The Fugitive Light Essay Example for Free

The Fugitive Light Essay Fugitive Light by Mohamed Berrada is a narration of life of an old, aging painter named Al Ayshuni. Set in Tangier, the novel opens in the house of the said painter who was caught with artistic paralysis—not able to produce what he thinks into an artistic work. He could not paint or even sketch what were on his mind. In the middle of this paralysis, Al Ayshuni would be disturbed by the presence of another character: the divorced Fatima. A young, beautiful, and highly-spirited woman, Fatima would introduce herself to Al Ayshuni, admitting that she is an avid admirer of the artist and his works. Later in the story, Fatima will play a vital part to Al Ayshuni’s life. She will bring memories to the painter as the author will try to slowly reveal the woman’s character and her connection to Al Ayshuni’s past. It would then be revealed that Fatima is the daughter of Al Ayshuni’s past lover, Ghaylana. Not only through that case could Al Ayshuni find a connection to Fatima. Their relationship would deepen as the story progresses. The divorced young lady would eventually serve as the artist’s model for his works, muse for social gatherings, and finally, lover. Al Ayshuni would struggle between his feelings for Fatima and his unfinished business with her mother Ghaylana. Most importantly, he would try to turn back time just to find again the fugitive of his life his youth. Towards the end of the story, Al Ayshuni would finally proclaim his defeat not only in the aspect of love but in the aspect of life itself. Fatima returned to Menton, a town in the Italian border, with his new husband Matthias. The old artist has failed to regain his fugitive light that he once had. Berrada has described the artist’s feeling through using his paintings as a metaphor: Who among us does not run away from something? I return to my lines and colors: I run away from the words of these memoirs and renounce the illusion of recording through them the experiences I lived. I am content to repeat: Whats gone is gone, light and color remain for me as well as space, of which I dream through them. . . . Everything else is prattle and sermonizing blown by the winds. The Novel’s Characters Al Ayshuni, as the protagonist of the novel, has showed a variety of his character while the story progresses. Those progressions in his character, nevertheless, were evidently portrayed by Berrada. Al Ayshuni was an adopted child of a rich mentor who fostered his artistic talents by providing him his financial needs and bringing him up as man of wit and intellect. He chose to further his artistic craft instead of committing his life to Ghaylana, his first love When he met Ghaylana, though, he missed the opportunity of being with her as he chose to follow his dreams and go to Spain. Ghaylana, who is much younger than Al Ayshuni, was left heartbroken; her family has able to find her a husband. Fatima, on the one hand, was described by Berrada as â€Å"†¦friendly, her words flowed with spontaneity and affection† (Berrada 2). No wonder that Al Ayshuni easily got closed to and fell in love with her eventually. She, nevertheless, was beautiful as her mother. She has â€Å"†¦ honey-colored eyes shone with an equivocal look and her chestnut hair was cut short a la garconne. Her gown hung down her body, showing its graceful form at the lines of her bosom and waist. † Young and with intellectual maturity, Fatima has easily hooked the heart of the middle-aged artist whose life is haunted by the things he did in the past. The Novel’s Themes Two struggling set of themes can be clearly seen while analyzing the novel. First is the struggle between the ideas of the past and the present, and second, the struggle between the ideas of sexual and intellectual pleasures. Berrada has included in his novel the fight between the idea of the past and the idea of the present. The main character, Al Ayshuni, was portrayed as a man who was nostalgic of his past, desiring to regain his youth. He behaved this way since the start of his romantic relationship with Fatima. While he was living with the woman, he could not control himself to be so reminiscent. He kept thinking about the possibilities he should have encountered if ever she did not leave Fatima’s mother. Moreover, one question always bothers him: If he and Ghaylana ended up together, would he also become a father and raise his own children, probably the same ages as that of Fatima’s? Unable to change the things he did in the past, Al Ayshuni just content himself with his present life—lonely, miserable, and chained to his past life. However, he still acknowledged his mistakes and accepted his faith, saying that â€Å"running after the fugitive light is an act full of torment but it exudes pleasure and the enticements of mirage . . . It can never be compared to the sterile act of searching for words to capture shreds of stored feelings. † The second set of struggling themes that can be found in the story is the issue concerning pleasure, specifically the grapple between sexual pleasure and intellectual pleasure. In the novel, Al Ayshuni left Ghaylana to cater his urge for intellectual pleasure. When finally he has fed this urge, he loss Ghaylana who caters, on one hand, his sexual desires. It was very ironic that when Al Ayshuni gained the other one, he loss the other one. This set-up was challenged though when Fatima entered the scene. Fatima embodied both pleasures. She can cater Al Ayshuni’s sexual as well as intellectual needs. In the novel, Al Ayshuni had written in one of his papers, â€Å"During Fatima’s stay with me, I was perplexed about her; she had invaded my life as my sweetheart’s daughter, she acted with attractive maturity and sensitivity she gave me to taste various kinds of physical pleasure†¦then she refused to tell me about her life. † (Berrada 88). Mohamed Berrada: The Author Mohamed Berrada is a Moroccan writer of fiction. He also critiques works of literature and translates Arabic writings. An instructor of Arabic literature himself, Berrada is being acknowledged as one of Morocco’s finest and relevant modern writers. Berrada believes in a literary movement called attajrib, which translates to English as experimentation. In this kind of movement, the writers are experimenting new techniques in their craft. They give more emphasis on fragmented and individual thoughts, narration, images, and scenes. Underlying Issues The novel tries to tackle the issues of marital relationship, social class, and nationalism. On the first few pages of the novel, Berrada has included a dialogue between Al Ayshuni and Fatima concerning about marriage