Final Reflection Paper Essay Example for Free

Final Reflection Paper Essay Final Reflection Paper I have had the opportunity to volunteer for the last several weeks. I had never really volunteered before, so I knew that this was my opportunity to do some community service to help others. I have found through the experience that I really like to volunteer, so in the near future I will probably volunteer on my own, rather than doing it for a class. Doing service projects is a great way to get involved with the community. There are always people and businesses looking for help, and it is usually easy to find a way to help. When I had to do volunteer services for psychology, I was excited because I had never really volunteered for a long period of time. It was very interesting, because it actually made me feel like a better person for helping someone in the community. I volunteered at the Manchester Church of the Brethren Preschool. I chose that place, because I am an education major, and I thought that it would help me be able to work with children. I love working with children every chance that I can. While I was volunteering/observing, I learned many things that involved psychology. Psychology obviously relates to human’s, so it was neat to put it into a different perspective, because I got to look at 4 and 5 year olds, to see how the subjects that we were recently discussing in class, pertained to them particularly. Children learn very quickly, at a young age so I had a great opportunity to see that first hand. It was neat to relate all of the things I learned in class, to the actual students I was observing. I thought that 10 hours of volunteering was a perfect amount of time. It gave us enough time to actually get to know that people we were volunteering for, but it was not so long, that it took forever. I started my volunteering hours as soon as I could, so that way I knew I would have plenty of time to complete them. My family has always influenced me to become a better person, and volunteering really fits into that category. As I continue to get older, I now know that helping others really makes you feel better about yourself. People that volunteer in the community have really influenced me, because many times it is people in my family, friends, or acquaintances. These influences have changed because I know that when I volunteer I am only doing  good for others, and it also reminds me that I should not be so selfish sometimes. They influence me because I know that when I help others out, it brightens up their day, and they really enjoy getting help from somebody else that cares ab out them. There have been many influences that help me realize that volunteering can only help others. Volunteering only betters a person. I know from other experiences that volunteers really make a difference in people’s lives. Volunteering is something that everyone should want to do, and the benefits are a great part too. I have learned through my church family different ways to feel â€Å"needed† on this earth, and one of those ways is to help others. I have learned about Karma, within the last couple of years, and I truly believe in it. What goes around, comes around. So I think that if you are only putting good deeds out there, then eventually someone or something will do good deeds in return. I feel motivated to do activities and different events that have to do with people. I particularly like younger children, but I am a people person, so anything that I can connect with helps me enjoy doing things. Helping out with children is a must, because later on in life I am going to be working with children as a career. Not everyone likes to work with children, so if we get the people that do, they feel more satisfied themselves. When trying to find a job, people look for volunteering experience, because that just shows them that you care about helping others, and you take time out of your life to do so. These are very important motivators. I recently just volunteered for Relay For Life. Throughout my life I have known many people that have cancer and other diseases. I feel that to help this was the least that I could do. I donated some money to put towards a fund. As well as walked with a group to show that cancer never sleeps. This was very important to me. I also do volunteer babysitting. Since, I enjoy working with children, this is an easy way to get to work with them. When families only go out for a couple of hours, they usually call me, because typically I do not make them pay, because I enjoy their children so much. In high school I did many vo lunteer activities. I was involved with many different clubs and sports. Usually through those we would have to raise money and volunteer our time to do something. For example with Marching Band, we would go to different counties, and do our  show for them if they asked. For cheerleading, we would do a mini-cheer clinic, which we taught little children chants, and cheers. I had many other opportunities that I did volunteer work in high school as well. The most recent thing I have done at Manchester College is Relay For Life. I described what I did earlier, which I participated in the walk and raising money. I just finished volunteering in Introduction to Psychology class, which I volunteered at Manchester Church of the Brethren. I really enjoyed that, because I got to work with children. I am looking forward to volunteering for many more things in my upcoming years at Manchester. Overall, I feel that volunteering only betters yourself, and it helps others. It is a great way to support a community as well as meet new people, and to help out others. I feel that everyone should volunteer, and for something that they are passionate about. I am glad I got the chance to volunteer, because I feel better about myself knowing that I helped others, and I look forward to many more opportunities.

