Sunday, May 17, 2020

Canadian Leader Pierre Elliot Trudeau Essay - 1669 Words

Pierre Elliot Trudeau was arguably one of the most vivacious and charismatic Prime Ministers Canada has ever seen. He wore capes, dated celebrities and always wore a red rose boutonniere. He looked like a superhero, and often acted like one too. Some of the landmark occurrences in Canadian history all happened during the Trudeau era, such as patriating the constitution, creating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the 1980 Quebec Referendum. However, it is Trudeau’s 1969 â€Å"white paper† and the Calder legal challenge which many consider to be one of his most influential contributions to Canadian history. Trudeau himself was a liberal. One of the core beliefs of liberal ideology is that of individual rights, meaning that†¦show more content†¦The main reason why the white paper was brought in was because the federal government could no longer deny that Canada’s Aboriginal peoples were facing serious socio-economic troubles that the rest of Canadians were not. These issues included higher poverty and infant mortality rates, lower life expectancy and poorer education levels. Also at this time, the civil rights movement happening in the United States brought an increased level of public awareness to issues of social justice, and made many Canadians questioning the inequality and discrimination in Canada and how it pertained to First Nations people. In addition to the 1969 White Paper proposals, other landmark occurrences with Trudeau’s relationship to Canadian Aboriginals included the 1973 Calder case. With the rise of awareness about social justice issues, the federal government commissioned anthropologist Harry Hawthorn in 1963 from the University of British Columbia to look into the social injustices faced by Aboriginal people across the country. In his report, Hawthorn discovered that Aboriginal peoples were incredibly marginalized due to their isolation from the rest of society caused by years of failed federal policies, which included the residential school system. Due to the abuse and neglect many Aboriginals faced at these residential schools, they were left with emotional trauma which made them unable to want to contribute to a society which had done nothing butShow MoreRelatedEssay on Pierre Elliot Trudeau1205 Words   |  5 PagesPierre Elliot Trudeau: A Successful Prime Minister A great Prime Minister should always do what is right for Canada, no matter what obstacles he or she faces. Looking at the fifteen years he was in power, Pierre Elliot Trudeau did exactly that. For instance, he implemented the Official Languages Act and made bilingualism law. In another case, he put an end to the October Crisis by putting into effect the War Measures Act. Finally, Trudeau amended the Constitution which gaveRead MorePierre Elliot Trudeau974 Words   |  4 PagesCanada’s greatest leaders, Pierre Elliot Trudeau brought change that would change Canada forever in a positive manner. Although it can be argued that Trudeau’s behavior was outlandish and informal at times, it could be considered charismatic, however, his behavior to politics was superior. He was inspired to change Canada and make it a better place to live. He did so by implying the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, multiculturalism, and using laws to make Canada a better place. Pierre Elli ot Trudeau’s actionsRead MoreGreatest Canadian: Pierre Trudeau Essay1486 Words   |  6 PagesPierre Trudeau is the greatest Canadian of the twentieth century due to the fact that he declared Canada’s independence from Great Britain, he abolished the death penalty, and he created the Official Languages Act, making our nation entirely bilingual. His upbringing was a quiet one, â€Å"born into a family, a home and a neighbourhood of modest means† . Joseph Charles-Émile Trudeau, the family patriarch, was not a rich man because his parents were Quebec farmers. However, his maternal grandfather wasRead MoreThe Political Ideals Of Pierre Trudeau2989 Words   |  12 