and divorce. They were watching the television about an investigative report on the situation of cohabitation of men and women in France. According to the report, the number of couples who are actually living together has reached over two million. When asked about her own opinion regarding the issue, Fatima answered that she is in favor of couples living together. For her, this arrangement could be better than marriage because the couples could find time to make sure of their feelings for each other. This stand of Fatima regarding marital relationship was seen through her actions in the story. She agreed living with Al Ayshuni in one roof until she was not sure of her feelings. Towards the end of the novel, she left Al Ayshuni for another man. The issue about marriage and divorce has been subjects of debate even long ago. The underlying themes that could also be connected to this issue are love and commitment. In the novel, Al Ayshuni did not marry Ghaylana because he is still not ready for commitment. It is very much different with Fatima’s case who opted to live with Al Ayshuni instead of marrying him. Both of them were not ready for commitment, although they were in love with each other. The issue of social class was also perceived in the story through the presentation of a clear demarcation between the rich and poor during the time when the novel took place. Al Ayshuni, for example, would never fully develop his talents if without the help of the wealthy man who adopted him. The novel evidently says that education is only for those who have the money and the power. Thus, only those who had the access to education will more or less succeed in life. In line with this, the author has also included the issue of nationalism in presenting his story. In one of the book’s passages, Al Ayshuni has observed the plurality of his place, saying that â€Å"†¦it has been a gift to all races and people. A city in common? A woman gone to perdition? Space that can’t bear constraints and boundaries? † The novel is trying to critique the idea of multinationalism and endorsing the importance of having one national identity. The author may unknowingly included in the novel his actual stand about the issue through the words from Al Ayshuni: â€Å"Isn’t all this plurality of fashions, histories, and languages of its residents what brings it close to the soul that always yearns for more than one costume and one mask, for more than one love and one body, for more than one language and one space? † (Berrada 148) Finally, Berrada’s Fugitive Light is a combination of talent and experience of the author. He was able to incorporate somehow his culture and points-of-views through the characters he created. Knowing that he himself is a literary artist, the character of Al Ayshuni is no less similar to his. It could be concluded that everything he presented about this specific character is a reflection of himself and his own stands and opinions towards the same issues that he presented in his novel. In reading the novel, I could not help to question some of the things around me that I am accustomed to believe and to do. For example, I now frequently think about the issues of marriage, divorce, and living in together. Conservative as it may seems, I still believe in the power of marriage. For me, it is not only a social act, but more of an internal practice. Here, you would be able to know and learn more about yourself. I would also like to agree with the author’s own stand about nationalism. For me, the problem now with nations is the blurring of their boundaries and limitations. In the world of globalization, it seems that everything is being globalized; everything serves for specific international purposes. There is nothing wrong with that, I must say. Maybe those kinds of changes are really inevitable. What I propose is that people of all races should still have a firm grasp of their own identity—own culture, own language, own space. It does not matter whether you belong to Third World Countries or First World Nations. The idea is that all of us should still cling to who and what we are. To end, Fugitive Light by Mohamed Berrada is a novel that truly depicts the problems within third world countries: class struggles, nationalism, and even gender roles and perceptions. I would definitely recommend this book for the very mere fact that it is honest. The story does not cater to a specific class only, or for selfish intentions of the less people. It is simply true. Works Cited Berrada, Mohamed. Fugitive Light. New York: Syracuse Un

impact of feminism on fashion

impact of feminism on fashion Impact of Feminism on Fashion There has been a heated discussion on the equality of man and woman since a century ago when feminists began to strive for womens benefit. Compared to women in nineteenth century, women in this day and age have more rights and freedom. Women are now more considered to be independent individuals, as long time ago, they were possessions of men. Furthermore, women were compelled to follow every single order from men unconditionally. As an important impetus to fashion, feminism, which was mainly formed by three waves, has changed the stereotype significantly and lead to the decrease of restrictions on womens dressing. â€Å"Feminism encompasses many different theoretical, political and academic traditions. At the centre of feminist concerns, however, is the liberation of women from oppressive social practices and ideologies.†The first wave of feminist movement dated from nineteenth century to 1940s in United Kingdom and United States. Accompanied by anti-feudal movement, feminism finally became the most indispensable part and the criteria of social revolution. Originally it focused on the promotion of equal contract and property rights for women and the opposition to chattel marriage and ownership of married women (and their children) by their husbands. However, by the end of the nineteenth century, activism focused primarily on gaining political power, particularly the right of womens suffrage. Basically, it was the first time when women have the opportunity to vote. During this wave, World War I took place, which was another cause of changes in womens status. In order to defend national sovereignty, men were conscribed to fight in the battle front. Therefore, women had to do mens physical labour in factory. Females no longer stayed in the house only serving their own family, but also went out working to support the household and their country. Not accidentally, (see Illus. 