Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Drafting an Academic Plan of Study for Student Growth

Drafting an Academic Plan of Study for Student Growth An academic plan of study is a way to provide more accountability to students who are struggling academically. This plan provides students with a set of academic goals tailored to their needs and provides them with assistance in reaching those goals. An academic plan of study is best suited for students who may lack the motivation necessary to succeed academically and needs some direct accountability to keep them in check. The motivation lies in the fact that if they do not meet their goals, then the student will be required to repeat that grade the following year. Developing an academic plan of study gives the student an opportunity to prove themselves rather than retaining them in their current grade which could have an overall negative effect. The following is a sample academic plan of study that can be modified to fit your specific needs. Sample Academic Plan of Study The following plan of study takes effect on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, which is the first day of the 2016-2017 school year. It is effective through Friday, May 19, 2017. The principal/counselor will review John Student’s progress at a minimum of a bi-weekly basis. If John Student fails to meet his objectives at any given check, then a meeting will be required with John Student, his parents, his teachers, and the principal or counselor. If John Student has met all of the objectives, then he will be promoted to the 8th grade at the end of the year. However, if he fails to meet all of the listed objectives, then he will be placed back into the 7th grade for the 2017-2018 school year. OBJECTIVES John Student must maintain a 70% C- average in each class including English, reading, math, science, and social studies.John Student must complete and turn in 95% of their classroom assignments per class.John Student must attend school at least 95% of the required time, meaning they can only miss 9 days of the total 175 school days.John Student must show improvement in his reading grade level.John Student must show improvement in his math grade level.John Student must set a reasonable Accelerated Reading goal for each quarter (with principal/counselors assistance) and meet that A.R. goal every nine weeks. Assistance/Action   John Student’s teachers will immediately let the principal/counselor know if he fails to complete and/or turn in an assignment on time. The principal/counselor will be responsible for keeping track of this information.The principal/counselor will conduct bi-weekly grade checks in the areas of English, reading, math, science, and social studies. The principal/counselor will be required to inform both John Student and his parents of their progress on a bi-weekly basis via conference, letter, or telephone call.John Student will be required to spend a minimum of forty-five minutes for three days a week with an intervention specialist specifically focused on improving his overall reading level.If any of John Student’s grades drop below 70%, he will be required to attend after-school tutoring at a minimum of three times per week.If John Student is failing to meet two or more of his grade requirements and/or two or more of his objectives by December 16. 2016, then he will be d emoted to the 6th grade at that time for the remainder of the school year. If John Student is demoted or retained, he will be required to attend a Summer School session. By signing this document, I agree to each of the conditions above. I understand that if John Student does not meet each objective that he may be placed back into 7th grade for the 2017-2018 school year or demoted to the 6th grade for the 2nd semester of the 2016-2017 school year. However, if he meets each expectation then he will be promoted to the 8th grade for the 2017–2018 school year.    __________________________________ John Student, Student __________________________________ Fanny Student, Parent __________________________________ Ann Teacher, Teacher __________________________________ Bill Principal, Principal

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Compare and Contrast the Work of Art Thutmose, Nefertiti and Portrait Essay

