Dental hygienist Essay

The passage I read is called â€Å"I have finally found what I wanted to be when I grew up.† It is a personal success story about Shelia S. Webster’s journey to becoming a registered nurse. This passage is very relatable to what I want to be when I grow up because I would like to become a Pediatric Nurse. Being a Pediatric Nurse means that you devote your knowledge and skills to caring for children from infancy to late teen years, and their families. In this passage Shelia writes about how much work and time it took for her to become a nurse. Shelia first started in the medical field as a labor and delivery staff nurse in 1993, but a few factors of this job quickly had Shelia second guessing her career (Webster). One factor that made her job less appealing was the stress of working in a high risk environment (Webster). The second factor was the late hours, between work and school she hardly had any time to herself (Webster). The third factor that made Shelia want to change her career was the restricting care she could provide in her facility (Webster). All of that stress was making her reach her breaking point (Webster). While still in school, her first step to her career was signing up for the legal nurse consulting seminar and before the semester was over she knew that nursing was the job for her (Webster). She was willing to do anything to get herself into the nursing program, to achieve this she became a claims analyst at a malpractice insurance carrier (Webster). She was determined to learn as much as she could at the insurance company and set up an independent LNC (Legal Nursing Consulting) practice in about two years (Webster). Her second step was to take a pilot test, and it was an eye opener for her (Webster). The pilot test is like a pre-test to help Shelia get an understanding of what the final exam will be like. Reality set in fast and she was determined to do the best she could on the final exam. When it was time for her to take the Legal Nursing Consulting exam she did not hesitate to show her strengths. She was prepared for the exam due to the practice she got from the pilot test, and was completely confident in herself (Webster). In 1998 she got her Legal Nursing Consulting license and said â€Å"I am very proud to have those initials in front of my last name for the rest of my life.† (Webster) There are a few reasons why Shelia’s story  relates to my life. When I started my junior year of high school I went to the career center for dental assisting. I was expecting to go to enroll into Columbus State Community College, get a major in Dental Hygiene, and then get my Dental Hygienist license in two years. However, after the last two years of being in the Dental Assisting program, like Shelia, I knew I did not want to be what I thought I wanted to be. I am going in a new direction, to major in nursing. One reason is, since I was young I always took extra concern for people’s wellbeing and would like to make a career out of it. I would also like to expand my nursing and become a Pediatrician. The second reason why Shelia’s story is relatable to mine is that I am great with little kids and I think that being a Pediatrician would be a good career for me. At 19 years old, looking for a place to start my career, I applied at the local daycare called â€Å"Bloom Latch Key.† It is a morning and afternoon program for grade school children to come to if they are too young to stay home by themselves to wait for the bus, or for the bus to drop them off at their houses. Finally, the third reason why Shelia’s story is relatable to my life is because I am getting a job as a child care provider to get my career started like Shelia worked as a labor and delivery staff member while going to school to become a nurse. While I am working for the Bloom Latch Key, I am furthering my communication skills with children and becoming more sociable with them by helping them with their homework and interacting with them on the playground. To become a Pediatric Nurse I will need an additional four to six years of schooling and take training classes throughout my career. For example; researchers find new diseases every day, so to keep the parents up to date with the proper knowledge nurses take additional classes to learn about the newly founded diseases. Once I become a Pediatric nurse I will be making about 48,000 dollars salary as a starter and work my way up to 68,000 dollars a year. Similar to Shelia, I am working very hard to achieve my goal in life, to become a Pediatric Nurse. I will do so by continuing my job at the Bloom Latch Key and building social skills with the children. I will also continue to work hard in school and do whatever it takes to become a Pediatric Nurse. Work Cited â€Å"Personal Success Stories – American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC).† Personal Success Stories – American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC). N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013.

Online Enrollment Related Study

I was able to use the student enrollment system of University of Ulster for the first time and it was a WEB based enrollment system/application. A web application or web app is an application that is accessed via the Internet or an Intranet. Web applications are popular due to ubiquity of the client. The ability to update and maintain web applications without distributing and installing software on potentially thousands of client computers are key reasons for their popularity. A significant advantage of building web applications to support a standard browser feature is the ability to perform as specified, regardless of the operating system installed on a given client and it enables the students, faculty, and administrators of the institution to gain 24-hour access and use to the proposed system via a client computer without any needs of installing or distributing any software.The Automated Enrollment System of University of Ulster aims for an accurate, user friendly, efficient system that can help both the student and personnel for fast data processing of enrollment. And now we are going to talk whether we have achieved that aim or not. I was able to use the student enrollment system of University of Ulster for the first time and it was a WEB based enrollment system/application. A web application or web app is an application that is accessed via the Internet or an Intranet. Web applications are popular due to ubiquity of the client.The ability to update and maintain web applications without distributing and installing software on potentially thousands of client computers are key reasons for their popularity. A significant advantage of building web applications to support a standard browser feature is the ability to perform as specified, regardless of the operating system installed on a given client and it enables the students, faculty, and administrators of the institution to gain 24-hour access and use to the proposed system via a client computer without any n eeds of installing or distributing any software.

Personal Ethics paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Personal Ethics paper - Essay Example In certain cases these all are being determined by the universities or any other institutional bodies of the university but the professors’ decision are also involved. the paper looks at different ethical codes of conduct and the leadership principles which the college professor’s are expected to incorporate in their day-to-day professional demeanor. Professors are the members of the university who teaches the students on behalf of the University. Hence as the University has certain rules and regulation the professor also follows certain ethics and principles while imparting education to the students. Teaching is regarded as an art and while teaching certain things are always taken into concerns like the way things are to be taught and what is to be taught. (Markie, 1994, p. 3) There are certain professional responsibilities which are expected from the college teachers. (A statement of principles for college teacher of education, 1954, p. 128) The relationship of the student and teacher is generally cooperative and there are significant sets of power that has been granted to the teachers. And the individual power of the teacher is very obvious in the classroom where the teachers or the professors determine the on goings of the class and evaluate the performance of the students. He has the sole power to do it. The power that has been given to the professors can be utilized to make it â€Å"supportive† or â€Å"destructive†. (Markie, 1994, p. 6) The ethical professor should be guided by the basic three principles, they are: â€Å"demonstration of equity and fairness†, â€Å"attention to cheating†, â€Å"responsible use of power†. (Klein, 2005, p. 4) Benjamin Bloom (1956) categorized learning activities into three essential parts- cognitive (including mental performance and the quest for knowledge), affective (encourage feelings and passion or generate the right attitude) and psychomotor (physical skills and manual efforts). the effective leadership of the college

The Geology of Dagger Mountain at big bend national park Term Paper

The Geology of Dagger Mountain at big bend national park - Term Paper Example Several cretaceous sedimentary rocks are present and they include buda, boquillas, santa Elena, and del rio. The site also consists of two faults which include the basin and range high angel fault and Laramide thrust fault which create a graben. The Dagger Mountain has an elevation of 4173 feet and 1300 feet of relief. The anticline of the mountain is trending at north- northwest within the Sierra del Carmen. There are a number of reverse faults and folds. They are located on the eastern side of cordilleran orogen. On the eastern Trans-pecos province, there are mafic sills found near the Dagger Mountain. The mafic sills are made up of magmas that crystallized after cordilleran contraction and at the beginning of range and basin extension (Cloud et al 121). The anticline of Dagger Mountain is one of the laramide orogen (Cullen et al 105). This is a period of mountain building which started seventy to eighty million years ago in the late cretaceous. It then ended thirty to fifty five million years ago. Laramide orogen was triggered by subduction of tectonic plate and took place in sequence of pulses. The intrusions of Sierra del Carmen towards the Trans-Pecos province, occurred during the mafic and alkali rich felsic lava flows, and the pyroclastic flows (Cullen et al 106). The lava flow formed a northwest trending belt which intruded the north part of Mexico. This belt holds the Dagger Mountain. At the end of laramade orogeny, most of the magmas were produced by the mantle upwelling. The production of magmas was triggered by the foundering subduction of farallon plates. The field trip made to the big bend national park was based on the study and observation of dagger mountain’s cretaceous sedimentary rocks as well as igneous intrusions. The following were some of the discovery made in the field: There are a number of cretaceous sedimentary rocks discovered within and around

Controversy Analysis -- Death Penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Controversy Analysis -- Death Penalty - Essay Example The topic is of interest to me in that I would like to know why some countries still practice death penalty and why others abolished. Personally I view death penalty as inhuman and that it is better for capital offenders to be life imprisoned than executed. They could be given a chance to live because humans are made to make mistakes. Therefore, the death penalty should be banned and other form of punishments should be embarked to judge capital criminal offenders. In â€Å"ancient Greece’s death penalty dilemma and its influence on modern society† by Robert Blecker explains the history of death penalty, and reasons why abolitionist are against the act. The abolitionists term the act as being cruel, inconsistent and do not value human beings. They further claim that death, as a punishment is not equitable to any punishment regardless of the size of the crime. According to Blecker, the death penalty should be abolished since it goes against human culture (Blecker 60). He further adds that for the past 30 years many countries are in a big dilemma on how to punish people who have committed capital crimes. From 1200-800 B.C homicide was termed to be more personal than a capital crime. The victim’s family without the involvement of the law punished a person who had committed murder through death (Blecker 60). The victim’s family either killed him or took a monetary exchange equitable to the crime committed. However, in ancient Greece they claimed that monetary value is not comparable to the blood of a human being. Therefore, a capital criminal offender just punishment was death. For instance, in Athens once, the family of the victim went public, the offender was considered a pollutant to the society and anyone had a mandate to kill the offender once spotted. Nevertheless, over the years many European countries have abolished capital punishment and have embraced life imprisonment for capital offenders. The US however, still practice the act for any individual found guilty of capital offenses. Constitutional debate on death penalty has been going on for years, with some philosophers dismissing the act (Blecker 61). The law is required to be careful when the decision is made to execute an individual. Certain considerations should be made on whether the victim of the death penalty is a juvenile or not, or whether the individual is mentally stable. In addition, the abolitionist also recommends that one time criminal offenders should not be on death penalty, because given a chance they can change. On the contrary, Blecker also discussed the issue of morals with regard to death penalty (Blecker 64). He argued that most people are against death penalty terming it as immoral and inconsiderate. Nonetheless, moral norms differ from one society to another, thus some communities view death penalty as the right way of punishing capital criminal offenders. Some philosophers argue that death penalty was established for the soul purp ose of revenge and retribution. Therefore, death penalty should be practiced based on reasonable facts rather than revenge and hatred (Blecker 65). The article is more about death penalty in ancient Greece. Thus, the article gives in detail the history of death penalty and how the society views the issue. Additionally, the article also gives the changes that have taken place over the years with regard to death penalty. The article’s strong points include the origins of death sentence and the view of abolitionist. Robert Blecker is a professor of law in New York

