Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Christopher Columbus, reflecting on his voyage which led him to the discovery of America, said, "Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World." I am sure that after four years of high school, we have all formed our own opinion of Christopher Columbus - especially if you had Mrs. Powers - but whether you view him as a genocidal rogue or the first American Hero, I find his quote fitting for where we stand today. As we set sail, leaving behind the Old World of Coleman High School, there are many things that I am sure none of us will miss. We will enter a world without Scholarly Papers or Culminating Exhibitions; a world where we can use our cell phones freely and urinate without the permission of our teacher. In the real world, Sareth won't throw away your lunch before you've taken your first bite. Of course, if you've made it this far - if you are graduating here tonight - there are surely things you will miss about this Old World as well. Maybe you'll miss coming to school early and being surprised by free hot chocolate, or that third period teacher who would always let you turn in your assignments late. It might be that coach that never let you quit and always pushed you to your limits, or that gorgeous girl (or guy) that you got to sit next to freshman year. It could be walking with your best friend to class everyday, or that giant excuse of a bear that sits in front of the cafeteria. Wha tever it may be, we will all leave this place with something that we will miss and cherish forever, even if we don't fully realize what that is today. We will also leave behind a number of beloved teachers, counselors, and other staff persons - many of whom have had huge impacts on getting us here tonight. We will surely miss the... ...ves: whose advice do we take - Martin Luther King Jr.'s or Homer J. Simpson's? Do we put our brooms in the closet of futility and go inside and watch TV, or do we take them out and sweep like no sweeper has ever swept before? No matter where our passage takes us, we must navigate it to the best of our abilities, or we will fail. In conclusion, I will leave you with one last thought from the founder and President of Habitat for Humanity, Millard Fuller, who put it best when he said: "It's not your blue blood, your pedigree or your college degree. It's what you do with your life that counts." I would like to thank you all and congratulate you for surviving four years of my speeches and suffering the pangs of my voice on the announcements nearly everyday this year - but you have heard my voice for the last time so clap loud. Let's graduate. Thank you and God Bless.

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 17. What Do I Look Like? …

17. What Do I Look Like? The Wizard Of Oz? You Need A Brain? You Need A Heart? Go Ahead.Take Mine. Take Everything I Have. HEART? GO AHEAD. TAKE MINE. TAKE EVERYTHING I HAVE. I sort of had a plan as I ran to the Cullens' garage. The second part of it was totaling the bloodsucker's car on my way back. So I was at a loss when I mashed the button on the keyless remote, and it was not his Volvo that beeped and flashed its lights for me. It was another car – a standout even in the long line of vehicles that were mostly all drool-worthy in their own ways. Did he actually mean to give me the keys to an Aston Martin Vanquish, or was that an accident? I didn't pause to think about it, or if this would change that second part of my plan. I just threw myself into the silky leather seat and cranked the engine while my knees were still crunched up under the steering wheel. The sound of the motor's purr might have made me moan another day, but right now it was all I could do to concentrate enough to put it in drive. I found the seat release and shoved myself back as my foot rammed the pedal down. The car felt almost airborne as it leaped forward. It only took seconds to race through the tight, winding drive. The car responded to me like my thoughts were steering rather than my hands. As I blew out of the green tunnel and onto the highway, I caught a fleeting glimpse of Leah's gray face peering uneasily through the ferns. For half a second, I wondered what she'd think, and then I realized that I didn't care. I turned south, because I had no patience today for ferries or traffic or anything else that meant I might have to lift my foot off the pedal. In a sick way, it was my lucky day. If by lucky you meant taking a well-traveled highway at two hundred without so much as seeing one cop, even in the thirty-mile-an-hour speed-trap towns. What a letdown. A little chase action might have been nice, not to mention that the license plate info would bring the heat down on the leech. Sure, he'd buy his way out of it, but it might have been just a little inconvenient for him. The only sign of surveillance i came across was just a hint of dark brown fur flitting through the woods, running parallel to me for a few miles on the south side of Forks. Quil, it looked like. He must have seen me, too, because he disappeared after a minute without raising an alarm. Again, I almost wondered what his story would be before I remembered that I didn't care. I raced around the long U-shaped highway, heading for the biggest city I could find. That was the first part of my plan. It seemed to take forever, probably because I was still on the razor blades, but it actually didn't even take two hours before I was driving north into the undefined sprawl that was part Tacoma and part Seattle. I slowed down then, because I really wasn't trying to kill any innocent bystanders. This was a stupid plan. It wasn't going to work. But, as I'd searched my head for any way at all to get away from the pain, what Leah'd said today had popped in there. That would go away, you know, if you imprinted. You wouldn't have to hurt over her anymore. Seemed like maybe getting your choices taken away from you wasn't the very worst thing in the world. Maybe feeling like this was the very worst thing in the world. But I'd seen all the girls in La Push and up on the Makah rez and in Forks. I needed a wider hunting range. So how do you look for a random soul mate in a crowd? Well, first, I needed a crowd. So I tooled around, looking for a likely spot. I passed a couple of malls, which probably would've been pretty good places to find girls my age, but I couldn't make myself stop. Did I want to imprint on some girl who hung out in a mall all day? I kept going north, and it got more and more crowded. Eventually, I found a big park full of kids and families and skateboards and bikes and kites and picnics and the whole bit. I hadn't noticed till now – it was a nice day. Sun and all that. People were out celebrating the blue sky. I parked across two handicapped spots – just begging for a ticket – and joined the crowd. I walked around for what felt like hours. Long enough that the sun changed sides in the sky. I stared into the face of every girl who passed anywhere near me, making myself really look, noticing who was pretty and who had blue eyes and who looked good in braces and who had way too much makeup on. I tried to find something interesting about each face, so that I would know for sure that I'd really tried. Things like: This one had a really straight nose; that one should