Associates degree Essay Example for Free

Associates degree Essay Picture this: You’re at the end of your summer before your senior year in high school. All summer, you’ve been working your minimum wage job, completing a project for school, and spending time with your friends and family. Every day is unique. Every day is new. You meet new people, go new places, and make new memories. Suddenly, and all too quickly, summer comes to an abrupt end. Senior year begins and the days go by faster than ever. You were courageous this year; you took â€Å"hard† classes. Well, hard classes means more schoolwork than ever before. More than you were expecting. And don’t forget about your job, three or four days a week after school for five or six hours, and one or both days of the weekend for eight hours. This is harder than you thought. You’re always tired. You’re always behind. You catch up one day, and are behind by the next. If you didn’t have to work, you could probably catch up. However, if you don’t work, you have no money to drive, and definitely no money for college. College is the one word you wish to avoid, but know it is inevitable. Applications are due soon, and you don’t have a clue what you want to do, much less where you want to go. Even if you were sure, there’s still a chance you can’t afford it. Coming from a family of five who lived in a one bedroom apartment when I was born, I am very lucky to be where I am now, and I know this. I have seen firsthand that with hard work and determination, everyone can succeed. I know I have the opportunity to do anything I want, be anyone I want. I could be an architect, a photographer, an engineer, a chemist. Anything. But what do I want to do? Where do I want to go? What type of school would be best for me? Deciding on if college is right for you, and if so, which college you want to attend is a very important decision to make. It will cost you a lot of money, and is not a decision to take lightly. Colleges can be broken down into two basic types, which can then be broken down further. The first of these is two-year colleges. Two-year institutions, sometimes called community or junior colleges, have programs that offer up to an associate degree, Associate of Arts (A. A. ) or Associate of Science (A. S. ), following successful completion of a two-year, full-time program. A few two-year colleges also offer the final two years of an undergraduate program only, awarding the bachelors degree rather than the associate degree. There are two basic types of programs at community and junior colleges, so when you start your search, having your career goals in mind will help in selecting a school. Some programs are strictly academic and are to prepare students to transfer to a bachelors degree program at a four-year school. Others are more applied and provide career training in specific areas (technical college). Though some of the credits offered at this second type of school may be accepted by a four-year institute, this type of school is not designed for students planning to transfer to such an institute. The next basic type of school is a four-year institution (college or university). The college or university, sometimes called an institute when offered programs focus on engineering or other technical courses, award a bachelors degree. The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees are the most common, but many other bachelor’s programs are offered. Bachelors degrees are typically awarded after successfully completing a four-year, full-time program. Programs in some fields of study or at some institutions can be longer than four years. Some colleges have an affiliation with a specific religious group. If you’re looking at going to a four-year institution, a good place to start your search is a college guide. These guides show you the different types of four-year institutions available to you. Information provided by individual colleges can help influence your decision as well as. Both two-year colleges and four-year universities can be further broken down. One further division is public and private institutes. Generally, two-year community colleges, and state colleges or universities are publicly supported (funded). The state these institutions are located in generally provides the majority of their funding. The cost of private schools is generally higher because they do not receive the same state or federal funding. Colleges and universities with religious affiliations are private schools. Most are Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestant). Most often, you do not need to be a follower of any specific religion to attend a religiously affiliated college and these institutions generally strive to avoid effecting any students religious views. Cost of college can be a very important thing to take into consideration when choosing a college. Tuition costs have been going up at an increasing rate for many years. â€Å"In its most recent survey of college pricing, the College Board reports that a moderate college budget for an in-state public college for the 2011–2012 academic year averaged $21,447. A moderate budget at a private college averaged $42,224. † In the past 30 years, the cost has increased by over 500%, and that cost is expected to continue increasing by around 8% per year (the cost of living has only increased by approximately 250% in that same time period). That’s an additional $1,500 per year for in-state public colleges, and around $3,000 more per year for private colleges! Why, though, has this cost been increasing so drastically? In most other countries in the world, college is either payed for by taxes, or is very affordable. But what makes up this cost? The majority is tuition. Tuition is what colleges charge for the instruction they provide. Tuition is charged either by the semester or quarter depending on the college. Typically, one year of school is made up of classes ranging from early fall to spring (i. e late August through early May). Tuition for in-state residents at a public university is a bargain compared to what out-of-staters pay (often double the tuition of residents). Other costs (which will be covered in the following paragraphs) are generally about the same for residents or non-residents. Tuition at some colleges can also vary by major. Students in the sciences, engineering, computing, premed programs, and the fine arts often pay more. This â€Å"variable tuition† is something to keep in mind if you have a program/major in mind. Student fees are the next major part of the overall cost of college. These include anything from library access and parking, to registration and student government. Colleges usually give a total student fee, although this is generally only broken down into the most significant parts. However, other things that are generally included in these costs are health insurance, use of athletic facilities, ID cards, diplomas and graduation costs, lab supplies, computer access, student activities, and local bus service. Housing, meals, books, and other school supplies make up the majority of the rest of the total cost of college. Many colleges offer on-campus housing that varies greatly in price and comfort. Meal plans may also be purchased. Depending on the college, some plans are included with the cost of housing, while other schools keep the two separate. The plans can vary from as little as 7 meals a week or less to all you can eat, depending on how much you want to pay. Laptops are provided by most colleges, however the price to use these machines is usually quite hefty. While it may be expensive to rent a laptop, most often you will have access to nearly any program, as well as being able to purchase cheaper, student copies of programs to keep permanently. In high school, I was hardly told anything about college. Never was it even suggested that it might be a good idea to research different types of schools. After reading article after article about different types of colleges, and the factors to include in the total cost, I feel like I am finally beginning to understand the different types of colleges and the cost that comes along with them. There is still a lot of research to be done, but at least I am beginning to find my way. Hopefully, if you (the reader) are also thinking about college, and maybe even in a similar situation to me, this has helped you start working towards your final decision.