The Qatari Police I have the outline Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Qatari Police I have the outline - Essay Example This guard serves as a cache for the regular forces while reinforcing the metropolitan police as required. The rate of crime in Qatar is normally low due to the large presence of police throughout the country. Although occurrences of violence tend to be rare, they have happened more frequently as a result of Doha’s population, as well as economic pressures on emigrant workers. There are reports of verbal and physical harassments of unaccompanied emigrant women by local and third country national young men. On the other hand, reports of petty theft tend to be infrequent though they have been growing; they include ATM and credit card theft, pick pocketing and purse snatching (Peter & Dilip 10). The main police divisions are immigration, criminal investigation, trials and courts-martial, traffic, prisons, emergency police, civil defense, nationality and passports. The criminal investigation division tends to be accountable for ordinary criminal cases, while Kuwait State Security tends to investigate security-related offenses. Both have concerns with investigations of terrorism, as well as those suspected of collaborating with Iraq. The U.S. Department of State evaluates the present crime rate in Qatar as being low. However, according to reports by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, there is a substantial increase in crime levels in Qatar since 2005 and there are a projection of continued rise in years to come. Given the gigantic number of construction projects, as well as immense economic activity ongoing all through Qatar, particularly in and around Doha, along with the Industrial and Energy producing areas, there has been the establishment of foreign labor camps to cont ain the immense foreign labor pool resident within Qatar. These areas have higher occurrences of crime compared to other areas in Qatar. In areas of Doha, as well as its environs, all through weekends and after hours, huge numbers of foreign workers

Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 35

Marketing - Assignment Example Each marketing manager can use these variables in a distinctive manner as per his desire or market requirement (Kotler, 2003). For example if Pepsi’s marketing mix is considered its product is a drink that is aimed at thirst need of humans, its pricing is quite affordable which varies with variety of SKUs (stock keeping units). Its place strategy is based on the  vast distribution network that is aimed at making Pepsi available in every other store, shop and majority of restaurants. The promotional strategy that Pepsi uses consists of variety of promotional tools such as advertising, public relations, sponsorships, personal selling, and sales promotion. Marketing environment is the environment in which any organization operates. There are variable forces inside and outside the organization that affects an organization’s performance. These factors can either be close to the organization which are referred as micro-environment factors or can be larger societal factors referred as macro-environment factors. Micro-environment includes an organization’s customers, competitors, distributors, suppliers where as the macro-environment factors include political, legal, social, technological forces that affect an organizations external operating environment. BCG matrix tends to categorize different products either in a portfolio or product line in terms of their market share and growth. There are four classifications in BCG matrix namely stars, cash cows, dogs and question marks. Stars are the ones that have high share and high growth such as Android or You Tube. Secondly, Cash cows are the ones that have high share but lo growth such as Google. Thirdly dogs are the ones with low share and low growth such as Orkut or Diet Coke. Lastly, Question marks are those that enjoy high growth but have low share such as Google

Company law Reform Bill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Company law Reform Bill - Essay Example These directors together are called the Board of Directors. Since all the directors cannot execute individually they elect one among them as a Managing Director. The board of Directors will take all policy decisions in the Board meeting and the Managing Director executes the decision taken by the board. The proviso 741(1) deals with the definition of directors, this proviso is an inclusive provision which says the directors include properly appointed directors, "de jure" directors like "governor", not properly appointed directors such as "de facto directors" and "shadow" directors. [Charlesworth & Morse, Company Law (1999)] a De facto Directors: De facto Directors are those who act openly as directors and they claim to be directors on they being performed the functions of the directors, though they are not properly appointed. These directors are recognized as de facto directors for only that period during which they acted so. [Charlesworth & Morse, Company Law(1999)] b It is a decided law that person who claims to be director by de facto has to make a plea and establish that he has undertaken such function of the company which would have been undertaken by the director only, but not simply to show that he has under taken the and discharged the functions which the management below the directors could not be under taken and discharged. Re Richborough Furniture Ltd 2 In this case it was held that De facto director should satisfy either of two tests such as (a) he is sole person directing the affairs of the company or (b) he was acting on par with other directors in directing the affairs of the company, if there are other properly appointed directors. Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v. Lating 3 In this case while approving the two tests it was held that by simply satisfying either of the two test is not sufficient to claim as de fact director, but he should be still acting as such, which means that the de facto director is recognized as director only during the period in which he is acting as per the two tests. Once he ceased to be acting as such he would be ceasing to be de facto director. The court in another case Secretary of State for Trade and Industry v. Hickling 4 approved this Shadow Directors: Section 741(2) of the companies act 1985 defines shadow director as 'a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of a company are accustomed to act'. Professional persons on whose, advise the directors act are excluded from this definition. Shadow directors are vicariously liable for the action of the directors whom they appoint or control. This provision aims at preventing the persons escaping from the liability under the shelter of a board of marionette. The directors of a subsidiary who are working under the directions of the directors of the parent company then the directors of the parent company are called the shadow directors. (LS Sealy, Cases and Materials in Company Law) c Re Hydrodam(Corby)ltd 1 The court held in this case that one has to satisfy the four conditions for adjudicating a person as shadow director such as (i) he is properly appointed or de facto director (ii) the director directs the other directors in which manner they have to function in relation to the company (iii) the other directo

The current U.S. economic crisis and potential fixes Essay

The current U.S. economic crisis and potential fixes - Essay Example Citigroup, UBS, and JPMorgan have all announced negative earnings in their last financial reports as well as plans to lay off a significant number of workers. This paper carries out an analysis of how and why the crisis occurs and it evaluates the effectiveness of current measures used by the government to solve this crisis. The rest of the paper is organized as follows: Section 2 looks at how the crisis occurred, section three looks at the causes of the crisis that is why the crisis occurred; Section 3 looks at the regulatory environment and current solutions; and the last section provides some conclusions and recommendations. Sub-prime loans are loans offered to borrowers with no prior track record of good credit history3. Due to the risk inherent in the loans, they are often issued at very high interest rates so as to compensate for the extra risk that they carry4. A sub-prime crises or credit crunch is said to exist when a significant number of sub-prime loans have been issued to unscrupulous borrowers5. These crises pose difficulties to both financial institutions and the borrowers. The outbreak of the recent sub-prime crises came after warning signals of write-downs in the value of mortgages late last year6. House prices in the U.S witnessed an unusual growth between 1997 and 2005. For example, prices increased by approximately 85% during this period. The period 2001 and 2005 witnessed the highest rates of appreciation7. Sub-prime delinquencies and foreclosures were therefore mitigated by house price appreciations during these years. This is so because borrowers facing difficulties to make regular mo rtgage payments could depend on the appreciation of the value of their property to solve their financial problems by refinancing the mortgage and withdrawing cash from the increased equity in the house thereby sustaining the new mortgage for a while. Borrowers could repay the principal by selling off the property8. Appreciation in property prices