1) Coco Chanels simple and practical designs catered to the needs of working women. In her shop, she sold â€Å"flannel blazers, straight linen skirts, sailor tops, long jersey sweaters and skirt-jackets†which were inspired by menswear. These convenient clothes enabled women to work with higher efficiency. †Chanel used such serviceable materials and relaxed patterns in the design of fashionable daywear for sophisticated urban women, safe in her knowledge of their aspirational and practical qualities.† Her accomplishment in fashion helped her situated in the roles of feminist pioneer. Simplicity has become a recognized characteristic of Coco Chanel and affected the fashion trend afterwards. Unfortunately, after the men returned from war when the WWI ended, women were dispatched back to the kitchen.†Still, an important new stage had been reached, since the induction of women into the war effort initiated the whole process of liberation.† Between early 1960s and late 1980s, it was the second-wave feminism. Though after the first-wave feminism women have won over some legal rights, they were still limited and oppressed in working place. Slightly different from the first wave, the second-wave feminism concentrated on issues of real equality of women such as eliminating discrimination. Feminists went all out marching and protesting in the street. Owing to their hard struggle, females gradually earned some equality in the working place and other aspects of life. In all their achievements, the most remarkable event was the release of some gynocentric legal reforms. Without the legal obstructions to womens personal freedom and professional achievement, women had a chance to prove themselves to be as capable as men. The 1960s, also called the Sixties, was a decade when tremendous changes happened to fashion. In this era, fashion was influenced by various factors such as â€Å"social mobility, daring fashion photography, easier travel abroad, the Vietnam War, new music of the Beatles and their much copied hairstyles, retro military and ethnic clothes, musicals, pop art and film all played a part†. Feminism was absolutely one of the most influential causes of all. Le Smoking (see Illus. 2), designed by Yves Saint Laurent in 1966, is a typical example of impact on fashion by feminism. Yves Saint Laurent wasnt the first person who created trousers for women. However, it was the first of its kind to draw attention in the fashion industry and the public. This innovative creation started androgynous style for women and pantsuits have been popular ever since. Its still one of the favourite outfits of office ladies in present-day society. The popularity of power suits demonstrates womens liberati on and equality between men and women to some extent. Besides, it provides women another choice in their wardrobes and dresses were not the only selection any more. In a word, the appearance of pantsuit is a symbol of women been considered to be an independent individuals in workplace. In group of people in younger age, some daring youths were seeking for something new in fashion as restrictions on women reduced.   Mary quants miniskirts (see Illus. 3), of which the hemline was set 6 or 7 inches above the knee, fulfilled their needs. It was controversial when it first came into the market, but then more people began to accept it in the mid-1960s and went into the major international trend. Miniskirt was reckoned to be a sign of womens liberation and enabled women to run and show their beauty without limits. The third-wave feminism began in the early 1990s, and the fashion in this decade was casual and comfortable. However, fashion and feminism dont always go hand in hand. The release of womens body didnt go further because every woman wants perfect body for both personal reason and attracting men. Wearing garments that show their nice body makes women feel better, more beautiful and sometimes even more confident. Fashion nowadays emphasized on silhouette and only slim and S-shape body is deemed to be beautiful. This brings stress on women and urges them to fit themselves into clothes that might be too tight. After struggling for equality for more than one hundred years, phenomena of inequality have decreased remarkably. But men have been in the dominant position for the majority of time in history. Reforms in laws are definitely not enough to change the status. To gain real equality, male chauvinism should be eliminated entirely. Anyway, its still a long way to go to have final equality of men and women.

Hotel External Environment and Internal Environment Analysis

Hotel External Environment and Internal Environment Analysis Introduction In legal terms Law is defined as, a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority: asÂÂ  aÂÂ  :ÂÂ  a command or provision enacted by a legislature. Basically it is a set of regulation and regulations of conduct, which are practiced in general. These rules and regulations are bound by legislature. In this assignment I will be discussing law in context with Consideration and Contract. Question 1: Marketing emphasises on meeting the needs of the consumers and providing them with value, and benefits, while at the same time handling the organisation in an efficient and profitable manner. Marketing is a process that involves constant adaptation and implementation of the varying consumer trends, and demands. While at the same time having a competitive advantage over the competitors, and while at the same time ensuring that the satisfaction of these needs result in a healthy turnover for the organisation. Objective of the coursework: The objective of this assignment is to analyse the Manor House Country Club Hotels (MHCCH) external environment and internal environment. I shall use PESTEL Analysis, Industry Analysis and MHCCHs Opportunity and Threat analysis to draw out the companys external environment and Core competencies, Value chain, Ansoff Matrix, strength and weakness of MHCCH will be applied to illustrate the internal environment. Overview of the Hotel: In 1992, Manor House Country Club Hotel was established as a family owned business by the Jenkins Family, in Singapore. The MHCCH spans over 3 acres of prestigious reclaimed land, and is operating currently as a single hotel. The Hotel provides various varieties of Luxurious accommodations, and serves tourists from around the World. The hotel also serves its customers with various types of cuisines, from its modernised Restaurant; the hotel also has Bistro that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks. For corporate meetings and conferences to be held in the hotel, the hotel has adequate premises and facilities. And other miscellaneous services provided by the hotel include a Beauty Salon. In short it can be said that the MHCCH stands up to