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Ratliff 1 Kohlten C. Ratliff Mrs. Bralock British Literature 12 December 2013 The Game of Baseball When you think about the game of baseball, you think about the most remembered baseball player Jackie Robinson because he stole more bases than I stole hearts. The game of baseball was created sometime in the 1800’s and has been played ever since. Baseball is a major sport and it is apart of a lot of the cultures in the world. The United States of America and Cuba are two of the top 2 countries that have a lot of players go to the MLB. The game of baseball was first played on sandlot and now is being played in huge stadiums that have large capacities. Baseball is a sport that can be watched for fun and doesn’t necessarily have to be played. There have been many names for baseball like Goal ball, Round ball, Fletch-ball, and Stool ball. Baseball is a cousin to Cricket because it involves two teams that alternate on offense and defense. Alexander Cartwright invented the modern baseball stadium in 1845 and he was from New York. New York is where a game called Town ball was created, traces show that it was a game similar to baseball. Cartwright got the idea of making money from people coming to watch players play on a field other than the street form Town ball. Alexander Cartwright is known as the founder of baseball because of his idea of turning Town ball into an organized sport. Ratliff 2 Traces of a game played with a bat and a ball dates back 2,000 years ago in ancient Egypt. Egyptians were crafty people and craved a stick out of stone and hit rocks with it. That game was a pharaoh’s favorite game to play and he was buried with it in his tome. When some researchers with into the pharaohs tome they found a... ...rough at him. When Jackie first went to the major league they call him names while he was playing and the pitchers where trying to hit him with the ball. When the American people saw how good a black man could play, more and more black people were allowed to join the major league. In conclusion baseball has become a big part to the society not only does it bring people together, but the people who actually love baseball enjoys to watch it. Baseball became an entertainment sport to people around the world and has many types like softball for girls. Some of the greatest minds are people who play baseball because you always have to think when playing it. There have been many legends in baseball that people look up to and inspire young people in the world today to want to learn about the game. Everyone can play it whether they play it professional or amateur.

Mark Twain, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay

In the novel by Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the two main characters, Huck and Jim, are strongly linked. Their relation is portrayed by various sides, some of them good and some others bad. But the essential interest of that relation is the way that uses the author to describe it. Even if he had often been misunderstood, Twain always implied a message behind the themes developed around Huck and Jim. The first encounter between Huck Finn and Jim is at the beginning of the book, when Huck’s friend, Tom Sawyer, tries to fool Jim, Miss Watson’s slave. Huck and Jim still don’t know each other, but Huck isn’t biased against the old slave. It’s an important point because, as racism was a widely held mentality in the South, we can learn that that young boy was more open-minded than most people there. Later, they find themselves in the same situation. As they were escaping from the civilized world, they take refuge in the Jackson’s Island, on the Mississippi river. Huck is running away from a bad father and Jim has leaved Miss Watson because he didn’t want to be sold to New Orleans. Look more:  huck finn chapter 20 essay Soon after joining Jim on the island, Huck begins to realize that Jim has more talents and intelligence than Huck has been aware of. Jim knows â€Å"all kinds of signs† about the future, people’s personalities, and weather forecasting. Huck finds this kind of information necessary as he and Jim drift down the Mississippi on a raft. As important, Huck feels a comfort with Jim that he has not felt with the other major characters in the novel. With Jim, Huck can enjoy the best aspects of his earlier influences. Jim’s meaning to Huck changes as they proceed through their adventure. He starts out as an extra person just to take on the journey, but they transform into a friend. â€Å"It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger. â€Å"(chap. XV) Huck tries to squeal on Jim but can’t because he remembers that Jim called him â€Å"de bes’ fren’ I ever had;†¦ de on’y white genlman dat ever kep’ his promise to ole Jim. â€Å"(chap. XVI) Huck realizes that he can not turn Jim in since they both act as runaway outcasts