Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle: 25 Daily Logs, Essay Example

A Bridge

When I was first asked to complete this assignment, my first thoughts were how I can possibly write a page and a half about any particular object. So, first I began to explore which objects I would choose. The first object I choose is a bridge. I have crossed this bridge so many times in my life time, but because of my fear of bridges I never took the time to really look at the bridge.

As I approached the bridge my heart began to pound. I do not recall what caused my fear of bridges, but it had been with me as long as I could remember. I felt I should ride my bicycle to the bridge because I would be able to observe aspects that I would miss riding in a car. At the foot of the bridge I stopped and looked up at what seemed to be as large as a mountain. I felt as small as an ant trying to carry a crumb. I stood there for a moment to gain my composure. I place my right foot on the bike path. As I walked, I looked down at the bridge. I quickly noticed how worn the bridge was. Just as quickly, I began to think about the possibility of the bridge collapsing. I wondered how far down the drop to the below water was and how deep the water might be. Next, I was overcome by how many people had actually jumped from this bridge in attempt to take their own life. I sat down and looked around. There were several inscriptions scratched into the cement walls. Many of them were of people confession their love for one another, but the one that caught my attention the most was of a broken heart. It was literally a heart drawn with zig zag lines that separated it. There was one name on each side and the inscription said “God didn’t give us enough time”.

As I began my downward walk, I realized that I had much such a great accomplishment-much like the designer and builder of this great work of art. I looked at the connections and how the bridge was held together. I thought about the thousands of people who travel the bridge each day and never think twice about it collapsing. As the cars wisped by, the noise the tires made against the pavement of the bridge was unique to each car. Some cars speed by, while others slowed down to look at me more closely. Yet, each vehicle had a unique sound, almost like a human voice. No two vehicles sounded the same. The realization of this fact was amazing! This left me feeling as if everything, no matter how large or small, works together in the whole scheme of God’s plan. Crossing this bridge was a moment of catharsis for me. I felt calm and collected. As stepped across the end of the bridge, I knew my fear was no longer.

With this realization, I felt that I could face my other fears in life. Not that I would go out and try something crazy like skydiving, but I felt that would have a new outlook on accepting and meeting the challenges in my life.

Thunderstorm

The next object I chose is a thunderstorm. For most of my life, stormy weather has been depressing to me because of a dark, dreary Friday morning. It had been raining constantly for days. School had been dismissed early that Thursday because of a tornado warning. I remember this because I hated to go to school when it rained. I was deathly afraid of lightning. My sister and I boarded the bus at 6:55 that morning as usual; Mrs. Scott was never late. We were first to be picked up and last to be dropped off. The school day went by uneventful.

My sister and I boarded the school bus in front of the school that evening. I was eight years old and she was fifteen. The ride home always seemed longer because we were the last stop Mrs. Scott made. By the time we reached our road, it had begun to pour down rain. Neither of us knew this day would be a day that shaped our outlook on many aspects of life. This day would be a day neither of us would ever forget. When we arrived in the front of our house, there were cars lining the driveway like ants on a crumb. Instantly, my sister and I looked directly at each other; we knew something was wrong. We grabbed our backpacks and ran up the drive way. Rev. Coleman, our pastor, was standing on the front porch talking to my father. He said, “There’s been a fire.” As we entered the house, my mother and aunt were sobbing uncontrollably.  Granddaddy Wiley’s house had burned. My four-year old cousin and my uncle, a paraplegic, were killed. My grandfather had been severely burned while trying to rescue them. He had been transported to a local hospital. No one knew exactly how the fire started, but it was believed that my baby cousin, Nicholas, had started the fire by putting a lit candle under a bed. My grandfather had come home to see the house burning and tried to enter. A wooden beam fell upon him knocking him unconscious on the porch. Neighbors rescued him.

It is so amazing how all those thoughts and feeling can come flooding back on any given stormy day. Although growing up, I hated when it rained, but never really understood that it didn’t have much to do with the actual rain. My hate was reflected towards the tragedy; however, it just happened to occur on a stormy day. It was years later that I realized just how important the rain is. What I had connected to death and grief I now saw as the bringer of life and beauty.  The water that storms produced gave life to flowers, grass, animals, and even human beings.

Hospital

Hospitals have always been uncomfortable places for me. I just associated them with death, dying, and suffering. I avoided them by any means necessary. My uncle, last uncle remaining, was diagnosed with colon cancer. He fought a yearlong battle with this monster. Before this time, I really didn’t know my uncle because he had spent most of his life living up-state. Coincidentally, I was the one who had to take him to his chemotherapy treatments. During this time we became very close. I was face to face with death and did not realize it. Finally, on December 26, 2007, I checked him into a hospital.  I thought that would be the last time I saw him alive. He believed it would be also. He told me how much he appreciated what I had done for him and reminded me not to be afraid of death anymore. He died less than a month later. At the funeral home, I was calm and unafraid. I had never been that close to a dead person. I was shocked by the amount of strength I had gained; I didn’t even cry. I had become the back bone for the rest of the family who were not taking it well at all.

It’s amazing how life’s experiences can change your outlook on life’s situation. All my life I had avoided hospitals and the sickbeds of the dying because I was afraid. I had regretted not going to see a dying family friend for many years. It really bothered me because she had requested to see me. I can’t change the past, but these experiences have made me a stronger person. I didn’t understand why at the time, but now I certainly do. Since that time, I have been able to complete some volunteer services at a hospital and nursing home. No longer do I look at these places as dreary and scary. Many of the people there are filled with life. Some are more lively and energetic than people I have encountered in other places. I know that my being the person who was able to take my uncle to his hospital visits was no accident. As I think back to the many days and nights that I sat by his bed side, I know that there was a purpose in it all.

Restaurant

I dine out quite a bit, but after being assigned this project, I decided to go to a restaurant I had never patronized before.  Chili’s is a chain restaurant known for its southwestern style food and laidback atmosphere. They welcome guests of all ages. Chili’s is famous for its baby back ribs, but they serve a variety of dishes from grilled burgers to fajitas. Chili’s can be a place to hang out with friends after work or a place to bring the entire family to on a Friday evening. They are open Monday-Friday 11a.m. till 11p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 11a.m. till midnight.  All the previous mentioned details would normally not be something that I paid close attention to. However, as I sat waiting to be served I looked around at my surroundings.

