Response Speech of Sotomayors 2012 NYU Commencement Essay Example for Free

Response Speech of Sotomayors 2012 NYU Commencement Essay This speech was not awesome, but more than that. Her tenacious and benevolent appearance was enough to attract the audience’s attention. She made jokes to make the audience comfortable and to keep the speech accessible and fresh. Also, she used various anecdotes from her life that both those in the stadium and I could empathize with. Her speech at the commencement ceremony at NYU struck a chord with me. More especially, there was a hopeful message to the young people starting fresh in life. First, she had the ability to convert her weak points into strengths. Her life story is literally ‘a dream come true’. She was born and raised in the Bronx, New York which is not the greatest place to live. Yet, she grew up and graduated from a prestigious university. Moreover, she became the first Hispanic justice of the Supreme Court and the third-ever woman to hold the post. She is a person of great wisdom, because she embraced her identity as a Hispanic woman, in order to make her dreams a reality. Furthermore, her life story shows that anyone can succeed whatever the obstacles or barriers. As we already know, she grew up in a public housing project in the Bronx and never imagined that she would stand on that podium. However, she finally became a supreme justice after going through so many challenges. There might have been enormous trials and tribulations, but it is obvious evident from her example that we can achieve our dreams despite the challenge we face, if we do exert ourselves enough. Last, the five essential emotions that she had referred to are a further guideline for us. In fact, the current tendency in Korea is to be stable rather than to challenge. People think that it may take too much time to reach their dream, so they choose a job that they can do comfortably, rather than what they really want. However, her speech showed me that I should choose what I truly want to do, and I can do that if I embrace her five emotions necessary for a successful life Her speech made me have second thoughts about and reconsider everything about myself, such as my attitudes or my life. Everyone has disadvantages and hardships, but the matter is whether we overcome those things or not. I believe that we all have the ability to do that. So, now I echo her word, dream big, achieve much and keep asking ‘are you ready to challenge and enjoy the engagement of your own life? ’

Portfolio Assessment Essay -- essays papers

Portfolio Assessment Perhaps the most prominent form of alternative assessment in use today is the student portfolio. A portfolio can be described as a â€Å"purposeful collection of student work that exhibits the student’s efforts, progress, and achievements in one or more areas of the curriculum.† Key elements of the portfolio include evidence of students’ choosing the contents of their own portfolio, specific criteria for the selection and assessment of student work, and clear evidence that the student has reflected on his or her work (Chriest & Maher, n.d.). Portfolios have been proven an effective means of student assessment in many areas of schooling, from preschool all the way through post-graduate work. Portfolio assessment has also been rendered effective in many business settings to determine the value of an employee. The advantages of portfolio assessment are many. Foremost, portfolios, when compared to written testing, provide teachers with a more complete picture of a student’s progress. Portfolios exhibit a student’s ability to problem solve and to reflect on the work that he has done. They also give students the opportunity to tangibly track their progress in a class. When implemented, portfolios can also encourage a school system to work towards a more â€Å"collaborative evaluation environment† (Curry, 2000). This indicates that the portfolios are not only tools for teachers to assess a student’s progress, but also for administrators to monitor a teacher’s classroom management. Disadvantages of portfolio assessment also exist: in many studies, â€Å"students found that keeping a portfolio contributed little to their self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses and, in some cases, that it even reinforced weakn... ...sment/alt_assessment.html This webpage lists other websites useful in alternative assessment. Resources are grouped by online location and subject. UniServe Science. (2004). Alternative strategies for science teaching and assessment. Retrieved March 7, 2004 from http://science.uniserve.edu.au/school/support/strategy.html This is an excellent resource that lists and explains not only creative alternatives to written testing but also ways to reach every student with every style of learning. Strategies outlined include virtual field trips, collaborative work, and debates. Worcester, T. (n.d.). Electronic portfolios. Retrieved April 14, 2004 from http://www.essdack.org/port/index.html This site contains information on electronic portfolios. Specifically, it includes reasons for considering, how to create, and assessment of electronic portfolios.

A Discussion of Symbols in “A Death of Salesman”