the luxurious benchmark that it projects. Analysis of the Micro Environment: (Internal) The Micro/internal factors are the forces inside the hotel that can affect the performance of the hotel, thus through the micro environment analysis, we search for and devise a strategy to overcome those shortcomings that might hinder the progress of the hotel. SW (Strength and Weakness) Analysis: (S)trengths: The MHCCH is located at a prime and favourable location, which is easily accessible. The MHCCH successfully depicts its Luxury position in the tourism and hospitality industry, thus differentiating it from the competition. It is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks in the hotel, thus widening its consumer base, and scope for profitability. Additional accommodation was added by MHCCH in 2002, so now it can house more customers, hence an increase in productivity. The Market value of MHCCH is eight times more than its actual value, which is the sign of a profitable and stable business. (W)eaknesses: There has been a consecutive decline in the number of corporate clients for the Hotel in the past years, while the number of trade conferences held in the country has gone up by 30%. Over pricing of the room rates above the average price level for similar rooms in other competitive hotels may lead to a decline in the number of customers. As for the current situation the MHCCH lacks direction in terms of a strategic plan for expansion, and its target consumers, those are essential for the development of the MHCCH. Recommendations: MHCCH can provide better meeting/conferencing facilities to its corporate clients to up the number of corporate bookings. Also it can reconsider its pricing policies and provide trade discounts to its clients. The accommodation/room tariffs to be priced at a market competitive rate, and not at exorbitant prices, which might set the customers off. A strategic marketing and action plan to be set by the MHCCH while keeping its prime priorities in focus. Conclusion: The shortcomings of the MHCCH are not of a major nature, they can be rectified by adopting simple corrective actions, like a strategic plan. It is quite natural for any organisations to face hurdles in its developmental phase. Core competencies: (Micro Analysis) Core competencies are what makes an organisation different from others, in most cases its direct competition. The MHCCH can develop its core competency on the basis of its luxury position in the market. It must aim at providing quality services to its customers at competitive prices. This also increases its foothold in the competitive market. As it is in the core culture of an organisation, to satisfy its customers and providing them the value for their money, that is what constitutes the basic differences among the various organisations. Value chain: (Micro Analysis) The basic motive of the value chain is to provide the customers with a certain level of value that surpass the cost of the activities and ultimately it appears in a profit margin. The value chain of MHCCH is presented below: Quality Service: The hotel management has to ensure that the customers are provided with high quality services that are worth the price that a customer is paying. So that the customer is satisfied. Satisfaction of customer needs: The second step is to meet the specific needs and demands of the customers as per their tastes and preferences, as the service industry tends to be very personal, tailor-made arrangements have to be made to meet the customer needs. Trained and Efficient staff: Every customer expects to be treated in the most hospitable and best manner possible, thus MHCCH should be certain that the staffs is well-trained and efficient when it comes to dealing with the customers. Marketing and Brand building: In this stage, MHCCH is looking for potential buyers to sell the services it offers and to do this they do advertising, pricing etc. And build a reputable image in the market, which is also a crucial factor to Customer satisfaction. There are some aiding factors to the points discussed above which cannot be fulfilled without the help of these: 1). Infrastructure: The aesthetic appeal of the hotel is a crucial factor of the quality it signifies in its service, thus the infrastructure should be as enticing and attractive as the services provided within the MHCCH. 2). Specialisation: To satisfy the specific customer demands, the hotel has to keep in mind that meeting those demands is crucial and difficult at the same time, thus specialisation in fulfilling the customer needs is an essential supporting factor. 3). Human Resource Management: The staff must be recruited and accordingly trained to deal with its customers, as the employees of MHCCH reflect the image of the hotel itself. Thus HRM is a bare necessity in the strategic planning process. 4). Marketing Research: With proper analytical tools and a better understanding of the market, the task of marketing becomes much easier for MHCCH, leaving a long lasting impression in the customers mind. Macro analysis: (External) By scanning the macro the environment, the company can devise a better strategy towards overcoming the identified threats and to utilize the available opportunities. OT: (Opportunities and Threats) (O)pportunities: Tapping the benefits of the high growth of tourism industry in Singapore. High demand of varying cuisines/lifestyles. Scope of expansion in conference/family travel groups. Expand the MHCCH brand by investing in external property, through borrowing/re-investing profit. (T)hreats: Highly competitive hotel industry, competitive pricing, similar services, etc. If proper steps to maintain and expand MHCCH are not taken, then this could be a potential threat to the hotel. Lack of Differentiation is another factor that serves as a threat to MHCCH as there are various segments i.e. budget youth hostels, five star hotels, backpacker lodges, etc. MHCCH should hold on to a particular segment and differentiate itself from others on its basis. Increasing Bureaucracy and the various new rules and regulations imposed by the government can cause hindrances in the expansion plans of MHCCH, e.g. licenses and permits required to carry out some activities in the Hotel. Pestel Analysis PESTEL represents Political, Economic, Social, Technical, Environment and Legislative factors which are external in nature. The current and future change of six key areas can affect the MHCCHs business. The PESTEL analysis explores the broad environment in which the MHCCH is operating. Political Factor: These contain the rules and regulations implemented on the Hotel by the Government. The Singapore government