pull her hair out of her eyes; this one could do lipstick ads if the rest of her face was as perfect as her mouth___ Sometimes they stared back. Sometimes they looked scared – like they were thinking, Who is this big freak glaring at me? Sometimes I thought they looked kind of interested, but maybe that was just my ego running wild. Either way, nothing. Even when I met the eyes of the girl who was – no contest – the hottest girl in the park and probably in the city, and she stared right back with a speculation that looked like interest, I felt nothing. Just the same desperate drive to find a way out of the pain. As time went on, I started noticing all the wrong things. Bella things. This one's hair was the same color. That one's eyes were sort of shaped the same. This one's cheekbones cut across her face in just the same way. That one had the same little crease between her eyes – which made me wonder what she was worrying about___ That was when I gave up. Because it was beyond stupid to think that I had picked exactly the right place and time and I was going to simply walk into my soul mate just because I was so desperate to. It wouldn't make sense to find her here, anyway. If Sam was right, the best place to find my genetic match would be in La Push. And, clearly, no one there fit the bill. If Billy was right, then who knew? What made for a stronger wolf? I wandered back to the car and then slumped against the hood and played with the keys. Maybe I was what Leah thought she was. Some kind of dead end that shouldn't be passed on to another generation. Or maybe it was just that my life was a big, cruel joke, and there was no escape from the punch line. â€Å"Hey, you okay? Hello? You there, with the stolen car.† It took me a second to realize that the voice was talking to me, and then another second to decide to raise my head. A familiar-looking girl was staring at me, her expression kind of anxious. I knew why I recognized her face – I'd already catalogued this one. Light red-gold hair, fair skin, a few gold-colored freckles sprinkled across her cheeks and nose, and eyes the color of cinnamon. â€Å"If you're feeling that remorseful over boosting the car,† she said, smiling so that a dimple popped out in her chin, â€Å"you could always turn yourself in.† â€Å"It's borrowed, not stolen,† I snapped. My voice sounded horrible – like I'd been crying or something. Embarrassing. â€Å"Sure, thatW hold up in court.† I glowered. â€Å"You need something?† â€Å"Not really. I was kidding about the car, you know. It's just that†¦ you look really upset about something. Oh, hey, I'm Lizzie.† She held out her hand. I looked at it until she let it fall. â€Å"Anyway†¦,† she said awkwardly, â€Å"I was just wondering if I could help. Seemed like you were looking for someone before.† She gestured toward the park and shrugged. â€Å"Yeah.† She waited. I sighed. â€Å"I don't need any help. She's not here.† â€Å"Oh. Sorry.† â€Å"Me, too,† I muttered. I looked at the girl again. Lizzie. She was pretty. Nice enough to try to help a grouchy stranger who must seem nuts. Why couldn't she be the one? Why did everything have to be so freaking complicated? Nice girl, pretty, and sort of funny. Why not? â€Å"This is a beautiful car,† she said. â€Å"It's really a shame they're not making them anymore. I mean, the Vantage's body styling is gorgeous, too, but there's just something about the Vanquish___† Nice girl who knew cars. Wow. I stared at her face harder, wishing I knew how to make it work. C'mon, Jake – imprint already. â€Å"How's it drive?† she asked. â€Å"Like you wouldn't believe,† I told her. She grinned her one-dimple smile, clearly pleased to have dragged a halfway civil response out of me, and I gave her a reluctant smile back. But her smile did nothing about the sharp, cutting blades that raked up and down my body. No matter how much I wanted it to, my life was not going to come together like that. I wasn't in that healthier place where Leah was headed. I wasn't going to be able to fall in love like a normal person. Not when I was bleeding over someone else. Maybe – if it was ten years from now and Bella's heart was long dead and I'd hauled myself through the whole grieving process and come out in one piece again – maybe then I could offer Lizzie a ride in a fast car and talk makes and models and get to know something about her and see if I liked her as a person. But that wasn't going to happen now. Magic wasn't going to save me. I was just going to have to take the torture like a man. Suck it up. Lizzie waited, maybe hoping I was going to offer her that ride. Or maybe not. â€Å"I'd better get this car back to the guy I borrowed it from,† I muttered. She smiled again. â€Å"Glad to hear you're going straight.† â€Å"Yeah, you convinced me.† She watched me get in the car, still sort of concerned. I probably looked like someone who was about to drive off a cliff. Which maybe I would've, if that kind of move'd work for a werewolf. She waved once, her eyes trailing after the car. At first, I drove more sanely on the way back. I wasn't in a rush. I didn't want to go where I was going. Back to that house, back to that forest. Back to the pain I'd run from. Back to being absolutely alone with it. Okay, that was melodramatic. I wouldn't be all alone, but that was a bad thing. Leah and Seth would have to suffer with me. I was glad Seth wouldn't have to suffer long. Kid didn't deserve to have his peace of mind ruined. Leah didn't, either, but at least it was something she understood. Nothing new about pain for Leah. I sighed big as I thought about what Leah wanted from me, because I knew now that she was going to get it. I was still pissed at her, but I couldn't ignore the fact that i could make her life easier. And – now that I knew her better – I thought she would probably do this for me, if our positions were reversed. It would be interesting, at the very least, and strange, too, to have Leah as a companion – as a friend. We were going to get under each other's skin a lot, that was for sure. She wouldn't be one to let me wallow, but I thought that was a good thing. I'd probably need someone to kick my butt now and then. But when it came right down to it, she was really the only friend who had any chance of understanding what I was going through now. I thought of the hunt this morning, and how close our minds had been for that one moment in time. It hadn't been a bad thing. Different. A little scary, a little awkward. But also nice in a weird way. I didn't have to be all alone. And I knew Leah was strong enough to face with me the months that were coming. Months and years. It made me tired to think about it. I felt like I was staring out across an ocean that I was going to have to swim from shore to shore before I could rest again. So much time coming, and then so little time before it started. Before I was flung into that ocean. Three and a half more days, and here I was, wasting that little bit of time I had. I started driving too fast again. I saw Sam and Jared, one on either side of the road like sentinels, as I raced up the road toward Forks. They were well hidden in the thick branches, but I was expecting them, and I knew what to look for. I nodded as I blew past them, not bothering to wonder what they made of my day trip. I nodded to Leah and Seth, too, as I cruised up the Cullens' driveway. It was starting to get dark, and the clouds were thick on this side of the sound, but I saw their eyes glitter in the glow of the headlights. I would explain to them later. There'd be plenty of time for that. It was a surprise to find Edward waiting for me in the garage. I hadn't seen him away from Bella in days. I could tell from his face that nothing bad had happened to her. In fact, he looked more peaceful than before. My stomach tightened as I remembered where that peace came from. It was too bad that – with all my brooding – I'd forgotten to wreck the car. Oh well. I probably wouldn't have been able to stand hurting this car, anyway. Maybe he'd guessed as much, and that's why he'd lent it to me in the first place. â€Å"A few things, Jacob,† he said as soon as I cut the engine. I took a deep breath and held it for a minute. Then, slowly, I got out of the car and threw the keys to him. â€Å"Thanks for the loan,† I said sourly. Apparently, it would have to be repaid. â€Å"What do you want now?