Compare and Contrast the Work of Art Thutmose, Nefertiti and Portrait Bust Of a Flavian Woman - Essay Example At this point the Romans took the Greeks possessions, art included. Though this form of art is borrowed from the previous works of the Greeks, it has characteristics that set it apart as an early ancient Roman artifact. To start off, there is the concept of idealized beauty. Greeks depicted most of their sculptures with Godly beauty, but in this bust we see a depiction of ordinary human beauty. Secondly, the sculpted woman is young as seen in the youthful features of the portrait. In the Greek art world, older persons in society were the ones worth of sculptures. In this case, however, we see that the artist chose to sculpt a younger woman. The bust has an Etruscan or Roman form because, unlike Greek sculptures, it includes head and shoulders only. Most of Greek artists believed that the head and the body cannot be separated. Finally, the portrait of marble stone and the hair structure utilizes the drilling technique, which is a characteristic of this error (Hartswick and Sturgeon 12 0). Nefertiti This portrait is created by the Egyptian sculpture, Thutmose. Geologists speculate that the work dates back to 1345 B.C. In 1912, a German geologist discovered Thutmose’s Studio and the Nefertiti. The error of the statue is made during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaton. The Pharaoh at that time had imposed worship of the God of Sun on the people. The evidence from excavation shows that ordinary people did not uphold the Sun worship religion. In a sense, this religion was to cut the powers of the chief priest and eradicate all opposition to the Pharaoh. Therefore, the Pharaoh’s reign is a dictatorship. In this situation, there is a possibility that the artist Thutmose reserved his ideal depictions to impress authority. However, this sculpture is a deviation from the Amarna art as it derives more from Classical Egyptian art than it does from the strict Amarna art principles. Artists relied on geometry and color to depict personalities, especially royalties, as youthful. As the name suggests, the sculpture is a depiction of beauty, Nefertiti, the beautiful one has come. The portrait, made of limestone, has traces of gypsum on the surface (Lazzari and Schlesier 336). Comparison of Two Works of Art Both of these portraits include shoulders and heads. It seems that in both of these errors the head and the shoulders were enough to represent the sculpture of a person. However, the Nefertiti’s shoulders are vertically cut while the Flavian’s are horizontal. This may be an indication of varying approaches in portrait works applied by Egyptian and Roman artists. This aspect of contrast is, however, debatable as art critiques of such historians as Henri Stierlin and Edrogan Ercivan have come up with the claim that the bust of Nefertiti currently displayed is a fake. They lay their claims on the fact that the shoulders are vertically cut rather than horizontally as is Egyptian shoulder cutting culture. They also bring focus to the bus t’s incomplete, left eye. They claim this discrepancy does not make sense considering this in ancient Egypt was a sign of disrespect (Kleiner 58, 179). The use of color is also characteristic of the Egyptian portrait. Color according to many artists gives life to the lifeless forms. The apparent smile on the Nefertiti’s lips gets emphasis from the red color of her lips. The Flavian’s make up for their lack of color through the use of shadows. The

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Postmodernism and Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Postmodernism and Theory - Essay Example The essay "Postmodernism and Theory" explores the movement of Postmodernism. To a large degree, postmodernism is focused on an examination of reality versus unreality, discovering in the process that there is more blurred areas between the two than there are clear distinctions. These ideas are discussed through several works including Baudrillard, Mulvey and Nochlin.Introducing the idea of the simulation, Baudrillard says that we have come to a place where the false precedes the real. In addition to discovering that the simulation no longer matches the real, Baudrillard says it has gone farther, reducing everything down to miniature and making it hyperreal, something that exists in and of itself, with little to connect it to the original. The real, in this system, has become little more than a series of signs that stand in its place. The danger with simulacra as opposed to representation is that representation starts with the idea of the real within the representation while simulatio n wraps around the representation and calls everything false. Disneyland is used as an example of how the imaginary happy social world contained within its gates as opposed to the isolation of the parking lot masks how the world we believe to be America is just as falsely envisioned. "It is always a question of proving the real by the imaginary; proving truth by scandal; proving the law by transgression; proving work by the strike; proving the system by crisis and capital by revolution†. This same concept is traced.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Ethics in Urban Planning Essay Example for Free