The Effect of Childhood Trauma on Brain Development Essay -- Child Abu

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in every three girls and one in every five boys are sexually abused by an adult at some time during childhood. Child abuse is a vicious cycle. After a child is abused it puts a deterrent on his or her ability to succeed in life. Examples of this are adults who were abused as children are twice as likely to become abusers themselves. The majority of people in prisons were abused as children. It is no wonder why childhood trauma has such a horrible impact on a person’s personality and brain. Trauma is a serious consideration in special education. When a child is exposed to a traumatic event, such as abuse, neglect or death, it can have a lifelong effect on their mental health. Although there are numerous effects followed by childhood trauma the brain chemistry of neurotransmitters is most affected. First a person might ask what neurotransmitters are. A perfect example is a lock and a key. Neurotransmitters are keys and each one activates different receptors (locks). Today there is known to be sixty chemicals that play a role in transferring information throughout the brain and body, each of which differently effect thought, feeling, and behavior. During childhood is when a person is most impressionable. Therefore when a child has suffered any physical, sexual, or emotional abuse these instances play a major role on the connections to their brain and the way that person will react to any given situation. If a child was frequently abused their brain would continuously be in high stress alert. According to The Healing Center- On Line, studies on the physiological effects of trauma have found profound and substantial effects within multiple interconnected neurobiological syst... ...rth a lot of effort to secure the damaged connections of their brain. After the trauma the person could be haunted by nightmares or constantly bothered by their inability to recall the incident fully, due to the damaged hippocampus. Trauma is as an event more overwhelming than a person ordinarily would be expected to encounter. Therefore the individual would suffer more than a few effects including eternal change such as thought process, inability to learn properly, difficulty trusting people, difficulty in socializing, and basically an inability to live their life to the fullest without distraction. If someone knew a child in danger of abuse they should call 1800-4-A-child. The longer the child is traumatized the greater the effects will be on the chemistry of their brain, and the less chance they have of overcoming the damage in order to live a life of normalcy.

