Free College Admissions Essays: Mathematics :: College Admissions Essays

Mathematics    I have always enjoyed mathematics from an early age. As I progressed through A-level, I began to appreciate the importance of mathematics in other science and in commercial life. I believe that a degree in mathematics will leave me very versatile in terms of a future career choice. From 1992 onwards, I was selected every year to represent the school for Hans Woyda Mathematics competition between Home Counties schools. In 1997/98, I was captain of the team. Previously, we have reached the semi-finals of the competition. I have also attained three gold awards in the Sharp UK Mathematical Challenge on the occasions I entered. I have also gained a Merit award in the British Physics Olympiad competition.    I enjoy computer programming and am fluent in Basic and Visual Basic. In 1997, I gained experience work with Cable & Wireless at their Mercury One 2 One division. This involved using a Unix based system running in real time with the company's other offices. During this time, I learnt to set-up spreadsheets for the company, requiring macro programming. The aim was to generate weekly forecasts.    The school participated in the Young Enterprise scheme, sponsored by major UK companies. The scheme entails setting up a business organisation with a board of directors comprising of members from various schools. As financial director of Avanti, which manufactured and sold celebratory cards, I was responsible for the company's financial health. The company made a considerable profit (67% net), leading to second position in the local competition. This experience gave me the opportunity to develop my organisational and communication skills. I was also an active member of the 6th form council with responsibility for ordering and monitoring stock for the vending machine.    Since 1994, I have played rugby for the school's 1st XV. I have competed for the school at 200m and recently took part in the 'Tough Guy' competition, an endurance course entailing several months of rigorous training and raising money for charity. I have recently gained my 1st Dan Black belt in Karate.

