Saturday, May 23, 2020
A Speech On My Life - 1572 Words
At this moment in my life I see myself as a young woman who wants to accomplish my goals in completing my career and becoming a mentor to kids around me. For instance, one of the values I have that my parents have instructed me was to be a part of an influence in someone else s live. My parents have always told me to have a goal to influence others to make a right decision or help them out. Therefore, my parents have grown in me a caring person to others and help others around me. Therefore, my interest right now is to help kids with their problems and help them grow in their education. This is the reason why I have decided to become a Speech Pathologist and hope that in the future I can help kids to develop their language and be able toâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Another thing I noticed is how the leaders of the club had a nurturance and connection with the children where I would ask the kids do you like your leaders and they would all respond ââ¬Å"Yes, I consider them as my mo m and dad.â⬠Concluding with this answer I would think that this organization helps relieve children stressors and helps them identify themselves. For example, they help them with identify their gender role, help them to make right health choices to decrease obesity and also help them with their education. One of the things I saw was that in one of the honors which is an activity or topic that they learn about and they get to receive a badge at the end. They helped children to know how there are many different plants in the world and how there are some that we can eat and how they are good for us. After they were done discussing the importance of plants they went outside and planted different types of plants for the children to take care of. Another event that I attended and I thought it was very helpful was when they went out during January and gave the homeless food. The children went out and gave a lunch bag to the one who were in need and they would also invite them to the park later on where they were going to be serving dinner to the ones who needed it. When they were done reaching out the ones in needed they went to the park and started to set everything upShow MoreRelatedMy Speech On My Life1355 Words à |à 6 Pagesevent has changed my life not for the better, but for the worst. My thought process is broken beyond repair. I have always hated everything about myself as long as I can remember. I started losing passions in the things that kept me sane. I have changed and will never be the same again. Over the years my hatred towards myself has became an unbearable pain to live with. In elementary school, I began to hate my skin color. I can not remember the exact reason why, but I know that my self-hatred had somethingRead MoreA Speech On My Life Essay921 Words à |à 4 PagesWelcome to my life Education is ââ¬Å"keyâ⬠to succeed in todayââ¬â¢s society as I see it. Individuals whom have been out of school for many years can feel their knowledge slowly fade away. Some individuals can possibly relate? I have experienced this feeling myself. I have began to seek motivation within myself by submitting an application to Suu. Right then and there I knew I was on the right track to build confidence within and quit doubting myself. Some subjects have been a struggle for me while growingRead MoreMy Speech On My Life1162 Words à |à 5 PagesI just feel better with him by my side. I know I can t tell him that, I can t seem to tell him even the simplest of things. When I got home there was no one there, I called the hospital to see if my father was there. It turned out when I was at school he got up to go to the bathroom alone and fell and could not help himself up. I tired to talk to him on the phone but he hung up we he found out it was me and not my brother. I don t know what everyone sees in my brother. I understand that I amRead MoreMy Speech On My Life922 Words à |à 4 Pages My mom always says everything happens for a reason, I use to never believe that because of everything happened to us. I was only 6 and 11 months old when my parents, Sumaya and Abraham, told me the news that changed my perfect life. We lived in Chicago at the moment, the house in front of the big park. My mother would take me to the park every day after she picked me up from school, which was only two blocks away from the house. We would go home and eat, do homework, shower, and then we would layRead MoreMy Speech On My Life1594 Words à |à 7 Pagesschool, I wal ked into my house with tearful eyes thinking my life stood unbearable. My entire family saw me enter the house without an ounce of glee, wondering what black cloud surrounded my thoughts. After years of fantasizing about the life I always desired, the breaking point came and swallowed me whole without warning. My patience began to diminish over time, consequently leading to the most important talk of my life. Walking into my room with a ball of frustration in my throat, my dad follows, likeRead MoreMy Speech On My Life1357 Words à |à 6 Pagesmonths I have been going about my life. Working, exercising, giving value back to others but I felt a lack of spark. It was as if everything I was doing was simply for the sake of it and it seemed that everything I was doing was lacking the depth and significance that I loved. The clock ticked. November 1st came and something magical happened. november I simply stopped where I was, looked up at the sky and began to use my imagination. I shut out the world, closed my eyes and began to imagine allRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Life977 Words à |à 4 PagesUniversity. My parents were hosting a graduation brunch for me at the scenic Valley Green Inn in Philadelphiaââ¬â¢s historic Fairmount Park. There were over a hundred guests present that day, a mix of family, friends, and others who made an impact on me over the course of my life. It was just a few short months away from the beginning of law school. I remember looking over at my parents shortly after the brunch began; my mother was looking at me and her eyes were filled with tears. Next to her, my dad wasRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Life1578 Words à |à 7 Pages Looking back at all Iââ¬â¢ve accomplished through out my K-12 years Iââ¬â¢ve realized itââ¬â¢s taught me so much about life. In elementary I was taught my manners while incorporating basic subjects such as math, reading, writing, etc. I can remember how prestigious nap times were and the little snack breaks I used to have during class. Those days were the best days. My first academic success actually came in the third grade when I was on the honor roll all four quarters of the school year. I didnââ¬â¢t think beingRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Life1141 Words à |à 5 Pages Friends that we make from our high school years are the ones that we will have for a lifetime. And I am glad I made some friends during the course of my high school years. Those fr iendships, hopefully, would travel with me until I enter college, the world of adulthood, and the very last stage of my lifeââ¬âdeath. One of those friendships, one of my treasures, is between Ryan and me. He and I first met in a math class back in freshman year. It was the first day of school, and everythingââ¬âclassmates,Read MoreGraduation Speech : My Life1317 Words à |à 6 PagesIf someone were to ask me a couple years ago if graduate studies were in my plans, my reply would be ââ¬Å"absolutely not!â⬠Back then, there was not really a good reason that motivated me to continue my education after graduating with a degree in Public Health Education. The mere thought of more school exhausted me. Though my mentality seemingly changed, one thing that cannot be denied is my love for the game of basketball, which has been almost cruelly ignored until recently. The countless times
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Survey Graphing Ideas for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders
Data graphing is a mathematical skill rigorously taught to students today and for very good reason. The ability to construct or interpret graphs is a necessary foundation for developing more sophisticated data literacy, but graphs help students learn long before they are introduced to statistics by allowing them to visualize information. Common Core State Standards dictate that students begin answering questions about data even in kindergarten. By the end of first grade, students need to be able to organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories. Graphs that students need to be able to create by the end of second grade include bar graphs, line plots, and pictographs or picture graphs, so it is especially important that they are working with these types often. Graphing in School Before students can begin to graph, they need to first begin to interpret data. One opportunity for exposure to this concept is calendar time. Students in lower elementary grades can begin to analyze graphs when talking about the daily calendar, a routine shared by many classrooms. They can look at trends in the weather and answer questions about weather frequency. Graphing skills need to be cultivated in students as early as possible through age-appropriate subject matter, and surveys are a great opportunity for this in any grade. The I do, we do, you do teaching model lends itself well to teaching graphs, especially in the beginning, and teachers can use surveys to begin instruction. Survey Ideas for Students to Graph and Analyze When students are more familiar with surveys, they can conduct their own and graph their results. Before doing this, though, it is important