Saturday, January 25, 2020

Examining Concepts Of Leadership And Reflection In Nursing Essay

Examining Concepts Of Leadership And Reflection In Nursing Essay Western (2008) says that, the term leadership has different meanings and we will aware of leadership when we see it. By the estimates of Durbin (2000), in academic literature there are 35,000 definitions for leadership (Pye,2005;P.32). According to Stodyill (1974;p.257), there are as many people tried to define the idea of leadership as many definitions of leadership as there are. Hemphil and Coons (1957,p.7) defined leadership as the behaviour of an individual directing the activities of a group toward a shared goal. Clark (2009) says that the change in the definition of leadership occurs according to the person, whom we ask to define the term. Houser and Player (2004) concluded in their study of a dozen nurse leaders as that, the nurse leaders have some common characteristics such as innovative, courageous, visionary, scholarly, resilient, creative, committed, responsive, and thoughtful. Tan (2006) suggests that the concept of leadership as, to influence a person or follower, to do what is critical to achieve societal and organizational goals. Nurses are particularly aware about the necessity of reflective practices among health care professionals (Duffy,2007;Manthey,2001, et al.). Same as that practice of reflective leadership have an equal importance in this profession (Deutsch and Sherwood,2008). Oestreich (2009) says that, reflective leaders must know about, how they are opening paths for clear communication and goal fulfilment, where they are in the progress of their own and organizational goals, and how they connect with others. Great leaders have to walk alone sometimes, such aloneness can facilitate reflection(Drucker,1996,p.9). Qualitative researchers says that , more distant reflection is possible through the observation of the participant. In a nutshell, both the individual leader, more than that the organization benefited by the reflective practices. LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS According to Nanus,B (1985), integrity, passion, and vision are the fundamental characteristics of a good leader. Sociability, integrity, determination, self-confidence,and intelligence are the characteristics belong commonly to leaders (Stodgill,1948,1974). Research among 46 magnet hospitals clearly defined the value of leaders as they are knowledgeable and supportive, enthusiastic and visionary, have expectations and high standards, value professional development and education, demonstrate status and power in the organization, are responsive and visible, are active in professional associations and communicate openly (Mc Clure Hinshaw,2002;Scott et al,1999;Kramer,1990;Mc Clure,Poulin,et al,1983;Kramer Schmalenberg,2005). Murphy and DeBack (1991) identified nurse leader have leadership characteristics such as learning and taking initiative, designing organization structure, mastering change, and managing the dream. LEADERSHIP THEORIES Many leadership theories are useful to nursing (Burns,1985). By Patricia Kelly (2010) the major leadership theories classified in to the following approaches: Behavioural, contemporary, and contingency approaches. BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH In behavioural approach the leadership studies by Kurt Lewin et al.(1930) gave information about three widely existing leadership styles. That are autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire leadership styles. Autocratic style of leadership the opportunity to make decisions centralized in the leader and the leader has the power to control and command the team members. In democratic style the team members have the authority to take decisions and there is a close inter personal relationship between the leader and the individual team members moreover there is sharing of opinions. By Lewin (1939) laissez-faire leaders postpone decision making and are characterized by freedom of behaviour. In this group the negative points are the low productivity and the feeling of dissatisfaction. CONTEMPORARY APPROACH This approach gave importance to the development of learning organizations and lead the process of transforming change. Charismatic theory, transformational leadership theory, knowledge workers, emotional intelligence, and wheatleys new science of leadership are under this approach (Kelly,P,2010). CONTINGENCY APPROACH In this theory the factors in the environment influences the leaders outcomes. This approaches include the situational theory of Hersey and Blanchard, Feilders contingency theory, path goal theory and the idea of substitutes for leadership Among these theories one theory that has become relevant to nursing is the transformational leadership theory (Burns,1985). Transformational leadership is defined as, One who inspires and empowers everyone with the vision of what could be possible(Hood,2010,p.460). The suggestion by IOM (2003,b) is that,the transformational leadership acts as a safety net for the patients. According to Clark (2009,p.17) transformational leadership and authentic leadership are the two different types of leadership styles significantly important for nurses. THE IMPORTANCE OF REFLECTIVE PRACTICE IN NURSING LEADERSHIP The maintenance of a personal professional profile is important for the attainment of maximum reflection in education and practice after the registration of a practitioner, by UKCC. The