Thursday, December 26, 2019

Spiritual Autobiography - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2126 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/03/13 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Autobiography Essay Did you like this example? In the context of religion, faith means to have confidence or trust in a particular system of beliefs. It is having a secure belief in God and trusting Gods will. For a Christian, this definition is not just words on a page it is a way of life. Faith is what we cannot see but feel deep inside of us. Faith is believing that one day we will stand before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For Christians, believing is not seeing. Our world is revolved around the fact that God came to earth, died on the cross, rose again on the third day, and then ascended back into heaven. As Christians, we naturally believe what the bible says. We were not there when he died on the cross, yet we believe. We were not there when Jesus rose again, yet we believe. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Spiritual Autobiography" essay for you Create order Ever since I can remember, I have gone to church every Sunday with my family. My siblings and I would go to Sunday school while my parents went to the church service or their adult group. For a couple years my parents even taught Sunday school. Sometimes I would go into their classroom when my class was over and help with crafts. I was very involved from an early age. I went to youth group activities, helped in the nursery, went to church camp, and was an acolyte for a couple years. An acolyte is anyone who performs ceremonial duties such as light candles and says a prayer. I was raised in a very religious family who always tried to practice what they preached. My faith journey all started when I was a baby and they did a dedication at church for me. My parents dedicated that they would raise me in a Christian family. The church we went to at the time did not baptize babies. They wanted the family to dedicate to raise the child as a Christian and then you choose when you want to be baptized and follow Christ. A couple years later we switched to a Methodist church. Part of growing up in a Methodist church meant I would go through baptism and confirmation. I chose to be baptized when I was about 12 years old. My parents did not want to baptize me when I was young because they wanted me to remember that day. They waited until I said I wanted to do it. My parents also wanted me to know and understand why I was being baptized and not just because my parents want me to but because I want to. After being baptized, I went through confirmation. Confirmation was for eighth graders only and it was basically like a Sunday school class. I went to this class every Sunday for a whole year. At the end of the year, they had a church service to confirm us in the church. This meant we were officially members of the Methodist church. This was a huge moment in my life because it was the first time I got the courage to pray out loud in front of people. It was the moment that I realized how connected I felt with the church and with God. I felt like my life was in such a good place. From a young age, I experienced a sense of belonging and like I had a place in my church. I grew close to many people including kids my age and their families. I learned leadership skills and how to take on new tasks. I loved to learn and I absorbed everything I could. I remember when I was in fifth-grade Sunday school, we learned a song to remember all the books of the New Testament. I was beyond excited that I knew all the books. That was one of my goals when I was younger. Then, we stood in front of the whole church and sang it for them. Of course, I was a nervous wreck but I did it. One of my favorite things about the church, when I was younger, was learning different songs, hymns, and memorizing books and stories of the bible. My parents felt very strongly about making sure their children had a relationship with the Lord. We would pray every night at the dinner table before we ate, and my mom would remind us to say our prayers before going to bed each night. They made sure that we accepted Jesus into our hearts at the right age. We were young, but not too young where we did not understand what it meant. I still remember the night I asked Jesus into my heart. I was sitting on my bed at night with my mom. She would say the words and I would repeat them after her. I remember feeling this calm throughout me like nothing was going on in the world. There was this sense of joy like Jesus was present in the room with us. It amazes me how I was so young, but I clearly remember that moment. It was such an important part of my life that I hope I never forget. Then, my family went through a tough time when my Aunt Cheryl was diagnosed with Leukemia eight years ago. She battled for many years, but sadly she lost her life about two and a half years ago. She was always selfless like Jesus. She put everyone before herself even when she was fighting for her life. My mom would call her every time she was in the hospital to check in on her and see how she was doing. My Aunt Cheryl answered and said, Hi Kathy, how are you? and every time my mom would think It doesnt matter how I am. I want to know how you are and talk about you. That just shows how selfless and humble she is. Her faith has guided her and shaped her into whom she was even while battling cancer. She was the strongest person I knew. My Aunt Cheryl never complained once when going through treatments and procedures. Anyone who has gone through a disease like that knows how mentally and physically tough it is. God gave her the willpower to keep fighting. She could have given up many years before she finally let go. The only reason she did was that she went through two bone marrow transplants that did not work and was in and out of remission twice. My Aunt Cheryl was getting signs from her body telling her she was slowly shutting down and she knew it was time. The most amazing part of her story was that she still prayed and stayed strong through every procedure. This took a huge impact on my mom which had a major impact on me. For a couple years my mom could not even go to church. She would start to cry and could never sit through the whole service. My mom has always been mine and my families rock and support through everything. She made sure we went to church every Sunday. After my Aunt Cheryl passed away, it seemed like our faith slipped away as well. We would go to church every now and then over the span of two years, but we would never go regularly anymore. It got to a point where nobody recognized us from church anymore. I felt like I did not really have a relationship with God anymore. I slowly started to get wrapped up in life and not pray anymore, not go to church, and not live through Jesus. In the article Jesus: The Ruler of the World states, Jesus rescues human beings in order that through them he may rule his world in the new way he always intended (61, N.T. Wright). N.T. Wright is saying that we make decisions and actions that show Jesus is working and living through us. My family would not make the right decisions for a while by not going to church and forgetting to pray. It became such a bad habit. There was no assuming or asking if we were going to go to church anymore. We just knew we were not going to go. Also, my mom would go to The Hospital University of Pennsylvania frequently to visit my Aunt Cheryl, so she would go on Sundays sometimes or she would be exhausted and not want to go to church the next day. I feel like no matter what it was we always came up with an excuse to not go to church. Nobody deserves to go through what my Aunt Cheryl went through and that is what my mom struggled with the most. Especially towards the end, my mom was always by her side. She could see the pain and suffering my aunt was going through, and my mom just could not understand why God would let a sweet, humble, kind-hearted person suffer like that for many years. Seeing my mom go through this time was eye-opening for me. I personally witnessed suffering and how it could impact someones faith. I always hear stories about how people either grow deeper in faith or lose their faith after a loss of someone very close and special. I was worried for a little that my mom was going to lose her faith because God took her sister from her. She struggled with not knowing why God would let her sister suffer and take away her life. In my moms case, she lost her faith for a little but was able to bounce back. With family support, my mom was able to get through it. My Aunt Cheryl was the most generous, kind hearted, and loving person you would ever meet. While she was battling cancer, she could not work so they were slightly financially unstable. She and her husband lived a very plain life. They did not want or need many things in life to make them happy. I specifically remember on my sixteenth birthday my Aunt Cheryl was healthy and was out of the hospital. She came to my birthday party and discretely handed me fifty dollars. I was absolutely shocked. I never expected anything let alone fifty dollars from her. They were struggling to pay for the hospital bills, but she still gave me money on my birthday. She had faith in the Lord that even though she gave me a lot of money that should be going towards bills, she knew she would be rewarded in her afterlife and that is all that matters. I never realized until recently how lucky I am to have grown up in such a faith-oriented family. We definitely hit some tough times in our lives, but we figured it out together and with the help of God. If I have learned anything it is to never give up on God or turn your back even if you are going through a very tough time in your life. There is a reason God put you on this earth and he has a plan for you. James Choung states, Because no matter how the world came to be, the Christian story says that when we look at eucalyptus trees, windy rivers, majestic mountains, the shining sun, starfish, polar bears, Dungeness crabs, duck-billed platypuses, and (especially) you and me, you can see that all of it was designed for something. All of it has a purpose (24, James Choung). It is easy to drift away from faith and the Lord, but always remember that he is there for you even when you do not think so. I had a very strong faith when I was younger and I thought that would never change. As I got older, I would focus on everything but Jesus. I got caught up in my dreams, goals, and problems in life and became distracted by what truly mattered which is following the Lord our Savior. Going through the time in my life when I was separated from God really made me think about my faith. I recently started to question my faith and what I truly believe. This only helped me to grow closer to the Lord. I have learned that questioning my faith is the beginning to grow in my faith. I have felt that in the past month that I have been in college. Since I am so independent in college, I am learning how to create my own faith and what I believe in. I do not necessarily have to believe what my parents taught me growing up any more. I would not change anything that happened to my faith throughout my life because it brought me to a realization that I have my own faith to grow in now.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Gun Control Persuasive Essay - 1539 Words