The seeds embody Willy's ambition to be both a good father and a â€Å"well-liked† salesman. Willy's nocturnal futile attempt to grow vegetables clearly demonstrates his failure in achieving the American Dream. Another perspective is to see seeds as the pure embodiment of Biff. Willy makes a hard attempt to raise and nurture Biff but despite all his desperate tries, Biff turns out to be a lazy bum. In the same way, Willy tries to grow vegetables but he fails. The other important fact about this symbol is that huge towering shapes behind Willy's house constrict the garden in which vegetables will grow. Because of the limiting space of the garden, nothing substantial can grow. This can be interpreted that the competition, the clemency lacking quality of the American Dream (represented by the towering buildings) ultimately leads to Willy's downfall (the futile seeds). This is a crucial point in understanding and evaluating the play because the American Dream that Willy thought as infallible, in the end proves to be fallible by leading Willy to his downfall. Linda's And Woman's Stockings Reference in the play: (To Willy) Biff: You – you gave her mama's stockings![His tears break through and he rises to go] Discussion: The stockings in this play, in my opinion, represent sexual infidelity. Willy is accused by Biff for giving her mother's stockings to a woman. The important factor here is that Willy could have given the Woman any stocking but vividly in order to empower the symbol, Arthur Miller makes sure that Willy gives the Woman Linda's stockings. It is important to note that right after the Woman in the flashback thanks Willy for the stockings (â€Å"Woman: And thanks for the stockings†), Willy notices that Linda is mending stockings and is nagged by this fact: â€Å"Willy [angrily taking them (stockings) away from her]: I won't have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw them out!† The stockings are absolutely reminiscent of Willy's betrayal. Of course, faced alone with this fact, Willy cannot stand it and therefore commands Linda to throw them out. This depicts Willy's ambivalent character. One Willy betrays Linda. The other Willy cannot stand this fact. Diamond: Reference in the play: Ben [With greater force]: One must go in to fetch a diamond out. Discussion: The diamonds embody the power of tangible wealth or money. In a sense, the diamonds are the solidification of American Dream. Willy invariably, has failed the American Dream and therefore doesn't posses the diamond. The diamonds that made Ben rich also remind Willy that he is a failure. Further qualities of the diamond are revealed by Ben's sentences: â€Å"Ben: A diamond is rough and hard to the touch.† I think what Ben wants to say is that the diamond isn't easy to get (represented by its roughness) but once possessed, it's a valuable asset. â€Å"Ben: It's dark there (jungle, Africa) but full of diamonds† From the wanton, debauched way that Ben wrestles and horses around with Biff (i. e. the way he trips him), it can be concluded that Ben isn't a moral personality. The result of this conclusion is that Ben wasn't very honest when obtaining the diamond. The darkness in this sentence represent the immoralities or the dishonesties one must go through before one can obtain the diamond. Willy's personality, on the other hand, lacks immorality. He has always â€Å"played it fair†, the only exception being his betrayal to Linda. Willy's chronic honesty in business causes him to fail and so he doesn't obtain the diamond. Whereas on the other hand, Ben succeeds. The Rubber Hose: Reference in the play: â€Å"Biff: All right, phony! Then let's lay it on the line. [He whips the rubber hose out of his pocket and puts it on the table] Discussion: The rubber hose is an object that Willy tries to inhale gas with. The significance of this object is that it reminds the audience of Willy's failing attempts to commit suicide. The rubber hose ,in a way the seeds do, represents Willy's failure. Willy tries to commit suicide but even fails that. However, unlike the seed which symbolized Willy's failure to achieve the American Dream, the rubber hose symbolizes Willy's failure to be harmony, in union with himself. Willy ultimately fails to commit suicide because he is ambivalent to the idea of suicide. The rubber hose symbolizes Willy's ambivalence and his failure to find himself, an observation that Willy accused Biff of. The Car and the Chevy: Reference in the play: Biff [rushing down the stairs]: Pop! [As the car speeds off, the music crashes down in a frenzy of sound] Reference to Chevy: Willy: I was thinking of that Chevy. Nine-teen twenty-eight†¦ when I had that red Chevy – [Breaks off.] The car is Willy's ambitions and feelings in life. In the past, he had a Chevy as a car, and Biff used to simonize it. Willy Loman as a young man had ambitions and thought that he was going to thrive and flourish. The Chevy symbolizes all together Willy's ambitions, hopes, dreams as a young man. However as Willy gets old, he suddenly realizes that he isn't the successful businessman he dreamt that he would be. This transformation of Willy's feelings about his life can be paralleled with the transformation of the Chevy into an old rusty car. When Willy suddenly can't take it anymore, he commits suicide with his car. This translates into saying when Willy can not stand the idea that he failed, his feelings (his car) lead him to suicide.

The Problems, Effects, and Solutions to Workplace Stress...

Executive Summary This proposal examines the problems, effects, and solutions to workplace stress. In addition, I will explain risk assessment, management, and prevention. Finally, I will review coping strategies for workplace stress. Holland’s Automotive Repair has seventy-seven people of a wide diverse nature. Internal research shows many employees are suffering from workplace stress. External research focuses on several studies, models, and theories of workplace stress effects. Workplace stress causes problems such as lack of motivation, poor health, increased safety concerns, and overall low morale within the company. Stress related hazards target work content and work context. Businesses endure many losses when employees’ workplace stress is not controlled and prevented. Holland’s Automotive Repair needs to establish a risk assessment and management policy to implement immediately. The best practice is to prevent workplace stress with a well-designed work environment. This practice will save time, resources, and money within the company. An internal survey of Holland’s Automotive Repair employees clarifies how the business can reduce workplace stress and increase overall employee resolve. Because of the wide diversity within Holland’s Automotive Repair, specific coping skills can assist all employees with their specific needs. Holland’s Automotive Repair business will uphold their reputation by following these guidelines. These policies will alsoShow MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesPolitics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 543 18 Organizational Change and Stress Management 577 Appendix A Research in Organizational Behavior Comprehensive Cases Indexes Glindex 637 663 616 623 Contents Preface xxii 1 1 Introduction What Is Organizational Behavior? 3 The Importance of InterpersonalRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesDiversity Issues 25 Learning an HRM Skill: Guidelines for Acting Ethically 26 Enhancing Your Communication Skills 26 ETHICAL ISSUES IN HRM: Invasion of Privacy? 9 WORKPLACE ISSUES: We Are Now Entering the Blogosphere 10 Workforce Diversity 10 The Workforce Today 10 DID YOU KNOW?: Chief Diversity Officer 11 How Diversity Affects HRM 11 WORKPLACE ISSUES: Diversity Awareness 12 What Is a Work/Life Balance? 12 DID YOU KNOW?: Looking at the Future of HRM 13 DID YOU KNOW?: International Diversity 14 The Labor