is inclined on increasing its popularity as a tourist destination, thus a beneficial factor for MHCCH. Economic Factors: Singapore is among some of the fastest growing eastern economies, thus the GDP and the public spending is on a constant rise, so is the purchasing power of the citizens of Singapore and the Tourists. Again its in favour of MHCCH. Social Factors: The Cultural and social aspects of a country are highly important to the business, the current trend of the growing demand for new styles of food and drink is a sign of the change in the social factor. Technological Factors: Technology is directly linked to modernisation, the hotel has to keep up to date with the latest technological changes in the business environment, for e.g. Wireless internet, Computer bay, HDTVs, etc. This improves the quality and quantity of the stay of the customers. Environmental Factors: Drastic changes are occurring in the global environment nowadays; also environmental awareness is becoming more common by the day. Environment friendly applications need to be adopted by MHCCH to balance its responsibility towards the environment. Legal Factors: The MHCCH must abide by the legislation operating in their geographical territory (Asian Legislation). This affects their business hugely. It may serve in or against their favour, depending on the legislation. Part B The Manor House Country Club Hotel can expand its business in within the next two years by following these strategies/theories. Ansoff Matrix: The Ansoff Matrix is useful in deciding the companys product and market growth strategy. The Ansoff Matrix in reference to MHCCH is: Market Penetration: MHCCH is building a stronger market position by providing similar luxury services as the other hotels in the same market. Market Development: MHCCH is investing in its site to develop its unused land into small leisure centres. These investments are aimed at developing a stronger position of the hotel in the market. Product Development: The main focus of MHCCH is on developing its service package by improving the infrastructure and attracting more customers. By investing in the hotel, the services they offer can be developed Diversification: This involves MHCCH entering a business that is not currently a part of their agenda, which at the moment it is not doing, but they can consider diversification into the alternatives in future, as it leads to added income and goodwill. Porters Grid Porters Grid is also well known as Porters Five Force analysis. These were developed by Michael E. Porter. The competitive environment of the MHCCH is explored in depth through the Porters analysis below: 1). Bargaining power of the Supplier: The supply in this industry is largely based on FMCGs (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) which is quite flexible considering the fact that the Hotel buys its supplies in bulk quantities. Thus the ready availability of the goods by the suppliers and the perennial demand of the goods limit the bargaining power of the suppliers. 2). Bargaining power of Buyers: There are many alternatives to choose from for the customers of MHCCH as there are rooms of varying levels of luxury and prices, ranging from basic single-bed room to ultra luxury Suite packages. There are other hotels offering similar rooms to them at competitive prices, thus buyers do have their share of bargaining power in this case. 3). Threat of new entrants: The hotel industry in Singapore is facing tough competition not only from the entry of locally based hotels but also giant multinational hotel chains, the new entrants might turn up as a threat for the company. 4). Threat of Substitutes: MHCCH basically provides accommodation oriented services to its customers, while there are a large number of substitutes available for them, to obtain similar services. The main differentiating factor here is pricing, and the difference in the quality of the services. There exists a strong threat of substitutes, but with a well planned pricing policy, this threat may be avoided. 5). Rivalry among competitors: Rivalry among competitors is fairly high for MHCCH as the rivals offer the same services/products, and they operate in the same market and environment. While at the same time there are new competitors entering the market. And also the buyers have the power to buy the services/products at lower prices. Conclusion As of now MHCCH is operating as successful enterprise, which through proper strategic planning can be developed into a much more flourishing business, and a highly successful hotel. But for Manor House Country Club Hotel to successfully expand its business in the next two years, it is advisable for them to adopt the Market/Product development strategy, as it provides them with an opportunity to utilise their available resources in an optimum manner, while at the same time continuing the routine functioning of business.

Graduation Speech :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Over the past four years, we have grown from insecure, immature freshmen to successful, focused and confident young adults. This incredible transformation has been the result of our entire high school experience. Everything from that first homecoming game, to late night cramming, to the last dance at prom. These experiences have pulled us together as a class and we have learned to love and respect our fellow classmates. As much as this class has grown together, every one of us has also grown as a unique individual. We have found our talents and interests. These interests have drawn us to different activities and in turn helped shape our lives. Some of us have excelled academically while others have helped improve Summer High School by participating in activities such as Link Crew or ASB. Some of us acted in plays while others shared their musical talents by singing in the choir or performing with our outstanding band. Many of us have preferred to be involved in community service with a group like KEY Club. In addition to these school activities, many of us have invested time in jobs and other community activities. These many choices have shaped who we are today: the people we met, the experiences we encountered, the lessons we learned. They have all made an impact on our lives and, in turn, we have also made a difference in the lives of others. The people sitting out in this audience tonight have also greatly impacted our lives. Every person in this enormous stadium has given us encouraging words, helpful advice or tough criticism. The support our family, friends and teachers have shared with us is invaluable. Their caring and dedication have helped us get here today.