† â€Å"Firstly†¦ I know how averse you are to using your authority with your pack, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I blinked, astonished that he would even dream of starting in on this one. â€Å"What?† â€Å"If you can't or won't control Leah, then I – â€Å" â€Å"Leah?† I interrupted, speaking through my teeth. â€Å"What happened?† Edward's face was hard. â€Å"She came up to see why you'd left so abruptly. I tried to explain. I suppose it might not have come out right.† â€Å"What did she do?† â€Å"She phased to her human form and – â€Å" â€Å"Really?† I interrupted again, shocked this time. I couldn't process that. Leah letting her guard down right in the mouth of the enemy's lair? â€Å"She wanted to†¦ speak to Bella.† â€Å"To Bella?† Edward got all hissy then. â€Å"I won't let Bella be upset like that again. I don't care how justified Leah thinks she is! I didn't hurt her – of course I wouldn't – but I'll throw her out of the house if it happens again. I'll launch her right across the river – â€Å" â€Å"Hold on. What did she say?† None of this was making any sense. Edward took a deep breath, composing himself. â€Å"Leah was unnecessarily harsh. I'm not going to pretend that I understand why Bella is unable to let go of you, but I do know that she does not behave this way to hurt you. She suffers a great deal over the pain she's inflicting on you, and on me, by asking you to stay. What Leah said was uncalled for. Bella's been crying – â€Å" â€Å"Wait – Leah was yelling at Bella about me?† He nodded one sharp nod. â€Å"You were quite vehemently championed.† Whoa. â€Å"I didn't ask her to do that.† â€Å"I know.† I rolled my eyes. Of course he knew. He knew everything. But that was really something about Leah. Who would have believed it? Leah walking into the bloodsuckers' place human to complain about how /was being treated. â€Å"I can't promise to control Leah,† I told him. â€Å"I won't do that. But I'll talk to her, okay? And I don't think there'll be a repeat. Leah's not one to hold back, so she probably got it all off her chest today.† â€Å"I would say so.† â€Å"Anyway, I'll talk to Bella about it, too. She doesn't need to feel bad. This one's on me.† â€Å"I already told her that.† â€Å"Of course you did. Is she okay?† â€Å"She's sleeping now. Rose is with her.† So the psycho was â€Å"Rose† now. He'd completely crossed over to the dark side. He ignored that thought, continuing with a more complete answer to my question. â€Å"She's†¦ better in some ways. Aside from Leah's tirade and the resulting guilt.† Better. Because Edward was hearing the monster and everything was all lovey-dovey now. Fantastic. â€Å"It's a bit more than that,† he murmured. â€Å"Now that I can make out the child's thoughts, it's apparent that he or she has remarkably developed mental facilities. He can understand us, to an extent.† My mouth fell open. â€Å"Are you serious?† â€Å"Yes. He seems to have a vague sense of what hurts her now. He's trying to avoid that, as much as possible. He†¦ loves her. Already.† I stared at Edward, feeling sort of like my eyes might pop out of their sockets. Underneath that disbelief, I could see right away that this was the critical factor. This was what had changed Edward – that the monster had convinced him of this love. He couldn't hate what loved Bella. It was probably why he couldn't hate me, either. There was a big difference, though. I wasn't killing her. Edward went on, acting like he hadn't heard all that. â€Å"The progress, I believe, is more than we'd judged. When Carlisle returns – â€Å" â€Å"They're not back?† I cut in sharply. I thought of Sam and Jared, watching the road. Would they get curious as to what was going on? â€Å"Alice and Jasper are. Carlisle sent all the blood he was able to acquire, but it wasn't as much as he was hoping for – Bella will use up this supply in another day the way her appetite has grown. Carlisle stayed to try another source. I don't think that's necessary now, but he wants to be covered for any eventuality.† â€Å"Why isn't it necessary? If she needs more?† I could tell he was watching and listening to my reaction carefully as he explained. Tm trying to persuade Carlisle to deliver the baby as soon as he is back.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"The child seems to be attempting to avoid rough movements, but it's difficult. He's become too big. It's madness to wait, when he's clearly developed beyond what Carlisle had guessed. Bella's too fragile to delay.† I kept getting my legs knocked out from under me. First, counting on Edward's hatred of the thing so much. Now, I'd realized that I thought of those four days as a sure thing. I'd banked on them. The endless ocean of grief that waited stretched out before me. I tried to catch my breath. Edward waited. I stared at his face while I recovered, recognizing another change there. â€Å"You think she's going to make it,† I whispered. â€Å"Yes. That was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about.† I couldn't say anything. After a minute, he went on. â€Å"Yes,† he said again. â€Å"Waiting, as we have been, for the child to be ready, that was insanely dangerous. At any moment it could have been too late. But if we're proactive about this, if we act quickly, I see no reason why it should not go well. Knowing the child's mind is unbelievably helpful. Thankfully, Bella and Rose agree with me. Now that I've convinced them it's safe for the child if we proceed, there's nothing to keep this from working.† â€Å"When will Carlisle be back?† I asked, still whispering. I hadn't got my breath back yet. â€Å"By noon tomorrow.† My knees buckled. I had to grab the car to hold myself up. Edward reached out like he was offering support, but then he thought better of it and dropped his hands. â€Å"I'm sorry,† he whispered. â€Å"I am truly sorry for the pain this causes you, Jacob. Though you hate me, I must admit that I don't feel the same about you. I think of you as a†¦ a brother in many ways. A comrade in arms, at the very least. I regret your suffering more than you realize. But Bella is going to survive† – when he said that his voice was fierce, even violent – â€Å"and I know that's what really matters to you.† He was probably right. It was hard to tell. My head was spinning. â€Å"So I hate to do this now, while you're already dealing with too much, but, clearly, there is little time. I have to ask you for something – to beg, if I must.