Ethics in Urban Planning Essay What is the law on eminent domain all about? Eminent Domain is the power of the State over all the properties within its jurisdiction, both public and private. The purpose being to empower the State to appropriate property for public use – for new and road widening projects, bridges, military installations, public parks and even urban renewal (Larson, 2004). In case of private properties, how does eminent domain apply? Well, properties that the Government deems as vital for public use and welfare can be seized from private owners based on the provisions of the law on eminent domain. But the Constitution, particularly the Fifth Amendment, guaranties that â€Å"No person shall be †¦ deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation† (Hornberger, 2005). Is the law on eminent domain ethical? The answer is an absolute no. It may be legal but it does not hold any moral definition. It is still classified as large-scale theft that is backed up by legal parameters. We live based on the principles of morality that abhors theft. In fact, the customs and laws of all civilized societies prohibit any form of banditry. In the exercise of our individual freedom, we as a people have the right to use our property in ways we deemed fit – unless we infringe on the rights of other people (Tenney, 1995). In our democratic system, do we exercise our right of suffrage to make stealing legal? It sounds like people casting their votes simply because they wanted your property sequestered. Where do ethics apply then? What are the consequences? Basically, the law on eminent domain was enacted to provide a leeway for the government in the planning of its developmental projects. Projects include road improvement, probably runway extensions or perhaps public hospitals. Private lands are purchased by the government for this purpose, based on a fair market value and as guaranteed by the Constitution. This provision becomes necessary so that the government can proceed with development without the process of lengthy litigation. Lately however, the scenario has been altered with the law on eminent domain applied even on urban renewal. This is where the abuse of discretion engages a number of government officials, all in the guise of development. This scheme is morally repugnant though it does not end at that point because with the eminent domain as the carrot stick, this marginally reduces the purchase price of the property. What has government got to do with it (Tenney, 1995)? Remember that development plans rests solely on the hands of government, so a slight deviation on the zoning area reclassification would normally affect property values. Imagine if your property lies on a commercial zone and the government suddenly establishes it as part of an industrial zone, the real estate property value is likely to plummet due to rising environmental concerns. The consequence is you are likely to sell it at much reduced price. But this scheme is just the tip of the iceberg, as more devious schemes are in the offing. The most unforgiving plan of government involves the declaration of a specific area as suffering from urban blight. Blighted areas, for purposes of urban renewal, refers to areas that in the process of deterioration being a haven of uncontrolled vices (drug addicts, alcoholics and other scum of society) where the crime rate is really high or an area that is already rendered useless which may include vacant lands and air rights. Who will then determine if the property falls under the category of blighted areas? This will be up to the discretion of the government and most likely this is where abuse is glaringly documented, particularly in cases where the government is in cahoots with property developers. When this happens, government has the right to raze the property and sell it to developers with the intention of making it into an attractive urban development (Blight, 2001). In most instances areas that are declared â€Å"urban blights† normally conforms to urban redevelopment. Areas that suffer from these types of classifications are low-cost housing communities with correspondingly low revenues where homeowners who have been in domicile for years while paying regular amortization to secure rights to the property. In these instances, these homeowners are suddenly met with the prospects of relocation. With the area categorized as such, the real property value is extremely low that the proceeds of the sale are not even enough to pay for the downpayment for another unit in a new housing development site (Parlow, 2007). What about areas in commercial districts that have been subjected to the process of eminent domain? The owner may have lived or conducted business in the area for the past twenty years but the government has the temerity to invoke the provisions of eminent domain to take control of said property simply because the adjacent school needs a playground or perhaps a football field. Where do ethics come in or is this just plain common sense? If you are the owner of the property, will you be not in arms to stop the proceedings? Where is morality then? We trumpet the virtues of democracy to the outside world and yet in our own backyard we practice anarchy (Parlow, 2007). This will all redound to displacement of all families affected by the claws of eminent domain. Families will be evicted from their properties good if there is a ready site for relocation at least people can endure the inconvenience. But in most cases no relocation areas have been secured. Families will now be subjected to the task of searching for a new place as a consequence of eviction. What about their transportation need to and from work, school for their children and perhaps the affordable medical services that were readily available in their previous area (Blight, 2001). The final consequence maybe and I hope that this will not be met by evicted homeowners or storeowners or they could be relegated as the new scum of society, being degraded to a bunch of homeless citizens that have the potential of creating troubles for the government. The government shall have increased the problems associated with the housing needs and get the ire of the population. What then has this accomplished for the government in the end? Nothing, except perhaps that it compounds the problems of the locality (Hornberger, 2005). The law really smacks moral decadence, for how can you humanly evict families from their abodes without paying them fairly. Some may have inherited the property and as an ancestral abode, no amount would suffice in return for its sentimental value in the same way that no amount could compensate for the Statue of Liberty, being the symbol of freedom that Americans deeply treasure. How can you possibly sell an heirloom – a gift from the people of France, this is no longer a question of ethics, not even morality though it borders on bad taste and greed. What are the effects? Proponents of the measure on eminent domain will always sing the sad melody of development. Be that as it may, we can never stop development from happening because it is dictated by the social status of the locality. But can we not negotiate with property owners so they can also profit from the property they have tenuously preserved and paid for? It is more of a question of fair value for their property, an issue that is often ignored. Even for this gesture alone, the government, particularly the developers will benefit from the support and approval of the property owners. Let us not bully our neighbors by invoking the right of eminent domain, because that simply will not work. Who then does not desire physical development? When it means convenience to the inhabitants, particularly interchanges, super-highways, a modern airport terminal, a dazzling sports arena, an upbeat school campus or a modern hospital. Urban development on formerly blighted areas will be a big boost to the local trade as new shopping malls, five-star hotels, office towers and condominiums will be constructed. The local labor force will benefit as well, since hundreds or maybe thousands of jobs will be made available. It will be a shot in the arm for the local economy since development will encourage a lot of investors to take a chance on the improved infrastructure facilities. The government will likewise benefit from increased revenues and create more funds to finance the needs of local inhabitants. But most of all, this would drastically alter the locality’s image and skyline for the better. With a booming economy, the government can now plan ahead. Maybe exploit some more the bonanza that the new development concurred and build additional facilities to meet the increasing population requirements. As the citizen’s quality of life improves, new facilities will be needed, housing shortage will be felt, traffic congestion is possible as more and more cars will ply the streets and entertainment will be the call of the majority. The problems associated with crime and security will quadruple, new personnel will be added, police cars and gadgets will be required by our law enforcement agencies. There will be no stopping, once the wheel of development starts to roll. Then when everything seems to have settled and everybody is accustomed to the set-up, the arms of development will try to break the already serene environment. So the government will now invoke their right of eminent domain and the result, chaos strikes once again. It will be an unending cycle. The population will simply have to bear inconvenience and unfair treatment in the name of development. It is in the outlying implementation of eminent domain that government failed because officials can be motivated only with the expected revenues from the urban renewal project to disregard their main advocacy and moral obligation to its constituents – to promote, protect, and upheld the rights of the populace. Conclusion The moral and ethical question of the law on eminent domain had been subjected to criticisms from all sectors of society. It may be an effective tool for government to spice up development, but it oftentimes falls oppressive to many property owners. Sadly, the people’s right to their property has been trampled once again with no less than the Supreme Court of the United States stamping its approval on the right of government to invoke the provisions of eminent domain. Consider this. In 1954 the Supreme Court gave a ruling in a controversial case that â€Å"effectively gave government officials unlimited power to confiscate and redistribute lands†, arguing that â€Å"the concept of public welfare is broad and inclusive. The values it represents are spiritual as well as physical, aesthetic and monetary. It is within the power of the legislature to determine that the community should be beautiful as well as healthy, spacious as well as clean, well-balanced as well as carefully patrolled† (Tenney, 1995). The comment of the High Court was indeed a chilling premonition since this gave government officials the legal right to evict anybody from their properties when necessary and at their convenience. In effect this erased the intentions of our forefathers and the framers of the Constitution the absolute right of individuals to hold on to their properties (Tenney, 1995). Just recently, in a new and daunting case of Kelo vs. City of New London, Connecticut, the High Court upheld the previous ruling of 1954. In fact after due proceedings, a notice was posted at the door of the petitioner’s home stating that the petitioner have four months to vacate the property or else power police power will be used to prosecute the order based on the power of eminent domain (Larson, 2004). Is the ruling even fair? Is it morally correct to inflict undue suffering to the respondents? And is it ethical? The answer is no. That is why all the States of the Union are putting up legislations to curb the damning influence and abuse on the power of the law on eminent domain. How it will affect the future, your guess will be as good as mine!