regularly recording of daily events and preplanned learning activities as a part of reflective process are the bias of this profile (UKCC,1997). One of the inevitable processes in clinical supervision is the reflection. Moreover, clinical supervision helps the practitioner to up bring the standard of care and thus it support in their practice (UKCC,1996). REFLECTION The concept of reflection is difficult to define (James Clarke,1994;Clarke et al., 1996). John Dewey (1933,p.9) defined the term reflection as active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it and the further conclusions to which it tends. By Dewey (1933) the application of scientific methods are possible through experimentation and reasoning and there by challenge and test out true beliefs. His studies influenced the educational ideas and work of Schon,D (1983,1987); Boyd Fales (1983); and Boud et al.(1985). According to Boyd Fales (1983) reflection is the process of internal examination and exploration of a concerned issue, by an event, that self clarify and creates meaning and resulted in a different conceptual perspective. In definitions of reflection, most of them support the ideas of intellectual skills and creativity development, self awareness raising, and new knowledge development (Hancoc k,P,1999). By Boud et al. (1985), to becoming a reflective practitioner, one should consider an issue, triggered by an experience, go back through it, and ponder over it and then they will get a new insight about that particular situation. TYPES OF REFLECTION Schon (1987) noticed two types of reflection in his studies. Reflection-on-action and reflection-in-action. He identified that practitioners use reflection, when they met with unique situations, when they may not be able to use previously learned theories or techniques by formal education. By the concept of his reflection-on-action, to develop as a practitioner or person, critical thinking and construction and reconstruction of events are important. On the other hand, by his reflection-in-action, action from a practitioner reshaped due to his thinking while he is doing it and with out disturbing it. SKILLS NECESSARY FOR REFLECTION By Atkins Murphy (1993) the skills such as description, synthesis, evaluation, judgement, critical analysis, and self-awareness are necessary for reflection. Front-runners in nursing have established some models of reflection, significantly those of Schon (1983,1987); Kolb (1984); Boud,Cohen et al.(1993); Boud,Keogh et al.(1985); and Johns (1992). Their levels of explanations are different, while the retrospective phenomenon of reflection has three fundamental processes. That are retrospection, reorientation, and self-evaluation (Quinn,F,M,).DATE MODELS OF REFLECTION à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reflective Practice was introduced by Donald Schon in his book The Reflective Practitioner in 1983.   There are different models of reflection in practice.   In that I would like to discuss about the two models of reflection Gibbs model, 1988 Johns model, 1995.      GIBBS MODEL OF REFLECTION 1988 Gibbs model is a cyclic process of reflection, in that a practitioner describes the experience and must evaluate and analysis of how they were feeling during the experience.   By the evaluation and analysis of the emotions associated with the situation give the practitioner a chance to understand the situation and come to a conclusion of what else could be done, or what other options could have been taken.   Most importantly,in Gibbs model of reflection the final stage is the formulation of action plan, that give an idea about what actions would be taken if the situation happened again (W http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflective_practice). JOHNS MODEL It is a structured mode of reflection that provides a practitioner with a guide to gain greater understanding.   In this model of reflection, reflection carried out through the act of sharing of emotions with colleague or a mentor and it provides a faster rate of learning than reflection alone.   In order to achieve reflection looking in on ones thoughts and emotions and looking out at the situation experienced are important steps in this model of reflection.   Mainly five patterns of learning are included in to the guided reflection, that are the practitioners analysis about the aesthetic, personal, ethical, empirical, and the reflexive elements experienced through the situation. REASONS TO PREFER JOHNS MODEL OVER GIBBS MODEL I think Johns model of reflection is better than that of Gibbs model because, in Johns model practitioner get an opportunity to share with a colleague or mentor, about their thoughts and emotions of their own and about the situation experienced.   It seems to me that by the sharing of emotions definitely, we will get a clear cut idea about the feelings of the self and about the situation in a faster rate. Looking in and looking out become easier when the structured questions shared between a colleague or an experienced person.   In Gibbs model of reflection, evaluation and analysis of the emotions associated with the situation experienced is important and there is no sharing of ideas or emotions with anybody.   I feel that with out the sharing of emotions reflection occurs in a slower rate.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Berlin Conference