The first time I dined at Chili’s was this past weekend. When we arrived, we almost decided to go somewhere else because of limited parking. After circling around several times, we were finally able to get a parking space. When you enter the restaurant the atmosphere is very homely. The lights were dim and several televisions were displaying a variety of broadcasts from the news to CSI. There was a 20 minute wait, so we decide to have a drink at the bar. I had an Amaretto Sour and my friend had a beer. My drink was excellent. I have been to other establishments and the drink was always too sweet. Chili’s got it just right. They were punctual too; after about 20 minutes we were seated for dinner. I had a rib-eye steak, side salad, and potatoes. He had the supreme beef nachos. The food was very good. I had my steak cooked well done, but it was still tender. The salad was crisp and fresh and the potatoes were creamy.  As I was thinking of all the details that I would include in my description of Chili’s, I could not help but think of the many homeless people who had not eaten at all that day or for days. Here I was being a connoisseur of the food and drinks and many would be glad to get just a morsel of food. I wondered how many other patrons may be thinking what I was thinking.

There was a great deal of people there, but the noise level was moderate. The server was punctual and very polite. He came back to check to see if we need anything several times. Our glasses never reached empty. As I watched him clearing the table and emptying the unfinished portions of food into a dish pan, I wondered if he thought about the homeless.

After thinking so much about the misfortunes in life, I decided to payer closer attention to something that gives happiness to many to just view its beauty-a sunrise. Although I enjoy getting all of my much needed sleep, I decided to get up early enough to watch the sunrise. I must say this is something I have not witnessed many times in my life. That morning when my alarm went off, I thought maybe I should have written about a sunset instead. However, I forced myself out of build and I sat on my balcony waiting for the spectacular event.

Sunrise

The first glimpse of the sun sent out an orange-red hue that was magnificent. Just to see those colors spread across the tree line was a sight to behold in itself. As I watched the tip of the sun spread slowly above the trees and roof tops in the distance, I was in awe. I thought about how universal this event was and how many people around the world, depending upon time zone, were looking at the same sun I was looking at in that very moment. Wow! Such a magnificent event took place in a matter of minutes. I thought about the many uses for the sun. It is an important event. I remember growing up and my grandfather never owned an alarm clock or wrist watch. He could always tell you about what time it was based upon the where the sun was in the sky. I thought that was an amazing talent, but my grandfather had been a farmer his entire life. He passed away a year ago at the age of 95. I wondered how many sun rises he had witnessed in his life because he always got up before daybreak and worked until sunset.

Without the sun very little vegetation would grow and strive. So, each day that the sun rises is a new day and life for a plant. In comparison, we are much the same. Each night when we lay down to sleep we are being renewed. When we wake the next morning, we start fresh.

A Rose

My mother loves flowers of any sort. She can spend hours watering, feeding, and weeding them. Sometimes she just sits among them and looks at them.  So, I decided to closely examine one of her prized roses. It is pink with specks of white lining its pedals. After looking closer, I could see that the white and pink make a pattern of interlocking ovals and circles. Each rose, although the same splashes of color, has its own unique pattern. Had my mother ever noticed that?  When I asked her about it, she explained that all flowers have patterns even when they are the same color. She explained that related flowers had similar patterns, while non-related flowers had dissimilar patterns.  I took all of that information and concluded that flowers were just like families. You could determine if a flower was related to another by looking at its patterns. Family members are much the same-humans and animals.

Next, I smelled the fragrance coming from each flower. Again, each fragrance was unique-even those from the same type of flower. Sitting among the flowers was quite relaxing and peaceful. Something I had never thought of although my mom had been doing this all my life.  My favorite rose was something my mother called the “Double Delight”. It was bright red and white and was the most fragrant in the flower garden. After I sniffed around trying to find the particular fragrance, my mother informed by that it was the Double delight. She informed me that it was called that because of its beauty and fragrance. Nevertheless, she only had two of these. To me it was the most beautiful and best smelling. I asked her why not just plant those. She laughed and said the other flowers needed a chance too. She asked me what if the world was only made up of the most attractive and smart people. I had never thought about it like that before. Every person and thing serves a purpose in the scheme of things.

Strawberry Cheesecake

My favorite food is strawberry cheese cake. I never really thought about why this was my favorite food, I just remember that my mom prepared it all the time. Some of my friends had never even tasted cheese cake before. I began to think about how food is as much a part of one’s culture as a last name or distinguishing features. I never really paid any attention to this until coming to college and noticing what food choices people were making. Many factors impact the type of foods a person may choose to consume. Culture directly affects the types of food a person eats because culture dictates all parts of one’s life. When choosing something to eat, I never really thought about what was driving that decision. Education, social-status, environment, and geographic location play a dominant role in deciding what you might eat. Nonetheless, culture is something that can be adjusted and changed to fit the needs of a people. For example, many college students have converted to eating noodles regardless to their cultural background.  I had never heard of noodles growing up because my mother is a great cook and always made full course meals.

However, I now know that food choice is directly dependent upon socio-economic status. People eat what they can afford. When I lived at home I did not realize that because I never had to purchase any food, I just at what my parents provided me with. I was discussing this with one of my friends and learned that she had an issue with food. She says she has been having problems with controlling her eating habits since she has been in college. She admits that she often overeats. She explained that growing up, food was not always readily available and that she went to bed hungry many nights. In the cafeteria, she has choice after choice to choose. Consequently, she overeats now.  After talking to her, I really have looked closely at the food choices I make. I have been able to think about those who are less fortunate than me and how one’s upbringing can affect them later in life. I have been so grateful that my parents provided me with a very comfortable living situation. I am amazed that I have come to that conclusion just by discussing my favorite food with a friend of mine.

A Car

Having a car is very important to me. I feel very thankful to have a car, especially when it is raining, extremely hot or cold. I thought about how complicated and unpleasant many of my experiences would be without having a car. Living in smaller cities without a car would be a great disadvantage. Just going to a local Wal-Mart could be a difficult task.  So, I decided to try to complete one day’s task without the use of my car. That meant getting to class, running errands, and whatever else transportation needs I would have. The first inconvenience was the fact that I had to get up earlier than usual to make it to class on time. After walking the 15 minutes, I realized that I was quite sweaty and uncomfortable. As a result, I was very self conscious about whether or not I had a bad odor or if everyone was looking at me because of the sweat spots on my clothing. When I was walking, I did notice that many people passing in their cars were staring at me because I was walking. I did not recognize any of them, so I realized that walking is stigmatized by car drivers.