Monday, January 20, 2020

Frankenstein as a Modern Cyborg? Essays -- Frankenstein essays

Frankenstein as a Modern Cyborg?      Ã‚   The creature ("demon") created by Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus occupies a space that is neither quite masculine nor quite feminine, although he is clearly both created as a male and desires to be in the masculine role. Judith Halberstam describes this in-between-ness as being one of the primary characteristics of the Gothic monster--being in a space that's not easily classified or categorized, and therefore being rendered unintelligible and monstrous. Donna J. Haraway posits that the post-modern science fiction cyborg occupies a similar in-between space, or, perhaps, a non-space. Similarly, Cathy Griggs argues that the post-modern lesbian is linked to this notion of the cyborg. The lesbian is rendered monstrous in social discourse by her desire to ascend into the phallic privilege, connecting this in-between-ness as both a monstrous trait and a cybernetic one. Further, the transgender man (female-to-male) occupies a similar di scursive space and provides us with a post-modern link to Frankenstein's creature, as both are surgically constructed men, a construction that, in the eyes of society, renders them monstrous (particularly for trans-men who can't pass). Frankenstein's creature embodies gender transgression on two levels, both of which are the fuel for Victor's horror: the first being the creature's status as being a surgically constructed male, the second being Victor's own gender transgression in co-opting the feminine trait of reproduction, transforming his laboratory into a virtual womb. Given the scientific origin of the creature, as well as both its and Victor's unstable gender, is it possible that the modern Gothic monster pre-fi... ...th. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. New York: Routledge, 1990. Griggers, Cathy. "Lesbian Bodies in the Age of (Post)mechanical Reproduction." Fear of a Queer Planet. Ed. Michael Warner. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota P, 1993. 178-192. Halberstam, Judith. Skin Shows: Gothic Horror and the Technology of Monsters. Second ed. Durham: Duke UP, 1995. Haraway, Donna J. "The Promises of Monsters: A Regenerative Politics for Inappropriate/d Others." Cultural Studies. Eds. Lawrence Grossberg, Cary Nelson and Paula A. Treichler. New York: Routledge, 1992. 295-337. Haraway, Donna J. Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature. New York: Routledge, 1991. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. 1983 ed. New York: The Penguin Group, 1963. Zizek, Slavoj. The Sublime Object of Ideology. London: Verso, 1989.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