For three long months, 14 countries from Western Europe and the United States attended the Berlin Conference. This important conference is also known as Congo Conference or Berlin West Africa Conference. The countries that attended include Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden-Norway, Turkey, and US.Interesting enough, not a single country of Africa attended even though the conference was entirely about the division of land on the African continent. The major players at this conference were the great and mighty countries of France, Germany, Great Britain, and Portugal. This conference that started on November 15, 1884 and ended on February 26, 1885 was called for by Portugal and organized by Otto von Bismarck, chancellor of Germany and minister of Prussia.The original goal of this lengthy conference was to agree that the Congo River and Niger River mouths and basins are neutral and are open to free trade . Before the conference, 80% of Africa remained to be traditionally and locally ruled. The Europeans only controlled the coastal areas. This all changed because King Leopold II wanted glory for Portugal and organized a secret mission to form Congo Free State. King Leopold and other countries wanted to take advantage of its gold, timber, land, timber, and labor power.When France discovered King Leopold II’s scheme, she got mad which eventually resulted in this conference. The final result of this conference culminated in the General Act of BerlinConference. This document prohibited international slave trade, made Congo Free State a private property of Congo Society (although Leopold still uses it as his private property), permit free trade in Congo Basin and Lake Niassa, and allow free ship traffic on the Niger and Congo river.A new map of the African continent was created. It divided the vast continent into 50 geometric countries with no regards for cultural and linguistic bo undaries of the native Africans. The only countries remaining free are Ethiopia and Liberia (US’s country to return slaves to their â€Å"homeland†. All in all, the Berlin Conference caused Africans to lose their autonomy and ushered in heightened colonial activity.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

The Jackson Memorial Health System BCG Matrix Analysis

Introduction The Jackson Memorial Health System is based in Miami. This not-for-profit, county run organization has multiple sites, the main one being Jackson Memorial Hospital. The hospital has over 1550 licensed beds and is a teaching facility for the medical school at the University of Miami (JHS Miami, 2012). While the JHS has a number of different programs and facilities, it is important from the perspective of central management to understand the position that each has in the marketplace. JHS has a significant market share, as it is the largest hospital in Miami-Dade County. Its size and its mandate to serve the residents of the country regardless of ability to pay ensures a strong customer flow and substantial market share. The hospitals total revenue for the latest fiscal year was $4.8 billion, and on this it lost $34 million, an amount the county covers through a sales tax levy (Beckers, 2012). BCG Matrix One tool that can help an organization to understand its competitive positioning is the BCG Matrix. This matrix is based on the product life cycle theory and is typically used to help organizations make decisions about what products or services should be given priority over scarce resources (VBM, 2012). In analyzing Jacksons portfolio it is important to bear in mind that not all services are going to be in any one category. With a hospital this large and diversified, there will be things in which it is especially strong and things in which it is especially

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

About the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Created under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) functions as a regulatory agency under the U.S. Department of Transportation with a primary mission of ensuring the safety of civil aviation. Civil aviation includes all non-military, private and commercial aviation activities, including aerospace activities. The FAA also works closely with the U.S. military to ensure the safe operation of military aircraft in public airspace across the nation. Primary Responsibilities of the FAA Include: Regulating civil aviation to promote safety within the U.S. and abroad. The FAA exchanges information with foreign aviation authorities; certifies foreign aviation repair shops, air crews, and mechanics; provides technical aid and training; negotiates bilateral airworthiness agreements with other countries; and takes part in international conferences.Encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology.Developing and operating a system of air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft.Researching and developing the National Airspace System and civil aeronautics.Developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation,Regulating U.S. commercial space transportation. The FAA licenses commercial space launch facilities and private launches of space payloads on expendable launch vehicles. Investigation of aviation incidents, accidents and disasters is conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board, an independent government agency. Organization of the FAAAn administrator manages FAA, assisted by a Deputy Administrator. Five Associate Administrators report to the Administrator and direct the line-of-business organizations that carry