Student Nurses Perceptions of Gender Essay Example for Free

Student Nurses Perceptions of Gender Essay Though they may be half a world away, nursing schools in India face problems similar to those in the United States when it comes to recruiting men. The results of this research of nursing students in Pondicherry, India, may surprise you. by S. Sridevy, B. S. N. , M. S. N. , M. A. , M. Phil. †¢ RSS †¢ Print †¢ E-mail †¢ Comment †¢ MN 2011 Spring [pic] Though they may be half a world away, nursing schools in India face problems similar to those in the United States when it comes to recruiting men. The following study sought to discern the opinions of 78 senior nursing students studying in and around Pondicherry, India, regarding gender roles in their field. It aimed to determine the following: 1. Whether nursing students have different opinions of what professional roles male and female nurses should occupy. 2. Whether gender affects the image and status of the nursing profession. The results of the survey indicated that most of the nursing students prefer men to occupy administrative or teaching positions. Additionally, there were statistically significant results between female and male students perceptions surrounding the effect of males on the image and status of nursing. These findings may impact local nursing education recruitment programs for both men and women, and perhaps the health service organization as a whole. Men in nursing Though they still represent a slim minority, men are increasingly pursuing careers in nursing, attracted by abundant job opportunities, good salaries, and the opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives. This is in no small part due to the fact that the nursing profession has worked for years to dispel misconceptions surrounding men in this female-dominated field. What is interesting about todays perceptions of gender in nursing is that until the days of Florence Nightingale in the late 19th century, nursing was a male-dominated profession. 1  Nightingale considered nursing a suitable job for women because it was an extension of their domestic roles. Her image of the nurse as nurturing, domestic, humble, and self-sacrificing became prevalent. Qualities associated with women, like compassion and dependency, align with those often attributed to nurses. 2  In modern times, the social construction of the role of a nurse has typically meant a caring, hardworking woman. Nursing, in the span of Nightingales lifetime, became identified as a profession deeply embedded in the female gender. 3 On the other side of the gender divide, men who enter nursing may still face questions about their masculinity or sexuality. Sociologists describe sex role socialization as instrumental for men and expressive for women. The characteristics of instrumental socialization include aggression and the ability to compete, lead, and wield power to accomplish tasks. Expressive socialization includes learning to nurture and be sensitive to needs of others. Many female dominated positions, including nursing, have difficulty attracting male recruits. This can be attributed in part to issues such as status and pay, but also to the gender stereotyping of the profession. Although the number of males in nursing has increased in recent years, the underlying feminization of nursing is still an important issue.   Persistent and outdated gender stereotypes are a big part of the problem. [pic] Today, men still only make up between 5%–10% of the nursing workforce in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Although its a small percentage, todays statistics actually represent an over 20% increase in the number of male nurses in the past two decades. 5There are many supposed reasons for the lack of men in nursing. For example, if a mans peers consider nursing emasculating, he has a disincentive for becoming a nurse. Another reason suggested is the lower economic status associated with the nursing field. 3  However, the most commonly proposed reason is that men are less likely to enter jobs associated with women than women are to enter those positions traditionally held by men. Despite the obvious disproportion of male nurses to all men, studies have also shown men are overrepresented in senior nursing posts. 2  They achieve promotion more quickly than women at all levels of the nursing hierarchy above the entry-level positions. This could be attributed to the vast difference in the number of female nurses who work part time, compared to part-time male nurses. Some researchers suggest that managers perceive part-time female staff to be less attached to their careers. 7  Studies have consistently reported that one of the major reasons for womens slower progress in nursing is the number and length of career breaks taken, particularly to have children. One such study indicated that women were 10 times more likely than men to have taken a career break to care for children.   Furthermore, male nurses may be thought to bring stability to the nursing profession, which had always been considered at the mercy of marriage and motherhood, reflecting hidden advantages for men and disadvantages for women. 