Extracurricular Activities in a Student’s Life Essay

Extracurricular activities can empower students to make their own decisions and help them gain vital experience and skills to lead them on the path to their future. The Facts According to the Montana State University Extension Service, students involved in extracurricular activities are more likely to become leaders, more willing to complete tasks, more willing to voice opinions, and more likely to graduate from high school and have annual incomes of more than $50,000. Extracurricular activities are also a good way to explore social, political, and career interests. Gain Experience through Extracurricular Activities Extracurricular activities help students gain experience in a variety of areas that will enhance their future. Through participation in sports, students learn cooperation, teamwork and time management. By serving as an officer in an organization, students learn responsibility, problem solving and communication. Extracurricular activities can also help students discover hidden talents, meet people they might otherwise not encounter, and learn about things outside their own environment. How to Choose an Activity But which activities should a student choose? Should they choose activities that use talents they already possess and meet people with similar talents, or should they choose something new and different and meet people who possess different opinions and skills? Some students are comfortable with growth while others will feel more comfortable with familiarity. If a student enjoys outdoor activities, he or she may want to look into archery clubs, horseback riding or other sports. If a student enjoys reading he or she may also enjoy literary clubs, writing clubs or journalism activities. Extracurricular activities are also a good way to learn appreciation for new and different activities. A student who would ordinarily choose football or baseball might think about exposing themselves to archery or bird watching. Choosing something outside a student’s comfort zone widens horizons and expands knowledge. Being open to new avenues by joining the newspaper staff, the computer club or the decorative painter’s club will expose students to new people and new ideas. What Activities Are Available? Activities can be found by checking with school counselors, reading the club section of the local newspaper, calling the Chamber of Commerce, asking other students what activities they are involved in and checking with area churches. Information on volunteer activities can often be obtained from community service organizations or teachers. Teachers can be a wealth of information concerning work-study programs, internships and summer jobs; all of which help students build their resume and gain valuable experience in their career field. If a student has already chosen a career path, extracurricular activities can help pave the way. If he or she is interested in teaching science, being an officer in the science club or entering the local science fair can show commitment. Community service at a nearby pharmacy or volunteering at a lab at a nearby hospital or plant can also give experience in the chosen field and can be included on a resume. Ask Questions It’s important to inquire about the organization. Is there a cost involved? Will participants be asked to raise money? How often does the organization meet? Are evenings and weekends involved? Are outside activities required? How many hours will the organization’s activities entail? Checking school and work schedules should also be done before joining any organization. Extracurricular activities are important, but they shouldn’t take up all of a student’s time outside the school day. There should still be time for homework, chores, relaxing, and spending time with friends and family. A combination of all these are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Extracurricular activities should complement a student’s life, not complicate it. When students are involved in too many activities or in an activity that takes up too much time, students will become stressed and grades and family relationships begin to suffer. Students should be careful not to overextend themselves by taking on too many activities or volunteering for too many jobs or committees in an organization. Serving as an Officer of an Organization Serving as an officer of an organization can also teach a variety of skills. Leadership and management responsibilities can be gained through serving as President. Recorders or Secretaries gain experience in writing and journalism. Treasurers gain bookkeeping and money handling experience. Each office holds valuable skills that can be used in the future. Many students who ran for Student Body President of their school have gone on to become Chief Executive Officer of an organization or President of their own company. Running for office also gives students experience in campaign management, advertisement and people skills. Some students may choose to get to know an organization better before becoming an officer. They will still have opportunities to serve on committees or volunteer for projects throughout the year. Teamwork, communication and organization skills are all gained by serving on a committee or working on a club project. Commitment Learning to stick with an activity from start to finish is another important lesson of extracurricular activities. Once a commitment to a club, activity or committee is made, students should hang in there even if the activity isn’t quite what they expected. By learning to see activities through to the end, students learn valuable lessons they will use later in life. They will be less likely to drop out of school, less likely to quit a job and less likely to walk away from a relationship prematurely. Gain Vital Experience and Skills for the Future Experience gained from extracurricular activities will follow students throughout their lives. It is surprising to note that when the top two candidates in the running for a job are closely matched, something like â€Å"Eagle Scout† listed on their resume can help decide the tie. Prestigious honors like National Honor Society, English Honor Society or Gamma Beta Phi are noticed by potential employers. They look for competent workers that are go-getters and are willing to get involved and go the extra mile. Even something like Scouting or 4-H tells employers about the person behind the resume. Taking the time to get involved in extracurricular activities will benefit students in a variety of ways. Time away from the school day through participation in extracurricular activities can also serve as an outlet for stress and a way to build confidence and self-esteem. Students need encouragement to pursue their dreams. Not only will it empower them to make their own decisions, they will also be given a chance to gain vital experience and skills that will lead them on the path to their future.