† â€Å"I don't have anything left,† I choked out. He lifted his hand again, as if to put it on my shoulder, but then let it drop like before and sighed. â€Å"I know how much you have given,† he said quietly. â€Å"But this is something you do have, and only you. I'm asking this of the true Alpha, Jacob. I'm asking this of Ephraim's heir.† I was way past being able to respond. â€Å"I want your permission to deviate from what we agreed to in our treaty with Ephraim. I want you to grant us an exception. I want your permission to save her life. You know 111 do it anyway, but I don't want to break faith with you if there is any way to avoid it. We never intended to go back on our word, and we don't do it lightly now. I want your understanding, Jacob, because you know exactly why we do this. I want the alliance between our families to survive when this is over.† I tried to swallow. Sam, I thought. It's Sam you want. â€Å"No. Sam's authority is assumed. It belongs to you. You'll never take it from him, but no one can rightfully agree to what I'm asking except for you† It's not my decision. â€Å"It is, Jacob, and you know it. Your word on this will condemn us or absolve us. Only you can give this to me.† can't think. I don't know. â€Å"We don't have much time.† He glanced back toward the house. No, there was no time. My few days had become a few hours. don't know. Let me think. Just give me a minute here, okay? â€Å"Yes.† I started walking to the house, and he followed. Crazy how easy it was, walking through the dark with a vampire right beside me. It didn't feel unsafe, or even uncomfortable, really. It felt like walking next to anybody. Well, anybody who smelled bad. There was a movement in the brush at the edge of the big lawn, and then a low whimper. Seth shrugged through the ferns and loped over to us. â€Å"Hey, kid,† I muttered. He dipped his head, and I patted his shoulder. â€Å"S'all cool,† I lied. â€Å"I'll tell you about it later. Sorry to take off on you like that.† He grinned at me. â€Å"Hey, tell your sister to back off now, okay? Enough.† Seth nodded once. I shoved against his shoulder this time. â€Å"Get back to work. I'll spell you in a bit.† Seth leaned against me, shoving back, and then he galloped into the trees. â€Å"He has one of the purest, sincerest, kindest minds I've ever heard,† Edward murmured when he was outof sight. â€Å"You're lucky to have his thoughts to share.† â€Å"I know that,†! grunted. We started toward the house, and both of our heads snapped up when we heard the sound of someone sucking through a straw. Edward was in a hurry then.He darted up the porch stairs and was gone. â€Å"Bella, love, Ithought you were sleeping,† I heard him say. â€Å"I'm sorry, I wouldn't have left.† â€Å"Don't worry. Ijust got so thirsty – it woke me up.It's a good thing Carlisle is bringing more. This kid is going to need it when he gets out of me.† â€Å"True. That's a good point.† â€Å"I wonder if he'll want anything else,† she mused. â€Å"I suppose we'll find out.† I walked through the door. Alice said, â€Å"Finally,† and Bella's eyes flashed to me. That infuriating, irresistible smile broke across her face for one second. Then it faltered, and her face fell. Her lips puckered, like she was trying not to cry. I wanted to punch Leah right in her stupid mouth. â€Å"Hey, Bells,† Isaid quickly. â€Å"How ya doing?† â€Å"I'm fine,† she said. â€Å"Big day today, huh? Lots of new stuff.† â€Å"You don't have to do that, Jacob.† â€Å"Don't know what you're talking about,† I said, going to sit on the arm of the sofa by her head. Edward had the floor there already. She gave me a reproachful look. â€Å"I'm so s – † she started to say. I pinched her lips together between my thumb and finger. â€Å"Jake,† she mumbled, trying to pull my hand away. Her attempt was so weak it was hard to believe that she was really trying. I shook my head. â€Å"You can talk when you're not being stupid.† â€Å"Fine,I won't say it,† it sounded like she mumbled. I pulled my hand away. â€Å"Sorry!† she finished quickly, and then grinned. I rolledmy eyes and then smiled back at her. When I stared into her eyes, I saw everything that I'd been looking for in the park. Tomorrow, she'd be someone else. But hopefully alive, and that was what counted, right? She'd look at me with the same eyes, sort of. Smile with the same lips, almost. She'd still know me better than anyone who didn't havefull access to the inside of my head. Leah might be an interesting companion, maybe even a true friend – someone who would stand up for me. But she wasn't my best friend the way thatBella was. Aside from the impossible love I felt for Bella, there was also that other bond, and it ran bone deep. Tomorrow, she'd be my enemy. Or she'd be myally. And, apparently, that distinction was up to me. I sighed. Fine!I thought, giving up the very last thing i had to give. It made me feel hollow. Go ahead. Save her. As Ephraim's heir, you have my permission, my word, that this will not violate the treaty. The others will just have to blame me. You were right – they can't deny that it's my right to agree to this. ‘Thank you.† Edward's whisper was low enough that Bella didn't hear anything. But the words were so fervent that, from the corner of my eye, I saw the other vampires turning to stare. â€Å"So,†Bella asked, working to be casual. â€Å"How was your day?† â€Å"Great. Went for a drive. Hung out in the park.† â€Å"Sounds nice.† â€Å"Sure, sure.† Suddenly, she made a face. â€Å"Rose?† she asked. I heard Blondie chuckle. â€Å"Again?† â€Å"I think I've drunk two gallons in the last hour,† Bella explained. Edward and I both got out of the way while Rosalie came to lift Bella from the couch and take her to the bathroom. â€Å"Can I walk?† Bella asked. â€Å"My legs are so stiff.† â€Å"Are you sure?† Edward asked. â€Å"Rose'llcatch me if I trip over my feet. Which could happen pretty easily, since I can't see them.† Rosalie set Bellacarefully on her feet, keeping her hands right atBella's shoulders. Bella stretched her arms out in front of her, wincing a little. â€Å"That feels good,† she sighed. â€Å"Ugh, but I'm huge.† She really was. Her stomach was its own continent. â€Å"One more day,† she said, and patted her stomach. I couldn't help the pain that shot through me in a sudden, stabbing burst, but I tried to keep it off my face. I could hide it for one more day, right? â€Å"All righty, then. Whoops – oh, no!† The cup Bella had left on the sofa tumbled to one side, the dark red blood spilling out onto the pale fabric. Automatically, though three other hands beat her there, Bella bent over, reaching out to catch it. There was the strangest, muffled ripping sound from the center of her body. â€Å"Oh!† she gasped. And then she went totally limp, slumping toward the floor. Rosalie caught her in the same instant, before she could fall. Edward was there, too, hands out, the mess on the sofa forgotten. â€Å"Bella?† he asked, and then his eyes unfocused, and panic shot across his features. A half second later,Bella screamed. Itwas not justa scream, it was a blood-curdling shriek of agony. The horrifying sound cut off with a gurgle, and her eyes rolled back into her head. Her body twitched, arched in Rosalie's arms, and then Bella vomited a fountain of blood.

