Learning from Ojt Essay Example

Learning from Ojt Essay ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AT HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUNDS (PAG-IBIG FUND) In Partial fulfillment of the Requirements for Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Submitted by: Arce P. Baldonado Submitted to Ms. Ruth Bongales March 2013 Table Of Contents II. Background of the Company III. Summary of the OJT Experience IV. Assessment of the OJT/Practicum Program A. New knowledge, attitudes and skills acquired B. Theories actually seen in practice C. Feedback that can be given to the company or institution D. Benefits gained E. Problems Encountered V. Appendices A. Company brochure B. Copy of the Endorsement Letter C. Copy of the Training Plan D. Copy of the Signed Waiver form E. Daily Time Record F. Quarterly Performance Appraisal Forms G. Certificate of Completion II. Background of the Company The birth of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) The birth of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), more popularly known as the Pag- IBIG Fund, was an answer to the need for a national savings program and an affordable shelter financing for the Filipino worker. The Fund was established on 11 June 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1530 primarily to address these two basic yet equally important needs. We will write a custom essay sample on Learning from Ojt specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Learning from Ojt specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Learning from Ojt specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Under the said law, there were two agencies that administered the Fund. The Social Security System handled the funds of private employees, while the Government Service Insurance System handled the savings of government workers. Less than a year after on 1 March 1979, Executive Order No. 527 was signed. The order directed transferring the administration of the Fund to the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, which was one of the operating agencies of the then Ministry of Human Settlements. Seeing the need to further strengthen the stability and viability of the two funds, Executive Order No. 38 was issued on 4 June 1979, merging the funds for private and government personnel into what is now known as the Pag-IBIG Fund. However, It was only on 14 December 1980 when Pag-IBIG was made independent from the NHMFC with the signing of PD 1752, which amended PD 1530. With the improved law in effect, the Funds rule-making power was vested in its own Board of Trustees. Likewise, PD 1752 made Pag-IBIG membership mandatory for all SSS and GSIS member-employees A new Administration, some changes in Pag-IBIG Months after former President Corazon C. Aquino assumed leadership of the country, Pag-IBIG contributions were suspended from May to July 1986. This gave way to the Presidential Task Force on Shelter to conduct a thorough review of the Fund and its operations. The task force later affirmed that Pag-IBIG Fund was run professionally and that there were no anomalies in the Fund. On 1 August 1986, former President Aquino directed the resumption of Pag-IBIG membership under Executive Order No. 35. Membership was still on a mandatory basis but under more liberal terms. For one, contribution rate was reduced from three percent to one percent for employees earning over P1,500. Employer share was likewise cut from three percent to a fixed rate of two percent. The Maximum Fund Salary was raised from P3,000 to P5,000. 1 January 1987 marked the return of the Pag-IBIG Fund to a voluntary program under Executive Order No. 90. While many companies chose to discontinue their Pag-IBIG membership, quite a number, including big companies like PLDT and Dole Philippines, nevertheless opted to retain their membership to the Fund despite the voluntary nature of registration. Facing challenges head on Confronted with the sudden reduction in its membership base, Pag-IBIG stood unfazed and took the challenges head on. As a first step, the Fund implemented an intensified marketing campaign that focused on membership retention and generation. It was during the years as a voluntary fund that Pag-IBIG evolved from an institution primarily for savings and housing into an agency with a wider reach that covers almost all other needs. Pag-IBIG introduced innovative benefit programs that heeded the calls for expansion of membership to include self-employed groups with informal income, overseas Filipino workers, and non-earning spouses. It also launched other novel programs such as the Multi-Purpose Loan for its short-term loans program, and shelter programs that address both individual and institutional housing requirements. Clearly, the voluntary nature of Pag-IBIG membership did not stop the Fund from growing in depth and breadth. During the period, the Pag-IBIG Fund has claimed its rightful place in the countrys economic and financial system, finally gaining the acceptance of its members, not by force, but by its continuing efforts to impress upon the members that the Fund exists solely for their benefit as well as their beneficiaries. After eight years as a voluntary fund, the nature of Pag-IBIG membership reverted to mandatory on 17 June 1994 when President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act 7742. The new law became effective on 1 January 1995. Today, more than a decade after the universal Pag-IBIG coverage law was implemented, the Pag-IBIG Fund continues to be a strong partner in realizing Filipino workers dreams. Over the years, it initiated more programs and projects, particularly those that address the needs of members belonging to the bottom economic level. The Fund has established special housing partnerships with teachers and uniformed men, among others. The Rent-to-Own Program was introduced, providing members another affordable way of homeownership. The Funds efforts towards housing the Filipino did not go unnoticed. During the World Habitat Day celebration in October 2006, Pag-IBIG was given the prestigious Scroll of Honour Awards by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) for making the dream of affordable housing a reality for hundreds of thousands of households. Pag-IBIG is the first Philippine government agency to be awarded such recognition. The Fund likewise strengthened its partnership with accredited developers by way of its various institutional lending programs, among which is the much-sought after program for the development of medium and high-rise condominium buildings. The program provides a ready inventory of condominium units for sale at affordable prices, and allows members to experience condominium style living in areas close to their places of work. In recent years, the Fund has embarked on its successful bid in the financial market, moving a step closer to its vision of becoming a premier and globally competitive provident financial institution. In 2001, the Fund floated P2 billion-worth of Pag-IBIG Housing Bonds to generate additional funds for its shelter financing programs, which was warmly received by both institutional and individual investors. The bonds matured in late 2006. HDMF Law of 2009 Recognizing HDMFs contributions through the years and the need to further strengthen its capability as the biggest source of housing finance in the country to date, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act No. 9679 or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009. The law was signed on 21 July 2009. Under the new HDMF law, membership