Essay about Managing Diversity in the Workplace - 1449 Words

Introduction The worlds increasing globalization requires more interaction among people from diverse cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds than ever before. People no longer live and work in an insular marketplace; they are now part of a worldwide economy with competition coming from nearly every continent. For this reason, profit and non-profit organizations need diversity to become more creative and open to change. Maximizing and capitalizing on workplace diversity has become an important issue for management today (UCSF). Workplace diversity refers to having a variety of different types of people working together within a place of business. Employee gender, race, religion, sexual preference, physical appearance, family or marital†¦show more content†¦The implicit assumption is that how you want to be treated is how others want to be treated. But when you look at this proverb through a diversity perspective, you begin to ask the question: what does respect look like; does it look the same for everyone? Does it mean saying hello in the morning, or leaving someone alone, or making eye contact when you speak? It depends on the individual. We may share similar values, such as respect or need for recognition, but how we show those values through behavior may be different for different groups or individuals. How do we know what different groups or individuals need? Perhaps instead of using the golden rule, we could use the platinum rule which states: treat others as they want to be treated. Moving our frame of reference from what may be our default view (our way is the best way) to a diversity-sensitive perspective (lets take the best of a variety of ways) will help us to manage more effectively in a diverse work environment (UCSF). Role You have a key role in transforming the organizational culture so that it more closely reflects the values of our diverse workforce. Some of the skills needed are: †¢ an understanding and acceptance of managing diversity concepts †¢ recognition that diversity is threaded through every aspect of management †¢ self-awareness, in terms of understanding your own culture, identity, biases, prejudices, and stereotypes †¢ willingness to challengeShow MoreRelatedManaging Diversity in the Workplace1043 Words   |  5 PagesManaging diverse employees in a multicultural environment proves challenging to managers; yet, increasing diversity in the workplace is very beneficial for an organization. Diverse employees will provide a wider array of talents and will relate better to varied customers. Because managers have more influence than rank-and-file employees, it is imperative that managers commit to diversity of the workforce. Dissimilarities among people due to differences in characteristics can erode companies. FirstlyRead MoreManaging Diversity in the Workplace1356 Words   |  6 Pagesare instances, however, when workplace behavior can get out of hand and be inappropriate, causing a rift between employees. Many companies today hold yearly ethics courses designed to pinpoint an acceptable quality of behavior from their employees and also open up the floor to those who have issues with the company and its policies. Sometimes confronting an issue head on in a supportive environment will help find a positive solution to any issues of harassment or workplace abuse. Harassment should notRead MoreEssay on Managing Diversity in the Workplace1207 Words   |  5 PagesJohn F. Kennedy once said If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools1 Kelli A. Green, Mayra Là ³pez, Allen Wysocki, and Karl Kepner2 Introduction The worlds increasing globalization requires more interaction among people from diverse cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds than ever before. People no longer live and work in an insular marketplace; they are nowRead MoreManaging Diversity Within The Workplace1605 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract- Managing Diversity in the workplace requires a lot of focus, training, and time. This paper gives an insight into the world of management and how diversity plays a big part. It explores the key benefits to putting emphasis on diversity and also how not putting emphasis on diversity could hurt your business. This paper also gives examples on how to go about managing diversity in the workplace. With proper focus on managing diversity, your organization can be at a big advantage. I. INTRODUCTIONRead MoreManaging Diversity in the Workplace Essay1140 Words   |  5 PagesManaging diversity and demographical changes in the workplace presents many dilemmas. Confronted with constant change, management, business educators, and organizational consultants continue to meet the challenges of a new and diverse workforce in a number of ways. Diversity can be defined in numerous ways. Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, and it encompasses all the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. It is all inclusive and recognizesRead MoreManaging Diversity in the Workplace Essay3304 Words   |  14 PagesDiversity in the Workplace Abstract Imagine that you are a highly qualified former Hispanic executive who was recently laid off from a fortune 500 hundred company. Within that company you held several key roles in which you were crucial to the success of the organization. In the prior roles you may have never really understood the need or the process of managing diversity. You hold several advanced degrees in key business fields despite all of your experience education and the economy flourishingRead More Managing Diversity in the Workplace Essay1900 Words   |  8 Pagesexercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion. -- Max de Pree Workplaces today have become increasingly diverse with employees of different genders, races, cultures, ethnic origins, and lifestyles. Changes in the cultural make-up of organizations have been so vast that it has become imperative for leaders and supervisors to understand cultural diversity and how it canRead MoreManaging Diversity And Equality Within The Workplace2677 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction Managing diversity and equality effectively in the workplace is the core responsibility of any organization in the contemporary business world. Shen, Chanda, D’Netto and Monga (2009) conducted a survey whose results revealed the massive diversity