Othello and Oedipus Essay

Othello: the Moor of Venice and Oedipus are masterpiece tragedies that were written by great authors of yesteryear including William Shakespeare and Sophocles. These books are laden with varied themes which are still applicable today as they are still played in both community and professional theatres worldwide. Othello was a renowned general in the Venetian army whose military exploits were widely acclaimed whereas Oedipus was the new sovereign of the city of Thebes. While these two great men share a lot in common, the differences between them also abound. The most significant trait that both characters share is that they are heroes. The deeds they carry out are great and daring and they both possess tremendous strength. Case in point is when Othello vanquishes the enemies of Venice and Oedipus defeats the Sphinx and frees Thebes from the tyranny of the gods and the heavy taxation that they had endured for eternity. This has earned them a lot of admiration and respect from their communities. For example, Oedipus was considered a savior to his people who turned to him for solace and answers to their suffering. This is described in the following quote from the priest, â€Å"You are a man, not a god–I know. We all know this, the young kneeling here before you know it, too, but we know how great you are, Oedipus, greater than any man. When crisis struck, you saved us here in Thebes; you faced the mysterious, strange disasters hammered against us by the gods. This is our history-we paid our own flesh to the Sphinx until you set us free. You knew no more than anyone, but you knew. There was a god in it, a god in you. †( â€Å"Qtd in†Berg & Clay,1988,25) Othello is regarded highly by the Venetian senate which calls for his leadership when the state is faced by the threat of imminent aggression. This is illustrated when the Duke of Venice ordered Othello to prepare for immediate deployment against the Ottoman enemy. â€Å"The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you; and though we have there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign mistress of effects, throws a more safer voice on you: you must therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition. †(Othello , 1. 3. 56) Both Oedipus and Othello have the enviable character of making duty their main concern. They both derive honor from fully committing to the personal quests in their lives, regardless of the repercussions. Oedipus’ consuming quest for instance, is the tracking down and punishing of the murderers of his predecessor. In the process of chasing his quest, Oedipus wrongs his brother- in- law, Creon, branding him a traitor. He also succeeds in alienating his twin sons and all of Thebes. On the other hand, Othello’s’ overriding mission is the sacredness of his marriage vows and there is no end he will not go to protect their sanctity. Othello is depicted as naive. Throughout the play, Iago takes every opportunity to exploit Othello’s naivety. Iago tells Roderigo, â€Å"O, Sir, content you. I follow him to serve my turn upon him†. (Othello,1. 1. 38) This means that Iago will readily use Othello to achieve his ends and dump him when he achieves his desires. Othello on his part readily believes Iago each time even when Othello could have exercised better judgment. For instance, he heeds the deception of the wicked Iago and ignores Desdemona’s oaths and the small still voice in his heart and conscience. Othello’s’ naivety is in stark contrast with Oedipus who trusts his own wisdom in arriving at any decision. This fact is illustrated when he pays a visit to the Oracle who confirms the worst. He still believes so much in his own reason and determines that he was the one to blame for his fate and thus accepted the consequences of his actions. Oedipus is depicted as very adamant and rigid since he will not compromise once he has decided on a course of action regardless of the cost and what any other person may think. The two legends destroy their lives courtesy of their incurable natural flaws. Their Achilles heel comes in the form of their overwhelming pride and obsession which is driven by their overinflated egos and personalities. Oedipus on one side is so proud of his intelligence, which is considerable, that he tries to run from a dreadful fate. Othello on the other hand prides himself as the paragon of courage and integrity and thus fails to recognize his violent temper which proves fatal in the end. Throughout the play, Othello is portrayed as a man who is calm under pressure and therefore in control of every situation. This trait comes out clearly when Brabanito goes to his house with the intent to kill him. However, before anything grave happens Othello exclaims, â€Å"Hold your hands, both of you of my inclining and the rest. Were it my cue to fight I should have known it without a prompter†(Othello,1. 2. 80-3) Oedipus is very dramatic and emotional in crisis and cannot compare to Othello’s calm under pressure. When King Lauis dies he is quoted as saying, â€Å"I fight for Apollo, I fight for the dead man. You see me, you hear me, moving against the killer. My words are his doom. Whether he did it alone, and escaped unseen, whether others helped him kill, it makes no difference-let my hatred burn out his life, hatred, always. Make him an ember of suffering† (â€Å" qtd in†Arrowsmith&Golder,1988,34,) By any standards, Othello and Oedipus were truly great men. However, in spite of all the exceptional accomplishments and awesome qualities that they were gifted with, their very nature ended up consuming them in the end. Indeed, these two men give life to the old truism that pride comes before a fall. Works Cited Arrowsmith William and Golder H. The Greek tragedy in new translations. New York,NY, 1988 Berg, Stephen and Clay, Dickins. Sophocles’ Oedipus the King New York,NY, 1988 McCauley Janie. Shakespeare’s Othello An educational outreach of Bob Jones University, 2002. Shakespeare, William. Othello; The Moor of Venice Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library, http://etext. virginia. edu/etcbin/toccer-new2? id=MobOthe. sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=all