Childcare - Orientation Package Essay Example for Free

Childcare Orientation Package Essay Introduction Child Care in Ontario Child Care Licensing in Ontario Role of the Operator The Director under the Day Nurseries Act Role of Program Advisors The Application Process Planning and Design Guidelines for Child Care Centres Obtaining a Licence Health Canada – Product Safety Program Duration of Licensing Process Types of Licences Child Care Licensing Website Child Care Service System Managers 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 9 9 10 10 10 11 11. Summary of Licensing Requirements for Day Nurseries Organization and Management Staff Qualifications Health Assessments and Immunization Number and Group Size Criminal Reference Checks Building and Accommodation Equipment and Furnishings Policies and Procedures Playground Requirements Inspections Insurance Requirements Fire Safety and Emergency Information Health and Medical Supervision Nutrition 13 13 13 13 14 15 15 17 17 18 19 19 19 20 21 2. Behaviour Management Enrolment Records Program 22 23 23 Summary of Licensing Requirements for Private-Home Day Care Agencies Organization and Management Numbers of Children Criminal Reference Checks Building and Accommodation Equipment and Furnishings Policies and Procedures Inspections Insurance Requirements Health and Medical Supervision Nutrition Behaviour Management Enrolment Records Program Health Assessments and Immunization 25 25 25 27 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 31 32 32 33. Conclusion Glossary of Terms (Appendix 1) Things to Look Into Before Applying for a Licence to Operate a Day Nursery or a PrivateHome Day Care Agency (Appendix 2) Ministry of Children and Youth Services Regional Offices (Appendix 3) Child Care Service System Managers (Appendix 4) 34 35 36 37 38 3 INTRODUCTION One of the goals of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services is to help support social and economic development in Ontario by investing in and supporting an affordable, accessible and accountable child care system which helps benefit children, their parents and caregivers, and the broader community. The early learning and child care system in Ontario should: †¢ be accessible, affordable and inclusive †¢ care for children in a safe, nurturing environment †¢ foster early childhood development †¢ help support early learning and readiness for school †¢ be flexible and provide choice †¢ support children and their families †¢ provide appropriate standards of child care †¢ provide supports for parents in financial need, who are employed, in training, or involved in other employment activities †¢ support economic growth, and †¢ work in partnership with others involved in Ontario’s  early learning and child care system. This Orientation Package has been designed to provide individuals who are interested in obtaining a licence to operate either a day nursery (also known as child care centres) or a private-home day care agency in the Province of Ontario, with practical information and advice. The following information is included in this package: †¢ the process for obtaining a licence †¢ a summary of the licensing requirements to operate a day nursery or a private-home day care agency under the Day Nurseries Act †¢ a glossary of terms (Appendix 1) †¢ information to assist you in considering your decision to apply for a licence to operate either a day nursery or a private-home day care agency (Appendix 2) †¢ a list of the Regional Offices of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (Appendix 3), and †¢ a list of the Child Care Service System Managers responsible for planning and managing the delivery of child care services throughout Ontario (Appendix 4). 4 CHILD CARE IN ONTARIO The child care system in Ontario consists of a range of services for families and their children, including licensed day nurseries and private-home day care which provide supports to children and their families. The Day Nurseries Act requires any premise that receives more than five children under the age of 10 years, not of common parentage (children who have different parents), for temporary care and guidance, to be licensed as a day nursery. A person may provide informal child care to five children or less under the age of 10 years who are not of common parentage (children who have different parents), in addition to his/her own children, without a licence. This number may not be exceeded, regardless of the number of adults present or on site. When a person provides in-home child care at more than one location or co-ordinates the provision of care at more than one site, a licence to operate a private-home day care agency is required. It is an offence to establish, operate or maintain a day nursery or private-home day care agency without a licence. On conviction, the fine is up to $2,000 for each day the offence continues, or imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or both. Ministry staff have the responsibility to follow-up on all complaints about child care being provided without a licence. CHILD CARE LICENSING IN ONTARIO The Ministry of Children and Youth Services is responsible for the Day Nurseries Act and issues licences to operators of child care programs. There are two types of licensed child care programs: day nurseries and private-home day care agencies. In the Day Nurseries Act and in this package, child care centres are referred to as day nurseries. Day nurseries may include nursery schools, full day care, extended day care, and before and after school programs. 5. Private-home day care agencies arrange or offer home day care at more than one home. Care is provided to five children or less, under 10 years of age in a private residence other than the home of the parent/guardian of the child. Homes are monitored by the agency. Role of the Operator Operators have responsibility for the operation and management of each day nursery or private-home day care agency, including the program, financial and personnel administration of the program. Operators of licensed day nurseries and private-home day care agencies are required to achieve and maintain compliance with the standards set out in Ontario Regulation 262 under the Day Nurseries Act at all times. The Day Nurseries Act and Ontario Regulation 262 are available through: Publication Services 777 Bay Street, Market Level, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C8 416-585-7485 or 1-800-668-9938 The Day Nurseries Act is available on the ministry’s website at: http://www. elaws. gov. on. ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90d02_e. htm. Ontario Regulation 262 under the Day Nurseries Act is available online at: http://www. elaws. gov. on. ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900262_e. htm#37. (1). The Director under the Day Nurseries Act Child care licences are issued by a â€Å"Director† who is an employee of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, appointed by the Minister for the purpose of the Day Nurseries Act. The Director reviews all documents required for licensing, approves and signs the licence. The Director has the authority to refuse to issue a new licence if: †¢ the applicant or any of the officers, directors or employees of the applicant are not competent to operate a day nursery or privatehome day care agency in a responsible manner in accordance with the Day Nurseries Act 6 †¢ the past conduct of the applicant affords reasonable grounds for the belief that a day nursery or private-home day care agency will not be operated in accordance with the Day Nurseries Act, or the building in which the applicant proposes to operate the day nursery or provide private-home day care does not comply with the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act. †¢ In addition, if there are grounds, the Director may refuse to renew or revoke an existing licence. The Director may also issue a direction and temporarily suspend a licence if there is an immediate threat to the health, safety or well-being of the children. An applicant or licensee is entitled to a hearing before the Licence Appeal Tribunal. Role of Program Advisors Program Advisors, Ministry of Children and Youth Services staff designated under Section 16 of the Day Nurseries Act, are responsible for inspecting day nurseries and private-home day care agencies to enforce licensing requirements. In some regional offices, this position is referred to as Licensing Specialist. Program Advisors are responsible for assessing whether the operator has met the licensing requirements before an initial licence is issued. Unannounced inspections are conducted by Program Advisors for licence renewals on an annual basis or more frequently for a shorter term licences. In addition, Program Advisors conduct unannounced inspections in response to complaints related to licensed child care programs and to monitor operators who have difficulty maintaining compliance with licensing standards. The Ministry of Children and Youth Services also responds to complaints from the public pertaining to persons who are alleged to be operating without a licence (i. e. caring for more than five children under 10 years of age, not of common parentage, without a licence). The Application Process An individual or corporation can apply for a licence to operate a day nursery or a private-home day care agency. (Licences cannot be issued to partnerships. ) 7 Types of operators include: †¢ an individual †¢ corporations (non-profit and for-profit) †¢ municipalities †¢ community colleges †¢ churches, or †¢ Bands and Councils of the Band. The prospective operator contacts the local Regional Office (see Appendix 3) to request an application package and confirm the information required before proceeding with the next steps in the licensing process. Prior to requesting an initial site inspection for a day nursery (a visit to determine if the space is appropriate), the operator submits the completed application form to the Regional Office, as well as: †¢ †¢ †¢ written verification from the zoning authority confirming the location is approved for use as a child care centre detailed floor plans, and detailed site plans of the proposed location. These plans must include room measurements, window measurements (actual glass area), location of fixed cabinets (counters and storage areas) and fenced outdoor playground space dimensions (if required). Please note that effective July 1, 2005, as part of regulatory changes to the Ontario Building Code, all building or renovation plans for a day nursery must be reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services prior to a municipality issuing a building permit. It is the operator’s responsibility to determine whether the location will meet zoning, building, fire and health requirements. Written verification must be submitted to the regional office confirming that these requirements have been met prior to a licence being issued. The fee for a new licence is $15; the renewal fee is $10. If a licence renewal is submitted to the ministry after the licence expiry date, the late fee is $25. 8 Planning and Design Guidelines for Child Care Centres This guide provides information about the planning, design and renovation of licensed child care centres. It is intended to be used by persons involved in the site selection, design, and operation of a child care centre in the province of Ontario. This guide is available through the local MCYS Regional office and on the ministry’s website at http://www. children. gov. on. ca/mcys/english/resources/publications/be ststart-planning. asp. (Alternately, from the ministry’s home page at http://www. children. Gov. on.ca, you can follow the links to Best Start, then Best Start resources, then Planning and Design Guidelines for Child Care Centres. ) Obtaining a Licence To obtain a licence, applicants must demonstrate compliance with the requirements set out in Regulation 262 of the Day Nurseries Act in a number of areas including: confirmation of compliance with municipal zoning, building, fire and health requirements; the suitability of the building; availability of equipment and furnishings; conformity with space requirements and playground standards; maintenance of staff/child ratios for various age groups; staff qualifications; nutrition; appropriate behaviour management; programming and insurance. Private-home day care agencies must demonstrate compliance with the requirements set out in Regulation 262 of the Day Nurseries Act in a number of areas including: staffing and training; policies and procedures; records of inspections of providers’ homes; availability of equipment and furnishings; appropriate behaviour management and insurance. The Program Advisor makes a recommendation to the Director under the Day Nurseries Act about the issuance of a licence based on their assessment of compliance with the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act and ministry policy. The Director decides whether to issue a licence and the type and term of licence to be issued. The Director may add terms and conditions to the licence. The operator is required to comply with the terms and conditions of the licence as well as the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act and ministry policy. 9 Operators must apply for a licence renewal prior to the expiry date of the current licence. Licences may be issued for a period of up to one year if all licensing requirements are met. Health Canada – Product Safety Program Health Canada helps protect the Canadian public by researching, assessing and collaborating in the management of the health risks and safety hazards associated with the many consumer products, including children’s equipment, toys and furnishings, that Canadians use everyday. Through their Product Safety Program, Health Canada communicates information about juvenile product hazards and recalls to protect children from avoidable risks. Advisories and warnings, juvenile product recall notices, food recalls and allergy alerts are posted on the Health Canada website. The Consumer Product Recalls webpage can be accessed at http://209. 217. 71. 106/PR/list-liste-e. jsp. Health Canada offers an electronic newsletter so that the public can receive updates when consumer advisories and warnings, juvenile product recalls, and consultation documents regarding consumer product safety are posted on the Health Canada Web site. As a prospective operator, you are encouraged to register on line for this service at: http://www. hc-sc. gc. ca/cps-spc/advisories-avis/_subscribeabonnement/index_e. html. Duration of Initial Licensing Process It may take up to 6 to 12 months to open a new day nursery or private-home day care agency depending on a number of factors, including the extent of the renovations, the incorporation of a corporation, the purchasing of equipment, the hiring of a supervisor or home visitors, the recruitment of staff, the development of policies and obtaining all required approvals. Types of Licences †¢ Regular licence – may be issued for up to 1 year if the operator was in compliance with licensing requirements when last inspected. 10 †¢ Regular short-term licence – issued at the discretion of the Director routinely issued to new licensees (generally for a period of up to six months) or when more frequent licensing visits are appropriate to support ongoing compliance. Regular licence with terms and conditions terms and conditions are requirements prescribed by a Director and are additional to the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act. They may reflect circumstances specific to the operation, such as half day or 10 month service. They may also be in place to minimize the recurrence of a non-compliance, such as incomplete staff medical records. Provisional licence – When Day Nurseries Act requirements have not been met and the operator requires time to meet requirements, a provisional licence (generally for a period up to three months) may be issued. This licence gives the operator a period of time to meet licensing requirements. Copies of a letter indicating that a provisional licence has been issued and a summary of the non-compliances are sent to the centre for distribution to parents. The summary of non-compliances will also appear on the Child Care Licensing Website. †¢ †¢ Child Care Licensing Website MCYS has launched the Child Care Licensing Website to provide parents with information about licensed child care in Ontario. The site is accessible at http://www. ontario. ca/ONT/portal51/licensedchildcare. A search tool allows parents to search for child care by city, postal code, type of program, age group, program name, operator name and language of service delivery. The site also provides the status of the licence and the terms and conditions of the licence for any licensed program parents might be considering or about which they might be concerned. Once a licence is issued, the information appearing on the licence of the program will be available on the website. Child Care Service System Managers The child care system is managed at the municipal level by fortyseven Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs) /District 11 Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs). Each service system manager has responsibility for planning and managing a broad range of child care services, including fee subsidy, wage subsidy, family resource centres and special needs resourcing. Prospective operators should contact their local child care service system manager (see Appendix 4) to discuss the need for child care in the area being considered and for information about funding and fee subsidy. 