Should a College Education be Primarily Technical or Liberal Arts Essay

Should a College Education be Primarily Technical or Liberal Arts - Essay Example As an employer, delivering goods and services is dependent on revenue, not theoretical thinking. Yes, to a certain extent- understanding theories is quite pivotal, but it does not translate to direct revenue when no product of tangible goods is conducted. This type of mentality has hurt many students because they have failed to acquire necessary skills to be entered in the workforce. As a matter of fact, many high-end universities put students in debt but fail to teach them basic skills such as Microsoft Office. Based on a survey of several hundred employers, the report concluded that â€Å"Far too many young people are inadequately prepared to be successful.† This is even more critical regarding high school graduates who were deficient in such skills as oral and written communication, critical thinking and professionalism. As a technical student, I can attest to this because I feel that technical colleges provide double benefits as they teach these soft skills as well. When I visited a traditional four-year university in midst of making my decision, I was shocked to see that most students did not know how to utilize simple software for a criminal justice presentation. This changed my perception on how I approached education because I became more of an applicable thinking. To study for my tests, I actually began to watch videos in court room and read about popular issues trending in law forensics. My drastic approach truly was a true experience because I began to see the â€Å"overall picture† in confusing concepts. This similar perception is discussed in Pathways Ahead: Reform and Rigor and The Road to Pathways. This piece of literature is a great testament towards understanding the common issue that young... This essay declares that learning and memorizing knowledge is a fairly non-trivial challenge for the average American as it entails countless hours of drilling useless facts into one’s cognitive thinking. However, applying those concepts require specialized education and knowledge that must be harnessed. It is clear that business leaders are foreshadowing that specialized trade skill workers will be in shortage. This paper stresses that many high-end universities put students in debt but fail to teach them basic skills such as Microsoft Office. Based on a survey of several hundred employers, the report concluded that â€Å"Far too many young people are inadequately prepared to be successful.† This is even more critical regarding high school graduates who were deficient in such skills as oral and written communication, critical thinking and professionalism. many students lack the skills in a very competitive labor force,. In fact, the â€Å"forgotten half† challenge has deepened with the growing importance of post-secondary education to success in the labor market. The trend that has been emerging the modern years was the fact that more than half of the employment required an undergraduate degree. For instance, the average earning of workers with bachelor’s degrees were 65 percent higher than those of high school graduates. Technical students rectify this issue by allowin g students to have a more â€Å"hands-on† approach. These are skills that transferrable in any work environment.

Rise and Fall of Medieval Chinese Empire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Rise and Fall of Medieval Chinese Empire - Essay Example Consequently, it occurred that the ruling class gradually became alienated from the population, and became deprived of their support during such crisis. In the imperial history of the world, religion has played an important role to hold the people of different races and ethnicities within one empire as Charles Issawi says, "the most important single factor holding India together, and enabling it to survive repeated conquests, has been the Hindu religion. Likewise, the conversion to Roman Catholicism of the native populations"1 Even if the religious belief played a significant role to unite the fragmented Chinese demography, as Issawi says, "Confucianism and Taoism helped China recover its unity after the breakdown of the Han Empire in the third century A.D. and the fragmentation and retrogression caused by the barbarian invasions"2, religion was not the one and only tool that contributed to the unity of the population. The role of religion in empire building during the Tang dynasty w as such that no prevalence of one religion was allowed to suppress another religion. Rather religions were treated and manipulated equally to create the sentiment -of the people- that is committed to the stability and solidarity of the empire. Such religious policy of the Tang Empire was in complete concordance with the 'divergent people in one state' policy of Tang Daizong.3 Therefore, the following factors can be held responsible behind the rise and fall of the Chinese empire during the Tang Dynasty: 1. Culture committed to the solidarity of the Empire4 2. Religions ensuring social stability and at the same time, nourishing the freaks among the population5 3. Effective administrative policies and politics Nature of