within the British society in terms of ethnicity, nationality and religion. As a result, the Equality Act of 2010 was formulated and became law whose provisions focus on legal protection against discrimination based on gender re-assignment,Read More Managing Diversity and Ethics in the Workplace - 12979 Words   |  12 Pages Managing Diversity and Ethics in the Workplace Introduction There steps leaders and managers can take to effectively manage diversity and ethics concerns. How a manager effectively manages ethics and diversity, within the organization is directly correlated to the cultural, organizational and external environment influence ethical behavior. One of the step’s leaders and managers can take is to incorporate diversity training of the organization. Read MoreManaging Workplace Diversity Essay1219 Words   |  5 PagesDiversity is a term used most often to describe the different types of race, religion, and nationalities but in today’s business world, it is used to describe the different individual behaviors of employees. Diversity is about characteristics and demographics that differ from person to person and how they affect human behavior. To understand how diversity affects the work place let us look at four types of diversity--Differences in skill and abilities, Values and attitudes, Occupation differences

The Philippines A Struggling Economy - 1620 Words

The Philippines has long been a country with a struggling economy. Ever since World War II, they have struggled to have a steady government and labor system. Independence did not bring any social changes to the country. The hacienda system still persists in the country, where large estates are farmed by sharecroppers. More the half the population are peasants and 20 percent of the population owns 60 percent of the land. Although the sharecropper is supposed to receive half of the harvest, most of the peasants actual income goes to paying off debts to the landowner. Poverty and conflict strained the industrial growth of the country with many Presidents trying to fix the problems, but failing to do so. Factors that have faced the†¦show more content†¦It has become a serious problem particularly in Manila. Authorities have acknowledges an average of 18 murders are committed in the country every day and kidnappings, rapes, and drug related crimes are also frequent. The high level of crime is a reason why foreign investors do not favor the Philippines, and is a factor in the fall in tourists. Organized crime within the Philippines mainly deals with drug-trafficking. The huge sums earned in the drug trade attract politicians, law enforcement officials, and leading business figures, which undermine attempts to reduce official corruption. There have been many political figures who have been accused of having cooperated with one of the drug gangs while heading a national police. The Philippines has had little success in stopping the drug problems within the country. Companies within the Philippines which include foreign firms are very concerned with the crime that is rampant within the country, which hurts the economy if there are no businesses willing to take the risk in investing their money into the country. The Philippines is one of the largest island groups in the world. There are more then 7,100 islands which extend 1,851 km north to south. There are 84.6 million people living on the islands of the Philippines with very high densities in the metropolitan areas like Manila, and the neighboring areas of Central Luzon. Trends that have been occurring are that people are living less inShow MoreRelatedPhilippines: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back740 Words   |  3 Pages Philippines: one step forward, two steps back Even though today’s world seems to advance their still seems to be one very serious and large issue, poverty and hunger. This issue is seen in lots of nations across the world, but it’s seen more in third world countries in East Asia, Africa, and South America. After many natural disasters and multiple changes in the form of government the country of the Philippines seems to have a high number of people living in poverty and starvation. Due to theRead MoreEssay on The Phillippines Economy1234 Words   |  5 PagesThe Phillippines Economy Over the past few years, the Philippines economy has undergone a remarkable transformation. In the late 80s and early 90s the Philippines were stuck with poor political leadership, economic growth, and slow paced economic development. Today it is recognized globally that the Filipino economy has turned around to produce a positive growth. One of their biggest accomplishments has been the GNP growth rate rise from zero in the early nineties to between 5% andRead MoreThe Indonesian National Awakening1452 Words   |  6 Pagesthe old Sultanates and Ethic-Chinese business elites. Thus, the majority of the population, farmers and coolie workers, could not sympathize with such a movement. Moreover, the British handed independence to Malaysia, whereas Indonesia and the Philippines had to fight for the freedom of their nation. Sidel argued that the â€Å"patchwork† nature of Great Britain’s colonial rule led to the creation of a â€Å"patchwork† Malaysia, which has still failed to fully unite, which sharply contrast colonialism inRead MoreMy Experience With The Filipino Community1099 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican Dream my parents moved to the Pearl of the Orient, the Philippines. I lived in the Philippines from the ages of one to five. My mannerisms, my culture, my language was formed by the Filipino community. When people would ask me where I was from or what nationality I was, I would always say I was Filipina. In 2003, my parents decided to leave the Philippines and since then we have not been back. Being away from the Philippines for so long, I have developed what Filipinos describe as mailiwRead MoreEmerging Markets : The Main Driver For Global Economy947 Words   |  4 PagesEmerging markets are considered as the main driver for global economy since Financial Crisis 2008 because emerging markets remained robust as economic growth held mostly steady. Developed economies, on the other hand, were struggling with the consequences of financial crisis (PwC, 2014). However, developing countries’ overall expansion is predicted to fall by 3.8% according to Credit Suisse Group’s latest report (Kennedy, 2015). This is due to