Hammurabi’s code: was it just Essay

Hammurabi, the king of the small city-state of Babylon, ruled for 42 years making 282 laws being written in cuneiform. Together, these 282 laws carved onto a large stone, make up what has come to be known as Hammurabi’s code. Hammurabi’s code was not just because some of the laws were not only greatly exaggerated towards those accused of crimes, but also the consequences of the suggested crimes were unfair and cruel when viewed through the 21st century perspective. Hammurabi’s code is known to have been inscribed into stone in cuneiform. Because laws were most literally written in stone, the laws could never be altered or changed to suit situations or† new times† better. This is seen as unfair in the 21st century perspective because, for example, the United States constitution can be added onto and laws, or amendments, can and have been, repealed while none of this could’ve have been done to Hammurabi’s code.. (Doc A) Even though Hammurabi’s intentions seem to be good by making the intention of the codes to protect the weak from the strong as well as the widows and the orphans, these laws come off a bit harshly (Doc B) .For instance, it is an exaggeration for a married lady to be caught in an affair with another man and to then be punished by being tied together and being drowned (Doc C, Law 129). With the values that the people in the 21st century have, this punishment would be perceived as immoral. Rather than being sentenced to death by suffocation, fornication can be solved through discussion and forgiveness or by divorce. Another example of these harsh codes would be the excess of cruelty for a sons hand to be cut off for striking his father (Doc C, Law 195). In both 21st century and 4,000 years ago, the son’s action is seen as wrong and disrespectful, but the amputation of a sons hand is simply unethical. A more proper castigation would be to correct your son through parental discipline, or disowning him, or if he is of age, to bring him forth to court. An additional reference to an inhumane punishment would be the death, or hanging, of a robber in the same hole in which he made to break an entering into a home (Doc D, Law 21). An alternative correction to this crime would  be for the intruder to be tried in court, and if found guilty of charge, to be sentenced to a fair amount of years for his crime in jail. Although, through the perspective of the 21st century, most of these laws seem unethical, through the perspective of Hammurabi 4,000 years ago, some can be seen as fair or even balanced given to the hard realities civilization faced in ancient times. Even if these laws were moral 4,000 years ago, they are not ethical or viewed as just today because the consequences of the crimes are exaggerated and cruel. To be able to further prove that these codes were foul, a journal of those who were appointed guilty and punished would be great proof of how unfair these castigations were.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Essay Example Literature Review According to medical field, ADHD is caused by Defect in the central nervous system of a child. The doctors suggest that this disorder can be controlled to an extent by the elimination of refined sugar and other food additives. â€Å"Among students with ADHD, medication treatment was not related to better adjustment or diminished ADHD symptoms. The contribution of inattention to academic concerns and depressive symptoms remained significant when controlling for personality traits†(Rabiner,2007,pg. 689-6990).However, nature is found to be the best medicine for this disorder at all times. Children learning in an open space with access to tress, plants, flowers and waterfalls have seen to be more attentive and pleasant while learning. Method The method used in this research is the quantitative research method, where in the effectiveness of natural treatment on ADHD suffering children is analyzed by surveys. The behavioral patterns of the children when accessed to natural surrounding is studied by survey a better idea of effectiveness of the natural treatment .This gave an opportunity to assess the situation of the children with disease with regard to the natural environment.

The Tyranny of Choice - Barry Schwartz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Tyranny of Choice - Barry Schwartz - Essay Example rilliantly in his essay by first mentioning everyday choices so a clear picture is formed in the readers’ minds and then he channels the focus to his real purpose of critiquing too many choices in the education system. Schwartz begins with common examples to elaborate his point for two main reasons. First, he wants to establish familiarity among readers. They should be able to relate what Schwartz has to say. Everyone eats or knows cereal flavors and watches cable TV channels, not everyone is in college though. Second, he wants to point out that the explosion of choice is not only limited to the field of education. Be it food, fashion, entertainment or travelling, everyone has too many choices in every niche. It is not just the common examples that make the essay more agreeable, it is the common logic presented in it beautifully that makes it worth a read. Schwartz never says that choice itself is bad. A little choice is very healthy and almost essential for a healthy society. The way society has progressed showed that people were getting happier when they had two TV channels instead of one. Similarly one flavor of ice-cream will certainly bore anyone if fed every day. So the simple logic would be more choice makes people happier. But studies show (as mentioned in the essay) that people are happier when they had ‘some’ choice. David Myres, Robert E. Lance and Gregg Easterbook have conducted a study that shows a happiness decline of 5% (compared to 1974) among people despite bombarding them with so many choices (Schwartz 835-36). Another study suggests that people are less likely to purchase when they can choose from 30 flavors of jams compared to choosing from a total of six flavors (Schwartz 836). The approach of essay is also necessary to asnwers the ‘why’ behind the declining happiness. Without giving examples from everyday life early on this clarity of presentation would not have been possible. The hypothesis of Schwartz’s own investigation into

