A Start-up Business Plan - Mediequip, Inc. - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 1019 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Case study Did you like this example? Executive Summary: Mediequip, Inc. is a medical device development company, completely owned by Mr.XYZ at the time of start-up by holding 100% interest in the company that intends to design, patent, and market medical devices related to nuclear medicine imaging niche markets. The company intends to design Positron Emission Tomography scanners by using specialized automated innovative techniques for manufacturing to cut back prices while at the same time upholding quality, to cut back costs in order to support company achieving a competitive place in market through COST LEADERSHIP strategy to Growth. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "A Start-up Business Plan Mediequip, Inc." essay for you Create order The key elements in the Start-up plan for Mediequip are: The legal fee for filing patent applications for manufacturing process The registration fee for intellectual property owned by company. The location and place of doing business. Salary for the key managers and founders. $250,000 was raised from the initial investor for these purposes. This funding came in in early 2014 and these tasks have either been completed successfully or are in the final process of completion. These are treated purely as start-up expenses by this plan. $128,000 is treated as cash-on-hand as of the start of this plan on January 1, 2014. The remainder of the start-up capital required as well as capital required for the continuation of operations in the first six months will be provided by a bank loan and a bank overdraft facility. The capital obtained from these arrangements is expected to total an additional $700,000 and the plan calls for this cash to be infused in May and December, 2014. Mediequip, Inc. business offices are at 1234 Main Street, Any town, U.S.A. Phone is. Fax is. These offices are leased month-to-month on a temporary basis. This business plan calls for the establishment of corporate offices, RD facilities, and prototype and small-run manufacturing facilit ies. These facilities are to be located in Puerto Rico with 10,000 sq. ft. initially expandable to 30,000 sq. Rental costs in Puerto Rico range from $1.75 to $4.00 per sq. ft. currently available space in Puerto Rico may also be used on a joint-venture basis to be negotiated. Currently the main competition faced by company is from three large competitors namely General Electric, Siemens and Phillips Healthcare. Over the past five years, the PET Scanner Manufacturing industry has experienced growth, thanks to a rise in PET utilization among the industrys downstream markets. In particular, PET scanner utilization among oncologists has been high, because PET scanners can be used to diagnose and determine the stages of many types of cancer. During the five years to 2019, industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualized rate of 5.9% to $8.8 billion. In particular, as PET scanner manufacturers focus on improving the quality and quantity of information that can be gathered in a sin gle scan, healthcare providers will be able to provide more streamlined care, stimulating demand for industry products. Market share concentration in the industry is high as IBIS World estimates that the top three industry players, GE, Siemens and Philips, hold a combined market share of 84.3% of total industry revenue in 2014. PET scanner manufacturers incur significant costs related to purchasing gamma cameras and input commodities, such as chemical elements like lutetium oxyortho silicate. As a result, many of these companies are multinational conglomerates, which produce these items in house. The use of radiopharmaceuticals is also essential to PET scanning procedures and a majority of industry operators also produce these drugs purposed for molecular imaging Industry Statistics and Market Size: 1 Revenue $ 7 bn 2 Annual Growth till 2014 2.3 % 3 Employment 16134 4 Businesses 135 About Company: Vision Statement: To be a leading company in producing medical devices by reshaping and revisiting the concept of manufacturing and changing this to manufacturing with quality. We aim to serve the humanity, by providing people with the best possible health facilities and revolutionize the medical equipment world by bringing the best medical practitioners and best business administrators and this culminating into a World à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"Class business venture providing economical quality machines. We aim to satisfy our entire stakeholderà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s, specially our employees and we extend the idea of stake in organization to the society as a whole. We assume our Corporate Social Responsibility by committing a specific percentage of our profits to GREEN ideas and we encourage eco-friendly manufacturing of machines to preserve nature. Mission Statement: Our mission is to be a Gold Standard provider of medical equipment and our company will focus on the Future of Radiology, demonstrating specific ways in which it is meeting the various evolving needs of healthcare and to lead the market by Providing exceptional value, uncompromising quality and incomparable services to our customers. Continuously evaluating our customerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s needs and creating new or enhanced services to our customers Creating solid and enduring relationships with our customers through our continuous commitment to meeting and exceeding their expectations. Objectives: To Convert negative to positive cash flows within the 1st year of trading To achieve ISO standards manufacturing systems and procedures within 6 months of manufacturing To achieve annual growth above the industry average To provide our employees , best workplace conditions and a promising reward system with robust career growth To provide employment to un-employed people by moving manufacturing facilities to the areas with high number of un-employment ratio To expand our business geographically and moving into the areas with poor health facilities Joining hands with UNICEF to provide medical equipmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s to those countries which are in warfare or are currently economically in a bust, at below average rates which those countries could easily afford Company Background: The idea to setup a company like mediequip came into my mind due to entrepreneurial nature of mine and me following à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“freewheeling opportunismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  style. The companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s idea was triggered mainly by my nature and passion towards healthcare and Medical field, and the reason was supported by one of major manufacturers of PET scanners ceasing manufacturing of these machines thus leaving a huge gap in market. Company started trading on 30 June 2014 and successfully completed its half year of trading under the supervision of a professional team lead by à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“M.D nameà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . Loss for the first six month is $150,000 and company expects to cover this by achieving economies of scale up to the year end

Socialization Of Gender Roles - 1524 Words

From the instant we are born, we are born into a world of conformity and obedience. Early in our lives, we look at authority figures like parents or teachers as these sentinels of guidance, as omnipotent beings with unwavering precision in their lessons. The concept of socialization is very perplexed, and it’s difficult to identify the variables that shape our development as we grow. As children, we communicate with the world free of inhibition, and find no fault in any of our actions; we could throw a tantrum and no one would bat an eye because it is socially acceptable for a child to have minimal restraint on their emotions. Over the years, we eventually become embedded in the norms of our culture, and mature to our respective social†¦show more content†¦While these genderfied roles are entirely different, as a society we constantly fail to recognize these roles as they appear in front of us. As a result of our systematic training of gender roles, we have essentiall y unconsciously accepted that gender roles are okay without even analyzing it (Is Everyone Really Equal?). As early as childhood we are exposed to various forms of gender roles. Did you know that 96.8% of teachers in pre-school and kindergarten are female (goo.gl/Nb9hpX)? That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just strange to realize that one sex can virtually dominate an entire profession at such a high statistic without anyone asking questions. Some would argue that the female gender role is economically inferior than that of a man’s. It’s commonly said that woman only earn seventy-nine cents of every man’s dollar, but is this necessarily true? No, it’s actually worse. The statistic of seventy-nine cents for every dollar is actually a statistic for white woman. Hispanic woman earn fifty-five cents for every dollar, while Asian woman earn eighty-four cents for every dollar. If we were to average the four major ethnic groups, woman would e arn approximately sixty-nine cents for every dollar (https://goo.gl/nGUZRC). While this statistic is actually worse off than the stereotype, I would also like to point out that this statistic compares the wage of females of FOUR ethnic groups against theShow MoreRelatedGender Socialization And Gender Roles998 Words   |  4 Pagesattention to the gender equality issues many societies face. Is this increased awareness helping towards a neutral gendered socialization process which will inevitably eliminate the inequality? Gender socialization is the process where an individual is impacted by agents of socialization through their life stages which consequently creates the gender roles we see in today’s society. The only way to start working towards a gender equal world is by making changes towards the gender socialization process. GenderRead MoreGender Socialization And Gender Roles999 Words   |  4 PagesEarly gender socialization is perhaps one of the most relevant issues and debates of early childhood. The beginnings of stereotypes for gender roles are typically established at birth, and continue a process of learning specific cultural roles and standards in accordance with the sex of the individual. Gendered interactions begin early in the family and hence influence the process of gendered socialization, as was such the case for myself growing up. Socialization comes from a number of sources:Read MoreGender Socialization And Gender Roles1452 Words   |  6 Pages120 Professor Lessor 5/14/2016 Gender role in socialization Gender socialization and gender roles have always existed in society. Gender roles are playing major part in our way of living. As we grow, we learn how to behave and respect from those surrounding us as well as children learn at a young age what it means to be a boy or a girl in our society . there are certain roles placed on boys and girls in accordance with their gender. These gender roles are set on children from birth andRead MoreGender Roles And Gender Socialization985 Words   |  4 PagesForum 1: Gender Roles and Gender Socialization 1.   Explain why gender is not a property of individuals but rather a feature of social situations.   Give specific examples, including your own experiences, in which gender differences were assumed to be natural but were really social constructed. Note: It helps to distinguish between the concepts of sex and gender in answering this question (see definitions in Chapter 3 and lecture notes). Gender is not a property of individual because it providesRead MoreGender Socialization And Gender Roles Essay2371 Words   |  10 PagesSociety has this unknown expectation for genders to have a type of distinction toward one another, attitudes and behaviors that males and females are required to have. Gender socialization is society’s way to categorize the propensity for males and females to be socialized differently. Media, violence, even politics has a large contribution to the division among genders in the 21st century creating by creating a new culture of independents. Media has been promoted very selectively and carefully,Read MoreGender Socialization and Gender Roles Essay1184 Words   |  5 PagesGender socialization and gender roles have always existed in society. When analyzing gender roles, they are not always equal or consistent when comparing cultures, however, the expectations of females and males are often times clearly defined with a little to no common area . The Japanese culture is an example of the defined gender roles that change over time. According to Schafer (2010), because â€Å"gender roles are society’s expectations of the proper behavior, attitudes, and activities of males andRead MoreThe Role Of Socialization And Gender Roles852 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTIOn tell me what you are focussing on†¦..family and theirgender roles Socialisation is the process by which a child learns to respect his or her environmental laws such as norms, values and customs. Socialisation helps the infant gradually become self-aware and a knowledgeable person, skilled in the ways of the culture into which he or she is born. Children within the primary socialisation of the family learn a great deal from parents and other care givers such as grandparents, grandmothersRead MoreThe Role Of Socialization On Gender Identity2394 Words   |  10 PagesThe Influence of Socialization on Gender Identity Gender-Role Conformity As evident from the generalized patterns found in differences in behaviour and outlook observed between the sexes, it may be tempting, as has been done in the past, to conclude that gender is an unavoidable aspect of human existence as determined purely from one s genes. Indeed, human physiology is subject to sexual dimorphism; statistically significant differences in brain size and rate of maturation of specific substructuresRead MoreGender Socialization Is The Process Of Learning Gender Roles And Expectations1177 Words   |  5 Pagestradition of gender socialization that facilitates prejudicial practices within the work environment. Gender socialization is the process of learning gender roles and expectations. It is what determines which things are considered masculine or feminine. This process tends to reinforce traditional gender ideologies. The cult of domesticity, or the idea that a woman’s place is in the home taking care of children while the man works, is one prominent expression of traditional gender roles. During childhoodRead MoreEssay about Socialization and the Learning of Gender Roles886 Words   |  4 PagesThe term socialization refers to the â€Å"lifelong social experience by which individuals develop their human potential and learn culture.† [Macionis et al. p 55] The concept of socialization is that our actions are driven/learned by culture. Socialization is also the foundation of personality, which we build by internalizing our surroundings. Through the lifelong process of socialization, society transmits culture from one generation to the next. A good example of socialization is the learning of gender