Choosing a Career Path Essay -- building management

Never once was there a doubt in my mind that I wasn’t going to college. But the question as to what career path do I want to pursue was always the hard part. When declaring my major, I had no idea that Michigan State had so many different options. My original major was pre-law, and then it was general management, now I’m leaning towards construction management. I watched â€Å"A Family That Preys† by Tyler Perry, and one of the characters was a construction manager. Like a child, watching this movie persuaded my decision to go into this field. I didn’t declare this as my first major because I was uneducated on the field, so I went with a major that I knew about. I am only in my second semester of college and I have changed my major twice. My uncle has been very successful and he has greatly inspired my choice of continuing my education. He was a successful insurance agent at state farm, and then went on to owning his own insurance company. Even though he i s in the insurance field, he is going back to school for trucking and looking into construction as well. One night we sat at my grandmother’s dinning room table and discussed my future career plans. I told him that I was interested in construction management but I was uneducated in the field so I didn’t change my major yet. I need to educate myself about being in the construction field by reading books, interviews, magazines, etc. The name construction management in itself sounds like a hand full, there’s no question that pursuing this major will be a lot of hard work and dedication. When I looked up the course requirements, the requirements reinforced my preconceived notations about this field. Calculus, microeconomics, and accounting, sounds scary and they are only 3 of the 120 cr... ...MSU RO:Academic Programs: Construction Management." MSU RO:Academic Programs: Construction Management. Michigan State University, 23 Aug. 2011. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Perry, Marjorie A. "Marjorie A. Perry - About." Marjorie A. Perry - About. Marjorie Perry, 02 Nov. 2013. Web. 06 Apr. 2014. . "Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 Jan. 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. . "Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program | SBA.gov." Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program | SBA.gov. The U.S. Small Business Administration, 1 Feb. 2011. Web. 06 Apr. 2014. .

Physical Development Essay

Primary school children, aged six to twelve years old, will undergo a variety of developmental changes, both physical and mental, and as teachers it is imperative that we both understand and accommodate the physical needs of students in the learning environment. To fully comprehend these changes, one must consider the actual physical changes that occur, in particular the development of motor skills, as well as how to accommodate the physical needs and development of students during their primary school years. Supplementary to these broader topics are the benefits of physical activity as well as the consequences of prolonged inactivity, and how a student’s physical development can either facilitate or restrict development in other areas. Children between the ages of 6 and 10 (referred to as ‘middle childhood’) will experience a plethora of physical developments. Firstly, they will steadily gain weight and height, though their basic body structure will remain unchanged. Children will also lose their 20 primary or ‘baby’ teeth, which will be replaced by permanent teeth. Some of the most significant skills children of this age will develop are motor skills. Motor skills refer to a learned sequence of movements that combine to create an efficient action in order to become proficient at a certain activity. These can be divided into two subcategories: ‘gross motor skills’ and ‘fine motor skills’. Gross motor skills are â€Å"large movements of the body that permit locomotion through and within the environment† (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010) and includes such skills as walking and swimming, while fine motor skills are â€Å"Small, precise movements of particular parts of the body, especially the hands† (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010), and include such skills as writing and drawing. In early childhood, humans rely largely on reflexive (that is, unlearned and involuntary) movement patterns, and thus are lacking fine motor skills. As they reach middle childhood, children develop voluntary movement patterns, and begin refining both their gross and fine motor skills, gaining proficiency in a variety of actions. Children increase the speed and coordination of their running, kicking and throwing, and become able to integrate these movements into sports and other structured play activities. They also make advances in their handwriting, becoming smaller and more consistent, and their drawings, supported by further cognitive development, become more detailed. Finally, the functions of the brain are enhanced in a number of ways. The two hemispheres of the brain develop into more unique sectors, and groups of regularly used neurons are cultivated. The process of myelination, ‘the growth of a fatty sheath around neurons that allows them to transmit messages more quickly’ (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010), continues, permitting swift and sustained learning. In order to accommodate and encourage student’s physical needs and developments, teachers should first and foremost always ensure that the learning area is safe. The classroom should constantly be checked for hazards, such as sharp edges on desks, loose flooring, or potentially dangerous substances, and teachers should ensure that â€Å"Rooms, bathrooms, and hallways are cleaned daily† (Wilford, 2006). Children should also be educated on how to recognise situations or objects that could harm them, and how to deal with them effectively. As young children are especially vulnerable to illness, it is particularly important to do everything possible to prevent it, by keeping the area clean and sanitizing surfaces, and teaching children sanitary practices, such as washing their hands after toileting. This is a vital area of education; should a child suffer from a serious illness for a long period of time, their physical development may be permanently mired, having serious consequences on their entire lives. It is also important that students have access to healthy and nutritious food at school, and learn about sound eating habits. Certain foods or lack thereof, have varying effects on students’ physical development, and should children be malnourished for an extended period of time, their development may be permanently stunted. A child who is malnourished is â€Å"more prone to infections† (Brewster and White, 2002) which â€Å"further impair (their) nutritional state by depressing (their) appetite and increasing the demand on his reserves of protein and energy† (Brewster and White, 2002), leading to further diminished rates of physical development. For these reasons, it is imperative that primary school students’ learning environment be kept as safe and healthy as possible, through the teacher’s ensuring that the classroom is hazard free and sanitized, and that the children have access to nutritious and healthy food, as well as educating the children so that they may implement such skills themselves. By doing this, educators can accommodate the physical needs and developments of their