Saturday, December 14, 2019
Bloodlines Chapter Twelve Free Essays
string(115) " been in deep conversation since we arrived, so much so that theyââ¬â¢d slowed and lagged behind the rest of us\." WHEN WE LEFT on our group date or family outing or whatever it was, Lee couldnââ¬â¢t stop apologizing for his father. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry,â⬠he said, slumping miserably in the backseat of Latte. ââ¬Å"Thereââ¬â¢s no reasoning with him anymore. We will write a custom essay sample on Bloodlines Chapter Twelve or any similar topic only for you Order Now We tried to tell him that Tamara was killed by Strigoi, but he wonââ¬â¢t believe it. He doesnââ¬â¢t want to. He canââ¬â¢t take revenge on a Strigoi. Theyââ¬â¢re immortal. Invincible. But some human vampire hunter? Somehow, in his head, thatââ¬â¢s something he can go after. And if he canââ¬â¢t, then he can focus his energy on how the guardians wonââ¬â¢t go after these nonexistent vampire hunters.â⬠I just barely heard Eddie mutter, ââ¬Å"Strigoi arenââ¬â¢t that invincible.â⬠In the rearview mirror, I saw Jillââ¬â¢s face filled with compassion. She was seated between Lee and Eddie. ââ¬Å"Even if itââ¬â¢s a fantasy, maybe itââ¬â¢s better this way,â⬠she suggested. ââ¬Å"It gives him comfort. I mean, kind of. Having something tangible to hate is what gets him through. Otherwise heââ¬â¢d just give in to despair. Heââ¬â¢s not hurting anyone with his theories. I think heââ¬â¢s sweet.â⬠She caught her breath in that way she did when sheââ¬â¢d said a whole lot all at once. My eyes were back on the road, but I could swear Lee was smiling. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s nice of you,â⬠he told her. ââ¬Å"I know he likes having you around. Turn right up here.â⬠That was to me. Lee had been giving me directions ever since we left Clarenceââ¬â¢s. We were just outside of Palm Springs proper, nearing the very impressive-looking Desert Gods Golf Course and Resort. Further guidance from him led us to the Mega-Fun Mini-Golf Center, which was adjacent to the resort. I searched for a parking spot and heard Jill gasp when she caught sight of the golf courseââ¬â¢s crowning glory. There, in the center of a cluster of gaudily decorated putting greens, was a huge fake mountain with an artificial waterfall spouting from its top. ââ¬Å"A waterfall!â⬠she exclaimed. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s amazing.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well,â⬠said Lee, ââ¬Å"I wouldnââ¬â¢t go that far. Itââ¬â¢s made of water thatââ¬â¢s been pumped over and over and has God only knows what in it. I mean, I wouldnââ¬â¢t try to drink or swim in it.â⬠Before I even had the car to a stop, Adrian was out the door, lighting a cigarette. Weââ¬â¢d gotten in an argument on the way over, despite me telling him three times that Latte was a strictly no-smoking car. The rest of us soon got out as well, and I wondered what Iââ¬â¢d signed up for here as we strolled toward the entrance. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve actually never been mini-golfing,â⬠I remarked. Lee came to a halt and stared. ââ¬Å"Never?â⬠ââ¬Å"Never.â⬠ââ¬Å"How does that happen?â⬠asked Adrian. ââ¬Å"How is it possible that youââ¬â¢ve never played mini-golf?â⬠ââ¬Å"I had kind of an unusual childhood,â⬠I said at last. Even Eddie looked incredulous. ââ¬Å"You? I was practically raised at an isolated school in the middle of nowhere Montana, and even Iââ¬â¢ve played mini-golf.â⬠Saying I was homeschooled was no excuse this time, so I just let it go. Really, it just came down to having a childhood more focused on chemical equations than on fun and recreation. Once we started playing, I soon got the hang of it. My first few attempts were pretty bad, but I soon understood the weight of the club and how the angles on each course could be maneuvered. From there, it was pretty simple to calculate distance and force to make accurate shots. ââ¬Å"Unbelievable. If youââ¬â¢d been playing since you were a child, youââ¬â¢d be a pro by now,â⬠Eddie told me as I knocked my ball into a gaping dragonââ¬â¢s mouth. The ball rolled out the back, down a tube, bounced off a wall, and into the hole. ââ¬Å"Howââ¬â¢d you do that?â⬠I shrugged. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s simple geometry. Youââ¬â¢re not that bad either,â⬠I pointed out, watching him make his shot. ââ¬Å"How do you do it?â⬠ââ¬Å"I just line it up and putt.â⬠ââ¬Å"Very scientific.â⬠ââ¬Å"I just rely on natural talent,â⬠said Adrian, strolling up to the start of the Dragonââ¬â¢s Lair. ââ¬Å"When you have such a wealth of it to draw from, the danger comes from having too much.â⬠ââ¬Å"That makes no sense whatsoever,â⬠said Eddie. Adrianââ¬â¢s response was to pause and take out a silver flask from his inner coat pocket. He unscrewed it and took a quick drink before leaning in to line up his shot. ââ¬Å"What was that?â⬠I exclaimed. ââ¬Å"You canââ¬â¢t have alcohol out here.â⬠ââ¬Å"You heard Jailbait earlier,â⬠he countered. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s the weekend.â⬠He lined up his ball and shot. The ball went directly for the dragonââ¬â¢s eye, bounced off it, and shot back toward Adrian. It rolled and came to a stop at his feet, nearly where it had started. ââ¬Å"Natural talent, huh?â⬠asked Eddie. I leaned forward. ââ¬Å"I think you broke the dragonââ¬â¢s eye.