Marketing And Cultural Analysis of China †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Marketing And Cultural Analysis of China. Answer: Introduction The country China, also known as the People`s republic of China is one of the largest countries of East Asia. Occupying approximately the entire East Asian landmass, it occupies one-fourteenth of the land mass of the planet and has the largest population in the world. The country has thirty-three administrative units under the domain of the Central Government. The capital of the nation is Beijing, which is also the communication, economic and cultural capital of the country (Shambaugh, 2013). The leading port and commercial centre is Hong Kong, with Shanghai being the industrial city of China. The country is highly complex and a diverse country in terms of climate. The climate ranges from extremely arid conditions in the northwestern part of the country to southeast with one of the greatest contrasts in temperature. This diversity has resulted in the world`s widest collection of ecological niches, with these being rich in a vast variety of animals and plants of all kind. In terms of history, China is one of the few civilizations, which are still existing (Poston Jr. Yaukey, 2013). The Chinese civilization flourished both culturally and economically in its earliest stages. Although there have been cases of social and political turbulence in the country, China has shown commendable longevity and resilience in its cultural-political unit. This country has developed its culture without much outside intervention, Buddhism from India being the only exceptional case. This non-existence of any intervention from the outside world, although made China a culturally rich country, but it also left China paralyzed when faced by the technologically superior nations (Scharping, 2013). Amongst this foreign on slaughter, China found itself in a weak position. However, this inability brought about a revolution, which fought against the old regime and gave rise to the establishment of a communist regime. This was the turning point for China, where thereafter the nation was reshaped in every aspect including political, business and infrastructure. Since then China has become one of the most influential and powerful countries in the world The economy of China is one of the largest in the world for the last few years during which it has witnessed the cycles of decline as well as prosperity. The country is the world`s second largest economy in terms of GDP (Gong, 2012).The country has built itself into an economic giant with trillions of reserved and Foreign Direct Investment opportunities. China in the global economy. The country is also the largest international holder of United States debt owning over $ 1.15 trillion in their treasury bonds. With high rankings in the Global Competitiveness Index, China has low rankings in terms of economic freedom The country has made huge investments in terms of scientific research. The Chinese believe that science and technology are vital for the achievement of the country`s political and economic growth. They have been developing their educational system as well especially in the domain of mathematics, science and engineering (Jiang, 2013). Some of the brands of Chinese technology like Huawei and Lenovo have become world leaders in personal computing. China realized the dependence of its economic system on the US Dollar and recognized this weakness in its international monetary system. It improvised the system and because of this, the Chinese currency became the eighth most traded currency in the world. This report throws light on the environment of China with special aspects to the cultural and business in the nation (Yin, 2013). It includes a study of Hofstede`s five cultural dimensions of China. China has been chosen as the country in the assignment because when the topic of international business arises, China is a lead player in the global market and the highest attractor of the Foreign Direct Investments as stated earlier. Hence, China was an optimum country to understand the issues in international business. Discussion: Cultural Analysis of China The given section will discuss the business cultural analysis of china which shall provide an exploration of China`s culture and their business cultural structure. The aim of this section is to identify the daily elements of the culture of China and how this culture is incorporated in their business. Globalization has opened various doors for expansion of trade into the other countries of the globe. Therefore, when a company is expanding its operations, the knowledge about the culture of the other country is crucial (Ardichvili et al., 2012). Demographics The country ranks one in the world with respect to its population, which are more than one billion people. The country encompasses several ethnic groups with the Han Chinese being the largest of all (Kleinman Lin, 2013). It includes other minority groups as well like Tibetan, Korean and Zhuang. Communication China has a high context , non-verbal society which helps them to gain the art in their growth to understand what to say and what action needs to be taken even if it is not said to them directly (Griffin Pustay, 2012).They rely on facial expressions and tone of voice to determine one`s feelings. They also tend to avoid eye contact, as they believe that eye contact is a sign or disrespect. Written and Spoken Language Mandarin and Cantonese are the two primary dialects spoken (Warner, 2014). The first belonging to the southern part while the latter belongs to the northern part Basic Etiquette Greetings Greetings are an important aspect of China with the elders being given most importance. The people are addressed using the last name unless advised otherwise (Ardichvili et al., 2012). They tend to bow their head when greeting other and with respect to foreigners, a handshake is considered appropriate. Dining The host is always the first person to begin eating during a feast. He also tends to propose a toast. When the feast begins, the host will be the first one to begin eating. The host is also the person who proposes the toast (Gomez, 2012). The chopsticks when not in use should be laid on the table; they are not something to be played with, as this is a sign of disrespect for the host. Religion The communist party of China is atheists. Religious freedom is allowed in China; however, many are harassed for their religious beliefs and practices. Five religions are acknowledged by China, which include Buddhism, Islam, Protestantism, Taoism and Catholicism. Ethics and Values The Chinese have high ethical and moral values. Marriage Marriage comprises a significant part of the Chinese culture. The acceptance of both the parties to marriage is important (Gomez, 2012). Arranged marriages, Polygamy and Incest are forbidden. Children The government had placed a limit of the number of children a family can have. The limit being set to one. However, recently when it was discovered from a study that the ageing population of China has increased, the limit was raised to two. Confucianism This principle can be defined as a set of ethical and moral system, which represent the rules that one person, should abide by based on the teachings of Confucius who was a Chinese philosopher (Warner, 2014). He had laid down various systems of social structure system based on the equality of relationships and educational system, which is considered extremely important in China. Children of wealthy families have a better advantage at gaining high post governmental position in jobs. Integrating these Cultural components with the business environment of China Corruption Recently, corruption has been observed as an emerging threat to China. It has increased in the mid level and senior level involvement for monetary reasons. Enforcement has not been very successful (Gomez, 2012). The Chinese government has certain anti-corruption measures however, according to a report less than 3 % of corrupt officials end up behind the bars. Etiquette Social interactions require proper etiquette Relationships and communication Business in china is generally done with known companies because of the confidentiality of business data. The business information of the two companies who are dealing is sent ahead of time. Gender roles do not exist and respect is given to the rank of the person (Ardichvili et al., 2012). The Chinese prefer face-to-face interaction. In social occasions, they Chinese do not like to discuss matters related to the business. Gift giving and Greetings Giving gifts and receiving is not acceptable in the domain of business. The gift even if given with due respect is considered to be a form of bribery which is considered to be illegal in the country. Handshakes are considered the formal greeting. While using titles of courtesy most of the business executives should be addressed with a title, which is followed by their last name. Meetings Appointments for the meetings scheduled are made in advance and punctuality is of extreme relevance in meetings (Kleinman Lin, 2013). Talking out of turn or intervening when a person is explaining his agenda is not acceptable. Seniormanagement sits along with other senior members. The Chinese expect the business partners or prospective partners to be well prepared for the meeting. It is suggested that the business proposal has at least 20 copies so that it is handed out to everyone present in the meeting. The presentations need to be build in black and white, any other color should be avoided. Composure must be maintained during the meetings. Reflection of emotions tends to put a negative effect for the concerned business organization. Social Structure A person is associated with their work circle and the individual should not depart from his group. It is also said that while entering a meeting, the organizational hierarchy should be followed. Negotiation Negotiations may be done by the seniormanagement of the company. People in china do not like confrontation. In addition, they prefer not being pressurized to take certain decisions. The Chinese tend to have a habit of extending negotiations beyond the deadline to gain advantage in dealings. Patience is the key. Appearance Dark color business attires are considered appropriate for the men and on the other hand, women should be wearing a dress or a business suit with flat shoes and a high neckline (Chan Tong, 2014). Body Language Body language and movements are needed to be taken care of and a person needs to be constantly conscious when doing business in China. A person needs to stay calm and collected. The body posture should be attentive and formal thereby demonstrating self-control and respectfulness. Actions such as biting nails. Removing food from teeth, placing hands on the mouth are considered rude. Comparing the culture of China with that of the home country Malaysia: Malaysia is a combination of various cultures of China and India as well. However, there are certain similarities and differences between the two. Malaysia is a multicultural society where multiple religions are allowed and encouraged. There are certain inherited customs and traditions, which are blended with the foreign culture. Approximately 50% of the population in Malaysia is Malaysians, the rest comprising of Chinese, Indian and others (Warner, 2014). Therefore, Chinese, Indian, English, Indonesian and Thai are the majority of the languages, which are spoken. The Malaysian way of Business comprises of diplomacy, politeness, negotiation, sensitivity, understanding and compromise (Wild et al., 2014). The business structures are hierarchical, information flows towards the top, and decisions are generally taken by the senior management. Meetings can be lengthy and usually begin with the small talk. Generally, initial meetings are focused on non-business issues. Unlike the Chinese, meetings in Malaysia start later than the prescribed time and last longer than intended (Kleinman Lin, 2013). There should be flexibility in work schedules. Since the place is a hybrid of all cultures, gifts exchange and other activities must be sensitive and thoughtful. It is very difficult for the Malaysians to use the word `no` and therefore, consideration should be given to their constraints. Hence, China has a strict culture on the other hand; Malaysia has a diverse and flexible culture. While doing business in China, the Malaysians should see to it that all Chinese cultures are adhered to. Hofstedes 5 cultural dimensions analysis Geert Hofstede developed a framework for cross-cultural communication named the Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory. The theory explains the impact of the culture of a society on the values and ethics of its members (Taras, Steel Kirkman, 2012). It also analysis how these ethics are related to behaviour, using the structure which has been derived from factor analysis. The theory consists of five dimensions: power distance (strength of social hierarchy) individualism-collectivism masculinity-femininity( Also known as Achievement versus Nurturing) uncertainty avoidance Long term-Short term orientation (task orientation versus person-orientation) In 2010, Hofstede added a sixth dimension called indulgence versus self-restraint. Hofstede`s work is often drawn upon by consultants and researchers in various dimensions relating to international business and communication. The theory has been used as a basis for various fields like psychology, and international management (Minkov Hofstede, 2012). Hofstedes five Cultural Dimensions forChina The dimensions of culture are given below: Power Distance (PDI) This dimension is the measure of extent to which the people in the organization with less power will except and accept power to be distributed in a different manner. The rank of China in this index is 80, which is extremely high. The interpretation of this is that there exists a vast difference between the powers of the senior management but that is acceptable and normal. Individualism/Collectivism (IDV) This is to identify the mentality of the people whether they consider `I` or `we`. The culture in America is focused on `I` which means people there are focused highly on themselves and their careers (Minkov Hofstede, 2012). China on the other hand, ranks 91 on this dimension which means they have a collectivistic mentality and think more about the group`s interest rather than the interest of an individual. Masculinity/Femininity (MAS) (Achievement versus nurturing) The rank of China is 66 in the MAS Index. This means that they are driven by competition, achievements and success. The Chinese often place work before other responsibilities (Hofstede Dimensions, 2012). This has been portrayed by the fact that Chinese workers and laborers leave their families behind and work for eleven months out of twelve. Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI) China ranks 40 in this dimension proving that they tend to accept situations, which are ambiguous rather than being deterred by them. Although the Chinese are bound by many rules and regulations, to avoid such situations, however, where the problems arise, they are willing to bend these rules if the situation demands for it. The Chinese language is also very ambiguous and difficult to interpret. Long-term/Short-term Orientation (LTO) China ranks high in this dimension with a score of 118, which means that they focus on perseverance and persistence. They are extremely dedicated and hardworking. They tend not to get affected by the time required to achieve those goals (Minkov Hofstede, 2012). This dimensions truthfulness is portrayed in the time consuming negotiation by the Chinese and the time taken in building long-term relationships and trust. Indulgence vs. Self-Restraint- According to the sixth dimension, Indulgence societies allow relatively a freedom in gratification of instinct and desires relating to the enjoyment in life. Whereas Restraint societies on the other hand Restraint societies believe that, these restrictions need to be limited and regulated by a set of strict rules and regulations. China as a culture is often described as strict and restrained. Each countries cultural dimension is often embedded in the country`s culture and difficult to understand unless one is brought up and raised there. The culture of China needs to be analyzed properly before entering into any contracts with company in the nation (Mazanec et al., 2015). A misunderstanding of these can damage any kind of relationships with the Chinese. Conclusion Therefore, from the discussion it can be said that when expanding in another country, a deep understanding of their cultural environment is essential. These cultural aspects often tend to play a crucial role in the success of a business relationship. China retrieves its culture from the ancient times with the advent of the Chinese civilization China`s culture is restricted by norms and regulations. They have certain standards of communication, meetings, gifts and dealings. They do not believe in gender roles but are in the favor of power and position. These norms and regulations need to be respected when dealing with the company belonging to China. From the Hofstede`s cultural dimensions analysis it could be seen that although the Chinese are restricted and norms-policies oriented, they are hardworking and persistent. Hence, all business activities must be sensitive to their culture. References Ardichvili, A., Jondle, D., Kowske, B., Cornachione, E., Li, J., Thakadipuram, T. (2012). Ethical cultures in large business organizations in Brazil, Russia, India, and China.Journal of Business Ethics,105(4), 415-428. Chan, K. B., Tong, C. K. (2014). Singaporean Chinese doing business in China. InChinese Business(pp. 119-129). Springer Singapore. Gomez, T. (2012).Chinese business in Malaysia: Accumulation, accommodation and ascendance. Routledge. Gong, P. (2012). Cultural history holds back Chinese research: Confucius and Zhuang have produced a culture in China that values isolation and inhibits curiosity. Neither is good for science.Nature,481(7382), 411-412. Griffin, R. W., Pustay, M. W. (2012).International business. Pearson Higher Ed. Hofstede, G., Dimensions, C. (2012). What about China.Retrieved April,28. Jiang, Y. (2013). Business Negotiation Culture in China-A Game Theoretic Approach.International Business Research,6(3), 109. Kleinman, A., Lin, T. Y. (Eds.). (2013).Normal and abnormal behavior in Chinese culture(Vol. 2). Springer Science Business Media. Mazanec, J. A., Crotts, J. C., Gursoy, D., Lu, L. (2015). Homogeneity versus heterogeneity of cultural values: An item-response theoretical approach applying Hofstede's cultural dimensions in a single nation.Tourism Management,48, 299-304. Minkov, M., Hofstede, G. (2012). Hofstedes fifth dimension: New evidence from the World Values Survey.Journal of cross-cultural psychology,43(1), 3-14. Minkov, M., Hofstede, G. (2012). Is national culture a meaningful concept? Cultural values delineate homogeneous national clusters of in-country regions.Cross-Cultural Research,46(2), 133-159. Minkov, M., Hofstede, G. (2012). Is national culture a meaningful concept? Cultural values delineate homogeneous national clusters of in-country regions.Cross-Cultural Research,46(2), 133-159. Poston Jr, D. L., Yaukey, D. (Eds.). (2013).The population of modern China. Springer Science Business Media. Scharping, T. (2013).Birth Control in China 1949-2000: Population policy and demographic development. Routledge. Shambaugh, D. L. (2013).China goes global: The partial power(Vol. 111). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Taras, V., Steel, P., Kirkman, B. L. (2012). Improving national cultural indices using a longitudinal meta-analysis of Hofstede's dimensions.Journal of World Business,47(3), 329-341. Warner, M. (2014).Culture and management in Asia. Routledge. Wild, J. J., Wild, K. L., Han, J. C. (2014).International business. Pearson Education Limited. Yin, H. B. (2013). Societal culture and teachers responses to curriculum reform: Experiences from China.Asia Pacific Education Review,14(3), 391-401.