I found myself anxious when I realized that it was getting cloudy outside. Although I had brought and umbrella, I did not want to walk for 15 minutes in the pouring rain. Fortunate for me, when I left for home it was only drizzling. Nevertheless, this made my walk longer because I had to avoid areas that were too muddy to walk across. For example, I had taken a short cut across a field, but now I had to stick to the sidewalk to keep from getting my shoes muddy. By the time I made it home I was soaked nevertheless. Yet, I was happy to be home and elated that I did not have to do that every day. This activity opened my eyes to the fact that I was one of those people who stared at those walking. I can even remember asking myself why is he walking in the rain… I guess I never really thought about the fact that the person might not have a car and walking wasn’t a choice. From now on I will definitely be more appreciative of everything I have access to. Having a car is a great luxury, regardless to the make or model. If it is able to get you where you need to go, it is definitely a luxury.

God

This assignment made me think more about the many acts in nature that suggests that there is a purpose and a plan to everything. The human body was designed with a purposeful plan. Many have attempted to exclude the Teleological Argument when they attempted to show that human beings evolved into intelligent beings through the process of random and natural selection. In other words, survival of the fittest created the human being we have today. Nonetheless, even this idea only helps the argument of an intelligent creator. The human body is so magnificently designed that it had to be done by an intelligent designer. For example, the ways in which the male and female body can come together and deposit bodily fluids that in turn produce a baby. The connection of a sperm cell and egg cells produces another human being. Most astoundingly, the sperm cell is built or designed to swim up a woman’s fallopian tubes and implant in the egg. Next, the mother carries the child in a fluid filled sack for nine months, the perfect time for the child to develop. During those nine months, the child is living in liquid. However, after birth if a child is placed in a liquid substance that covers his/her head he will drown. Amazingly designed is the human body.

Yet, there are still many arguments about the existence of God. The main argument is if God is so great why does he allow evil to happen in the world. The best answer for that is he does allow bad things to happen, but one must be able to understand that once they have encountered evil and overcome it, that is the glory of God. However, often the evilness of people is attributed to the will of God. People have free will to choose good or evil; God gives them that choice. Looking at the majesty of the world and all that is under His creation, it is difficult for one to believe that things just randomly happen. As I closely observed things around me, I could not be more convinced that there is a God who has created everything-large and small and that each has a significant purpose.

A Tree

I go to a local park about twice a week to just walk and relax. Yet, I never noticed this huge cedar tree before. Today when I passed by it, I stopped and studied it intently. This tree is over a hundred feet tall in my estimation. After doing so rudimentary research online about determining the age of a tree by height, I came up the fact that this tree might be nearly 100 years old. While looking closer at the tree, I realized that several smaller trees around it had been cut down, while other smaller trees were being stifled by its long, out reaching branches. I assumed that was why the others had been cut down. I noticed that this tree was the home to several birds and squirrel families. The circumference of the trunk was too large for me to try to measure. This is a massive tree. As I stood and looked up at its branches, I felt so small compared to its size. I could help but wonder who else had experience the majesty of its presence. I thought about how many shaded picnics this tree had provided or even afternoon naps. As I circled the circumference of the tree, I noticed several carvings that were up to high for me to read. That let me knew they had been carved sometime ago because the tree was growing. I thought about the fact that this huge tree came from a tiny seed.

Again, I found myself thinking about the overall scheme of things. What was once small enough to be blown away by the wind was now large enough to block the wind, rain, and sun rays from reaching the ground. What could have easily been food for a bird or squirrel is now providing them with a home.

The Sky

As a child, looking at the sky was quite fascinating to me. I remember fantasizing about Jack and the Beanstalk. I know that this was long before I knew anything about God or religion, so the sky was just an amazing unknown to me. Today, as I look at the sky it is still majestic to me, but for other reasons. When I look at the shape of the clouds, the color arrangement, or even see a rainbow after a terrible storm, I can see God at work. No matter what can be said to explain the patterns and colors that you might see on any given day, I believe that it is all purposeful.

I remember walking back from the cemetery the day we buried my grandfather. I looked up at the sky and it was the most amazing blue I had ever seen. The clouds were so white and fluffy that if I didn’t know better I would have thought I could sit on one. Although the sun was nowhere in sight, it was the brightest day. The wind was blowing ever so gently and the clouds just seemed to coast along the sky. I remember thinking that my grandfather must be there and if it was this beautiful from the ground looking up, how much more beautiful it had to be from his point of view.

The night sky is a bit more mysterious to me, but just as beautiful. Looking at the stars and the patterns that they make are not random acts. They have been so intricately placed that they can help sailors navigate their way home.

A Pair of Shoes

My favorite pair of shoes is a pair of casual, slip your fit in cloth shoes that I picked up from a local Wal-Mart. I bought them because I was going to the beach and did not want to get sand into my “good shoes”. Needless to say, I enjoy them more than I do the shoes that cost more than four times what I paid for them. That left me thinking that often we are just paying for a name brand, not quality. Those little cheap shoes I picked up from Wal-Mart are of better quality than the high dollar ones I purchased from a department store.

As an adult, I felt that peer pressure was something that children dealt with. However, those cheap shoes have taught me just how dominant peer pressure is in every stage of life. I was on the way out the door with a couple of my friends a few days ago. Well, first I must remind you that I have been wearing these shoes everywhere with all of my clothing. So, this trip was to be no different. Yet, when I noticed that they were looking at my feet, I quickly went to put on my “good” shoes. As soon as I stepped into them I could notice the difference in how they felt. Clearly, my other shoes were more comfortable. Walking around with them all day, I only thought about how much more comfortable I would be if I had on the other shoes. By the end of the trip, I asked my friends what they thought of the other shoes. One of them quickly responded that they would never wear them, not even around the house. I laughed and explained to them the assignment I have been doing. Although I could not get them to understand that I had come to the realization that quality is more important than name brand, they did not agree.

Although I have the ability to choose what type of shoes I wear, there are many who do not. I thought about the students in high school or elementary school whose parents are unable to afford to buy name brand shoes and clothing. It did not bother me that my friends laughed at the shoes because I will continue to wear them. However, a younger child may not be able to adjust so easily.

Television

Watching television is a daily ritual for many; however, for me it’s not a daily necessity. Whenever I do watch television, I often see something that I totally disagree with. I believe many of the shows that youngsters are watching are unknowingly altering the way they see the world. So many of the reality shows are teaching them to love fame and glamour and to do whatever they must in order to achieve it.

When I was thinking about this, I analyzed the shape of the television-square. Today, many people say think outside the box. To me, they mean outside of what you can see on television. Television is for entertainment only, but many believe it is the way they should live their lives. According to statistics, more than 80 percent of households have televisions and over 90 percent of them have satellite or cable streaming. What that says to me is that many children are being raised by television shows rather than parents.