â⬠ââ¬Å"Just like Keith,â⬠said Adrian. ââ¬Å"I figured youââ¬â¢d appreciate that, Sage.â⬠I gave him a sharp look, wondering if there was any hidden meaning behind that. Mostly, Adrian seemed amused by his own wit. Eddie mistook my expression. ââ¬Å"That was inappropriate,â⬠he told Adrian. ââ¬Å"Sorry, Dad.â⬠Adrian shot again and managed not to maim any statues this time. A couple more shots, and he sank the ball. ââ¬Å"There we go. Three.â⬠ââ¬Å"Four,â⬠said Eddie and I in unison. Adrian looked at us incredulously. ââ¬Å"It was three.â⬠ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re forgetting about your first one,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"The one where you blinded the dragon.â⬠ââ¬Å"That was just the warm-up,â⬠Adrian argued. He put on a smile I think he hoped would charm me. ââ¬Å"Come on, Sage. You understand how my mind works. You said I was brilliant, remember?â⬠Eddie glanced at me in surprise. ââ¬Å"You did?â⬠ââ¬Å"No! I never said that.â⬠Adrianââ¬â¢s smile was infuriating. ââ¬Å"Stop telling people that.â⬠Since I was in charge of the scorecard, his play was logged as four, despite his many further protests. I started to move forward, but Eddie held out a hand to stop me, his hazel eyes gazing over my shoulder. ââ¬Å"Hold up,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"We need to wait for Jill and Lee.â⬠I followed his gaze. The two of them had been in deep conversation since we arrived, so much so that theyââ¬â¢d slowed and lagged behind the rest of us. You read "Bloodlines Chapter Twelve" in category "Essay examples" Even during his bantering with Adrian and me, Eddie had continually checked on her ââ¬â and our surroundings. It was kind of amazing the way he could multitask. Thus far, Jill and Lee had only been one hole behind us. Now it was nearly two, and that was too far for Eddie to keep her in his sight. So, we waited while the oblivious couple meandered their way toward the Dragonââ¬â¢s Lair. Adrian took another drink from his flask and shook his head in awe. ââ¬Å"You had nothing to worry about, Sage. She went right for him.â⬠ââ¬Å"No thanks to you,â⬠I snapped. ââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t believe you told her every detail of my visit that night. She was so mad at me for interfering behind her back with you, Lee, and Micah.â⬠ââ¬Å"I hardly told her anything,â⬠argued Adrian. ââ¬Å"I just told her to stay away from that human guy.â⬠Eddie glanced between our faces. ââ¬Å"Micah?â⬠I shifted uncomfortably. Eddie didnââ¬â¢t know about how Iââ¬â¢d gone proactive. ââ¬Å"Remember when I wanted you to say something to him? And you wouldnââ¬â¢t?â⬠I proceeded to tell him how Iââ¬â¢d then sought out Adrianââ¬â¢s help and found out about Leeââ¬â¢s interest in Jill. Eddie was aghast. ââ¬Å"How could you not tell me any of this?â⬠he demanded. ââ¬Å"Well,â⬠I said, wondering if everything I did was going to result in the wrath of a Moroi or dhampir, ââ¬Å"it didnââ¬â¢t involve you.â⬠ââ¬Å"Jillââ¬â¢s safety does! If some guy likes her, I need to know.â⬠Adrian chuckled. ââ¬Å"Should Sage have passed you a note in class?â⬠ââ¬Å"Leeââ¬â¢s fine,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"He obviously adores her, and itââ¬â¢s not like sheââ¬â¢ll ever be alone with him.â⬠ââ¬Å"We donââ¬â¢t know for sure that heââ¬â¢s fine,â⬠said Eddie. ââ¬Å"Whereas Micahââ¬â¢s a hundred percent okay? Did you do a background check or something?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠said Eddie, looking embarrassed. ââ¬Å"I just know. Itââ¬â¢s a feeling I get about him. Thereââ¬â¢s no problem with him spending time with Jill.â⬠ââ¬Å"Except that heââ¬â¢s human.â⬠ââ¬Å"They wouldnââ¬â¢t have gotten serious.â⬠ââ¬Å"You donââ¬â¢t know that.â⬠ââ¬Å"Enough, you two,â⬠interrupted Adrian. Jill and Lee had finally reached the start of the Dragonââ¬â¢s Lair, meaning we could move on. Adrian lowered his voice. ââ¬Å"Your argumentââ¬â¢s useless. I mean, look at them. That human boy doesnââ¬â¢t enter into it.â⬠I looked. Adrian was right. Jill and Lee were clearly enthralled with each other. Some guilty part of me wondered if I should be a doing a better job of looking out for Jill. I was so relieved that she was interested in a Moroi that I hadnââ¬â¢t stopped to wonder if she should even be dating anyone. Was fifteen old enough? I hadnââ¬â¢t dated at fifteen. Iââ¬â¢d actually, well, never dated. ââ¬Å"There is an age difference between them,â⬠I admitted, more to myself. Adrian scoffed. ââ¬Å"Believe me, Iââ¬â¢ve seen age differences. Theirs is nothing.â⬠He walked off, and a few moments later, Eddie and I went to join him. Eddie maintained his simultaneous vigil of Jill, but this time, I got the impression the danger he was watching out for was right beside her. Adrianââ¬â¢s laughter rang out ahead of us. ââ¬Å"Sage!â⬠he called. ââ¬Å"You have got to see this.â⬠Eddie and I reached the next green and stared in astonishment. Then I burst out laughing. We had reached Draculaââ¬â¢s Castle. A huge, multi-towered black castle guarded the hole some distance away. A tunnel was cut out through the center of it with a narrow bridge meant for the ball to go over. If the ball fell off the sides before getting through the castle, it was returned back to the starting point. An animatronic Count Dracula stood off to the castleââ¬â¢s side. He was pure white, with red eyes, pointed ears, and slicked-back hair. He jerkily kept raising his arms to show off a batlike cape. Nearby, a speaker blasted eerie organ music. I couldnââ¬â¢t stop laughing. Adrian and Eddie looked at me as though theyââ¬â¢d never seen me before. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t think Iââ¬â¢ve ever heard her laugh,â⬠Eddie told him. ââ¬Å"Certainly not the reaction I was expecting,â⬠mused Adrian. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢d been counting on abject terror, judging from past Alchemist behavior. I didnââ¬â¢t think you liked vampires.â⬠Still grinning, I watched Dracula raise his cape up and down. ââ¬Å"This isnââ¬â¢t a vampire. Not a real one. And thatââ¬â¢s what makes it so funny. Itââ¬â¢s pure Hollywood camp. Real vampires are terrifying and unnatural. This? This is hilarious.â⬠It was clear from their expressions that neither really understood why this would appeal to my sense of humor so much. Adrian did, however, offer to take a picture with my cell phone when I asked him. I posed by Dracula and put on a big smile. Adrian managed to snap the shot just as Dracula was raising his cape. When I viewed the picture, I was pleased to see it had come out perfectly. Even my hair looked good. Adrian gave the picture a nod of approval before handing me the phone. ââ¬Å"Okay, even I can admit thatââ¬â¢s pretty cute.â⬠I found myself overanalyzing the comment. What had he meant in saying even he could admit it? That I was cute for a human? Or that I had just met some kind of Adrian hot-girl criteria? Moments later, I had to forcibly stop thinking about it. Let it go, Sydney. Itââ¬â¢s a compliment. Accept it. We played through the rest of the course, finally finishing off with the waterfall itself. That was a particularly challenging hole, and I took my time lining up the shot ââ¬â not that I needed to. I was beating everyone pretty handily. Eddie was the only one who came close. It was clear Jill and Lee didnââ¬â¢t even have their attention on the game, and as for Adrian and his natural talentâ⬠¦ well, they were very solidly in last place. Eddie, Adrian, and I were still ahead of the other two, so we waited for them by the waterfall. Jill practically ran to it when she had the chance, gazing up at it with enchanted eyes. ââ¬Å"Oh,â⬠she breathed. ââ¬Å"This is wonderful. I havenââ¬â¢t seen this much water in days.â⬠ââ¬Å"Remember what I said about the toxicity,â⬠teased Lee. But it was clear he found her reaction endearing. As I glanced at the other two guys, I saw that they shared the same feelings. Well, not exactly the same. Adrianââ¬â¢s affection was clearly brotherly. Eddieââ¬â¢s? It was hard to read, kind of a mix of the other two. Maybe it was a kind of guardian fondness. Jill made a gesture to the waterfall, and suddenly, part of it broke off from the tumbling cascade. The chunk of water shaped itself into a braid, then twisted high into the air, making spirals before shattering into a million drops that misted over us all. I had been staring wide-eyed and frozen, but those drops hitting me shocked me awake. ââ¬Å"Jill,â⬠I said in a voice I barely recognized as my own. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t do that again.â⬠Jill, eyes bright, barely spared me a glance as she made another piece of water dance in the air. ââ¬Å"No oneââ¬â¢s around to see, Sydney.â⬠That wasnââ¬â¢t what had me so upset. That wasnââ¬â¢t what filled me with so much panic that I could barely breathe. The world was doing that thing where it started to spin, and I worried I was going to faint. Stark, cold fear ran through me, fear at the unknown. The unnatural. The laws of my world had just been broken. This was vampire magic, something foreign and inaccessible to humans ââ¬â inaccessible because it was forbidden, something no mortal was meant to delve into. I had only once seen magic used, when two spirit users had turned on each other, and I never wanted to see it again. One had forced the plants of the earth to do her bidding while the other telekinetically hurled objects meant to kill. It had been terrifying, and even though I hadnââ¬â¢t been the target, Iââ¬â¢d felt trapped and overwhelmed in the f ace of such otherworldly power. It was a reminder that these werenââ¬â¢t fun, easy people to hang out with. These were creatures wholly different from me. ââ¬Å"Stop it,â⬠I said, feeling the panic rise. I was afraid of the magic, afraid it would touch me, afraid of what it might do to me. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t do it anymore!â⬠Jill didnââ¬â¢t even hear me. She grinned at Lee. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re air, right? Can you create fog over the water?â⬠Lee stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked away. ââ¬Å"Ah, well, itââ¬â¢s probably not a good idea. I mean, weââ¬â¢re in publicâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Come on,â⬠she pleaded. ââ¬Å"It wonââ¬â¢t take any effort for you at all.â⬠He actually appeared nervous. ââ¬Å"Nah, not right now.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not you too.â⬠She laughed. Above her and in front of her, that demon water was still spinning, spinning, spinningâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Jill,â⬠said Adrian, a harsher note in his voice than Iââ¬â¢d ever heard before. In fact, I couldnââ¬â¢t recall him ever addressing her by her actual name. ââ¬Å"Stop.