to the Pag-IBIG Fund is made mandatory for all SSS- and GSIS-covered employees; uniformed members of the AFP, BFP, BJMP and PNP; as well as Filipinos employed by foreign-based employers. Now more than ever, Filipino workers will enjoy the benefits that are available only to Pag-IBIG members. Likewise, the law grants the HDMF exemption from tax payments like other government provident institutions. With its tax-exempt status reinstated, Pag-IBIG will have more funds to finance housing and short-term loans as well as investments in government securities. Income from these endeavors is distributed exclusively to Pag-IBIG members in the form of dividends. The HDMF Law of 2009 also gives the Board of Trustees the authority to set the contribution rates, thereby paving the way for members to save more for their future. Similarly, this will bolster the Funds resources for home financing. Pag-IBIG is an acronym which stands for Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industria at Gobyerno. To this day, the Pag-IBIG Fund continues to harness these four sectors of the society to work together owards providing Fund members with adequate housing through an effective savings scheme. III. Summary of the OJT Experience ~.. I learned a lot from my experiences as an On-the-Job Trainee of PAG-IBIG fund, Therma Mobile Inc. First of all, I’m very much gratified for the support and understanding of my superiors especially on times when I committed mistakes. More than any learning thought in school, I learned to be with others, to work with p eople. Furthermore, I’m very grateful that they expose me so much on what I must know regarding the work which suits my course. I’m very thankful that they treat me like them and they trust me with my work. I appreciate so much the working environment I had with in the company because it helps me absorbed what I need to know.. The everyday experiences I had in this company are really most treasured. The knowledge I obtain here are beyond compare than any other experiences I acquired from school and supplementary learning from books. What I had here will always be with me and rest assured I will apply what I’ve in every circumstance that I will encounter.. IV. Assessment of the OJT A. New knowledge, attitudes, and skills acquired -the knowledge that I’ve acquired on my On-the-Job Training is to become more specific from what I am saying because lots of clients may not understand the things that you explain to them and. -the attitudes that I’ve learned on my On-the-Job Training is to become consistent from what I’m telling and become strong in every struggle that may come and always smile when you are communicating your client and lastly don’t let others tread your personality and tell them that you are and educated person. I improve my typing skills and communication skills and also my analyzation skills because lots of clients are telling that they are member of Pag-Ibig before but they don’t have their own Pag-Ibig ID Number and some clients having conflicts with their names, birthdays, birthplace and it may bother them in filing their loan. B. Theories actually seen in practice ~.. As a new entrants into the organization, I ve learned that new hires have always required extra organizational attention to develop the required level of competence. Regardless of academic background or previous work experience, the new hires should be aware of he organization’s policies, culture, and mission; understand the goals and requirements of their work area; and use specific areas of knowledge, skills, and attitudes to do their jobs. These are all areas of competence that the employee should develop. Recently, fewer organizations seem to be hiring large numbers of new hires. It might seem that employee competence would be affected less by this situation. However, recent hiring patterns have only complicated the matter. Instead of relying on permanent new hires.. C. Feedback that can be given to the company or institution ~.. Continuous Improvement Efforts that can changes in employee competence also occur as a result of continuous improvement efforts.. Whenever teams of employees get together to improve how the work is done, they often result in recommendations for change. These recommendations can involve the simplification of work, use of a new tool, eliminate redundant steps in work process, or some combination of them all. When these recommendations are enacted, changes in employee competence can be expected and also Multiskilling for them to continuous improvement process suggests ways of making work more ef? ient, it often means that employees responsibilities must broaden or that they must become more multiskilled.. D. Benefits gained The programme seeks to provide the following benefits for trainees: * Trainees are provided with job experience, an invaluable asset for achieving gainful employment. * Trainees are exposed to the numerous advantages that are associated with being employed. They earn an income through a stipend but they also become more familiar with interpersonal relationships, networking, responsibility and the importance of interdependence within the working environment. Trainees get an opportunity to prove themselves to an employer and, based on their work performance and the existence of vacancies within the organization, they  may  eventually be employed on a more permanent basis. For employers: * The cost of this mutually beneficial programme is borne jointly by the government and employers so that the full financial burden falls on neither party. * By actively supporting the programme, companies have realized improved public image through their commitment to the national good as well as their contribution to full employment and an improved quality of life for all. The Government and employers are stakeholders in creating a more job ready labour force. E. Problems encountered ~.. During ojt, first problem is that you have to get along with the employ ees and clients.. You have to know them better and give all your best to make them satisfied when it comes to their concerns and applications.. Just be yourself and theyll like you.. V. Appendices A. Company Brochure B. Copy of the Endorsement Letter To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to endorse to you Mr. Arce P. Baldonado, my previous employee. I was his manager in ABS Engineering Company for almost five years. I didn’t make a mistake in promoting her to mechanical engineer last term. She makes it a point that she submits good outputs that even exceed the requirements’ necessitated quality. Mr. Baldonado is an enthusiastic trainee. He can work well with other people and also individually. But he is really more of a leader than a follower. He can manage and supervise other trainees as well. Little or no supervision is needed when he is working. He has a reliable working habit that gives you the assurance that you can always count on him.. Mr. Baldonado is also good in management planning and implementing programs and techniques. He is also open and willing to learn new things. I assure you that hiring he will be a good decision as she is one of the best employees that I had. He could be an asset to your team and the whole organization as well. In cases of emergency, he is always willing to help.. Should you need more information, please feel free to contact me. Thank you very much and have a nice day. Sincerely, Febie Ann Management C. Copy of the Training Plan D. Copy of the signed Waiver form E. Daily Time Record F. Quarterly Performance Appraisal Forms G. Certificate of Completion