that teachers stress the importance of categories. Surveys conducted need to have predetermined answer options to keep the data set manageable and the experience meaningful. Otherwise, some surveys would result in far too many answers to study. Below is a list of survey topics for students to conduct with their classmates and practice graphing. Establish clear categories for these with your class before beginning. Survey: Favorite book genreFavorite sportFavorite colorFavorite type of animal to have as a petThe weather (temperature and precipitation)Favorite TV show or movieFavorite snack foods, soda, ice cream flavors, etc.Height or arm length of classmatesFavorite subject in schoolNumber of siblingsTypical bedtimeHeight or distance a person can jumpShirt colorFavorite book in a series read as a classFavorite informational book topic Once students can conduct surveys independently, they will probably start generating more topics for surveys on their own. Encourage their enthusiasm by allowing many opportunities for data collection. Teachers can even incorporate surveys into the daily routine to keep students thinking about graphs and practicing these skills. Graphing and Analyzing Survey Data After a survey is complete, teachers should work with their students to decide how best to organize the data they collected, then gradually release the responsibility until students are able to make these decisions independently. Some trial and error with organizing data into different graph types is beneficial for students to see the best uses for each type of graph. For example, picture graphs or pictographs are great for surveys that are more visual and easy to create symbols or pictures for, such as shirt color, but responses are much more difficult to represent with a picture graph for surveys such as average bedtime. After the data has been graphed, the class should talk about the data. Students need to eventually be able to calculate the range, mean, median, and mode, but they can talk about these ideas much more simply to start. They should also be able to reason with the data to discuss why they think one category has fewer responses than another or why it makes sense that some surveys will be more varied than others. Learning How to Graph Through frequent and structured practice graphing and analyzing data, students will understand many mathematical concepts. They will be able to use graphs to think about data in new ways and visualize concepts they could not before. Because children tend to enjoy being polled or asked their opinion, surveys are the perfect way to help students begin to develop their graphing skills. Practice is key to cultivating graphing skills.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Many Mes - 866 Words
The Many Meââ¬â¢s Questionnaire Words or phrases I use to describe my physical self 1. I am blue eyed man 2. I am 5ââ¬â¢11 3. I am Stocky built 4. I am Balding 5. I am Average Words or phrases I use to describe my personality 6. I am Authoritative 7. I am curious 8. I am analytical 9. I am kind 10. I am ambitious Words or phrases I use to describe my social self (me interacting with others) 11. I am outgoing 12. I am comical 13. I am a good listener 14. I am a good communicator 15. I am not easily intimidated Words or phrases I use to describe my character traits 16. I am a good person 17. I am ethical 18. I am a person of good morals 19. I am a person of high integrity 20. I am a leader Words or phrases I useâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦In turn, I learned to be more authoritative and honed my skills at being analytical which has been and still is both a blessing and a curse. In the past five years my image of myself has changed to some degree. I am in my fourth year of college now and have been very successful in my studies. This alone has given me more self-confidence as well as sharpened my leadership skills, morals, and ethics. I believe this is because I am around more people of a higherShow MoreRelated Two Kinds by Amy Tan Essay657 Words à |à 3 Pageswith her parents. She struggles with the high expectations of her mother, to become a prodigy. The conflict results in a rebellious independence. Tan develops Jing-meââ¬â¢s character as willful, defiant, and insecure. To begin, Tan demonstrates that Jing-meââ¬â¢s willfulness stands in the way of her success. For example, after failing many of her mothers prodigy tests, she begins to hate them. One night after another failed test, she adopted ââ¬Å"new thoughts, willful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled withRead MoreThe Two Kinds By Amy Tan1272 Words à |à 6 Pagescriticism the story has. ââ¬Å"Like many immigrants to the United States, Jing-mei s mother has created idealized visions of her adopted country as a land of opportunity where all dreams may be realized.â⬠(Brent 1). Given that Jing-meiââ¬â¢s mother, escape from a terrible war, where she witnessed the lost of her dreams, and family. To Jing-meââ¬â¢s mother, America was her new dreamsââ¬â¢ port, all her lost hopes and wishes where ready to rebirth, she always believed ââ¬Å"There were so many ways for things to get betterâ⬠Read MoreDifferences Between Stand By Me And The Goonies933 Words à |à 4 Pages There are many 1980s movies about kids going on adventures, but Stand by Me and The Goonies are two movies that took the idea of the average adventure movie and made it more relatable to many different audiences. They are both about young, outcasted children, primarily boys, going on a life-changing adventure with their close friends, but the movies are narrated differently. Stand by Me and The Goonies offer two very different approaches to the classic coming-of-age genre; the storylines differRead More The Crucible - Character Responsibilities Essay970 Words à |à 4 Pagesbeginning with many people getting ill and the accusations of people being witches beginning. Though many may not see this, I pe rsonally view Abigail Williams being the one mainly at fault. She is responsible for the young girls getting together with Tituba to conjure up spirits. To put her further at fault, though not quite so much as being a witch, she had an affair with the respected citizen John Proctor. This affair however causes her to make many brash decisions which condemn many people. She feelsRead MoreLessexuality And Homosexuality933 Words à |à 4 Pagesthat the ââ¬Å"lesbian continuumâ⬠supports female homosexual relationship and also relationships heedless of sexuality. However in society it has come to be that sexual preference has to be normal or it will be considered unacceptable in mass media. How many times do we see shows that focus on a homosexual relationship rather than it being a subplot in movies. The society we live in has made no room for female empowerment in regards to sexuality. Images of homosexuality in the media most the time, mirrorsRead MoreBeing A Successful Consult ant For Taylor Healthcare Consultant922 Words à |à 4 PagesFUTURE My first goal in the future is to obtain my Masterââ¬â¢s in Business Administration from Bethel University. Achieving this goal will ultimately open many doors for me in the consultant field. I do not want to leave the practice I am currently working in. I have been on my job almost since conception; therefore, I would like to stay with the company and watch it grow from here. In the future I anticipate nothing but success. However, I do know that becoming successful does not come easy. I am preparedRead MoreWhy Chinese Mothers Are Superior by Amy Chua and Two Kinds by Amy Tan992 Words à |à 4 PagesKinds by Amy Tan portray how children are raised in Chinese-American culture and what beliefs predominate in Chinese-American communities. In Chinese-American culture, mothers approach raising their children differently from many other American parents. While there are many similarities among these Chinese parents, variation can still be seen in the level of persistence and determina tion each individual parent pours into their parenting. These differences in persistence can be what make the differenceRead MoreReflection Paper About Autism1058 Words à |à 5 Pagescould tell that this wasnââ¬â¢t a good thing. I didnââ¬â¢t realize how much this would impact our lives at the time the only thing this affected for me was that we got to skip the lines for rides because we got a special pass for Jacob. I was oblivious to the many challenges ahead. Having a little brother with autism has its ups and downs such as having to help him get dressed and tie his shoes for him, repeating after him when he says something to you to prove to him that you heard him, or not even gettingRead MoreGraffiti Essay1124 Words à |à 5 Pagessidewalks, public transportsââ¬â¢ waiting sheds, telephone booths, or anywhere else space is visible and can be scribbled. Witty and rude commentaries comprise most of these graffitiââ¬âthe ââ¬Å"fuck youââ¬â¢s,â⬠the love proclamations, ââ¬Å"so-and-soââ¬â¢s were here,â⬠ââ¬Å"eat meââ¬â¢s,â⬠etc. * Community Based Graffiti is a category for hip-hop graffiti and the gang graffiti. It is a visual product of the hip-hop culture, an offbeat youth culture emerging in society, and thus is ingrained in music, clothes, dialect, and messagesRead MoreEssay on Fashion in the 1960s and 1970 s1003 Words à |à 5 Pagescreativity, bringing out new and provocative fashion ideas. Pop music began to take on a serious art form. Rock stars influenced fashion in a way like never before. The Beatles began the British invasion with pop culture. They were fashion icons and many copied their long hair. Others copied the rebellious look of Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones). Rock stars began speaking on behalf of the younger generation and the media was all over them. By the end of the sixties, pop music was the main