Political Parties Essays (356 words) - Elections, Political Party

Political Parties The political parties began around 1796. They were created in order to separate the different views of political government. By doing so they are able to nominate candidates to run for the public office in which those candidates are closely related to their beliefs of the government and how it works. The two opposing sides both held much concern in the wellbeing of our country. These parties were and still are part of the legislative branch. Firstly, let's discuss the advantage: Helps voters.Since there are only two parties to choose from, anyone who wants to vote will have an easier time deciding who they want to give their vote to making the choices in a much more simpler format and clearing up any pressing issues would also be easy. It's aids in helping those who will be voting decide on their own who the better candidate is and can improve our country. Without these two political parties, the public would have to go through a maze to find their way. On the other hand, we have the disadvantage which happens to go hand in hand with the advantage. While the parties may help in making your decision easier it also makes the choice very limited. While it may seem like having less to choose from is an advantage, it really isn't at all. In fact, this means that it's quite impossible for one party to swoon voters by covering all the topics the voters wish to cover. In which case makes it a disadvantage. In conclusion, there are many things that the parties can do for us as well as, what we can do for the parties . But, we must remember that the world is not perfect. Everything has flaws. In this case it's our government. Even though it may seem like it's awful that there are disadvantages to it, the truth is: we need these in order to have a balance. If these rules didn't serve an important purpose then they wouldn't exist. Our government has a plan and we just need to follow it.