Rise and Fall throughout the Chinese Imperial Era Throughout the passage of time, the rise and the fall of the medieval Chinese Empire were associated with each other in such a way that the rise of the empire during one dynasty was embedded in the fall of its preceding one and at the same time, the empire collapsed due to its failure to manipulate the variables that contributed its rise. One of the most common factors that contributed to the rise and the fall of the medieval Chinese empire is that the empire, in the first place, was able to unify the population of a vast area either with the consent of the people or by subjugating them with the power, culture, and religion. The role of religions in making the ancient Chinese Empire was not as significant as it was in the making of the medieval Chinese Empire. The less significant role of religion lies in the fact that religions with plural gods and goddesses were not strong enough to play a role in the making of the Chinese. Even if any religion played a role, it was mainly because of the humanistic zeal of the religion that inspired both the Chinese population and empire builders to adopt it as a means to social peace and harmony. Simply religion

Violence And Aggression In The Health Care Social Work Essay

Violence And Aggression In The Health Care Social Work Essay Introduction Management of a violent or aggressive client plays an important role in health care setting. This is very critical in mental health sector and as well as the prevention of violence and aggression is very essential since the main concern of the modern world has been directed towards preventive measures rather curative and therapeutic actions. Researchers have found out that violence and aggression are common among mentally disordered clients than community controls. It is more common among schizophrenic and drug addictive clients than other mentally disordered clients. Furthermore this article reveals that the number of homicidal events for last few decades remains constant in UK although the technology has been improved. (Davison, 2005) Furthermore some articles reveals that hundred percent of nurses who are working at mental health settings have experienced some kind of violent behavior from clients towards them. The more important thing is these behaviors vary from verbal threat to sexual harassments. And also this article reveals that nurses and health care workers who directly work with such clients are getting assaulted more often than doctors who visit them periodically. (Richter Whittington, 2006) These facts prove the important of developing more effective strategies to manage violent and aggressive clients. Since they are not completely independent and since they seek care it is very essential to plan strategies to cope with and to prevent or minimize such incidences while maintaining clients rights and dignity as health care workers. The other important aspect of this discussion is to minimize or prevent injuries or harm to the coworkers while managing such clients in a dignified and well accepted manner. Before look in to the management and the prevention it will be useful to be familiar with technical terms. What is violence? Violence has been defined as an intentional behavior towards any person or a property to damage, Injure, hurt, abuse or kill with a physical force. (Dictionary, 2012) What is aggression? Aggression is a set of behaviors which can cause physical and psychological injury, damage of harm to oneself, others or properties. (Cherry) What causes aggression and violence? It is critical to figure out the reason or the cause, why violence and aggression occurs in health care setting. Despite clients mental health condition or the physiology of the disease the environment and the way staff approach the client is important. Most of the articles reveals that clients with antisocial behaviors, schizophrenia, drug addictives and clients who are having problems with the insight may become aggressive than other traits. But it is important to notice that apart from above conditions the environment which is discomforting to clients and actions of outsiders may play a role towards clients violence and aggression. This may be common among health care settings the onset of aggression due to certain actions taken by staff members which can justify due to lack of systematic techniques and understanding even though it is unethical. Because with the more often aggression and harassment towards staff make their mind to take aggression and violence as a job related thre at or hazard and make them helpless during a such incident. This will make their mind to be more focus on safety rather clients rights and dignity. Prevention of Aggression Violation Identify your client It is essential and critical to know your client very well before you approach your client. This includes the condition of your client, medical, social history violent history. Knowing you clients medical social history may help you to recognize what makes you client aggressive while violent history will reveal lot of important facts about you behaviors. Simply you should know likes dislikes of your client, what makes them aggressive, how they express when they were above