government in emerging countries such as China and IndiaRead MoreEssay on Sex Tourism in the Philippines1181 Words   |  5 Pagesproves to be one of the major contributors to the economy of the Philippines. Main attractions for foreign tourists supposedly are the famous islands and beaches found throughout in the country though apparently these aren’t the only attractions why foreign men pay to visit the Philippines now these days. These other so called â€Å"attractions† are Filipinas working as prostitutes. Though it may not be that surprising anymore, since the Philippines is ranked as the 4th among the top ten countries toRead MoreAmerica s The American Dream1277 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States. ‘’The Filipino American community is the second largest Asian American group in the U.S. with a population of over 3.4 million as of the 2010. (‘’Demographics of Filipino Americans’’). Philippine immigration began with colonization of the Philippines as a U.S. territory. When the Philippines gained its independence from the U.S. it left an impression on the Filipino people. Many Filipinos felt that immigrating to the U.S. would be an opportunity to live a life like the Americans who leftRead MoreApush990 Words   |  4 Pages for God, and for the economy. As the people of the United States progressed both socially and economically, the methods of expansionism evolv ed from non-interference to democratic control, all the while struggling to stay true to the ideals of the forefathers. The departures have grown on a parallel with US power. The growth of the navy gained bargaining power for the US. With our big stick we had the means to venture into non contiguous lands, such as the Philippines and even China. We beganRead MoreEssay about Detente and the Cold War1017 Words   |  5 PagesThe United States developed into a world super power following World War II. Many of the Allies were deeply affected by the war financially and were struggling, thus leaving a vacuum that needed to be filled. The United States was thrust into the position of â€Å"policing† and assisting nations around the world. The Cold War was in many ways a psychological illusion however there were many factors that led to this illusion which were well founded. The Cold War stemmed from a multitude of factorsRead More The Rise Of A Nation: United States Becomes The Number One Super Power1133 Words   |  5 Pageskeep these new nations from really prospering while exploiting their n atural resources for American business. Take for example the Panama Canal; put in place by the American government and funded by American business. It helped fuel the American economy; as well as showed the United States military might, and made it clear that the Monroe Doctrine was not a joke. This helped the United States become the super power of the America’s. This also helped fuel the start of the Spanish American War.

Planning Steps Workforce Planning Strategy - 1412 Words

Planning Steps Workforce planning strategy. In analyzing the results of this gap analysis, it was noted that the department must plan strategically to properly address its workforce planning and development needs. Such planning would provide AGD with flexibility in its workforce and the ability to identify skills across the department which might be deployed to flexible work teams. A number of concerns, constraints or risks were identified which needed to be taken into account in the development and maintenance of a workforce planning strategy. Step 1: Identify Workforce Issues. Step 1: Employers Identify Workforce Issues tied to changes in strategic business plan and other new business initiatives. Go straight to developing workforce proposals, strategies, and programs. Employing Organization Workforce Functions The employing organization has to identify needed competencies and for building the future workforce through strategic recruitment, training, development, and retention techniques by: Step 1: Plan the Workforce Function. Identify Work Functions, Identify the work functions that must be performed in order to accomplish in accordance with strategic plans. Step 2: Identify Workforce Goals. Workforce goals are broad, high-level statements that address the key workforce issues. They describe the desired outcomes, but do not include specific strategies or performance measures. Identify Staffing Requirements. Identify the staffing, both in number of staff andShow MoreRelatedHuman Resource Planning : The Organization s Long Term Goals And Strategies Essay1082 Words   |  5 PagesStrategic Planning are the procedures for making decisions about the organization’s long-term goals and strategies. Human Resource Planning (HRP) is the process of anticipating and making provision for the movement (flow) of people into, within, and out of an organization. Strategic Human Resources Management (SHRM) is the pattern of human resources deployments and activities that enable an organization to achieve its strategic goals. Strategy formulation provides input as to what is possible givenRead MoreHuman Resource Development : Strategic Growth Of The Overall Company Essay1426 Words   |  6 PagesStrategic planning helps a company to predict and manage their future needs based on their trends in business while human resource planning helps a business implement thei r recruiting methods based on the needs of a department in the business and the needs of the consumers. Each of these things go hand in hand with one another and they help make the overall company more successful and reliable in the eye of not only its employees but the people who choose to buy or use them in any way. This paperRead MoreHuman Resource Management : The Management Of An Organization1250 Words   |  5 Pagesand overseeing policies governing employee behaviour and the behaviour of the company towards its employee. 1. STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Strategy is about deciding where you want to go and how u mean to get there. A strategy is a declaration of intent: This is what we want to do and this is how we intend to do it. Strategies defines longer term goals but they are more concerned with how these goals should be achieved. Strategic human resource management defines the organization’sRead MoreAction plans1415 Words   |  6 Pagesof action plans, and the effectiveness of action plans in the workforce. Paul Thoresen states, â€Å"action planning should be an interactive process involving both management and employees because it allows more generated ideas, spreads out accountability for successful results in job performances† (Thoresen, 2014, p.1). On another note, the other articles define and provide precise information regarding action planning in the workforce. This paper analyzes and summarizes three different articles, includingRead MoreDeveloping A Human Resource Strategy For Effective Job Performan ce829 Words   |  4 Pagesapproach to developing a human resource strategy for effective job performance. As a matter of fact, the specific approach will vary from organization to organization. Even so, the literature reviewed so far and a consideration of the organizational culture that pertains in the National Commission for Civic Education makes the model presented below an excellent approach. This conceptual model identifies six specific steps in developing an effective human resource strategy: a) Setting the strategic directionRead MoreLimitations to Hr Planning1743 Words   |  7 Pages | Question: Examine the limitation to Human Resource Planning. What you advocate as the measures for dealing with identified limitations? Definition of Human Resource Management It is proposed that we take human resource management to be that part of management concerned with: All the decisions, strategies, factors, principles, operations, practices, functions, activities and methods related to the management of people as employeesRead MoreWorkforce Planning - State of New York1405 Words   |  6 PagesPage 1 Assignment 2 Our Workforce Matters A guide to work force and succession planning for New York state agencies Orla Spetrini February 5, 2012 The Workforce Matters guide for New York State agencies is a very valuable guide and relevant in 2012. It provides insight into the agency staff by recognizing the aging workforce and upcoming retirement; it recognizes the knowledge, experience and institutional memory that will leave the company once these long term employees leave.Read MoreHuman Resource Management933 Words   |  4 PagesHuman Resource Planning Definition: Human Resources Planning is defined as the process of assessing an organization’s human resources needs in the light of organizational goals and changing condition and making plans to ensure that a competent, stable workforce is employed. The actual planning process will vary a great deal from organization to organization As defined by Bulla and Scott (1994), human resource planning is ‘the process for ensuring that the human resource requirements of anRead MoreThe Challenges Of The World War II1502 Words   |  7 Pagesin technology and medical advances have led to a prolonged life expectancy. Unfortunately, this has also led to a severe skew in the labour markets all over the world where the baby boomers led to a disproportionate distribution of workers in the workforce. Most of the current workers, who have both high education and extensive experience, are on the verge of retirement today, creating both worker and skill shortages in many sectors. However, these shortages are most likely to be experienced greatlyRead MoreHuman Resource Planning Process For Human Resources804 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction to the Topic The reading for this assignment covered human resource management. Items discussed in this chapter were the importance of human resource management in an organization, the planning process for human resources, how a manager needs to be familiar with U.S. federal laws and regulations, the steps in the employment process, and current issues faced by human resources. According to Dunlap Garvin (2010), good employees can be the key to success in an organization. A human resources

Benefits Of Customer Service Experience - 1592 Words

Too often excellent customer service is seen as just doing whatever the customer asks. It isn t. And that s not realistic. You won’t always be able to give your customers everything they want whenever they want it. Other books you’ll read will tell you to just do it, give the customer what they want, just make it happen, whatever it is. That’s not realistic. You know it and I know it. Just because you can’t do it, or because something won’t happen right away it doesn’t excuse you continuing to build the customer service experience. Even in those moments when the customer is on hold, or when they’re waiting for what is being worked on, customer service is still happening. And keeping your customers up-to-date on the events taking place is critical to ensuring that an exceptional experience happens even when customers can’t get instant service. Every organization can have exceptional customer service, even those working with the most complex customer processes, if they can provide effective status updates to the customer: (As I go through these, I think of banks, mortgage companies, airlines, telecoms, and other service companies with traditionally bad customer service reputations.) The Need for Useful, Specific Status Updates Customers want to be able to track the status of their process/service/product. They want to be able to get an update on that item when they contact your organization. Think about it, have you ever had someone complain because you were too specific inShow MoreRelatedBusiness Analysis : Climate Design1057 Words   |  5 PagesDesign targets a specific customer base who will appreciate the high standards they set for themselves in regards to quality, service, and reputation. My role within Climate Design is as the residential sales and marketing manager. I am responsible for managing sales consultants and service technicians, restructuring the residential department to improve processes, implement efficiencies, drive customer satisfaction, in addition to increasing sales revenue. Model 1: Customer Value and the Value CreationRead MoreCUSTOMER SERVICE PLAN SAMPLE Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ [Insert Department Name] [Insert Department Logo] Customer Service Plan [Insert Date] This template includes directions and examples. Please remove all text in italics and replace with content for your Department’s customer service plan. Please note that the total length of your plan should be approximately ten pages. Executive Summary The Executive Summary should be 1-1.5 pages. In this section, provide an overview of the purpose of the document, thatRead MoreService Dominant