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Persuasive Essay On Gun Control - 1569 Words
October 1st, 2017. On the night of this horrific date, 59 civilians were killed and 527 were wounded at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival, shot by a 64 year old man on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort. When his room was searched, investigators found 23 firearms in his room, many of them long range rifles outfitted with scopes and bump stocks, which allowed the guns to fire hundreds of rounds per minute (Goldman). From this unspeakable atrocity, an abundant perspicuity is created, portraying that gun control laws are unable to prevent many violent actions, including mass shootings and other horrific events. Even a drastic increase in gun laws cannot prevent men that have irreproachable records from acting recklessly, or predictâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦However, even in the 18th century, many abused this right, murdering and provoking grief throughout thousands across the country. Therefore, limitations were inflicted upon the people, later termed as gun control laws. T he ââ¬Å"Gun Controlâ⬠database defines gun control laws as regulations that ââ¬Å"can hinder certain individuals from gaining access to firearms and can limit possession of certain types of weapons to the police and the military,â⬠which is a resolute statement, but is overly optimistic and fails to address those whose sole purpose is to inflict harm upon society in every way possible. Since the the creation of the United States, many laws, such as the National Firearms Act of 1934, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, have been passed for one sole purpose; to diminish gun brutality as much as possible (ââ¬Å"History of Gun-Control Legislationâ⬠). Unfortunately, they have not always produced their desired effects, either having loopholes that allowed criminals continue their work, or simply being unable to thwart motivated villains. These unavoidable facts create the enigma of whether it is necessary to augment the security of guns with supplementary gun laws, or if it is best to rely on the American people and stop raising attention to theShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay : Gun Control798 Words à |à 4 PagesPersuasive Essay Did you know that in the United States almost 100,000 people are shot or killed with a gun in one year? 10,527 people die a year in handgun related incidents in the United States. This number, by far, outweighs the number of gun related deaths in countries such as Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan, which number 13, 22, and 87, respectively. What is the reason for such drastic differences in numbers? Sweden, Great Britain, and Japan are all countries that have stricter gun controlRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1753 Words à |à 8 PagesPersuasive Essay Rough Draft The United States of America has a problem that is growing worse every day. American laws are not protecting its citizens from injury or death. You may think the mass shootings in America the guns used were bought illegally, but ââ¬Å"since 1982, there have been at least 62 mass shooter carried out with firearms across the country, with the killings unfolding in 30 states from Massachusetts to Hawaii. Of the 139 guns possessed by the killers, more than three quarters wereRead More Persuasive Articles on Gun Control Essays607 Words à |à 3 PagesPersuasive Articles on Gun Control Persuading an audience can be done in several different fashions, one of which is Hugh Rankââ¬â¢s Model of Persuasion. Rankââ¬â¢s model states that two major strategies are used to achieve the particular goal of persuasion. These strategies are nicely set into two main schemas; the first method is to exaggerate an aspect of something, known as ââ¬Å"intensify.â⬠While the second is to discredit it, which is referred to as ââ¬Å"downplay.â⬠Al Franken, Jeffrey SnyderRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1018 Words à |à 5 PagesImagine, an America where no citizen, law abiding or not, has the legal ability to own guns. Three gunmen with fully automatic rifles walk into a crowded city and begin firing. No law abiding citizen can defend themselves. Itââ¬â¢s hopeless. This future can only be prevented if Americans continue to keep the second amendment. We should keep the current gun control laws, but revise them to make them even better. Most gun own ers are responsible under the current laws, however, I think some laws need to beRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1245 Words à |à 5 Pagesand time again. Due to recent tragedies involving firearms, the view of guns and peoples rights to own and operate firearms have been frowned upon and viewed in a bad light due to Media. News sources have cherrypicked pictures of tragedies and stories about bad instances of gun usage in order to fight for Gun Control and the suppression of Americans rights. Due to the recent Vegas shooting, the argument for Gun Control has never been more intense, and Media outlets are having a field day onRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control915 Words à |à 4 PagesHistorically guns havenââ¬â¢t been a national issue. It is not until relatively recently that an overwhelming amount of people have been in favor of placing stricter laws on the owning of a fire arm. The call for gun control has become more prevalent in the eyes of the government and the people; the gun laws that are also often proposed are irrational and ineffective. One could not simply ban guns, it is comparable to banning a certain genre of music; itââ¬â¢s unachievable and would be a fruitless pursuitRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1745 Words à |à 7 Pagescruelty to animals, and yet he was able to buy four guns legally (Rosenberg). That is the most recent example of why Americans need more gun control laws. Guns are not cool or makes you look good, they are a da ngerous piece of machinery that Americans take advantage of. The average American in the right mindset should not want to own anything more than one handgun or rifle for hunting or protecting their household. Gun control reform that limits gun ownership, enforces mandatory background checks, andRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1439 Words à |à 6 Pagesreason why Americans own so many guns is because of the Second Amendment, which states, ââ¬Å"A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.â⬠(Rauch) This amendment guarantees U.S. citizens the right to have firearms. Since this amendment is relatively vague, it is up for interpretation, and is often used by gun advocates to argue for lenient gun laws. Hence, gun control is a frequently discussed controversialRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control967 Words à |à 4 Pagessaid gun violence has gotten out of hand. This do esnââ¬â¢t mean that the second amendment is the cause of it. Gun Violence has become such a big part of the Second Amendment since they both play a major part of the gun industry. Guns have become such a powerful source to many individuals. With the second amendment placed, this means we have gun control, which are rules that regulate, the manufacture, possession, modification, or use of firearms by civilians. There should be a stricter law on gun controlRead MorePersuasive Essay On Gun Control1634 Words à |à 7 PagesOver the recents years, there have been many arguments about the issue of gun control at the state and national level. In California, there have been a variety of enacted laws within recent years to address the issue of growing gun violence around the country and ways to prevent terrorist attacks. California s new enacted laws about gun control in the state range from abolishing certain features on weapons to restricting certain handguns or other firearms a person might buy. The legislative branch
Blood Promise Chapter Eleven Free Essays
I stared at Mark for several long seconds. Finally, stupidly, I asked, ââ¬Å"Did you sayâ⬠¦ heal?â⬠Mark stared at me in equal surprise. ââ¬Å"Yes, of course. We will write a custom essay sample on Blood Promise Chapter Eleven or any similar topic only for you Order Now She can heal other things, right? Why not this?â⬠ââ¬Å"Becauseâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I frowned. ââ¬Å"That doesnââ¬â¢t make any sense. The darknessâ⬠¦ all the bad side effectsâ⬠¦ those come from Lissa. If she could just heal it, why wouldnââ¬â¢t she heal it out of herself?â⬠ââ¬Å"Because when itââ¬â¢s in her, itââ¬â¢s too ingrained. Too tied into her being. She canââ¬â¢t heal it the way she can other things. But once your bond has pulled it into you, itââ¬â¢s like any other sickness.â⬠My heart was pounding in my chest. What he was suggesting was too ridiculously easy. No, it was just ridiculous, period. There was no way after all that weââ¬â¢d been through that Lissa could heal that rage and depression the way she could a cold or a broken leg. Victor Dashkov, despite his wicked schemes, had known an astonishing amount about spirit and had explained it to us. The other four elements were more physical in nature, but spirit came from the mind and soul. To use that much mental energy-to be able to do such powerful things-couldnââ¬â¢t be done without devastating side effects. Weââ¬â¢d been fighting those side effects from the beginning, first in Lissa and then in me. They couldnââ¬â¢t just go away. ââ¬Å"If that were possible,â⬠I said quietly, ââ¬Å"then everyone would have done it. Ms. Karp wouldnââ¬â¢t have lost her mind. Anna wouldnââ¬â¢t have committed suicide. What youââ¬â¢re saying is too easy.