â⬠It was all he said, but it was like a wave of something went through Jill. She flinched, and the water spirals disappeared, falling away in droplets. ââ¬Å"Fine,â⬠she said, looking confused. There was a moment of awkwardness, and then Eddie said, ââ¬Å"We should hurry. Weââ¬â¢re going to be pushing curfew.â⬠Lee and Jill set out to make their shots and soon were laughing and flirting again. Eddie continued watching them in his concerned way. Only Adrian paid any attention to me. He was the only one who really understood what had happened, I realized. His green eyes studied me, with no trace of their usual bitter humor. I wasnââ¬â¢t fooled, though. I knew there had to be some witty quip coming, mocking my reaction. ââ¬Å"Are you okay?â⬠he asked quietly. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m fine,â⬠I said, turning from him. I didnââ¬â¢t want him to see my face. Heââ¬â¢d already seen too much, seen my fear. I didnââ¬â¢t want any of them to know how afraid of them I was. I heard him take a few steps toward me. ââ¬Å"Sage ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Leave me alone,â⬠I snapped back. I hurried off toward the courseââ¬â¢s exit, certain he wouldnââ¬â¢t follow me. I was right. I waited for them to finish the game, using the alone time to calm myself down. By the time they caught up to me, I was fairly certain I had wiped most of the emotions from my face. Adrian still watched me with concern, which I didnââ¬â¢t like, but at least he didnââ¬â¢t say anything else about my breakdown. Surprising to no one, the final score showed that I had won and Adrian had lost. Lee had come in third, which seemed to trouble him. ââ¬Å"I used to be a lot better,â⬠he muttered, frowning. ââ¬Å"I used to be perfect at this game.â⬠Considering heââ¬â¢d spent most of the time paying attention to Jill, I thought third was a pretty respectable performance. I dropped him and Adrian off first and then just barely got Eddie, Jill, and me back to Amberwood on time. I was more or less back to normal by then, not that anyone wouldââ¬â¢ve noticed. Jill was floating on a cloud as we went into our dorm room, talking nonstop about Lee. ââ¬Å"I had no idea heââ¬â¢d traveled so much! Heââ¬â¢s maybe been more places than you, Sydney. He keeps telling me that heââ¬â¢ll take me to all of them, that weââ¬â¢ll spend the rest of our lives traveling and doing whatever we want. And heââ¬â¢s taking all sorts of classes in college because heââ¬â¢s not sure what he wants to major in. Well, not all sorts this semester. Heââ¬â¢s got a light schedule so that he can spend more time with his father. And thatââ¬â¢s good for me. For us, I mean.â⬠I stifled a yawn and nodded wearily. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s great.â⬠She paused from where sheââ¬â¢d been searching her dresser for pajamas. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sorry, by the way.â⬠I froze. I didnââ¬â¢t want an apology for the magic. I didnââ¬â¢t even want to remember it had happened. ââ¬Å"For yelling at you the other night,â⬠she continued. ââ¬Å"You didnââ¬â¢t set me up with Lee. I should never have accused you of interfering. He really has liked me all along, and, wellâ⬠¦ heââ¬â¢s really great.â⬠I let out the breath Iââ¬â¢d been holding and attempted a weak smile. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m glad youââ¬â¢re happy.â⬠She returned cheerfully to her tasks and to talking about Lee until I left to go down to the bathroom. Before brushing my teeth, I stood in front of the sink and washed my hands and arms over and over, scrubbing as hard as I could to wash away the magical drops of water I swore I could still feel on my skin. How to cite Bloodlines Chapter Twelve, Essay examples
Friday, December 6, 2019
The Welfare Reform Act free essay sample
In the 90s many States in the United States used waivers to reform their aid to families also known as AFDC programs. AFDC programs provide cash grants to low income families also known as TANF this key element of the United States economic safety net to help families with children. There is negative and positive implication of the Welfare Reform Act on Medicaid. You will learn about these negative and positive throughout this paper. There are many positive and negative implications when it concerns ââ¬Å"The Welfare Reform Actâ⬠that came about in 1996. Welfare has been many debates dealing with this issue since the 1960s, and continues to be a contentious issue for many years to come. In the late 1980s, some communities were calling for a reform of the Welfare because their concerns for the personal responsibility. Then Welfare and Opportunity Reconciliation Act also known as PRWORA came into effect. Bill Clinton signed a personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation in 1996. We will write a custom essay sample on The Welfare Reform Act or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Welfare Reform Act changed the United States welfare system excessively, and the Welfare Reform Act was set to provide more guidelines to which regards to the administration of Welfare benefits. The United States changed how funding is available to help families financially and how it is administered to recipients who can be eligible for Welfare benefits. The Welfare Reform Act caused multiple groups to lose their benefits, but this