Logic As A Marketing Strategy915 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Service-Dominant Logic is the concept of treating a product as a providing of service. Instead of viewing the product as an exchange transaction, the provider received the money and the consumer takes the product, the managers must view them as a tool that will supports a service that the customer will receive ad benefit from. This is to make consumers more satisfied, have a good experience, the existing problem have been solved, etc; all of which contributes in creating ‘value’ forRead MoreLiterature Review : Key Concepts Theories And Theories1125 Words   |  5 Pagesproposed a theoretical model in which they discussed how service environment stimulates the customer’s emotions and there by influences their behavioural intentions. In this model quality of a customer’s experience is measured by measuring the emotions of pleasure, arousal and dominance (PAD). Pleasure comes from happiness or satisfaction, arousal is derived from excitement based on environm ent stimulations and dominance as the ability of the customer to control the environment or feeling in control. Read MoreThe Rise Of Social Media1248 Words   |  5 PagesWhile the benefits of customer service and customer success are plentiful, many businesses still don’t pay enough attention to good customer service. This is partly because in the past, companies were a bit less likely to suffer greatly even if they didn’t always put the customer first. But the technological revolution has changed the way businesses need to look at customer service. The above benefits have become even more relevant and getting the customer service culture right can make or breakRead MoreStarbucks : The Essential Element Of The Starbucks Experience1112 Words   |  5 Pagesimprovising the products the sell, but engaging the customer’s experience. The service provided is given in a personalized way which includes of personal greetings, memorizing the favorite order of each customer, providing a genuine friendly environment and relating to the customer which is the essential element of the Starbucks experience. I choose this company because everything is so positive about the company and how they relate to the customer. I believe this is part of the reason why Starbucks hasRead MoreOnline And Email Customer Service Essay916 Words   |  4 Pagesemail customer service has become one of the most important aspects of a business. Consumers are rel ying more on technology to solve problems and face-to-face customer service is becoming less relevant. But what is online and email customer service all about and how can it benefit your business? This guide will answer these questions and look at the key steps you need to take in order to create a viable online and email customer service strategy. What is online and email customer service? CustomerRead MoreThe Importance of Marketing1341 Words   |  5 PagesMarketing helps the business to develop a strong brand, inform the customers about new products or services, influence consumers in some way to buy specific products, assist with sales and provide up-selling services. American Marketing Association (AMA) describes marketing as the set of actions and processes within the company that generate, communicate and deliver offers that have some sort of value for the customers and the general public (link to source). Dr. Philip Kotler provides another descriptionRead MoreSample Resume : Customer Service Training Proposal Essay1676 Words   |  7 Pages Customer Service Training Proposal For GetYourStuff.com 43 North East Street, Campbell Submitted to: Daniel Joseph Director-Customer Service Submitted by: Stephen Josh Team Lead-Customer Service Read MoreCustomer Relationship Management Essay919 Words   |  4 Pages The main goal of Customer relationship management is to create a strong bond between customers and the company. The strong bond can be build by focusing on the two main objectives of CRM. Providing the organization and all of the employees that treat customers with a single and complete view of every customer at every touch point and across all channels and providing the customer a single and complete view of the company and its extended channels (O’Brien, A Marakas, G. 2004). To provide tools

Stefan’s Diaries Origins Chapter 12 Free Essays

I’m not sure if it was the fresh air or the flowers Emily had brought me, but I slept soundly that night. The next morning I woke up to bright sunlight in my chambers and, for the first time since Rosalyn’s death, didn’t bother to drink the concoction Cordelia had left on my nightstand. The smell of cinnamon and eggs floated up from the kitchen, and I heard the snort of the horses as Alfred hitched them outside. We will write a custom essay sample on Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 12 or any similar topic only for you Order Now For a second, I felt a thrill of possibility and the nascent bud of happiness. â€Å"Stefan!† my father boomed on the other side of the door, rapping three times with his walking stick or riding crop. Just like that, I remembered all that had transpired in the past week, and my malaise returned. I remained silent, hoping he’d simply go away. But instead he swung the door open. He was wearing his riding breeches and carried his black riding crop, a smile on his face and a sprig of a violet flower in his lapel. It was neither pretty nor fragrant; in fact, it looked like one of the herbs Cordelia grew down by the servants’ quarters. â€Å"We’re going riding,† Father announced as he swung open the shutters. I shaded my eyes against the glare. Was the world always so bright? â€Å"This chamber needs to be cleaned and you, my boy, need sun.† â€Å"But I should really attend to my studies,† I said, gesturing limply to the volume of Macbeth open on my desk. Father took the book and closed it with a definitive clap. â€Å"I need to speak to you and Damon, away from any prying ears.† He glanced suspiciously around the chambers. I followed his gaze but saw nothing except for a collection of dirty dishes that Cordelia hadn’t yet cleared. As if on cue, Damon strode into the room, wearing a pair of mustard-colored breeches and his gray Confederate coat. â€Å"Father!† Damon rolled his eyes. â€Å"Don’t tell me you’re on about that demon nonsense again.† â€Å"It’s not nonsense!