Choosing Childs Sex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Choosing Childs Sex - Essay Example In this research paper, I will try to give reason to the possible ethical issues that arise from the likelihood parents to be able to choose the sex of their children. The scope of this research paper will try to determine what is the ethical pros and cons in dealing with child sex selection. Whether desirable practice for medical, cultural, social or demographic reasons prohibiting or allowing it by law will likely result in producing harm for the given nation. There are ethical reasons that I will present in this paper - namely the genetic predisposition of female or male fetus to be born with anomalies. These arguments are plausible. The unethical ones go as far as altering the sex ration, further devaluing women and creating social imbalance. It will be further argued whether families having 2 or more children from the same sex will be permitted to keep the balance of their offspring by prenatal sex selection. It will be discussed whether couples have reproductive rights and how they can be infringed and violated. The consequences of forbidding or permitting child sex selection vary considerably from society to society and from individual to individual. Statistical data also varies between North America, Europe and Asian countries - India and China, in particular. Logically a comparison is impossible to be deduction about the child sex selection, because the social, cultural and economic factors that exist in India and Chine for a strong preference for son will be never prevalent and almost absent in Europe and North America. There are four major arguments which oppose sex selection methods: Such practices devaluate either one of the sexes; It reinforces the social attitudes and discriminate against girl/boy preferences; Women are struggling whether to choose abortion of the fetus if it is not from the desired sex or to give birth and kill it; It creates demographic imbalance in the sex ration. Since the introduction of the first sex selection clinic in Europe which happened around 1990, the interests, debates and even hostility surround these procedures. Often the hatred is generated and voiced by media and certain pressure groups, most likely religious organizations or professional bodies (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), 1993a). The public is struck by ethical and emotional concern and people have extremely polarized opinions - positive or negative. There are those who demand complete freedom to choose the sex of their children and those who express total disagreement and prohibition of prenatal sex selection which is not done in case of medical reasons. The main objections for sex selection come due to the demographic statistics in countries such as China, Korea and India, where the culture requires a sex preference due to the family policies restrictions. Population Reports (1994) shows that in some of the Asian countries as well as in the Middle East, boys are highly valued for religious, cultural, economic and hereditary purposes. The widespread practice of abortion or infanticide in case of female fetus suggests that the possibility to select the sex of the child in advance will further

Business Proposal - Gym Cafeteria Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business Proposal - Gym Cafeteria - Essay Example Although this business proposal has higher potential for growth, the marketer needs to face a sequence of challenges whiling going on with this project. Firstly, the marketer has to identify target groups. For this purpose; referring to Cant et al (2006), one must conduct an extensive market research to get a detailed view of the people’s health perception (pp.158-159). Traditionally, young males are the only group who visit GYM centres. However, this situation has been changing for the past two decades and it is observed that all categories of people including women and children are visiting GYMs to keep themselves stronger (Healthkicker, 2010). According to Hanc (2010), the practice of aged people visiting GYM centres is on the rise. Hence, the marketer must focus on all types of people without gender and/or age based disparities. Zikumund & Babin (2007) indicate that the market research process is helpful in accurately identifying main target market and its special characte ristics (p.20). Under this business, it is necessary to consider tastes and preferences of individual customers since health concerns may be different from person to person. In the opinion of Stephenson & Thurman (2007), the market research strategy would benefit the venture developer to create customer profiles and thereby customise service offerings (p.13). Mohr et al (2009) suggest that traditional questionnaires, online surveys and automated call surveys can be deployed to conduct the market research programme (pp.190-191). ... According to Hanc (2010), the practice of aged people visiting GYM centres is on the rise. Hence, the marketer must focus on all types of people without gender and/or age based disparities. Zikumund & Babin (2007) indicate that the market research process is helpful in accurately identifying main target market and its special characteristics (p.20). Under this business, it is necessary to consider tastes and preferences of individual customers since health concerns may be different from person to person. In the opinion of Stephenson & Thurman (2007), the market research strategy would benefit the venture developer to create customer profiles and thereby customise service offerings (p.13). Mohr et al (2009) suggest that traditional questionnaires, online surveys and automated call surveys can be deployed to conduct the market research programme (pp.190-191). The marketer must also consider historical statistical data to assess changing trends in GYM business. Referring to Chaturvedi & Chaturvedi (2009), after identifying the main target market, it is strongly recommendable for the marketer to develop proper and effective communication channels to interact with his clients (p.37). According to Guffey and Almonte (2010); in the modern business environment, online communication channels including company websites and emails and telephone communications are strongly suggestible (p.34). As per the idea put forward by Miletsky (2009); to promote the business venture, the marketer may use infinite scope of internet, especially social networking sites such as facebook and twitter (p.54). It is advisable to create GYM demonstration videos and