12 DAY NURSERIES ACT SUMMARY OF LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR DAY NURSERIES Day nurseries are centre-based programs and can include nursery schools, full day child care, extended day and before and after school programs. Organization and Management The operator of the day nursery is responsible for maintaining compliance with the Day Nurseries Act and ministry policy. This includes responsibility for the operation and management of the program and financial and personnel administration. A qualified supervisor who directs the program and oversees the staff is required for each child care centre. This person must have a diploma in Early Childhood Education, or other academic qualifications which are considered equivalent, and have at least two years experience in Early Childhood Education. The supervisor must also be approved by the Director under the Day Nurseries Act. Staff Qualifications †¢ The supervisor must have a diploma in Early Childhood Education or equivalent qualifications, with two years experience and must be approved by the Director under the Day Nurseries Act. †¢ One staff with a diploma in Early Childhood Education or equivalent qualifications must be hired for each group of children. Health Assessments and Immunization †¢ Staff immunization/health assessment, as required by the local medical officer of health, must be completed before commencing employment. 13. Number and Group Size Number of Staff required for a Day Nursery Other than a Day Nursery for Children with Disabilities Ratio of Employees to Children 3 to 10 1 to 5 Maximum Number of Children in a Group 10 15 Group Age of Children in Group Infant Toddler Under 18 months of age 18 months of age and over up to and including 30 months of age more than 30 months of age up to and including 5 years of age 44 months of age or over and up to and including 67 months of age as of August 31 of the year 56 months of age or over and up to and including 67 months of age as of August 31 of the year 68 months of age or over as of August 31 of the year and up to and including 12 years of age Preschool 1 to 8 16 Junior Kindergarten 1 to 10 20 Senior Kindergarten 1 to 12 24 School age. 1 to 15 30 †¢ All children must be supervised by an adult at all times. †¢ Ratios are not permitted to be reduced at any time for children under 18 months of age. †¢ Ratios are not to be reduced on the playground. 14 †¢ Where there are six or more children over 18 months of age or four or more children under 18 months of age in attendance, there must be at least two adults on the premises. †¢ Staff/child ratios may be reduced to 2/3 of the required ratios during the periods of arrival and departure of children and during the rest period, with the following exceptions: †¢ †¢ when children are under 18 months of age on the playground with any age group. †¢ In a full day program operating six or more hours in a day, for the purposes of staffing, the period of arrival is not to exceed two hours after the opening and the period of departure is not to exceed two hours before the closing of the day nursery. †¢ In half day nursery school programs and school age programs, the period of arrival is not to exceed 30 minutes after the opening and the period of departure is not to exceed 30 minutes before the closing of the day nursery. Criminal Reference Checks Individuals and directors of a corporation applying for new licences will be required to submit a criminal reference check to their local Ministry of Children and Youth Services Regional Office as part of the licence application. In preparation for the initial licensing visit, the operator of the day nursery is required to develop a criminal reference check policy for all full and part time staff working with the children, as well as for volunteers. Additional information about the Ministry of Children and Youth Services criminal reference check policy is available from Regional Offices. Building and Accommodation Each day nursery must: †¢ comply with the requirements of applicable local authorities i. e. zoning and building department, medical officer of health and fire department †¢ comply with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, O. Reg. 170/03, where applicable. These provisions only apply to designated facilities with drinking water systems where 15 the water is not provided through service connections with a municipal residential water system. The requirements of this regulation are available from the Ministry of the Environment’s website at http://www. ene. gov. on. ca/envision/gp/5361e. pdf †¢ comply with the requirements for lead flushing and water sample testing (where applicable) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, O. Reg. 243/07. The requirements of this regulation are available from the Ministry of the Environment’s website at http://www. ontario. ca/ONT/portal51/drinkingwater/General? docId= 177450lang=en †¢ comply with the requirements of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. †¢ have designated spaces for washing, toileting and separate storage areas for toys, play materials and equipment †¢ have designated space for eating and resting, preparation of food if prepared on premises or a food service area if food is catered (prepared off premises by a food catering company and delivered to the centre), a fenced playground (see page 15), storage for beds, a staff rest area and an office area if the program operates for six or more hours †¢ have play space of at least 2. 8 square metres (30 square feet) of unobstructed floor space for each child, based on the licensed capacity †¢ have separate play activity rooms for each age grouping. A separate sleep area for infants is also required †¢ have rooms on or below the second floor where the rooms are for children under six years of age †¢ have a clear window glass area equivalent to 10% of the available floor area for each play activity room for a program that operates for six or more hours in a day. 16 Equipment and Furnishings Each day nursery must have: †¢ an adequate number of toys, equipment and furnishings for the licensed capacity. The toys, equipment and furnishings must be age appropriate and include sufficient numbers for rotation as well as for gross-motor activity in the playground area †¢ infant and toddler diapering areas that are adjacent to a sink †¢ cribs or cradles that meet the requirements of the Hazardous Products Act, for infants, and cots for older children †¢ equipment and furnishings which are maintained in a safe and clean condition and kept in a good state of repair †¢ a telephone or an alternative means of obtaining emergency assistance that is approved by the Director †¢ Where children are transported in a day nursery vehicle, child seating and restraint systems are used that meet the requirements of the Highway Traffic Act, O. Reg. 613. Policies and Procedures Every operator must develop the following policies and procedures: †¢ Fire evacuation procedures †¢ Sanitary practices †¢ Serious occurrence policy, including child abuse reporting procedures †¢ Criminal reference check policy †¢ Medication policy †¢ Behaviour management policy, including monitoring procedures and contravention policies 17. †¢ Program statement/parent handbook †¢ Playground safety policy †¢ Anaphylactic policy, including an individual plan for each child with a severe allergy and the emergency procedures to be followed. Playground Requirements †¢ Programs operating six or more hours in a day require outdoor play space equivalent to 5. 6 square metres (60 square feet) per child, based on licensed capacity. †¢ The playground must be: †¢ sub-divided if licensed capacity is over 64 children †¢ at ground level and adjacent to the premise †¢ designed so that staff can maintain constant supervision. †¢ If used by children under 44 months of age as of August 31 of the year, the playground must be fenced to a minimum height of 1. 2m (4 feet) and furnished with one or more gates that can be securely closed at all times. †¢ If used by children 44 months of age and up to an including 67 month of age as of August 31 of the year (children eligible to attend junior and senior kindergarten), the playground is fenced to a minimum height of 1. 2 metres and the fence is furnished with one or more gates that are securely closed at all times, unless otherwise approved by the Director. †¢ Fixed playground structures (i. e. climbing equipment, slides) are not required by the Day Nurseries Act; however, if the operator intends to install fixed play structures, the structures and safety surfacing must meet current Canadian Standards Association standards. †¢ The current Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) Standard applies to new and newly renovated playground equipment, and 18 safety surfacing. The CSA Standards also set out the requirements for routine maintenance and inspections. †¢ Playground plans indicating the type and location of fixed structures as well as the type and area of safety surfacing must be approved by the ministry before installation. †¢ Once play structures and surfacing are installed, compliance with the CSA standards must be verified in writing by an independent certified playground inspector before the structures can be used by the children. Inspections †¢ Copies of fire and health inspections are to be sent to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services program advisor and kept on file at the day nursery. Insurance Requirements †¢ The operator must have comprehensive general liability coverage and personal injury coverage for all staff and volunteers. †¢ All vehicles owned by the operator and used for transportation of staff and children must have motor vehicle insurance. Fire Safety and Emergency Information †¢ A fire safety plan must be approved by the local fire department. †¢ A written evacuation procedure, approved by the fire department, must be posted in each room. †¢ Staff are to be instructed on their responsibilities in the event of fire. †¢ Monthly fire drills must be conducted and written records of drills maintained. †¢ Tests of the fire alarm system and fire protection equipment (as required under the Ontario Fire Code) must be conducted and written records of test results maintained. 19. †¢ There must be a designated place of emergency shelter. †¢ An up-to-date list of emergency telephone numbers including the fire department, hospital, ambulance service, poison control centre, police department and a taxi service must be posted where they can be easily accessed. †¢ Medical and emergency contact information for each child must be accessible. Health and Medical Supervision †¢ A daily written log that includes health and safety incidents is required. †¢ Any instructions or recommendations made by the fire department, public health department or other regulatory bodies must be implemented and recorded. †¢ Sanitary practices and procedures must be approved by Ministry. †¢ Children must be immunized according to the requirements of the local medical officer of health, unless a fully authorized exemption is on file. †¢ Before each child begins to play with others, a daily observation of the child’s health is required. †¢ An ill child must be separated from others and arrangements made for the child to be taken home or for immediate medical attention, if required. †¢ Serious occurrence procedures must be in place and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services notified of any occurrence. A serious occurrence includes such things as the death of a child, a serious injury, alleged abuse/mistreatment of a child, a missing child, a disaster on the premises (e. g. fire) or a serious complaint. 20. †¢ A written anaphylactic policy is in place that includes: †¢ A strategy to reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents †¢ A communication plan for the provision of information on lifethreatening allergies, including anaphylactic allergies †¢ An individual plan for each child with an anaphylactic allergy that includes emergency procedures in respect of the child †¢ Staff, students and volunteers have received training on procedures to be followed if a child has an anaphylactic reaction. †¢ A first aid kit and manual must be readily available. †¢ A written procedure approved by a qualified medical practitioner regarding the giving and recording of medication is required. The procedure should include the storage of medication (e.g. medication must be stored in a locked container). †¢ If a child has or may have a reportable disease or is or may be infected with a communicable disease, this is reported to the medical officer of health as soon as possible. †¢ Cats and dogs on the premises must be inoculated against rabies. Nutrition †¢ Infants are to be fed according to written parental instructions. †¢ Food and drink from home must be labelled with the child’s name. †¢ All food and drink must be stored to maintain maximum nutritive value. †¢ Meals and snacks must meet the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act. Canadas Food Guide provides useful information about nutrition. 21 †¢ Meals are to be provided where a day nursery operates for 6 or more hours each day or where the daily program operates less than 6 hours each day and operates over the meal time. This generally refers to the provision of lunch as the mid-day meal. In day nurseries that offer care over extended hours, this may mean that breakfast and/or dinner are also provided. †¢ With the approval of a ministry Director, children 44 months of age or over as of August 31 of the year may bring bag lunches. Written policies and procedures with guidelines for bag lunches should be both posted and provided to parents. †¢ Menus must be posted with substitutions noted. †¢ Children’s food allergies must be posted in the kitchen and in all rooms where food is served. †¢ Special dietary arrangements for individual children are to be carried out according to written instructions of parents. Behaviour Management †¢ Corporal punishment is not allowed under any circumstances. †¢ The following are not permitted: †¢ deliberate harsh or degrading measures that would humiliate or undermine a childs self respect †¢ deprivation of food, shelter, clothing or bedding †¢ confining a child in a locked room †¢ exits locked for the purpose of confinement. †¢ Written behaviour management policies and procedures which guide centre staff in managing children’s behaviour are to be reviewed annually by the operator. The operator is required to review the policies and procedures with employees and volunteers or students before they begin working, and annually thereafter. These policies must set out permitted and prohibited behaviour 22 management practices and measures to deal with any contraventions of the policy. †¢ There must be: †¢ a signed, written record of all reviews, and †¢ a written procedure for monitoring behaviour management practices of employees, students and volunteers, and a record kept of this monitoring. Enrolment Records †¢ Up to date enrolment records for all children in attendance must be on site at all times and be available to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. These records include, in part, an application, immunization records, emerg.

Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease Progression

Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease Progression Alzheimer’s disease is slowly progressive and irreversible brain disease which is one of the most common cause of dementia [1]. In AD patients not only suffer from cognitive but also motor and sensory loss [2]. Although the mechanism of AD is not well understood still AD pathology is characterized by extra cellular amyloid-ÃŽ ² deposits and interacellular neurfibril tangles formation of hyperphosphorylation of tau protein. Being irreversible and neurological damaging disease, its very important to detect and diagonse at earlier or at some controlable time point. Some useful AD diagonstic biomarkers are required for this purpose. These biomarkers should also fullful the criteria of usefulness for AD detection. Biomarkers should become abnormal with the progression of disease in other words they should be dynamic and correlate with clinical symptom and severity of disease [3]. Recent research on use of specific AD biomarker for disease staging in vivo shows that AÃŽ ² dynamically correlates with disease at different stages of disease progression[4] [5]. But AÃŽ ² level varies in patients. Which suggests, through process of AÃŽ ² production starts earlier but AÃŽ ² as a biomarker only is not relibale, therefore alternative biomarker must be found along with AÃŽ ² generation process. Figure1. Biomakers and AD early detection Source; Modified from Ingelsson, M et al 2004. [4] AÃŽ ² can be produced through proteolytic processing of APP (amyloid precursor protein), which takes central position in AD pathogenesis. APP is single-pass transmembrane protein with larger ectodomain. Although the physiological functions of APP are not well known but has neuroprotective function and positive effect on cell growth [6]. APP is mainly produced in neurons and rapidly metabolized by secretase enzymes through alternative splicing by two pathways [7] [8]. Nonamyloidogenic processing of APP involving two secretases ÃŽ ±-secretase and ÃŽ ³-secretase while in amyloidogenic processing ÃŽ ²-secretase (identified as transmembrane aspartase protease BACE1) and ÃŽ ³-secretase are involved. Product generated during both processings have soluble ectodomain (sAPP ÃŽ ± and sAPP ÃŽ ²) respectively along with identical product called AICD (intracellular C-terminal fregmenets)[9]. More importantly amyloidogenic processing generates AÃŽ ², a sequence contained by sAPP ÃŽ ² part. In brain APP processing generates mainly AÃŽ ²40 and AÃŽ ²42 based on 40 and 42 amino acids residues depending on secretases ( see secretase table 1) through alternative splicings [10]. Along with regulatory subunits of ÃŽ ³-secretase complex, catalytic subunits presenilin1 (PS1) and presenilin 2 ( PS2) are involved mainly in deciding the length of these toxic form of AÃŽ ². These toxic forms of AÃŽ ² can aggregate and form plauqe that has more toxic effect [11]. With the progression of AD, symptoms also spread along with it depending on the vlunerability of different party of nervous system. More vlunerable areas are suppose to be effected earlier to others, the reason AD smptoms appear in different regions in a sequential order and consistency, although meachnism is poorly understood. Out of these early symtoms, one is olfactory impairement [12], which suggest olfactory system is one of the early vlunerable region during AD progression. Therefore finding the correlation between early phenomen of APP processing and one of ther earlier vlunerable area of nervous system might lead to valueable insights. This research has focused on APP processing in peripheral structures, the olfactory epithelium(OE), as well as CNS structures responsible for processing of incoming olfactory signals such as olfactory bulb(OB). The present study found unique APP processing in OE that has significance in providing not only possible biomarkers (including 25kDa, 55kDa and 80kDa) that can be used for screening and detection of AD before plaque formation but also for treatment purpose. Additionally, PS2 increased level was found in OE that possibly involved in unique APP processing and might also be crucial for understanding the ÃŽ ³-secretase role and controlling AD through ÃŽ ³-secretase as a therapeutic target. Table 1. Secretases responsible for APP processing. MATERIAL AND METHODS MATERIAL AND METHODS 1.1. Animal 1.1 .1. Transgenic Alzheimer’s disease model Tg2576 mice In this study, heterozygous Tg2576 mice were used, which express a human amyloid-ÃŽ ² precursor protein (APP) variant linked to Alzheimer’ disease, as developed and described previously [21].Age-matched non-transgenic littermates were served as wild-type control. All animal experiments were approved and conducted in accordance with guidelines of Ethic Committee of Seoul National University DGIST. Transgenic Alzheimer’s disease model Tg6799 mice Another AD model used in this study was Tg6799 mice, which expresses human amyloid precursor protein (APP) with three familial Alzheimer’s disease point mutations and two human presenilin1 mutations thus also known as 5x FAD mice. Both of these mutation types mainly contribute to increased production of AÃŽ ²42 [22]. Age-matched non-transgenic littermates were served as wild-type control. All animal experiments were approved and conducted in accordance with guidelines of Ethic Committee of Seoul National University DGIST. Table2. Transgenic models used for this study. Olfactory behavioral analysis Food buried, behavior test was performed to measure the mice smell ability to find a buried food pellet using olfactory cues as previously described [23] [24] [25] [26]. Olfactory test was taken blindly without revealing any genotypic information of mice before and during the experiment. Mice were deprived of food around 35 hours with free access to water. Before starting the experiment, adaptation time was provided 5~10 min to let them adapt in new prepared cage with new bedding material. This step was important for mice to be adapted to the new environment so that they would able to focus on finding food in a new environment. Similar cage were prepared with bedding material depth approximately 5 cm and food pellet was buried 2.5 cm below the surface. Latency or cut-off time ~15 min maximum was provided to each mice to find buried food. Latency time was recorded, as time between mouse inserted into the cage and grasping the food pellet, precisely using video tracking software and sy stem (EthoVision xt 9).