1 Study specifics Participants were assured informed consent and confidentiality. All students received an explanation of the study before introduction of the questionnaire, and only those who agreed to participate continued. Students names were not sought in the questionnaires and their confidentiality was respected. Sixty-two percent of those surveyed were female and 38% were male. The first part of the survey included socio-demographic data, while the second part asked students about their perception of males in nursing and the effects of recruiting males to the field. The third section asked students about their perception of gender stereotypes. Questions included: 1. How do you feel about men in nursing? 2. Do you think nursing is a womans job? 3. Do men and women differ in their professional role? What do you think are the suitable work places and positions fit for male nurses? 5. What do you think of the effect of men on the image of nursing? Male nurses as perceived by both genders Most of the female students and nearly half of the male students chose emergency units as the most suitable area for male nurses. Nearly 42% of the female nurses preferred men to work as instructors in nursing schools after graduation. There were significant differences between both genders perceptions about the nursing positions men should occupy after graduation. While 48% of the female students considered men as staff nurses, most of the male students said they should occupy administrative (40%) or teaching posts (38%) after graduation. Significant differences were also found between the female and male students perceptions regarding the effect of males on the image of nursing. When asked if men improve the image of nursing, 54% of the female respondents agreed, compared to 90% of the male respondents. Cultural values, a lack of understanding about what nurses really do at work, and the way nurses are portrayed in popular media highly affect the public image of nursing. The results of the survey show that male students prefer administrative/instructional positions after graduation. In contrast, female students said they more often preferred men to assume staff nurse positions. While there are difficulties for men working in female-dominated professions, male nurses tend to have a faster and more straightforward career progression than their female counterparts. Male students exhibited gender role tension about nursing, as 43% considered nursing a female profession. Some research reports numbers as high as 82% of male high school students would not choose nursing as a career, believing it should be a female-only profession. 9, 10) Conclusions and recommendations The results of this study indicate that nursing continues to be seen as a female-dominated profession, especially by male students, despite the ever-increasing number of men in nursing. Stereotypical notions of gender roles possibly affect male students desire to occupy administrative positio ns after graduation, though further studies are needed. Nursing as a profession can only benefit from a talent pool drawing a proportionate number of men. Nursing schools, health care organizations, and the media should continue to advocate for the profession, portraying positive images of the field and male nurses. A community education campaign to improve the image of nursing could also be initiated. To emphasize a nurses role identity without any gender segregations, school educators should encourage students to manage gender-related problems.

U.S. Constitution :: essays research papers

The document I chose to write about is the United States Constitution. When the thirteen British colonies in North America declared their independence in 1776, they laid down that â€Å"governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.† The â€Å"colonies† had to establish a government, which would be the framework for the United States. The purpose of a written constitution is to define and therefore more specifically limit government powers. After the Articles of Confederation failed to work in the 13 colonies, the U.S. Constitution was created in 1787. The Constitution is important because it was expressly designed to limit powers into three co-ordinate branches, the legislative, executive, and judiciary branch; none of which was to have supremacy over the others. This separation of powers with the checks and balances which each branch was given over the others was designed to prevent any branch, from infringing individual liberties safeguarded by the Constitution. I think the U.S. Constitution was a way for the U.S. to establish government which was a negotiation between the two former governments, a monarchy and total state power. I think by creating the checks and balances, people’s rights would be safer and they would feel more secure not having one branch of government with absolute power. What I found most interesting about the Constitution was how complex and detailed the framers made it, to effectively explain and limit the individual branches of power in government. In the words of Thomas Paine, "a governm ent without a constitution is power without right". Meaning that for power to be granted, it is necessary to establish a constitution. The Federalist Papers 10 & 51 were essays which helped persuade the citizens of the United States to vote for the federal Constitution. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay used pseudonyms as their names to convince the public. Those who were skeptical of voting for a government, which had many different major powers, were reassured by the founding fathers in their speeches and conventions throughout the U.S. The importance of Constitution, both in its content and its status, is little appreciated by the general public.