I can remember as a child my parents did not allow me to watch certain things on television. I can remember being sent out the room or someone physically placing their hands over my eyes so that I could not see. Today there are so many reality shows that show the realities of murder. My parents were covering my eyes 10 or 15 years ago, what are parents or should I say what can parents today do to prevent their children from seeing what is being broadcasted today. When parents want to raise children who are grounded in strong values, motivated, and determined, they must possess these qualities themselves. Values direct every aspect of one’s life. For example, one who has great values will be charitable. They will help when they can.  That means giving time and money to worthy causes.  When children grow up seeing a parent who does this, they too will be charitable.  However, if a family trying to teach this to their children by word of mouth and not be actions, the outcome may not be pleasing. Children pay attention to everything because they are watching it from untainted eyes. Likewise, television is the main culprit of tainting views. Families with strong, practiced, values, even in the face of adversity will ensure that their legacy will be carried on by future generations.

Life

Many people believe that life is what one makes it. In other words, one can choose his/her own destiny. Nonetheless, so much of one’s life is centered on the legacy of one’s fore parents. From the time of birth until death, one is know by his/her family name. This fact can affect a person both positively and negatively.  Most people live by standard, morals, and cultures that have been instilled in them. For example, most people will not do something that they feel bring shame to their family name. As a result, so many people live their lives trying live up to a good family name or restore a good name that has been tainted by some error. Sadly, many people live their entire lives without pursuing goals or becoming who they were intended to be because they fear being ostracized by family members.  If a family has flourished for many generations, younger members of that family are pressured to be successful in the eyesight of older members of that family. Often, what older members deem as successful is not what younger members see as being successful. Many older people believe that younger members must follow in the footsteps of the older members. Often that means taking on a family job. For example, sometimes that can mean becoming a teacher, lawyer, doctor, or business owner just because the family is known for that particular trade.

More important that carrying on a family traditions, families should try to instill values in all of the members. Values are something that is taught through doing, not just telling. Values are much different from beliefs or choices. When parents instill values in their children, they are assuring that their children will make good choices regardless to the circumstances. If making the right choice means that one many not be popular or successful, a person with values will be unwavering.  By teaching one’s children this, one is guaranteeing that that child will most likely live a happy life because leading a life that is consistent with one’s values is optimal for happiness.  Everyone has heard the old saying that actions speak louder than words. It is true. One’s values are on display each day in many ways. This is observed by friends, family, and the communities in which one lives. The way one spends his money, time, and the company one keeps is a direct reflection of the values one possesses. Parenting skills also play a role in legacies. If parents ensure that children know the value of work and commitment, they are ensuring strong values and work ethics for the future generations. However, if parents are very relaxed and allow children to govern themselves, they will not get favorable outcomes. Often children do not like to carry through with projects they start when the task becomes too difficult. If parents allow children to quit when it gets difficult, they will become adults that quit when things become difficult.

Society

Many people believe reality is what they make it. In other words, one can choose to happy or sad. So much of one’s life is centered on social interactions. From the time of birth until death, society plays an integral part in one’s life. Most people live by standards that are set by society. For example, most people will not do something that they feel will not be accepted by certain members of society. As a result, so many people live their lives trying to gain acceptance from other members of society. Sadly, many members of society live their entire lives without pursuing goals or becoming who they were intended to be out of fear of being ostracized by society.  In the past, it was taboo for members of society to go against the norm and become individuals. However, in today’s society there are many more brave individuals who dare to be different. These individuals may go against what is considered the norm sexual preference. Members of Gays, lesbians, bi-sexual, and transgender society are standing up and speaking out for the right to not be deemed and deviant of misfit in society.  Having a healthy idea of reality is the key to one’s survival. Each individual must understand that he/she is a member of society and therefore most adhere to certain standards. Yet, that individual is must be aware that rules of society can sometime hold a person back from meeting his potential. The key is being able to discern between the two aspects of and be able to meet somewhere in the middle. One should not be a slave to society, yet one should not be a deviant and threat to society. When an individual is able to discern what best interest is in his/her, he has accomplished a healthy relationship with society.

The Homeless

In today’s world, homelessness and crime are seen as synonymous of each other. No matter how large are small an area is there is always a homeless population.  Places that are frequented by the homeless are often avoided by citizens because these places are perceived as crime hot spots. Ironically, these places are also avoided by many homeless people as well because they too, fear being victimized. However, it is true that not all homeless people commit crimes and are “evil” people. Yet, it is true that some homeless people do commit crimes, often those crimes are minor offenses such as shoplifting or vagrancy. The perception that homeless people are violent and untrustworthy has many citizens opposing homeless facilities in their neighborhoods. However, advocacy groups convey concern with crime and victimization that homeless people endure on the streets. This is a totally different perspective to view homeless people from because the average American does not view the homeless as a vulnerable group.

I know this because I was one of those people who had a negative view of the homeless.  Nonetheless, the homeless is a very vulnerable group. Many aspects play an important role in the formation of a negative perception of the homeless population; negative perceptions of the homeless population in America partly to blame for the homeless issue. Homelessness is a problem that crosses racial, ethnic, and geographical barriers. Although minorities, the less educated and lower income persons are more likely to become homeless, Caucasians, educated and financially stable people are not excluded. Not all homeless people commit crimes. Being homeless does not make a person violent. All homeless people have not chosen questionable lifestyles that caused them to become homeless. Some homeless are victims of abuse and chose living on the streets rather than live in continue abuse. Others have mental and physical disabilities that caused them to be unable to provide for themselves. For this assignment, I decided to speak with a homeless person. I choose a lady that I often see around a local store. I went up to talk to her and to my surprise, she was very well spoken. I found that she had been a teacher earlier in her life and being homeless was a choice. She had a family that was willing to take her in, but she refused. I learned that she suffered from a mental breakdown after the loss of her child. She has since been unwilling to take the medication she was provided with. Essentially, I believe she is just unable to connect with or love anyone else because she is afraid she will lose them.

Education

Today a college education is just as important as a high school education was fifty years ago. A college degree is the foundation of a stable future. There are many reasons why a college degree is so important and necessary today. People who obtain a college education have a higher lifetime wages earned than people who do not have a college degree. This fact alone ensures a better quality of life for the college graduate. In today’s world, most employers prefer to hire persons who have a college degree or some type of technical certification. People without college educations are limited to the manufacturing and construction industries because these two industries are still based upon “working your way to the top”.  It is very possible that a person with only a high school diploma may obtain a job that pays well and provides great benefits; it is more likely that a college graduate will. A college degree is difficult to obtain for most, but it is well worth the difficulty in the long run.