created better opportunities for those living in poverty. The Welfare Reform Act successfully fulfilled its goals of creating less dependency. When the Welfare Reform Act changed its laws it caused many beneficiaries to lose their coverageââ¬â¢s. ââ¬Å"Since attention focused on the ill-fated Medicaid block grant proposal, the welfare reform-related changes came as a surprise too many. While the welfare reform law does not change how Medicaid delivers health care nor alter its entitlement status, it reduces the number of people covered and lowers federal expendituresâ⬠(Leighton amp; Coughlin, 1997). The Welfare reform has also posed challenges for states in the United States such as Medicaid beneficiary education and enrollment activities. Under the current law, Medicaid beneficiaries fall into two categories and those whom federal law requires states to cover. Who is known as mandatory beneficiaries and those whom states elect to cover under federal guidelines. Mandatory beneficiaries include pregnant woman and children under the age of 6 with family with low income. The Welfare Reform Act forced some states to make changes in order to continue receiving Medicaid benefits. This Act caused existing Medicaid beneficiaries to lose necessary coverage because of the eligibility rules for several groups which include the disabled children ad immigrants. These changes did not only affect these groups, but also the economy as well. The Welfare Reform Act effective in reducing fraud and increasing personal responsibility to inform the government or state agency of any household changes such as raise or reduction of income, or household size. These household changes must be reported as soon as possible, usually within 10 days of the change. By recipients having this requirement, it helps increase the amount of responsibility for the program and the welfare reform act did good to achieve their goals. This would in fact help more families be able to provide financial stability on their own with a little to no help from the government. There have been many experiences of woman who have been charged with welfare fraud since the late 1990s, and it continues to happen. ââ¬Å"The development of San Diego Countyââ¬â¢s Welfare Fraud Diversion Program is notable because historically public policies, and welfare policies in particular have been constructed with little consideration of how they will affect low-income women and women of colorâ⬠(Abramovitz, 1998, Gatta, 2005, Neubeck, 2006). I would say that The Welfare Reform Act is effective in reducing welfare fraud and increasing personal responsibilities. In my opinion I think The Welfare Reform Act has been successful in meeting its intended goals, because they have requirements to provide the best programs for Americans. They have made it to where needy families get the help they need to help support their families. They also have programs set with in the Welfare system that helps support the responsibility of those who receives assistance with Welfare. The goals they set were to help those that have low-income, disabled, and elderly, and by doing this they have accomplished something not many countries do for their people. The welfare Reform Act is there for a stepping stone to help families get on their feet and make something of their lives.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Reflective Study free essay sample
Reflective writing provides an opportunity to gain further insights from the work through deeper reflection on our own experiences, and through further consideration of other perspectives from people and theory. Through reflection we can deepen the learning from work. ââ¬â¢(Watton P, Collings J) (Branch Paranjape, 2002, p. 1185) states reflective writing is writing which involves Consideration of the larger context, the meaning, and the implications of an experience or action. ââ¬ËIt is not sufficient simply to have an experience in order to learn. Without reflecting upon this experience it may quickly be forgotten, or its learning potential lost. It is from the feelings and thoughts emerging from this reflection that generalisations or concepts can be generated. And it is generalisations that allow new situations to be tackled effectively. ââ¬â¢ (Gibbs 1988) As a part of my overseas nursing programme, I was given the opportunity to present any topic of my choice on the 19th of July 2012. We will write a custom essay sample on Reflective Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I was asked to do a reflective study on my experience doing the presentation. The most commonly used model by health professionals for reflective writing is the Gibbs model. I chose this model to reflect on my presentation. My presentation was on a special program run by my Nursing home for residents with advanced dementia, called ââ¬ËNamaste Careââ¬â¢. Gibbs reflective cycle consists of 6steps namely , Description, feeling , evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan. It encourages a clear description of the situation, analysis of feelings, evaluation of the experience, analysis to make sense of the experience, conclusion where other options are considered and reflection upon experience to examine what you would do if the situation arose again Gibbs (1988). I chose Gibbs model as this makes us to think through all the phases of