Joseohines Influence on the great Napoleon essays

Joseohines Influence on the great Napoleon essays A young woman by the name of Josephine Rose-Marie Tascher arrived in France from the tropical island of Martinique in the midst of the greatest political and social up heaving. With her innate grace and charm she secured herself a position of prominence that enabled her to capture the affection of Napoleon Bonaparte an up and coming French artillery officer from Island of Creole (www.geocities.com/Paris/Parc.html). This was the beginning of one of histories most passionate and extraordinary love affairs. Napoleon instantly fell in love with Josephine and they married on March 8, 1776. The marriage of Josephine and the great Napoleon was one of turbulence, yet Josephine had a great impact on his decisions and his rise to power and fame. Josephine was a respectable and likable person with a high social status which aided to Napoleon and his advancements. Emotionally, Napoleon was affected greatly by Josephine both directly and indirectly. Josephine's influence on Napoleon's emot ions was profound in the way that it affected his decisions and actions. Also, Josephine was a smart and intelligent woman whose opinions were of great value to Napoleon and he often took them into consideration when making extremely important decisions. Socially, Josephine had a great impact on Napoleon's advancements and his success in many areas of life. Early on in the marriage Napoleon discovered how useful Josephine could be to forwarding his position in society and in the military. He often made her his advocate, taking her along when he went to ask an important favour of someone (Erickson 132). She would often speak on his behalf because her remarkable social skills, amiable personality (Cartland 104), and because of her high social status that she obtained from her first husband1. Remarkably, it was Josephine who in the winter of 1795 asked that Napoleon be given command of the Italian army (Erickson 132). Sure enough shortly after her...

First Battle of Bull Run in the American Civil War

First Battle of Bull Run in the American Civil War The First Battle of Bull Run was fought on July 21, 1861, during the American Civil War (1861-1865), and was the first major battle of the conflict. Advancing into northern Virginia, Union and Confederate troops clashed near Manassas Junction. Though Union forces held an early advantage, an overly-complex plan and the arrival of Confederate reinforcements led to their collapse and they were driven from the from field. The defeat shocked the public in the North and quashed hopes for a swift resolution to the conflict.   Background In the wake of the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 men to aid in putting down the rebellion. While this action saw additional states leave the Union, it also began a flow of men and material into Washington, DC. The growing body of troops in the nations capital was ultimately organized in to the Army of Northeastern Virginia. To lead this force, General Winfield Scott was compelled by political forces to select Brigadier General Irvin McDowell. A career staff officer, McDowell had never led men in combat and in many ways was as green as his troops. Assembling around 35,000 men, McDowell was supported to the west by Major General Robert Patterson and a Union force of 18,000 men. Opposing the Union commanders were two Confederate armies led by Brigadier Generals P.G.T. Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnston. The victor of Fort Sumter, Beauregard led the 22,000-man Confederate Army of the Potomac which was centered near Manassas Junction. To the west, Johnston was tasked with defending the Shenandoah Valley with a force of around 12,000. The two Confederate commands were linked by the Manassas Gap Railroad which would allow one to support the other if attacked (Map). Armies Commanders Union Brigadier General Irvin McDowell28,000-35,000 men Confederate Brigadier General P.G.T. BeauregardBrigadier General Joseph E. Johnston32,000-34,000 men Strategic Situation As Manassas Junction also provided access to the Orange Alexandria Railroad, which led into the heart of Virginia, it was critical that Beauregard hold the position. To defend the junction, Confederate troops began fortifying the fords to the northeast over Bull Run. Aware that the Confederates could shift troops along the Manassas Gap Railroad, Union planners dictated that any advance by McDowell be supported by Patterson with the goal of pinning Johnston in place. Under heavy pressure from the government to win a victory in northern Virginia, McDowell departed Washington on July 16, 1861. McDowells Plan Moving west with his army, he intended to make a diversionary attack against the Bull Run line with two columns while a third swung south around the Confederate right flank to cut their line of retreat to Richmond. To ensure that Johnston would not enter the fray, Patterson was ordered to advance up the Valley. Enduring extreme summer weather, McDowells men moved slowly and camped at Centreville on July 18. Searching for the Confederate flank, he dispatched Brigadier General Daniel Tylers division south. Advancing, they fought a skirmish at Blackburns Ford that afternoon and were forced to withdraw (Map). Frustrated in his efforts to turn the Confederate right, McDowell altered his plan and began efforts against the enemys left. His new plan called for Tylers division to advance west along the Warrenton Turnpike and conduct a diversionary assault across the Stone Bridge over Bull Run. As this moved forward, the divisions of Brigadier Generals David Hunter and Samuel P. Heintzelman would swing north, cross Bull Run at Sudley Springs Ford, and descend on the Confederate rear. To the west, Patterson was proving a timid commander. Deciding that Patterson would not attack, Johnston began shifting his men east on July 19. The Battle Begins By July 20, most of Johnstons men had arrived and were situated near Blackburns Ford. Assessing the situation, Beauregard intended to attack north towards Centreville. This plan was preempted early on the morning of July 21 when Union guns began shelling his headquarters at the McLean House near Mitchells Ford. Despite having crafted an intelligent plan, McDowells attack was soon beset with issues due to poor scouting and the overall inexperience of his men. While Tylers men reached the Stone Bridge around 6:00 AM, the flanking columns were hours behind due to poor roads leading to Sudley Springs. Early Success Union troops began crossing the ford around 9:30 AM and pushed south. Holding the Confederate left was the 1,100-man brigade of Colonel Nathan Evans. Dispatching troops to contain Tyler at the Stone Bridge, he was alerted to the flanking movement by a semaphore communication from Captain E.P. Alexander. Shifting around 900 men northwest, he assumed a position on Matthews Hill and was reinforced by Brigadier General Barnard Bee and Colonel Francis Bartow. From this position they were able to slow the advance of Hunters lead brigade under Brigadier General Ambrose Burnside (Map). This line collapsed around 11:30 AM when the brigade of Colonel William T. Sherman struck their right. Falling back in disorder, they assumed a new position on Henry House Hill under the protection of Confederate artillery. Though possessing momentum, McDowell did not push forward, but instead brought up artillery under Captains Charles Griffin and James Ricketts to shell the enemy from Dogan Ridge. This pause allowed Colonel Thomas Jacksons Virginia Brigade to reach the hill. Positioned on the reverse slope of the hill, they were unseen by the Union commanders. The Tide Turns Advancing his guns without support, McDowell sought to weaken the Confederate line before attacking. After more delays during which the artillerymen took heavy losses, he began a series of piecemeal attacks. These were repulsed with the Confederate counterattacking in turn. In the course of this action, Bee exclaimed, There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Some controversy exists regarding this statement as some later reports claimed that Bee was upset at Jackson for not moving to his brigades aid faster and that stone wall was meant in a pejorative sense. Regardless, the name stuck to both Jackson and his brigade for the remainder of the war. In the course of the fighting, there were several issues of unit recognition as uniforms and flags had not been standardized (Map). On Henry House Hill, Jacksons men turned back numerous attacks, while additional reinforcements arrived on both sides. Around 4:00 PM, Colonel Oliver O. Howard arrived on the field with his brigade and took a position on the Union right. He soon came under heavy attack by Confederate troops led by Colonels Arnold Elzey and Jubal Early. Shattering Howards right flank, they drove him from the field. Seeing this, Beauregard ordered a general advance which caused the tired Union troops to begin a disorganized retreat towards Bull Run. Unable to rally his men, McDowell watched as the retreat became a rout (Map). Seeking to pursue the fleeing Union troops, Beauregard and Johnston initially hoped to reach Centreville and cut off McDowells retreat. This was thwarted by fresh Union troops which successfully held the road to the town as well as a rumor that a new Union attack was in the offing. Small groups of Confederates continued the pursuit capturing Union troops as well as dignitaries who had come from Washington to watch the battle. They also succeeded in hampering the retreat by causing a wagon to overturn on the bridge over Cub Run, blocking Union traffic. Aftermath In the fighting at Bull Run, Union forces lost 460 killed, 1,124 wounded, and 1,312 captured/missing, while the Confederates incurred 387 killed, 1,582 wounded, and 13 missing. The remnants of McDowells army flowed back into Washington and for some time there was concern that the city would be attacked. The defeat stunned the North which had expected an easy victory and led many to believe that the war would be long and costly. On July 22, Lincoln signed a bill calling for 500,000 volunteers and efforts began to rebuild the army. These ultimately came under the commander of Major General George B. McClellan. Reorganizing the troops around Washington and incorporating newly-arriving units, he constructed what would become the Army of the Potomac. This command would serve as the Unions primary army in the east for the rest of the war.