PagesEssay: What were the political ideals of Pierre Trudeau? To what extent did he live up to those ideals during his years as Prime Minister? INTRO Pierre Philippe Yves Elliot Trudeau, better known as Pierre Trudeau, was an author, a university professor, a lawyer and a politician. Through his political actions, as well as through his personality, he stimulated a great deal of emotions, both positive and negative, among the Canadian public. Thus making him a very memorable figure. He introducedRead MoreThe Prime Minister Of Canada1189 Words   |  5 PagesIn 2014 Pierre Elliot Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada, was listed in CBC’s Top 10 list of Canadian Heroes; but was Trudeau really a hero? (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/top-10-canadian-heroes-list-includes-pierre-trudeau-jack-layton-1.2676398). Pierre Trudeau, born in Montreal in 1919, started out in politics as a layer in Quebec and as an activist in Quebec politics. In the 1960s Trudeau got involved in federal politics with the Liberal party. In 1968 he became the leader of the partyRead MoreThe September Crisis Of Canada1437 Words   |  6 PagesJames Cross and Quebec Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte were the pinnacle of all terrorist activity led by the Front de Libà ©ration du Quebec (FLQ). The FLQ was a radical separatist group who strived for Quebec’s independence from the rest of Canada. The circumstances ultimately culminated in the only peacetime use of the War Measures Act in Canadian history, invoked by Governor General of Canada Roland Michener at the direction of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. The use of the War Measures Act had beenRead MoreThe Front De Liberation Du Quebec2477 Words   |  10 Pagesâ€Å"Just watch me† are the defiant words uttered by Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau in response to the Front de liberation du Quebec (FLQ), a Marxist group who captained Quebec independence through indiscriminate political violence. His words are not those of an iron-fisted strongman, despite how strong and undetailed his comments were at the time, but those of a calculated and well-verse d leader, whose decisions came at the behest of prominent Quebec politicians. The FLQ instilled aRead MoreEssay on Internal Affairs and Canadas Previous Position on Terrorism575 Words   |  3 Pagesof terrorism by Singh Rayet and the Tiger group, terrorism has found a place in Canadian society. Because of this, in the last 50 years, Canada has developed several reactionary policies, and control/Prevention mechanisms to deal with terrorism, including Trudeaus enforcement of the War Measures Act during Black October in reaction to internal terrorism, to the more recent development of the CSIS Act (Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act) to deal with the growing threat of InternationalRead MoreCanadian History Has Profoundly Shaped By Numerous Events1866 Words   |  8 PagesCanadian history has been profoundly shaped by numerous events. The fifteenth Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau remains one of the greatest citizens to define the nation’s identity. During his fifteen years in the position, he makes multiple decisions and contributions of great importance towards the growth and prosperity of Canadian society. As a result of his ambitions and efforts, widespread popularity known as â€Å"Trudeaumania† begins as a phenomenon that had existed like no ot her before hisRead MoreThe United Nations Human Development1836 Words   |  8 Pagesrights whatsoever when Canada first became a nation, however after a great deal of adversity and many years of struggle, this community has fought its way to become equals under the eyes of the law. Undoubtedly, we can see this in the values of Canadians and the laws which represent our morals. Today, Canada possess some of the most progressive and just LGBT Rights across the globe, while discrimination and unfair treatment has not been completely abolished from Canada (as we cannot change the values