Homeostatic Imbalances Essay - 757 Words

Homeostatic Imbalances Hypertension is the term used to describe high blood pressure. Blood pressure is a measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body. Blood pressure readings are usually given as two numbers -- for example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mmHg). One or both of these numbers can be too high. The top number is called the systolic blood pressure, which is the force of blood in the arteries as the heart beats, and the bottom number is called the diastolic blood pressure which is the force of blood in the arteries as the heart relaxes between beats. When you blood pressure is a normal it’s lower than 120/80 mmHg most of the time. High blood pressure (hypertension)†¦show more content†¦The control center evaluates the input and if necessary, issues output commands to an effector. The effector produces a physiological response that is able to return the controlled condition to its normal state. People with diabetes have a condition in which the quantity of glucose (blood sugar) in the blood is too elevated (hyperglycemia). This is because the body does not produce enough insulin, produces no insulin Type 1, or has cells that do not respond properly to the insulin the pancreas produces diabetes Type 2. This results in too much glucose building up in the blood. This excess blood glucose eventually passes out of the body in urine. So, even though the blood has plenty of glucose, the cells are not getting it for their essential energy and growth requirements. Diabetes is a system out of balance. When normal sugar homeostasis is disrupted by either the pancreas not making enough insulin and/or the bodys cells not responding to the insulin, glucose homeostasis is disrupted as the glucose levels rise. Another system which has disrupted homeostasis from diabetes is the body water regulation system. As sugar levels rise in the blood, water is pulled out of the cells, shrinking them. The brain doesnt function as well and cloudy thoughts happen.. Water is pulled out of the vitreous of the eyeball, and it shrinks, causing blurring vision. The high glucose starts leaking through theShow MoreRelatedHomeostatic Imbalances. Hypertension and Diabetes Essay601 Words   |  3 Pageseliminate glucose from the blood. These two responses of the organism to internal changes are part of negative feedback system that allows the body to return to a normal state. In your specific case the feedback system is not able to maintain the homeostatic balance because your body does not produce enough or overproduces the hormone insulin and sometimes glucagon; in addition, the receptor sites within target cells could cause the body to become insensitive to these chemicals. Finally, the malfunctionRead MoreLABORATORY REPORT Activity Homeostatic Imbalances of Thyroid Function 1243 Words   |  5 PagesLABORATORY REPORT Activity: Homeostatic Imbalances of Thyroid Function Name: Miranda Tefft Instructor: Aline Potvin Date: 11.18.2014 Predictions TSH levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism are high Thyroxine (T4) levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism are low TSH levels in patients with secondary hypothyroidism are low Thyroxine (T4) levels in patients with secondary hypothyroidism are low TSH levels in patients with hyperthyroidism are low Thyroxine (T4) levels in patientsRead MoreHow Homeostasis Is Important For Your Life702 Words   |  3 Pagesclarifying the different kinds of homeostasis in greater detail. Homeostasis is the term used to describe a body or system in balance, but one of the process the body uses to achieve this is called negative feedback control. Figure 1 below shows the homeostatic system. This system involves several steps: First a stimulus causes a change. The change is then felt by the receptor. The receptor sends information to the control center, which sends signals dependent on what is needed to the effector. The effectorRead MoreWhat is Homeostasis? 1390 Words   |  6 Pagesthirst, blood pressure, and daily circadian rhythms (msichicago.org, 2014). Homeostatic processes within the human body include temperature control, pH balance, water and glucose balance, blood pressure, and respiration (Bailey, 2014). Homeostasis is only achieved if every organ in the body functions in tandem. Homeostatic regulation involves three mechanisms; the receptor, the control center and the effector (Homeostatic Process - Homeostasis, 2014). As seen in the diagram, the receptor receivesRead MoreThe Principles Of Homeostasis And The Contribution Of The Cardiovascular System1483 Words   |  6 Pagesheart failure (CHF), the causes and the consequences of a homeostatic imbalance in cardiac output will be explained. Homeostatic principles Homeostasis can generally be defined as the condition in which the body’s internal environment remains relatively constant within physiological limits [1]. This type of equilibrium is dynamic as the body is constantly subject to stimuli, which produce stress responses (stressors). The body’s homeostatic mechanisms therefore act to counter these stressors andRead MoreUnit 1 Lab1050 Words   |  5 PagesLABORATORY REPORT Activity: Homeostatic Imbalances of Thyroid Function Name: Brent Good Instructor: Thomas Redenbaugh Date: 12.09.2014 Predictions TSH levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism are high Thyroxine (T4) levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism are low TSH levels in patients with secondary hypothyroidism are low Thyroxine (T4) levels in patients with secondary hypothyroidism are high TSH levels in patients with hyperthyroidism are high Thyroxine (T4) levels in patientsRead MoreHomeostasis Lap Report Essay1216 Words   |  5 PagesLABORATORY REPORT Activity: Homeostatic Imbalances of Thyroid Function Name: Theres Castle Instructor: Virgil Stoia Date: 10.20.2014 Predictions TSH levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism are high Thyroxine (T4) levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism are low TSH levels in patients with secondary hypothyroidism are low Thyroxine (T4) levels in patients with secondary hypothyroidism are low TSH levels in patients with hyperthyroidism are low ThyroxineRead MoreEssay on Epithelial Tissue1250 Words   |  5 Pagesheart, blood and lymphatic vessels, and the ventral body cavity. Question: Find an example of a homeostatic imbalance involving the tissue type you described in b above. How does this homeostatic imbalance affect the body? How might you correct this imbalance? Answer: The simple squamous epithelial tissue in the kidney helps allow passage of certain materials (wastes). If there is a homeostatic imbalance during this function, there could be severe damage done to the kidney and the body as a wholeRead MoreRisks Associated With Lifestyle Diseases1652 Words   |  7 Pagesoccur in people with type 2 Diabetes and that 41 per cent of people with type 2 Diabetes experienced some form of nerve or eye damage. This could mean that Australia could lose its population through type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes affects the homeostatic ability of controlling blood sugar levels and water content in the human body. The process of glucose homeostasis is when the pancreas produces insulin, to assist the glucose (from consumed foods) in entering the body’s cells. However with typeRead MoreAcid Base Balance1137 Words   |  5 PagesAcid-Base Balance Kelly Heffron Grand Canyon University NUR-614 September 16, 2015 Acid-Base Balance The acid base balance is a homeostatic process that aides the body in maintaining a pH in the arterial blood between 7.35-7.45 (Patient, 2015). The body works together through multi-systems to ensure that acidity or alkalinity never take over within the blood. The purpose of the following paper is define the classification of the acid-base balance, define the factors from the case study,