Advancing the Nursing Profession

â€Å"When you're a nurse you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours†.   This is a famous saying from an unknown source that has touched my inner soul as I perform my nursing duties to my patients.For many years, the advancement in the field of science, medicine, technology and research has lessened hospital stay, reduced medical cost and improved the lives of people.   Professionals in various fields of medicine continue to explore the human body in their attempt to prevent sickness and diseases, discover cures, reduce the number of death and injuries and alleviate pains.The remarkable discoveries have given rise to better medicines, sophisticated medical apparatus and equipments that contributed to a large extent towards early detection and non-invasive surgical procedures.   So much of these discoveries are made and the advancement in medicine will never cease.In the field of nursing, I have witnessed the role of technology and medicine t owards the improvement of quality of life of many patients.   Some patients may thank the wonders of miracle drugs and others are thankful for the new lease of life that technology has given them.Yet, there are still countless of patients who need a human touch and listening professionals to reduce their anxieties and to regularly visit them in their sickbed.   Such is a vital role of a nurse that I intend to explore as I work towards the advancement of my profession.As a student nurse, I was given the opportunity to be assigned in all the units in the hospital.   I directly work under the supervision of a clinical instructor and professional nurses in various units.   In many instances, I also had the chance to assist physicians and surgeons as they perform medical treatments and surgical procedures to their patients.   Every learning opportunity is an important experience for me.  As I approach my final year in my studies, I cannot help but think of the field that I wa nt to specialize in and how I intend to advance my nursing profession.   My trainings have allowed me to work under a lot of pressure in the emergency department where every second counts to save the lives and alleviate the sufferings of those who are in distress.I have been part of the team that has witnessed the birth of a new creation in the delivery room.   From orthopedic, aesthetic, cardiology to neurology related surgeries, I have assisted doctors and nurses in the pre-operative and post-operative procedures.It was challenging to be assigned in the nursery and pediatric department to monitor the health conditions of the infants and children who were prone to many illnesses due to their low resistance.   I have felt the joy of seeing a patient wake up after days of being in a coma in the intensive units.I have also witnessed miracles and many sufferings from patients in the oncology unit.   There are intrinsic rewards and challenges that nurses like me has experienced in our day-to-day practice.As one of the forefronts in promoting the quality of life from birth to the end of life of every person, nurses can do so much in touching the lives of people and in giving hope to those who refused to believe that there may still be a faint of light at the end of the tunnel.   This is the task that I have decided to explore in the advancement of my nursing profession.In my trainings and experience in the hospital, I have had a mixture of good and painful experiences.   Although these are expected in any medical related profession, I still feel that nurses make a difference in the lives of others.   We can affect our patients positively and make them hold on even to the blink of hope that can change their lives.I felt a strong calling to work on a nursing profession that specialized in the field of oncology when I was assigned in the oncology unit.     Ã‚  Although there are researches, good drugs and advanced therapy for the detection, intervent ion, and treatment of cancer, nothing could replace the support, human touch and care that nurses could extend to patients who are in need of an assurance that we would be with them and their families as they endure their treatments and pains.Nothing could equal the anxiety and stress of going through chemo or cobalt therapy knowing that the treatment could provide a long term positive effect, a short-term remission or unfavorable result although these days treatments tend to prolong and enhance lives.   Research has provided us with more hope and more people who are afflicted with cancer tend to resume normal lives after regular treatments.Although my professional nursing practice may begin after I secure my credentials, I always believe that I have already began to practice my calling on the first day of my clinical experience.   Nursing is the career that I have chosen not only because of my desire to help the sick and make them feel better but I have felt so much fulfillment as I touch their lives in many ways that I have been touched.Working either in the oncology unit or in the hospice care is a field that I am most drawn to.   I intend to learn as much as I can from my work and from the experience that I will gain from caring my patients.   My concept in advancing nursing comes not from doing research to cure diseases but from the golden rule, â€Å"do unto others as you would have them do unto you†.I lived by the Bible verse found in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, that reminds me to â€Å"Encourage those who are weak and afraid†.   I believe that this is a good reminder for all the nurses.   It is not enough that we extend physical care to our patients.We also need to spiritually and emotionally lift them up to help them cope with their illnesses and to have a positive outlook in life.   Let us not lose sight of what our profession is all about.   Just like those days when Florence Nightingale rendered her dedicated services, we sh ould always offer a lending hand instead of waiting for our patients to ask for them.

Post Modern Er Carson Mccullers - 1869 Words

American literature does not only include characters, plots, settings, and themes, but also historical and personal events that shape the writer’s literature. One era that is known for outside events influencing the writing of the time is the post-modern era. The start of the post-modern era took place in the year 1945. This era took rise after two major historical events in America’s history, the Holocaust and the dropping of the atomic bombs on two Japanese cities. Once World War II was over, Americans wanted to return to normal life. However, with the desire to return to normal, Americans in the 1950’s had a hard time determining what they would consider normal. One early post-modern author, Carson McCullers, focused her writing on the feeling of isolation and loneliness that American citizens were facing at the time. Carson McCullers’s novels and short stories contain themes of isolation, death, hope, and dark humor, which are all symbolic of the hards hips humans faced in the post-modern time period and her own personal trials. Works of literature from the post-modern era contain similar characteristics. Post-modern authors usually include irony, dark humor, bisexuality, hope, isolation, and historical events in their writing. The end of World War II played a major role in the desire for America to return to normal. Like all other wars, there were thousands of people killed, but World War II was the deadliest military conflict in history. Germany, one of the world’s