Can Artificial Drainage of Wetlands Have Detrimental Effects on the Cha

Introduction: Wetland soils are widely diverse. They are found from the arctic to the tropics. They can be mineral or organic, seasonal or year-round, marine or freshwater. The one thing they all have in common is that, for at least part of the year, they are saturated with water. This saturation has a significant impact on the soil's characteristics such as the biota, chemistry, and physics. However, over the past century more than half of all the wetlands in the United States have been drained for agriculture and other uses such as construction. When the soils are drained the characteristics are drastically changed. This paper is an attempt to describe the changes in artificially drained soils and to consider a few of the consequences of these changes. Body: The physical properties of saturated soils vary somewhat from wetland to wetland but are characterized by certain processes. One is the interaction of the soil with the watertable. Three patterns of possible groundwater flow have been considered: water could flow into the saturated areas from the surrounding area (discharge), making the saturated area the focal point; water could flow through swamps because of local relief (flow-through); or water could flow from the saturated zone into surrounding areas (recharge) possibly due to differential water use by plant communities or pumping (Crownover et al, 1995). There can also be vertical exchange of water between the groundwater and saturated soil. For example, capillary effects pull water upward into the soil from the water table. Besides the vertical and horizontal flow of water, the area of the soil taken up by water is important. Wetland soils are either saturated or nearly saturated so that much of the pore space is... ...ne flatwood landscape: Soil Science Society of America Journal, 59, 1199-1206. Fausey, N.R., Brown, L.C., Belcher, H.W. and Kanwar, R.S. (1995) Drainage and water quality in the Great Lakes and cornbelt states: Journal of Irrigation Drainage Engineering, 121, 283-288. Leventhal, E. (1990). Alternative uses of wetlands other than conventional farming in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska: EPA/171/R-92/006, 145 p. McBride, M. B. (2003) Environmental Chemistry of Soils: Advances in Environmental Research, 8, 5-19 Mitsch, W.J. and Gosselink, J.G. (2000). The value of wetlands: importance of scale and landscape setting. Ecological Economics, 35, 25-33 Schipper, L.A., Harfoot, C.G., McFarlane, P.N., and Cooper, (1994) Anaerobic decomposition and denitrification during plant decomposition in an organic soil: Journal of Environmental Quality, 23, 923-928

Sexuality in Young People’s Relationships :: Free Essay Writer

Sexuality in Young People’s Relationships Are parents unaware of the role that sexuality plays in a teen’s relationship? In the article, "Young People, Sexuality and Relationships," by Peter Aggleton, the author describes sex in young people’s relationships. It was published in 2000 in the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy to inform people of a young person’s perspective on sex. The author wants counselors and therapists to be aware of the various health programs that are available to help young people, so that they can better understand how to help them. The author wants people to know that before they can help young people, they must first be able to see things from their perspective. Throughout the article, Aggleton describes the parent role in understanding young people’s relationships and their needs. He stresses that the elders first need to be able to understand what young people’s needs are before they can help or judge them. By doing this, the adult must realize that everyone’s perspective is different depending on their background, the situation, and the circumstances. He mentions that before adults can help a young person, they must be aware of the environment and culture that is influencing them. Once they can understand these, they can help give them precautions about sex. Adults do not want to hear the words youth and sex together because it suggests controversy. Aggleton suggests that adults must realize that by doing this, it can give the young people hope for the future. The author also describes how important of a role gender plays in cultures and societies. He says that boys in most societies are seen as superior, which therefore suggests that there are more opportunities available to them. However, girls can tend to have to deal with more consequences than boys because of their lack of information. Aggleton suggests that in some cultures it may be hard for young people to express themselves freely. This is because society influences the way young people think and act. The author explains the importance of gender found in society that relates to sex issues. Sexuality in Young People’s Relationships :: Free Essay Writer Sexuality in Young People’s Relationships Are parents unaware of the role that sexuality plays in a teen’s relationship? In the article, "Young People, Sexuality and Relationships," by Peter Aggleton, the author describes sex in young people’s relationships. It was published in 2000 in the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy to inform people of a young person’s perspective on sex. The author wants counselors and therapists to be aware of the various health programs that are available to help young people, so that they can better understand how to help them. The author wants people to know that before they can help young people, they must first be able to see things from their perspective. Throughout the article, Aggleton describes the parent role in understanding young people’s relationships and their needs. He stresses that the elders first need to be able to understand what young people’s needs are before they can help or judge them. By doing this, the adult must realize that everyone’s perspective is different depending on their background, the situation, and the circumstances. He mentions that before adults can help a young person, they must be aware of the environment and culture that is influencing them. Once they can understand these, they can help give them precautions about sex. Adults do not want to hear the words youth and sex together because it suggests controversy. Aggleton suggests that adults must realize that by doing this, it can give the young people hope for the future. The author also describes how important of a role gender plays in cultures and societies. He says that boys in most societies are seen as superior, which therefore suggests that there are more opportunities available to them. However, girls can tend to have to deal with more consequences than boys because of their lack of information. Aggleton suggests that in some cultures it may be hard for young people to express themselves freely. This is because society influences the way young people think and act. The author explains the importance of gender found in society that relates to sex issues.

Essay --

The chemical reaction between 2 different metals and the juices in the potato generate enough voltage to actually make a clock run or a light bulb a small one. The whole experiment should produce about 1.5 volts DC. You might need to use more than one potato but one should power a small light bulb. It works because the phosphoric acid (H3PO4) in the potato. The potato acts more as an electrolyte not really having a role in the chemical reaction itself. This is why it’s very important to make sure that the pennies and nails never directly touch each other inside the potato. Zinc is an active metal which reacts readily with acid to liberate electrons. The acid’s active ingredient is positively charged hydrogen. So a transfer of electrons takes place between the zinc and the acid. The zinc is oxidized and the acid is reduced to hydrogen gas which you can see bubbling out around the electrodes. The reaction at the penny electrode depletes the electrons from the copper and attaches them to the hydrogen ions in the phosphoric acid. Researchers found that a potato boiled for 8 minutes can make for a battery that produced ten times the power of a raw one. They tried to power a LED light bulb for 40 days and it worked. the cost is around 1 tenth the cost of a typical AA battery. A potato could be used to charge a phone and other electronics. This would be good for regions without a power grid. The potato is not a power source it is the action called salt-bridge between the two metals allowing the electron current to move freely across the wire to create electricity. Numerous fruits rich in electrolytes like banana and strawberries can also form this chemical reaction. Besides being rich in phosphoric acid spuds are ideal in that they’re ... ...e electrons away while other metals accept extra electrons. Electrons are subatomic particles that zoom around an atoms center and make up the part of the atom that is negative charged the lemon batteries is a type of battery called a voltaic battery. These batteries are made up of two different metals which act as electrodes or places where electrons can enter or leave a battery. All voltaic batteries need their metals to be placed in an electrolyte. An electrolyte is a substance that can carry electrical current when dissolved in water. The tiny bit of salt in your saliva makes your saliva an electrolyte and other sour citric acid does the same thing for lemon juice. Batteries stop working when there is not enough of the electrolyte to react with the metal or not enough metal left to react with the metal or not enough metal left to react with the electrolytes.