† Father roared. â€Å"Stefan, I’ll see you and your brother at the stable,† he said, turning on his heel and striding out. Damon shook his head, then followed him, leaving me to change. I put on my full riding costume–a gray waistcoat and brown breeches–and sighed, not sure I had enough strength to ride or to endure another marathon bickering session between my father and brother. When I opened the door, I found Damon standing at the bottom of the curved staircase, waiting. â€Å"Feeling better, brother?† Damon asked as we walked out the door and across the lawn together. I nodded, even as I noticed the spot under the willow tree where I’d found Rosalyn. The grass willow tree where I’d found Rosalyn. The grass was long and bright green, and squirrels were darting around the tree’s gnarled trunk. Sparrows chirped, and the drooping branches of the weeping willow looked lush and full of promise. There was no sign that anything had been amiss. I breathed a sigh of relief when we reached the stable, inhaling the familiar, loved scent of well- oiled leather and sawdust. â€Å"Hi, girl,† I whispered into Mezzanotte’s velvety ear. She whinnied in appreciation. Her coat seemed silky-smooth, even more so than the last time I’d brushed it. â€Å"Sorry I haven’t come to visit you, but it looks like my brother’s taken good care of you.† â€Å"Actually, Katherine’s taken a shine to her. Which is too bad for her own horses.† Damon smiled fondly as he jerked his chin to two coal- black mares in the corner. Indeed, they were stamping their feet and staring at the ground dejectedly, as if to express just how ignored and lonely they were. â€Å"Y ou’ve been spending quite a bit of time with Katherine,† I said finally. It was a statement, not a question. Of course he had been. Damon always had an ease around women. I knew he knew women, especially after his year in the Confederate army. He’d told me stories about some of the women he’d met in cities like Atlanta and Lexington that had made me blush. Did he know Katherine? â€Å"I have been,† Damon said, swinging his leg over the back of his horse, Jake. He didn’t elaborate. â€Å"Ready, boys?† Father called, his horse impatiently stamping its feet. I nodded and fell into stride behind Damon and Father as we headed to the Wickery Bridge, all the way on the other end of the property. We crossed the bridge and continued on into the forest. I blinked in relief. The sunlight had been too bright. I much preferred the dark shadows of the trees. The woods were cool, with wet leaves covering the forest floor, even though there hadn’t been a rainstorm recently. The leaves were so thick, you could see only slight patches of blue sky, and occasionally I’d hear the rustle of a raccoon or badger in the underbrush. I tried not to think of the animal noises as coming from the beast that had attacked Rosalyn. We continued riding into the forest until we reached the clearing. Father abruptly stopped and hitched his horse to a birch tree. I obediently hitched Mezzanotte to a tree and glanced around. The clearing was marked by a collection of rocks set up in a rough circle, above which the trees parted to provide a natural window to the sky. I hadn’t been there in ages, not since before Damon went away. When we were boys, we used to play illicit card games here with the other fellows in town. Everyone knew the clearing was the place boys came to gamble, girls came to gossip, and everyone came to spill their secrets. If Father really meant to keep our conversation quiet, he’d have been better off taking us to the tavern to talk. â€Å"We’re in trouble,† Father said without preamble, glancing up at the sky. I followed his gaze, expecting to see a fast-moving summer storm. Instead, the sky was spotless and blue. I found no solace in this beautiful day. I was still haunted by Rosalyn’s lifeless eyes. â€Å"We’re not, Father,† Damon said thickly. â€Å"Y ou know who’s in trouble? All of the soldiers fighting this godforsaken war for this cause you’ve made me try to believe in. The problem is the war and your incessant need to find conflict everywhere you turn.† Damon angrily stomped his feet, reminding me so much of Mezzanotte that I stifled the urge to laugh. â€Å"I will not have you talk back to me!† Father said, shaking his fist at Damon. I glanced back and forth at the two of them, as though I were watching a tennis match. Damon towered over Father’s sloping shoulders, and for the first time I realized that Father was getting old. Damon put his hands on his hips. â€Å"Then talk. Let’s hear what you have to say.† I expected Father to shout, but instead he crossed to one of the rocks, his knees creaking as he bent to sit. â€Å"Y want to know why I left Italy? ou I left it for you. For my future children. I knew I wanted my sons to grow and marry and have children on land I owned and land I loved. And I do love this land, and I will not watch it be destroyed by demons,† Father said, flinging his hands wildly. I stepped back, and Mezzanotte whinnied a long, plaintive note. â€Å"Demons,† he repeated, as if to prove his point. â€Å"Demons?† Damon snorted. â€Å"More like big dogs. Don’t you see it’s talk like this that will make you lose everything? Y say you want a good life ou for us, but you’re always deciding how we’ll live that life. Y made me go to war and made Stefan ou get engaged, and now you’re making us believe your fairy tales,† Damon yelled in frustration. I glanced at Father guiltily. I didn’t want him to know I hadn’t loved Rosalyn. But Father didn’t look at me. He was too busy glowering at Damon. â€Å"All I wanted was for my boys to have the best. I know what we’re facing, and I do not have time for your schoolboy arguments. I am not telling tales right now.† Father glanced back at me, and I forced myself to look into his dark eyes. â€Å"Please understand. There are demons who walk among us. They existed in the old country, too. They walked the same earth, talked like humans. But they wouldn’t drink like humans.† â€Å"Well, if they don’t drink wine, that would be a blessing, wouldn’t it?† Damon asked sarcastically. blessing, wouldn’t it?† Damon asked sarcastically. I stiffened. I remembered all the times after Mother had died that Father would drink too much wine or whiskey, lock himself in the study, then mumble late into the night about ghosts or demons. â€Å"Damon!† Father said, his voice even sharper than my brother’s. â€Å"I will ignore your impudence. But I will not have you ignore me. Listen to me, Stefan.