children, and maximise the effectiveness of their schooling, both physical and academic. During primary school, students are â€Å"at an optimal age in terms of motor skill learning† (Anshel, 1990), and thus motor skills develop rapidly, allowing them to perform skilled tasks. In order to help students develop these motor skills, it is important for teachers to incorporate physical activity into their curriculum. This assists in the development of both fine and gross motor skills. Firstly, they should provide frequent opportunities for students to participate in physical activity throughout the day; these activities would ideally allow the participation of children, regardless of their respective skill levels. For example, when guiding children through skipping rope, the teacher could at first have them use a long rope and simply step over the rope; children who find this easy could then try actual skipping. Should this prove relatively easy, they could skip at a faster pace, and children who showed proficiency at this higher level could try crossing the rope over while skipping. Educators can also integrate physical activity into academic lessons, which will not only shorten the length of time between physical activities, but also keep the students more engaged in the lesson. Conversely, it is also important to give students adequate time to rest. If they spend too much time exercising and overexert themselves, this will only lead to decreased concentration during the rest of their lessons, causing their performance to suffer. Additionally, children progressing through middle childhood still have relatively soft bones, so additional caution should be taken if they perform any high impact exercises, such as lifting heavy weights. To reiterate, young students’ physical development can be accommodated through the utilisation of physical activity at school, however this must be done in moderation, otherwise it may be detrimental to the child’s education and general wellbeing. Finally, educators should be aware of how a child’s physical development can assist with or hinder their development in other areas. For example, a child who has developed at a faster rate than their peers will likely be more proficient at sports, and the strengthened neuron pathways will increase the rate at which they learn and become proficient at academic subjects. The self-confidence this gives them may then be expressed through the child’s interest and application in school, which in turn will make their entire learning experience both easier and more pleasurable. Increased participation in both sport and academic activities will in turn make meeting and befriending other students easier, allowing the student to expand socially, again giving them a more positive outlook on school and further increasing their focus and determination to succeed physically and academically. On the other hand, students who have not physically developed as quickly as others in their year group may not perform as well in either academic or physical activities, and subsequently suffer from ‘learned helplessness’, a situation in which a child’s experience leads them to believe they will always fail, and thus they do not try, acting â€Å"as though they (are) helpless to do better† (U. S. Dep Education, 1992). This lack of confidence and learned helplessness can cause students to become â€Å"listless and inattentive and sometimes disruptive† (U. S. Dep Education, 1992), and â€Å"may be prevent (students) from fulfilling (their) potential† (Seligman, 1990). This is why it is essential to implement scaffolding into the learning environment, to support less physically developed students and assist them in succeeding, building their confidence. Therefore, it is important that teachers carefully monitor the progress of students individually, and provide support and encouragement appropriate to their developmental stage to facilitate the learning experience for them. Children completing their primary education will experience many new things; socially, mentally and physically. It is the role of teachers to make this experience as beneficial as possible, and a key element of doing so is the understanding of the physical developments they undergo during this time. To fully appreciate these developments, educators should consider the benefit of physical activity, as well as the consequences of prolonged inactivity, how a student’s physical development can assist with or hinder their development in other areas, motor development in children and how this is influenced, and finally how to accommodate and support the developments and needs of their students.

Developing The Leader Within You Essay

Abstract This paper will illustrate exactly what it takes become to great leader. I will demonstrate through the author’s purpose, themes, principles, and concepts. Being an effective leader requires an individual to communicate well with others, motivate, create vision, creativity, and be sure to never sabotage integrity. The author’s purpose is to teach others how to become great leaders and how to remain good leaders. Leaders must be willing to change themselves to make changes within the organization. This will allow leaders to perform to best of their best ability. I will give the reader my insight, and the insight of Maxwell and DuBrin on how to become a great leader and how to maintain great leadership abilities. A leader will show loyalty to themselves as well as the organization when integrity is being displayed. Our integrity should be at the forefront at all times and should never be sabotaged for any reason. Introduction Many of the greatest leaders have had to overcome many challenges in life. Nothing in life comes easy, and to become a great leader requires time, patience, and persistence for many that were not born leaders. Leaders are required to guide others into great accomplishments. If someone isn’t able to lead others into great places and achieve great accomplishments, they’ve failed their followers. Leaders are not quitters and at the end of the day, the goal will be accomplished. Great leaders have been known to change the world. These are the people that shape our universe and create hope for better days. Some of us are born to be leaders and some us are taught. Everyone wasn’t born to lead, there has to be followers. It’s important to know what our positions are. The greatest leaders have all had one thing in common, persistence. They never gave up on accomplishing their own goals and the goals of the organization. Often we find ourselves unprepared for the position in which we apply for. I never want to feel inadequate about a job  I am hired for and not deliver what is required of me. As a leader, I want to perform my job proficiently and relay what I’ve learned to others so they too can become great leaders one day. If I am not able to direct others into the right direction, I would never feel accomplished as a leader. Anyone that is able to create a vision, deliver the vision to others and become an effective leader has mastered what it takes to influence others to create positive outcomes. Discussion DuBrin defines leadership as the ability to inspire confidence and support among the people who are needed to achieve organizational goals. The ultimate goal should be to benefit the organization and maintaining your integrity while doing so. Lack of character will cause us to fail and do things we are not proud of. As a leader we should always be willing to achieve greatness and lead others