Cleaning Business Plan

COFIELD’S CLEANING SERVICE SONJI MORTON COFIELD, PROPRIETOR September 30, 2011 COFIELD CLEANING SERVICE BUSINESS PLAN SUMMARY Cofield Cleaning Service is a start-up business that provides cleaning services for residential homes. Primary services include floor, window, and bathroom care. The business is seeking $5,900 for equipment, supplies, and advertising. The name and address of the business is: Cofield’s Cleaning Service 600 Hunterdale Road Franklin, VA 23851 Phone: 757-304-9401 Fax: 757-304-9401 Email: [email  protected] com The name and address of the business owner is: Sonji Morton Cofield 600 Hunterdale Road Franklin, VA 23851 MarketThe potential market for Cofield Cleaning Service is 210 households in the hometown area based on her research. The average target customer is 35 to 65 years of age and earns $45,000 or more annually. There are three competitors serving the area. Cofield’s competitive advantage is that it can attract customers with a more pe rsonalized, professional cleaning that is â€Å"Satisfaction Guaranteed. † Organization Plan This business is a sole proprietorship with no employees. The owner will manage the finances and perform the work. BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Nature of the Business Cofield Cleaning Service is an insured, residential cleaning service.It offers cleaning service tailored to its customers’ needs. Most customers will likely request weekly cleaning. There is also a need to offer in-depth cleaning on an as-needed basis. History of the Business * None – this is a start-up business. * Legal Structure of the Business * Sole proprietorship, Sally Sparkle, proprietor. * Past Work Experience * The owner has five years of experience as an employee for Merry Maids, Inc. * Reasons the Business Will Succeed * The belief that the business will succeed is based on the proprietor’s * Knowledge, experience, and determination to succeed. MARKETING PLAN ServicesServices provided include clea ning of floors, windows, cabinets, dishes, laundry, and furniture, and watering of houseplants. This service will save the customer time and energy of doing the work. The customer has the benefit of enjoying a clean and attractive home. The customer also has extra leisure time for entertaining guests, enjoying hobbies, or any other activities. Start-up money will be used for a vacuum cleaner, cleaning supplies, hand-held vacuum, buckets, rags and other miscellaneous supplies. See attached list and bids for equipment. Cofield’s Cleaning Service will provide cleaning supplies used.Ten homes cleaned weekly per month will cost approximately $80 per month (total) for cleaning supplies, which will be purchased from mass merchandisers such as Wal-Mart in Hometown. Driving to and from these homes will cost approximately $30 per month. Cleaning ten homes will take approximately 40 hours per week with an average cleaning time of four hours. In the next two years, Cofield Cleaning Servi ce will expand its services to commercial customers and will hire employees to meet the new demand. Distribution Services will be directly supplied to the end-users in their homes. IndustryThere are many new, larger homes being built in the area. According to the city’s building permits issued each year: * 18 homes of over 3000 square feet were built one year ago. * 21 homes of over 3000 square feet were built two years ago. * According to â€Å"Domestic Details† in Income Opportunities magazine, March 2011, more women were hiring cleaning services to ease the strain of their hectic lifestyles – over 20% of households surveyed had hired a cleaning service, an increase of 5% from the previous year. Customers Cofield targeted customer profile includes working families. The ages range from 35 to 65 years.The average annual income is $45,000 or more. According to census information (see attached), from the population of 5,000 households, 21% of the households earned $45,000 or more. This means there are 1,050 customers who fit Cofield’s targeted profile. If 20% of these households use a cleaning service that means 210 households could be potential customers. Brilliant’s goal is to secure ten customers. It already has three potential customers – see attached letters of intent. An average customer would use Brilliant Cleaning Service once a week for an average cleaning time of four hours. CompetitionCofield Cleaning Service’s main competitors are franchised cleaning services: Molly Maids, Holland Road, Suffolk, VA. Strengths include name recognition and size. It has 20 employees and the largest number of customers. It is insured and the employees are bonded. Weakness is lack of consistency. A customer could have one employee clean their home one week, and have a different employee another week. It charges $60 for a half-day of cleaning. Position in the Marketplace Cofield’s position in the marketplace is mid-ba se residential. Cofields strengths include personal and professional service.Although the franchisers have strong advertising techniques, a sole proprietor has the advantage of offering more personalized service. This service gives Cofield a competitive advantage because most customers prefer the same cleaning person for each cleaning. Cofield’s competitive advantage over Molly Maids is its professionalism. Brilliant is insured and the owner and employees will wear uniforms for a professional image. Because of the owner’s vast knowledge of houseplants, Cofield’s will offer to take care of houseplants as an additional service no one else offers.Image/Packaging See attached bids for all promotional costs. * The business name is Cofields Cleaning Service. * The slogan is: Professional Service By People Who Aim to Please! * The business will be operated out of the owner’s home. * Business cards and flyers will cost approximately $200. * Magnetic car signs wil l cost approximately $160. * Printed bid forms and invoices will cost $40. * Uniforms include black pants and Pink shirt with business name. Uniforms will be provided by U. S. Linen Services for $40 per month, which includes the cleaning of the uniform.Pricing Cofield will charge $45 for a half-day of cleaning. All prices will be quoted per job: by the size, time, and effort involved in cleaning the residence, not by an hourly rate. Brilliant’s fees reflect a fair market rate, and are comparable to fees charged by competitors. Marketing Goals and Objectives To start the business by November (2011) To acquire ten customers by April (2012) To earn $1,200 monthly by June (2012) Marketing Strategy Cofield Cleaning Service will follow the promotion plan below to meet its goals and objectives: Specialists or ConsultantsThe sole proprietor will continue to consult monthly with a business consultant to set up record keeping systems and receive help with monitoring the business. The s ole proprietor will use the services of Liberty Accounting Services for income tax preparation. Record Keeping, Inventory and Finances The sole proprietor will use a manual record keeping system that is a combined cash receipts and cash disbursements journal. The sole proprietor will use ledger sheets to track inventory supplies. The sole proprietor will open a business checking account at BB&T Bank, located in Franklin, VA. Licenses, Permits and Other RegulationsNo licenses or permits are required to operate this business. Cofield’s is not required to get a hazardous waste permit. See attached letter from the State. Sales Tax Cofield will have to collect 6. 5% state sales tax from customers (to be paid to the state) on all services. Cofield does not have to collect a city sales tax. Insurance Cofield Cleaning Service will get the following types of insurance from All-Types of Insurance, located in Hometown, USA – see attached bids: Liberty MutualAuto Insurance: $600 a nnual premium or $200 down and monthly payments of $35 General Liability: $300 annual premiumWorker’s Compensation on owner: $350 annual premium Payment Terms Customer payments will be accepted by cash or check, which are collected at the end of each job. Payment terms will be explained to potential customers before accepting each job. If a customer does not pay at the end of a job, future work will not be done until payment is received. After six months of being in business, Cofield will start accepting credit cards. Hours Open Cofield Cleaning Service will operate Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m. Contingency PlansThere will be one day set aside biweekly-weekly for a make-up day in case of owner illness or emergency. If the owner gets sick, she will reschedule the appointment. If the job cannot wait, the owner will clean those despite illness or will get her sister to fill in on the job. If the owner gets injured on the job, Worker’s Compensation will be available. If the owner is injured, her sister will fill in until the owner can get back to work. If the owner’s car breaks down, she can borrow her mother’s car or take a taxi. If sales are not as anticipated and loan payments cannot be made, owner will get part-time job in the evening.The owner will also look at increasing promotional efforts and reducing expenses, such as uniforms. FINANCIAL PLAN * See two-year, monthly Cash-Flow Projections with List of Assumptions. * There are no Business Financial Statements since this is a start-up business. * See Personal Financial Statement. * See Personal Income and Expense worksheet. START-UP EXPENSES Expense| Cost| VacuumsSupplies and Misc. Business cards/flyersSignsUniformsCleaning suppliesInsuranceAssumed name filingPhone depositWorking capitalTOTAL| 20011020016040408502510825$2,500| Sources| | Owner ContributionLoanTOTAL| 6001,900$2,500|

Non-Monetary Rewards in the Workplace

Managers of different industries and organizations have been finding ways to create a motivational workplace. Defining motivation, it is â€Å"that which gives impetus to our behavior by arousing, sustaining, and directing it toward the attainment of goals† (Wortman and Loftus, 1992 p.353). In order for a business organization to achieve its objectives, therefore, there should be some motivations in the workplace that will drive its employees to accomplish such objectives. Companies may aim to improve the quality and productivity of the business primarily for increased profitability. Personally, employees may have their own motivators that drive them to perform their jobs better. Older employees are motivated by the insurance and pensions they will get upon retirement while others are motivated by the increase in salary as the years of their stay in the company increases. What makes motivation very important is that when it has been very effective, the business and its workers will mutually benefit; that is they will both achieve their goals. For businesses, turn over rate will decrease and productivity may increase. What also makes it a hard task for the managers is that employees have different behaviors and attitudes towards work, thus different motivations are needed in order to satisfy the employees. The most common type of motivation is reward. Rewards are given to motivate employees to improve their performance or simply to avoid dissatisfaction among employees. Rewards may be monetary or non-monetary. The purpose of monetary rewards is to acknowledge employees’ excellent job through money. Money has been an effective motivator because people are motivated first by the desire to secure first-level needs of food and shelter for survival (Creech, 1995). Aside from that, one of the primary reasons why people work is to earn money and improve their economic status. Monetary rewards or incentives include salary increase, profit sharing, project bonuses, stock options and warrants, scheduled bonuses and additional paid vacation time (Ballentine et al, 2003 p.1). However, people’s needs are not only material things. There are also other needs that are needed to be satisfied such as the need to learn, to be challenged, to improve skills, improve social status, and the need for other opportunities. These needs are basically what make people self satisfied and fulfilled. Non-Monetary Rewards Non-monetary rewards are important employee motivators. As many people say, there are certain things that money cannot buy and these are sometimes more important to people. According to Kohn (1993 on Ballentine et al, 2003), monetary incentives encourage compliance rather than risk-taking because most rewards are based only on performance. On the other hand, non-monetary rewards are recognition of an excellent job which do not involve money but are still satisfying and motivating to employees with the purpose of creating opportunities to the employees. Non-monetary rewards include: (1) opportunity to learn, develop and advance as an employee; (2) flexible hours; (3) Recognition; (4) the opportunity to contribute; and (5) independence and autonomy (Anonymous, 2006). Opportunity to Learn, Develop and Advance The opportunity to learn, develop and advance can be considered as opportunity for growth. Creech (1995) describes growth as to the mental abilities of employees. Promotion is one means of growth but there are also other ways that employees can learn and grow aside from moving out of their current position. Training, for example, are provided to employees who have showed exemplary performance. Some companies even send their employees abroad for special seminars and trainings to further enhance their skills while other companies have provided scholarships and send their employees to universities to make them more educated. Another way of rewarding an employee is by giving him more complex and challenging tasks that will help improve his skills giving employees a certain feeling of achievement. Flexible Hours Having flexible hours is rewarding to employees in such a way that they can have more time with other obligations. It will be rewarding for good employees if they can have time for other important things such as the family, a part-time job, hobbies and social life. Even the most dedicated employees may feel like slaves and may lose interest with their jobs if all their time will be spent working for the company alone but those who can have time for their selves can be more enthusiastic. Recognition It is very important for an employee’s excellent job to be appreciated and recognized. Recognition as a reward should be earned directly through the job (Creech, 1995) and must be in the form of merit so that employees know efforts are being observed and appreciated by management (Anonymous, 1994). Recognition may be in the form of â€Å"pat in the back†, verbal praise, or written praise (in the form of letter or certificate). There are even some companies that announce the reward publicly by holding ceremonies annually or quarterly in recognition of outstanding employees such as awards for the most prolific employees, the most loyal, most innovative and so on. In this way, employees are more motivated knowing that their good performances are recognized. Opportunity to Contribute Employees feel rewarded when they know that they have good contributions in the workplace. They can even more contribute to the organization when they are given more responsibilities and when they know that their contributions are being valued. This reward involves having to work in a team, working closely with the people in the upper level of the business organizations such as the management, and having your ideas being heard and considered with regards to the decisions made in the company. This kind of reward is commonly given to innovative and creative employees who always have new ideas to contribute to product development and productivity. Independence and Autonomy Exemplary employees are usually given the independence and autonomy because the management trusts them that can accomplish their jobs without supervision and help of others. This reward is commonly given to employees who are good in decision making, can handle pressure and can finish the job on time effectively. It is a rewarding and comfortable feeling for an employee when there is no supervisor or other employees that always looks after his works while employers can save time and money when they have workers who can work independently. Conclusion Although monetary rewards have been traditionally effective as a motivator in a workplace, non-monetary rewards are also important in meeting the other needs of the employees. Non-monetary rewards satisfy and eliminate unhappiness in the workplace by providing employee self-fulfillment, growth, and a feeling of achievement, making them more motivated to perform their jobs better. Therefore, in a workplace, there should be a balance of monetary and non-monetary rewards which motivates employees in different effective ways. References: Anonymous (1994) Personnel Practices/Communications. Human Resources Management. Chicago: Commerce Clearing House Inc., Anonymous, Top Five Non Monetary Items Employees Want in a Workplace Retrieved online on October 12, 2006 http://www.recognitionrewards.com/top_five_items.htm Ballentine, Andrew, McKenzie, Nora, Wysocki, Allen & Kepner, Karl (2003), The Role of Monetary and Non-Monetary Incentives in the Workplace as Influenced by Career Stage, EDIS, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Creech, Regina (1995), Employee Motivation, Management Quarterly, Volume 36, Issue 2 Wortman, Camille B. and Elizabeth F. Loftus. (1992) Psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Ethics: Who Am I