10 Questions to Ask For-Profit Online Colleges

10 Questions to Ask For-Profit Online Colleges Not all for-profit colleges are scams. In fact, some offer students flexibility and a career-oriented learning style that can be difficult to find elsewhere. On the other hand, some online for-profit programs rake in big money while leaving students with lots of debt and few job prospects. If you’re considering enrolling in a for-profit online college, hold off on signing that first tuition check until you get answers to these ten questions: 1. What is the colleges accreditation status? You’ll want to make sure that your school’s accreditation is recognized by the United States Department of Education. The most transferable form of accreditation comes from the six nationally-recognized regional accrediting bodies. 2. Is the school now (or has it ever been) on one of the federal financial watch lists? The federal government recently released a list of colleges that are being monitored due to concerning financial behavior. Although the list isn’t comprehensive, you’ll want to make sure your college isn’t on it. 3. What is the colleges graduation rate? Find out what percent of students who start the program end up graduating. If this number is particularly low, it’s a good indicator that the school may not be providing a quality experience or enough student support. 4. How many students who graduate from the program are able to find a career in their field? The federal government is starting to crack down on for-profit programs that charge a lot for tuition and leave students in the dark when it comes to career prospects. Make sure your investment is worthwhile - you’ll want to know that a reasonable percentage of graduates in your program are able to find employment. 5. How long does it actually take most students to graduate from this program? It’s likely that the average is longer than 4 years. But, if students are taking 6-8 years to earn an undergraduate degree, that might be a sign to look elsewhere. 6. How much student debt does the average student in this program take on? Tuition prices may be posted. But, how much debt are students actually accruing? When you factor in student fees, additional coursework, textbooks, and graduation charges, expenses start to add up. You don’t want to graduate with a photography degree and $100,000 of student debt. Make sure that your debt won’t be too challenging to manage with your expected income. 7. What kind of access to career development does the school offer? Traditional schools tend to offer job fairs, employer meet-and-greets, resume reviews, and other career development options. Does your for-profit program provide any services to help put your degree to use? 8. What other schools or parent companies is this for-profit program connected with? Some for-profit schools are part of larger conglomerate of schools. Sometimes, when a for-profit program fails, it takes new life with a new name. Do a bit of research into your college’s history and make sure they’ve been thriving for a while. 9. What are the advantages of choosing this school over a non-profit alternative? Some for-profit schools offer legitimate advantages. They may be able to let you focus on your career rather than saddle you with too many general ed requirements. Or, they may be able to help you finish a degree in less time and with less expense. However, this isn’t always the case. Find out by comparing your for-profit options with similar non-profit and public colleges. 10. How does this school track their statistics? Don’t just ask the above questions to a telephone recruiter and call it a day. Learn where and how they are collecting this information. Then, double-check the numbers with outside sources. Don’t rely on any school to give you the full picture without your own research to back it up. Jamie Littlefield is a writer and instructional designer. She can be reached on Twitter or through her educational coaching website: jamielittlefield.com.

Comparing Essays by Amy Tan and Adrienne Rich to My Own Experience †English Essay

Comparing Essays by Amy Tan and Adrienne Rich to My Own Experience – English Essay Free Online Research Papers Comparing Essays by Amy Tan and Adrienne Rich to My Own Experience English Essay Having immigrated from Malaysia, I find myself sometimes embarrassed of my Asian heritage. I would have moments like where I would be uncomfortable by my mother’s imperfect or â€Å"broken† (Tan, 261) English. This is similar to Amy Tan. In her essay, â€Å"Mother Tongue,† describes this discomfort vividly as she grew up. Being born in America but having immigrant parents from China, she showed scenes where she felt isolated by the cultural gulf that existed between them especially in their differing skill levels of the English language. Adrienne Rich, although having no such language barrier between her parents, faced her own similar problem. In her essay, â€Å"Split at the Root: An essay on Jewish Identity,† she illustrates her confusion at being half-Jewish and half-gentile. She did not completely belong in either circle and even showed scenes in which she denied both of her backgrounds. Eventually however, both authors found some semblance of peace in their cultures and embraced them. It was only with time and the experiences that came along with it, that the authors accepted their cultural backgrounds as an identity. In her childhood, Amy Tan was ashamed of her mother’s language. To her, her mother’s English â€Å"reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect† (Tan, 262). Tan reiterates this point by showing general examples of the backlashes of her mother’s bad English, â€Å"(it was the reason) that people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not giver her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her† (Tan, 262). However, later on in her life, Tan realizes she had perceived her mother wrong. She understands the English language more so than her speech might let on, â€Å"you should know that my mother’s expressive command of English belies how much she actually understands. She reads the Forbes report, listens to Wall Street Week, converses daily with her stockbroker, reads all of Shirley M aclaine’s books with ease † (Tan, 261- 262). Although humiliated earlier on in her life by her mother’s speech which she judged to be a sign of her stupidity, a keener observation by Tan revealed an intelligent, literate person despite her dialogue. This ability to see beyond the superficial passing of judgment by an immediate sense of hearing and truly grasping a person’s persona by her actions came only with age, evidenced by the contrasting views that Tan held during childhood and adulthood. Therefore, it was time that allowed the author to accept her mother’s speech. Similarly, Adrienne Rich found it difficult understanding and accepting her parents’ deficiencies. As a child, she had the part of Portia in the play The Merchants of Venice. When she spoke her lines to her father she was told to convey her lines with â€Å"more scorn and contempt with the word Jew†¦ I was encouraged to pretend to be a non-Jewish child acting a non-Jewish character who has to speak the word Jew emphatically. Such a child would not have had trouble with the part† (Rich, 209). Rich, whose father was Jewish, did not understand his reactions even stating her similarity with her character, â€Å"As a Jewish child who was also a female, I loved Portia† (Rich, 209). She however did notice â€Å"a kind of terrible, bitter bravado about my father’s way of handling this† (Rich, 209). It wasn’t until after her freshman year in college that she discovered answers about his feelings towards his own background. When questioned by R ich, her father replied, â€Å"I have never denied being a Jew† (Rich, 212). Despite this statement however, he still showed signs of bitterness towards his own religion evidenced by his anticipation and eventual frustration on not obtaining a promotion in his workplace, Johns Hopkins, â€Å"the appointment was delayed for years, no Jew ever having held a professional chair in that medical school. And he wanted it badly. It must have been a bitter time for him, since he had believed so greatly in the redeeming power of excellence†¦ with enough excellence, you could presumably make it stop mattering that you were Jewish† (Rich, 212-213). Rich’s initial confusion later evolved into an understanding of her father’s struggles of being Jewish. She recognized the reasons for his bitterness and scorn for his and ultimately her own background. Similar to Tan, it was only with age that she was able to acquire such insight. Therefore, only time aided in unders tanding and accepting her father. Where Amy Tan and Adrienne Rich differ is their stance on the role stereotypical assimilation has played in their personal identity. Amy Tan believed the stereotype of all Chinese being involved in science and math related careers fueled her to a career with English. Growing up, Tan scored higher on her math achievement tests than her English, â€Å"While my English skills were never judged as poor, compared to math, English skills were never considered my strong suits† (Tan, 263). She admits to the fact that the Chinese students have test results similar to hers â€Å"Asian students, as a whole, always do significantly better on math achievement tests than in English. And this makes me think that there are other Asian-American students who English spoken in the home might also be described as â€Å"broken† or â€Å"limited† (Tan, 263). This, however, did not stop Tan in pursuing a writing career and with time she became more strongly associated with her eventua l career, â€Å"I became an English major in my first year in college, after being rolled in pre-med. I started writing non-fiction as a freelancer the week after I was told by my former boss that writing was my worst skill and I should hone my talents toward account management† (Tan, 204). Although Tan’s tests showed a different variety of skills than the ones her career she eventually sought required, which were stereotypical for her race, she did chose to ignore them. She did not embrace the stereotype; different from embracing her culture. To have accepted her stereotype would have meant assimilating more into what the American society viewed the Chinese should have been doing, â€Å"Teachers†¦ steer (the Chinese) away from writing and into math and science† (Tan, 264). With age, she moved further away from the stereotype, being fueled by them at the same time. As a result of this time, she became a unique Chinese woman accepting her Chinese culture but not accepting her stereotype. Rich, in contrast, seemed to have been lost in her assimilation throughout her life. In her freshman year, she blatantly denied her Jewish culture to an immigrant Jewish weaver when asked about her background due to the â€Å"eighteen years of training in assimilation (that) sprang into†¦ reflex† (Rich, 211). This trend of denial due to her assimilation continues when she recounts a letter her mother had sent her which stated that Jewish woman were â€Å"fascinating† (Rich, 213). Although Rich agrees with her statement, she becomes conscious of the possible consequences of identifying with them, â€Å"I wonder if that isn’t one message of assimilation – of America – that the unlucky or the unachieving want to pull you backward, that to identity with them is to count downward mobility, lose the precious chance of passing, of token existence† (Rich, 213). Her assumptions of assimilation come to a head in the conclusion of her essay where s he states, â€Å"I feel the history of denial within me like an injury, a scar. For assimilation has affected my perceptions; those early lapses in meaning, those blanks, are with me still† (Rich, 215). This last statement, which states her admittance of the negative outcomes of her assimilation, still shows her realization of the denial of her culture after years of living through it. She states, after that statement that the essay is not a conclusion but â€Å"another beginning for me†¦ it’s a moving into accountability, enlarging the range of accountability† (Rich, 215-216). Therefore, although her assimilation had prompted her to deny her Jewish heritage, time had allowed her to realize this fault and rectify her mistakes. In both essays, the writers start out ashamed and afraid to let the world know about the backgrounds. For Amy Tan, it was her mother’s imperfect English. For Adrienne Rich, it was her Jewish background. Both writers matured later own and accepted who they are. I too had a situation similar to the writers. Today I no longer care about hiding my mother’s English. I accept that her English is not perfect and no longer do I feel ashamed when she is in front of my friends. As time passes, I think everyone matures and accepts their identities. 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Justification for Recommendation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Justification for Recommendation - Assignment Example A learning scenario is a prioritized description of a situation in learning, which is independent of any underlying pedagogical approach. The scenario describes an organization with the aim of ensuring the appropriation of prà ©cised set of skills, competence, and knowledge. The learning scenario in this case is a practical learning scenario. A practical learning scenario consists of descriptions followed by respective questions although the scenario could develop in stages with each stage having at least one question (Shepherd, 2011). Information may be presented with the use of various media elements such as texts but the described situation has to be relevant and realistic. In theory, various formats of questions could be employed in order to challenge learners about the situation being learned including the simple multi-choice questions. Any of the various theory formats are meant to determine the abilities of students in their capacity to answer various forms of questions (Leje une A., 2004). In this learning scenario, the learning objectives involve the determination of the ability of students to answer various forms of questions. The objective includes expectations that lie within the outcome of the education program. The paper will establish the capacities that students have in handling questions in different forms as part of their assessment program within a practical learning scenario (Shepherd, 2011 ). The American Psychological Association (2013) provides information on a code prepared by a joint committee for testing practices as a way of ensuring that there is enough observation of fairness among test takers in education. Code of Fair Testing Practices provides guidance in the development and selection of tests. It also provides guidance in the administration and score determination in tests and goes to an extent of ensuring good reporting and interpretation of test results in order to keep the test takers