A college degree provides one with the essential tools to compete in the world market for employment. The most important part of obtaining a college degree is the fact that one has a diploma that certifies that he/she is qualified to perform a certain job. When employers are in the process of hiring a new employee, they go through many resumes. Most employees are looking at the education section of the resumes to help them narrow their search. Most resumes without a college degree added will be discarded. Employers are looking for potential candidates that will be an asset to the company, but will require minimum investment of company money and training.

A college degree is beneficial because college students gain a wealth of experience and they have an opportunity to network with professors and fellow students. Had it not been for me being in college, I would have never been completing an activity like this one. College professors often relay their personal experiences and failures with their students. Networking is so important. The old cliché, “It’s not what you know, but who you know”, is still true today. Often college students make lasting friendship through sororities and fraternities, campus organizations, work study appointments, and various other connections. College students have the opportunity to attend job fairs, research programs, and mentorships. These connections can be used later to secure jobs.

Zoo

I have gone to many zoos, circuses, and other animal exhibits, but I never really thought about if the animals were happy. The exhibit I chose to pay close attention to for this assignment was the elephant display at a local zoo. The first thing I noticed was that the elephant looked to be well fed and taken care of. That was important to me because I feel it would be savage to have any animal in captivity and not properly feed it.

The area that the elephant was in is rather large. There is even a manmade lake in the display.  The first thing that I noticed was that there were small metal pipes running the circumference of the display. There was a thin wire running from each pipe. I believe that the wire was electrically charged to keep the elephant from crossing it. Outside of that perimeter, there was a barbed wire fence. The final perimeter was a wooden fence. To me, the perimeters should have been more humane. The wooden fence should have been the one closest to the elephant, and then the electric wire, and finally the barbed wire fence. The display was an outdoor display. No covering was over the top, so the elephant did have access to natural sun, rain, and fresh air.

My impression of the elephant was that he was just content, not happy or sad. During my visit, the elephant never made any sounds. He made little eye contact with the onlookers. One group of children were there making a lot of noises and their depictions of elephant sounds. The elephant looked up and watched the children until they left the exhibit. The elephant did seem a little bored to me. I believe that if he had other elephants in there with him, he would have been happier.

Is it humane or not? Animals in zoos are taken away from the natural habitat and confined behind walls and cages, often having limited space and interaction with other animals. The definition of inhumane is causing misery and suffering. When animals are taken from their natural home and placed in confinement so that people may look at them, does not show compassion. When confined, animals do not learn survival skills and therefore are domesticated. Many of the animals do not get proper exercise and have become accustomed to waiting on their males. For a long time, I was straddling the fence with this issue. I was unsure if zoos were humane. I believe animals are meant to be free just like humans.

Technology

Creativity can be defined as the ability to create something that is of value from ideas and other concepts that makes a task easier or more pleasant. Technology is everywhere in the world today. Consequently, society has become more dependent upon it which leads to the dimension of skills like creativity or critical thinking ability. I believe creative thinking is the employment of various other complex skills. As a result, I believe creative thinking is the application of logic and reason to an unfamiliar situation. Being creative means one has to be open-minded and willing to see situations from various points of view. This is an important aspect of critical thinking because it involves respecting the ideas of others.  Another important aspect of critical thinking is being able to approach the problems rationally. One must understand that what may seem rational to him/her may not be rational to someone else. Children in today’s society have learned to depend more on technology than free play and thinking. Likewise, the use of technology has affected students’ ability to become productive members of society.

The use of technology has lead to a short attention span for students. Educators and parents complain that young people lack patience. With the use of technology, they seldom have to wait for anything. There are numerous examples of how technology has made processes almost instantaneous. Before computers, friends that lived far apart called or wrote each other letters. Today, people have many choices to use to communicate with one another. First, there is instant messaging or text messaging. With this method a person can communicate with another person in real time instantly. There is also email and social media sites, both of which are also instantly. Growing up with access to technology that is instantaneous, young people are very impatient. When they have to complete tasks that take long periods of time, they become agitated and often just quit. While all of the various forms of technology engage young people, it often becomes addictive to them.

Over a period of time evolution takes place. History has taught us this over and over. Likewise, the brains of young people are evolving to the tech savvy world around them. They no longer have to write or spell. The use of technology has also led to diminished writing and spelling skills. Text message and email lingo it difficult to decipher sometimes by people who are not use to reading and writing in lingo. Because there are no grammatical rules to use when chatting with friends via instant message or email, often they are unable to write in other situations when grammatical rules apply.  Also, young people are unable to handle face to face conflict. With social media it is quite easy to just log off or not respond, but in face to face contact it requires some critical thinking skills to handle situations. So many young people find themselves in trouble at school or within their communities because they are unable to diffuse potentially bad situations. Because they are unable to adequately communicate, they are more willing to solve problems using brute force and physical contact.

A Highway

For the many people traveling up and down highways on a daily basis, they never give a thought to the highway. I took a more in-depth look at a road a few days ago when I accidently drifted outside the medium. When I did so, I heard that loud bumping noise as I rolled across the ridges on the outer side of the road. Up until that point, I had never really thought about the purpose of the ridges. However, this particular day, I was thankful that they were there and I realized that they had a purpose. I know that the sound those ridges made would surely wake up someone who had accidently fallen to sleep. This idea left me to think about the fact that this concept was thought about by someone.

Next, I thought about how roads are designed to allow rain water to run off and how the hot sun does not deteriorate the roads. How difficult it would be to reach some areas without proper roads.  Early in my freshman year, I remember being in a speech class and listening to a student who grew up in the Appalachian areas. I recalled him saying how difficult it was for them to attend school in rainy seasons. He said that when the rain would not relent for days, the roads would be covered and the only way you could make it to school was if your family had a boat. In a short story he wrote, I remember the funny side of his story was that on one occasion the rain had covered the roads and he could not go to school because the boat had a hole in it. So during these times, they could not attend school or anything else. Whenever a rainy season came, the people who lived in this area made sure they had supplies because they knew they could be confined to home for a minimum of week.

Where I grew up, this was never an issue; I never thought about being confined somewhere because of lack of road access. So, as I veered onto the edge of the road all of these thoughts came back to me. I had honestly forgotten about this young man. I can’t remember his name, but I remember his story. It was very funny to me because I didn’t realize that people still lived in such dire situations. Yet, I was so happy that he was a student in college making a better life for himself.