â⬠Mark didnââ¬â¢t know who I was talking about, but clearly it didnââ¬â¢t matter for what he wanted to express. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re right. Itââ¬â¢s not easy at all. It requires a careful balance, a circle of trust and strength between two people. It took Oksana and me a long time to learnâ⬠¦ many hard yearsâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ His face darkened, and I could only imagine what those years had been like. My short time with Lissa had been bad enough. Theyââ¬â¢d had to live with this a lot longer than we had. It had to have been unbearable at times. Slowly, wonderingly, I dared to give credence to his words. ââ¬Å"But now you guys are okay?â⬠ââ¬Å"Hmm.â⬠There was a flicker of a wry smile on his lips. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢d hardly say weââ¬â¢re perfectly okay. Thereââ¬â¢s only so much she can do, but it makes life manageable. She spaces out the healings as long as we can handle it, since it takes a lot out of her. Itââ¬â¢s draining, and it limits her overall power.â⬠ââ¬Å"What do you mean?â⬠He shrugged. ââ¬Å"She can still do the other thingsâ⬠¦ healing, compulsionâ⬠¦ but not to the levels she would if she wasnââ¬â¢t always healing me.â⬠My hope faltered. ââ¬Å"Oh. Thenâ⬠¦ I couldnââ¬â¢t. I couldnââ¬â¢t do that to Lissa.â⬠ââ¬Å"Compared to what sheââ¬â¢s doing to you? Rose. I have a feeling sheââ¬â¢d think it was a fair trade.â⬠I thought back to our last meeting. I thought about how Iââ¬â¢d left her there, despite her begging. I thought about the lows sheââ¬â¢d been experiencing in my absence. I thought about how sheââ¬â¢d refused to heal Dimitri when Iââ¬â¢d thought there might still be hope for him. Weââ¬â¢d both been bad friends. I shook my head. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know,â⬠I said in a small voice. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know if she would.â⬠Mark gave me a long, level look, but he didnââ¬â¢t push me on the matter. He glanced up at the sun, almost as if he could tell the time from it. He probably could. He had that surviving-in-the-wilderness kind of feel to him. ââ¬Å"The others will wonder what happened to us. Before we goâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, plain silver ring. ââ¬Å"Learning to heal will take time. What worries me the most right now is this vigilante mood youââ¬â¢re in. The darkness is only going to make it worse. Take this.â⬠He extended the ring to me. I hesitated and then reached for it. ââ¬Å"What is it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oksana infused it with spirit. Itââ¬â¢s a healing charm.â⬠Once again, shock ran through me. Moroi charmed objects with elements all the time. Stakes were charmed with all four of the physical elements, making them lethal to Strigoi. Victor had charmed a necklace with earth magic, using the base nature of earth to turn the necklace into a lust charm. Even Sydneyââ¬â¢s tattoo was a charm of sorts. I supposed there was no reason that spirit couldnââ¬â¢t charm objects too, but it had never occurred to me, probably because Lissaââ¬â¢s powers were still too new and too foreign. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s it do? I mean, what kind of healing?â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢ll help with your moods. It canââ¬â¢t get rid of them, but itââ¬â¢ll lessen them-help you think more clearly. Might keep you out of trouble. Oksana makes these for me to help between healings.â⬠I started to slip it on, but he shook his head. ââ¬Å"Save it for when you really feel out of control. The magic wonââ¬â¢t last forever. It fades just like any other charm.â⬠I stared at the ring, my mind suddenly open to all sorts of new possibilities. A few moments later, I slipped it into my coat pocket. Paul stuck his head out the back door. ââ¬Å"Grandmother wants to leave now,â⬠he told me. ââ¬Å"She wants to know why youââ¬â¢re taking so long and said to ask why youââ¬â¢d make someone as old as her keep waiting and suffering with her back.â⬠I recalled how fast Yeva had been walking while I struggled to keep up with my load. Her back hadnââ¬â¢t seemed all that bad to me, but again, I remembered that Paul was only the messenger and spared him my commentary. ââ¬Å"Okay. Iââ¬â¢ll be right there.â⬠When he was gone, I shook my head. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s hard being worthy.â⬠I moved toward the door, then gave Mark a backward glance, as a random thought occurred to me. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re telling me that going off on your own is badâ⬠¦ but you arenââ¬â¢t a guardian either.â⬠He smiled at me again, one of those sad, wry smiles. ââ¬Å"I used to be. Then Oksana saved my life. We bonded and eventually fell in love. I couldnââ¬â¢t stand to be separated from her after that, and the guardians would have assigned me elsewhere. I had to go.â⬠ââ¬Å"Was it hard to leave them?â⬠ââ¬Å"Very. Our age difference made it even more scandalous.â⬠A strange chill ran through me. Mark and Oksana were the embodiment of the two halves of my life. They fought against a shadow-kissed bond as Lissa and I did and also faced the same condemnation for their relationship that Dimitri and I had. Mark continued, ââ¬Å"But sometimes, we have to listen to our hearts. And even though I left, Iââ¬â¢m not out there recklessly going after Strigoi. Iââ¬â¢m an old man living with the woman he loves and tending his garden. Thereââ¬â¢s a difference-donââ¬â¢t forget that.â⬠My mind was reeling when I returned to the Belikov house. Without the bricks, the walk back had been a lot easier. It had given me a chance to ponder Markââ¬â¢s words. I felt like Iââ¬â¢d received a lifetime of information in a one-hour conversation. Olena was going about the house, doing her normal tasks of cooking and cleaning. While I would personally never want to spend my days doing those sorts of domestic duties, I had to admit there was something comforting about always having someone who was around, ready to cook and worry about me on a daily basis. I knew it was a purely selfish desire, just as I knew my own mom was doing important things with her life. I shouldnââ¬â¢t judge her. Still, it made me feel warm and cared for to have Olena treat me like a daughter when she hardly knew me. ââ¬Å"Are you hungry?â⬠she asked automatically. I think one of the greatest fears in her life was that someone might go hungry in her home. Sydneyââ¬â¢s perpetual lack of appetite had been a nonstop worry for Olena. I hid a smile. ââ¬Å"No, we ate at Mark and Oksanaââ¬â¢s.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ah, thatââ¬â¢s where you were? Theyââ¬â¢re good people.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where is everyone?â⬠I asked. The house was unusually quiet. ââ¬Å"Sonya and Karolina are at work. Viktoriaââ¬â¢s out at a friendââ¬â¢s, but sheââ¬â¢ll be glad youââ¬â¢re back.â⬠ââ¬Å"What about Sydney?â⬠ââ¬Å"She left a little while ago. She said she was going back to Saint Petersburg.â⬠ââ¬Å"What?â⬠I exclaimed. ââ¬Å"Left for good? Just like that?â⬠Sydney had a blunt nature, but this was abrupt even for her. ââ¬Å"The Alchemistsâ⬠¦ well, theyââ¬â¢re always on the move.â⬠Olena handed me a piece of paper. ââ¬Å"She left this for you.â⬠I took the note and immediately opened it. Sydneyââ¬â¢s handwriting was neat and precise. Somehow this didnââ¬â¢t surprise me. Rose, Iââ¬â¢m sorry I had to leave so quickly, but when the Alchemists tell me to jumpâ⬠¦ well, I jump. Iââ¬â¢ve hitched a ride back to that farm town we stayed in so that I can pick up the Red Hurricane, and then Iââ¬â¢m off to Saint Petersburg. Apparently, now that youââ¬â¢ve been delivered to Baia, they donââ¬â¢t need me to stick around anymore. I wish I could tell you more about Abe and what he wants from you. Even if I was allowed to, there isnââ¬â¢t much to say. In some ways, heââ¬â¢s as much a mystery to me as he is to you. Like I said, a lot of the business he deals in is illegal-both among humans and Moroi. The only time he gets directly involved with people is when something relates to that business-or if itââ¬â¢s a very, very special case. I think youââ¬â¢re one of those cases, and even if he doesnââ¬â¢t intend you harm, he might want to use you for his own purposes. It could be as simple as him wanting to contract you as a bodyguard, seeing as youââ¬â¢re rogue. Maybe he wants to use you to get to others. Maybe this is all part of someone elseââ¬â¢s plan, someone whoââ¬â¢s even more mysterious than him. Maybe heââ¬â¢s doing someone a favor. Zmey can be dangerous or kind, all depending on what he needs to accomplish. I never thought Iââ¬â¢d care enough to say this to a dhampir, but be careful. I donââ¬â¢t know what your plans are now, but I have a feeling trouble follows you around. Call me if thereââ¬â¢s anything I can help with, but if you go back to the big cities to hunt Strigoi, donââ¬â¢t leave any more bodies unattended! All the best, Sydney P.S. ââ¬Å"The Red Hurricaneâ⬠is what I named the car. P.P.S. Just because I like you, it doesnââ¬â¢t mean I still donââ¬â¢t think youââ¬â¢re an evil creature of the night. You are. Her cell phone number was added at the bottom, and I couldnââ¬â¢t help but smile. Since weââ¬â¢d ridden to Baia with Abe and his guardians, Sydney had had to leave the car behind, which had traumatized her almost as much as the Strigoi. I hoped the Alchemists would let her keep it. I shook my head, amused in spite of her warnings about Abe. The Red Hurricane. As I headed upstairs to my room, my smile faded. Despite her abrasive attitude, I was going to miss Sydney. She might not exactly be a friend-or was she?