Labor Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Labor Law - Essay Example These are the ethical issues that a buyer from an engineering company has to face when buying electrical components from these sorts of companies. In a way, he will be indirectly promoting child labor. He will also need to be aware of the fact that in such factories children become incapacitated, emotionally and physically, from less than appropriate working conditions. With brutal injuries, they are unable to attend school and pass on the chance to have a better life for themselves. Those that survive face psychological and physical scars that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. This is a particularly touchy case. There has been a lot of money invested and there seems to be a lot at stake. Also, it is the last opportunity for the team to earn fame, money and glory. The predicament for the person who knows about the failings of the car is understandable, especially as he happens to be the new one in the project. It is difficult to voice opinions if you have been the most recent entrant into a project. There is always an unspoken hierarchy in situations of this nature, and the value of the lowest in the pecking order is never taken too seriously. However, the person's bigger responsibility is t... It is evident that the car may go out of control during the course of the race, and the consequences could be anything. While the rest of the team may argue that the risk is minimal - and you can't fault them from thinking that way - the driver could be in danger of his life. The best thing to do in this case is to reason with his teammates. Quitting is the easier solution but that does not help the unsuspecting driver in any case.If his teammates do not want to pull the car out of the race even after much coaxing then the best thing to do is to inform the organizers of the race to take action. The person may lose friends in the process but he could well be saving a life. Exercise 3 This is a tricky situation for Paul. He is left to choose between his work and his marriage. Objectively, the choice does not seem to be that difficult. However, for the person facing the predicament it could be a tough issue.Paul has to look at his peace of mind when making this decision. Professionally, he is under obligation to take the task. If others in the team are willing to work long hours, Paul would like to do the same, simply out of professional pride, especially if he happens to be heading the project. Plus, the incentive of money is a great pull. Paul is seeing this as a career making opportunity. However, it is impossible for him to stand firm on professional ethics when his marriage is at danger. He has three children and his wife to cater to. In a situation like this the best thing to do would be to open up to the company's hierarchy and explain the problems. He may not have to tell all details; giving a hint of what is at stake can be perfectly

Death penalty Essay Example for Free

Death penalty Essay First, in your own words define, then compare and contrast the following concepts: Genera deterrence- punishment for crime to scare others not to commit the same crime. Specific deterrence- punishment of a crime that prevents the offender from repeating the same offense again. Incapacitation- punishment of keeping offenders in jail so they can’t repeat offense again in society. Retribution-punishment fairly justly due to the severity of the crime. Then, apply these concepts to the ways in which VIOLENT offenders are sentenced in todays courts. Sentences are based on the severity of the offenses being committed. Punishment can be based on certain factors of the crime. Violent offenders can be sentenced to death or incarceration of life. Using general deterrence it supposed to stop others from committing similar crimes. Specific deterrence is a way to avoid offenders from repeating their crimes. Keeping criminals incarcerated away from society, is the practice of keeping criminal of the street. Retribution punishes the criminal based on their action from the crime committed. Present your views on the death penalty as it exists today in the United States. You must present at least one case from law concerning the use of [for or against] the death penalty. Finally, examine your states rules concerning the use of the death penalty. I have nothing against the death penalty, but I’m not God either. If a person can go on a killing spree for instance like a serial killer, I feel that they should be held accountable. The old saying an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, kind of makes me think of the death penalty. A life for a life, but does that give back the life of the one taken. I have various few on the death penalty. Certain situations require it others I feel are unnecessary. Does that make me bias? I’ve heard some people say they’re against it, for reasons as the offenders suffers more by living day to day knowing they have taken someone’s life. Not all offenders have a conscious so when that comes into play, how the offender does suffers for their crime committed? Kennedy v. Louisiana US Supreme Court, 554 U.S.June 25, 2008 Petitioner Patrick Kennedy was convicted and sentenced to death in Louisiana for the aggravated rape of his then 8 year-old stepdaughter. A Louisiana state statute authorized capital punishment for the rape of a child under 12. The State Supreme Court affirmed the statute, rejecting petitioner’s reliance on Coker v. Georgia, which prevented the use of capital punishment for the rape of an adult woman. The Supreme Court concluded that the Eighth Amendment bars Louisiana from imposing the death penalty for the rape of a child where the crime did not result, and was not intended to result, in the victim’s death.

A Shropshire Lad Essay -- essays research papers fc

Shropshire: A Place of Imagined Sexual Contentment Published in 1869, A.E. Housman’s A Shropshire Lad stands as one of the most socially acclaimed collections of English poetry from the Victorian age. This period in British history, however, proves, by judiciary focus (the Criminal Law Amendment of 1885), to be conflictive with Housman’s own internal conflicts concerning the homoerotic tendencies which he discovered in his admiration of fellow Oxford student Moses Jackson. Housman, much unlike other English literary figures such as Oscar Wilde and Thomas hardy, was not an artist who found it necessary to directly confront Britain with any political dissention imposed by is works. Instead, "for Housman the discovery of self was so disturbing and disconcerting that poetry came as a way of disclosing it" (Bayley 44). The county of Shropshire is central to much of his poetry, but it is employed merely as "a personification of the writer’s memories, dreams and affections;" meanwhile, Housmanâ€℠¢s central character is one "who could at once be himself and not himself" (Scott-Kilvert 26). In what Housman himself regarded to be one of his best poems, "XXVII: Is my team ploughing," the focus is placed upon a conversation between a dead man and one of his friends from his previous life (Housman 18). "XXII: The street sounds to the soldiers’ tread;" meanwhile, expresses an emotional wonder discovered in the eyes of a passing soldier (Housman 15). Both the ambiguous quality of the dead man’s last question (18 ll. 25-26) in poem XXVII and the nature of the chance encounter in XXII stand to exemplify the subtle undercurrent of Housman’s own enigmatic sexuality. "Is my team ploughing" is in the form of "the primitive ballad metres, which Housman revived," and primarily "employed for a poetry not of action but of introspection" (Scott-Kilvert 25). The piece begins by the dead man’s questioning of such trivialities as his "team" (l. 1) that he "used to drive" (l. 2), and "football" (l. 9) being played "Along the river shore" (l. 10). The other speaker responds to the dead man’s questions with a partially abrasive tone as can be interpreted by lines 7-8 in which ... ...t some fickleness therein. It must be said in conclusion if these works do in fact mirror the "thoughts at heart" within Housman, that his sexuality combined with his philosophy of love culminate in an intensely masochistic lifestyle. Such is reflected by the guilt that is obviously associated by the speaker of "Is my team ploughing" deciding to take his dead friend’s sweetheart. In poem XXII the speaker relays the contentment which he finds in the mutual emotions of love between he and the redcoat, but at the same time XXVII relays the frustrations ultimately found in being alone. To invest such emotional intensity only to knowingly find unrequited perspectives manifests itself as personified hope in both poems of which speak of experiences of intimate gratification and internal content. Works Cited Bayley, John. Housman’s Poems. Clarendon’s Press, Oxford. 1992. Hoagwood, Terrence Allen. A.E Housman Revisited. Twayne Publishers, N.Y. 1995. Housman, A.E. A Shropshire Lad. Ed. Stanley Appelbaum. General Publishing Co., Ltd., Toronto. 1990. Scott-Kilvert, Ian. A.E. Housman: Writers and Their Work No. 69. Longmans, Green and Co., London. 1965.