Adoption Statistics National Adoption - 1283 Words

In an impeccable world, all children would be loved and nurtured and live in a cozy home with a stable family. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In the United States â€Å"over 400,000 American children are in foster care, taken away when their families are in crisis and can’t take care of them† (â€Å"Statistics on Foster Care†). Out of all those children in the foster care system about â€Å"114,556 of these children are available for adoption†, which means the biological parents’ rights have been legally terminated through the court system (â€Å"Adoption Statistics: National Adoption Month†). That is an immense number of children who end up not being able to have the same bond and love that a biological child would receive from their own parents. The foster care system in Arizona is in crisis, and â€Å"government, agencies, organization, and individuals need to collaborate and work together to help the over 17,000 children in need of a loving permanent home† (â€Å"Arizona Foster Care System- Child Crisis Center†). Typically, children are placed in foster care as a result of the abuse (physically, emotionally and/or sexually), neglect (pay no attention or too little attention to) or abandonment; on the other hand, the children also enter the system by reason of the behavioral issues or by cause of the biological parent subsequently being incarcerated or ill. Fostering a child can be over and above difficult than having a biological child; however, it is considerably more rewarding when aShow MoreRelatedAdoption Statistics : National Adoption1265 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican children are in foster care, taken away when their families are in crisis and can’t take care of them† (â€Å"Statistics on Foster Care†). Out of all those children in the foster care system about â€Å"114,556 of these children are available for adoption†, which means the biological parentsâ €™ rights have been legally terminated through the court system (â€Å"Adoption Statistics: National Adoption Month†). That is an immense number of children who do not get to have the same bond and love that a biologicalRead MoreAdoption Research Paper1556 Words   |  7 PagesOpen Adoption: A Growing Trend in the U.S. In the last four decades, the concept of the American family has undergone a radical transformation, reflecting society ¡Ã‚ ¯s growing openness. Among all segments of society, there is a greater acceptance of a variety of family structures  ¨C from single parenting to blended families to same sex parenting of children. The introduction of openness into the process of adoption offers new opportunities for children in need of a parent or parents and prospectiveRead MoreEssay about Abortion Is Murder1200 Words   |  5 Pagesjustified since the abortion could cause as much damage as the birth itself. Abortion can never be validated, and as a result should be abolished for the following reasons: it is a form of murder, it leads to both physical and psychological effects and adoption is always available. Abortion is a form of murder because the life of a human is still being lost. In 2008 alone, approximately 1.21 million abortions took place in the U.S. (Medical Testimony). Disgracefully, this means that 1.21 million innocentRead MoreOpen Adoption : A Growing Trend1440 Words   |  6 Pages Open Adoption: A Growing Trend in the U.S. In the last four decades, the concept of the American family has undergone a radical transformation, reflecting society s growing openness. Among all segments of society, there is a greater acceptance of a variety of family structures from single parenting to blended families to same sex parenting of children. The introduction of openness into the process of adoption offers new opportunities for children in need of a parent or parents and prospectiveRead MoreAdoption Worth The Cost : Should Adopting A Child Be Free?1453 Words   |  6 PagesAdoption Worth the Cost Should adopting a child be free? As a first response, many people would answer â€Å"Yes, adoption should be free,† arguing that there should not be a price tag on children, or that adoption is unreasonably expensive. Others may argue that â€Å"No, it should not be free,† because it may unknowingly put the adoptees at risk for danger, while the children are easily accessible. Adoptions were created to give children, whose biological parents could not care for them, a new and affectionateRead MoreInterracial Adoption Is A Controversial Issue For Decades Now1741 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"transracial adoption†, is a white family bringing an African American baby into their home. However, that is not always the case. Transracial adoption means the joining together of racially diverse parents and children together into an adopted family. Many families have had the life changing opportunity of adopting a child into their home, whether the child is African American, Chinese, or Vietnamese, that has shaped the family into something even stronger. People should consider interracial adoption becauseRead MoreA Study On Child And Family Development Essay1530 Words   |  7 PagesUniversity of Michigan School of Social Work, n.d.). Subsequently, the professionalitazion of social work was initiated by focusing on case work and scientific methods. In 1918, the Association of Hospital Social Workers was established and by 1955 the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was formed, promoting professional development, advance social policies, enhance educational opportunities in the field, and maintain professional standards of practice (What is the History of the Social WorkRead MoreThe Genesis Of International And Intercontinental Adoption785 Words   |  4 Pagesintercontinental adoption in U.S. martial intercession, predominantly the Korean War and its consequences. Keeping focus on the concealed statistics in Korean adoption research, the prostitute and her biracial kid, this article tends to recast armed camp-town in Southern Korea as the original situate of communal casualty, an essential situation that causes to be biracial children homeless and their respective Korean mothers attenuate mothers for adopting them. â€Å"One people, one nation† is the National philosophyRead MoreGay Adoption : Discrimination Against Gay1626 Words   |  7 PagesRomero, Jessica Communication Studies 105 Tuesday, Thursday 8-9:20 a.m. Gay Adoption Introduction Attention getter: Discrimination against gay men and lesbian women has been socially recognized for hundreds of years and still continues today. Homosexuals have adopted children for many years, regardless of fear and prejudice. The controversy of this matter is why homosexuals are not presented the equal fairness of the process and open opportunity as heterosexual couples who seek to adopt or fosterRead MorePersuasive Essay On Adoption1358 Words   |  6 PagesAdoption is the legal process of accepting someone into your family formally, and taking on the legal responsibilities as parent of a child. Adopting a child or teen involves a judicial process where a person accepts a child into their life, creating a new relationship. Once the adoption is final, the adoptive parents have full responsibility of their child and the child is then part of their family. According to the U.S. Department of State, adoption has started becoming less popular in the United