-but in this brief time, Iââ¬â¢d come to regard her as a constant in my life. I didnââ¬â¢t have many of those left anymore. I felt adrift, unsure what to do now. Iââ¬â¢d come here to bring peace to Dimitri and had only ended up bringing grief to his family. And if what everyone said was true, I wasnââ¬â¢t going to find many Strigoi here in Baia. Somehow, I couldnââ¬â¢t picture Dimitri, wandering the road and farms for the occasional prey. Even as a Strigoi -and it killed me to think those words-Dimitri would have a purpose. If he wasnââ¬â¢t returning to the familiar sights of his hometown, then he would be doing something else meaningful-inasmuch as a Strigoi could. Sydneyââ¬â¢s comment in the note had verified what I kept hearing over and over: Strigoi were in the cities. But which one? Where would Dimitri go? Now I was the one without a purpose. On top of it all, I couldnââ¬â¢t help but replay Markââ¬â¢s words. Was I really on an insane vigilante mission? Was I foolishly rushing to my death? Or was I foolishly rushing intoâ⬠¦ nothing? Was I doomed to spend the rest of my days wandering? Alone? Sitting on my bed, I felt my mood plummet and knew I had to distract myself. I was too susceptible to dark emotions as long as Lissa used spirit; I didnââ¬â¢t need to further encourage them. I slipped on the ring that Mark had given me, hoping it would bring some sort of clarity and tranquility. I felt no noticeable difference, though, and decided to seek peace from that same place I always did: Lissaââ¬â¢s mind. She was with Adrian, and the two were practicing spirit again. After some initial bumps in the road, Adrian was proving a quick study at healing. That had been the first of Lissaââ¬â¢s powers to manifest, and it always irked her that he made more progress on what she had to teach him than vice versa. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m running out of things for you to heal,â⬠she said, setting some tiny potted plants onto a table. ââ¬Å"Unless we start cutting off limbs or something.â⬠Adrian smiled. ââ¬Å"I used to tease Rose about that, how I was going to impress her by healing amputees or something equally absurd.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh, and Iââ¬â¢m sure she had a smartass response for you each time.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes, yes, she did.â⬠His face was fond as he recalled the memory. There was a part of me that was always insanely curious to hear them talk about meâ⬠¦ yet at the same time, I always felt bad at the grief my name seemed to invoke. Lissa groaned and stretched out on the carpeted floor. They were in a dorm lounge, and curfew was swiftly approaching. ââ¬Å"I want to talk to her, Adrian.â⬠ââ¬Å"You canââ¬â¢t,â⬠he said. There was an unusual seriousness in his voice. ââ¬Å"I know she still checks in on you-thatââ¬â¢s the closest youââ¬â¢ll get to talking to her. And honestly? Thatââ¬â¢s not so bad. You can tell her exactly how you feel.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, but I want to hear her talk back like you do in your dreams.â⬠This made him smile again. ââ¬Å"She does plenty of talking back, believe me.â⬠Lissa sat up straight. ââ¬Å"Do it now.â⬠ââ¬Å"Do what now?â⬠ââ¬Å"Go visit her dreams. You always try to explain it to me, but Iââ¬â¢ve never actually seen it. Let me watch.â⬠He stared, at a loss for words. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s kind of voyeuristic.â⬠ââ¬Å"Adrian! I want to learn this, and weââ¬â¢ve tried everything else. I can feel the magic around you sometimes. Just do it, okay?â⬠He started to protest again but then bit off his comment after studying her face for a moment. Her words had been sharp and demanding-very uncharacteristic for her. ââ¬Å"Okay. Iââ¬â¢ll try.â⬠The whole idea of Adrian trying to get into my head while I was watching him through Lissaââ¬â¢s head was surreal, to say the least. I didnââ¬â¢t quite know what to expect from him. Iââ¬â¢d always wondered if he had to be asleep or at least have his eyes closed. Apparently not. He instead stared off at nothing, his eyes going vacant as his mind left the world around him. Through Lissaââ¬â¢s eyes, I could see some of the magic radiating off him and his aura, and she tried to analyze each strand. Then, without warning, all the magic faded. He blinked and shook his head. ââ¬Å"Sorry. I canââ¬â¢t do it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Why not?â⬠ââ¬Å"Probably because sheââ¬â¢s awake. Did you learn anything by watching?â⬠ââ¬Å"A little. Probably wouldââ¬â¢ve been more useful if youââ¬â¢d actually made the connection.â⬠Again, Lissa had that petulant tone. ââ¬Å"She could be anywhere in the world, you know, on any schedule.â⬠His words were smothered by a yawn. ââ¬Å"Maybe we can try at different times of the day. Iââ¬â¢ve been getting herâ⬠¦ actually, close to this time. Or sometimes I catch her really early in the day.â⬠ââ¬Å"She could be close by then,â⬠said Lissa. ââ¬Å"Or on a human daylight schedule in some other part of the world.â⬠Her enthusiasm dropped. ââ¬Å"Right. That too.â⬠ââ¬Å"How come you guys never look like youââ¬â¢re working?â⬠Christian strolled into the room, looking amused at Lissa sitting on the floor and Adrian sprawling on the couch. Standing behind Christian was someone I hadnââ¬â¢t thought Iââ¬â¢d see anytime soon. Adrian, who could detect women a mile away, also immediately noticed the newcomer. ââ¬Å"Whereââ¬â¢d you get the jailbait?â⬠he asked. Christian shot Adrian a warning look. ââ¬Å"This is Jill.â⬠Jill Mastrano allowed herself to be nudged forward, her light green eyes impossibly wide as she looked around. ââ¬Å"Jill, this is Lissa and Adrian.â⬠Jill was one of the last people Iââ¬â¢d expected to see here. Iââ¬â¢d met her a little over a month ago. She was in ninth grade, which meant sheââ¬â¢d be here on the upper campus in the fall. She had the same super-slim build that most Moroi had, but it was paired with height that was impressive even by vampiric standards. It made her look rail-thin. Her hair fell in light brown curls to the middle of her back and would be beautiful-when she learned how to style it properly. For now, it was kind of messy, and her overall impression-while cute-was kind of awkward. ââ¬Å"H-hi,â⬠she said, looking from face to face. As far as she was concerned, these were Moroi gold star celebrities. Sheââ¬â¢d nearly passed out when she first met me and Dimitri, thanks to our reputations. From her expression, she was in a similar state now. ââ¬Å"Jill wants to learn how to use her power for good instead of evil,â⬠said Christian with an exaggerated wink. That was his coy way of saying Jill wanted to learn how to fight with her magic. Sheââ¬â¢d expressed the interest to me, and Iââ¬â¢d told her to find Christian. I was glad sheââ¬â¢d had the courage to take me up on my advice. Christian was a campus celebrity too, albeit an infamous one. ââ¬Å"Another recruit?â⬠asked Lissa, shaking her head. ââ¬Å"Think youââ¬â¢ll keep this one around?â⬠Jill gave Christian a startled look. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s that mean?â⬠ââ¬Å"After the attack, lots of people said they wanted to learn to fight with magic,â⬠Christian explained. ââ¬Å"So they found me, and we worked togetherâ⬠¦ once or twice. Then everyone faded away once it got hard, and they realized they had to keep practicing.â⬠ââ¬Å"It doesnââ¬â¢t help that youââ¬â¢re a mean teacher,â⬠pointed out Lissa. ââ¬Å"And so now youââ¬â¢ve got to recruit among children,â⬠said Adrian solemnly. ââ¬Å"Hey,â⬠said Jill indignantly. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m fourteen.â⬠Immediately, she flushed at having spoken so boldly to him. He found it amusing, as he did so many other things. ââ¬Å"My mistake,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s your element?â⬠ââ¬Å"Water.â⬠ââ¬Å"Fire and water, huh?â⬠Adrian reached into his pocket and pulled out a one-hundred-dollar bill. He snapped it out straight. ââ¬Å"Sweetheart, Iââ¬â¢ll make you a deal. If you can make a bucket of water appear and dump over Christianââ¬â¢s head, Iââ¬â¢ll give you this.â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll add in ten,â⬠laughed Lissa. Jill looked stunned, but I suspected it was because Adrian had called her ââ¬Å"sweetheart.â⬠I took Adrian for granted so often that it was easy to forget he really was a hot guy. Christian pushed Jill toward the door. ââ¬Å"Ignore them. Theyââ¬â¢re just jealous because spirit users canââ¬â¢t go charging into battle like we can.â⬠He knelt down to Lissaââ¬â¢s height on the floor and gave her a quick kiss. ââ¬Å"We were practicing in the lounge upstairs, but Iââ¬â¢ve got to walk her back now. Iââ¬â¢ll see you tomorrow.â⬠ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t have to,â⬠said Jill. ââ¬Å"I can get back there fine. I donââ¬â¢t want to be any trouble.â⬠Adrian stood up. ââ¬Å"You arenââ¬â¢t. If anyoneââ¬â¢s going to step up and be the knight in shining armor here, it might as well be me. Iââ¬â¢ll take you back and leave the lovebirds to their lovebirding.â⬠He gave Jill a grand bow. ââ¬Å"Shall we?â⬠ââ¬Å"Adrian-â⬠said Lissa, a sharp note in her voice. ââ¬Å"Oh, come on,â⬠he said, rolling his eyes. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve got to head back anyway-you guys are of no use once curfew comes. And honestly, give me some credit here. Even I have boundaries.â⬠He gave Lissa a meaningful look, one that told her she was an idiot for thinking he was going to hit on Jill. Lissa held his gaze for a few moments and realized he was right. Adrian was a scoundrel at times and had never made his interest in me a secret, but walking Jill home wasnââ¬â¢t part of some grand seduction. He really was just being nice. ââ¬Å"All right,â⬠said Lissa. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll see you later. Nice meeting you, Jill.â⬠ââ¬Å"You too,â⬠said Jill. She dared a smile at Christian. ââ¬Å"Thanks again.â⬠ââ¬Å"You better show up for our next practice,â⬠he warned. Adrian and Jill started to step out the door, just as Avery stepped through it. ââ¬Å"Hey, Adrian.â⬠Avery gave Jill a once-over. ââ¬Å"Whoââ¬â¢s your jailbait?â⬠ââ¬Å"Will you guys stop calling me that?â⬠exclaimed Jill. Adrian pointed at Avery chastisingly. ââ¬Å"Hush. Iââ¬â¢ll deal with you later, Lazar.â⬠ââ¬Å"I certainly hope so,â⬠she said in a singsong voice. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll leave the door unlocked.â⬠Jill and Adrian left, and Avery sat down next to Lissa. She seemed animated enough to be drunk, but Lissa smelled no liquor on her. Lissa was rapidly learning that some part of Avery was always just vivacious and carefree, regardless of intoxication. ââ¬Å"Did you really just invite Adrian to your room later?â⬠asked Lissa. She spoke teasingly but had been secretly wondering if something was going on between them. And yeah, that made two of us who wondered. Avery shrugged. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. Maybe. Sometimes we hang out once you guys are all tucked into bed. You arenââ¬â¢t going to get jealous, are you?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠laughed Lissa. ââ¬Å"Just curious. Adrianââ¬â¢s a good guy.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh?â⬠asked Christian. ââ¬Å"Define ?à ®good.'â⬠Avery held up her hand and began ticking items off with each finger. ââ¬Å"Heââ¬â¢s devastatingly handsome, funny, rich, related to the queenâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"You got your wedding colors picked out?â⬠asked Lissa, still laughing. ââ¬Å"Not yet,â⬠said Avery. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m still testing the waters. I figured heââ¬â¢d be an easy notch on the Avery Lazar belt, but heââ¬â¢s kind of hard to read.â⬠ââ¬Å"I really donââ¬â¢t want to be hearing this,â⬠Christian said. ââ¬Å"Sometimes he acts like a love ââ¬â¢em and leave ââ¬â¢em type. Other times, he mopes like some heartbroken romantic.â⬠Lissa exchanged a knowing glance with Christian that Avery didnââ¬â¢t catch while talking. ââ¬Å"Anyway, Iââ¬â¢m not here to talk about him. Iââ¬â¢m here to talk about you and me busting out of here.â⬠Avery threw her arm around Lissa, who nearly fell over. ââ¬Å"Out of where? The dorm?â⬠ââ¬Å"No. This school. Weââ¬â¢re going off on a wild weekend to the Royal Court .â⬠ââ¬Å"What, this weekend?â⬠Lissa felt like she was three steps behind, and I didnââ¬â¢t blame her. ââ¬Å"Why?â⬠ââ¬Å"Because itââ¬â¢s Easter. And her royal majesty thought it would be ?à ®lovelyââ¬â¢ if you could join her for the holiday.â⬠Averyââ¬â¢s tone was grand and high-pitched. ââ¬Å"And, since Iââ¬â¢ve been hanging out with you, Dadââ¬â¢s decided Iââ¬â¢m on good behavior now.â⬠ââ¬Å"Poor oblivious bastard,â⬠murmured Christian. ââ¬Å"So he said I can go with you.â⬠Avery glanced at Christian. ââ¬Å"You can too, I guess. The queen said Lissa could bring a guest-in addition to me, of course.â⬠Lissa looked into Averyââ¬â¢s radiant face and didnââ¬â¢t share her enthusiasm. ââ¬Å"I hate going to Court. Tatiana just goes on and on, giving what she thinks is useful advice for me. Itââ¬â¢s always boring and miserable now.â⬠Lissa didnââ¬â¢t add that sheââ¬â¢d once found Court fun-when Iââ¬â¢d gone with her. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s because you havenââ¬â¢t gone with me yet. Itââ¬â¢ll be a blast! I know where all the good stuff is. And I bet Adrianââ¬â¢ll come too. He can push his way into anything. Itââ¬â¢ll be like a double date.â⬠Slowly, Lissa began to acknowledge that this might be fun. She and I had managed to find a little of the ââ¬Å"good stuffâ⬠that hid underneath the polished surface of Court life. Every other visit since had been just as she described-stuffy and businesslike. But now, going with Christian and wild, spontaneous Avery? That had potential. Until Christian ruined it. ââ¬Å"Well, donââ¬â¢t count me in,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"If you can only bring one person, bring Jill.â⬠ââ¬Å"Who?â⬠asked Avery. ââ¬Å"Jailbait,â⬠explained Lissa. She looked at Christian in astonishment. ââ¬Å"Why on earth would I bring Jill? I just met her.â⬠ââ¬Å"Because sheââ¬â¢s actually serious about learning to defend herself. You should introduce her to Mia. Theyââ¬â¢re both water users.â⬠ââ¬Å"Right,â⬠said Lissa knowingly. ââ¬Å"And the fact that you hate it at Court has nothing to do with it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Christian!â⬠Lissa was suddenly getting upset. ââ¬Å"Why canââ¬â¢t you do this for me?â⬠ââ¬Å"Because I hate the way Queen Bitch looks at me,â⬠he said. Lissa didnââ¬â¢t find this convincing. ââ¬Å"Yeah, but when we graduate, Iââ¬â¢ll be living there. Youââ¬â¢ll have to go then.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, well, then give me this small vacation first.â⬠Lissaââ¬â¢s irritation grew. ââ¬Å"Oh, I see how it is. I have to put up with your crap all the time, but you canââ¬â¢t go out of your way for me.â⬠Avery glanced between them and then stood up. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ll leave you kids to work this out on your own. I donââ¬â¢t care whether Christian or Jailbait goes, as long as youââ¬â¢re there.â⬠She peered down at Lissa. ââ¬Å"You are going, right?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah. Iââ¬â¢ll go.â⬠If anything, Christianââ¬â¢s refusal had suddenly spurred Lissa more. Avery grinned. ââ¬Å"Awesome. Iââ¬â¢m going to head out of here, but you two had better kiss and make up when Iââ¬â¢m gone.â⬠Averyââ¬â¢s brother Reed suddenly appeared in the doorway. ââ¬Å"Are you ready?â⬠he asked her. Every time he spoke, it always came out as sort of a grunt. Avery flashed the others a triumphant look. ââ¬Å"See? My gallant brother, coming to walk me back before those dorm matrons start yelling at me to leave. Now Adrianââ¬â¢ll have to find a new and exciting way to prove his chivalry.â⬠Reed didnââ¬â¢t look very gallant or chivalrous, but I supposed it was nice of him to come walk her back to her room. His timing had been eerily perfect. Maybe she was right about him not being as bad as people always thought. As soon as Avery was gone, Lissa turned on Christian. ââ¬Å"Are you really serious about me bringing Jill instead of you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yep,â⬠said Christian. He tried to lie back into her lap, but she pushed him away. ââ¬Å"But Iââ¬â¢ll count the seconds until you return.â⬠ââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t believe you think this is a joke.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"Look, I didnââ¬â¢t mean to get you all worked up, okay? But reallyâ⬠¦ I just donââ¬â¢t want to deal with all that Court drama. And it would be good for Jill.â⬠He frowned. ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t have anything against her, do you?â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t even know her,â⬠said Lissa. She was still upset-more so than I would have expected, which was odd. Christian caught hold of Lissaââ¬â¢s hands, face serious. Those blue eyes she loved softened her anger a little. ââ¬Å"Please, Iââ¬â¢m not trying to upset you. If itââ¬â¢s really that importantâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Like that, Lissaââ¬â¢s anger diffused. It was abrupt, like a switch. ââ¬Å"No, no. Iââ¬â¢m fine bringing Jill-though Iââ¬â¢m not sure she should be hanging out with us and doing whatever Avery has in mind.â⬠ââ¬Å"Give Jill to Mia. Sheââ¬â¢ll look after her for the weekend.â⬠Lissa nodded, wondering why he was so interested in Jill. ââ¬Å"Okay. But youââ¬â¢re not doing this because you donââ¬â¢t like Avery, are you?â⬠ââ¬Å"No, I like Avery. She makes you smile more.â⬠ââ¬Å"You make me smile.â⬠ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s why I added on the ?à ®more.'â⬠Christian gently kissed Lissaââ¬â¢s hand. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢ve been so sad since Rose left. Iââ¬â¢m glad youââ¬â¢re hanging out with someone else-I mean, not that you canââ¬â¢t get everything you need from me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Averyââ¬â¢s not a Rose replacement,â⬠said Lissa quickly. ââ¬Å"I know. But she reminds me of her.â⬠ââ¬Å"What? They have nothing in common.â⬠Christian straightened up and sat beside her, resting his face against her shoulder. ââ¬Å"Averyââ¬â¢s like how Rose used to be, back before you guys left.â⬠Both Lissa and I paused to ponder that. Was he right? Before Lissaââ¬â¢s spirit powers had begun showing, she and I had lived a party girl lifestyle. And yes, half the time I was the one coming up with the crazy ideas to find a good time and get us into trouble. But had I been as out there as Avery seemed sometimes? ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢ll never be another Rose,â⬠said Lissa sadly. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠agreed Christian. He gave her a brief, soft kiss on the mouth. ââ¬Å"But there will be other friends.â⬠I knew he was right, but I couldnââ¬â¢t help but feel a small stab of jealousy. I also couldnââ¬â¢t help feel a small amount of worry. Lissaââ¬â¢s brief spurt of irritation had been kind of out of the blue. I could understand her wishing Christian could go, but her attitude had been a little bitchy-and her almost jealous worry over Jill was weird too. Lissa had no reason to doubt Christianââ¬â¢s feelings, certainly not over someone like Jill. Lissaââ¬â¢s moodiness reminded me too much of the old days. Most likely she was overtired, but some instinct-maybe it was part of the bonding-told me something was wrong. It was a fleeting sensation, one I couldnââ¬â¢t quite get a hold of, like water slipping through my fingers. Still, my instincts had been right before, and I decided Iââ¬â¢d be checking in on Lissa more frequently. How to cite Blood Promise Chapter Eleven, Essay examples