to behave aggressively what would they do when they become aggressive. So you can anticipate get prepared if you know above information about your client. Pay your attention to aggravating factors If you know your client, you can figure out what makes them aggressive. May be certain topics, actions, words or behaviors will make them aggressive. You need to avoid them as much as possible when you approach a client. This will help a healthcare worker to prevent such incidents. Take precautions Once you identify your client properly, you should take necessary precautions. Based on above assessment firstly you need to rule out factors which makes them aggressive. Secondly you should pay your attention and find out a way to identify such incidents before it occurs by your clients expressions, specific behaviors, or gestures. Then you should know what they would do when they are aggressive or violent. Based on that information you should take necessary precautions. You may keep your coworkers informed before you approach your client, keep an emergency communication system ready such as a call bell to use in case. Arrange the environment It is very essential to arrange your clients environment. That should be calm, comforting environment with no clutters threats. The surrounding should not posses any sharp objects, ropes, wires, tubes which can be use to harm self or others. Managing Aggression Violation If your client become violent or aggressive; by using following measures you can try to control the situation. Talk on behalf of your client Always show your client that you agree with him or her and always take you clients side though you strongly disagree with him or her. Because, your client becomes aggressive or violent since they are not fully mentally competent at the moment. Realize that this is not the best moment to discuss prove your client is wrong or his or her actions are unacceptable. Talking on behalf of your client will help you to gain your clients trust faith which will be useful to calm down your client. Send victims or opponents out immediately while you are having someone around to assist you. Because seen his or her opponent would make your client more discomforting. Try to calm down you client Once you gain faith of your client you can control you client up an extent. Dont try to over control your client. Calm down you client by giving them suggestions while listening to him or her. Offer him or her a seat to make your client comfortable. Give your client enough time without rushing. Remove aggravating factors from your clients sight If aggression or violation has being occurred due to a person, send him out, the factor may be a picture, word which has being used or any behavior or can be any minor thing. You must avoid them remove them immediately if it is possible to support him to calm down. Keep supportive measures ready all the time All the time the emergency alert system, urgent medicines such as sedatives, supportive staff should keep ready when you deal with such a client. This will help healthcare workers to minimize the damage if an incident occurs. Go with a crowd When you approach a client who is highly possible to become violent or aggressive it is preferable to go with one or more coworkers. In case if client becomes violent supportive staff can help you to restrain at least until medications has being administered. And it is very important that you should keep your eye on your client and should be at your sight whenever you are at your clients room or area. This will provide your safety. By having your client at your sight all the time, you can see what they are doing for what they are getting ready for. Your client may try to harm you since he is mentally incompetent. If you do not pay your attention to your client; it will make it easier for your client to harm you. IM rout is preferable for emergency medicines Always intramuscular route is preferable to administer medications such as sedatives during an violent or aggressive situation. The reason is you dont need much of coordination to administer IM injections as IV. Even though IV act fast administering as IV medication will be difficult with a non cooperative client unless they are restrained or an IV canula has being inserted. Do not Criticize Once an incident occurred do not label your client since that will lead you client to become more aggressive when people treat them differently as well as that will help to recur the same situation. Treat them similarly as for the others do not show them a difference. Conclusion Aggression and violence is common in health care related to mentally incompetent people such as patient with anti social behaviors, schizophrenia, personality disorders drug addictives. Poor techniques, protocols and systems to deal with them put both clients and health care workers at a risk. Furthermore this will cause breaching clients dignity, rights health status while healthcare workers consider them as a job related risk. Proper education and awareness of healthcare workers would improve healthcare workers coping with such incidents proper management of incidents. Knowing you client being prepared is the best way to minimize aggression violence in healthcare.