Portfolio Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Portfolio Analysis - Assignment Example Portfolio analysis includes all efforts made by a firm towards the achievement of the best trade off between returns and risk tolerance. Portfolio analysis also involves the quantification of the financial and operational impact of a given portfolio, and it is quite vital as it helps firms to evaluate the performance of their investments and the effective timing of its returns. Each portfolio consists of sub-unit. For example, the financial sector can be made up of several banks or the Airline industry can be made up of several airline companies. The analysis of each portfolio helps an investor in making a decision when investing. Most likely, a rational investor will choose the best portfolio and screen out the ones that are not essential based on objective criteria. A good portfolio is characterized by high returns on investment (Reilly and Brown, 2011). Portfolio analysis requires subjective judgment as it is not easy to segment different industries. Description This report will analyze the performance of different portfolios that are displayed in FINVIZ to ascertain their trends at a particular time. Particularly, the analysis will be based on individual stock, the best and the worst performing portfolios. FINVIZ has several portfolios. Therefore, each industry has individual portfolios. Below is a table and a bar graph showing the performance of different portfolio listed in FINVIZ for a period of three months.... A good portfolio is characterized by high returns on investment (Reilly and Brown, 2011). Portfolio analysis requires subjective judgment as it is not easy to segment different industries. Description This report will analyze the performance of different portfolios that are displayed in FINVIZ to ascertain their trends at a particular time. Particularly, the analysis will be based on individual stock, the best and the worst performing portfolios. FINVIZ has several portfolios. Therefore, each industry has individual portfolios. Below is a table and a bar graph showing the performance of different portfolio listed in FINVIZ for a period of three months. No. Name Performance (Quarter) 1 Financial 5.87% 2 Industrial Goods 4.97% 3 Consumer Goods 4.84% 4 Services 3.62% 5 Healthcare 2.49% 6 Basic Materials 0.21% 7 Conglomerates -0.08% 8 Technology -2.95% 9 Utilities -4.06% Economic /Market analysis The contradictions that caused the 2008-2009 global recessions are not being resolved, and t here is a possibility in the near future of another recession due to: †¢There are vast amounts of household debt, which are unpaid, particularly one for home mortgages. †¢The global capitalist crisis for example, most immediate European crisis, which will reduce exports in the U.S market and destabilize its financial system. †¢Introduction of a policy by the U.S government which forced expenditure at the federal, state and local level to be cut. As a result, the Gross domestic product (GDP) went down by almost one-half percent in 2011. It might also cause more harm in the future †¢Increased rates of unemployment, growing rate of inequality, the growing power of financial capital and growth driven by

2 Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

2 Questions - Assignment Example Liking - so now that the consumer is fully aware and knowledgeable about the product, he begins to relate the product with itself and establishes a connection. At this stage, the marketer should already know which level consumers feel the product and should draft their ad campaigns accordingly. It is best for the marketer to now evaluate his consumer base as to whether they think the company offers a better product than its competitors. Conviction - the second to the last stage. Now the consumer is hit with strong advertising and reasons to want to purchase the product over the competitors. A conviction must be created within the mind of the client to support the product. So the marketer must push the advertisement in such a way that the consumer will feel that the competitors cannot compete with this particular brand. Purchase - the final step in the buyer readiness - stage. The effective product information dissemination and strong advertising push creates a conviction within the clients mind that gives him the confidence to push through with the purchase of the product. Once the sale occurs within the consumer base of the product, then the marketer can effectively say that he has done his job properly. 2. An appeal is what an advertiser doe sin order to get a consumer to purchase a product or service. There are three types of appeals that are commonly used in advertising by marketers. These appeal types are known as: Ethical Appeal - this is an appeal targeted at at someones or somethings image. The public does not normally come across this type of advertising unless it is election season. This is because politicians use this advertising platform to present themselves in a better light than the other candidates, oftentimes using criticisms to make them more appealing to the voter. Consumers though, normally do not use this kind of dialog unless they are writing to a company to complain

