Ann Richards] More Womens Quotes: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z Explore Womens Voices and Womens History Womens Voices - About Womens QuotesBiographies of WomenToday in Womens HistoryWomens History Home About These Quotes Quote collection assembled by Jone Johnson Lewis. Each quotation page in this collection and the entire collection  © Jone Johnson Lewis. This is an informal collection assembled over many years. I regret that I am not able to provide the original source if it is not listed with the quote. Citation information:Jone Johnson Lewis. Ann Richards Quotes. About Womens History. URL: http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/ann_richards.htm . Date accessed: (today). (More on how to cite online sources including this page)

Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Diversity - Essay Example Companies now realize that in order to create a productive environment such differences need to be harnessed in such a manner that everybody feels valued with their talents fully utilized for meeting the organizational goals. This study is an effort to look into such diversities in general. With the female gender rubbing shoulders with their male counterparts in almost all professions, the diversity on account of gender in particular is the one most talked about now a days. An effort would also be made in this study to analyze some cases in which women have been leading an organization. In order to manage an organization, there are a number of key stakeholders like customers, government, environment, human resources etc. Managing other operations and activities become far more convenient if a company is able to manage its human resources effectively. Having a pool of talented and motivated workforce certainly helps the matters. Terry & Franklin (1994) defines management as 'a distinct process consisting of activities of planning, organizing, actuating and controlling performed to determine and accomplish stated objectives with the use of human beings and other resources'. The older schools of thought considered the male workforce fit enough for all types of functions involving varying degrees of stress and strain, the female counterparts was considered delicate to the extent that they were not considered fit enough for such jobs. But times are changing and there are examples which prove beyond doubt that women employees are equally competent to handle any kind of s ituation. The society too has in general accepted this fact, which becomes all the more clear when we find out that there a number of companies where women have been assigned or designated on top posts. Indra Nooyi Indra K. Nooyi, the Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, world's largest convenient food and beverage companies, is a leading example of how the women power has made its mark in managing the corporate affairs. Coming from a humble background in India, Mrs. Nooyi has traveled a long distance prior to becoming the top decision maker in Pepsi in 2006. She has served on the board of Pepsi since 2001, when she was named as the President and Chief Financial Officer1. Prior to her career with Pepsi, Ms. Nooyi has also served in Motorola as Vice President and Director of Corporate Strategy and Planning besides serving is some other renowned companies. This goes on to show that she has worked really hard to make it to the top post and she did not get the job out of sympathy or partial considerations. Acknowledging her business acumen leading bodies like Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the International Rescue Committee and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City have nominated her o n their board of directors. A recent study by Forbes, places her on the top of the 13 highest paid female CEOs in America (Kirdahy, 2008). Though, her total compensation is stated to be just about one-fourteenth of the highest-paid male counterpart, yet the process can be stated to have become in right earnest. It is worthwhile here to mention that she comes from a conservative family in India, and yet she has been able to to lead a company without the conservatism coming in the way goes on to prove