Tighter Gun Control Once again the topic of gun control has risen due to the most recent mass shooting in Las Vegas, which was the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. This shooting resulted in the loss of 58 innocent lives and the harm to more than 500 others. As we can see, these events are happening far too often and we must make a change soon. While this Letter to the Editor gives me a place to express my concern on this issue, I will also use Facebook and Twitter to reach as many viewers as possible. I believe that Twitter will be more effective in having my voice be heard because of the ability to use hashtags and the millions of active users they have. The New York Times 620 8th Avenue New York, NY, 10018 Dear Editor: I am†¦show more content†¦There is never a logical time for someone to use it so what is the need for it. Hunters don’t go out into the woods with machine guns to hunt their prey. If they did they would have far too many bullets in the animal to have to remove. Having these military style weapons on the market is just asking for tragedy. One of the military surgeons that helped treat victims of the Las Vegas shooting claims â€Å"These were definitely injuries you would see in a war zone† (Craig 1). This is the result of selling these military-style weapons. A war on our homeland against our very own people. We need more people to start speaking out on this issue because the more people that speak out the more our voice will be heard. I understand that it’s our second amendment right to bear arms but at the same time I believe that everyone’s right to life is more important than someone’s right to bear arms. You can’t argue that. It’s not that we are trying to get rid of all guns but we want to make it harder for people who shouldn’t have them, to obtain them because the less guns there are the less shootings there will be. With enough people on our side I believe we can fix this problem and make our country a safer place for everyone. Sincerely, Connor Rogers My Letter to the Editor states that the accessibility to guns, especially military-style weapons is very concerning, not to mention the fact that youShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay : Gun Control798 Words   |  4 PagesPersuasive Essay Did you know that in the United States almost 100,000 people are shot or killed with a gun in one year? 10,527 people die a year in handgun related incidents in the United States. This number, by far, outweighs the number of gun related deaths in countries such as Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan, which number 13, 22, and 87, respectively. What is the reason for such drastic differences in numbers? Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan are all countries that have stricter gun controlRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1753 Words   |  8 PagesPersuasive Essay Rough Draft The United States of America has a problem that is growing worse every day. American laws are not protecting its citizens from injury or death. You may think the mass shootings in America the guns used were bought illegally, but â€Å"since 1982, there have been at least 62 mass shooter carried out with firearms across the country, with the killings unfolding in 30 states from Massachusetts to Hawaii. Of the 139 guns possessed by the killers, more than three quarters wereRead More Persuasive Articles on Gun Control Essays607 Words   |  3 PagesPersuasive Articles on Gun Control Persuading an audience can be done in several different fashions, one of which is Hugh Rank’s Model of Persuasion. Rank’s model states that two major strategies are used to achieve the particular goal of persuasion. These strategies are nicely set into two main schemas; the first method is to exaggerate an aspect of something, known as â€Å"intensify.† While the second is to discredit it, which is referred to as â€Å"downplay.† Al Franken, Jeffrey SnyderRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1018 Words   |  5 PagesImagine, an America where no citizen, law abiding or not, has the legal ability to own guns. Three gunmen with fully automatic rifles walk into a crowded city and begin firing. No law abiding citizen can defend themselves. It’s hopeless. This future can only be prevented if Americans continue to keep the second amendment. We should keep the current gun control laws, but revise them to make them even better. Most gun own ers are responsible under the current laws, however, I think some laws need to beRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1245 Words   |  5 Pagesand time again. Due to recent tragedies involving firearms, the view of guns and peoples rights to own and operate firearms have been frowned upon and viewed in a bad light due to Media. News sources have cherrypicked pictures of tragedies and stories about bad instances of gun usage in order to fight for Gun Control and the suppression of Americans rights. Due to the recent Vegas shooting, the argument for Gun Control has never been more intense, and Media outlets are having a field day onRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control915 Words   |  4 PagesHistorically guns haven’t been a national issue. It is not until relatively recently that an overwhelming amount of people have been in favor of placing stricter laws on the owning of a fire arm. The call for gun control has become more prevalent in the eyes of the government and the people; the gun laws that are also often proposed are irrational and ineffective. One could not simply ban guns, it is comparable to banning a certain genre of music; it’s unachievable and would be a fruitless pursuitRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1745 Words   |  7 Pagescruelty to animals, and yet he was able to buy four guns legally (Rosenberg). That is the most recent example of why Americans need more gun control laws. Guns are not cool or makes you look good, they are a da ngerous piece of machinery that Americans take advantage of. The average American in the right mindset should not want to own anything more than one handgun or rifle for hunting or protecting their household. Gun control reform that limits gun ownership, enforces mandatory background checks, andRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1439 Words   |  6 Pagesreason why Americans own so many guns is because of the Second Amendment, which states, â€Å"A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.† (Rauch) This amendment guarantees U.S. citizens the right to have firearms. Since this amendment is relatively vague, it is up for interpretation, and is often used by gun advocates to argue for lenient gun laws. Hence, gun control is a frequently discussed controversialRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control967 Words   |  4 Pagessaid gun violence has gotten out of hand. This do esn’t mean that the second amendment is the cause of it. Gun Violence has become such a big part of the Second Amendment since they both play a major part of the gun industry. Guns have become such a powerful source to many individuals. With the second amendment placed, this means we have gun control, which are rules that regulate, the manufacture, possession, modification, or use of firearms by civilians. There should be a stricter law on gun controlRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1634 Words   |  7 PagesOver the recents years, there have been many arguments about the issue of gun control at the state and national level. In California, there have been a variety of enacted laws within recent years to address the issue of growing gun violence around the country and ways to prevent terrorist attacks. California s new enacted laws about gun control in the state range from abolishing certain features on weapons to restricting certain handguns or other firearms a person might buy. The legislative branch

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

My Greatest Challenge free essay sample

I can still remember, maybe when I was five or six years old, the bickering scene of my parents. At the time I was too young to really know what was going on. As I grew older I generally accepted it as the everyday custom of my home, and downplayed it again and again. You’re now probably wondering why it stays in my memory, or perhaps what it’s doing in my college essay. I eventually came to the conclusion that a sob story would be the best way into the heart of a college admissions counselor. It all came crashing down in high school. I suppose you could say this is where I’ve learned to struggle and grow; the time when going home everyday meant a fight with my father. The first time he hit me was when I was five. It never ceased from there no matter how many therapists or doctors I went to for the pain; knowing that a diagnosis of depression was coming after the first few weeks of talking, had dismembered any rational thought of who I was. We will write a custom essay sample on My Greatest Challenge or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I carried out with my own drugs, my own sense of leisure by abusing myself and body. The loss of appetite that now humbled me to an extreme of nearly 120 pounds left me limp and frail. My mother saw this and together we traveled to where she was born to escape my father. I spent the next month in Chile while my parents worked their problems out. The country was kind o me but it left me feeling out of place and lonely. We would return shortly thereafter. Life went on for years like this and even when I felt as though it was time for me to switch paths, I was sacrificed for the greater good of the family. Hushed away to keep the Duff name gleaming and twinkling beneath the sun. I recall looking in the bathroom mirror every morning, with the same gaunt and stressed face I’d seen for months on end reflected back at me. It was time to sit down and call to mind who I really was. I found a nitch in school with politics or student council, whatever you’d like to call it. Slowly I began transitioning myself for a run in the government of the school. After two burdening campaigns, I rode the trail of broken memories to become the president of over 2500 students. I’ve now learned to carry my battle scars on my back, where they belong behind me. I looked forward, let the sun shine upon my face and gave thanks to the power above me. My life was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to drudge through.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Nordstrom free essay sample

Nordstrom Cheryl Akins Professor Araya Marketing 100 June 13, 2011 Nordstrom 1. Identify the type of retailer that Nordstrom’s is classified as. Describe the characteristics it shares with other retailers of this type. Nordstrom is classified as an upscale large independent department store. It shares the same characteristics as Macy’s, JC penny’s and Dillard’s who also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, and fragrances. 2. Describe Nordstrom’s level of service on the continuum from full service to self-service.Give an example of a store that would be on the opposite end of the continuum and explain their differences. Nordstrom went from full service to self-service. When Nordstrom was full service it was able to serve customers, mostly satisfied but it became overwhelming. Most people were ordering products off the internet, but when it came to return the item because of dislike, then a lot of Nordstrom’s stores did not except online product. We will write a custom essay sample on Nordstrom or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Target is a good example of a store that would be on the opposite end of the continuum. They are not as elegant as Nordstrom. 3.Analyze the six components of Nordstrom’s retailing mix to determine which have been the most important to the company’s success. Provide a detailed rationale. Nordstrom’s retailing mix begins with product. They carry a huge assortment of products. Second is place. Nordstrom has numerous physical locations with hours targeted for customers who come there and also an online store that is up and operational. Third would be promotion. Trying to get the customers to buy the product. Fourth of the retail mix is price. Nearly everything inn Nordstrom is expensive, they are always having sales.Presentation is the fifth element of the retailing mix. It is the way that you display your products to your customers. The sixth component of the retailing mix is the most important one for Nordstrom is Personnel. Nordstrom’s intense focus on the customer and delivering excellent customer service is vital to the store’s success. The salespeople are willing to go above and beyond as they give individual attention to each and every customer they encounter. 4. Discuss the primary challenges Nordstrom faces in the current retail climate.The primary challenges that Nordstrom faces in the current retail climate would be its competition with higher end stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Barney’s, and their continued availability of products. 5. Discuss how the competition has changed in recent years, along with consumer expectations. Competition is hoping on the price-promoting bandwagon. Nordstrom don’t rely on promotions, be it one-day sales, coupons, or ‘friends of friends’ sales. Going the extra mile sets Nordstrom apart from other retailers. Their perfected art of keeping the customer number one has made this retailer successful on so many levels.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