an experience or activity. DESCRIPTION The topic I chose ââ¬ËNamaste careââ¬â¢ is a programme designed to improve the quality life of residents with advanced dementia. Namaste care programme which is practised at my placement area is being delivered to the residents with advanced dementia for the last one year. It has been found very effective and useful for the residents with dementia. The concept was very interesting and caught my attention on my very first day of placement. As a part of my learning experience I got the opportunity to participate in Namaste care. It gave me an understanding know that there is a spirit that lives in each person irrespective of their physical and mental condition and it is this spirit that we are nurturing through loving touch, meaningful activities and presence of others (Joyce Simmard 2007). As a part of my Overseas Nursing Programme I was asked to present on a topic of my choice. The moment i was told, I exactly knew what i was going to present on. The nursing home i am doing my placement is doing a programme called Namaste Care. It is very fresh topic and undergoing a lot of discussions among health professionals working with dementia patients. And there was a documentary aired on BBC two weeks before I started my placement. Itââ¬â¢s such a beautiful and enriching experience, that I was eager to share what I saw and learned at the nursing home. . The most important factor of a successful presentation is selecting a topic that would educate, entertain and motivate the audience (Dlugan 2008). My gut feeling told me that this will be a very interesting topic, as most of my classmates were doing their placements in a nursing home, servicing to dementic residents. I discussed it with my mentor and she was happy that i selected a topic which is new and beneficial to UK health practice. I started gathering all the information required for my presentation through journals, websites, books, and the guidelines given to the nursing home regarding Namaste care. Most of my research came from the book ââ¬ËNamaste careââ¬â¢ written by Joyce Simmard. It was very helpful as it directly was written by the founder of Namaste care. I prepared a rough draft of all the information i wanted to talk during my presentation. Now i had to make the presentation intrusting, and the thought of a power point presentation came across. Studies have shown that Power Point presentation may improve student attitudes toward the instructor and class presentation (Nouri H et al 2005). Having done presentation during my Masters made it easy to use the tool. I downloaded appropriate pictures and added them to the slides. ââ¬ËClear pictures multiply the audiences level of understanding of the material presented, and they should be used to reinforce your message, clarify points, and create excitementââ¬â¢ (OSHA 1996). I gathered more information about how to make interesting slides, a slide show by Satyajeet Singh helped me to prepare effective and eye capturing slides. I chose appropriate pictures and applied them in the background. I made sure the fonts were of the appropriate size. Sentences were written clearly and made in bullets, which was short and simple (Singh S). My Next task was to adhere to the time limit given to us, which was 15 minutes per person. I divided the time between introduction, explanation, showing a short video, conclusion and questions. The professional speaker George Torok says rehearsing speech standing on your feet will give confidence (George Torok 2004). George also says that rather than memorising the whole topic, know the topic and make your own points (George Torok 2004). I rehearsed the prepared slides and practiced finishing my presentation within 13 min, leaving 2 minutes for unseen mishaps. On the day of my presentation I reached the college 15 minutes early, giving me time to check if the projector was working fine and to see my presentation on projection. I was a bit nervous, but as I had practiced well it calmed me down to a certain extent. I was able to deliver as i had planned and practiced. My classmates were helpful and did not interrupt unnecessarily, which helped me to finish my presentation within the time limit given to me. My assessor was happy with my presentation and gave me feedback on areas to improve. FEELING My initial fear was presenting within the time frame given to me, as there was so much to talk about and less time. But as i started preparing my rough draft I was able to pick essential points and areas to speak on. My mentor guided me in consising my presentation. Repeated practice helped me to deliver my presentation within the time limit. I was still anxious on the day of my presentation. I came 15minutes before to check the projector and the internet as I had to play a video from the website. Once I had everything checked and i was prepared, my anxious reduced by half. I normally do not have stage fear, by on that day i was a bit nervous as i was going to present on a topic that was new and unknown to everyone. I wanted to deliver the topic to the best of my knowledge. It was a new care approach to me as well, which made me fear the questioning part. But at the end of my presentation i was able to answer all the questions put across. I had an eager and helpful audience which gave me confidence and excitement to carry on . It helped me present and answer to their questions. At the end of presentation I felt relaxed and happy as i was able to deliver as i had planned. EVALUATION This experience gave me confidence to face a group and talk. It taught me time management. My teaching skills were improved giving me a wonderful learning experience. My Knowledge and skills on Namaste care improved and I was able to relate and apply it in my care for dementia patients. Namaste care has different programs for different patient needs, I was able to explain only a part of it as the topic is to vast. This disappointed me; as I wanted make people aware of all the aspects of Namaste Care. ANALYSIS Once I finished my presentation my assessor gave me feedback on the areas that need to be improved. I realised that though I referred many research studies, I failed to include them in slides which was mentioned by assessor as one point to improve. He commented that the introduction was good and the slides were clear and interesting. He also suggested improving the interaction with group. CONCLUSION The presentation was a good experience for me, it improved my teaching skills in a professional manner. My confidence in talking about medical conditions increased; bring out the mentorship and leadership qualities in me. Feedback from my assessor and group was a reward for my hard work and I was extremely delighted to hear positive response from them. ACTION PLAN In future I would like to improve more on my presentation skills. I am confident do any teachings that I need to do as a part of my job role once registered. I will research more on teaching and presentation skills and I will try to make use of every chance that get. I will work on my drawbacks and bring more group interaction next time. REFERENCE 1. Dlugan, A (2008) ââ¬ËSpeech preparation; selecting a speech topicââ¬â¢, Six minutes Speaking and presentation skills(online) available at http://sixminutes. dlugan. com/speech-preparation-2-select-topic-idea/ [accessed on 05-02-2012] 2. Nouri, H and Shahid, A (2005) ââ¬ËThe effect of power point presentations on student learning and attitudesââ¬â¢ Global perspective on accounting educationââ¬â¢ (online) available at ttp://gpae. bryant. edu/~gpae/vol2 [accessed on 07-02-2012] 3. Oxford brooks university, ââ¬ËUsing Gibbs: Example of feflective writing in healthcare assignmentââ¬â¢ (online) available at http://www. brookes. ac. uk/services/upgrade/a-z/reflective_using_gibbs. html [accessed on 02-02-2012] 4. Simard, J (2007) The End of Life Namaste Care Programme for People w ith Dementia, Health professions press, New York. 5. Singh, S ââ¬ËDesigning effective powerpoint presentationsââ¬â¢ (onlie) available at http://www. slideshare. net/satyajeet_02/how-to-make-effective-presentation [accessed on 07-02-2012] 6. Torok G (2004) Presentation Skills (online) available at http://www. presentation-skills-success. com/ [accessed on 06-02-2012]. 7. Watton, P. ,Collings, J and Moon, J(2001) Reflective writing: Guidence notes for students (online) available at www. learnhighercetl. plymouth. ac. uk [accessed on 05-02-2012] 8. Woods DL, Craven RF and Whitney J, (2005) The effect of therapeutic touch on behavioral symptoms of persons with dementia. (online) available at http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmed/15712768 [accessed on 05-02-2012] ?
Monday, November 25, 2019
Childs Ghost essays
Child's Ghost essays The child inside of todays juveniles is not dead, nor is it a ghost wandering around brutally retaliating against the world. Rather, it is lost, desperately trying to find a home or comfort in something similar. What it finds instead is rage, despair, and violence. The cause of which is the corrupt media and a shabby environment. What is wrong in saying that these young victims are ghosts, however, is that we assume this spirit of childhood is dead; that such allegedly lost souls can not be saved, and can not be once again a happy child. So, where exactly are they finding comfort? In a home where there is no apparent caring parent, the child will find a new sort of family in a group of friends. Depending on the group, children may be joining a gang. This group offers protection, a caring-like environment, often a home, and for the most part a family. As people we all need that feeling of belonging, It is depressing to think of not ever having some one to be there for you, no matter how independent you may be. As surprising as it may seem though, a violent kid may come out of a home of loving parents, yet parents that do not know how to guide or punish their child. It is a little unsettling to walk into a home were the child runs the household, telling the parents what to do and having them oblige every time like servants. We can not blame only the parents though; other factors such as low-income circumstances may drive adolescents to be vicious. Not having money to supply basic needs does make a child sad and ang ry, and still only being children they see nothing wrong in doing what ever it takes to acquire these things. Children are victims of their environment, neglected in some way or the other that has driven them to certain extremes. The very media that bash these children also praise them as heroes. There is virtually no end to the amount bad media that is in, what is now an average of over 900 chan ...