Messuds Career as an Author Free Essay Example, 2500 words

Messud s life has significantly influenced her interest to explore various cultures through writing like the multiculturalism they portrayed in most of her novels. In the works by Messud, three major themes run through her novels: multiculturalism, exile, and displacement (Amoia and Knapp 346). Throughout her novels, female protagonists grapple with finding their niche and cultural identity in the midst of historical injustices and family problems. This aspect is specifically a part of the author s life since she has to identify herself with either of the three cultures; American, Canadian, or French. In When the World was Steady, the sisters have been brought up to value the security that the family has to offer (Amoia and Knapp 346). However, unexpected events disrupt that security. As a result, they embark on an emotional journey to adapt to the new realities. Following a bitter divorce, Emmy, the younger sister is forced to leave Australia for Bali. Virginia goes through a serie s of devastating events that cause her to question her faith. Together with her mother, Virginia travels from London back to their rural home in Scotland. We will write a custom essay sample on Messuds Career as an Author or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

To Kill a Mockingto Kill a Mockingbird Prejudicebird...

To Kill A Mockingbird Prejudice has caused the pain and suffering of others for many centuries. Some examples of this include the Holocaust and slavery in the United States. In to Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee racism was the cause of much agony to the blacks of a segregated South. Along with blacks, other groups of people are judged unfairly just because of their difference from others. The prejudice and bigotry of society causes the victimization of people with differences. Some who are discriminated against are those who are born differently than the majority. One person that is treated unfairly is Calpurnia, as you can see when Aunt Alexandra tried to get Atticus to fire Calpurnia, because in her eyes, Calpurnia wasnt a good enough†¦show more content†¦They are given obstacles that they have to overcome in order to survive. Some people in the world can survive these obstacles, and there are some that just give up. By fighting for your rights, people start to realize t hat character is the important attribute to a person. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee showed me that the people with differences are not always doing things the wrong way. It is the majority that may be going at it all