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Anorexia and Bulimia Essay - 1569 Words

Each year millions of people in the United States are affected by serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders. The vast majorities are adolescents and young adult women. Approximately one percent of adolescent girls develops anorexia nervosa, a dangerous condition in which they can literally starve themselves to death. Another two to three percent develop bulimia nervosa, a destructive pattern of excessive overeating followed by vomiting or other quot; purging quot; behaviors to control their weight. These eating disorders also occur in men and older women, but much less frequently. The consequences of eating disorders can be severe. For example, one in ten anorexia nervosa leads to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, or†¦show more content†¦In-patients with anorexia, starvation can damage vital organs such as the heart and brain. To protect itself, the body shifts into quot; slow gear quot;: monthly menstrual periods stop, breathing, pulse and, blood pressure rates drop, and thyroid function slows. Nails and hair become brittle, the skin dries, yellows, and becomes covered with soft hair called lanugo. Excessive thirst and frequent urination may occur. Dehydration contributes to constipation, and reduced body fat leads to lowered body temperature and inability to with stand cold. Mild anemia, swollen joints, reduced muscles mass, and light headedness also commonly occur in anorexia. If the disorder becomes severe, patients may lose calcium from their bones, making them brittle and prone to breakage. Scientists from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have also found that patients suffer from other psychiatric illnesses. They may suffer from anxiety, personality or substance abuse disorders, and many are at a risk for suicide. Obsessive compulsive disorder, an illness characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviors, can also accompany anorexia. Bulimia nervosa patients- even those of normal weight- can severly damage their bodies by frequet binge eating and purging. In rare instances, binge eating causes the stomach to rupture; purging may result in heart failure due to loss of vital minerals, suchShow MoreRelatedAnorexia and Bulimia Essay819 Words   |  4 Pagesbecame more concerned with their weight. Perfection and appearances became everything. When being slim became crucial, women, and even men could do everything to fit in this new trend. This includes becoming victims of eating disorders like Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa. These disorders started in people after their restricted diet. They became obsessed with the idea of perfection and beauty. They are extremely concerned with their weights and body images. These girls—and even some men—want to lookRead More Anorexia and Bulimia Essay1116 Words   |  5 Pages Anorexia and Bulimia: A Concise Overview nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As many as 20% of females in their teenage and young adult years suffer from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (Alexander-Mott, 4). Males are also afflicted by these eating disorders, but at a much lower rate, with a female to male ratio of six to one. Those with anorexia nervosa refuse to maintain a normal body weight by not eating and have an intense fear of gaining weight. People with bulimia nervosa go through periodsRead MoreBulimia and Anorexia Essay1062 Words   |  5 PagesAnorexia is rooted in both nature and nurture. The nature and nurture are sometimes based on the bad genes of the father and the mother. The bad genes produce faulty neurotransmitters and circuits.(â€Å"Case†) The biological underpinnings are only part of anorexia the mechanics is careful not to dismiss the point of the studies to culture and psychological issues of and catalysts for eating disorders. (â€Å"Case†) The studies are put together. This teenage girl in Fijian caused bad eating disorders in justRead MoreEating Disorders : Anorexia And Bulimia1676 Words   |  7 Pagesthe leading mental illnesses in America are Anorexia and Bulimia. Both Anorexia and Bulimia are similar in the fact that they are highly popular in today’s world where it seems that physical appearance is always a topic of discussion; however, the two illnesses are different in the effects they have to a person’s body. To begin, Anorexia is the act of starving oneself due to an unhealthy obsession with one’s weight. Many girls who struggle with anorexia have an intense irrational fear of being overweightRead MoreAnorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa1452 Words   |  6 Pagestwo major types of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. One of the descriptions of anorexia nervosa was during the 12th and 13th centuries. A woman, Saint Catherine of Siena, ceased her intake of food for a spiritual denial of herself. During the 16th century people who had self-discipline and practiced abstention were suspected to be witches and were burned at the stake. In the 17th century all the way through the 19th century anorexia was perceived to be an endocrine disorderRead MoreEssay on Anorexia and Bulimia1661 Words   |  7 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Bulimia Nervosa [also known as Bulimia] is a very serious and dangerous eating disorder. The disorder can be describe as bingeing and then followed by purging or a person who eats a large amount of food in short periods of time and then vomits after eating to prevent on gaining the weight cause by the food. There is different ways of going about ways to prevent the weight gain, making oneself throw up, taking pills, or laxatives whichRead MoreBulimia Nervos Anorexia Nervosa2594 Words   |  11 PagesBulimia Nervosa Bulimia originated in Greece, from the word boulimia, which is defined as extreme hunger (the Bella Vita, 2013). Bulimia falls into the category of being a purge disorder, a lot of the time people that struggle with bulimia may have times where they battle with anorexia nervosa, meaning they restrict themselves from eating. There have been so many cases where people battle with bulimia for years upon years, despite the large variety of treatment there is. There are many perspectivesRead MoreAnorexia Vs. Bulimia Nervosa1200 Words   |  5 PagesAnorexia vs. Bulimia In our culture today, people concerned with the way they look to a high extent, how much they weight, their physical appearances and how to change a body part they do not like. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are eating disorders that affect a person’s weight to an extreme due to wanting to be thinner when in reality they are already thin to the bone. Both disorders have their similarities and differences from their main obsession of body weight to how they try to loseRead MoreAnorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa1122 Words   |  5 PagesAnorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are a few of the most common disorders struggled with today. Anorexia Nervosa is a condition of the intense fear to gain weight, which results in consistent lack of eating. Bulimia Nervosa, involves frequent episodes of binge eating followed by throwing up because of fear of gaining weight. The mortality rate for anorexia is the highest of all mental disorders yet the genetic factors relating them wer e not a huge concern to look into. It is easy to think thatRead MoreEating Disorders : Anorexia And Bulimia1229 Words   |  5 Pages Statistics and Resources, published September 2002, revised October 2003, http://www.renfrew.org. What an extremely disturbing fact! With so many people are struggling, why are the differences between anorexia and bulimia so misunderstood by the majority of the population? Anorexia and Bulimia are very severe eating disorders that are described as an unnatural relationship with food. The body of the individual that is diagnosed goes through extreme changes that ultimately cause havoc on the body