A Comparative Look at the Japanese Healthcare System

A Comparative Look at the Japanese Healthcare Systems The Japanese health care system is one of the most efficient in the world. In fact, it is so efficient that the people of Japan have the highest life expectancy rate of any other country in the world (The Economist, 2011). Life expectancy at birth was 83 years in 2009 ; 79. 6 for males and 86. 4 years for females (Wikipedia, 2012). The Japanese government has been able to accomplish this through strict regulations and policies.Although this system has worked for the people of Japan since its institution in 1961, heir healthcare system is now facing financial ruins if changes are not implemented in the near future. It is my intent to explore why the Japanese health system has been able to function in a cost effective way and how it affects health outcomes. Japan has a universal health system called kaihoken (The Economist, 2011). Citizens are required to get insurance. Most people get it through their employers and are responsible for paying10%, 20%, or 30% of their healthcare costs depending on their family size and income.The government covers the difference (Wikipedia, 2012). If a itizen cannot get coverage through an employer then they have the option of participating in a national health insurance program that is managed by the local government (Wikipedia, 2012). Japanese citizens are free to go to any physician or healthcare facility that they want and cannot be denied treatment (Wikipedia, 2012). Because of this freedom, Japanese citizens visit the doctor four times more than the average American does in a year (Wikipedia, 2012). Japan has strict regulations on the healthcare system that allows them to keep their costs down.Japan has about the owest per capita health care costs among the advanced nations of the world, at around $2,873 (Arnquist, 2009). They are able to do this for many reasons. The first being they set a fixed price for services and medications with physicians every two years. This way there is no question about what their compensation will be (Harden, 2009). Also, administrative costs are four times lower than they are in the United States, partly because insurance companies cannot set rates for treatment or deny claims. It is against the law for them to make profits or advertise to attract low-risk, igh-profit clients (Harden, 2009).The downside to all of this is physicians in Japan are overworked and underpaid, making an average of about $125,000 by the time they are midway into their careers (The Economist, 2011). There is evidence that physicians and hospitals compensate for minimal reimbursement rates by providing more services. This is acceptable because the fee-for-service system does not limit the supply ot care comprehensively. Japan's physicians oversee almost three times as many consultations a year as their colleagues in other developed countries do. There s also a shortage of physicians within Japan, especially those who practice specialty medicine. In Japan, physicians who practice primary care makes more money than their colleagues who practice highly specialized care (Arnquist, 2009). This is the complete opposite from American doctors. Some other issues that the Japanese healthcare system faces are an aging population and an overutilization of services. As stated earlier, Japan has the highest life expectancy rate in the world. This also means that the government will have to take care of more of their citizens' medical eeds for an extended period of time. It is estimated that by 2050 two-fifths of the population will be over the age of 65 (The Economist, 2011).With an aging population and low birth rates, this puts a substantial strain on government spending. Another problem that Japan faces is an overutilization of services. By this I mean citizens are much more likely to go see a physician for minor illnesses because there are no restrictions on which they can see at any time, without proof of medical necessity and with full insurance coverage (Henke et. al. , 2009). Since everyone has access to edical care, long wait times in physician offices and overcrowding in emergency rooms are commonplace.A report has shown that more than 14,000 emergency patients were rejected at least three times by hospitals in Japan before getting treatment (Wikipedia, 2012). The average length of a hospital stay is two to three times as long in Japan as in other developed countries (Henke et. al. , 2009). In contrast, the U. S. has a lower life expectancy than Japan at 78. 7 years (CDC, 2010). This is in large part to our high obesity rates and unhealthy lifestyles. The older population, those persons aged 65 years and older, makes up about 12. % of the U. S. population (AOA, 2013).Both Japan and the U. S. have seen declines in their birthrates. But unlike Japan, Americans are less likely to seek medical care for minor ailments such as the Japanese. This is due to the fact that a large number of Americans have little to none insurance coverage. Those that do have coverage often have copays. Another vast difference between the two healthcare systems is the insurance regulations that many Americans encounter. It is not an uncommon practice for insurance companies to deny patients claims and not cover certain medical treatment.The patients are then forced to appeal the claim, pay out of pocket, or simply do without the treatment that they needed. One would think that because the Japanese have so much access to health services that their health outcomes would be above average. This is not always the case. The physician shortage means long wait times and shorter consultations. Those that have complicated medical cases often do not get the proper amount of medical attention (The Economist, 2011). The Japanese are only a quarter as likely as Americans to suffer a heart attack, but twice as likely to die if they do (The Economist, 2011).An oversaturation of hospitals also affects health outcomes. Research has shown that health outcomes are better when the centers and physicians responsible for procedures perform large quantities of them. Because Japan has so many hospitals, very few are able to achieve this (Henke et. al. , 2009). The small scale of most Japanese hospitals also means that they are inadequately equipped with intensive- care and other specialized units. Very few Japanese hospitals have oncology units. Theretore, a number ot ditterent departments in each hospi tal deliver care tor cancer Henke et. l. , 2009). In the U. S. physicians and nurse are required are certain number of Continuing Education hours every few years in order to renew their license. This helps them stay current with medical practices and sharpens their skills. In Japan, once a doctor or nurse is licensed, they are no longer required to further their education. There is no central agency oversees the quality of these physicians' training nor are there criteria for board certification in specialties (H enke et. al. , 2009). Despite some flaws, the Japanese healthcare system is able to do many hings well.For one, the Japanese system is quite proficient in chronic care, particularly due to the fact that it has so many older people. Along with appropriate medical care, Japan also provides long-term care to all older people who need it through a public insurance system that started in 2000 (Henke et. al. , 2009). In Japan, a person's income does not influence the quantity and quality of medical care that they receive. Premiums and out-of-pocket costs are minor concerns for most people, and those whom have a low-income and the elderly receive subsidies to afford care Arnquist, 2009).