out the agencys principle functions. The Chief Counsel and nine Assistant Administrators also report to the Administrator. The Assistant Administrators oversee other key programs such as Human Resources, Budget, and System Safety. We also have nine geographical regions and two major centers, the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center and the William J. Hughes Technical Center. FAA History What would become the FAA was born in 1926 with passage of the Air Commerce Act. The law established the framework of the modern FAA by directing the Cabinet-level Department of Commerce with promoting commercial aviation, issuing and enforcing air traffic rules, licensing pilots, certifying aircraft, establishing airways, and operating and maintaining systems to help pilots navigate the skies. The Commerce Department’s new Aeronautics Branch took off, overseeing U.S. aviation for the next eight years. In 1934, the former Aeronautics Branch was renamed the Bureau of Air Commerce. In one of its first acts the Bureau worked with a group of airlines to set up the nation’s first air traffic control centers in Newark, New Jersey, Cleveland, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois. In 1936, the Bureau assumed control of the three centers, thus establishing the concept of federal control over air traffic control operations at major airports. Focus Shifts to Safety In 1938, after a series of high-profile fatal accidents, the federal emphasis shifted to aviation safety with passage of the Civil Aeronautics Act. The law created the politically-independent Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA), with a three-member Air Safety Board. As a forerunner of today’s National Transportation Safety Board, the Air Safety Board began investigating accidents and recommending how they could be prevented. As a pre-World War II defense measure, the CAA assumed control over air traffic control systems at all airports, including towers at small airports. In the post-war years, the federal government assumed responsibility for air traffic control systems at most airports. On June 30, 1956, a Trans World Airlines Super Constellation and a United Air Lines DC-7 collided over the Grand Canyon killing all 128 people on the two planes. The crash happened on a sunny day with no other air traffic in the area. The disaster, along with the growing use of jet airliners capable of speeds nearing 500 miles per hour, drove a demand for a more unified federal effort to ensure the safety of the flying public. Birth of the FAA On August 23, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal Aviation Act, which transferred the old Civil Aeronautics Authoritys functions to a new independent, regulatory Federal Aviation Agency responsible for ensuring the safety of all aspects of non-military aviation. On December 31, 1958, the Federal Aviation Agency began operations with retired Air Force General Elwood Pete Quesada serving as its first administrator. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson, believing a single coordinated system for federal regulation of all modes of land, sea and air transportation was needed, directed Congress to create the cabinet-level Department of Transportation (DOT). On April 1, 1967, the DOT began full operation and immediately changed the name of the old Federal Aviation Agency to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On the same day, the accident investigation function of the old Air Safety Board was transferred to the new National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Monday, December 23, 2019

Blended Families And Multicultural Family - 2239 Words

Blended families and multicultural family Research Question: What are the various challenges that are facing multiculturalism and blended families? What are the benefits of multicultural and blended families? What are the various ways for overcoming the challenges that are facing multicultural and blended families? How does blended family affect development of a child? Specific thesis: The blended families and multicultural families become increasingly familiar. Understanding the basics of these families, is, therefore, critical for the family embraces its strengths in working through their differences. According to the research carried out by Michele Martin on the experience of the remarried couples in the blended families, differing loyalties cause various challenges for both biological and step-parents. Just like blended families, the shadow side of multicultural families can loom heavily in the relationships leading to various challenges. Chang and Chin-Chun (page 24, 2014) agrees that it is caused, primarily, by differences in culture and the differences in the cultures makes the parents face difficulties in raising children. A multicultural family, on the other hand, means a family that consists of a marriage, immigrant or individual with the naturalization permission and another person with the nationality of a given country. The term blended family describes a family that includes the children from the partner’s prior relationship. In some case, either one of theShow MoreRelatedMulticultural Literacy And Bullying Is Through Education849 Words   |  4 Pagesvariety of multicultural books. Elementary classroom libraries are an essential tool to assist in building cultural awareness and acceptance of diverse family units, races, creeds, learning abilities; therefore bullying will decrease and greater understanding among students will develop. 