The significance of female characters in the progressof Homer’s novel E

The significance of female characters in the progressof Homer’s novel The Odyssey Women are very important figures in Homer's The Odyssey. Athena and Penelope are the two primary examples. They help Odysseus in his travels in many ways through the story. They keep the reader interested so that they keep reading to find out what will happen next. Throughout the novel, they appear in many different forms. In this epic, several female characters had a profound effect on the plot. They wielded their influence through typically feminine skills and attributes: seduction, supernatural powers, intelligence, and beauty. Some of the women of The Odyssey influenced the actions of men, playing key roles in the epics, such as Athena, Penelope, Calypso, the Sirens, Helen, or Circe; all have been true, and in actuality, may be an entertaining interpretation of an actual Trojan War. Since the Trojan War supposedly started because of a dispute between the gods and mortals, the Trojan War probably started because of a reason other than the reason Homer gives. If Homer were a woman, then he would have directed his audience into believing that women were at a higher level than men were by use of his epics. Ultimately, Homer would be utilizing his feminine characteristics when telling his stories with underlying messages of feminine superiority or equality. As goddess of wisdom and battle, Athena naturally has a soft spot for the brave and wily Odysseus. She helps him out of many tough situations, including his shipwreck in Book 5 and the mismatched battle of Book 22. She does not merely impart sense and safety to her passive charge, however. She takes an interest in Odysseus for the talents he already has and actively demonstrates. Although she reassures Odysseus during the battle with the suitors, she does not become fully involved, preferring instead to watch Odysseus fight and prevail on his own. She also often helps Telemachus as when she sends him off to Pylos and Sparta to earn a name for himself but she has the most affection for Odysseus. Athena is confident, practical, clever, a master of disguises, and a great warrior, characteristics she finds reflected in Telemachus. Her role as goddess of the womanly arts gets very little attention in the Odyssey. Penelope works at the loom all the time but rarely sees Athena, and then u... ...oes. These literature works gave many possibilities of definition of heroism. The Greeks illustrated heroism to obey the rules laid down by the gods and goddesses, and those who obey the rules would gain honor and fame. The Greeks regarded intelligence as one of the highest gifts that all heroes must posses. The Greeks required that all heroes must have courage and die a horrible death. We know him less from what he thought, which was seldom revealed, than by what he says and did, and his actions follow naturally from his characteristics. If the cunning of Odysseus is mentioned more than his courage, it was his courage that gets him into the scrapes from which his cunning had to deliver him. Odysseus had the all the qualities that the Greek tradition required of all heroes, which were obey the rules of gods, posses intelligence, and displayed courage. He was made a hero thanks to his own characteristics however, with out the guidance of Athena, his longing to be at home with his wife again and the intervention of women on his journey, he would only be a hero by myth not by what he has achieved through the trouble of getting home due to the women he has encountered.

Marketing Influences Essay

Introduction Generally marketing deals with buying and selling a products or services. And consumer behavior is a branch of marketing deals with the process that the consumer purchase or do not purchase the products and services (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). For the retailers and all other businesses consumer behavior is analyzed for identifying key successful marketing strategy. Marketing strategy is the combination of product, price, promotion, channel of distribution and market segmentation (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). There are various factors that affect the consumer behavior for buying a product or services. And for making good strategic marketing decisions any firms or organizations need to understand those factors like cultural, individual, organizational etc (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Analyzing consumer behavior become very important for this competitive world. For gaining competitive advantage it’s important to give more value to the customer than the competitors (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). According to Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins (2006), customer value means the differences between the benefit they get from the products and the cost that they spend for acquiring those products. Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins (2006) emphasize that giving best customer value mainly requires the firms to react immediate to consumer needs more quickly than rivals. This essay is based on a case study with three questions. And these three questions will be discussed simultaneously. First question is based on describing the situational influences that would affect the customer decisions for buying a products and services. Second question is based on the case that Kate wants to purchase a gift for her boyfriend’s birthday and identify the three situational influences that affect the Kate’s purchasing decisions. And the third question is describing the key marketing strategy by which a marketer might be able to utilize the situation to a market specific type of products or brands. Question 1: Answer As states before that this question is based on describing the situational influences that affects the customer decisions for purchasing products. Any  organizations or companies have to understand that which situations is affecting the customer buying decision of their products or services