Megan Essay Example for Free

Megan Essay WORKSHOP-Make-up You must write a 100 word essay. You need to choice one or two of the following to write about. It must be typed. It must be turned in by May 2, 2013 in order to get credit. 1. Why do you want to get a college education? 2. Pick an experience from your own life and explain how it has influenced your development. 3. Describe your most meaningful achievements and how they relate to your field of study and your future goals . 4. Why do you want to be a _______? 5. How would you describe yourself as a human being? What quality do you like best in yourself and what do you like least? What quality would you most like to see flourish and which would you like to see wither? 6. Describe examples of your leadership experience in which you significantly influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. Consider responsibilities to initiatives taken in or out of school. 7. Describe any special interests and how you have developed knowledge in these areas. Give examples of your creativity – the ability to see alternatives; take diverse perspectives; come up with many, varied, or original ideas; or willingness to try new things. 8. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and steps you have taken to address this challenge. Include whether you turned to anyone in facing the challenge, the role the person played, and what you learned about yourself. 9. Explain what you have done to make your community a better place to live. Give examples of specific projects in which you have been involved over time. 10. Articulate the goals you have established for yourself and your efforts to accomplish these. Give at least one specific example that demonstrates your work ethic/diligence

Lit. Analysis :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most people are kind to strangers. For example, they might be willing to return a purse, or perhaps take two lost people into their home. Or, in some cases, you would keep a secret or something about the others’ lifestyle, to yourself. All this is seen in the short story â€Å"Searching for Summer† by Joan Aiken. In this paper, I intend to prove to you that the above statements are true.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the story â€Å"Searching for Summer†, two young people, Tom and Lily, are married. At this time, the sun was hidden behind large clouds from, possibly , a nuclear blast. This is not made clear to the reader in the story. For their honeymoon, Tom and Lily went off in search of the sun. they motorbike that they were driving on broke down so they stopped in the town of Molesworth. They met an elderly lady and her blind son at a bus stop. When they realized that the lady had left her purse, they decided to return it to her at her home into the woods. When they arrived, they discovered that the sun always shone at William and his mother‘s cabin. When they returned to the town to retrieve the fixed motorbike, they kept the sun secret to themselves when asked about it by the nosy innkeeper and left.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tom and Lily were kind to the elderly pair when they hardly knew them. They brought the old lady’s purse to her. â€Å"She walked so slowly.....I think we ought to take it to her, don’t you Tom?† (676). To me this quote shows how Lily is willing to help a person she doesn’t even know. Another time that this trait is shown is when we find out that Lily is still wearing her wedding sandals on the walk to the old lady’s home, even though it is painful. â€Å"Lily was still wearing her wedding sandals......†(676). Not very many people would be willing to go through pain and agony to return a purse. I know that I might consider waiting until I had more comfortable shoes. But this just goes to prove that some people are just kinder than others to strangers. But they aren’t the only ones in this story who are this way.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  William and his mother show kindness to Tom and Lily in the story. When Tom and Lily arrive at their cabin, the old lady shows much gratitude and invites them in, even though she has just met them.

Police and Criminal Justice

In the United States today, the average citizen is unaware of the corruption that goes on in our Criminal Justice System. Law enforcement and Police Officers are abusing their power. If this goes unnoticed it could grow larger and cause bigger problems in our country. The United States Criminal Justice System is one of the best in the whole world. In other countries there is little or no policing. Police officers in the US are well-trained and it is hard to reach their position without a strong education.A huge quality of a perfect Police Officer is a perfect control of temper because a quiet determined manner has more effect than violent action. But everyone isn't perfect and there are Police Officers out there that abuse their power and create a dangerous environment for the people around them. During the 1960's Police Brutality was at an all time high. Police were being biased and attacked those that they did not like because they had the power to do so. On March 3, 1991 when Rodn ey King and his friend Bryant Allen were driving in Los Angeles, they refused to stop for an officer trying to pull them over.Instead they increased their speed and when the Police finally stopped the car they viciously beat King for a period of two minutes. He was left with 11 skull fractures, brain damage, and kidney damage. The police officers did not realize though that their actions were being videotaped. They were eventually tried and found not guilty by an all white jury. This set off 6 days of rioting and the case prompted an era of reform. In the book, â€Å"Essentials of Criminal Justice† written by Larry Siegel, it notes some of the things done by Police Departments to make sure that Policemen are not