Culture Makes Better Future Essay

Culture is sort of like history or evolution. People make the mistake of assuming history has a purpose or that evolution has a purpose. But in reality, history is just an aggregate of facts and opinions about the past. History, or the march of civilization, has no direction, no goal. Yes, we seem to be â€Å"improving† ourselves by certain metrics but that isn’t an a priori requirement. Evolution is also not striving towards any particular direction. We are not at the cutting edge of evolution in any sense. If in a million years, the organism that can survive on Earth best is an amoeba, then amoebae will be the dominant species on the planet. It’s not a better or worse situation (except maybe for us), it just is. Similarly it is not culture’s job to create a better future. What does â€Å"better† even mean? Better for whom? At what cost for other entities? I imagine some cultures might like to take things slow and enjoy life, while others might believe in long work hours and competitiveness. Who’s the arbiter of better or worse here? Some culture might devalue women to the extent that it loses too many of them and isn’t able to effectively propagate itself, effectively dying out. I’m sure people from that culture wouldn’t be happy about that, although it’s â€Å"good† in some universal sense. Culture exists to propagate itself, not to do any good or bad for the people who follow it. My thoughts here are more or less para-phrasings of the discussion on ‘memes’ from ‘The Selfish Gene’. Culture at best, creates a feeling of societal cohesion, a generalized patriotism that can compel its members to perform better against other cultures. I don’t think it makes any sense in asking if culture is good for youth and country because that assumes that there is an alternative to culture, a state of diminished culture, or non-culture. That’s not going to happen ever. Culture doesn’t allow a vacuum to exist; something always rushes in to take up the empty space. You might mean instead mean to ask about the importance of a country’s indigenous culture for that country’s progress, in the context of foreign culture having undesired influences. To that I say, let the fittest survive. I don’t believe in feeling guilty or upset about, for example, Indian culture becoming westernized. If a culture is strong enough, it’ll adapt itself to new challenges. If not, too bad. Just like there have been millions of species that are now extinct, and also millions more than can arise given the appropriate conditions on Earth– culture, like life, will always be around in some form or the other. And just like you can’t say that any particular bird or animal or virus is â€Å"better† for nature, you really just can’t discuss how culture is â€Å"better† for our future.

Gender Stereotypical Attitudes Past Essay

It has been generally observed that workplace attitudes on gender have continued to influence decisions and direct actions in organizations. These attitudes have tended to be directed more at women than men. The result has been a hindrance in the effective participation of women in decision-making at the workplace. Most men, and sadly women, have had the opinion that women lack the ability to function in management positions that require strategic decision making within the organization. They are said to lack the ability to decide on their feet, as somebody would put it. Research findings unfortunately seem to point at the existence of this sad scenario in most organizations. A research carried out by Wood (2008) provides a lot of insightful information on the effect of gender stereotyping of women at the work place. Out of a total of 30 respondents selected for this study, there were 19 men and 11 women, who happened to be in various management positions in their organizations. It is interesting to note the gender stereotyping began right from the sampling. One wonders why the researchers decided to use 19 male and 11 female managers and not 15 male and 15 female managers. A good number of the female managers in the US felt it would take over 10 years for women to achieve equal representation with men in terms of job placement. A number of male respondents from the US shared a similar view and supported his position by submitting that in the organisation where he works, there are very few women, and even then most of them take long durations in lower positions. Some female respondents were of the opinion that it would take more than a decade for women to realize 50% representation in senior management positions. A female respondent was of the opinion that 50% representation might not be realized. She however opined that this was not because women lacked the ability to perform in these high positions, but because they were not simply interested in taking up such positions. This position is tandem with the respondents who were asked if they aspired to be promoted. Whereas 68% of the men said they aspired for promotion, only 55% of the women were willing to be promoted. It is however unclear whether their lack of aspiration is due to lack of skills, knowledge and abilities. Whereas 58% of the men said that they had successfully achieved promotion, only 27% of the women shared this position. It is however debatable whether their failure to secure promotion was based on their lack of interest, lack of ability or because of their smaller number in organizations. It would appear that children hinder women from aspiring for management positions because one respondent said that women who wish to get these positions put off bearing children. Some respondents said that senior management positions are not open to everybody, but to a small clique of old boys who operate like a closed shop. Breaking into this network requires people with unique abilities, and not many women have the stamina to push through. The few who have been able constitute the small percentage. Some managers were of the view that achieving 40/60 percent representation for women and men respectively in more than 10 years could be more realistic than 50/50 percent representation. They argue that it takes time to develop somebody to management level, which not many women are willing to wait for patiently. Even when they reach the top, some of them opt out and might not be replaced by other women, but by men. It was also felt by some respondents that management positions require performers, which not many women might be. They feel that 50% representation at any time might be quite ambitious, but 10% would be realistic. Cumulatively, out of the female respondents, 1 felt that it would take 5 – 10 years to have 50% female representation, 2 said it would take more than 10 years while 4 said it would take 10 years or more. Only one female respondent said women will never achieve 50% representation. 1 said it would take another 5-10 years, while two said it would take more than 10 years from that time. 1 out of the 19 male respondents said it would take between 5-10 years to achieve 5% female representation, while 1 said it would take more than 10 years. 6 said it would take another 10 years or more. 5 male respondents said women will never achieve 50% representation, while one said it would take them more than ten years to achieve a paltry 10% representation. The results from this research could have major implications in the actual working environment as far as female aspirations for higher managerial positions are concerned. The first implication which is more theoretical in nature is that women are being negatively influenced as far as their career advancement is concerned. When the results make it abundantly clear that chances of achieving a 50% female representation on the workplace are slim, most of the female employees will get demotivated and will find no reason to aspire for high managerial positions. Such a decision is likely to keep them at the lower level of then organization hence inhibiting their career advancement. Making top management positions appear like a private members’ club which requires connections before joining could easily scare away women from venturing. Not many women are able to weave their way through male dominated networks. The few who are able are possibly the ones who share such positions with men. Some women would like to be mothers as well as career women. Making it appear as if advancing in one’s career can only take place at the expense of family life is enough deterrent to a woman’s career advancement. The practical implication of the research findings is that organizations might fail to sufficiently utilize the skills, knowledge and talents possessed by women. It is known that women have some unique abilities which could be harnessed and utilized in the organization. Scaring them away from management positions where important decision making is done denies the organization opportunity to benefit from their input. Apart from being scared by the attitude of men, fellow women also play a role. References Wood, Glence. 2008. Gender Stereotypical Attitudes Past, Present and Future Influences on Women’s Career Advancement. Equal Opportunities International, Vol. 27 No. 7, pp. 613-628

RwandaGenocide or Civil War essays

RwandaGenocide or Civil War essays The current state of affairs in Rwanda constitutes a catastrophe that never should have happened. Unfortunately, it has happened, but do the circumstances and outcomes warrant using the term "genocide"? Based on facts about the ethnic make up of Rwanda, there is abundant proof that this is actually a case of violent, ongoing civil wars, and the use of the term "genocide" is not justified. The major crime problem in Rwanda since 1994 has been mass murder, officially know as genocide, which has been prevalent in this country in the mist of years of civil war. Genocide is defined as the methodically planned eradication of a racial, political, or cultural group. The United Nations (1998) has declared in the Convention on the Punishment and Prevention of the Crime of Genocide of 1946, that "genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group..." (p. 1). Genocide represents a horror so special that the term has previously been used to described only two events in the twentieth century: the massacre of Armenians by Turks in 1915, and the Nazi Holocaust against the Jews. The United Nations (1998) stated that any "persons committing genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III shall be punished..."(2). The Convention on the Punishment and Prevention of the Crime of Genocide hammered out the statutes concerning genocide, which went into force January 12, 1951. These are still considered law. How or what the specific punishment is or should be is not defined in these articles. Since most members of the United Nations do not practice the death penalty, the most common punishment for genocide is life in prison without parole. The population of Rwanda is estimated at 8,154,933 (Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 1999, p.2). Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, with the approximate population density ...

Renaissance King Francis I of France

Renaissance King Francis I of France King Francis I was also known as Francis of Angoulà ªme (in French, Franà §ois dAngoulà ªme) King Francis I was known for His sponsorship of the arts; he has been called Frances first Renaissance King. Francis is also known for his bitter rivalry with Emperor Charles V. Occupations and Role in Society KingMilitary Leader Places of Residence and Influence France Important Dates Born: Sept. 12, 1494Crowned: Jan. 1, 1515Cloth of Gold Meeting Ends: June 24, 1520Treaty of Madrid ends imprisonment: Jan. 14, 1526Captured at Battle of Pavia: Feb. 24, 1525Died: March 31, 1547 About Francis I Known as Francis of Angoulà ªme (in French, Franà §ois dAngoulà ªme) until he succeeded his cousin at age 20, Francis was a passionate, intelligent, chivalrous knight who loved life. His trusting nature made him a poor politician, but he nevertheless saw success as a conqueror and a peacemaker before the accession of his bitter rival, Emperor Charles V, made his life and reign a tragedy. Late in his reign, Francis wish to diffuse the fanaticism of Reformation conflict was overrun by his staunchly Catholic ministers, and France became the site of severe persecutions of Protestants. As a young man, Francis was also a humanist and sponsor of the arts, and is sometimes considered Frances first Renaissance King. He supported and encouraged many fine artists, among them Leonardo da Vinci, who died at Cloux (now called le Clos-Lucà ©), the summer residence of the French king.