down the same path. Maxwell’s purpose gave his readers insight on what it takes to be or become a great leader. Maxwell wants us to accept leadership as an influence with the ability to obtain followers. He also explains what it takes to remain a good leader for life. Leading never stops and we must go through all levels of leadership to achieve our goals. Maxwell, keeps his instructions simple, he sees leadership as influence to others. If we don’t have followers there is no one to lead, which defeats the purpose of being a leader. As a leader we have a tremendous amount of respons ibility to lead others to achieve great things. DuBrin and Maxwell’s purpose of both books are to provide us with valuable information to obtain healthy, long lasting leadership positions. As leaders, we are long term thinkers who see beyond the days crisis, described by Maxwell. Good leaders are able to see long-term effects on particular situations and make the best choice possible. Leaders have to prioritize in order to be successful leaders and lead others to success. Prioritizing allows us to always be prepared for the unknown. If we are able to categorize tasks with priorities and have a successful ending, it shows that we are able to make important decisions when it matters the most. One of the main subjects discussed in â€Å"Developing the Leader Within You†, would have to be change. Maxwell expressed the point that a leader without change  is an unchanged organization. An unchanged leader will not be a successful leader. A leader has to be willing to make changes to do what is important for the organization. A leader should never become so obsessed with their desires and goals and forget about the ultimate goals of the organization. The goals of the organization should be the first priority. There should never be any goals within a leader that out weighs the organization’s purpose. When a leader resists change just as much as followers th ere is a breakdown in morale and could cost the company more than money. In any aspect of life we all have to change for a better end result, it’s considered compromise. DuBrin did not focus too much on change. He did state that accepting change is the more responsible thing to do. It’s natural to resist change, but every leader has to accept change in order to be successful. If the leader is excited about the changes this will motivate others to feel excited about it as well. Maxwell expressed that our attitude is key to a successful leader. We have to take responsibility for our attitudes in life. He stated, â€Å"God chooses what we go through, we choose how we go through it. Our attitudes can make or break an organization. If we are displaying a bad attitude to our followers, how are we creating leaders? It’s impossible to mold followers into leaders if we are not positive demonstrators. Ultimately the theme of Maxwell’s book provides us with proper tools to develop a good leader. I found that our attitude and change are the two most profound themes of this book to create and maintain a solid foundation to becoming a great leader. Maxwell describes integrity as the most influential ingredient to leadership. Integrity and ethics both pl ay a big role when discussing leadership. We should never compromise who we are for anyone. If there is something that needs to be done that does not fall in line with our morals, we should never compromise that. We should always know what is right and what is wrong. Integrity is considered our personal standards. Our integrity defines who we are and our actions rest solely upon the basis of our level of integrity. Leaders have to instruct their followers on believing in something and never compromising their integrity for acceptance. Maxwell and DuBrin 100% agree when it comes to integrity. They both believe it is very important for leaders to be honest, trustworthy, and display integrity when dealing with others. Both authors believe in doing the right thing at all times no matter what the situation.  Integrity keeps us align in what is expected from a great leader. People become confident in us when we display integrity. Maxwell describes it as simple as possible, when our character is low, so are our standards. When our standards are low we have no power to lead other s in the right direction. When integrity is present, our standards are higher. Motivation, creativity, vision, and people are the primary concepts to creating a healthy work environment. A great leader can motivate others to do well and help them find what there strengths are. Leaders should never belittle their subordinates. In order for followers to keep a positive outlook on what organization wishes to accomplish in the long run. Being a good listener and asking yourself, â€Å"how can I make more people successful† is a very valuable question (Maxwell, 2002). Creativity goes a long way, leading others with creativity makes it a fun and energetic environment. A leader has to provide followers with a clear precise vision of what is expected from them. Leaders have to know where they are going and persuade others to go as well. Leaders lastly, have to invest time into people. People should feel like the individual they are following have all together. Dubrin and Maxwell both agree on the concepts listed above. They seem to both have the same values and understanding. Maxwell discusses a lot about spirituality in his book. DuBrin did not include anything spiritual in the textbook, for the sake that it’s a textbook. Conclusion Maxwell’s book, â€Å"Developing the Leader Within You†, has been an inspiration to me. I found the book very helpful information. As an individual, who is seeking a leadership position, both books have been very helpful in this process. I have learned so much about the proper steps to take in order to remain an effective leader and not a for the moment leader. For the most part, Maxwell and Dubrin ideas were mirror image to each other. Dubrin, went into more detail, do to the fact that it’s a textbook. The most important lesson learned for me would have to be, influence. Influencing others is a very vital part to becoming a great leader. Maxwell stated, â€Å"people want to be led, not managed.† We have to allow individuals to have their own  personalities, their own goals, and ambitions. It’s up to the leader, to lead them in right direction. It is a manager’s responsibility to manage their current state. In conclusion, I agree with Maxwe ll when he says that we are all leaders. At some point in our lives we have influenced someone in one form or another. We should make sure we are a good influence and provide our followers with a great map through the process. Maxwell realized that he was providing leaders with good information, however he couldn’t understand why their leadership skills were so temporary. He realized that he wasn’t providing them with the root of what makes an effective leader, making individuals feel worthwhile is the key to a great leader. Ensuring followers feel worthwhile will help them feel, as they are apart of the contribution. Making others feel important means a great deal to me. I am very eager to apply the concepts to my everyday life and in my future as a leader. Communication, motivation, vision, creativity, and people are key factors to creating great leaders. References Dubrin, A. D. (2013). Leadership : Research Findings, Practice, and Skills 7th ed. OH: South-Western Cenage Learning Maxwell, J. C. (2002). Developing the leader within you. TN: Thomas Nelson Publishing