abusing their power.These include, â€Å"increasing the intelligence standards on the Police Force, officers to be given mental exams to weed out officers that are mentally unfit for the job, and oral boards, which are sitting down with Police Chiefs and answering qu estions about the Job†. Although all these precautions are set to limit or diminish abusive power, it is still a problem that needs to be dealt with. According to Diane Wetendorf, who wrote a book on Abusing Power in Law enforcement she states that, â€Å"Society grants members of law enforcement enormous power over citizens to enable the police to keep the peace and to preserve social rder.They are granted a great deal of freedom to use their Judgment regarding which laws to enforce, when and against whom. This wide range of options and authority can lead to the abuse of their power. Some police officers come to see themselves not as simply enforcers of the law, but as the law itself. † Police that abuse their power look at things from a Personal view rather than a professional view. Police Brutality exists in many forms including False Arrest, Intimidation, Racial Profiling, Sexual Abuse and Surveillance abuse.This exists because officers are not rotecting and serving , they are rather going after those that they do not like. In other Countries, Police Departments are corrupt and work with Politicians to create a world run by the Police and Politics. In alt â€Å"H the Sky', a book written by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn, the police are very corrupt and it causes mayhem in their country. The police in India are tied into Politics and Criminals. The police work with the leaders of prostitution businesses, called brothels. The police take bribes from the leaders and look the other way when something wrong is happening.In Half the Sky stories are told about the corruption within the Police Forces. When people come running to the police about a rape or something bad that had been done to them, the police usually side with the criminals and nothing is done about the crime. In India the average person doesn't have a say at all. If they are convicted of a crime they did not do they cannot go to court and have a trial like we do. They are sent right to Jail without being questioned. Police work with High power criminals and run most of the big prostitution businesses.This is what the US ould lead to if Policemen that abuse their power are not stopped. On November 7, 2013, I conducted an interview with Alice Perry about corruption in Law Enforcement. Alice Perry is a Criminal Justice Professor at Westfield State University and has a huge background in Law Enforcement. She has prosecuted many Police Officers in the US that have abused their power. She has convicted officers for stealing drugs from the evidence room, and also an officer that was selling drugs in state prison. She also told me a story about the police abusing their power in Etowah County, Alabama.According to a blog on the American Civil Liberties Union's website, it states that â€Å"About once a month, a marked sheriffs car shows up, unannounced and after dark, outside a family's home in Alabama. Uniformed officers walk to the family's door, in plain sight of every neighbor. They knock and demand to be let in. If the family refuses, the police threaten them with arrest. Once inside, the officers search the family's home – all without ever obtaining a warrant. † When one member of the family was a child he was convicted of a sexual offense and had to register as a sex ffender.The policeman had no right to search the house randomly without a warrant, and caused unwanted attention and embarrassment to the family. This is police abuse of power and must be stopped or it may happen to families throughout the country. Perry also explained to me that it is crucial for policing to be honest and law-abiding because they have so much power and could cause harm to civilians. They must perform the Job as if they are always being videotaped. I brought up the Half the Sky book and the issues there and asked if she thought that law enforcement layed a big role on why people live such a harsh life there.She replied, â€Å"Absolutely. Ty ranny exists in those countries. If you're afraid of the police you won't say anything or report crimes because you're afraid of being thrown in Jail. In M ©xico 45% of prosecutors and Judges are on cartels payroll. Around 50% of police officers are on the same payroll. The cartels and Politician's have a relationship together and this creates a lawless environment. † We must not let the Police become power driven and turn into corrupt officers like the Police in India. There is a way to stop this. We must ecome aware of Police Brutality and Abusive power and act on it.State, Federal, and Local Authorities should ensure that abuses including torture, brutality, and other excessive force by Police officers should not be tolerated and the Officers should be held accountable for their actions and be brought to Justice. Police Officers are using excessive force and are not getting in trouble at all. The victims are not speaking up and this could cause the abusive Police Officers to think that they can't be stopped and they will continue doing so. Another solution to all of this is to introduce training rograms designed to minimize the risk of unnecessary force.These training programs should include gender issues and sensitivity to minority groups. This would help steer a lot of Police Officers from being Abusive toward minority groups and become less biased. Other training programs should include ethics and integrity training. We can help out by making the community aware of the issue, whether it's by having guest speakers, showing videos, or having meetings and explaining the issue. If we don't take action then our Law Enforcement could become as corrupt as other countries police forces.