The application of Jacques Lacan's theory and concepts of Essay

The application of Jacques Lacan's theory and concepts of Psychoanalysis - Essay Example tstanding pieces of the feminist literature, and the fact that such a powerful and impressive indignation of the author about the oppressed position of women in the male dominated society of the nineteenth century was voiced in time when many of social changes in the sphere of women`s social equality were even not yet thought of testifies to the great significance of the heritage of Charlotte Perkins Gilman for the modern feminist movements (Golden 1992, pp.319-332). Moreover, Gilman`s story â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is a great piece of literature for the study of concepts of psychoanalysis. It seems to be especially well suited for the comparison with the theories and concepts of the famous French doctor, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst Jacques-Marie-Émile Lacan (1901–1981). In this regard, let us firstly take a closer look at the plot, themes, and symbols in the Gilman`s story, which depicts the decent of its heroine into madness, and secondly try to establish l inks between â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and the concepts developed by Jacques Lacan. One of the chief themes of â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† relates to the completely inadequate attitude of the husband to his wife, a woman that apparently has a depressed condition after having given a birth to a child and who is the main protagonist of the short novel. The plot of â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is told to readers through the eyes, or more exactly through the private diary writings, of the heroine of the story, who after a nervous breakdown that we can associate with the so called postpartum depression, which may happen with new mothers right after the birth of a child, has been in essence isolated from the external world in a roomy and â€Å"so long untenanted† (Gilman 1892) mansion by the whim of her husband John. John is a physician who allegedly knows what is needed for his wife to get better as he is saying to her â€Å"You know the place is doing you good† (Gilman 1892). Moreover, as the woman observes

Input, Output and Storage Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Input, Output and Storage - Case Study Example In addition, the OS should make efficient management of resources for effective handling large volumes of data. Organizations cannot do without networks, which bring special software challenges. For instance, the OS on which servers run put varying load capacities on the memory. For optimal database functionality requiring many read/write processes, access and writing speeds weigh heavily in the decision for the OS. With regard to usability, Windows is arguably the easiest to use for many enterprise applications, particularly in comparison to Linux and Mac OS (FahAd, 2010). However, many malware threats plague the Windows system. Considering the necessity for flexibility, availability, cost of maintenance and upgrade, stability, performance, and backward compatibility, Ms Windows would be the most appropriate operating system for the organization. Linux unfamiliar for many users, and it numerous versions make its use more complicated. A printer can be installed in a number of ways. A local printer can be installed by simply plugging it into the computer, for instance through a USB port, which is called a local printer (Microsoft, 2012). Windows automatically detects an installs the printer which is then available for use. For network printers, the process is more complicated, usually requiring naming the printer and going through a setup process through the control panel. The process is simple and can add both wireless and Bluetooth printers. The appropriate printer for a certain operating system is largely a compatibility issue. Many printer suppliers and manufacturers supply information for compatibility of the printer with specific operating systems. In addition, many technology review magazines provide specific information on the best printer models for particular operating systems based on comprehensive tests and

Presidential Election 2012 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Presidential Election 2012 - Essay Example 1). The 2012 party conventions show that Democrats maintain the advantage over the Republicans though their lead is smaller than in 2008. Results from the interviews conducted in 2012 indicate that Democratic Party has 35%, and the Republican had 28% while other independents have 33%. When we compare the leanings of the independent voters, a higher percentage of independents lean more on the Republican side than on the Democratic side. The recent Centre polls indicate that Americans prefer the Republican platform to the Partys nominee, Mitt Romney, during the convention. As for the Democratic convention, Americans applauded to Obama’s speech more than they were with the party’s platform. The Republican Platform approved during the convention represented a right shift for the party. It hewed the conservative and made no exceptions for the abortions regardless of whether it was intentional or not, and offered strict definitions on marriage (Lindemann par. 2). Contrary, Democratic platform expressed support homosexuality and gave its reaffirmation for the support of abortion rights. The democrats oppose privatization of the social security while the republicans advocate for personal investments for the young employees. The presidential nominee for the Republican Party faced criticism especially when he expressed his lack of support to Jerusalem. On the other hand, the Democratic Party nominee, President Obama, expressed the commitment towards Israel’s security. In October 15th, Romney criticized the decision by the Democrats and termed it as a shame (Lindemann par. 3). Ideally, the two parties have different ideologies on the fundamental requirements for both the country and the family. Democratic platform has termed the elections in 2012 as just not a battle between two nominees. They argued that it enhanced the determination of the fundamentals necessary to the welfare of the country while the Republicans consider the