The Fraud Scandal Of Glaxosmithkline - 1596 Words

GSK Analysis This paper covers the information given from the bribery scandal that GSK paid off the Chinese government and doctors in the country. This analysis will take a look at what happened, what went wrong and the conclusion for the company looking in the future to do business in China. The company’s response is a key issue in how they came back from such a detrimental hit in a growing market. There are a number of factors that will be interpreted and discussed for the future dealings in China. Questions Arise The first question to arise would be what kind of laws does China already have in place? Also, one has to consider the way the laws are enforced if any standard has been set. There are two standard laws that handle this type of incidence in the country. The first one is the Anti-Unfair competition law AUCL (Rogers, 2014). The punishment that is set forth will be determined by the severity of the crime. This law is in direct correlation with anti-corruption and bribery in the country of China. It goes into detail with Article 8 of the AUCL which forbids any industry or commerce representatives from giving bribes in the form of property or other means for the purpose of selling and purchasing products and services (Rogers, 2014)†. Payments or stealthy charges that are improperly acknowledged in the recordkeeping or ledgers are also prohibited. In the case of GlaxoSmithKline, they even tried to bribe the officials that are the ones who enforce thisShow MoreRelatedThe Fraud Scandal Of Glaxosmithkline1927 Words   |  8 Pages GSK Analysis This paper covers the information given from the bribery scandal that GSK paid off the Chinese government and doctors in the country. This analysis will take a look at what happened, what went wrong and the conclusion for the company looking in the future to do business in China. The company’s response is a key issue in how they came back from such a detrimental hit in a growing market. There are a number of factors that will be interpreted and discussed for the future dealingsRead MoreIA1 Essay1918 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿ GlaxoSmithKline in China Case Study 1 Khoa Nguyen AMBA 660 9043 Introduction There has been a lot of increase in expanding companies throughout other countries. In order for a CEO of a company based in USA to move some of its operations to China, it’s best to understand the foreign and local policy that is in placed in China and the bribery scandal that involved four employees of GlaxoSmithKline. This case study will examined the GSK scandal by analyzing the case that involved theRead MoreThe Relationship Between Uk Shareholder Voting And Executive Pay1092 Words   |  5 Pagessecond advantage is enhance the transparency, accountability and governance.This new regulation require boards publish directors’ compensation reports add to annual reporting, and disclose individual managers’ unreasonable payment.Under the fraud and financial scandals increase frequence and severe cases, the shareholders ask to improve the transparency of compensation and thereby make more perfect rule of corporate governance. M. B. Kimbro and D. Xu(2013) expres sed the view that excessive executive compensationRead MorePlan and Response for a Chief Nursing Officer2325 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Chief Nursing Officer: Plan and Response The reality is that healthcare fraud negatively impacts everyone in the nation. Health care identity theft dominated all other crimes in the sector last year, according to Louis Saccoccio, executive director of the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA), an advocacy group whose members include insurers, law enforcement and regulatory agencies (Kavilanz, 2010). Groups of organized criminals are hacking into the digital databases of healthcareRead MoreCase Analysis : Pharmaceutical Company2946 Words   |  12 PagesChinese operations would be replaced by Herve Gisserot (Quelch Rodriquez, 2013). GSK began taking action by dimissing more than 100 employees in China as disceplanery action or those who did not uphold GSK’s code of conduct during the 2013 bribery scandal (Ward, 2015). These dismissals were not made until 2015, after the company was found guilty by a Chinese court in September 2014. GSK was fined almost $500 million and the four executives along with Reilly were convicted of bribery-related chargesRead MoreQui Tam Actions Seminar Paper5679 Words   |  23 Pagesbounties as enacted under these Acts, including language of the statutes and the requirements placed upon the whistleblower in order to be eligible for these bounties. Part II will provide a discussion of Cheryl Eckard’s qui tam action against GlaxoSmithKline for violations under the FCA which resulted in the highest whistleblower bounty award to date, $96 million. Part III will examine how the bounty scheme under the FCA in the area of federal procurement has affected the strength and avail abilityRead MoreCase Study : Pharmacare Company s Human Rights Issues Presented By Pharmacare s Treatment1796 Words   |  8 Pagestraced through the case with GlaxoSmithKline, which is one of the top global vaccine manufacturers. The company was fined up to eighty-eight thousand dollars for conducting the illegal lab vaccine trials between 2007 and 2008, which caused the death of fourteen babies. Such unethical behavior and absence of procedural standards discovered the vaccine scandal in the developed world. Such fine was realized as the largest ever and in health care, it became the largest fraud in the history of U.S. SuchRead MoreBig Pharma2583 Words   |  11 Pagesof ways to reach out to the public to advertise on their latest and greatest drugs; from television and radio spots to newspaper and internet ads. The advertising budget for the drug companies have sky-rocketed to a significant sum. In 2007, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)s biggest advertising price tag was attached to Adva ir, the