An Estimation of Systematic Risk Essay Example

An Estimation of Systematic Risk Essay Example An Estimation of Systematic Risk Essay An Estimation of Systematic Risk Essay An Estimation of Systematic Risk This is a financial report on the estimation of risk for Walt Disney CO. (DS) and Energy Transfer Equity LP (ETE). This report is done on the basis of the Normality Assumption suggesting that there is a constant variance and that the two variables tested are related there error terms = O. There is also the assumption that the distribution of error term is normal between both variables. Contents Statement of Hypothesis 2 Specification of the Mathematical Model of the Theory 3 Specification of the Statistical or Economic Model 5 Obtaining Data 6 Estimation of the Parameters of the Econometric Model 7 Hypothesis Testing 8 Forecasting, Prediction and Advice 1 1 Hypothesis: The expectation of each security is that its systematic risk will tend to mirror the market more closely and take certain values closer to 1 then its stated beta. I expect Walt Disney (DS) to take up a beta less than its stated value of 1. 2, and arbitrarily be 1. 15, . 05 less, and I expect Energy Transfer Equity LP (ETE) to take up a beta greater than its stated value of . 82, and arbitrarily be . 87, . 05 greater. My hypothesized numbers are closer to 1 to represent the basis of my hypothesis that he true is closer to 1 . Im suggesting this theory because securities want to appear more attractive to investors and not mirror the market too closely. Securities will exaggerate their betas in order to appear more dispersed from the market. It is important for investors to have the most accurate data possible as to make the proper assumptions about their investments. This will become better represented in the return analysis and CAPM models of each stock supported by the benchmark of the S 500. A formula representation of the hypothesis should look like: HO: P2 1. 15 (DS) HI: *1. 15 (DS) HO: = . 87 (ETE) HI: . 87 (ETE) The data from these SRF will suggest that the stated values of DIS and ETE beta will be closer than they are represented on common business sites such as Yahoo Finance and MSN Money. It will be apparent Walt Disney and Energy Transfer Equity should still be highly considered as potential options in portfolios. With a more accurate measure of each stocks it will provide the investor with better information to assess the amount of risk the investor is willing to take on based off the returns of each security. Specification of the Mathematical Model of the Theory Independent Variable, X = S 500 Dependent variables, Y, Yl = DS, Y2 = ETE Using the two-variable linear regression model we can calculate the SRF and draw inferences about our PRF. The market or SP 500 will have a benchmark of 1 as that is the stated basis for testing the f the market. Yi will be the daily returns of the securities over the last five years dating from March 25th, 2008 to March 25th, 2013. These five years will be the basis for all data collection. A mathematical It is estimated from the SRF A mathematical representation of the SRF for DIS and ETE is as follows: 9i = DAI + The mathematical model for the SRF of the data states that the parameters are DAI which is the risk free rate or rf, and OA2 which is the slope or of the security. The y- intercept, or DAI will be represented as O because its already factored into our expected return (ER) of the securities and subtracted from it. Using the Capital Asset Pricing Model or CAPM we can further discuss the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. A graphical representation of the CAPM is as follows: ERi is known as the expected return of the securities, and is known as the systematic risk or the return of the market. The relationship between the dependent and independent variables in our hypothesis is a positive one because the assumption as stated in the hypothesis is that the betas of DIS and ETE are positive values, so regardless of actual value, they move in a positive manner with the market. DAI is assumed to be O in this graphical representation as stated prior as it is subtracted from our expected returns of each security. A mathematical representation of the CAPM model is as follows: (ERi rf) = (ERm rf) ERm is the expected return of the market, calculated by averaging the yield of the S 500 for the last five years. The risk-free rate is estimated from the five year average return of 3-month Treasury bills. Specification of the Statistical or Economic Model A mathematical representation of the error term is as follows: Ui = Yi E (y/xi) In this equation, Ui is known as the error term of a given variable, in our case the minus the mean return of the given security, E (y/xi). The error term in this hypothesis represents the variation of returns in our securities that cannot be explained by the market. In other words, its our inability to model all the movements f the dependent variable. There are other variables other than the SP 500 that effect the return of DIS and ETE. Geographical, political, and other economic factors all affect the return of a security in some way. Increasing the sample size of our SRF further eliminates the error term, but its impossible to completely eliminate the error term due to the immeasurable connectivity of all variables. Obtaining Data Data is necessary in order to help explain the basis of our hypothesis. It is essential that the collection of data be done in the most intentional and accurate way according to your hypothesis. Data for testing was obtained through Yahoo Finance. Data for Walt Disney Inc. , Energy Transfer Equity LLP, and the S 500 was collected from a five year daily period from March 25th, 2008, to March 25th, 2013. Data selection was intentionally selected to avoid the majority of the great recession and the years before. To increase the accuracy and reduce the error term of our returns, daily returns were preferred over weekly or monthly. Data collected was the % changes in each the price of each variable. With this data a simple mathematical equation was performed to adjust the % changes into returns. The mathematical equation is as follows: Y2 represents the % change in a securities price the day after Yl . Using SAS Web Editor to run tests on the data collected further interpretations of the two parameters, Pl and P2 can be concluded. The SAS coding for each plot is as proc plot; plot DIS*SP500; plot ETE*SP500; proc reg; model ETE=SP500; model DIS=SP500; See attached PDF for visual results of SAS tests. Interpretation of Parameters The parameter estimates for the SAS tests are as follows: For ETE, using a regression analysis, SAS concluded that Pl = . 00052687 which is ssumed to be O. SAS estimated the beta as OA2 = . 80867 which is about . 01 lower than what Yahoo Finance and MSN Money had calculated it to be, which was . 82. The standard error for ETE, SE (OA2) = . 02931. r2 was found for our ETE return model to be . 773. The value of r2 of . 3773 means that about 37. 73% of the variation in the daily return of ETE is explained by the markets daily return. For DS, using a regression analysis, SAS concluded that Pl = . 00041319 which, again, is assumed to be O. The SAS calculated the beta for DIS as OA2 = 1. 09786 which was about . 1 lower han what Yahoo Finance and MSN Money had calculated it to be, which was 1. 2. The standard error for DS, SE (OA2) = . 02036. r2 was found for our DIS return model as . 6983. The value of r2 of . 6983 means that about 69. 3% of the variation in the daily return of DIS is explained by the markets daily return. The intercept for each regression analysis is interpreted as O because the risk-free rate is already factored into the return of the securities. Using the estimates from the parameters of the regression analysis one can test the statistical significance of their hypothesis. Running a test of significance test will show the range in which the true beta is found. Running a t-test one will be able to see if the stated betas of DIS and ETE are statistically significant than the actual beta. The hypothesized betas for the securities are as follows: HO: P2 = 1. 15 (DS) The estimated betas for the securities are as follows: = 1 . 09786 (DS) = . 80867 (ETE) The estimated standard errors of each security are as follows: SE (OA2) = . 02036 (DS) SE (QQ) = . 02931 (ETE) Region of Acceptance Testing The formula for calculating the region of acceptance for our HO is as follows: Pr [P2 an SE (OA2) + tan SE (OA2)] = 1 -a DS: 2=1. 15 tan = 1. 962 SE (OA2) = . 02036 pr [1. 11 ETE: = . 87 SE (OA2) = . 02931 pr [ . 812 . 28] = 95% level of significance These equations show the range in which the true value of the beta for each security is found. We are 95% confident that the true is found within these values. Notice how both levels of significance tend to stretch towards 1. The stated for DIS was 1. 2, and . 82 for ETE. The HO for both securities is located within this level of significance, which is a good indicator in support of my hypothesis. T-testing The formula for calculating t he t-value of each security is as follows: t = (OA2 HO: 2)/ SE On the basis oft for Walt Disney we see that t = (1. 09786 1. 15)/ . 2036 which equals -2. 5609 which is significant at a = 5% if you compare the t-value. Taking the absolute value of the calculated t-value we can make a comparison The t-value calculated: tal 2 = t. 025 = 1. 962 Again, given the confidence coefficient of 95%, in the long run 95 out of 100 case intervals will contain the true beta of Energy Transfer Equity LLP. F-value When testing the overall significance of the model one can analyze the f-value for each security. The estimated f-values for each security are as follows: F-value ETE = 761. 03 The calculated f-value formula is as follows: (ESS/(k- 1 K is equal to the #of independent variables which is 2. N is the sample size. (2-1)/ (1256-2) 1/ 1254 Using the F table and that data above the calculated f-value on a =5% interval is 3. 84. Since 3. 84 My hypothesis essentially suggested that the betas of each security would tend to mirror the market more closely than their stated beta, testing rejected that theory. My arbitrary guess was that each security would be . 05 closer to 1 than its stated beta. Data suggested that the beta for ETE was actually farther away from 1, the opposite of my hypothesis, and while data for DIS suggested a beta closer to 1, it wasnt statistically significant nough to fail to reject my hypothesis. However analysis on the level of significance for each security suggested that the true beta was indeed closer to 1, again, Just not statistically significant enough. Forecasting and Prediction: Based off of the estimated parameters from hypothesis testing we can suggest that Walt Disney will produce roughly a 10% 20% higher swing in volatility related to the market. With greater systematic risk in this security one can predict higher returns as well. Forecasting the return for DIS based the estimated parameters consists of oughly a 10% 20% higher return than the market. Forecasting for Energy Transfer Equity LP based off of the estimated parameters suggests that returns will be slightly less volatile than reported from MSN Money and Yahoo Finance. With an estimated beta of . 80867, and a stated beta from financial states at . 82, ETE looks to be generating revenues at about 20% less than the market. Both of these predictions are under the assumption that the percentage of risk for each security directly correlated to the percentage of return for that security. Investment Advice: Financially speaking, DIS is going to provide higher returns for a portfolio than ETE, but at a greater risk. In terms of investing, security selection boils down the type of investor, and how risk averse they are. Its important to diversify a portfolio which is why Id definitely suggest including these two securitys together, to avoid taking on unnecessary risk. As I stated in my hypothesis mirroring the market is generally something avoided in investing, however in light of the recent positivity of the market and what many consider a bull market, mirroring the market could actually be a very safe and profitable decision.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