Exercise Promotes Healthy Lifestyle Essay

A good diet and sufficient rest are important to sustain a healthy lifestyle but are not the only things to consider. When performed properly, exercising provides countless benefits that can further improve your quality of life. Regular exercise is an essential part of efficient weight loss and weight management. Exercising can also help thwart several diseases and improve a person’s overall well being. Whether it is a sport activity, a workout regimen, chores around the house, or yard work, all these types of physical activity are beneficial. Adapting an active lifestyle through exercising can be enjoyable and rewarding. Physical activity requires an individual to increase their level of exercising. According to Mayo Clinic staff, adults seeking a healthy lifestyle should include aerobic exercise and strength training in their fitness plans, specifically (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2013): * At least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity — or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity — a week * Strength training exercises at least twice a week Every person’s level, whether new to exercising or a seasoned trainer, will be different therefore tailoring a workout program is an open venue for each person to explore. Different stages of exercise intensity can be researched to identify which stage a person can start. For beginners who are unsure about overexerting themselves, a moderate intensity, aerobic activity such as brisk walking is generally safe for most people. Some critics mention that physical activity may lead to a number of injuries. Exercising that involves moderate to high impact puts stress on the body. Even though this helps to build bone density, an individual who already has frail bones can damage a bone under the smallest amount of stress or impact (Tesch, 2011). This may hold true, however when performed correctly as well as starting at the appropriate intensity, these injuries are greatly minimized. That’s why it’s key to start slowly and to gradually increase the progression of intensity. Undesirable circumstances, such as a heart attack, are likely not to occur during exercise sessions. Daily exercising should be implemented in the everyday routine, no matter the age or fitness level. Physical activity tones the body, increases muscle strength, maintains strong bones, and promotes healthier skin. Other benefits of exercising result in better sleep and increased relaxation, a more positive mental state, and an enhanced immune system. Numerous researches show that incorporating an active lifestyle, through the use of an established workout program, have positive outcomes for all areas of health, including mental, emotional, intellectual, and even social well-being, not just for physical health. Exercise also increases concentrations of norepinephrine, a chemical that can moderate the brain’s response to stress. Exercise releases endorphins, which create feelings of happiness and euphoria. (Breene, 2013). Physical activity has been known to enhance mental clarity and efficiency. It is also linked with better thinking, learning, and judgment. Inquiries have revealed that exercise improves symptoms amid the clinically depressed. This is why physicians suggest, individuals suffering from melancholy or apprehension, should employ exercise in their daily lives. It has been proven, in a number of cases that proper exercise is as helpful as anti-depressant medication. The enhancement of a general mood can be achieved; by just working out for thirty minutes per session, a couple times a week. If time does not permit the utilization of the gym, a workout video can be very helpful. These videos are fun, easy to follow, and they are accompanied with great music. Because of the vast amount of videos, there are options of category and stage of health. If planning to develop a workout regimen in the near future; here are some examples of the type of videos that are available. Selections such as beginning aerobics, weight lifting, running; and even exercise for parents in the company of their kids. Options to participate in physical activity are infinite. Decide on the one that is most interesting to you, regardless if it is jogging, swimming, walking, and roller skating, or jumping rope. The most important point is to be physically active. In a brief amount of time, positive results will be achieved.

