The Initial Temperature Shock free essay sample

The water appeared crystalline and ice-cold the first time I readied myself to jump off the high dive. I knew I wouldn’t die, yet an intangible force restrained me until I closed my eyes, bent my knees, propelled myself off the board, and cut through the surface. The no man’s land between the board and the water was behind me. In middle school, I was the girl who walked through the halls with her eyes facing the floor, who hesitated to speak in class out of fear of being noticed. I once believed myself unlikely to join a club, let alone lead one, and couldn’t imagine speaking on stage or introducing myself to a stranger. I’ve come a long way since then, and my motto is, If you think you cant do something, prove yourself wrong. Ever since I realized the most challenging experiences can also be the most worthwhile, I have set out to prove I can do what I once believed myself incapable of accomplishing. We will write a custom essay sample on The Initial Temperature Shock or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Each ice-cold pool is an experience I now embrace. The path of my journey toward finding my voice was paved with printer paper. When I joined my school newspaper in 10th grade, I learned that investigating my school’s goings-on required me to be inquisitive, outgoing, and constantly aware of my surroundings. I discovered an entirely new dimension of Friends Academy. Who would have known that my teachers had such unique views on the environment, or that the school psychologist had so much insight into the social scene? I did more investigating this summer, when my print and photojournalism classes required me to approach and interview people—often complete strangers—whom I would not have otherwise gotten to know. I even spent an hour one day in a shoe store, documenting a salesman’s life through photography. Throughout these experiences, I learned not only about the topics of my articles, but also that, if I opened my eyes just a little wider, countless perspective-altering interactions awaited me. This confidence has led me to openly question what I learn in class as well. The curious toddler in me lives on, but she now has a voice. My favorite question is â€Å"Why?† because it has the power to get to the essence, the true meaning, and the origin of everything. I have known for some time that you can’t divide by zero, that metals lose electrons, and that the ancient Greeks founded democracy, but why? When I discover the answer, it’s almost never what I expected. Each answer opens a new door leading to a room of â€Å"whys† and â€Å"why nots,† and then another, and another, until I am several doors closer in my life-long expedition toward truth. Now, â€Å"why† is my guide as I constantly dive into new explorations and adventures. Why don’t we â€Å"be the change we want to see in the world,† and how can we? Why is passive resistance more effective than violence? Why are there so few women in politics? These kinds of questions have compelled me to donate blood, try out for school plays, enter artwork in exhibitions, travel to South America, and read original poems for audiences. Each â€Å"interview† with life brings me closer to understanding the answers to my questions. I know that the greatest treasures lie at the bottom of the deep end, and that life’s most fulfilling moments take place out of my comfort zone, off the diving board, and only because of each gigantic leap of faith. My next leap will be college, and I feel excited and extremely well prepared to dive off, cut through that no man’s land, and triumph over the initial temperature shock.