U.S. Presidents of the 1990s and 2000s (41 to 44)

U.S. Presidents of the 1990s and 2000s (41 to 44) You probably remember the first Gulf War, Dianas death and maybe even the Tonya Harding scandal, but can you recall exactly who was president in the 1990s? How about the 2000s? Presidents 42 through 44 were all two-term presidents, collectively spanning nearly two and a half decades. Just think of whats happened in that time. Taking just a quick look at the terms of Presidents 41 through 44 brings back a lot of significant memories of what already might seem like not-so-recent history.   George H. W. Bush:  The senior Bush was president during the first Persian Gulf War, the Savings and Loan Bailout and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. He was also in the White House for Operation Just Cause, also known as the Invasion of Panama (and the deposing of Manuel Noriega). The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed during his tenure, and he joined all of us in witnessing the fall of the Soviet Union.   Bill Clinton:  Clinton served as president during most of the 1990s. He was the second president to be impeached, though he was not removed from office (Congress voted to impeach him, but the Senate voted not to remove him as President). He was the first Democratic president to serve two terms since Franklin D. Roosevelt. Few can forget the Monica Lewinsky scandal, but what about NAFTA, the failed health care plan and Dont Ask, Dont Tell? All of these, along with a period of significant economic growth, are marks of Clintons time in office.   George W. Bush:  Bush was the son of the 41st president and grandson of a US Senator. The September 11th terrorist attacks occurred early in his presidency, and the rest of his two terms in office were marked by wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Neither conflict was resolved by the time  he left office. Domestically, Bush may be remembered for the No Child Left Behind Act and the most contentious presidential election in history, which had to be decided by a manual vote count, and ultimately the Supreme Court.   Barack Obama: Obama was the first African-American to be elected as president, and even the first to be nominated for President by a major party. During his eight years in office, the Iraq War came to an end and Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces. Less than a year later came the rise of ISIL, and in the following year ISIL merged with ISIS to form the Islamic State. Domestically, the Supreme Court decided to guarantee the right to marriage equality, and Obama signed the highly controversial Affordable Care Act in an attempt, among other goals, to provide health care to uninsured citizens. In 2009, Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize  for, in the words of the Noble Foundation, ...his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Discussions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussions - Essay Example The author should have added more information on his exceptional qualifications. Although the letter is not arrogant and boastful, one thinks that it lacks depth. The author did not mention any outstanding accomplishments which will make him stand out among the applicants. It was however written in a concise, professional and confident manner. The letter did not specify what specific contribution the author can give to Big Four. The author failed to detail what value he will add to Big Four and why it will be advantageous for the company to hire him instead of the others. The author did not give his available time for an interview. He just mentioned when he will call to request for an interview. It would have been better if the author already attached references to his resume instead of stating that the company is free to contact his former employers. This could have given an impression that he is open and confident that his former managers will give him a good

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Using illustrative examples, examine why competition authorities might Essay

Using illustrative examples, examine why competition authorities might be concerned about the way large companies behave - Essay Example It has been evident that many large firms indulge in unfair competition to gain advantage over their competitors by unfair means (Hewitt, Clark and Phillips, 2009); therefore competition authorities across the world are concerned about their behaviour. Firms grow so large that unilaterally they harm competition through monopolising the market and take advantage of their size to block threats arising from potential or existing competitors (Hewitt, Clark and Phillips, 2009). For example Microsoft the world’s largest software company indulge in similar such practices that denied other software companies an opportunity to build and market products competing with Microsoft’s products by building licensing agreements that were restrictive, exclusionary and unreasonable and thus monopolizing the client operating- system market by anti- competitive strategies (Justice, 1994 and Bloomberg, 2012). Large companies often make vertical or horizontal agreements with other firms called as cartel to fix prices not considering the reaction of either of its rivals or customers. Dominant firms fix higher price knowing that their customers have few alternatives and little choice other than accepting the firm’s offered higher price (The Competition authority (a), 2013). For example Automobile giant Daimler Mercedes-Benz found guilty of fixing prices in collaboration with five of its van and truck dealers, also shared sensitive commercial information and to some extent market sharing that negatively affected the competition in UK market however they were fined by UK’s antitrust authority of about  £2.6 Million (Reed, 2012 and Binham, 2013). Apart from fixing prices they also control markets or production or make agreements to share markets or supply sources so that rivals supply sources gets restricted. When doing business with other trading parties they put different

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Impact of Technology Essay Example for Free