Environmental Issues That Led to the Decline of WorldCom Free Essay Example, 1750 words

At a Ã'•trategic level, deÃ'•pite itÃ'• numerouÃ'• acquiÃ'•itionÃ'•, WorldCom'Ã'• portfolio really had numerouÃ'• weakneÃ'•Ã'•eÃ'•. The combined company waÃ'• more dependent on the long diÃ'•tance buÃ'•ineÃ'•Ã'• and therefore faced Ã'•tronger riÃ'•kÃ'• from the regional BellÃ'•' anticipated moveÃ'• into the long diÃ'•tance buÃ'•ineÃ'•Ã'• (Upbin, 1998). Further, while WorldCom had reÃ'•ale rightÃ'• to wireleÃ'•Ã'•, it avoided taking ownerÃ'•hip of wireleÃ'•Ã'• aÃ'•Ã'•etÃ'• - inÃ'•tead adopting a wait and watch approach until the cuÃ'•tomer ownerÃ'•hip of cell phoneÃ'• becomeÃ'• huge (Mehta, 2001). In contraÃ'•t, itÃ'• Ã'•maller rival Ð…print already had a healthy blend of local, long diÃ'•tance and wireleÃ'•Ã'• aÃ'•Ã'•etÃ'•, with Ã'•trong global allianceÃ'•. The faÃ'•t-growing wireleÃ'•Ã'• buÃ'•ineÃ'•Ã'• waÃ'• at the core of Ð…print'Ã'• growth Ã'•trategy, and a critical part of AT T'Ã'• planÃ'•. The Telecom Act of 1996 reÃ'•ulted in further deregulation of the induÃ'•try. Under thiÃ'• Act, long diÃ'•tance carrierÃ'• were allowed to provide local phone Ã'•ervice (including by Ã'•etting their own facilitieÃ'• and thereby avoid paying high acceÃ'•Ã'• chargeÃ'•). Further, local carrierÃ'• were required to make individual componentÃ'• of their networkÃ'• available at wholeÃ'•ale priceÃ'• to the reÃ'•ellerÃ'•. Local carrierÃ'• who opened their networkÃ'• to competition were allowed to offer long diÃ'•tance Ã'•erviceÃ'•. We will write a custom essay sample on Environmental Issues That Led to the Decline of WorldCom or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Failure And Success Of Failure - 990 Words

Failure Produces Success Have you ever failed in your life just once? Did that effect you in the sense of which you should being in the right track? The majority of people think that failure is the indication to improperly way of doing the things. Nevertheless, without failure taking place in our life, people were not getting to the evolution and modern science which facilitated human life in all aspects. Failure often makes unpleasant journey or spirit to the people but, it helps in the way to change and create magnificent success that would never thought about. Although that people have ideas and ambition to be successful, failure plays a significant role in their ability to achieve success. Failure is the motivational tool to achieve new ideas for new innovation and invention. Failure generates new ideas that would benefit the person in many ways. New ideas are always useful for us to make our life better and comfortable. According to the article to err is wrong â€Å"Charles Kettering exemplifies the spirit of working through erroneous assumption to good ideas† (Oech). He explains that Kettering had an idea to solve the engine knock by modifying the gasoline. Kettering thought that if he put red dye in the gasoline would help to solve the issue of the engine. The red dye was not available at his workshop at that time, so he used iodine instead. The iodine worked and solved the problem of the engine rather than using the red dye. Failure took place forShow MoreRelatedSuccess Vs. Failure : Success And Failure1384 Words   |  6 PagesSuccess vs. Failure Success is something that most of us want to achieve in our life. The definition of success may differs and varies among each and everyone of us. Nevertheless, we all have something that we want to achieve in our lifetime, and that is the most basic definition of success. However, most people do not realize that to succeed, they must overcome countless failures and obstacles. This speaks truth for a close friend of mine; hence, she always looks down on herself. My friend currentlyRead MoreFailure And Success Of Project962 Words   |  4 Pagesproject success but they  are unclear because there is no specific cause or reason to become project unsuccessful. This position paper explores the reasons of failures and success  in the projects. Now a day’s major projects are increasingly becoming critical to manage because of the nature of projects of multiple stakeholders, conflicts of thoughts and delays. From the studies  of different authors 13 crucial things are documente d for the success of project and 5 crucial things for the failure of theRead MoreFailure Leads to Success750 Words   |  3 Pagessuccessful. Although you probably won’t experience the same things that Oprah or Michael Jordan experienced, you can still succeed through failure. Despite what others may think, failure leads to success in today’s society because it pushes someone to work harder to prove to others that he/she can succeed and because it teaches people a lot about themselves. Failure pushes someone to work harder to prove to other people that he/she can succeed. Kayla Way and Courtney Way are prime examples. Kayla andRead MoreThe Success And Failure Of Change922 Words   |  4 Pagesjustify whether you consider the change to have been a success or some kind of failure (if the latter, state which kind). If possible, make use of your earlier outline of costs and benefits. Understanding the success and failure of change. We could classify the failures of change as follows (Richard Duncombe handout Session 3, page 9): 1. Total failure 2. Partial failure 3. Sustainability failure 4. Replicability failure 5. Moral failure According to all the change assessments†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. TheRead MoreProject Success and Failures1682 Words   |  7 PagesMGMT 6320 Project Success and Failure Examples Chapter 1 Aaron Hart 1/18/2011 â€Æ' Table of Contents Project Failure Example- Space Station: Inadequate Planning and Design Led to Propulsion Module Project Failure. 