Isolated figures denied Essay Example for Free

Isolated figures denied Essay Isolated figures denied the fulfilment they crave by forces that appears to conspire against them. To what extent is this true of the characters lives from your understanding of The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion? This short story is based on two love triangles, at the apex of both being Phyllis, a secluded young woman who lives alone with her father, a failed doctor in an isolated farmhouse outside Weymouth. It is described as an obscure island nook which encapsulates the fact that there was no fresh work for the failed doctor, Phyllis father. One day Richard Gould, a failed businessman, turns up at her door and after a short courtship asks for her hand in marriage. The father immediately accepts this offer as he gets the impression that Gould is of higher social status than him and as the sole benefactor he would profit from their marriage. However, his intentions were well made and although convenient, Goulds act had forced her father into a mistaken calculation. In his pursuit of illusions, he misses several points, such as the fact he had made her fathers acquaintance before he made hers, giving the impression that he was looking in desperation for a bride. Despite of first impressions, Gould is, in fact, poor as a crow but he gives an impression of having class status. The marriage arrangements were not based on love but were simply a convenience, which results in it being for material security rather than a romantic affair. Gould is then forced to leave to for Bath, an excuse about his father covering up his pecuniary condition leaving Phyllis bemused. The date of his return passed and winter arrived. This change of season is a metaphor, which represents the colour of Phyllis mood, described now as lonely in the extreme as she had no knowledge of why her husband to be had delayed his return. The change back to spring represents a change in Phyllis fortunes. Although Gould had kept in contact with her through regular yet formal letters, there was still an uncertainty in her condition. Phyllis loyalty however did not waver, which is meant to represent the passivity of women at that time in a male-dominated society. At this change, however, a new influence invades her life, which charged all youthful thought with emotional interest. This is the presence of the York Hussars, a military regiment taken from Germany to serve in Britain. They were renowned for their foreign air and mustachios which drew crowds of spectators wherever they travelled which shows Hardys evident eye for detail that appears time again throughout the story. Phyllis was sitting on top of a wall at the base of her garden, apparently a favourite spot for her from childhood, when she sees an alien figure walk up the path. One of the soldiers from the Hussars camped nearby was walking up the path, with the manner of someone who wishes to escape company. He is in contrast to the splendid men who usually are the visual front to the Hussars and it seems as though this soldier wished to escape the rigours of military life. The soldier notices Phyllis on the wall, who was dressed in white raiment typically the colour of innocence and inexperience. She is captivated by him and falls in love at first sight. After a few days of this they start talking. She finds out his name is Matthaus Tina and how he was forcibly removed from his home to join the army and had quickly reached the rank of corporal. He was well educated and had soon proved himself in the strongly class-based society of the army. These interviews occurred on a daily basis; soon the conversation spread to his life at home and his longing for his mother. Hardy introduces a scholarly influence by comparing her pity of him to that of Desdemona, a character from Othello, a tragedy by Shakespeare. This is an apt comparison, as the piece itself will eventually turn into a tragedy full of mistaken judgements, well-intentioned actions and undeserved misfortune. The wall is a metaphor for the boundary between them; it is described as being in disrepair, which indicates the unstable base for their romance and the lack of unity. All through the story this wall remains between them until finally when Phyllis attempts to break free. She learns that although the regiment appears happy in fact it was pervaded by a dreadful melancholy powered by a longing for the return for their home showing a background of natural prejudice. This need was driven for a hatred of their English officers and English attitude in general. Matthaus is said to suffer one of the worst from this home-woe and Phyllis pities him but still declined any form of physical contact or even permit him to cross the boundary line of the wall. Coincidentally news reached Phyllis of Gould through the village of how he only had a half-understanding of their current arrangements and that it was still not finalised. Now as this was still a rumour, it would be indecent of Dr. Grove to approach Gould but it overshadowed all previous thoughts of marriage. This rumour was also backed up with the fact that Goulds letters had become more infrequent. Phyllis heart sank within her as she recognised the fact that her engagement had come to nothing. Despite of this father had noticed her attachment to Matthaus, he warned her not to go outside the boundary in her purpose of pursuing him, effectively making her a prisoner of her own home. However, she had no intention of leaving the garden however and the meetings continued as before. Then one evening an unforeseen accident destroyed her plans said to be decided by fate. She had been delayed by chance and Matthaus waited at the gate for her. The time he was due back in camp came and went but still he stayed. When she finally met him he was extremely late and on his return she heard that he had been stripped of his rank. The tragic consequence of this was that the chances of her father letting her marry him if Gould did not materialise had been slim but now they were practically