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

We re Still Divided By Race By Carly Morris - 1132 Words

In the past, humanity faced diverse hardships that were presented differently each time. These hardships include gender, ethnicity, culture, religion, the list could go on for a massive amount of time. And each time, communities have tried to fight back, and with the right kind of effort, won the rights to what they were fighting for. Just like how African Americans, Asian, Latinos, and Whites fought each other for the right of being integrated. However, in today’s society, the public has forgotten their fight for integration, and has segregated themselves through choice. Many folks agree with this notion, making various videos, articles, and maps to educate the world. The video â€Å"Racial Segregation in American Schools†, by Carly Morris, claims how segregation has come back in the deep southern parts of America. Also, a map titled â€Å"Racial Segregation in American Cities† continues to show us the ongoing theme of the separation of people. Similarly, the a rticle â€Å"We’re Still Divided by Race†, by various authors, talks about how segregation is still around, whether by design or by choice. Through numerous appeals and strategies, they all convey the shared argument that personal preferences lead to the segregation of mankind. The transcript of â€Å"Racial Segregation in American Schools† is one of the many things that continue to convey the theme through Pathos. When the principal of Central High School explains how it felt to be inside a mixed school, he included how it made himShow MoreRelatedMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 PagesMARKETING MANAGER ASSISTANT MARKETING MANAGER MARKETING ASSISTANT DESIGN DIRECTOR SENIOR DESIGNER SENIOR MEDIA EDITOR George Hoffman Lise Johnson Carissa Doshi Dorothy Sinclair Matt Winslow Amy Scholz Carly DeCandia Alana Filipovich Jeof Vita Arthur Medina Allison Morris This book was set in 10/12 New Caledonia by Aptara ®, Inc. and printed and bound by Courier/Westford. The cover was printed by Courier/Westford. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Copyright  © 2009, 2006Read MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 PagesUniversity. He continues to teach undergraduate and graduate project management courses overseas and in the United States; he has personally taught more than 100 executive development seminars and workshops. His research and consulting interests have been divided equally between operations management and project management; he has published numerous articles in these areas, plus a text on project management. He has also conducted research with colleagues in the International Project Management AssociationRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesvii viii CONTENTS 2 2 The Individual Diversity in Organizations 39 Diversity 40 Demographic Characteristics of the U.S. Workforce 41 †¢ Levels of Diversity 42 †¢ Discrimination 42 Biographical Characteristics 44 Age 44 †¢ Sex 46 †¢ Race and Ethnicity 48 †¢ Disability 48 †¢ Other Biographical Characteristics: Tenure, Religion, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity 50 Ability 52 Intellectual Abilities 52 †¢ Physical Abilities 55 †¢ The Role of Disabilities 56 Implementing Diversity ManagementRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pagesof pacesetter companies in the United States and throughout the world? How can companies renew and sustain those factors in the face of the business slowdowns and major fluctuations that challenge the longterm continuation of profitable earnings? As we continue to experience the twenty-first century’s economic, social, and political churning, how will these driving factors be influenced by the brutally competitive global econom y in which organizations do not have any particular geographic identity

Marijuana Is The Most Common Sobriquet Of Cannabis

Marijuana is the most common sobriquet of cannabis, a plant indigenous to Central and South Asia. It is widely known for its psychoactive properties and its usage can be reliably traced as far back to the 3rd millennia BCE. Marijuana has been used for both recreational and medicinal purposes and, according to studies done by the United Nations, is consumed by approximately 4% of the adult population. In the United States, possession and sale of marijuana is illegal under federal law. The illegality of the marijuana, along with the piercing, negative stigma attached to it, has polarized Americans profusely for much of the 20th century up to now. Advocates of the drug heap praise on its medical benefits and stress its relative harmlessness†¦show more content†¦George Washington, among other presidents, grew hemp as one of his three primary crops. It was used for the manufacturing of rope, sails, cloth, and even oil (â€Å"Hemp Education†). So valuable was hemp that, in 1619, the Virginia Assembly promulgated a requirement for farmers to grow it; a colonist could face imprisonment if he refused to grow hemp on his property. Steady hemp cultivation continued into the 19th century until the means of production of other materials, like cotton, became more efficient and less expensive. Hemp required extensive manual labor and was processed at a slower and lower rate, comparatively (Will). Conversely, it was during this time, when its industrial utility lessened, that the medicinal usage of cannabis increased. Cannabis was integrated into Western medicine after William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, and Irish doctor, discovered its therapeutic effects in 1839 while using plant resin on patients suffering from painful spasms; about a decade later, medicinal cannabis could be found in American pharmacies (Meyers). Contemporaneously, the recreational use of cannabis became in vogue. Labeled a â€Å"fashionable narcotic†, both sexes of the upper class frequented parlors providing hashish, a preparation of cannabis resin (â€Å"Our Fashionable Narcotics†). Recreationally smoking cannabis cigarettes, or â€Å"marijuana† as it was termed in Mexico, was popularized by Mexican immigrants that escaped the fighting of the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and