3 Nature of the Project 3 Budget and Time Frame for the Project 3 Challenges Faced in the Project 4 Project Failure Results 4 Project Success Example- Fort Bliss Site Development Services- Nation’s Largest Military Communication Installation using Green TechnologyRead MoreErp Success and Failure4405 Words   |  18 PagesEnterprise Resource Planning Factors Affecting Success and Failure    Patricia Barton November 25, 2001 Table of Contents Introduction Factors Contributing to Failure ERP Success Stories Conclusion References Introduction What is Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)? â€Å"Enterprise Resource Planning† is a term originally coined in 1990 by The Gartner Group to describe the next generation of MRP II software. The purpose was to integrate all facets of the business enterprise under one suiteRead MoreSuccess Or Failure Of Leadership1628 Words   |  7 PagesThere are various different ways that lead to success or failure of leadership. Since the actual leader is the most significant part of the process, they are usually to blame. A successful leader has the authority to transform his or hers subordinates and followers, even to the point of changing the environment which he was chosen in. A bad leader would try changing the culture that had already been established before him and destroy it. For example, let’s take Carly Fiorina, the former outside(notRead MoreTeam Success and Failure2853 Words   |  12 Pagespersonal growth and success. That commitment usually transcends the team. A team outperforms a group and outperforms all reasonable expectations given to its individual members. When individuals gather to achieve a common goal, many interpersonal dynamics play a role in whether or not the team will be successful. Sometimes a team can mesh well together and succeed at anything they attempt; however, other teams, regardless of available resources, seem to flounder in failure. Workplace teams haveRead MoreThe Success And Failures Of Santander1678 Words   |  7 Pages1. Please describe and evaluate the Country/Political Risk faced by this organization and describe its successes and failures. Santander is known as a strong financial leader within the financial sector of Spain and has presented themselves with great steps in the growth to becoming a well-known leader regarding their contribution in finance, globally. The globalization process proven by Santander is very successful compared to other financial business activities throughout the world in regardsRead MoreThe Success Or Failure Of A Corporation2009 Words   |  9 Pages One of the greatest indicators of the success or failure of a corporation is their ability to acquire/merge or to be acquired/merged. Companies have been able to maximize their profits by merging or acquiring other businesses within their industry, which has many benefits that extend past dollars and cents. Corporations who are able to acquire or merge with other companies are able to expand upon their ability to forge partnerships with other corporate leaders. They are often able to expand their

Graduation Speech High School - 1049 Words

It is often believed that during high school, everyone changes, wither it’s in a good way or a bad way, we all change. I was that typical high school cheerleader that didn’t care about her grades, I just wanted to have fun with friends and brush by school with C’s, but I was okay with it during those times. It was the beginning of senior year, when we had re-tryouts for the cheer team. I was nervous when the try-out day came along, but I had confidence in myself. I was waiting in the try-out line until I heard my number being called. â€Å"Number 33 is up next† yelled one of the judges. I started sweating before I walked onto the stage. It was dead silent, I could feel the heat of the spotlight and the eyes of the judges all over me.†¦show more content†¦During halftime, my mom came down to talk to me. â€Å"Tori why are you sitting out?† said mom. I tried to make up a lie as fast as I could, but my coach was right next to me, so the truth had to come out. â€Å"I..I did bad on my math test, but I’m cheering the next half, so it’s okay.† I said. â€Å"Are you serious tori? That’s really embarrassing .