My Depression Essay Example for Free

My Depression Essay Growing up in a small town wasnt always easy for me. I felt that I was constantly hiding and denying the person that I was and the life that I lived. I was forced to be someone that I really wasnt due to the fact that I had a family secret that I was withholding in order to protect the well-known, family name, Hutcherson. In highschool, no one but family members and close friends knew that I lived with an alcoholic father. As a child I was always taught to keep our family life secret and never let people know the struggles that our family faced. People always thought that I had the best of everything because of the material possessions I accumulated from my dad. They assumed that because our family had money, we were problem free and oh, how wrong they were! It was until my senior year at Halls High School that I kept leading people on to believe a lie. I finally got tired of feeling as though I was two different people with two different lives. After attending counseling for several months, because of the depression that had taken a tole on me, my psychiatrist helped me to realize that it wasnt my fault that my father has this addiction. I soon figured out that there was no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed for things that I had no control over. If people liked me, they should like me for the real me, not who I had been pretending to be. I learned to deal with my fathers alcohol problem by acknowledging the stages of the grieving process. Dr. Bell taught me that in order to make peace with the hardships in my life, I had to overcome each of the five processes; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Denial was the first, and probably the hardest stage of the grieving process. It seemed as if denial overwelhmed my entire life, even from childhood. It was hard, at times, to admit that living with an alcoholic parent was a part of my life. I didnt want to accept the fact that this was a definite part of who I really was. I was ashamed and humiliated. I remember being embarrassed to tell Dr. Bell the whole truth. I also felt like by doing so, I was dishonoring my family and degrading my father. However, after I came to terms with the truth that I had been denying for so long, I felt like a ton of bricks were lifted from me. The second stage of the grieving process is anger. I can remember being so mad at Dad for putting our family through this. There were times that I hated him and wished that something bad would happen to him, just so I could go back to the life I was accustomed to living, that of lies. I blamed my mother for staying with him and giving us children no choice as to what we wanted. I envied her just about as much as I envied him. I know now, that even though she wasnt happy, she was doing what she felt she had to do, and that was support him 100%. I no longer look at this situation as something to be angry at. I see my father now, as a sick man and not one that intentionally has this horrible addiction to hurt the ones he loves. There were times that I remember bargaining with God, asking him to please take this away. I would pray at night that if he would just heal my father, I would be willing to do whatever it took to show appreciation. I would make deals with my father, Dad, if you dont drink for two weeks, I will mow the lawn for free. It was things like this that would sometimes be the only thing that gave me hope. At times, the things that I would say to my father would work, only because of the quilt that he felt, but it wouldnt be long and he would be back in the same boat he had been in for many years drinking, uncontrolably. The forth stage is depression. I have to say that this is the hardest thing I have ever faced (and still facing) in my life. Looking back now, I remember the thing that depressed me the most was thinking that things were getting better and then being disappointed again. There were times that Dad would stop drinking, sometimes weeks at a time. Though I always knew in my heart that it wasnt going to last long, I still had hope that that particular time could be different.