firms blockbuster asthma medication, which rung up US$127 million in advertising spending. The total amount of money spent on marketing by pharmaceuticals was U.S. $57.5 billionRead MoreLaundering Act 2010 Of Britain, Canada And China2161 Words   |  9 Pagesare found guilty of bribery, taking bribes or bribe officials may be both fined up to 10 years in prison and a fine, while the company may be imposed unlimited fine. For exmple, according to a report by the BBC, on December 3, 2013, the British anti-fraud office announced that it would start the foreign bribery and corruption probe of the British engine maker, Rolls Royce. Moreover, Rolls Royce was accused to pay bribes to Chen xin, former executive of Chinese International Airlines and ChineseRead MoreAudit Plan- Glaxosmithkline4420 Words   |  18 PagesAudit Plan- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Key business and audit risk: In order to make the report more efficient we must identify the key areas of business risk and auditing risk. Business risk can be defined as the risk, which could affect an organization’s ability to achieve its objectives (Gray and Manson, 2007). Audit risk is defined as the risk that the auditor gives an inappropriate audit opinion when the financial statements are materially misstated (Soltani, 2007). In Gray and Manson (2007)’s

Modified Calcium and Potassium Diets - 1194 Words

Modified Calcium and Potassium Diets Morgan Tilley West Coast University NURS211L The mineral that is the most plentiful in the body is calcium. It is mainly found in bones and teeth but also in plasma and other fluids within the body. Calcium plays an important role in blood clotting, nerve transmission, muscle contraction and relaxation, cell membrane permeability and the activation of certain enzymes, along with protecting against colorectal cancer. The intake of calcium or dairy products is associated with lower blood pressures, controlling body weight and obesity. Potassium in the human body is largely located in the cells as the major cation of the intracellular fluid. There is also a small amount of potassium in the†¦show more content†¦Although medications are very effective, lifestyle and dietary changes can help treat or prevent high blood pressure more effectively. Potassium works with sodium to regulate the body’s water balance. The kidneys help to control the blood pressure by controlling the amount of fluid stored in the body. Therefore, the more fluid then the higher the blood pressure is. The kidneys do this by filtering out the blood and extracting any extra fluid, which then is stored in the bladder as urine. This is done very delicately as both sodium and potassium pull the water across the wall of the cells from the bloodstream into a collecting channel that leads to the bladder. When eating to much salt, the amount of sodium in the bloodstream will be imbalanced compared to the amount of potassium and thus reducing the ability of the kidneys remove the extra fluid. Eating more fruit and vegetables, the potassium levels increase and can help restore the chemical imbalance. However, there is a possibility of too much potassium, also known as hyperkalemia, which can lead to other issues like renal failure. Calcium can sometimes act like a natural diuretic, helping the kidneys release sodium and water. Also, when calcium levels in the blood drop, parathyroid hormone (PTH) is released, which causes calcium to be released from the bones to increase calcium blood levels and PTH can raise blood pressure. Scientists are still trying to figure out how and why, butShow MoreRelatedDiet Analysis : Personal Analysis Of A Modified Diet837 Words   |  4 PagesAfter analyzing my modified diet, there were both significant improvements and I met most of my targets for various food groups and vitamins. I met the target for calories as well as added sugar. I also met the requirements for fruits and grains. I am over the target for the general vegetables category, but I am under for starchy, other, red and orange vegetables. However, I am over for dark green vegetables. I met the requirements for dairy, protein, and seafood. Likewise, I am at the target amountRead MoreProblems With Chronic Renal Failur e1306 Words   |  6 Pagespostoperatively there. After transplant, rejection medications will need to be taken. Mark will need to take medication daily now that he is diagnosed with CRF. He will be on vitamins and minerals that he will need to help supplement from his heavily restricted diet. A major side effect of CRF is hypertension, high blood pressure, this will need to be treated with medications. He may have to take two or more blood pressure meds to keep his blood pressure controlled. An example is an angiotensin-converting enzymeRead MoreThe Height Of Dietary Methods For Stop Hypertension ) Diet Plan1558 Words   |  7 PagesHypertension) diet plan is the first which aims to avoid hypertension and, by doing so, to reduce the risk of various heart diseases. It is also an ideal diet plan to maintain good overall health. As a full-time student I frequently have little time to prepare a meal which is full of all the nutrients one requires. 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Based primarily on urinalysis and blood chemistry results BUN, sCreat, sodium, potassium, and calcium levels (London et al., 2017). The gold standard to diagnose these injuries is kidney biopsy (Faught et al., 2015). 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Weather Investigation Free Essays

Aim: To record the temperature around School to try to discover if there is a microclimate. Hypothesis: There is a microclimate around the school. The temperature will change. We will write a custom essay sample on Weather Investigation or any similar topic only for you Order Now Geographical Theory What is a microclimate? The climate of a small, specific place within a larger area. An area as small as a yard or park can have several different microclimates depending on how much sunlight, shade, or exposure to the wind there is at a particular spot. Compare macroclimate. Plan: In my experiment I am going to measure * Wind speed * Wind direction * Temperature- caretakers room, the English room, Italian room, tree by tennis courts * Air pressure * Rain fall * Cloud cover Method 1) Firstly, we went to the Geography room where we took a look at the Barometer. We read the black needle and then turned the gold needle to the black needle so that tomorrow we would be able to read the air pressure for today. 2) Then we went outside to the rain gauge near the pond. We lifted it up and read how many millimetres of water were inside it. We then emptied it so that tomorrow we cold read from fresh. 3) Next, we went to the tennis courts and measured the wind speed and wind direction using an anemometer and our finger. To use the anemometer you need to hold the digital reader in your hand and lift the other part until you get the highest reading. We licked our finger to find the wing direction and also used a compass then where our finger felt the coldest was where the wing was coming from. 4) We the measured the cloud cover by using observation and counted the number of clods comparing it in eighths. 