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My heart is brimming with blended emotions. At one hand, I am frightened and somber; On the other hand, I am thrilled and glad simultaneously. It is my last day at my house and in my country. Tonight is my flight to America. I’m moving to America, to be with my husband and to start a new journey of my life. I remember every moment of my last day in Pakistan. I have never beenRead MoreMy Day At My House924 Words   |  4 PagesFrom East to West My house is congested with my relatives and friends; my friends and family are here to wish me good luck and safe journey. My heart is filled with blended emotions. Although, I am frightened and somber, I am also thrilled and happy at the same time, as it is my last day at my house and in my country. Tonight is my flight to America. I’m moving to America, to be with my husband and to start a new journey of my life. I remember everything from my last day in Pakistan. I have neverRead MoreCauses of Friction in Interracial Marriages Essay1425 Words   |  6 Pagesinterracial marriages between these races. This however, is untrue; therefore, there are less apparent barriers African-American and Caucasian couples face. One of the major barriers that face these couples does not come from themselves but rather from family disapproval. Lois, a Caucasian woman, and her husband Chuck Bronz, an African-American man, were married in 1960. They have no prejudice about each other and they share the comfortable rhythm of any long married couple. They had no problems with friendsRead MoreIdeas About What Constitutes A Family In Australia Has1433 Words   |  6 PagesIdeas about what constitutes a family in Australia has changed throughout history (Featherstone Smaal, 2013). As a result, a wide range of social, cultural and historical changes have influenced family social work today (Collins, Jordan Coleman, 2013). This essay will explore social and cultural changes in Australia over the past fifty years and how these particular changes affect social work practice within families, young people and children. In addition, this essay will provide a personal

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Night World Soulmate Chapter 11 Free Essays

Hannah stirred. She vaguely felt that something was wrong, something needed doing. Then she remembered. We will write a custom essay sample on Night World : Soulmate Chapter 11 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The car! She had to stay awake, had to keep the car on the road. . . Her eyes flew open. She was already off the road. The Ford had gone roving over the open prairie, where there was almost nothing to hit except sagebrush and tumble-weeds. It had ended up with its front bumper against a prickly pear, bending the cactus at an impossible angle. The night was very quiet. She looked around and found that she could see the light of Chess’s house, behind her and to the left. The engine was off. Hannah turned the key in the ignition, but only got a grinding sound. Now what? Should I get out and walk? She tried to concentrate on her body, to figure out how she felt. She ought to feel terrible-after all, she’d lost blood and swallowed who knew what kind of poison from Thierry’s veins. But instead she only felt strangely dizzy, slightly dreamy. I can walk. I’m fine. Holding on to her length of dowel, she got out of the car and started toward the light. She could hardly feel the rough ground and the bluestem grass under her feet. She had gone about a hundred yards toward the light when she heard a wolf howl. It was such a distinctive sound-and so incongruous. Hannah stopped in her tracks. For a wild moment she wondered if coyotes howled. But that was ridiculous. It was a wolf, just like the wolves that had attacked her at Paul’s. And she didn’t have anything made of silver. Just keep walking, she thought. She didn’t need the cool wind voice to tell her that. Even in her lightheaded state, she was frightened. She’d seen the savagery of teeth and claws close up. And the part of her that was Hana of the Three Rivers had a gut-deep fear of wild animals that the civilized Hannah Snow could never begin to approach. She gripped her stick in a clammy palm and kept walking grimly. The howl sounded again, so close that Hannah jumped inside her skin. Her eyes darted, trying to pick objects out in the darkness. She felt as if she could see better than usual at night-could the vampire blood have done that? But even with her new vision, she couldn’t spot anything moving. The world around her was deserted and eerily quiet. And the stars were very far away. They blazed in the sky with a cold blue light as if to show how distant they were from human affairs. I could die here and they’d go right on shining, Hannah thought. She felt very small and very unimportant-and very alone. And then she heard a breath drawn behind her. Funny. The wolf howls had been so loud, and this was so soft†¦ and yet it was much more terrifying. It was close-intimate. A personal sound that told her she definitely wasn’t alone. Hannah whirled with her stick held ready. Her skin was crawling and she could feel a wash of acid from her stomach, but she meant to fight for her life. She was at one with the cool wind voice; her heart was dark and cold and steely. A tall figure was standing there. Starlight reflected off pale blond hair. Thierry. Hannah leveled her stick. â€Å"What’s the matter? Come back for more?