† Father turned toward me. â€Å"What you saw happen to your young Rosalyn wasn’t natural. It wasn’t one of Damon’s coyotes,† Father said, practically spitting out the word. â€Å"It was un vampiro. They were in the old country, and now they’re here,† Father said, screwing up his florid face. â€Å"And they are doing harm. They’re feeding on us. And we need to stop it.† â€Å"What do you mean?† I asked nervously, any trace of exhaustion or dizziness gone. All I felt was fear. I thought back to Rosalyn, but this time, instead of remembering her eyes, I remembered the blood on her throat, having flowed from the two precise circles on the side of her neck. I touched my own neck, feeling the pulse of blood beneath my skin. The rush below my fingers sped up as I felt my heart skip a beat. Could Father be †¦ right? â€Å"Father means that he’s been spending too much time listening to the church ladies tell their tales. Father, this is a story that would be told to scare a child. And not a very clever one. Everything you’re saying is nonsense.† Damon shook his head and angrily stood from his perch on the tree stump. â€Å"I will not sit around and be told ghost stories.† With that, he turned on his gold- buttoned boot and swung his foot up over Jake’s back, gazing down at Father, as if daring him to say one more thing. â€Å"Mark my words,† Father said, taking a step closer to me. â€Å"Vampires are among us. They look like us and can live among us, but they are not who we are. They drink blood. It is their elixir of life. They do not have souls, and they never die. They are forever immortal.† The word immortal made me suck in my breath. The wind changed, and the leaves began rustling. I shivered. â€Å"Vampires,† I repeated slowly. I’d heard the word once before, when Damon and I were schoolchildren and used to gather on the Wickery Bridge, trying to scare our friends. One boy had told us of seeing a figure kneeling down in the woods, feasting on the neck of a deer. The boy told us he had screamed and the figure had turned to him with hellred eyes, blood dripping from long, sharp teeth. A vampire, he said with conviction, glancing around the circle to see if he’d impressed any of us. But because he’d been pale and scrawny and not any good at shooting, we’d laughed and mocked him mercilessly. He and his family had moved to Richmond the next year. â€Å"Well, I’d take vampires over an insane father,† Damon said, kicking Jake’s flanks and riding off into the sunset. I turned toward Father, expecting an angry tirade. But Father simply shook his head. â€Å"Do you believe me, son?† he asked. I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure what I believed. All I knew was that somehow, in the past week, the whole world had changed, and I wasn’t sure where I fit in anymore. â€Å"Good.† Father nodded as we rode out of the forest and onto the bridge. â€Å"We must be careful. It seems the war has awakened the vampires. It’s as if they can smell blood.† The word blood echoed in my mind as we directed our horses to walk away from the cemetery and toward the shortcut through the fields that would lead to the pond. In the distance, I could see the sun reflecting on the pond’s surface. No one would ever imagine this verdant, rolling land as being a place where demons walked. Demons, if they existed at all, belonged in the old country, amid the decrepit churches and castles Father had grown up with. All the words Father said were familiar, but they sounded so strange in the place where he was saying them. Father glanced around as if to make sure no one was hiding in the bushes near the bridge. The horses were walking alongside the graveyard now, the headstones bright and imposing in the now, the headstones bright and imposing in the warm summer light. â€Å"Blood is what they feed on. It gives them power.† â€Å"But then †¦,† I said, as the information whirled in my brain. â€Å"If they are immortal, then how are we to †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Kill them?† Father asked, finishing my thought. He pulled the reins on his horse. â€Å"There are methods. I’ve been learning. I’ve heard there’s a priest in Richmond who can try to exorcise them, but then people in town know †¦ some things,† he finished. â€Å"Jonathan Gilbert and Sheriff Forbes and I have discussed some preliminary measures.† â€Å"If there’s anything I can do †¦,† I offered finally, unsure what to say. â€Å"Of course,† Father said brusquely. â€Å"I expect you to be part of our committee. For starters, I’ve been talking to Cordelia. She knows her herbs, and she says there’s a plant called vervain.† Father’s hand fluttered to the flower on his lapel. â€Å"We will come up with a plan. And we will prevail. Because while they may have immortality, we have God on our side. It is kill or be killed. Do you understand me, boy? This is the war you’re being drafted to fight.† I nodded, feeling the full weight of the responsibility on my shoulders. Maybe this was what I was meant to be doing: not getting married or going off to war, but fighting an unnatural evil. I met Father’s gaze. â€Å"I’ll do whatever you want,† I said. â€Å"Anything.† The last thing I saw before I galloped back to the stable was the huge grin on Father’s face. â€Å"I knew you would, son. Y are a true Salvatore.† How to cite Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 12, Essay examples

Programming as an Art free essay sample

Throughout my public school career, teachers taught me to memorize formulas and apply them to specific types of problems. In math class, I learned trigonometric proofs and how to apply them to my homework problems, and in English, I relearned how to write a five paragraph essay every year. Looking back on my experiences, I feel that the public schools cheated me in one vital area: critical thinking. If a unique problem appeared in math class, it would take me a while to complete it, or I might just give up before I started, and the essays I wrote had become so generic, they were all basically the same. My ability to apply my knowledge, to critically think, had never been encouraged, and as a result, I suffered. My boring problems all changed to interesting ones when my friend introduced me to programming. Scott was a genius; he could write a program to solve any problem on a Texas Instruments calculator. We will write a custom essay sample on Programming as an Art or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He taught slowly, deliberately, but his teachings