on the river. The support they have for each other sprouts friendship. As does the Widow, Jim allows Huck security, but Jim is not as confining as is the Widow. Like Tom Sawyer, Jim is intelligent but his intelligence is not as intimidating or as imaginary as is Tom’s. As does Pap, Jim allows Huck freedom, but he does it in a loving, rather than an uncaring, fashion. Thus, early, in their relationship on Jackson’s Island, Huck says to Jim, â€Å"This is nice. I wouldn’t want to be nowhere else but here. † This feeling is in marked contrast with Huck’s feelings concerning other people in the early part of the novel where he always is uncomfortable and wishes to leave them. The lack of comfort is also shared by Jim. As a slave, he truly feels like an outcast. Considering the context of the United States at that period, during the slavery conflict, we easily understand the situation of Jim. And one of the main ideas of this Mark Twain’s masterpiece deals with a multiracial couple’s story. The relationship between black and white was hardly accepted in the 1830’s. Such an adventure, two male characters, with opposite colour of skin, striking up a friendship, was considered as a provocation by the society. The author knows that very well and will try, through his two heroes, to denounce the drifting of the Nation. Irony is his main weapon against that obscurantism. He uses it as often as possible. For instance, on chapter XIV, Huck tries to explain to Jim why a Frenchman is a man, even if he speaks differently. The ironical feature comes from the fact that this black slave doesn’t understand the equality of all people, whereas himself isn’t considered equal by the white. Besides, another ironical aspect is that we think first, in that chapter, that the white boy will civilize the black man whereas we’ll discover further that it is the contrary. First person brings the reader a more innocent side of the story, so the reader feels more compassion for the small boy. The symbolic image falls into play between Huck and Jim, â€Å"†¦ en trash is what people is dat puts dirt on de head er dey fren’s en makes ’em ashamed†¦ â€Å"(chap. XV), this made Huck open his eyes for the first time in his life. Jim for the first time shows feelings for Huck and lets him know you don’t treat people who care for you like â€Å"trash†. This makes Huck aware that Jim means more to him than just someone’s slave, he now considers him a true friend. Next, Huck finally sees Jim’s loyalty toward him, â€Å"†¦ so Jim he said he would stand the first half of it for me†¦ â€Å"(chap. XX), keeping a special watch not waking him on his turn, â€Å"†¦ I went to sleep, and Jim didn’t call me when it was my turn†¦ â€Å"(chap. XXIII). Even the little things like not waking Huck, show more than just an undying friendship. The symbolism of a grown man and a child had more effect instead of having two grown men, because a child needs a father figure. Jim fit the description and perfectly provided that for him. The mutual affection between Huck and Jim will even lead them to sorts of sacrifices. When Huck discovers that Jim has been captured, Huck must decide whether to turn in Jim and tell Miss Watson, or accept going to hell. He finally chooses â€Å"hell† when he says, â€Å"I took it [letter to Miss Watson] up, and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute†¦ and then says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell,’ and tore it up. â€Å"(chap. XXXI) Huck’s sacrifice for his friend Jim, a man he has come to view as a father, forces Huck to accept a life of everlasting pain and anguish. In reality, Huck’s sacrifice is a noble and uncharacteristic achievement, allowing Huck to unknowingly be bound for heaven. Jim’s sacrifice, although small in his own mind, is in fact one of the bravest sacrifices made throughout this book. For example, after Tom gets shot in the leg, Jim displays his concern for Tom as he says, â€Å"No, sah-I doan’ budge a step out’n dis place ‘dout a doctor; not if it’s forty year! † Despite all of the racist and harsh tricks Tom has played on Jim, Jim risks his life to save his â€Å"friend. † Rather than abandon Tom, Jim is willing to risk his freedom to save Tom’s life. Moreover, as Jim makes this brave sacrifice, Huck thinks to himself, â€Å"I knowed he was white inside. â€Å"(chap. XL) Through Jim’s sacrifice for Tom, Huck discovers that all men, including blacks, are in fact equal. Huck no longer looks down upon Jim as a â€Å"nigger,† but rather as an equal human being. Lastly, the doctor describes Jim’s heroic sacrifice to the Phelps and tells them that, â€Å"He ain’t a bad nigger†¦ and I never see a nigger that was a better nuss or faithfuler, and yet he was risking his freedom to do it [save Tom]. â€Å"(chap.XLII) Jim risked his freedom to save an insolent, racist white boy who had treated him, not as an equal, but as an inferior, unequal