nil. It was at this point that she makes one of the greatest decisions of her life. Matthaus had suggested that he was planning an escape from the army with several close companions and return to Germany and his mother. At first she seems amazed but then uncertainty steps in I fear I am ruining you and your prospects. However eventually she was persuaded but questions their route to freedom and how they propose to achieve it. Their scheme included stealing a boat and crossing across the channel to France. Here they would hike to Germany using their army wages to buy food and shelter. He asks to meet her just off the highway (symbolic of a turning point in her life) from where they should flee. He tells her that a friend of his, Christoph would also join them along with two others not named but who detested British authority. Coincidentally when she returned home, however, she found out that her father had spotted her with Matthaus. A confrontation occurred but her father had already decided she should go to her aunts to resist the temptation. He had still not given up faith on Gould, as he believed it was in best interest for her to marry him showing a paternal domination of his family. Her heart died within her as she heard this news and the house became like a prison to Phyllis, so she let her mind fly to the prospects of Matthaus scheme. Her confidence in Matthaus was fulfilled. On her return, she arranged to meet him at a junction off the main road the following week and when the time arose she waited just off the road hidden in a position where she could see any passers-by. The symbolic junction of the main road represents another turning point in Phyllis life where she has an option of which path to choose. She then hears a carriage come down the hill and stop nearby and as fate would have it Humphrey Gould, long awaited, stepped out. The carriage came down the hill as though Gould was lowering himself to Phyllis, in terms of class status. He talked to the driver about a present he had bought for Phyllis and he admits to treating her rather badly. In a rush of indecisiveness, Phyllis tries to make up her mind; should she be loyal to her father and Gould and return home or follow her instincts and leave to a new life. This again represents Phyllis lack of decisive action and passivity of women at that time and this concept is repeated several times throughout the story. At this point Matthaus climbs over the gate behind her and presses her to his breast. This is the first time that the metaphorical boundary of the wall has not divided them in their relationship. Phyllis left with them and after a long night of travelling to the coast they meet with the friend, Christoph, just before sunrise. At this point Phyllis makes her final decision and they separate for the last time on a hill overlooking the sea, dooming their relationship itself a metaphor as the sea represents freedom and this is simply describing how close she has come yet as it is dark she is still blind to it, her future an uncertainty. After she returns to her house, she finds Gould with an expensive gift a looking glass which won Phyllis admiration and until that point she had regretted leaving Matthaus. However, things were to take a turn for the worse tragically after Matthaus had left. She finds out that whilst he had been away he had met a new lady, who would be a much better choice as she came from the same upper class background as Gould yet another example of class distinction which was obviously very powerful at that time. This shows how the value of money dictates Goulds priorities. It is an irony that she finds this out on that day, as she would then not have hesitated to run away with Matthaus. Phyllis was shocked at this because she viewed Gould as a person who would confide every last detail of truth with her judging by the information in his letters. She retreated to the only place where she could be alone the old wall-where she dreams about what her life could have been like had she taken the other route. One morning those dreams are brought to an abrupt halt. On a morning described as being broke in fog and mist behind which the faint outlines of tents and the camp were visible from the wall and this is against the permanence and regularity of the natural landscape. The mood is also set in an almost slow-time as Hardy describes in minute detail the landscape, such as every blade of grass was weighted with little golden globes, an image captivating the idealistic morning. As she watched in melancholy regard she sees a procession led by an English colonel, who represents the cultural background of Anglo German hostilities. Two prisoners are led in front of a firing squad, clearly Matthaus and Christoph. After a prayer, they were executed in front of the entire regiment and their bodies ordered to be turned out of their coffins as an example to the men by the English Colonel, resented by the men. Tragically it turned out that they had stolen the boat as planned, and at first sight of land thought it was France and went ashore. It turned out it was Guernsey and the men were arrested and sent back to England so it was ironic that this mission that this mission seemed doomed to failure. It was simply undeserved misfortune they had arrived in the wrong place and a fault in navigation. On arrest, they had sacrificed themselves for the two other comrades by claiming to be ringleaders. Whilst the others had received a flogging, the punishment for desertion was death and so this order was carried out. As a consequence Phyllis symbolically died of a broken heart and was buried near where the two men lie. The idea of the love triangles that was stated at the start of this essay are the heart of the story. At the centre of both is Phyllis but on one is Gould and Dr. Grove her father. On the second is Matthaus and his mother, who Phyllis longs to be with. This story is an example of the number of external factors that can shape peoples destinies in life. It shows how chance events, such as Phyllis sitting on the wall at the time of Matthaus arrival along with tragic circumstances that arise, can affect the course of change. The idea is that we are powerless to control our destiny, and seeming coincidences may appear to be pre-ordained but fate is out of our control.