were unparalleled. After his lessons, programming on my calculator became my siren. It would call to me in math class, in English class, in any class. I could not escape it, and I did not want to. Everywhere I went, I brought a calculator with me just to get my fix. Eventually I moved on to bigger and better languages such as C++, a programming language used in computers. As I became more competent, I started to solve my own issues. I needed a program to play tic tac toe? No problem. What about compute some data using an algorithm? Easy. With my dive into programming, my critical thinking skills drastically improved. Instead of quitting when faced with a unique problem, I started to think about the basic principles that needed to be applied and could then easily solve it. I easily applied this skill set to the rest of my schooling, resulting in improved math grades and more varied essays. Everything seemed to benefit from my choice t o learn programming. As I came to find out, programming did not just help with school, it helped improve other parts of my life as well, namely connecting with others through empathy. Music class always seemed to occupy my life since the fifth grade, and when I discovered programming I realized the two were quite similar. Consider what happens when you perform music: you look over a set of notes and then interpret them for the audience. Simple in concept but difficult in reality. It is up to the performer to add a little nuance here or a pause there, making the piece of music their own. Programming requires this same creativity. When presented with a problem, you have to figure out how you will go about solving it. The programmer can choose to add in a certain function or optimize one that already exists. How you choose to structure your program to solve a problem is just like interpreting a piece of music. The interpretation of notes changes a piece of music into art. Similarly, the way the developer goes about solving a problem, interpreting the problem, changes his program into art. But what is art? Art is unique expression that creates empathy with the audience. With a piece of music, you can portray feeling and thought through the structure of the music, sharing with the audience how you feel, your art. A program can do the same. Think about applications on mobile phones today. What problems developers choose to solve and how they present their solutions expresses how the developer feels and think about a certain problem. By taking the time to provide a solution, the developer shares his thoughts and ideals, his art. Whenever artists share their art, they establish empathy between people. By viewing the art of someone else, you are almost compelled to imagine the situation the artist lives in, and through this imagining, some understanding of the artist is gained and connections form. Just as a sad movement of music can bring an audience to tears because of the connection made with the performer, a connection between the developer and the user can form through using his progr am. It’s odd to think about. How would using someone’s program create empathy? It does not just come from using someone’s program. Empathy comes from the curiosity created when you use the program. From my experience and knowledge of programming stems a curiosity to figure out why a program exists and how it works. By trying to understand the developer’s motivations, I can empathize with him and understand him. Take the famous game: Cut the Rope; I love this game and with every new release of levels I proceed to play through them all. As I do, I wonder about why the game seems fun, and how the developer designed the game to achieve such entertainment. I contemplate how they would have solved issues that immediately arise in my mind like the implementation of gravity or how to effectively integrate a trampoline into the gameplay. Through the developers art and my curiosity, empathy arises, giving me an appreciation and understanding of their art. However, what turns his program into art is my curiosity, and that mainly exists because of my background with programming. In my opinion, most people do not ever attempt to program and as a result take all of the technology around them for granted. For this reason, I feel programming should be taught regularly in public schools, or at the very least highly promoted as an important class. Some might argue, why is this necessary? Other vocational and fine arts provide the same benefits: an expression of oneself and an ability to share art and empathize with people. It could even be argued that such classes also teach critical thinking. However, I think programming is more worthwhile than any other class because of its growing prevalence in our culture. As I witnessed in my high school, the number of people actually interested in learning about programming has been a minority compared to the number of people who will take band and then forgo performing once they get out of high school. But take a look at computer usage in the world over the past ten years: computer processing power has increased exponentially and the number of people with smart phones has surpassed the number with â€Å"dumb† phones. With the advent of increased smart phone adoption, the prevalence of applications and the amount of usage they see has greatly increased over the past few years whereas the usefulness of reading music has dwindled. Even most upper level schooling depends upon software to make the school work as efficiently as possible. With such prevalence of software in our daily lives, I think the basic principles behind the software should be taught in schools, and with this will come all of the other benefits. The art expressed through progr amming will be available to a larger audience than before, connections created through empathy will increase between developers and users, and above all, critical thinking skills will easily improve in students who miss this vital part of education from their other subjects. With the way the public school system currently operates, I feel the addition of programming to the curriculum would greatly improve people’s understanding and appreciation of software and computers. The connections made between people through programming’s art form will increase because of the curiosity created. Last, critical thinking skills, which are vital to be a productive member of society, will greatly improve.