† she said, and she was pleased to find her voice steady. Husky, but steady. She waved her stick at him to show what kind of â€Å"more† she meant. â€Å"Are you all right?† Thierry said. He looked-different from the last time she’d seen him. His expression was different. His dark eyes seemed pensive again, the sort of expression a star might have if it cared about anything that was going on underneath it. Infinitely remote, but infinitely sad, too. â€Å"Why should you care?† A wave of dizziness went through her. She fought it off-and saw that he was stepping toward her, hand reaching out. She whipped the stick up to the exact level of his hand, an inch from his palm. She was impressed with herself for how fast she did it. Her body was moving the way it had with the werewolves, instinctively and smoothly. I suppose I had a life as a warrior, she mused. I think that’s where the cool wind voice comes from, just the way the crystal voice comes from Hana of the Three Rivers. â€Å"I do care,† Thierry said. His voice said he didn’t expect her to believe it. Hannah laughed. The combination of her dizziness and her body instinct was having an odd effect. She felt brashly, stupidly overconfident. Maybe this is what drunk feels like, she thought, her mind wandering again. â€Å"Hannah-â€Å" Hannah made the stick whistle in the air, stopping him from coming any closer to her. â€Å"Are you crazy?† she said. There were tears in her eyes. â€Å"Do you think that you can just attack me and then come back and say I’m sorry’ and it’s all going to be okay? Well, it isn’t. If there was ever anything between us, it’s all over now. There is no second chance.† She could see his face tense. A muscle twitched in ~ his tight jaw. But the strangest thing was that she could have sworn he had tears in his eyes, too. It infuriated her. How dare he pretend to be hurt by her, after what he’d done? â€Å"I hate you.† She spat the words with a force that startled even her. â€Å"I don’t need you. I don’t want you. And I’m telling you for the third time, keep the hell away from me.† He had opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, but when she got to ‘I don’t need, you,’ he suddenly shut it. When she finished, he looked away, across the shortgrass prairie. â€Å"And maybe that’s best,† he said almost inaudibly. â€Å"For you to keep away?† â€Å"For you to hate me.† He looked at her again. Hannah had never seen eyes like that before. They were impossibly distant and shattered and still†¦ like the peace after a war that killed everyone. â€Å"Hannah, I came to tell you that I am going away,† he went on. His voice was like his eyes, bloodless and quenched. â€Å"I’m going home. I won’t bother you again. And you’re right; you don’t need me. You can live a long and happy life without me.† If he expected her to be impressed, she wasn’t. She wouldn’t believe words from him anymore. â€Å"There’s just one thing.† He hesitated. â€Å"Before I go, would you let me look at you? At your neck. I want to make sure that†-another fleeting hesitation-â€Å"that I didn’t hurt you when I attacked you.† Hannah laughed again, a short, sharp bark of a laugh. â€Å"How stupid do you think I am? I mean, really.† She laughed again and heard an edge of hysteria in it. â€Å"If you want to do something for me, you can turn around and go. Go away forever.† â€Å"I will.† There was so much strain on his face. â€Å"I promise. I’m just worried about you getting indoors before you faint.† â€Å"I can take care of myself. I don’t need any help from you.† Hannah was feeling dizzier by the minute, but she tried not to let it show. â€Å"If you would just leave, I’ll be fine.† In fact, she knew she wasn’t going to be fine. The gray spots were swarming in front of her eyes again. She was going to pass out soon. Then I’d better start for Chess’s, she thought. It was insanity to turn her back on him, but it was worse insanity to stand here until she collapsed at his feet. â€Å"I’m leaving now,† she said, trying to sound clear and precise and unlike someone who was about to fall over unconscious. â€Å"And I don’t want you to follow me.† She turned and started walking. I will not faint, I will not faint, she told herself grimly. She swung her stick and tried to take deep breaths of the cool night air. But tufts of grass seemed to be trying to trip her up with every step and the entire landscape seemed to rock every time she looked up. I †¦ will†¦ not†¦ faint. She knew her life depended on it. The ground seemed rubbery now, as if her feet were sinking into it and then rebounding. And where was the light that marked Chess’s house? It had somehow gotten over to the right of her. She corrected her course and stumbled on. I will not faint†¦. And then her legs simply melted. She didn’t have legs. The rest of her fell slowly toward the ground. Hannah managed to break her fall with her arms. Then everything was still and dark. She didn’t go out completely. She was floating in darkness, feeling woozy even though she was lying down, when she sensed someone beside her. No, she thought. Get the stick. He’ll bite you; he’ll kill you. But she couldn’t move. Her hand wouldn’t obey her. She felt a gentle hand brush her hair off her face. No †¦ Then a touch on her neck. But it was only gentle fingers, running lightly over the skin where she’d been bitten tonight. They felt like a doctor’s fingers, exploring to diagnose. She heard a sigh that sounded like relief, and then the fingers trailed away. â€Å"You’ll be all right.