and how the marketers could serve the best when those situations arise (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Marketers activities should be designed in the context of the situation the consumer faces which influence the customers for purchasing the product when MKT510: Consumer Behavior M. M. Tamim 2 ID: 11511633 they face such situation (Foxal & Yani-de-Soriano, 2005). A consumer’s choices are affected by various personal influences such as mood and if there is limitation of time for purchase etc. Now-a-days people are using electronic source for the initial information for purchasing the products (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). Relating to consumer behavior a number of attempts have been made to classify the situations and the classification has been made by Russel Belk (Belk, 1975). According to Belk there are five types of situation that influence customers’ decisions. They are physical surroundings, social surroundings, temporal perspective, task definition and antecedent states (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Physical surroundings include the location of the store, interior decoration, smell, sound system, lighting, visible surroundings of the materials to the stimulus object (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Those surroundings can significantly influence consumption of the customer and can convince to coming the store repeatedly. (Solomon, Dann, & RusselBennett, 2007). Social environment also affects customer motives for purchasing products or usage of products. In a consumer environment if there are large number of people present then it could increase arousal levels. For example, in a store if there are huge number of people present then automatically arouses another consumer for buying products from that store (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). Temporal factors is the time constraints for a customer. Sometimes consumer could situation for buying with limitation of time that also affects the consumer buying decision. Relative to past or future event for the situation time may also be measured (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Task definition includes the intention regarding purchase the products or requirements to  select the store or products. For example, consumer behaves differently when they buy products for gift compared to purchasing for themselves (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). For evaluating the purchase of products customer mood or physiological conditions at the time of purchase may have huge influence for making decisions (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). Among those five influences let’s elaborate on two situational influences. They are temporal factors and task definition. Temporal factors are situational influences which deal with time that available for purchase. The availability of time for purchasing the product has a big impact to the customers (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). In that context, the information search will be short if the time is limited and the use of short information will be made some suboptimal purchase (Sim & Goh, 1998). As a situational influence time has a bug impact to the customer buying decision. MKT510: Consumer Behavior M. M. Tamim 3 ID: 11511633 For example, the consumers are less like to visit any departmental store if they have limited time but if they are not time pressured they would like to visit more (Kenhove & Wulf, 2000). The number of product alternatives would be smaller for the time constraints. For this the brand loyalty might be increased for many customers. (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Some corners store and convenience store are the successful considering this time factors as a situational influences. Task definition means the reason for purchasing a product or influences the buying decision. The reason may vary to different buyers and user roles performed by the individual (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). For example, gift giving is general reason but gift giving in occasion is specific reason that influence the behavior of the purchasing a product (Ruth, Otnes, & Brunel, 1999). Generally people increase their purchase in specific occasions. Best marketers understand these patterns of situations in which people more tend to buy (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). For example, in promotional activities bookstores invest heavily for the lead up to Christmas because many people are tend to buy books as Christmas present and to stock for reading them during summer holidays (Solomon, Dann, & RusselBennett, 2007). Question 2: Answer Kate is struggling to make a decision and wants to buy her boyfriend a smart phone to his birthday and she was running out of time. The three situational influences that affect Kate’s purchasing decision are task definition, temporal factors and social surroundings. Task definition as told before is the reasons that influence the customer to buy a product or services (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). And the reason could be general and specific like gift giving in a occasion in which also influence the buying patterns (Ruth, Otnes, & Brunel, 1999). In this case the task is specific which the birthday of Kate’s boyfriend. However people feel their needs of products or services for reason whether it’s general or specific. In this case, Kate feel need for buying a product for giving gift to her boyfriend in his birthday. So according to Ruth, Otnes and Brunel (1999), the task was specific for Kate for purchasing the smart phone. Temporal factors as situational influences include the availability of time for purchasing any product (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Here Kate had very limited time for making decision though the birthday of her boyfriend was very near. She had two options that MKT510: Consumer Behavior M. M. Tamim 4 ID: 11511633 whether to buy iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy SIII. As given before that less time gives less information for making decision (Belk, 1975). So Kate had to make a decision so she couldn’t consider the information very well and she had to choose smart phone randomly from the given two options. Last situational influences that affect the Kate’s decision is social surroundings which means the presence of other people who could have an influence on the individuals consumer’s behavior (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Considering behavior social influence is very significant since the individuals behavior is visible and they tend integrate with group expectations (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). In this case Kate has limited time for making decision that she had two options that iPhone 5 which is recommended by her boyfriends’ childhood friend who knew John’s personality very well as well his character and another option  is Samsung Galaxy SIII which is recommended by the salesmen who is expert in smart phone. Shopping and consuming goods in public is highly visible activity which has several social influences others (Shim & Eastlick, 1998). Though the buying patterns of Kate was not so highly visible activity like shopping and consuming goods in public rather it was individual buying decision. Though Kate had limited time to decide whether what to buy then she asked for recommendation in two people one was sales person and another was friend of John which they have influences for buying smart phone. Question 3: Answer In modern competition marketers need to give more value to the customer compare to the competitors (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Customer value is the difference between the advantage they get and the costs they spend for getting that advantage. So considering the situation marketers need to serve best to the consumer for purchasing product (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). Marketing Strategy is the combination of product, price, distribution and promotion which emphasize a particular group of customers (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). So using these key marketing strategies a marketer can utilize the situation to market a specific brand and product type by understanding consumer behavior. Lets describe the three key marketing strategies that how a marketer might be able to utilize situation for a specific type of product. Product type and quality is very important for the marketer. However, thousands of new products are introduced in the marketplace annually. So marketer need to satisfied customer MKT510: Consumer Behavior M. M. Tamim 5 ID: 11511633 by their products for successful business (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Also marketer needs to analyze and understand the needs and requirements of potential customer by which marketer can give the required product in such situation to the potential customer (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Price is another important marketing strategy and marketing mix as well. A marketer needs to understand consumer behavior in order to structure it properly (Quester, Pettigrew, &  Hawkins, 2006). For example a company desiring high quality brand and for this the price should be high. So, if the target customer believes that price-quality relationship. So considering the target market situation price might be structured (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). Promotional activities are another important term for the product. By high quality campaign consumer might be convinced for buying that product. And also at any occasion or festival marketer could bring new promotions for the consumer that might influence the buying process (Foxal & Yani-de-Soriano, 2005). For example, any gift shops or bookshops spend more in promotional activities before Christmas that lead the people for purchasing products or books for gift as they intend to buy (Solomon, Dann, & Russel-Bennett, 2007). So considering task definition as a situational influences marketer could use these promotional activities. Conclusion Understanding of consumer behavior could make the long term success for the products (Quester, Pettigrew, & Hawkins, 2006). And to be successful it’s very important to understand the customer behavior considering the various situational influences (Belk, 1975). In this essay the theories of situational influences that affect their buying decision is discussed and after three of the situational influences is described in case of Kate who was struggling to make the best buy. And in last question how marketer might be able to utilize situation in aspects of using key marketing strategy is described. It is easy to understand that how situation could influence the buying decision process by this essay. MKT510: Consumer Behavior M. M. Tamim 6 ID: 11511633 Bibliography Belk, R. W. (1975). Situational Variables and Consumer Behavior. Journal of Consumer Research, 158. Foxal, G. R., & Yani-de-Soriano, M. M. (2005). Situational Influences on Consumers’ Attitudes and Behavior. Journal of Business Research, 518-25. Kenhove, P. v., & Wulf, K. d. (2000). Income and Time Pressure: A Person Stuation Grocery Retail Typology. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Cionsumer Research, 149-66. Quester, P., Pettigrew, S., & Hawkins, D. I. (2006). Consumer Behavior: Implications for Marketing Strategy. North Ryde: McGraw-Hill Australia. Ruth, J., Otnes, C. C., & Brunel, F. (1999). Gift Reciepts and Reformulation of Interpersonal Relationships. Journal of Consumer Research, 385-402. Shim, S., & Eastlick, M. A. (1998). The Hierarchical Influence of Personal Values on Mall Shopping. Journal of Retailing, 139-60. Sim, L. L., & Goh, S. Y. (1998). Singapore’s Revised Concept Plan and Retailing: Impact of the Tampines Regional Centre on Shopping Patterns. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 33-43. Solomon, M., Dann, S., & Russel-Bennett, R. (2007). Situational Effects on Consumer Behavior. Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education.