Argumentative Essay for DSA Scheme- myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Write about theArgumentative Essay for DSA Scheme. Answer: Gifted students are common in many schools and academic institutions globally. Those with talents and abilities may need programs that offer challenges to push them into their true potentials. Different countries have varied approaches to this issue and take measures that are appropriate to their setting. In Singapore, the Direct School Admission (DSA) plays an important role in identifying and nurturing pupils with special talents and abilities. Its efficacy can be seen in the global education rankings where it is the top performer. The current DSA program should be further revised to be reserved only for non-academic talent in order in order to build the sporting talent and rankings of the country as well as to nurture the national sports industry. Definition of the expanded DSA scheme The expanded DSA scheme states that from 2018, schools are supposed to preserve a certain percentage of allocations for their non-Integrated Program for students with abilities that lie beyond traditional academic exams. This allocation has been set at 20% and is intended to nurture talents in sports and the arts. It also allows students to apply based on academic strengths and talents (Davie 2016). The students who qualify will be able to access schools that will nurture and develop their talents. Students applying for the DSA under these specifications will not be required to sit for the general academic exams, such as the Primary School Leaving Exam (PSLE). The admission caps have been lifted in terms of the different categories such as niche programs, autonomous and independent schools. Issues surrounding the current expanded DSA scheme The educational issues on the expanded DSA is that it may eventually end compromising the quality of the PSLE as more students will focus on preparing for the DSA as a form of parallel alternative (Davies 2016). This has seen the proliferation of courses that are set to prepare the students for the DSA, despite not having natural ability. The economic issue is that it benefits those wealthy in society and disenfranchises the poor. Many of those who applied during the last five years had parents who resided in private housing and this shows the economic disparity (Seow 2016). The social impact of DSA is that it puts excessive stress on children who have to sacrifice their childhood in order to outperform their peers (Seow 2016). This leads to some being affected by mental illness. Arguments against upholding the current DSA scheme The current DSA allows for applications from both academic and non-academic talents and abilities. Going by the global rankings on education, Singapore has been shown to top in Mathematics and Sciences on exams taken for students under 15 years of age (Coughlan 2016). This shows that the traditional and Gifted Education Programs are working and beneficial. Instead of improving on these outcomes, putting emphasis on building the sports and arts considerations should be given more prominence. This requires limiting the DSA to non-academic talent. This would help enrich the schools that have academic programs by nurturing sports and arts within their student populations. The emphasis on non-academic programs will help to nurture talent that will develop talent for the sporting and arts industry. Singapore has hosted a number of high profile sporting events such as the World Rugby Sevens and the Singapore Grand Prix (Loh 2016). The investment in physical infrastructure should be accompanied by the corresponding investment in human capacity. In order to provide talent who can compete at international events and manage such events hosted domestically will require talent development through the schools. The DSA can be used to tap and nurture this talent. Lo (2016) states that this will also spur the development of universities such as the Edinburgh-Nappier University that offer sports degrees as they will have enough students from niche schools. Students with exceptional talents in the arts will contribute to the development of a thriving domestic film, music and performing arts industry in Singapore. The students who pass through niche schools will also ensure the sustainability of arts schools such as SOTA, as they will have a steady supply of students. The development of arts will help to enrich the variety of entertainment that can be offered socially and reduce the dependence on imported forms of entertainment (Akuno, 2017). This will have an overall positive impact on the culture and economy. Locally produced films and music can be exported and this will help expose the culture of Singapore. Thus the expanded DSA should focus more non-academic talent. Arguments for upholding the current DSA. Focusing on non-academic talent will disenfranchise students who may not be generally strong academically, but in specific subjects such as Mathematics. This will stifle their talents and abilities when they are allowed to go through the normal academic testing. The DSA gives students who do not gain admission into the Gifted Education Program (GEP), with less than 1% being admitted (Kiem 2016). Another argument is that there are relatively fewer students with natural talents and abilities in sports and the arts when compared to academic students. Their ability to have positive impact on the economy in the future is therefore limited and negligible. Tan (2016) asserts that this is not natural talent but groomed and artificial talent which will fizzle out. The DSA is a good example of a national program that seeks to nurture natural talents and abilities which are both academic and non-academic. The expanded DSA program allows for both categories of students to apply. The main argument against it is that by allowing for applicants with academic talents, it becomes just another program similar to the GEP. It does not meet its original mandate that sought to nurture non-academic talent. Focusing on non-academic talent will be beneficial in nurturing the local arts and sports industries which economically benefit the nation. This can be countered by stating that its very few students with natural talent who can progress to become professionals: many fizzle out in secondary school. References Akuno, E. A. (2017). Higher education leadership and governance in the development of the creative and cultural industries in Kenya. Dakar: CODESRIA. Coughlan, S. (2016). Pisa tests: Singapore top in global education rankings. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/education-38212070 Davie, S. (2016). Schools, stop the kiasu practice if suing DSA to chope bright kids. The Straits Times. Kiem, W.T.W. (2016). Dont shut bright kids out of DSA. The Straits Times Online Forum. Loh, M. (2016). Game on: How Singapore can score in global sports events management. Singapore Business Review. Retrieved from https://sbr.com.sg/hr-education/commentary/game-how-singapore-can-score-in-global-sports-events-management Seow, C. (2016).Re-thinking the DSA (Direct School Admission) Scheme. Singapore Motherhood. Retrieved from https://singaporemotherhood.com/articles/2016/06/direct-school-admission-dsa-scheme-school-singapore/ Tan, J. (2016). This P5 students letter sums up everything thats wrong with the DSA system, Mothership. Retrieved from https://mothership.sg/2016/02/this-p5-boys-letter-sums-up-everything-thats-wrong-with-the-dsa-system/ Towse, R. (2013). A textbook of cultural economics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Success Essay Example For Students