† Thierry’s voice came to her softly. She realized he didn’t think she could hear him. He thought she was unconscious. â€Å"As long as you stay away from vampires for the next week.† Was that a threat? Hannah didn’t understand. She braced herself for the piercing pain of teeth. Then she felt him touch her again, just his fingertips brushing her face. The touch was so immeasurably gentle. So tender. No, Hannah thought. She wanted to move, to kick him away. But she couldn’t. And those delicate fingers were moving on, tracing her features one by one. With the lightest of touches that sent helpless chills through her. I hate you, Hannah thought. The touch followed the curve of her eyebrow, trailed down her cheek to her birthmark. Hannah shivered inwardly. It sketched the line of her jaw, then moved to her lips. The skin was so sensitive here. Thierry’s fingers traced the outline of her lips, the join between upper and lower. The chills became a fluttering inside Hannah. Her heart swelled with love and longing. I won’t feel this way. I hate you. †¦ But a voice was whispering in her mind, a voice she hadn’t heard in what seemed like a long time. A crystal voice, soft but ringing. Feel him. Does this feel like that other one? Sense him. Does he smell the same, sound the same†¦ ? Hannah didn’t know what to make of the words and didn’t want to. She just wanted Thierry to stop. The fingers brushed over her eyelashes, thumb stroking over the fragile skin of her eyelids as if to keep them shut. Then she felt him bend closer. No, no, no†¦. Warm lips touched her forehead. Again, just the barest touch. Then they were gone. â€Å"Goodbye, Hannah,† Thierry whispered. Hannah felt herself lifted. She was being carried in strong gentle arms, moving swiftly and smoothly. It was harder for her to stay conscious than it had been before. She had a strange feeling of tranquillity, of security. But she fought to open her eyes just a crack. She wanted to see his hands. She didn’t think there had been enough time for the pencil wound to heal completely. If the pencil wound was there. But her eyes wouldn’t open-not until she felt herself being lowered and placed on solid ground. Then she managed to lift heavy eyelids and dart a glance at his hands. There were no marks. The knowledge burned through her-but she didn’t have any strength left. She felt her eyes lapsing shut again. Dimly, very far away, she could hear the faint echo of a doorbell. Then a soft voice in her head. You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’m going away-and so is she. Don’t go. Wait. I have to talk to you. I have to ask you †¦ But she could feel cold air all around her and she knew he was gone. A moment later she heard the door open, and the sound of Chess’s mother gasping. She was on the Clovises’ doorstep. People were shaking her, talking to her. Hannah wasn’t interested in any of it. She let the darkness take her. It was when she let go completely that she began to dream. She was Hana of the Three Rivers and she was seeing the end of her own life. She saw the bruised and bloody figure of Thierry rising up to kill his torturers. She felt it as her turn came. She looked up and saw his savage face, saw the animal light in his eyes. She felt her life flow away. Then she saw the end of the story. The glimpse of the corridor through time, the recognition of her soulmate. The forgiveness and the promise. And then just shadows. But Hannah slept peacefully in the shadows until morning, unafraid. The first thing Hannah saw when she woke up was a pair of glowing green cat-eyes looking down at her. â€Å"How do you feel?† Chess asked. She was lying in Chess’s bed. Sunlight was streaming in the window. â€Å"I †¦ can’t tell yet,† Hannah said. Disjointed images were floating in her head, not quite forming a whole picture. â€Å"We found you last night,† Chess said. â€Å"You ran your dad’s car off the road, but you managed to make it here before you collapsed.† â€Å"Oh†¦ yeah. I remember.† She did remember; the pieces of the puzzle suddenly clicked together. Maya. Thierry. The attack. The car. Thierry again. And finally her dream. Her own voice saying, â€Å"I forgive you.† And now he was gone. He’d gone home, wherever home was. She had never felt so confused. â€Å"Hannah, what happened? Are you sick? We didn’t know whether to take you to a hospital last night or what. But you didn’t have a fever and you seemed to be breathing fine-so my mom said you could just sleep a while.† â€Å"I’m not sick.† This was the time to tell Chess everything. After all, that was the reason she’d been running to Chess in the first place last night. But now†¦ now in the bright morning light, she didn’t want to tell Chess. It wasn’t just that it might put Chess in danger, either from Thierry or the Night World in general. It was that Hannah didn’t need to talk about it; she could cope on her own. It wasn’t Chess’s problem. And I don’t even know the truth yet, Hannah thought. But that is going to change. â€Å"Hannah, are you even listening to me?† â€Å"Yeah. I’m sorry. And I’m okay; I felt kind of dizzy last night, but now I’m better. Can I use your phone?† â€Å"Can you what?† â€Å"I have to call Paul-you know, the psychologist. I need to see him, fast.† She jumped up, steadied herself against a brief wave of giddiness, and walked past Chess, who was watching her in bewilderment. â€Å"No,† Paul said. â€Å"No, it’s absolutely out of the question.