The Moon

The moon is quite beautiful on clear nights. A few nights ago the moon looked particularly close to earth. I was awaken by the bright glow that shone into my window. I walked out on my balcony to have a closer look. It seemed close enough to touch. As I stood looking in awe, I was surprised by the size of the moon. It seemed so large from where I stood. My next thought was that someone had actually walked on the moon. I wondered if he had a view of the earth from the moon and what it looked like from his perspective.

While doing this activity, I had been thinking of the significance and importance of all the objects I had chosen. So, what was the significance of the moon in the whole scheme of the world?  Unlike the sun, the moon did not provide life to plants and animals, nor did it provide farmers with a time of day. Standing there looking at the moon, I tried to figure it out. However, it dawned on me that maybe its purpose is just beauty. I thought about what my mother has said about the flowers.  So maybe the purpose of the moon is to light up the night sky. Or maybe it is just to be gazed upon by people like me. Nevertheless, I thought about God’s purpose. He used the sun and moon to separate the day from the night. Or maybe the sun would be too bright in the night hours and one could not see the stars.

Ethics

Most people learn ethical manners at home, at school, in church, social settings, or a combination of the four. Although most people acquire their sense of right and wrong when they are children, ethical and moral development occurs throughout life and human beings pass through different stages of growth as they mature in Christ. Ethical norms are so omnipresent that one might be tempted to regard them as simple commonsense. On the other hand, if morality was nothing more than conscious, there would not be so many disputes in the world. We often fail in our daily struggle to act with wisdom – it does not always come so easily. Often, one does not always do the ethically correct thing. Having wisdom is a great reward. Each person should strive to make ethically correct decisions in order to acquire inner peace.

I was faced with an ethical issue few days ago when I was visiting a friend of mine who is a school teacher. She has several resource students that she works with one on one because their special education department is nonexistence. Earlier that day, she was asking another teacher about some resources to work with the students with. Well, she mentioned to the special education teacher that she was working with some resource students. Upset about the fact that she was working with these students that she should be working with, she yelled at the child asking why was my friend telling everyone that he can’t read at all. Several of the students in the class came back and told my friend what happened. She was very upset. She asked me what I thought she should do.  I told her to go to the teacher and asked her about it. The special education teacher denied that it even happened. She said that she asked him why he has been acting like he can’t read in his class. The student is having a very difficult time. He is dirty quite a lot, he misses several days a week, and he eats his lunch and anyone else who doesn’t want theirs. It really disheartened me because it is very clear that this child is having a hard time. I felt she made him feel like my friend was talking about him, which in turn might make him feel he can’t trust her. My friend said that she went to the special education teacher’s room in the most humble way that she could, but she said the other teacher probably sensed that she was upset. My friend informed me that this is not the first negative encounter they have had. Nonetheless, I feel that I gave her the best ethical advice I could. Yet, I wish my friend had not told her that the students told me.

Love

Defining love is something that has eluded poets and writers for centuries. Many people believe that love is the ultimate purpose for living. It is human nature to search for commitment and belonging. From the very be beginning, each person is in search of love. Babies are searching for the love and care of their parents. As the child grows up, he/she is still in search of the love of parents, but he ventures out to add the love of others, like friends and other care givers. Once the child becomes a teenager, he looks for the love of the opposite sex-depending upon his faith and upbringing. Philosophically speaking, love grows from one’s faith and upbringing which builds relationships and trust.

We are first taught to love and be loved by our parents. The relationships we have with our families are more intimate and deep than the ones we form with friends and even colleagues. Relationships with families are deeper because they withstand geography and time. Often when a person moves away, the bonds of friendships can loosen. Children are the products of their environment. So, one a person seeks a mate in life, he/she looks for the familiar. Often girls marry men that are like their fathers in some way. Likewise, sons often marry women that have common characteristics of their mothers. Every person has an idea of what the ideal person to marry should be like. It might be something that one has seen on television, what others have told them, or just through aesthetics alone. However, for most people it is a combination of several factors. For most people, when it comes to marrying someone, there must be certain aspects present. People look for a person who has the same values and beliefs as their own when they want to marry a person. The religious beliefs are usually at the top of the list. In order to spend a lifetime with another person, some commonalities must be present.

Faith

From a religious perspective, faith is being able to believe something will or will not happen even when there is no evidence that supports the belief. Faith is the foundation of living from day to day. No one knows if they will live to see the next day, but they have faith that they will. Consequently, they prepare for the next day and years to come. Relationships are the same way. No one knows that their relationship will stand the test of time, but when they agree to get married they have faith that it will. Faith builds the relationships that each person has with his/her spouse.

Once faith has been achieved in a relationship, the couple forms trust. After a person has proven that he/she will do what they have committed to do, they can be trusted. There is evidence to support what is said.  Couples achieve trust over time. Marriages are filled with trials and hardships; however, once a couple determines that they can depend upon each other, the bond between them is fully formed. Love is a unique circumstance that encompasses so many facets. The ultimate concept of love is trust.  Once trust has been established, the couple has truly become one. The things that one experiences affect both in much the same way.

I believe that faith and trust grow out of love. One cannot love without having faith and trust. Strong bonds of faith and trust ensure stronger love in a relationship. Human nature desires love, commitment, and belonging. True love is only established over time. When couples have endured trials and hardships, they reach the ultimate love-which is trust.

Back porch

As a child, I spent many days and evenings playing on our back porch. Being the youngest, my mother always wanted to keep an eye on me. So, while the others ventured out into other parts of the yard, I reprimanded to remain on the porch. For me, the greatest part about playing on the porch was that I was near the kitchen. Whenever my mother was cooking, I was the taster. So, while my siblings and other relatives were out exploring the yard and its surrounding lands, I was on the porch making memories with my mother.

One of my most vivid memories is playing store with my mom. I would ride my tricycle up to the kitchen window and pretend I was making an order in a drive through window.  After she finished her chores, mother would come and sit on the porch with me and we would talk about all kinds of things. The one thing I remember most is asking her when I would be big enough to play outside with everyone else. She always laughed and said one day you are going to wish you were small again. I thought to myself that would never happen. Nevertheless, a few months ago when classes were really difficult I went home to just relax. I was sitting on the porch talking to my mother about how difficult classes and work had become. She reminded me of the many times when she told me that I would wish to be a little girl again. Although I never thought I would wish to be that little girl again, I definitely wished that I was worry free like that little girl.

It was amazing to me to see how life had made a full circle for me. I was sitting on the same porch that I sat on as a child as an adult. I wished I could just sit on that porch and swing in the hanging rocker. I could smell the sweet fragrance coming from my mother’s prized flower garden. Life seemed so care free there.