Describe the current U.S. healthcare cost milieu and evaluate the need Essay - 1

Describe the current U.S. healthcare cost milieu and evaluate the need to ration the availability of healthcare services - Essay Example For which reason, other methods are being planned in order to ensure comprehensive coverage. One of these methods is the health care rationing approach which is meant to assist in the availability of health care services to as many individuals as possible. This paper shall describe the current US healthcare cost milieu and it shall evaluate the need to ration the availability of health services. Healthcare spending in the US is supported through private and public sources combined (Duetsch Bank Research, p. 5). In the year 2008, about 52.7% of the national expenditures came from private shares and 47.3% came from public shares (Deutsch Bank Research, p. 5). This is considered low when compared with the OECD average; however, this has always been the trend in the US, with publicly supported health care consisting of less than the portion of the population. The publicly sponsored costs are those which cover the poor, the elderly, and the disabled (Deutsch Bank Research, p. 5). The main publicly sponsored programs are the Medicare for Americans 65 years and older and the Medicare for the poor and the disabled. Even as more than half of health care spending is actually financed by the public, a major part of the services is provided by private service providers (Deutsch Bank Research, p. 4). Private insurance covers about 66% of Americans and some 58% of these Americans are ins ured through their employers. The general cost of healthcare is significant due to the services and the health tools needed to secure quality health care. Health care costs have been driven up because of various factors. Among these factors include the introduction of technology and prescription drugs. For many years, health technologies have been introduced into the practice and these technologies are very expensive when actually used. Prescription drugs have also increased in number and frequency of use, driving up cost and

Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Policy - Essay Example I believe that I can cause change since my contribution to the greater cause might influence other people to join and fight for the cause. Through activism, an individual will feel empowered to contribute in doing something to change the situation for the better, which is likely to lead to the realization of some of the changes needed. The citizenry, media, as well as nurses are responsible for advocacy, lobbying, and activism since they are in a position to explore some of the best ways that can shape policies that target them. For the citizens that require improved health care, they can be able to lobby for their cause through a number of channels that might be inclusive of representations to the policy makers or through political figures (Ensign, 2012). This might also be the case for the nurses. Nurses should be involved in politics for a number of reasons. Some of the reasons include the fact that nurses have the knowledge of advocacy at the level of the individual patient, and for this reason, they are in a better position to defend the image of their patients (Dolliinger, 2013). On the other hand, since nurses work within the socio-political sphere of health, they aware of public policies that affect the health sector, which indicates that they are in a good position to advocate for the implementation of good policy provisions (Ensign,

Cultural communications challenges for responding police officers Essay

Cultural communications challenges for responding police officers - Essay Example Much research has come through that has suggested the same in the true sense of the word. However, what remains to be seen is the fact that these police officers will be able to give in their best in times of trouble, trying circumstances, litigations, cultural manifestations, and so on and so forth. The role of these police officers within the areas where cultural communications tangents are drawn upon remain an important one. Often times it has been seen that these police officers have not been able to get their point across to the relevant audiences merely due to the fact that the latter have not been able to understand what they are saying. This is a problem, and one that receives quite a lot of flak due to the communication breakdown which takes place within the related scenarios (Decker, 1996). What could be done to do away with such communication breakdowns is something that remains to be seen within the midst of things. However, evidence is available that the police officers have learned new traits, acquired skills and the like to make sure that the crime scene does not get disrupted by communication issues every now and then. What is important here is an understanding on the part of both these police officers and the people at large so that sanity could prevail within the related ranks and that success for the sake of finding out the inner depths of the crimes would see the light of the day. The main aim of these police officers should be as such to make sure that they secure the crime scene as soon as they reach the spot, and then collect hate literature, spray paint cans, do away with threatening letters, identify criminal evidence and move ahead with the investigation phases in particular. During this process, the manner in which they communicate with the people from different walks of life is a very significant notion, and one that needs to be given emphasis by these police officers as well. They also have to interview people to find out about the suspects and the actual crime that has been committed, creating awareness for not only their own selves but also the publics that are present near the crime scene. The support services for the community members are also deemed as significant because this emphasizes the due role of the police officers and their work manifestations within the minds of the community at large (Scerra, 2011). The police officers therefore have to deal with a host of issues on a consistent basis, as well as ensure that no one takes the crime scene or even the police authorities for granted, and goes about ransacking the entire area or region that one is talking about here. The police officers find it very difficult to cope up with the challenges when there are hate crimes on the rise. These hate crimes include the victims who would not bother listening to these police officers, no matter how much respect they give to the police and the related authorities. This is something that poses as a huge challenge on the part of the police officers who would want to get their point heard within the thick of things. The hate crimes include a great amount of biasness that has crept into the people with regards to their opponents and the law in essence, as the latter goes against their wishes, which is something that is tantamount to being a disruptive force within their demeanor (Salo and Allwood, 2011). The crimes

Favorite Teacher Essay Example for Free

Favorite Teacher Essay Choosing a favorite teacher is fairly difficult when one puts into account all the types of teachers they have known, all of them are important. Teachers are the second most important people in our lives, right after our parents. Teachers are persuasive and have the power to build a child up from an immature student to become a responsible adult; or they can completely and utterly crush a students hopes and dreams. As an identical twin my mother has always pulled a few strings to have my sister and me in the same classes throughout elementary school. We were absolutely inseparable. Transitioning from elementary to middle school was a milestone for me. Every class I was placed in was different from my sister’s. I was friendless, and at times I felt hopeless scrambling to find friends; I was overwhelmed by the turmoil of the middle school system. At my locker I forgot a key ingredient, the combination; completely overloaded with homework, tests and loneliness, I sat at my locker and sobbed. It was there I crossed paths with one of the most important people I have ever known. The first time I met Ms. Reagan was when she gave the upcoming middle-schoolers a tour of the school the summer before my sixth grade year. She was short, thin and had an intelligent look. She seemed truly interested in me, given my mother had met her on vacation a few years back. Ms. Reagan assured my worried mother I would do perfectly fine in a new environment without my sister. However, when school began, so did my problems. Mr. Wolff was my sixth grade English teacher, as an advanced English student the first essay he assigned was rather demanding. Struck by writer’s block, I was only able to conquer five pages of the assigned six-page essay. Mr. Wolff asked for a word after class; obliging I listened to him rant about how he expected more out of me than five pages of redundancy. I left the classroom with a rigid, seemingly emotionless expression. I went to my only friend, my locker, and began to sob when I remembered I had forgotten my combination. Walking back from the teachers’ lounge, Ms. Reagan calmly asked me to explain my dilemma; she offered support and assured me I would do well, promising me I would make friends. I left school that day consoled and filled with a newborn hope that I would progress through the sixth grade successfully; after all it was just the third day of school. After a few weeks of attending middle school, I began to gain friends; they were not comparable to my twin, but they were accepting. I listened to what Ms. Reagan had mentioned to me and I was able to gain more and more friends I today refer to as my closest friends. With Ms. Reagan’s advice I was able to conquer my fears of having no friends, and I finally was able to master the dreaded locker combination. Ms. Reagan is the embodiment of a leader and sets an endless example of respect and commitment for her current students and students of years prior. She treats everyone with kindness and compassion and is always willing to give advice to anyone. Most importantly, she believes in herself as a teacher and, in turn, her students learn to believe in themselves. I have been able to acquire this knowledge of Ms. Reagan through various lunch visits when I was unable to find a table. We spoke of our families, futures, travels and opinions. Although it has been years since I sat in her classroom, Ms. Reagan continues to affect me in a very meaningful way. In the summer we often go to the same part of Newport during the same time; she often walks past my house, and even on the hottest of days, she will always stop at the end of my driveway just to chat. In return, when I get the chance, I like to stop by to visit her after school lets out just to catch up for a little bit and fill her in on the latest news in my life. However, although our conversations may be few and far between, they always make for memorable moments. As I continue to get older, I cannot help looking back and reminiscing about my days as an elementary student. I feel lucky for having such an unforgettable childhood and thankful for the people that were apart of it. Ms. Reagan has always been more than an educator to me, and I am so blessed to have her as a part of my life.