Interior Designer: Barbara Barry

Interior design is professional practice that constitutes anything that is within a building: windows, finishes, lights and furnishings. These designs are development by interior designers to improve the beauty or taste of the building. There are various designers who are associated with interior designs and their relevant works are exemplary. One of these interior designers is Barbara Barry whose work has contributed to designing and inclusions to Hall of Fame and various awards. Personal life of Barbara Barry, her inclusion to Hall of Fame, her contribution to interior design are been analyzed.Additionally, her influence towards interior design is discussed. Personal Data of the Designer Barbara Barry was born in San Francisco, California to family that constituted of artists and painters. All the family members who were associated with painting and artistry taught her the values of designing. Originality of Business Her personal interest was born by her mother. Her mother believed that style and money were two different things. She acquired important attributes in design from the things that her mother was doing.For example, her mother used to paint her room in wonderful colors and named them for the type mood that they evoked. This made Barbara to learn in an early stage about the power that surrounded her and her emotions which she uses in her designing work until now. According to Barbara, color is the most effective stroke in designing and the lighting that is mostly preferred is lamplight that is filtered through a shade that is positioned at eye level. Study Institution Barbara Barry studied in her home town of San Francisco in 1985, when she attended the Academy of Art College.Academy of Art College has a reputation in producing artists and designers. After her parents knowledge on their daughter tastes in artistry and design decided to take her to this college. They knew that the collage will improve and monitor her artistry and design aspect. Type o f design She has a reputation of transforming homes of Hollywood’s celebrities and other power brokers through her unique style: casual elegance. In this style, she appreciates and reflects history which is a close attention for desire and comfort. She brings in the issue of a rural setting or traditional aspect of life to the designs that she greats.Through her knowledge in design, she has developed some products for Kallista. She used her knowledge of transitional design style to create the powder room. These collections constitute sleek and refined products which include faucet and lavatory, bath accessories and furniture that contained mirror and vanity. She uses different mediums which range from home furniture to carpets. She designs carpets for Tufenkian Tibetan Carpets, designs fabrics and furniture for Hickory Business Furniture (HBF) for Boyd Lighting she developed table lamps.Currently, she has introduced a crystal and flatware artwork into the market that comes in the general term of china ware. Her studio contains a diverse set of talents that she uses for designing process through the creation of sketches and water colors. In incorporating light, color, texture and design, she portrays her work like a breathing life in a room setting. Recently, Barbara Barry designer has created a line of wonderful home scents that have inspired by scents that are derived from her own home.The candles have been mad with assistance from Queen Laura, with scents from orange blossom, sandalwood and star jasmine for the sitting or living room. For bedroom, she has developed scents citrus zest that contains bits of vanilla. In addition, there are scents for other rooms that are within a building. Barbara has an understanding in living graciously in a scenario which constitutes tenacity, design acumen, and palpable passion. She designs arts that catch the eyes of residence and other people who access the different locations of a building.The finishes of the desi gns are beautiful, entice the eyes, and brings in a calming effect. Reason for being Interior Designer Barbara was inspired by other designers including Jean Frank, Albert Hadley, and artists like Modrian, Egon Shiele and Richard Deibenkon. Most of her liking to design industry is through the inspiration that she received from her mother who used to watch her mother while painting that her mother practiced at the beach. She has been inspired by her family members and the college that she went through.In the art collage, she was motivated into design business and additional teachings that she obtained from the birth place. Inducted to Hall of Fame She was awarded â€Å"Star of Design† that was because of her contribution to Interior Design in 1998 at Pacific design Center in the city of Los Angeles. She was awarded the award by the Interior Design Magazine. During the 1996, in High Point and in the International Home Furnishings Market some of her collection was introduced. Th is was a successful implementation and in the spring of 1997, other pieces were added into the collection.Behind the creations there was an elegant force which Barry integrated her post modern west Coast design and integrated with traditional design that is related to charms. She has received numerous honors and awards. Additionally, she has been included in the Architectural Digests (AD 100) which is an annual listing that constitutes the best architectures and designers all over the world. Moreover, she received the Designer of the year award which was awarded by the Traditional Home Magazine, Star of Design that was given by the West Week in Los Angeles and another award by the Interiors magazine which was called Best in Residential Design.In 2000, she was inducted to Hall of Fame due to her contributions to design work. Her contribution to design and artistry made her inducted to the Hall of Fame. Place of Work Barbara Barry has been ranked among the top prominent world talented designers. In fact, her name is a blend of livability and sophistication, the signature of Barbara Barry interior brings in an impression of a calm home that can be an escape place for the everyday hustle. She has worked for 10 years as a designer in Los Angeles and currently her design is found all over the world.Through her work, she has collaborated with various architects because the product that she designs has a relation to the landscape and landscape aspect. Wallace Neff estate is some landmark homes that she designed in California. All this development is traced back to 1985 when she started the Barbara Barry Incorporation which brought in interior design and later developed into commercial premises. The company has grown to embrace commercial, residential, textile, product design and furniture for various organizations. Some of her work is depicted in London Savoy Hotel, Brooks Brother, Eli Broad and Baccarat Crystal.Barbara Barry is a celebrated designer with designing as pects that range in furniture, buildings and scents. It contains sensual lines that create a luxury and elegance kind of lifestyle. Her designs concentrate on detail, orchestrated interiors in which forms a calm and tranquility in the room scenario. She has taste in colors and as a taste in certain hues, sea foam, and taupe and the relevant lines, textures and harmonizing patterns. Her designs begin from upholstery, water decanters to the minor details of linen folds, which generally are not overproduced.She developed her firm in 1985, focused in residential buildings, and later launched the Barbara Barry Home that was an accessory for private clients. She entered various licensing product design with other companies: McGuire, Baker, HBF, Tufenkian Rugs, Baccarat Crystal, and Boyd Lightning. Products that she produced included textiles, furniture, china and fixtures that have solidified her stance in terms of taste. All this revolves in a mix and match classicism that usually avoids trappings that are associated with nostalgia. Further more of late she as turned into contract design.This includes retail programs Brooks Brothers’ Manhattan flagship and spa in different locations. These creations highlight her talent through the design that is in the expensive floor plan and also such designs is evident in other designs such as art collectors that constitutes Eileen Norton and Peter. Works Cited Rehema, W. â€Å"Interior Designs Perspective: Barbara Barry. † Annals of Research 24. 3 (2008): 53 – 60 Dominic, Bradbury. American Designers at Home: Contemporary, Fusion and Classic Interiors. New York: Pavilion Publishers, 2004. pp. 123 – 128

Con Conflict essays

Abortion - The Pro/Con Conflict essays Abortion, the Pro/Con Conflict Throughout the United States, the use of abortion is an ongoing controversy and a prominent issue in modern day society. Questions are constantly raised, whether one is Pro-Choice or Pro-Life. Whether it is a moral dilemma, or just simply wrong. Since the beginning of civilization the process of abortion has been practiced, however, by the mid 1800s, many people sought to criminalize the practice. By 1880 abortion had been banned in the United States, by way of protesting via state legislatures. Although abortions were outlawed, they were still being performed illicitly and illegally (Flanders, 5, 36). Women began fleeing to Europe and other foreign areas of the world, where abortion was still legal. By the 1960/s, abortion became a phenomenon, and many women began challenging the law, however none of them succeeded. In March of 1970, a woman by the name of Norma McCorvey sought out to have an abortion due to her meager standard of living. To hide her identity she changed her name to Jane Roe for the case, and filed suit in Dallas, Texas where Henry Wade was district attorney at the time. Eventually, Roe won the case, because the law was declared a violation to the right to personal liberty guarantee by the Fourteenth Amendment (Durrett, 14-15). Since then, abortion has been legal, however, around the mid 1980s conflict began to erupt once more. Protested marches, sit-ins, and violent crimes began to take place. When a person is Pro-Life, they feel that abortion is an injustice, and at many times they take the law into their own hands to prove their point. The activists believe their law is further than that of any state or nation, and that they are obeying to a higher law the law of God (Day, 77). At many times, the protestors gather around clinics where abortions are performed, and attempt to approach patients cars with threats, and/or physical har...