† He waved his hands, then patted his pockets nervously, coming up empty. â€Å"Paul, please. I have to do this. And if you won’t help me, I’ll try it on my own. I think self-hypnosis should work. I’ve been doing a pretty good job of dreaming the past lately, anyway.† â€Å"It’s†¦ too†¦ dangerous.† Paul said each word separately, then sank into his chair, hands at his temples. â€Å"Don’t you remember what happened the last time?† Hannah felt sorry for him. But she said ruthlessly, â€Å"If I do it on my own, it may be even more dangerous. Right? At least if you hypnotize me you can be there to wake me up. You can throw a glass of water in my face again.† He looked up sharply. â€Å"Oh, yeah? And what if it doesn’t work this time?† Hannah dropped her eyes. Then she raised them and looked at Paul directly. â€Å"I don’t know,† she admitted quietly. â€Å"But I’ve still got to try. I have to know the truth. If I don’t, I really think I may go insane.† She didn’t say it melodramatically. It was a simple statement of fact. Paul groaned. Then he grabbed a pen and started chewing on it, glancing around the room. â€Å"What is it that you would want to know? Just presuming that I agreed to help you.† His voice sounded squashed. Hannah felt a surge of relief. â€Å"I want to know about this woman who keeps warning me,† she said. â€Å"Her name is Maya. And I want to know how I die in my other lives.† â€Å"Oh, terrific. That sounds like fun.† â€Å"I have to do it.† She took a deep breath. She wouldn’t let herself look away from him, even though she could feel the warmth as her eyes filled. â€Å"Look, I know you don’t understand. And I can’t explain to you how important it is to me. But it is †¦ important.† There was a silence, then Paul said, â€Å"All right. All right. But only because I think it’s safer for you to be with somebody.† Hannah whispered, â€Å"Thank you.† Then she blinked and unfolded a piece of paper. â€Å"I wrote down some questions for you to ask me.† â€Å"Great. Wonderful. I’m sure you’ll be getting your degree in psychology soon.† But he took the paper. Hannah walked over to the couch and got herself settled. She shut her eyes, telling her muscles to relax. â€Å"Okay,† Paul said. His voice was very slightly unsteady, but Hannah could tell he was trying to make it soothing. â€Å"I want you to imagine a beautiful violet light†¦Ã¢â‚¬  How to cite Night World : Soulmate Chapter 11, Essay examples

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Yankee State of Mind free essay sample

I understand that you might not be a Yankee fan, and you might not agree with anything that I am about to say, but I ask you to at least give me a chance to explain myself. I revolve everything I do around what time the game is on, when I do my homework or when I go out. When the games are on the West Coast, I stay up until the end no matter how tired I might be the next day. Not only do I watch the wins, but I also watch the losses always hoping for a comeback. This is not the first time I have had to explain myself for being a Yankee fan; actually I have to do it almost every day of my life. Boys don’t believe that I, a girl, could possibly know more stats then they do, or that I can name the full roster when they themselves cannot. We will write a custom essay sample on Yankee State of Mind or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They think it is fun to challenge my knowledge, thinking I’m just a classic â€Å"Jeter girl† (female Yankee fans who like the team simply because Derek Jeter is cute). For example, yesterday, a boy wanted to argue, â€Å"Jeter doesn’t deserve a Golden Glove (a prestigious award for excellence in defense awarded to every position in each league).† I readily silenced him with hard statistics, knowing off hand that Mr. Jeter had a career-low eight errors over 150 plus games during the 2009 season, could this boy find a better candidate? No, he had no support for his argument whatsoever! This serves as proof of the intangibles that true baseball fandom bring to an individual, or at least, have brought to me. I can formulate and support an argument with facts much better as a result of the hours spent enraged at the inane comments on sports radio. Just as I can call upon stats to make my case for Mariano Rivera’s inevitable induction into the Hall of Fame, I know that I must call upon historical facts and legal precedents when I enter a debate in government class. Another common debate that can’t be supported with facts arises with the question, â€Å"Is there such a thing as clutch hitting?† Here, I can turn to my studies in AP Psychology. As I read about psychosomatic symptoms, I become more aware of just how deeply the mind affects the body. If I can’t use statistics to prove that clutch hitting exists, I will instead turn to science. Hitting in a clutch situation causes a player to be worried about the at-bat, causing him stress. When a person is stressed, there is an imbalance in the hormones which the body needs to repair which may or may not have a negative affect on the at-bat. Being a Yankee fan or a baseball fan in general, has helped me in many aspects of my life. It has provided me with an escape from my daily routine and an outlet to relax. It has also allowed me to parlay the passion I feel as a fan into my other endeavors. I might start by seeing the world through baseball diamond glasses, but in the end I am able to understand the world around me in a new context, with the confidence of a champion, and the passion of a fan.