Impact of Technology Essay Abstract The information technology investments have increased significantly with time and advancement in technology. In this study, an attempt is made to highlight how the information technology influences the organization productivity. The correlation between the information technology (IT) and productivity was very argumentative. Many studies were conducted to identify the impact of IT on productivity conclude different results. It is impossible to estimate the productivity growth due to the availability of so many advanced computer technologies, as it’s tough to consider all parameters involved while calculating productivity growth. Several researches and studies were documented stating positive effects of IT on productivity growth. But still there were few against this statement. Introduction The advancement in the information technology made both consumers and business enterprises to use it. Computers, laptops, wireless communications etc. are all part of IT and incorporated in every industry. Enterprises invest in these technologies because it was assumed technologies will enhance productivity. Companies aim to generate more business and high turnovers through less investment. In a race to gain more efficiency, the enterprises are adapting new technologies. Huge investments are made on new technologies to survive in industry. The major challenge is to produce high quality goods and services at low prices. Some enterprises understood the  value and importance of information technology and used it to deliver more products in less time and more reliable and convenient services at lower cost. This will also help to gain competitive advantage over rivals. It was illustrated in a study to generate high productivity growths from information technology; enterprises should cha nge the existing infrastructure as well as business practices (Brynjolfsson Brown, 2005). Many enterprises changed the organizational structure to exploit the full potential of information technology and its applications. Brynjolfsson and Hitt (1998) linked productivity with living standards to understand it better. They mentioned that value of productivity can be easily understood when related with our living standards. They highlighted the significance of productivity by comparing it with our living standards and mentioned that, â€Å"productivity growth determines our living standards and the wealth of nations.† This reflects the customers’ behavior to consume more in less money. They also point out that the concept of productivity is simple and vast but tough to measure with accuracy. Information Technology and Productivity Productivity was described as the amount of output generated for a certain amount of input (Brynjolfsson, 2003; Hitt Brynjolfsson, 1995). Productivity can also be defined as the measure of the quantity of outputs in goods and services per unit of input (Muriwai, 2006). Productivity can be measured either by keeping the output static or input. Productivity can be increased with increase in output keeping input constant or by decreasing the input keeping the output static. The term information technology was defined narrowly as the expenditures made on the computing hardware (Brynjolfsson, 2003 and Hitt Brynjolfsson, 2005). It was elaborated a little more as. All the computer software and hardware, tools and services used in the business processes and operations are a part of information technology. The investments in information technology were defined as the expenses on the computer hardware and software and all other devices related with IT (Morrison, 1997). The main purpose of these investments is developing a modern infrastructure within the organization to boost productivity of both organization and employees (Dehning, Dow, Stratopoulus, 2003). It was documented by Mahmood and Mann (2005) that  investment in IT was not sufficient enough to increase productivity. Strategic decisions had to be made whether investment in IT would help to accomplish objectives and goals set. A harmony must occur between IT investments and changes in business process to have high productivity growth, even greater than investment in information technology. Keller (2004) also stated that when IT is utilized appropriately at workplace that also helps a lot in productivity growth. Just investing in information technology is not sufficient to gain growth in productivity; but organization can visualize changes brought by information technology (Brynjolfsson Hitt, 1998; Dedrick, Gurbaxani Kraemer, 2003). A significant relation between IT investments per employee and overall productivity of company was found by Brynjolfsson (2003). The enterprises gained high productivity growth who invested huge sum in information technology effectively. But pattern of productivity growth across the enterprises varied no doubt the return from IT investment were positive (Brynjolfsson Hitt, 1998). It takes time to realize productivity gains from investments in information technology. It was supported by Mahmood and Mann (1988) that productivity growth and performance of the organization improves in time period of two or three years after investing in information technology. Dedrick et al. (2003) also believed that productivity gains are realized after a long time period. It was highlighted in their research that information technology payoffs are high when firms’ effectively apply information technology in long run. It’s easy to measure productivity when tangible products and goods are produced as in the manufacturing sector. An input alteration in the manufacturing process can bring substantial changes in productivity. For instance, the use of automation technology and robotics produce outputs of good quality (Kao Liu, 2005). On the contrary, it’s tough to measure and improve productivity in service sector. It’s next to impossible to evaluate the productivity of an employee. A method was proposed by Tallon and Kraemer (2006) to measure precisely the impact of information technology on productivity. A method of perceptual measures was recommended by them. Perceptual measures would bring new scope to study impact of technology on productivity. They described it as â€Å"perceptual measures, if structured around information technology impacts at the process-level, can yield richer insights than objective criteria alone†. Authors’ Agree and Disagree: The research was done by many to study the impact of IT on productivity (Brynjolfsson Brown, 2005; Brynjolfsson Hitt, 1998; Melville, Kraemer Gurbaxani, 2004 and Kudyba, 2004). The expectation that productivity will certainly increase by utilizing the IT were not always true. But researches ended up with different conclusions, some stated positive impacts of IT on productivity and others negative. Information technology had negative impact on productivity. Mahmood and Mann (2005) mentioned in their study that there is no adequate evidence available in past researches showing the positive effects of IT on productivity. It was also supported by Dedrick et al. (2003) stating, â€Å"Studies have failed to identify a relationship between information technology investment and firm profitability.† The term productivity paradox was introduced by Robert Solow in 1987 explaining the inability of the information technology contributing towards firm productivity (Solow. 1987). He made a statement that growth in productivity was not accompanied by the information technology. He also discussed that the companies didn’t had expected results in productivity after investing in Information technology. He quoted, â€Å"You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics†. In my opinion and during my research I realized that impact of IT on productivity had mixed reviews from different authors, researchers and economists. Researchers used new approach to reveal the hidden positive effects of IT on productivity. Brynjolfsson and Hitt (1998) illustrated that â€Å"Information technology has a positive and significant impact on firm output, contradicting the claims of a productivity paradox (p52).† This was also supported by Brynjolfsson (2003) and Dedrick et al. (2003) that productivity including the output per worker annually had increased significantly with use of information technology. It was mentioned by Kudyba (2004) that the output can be upraised with increased information technology skills. The new information technology and techniques effectively when used by the companies, those companies are productive than who don’t use it (Brynjolfsson Brown, 2005). When the technologies and techniques were used perfectly and timely, yield high level of productivity. The three ways were  discussed by Brynjolfsson (2003), Keller (2004) and Brynjolfsson Hitt (1998) to recognize productivity growth from IT: by decreasing the cost on Information technology and keeping the benefits from business stagnant; increase the benefits from business and keeping the investment in Information technology constant; or reduce the cost of information technology and benefits increase from business. The information technology is important and valuable for organization (Melville et al., 2004). They also stated that effective and efficient use of information technology can yield potential benefits, like cost reduction, improving quality and at last productivity. The companies, who used information technology effectively, had also observed an increase in price of their market share more than others. It had been reported by Mahmood and Mann (2005) that both IT labour and computer resources contribute towards return on investments. They also mentioned in their report that effective enterprises have developed and improved their infrastructures and investing highly in information technology. Information technology is a medium through which the information can be distributed easily within organizations. The highly advanced IT infrastructures create an atmosphere within organization that encourages decentralized process of decision making (Brynjolfsson Brown, 2005). When modification of the business processes is done within organizations, it becomes necessary to integrate information technologies. The productivity can be enhanced by integrating information technology investments with decentralize process of decision making (Melville et al., 2004). The integration of information technology investments and other investments within business also proves to be beneficial (Brynjolfsson Hitt, 1998). The operations and business processes within the organization must be evaluated and ensure that existing business environm ent can adapt the new technology, before future information technology investments made (Zhou Chen, 2003). The predictable and estimated outcomes can be realized from IT investments through integration of technologies and current business processes (Kudyba, 2004). It becomes important to restructure the business processes with the changing business environments when new information systems are set up (Zhou Chen, 2003). McNamara and Watson (2005) also reported that the integration of the existing technology systems with new technologies within organizations yields the expected productivity growth.  They also discussed how the existing technologies can be employed in various business operations, it equally productive as investing in new information technologies. Brynjolfsson and Hitt (1998) found that â€Å"The greatest benefits of computers appear to be realized when computer investment is coupled with other complementary investments; new strategies, new business processes and new organizations all appear to be important in realizing the maximum benefit of information technology† . The companies must integrate all daily activities, decentralize decision process, flow of information from high to low level, this will enhance productivity growth and all these attributes directly or indirectly contribute to information technology (Brynjolfsson, 2003). The organizations use various methods and measures like product quality, profitability, and value of market shares to measure productivity (Dedrick et al., 2003). There is a possibility that productivity can also be gained through effective management. It was observed that productivity can be increased by information technology and make worth for consumers (Hitt Brynjolfsson, 1995). Devaraj and Kohli (2003) proposed a method which requires elevation of the IT usage at the employees’ level individually and then finally investigating its effect on organizational performance. Employees’ of modern organization may call it push or pull of IT investments. This phenomenon of push or pull in IT investments may inspire employees’ for using new technologies and this may lead to productivity improvements. Kudyba (2004) mentioned that competitive advantage can be gained by hiring skilled and experienced employees. In my view, the employees must be trained to use new technologies or companies should hire skilled and experienced employees. It also depends how the new technologies are being utilized by the enterprises to enhance their productivity. Only those companies will maximize their productivity that will use the technology perfectly and timely. I have also learned during my research that productivity doesn’t depend on one factor, there are number of parameters that affect the overall productivity of the organizations. The accurate methods are required for calculating the productivity, to recognize the growth of productivity. Rather than focusing on productivity only, enterprises should develop new strategies to integrate t echnologies with new opportunities. The barriers to entry can be easily terminated by raising the firm’s efficiency and gaining competitive advantage. Benefit to Manager There is a big challenge ahead for all the mangers and decision makers how to consume the information technologies at best and have maximum benefits. It’s not compulsory that the companies will have same levels of productivity if provided with same information technology, it depends how the technology is utilized to have high growth in productivity (Brynjolfsson, 2003). To maintain competitive advantage in the industry, the managers had to find new ways in which they can exploit the full potential of technologies differently from their rivals. Melville et al. (2004) mentioned the competitive advantage gained through human resource and technical synergies cannot be maintained for long. A strategy or mechanism had to develop to gain competitive edge for long periods and which is not easy to imitate. The competitive advantage can be maintained until others don’t follow what you are doing, once others start following your techniques it’s tough to sustain competitive advantage (Brynjolfsson, 2003). I believe that managers should examine future values of all IT investments when productivity results were not up to the level of expectations. The organizational leaders are not ready to invest more on technologies, when results from previous IT investments are not beneficial enough (Devaraj Kohli, 2003). A big challenge for the leaders to justify future investments in technologies when there is no significant evidence of productivity improvement from previously investments in information technologies (Dehning, Dow, Stratopoulus, 2003). Managers should focus on other aspects of business process also rather than on productivity alone. Hitt and Brynjolfsson (1995) discussed that managers should concentrate more on how information technology can be used to improve product quality and customer service. Information technology has the potential to reduce the expenses on such services and change the mode of production and delivery of the goods and services so can’t be easily imitated by competitors (Hitt Brynjolfsson, 1995). The uniqueness in utilizing the information technologies in business operations and processes is the key to stay ahead of the competitors in the market. This not only provides competitive advantage but also increases the overall growth in productivity. Conclusion The conclusion can be drawn that investing in information technology doesn’t  have any positive impact on productivity growth until utilized properly and effectively. The impact of investing in technologies can be realized how organizations utilize technologies effectively depending on the current situations of organizations and derive expected productivity results. The invention of telecommunication, computer software and hardware had totally changed operations within the organizations. The use of these forms of technology was extensively popular and in-demand among the various industrial sectors. The enterprises had changed their existing infrastructures to adapt these new technologies. The meaning both consumption and productivity have changed with innovation of information technology. Organizations across the globe are implementing new technologies to enhance the daily business activities with the purpose to survive and compete in this new global world of information tec hnology. References Brynjolfsson, E. (2003). ROI valuation :The IT productivity gap. (21). Retrieved from http://ebusiness.mit.edu/erik/Optimize/pr_roi.html. Brynjolfsson, E., Brown, P. (2005). VII pillars of IT productivity. Optimize Manhasset.4(5), 26-35.Retrived from http://www.georgeschussel.com/wpcontent/uploads/articles/NY6420050502_erik.pdf. Brynjolfsson, E., Hitt, L. M. (1998). Beyond the productivity paradox. Communications Of The ACM, 41(8), 49 55. Retrived from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.195.1657rep=rep1type=pdf Dedrick, J., Gurbaxani, V., Kraemer K.L. (2003). Information Technology and Economic Performance: A Critical Review of the Empirical Evidence. ACM Computing Surveys ,35(1),1-28.Retrived from Business Source Complete. Dehning, B., Dow, K. E., Stratopoulos, T. C. 2003. The info-tech â€Å"Productivity Paradox†dissected and tested. Management Accounting Quarterly,5(1),31-39. Retrieved from Business Source Complete. Devaraj, S., Kohli, R.(2003). Performance impacts of information technology: Is actual usage the missing link?. Management Science, 49(3),273-289. Retrieved from Business Source Complete. Hitt, L. Brynjolfsson, E. (1995). Productivity, profit and consumer welfare: Three different measures of information technologys value. MIS Quarterly, 20(2), 121 -143. Keller, E. (2004). What Is Your IT Productivity. MSI 22(2), 33 34. Kudyba, S. (2004). The productivity pay-off from effective allocation of IT and non- IT labour.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Schizophrenia, A Matter of Perception :: Schizophreania Science papers