Importance Of Personal And Professional Skill Education Essay

Importance Of Personal And Professional Skill Education Essay The skill development is not a new concept, but it is becoming increasingly important. The continuing pace of change in business and management means that what we learned in our initial training courses soon becomes dated and irrelevant. It has been estimated that the half-life of skilled knowledge is about seven years. Furthermore, the amount of knowledge and skills continues to increase. Business and management has become knowledge intensive: we have entered the skilled-based economy. In this new world, it is impossible for us to know all that there is to know, yet access to the skilled and knowledge base is increasingly readily available. So what will make us developed skill specialist, rather than poor ones, is that our knowledge is more relevant, and more current, and is applied more efficiently and effectively. The work-place has also changed, with the result that in business and management are expected to have a wider range of skills. We increasingly work in teams on projects and much of what we do is virtual rather than tangible. As one project ends, another begins, and so we move from project to project, from team to team, and from one work-place to another. Indeed, for many, the increasingly itinerant nature of work leads us into several different careers during our working lives. These are strong, compelling reasons for professional development skills for manager, but there are many more. A better informed and more sophisticated public is demanding a higher duty of care and level of service from skilled workers. Linked to this is the increasing risk of claims for negligence from professionals deemed to have failed in their duty or given poor advice. Within organisations, modern quality management systems demand that qualified people are in place to make decisions. If we do not respond to this challenge, we face the prospect of becoming irrelevant. If, as skill professionals, we assume that our old time-served competences will last a lifetime, we will find ourselves becoming candidates for redundancy. The organisations we work for equally run the risk of failing to provide the new products and services that the market requires, resulting in decline. And so we need to learn continually as we work. This requires a skill set all of its own, a skill set we need to learn for ourselves as teachers and mentors, and a skill set we need to instil into our learners for their future benefit. TASK 2 Above we discussed importance of which we might assess our professional and personal development skills. However, what is missing is the route by which we might achieve its objectives. In this case four step approach is used: STEP 1 Profiling Ourselves This is the starting point for our individual professional development plan and should contain the ingredients from the table below: Working Life List strengths and successes Identify expertise that has not been exploited Skills inventory Rate skills and competences on a scale of 1-5 Identify skills needing further development Values, attitudes and beliefs Review the opinion of others Evaluate your own views and opinions Learning skills Identify types of learning preferred STEP 2 Define the Strategy Our development skills need to be correctly focused for maximum impact so that it meets both our individual development needs and those of the organisation for which we work. For Example If our employer has in place an annual staff review and appraisal process, then our individual aspirations and the organisational goals may have been reviewed, and a training and development plan agreed for the foreseeable future. Otherwise, we should discuss our skill development needs with department. STEP 3 Develop an Action Plan Putting the strategy into action can be the biggest challenge. An action plan can help. An effective action plan has four key ingredients: A clear statement of the goal to be achieved The actions required to achieve the goal The target timescale for achieving the goal Criteria to assess when we have reached our goal In order to deliver the action plan, we will have to seek out opportunities for learning and skills development, ideally in partnership with our employer. And since professional development benefits both the employee and the employer, we might find that our employer asks us to make a contribution to our own professional development, by committing some of our own time and perhaps by sharing the costs. Having established our action plan, we next need to decide how we are to go about the learning process. STEP 4 Evaluation and Reflection As we have seen, good development skills rely strongly on self analysis and appraisal to develop our personal profile and to analyse our preferred learning styles. This is not necessarily easy for a number of reasons. First, it can be hard to understand ourselves and see ourselves as others see us. Second, reflecting on skills and competences is not something that we are necessarily trained to do. Third, as the pace of life continues to increase, it is not easy to find time for self analysis and reflection. Mentoring is one way of overcoming these problems. A mentor is someone who can advise and guide you in your career. He or she has a number of roles as an appraiser, a supporter, a communicator and a motivator. The relationship therefore is different from that between a superior and his/her subordinate, and it is unlikely that a manager can carry out these functions. A good manager has coaching skills, is trustworthy, respected and is free from major distractions either within or outside the workplace. OUTCOME 2 TASK 3 Research commissioned by the British Audio Visual Society in 1988 suggests that we remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear, 80% of what we say and 90% of what we say and do at the same time. For this reason, professional recommends that we integrate learning and working, so that we improve our development skills within the context of our work using real-world problems. Then the time and effort we invest in professional development is rewarded by immediately assisting us to complete the task in hand. Senior skilled professionals believe the immediate usefulness of the learning greatly improves our motivation to learn. Whilst this may be generally true for groups of people, as individuals, we each have our own preferred learning styles. There are many ways to categorize learning styles, but the simplest places learners into one or more of three categories: Visual those who learn best through their eyes and what they see and read. The ideal learning approaches in this case will involve studying magazines and books and learning online. Auditory those who learn best by hearing things, either on tape or in discussion. Dialogue and discussion is important to their learning process. The ideal learning environment is the classroom, but discussions with colleagues and audio tapes can also be useful. Tactile those who learn best by doing, such as taking their own notes or participating in demonstrations and hands-on projects. Ideal structure: magazine and online learning; classroom that encourages participation. OUTCOME 3 TASK 4 The basis for my personal development plan is my ability to look inward into what are my values, who I am, my beliefs, strength and weakness. I was