Drug Addiction

Before taking this course, I had a completely negative opinion of substance abusers. In my mind I always felt that it was a conscious choice that the person was making. With all the information that one sees and hears about the consequences of drugs, I couldn’t understand why anyone would take such a risk. Nonetheless, I have come to realize that addiction is a sickness that the addict really doesn’t have control of. Once they have fallen victim and tried the particular drug, they become a slave to it. They will do whatever is needed to get the drug and rarely care about who they hurt in the process.

In my own life, I know people who are substance abusers. I tried to steer away from these people because I felt they were just ignorant. Now I have realized that a person can become a substance abuser after using a substance only one time. I know people who have lost everything due to substance abuse. Their families are torn about by divorce and the children are left in disarray. I couldn’t understand how one would keep using after seeing the stress it was bringing to his family. Nonetheless, the person kept using drugs. Eventually, the person checked into a rehab, but relapsed. This process has been ongoing.

Yes, my view of the addict has changed. I can now see them as real people with feelings and goals in life just as nonusers. I don’t believe any person ever woke up one morning and said I think I want to be a drug addict. These are real people who just made bad choices in life. Sometimes just one bad choice has led them down a road of destruction. I know that they are trying to get their lives back, but often the addiction is just too strong for them to break away from it on their own. Many times there are other underlining reasons for the person trying the drug in the first place. So, in order to break the addiction, the person has to come to terms with the reason of the addiction.

An Ant

An ant is one of the tiniest living creatures I can think of. If you have ever had the chance to sit and watch an ant at work, it is an amazing site. They are so small, but they are hardworking and resilient. As a child, I kicked over or probed a stick in many ant beds. Often, within the next few days I would notice that the damage had been mended and the ants were carrying on with their daily activities. They are so organized. Once when I was in elementary school, my teacher had an ant farm in a glass box. It was amazing to see the paths and structure they could make underground. They had storage rooms that they placed the food in that they were storing for the winter. I always referred to them as soldiers. They would be marching side by side in opposite directions. Some ants would be traveling to the ant bed, while others would be travelling away from the mound. In order to perform these unique duties, ants must be able to communicate with one another.

So, then I was left thinking about what communication really is. When we say the word communication we think of talking to one another, but after watching the ants for a period of time I knew that communication meant so much more. How do the ants decide which ant does which job? How do they decide how long they will work each day? I began to think that ants are much like humans. The work each day and bring things homes to save for later. They live in communities and are able to communicate with each other.

Although they are so small, they carry objects larger than they are in size. To me, I saw this as a metaphorical representation of human beings. Often we are faced with situations that seem impossible. The burdens that we carry are often more mental weights than physical weights. Yet, in my personal experience the mental weights are far heavier than physical weights. That left me thinking that if ants were willing to physically carry objects that are twice their size; human beings should be able to mentally carry burdens that outweigh us in size.

Communication

Communication is vital to one’s survival in society. Human beings, by nature, are very sociable and enjoy interacting and communicating with each other. Being unable to properly communicate is the root cause of most broken relationships. In order for one to be able to properly communicate, he/she must be aware that communication is multi-faceted. It is amazing that I really began to ponder communication after watching the ants. True communication involves sharing information, feelings and ideas with others.  In today’s tech savvy world, communication is all around us. As a result, sometimes one may not even be aware that he/she is communicating, specifically when it is in the nonverbal form. Human beings use various verbal and nonverbal cues to communicate with each other. There are several important factors of communication; some factors are verbal and others are nonverbal. Being able to effectively communicate is a powerful to have. Effective communication connects people to one another. Body language, facial expressions, posture, gestures, eye contact, and even voice tone can both positively and negatively affect interpersonal relationships. A great deal can be said without a person even opening his or her mouth to utter one word. Likewise, even when a person speaks he/she may still be misunderstood due to faulty body language or cues.  Nonverbal cues can be described as behaviors; they can consist of posture, facial expressions, body and hand motions, and eye contact. Verbal communication can be described primarily by words spoken.  Both verbal and nonverbal communication can play an important role in relationships; consequently, they are equally important. As a student, I have to be able to communicate what I have learned with my professors. I hope that the way I have decided to complete this assignment conveys how much I have learned about myself and the world around me.

Book Shelf

As a college student, I have collected quite a library of books and manuals. As I sat and looked at my book shelf one day, I thought about all the information that was contained on that shelf. I also thought how thoroughly had I learned the material that was contained within the books. Growing up, my parents had always insisted that we read. Even during summer breaks I had to read and present book reports to my mother. So, early on I developed a joy for learning and reading.

I remember complaining about having to read when I was on a break. My mother always reminded of how important it was to read. She spoke to me about racism and the Civil Rights Movement. She even asked me one time did I know that reading was so important to some people that they were willing to die for the opportunity to read. When people have been raised to believe in something, it directly affects their morals, beliefs, and way of life. Because my mother stressed reading, it became a part of life. Racism, segregation, and other forms of discrimination were a way of life in the South during the Civil Rights Movement. Any person, who opposed the laws, had to be willing to meet with stiff consequences. Some of those consequences may have even been loss of life. Dr, King and his followers chose to stand up for equal rights for African American in the South. They were willing to be beaten, jailed, or even killed to attempt to gain the equal rights they knew they deserved. As I looked at my repertoire of books, I asked myself would I be willing to die for the information I had gained from that shelf of books.

A Pound

My parents own some property not too far from our home and as a child my father would taking me fishing. I guess I should say he went fishing and I just kept him company. We would sit for hours under an Oak tree. He would cast into the pond and I would watch the ripples slowly travel to the bank on the other side of the pond. Although I do not recall him catching many fish, I think he just enjoyed sitting in the quiet watching the water.

The pond was full of life. I watched frogs peeking above the water line occasionally. Tad poles fluttered across the top of the water. Every now and again I would see a bird walking close to the water line in hopes of catching a quick snack. There was an old broken tree limb that had fallen into the water. Several turtles would meet on the log to sun themselves. It amazed me because they seemed to line up according to size-from largest to smallest. Sitting there listening to the sounds of nature and watching the activity in the pound was quite an experience.

Since that time I have grown up much and the last time I was at the pond I told my father I remembered the pound being much larger than what I saw that day. He laughed and reminded me that I was looking at the pound from the eyes of a young child. As I thought about that, I believe that even as adults, we often see problems bigger than they really are. I have had situations that I thought I would not be able to overcome. Yet, later when I look back at the event it now seems so small. Having that child-like innocence is a great gift, but as we become adults we must learn to look at situations with discernment and wisdom. What may seem large is often smaller than we realize.