The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea The Old Man and the Sea is a story of a modest old man and his struggle for the greatness. The plot is based on life of Santiago, an elderly Cuban fisherman who is unlucky in his fishing escapades. He is so unlucky that parents of a young boy Manolin, who wanted to fish with an old man and learn the skills from him, forbid him doing this and ask to sail with more successful young sailors.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on The Old Man and the Sea specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The author was on the ground of the World War I, and a casualty of the war may be seen as the reason behind the choice of themes. Bravery, courage, pride and honor are virtues that many survivors of the war possessed. Santiago’s move to set out to sea all alone in order to redeem his reputation among his people is a bold move (Hemingway 22). However, Hemmingway, the author, describes the boy as the one who admires the old man despit e his parents discourage him from joining Santiago in his fishing, he still continues to care for the old man. This essay seeks to make a detailed review of the story, â€Å"The Old Man and the Sea†, its themes and relations to the real world. The plot brings out the boy as being very caring. He is shown in the way he helps the fisherman to carry his fishing gear and discussing the latest happenings in the American baseball. Despite the old man’s unsuccessful fishing trips, the book portrays him as having a strong determination to achieve his aim. In a highly sequential flow of events, the book explains how Santiago sails further away from familiar territory and ventures into the Gulf Stream. The author goes ahead to explain how the old man gets lucky and catches a big fish known as Marlin at midday. However, in a twist to the story, Santiago is unable to pull the gigantic animal to his boat, and the fish starts pulling. The story shows the reader an image of an enduri ng man who is overcome by fear trying to save his life by all means. It is presented when Santiago struggles to bear the strain of the line hooking the massive fish with his shoulders. He does this in order to avoid tearing the boat apart and tries to hook on it. The story explains how an old man pulls the line for three days as the fish swims with the old man enduring this pain (Hemingway 40). In this day to day sequence of events, Santiago is presented to the reader as an affectionate man who, despite the strain that the fish is putting him through, sees it as a brother in endurance, suffering, strength and resolve. Testimony to this, (the way Santiago feels it); the people who are going to eat this fish are not entitled to such greatness.Advertising Looking for book review on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is on the third day that we see Santiago is getting his catch into the boat finally. It is the evidence of Santiagos endurance and determination because, according to the story, this is the biggest fish that Santiago has ever caught after number of unsuccessful trials (Bloom, 150). In addition, the story brings out the anti-climax of Santiago’s happiness. It explains how Santiago struggles with the attacks of sharks that were attracted by the blood trails left from the fish. Hemmingway creates an image of a boat deep in the sea surrounded by sharks in the mind of the reader. This is where the courage of the old man is brought out. He is seen trying to deter the Sharks from attacking him by all possible means. For example, he fights them with a spear made by lashing a dagger to an oar and beating them up with the boats filler (Gerry 80). The old man’s courage and creativity are paid back as he manages to kill several sharks. However, he is left with nothing, as sharks manage to devour his catch leaving him with a skeleton, head and a tail. The man regr ets his decision to go out far into the sea. He stumbles back home completely worn out and goes to sleep (Hemingway 20). Despite loosing the fish, the old man achieves greatness without realizing it. The reader understands this when reading about tourists who watch a giant Skeleton with amusement the following morning. Two themes can be brought out from this story. The first one is the theme of honor. Throughout the story, Santiago is shown as a person swimming against the tide trying not to be defeated. He is shown as a person who is struggling with the power of the sea without catching any fish for eighty seven days, but breaks his record by catching the largest fish ever caught in all his years of fishing. He is seen as fighting defeat by sailing into deep waters; he is struggling with a marlin for three days, and fights off shark attacks. This theme shows that Santiago and Marlin display virtues of courage and strong will, and they are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to u phold them. Santiago’s story does not provides him with the opportunity to change man’s place in the world, rather it enables him meet his most dignified destiny (Hemingway, 40).Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on The Old Man and the Sea specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The other theme discussed in this story is the theme of pride as the source of greatness and determination. Santiago’s character is created similar to all heroes of the world. In addition to coming out as strong, courageous and morally certain, they all possess a fatal flaw and pride. This leads to their downfall despite all the admiration that they receive. Santiago, on the other hand, is portrayed as being proof that it is pride that pushes great men towards greatness. For example, Santiago admits to killing Marlin out of pride. Thus, pride becomes the source of Santiago’s strength. Without this pride, he would neithe r have ventured deep into the sea, nor would he have struggled with the giant fish for three consecutive days. Pride drives the old man to transcend the forces of nature and come out triumphant (Gerry 50). In conclusion, it can be argued that this book tries to explain human nature. It explains that we are beings who, in most cases, are driven by pride while trying to achieve our goals in life. In addition, it tries to bring out the fact that pride does not always lead to downfall. Hemmingway illustrates that victory is not always a qualification for honor. It is brought about when one has the pride to struggle until the very end. In the case of Santiago, the glory and pride come not as a result of battle, but from his pride and determination to fight. Bloom, Harold. Earnest Hemingway’s the Old Man and Sea. New York: InfoBase publishing, 2008. Print. Gerry, Brenner. The Old Man and the Sea: Story of a Common Man. Michigan: University of Michigan, 1991. Print. Hemingway, Erne st. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2002. Print.

Forms of Business Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Forms of Business Organizations - Essay Example These characteristics of the sole proprietorship distinguish it from a corporation and a limited liability company. A sole proprietor, for example, owns and manages a sole proprietorship, a feature that is different from observations in corporations and limited liability companies. More than one person, for example, owns a corporation or a limited liability company. These owners are called shareholders while the owner of a sole proprietorship is called the sole proprietor. Board of directors who are distinct from the businesses’ owners manages corporations while limited liability companies’ management is flexible. Another difference between the three forms of businesses is the owners’ liability over the organizations’ debts. While a sole proprietor is liable for all of the business’ liabilities, corporations and limited liability companies’ owners have limited liabilities that are restricted to their share contributions. Another difference be tween the forms of business organizations is the legal requirements to which they are subjected. While a sole proprietorship only requires the filing of the enterprise’s name, corporation, and limited liability companies must be registered. The organizations’ tax liabilities are also treated differently. While a sole proprietorship is taxed as a natural person through the proprietor’s income, a limited liability company is taxed at the business organization’s level while a corporation’s taxation involves a double taxation in which the organization’s earnings are taxed and shareholders are taxed on their dividends. The organizations also differ in their structural requirements.