Who am I? Well to answer this question you have to answer these questions first. What are my shortcomings, do I have any vices I’d like to eliminate, why is it hard and what’s stopping me, what are my favorite activities, and a few others. But the one I’m going to focus on is â€Å"What are my qualities and strengths? † because this question helped me figure out what I’m going to do for a living. What are my qualities and strengths? I have many strengths like the ability to work on cars, carpentry, art, and mathematics. But my biggest strength is in mathematics. I’ve always been at the top of my math class throughout my schooling career. Every time m teacher would put a problem on the board, I’d have it done in a split second. I never felt I was challenged until the middle of my junior year of high school. I was taking Algebra 2 and we were starting to go more in-depth into x and y-intercepts. This concept boggled my mind for a lot longer than it had taken to go over and to tell you the truth I still don’t get all of it but I knew enough of it to get by. There was always one thing that I’ve wondered about my strength in mathematics, though. Where did I get this skill from? Nobody in my family is or ever was this good at math like I am. To this day I don’t where it came from but I guess that’s one of my own wonders of the world. Why am I? This question would be difficult for someone to answer if all they thought about was there profession in the future and not what they want to achieve in there life. To answer this question you have to have thought about what you want to achieve in life then you can’t answer this question. A lot of people think about what they want to achieve in life but most of everyone always ponder it in the sense of there career. That’s a good way to think about it but that doesn’t give you purpose in life. I’m not going to lie a lot of the things I ant to achieve in life are career related, but there are a few things that are personal goals I’m going to strive to achieve. One of these achievements is to have a great family and raise children that will have a love of learning, not just in schooling because not all kids like school but in whatever they love to do, a hunger for success, be great citizens of the United States, and know how to be a respectful adult, which is one thing I think a lot of the youth in my generation lack. I think these traits are extremely important for young people to have because these traits are what I think make up a great person and this world definitely needs more people that are respectful, knowledgeable, well-mannered; just an all around good person. Well this is just a little on â€Å"Who I am† in the sense of my strengths and qualities and â€Å"Why I am† in the sense of my purpose in life.

Ateneo Entrance Exam Essay

Hazel Grace Lancaster (The Fault in Our Stars by John Green) This little line from one of my favorite books helped me start my journey of self-discovery. Before, I really did consider myself as someone very inexorability. To the world, I'm Just an average girl that nobody will ever notice. Maybe never will be noticed in an extraordinary way, but I'm determined to make my mark. But flirt things first, I had to discover myself and define who I really am. My first moment of self-discovery began, actually, when first developed my love for books.And that moment happened way, way back when I was still a young child. Nothing made me happier than going to National, Power Books or Fully Booked to go see what new storybook, magazine or novel was available. To this day going book shopping, an activity most people my age would find as agonizingly boring, is an opportunity to expand my knowledge and vocabulary. The only thing I need to improve on right now Is, admittedly, my book choices. My Dad constantly reminds me to move onto more young adult publications and cut back on the children's novels. Books are my flirt great love.Through them, I can go on fantastic adventures that become almost real in my imagination. I also relate to the characters In terms of their personalities and the things they do In the story. From the protagonist, antagonist and all the other characters in between, I can find someone or even something I can relate to in a book. My current favorite books are The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, where I have learned a great many deal of new words such as hamster, thyroidal, prototypical, narcissistic, bacchanalia and so many other terms that were once too sophisticated or me to understand until I looked them up In the dictionary.The Fault In our stars is a heartwarming and yet also heartbreaking love story of two young cancer-stricken teenagers who find their own little infinity together within their limited number of days. I'd tell you more but I would n't want to spoil the entire novel. Second in my favorites list would have to be The Book Thief by Markus Sake. Here, I saw World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust through a young girl like myself, who was unable to read and write until she was given to a foster family in Germany. Lies Impinge then later befriends Max Vandenberg, a Jewish man who hides in her family basement to escape the Nazis.Again, I will not spoil this great work and you will have to read it yourself. This book really strikes me as something that can really make us all question our humanity. As almost all of us know, the Holocaust in World War II was the most horrifying genocide in the entire world. Millions of men, women and children all executed Just because of their religion. If you ask me, Doll Hitler must have been both insane and blind. Did he not know that in World War l, approximately 96,000 Jewish soldiers fought for Germany? It pains me to think that Hitler did not remember that.The Book Thief is most definitely one of those war novels that will have you questioning mankind's humanity. As for a favorite book series, I would have to say that the How to Train Your Dragon series by British author Caressed Jewell. I admit, it's a children's books series but I really enjoy reading the 1 OFF imagination. In fact, this beloved series has been turned into two films and a TV show. But I'll tell you all about it later. Indeed, through reading books of all kinds I eave discovered things about myself I didn't even know were there. I discovered that I have a talent for writing and storytelling.And I have grown to love these two hobbies, which I hope that I can turn into a Job by becoming a writer or a Journalist when I grow up. Aside from reading, I have also experienced being in academic contests in my school where I have begun to define myself as an intellectual. One of those contests is the Essay Writing Contest the school has every year. I never really win any prizes for my composit ions but it's always so much fun to compete. Through essay writing contests, my writing ability is steadily honed and constantly improved with every essay I write.So part of my Journey of self-discovery has been accomplished through the means of books and writing. The other part is, honestly, what Vive been recently obsessing about. â€Å"Everything we know about you guys†¦ Is wrong! † – Hiccup Horrendous Haddock Ill (How to Train Your Dragon Movie) That line from an animated movie by Trademarks Animation has always been embedded in my memory. The first part of this essay focused on my love for books and how reading and writing eave helped me discover who I am in terms of what I can do in this world. This part will now focus on who I truly am as a person.How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 animated film directed by Dean Edibles and Chris Sanders under Trademarks Animation. Its story revolves around a young Viking teenager named Hiccup (Yeah, I know. The name is pre tty unusual. ) who lives in the fictional dragon fighting island of Beer. In Beer, fighting dragons is as necessary as breathing air to live. However, Hiccup is the runt of the village and is physically unable to fight dragons and cannot vive up to his father's expectations. Incidentally, his father, Stoics the Vast, is the tribe chief.But when Hiccup creates an invention that shoots down an ultra rare dragon species known as the Night Fury and attempts to slay it, the young Viking then finds himself unable to do so. This then leads to him freeing it and establishing a forbidden friendship with the dragon, whom he names Toothless. In Hiccup world, befriending a dragon is the highest act of treason. And yet in the end, Hiccup and Toothless' amazingly strong bond enables them to change the relationship between he dragons and Vikings of Beer. Yes, it is an animated movie. But it is not strictly for kids only.I had a real moment of self-discovery and self-definition when I watched this at my best friend's recommendation. And I was immediately awestruck by the movie on so many levels. The detail on the animation was superb, the lighting was perfect, the music score was Just phenomenally beautiful. But what really touched my heart was the story. I really relate to Hiccup. He is left-handed, physically not in the best of shape, intelligent and extremely different from the rest of his peers. L, myself, am also left- ended, physically weak, mentally strong and†¦ Different.I often look at my friends and other people and I can't help but sometimes feel that I'm Just too different. I don't like all the things everyone else likes and sometimes I don't even understand current trends and stick to the things I know. Like Hiccup, I am different. And also like Hiccup, I have embraced my difference. Thanks to this film (and its TV series and sequel) I have figured out who I am as a person. Everyone discovers a new trend and they all zone. And when someone tries to change me , I steadfastly refuse to do so. I am an individual. And I am proud of it.I'm different from everyone else and that's okay. Truth be told, we're all different. We're Just scared to show the world our individualistic. That's why I try hard to stay true to myself and make sure nobody and nothing turns me into something I am not. But I also remind myself to keep an open mind and broaden my horizons. When I experience new things, it helps me discover more interesting characteristics that help define myself as a person. And that's exactly what Hiccup does. He accepts his individuality and tries to do things nobody has ever tried before.Throughout the film, TV series and sequel, Hiccup stayed true to himself and didn't allow anyone to change him. If you must know, I have recently watched How to Train Your Dragon 2 and had another great moment of realization. In the second film, Hiccup is now a young adult and is currently trying to find himself. This is exactly what I'm doing right now, e ven as I write this. I apologize if this essay may seem haphazardly constructed. I must admit, my writing style does tend to confuse some people. But that's essentially how I have defined myself as a person, through books, writing and argons.And to tell you the truth, self-discovery and defining yourself as a person never stops. As the years go by, you will have more experiences, more moments that help you realize that there's more to you than meets the eye. For me, I'm still pretty young so I still have a long way to go until I can complete my personal definition. In case some of you may not fully know me yet, allow me to tell you once again who I am. I am an individual with a love for writing, making stories, reading books, obsessed with dragons. And basically, I am different. And I am proud to be different.