5) Finally, we measured the temperature around the school reading the results from four different thermometers situated in four different places around the school. These are: the Italian room, the English room, the tennis courts and outside the caretakers room. We measured the current temperature from a normal thermometer and the lowest and highest temperature of the day from a max. min. thermometer. Analysis On Wednesday there was the least amount of air pressure but the most amount of rainfall. It also had the slowest wind speed but the highest number of oktas. Also,on Friday there was the most amounts of air pressure and the lowest number of oktas for the cloud cover. Description of results: On Monday the air pressure amount was between the highest and lowest amount, 998 mb. It had a lot of rainfall of 10 mm and the highest fastest wind speed of 6.4 ms going into the direction of east and 7 oktas for cloud cover. On Tuesday it had the second smallest amount of air pressure of 989 mb and the median amount of rainfall which is 5.5 mm. The wind speed was one of the slowest as it was only 5.1 ms heading east. There were 6 oktas for cloud cover. On Wednesday there was the least amount of air pressure with 981 mb and the most rainfall which is 11.5 mm. It had the slowest of wind speed of 0.75 ms heading south – east and the most cloud cover of 7 oktas. On Thursday it was a median amount of air pressure, 998 mb and the second smallest amount of rainfall with 5 mm but on that day the rain gauge tipped over so 5 mm was not the correct result. There was a wind speed of 5.9 heading south and the cloud cover was of 6 oktas. Lastly on Friday there was the highest amount of air pressure, 1012 mb and the lowest amount of rainfall which was 1.8mm. The wind speed consisted of 6 heading north the cloud cover being 5 oktas as the lowest. Conclusion I have concluded that there is a microclimate in different places around St Michael’s Grammar School. But on certain days it was more obvious then others. This is because all the temperatures are varied because of small changes such as facing south- which is where the sun is, or if there is a building in the way which can block sunlight, or if the weather is cloudy, which blocks the sun from getting to a certain area, which changes the temperature in the different areas. Evaluation This investigation was quite accurate but there are a few ways I would make this better. First of all I would make sure that the rain gauge is straight and steady so that it collects the right amount of rain that should be collected so that the rainfall results will be completely 100% accurate. Next I would make sure that the wind speed results are correct as well by using the anemometer properly and waiting longer for the highest amount of wind speed so that we can get a larger result. Another thing is to reset the temperature everyday at the exact minute from the past 24 hours so that the temperature will be accurate for every day. Overall the investigation had reasonably accurate results and there are ways to improve it but it in the end it was a great weather investigation. How to cite Weather Investigation, Papers

A good man is hard to find ana Essay Example For Students

A good man is hard to find ana Essay In her short story A Good Man is Hard to Find Flannery OConnor seems to portray a feeling that society as she saw it was drastically changing for the worse. OConnors obvious displeasure with society at the time is most likely a result of her Catholic religion and her very conservative upbringing in the old south. She seems to depict her opinion in this particular story by using the character of the grandmother to show what she saw was happening to the times. Evidence of societys demise is woven into the story, and presented through an interesting generation gap between the grandmother and her family. The grandmother is representative of devoutness and Christianity which OConnor apparently believed to be more prevalent in the glamorous Old South. Attention to prim detail separated the grandmother from the rest of her family who seemed to be living in a different world than she. As she organized herself in preparation for the trip, her family was described as rather common people living in a frusturated middle class world. OConnor described the old woman as she settled herself comfortably, removing her white cotton gloves and putting them up with her purse on the shelf in front of the back window. The childrens mother still had on slacks and still had her head tied up in a green kerchief but the grandmother had on a navy blue straw sailor hat with a bunch of white violets on the brim and a navy blue dress with a small white dot in the print. Her collar and cuffs were white organdy trimmed with lace, and at her neckline she had pinned a purple spray of cloth violets containing a sachet. In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once she was a lady. The parents pay little attention to the grandmother and when they do, they are often quite rude. The unruly children are representative of the breakdown of respect, and discipline, and are consequently a forecast of future generations. They constantly demean the grandmother and at one point, June Star even complains that her grandmother has to go everywhere they go right to her face. OConnor seems to be illustrating not only how times are changing, but how the future generations have no respect for thier precedents. The Misfit represents evil. At one point the Misfit likens himself to Christ, in that they both were punished for crimes they did not commit. Christ accepted death for the sins of all people, however. The Misfit is in a constant battle against his fate that he sees himself being punished without any cause. Although he resists this Christ-like existence he has, he kills other innocent people not to save them, but because its the only real pleasure in life. Near the end of the ordeal, the grandmother recognizes the shirt the Misfit has put on as her sons shirt. Upon observing this image, she realizes that to be truly Christlike, she is going to have to forgive the Misfit and accept him as a child of God. At this point, the Misfit also has a revelation. His lesson however, is that by killing the grandmother, he helped her find God and therefore realizes that he does have a purpose in the world, that he will have to answer to a higher power sooner or later. Flannery OConnor was deeply concerned with the values and the direction of the youth of her time. She believed that Christ was no longer enough of a priority to the people of her generation. A Good Man is Hard to Find is representative of Flannery OConnors concern for the priorities and values of the 1940s. .