Organizational Behaviour Analysis
Question: Discuss about the organizational behaviour. Answer: Analysis of the outcome of Big Five Test related to the leadership traits The Big five test essentially examines the personality tests in the field of academic psychology. However, the big five test scrutinizes the personality from the perspective of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, Agreeableness and neuroticism (Creed and Phillips 2011). My scores in each of these categories reveal that I am moderately open, moderately conscientiousness, highly extraverted, highly agreeable and low in neuroticism. The results of the Big five Test therefore explain my personality traits and disclose my innate characteristics that can also indicate my capabilities of becoming an effective leader. My moderate openness reflects the fact that I am neither with high intellect and imagination nor particularly conservative. However, moderate conscientiousness prove that my capabilities lie in the mid range in the aspects of exercising self discipline as well as control in a bid to pursuing different goals. In addition to this, my personality of being highly extraverted describes as a friendly, gregarious, adventurous, and enthusiastic as well as ambitious person. Furthermore, my high scores in agreeableness disclose my tendency of working beyond my own self interests and cooperating with others rather than competing. People high in this particular trait tend to be kind, sensitive as well as cooperative that in turn can help in strengthening the quality of relationships shared with other people. Again, my low score in neuroticism explains my personal characteristics and nature that is of a carefree, optimistic, relaxed, self confident individual. These traits also indicate the abilities that I will be able to apply a manager. The trait of being self confident, relaxed and optimistic can help me as a leader who can inspire others in the organization to put in their best to achieve the organizational goals. The personal characteristic of high agreeableness can also help me in attaining efficacy in leading a team that calls for the need of the coopera tive behavior as well as great deal of empathy in acting beyond the self interest for the purpose of maintaining strong interpersonal relationships in a team. As a leader my trait of high extraversion can also help in engaging actively in organizational actions in order to pursue rewards with high motivation to experience the thrills of different challenging actions. However, the moderate conscientiousness indicates my average capability in exercising disciplines and control. Therefore, this trait can be enhanced for the purpose of enhancing the capability of power and influence needed for assuming the role of an effective leader. Again, the moderate range of openness also discloses my capabilities as a leader who can neither be described as highly imaginative nor extremely conservative. This trait also reflects my limitations as leader in applying innovative as well as intellectual ideas although my openness describes me as a personality who can accept the new ideas with great enth usiasm. Analysis of the outcome of Glazer stress lifestyle questionnaire related to the leadership traits The responses to the Glazer Stress Control Lifestyle questionnaire reveal the fact that I have a Type A personality that have a list of characteristics. This test also reveals my character to be competitive, aggressive and impatient and a person with time urgency. Therefore, this can help to develop into a leader who can work with stringent deadlines and strive towards the achievement of goals. Analysis of the outcome of psychological test on organization framework test and leadership quality The psychological test on preferred organizational structure reveals that I have a inclination towards the mechanistic organizational structure. Creed and Phillips (2011) opine that the mechanistic structures essentially refer to a structural framework of an organization with a constricted span of control along with high degree and extent of formalization as well as centralization. This characteristic reveals the fact that I have a preference for a hierarchical structure where the managers need to inculcate good interpersonal skills in order to maintain positive and formal relationships with the subordinates in making them understand the objectives of the organization and in making people to do their bit that are expected of them. Evaluation of the outcome of career focus test with orientation to leadership attributes The career focus test reveals my temperament type, dominant intelligence, 3 fields of work, knowledge worker status and knowledge age skills. The career focus test also helps me to understand that I have a ESFS temperament that reflects the characteristic of being generous, obliging and good hearted. This also indicates the potential to be good at different predictable a well as structures activities. Therefore, this trait can help as a leader who can carry out different structured course of actions and build strong relationships in the workplace. The dominant intelligence include logical mathematical, naturalistic and linguistic, visual spatial and interpersonal. Furthermore, my 3 fields of work include architecture and engineering, art and design in addition to food preparation as well as serving. However, my dominant capabilities indicate my skills in mathematical and verbal language, self discipline, scientific and art and art and design among many others. The knowledge age skill s result indicate that communication power is strong, with reasonable capability of adaptability, strong business skills, , strong potential of carrying out team work, good skills in computer in addition to strong learning capabilities. This result indicate that the strong team work skills, communication skills, generous nature with scientific bent of mind can help me to build up myself as an effective leader. Analysis of the outcome of leadership test with reference to the effectual leadership characteristic The leadership skill test reveals the outcomes of the examination of different facets of personality that helps in recognizing the traits of a leader. The leadership test discloses that I am highly self confident with a positive attitude and outlook. However, there are spaces for improvement by undertaking different professional training that can help me build up the potential further. The positive attitude might perhaps help me to face new situations in a realistic manner and handle stress well that can lead to rational as well as positive thoughts Therefore, this trait can uphold my abilities of becoming an effective leader in an organization. My score in emotional intelligence reveals the fact that I am high on Emotional quotient that indicates my strong soft skills, characters as well as communication skills. This trait can be considered to be essential for an effective leader as the emotional capabilities can facilitate the process of identifying with own feelings as well as tha t of the others. This trait is imperative for an effective leader as it helps in handling emotions that in turn assist in creation of strong and enduring relationship with the co-workers as well as subordinates. However, I have deficiency in the area of providing future visions that is also considered to be an essential facet of effective leadership. This trait also helps in building strategy for attainment of future goals; apply skills of prioritization, decision making capabilities along with the power of persuasion. Again, the leadership test also reflects the fact that I have good capability of motivating others and convincing people to accept the pre determined objectives set. This way I also have the potential to support teamwork and lead people to work together to attain the objectives that is expected of an effective leader. In addition to this, I have good capability of leading by example and have the ability to demonstrate diverse actions as well as values that is expected from others. Furthermore, results also reflect high scores in providing stimulation as well as support to others. This essentially demonstrates my motivation level and capacity to imbibe among others the requisite skills through proper supportive actions and appreciation. However, my results very low score in managing performance effectively that is an essential characteristic for achieving efficacy as a leader. References Creed, Andrew and Paul Stuart Phillips. 2011.Organisational Behaviour. South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press. Drummond, Helga. 2000.Introduction To Organizational Behaviour. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Farmer, Marilyn, Wendy Yellowley, and Paul Smith. 2012.Organizational Behaviour. London: Taylor Francis Ltd. French, Ray, Charlotte Rayner, Gary Rees, and Sally Rumbles. 2011.Organizational Behaviour. Chichester, UK: John Wiley Sons. French, Ray. 2011.Organizational Behaviour. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Hitt, Michael A, C. Chet Miller, and Adrienne Colella. 2011.Organizational Behaviour. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. King, Daniel and Scott Lawley. 2012.Organizational Behaviour. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.