Resopnse To Revolution Essay example -- essays research papers

Book Review Response to Revolution Response to Revolution, by Richard E. Welch Jr., is an honest and unbiased look at America’s policy towards Cuba during the Cuban Revolution. It covers the general history of and preconceived notions about the revolution in depth and gives ample attention to both sides of the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. In addition to this Welch analyzes the reactions of America’s various factions during the early years of the revolution. Upon taking this into a change of the status quo, and of one that only played the international game of politics on its own terms. The general idea underlying Response to Revolution is the evolution of the U.S.’s opinion of the Cuban revolution from good to bad. Yet to understand this, the author shows that it is first important to understand the events and attitudes that took place between the U.S. and Cuba in the years between 1958-1961. At the onset of the Cuban revolution we find that the U.S. government supported the Batista regime and that while it was technically a democracy it reinforced bitter class differences. Eventually various factions united under Castro and the Batista government was overthrown. While the United States for the most part stayed out of this war and even cut off arm sales to Batista before his overthrow, Welch shows that by then it was to late for the U.S. to ever create a good relationship with Cuba. The reason for this is that the years of and U.S. dominated Cuban economy, combined with the troublesome Platt Amendment, fueled the fire of class differences and created in Cast ro’s mind a distrust of U.S. involvement in Cuba. However, while Castro’s anti-American stance no doubt hindered relations with the U.S., it was more the fault of the Eisenhower and Kennedy presidencies reluctance to offer aid outright to Castro and accept change in Cuba. This unwillingness of Castro to adhere to the U.S. standard or democracy in turn led to unwarranted economic sanctions, which later led to Cuba’s need for Soviet economic support. â€Å"The U.S. government measures went beyond the retaliation warranted by the injuries American citizens and interests had up to that time suffered at Castro’s hands† (Welch 58). The author further contests that the problem was only furthered when Kennedy took the matter to be personal and put into act Eisenhower’s counterrevolution inva... ...nited States’ policy towards Cuba in the years between 1958-1961 correct and well thought out? According to the book’s evidence and my personal observation of our current relationship with Cuba I would say no. The U.S. failed to see that its ideals and values were not shared by the entire world, and in Cuba’s case our values and economy lead to more social oppression that Communism would have. We as a nation were one of mixed emotions and our leaders who made decisions concerning Cuba were largely uneducated on the history and politics of Cuba, leading to a trend of bad relations. This in effect showed the U.S. to be a nation only concerned with its own interests, rather than the heroic liberator and protector of democracy. If I got anything out of all this I must say it was the realization that the U.S. as a nation was in fact no better than some of the nations I sought to ward off. In conclusion Response to revolution is an honest book that takes no sides a nd simply exposes the fact that the U.S. Policy towards Cuba during the Cuban Revolution was one that was not well though out, and ultimately ended any chance of reverting to favorable economic relations with Castro’s Cuba.

Global Citizenship Essay

As far as we know, many people throughout the world face different issues such as global warmth, pollution of environment, gap between wealth and poverty, discrimination, suffering of HIV/AIDS and so on. Therefore, more and more people are attracted to join in one community and solve global problems together. Nowadays, many people can be considered as citizens of our planet, or as Global Citizens. The main goal of Global Citizens is to create such conditions and solutions to problems in order to make the world around them a better place. All of them tend to have some specific qualities. I know enough people, who possess them and inspire me more to be a Global Citizen. Initially, I consider myself as a part of Global Community and as a Global Citizen because I try to help people that need it. For me, being a Global Citizen means not only enjoying our rights, but also bearing responsibilities and taking care for surrounding people and environment beyond one’s nation or territory, in order to create a virtuous society in the world. Open-mindedness and willingness to commit good deals are the main qualities, which Global Citizen should have. Every person has different types of personality, some of them can make good teachers, some good creators, other good workers, and so on. Although they have different qualities and abilities, they are part of one community and take some responsibilities for surrounding people for making the world little bit better. Therefore, they can be considered as Global Citizens. They are joined by qualities such as kindness, love to every single person on the world, motivation to hard work, and responsibility for humankind. In addition, Global Citizens should have perseverance because the mission of being responsible for human beings faces many obstacles. Accordingly, Global Citizens should wish to improve lives of others and possess kindness, responsibility, and persistence. Global Citizens are not isolated from the world and think not only about themselves. People start to be such Citizens when they start to commit good deal toward strangers, who need help. No matter if they act alone or in teams, they are still Global Citizens. I have met many people that act as Global citizens. For instance, I know people, who deal with children that have oncologic diseases, or people, who take some activities to decrease the level of HIV/AIDS sufferers, or people that engaged in charity, or other that engaged in special communities, which deal with different issues in society. I, firstly, admire with my grandmother, who have small business, but always take time and money to engage in charity for orphanage. In spite of facts that she is retired and care about her children and grandchildren, she still work hard, has patience, and has desire to help other people, to make their lives better. This example proves that anyone can take even little action toward better humanity’s life and unintentionally become a Global Citizen. I believe, I will follow my grandmother’s example because from my childhood I am kind, responsible and strive to help people. I always wished, nobody should be upset. Therefore, when I saw sad person, I approached to him/her, tried to understand situation and attempted to help. Later on, I become part of different communities such as School Parliament, International Organization â€Å"Dance4Life†, Students’ Community â€Å"Enactus†, and some others. Most of my time I spent in School Parliament, so I will tell more about its activities. This little school organization took responsibilities for almost all events in school and some activities outside it. We regularly took part in charity for orphanage, support disabled people of our school, entertained people that had oncologic diseases, and conducted some events. We helped one family to collect some amount of money to child’s operation by selling some ribbons and conducting few times charity events. It was one of the biggest deals that we did in school time ourselves. After pupil’s operation, his parents thanked us and appreciated our activities. Thus, as studying in high school we started to participate in solving some problems outside of our lives, to help others, to improve surrounding people’s lives and performed as Global Citizens. Thereby, everybody can become a Global Citizen despite age, gender, and region. To be a Global Citizen means to take actions and fulfil some duties in order to improve someone’s life. Global Citizenship should not be focused on scale of an action because helping people starts from little steps, from helping even one unknown person. Therefore, most of people, who are helping others that need a support, can be considered as Global Citizens. The majority of these human beings understand that they somehow may effect on people, who live on the other side of the Earth. Thus, they think broadly and care about surrounding people and nature.

Beneath †Original writing Essay

Psychoanalysis begins. Monday morning, it was a big rush. I had to pack the kids’ lunches and watch after them as they left for school. It was Kelly’s first day at junior school, and Michelle’s at secondary school. I don’t know why, but as I shut the front door I had flash backs of my first day at secondary school. I got worried. Michelle is a lot like me when I was her age. To my children, I am a normal nice mother, ordinary like everyone else’s mother. That is how they see me. They know nothing about my past†¦ It was an excruciatingly hot and sunny day – July 30th 1993. I dreaded the moment the sunrise began. I felt a huge lump at the back of my throat, my head was pounding, and droplets of cold sweat trickled down my forehead. I used to be a normal, quiet, and well behaved person but, all that changed when I met Camryn Barnes. After the first three times, I promised myself I would never do it again. Yet here I was with the hammer in my hand smashing the new lock on the school gate. It fell to the ground making a loud sudden noise, which made me jump even though it was expected. I ran towards the school building, but the school doors were all locked up. After approximately an hour of struggling through one of the technology department windows, I managed to squeeze in. I ran to Dr Daniel’s office, pushing the door open. There, looking up at me with his beady black eyes was Cuddles – Dr Daniel’s hamster. I had my equipment ready and then I opened the cage door picking up the small rodent with my trembling hands. I whispered to him in the darkness, â€Å"Don’t worry, it’ll only take a second. † I reached into the back of my threadbare jeans pockets and pulled out the razor sharp penknife. Tears poured down my face. One, Two, Three. I did it. My hand was drenched in fresh, warm blood. I dropped Cuddles on the floor and retreated back to the technology department. I can still remember the cold beady eyed stare Cuddles had given me as I pulled the pocket knife out of him. I recollect a similar expression from the past victims. I got back to Camryn a lot quicker this time. Camryn was pacing outside and when she saw me she signalled to me to hurry up. I half jogged and half ran. When I reached her, she caught hold of my wrist and pulled me along with her. I glanced at her beautiful tanned face and saw the contented smile displayed along her lips. I could almost hear her heartbeat, and taste her idea of sweet satisfaction. When we reached her house, she dragged me to her bedroom then leapt onto her red crumpled bed and kicked off her scuffed trainers. â€Å"Did you do it? Did you ‘top the pint sized rat? † she asked with enthusiasm. There was a malicious gleam in her green eyes. I nodded staring at my sweaty bloodstained hands. There was a huge lump in the back of my throat, my stomach churned. I couldn’t take it any more, â€Å"You said we’d never do it again! Wasn’t killing Jackie’s budgie, Peter’s cat and Ellie’s turtle enough? Why Dr Daniel’s hamster? Why? † Camryn stood up with a frown creasing up near her finely plucked eyebrows. â€Å"What’s wrong with you? Dr Daniels failed me in English! I worked so hard for him! He got what he deserved! † A sudden anger flushed through my body, â€Å"Like the others got what they deserved?! † Looking at Camryn, and seeing her satisfied realization from her manipulation, I had to leave. I walked home, showered and then lay in bed. I remember glancing at my digital clock†¦ it read 6:16am. I tried so hard, but failed to fall asleep. It was only a few hours, but seemed like days passing by. Eventually my mother came into my room to see why I was not ready for school. â€Å"I don’t feel well,† I murmured. Mother carelessly shook her head and left me alone. A month ago I used to be really close to my mother, but now I just seem to want to push her away and out of my life. It was almost as if I surrendered everything I loved for Camryn. My mother, my old friends and, my self respect. Eventually I fell asleep. Beneath my closed eyes, my thoughts swivelled in front of my eyes. All I saw was beautiful, cold water, ripples glistening. That was where I wanted to be. I woke up and changed into my favourite clothes. I knew what I was doing. I felt dizzy but ignored the queasy feeling. I sat on the floor and scribbled a note for my mother. I used to write little poems to my mother ages ago. I knew that was what I had to do now. I still remember what I wrote in the poem, word for word. â€Å"June year 1993, on the 25th day, The day I changed, stopped to pray, I made promises, made to break, But it’ll be over, whilst I lie in this lake, I feel like I’m, spiralling into a deep dark hole, Hopefully this depth, can contain my soul, What I’m trying to say, dear mother, I’m Sorry, For pretending to be so upbeat and jolly, Sorry mum, I didn’t mean to, I’ll be thinking of you through and through. â€Å"