Vocational Education Vs. Standardized Testing Essay -- Vocational Cour

Plenty of schools focus on the scores that come from standardized testing. Though standardized testing is not going to help a student get to where they need to be in order to gain their career. In fact, standardized tests are mainly being used to measure a teacher’s ability to teach (Manalo 1). Why are schools basing their curriculum on standardized test scores rather than teaching vocational education courses that will help students later on in their lives? There are many different vocational courses which include; nursing, food ethics, computer solving, office management, and even cosmetology. Give high school students vocational classes or let the school system crumble. Vocational courses better prepare students for the years to come. Vocational courses prepare and teach and create leaders and are well rounded. Every student deserves to have an opportunity at success and vocational classes will organize them in the manner they need to be prepared. These classes narrow oneâ €™s focus so they are able to discover what they want to pursue for a living. (Ziliak 1). Vocational classes open up â€Å"doors of opportunity.† Cannot use the excuse that teaching vocational education in schools would lower the chances of getting into college because college credits can be earned through these courses. In 2012 students engaging in the Kokomo career center earned 834 credits from Ivy Tech Community College (Ziliak 2). Apparently vocational classes prepare students for real life situations and put them on the right track towards their dream career. As many schools use standardized testing to measure their student’s growth they do not realize that standardized tests do not reflect the character of children which will definitely not encourage succe... ...re a type of authentic learning. Vocational education adds: variety, relevance, and purpose. â€Æ' Works Cited James, Howlett. "Industrial Arts: Call It What You Want, the Need Still Exists." Industrial Arts: Call It What You Want, the Need Still Exists. N.p., Mar. 2008. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. Manalo, Taylor. "Civic Issues." Civic Issues Site Wide Activity RSS. Civic Issues, 1 Apr. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. Watkins, Bill. "Do Standardized Tests Raise Dropout Rates?" Newgeography.com. New Geography, 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. Jorgenson, Olaf. â€Å"What We Lose In Winning The Test Score Race.† Principal 91.5 (2012): 12-15. Education Research Complete. Web. 7 Feb. 2014. Ziliak, Lindsey. â€Å"In Vocational Courses, Ind. Students Get Early Glimpse Of Careers.† Community College Week 25.14 (2013): 11. Education Research Complete. Web. 7 Feb. 2014.

An Ironic Editorial Cartoon Essay

â€Å"Let’s hope the asteroid’s impact is confined to the subprime mortgage area. † These are the words spoken among several dinosaurs as a large asteroid is headed towards earth. Or, more accurately, they are the words of the dinosaurs within the frame of Tim Toles’ biting editorial cartoon. Upon first viewing, the cartoon does provoke immediate laughter. Then, when you stop to let the themes of the cartoon sink in you realize that the humor is quite dark and ominous and, more importantly, it is quite accurate. For those not familiar with the symbolism, there is an unproven theory that asserts dinosaurs may have been rendered extinct due to an asteroid hitting the earth. The reason all dinosaurs were rendered extinct was due to the asteroid having a significant change on the earth’s climate and environment. That is, the asteroid possessed a ripple effect that went far beyond the exact area where the asteroid landed. The symbolism presented here ties in with the subprime mortgage crisis in a manner that is both obvious and outright chilling. The weight of the claims presented in the argument makes logical sense. It simply infers that economic problems will have a major ripple effect. That is, the economic woes of those affected by the subprime crisis will carry over into other aspects of the economy. As a result, even those who may previously have had nothing to do with the subprime crisis will be negatively impacted. (In essence, the intended audience is the entire population of the nation) After all, we are all plugged into the same economy. If one area is hurting, it will invariably drag down others. This is clearly an interpretation based on implication and the claim is obviously apparent in the words used. And, yes, such assumptions are warranted as by the time the cartoon appeared the ripple effect of the crisis has lead to a huge federal bailout This is not