Step Out on Nothing

Josiah McCutcheon Term Paper 11/8/12 Step Out on Nothing After reading Byron Pitts Step Out on Nothing, I felt incredibly inspired by his will to overcome the challenges he faced throughout his life. I felt the book was more personal to me because I could relate to many of the stories and challenges described in the book. This book has changed a lot of my views and caused me to be more appreciative of the people in my life who have helped me overcome my own personal obstacles. Growing up Byron dealt with many difficulties that molded his character and helped him become a stronger person.His parents constantly fought but his mother always reassured him that everything would be all right and within God’s hands. He didn’t get much attention from his parents because they were always busy trying to support the family. His mother always expected him to do the best that he could and more and it’s the love he had for his mother that gave him the courage to do his best an d maintain his mother’s expectations. I can relate to this because I grew up with my mother and father always fighting but I knew they loved each other regardless of their arguments.My parents having five children didn’t help the situation because they were obligated to support the family by working all the time while simultaneously doing their best to be good role models. This is a lot of stress and responsibility for anyone and the stress caused by these burdens created more arguments that seemed to surface quite frequently. Much like Bryon’s mother Clarice, my parents expected us to be very respectful towards others and do the best that we could. My father, a man that reminds me of Clarice would always tell us everyday before school to be respectful and learn something.I don’t remember one day were my father didn’t remind us. Much like his family, we were a very religious family that had much faith in God. Growing up in a home where I was encour aged to learn and be respectful of others built character and helped shape me into the person I am today. Byron’s parents divorced forcing his mother to be the main supporter in his life because his father was absent through most of his life. I feel that this made him a stronger person because he didn’t have the father figure around to help support the family and this reinforced the need for education in Byron’s mind.His father’s absence and his mothers struggle to support the family independently made it clear that he needed to obtain a good education so he wasn’t put in similar circumstances as an adult. I can relate to this because I had my father growing up until I was sixteen until he passed from a heart attack. Of course, I had my father growing up giving me much advice on how to be a better man, but then losing him with my mom trying to support five kids was hard for her. I truly think that God has a plan for everyone and that everything hap pens for a reason.After that happened it made me a much stronger person and helped me deal with many things that many people couldn’t. Watching my mom struggling made me realize how much more my education meant and the need for an education to live a more comfortable life. It also showed me how important family is to have in your life. My family will always be there just like Bryon always had his family to turn to. Growing up Byron never learned how to read, because he was always trying to hide it from others. His mother never noticed it either because she was always so busy trying to support the family.Byron dealt with not only racism, but also people making fun of him because he couldn’t read. I honestly think that growing up with this issue positively contributed to the person he became. I can relate to this because my parents were always so busy with work and then when they got home it was time for them to relax. I also think they relied on the school a little bit too much to expect them to teach me how to read. Living in a rural area Roane County, West Virginia, education wasn’t the best.My father realized that we could receive a better education in a county that had more resources to provide children with a better education. Consequently, he moved us when I was ten years old to Morgantown, West Virginia. Once again reminds me of when Byron’s mother had him go to Curley for a better education. Morgantown was a much more populated school and I was made fun of causing me to hate school even more until a teacher much like Ms. Ulle, helped me with my reading and writing as much as she could. Her named was Ms.Bell and I remember the time she realized that I couldn’t read very well when a kid in her class made fun of me to the point where I was very upset. She asked me to stay after class and told me that she saw much greatness in me and wanted to help. It reminded me of when Dr. Paul Lucus told him,† Mr. Pitts, you†™re wasting my time and the government’s money. You are not Ohio, Wesleyan University material. I think you should leave. † Later on Ms. Ulle see’s Byron crying and says, †Young man are you ok? Yes ma’am, I’m fi†¦fi†¦fi†¦fine. You don’t look fine, please tell me what’s wrong she insisted. Byron proceeds to tell the story of Dr. Lucas and Ms. Ulle and encourages Byron to stay in school and offers to help him succeed. After reading what Byron went through I felt reassured that I could also some day achieve great things like Byron. It also gave me a deeper appreciation for the people that saw the potential in each of us. One of my favorite parts about this book was when Bryon talks about his experience in Afghanistan. His experience in Afghanistan was definitely life changing for him to see and go through many different obstacles.I feel that him seeing and going through various life-threatening situations made him a ppreciate everything in his life much more. I’ve always thought about going into the army to get the experience and also think it would be interesting to see different parts of the world and being able to learn about new cultures first hand. I feel an experience such as military service would expand my appreciation for life and give me valuable experience that would positively influence my character much like Byron’s experience as a journalist overseas.In this book it shows how much Byron Pitts wouldn’t give up on what he love to do and that was being a journalist. â€Å"Step out on nothing†, he had a long journey going through many different obstacles along the way. I feel that Byron wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without the support and love from his much appreciated love ones. The book has inspired me to not only to be the best that I can be but also, to never give up on trying at the things you want in life even if it means getting t urned down numerous of times.