Schizophrenia, A Matter of Perception Part 2: Reality, What Reality? What is reality? To many, reality is the ability to validate a sensory experience with another sensory experience, for example, when one is able to touch what he sees, then that something is real. Yet, our perception, the collection of all our sensory inputs formatted into the framework of the mind, is unreal. A blue box is not really blue, but consists of waves transmitted to our visual receptors. What sounds like music is really a collection of vibrations, and smells are really different molecules interacting with our nasal receptors. Our perception does not correctly reflect the true identity of an object. The electromagnetic waves absorbed and transmitted off an aggregate of mass, manifests itself as a blue cube, and all our visual limitations allows us to see is a blue cube. If reality were defined as the existence of an object as we perceive it, then reality is unreal. There are many errors to the human experiences and the human mind because mankind needs the affirmation t hat information and facts are either right or wrong. Once upon a time, the world was the center of the universe, with mankind standing at its' pedestal. Even when evidence was present, it took many years before people then learned to accept a new form of thinking. So what we view as real and right today, may just be a summary waiting to be replaced. Yet, are we ready to accept a new reality? Perception in itself varies greatly from one individual to another. No two people are the same, and no two people have the same fine tunings that discriminate the sensory environment. What our environment presents to our sensory receptors differs from what our brain presents to our perception. When presented with a painting of a blue cube, one person might notice the different textures of the paint and the background, while another might focus on the dimensions of the cube. As these images are transmitted to the brain, the schemata that is accessed by this input also varies from one individual to another. Jo may see the color blue and remember the time her father bought her a blue bike, bringing her back to happy childhood memories. The color blue may send a shiver down Bob's spine as he remembers the blue vodka bottle his alcoholic and abusive father used to drink.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Math Project

Name: Math Manisa No. : 10740 Project 2 Regression Line The following table shows (for the years 1965 to 2000 and for people 18 and over) the total percentage of cigarette smokers, the percentage of males who are smokers, and the percentage of females who are smokers. Percentage of Smokers _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Year Total Population All Males All Females _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 965 42. 4 51. 9 33. 9 1974 37. 1 43. 1 32. 1 1979 33. 5 37. 5 29. 9 1983 32. 35. 1 29. 5 1985 30. 1 32. 6 27. 9 1987 28. 8 31. 2 26. 5 1990 25. 5 28. 22. 8 1992 26. 5 28. 6 24. 6 1993 25. 0 27. 7 22. 5 1995 24. 7 27. 22. 6 2000 23. 3 25. 7 21. 0 Part one 1)Using Excel, draw a Scatter Plot and generate a regression line for the percentages of males who are smokers versus time. Part two 1) The Regression Line for the Percentage of Males who are smokers is (just copy the equation from your Excel spread sheet ) Y= -0. 7766X+1575 2).By the model in 1), the percentage of Males who are smokers in the year 2002 is: 20. 85=21% 2) Using Excel, draw a Scatter Plot and generate a regression line for the percentages of females who are smokers versus time. [pic] Part Two 3). The Regression Line for the Percentage of Females who are smokers is (just copy the equation from your Excel spread sheet ) Y= -0. 4134x+847. 64 4) By the model in 3), the percentage of Females who are smokers in 2002 is: 20. 01=20% ———————– [pic]

Sunday, November 10, 2019

History of Terrell State Mental Hospital Essay

There are many governmental agencies within the healthcare system. One of most interesting and heart-wrenching agencies is a local governmental agency called Terrell State Mental Hospital. This agency is well known in the state of Texas for its carefree healthcare. They have a longstanding relationship with the families of its patients and are a major contributor to the city of Terrell’s financial windfall. They produce over ten million a year for the city of Terrell, which allows this city to take care of its mental inpatients and make sure they have the best treatment possible. History of Terrell State Mental Hospital According to Mike Hansen (2008), Terrell State Mental Hospital is a 582 room facility that is joint commission accredited and a Medicare certified psychiatric inpatient hospital that is operated under the direction of the Texas Department of State Health Services. This hospital is responsible for many types of illnesses and is an independent, not for profit organization, which has many programs to offer its patients. These programs include an adult acute program, a children’s and adolescence program, a forensics program, geriatric service, an intensive behavioral program and an intermediate care program, all of which has their patients best interest at heart. This hospital was opened in July 1885 and has grown to double its original size and is still running strong to this day. This is a local governmental agency which can compare with national agencies such as The Centers of Disease Control or a state governmental agency such as Health and Human Services in many ways, but the most common factor between these agencies is their ability to help the ill to get over disease or keep from getting a physical or mental illness. This agency houses over 775 patients and employees over 175 people. It is a functioning psychiatric hospital, which cares for its mentally ill patients over four county lines. They onitor their facilities and patients for any new mental illnesses which may develop. This agency also serves the rich, the poor, all races and all minorities in the state of Texas. The Community Relations Department at Terrell State Hospital has three areas of responsibility, which includes volunteer services, public information and fundraising. They provide services and items that the state cannot supply by law or by limitation of funds. This agency has done a tremendous job with curing its patients or at least advancing them to live in society. Admission Process When a person first arrives at the hospital they will be greeted at the admissions office by the staff, which are well trained to address language and cultural needs as well as special needs such as those of the visually impaired or hearing impaired. Then a meeting with the chief psychiatrist will take place to cover the needs and reasoning for the patient being admitted then paperwork will be completed covering reason for hospitalization. Then the patient will be shown around the facility and introduced to the staff that will be caring for the patient. Afterwards, an evaluation will be done by the doctor to determine what needs are to be met. The only motto of this staff is the patient always comes first. Structure and Funding Terrell State Mental Hospital is designed in a matrix structure where the professionals focus on project teams and report to a general manager or a vice president. Because these professionals can work on several projects it is very important to have strong central oversight from the senior managers to ensure people do not stray from the projects they work on. According to Ninomiya (2009), with this style of management system workers report to more than one supervisor at a time. The idea is to share knowledge and personnel to maximize effectiveness. This hospital receives their funding from both voluntary contributions and from the Department of Human Services or the state of Texas. They arrange a budget describing the funds needed and the state of Texas takes care of the rest. Contributions also come from families of the inpatients. The voluntary contributions in this city are amazing. They really know how to make this city shine. It’s like a true Texan to show their winning attitudes by giving back to the economy and being generous with their money. Programs Available This hospital is operated under the direction of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. They offer their services to people within a twenty-two county, 14,622 square mile area including Bowie, Dallas, and Kaufman Counties. According to the Chamber of Commerce (2009), their services are offered to children 6 to 12 years of age, adolescence ages 12 to 18 and adults. Programs include acute care, an intensive behavioral program, medical services, forensic care for inmates of state correctional institutions intermediate care, a cottage program for adult life skills and a research center. Local Agencies vs. National and State Agencies The three of these agencies have different aspects of treatment for disease. The national and state agencies usually focus on locating and making the public aware of possible outbreaks such as a rising number of cases of encephalitis. They announce to the public where and when to stay tuned for information on what is the next step for information on what is the next step or what they need to do to obtain an immunization or where they need to go to get their injection if one is available. The local agency such as with Terrell State Mental Hospital usually focuses on treatment of illness such as with mental illness. It is usually a prolonged and drawn out type of treatment. Doctors usually have to try a patient on several medications before they arrive at the treatment that works for a patients illness. Local agencies usually work with the family members of these patients to help determine what might work with their family member’s illness. According to Colonel Jim Harris (2009), this hospital continues to be governed by a local board of managers. When the State Board of Control assumed the duties for governing state institutions, the operation of Terrell State Mental Hospital came under the control and management of the Board of Texas State Hospital and special schools. The 59th Legislature in 1965, under House Bill No. , created the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act for control and management of Terrell State Hospital. The Board of Texas State Hospital and special schools was abolished at that time. Over the years there have been major ameliorations some planned and some not. These changes have cost the state of Texas millions of dollars. The improvements have changed this pioneer establishment into a modern psychiatric facility that serves twenty-one counties in the northern part of the state. These ameliorations have made this hospital one that the patients and their family members can be proud of. Conclusion Local, National and State governmental agencies in the healthcare field all overlap in many different ways. For one, they all share disease prevention. Each agency shares disease prevention in a different way. A state organization such as Health and Human Services helps to prevent disease by helping to provide the poor with immunizations so they are protected in case of an outbreak of a dangerous disease. A national governmental agency such as Centers for Disease Control helps to keep the public aware when they are suspicious that a disease has reached epic proportions and is beginning to make them think an outbreak has occurred or is a threat to the public. They give the pubic directions on where they should go or how they should handle a dangerous situation in case one was to occur. The last agency which is the local governmental agency such as Terrell State Mental Hospital helps the public with a completely different completely different angle to the disease and its prevention. They help the public with mental disorders and their treatments. This hospital is very generous and works hard to help patients with their disorders. Psychiatric issues can be a very hard time for families, but this hospital works hard and uses voluntary contributions sparingly, so that the state of Texas can take the remainder of their contributions and work hard to make the patients well or to get them on the right treatment, so that they can once again function in society. Terrell State functions as a matrix structure which basically means they are a project oriented type of company. They also function by reporting to more than one manager. They highly believe projects are the best way to make the greatest progress. This style of structure is also well known for keeping several types of projects going at all times. In this case they may have several patients that they work with at a time and these individuals may have many types of problems such as a case of bipolar, and another may be schizophrenic, etc. These patients may have several doctors that they report to. Every doctor truly cares for their patients and they like to make sure that they take each patients interest to heart.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Austria 17Th & 18Th Centuries Essays - Knights Of The Golden Fleece