a notion that is arrived at on the basis of speculation and alarmism. It is based on simple math and the law of cause and effect. If someone’s home suffers from a foreclosure then the individual will find himself in an extremely disadvantageous financial position. Clearly, such an individual would have to make numerous â€Å"cut backs† on purchasing decisions and this means less money will flow into the economy. Such actions have negative effects on profits in various companies and hurt stock values. If stock values are reduced then the net worth of investors (many of which rely on their investment during their retirement years) will reduce. Then, there is also the huge problem of massive foreclosures over-saturating the real estate market. This has the negative effect of ruining equity on real estate throughout the nation. Further problems arise as the economy declines and credit dries up. This can lead to â€Å"bank runs† where customers opt to pull money out of their banks for fear they may lose their savings if the bank goes under. So, yes, just like the horrible ripple effect the asteroid had on the dinosaurs, the subprime crisis is one that affects the whole world as opposed to any one, single contained area. Of course, prior to the asteroid landing, the dinosaurs had no idea how serious the problem would be. They saw it coming but did not expect it to possess such a ripple effect. The dinosaur’s predicament is woefully similar to the predicament facing the economic landscape now that the subprime crisis has reeled out of control. As such, this cartoon is serious call to action and it is made with the intended goal of motivating the public to be ready for the serious ramifications of the subprime crisis. Now, when it comes to the ability to critique the effectiveness of the cartoon we must look at the sum of its parts. Particularly, is imagery also needed to effectively convey the information presented in the cartoon? Of course, it is possible to convey the same information and sentiment. Granted, the words in the cartoon would obviously have to be expanded upon in order to provide the proper context to make sense. However, the biting humor of the cartoon would needlessly be eliminated and replaced by exposition and explanation.. Such an approach would work quite effectively but it would not possess the same power of the cartoon. That is, the cartoon works on a number of levels because it combines visual imagery with ironic wording. In terms of the specific words within the cartoon, however, the presence of the words without the imagery would make little sense since they would be out of context without the presence of the dinosaurs. Now, if one were to keep the image and remove the wording the end result would be disastrous. A visual image of dinosaurs looking up at the sky and seeing an asteroid would convey the concept that an asteroid may have killed them, but it does nothing to promote the ironic notion that the subprime mortgage crisis can cause a similar ripple effect. In short, the value of the cartoon is basically worthless without the presence of the ironic wording. After all, if you were to remove the words from the cartoon would you be able to guess that its subject matter involves the subprime crisis? In all likelihood, making any connection between the dinosaurs and the subprime crisis would be impossible without the appropriate wording. This is neither a good thing nor a bad thing. It is simply an honest assessment of the limitations of the cartoon’s visual imagery. But does it work? It depends. It is odd however, that irony is used as a means of promoting the argument style of persuasion. In a way, the cartoon heralds more than it seeks to persuade. So, really, its goal is not so much to be persuasive since it does not seek to promote a point to the doubting as much as it is a statement of fact. While a statement of fact can persuade some, such a statement is not automatically persuasive. For those who are logic and rational, however, it will have a stronger resonance that mixes pathos with logos. That is, it mixes humorous irony with obviously true facts. In the final analysis, it is safe to say that this particular editorial cartoon is brilliant. It mixes words and images together in an ironic and informative matter that stresses the gravity of the subprime crisis. Of course, the words and images do this well in combination. Separately, they would lack the effectiveness they possess as a tandem. Bibliography Toles, Tom. (2008) â€Å"Unnamed Cartoon†. THE WASHINGTON POST. Retrieved October 5, 2008 from http://www. washingtonpost. com/ wp-dyn/content/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/