† said mom. â€Å"I know mom I’m sorry† I said â€Å"Don’t apologize to me, it’s your grade and your game† said mom She walked away and went home. I was upset with myself and I wanted to go home, but I knew my mom was going to want to talk to me about school. After the game was over, I got a ride with some friends and they took me home. I walked into my house and it was very dim, there was one lamp on, I could barely see my mom sitting in the corner of the living room on her phone. â€Å"I don’t like how you’re not caring about your grades; it’s your senior year and colleges are going to be looking at your applications.† said Mom. â€Å"You didn’t go to college, why is it a big deal for me to go?† I replied. â€Å"Because I want you to be better than me† said Mom. â€Å"I’m trying mom† I answered, as I slowly walked towards my room to get the conversation over with. â€Å"No you’re not† Mom replied. â€Å"I’ll try harder, I promise† I said, ending the conversation. A few months went by, and colleges started to reply to everyone’s applications, but mine. I would come home every day to see if any mail has come in for me, but thereShow MoreRelatedGraduation Speech : High School934 Words   |  4 Pageslife would be graduation. For many people, graduating from high school is an objective. It takes a lot of time, effort, and determination to accomplish that goal. For others graduation is the end of high school, and the beginning of a new chapter in life. When graduated people feel as if adulthood has begun. In the long run, graduating opens a lot of opportunities for people to thrive. I can almost reminisce the day as if it was yesterday. I was sitting in bed like any other school day. It seemedRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School852 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to a report from Thomas Nelson Community College website, 15.7 percent is the graduation rate in 2010. 84 percent of students failed to receive their degree. That’s beyond sad. College can be difficulty especially with everyday life is getting harder to main family life work and financials. Because college is challenging, I know that I have issues that I must overcome. I told myself the more patient s I have the better success I will have. Although college will be difficult my goal isRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School Essay2254 Words   |  10 Pages The day I graduated from high school The High school graduation day is a life full of journeys for everyone, high school life is a memorable time for most people, for me as well. High school can be filled with lots of good memories for some people and it could be filled with bad memories, for me it was both I had good times and I had bad times. The High school Graduation day should definitely be the best day of your life because that means no more high school, no more having to wake up at 6Read MoreGraduation Speech : High School Graduation854 Words   |  4 Pagesfail High School graduation can be an exciting time in a student’s life. It is a time in their lives where they begin to experience the kind of freedom that comes along with growing up. This freedom allows students to choose the type of college or University they would like to attend. It is necessary that they understand how responsible they need to be with the freedom that is being offered to them. When choosing what college or university to attend it may be tempting to want to go to a school thatRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School Graduation1507 Words   |  7 PagesForest English 1010 9/9/2014 Graduation During our lives, most of us have hated getting up early. Whether we as humans enjoy mornings or not, we’re always looking forward to that unforgettable day. That special is high school graduation for me. Graduation is a ceremony that recognizes students that have excelled through school. Graduation was one of the best days of my life, perhaps even better than the day that I started college. There is no other day like graduation where there comes this feelingRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School Graduation933 Words   |  4 PagesHigh School Graduation With regards to high school graduation, Balfanz, Herzog, and Iver (2007) followed 12,972 Philadelphia students enrolled in traditional middle schools from six grade (1996-1997) until 1 year beyond their expected graduation from high school (2003-2004) in order to understand what indicators would affect their projected graduation date. Unlike many of the early K-8 schools, the population Balfanz et al followed consisted of 64% African American, 19% White, 12% Hispanic,Read MoreGraduation Speech On High School Graduation851 Words   |  4 PagesThere Is No Success Without The Opportunity to Fail High School graduation can be an exciting time in a student’s life. It is a time when they begin to experience the kind of freedom that comes along with growing up. This freedom allows students to choose the type of college or University they would like to attend. It is necessary that they understand how responsible they need to be with the freedom that is being offered to them. When choosing what college or university they would like toRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School997 Words   |  4 Pagesup, I loved going to school and dreamed of one day attending college. Attending school