Measuring academic proficiency under the NCLB. Free Essays

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act was designed to close the achievement gap between high and low performing children, especially the achievement gap between minority and non-minority students and between disadvantaged children and their more advantaged peers (NCLB, 2001). The key components of the act are the adequate yearly programs (AYP), and the annual measurable objectives (AMO). The AYP is the working principle of the act and it is seen as the mechanism for which all schools and all students meet the same academic standards in reading and mathematics by school year 2013-2014. We will write a custom essay sample on Measuring academic proficiency under the NCLB. or any similar topic only for you Order Now The AMO indicates the performance of the school in terms of proficiency in reading and mathematics tests. Moreover, the law identifies student subgroups like economically disadvantaged students, students form major racial and ethnic groups, students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency. The law also specifically requires that 95% of the total number of students in a school and 95% of each subgroup to take the reading and math standardized tests, while the state is tasked to determine its own AMO targets and the minimum number of students in each subgroup who are required to meet or surpass the AMO targets (NCLB, 2001). The AYP requirements apply to Title 1 and non-title 1 school that receive federal funding. Schools that do not reach AYP for two or more years will be labeled as in need of improvement and are sanctioned. The NCLB employs a conjunctive accountability system wherein each subgroup of students are required to reach the minimum levels of proficiency in math and reading regardless of their previous proficiency levels, thus within 12 years, all students should reach 100% proficiency. NCLB is based on the idea that high expectations for achievement would result to higher actual achievement levels. By requiring each school to reach a uniform level of proficiency  would mean that in a given period, all schools and all students would have mastered the same skills and learned the same knowledge in reading and mathematics. The NCLB measures progress through a single mean proficiency score across levels and subgroup.   However, this frame of mind does not consider the diversity of American students and their backgrounds. For example, requiring each subgroup to meet the minimum mean proficiency score would ensure that the school would not reach the AYP. Using a single mean proficiency score to measure performance is not a true measure of school improvement nor student performance. Although, NCLB have positive visions, its method of attaining its objectives undermines what it is supposed to do. The law treats each school and each student as a single and uniform entity when our society is composed of different races and backgrounds, not even taking into account the difference between the rich and the poor. Even if the law identified the subgroup of students, it still however assess each group in terms of the single mean proficiency score which is the same as implementing a one size fits all policy. The problem with NCLB is that it asks schools to be assessed against a single mean proficiency score, wherein if a school fails to reach this score, would indicate that the school is not performing as it should be in accordance with federal and state rules. The use of a single mean proficiency score says that each school is treated as equals, however the reality is differences in each school is present. For example, different districts cater to different students and since education have been the purview of the state; they have also different standards on accountability and accreditation. The schools seek to attain the level of performance required by the state and in cases where measures of school performance differ from the NCLB would say that schools are making progress in the state level but is not up to standard in the national level. Students also would be burdened by being pitted against a single score that may or may not be realistically attainable, and if they fail to reach the mark they would have caused the failure of the entire school. Another problem with the NCLB is that by identifying subgroup of students and requiring them to achieve the mean proficiency score puts them in a bind. The subgroups identified by the law in some cases could be an unnecessary repetition of the groups, for example most Blacks and Latinos are economically disadvantaged, and that most of these groups also have lower mean proficiency scores. Thus if a school is composed of many poor students, of different racial groups, of students with limited English proficiency, then this school will surely not reach that mean proficiency score. The NCLB is not friendly to racial groups, economically disadvantaged children, children with disabilities and children with limited English proficiency. It is common knowledge and even supported by statistics that those who are identified as economically disadvantaged are those who belong to a minority racial group. In which case they will be asked to reach the same proficiency score twice, then they will be labeled as under performing and the school as needing improvement. It will compromise what the students have accomplished in a school year, because failing to reach the mark is not equal to no improvement or no learning. As for the parents, they would probably think that NCLB is good for their children as it ensures equality between groups in terms of academic achievement. However, if their state certifies that their children are performing to expectations like in Virginia and California, but the federal government says otherwise would saw confusion and distraught among parents. Schools and districts complain that using a single mean proficiency score to measure performance is not realistic and appropriate. It does not take into consideration that high-poverty schools have students with less academic preparation than those with low-poverty schools. Moreover, by using a system of conjunctive accountability dooms schools from reaching AYP. The short term effects of NCLB on low-income students and of color is that thy will b subjected to more requirements in school or additional interventions that would enable them to reach the desired improvement of scores as well as being pressured to make that mark. The long-term effect is that when they fail to reach AYP and cause the school to lose out on the AYP race, then they will be blamed for it and probably will be faced with angry members of the community. When schools still fail to make the mark and is identified as needs improvement and probably would be given less funding the more the low-income and racial groups become more disadvantaged, instead of closing the academic achievement gap, the NCLB does not even consider what academic achievement is. I think that NCLB was born out of the sincere desire to make sure that our students have the same level of academic proficiency even for math and English only. Whoever drafted the bill however did not have a clear understanding of achievement, intelligence and environmental factors that are part and parcel of learning and education. It is also funny to think that as diverse a population as we have we want to be pitted against a single score when what is more important than the grade or score is actual learning and the evidence of improvement across the years. Thus, as a law that seeks to close the achievement gap between groups of students, the NCLB divides and places the minority groups in a more difficult situation and at a more disadvantaged position.    How to cite Measuring academic proficiency under the NCLB., Essay examples