Leadership

Since I have been in college, I have been a part of many groups. Some of them have been great, while most of them have been terrible to say the least. When I thought about why the group did not work well, I determined that it was the leadership. A person may choose to become a leader for various reasons. Some choose leadership for superiority and respect, while others choose it because they believe they can make a difference. Yet, others just desire the power that comes along with being a leader. I believe in order to become an effective leader one must possess certain character traits or skills. The three main traits an effective leader must possess are communication, trustworthiness, and confidence.

A great leader must be able to communicate effectively.  Effective communication is a learned trait. No one is born with it and it improves with practice. Effective communication involves listening, non-verbal cues, managing stress, and being emotionally aware. Many people believe that communication is just speaking, but actually it is not. Listening is an important aspect of communicating. Leaders who are effective create environments which help to build a connection between the speaker and listener. These types of environments make all feel safe and comfortable with speaking. When listening is carried out correctly by an effective leader, he/she can clarify information and avoid conflicts and misunderstandings. Next, communication can also be non-verbal. Effective leaders have an understanding of non-verbal cues. They can read body language and facial expressions. They can also use these non-verbal cues to enhance their verbal communication.  Also, stress can affect communication. Great leaders are able to recognize when they are becoming stressed and react accordingly. They may take a moment to calm down before continuing the conversation or even give the speaker time to calm down before continuing to talk.  Finally, emotions play a very important role in the way effective leaders communicate. Emotions can motivate one to make decisions that may not be appropriate. Emotions also allow the leader to show empathy for others.

Poem

Robert Frost uses nature in many of his poems to symbolize man in relation to the world.  He is one of my favorite poets. He also uses a great deal of figurative language to place emphasis on the struggles man faces. The reader might be reading about a forest or a tree, but on a metaphorical level he or she is actually reading about humanity. Frost uses nature to represent the physical and mental needs of man, the challenges he might face, and his inevitable death. Four of Frost’s poems successfully convey humanity’s struggles manifested through natural occurrences: The Woodpile, Birches, Stopping by Woods, and After Apple picking.

Frost is considered by most a nature poet because so many of his poems take place in scenic nature. To the casual reader, Frost’s poems may seem to be just about nature or occurrences in nature.  This assignment has really caused me to look more in-depth at many things that I encounter each day of my life. As a poetry lover, I like to believe that I can see the simplistic things in life within the frame of the big picture. The Woodpile is an excellent example of this idea. In this poem, the poet goes out for an evening walk during the winter month. He doesn’t seem to be looking for anything in particular, or even have a particular destination in mind, but what he encounter on his walk causes a soul changing revelation. This assignment has caused that soul changing revelation for me. I don’t believe I will ever look at anything in the same way again.

Church

I observed several people at a regular church service last Sunday. There are several behaviors that I considered abnormal: deviant behavior, OCD, ADHD, Claustrophobia, and maladaptive behaviors. I regularly attend church services, but before this day I never really paid close attention to the behaviors of others. Likewise, I had never tried to place the behaviors of others in categories. However, I believe the behaviors would be classified as abnormal. I really don’t believe these observations would have been different if observed in another setting; however, some of them might not have been observable in different settings.

The first behavior I observed was what I considered deviant. During the service, the minister periodically asks the congregation to stand or read certain scriptures from the bible. I noticed that several young people refused to stand, nor did they recite the scriptures aloud. Likewise, there were several older members of the congregation who did not stand. However, these members were elderly and two of them use the aid of a walking cane. In my opinion, these members were permitted to sit. Maybe the younger members of the congregation felt that because the elderly were allowed to sit, they should be able to. I also noticed that several people were using the mobile devices during services. It was difficult for me to understand coming to church, but refusing to participate or pay attention to the services.

The next behavior I noticed was OCD. One lady in the congregation left the sanctuary many time to go to the restroom. Upon returning she would be drying her hands with paper towels. I assumed that she was going to the restroom just to wash her hands. After careful observation, I realized that she was also using a hand-sanitizer liquid. Evidently, she had a problem with contracting germs. At the end of service when the congregation was asked to holding hands forming a circle, she did not participate.

A young man was sitting about three people down from me and he continuously tapped on the back of the pew.  I diagnosed him as ADHD. His mother repeatedly asked him to stop and whenever he did stop, he replaced the tapping with some other action. He flipped the pages of the bible so that they made a clapping noise. Later he started biting his nails, but eventually he returned to tapping on the back of the pew with an ink pen. I have never paid such close attention to my surroundings.

A Ring

The ring is use to symbolize many things, but most often it represents love. The first time I ever remember noticing a ring was years ago when my mother accidently let hers go down the drain. I remember how upset she was about the ring. At that time I could not understand why she was so upset. The ring that had gone down the drain had belonged to my grandmother. My mother explained that her mother had given her that ring when she was sixteen. Now that her mother had passed away, it was very sentimental to her.

It would be years later before I understood how objects could have sentimental value. For me it was actually my ring I had received from my mother on my sixteenth birthday. I can count the times I have taken that ring off. Although I do not want to think about, I know that my mother will not always be with me. When that happens, I know I will cherish that ring even more.

Human Behavior

More than anything, this assignment has made me mindful of how we judge according to what we see. Deviant behavior is determined by what the social norms are for a particular area, community, or culture.  A person may be deemed deviant when his/her behavior does not stay within the boundaries set by society. Early on, children are taught right from wrong by their parents or care givers, however, the child’s idea of right and wrong is strongly based upon what is being taught by the adult care givers. As a result, children are often conformed to the traditions of their families. Consequently, it can be difficult for one to determine if deviant behaviors are learned, environmental, or hereditary. Deviant behavior is also in the eye of the beholder; what one person views as deviant may be viewed by another as normal. Some theories of deviance are based upon governmental statistics. These statistics seem to convey that some ethnic minorities are more prone to be involved in crimes than other groups are. For example, Black and Latino boys appear to be more likely to commit crimes than white boys. According to the numbers, these facts may be true, but many psychologists are attempting to shed light on why these groups are more likely to commit crimes than other groups are. Findings have indicated that police often show bias towards black and Latino boys. Findings have also supported the fact that because of this inherent bias, police officers are more likely to stop black and Latinos on crimes that pertain to drugs. A persons gender, race, and age plays a dominant role it society’s view of them, and thus inadvertently determines if they are deemed deviant or not. In the news lately, these stereotypes have come to clear view. It just helps to convey that people, no matter where they are, are very much alike around the world.