every day and receiving good grades had become my top priority from K-12. I excelled from K-8th grade, but entering into high school was completely different than primary school. The atmosphere and environment was new to me, I was free to roam the halls or walk back out the door without any repercussions. This began my downward spiral in high school. My freshman year was by far the best school year for me becauseRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School897 Words   |  4 PagesHigh school was one of the most challenging moments in my life. Not only did I have to deal with the academic pressures and social issues from my peers I had external factors that were heavily impacting me as well. During my junior year my mom separated from her husband and me and my three little brothe rs ended up staying house to house with close relatives. Shortly after that time at the beginning of my senior year, my mom was sent to prison. In the midst of dealing with all of the demands thatRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School Essay1434 Words   |  6 PagesWhen I was in high school I had one goal, I would graduate top of my class and go to the University of Florida for pre-medicine, then onto their medical school. I never considered that I would want anything else, so I went to a specialty high school that would allow me to specialize in Biomedical sciences(STEM) and never even thought about the possibility of a life other than the one I had so precisely planned out for myself. When my nephews were born my sophomore year all of my priorities changed

College Essay An Honorary Lost Boy free essay sample

â€Å"Leave him alone!† I screamed at a greasy, pudgy-faced boy. His face fell as I stared him down, daring him to say anything. The boy stuttered, shocked by my assertiveness. Afraid the next word he’d say would be his last, he ran off with his slender, freckled friend. The playground was a battleground for elementary school kids. Those who were bigger and stronger preyed upon the weak, using their unkind words as bullets to tear through their hearts. I had been on the swings, kicking back and forth to go higher and higher until I heard loud laughter coming from the left. I looked over to see a duo of buffoons shouting obscenity at a dirty blond, shy child. I dug my feet into the ground to stop the swings and stomped my way over to the group. Staring them down, my brows furrowed. â€Å"Stop that!† I cry, hands on hips. We will write a custom essay sample on College Essay: An Honorary Lost Boy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Before they could get a single word in, I scream at them again, and they sprint away. A small voice behind me says, â€Å"thanks†. I turn, my frown turns into a small smile. â€Å"Kevin, what would you do without me?† I say smugly. I was Kevin’s protector, his guardian. Though I was only 15 minutes older, I felt a need to defend my twin. My family decided to attend a local fair, the Bluefish Festival. I was mesmerized by it all. I had attended the fair with my friend, Meghan, and my parents gave us a few dollars for food, trinkets, and games, making us promise to be back in a few hours.After we made a complete run of the entire establishment and scoped out all of the activities, we were ready to leave. Making our way to my parents, I began to notice the panic and fear in their body language. Acknowledging my presence, my parents ran up to Meghan and me and inquired if we had seen my brother, Kevin, anywhere. We answered no, obviously not the answer they were looking for. We began asking around, wondering if anyone had seen a small boy with dirty blonde hair and a red shirt. The search was so unsuccessful that we asked the band to make an announcement. My stomach filled with unease and I sobbed loudly while Meghan awkwardly stood next to me. I had failed to protect him. I was Peter Pan who couldn’t keep his Lost Boys safe. About a half an hour later, a policeman said he found a port-o-potty that had a high-pitched cry coming from within. Sprinting to the bathroom area, my mom tapped on the door and asked, â€Å"Kev, are you in there?† The door’s sign went from â€Å"occupied† to â€Å"open† within seconds as my brother raced out of it, tears streaming down his face. That was the first time I actually hugged my brother. He told my mom that he couldn’t find us, so he ran to the port-o-potty and locked himself in; we were just relieved he was okay. I have always felt a sense of protectiveness over my brother. I have learned from these years of living and learning about him that he was not a frail individual who could not care for himself, he is strong and brave. There have even been points in my life where Kevin has saved me from countless predicaments. Taking the blame for my misdeeds like when I broke my mother’s favorite vase, putting up with my embarrassing teasing, and even giving up his belongings just to make me happy. Being with him for almost two decades now, I can honestly say that not a day goes by where we don’t worry about the other, but there is always an absolute chance we have each other’s back.