Friday, May 1, 2020
Nhalants Essay Example For Students
Nhalants Essay Inhalants can be defined as commercially produced chemicals that are inhaled into the body to produce psychoactive (mind-altering) and often adverse effects. Inhalants are aerosols, solvents, and cleaners. Examples include cleaning fluids, hair sprays, paints, cooking sprays, nail polish, and anesthetics such as halothane and nitrous oxide, which is often referred to as laughing gas. Also abused are amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite. Amyl nitrite is a clear, yellow liquid that is sold in a cloth-covered, sealed bulb. When the bulb is broken, it makes a snapping sound; thus, amyl nitrite is nicknamed snappers or poppers. Amyl nitrite is medically used for heart patients because it dilates the blood vessels and makes the heart beat faster. It can, therefore, be classified as a stimulant. Butyl nitrite is packaged in small bottles and sold under many names such as locker room and rush. It is also classified as a stimulant, and like amyl nitrite, it produces a high that lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. The immediate effects include decreased blood pressure, followed by an increased heart rate, flushed face and neck, dizziness, and headache. Inhalant abuse is on the rise among young people, especially between the ages of 7 and 17. This is because inhalants are readily available and inexpensive. In fact, kids in the 7th grade are more likely to use inhalants than seniors in high school.Children can unintentionally misuse inhalant products that are often found around the house. Parents should see that these substances, like paints, medicines, and hairsprays, are kept away from young children. Inhalant abuse may result in losing touch with ones surroundings, a loss of self-control, violent behavior, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, violent choking, and even death. This is a high risk of sudden death from spray inhalation. These sprays can interfere with breathing, or they can produce heartbeats (arrhythmias) leading to heart failure and death by suffocation. The inhalants displace the oxygen in the lungs and depress the central nervous system so much that breathing slows down until it stops. Most of these deaths have been associated with the propellants used in aerosol sprays. Death from inhalants is usually caused by a very high concentration of inhalant fumes. Deliberately inhaling from a paper bag significantly increases the probability of suffocation. It is recommended that when using aerosol or volatile (vaporous) products for legitimate purposes, such as painting and cleaning, one should do so in a well-ventilated room or outdoors. Many people believe that inhalant abuse is not a serious concern. They believe that inhalant abuse is an inner city problem that will never hit their home. Inhalant abuse, however, is widely abused by kids no matter their location. This is because the products that can be sniffed to get high can be found in every household and every store. They are inexpensive and accessible, easy to conceal, legal, and users dont realize how dangerous inhalants can be. Inhalants are most commonly abused among preteens and young teens, with use generally decreasing as they become older. 5.6% of 8th graders report using inhalants within a 30-day period, compared to 2.7% of 12th graders. Boys use inhalants more than girls do, but this gap is narrowing rapidly. Parents should learn the signs and symptoms of inhalant abuse to explain to their child the dangers involved with inhalant abuse. Signs include: red, glassy or watery eyes; slow, thick slurred speech; disorientation; general drunken appearance; complaints of headaches and nausea; chemical odor on the body or clothes; chemical odor in the room; staggering gait and uncoordination; inflamed nose, nosebleeds, and rashes around the nose and mouth; loss of appetite; paint on hands or around mouth; if cans of aerosol whipped cream dont foam; if your air conditioner doesnt work. Long term effects of inhalant abuse include: weight loss, nosebleeds, bad breath, fatigue, electrolyte imbalance, permanent damage to the nervous system, damage to the liver, kidneys, blood, and bone marrow, hostility, paranoia, and forgetfulness. Death can occur from sniffing highly concentrated amounts of aerosol sprays, and death can occur for a first time user. A child may be abusing inhalants if any of these sig ns resemble your childs behavior. .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 , .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 .postImageUrl , .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 , .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002:hover , .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002:visited , .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002:active { border:0!important; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002:active , .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002 .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubb5ffbe5b2c3009cf9436b34ca1a0002:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Child Abuse EssayThe following are basic facts regarding inhalants taken from an inhalant abuse web site:1. High concentrations of non-aerosol inhalants can cause death by displacing oxygen in the lungs and causing suffocation. 2. Other inhalants produce suffocation by depressing the central nervous system so much that breathing slows down. 3. Mixing inhalants with depressants can cause overdose, unconsciousness, coma, and death. 4. Accidental death can occur and abusers can suffocate if they are using bags. 5. Using inhalants can hurt a childs development, keep them from becoming responsible, productive adults, teach them to run from their problems, and is not a positive behavior. 6. In the mid-1970s, there was a mini-epidemic of paralysis in Florida when a manufacturing company substituted a chemical in a solvent that was a popularly abused inhalant. 7. Kids who are abusing solvents are sick and complain of headaches, upset stomachs, and lack of energy. If you know someone who is huffing and appears in a state of crisis, then the best thing to do is to remain calm and seek help. The huffer may become violent, experience hallucinations or suffer heart dysfunction, which can cause Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. Make certain that the room is well ventilated and call EMS. If the person is not breathing, then administer CPR. Once recovered, seek professional treatment and counseling. Inhalant abuse can be treated, but treatment facilities for inhalant users are rare and difficult to locate. Users often suffer withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, hallucinations, excessive sweating, muscle cramps, headaches, hand tremors, and chills. Users suffer a high rate of relapse, and they require thirty to forty days or more of detoxification. If you or someone that you know are abusing inhalants or need advice about inhalants, you can contact the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at 1-800-269-4237 for information on treatment centers and facts on inhalantsIt is never too early for parents to teach their children about inhalants. Inhalant use starts as early as elementary school and is considered a gateway to further substance abuse. Parents often do not realize the harmful effects associated with inhalant abuse, and they do not educate their children until it is too late. Inhalants are not drugs. They are poisons are toxins found in homes and should freely be discussed as such.
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