Risk Of Implementing Block Chain In The Finance Industry - Samples

Question: Discuss about the Risk Of Implementing Block Chain In The Finance Industry. Answer: Introduction Blockchain technologies are the emerging technologies in the word. The market of the blockchain technology has been rising in the market at a decent speed. However, there are various risks involved in the technology. This report focuses on identifying the risk involved in the blockchain technologies in the finance industry. The report outlines the risks assessment procedure in the finance industry. A risk assessment procedure has been discussed in the report for mitigating these issues in the finance industry due to blockchain technology. Blockchain technology According to Zheng, Xie and Wang (2016), blockchain is a digital innovation in the market that is using the concept of the cryptography, networking, data management and incentive mechanism in order to maintain the financial database of different companies in the market. This technology has helped in initiating digital currency transfer between parties. Blockchain has been originated from the bitcoins digital currency. This technology has been implemented in the finance industry in recent years. Figure 1: Blockchain Market in 2017 (Source: Lindman, Tuunainen and Rossi 2017) The market of the blockchain has been rising all over the world due to its capability of digital transfer of virtual currency. As commented by Guo and Liang (2016), blockchain has been regarded as the distributed ledger technology (DLT) that helps in distributing financial assets between parties. As argued by Crosby et al. (2016), this technology has been credited with the highest risks involvement of the finance industry. The virtual currency has no record in the database and a third party vendor to store the information of the parties. According to a survey, over 90 corporations have implemented filed more than 2500 patents against blockchain technology all over the world. Risks and Threats: Regulatory and governance As commented by Lindman, Tuunainen and Rossi (2017), there is a lack of regulatory clarity in the blockchain technology. The regulatory framework of the block Chain technology has been weak including the private network of the parties. The privacy of the parties included in the blockchain technology has been facing various security breaches over the internet. The hackers all over the world are targeting these online transfers of digital currency among the parties. The counter Clearing house and Product (CCP) has been regulating these transaction al over the world. However, these organizations are not safe for the online transaction of digital currency. Privacy and Security As commented by Swan (2015), the use of the block chains haes been emerging all over the world. The privacy and security of the financial documents and assets have not been maintained by the technology. There have been numerous cases of hacking and data breaching over the internet that has been reported. Blockchain uses a shared database that contains all data and information of various parties. As commented by Mougayar (2016), this technology provides a high-speed transfer of digital currency. Crosby et al. (2016) argued that, this concept has minimized privacy and security of data and information of the parties involved in the contract. Therefore, this technology has high-level risks in the finance industry. Behavioural and transactional risks As commented by Lindman, Tuunainen and Rossi (2017), transactions in the blockchain technology have been a huge risks for the investors. The finance industry has been facing a lot of loss in the market due not the technology. However, According to me, blockchain need to use a centralized database instead of the shared database. The firewall of the technology has been weak. This has caused the variety of cyber-attacks in the database. The lack of the third party investors has created problems for the investors, as there is no part for tracking their financial assets. As commented by Guo and Liang (2016), blockchain is not storing the Big Data technology. According to me, adoption of Big Data technology might help in minimizing these risks and threats in the blockchain. The massive redundancy of the technology has been creating issues in the security of financial data and information of the companies. As commented by Swan (2015), instead of storing data on the blockchain, a metadata can be created for maintaining the record of the parties involved. As commented by Guo and Liang (2016), this can ensure an integrity checking if the data and information provided in the metadata. Conclusion It can be concluded that the use of the blockchain technology has helped in increasing the speed of transaction all over the world. However, it has created various risks and threats in the transaction that have been discussed in the report. The use of blockchain technology has been originated from the bitcoins. The market of the Bitcoins has been adopted by various financial companies in the world. References Crosby, M., Pattanayak, P., Verma, S. and Kalyanaraman, V., 2016. Blockchain technology: Beyond bitcoin.Applied Innovation,2, pp.6-10. Guo, Y. and Liang, C., 2016. Blockchain application and outlook in the banking industry.Financial Innovation,2(1), p.24. Lindman, J., Tuunainen, V.K. and Rossi, M., 2017. Opportunities and risks of Blockchain Technologiesa research agenda. Mougayar, W., 2016.The business blockchain: promise, practice, and application of the next Internet technology. John Wiley Sons. Swan, M., 2015.Blockchain: Blueprint for a new economy. " O'Reilly Media, Inc.". Zheng, Z., Xie, S., Dai, H.N. and Wang, H., 2016. Blockchain challenges and opportunities: A survey.Work Pap.2016.