Austria 17Th & 18Th Centuries Essays - Knights Of The Golden Fleece Austria 17Th & 18Th Centuries Austria Keith Henriques History 21 August 22, 1999 In my paper I will examine the absolute monarchy of Austria during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. I shall focus on the on the power of Austria, its foundation, preservation, and expansion. Lastly I will take into consideration the relationship between the classes, the growth of the power of state institutions, and some of the consequential figures in the evolution of absolute monarchy in Austria. The foundation of absolutism was the theory of the divine right of kings. This theory maintained that the monarch was God's representative on earth. In reality absolutism was a closer working relationship with the nobles in order to maintain control. Ensuring the power of the nobles meant solidifying his authority. The bureaucracy began to reorganize, making it more effective on the local level. Local and national government began to meet on a regular basis. This was done by dividing the monarchy into ten units, then dividing it further into ten subdistricts. Kreishauptmann were the administrative heads of each district, appointed by the King to work at the local level. All this helped to extend the monarch's power to the far reaches of the domain. To the people this basically meant that not only was the king a supreme ruler but he could emphasize his will with armies of unmatched size giving the idea of absolutism an illustration and an authenticity never seen before. With this need for a standing army came the need for new funds. These new funds gave way to a new system of tax collection. Throughout history the war and taxes have gone hand in hand. The goal of every monarch was to have independent power and only economic independence could make that possible. Maria Teresa (r. 1740-1780) won approval of the realm to administer property tax on all subjects. These new funds were used to reform and build up Austria's depleted military. She expanded military academies, increased the size of her standing army, and even created a Hungarian army. The very nature of absolute monarchies created the need for state religion. If the people were to believe God had appointed the king, they better all believe in the same god. One of the few successes of the Counter Reformation was that all of Austria's nobility was converted back to Catholicism. Finally religious predominance could be used for the creation of an Austrian state. Then later on in Austrian history you'll see that the state even goes as far as to begin taxing the church. During Maria Theresa's reign the church was no longer exempt from taxation. The government then began to issue regulations to the amount men and women to enter in monastic institutes. This was a ploy by the government to tap into the wealth of the nobility. No longer could the nobles hide their money under the shroud of the church. Then under Joseph the II (r. 1780-1790) all non-productive religious institutions were closed. All together there were 700 monastic orders closed, leaving only the charitable, nursing, and educational institutions continuing to function. This freed up church funds for philanthropic endeavors. Priests then became state employees. While across the Atlantic they were trying to separate church and state, Austria was making the bond even stronger. Another way that the absolutist monarchs of Austria maintained their power was the creation of a court at Vienna. Beginning with Leopold I (r. 1658-1705), there was a promotion of the court as the center of political and social life. This turned Vienna into a city not only for the nobles but for businessmen as well. Leopold, unlike the Hapsburg rulers before him, was not a great ruler. He was a deeply religious man with no interest in the grandiosity of the great European Kings before him. He himself was a composer and his benefaction was a main reason for Vienna becoming the great musical center that it was renowned for. Leopold had plans for a grand palace, Schonbrunn, which was to surpass Versailles. These all contributed to the centralization of the government. The King finally could seek counsel of entrusted nobles and yet keep a watchful eye on those that would do him harm. Early on during Leopold's rule

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

10 Jobs Where You Can Work Overnight

10 Jobs Where You Can Work Overnight Some people just aren’t morning people, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have meaningful and successful careers. If you’re a night owl and just can’t seem to get to a desk at 8 or 9 a.m., don’t fear. Here are a few graveyard shift jobs that might be just right for you. 1. Freelance WriterThis is really a self-owned business, and one that requires a lot of hustle to get clients and prove your talent. But once you get started you can set your own writing hours- provided you meet your deadlines, it’s totally fine to burn the midnight oil.2. Air Traffic ControllerPlanes come in and fly out at all hours. If you want a really highly paid night shift, this might be the gig for you. You might not even need a college degree. One drawback: you might have to alternate your night shifts with a few days, which can take a lot out of you and leave you groggy.3. DealerOf cards. Work in a casino dealing blackjack or other card games. There are always s hifts available after midnight- it’s a bit slower, but also more relaxed. And most places pool tips and add to paychecks as an hourly rate, so the slow shifts aren’t always bad for the bank account.4. BartenderAll you need is speed and skill and you can make a ton of money if you find yourself in the right place. And evening shifts are the most lucrative- especially weekends. Get used to a Monday being your new night out. You could also try being a chef (much more stress) or a waiter.5. FirefighterOkay, so it’s super dangerous. But many firefighters report for duty at 11 p.m. Granted, they usually have to work 24 hour shifts with 48 hours off in-between, so the schedule can be a bit demanding.6. Security GuardGuard the gates of the company or store- 19% of security professionals report for work beginning at 3a.m. Try office buildings or casinos for opportunities.7. Taxi Driver or Uber DriverJust you and the city streets in the middle of the night. People always need rides and the traffic is much slower!8. BabysittingNow not just for teenagers! Turn this into your own independent contracting business. Work while parents are out on the town, or even off working their own night shifts!9. Mail SorterTry a temporary position at the post office to get you through the door. Start at 11 p.m. and finish between 5 and 7 a.m. It’s a great way to earn extra cash- though you’ll not get benefits.10. Pizza Delivery PersonIt’s 2 a.m and the only place still delivering is the pizza place. Take advantage of the late-night cravings of college students and other night owls and rake in the tips. You won’t make a huge amount, but you can scratch out some extra cash.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Ways People Deal With Stress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ways People Deal With Stress - Essay Example However, when the frequency and/or the intensity of bombardment cross a certain threshold, it severely affects the mental and physical health adversely. Nonetheless, it is possible to deal with stress and make life worth living. This demands internal and external efforts often called cognitive-behavioral stress management techniques; optimism, staying happy and healthy, liking what you do and being less prone to external pressures help reduce the effects stress can have. ‘Stress, is the outcome of the demands made on an individual beyond the capacity of his potentials to cope with the situation†¦ ability to cope with a task dealing with the situation is inversely related to the degree of stress’ (Shrivasta, pp. 17). Some people can work ten hours a day easily while others find it burdensome. Some people can submit a twenty five page report due on the weekend without taking any painkillers during the course while others suffer from severe migraine and insomnia. It is widely observed that in the race course of life, a few individuals are more prone to tumbling on every hurdle and hurting themselves. A huge factor which may lead to such a performance is lack of self-belief. It is highly essential for an individual to recognize the entity that they are and acknowledge all that they are capable of; without such recognition a person is likely to underestimate their self frequently and harm their personality. An ‘I can do this’ attitude keeps the person moving ahead with determination while an ‘I don’t know how I will ever do this!’ attitude forces them to stop intermittently and get frightened by minor difficulties which causes stress (Shrivasta, pp. 23-25). Therefore, believe in one’s self helps a person fight with the stressful forces they encounter and leads to a stress-free life. Moreover, willingness to do a task and enjoying it contribute positively to stress management. Stress is usually caused by †˜stretching’ activities which require more than one’s regular output or productivity. Enjoying what one is doing automatically increases the level of efficiency and makes stretching activities fun rather than arduous. For instance, a person who likes writing will enjoy their career as a journalist and will take up new demanding projects with a positive vigor; on the other hand, anyone who lacks the ability to write will be facing difficulty and stressing their selves at every step of their work life. Therefore, doing what one enjoys highly reduces the level of stress they will experience (Shrivasta, pp. 29-32). Many a times, when coming across individuals of different natures, we experience a type of people who cannot refuse or cannot say a ‘no’. Such a behavior leads situations where they find themselves trapped. If one is not comfortable with doing something or finds a task totally beyond their capabilities, they should refuse to take the offer rather t han mentally suffering from their own actions. For example, if a girl opts to teach calculus to her friend everyday in her already-hectic life, just because the friend asked for it, she will over-burden herself and may get stressed (Bennet, Zeller, Rosenberg, and McCann, pp. 6-8). The friend and her incapability to refuse will be her stressors. In this situation, if she refused to teach, she could have done well to herself as well as the friend who could have now taken help from someone who has the time and a willingness to teach. The most important thing is to have a positive outlook on life; happiness and relaxation should be on the to-do list every day. Studies have found that laughter may reduce stress by causing a decrease in stress hormones and improve natural killer cell activity (Bennet,