nigger. Jim’s sacrifice is clearly an act of bravery far more heroic than the sacrifice Huck made earlier in the novel. Huck and Jim’s sacrifices for each other, however different, also present many similarities. For example, Huck and Jim both think they are sacrificing themselves for a friend. Huck sacrifices himself for a black friend he has come to love as an equal. Similarly, Jim sacrifices himself for a friend, when in reality, he is risking his freedom to save the life of a racial bigot, Tom. In addition, both sacrifices have as a consequence a life of everlasting hell. When Huck sacrifices himself for Jim, he accepts a literal hell (that is truly the path to heaven). Jim, on the other hand, accepts a life of figurative hell in slavery, when he is in fact free all along. Finally, each sacrifice shares irony, in that they were both based on unknown pieces of unknown, but significannot pieces of information. Huck is unaware that his decision of accepting â€Å"hell† will actually lead to his salvation and ironically decides on doing what the thinks is â€Å"wrong. â€Å"Likewise, Jim is unaware that he is free, and is not risking his freedom in saving Tom. In making these two brave sacrifices, Huck and Jim achieve a higher character than if they had chosen easier paths. Huck’s willingness to face hell to protect Jim and Jim’s willingness to face capture and slavery to save Tom, both contribute to the overall theme of racial equality/inequality present throughout the book. Huck and Jim’s journey down the Mississippi River has led them to look past colour boundaries, and discover that â€Å"all me are created equal. â€Å"

Explicit Dehumanization Of Pop Culture - 852 Words

Explicit dehumanization in pop culture, such as the black face, began to decline after the Civil Rights Movement; arguably where old fashion racism, or the belief that Blacks should be segregated from because they were inferior, switched to symbolic racism, or the notion that because Blacks no longer face racial discrimination, they should economically and politically equal to Whites and stop using economic and political resources that could be better allocated to white people (Entman, 1990; Sweet, 2000). With that being said, dehumanization was arguably replaced with superhumanization. Superhumanization, in essence, is the perception of black people as beings beyond the human realm that possess supernatural physical abilities and supernatural intellectual abilities (Waytz, Hoffman, Trawalter, 2014). In pop culture, superhumanization takes the form of â€Å"magical negroes† or black entities that have healing powers, could predict the future, were extremely strong, and extremely fast; for example, John Coffey in The Green Mile, God in Bruce Almighty, and the Oracle in The Matrix (Hughey, 2009; Boswell, 2014; Waytz et al. 2014). These characters were often sidekicks that came to the aid of white characters either physically, or by offering wisdom and advice (Hutson, 2014). Furthermore, the personal lives and backstories of these black characters were rarely established and the sole purpose of their existence was to solve the leading white protagonist’s problems and not theirShow MoreRelatedThe Death Of Un Armed Black Men Essay2026 Words   |  9 PagesAbstract This literature review seeks to examine the death of un-armed black men by police officers in the United States. It includes rationale that supports unconscious bias, poor police training, explicit racism, a biased judicial system, the inherent violent tendencies of black males and overall societal culture. Throughout the course of this examination a constant them emerged. Unconscious bias, a poor judicial system and insufficient police training seem to be the cause of this phenomena. Read MoreThe Self Objectification Theory Of Women4667 Words   |  19 Pagesis evaluated as a separate entity with a blatant disregard to the human who occupies it. When objectification occurs it dehumanizes the individual and turns them into an object that is to be used for someone else’s pleasure. Women in westernized cultures are particularly subject to this type of treatment and the detrimental effects it can cause (Harper Tiggemann, 2008). Often as a result, objectification is turned inward and the individual views themselves as an object, creating a state of chronicRead MoreNational Security Outline Essay40741 Words   |  163 PagesUS, including for the dropping of the A-bombs. Court found that dropping nuclear weapons was â€Å"contrary to fundamental principle of the laws of war that unnecessary pain must not be given.†). Commencement of Hostilities Have to first have explicit warning or ultimatum before commencing hostilities; Have to warn/notify neutrals of state of war; Despite UN Charter provisions outlawing use of aggressive force altogether, the fact that wars will still occur makes the 1907 Hague III Convention