able to reflect and know myself and how I can transform my values into crucial tools that would help my professional development rather than be at the drawback of the clients that would need help in the future. Most counselling and therapy approaches believe that relationship between counsellors and client is very important. Certainly, effective communication between counsellor and clients is an aspect that aids the key elements of a sustainable therapeutic relationship, which includes empathetic understanding, genuineness, unconditional positive regard and trust (Copeland, 2002). It is recommended, that throughout counselling, clients should be free to give feedback and raise concerns about the counselling relationship. I have used the same relationship style in relating with my approach to address conflict and open to change. My research on this study has helped me to readdress my time keeping, studying more and writing more in my personal journal. In accordance with the SMART AND SWOT analysis, I use reflective practice to evaluate and draw my personal and professional plan. Reflection, or rather reflective practice, contributes to professional development by revealing the knowledge and skills used in everyday practice, and exposing areas that require development (Driscoll The-2001). The values that I prioritise in my professional development plan are respecting clients human rights and dignity, and also ensuring the integrity of practitioner-client relationship. Moreover, what is critical in practitioner client relationship is the issue of power discourse. However, what comes to mind is that power is also a potentially destructive weapon that can be used to oppress and exploit people and could lead to abuse in counselling and psychotherapy practice (Thompson, 2003). The principles that I have learnt and hope to adopt in my work with my case study in balancing power relations and dealing with forms of oppression include benefi cence, empowerment and advocacy. Personal SWOT analysis Strengths Im very creative. I often impressing clients with a new perspective on their brands. I communicate well with my clients and team. I have the ability to ask key questions to find just the right marketing angle. Im completely committed to the success of a clients brand. Weaknesses I have a strong, compulsive need to do things quickly and remove them from my to do list, and sometimes the quality of my work suffers as a result. This same need to get things done also causes me stress when I have too many tasks. I get nervous when presenting ideas to clients and this fear of public speaking often takes the passion out of my presentations. Opportunities One of our major competitors has developed a reputation for treating their smaller clients poorly. Im attending a major marketing conference next month. This will allow for strategic networking, and also offer some great training seminars. Our art director will go on maternity leave soon. Covering her duties while shes away would be a great career development opportunity for me. Threats Simon, one of my colleagues, is a much stronger speaker than I am, and hes competing with me for the art director position. Due to recent staff shortages, Im often overworked, and this negatively impacts my creativity. The current economic climate has resulted in slow growth for the marketing industry. Many firms have laid off staff members, and our company is considering further cutbacks. TASK 5 The leadership skills have following functions in relation to Task, Team and individual needs.          i). Defining the task it should define the task  with clear, concrete, time limited, realistic and challenging objective so that his followers can understand properly and complete the task in time. The end of the task should also be defined to make members aware about the success criteria.          ii). Planning of the work Leader should do proper planning on the procedures to be adopted in an open mind before starting the work. The questions based on what, why, when, how, where and who should be answered during making a simple and fool proof plan. Sometimes leader presents ideas and invites question from followers or he suggests tentative plan subject to change afterwards.          iii). Delegation of works Leader gives briefing about role of every individual in task and delegate work accordingly to create the right atmosphere, to promote team relationship and to encourage and motivate all team members.          iv). Controlling   Leader controls their team by directing, regulating, restraining or encouraging individual and team efforts on the task. Leader needs to exhibit self-control over his own sentiments and to have good control systems for effective monitoring financial and task performance for controlling others problem. TASK 6 The concept of personal and professional development is closely related. It could be explained that both concept impacts on one another, depending on the aspect at which we perceive the terms. According to Maslow (1996) Personal development refers to individual self development and the development of others. In addition, personal development may involve programs, tools and methods. As an individual, my personal development includes plans or actions oriented towards one or more of the following aims: goals, developing strengths, improving self-awareness and self-knowledge, building or renewing identity, identifying or improving potential, building employability or human capital, enhancing lifestyle or the quality of life, realising dreams and fulfilling aspirations (Bandura.1997.Jasper.2006). In my personal development, I learn information that will help me become more efficient, successful and happy according to (Peter, 1999). In the UK, personal development took a central place in university policy in 1997 when the Dearing Report declared that universities should go beyond academic teaching to provide students with personal development. In 2001 a Quality Assessment Agency for UK universities produced guidelines for universities to improve personal development as a defined structured and a support process set by an individual to reflect upon their own learning, performance, achievement and to plan for their personal, education and career development (Speck-Knipe.2005). Conclusion Using reflective practice, I have demonstrated in this essay the experience of my personal and professional development. I have differentiated between these two concepts and have also explained how they are intertwined to produce quality and efficient professional relationship in me as a potential counsellor. I have taken on board some core professional values such as trust, confidentiality, developing, professional, relationship and self-assertiveness as principles that underpin my professional development. I hope to apply these valuable experiences to practice as I work with other multi-disciplinary teams to assess service users needs and the law and ethical implications that could arise in the course of my placement. Applying for placement has not been easy hence I am yet to find a place. More importantly, as a student counsellor, the question is how does reflective and reflexive influence who I am? This is an on-going question for me to answer, as I continue with my learning unti l I take off counselling hat, though there is still room for improvement as I consider myself to be a work in progress.