Success Essay What makes a person successful? Does money, parents, or background guarantee success? The definition of success varies with each person, but to me one of the most essential definitions of a persons success is the impact they have on other people. Most of us hold pre-conceived notions of different socioeconomic backgrounds than our own. While people are truly impacted by these factors, some people can overcome them and reach success. Many people throughout history have prevailed over such obstacles as poverty, poor education, and poor parental guidance. For example, Abraham Lincoln had to struggle for a living and for learning, but he became a great leader and president. In my life, I have encountered a special person who has taught me that people really can overcome obstacles. The person who has taught me this important lesson is a special friend of mine. I met her when I was young and had no idea of the obstacles she had confronted or would face in the future. I realized that she was underprivileged, because she could not participate in expensive activities. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she found a way to learn and participate. For example, we would teach her fundamental gymnastics skills and she would practice at home. The thing that impressed me about her was that she never acted like she felt underprivileged, in fact, she always seemed proud of her family and her life. As we became better friends, I learned more about her and started to understand her troubles. As we entered middle school, I began to notice the small amount of clothes she had to wear and how crowded her undersized trailer seemed with five people living in it. I learned that she had lived in various cities and had numerous father figures. You would never hear her complain and she was always smiling. Now that we are in high school, she has made so much of herself. She has not only succeeded academically, but morally and socially. She has become one of the most caring and understanding friends I have. My friend has taught me more than any class or test. She has educated me about life. She has a reach for the stars attitude when I need guidance. She has showed me that anyone can overcome obstacles. I have learned to appreciate what I have and other people differences. It is easy to envy other people, but my friend never showed this feeling. She has taught me, through her example, to never feel embarrassed, but to always feel fortunate. Even though, my friend may never be famous or wealthy, she has become an outstanding person who has had a positive influence on others and me. The most impressive thing about my friend is her outgoing and totally cheerful personality. She has taught me that I can become anything if I just strive for the best. Knowing her has made me a better person and will certainly assist me in the future.