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Member of the Wedding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Member of the Wedding - Essay Example Almost all of her works are set in South America and reflects the themes of misfits and spiritual isolations of the south. Her characters are desperately lonely individuals that are looking for ways to escape from their small town existence. The writing style and structure is deceptively simple hiding the richness of empathy that Carson portrays towards individual plight. The writer is best known for her three novels, â€Å"The Heart is a Lonely Hunter† (1940); Reflections in a Golden Eye† (1941) and â€Å"The Member of the Wedding† (1946). A Biographical Sketch of Carson McCullers Carson McCullers was born in Columbia in Georgia in 1917 in the home of a plantation owner and former soldier of the war. She initially had aptitude for music and it was this subject that motivated her to leave her home and study it at an advanced level through the prestigious Julliard School of Music (situated in New York City). But, when she lost the money that she had saved to the st udy the subject of music, she totally left any thoughts of pursuing the subject in higher education and instead started taking courses in creative writing under the tutelage of Dorothy Scarborough, a Texas writer at Columbia University. Carson also studied along with Sylvia Chatfield Bates at the Washington Square College of New York University. Later she met an aspiring writer Reeves McCullers and married him in the year 1937. Carson had suffered rheumatic fever in 1932 which may have been the primary cause of the number of crippling strokes that Carson suffered later in her life. The strokes weakened her body and by the age of 30, her left side was completely paralyzed. However, the strokes did not weaken her moral spirit and instead gave her the determination to face life with all her mental strength. The sufferings acted as fuel to her imagination and together with the association of prominent writers of the time (such as Eudora Welty, Louis Untermeyer, Newton Arvin and Katherin e Anne Porter) made her compose highly creative works. Carson created tragic works with an element of comedy in them. Carson’s first novel, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1940) had a sensational response from the critics and readers alike and established her as one of the premier prose writers of the country. Carson was twice awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship (24 March, 1942 and 15 April 1946) but was unable to accept it due to her poor health conditions. Amidst all the physical pains and spiritual disillusionments, Carson wrote the script of the play, â€Å"The Member of the Wedding† which opened to a full house on 5th January, 1950. The play is an adaptation of her book with similar title and won her the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for the best play of the season. However, her other play, The Square Root of Wonderful (1957) failed to attract the crowd and closed prematurely. Devastated by its failure, Carson turned to children’s writings. She publishes a children’s book, Sweet as a Pie, Clean as a Pig on 1st ‘November, 1964. Finally, the year of her death (1967) recognizes her outstanding contribution in the field of English Literature as she was awarded the 1966 Henry Bellamann Award. A few days later, Carson suffered a stroke and died on 29 September. Literary Analysis of the Book the Member of the Wedding The Member of the Wedding was one of the most important works of Carson written over a period of 5 years. At the time of its creation, the world was suffering from the traumas of World War II and this trauma passes on to its protagonist. It is a story of a 12 year old tomboy, Frankie Addams who is leading a very isolated kind of life with hardly a suitable candidate to speak to. Frankie’s father is a jeweler who had lost his wife during childbirth. Her elder

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wal-Mart - Essay Example However, this paper will try to evaluate the success of Wal-Mart which is indeed the market leader in the retail industry, and it will prove the supremacy of the organization with personal experiences and supportive facts. Personal viewpoints and some observations about Wal-Mart: The base of this argument can be put as the undisputed crowd pulling ability and growing footfalls in Wal-Mart. There are many other retails stores are there and they also pull the crowd very efficiently but do they pull crowd like Wal-Mart? Well, from many personal experiences it can be stated that the world number one retailer indeed pull the crowd efficiently than any other stores. If a person goes to any Wal-Mart store in USA in any time, he or she will see a gathering of huge crowd looking to buy something or the other. The cash counters are always busy with long queues and happy customers are always coming out with their purchases. However, the question is how they are so successful and how they overco me the tough competition in the market. From the personal experiences and viewpoints it can stated that Wal-Mart follow the strict rule of POCKETS (price, operations, culture, key item promotion, expenses, talent and services). They follow unique penetration pricing policy, they never tend to compete, break through operations management can handle the customers and the employees wisely within the store, great culture, they promote the key products very tactically and the inner talent of the management is distributed properly within the lower level of the organizations. There are some points are also there to support the positive aspects of the Wal-Mart and they are mentioned bellow. Remarkable business strategy of the Wal-Mart to support the argument: Wal-Mart has changed the seller’s market to the buyer’s market with their great business strategy. In the United States the main strategy of the Wal-Mart is to open stores in every five kilometers. And the main concept is selling practically everything under one roof with large discounts. The main strategy is to compel the people to buy more and more. Evolution of the supply chain management system: Supply chain is a very important factor for a g lobal giant like Wal-Mart. And in this case they are very strict to choose their thousand of suppliers globally. Mattel, the toy maker is one of the biggest suppliers of toys to Wal-Mart and they admit that it is a great business channel but a tough client as they want great quality parameters. Wal-Mart looks for close and strong relation with their suppliers. Wal-Mart is always hungry for customer satisfaction and that is the reason they also look for great suppliers who can provide good quality products in proper time with competitive pricing. Evaluation of the brand image: Wal-Mart has always been in the way to strengthen its existence. Around 2000 they opened the walmart.com which is the online portal for online shopping. And they have all the facilities like on-time delivery, great products and easy to use. In 2008 they have changes their total brand image, from the Wal-Mart store; Inc they changed their brand name to Walmart. Criticism about Wal-Mart: It is a true fact that gr eat brands have great criticisms. The Wal-Mart has been criticized in many ways many times but somehow I had overcome the criticism and embarked towards the success. In many times it has been criticized as the slaughter of the small grocery businesses. There are many times when small grocery stores owners have opposed the erection of the Wal-Mart store in their vicinity. But, the success relies on the verdicts of the customers. Mr. Sam Walton understood the importance of the demanded products to be sold in a low price in a price sensitive market. The Wal-Mart is

Monday, October 28, 2019

Dormitory rooms Essay Example for Free

Dormitory rooms Essay As students move on in their lives after high school to college, many think that their lives will become paradise. With many house rules abandoned and without a curfew, students get the first taste of adulthood. Many think everything will be easy; however, from the dining halls to having no money students learn that being an adult is harder than parents display. Campus life shows students what they perceive is very different than the reality of life. In my opinion, living on campus in a dorm, supplies a student the full experience of the college life. When I imagined living in a dorm room, I imagined a very small room and hardly having any space to walk around. However, the rooms are actually quite big. There is plenty of room to walk around and even play some crazy, goofy games with a roommate. I thought the most exciting part of living on campus was going to be able to meet new people and live in a new environment. Because I am so far from home, my biggest hope was having a roommate who was easy to get along with and could have fun, and I definitely got that. The bathroom situation, I thought, was going to be the worst part of living on campus. However, in reality, it is not as bad as I had thought. As a student-athlete living in a dorm where the entire floor houses athletes, the bathroom has a maximum of five people using the facilities at a time. This works because of each athlete on a different schedule. In actuality, living on campus is very exciting and there should be no worry considering the problem with space, meeting new people, or the bathroom being very full to the point of not being able to use it. As an athlete living on campus at Western Nebraska Community College the athlete receives a dorm family. A dorm family is a family around town that â€Å"adopts† the student for the two years while attending the school. The family opens up their hearts and lets the athlete come into the family. The family attends sports events that the athlete plays and supports the athlete. I have a dorm family, and I love them. When I first thought of having a family that would open up their home and family to me I thought it was going to be awkward. However, having a family in town that has opened up their home and hearts has been great. It helped me know that there are people here in town who are willing to help and support me. Additionally, living in the dorms and living on their own, without parents, helps students find many new found freedoms that they did not have before. With living in the dormitories many students stay out late on all nights of the week, because they had a curfew at home and now they do not. The first week of school I stayed out late when I could. However, this staying out late situation did not last long, because I had been slammed with homework and after I was done with my homework all I wanted to do was sleep. With these newfound freedoms I learned very quickly how I was going to manage my time and make sure I got my sleep. When first living on campus I learned how easy I had it while living under my parents’ roof and the responsibilities that I didn’t have that I have now. When thinking that I was moving out of my parents’ house I thought it was going to be great. The freedoms I would have were going to be tremendous compared to what I had back home. However, when thinking of the freedoms I never thought of the responsibilities that I was going to have. When at home, laundry was done and living on campus causes me to do my own laundry and pay a dollar fifty for it. At home I always had someone harping on me to do my homework, make my bed, and clean my room, but on campus there is no one around to do that except myself. I had to learn to manage my time wisely and make sure I stayed up in my schoolwork. As a new freshman in college, like myself, sees his or her schedule and thinks, â€Å"man this is going to be a tough year. † This was my reaction when I saw mine at least. As a new student at any school I thought classes were going to be hard, one, because I didn’t know anyone; two, because I want to accomplish a difficult degree; three, because I didn’t know how I was going to manage the homework load and basketball at the same time. Although, when I got to the campus and started the school year I found out that staying caught up with school really was not as hard as many people make college seem. College classes are a lot like high school classes, just a lot more homework. Once I figured out how I could manage my time with basketball, study time, and have somewhat of a social life, my days became easier. Furthermore, expecting high quality food when entering into a college is putting a lot of confidence into the cooks that have to cook for hundreds of people everyday, three times a day. As a freshmen student entering into the college experience, I expected the food to be very good. I understood that the cooks had to cook for many people each day, but I expected that the food was going to have a lot of taste. When I first came to the campus and had my first meal the food was very good. The food on campus did not necessarily get any worse; it had gotten old. When I say old, I do not mean spoiled or rotten, I mean boring. The food all ends up tasting the same each and everyday. By the third week of living and eating on campus at the dining hall I began to realize how much I loved my mother’s home cooked meals. Lastly, money is a big problem for many college students. When I thought I was going to save all my graduation money for college, I thought that I was going to have a lot of money, but as reality turns out I have no money. Living on campus and living on my own made me realize the things I need to buy and the things I just want. The difference between what I needed and what I wanted was crucial for me to determine what I should spend my money on and what I should not. As a student-athlete I go to my parents a lot for money still, because I do have not time for a job considering homework, school, and practice time. In conclusion, campus life shows students that what they perceive is very different than the reality of life. Students living on campus have to share a dorm room with someone, the room is big, and there is not a lot of girls in the bathroom at once. Athletes have a dorm family who â€Å"adopts† them and welcomes them into their home. Students have a lot of freedom and can stay out late, but might have a lot of homework so it would be smart to not stay out. Many students also have a schedule with classes that may seem tough, but if they manage their time they will be just fine. The food is not high quality food, and it gets old. Students living on campus begin to miss the home cooked meals. Finally the money problem, I thought I was going to have a lot of money but turns out, I do not have a lot of money, I will buy what I need and not what I want.