Archaeological Hearths - Features With Benefits

Archaeological Hearths - Features With Benefits A hearth is an archaeological feature that represents the remnants of a purposeful fire. Hearths can be extremely valuable elements of an archaeological site, as they are indicators of a whole range of human behaviors and provide an opportunity for obtaining radiocarbon dates for the period that people used them. Hearths are typically used to cook food, but may also have been used to heat-treat lithics, burn pottery and/or a variety of social reasons such a beacon to let others know where you are, a way to keep predators away, or simply provide a warm and inviting gathering place. The purposes of a hearth are often discernible within the remnants: and those purposes are key to understanding the human behaviors of the people who used it. Types of Hearths Over the millennia of human history, there have been a wide variety of intentionally-built fires: some were simply piles of wood stacked on the ground, some were excavated into the ground and covered to provide steam heat, some were built up with adobe brick for use as earth ovens, and some were stacked upwards with a mix of fired brick and potsherds to act as ad hoc pottery kilns. A typical archaeological hearth falls in the middle range of this continuum, a bowl-shaped soil discoloration, within which is evidence that the contents have been exposed to temperatures between 300-800 degrees centigrade. How do archaeologists identify a hearth with this range of shapes and sizes? There are three crucial elements to a hearth: inorganic material used to shape the feature; organic material burned in the feature; and evidence of that combustion. Shaping the Feature: Fire-Cracked Rock In places in the world where rock is readily available, the defining characteristic of a hearth is often plenty of fire-cracked rock, or FCR, the technical term for rock thats been cracked by exposure to high temperatures. FCR is differentiated from other broken rock because it has been discolored and thermally altered, and although often the pieces can be refit together, there is no evidence of impact damage or deliberate stone working. However, not all FCR is discolored and cracked. Experiments recreating the processes that make fire-cracked rock have revealed that the presence of discoloration (reddening and/or blackening) and spalling of larger specimens depends both on the kind of rock being used (quartzite, sandstone, granite, etc.) and the kind of fuel (wood, peat, animal dung) used in the fire. Both of those drive the temperatures of a fire, as does the length of time the fire is lit. Well-fed campfires can easily create temperatures up to 400-500 degrees centigrade; long-sustained fires can get to 800 degrees or more. When hearths have been exposed to the weather or agricultural processes, disturbed by animals or humans, they can still be identified as scatters of fire-cracked rock. Burned Bone and Plant Parts If a hearth was used to cook dinner, the leftovers of what was processed in the hearth may include animal bone and plant matter, which can be preserved if turned to charcoal. Bone which was buried under fire becomes carbonized and black, but bones on the surface of a fire are often calcined and white. Both types of carbonized bone can be radiocarbon-dated; if the bone is large enough, it can be identified to species, and if it is well-preserved, often cut-marks resulting from butchery practices can be found. Cut-marks themselves can be very useful keys to understanding human behaviors. Plant parts can also be found in hearth contexts. Burned seeds are often preserved in hearth conditions, and microscopic plant residues such as starch grains, opal phytoliths and pollen may also be preserved if conditions are right. Some fires are too hot and will damage the shapes of plant parts; but on occasion, these will survive and in an identifiable form. Combustion The presence of burned sediments, burnt patches of earth identified by discoloration and exposure to heat, is not always macroscopically apparent, but can be identified by micromorphological analysis, when microscopically thin slices of earth are examined to identify tiny fragments of ashed plant material and burnt bone fragments. Finally, non-structured hearthshearths that either were placed on the surface and were weathered by long-term wind exposure and rain/frost weathering, made without large stones or the stones were deliberately removed later and are not marked by burned soilshave still been identified at sites, based on the presence of concentrations of large quantities of burnt stone (or heat-treated) artifacts. Sources This article is a part of the About.com guide to the Archaeology Features, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Backhouse PN, and Johnson E. 2007. Where were the hearths: an experimental investigation of the archaeological signature of prehistoric fire technology in the alluvial gravels of the Southern Plains. Journal of Archaeological Science 34(9):1367-1378. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2006.10.027Bentsen SE. 2014. Using Pyrotechnology: Fire-related features and activities with a focus on the African Middle Stone Age. Journal of Archaeological Research 22(2):141-175.Fernndez Peris J, Gonzlez VB, Blasco R, Cuartero F, Fluck H, Saà ±udo P, and Verdasco C. 2012. The earliest evidence of hearths in Southern Europe: The case of Bolomor Cave (Valencia, Spain). Quaternary International 247(0):267-277. Goldberg P, Miller C, Schiegl S, Ligouis B, Berna F, Conard N, and Wadley L. 2009.Bedding, hearths, and site maintenance in the Middle Stone Age of Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 1(2):95-122. Gowlett JAJ, and Wrangham RW. 2013. Earliest fire in Africa: tow ards the convergence of archaeological evidence and the cooking hypothesis. Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa 48(1):5-30. Karkanas P, Koumouzelis M, Kozlowski JK, Sitlivy V, Sobczyk K, Berna F, and Weiner S. 2004. The earliest evidence for clay hearths: Aurignacian features in Klisoura Cave 1, southern Greece. Antiquity 78(301):513–525.Marquer L, Otto T, Nespoulet R, and Chiotti L. 2010. A new approach to study the fuel used in hearths by hunter-gatherers at the Upper Palaeolithic site of Abri Pataud (Dordogne, France). Journal of Archaeological Science 37(11):2735-2746. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2010.06.009Sergant J, Crombe P, and Perdaen Y. 2006. The ‘invisible’ hearths: a contribution to the discernment of Mesolithic non-structured surface hearths. Journal of Archaeological Science 33:999-1007.

Introduction to Sociology of Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Introduction to Sociology of Religion - Essay Example attributed to the fact that, similar to sociological tradition in studying religion, the book shows a sound rationality how religion in society can be related to most of the social institutions and social groups. However, this is not to justify how true or false a religion can be, but instead, narrows the understanding of religion in the social context. Therefore, this book gives a reflection of how the society perceives sociology. It mainly concentrates on the culture of the Americans and how it interacts socially with the other religions and cultures. In a reflection, the different sections in religion can be analyzed through demographics and ethnography cultural perspectives not excluding the modernized political and economic perception to it. It is thus important to indicate that, Johnstone’s effort to simplifying the relations of society and religion is because based on the fact that it needs to be understood well. Therefore, he clarifies on some key issues that drive some sense into most individuals and even groups in evaluating why some of attitudes, social actions and thoughts can be affected by religion (Johnstone 90). Thus, religion can be defined in a variety of ways. The definitions of religion are based on all the previous general definition of religion in the social context. First, religion can be considered to be only the sacred things that happen in life, other than the evils. This is Durkheim’s first definition which gives a difference on how sacred can be viewed differently from the other actions which can still be part of a religion. This definition includes those that are widely accepted by the other sociologists. These sociologists view religion as what exactly life can be and what is more into it after death. This is the broader perception of the whole issue. Another key vital definition of religion in a sociological context is how it relates to religion in supernatural ways. It consist more of interpretation of beliefs that are