Media Literacy Is Not Just Important - 1401 Words

â€Å"Media literacy is not just important, it’s absolutely critical. It’s going to make the difference between whether kids are a tool of the mass media or whether the mass media is a tool for kids to use† (Linda Ellerbee). In a culture enthralled by the media, the concept of â€Å"Media Literacy† has been one that has materialized multiple definitions. But the most commonly used is that media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and produce media in a variety of forms. Since the advent of the media, our society has been laid victims to the beliefs and suggestions being portrayed by the media, molding us into mindless spectators. The ability to understand and analyze media provides us freedom from the subliminal bearings of media. As a result of being in close contact with the media and media related content, it has now become critical for an individual to be able to understand those contents and replicate them. Although the aforementioned definition connotes the importance of media literacy, it doesn’t do it justice by leaving out the key concepts of media literacy. In the article, Understanding New Media Literacy the author identifies those concepts as â€Å"a combination of information skills, conventional literacy skills, and social skills†. It is not only the ability of an individual to question the media and be able to interpret its messages, it is also the ability to hone skills that critical to communicating and advancing in today s society.Show MoreRelatedAnnotated Bibliography of Articles Related to Media Literacy902 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstanding of the role of media literacy for Latino/a high school students. High School Journal 94(4), pp. 167-186. In a qualitative study of a small group of Latino/a high school students, the researchers found that students perceived negative cultural messages in media they were asked to watch. The messages were not obvious to the teachers who selected the media and who were not part of this ethnic group. The study serves as a cautionary tale for teachers when selecting media for their classroomsRead MoreThe Effects Of Mass Media On American Culture951 Words   |  4 PagesEffects of Mass Media Introduction Why is mass media influencing the American culture? This is what we are going to be discussing in this essay. It’s important that we understand where the media has come from and where it is now and the journey that it is taking the American culture in the last century. America has now explored what un-traditional media and it has a major impact on the culture called new media. What were the major developments in the evolution of mass media during the lastRead MoreEssay On Mass Media1277 Words   |  6 PagesHUM/186 September 25, 2017 Allyson Wells INTRODUCTION Mass Media reaches a large part of our audiences today, whether it be from the movies, advertising, the internet, newspapers, magazines, twitter, you tube, Instagram, Facebook and so forth and because of this it can affect how we think and believe, both personally and as a society. Today, I will address three specific areas that product mass media channels have been used and has made a difference, either to me personally, orRead MoreStudy on Technology and Media Literacy With Respect to University Students and Their Professors1079 Words   |  4 PagesThe problem posed in the study concerns technology media literacy with respect to university students and their professors. At the local level, some professors and university librarians may also view media literacy as a problem. Easy access to so many information and entertainment choices now requires that people acquire new knowledge and skills to make wise and responsible decisions (Hobbs, 2011, p. 14). Because technology and entertainment media are part of everyday life for many people, assumptionsRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Social Media769 Words   |  4 Pages Social Media Paper Joshua Yates HUM/186 10/1/2017 Allyson Wells â€Æ' The Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media and Obtainable Information Social media has become an integrated part of our culture and a useful communication tool when properly used. Every day people log on to social media sites to get updates on everything from celebrities, family, and friends to top stories and breaking news. We also use social media in our professional lives. Individuals use social media as a cost-effectiveRead MoreEssay on Mass Media Development and Lieracy Assignment Options908 Words   |  4 PagesMass Media: Development and Literacy Assignment Options Brittnee Green University Of Phoenix HUM/186 Mass Media: Development and Literacy Assignment Options In today’s society mass media has such an influence whether it is positive or negative. It plays an important role in our everyday lives. Mass media affects everyone in the world. The purpose of mass media is everything tied into the advancement of technology and most often education, news, internet, television, magazines, and so muchRead MoreAs Many Of You School Administrators Know, Technology Impacts1174 Words   |  5 Pagesvia media outlets that constantly influences students. Many of my students are media inclined; they are familiar with how to manipulate cellular devices, maneuver video games, how to access YouTube, and other media related things. Herrington and Emmans suggests a media literacy curriculum to redirect â€Å"one of the most powerful influences in the lives of today’s youth,† without it educators and other important figures would lose children’s interest (2002). Per Pat Kipping, the design of media educationRead MoreReflection About Media Literacy Reflection1416 Words   |  6 PagesMedia Literacy Reflection What was the most useful part of the week for you? Media education is an important aptitude for anybody today, particularly for more youthful ages, who are investing increasingly energy devouring the media. The Kaiser Family Foundation as of late found that people going from 8 to 18 years of age spend a normal of 7 hours and 38 minutes expending media. This is a hour and seventeen minutes longer daily than five years prior, a hop which the Kaiser Family Foundation puts downRead MoreApplication Of An Information Literacy Program1735 Words   |  7 Pagesstrong information literacy program is essential when it comes to helping students be able to use information effectively throughout their life. The focus of an information literacy program is not merely to distribute information but should focus on the process of learning. In order to determine if a program will help increase information literacy it is important that we are familiar with the AASL Standards and the State Standards since they are the scope of an information literacy program. TheRead MoreA Digital World Of Information And Communication1625 Words   |  7 Pagescommunication, it is imperative for us to begin thinking about reading and literacy in a new way. Our students must be proficient in what scholars describe as â€Å"new literacies.† This relatively new perspective in literacy instruction acknowledges and investigates the literacy practices that are borne out of digital technology (Houtman, 2013). In today’s world, being a proficient learner requires more than the traditional literacy skills of reading and writing. Students must gain adeptness with the tools