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Personal Statement on Why I Want to Join Pharmacy School

I have for a long time been interested in drugs and their interactions. As a child, I remember my younger brother being allergic to crustaceans. This meant that I would always go to the drugstore to purchase anti-allergy drugs which would bring him relief. His allergy resulted in severe physical symptoms like: swollen face; difficult breathing due to reactions in his respiratory tract; and rashes all over his body. It always amazed me and my brother how the medicine seemed to work like magic and this aroused my curiosity about how it worked. This inspired me to take Biology at the University. At community college, I unfortunately achieved a low GPA of 3.0 due to the difficult circumstances under which I was studying. This was because my father developed stomach cancer and had to undergo surgery. This left me to work hard and support our family; I had to work at my father’s tire shop during the week and weekends. Thankfully, my father’s condition improved and by the time I was transferring to 4th year at university, my GPA improved to 3.53. This was because he was able to come back to work, leaving me with more time to study, though I still continued to help out at the shop. I want to join pharmacy school because of the interest I cultivated in childhood. As an adult, my interest changed into passion; I am intrigued by drug discovery and design. The passion and drive which I have for pharmacy will enable me to work very hard in pharmacy school. Since January 2011, I have been working as a lab technician for a company which manufactures a variety of dietary supplements. This position requires me to test for the chemicals in the dietary supplements. Working as a lab technician has enabled me to understand the various components of the dietary supplements and their various interactions. This job has confirmed my passion for pharmacy and ignited a desire to join pharmacy school so that I can learn more and make a contribution to the great science of pharmacy. It is my great aspiration to be part of a team in developing a new drug after completing Doctor of Pharmacy. I am part of a volunteer organization called HGME in Northridge which provides support and services for children with autism. HGME operates a program which helps autistic children to adapt to society with the active support of volunteers. Each volunteer has to complete the requirements by SGPV Chapter of the American Red Cross for adult, child, and infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation, (CPR). Working with autistic children has taught me the value of patience and selfless dedication; one cannot expect great short term changes because observing changes in autistic children can take a long time. These values will be priceless as I pursue a career in pharmacy because patience and dedication are necessary in the long and grueling process of drug design. In conclusion, I believe a career in pharmacy will be a natural progression for me in my life. Since my childhood, my interest in pharmacy has been ignited and fuelled. My family experiences with my allergic brother and sick father also served to fuel my passion. My job as a lab technician cemented my burning desire to become a pharmaceutical scientist. I am eager to study hard and make significant contributions to the world of pharmacy in service to humanity. Works Cited Bureau of Labour Statistics. Pharmacists: Occupational Outlook Handbook. Web.14 June 2011. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos079.htm