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Annotate We Dare Not Postpone Action by CCT Annotated Bibliography
Annotate We Dare Not Postpone Action by CCT - Annotated Bibliography Example onal communions and seven national organizations, including Sojournersââ¬ârealized that apparently no clergy had ever issued a response to Kings famous letter, even though it was specifically addressed to "fellow clergymen [sic]." In 2013, to mark the 50th anniversary of Kings letter, Christian Churches Together released its thoughtful response, which we excerpt below. ââ¬âThe Editor WE CONFESS. As leaders of churches claimed by more than 100 million Americans; as Catholics, evangelicals, Pentecostals, Orthodox, Historic Protestants, and members of Historic Black denominations; as people of many races and cultures: We call ourselves, our institutions, and our members to repentance. We make this confession before God and offer it to all who have endured racism and injustice both within the church and in society. responsibility to obey the law while neglecting our equal moral obligation to change laws that are unjust in their substance or application. All too often, the political involvement of Christians has been guided by the pursuit of personal or group advantage rather than a biblically grounded moral compass. We confess it is too easy for those of us who are privileged to counsel others simply to "wait"ââ¬âor to pass judgment that they deserve no better than what they already have. We confess that we are slow to listen and give legitimacy to those whose experience of race relations and social privilege in America is different than our own. We keep the "other" at arms length to avoid hearing the call to sacrifice on their behalf. Our reluctance to embrace our "inescapable network of mutuality" underscores Dr. Kings observation that privileged groups seldom give up their advantages voluntarily. For example, it is difficult to persuade most suburban Christians to demand that they strive for the same quality of education in our cities that they take for granted in their own schools. To the extent that we do not listen in love, our influence in society is limited
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Abraham Lincoln View of slavery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Abraham Lincoln View of slavery - Essay Example Lincoln in his speech in Illinois termed slavery as unjust and morally wrong. He confessed both privately and in public that he hated slavery, even though he was quiet about it for a long time. Lincoln also believed that all people were against slavery, insisted and maintained a view against it. Besides, he never regretted his words either did he take them back because slavery was not right. He also came out clear giving his view that he was not an abolitionist. His problem was the current constitution that never factored in the term slavery all the clauses that gave protection to the institution. He alluded that there was a need to abolish slavery and consider slaves as equal members of the United States. Abraham argued that both the black and white were equal. Therefore, they were entitled to equal opportunities and benefit to improve their lives making slavery was unfair.Therefore, the debate on the issue of slavery was among one of the questions that triggered the civil war both in the Western and Northern states as they fought to protect the union. However, at the same time the South states struggled to gain its independence under its constitution. Conversely, the South agrarian protected their slaves to take care of their large plantations and help in other tasks that they required. During the civil war, more Africans worked in the south offering labor. They contributed significantly to the South economy because they worked and at the same time, they were sold to pay debts.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Witchcraft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Witchcraft - Essay Example There are various cases in which this supernatural aid is usually invoked, to awaken the compassion of love that are desired, to compass the death of any obnoxious person, to call up a dead person, or to bring calamity upon rivals, enemies and opponents. Witchcraft has been done by numerous people in nearly all the periods of worldââ¬â¢s history. The traditional belief is that not only of the dark ages but also the witches and wizards of the post-reformation times were addicted to such practices and they entered into a compact with the Satan, adjured Sacraments and the Christ, observed ââ¬Ëthe witches sabbathââ¬â¢; they paid divine honor to the ââ¬Ëking of darknessââ¬â¢ and in return they got from him supernatural powers like harming their chosen victims, doing what they desire to, for instance, riding through the air on a broomstick, and willing to perform any service which is needed to fulfill their nefarious purposes. (Thurston, H. 1912) During the Middle Ages and even today at times, witchcraft is performed by witches as an act of healing and curing illnesses. These Witch-healers were at times the only general medical practitioners for people who had no facility of doctors and hospitals and were terribly affected with poverty and diseases. Even the church itself had very less to offer the suffering peasantry yet the Witches healers were even killed as well as accused of helping and healing. A witch-hunter puts it as: ââ¬Å"For this must always be remembered, as a conclusion, that by witches we understand not only those which kill and torment, but all Diviners, Charmers, Jugglers, all Wizards, commonly called wise men and wise womenâ⬠¦and in the same number we reckon all good witches, which do no hurt but good, which do not spoil and destroy, but save and deliverâ⬠¦It were a thousand times better for the land if all Witches, but specially the
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