Saturday, January 25, 2020
University International Students
University International Students Introduction Studying at the university requires adjustment so that the student can effectively function and pursue his chosen field of study. Ones academic life, gaining access to educational materials, and interaction with classmates and professors are all important factors in the adjustment process. Yet, they are not the only factors that should be taken into account. This adjustment process becomes even more important for international students. They have to adjust to the culture of the location of their university, they have to take into account the language, the social norms, the idioms and metaphors being used by the society that the university belongs to. If they fail to adjust in the social context, their education might not be maximized, and, worse, they might not be able to understand a lot of things in their schooling. This essay takes a look in the adjustment process that international students have to face, particularly their context and their learning styles. It discusses how context and learning style affects their adjustment process. In doing so, this essay presents several theories and principles regarding the learning process. Furthermore, it presents several recommendations on how international students could better adjust in the university. More than just a theoretical presentation, this essay also takes into account the personal experiences of the author and will deal with some of the challenges being faced by international students in the university. This understanding is very important so that the international students, and other university students and professors would come to better strategies in helping international students cope with the university life and all its rigors and demands. University Culture and the International Student The university promotes scholarly studies and the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. In addition to this, the application of this body of knowledge in the society is also taken into account. Because of the process of globalization, university culture is also being internationalized in the sense that the university is being integrated into the global processes defining the world at this time (Bartell, 2003). Given this internationalization of universities, international students necessarily come to the fore. In a study conducted by Neville, students at the university who have previously enrolled expressed fear that they may not do well in the university because of the pressures of family, society, and of the economic side of their schooling. As an international student, I have also experienced some of these challenges. Since I am far away from my family, I feel homesick at times, unable to focus on my studies. It takes courage and resolve in order for me to truly pursue my university education. Yet, because of the importance of my university education and the interactions with others, I painstakingly work towards improving myself in pursuing my education. International Students and Speaking English Another challenge that international students face is the issue of language. Since English is recognized internationally as the language of the university, international students have to learn this language so that they can converse fluently and intelligently with classmates and professors. For international students who are already fluent in this language, they have surmounted an important barrier. Yet, those who have not done yet, they need to work more in learning English, otherwise, they will fail to interact and converse with others, which is an important part of university life. Universities therefore need to help international students who speak English as a second language in improving their English skills. This is the only way for them to truly make the connections that will help them complete their university education. Speech and language laboratories could be established and part of the learning processes of international students. This way, they will be able to interact better and have more opportunities in improving their English language skills. As an international student who entered the university, I experienced a kind of culture shock because the university promotes a culture of literacy (Nevile, 1996). Although I was already a bit fluent with the English, I was not a prolific writer. So I had to attend some writing workshops and tutorial sessions so I could improve the way that I write in the English language. With this process, I was able to improve some of the things that I faced. In addition to this, I also talked with other international students regarding the struggles that they face and the difficulties that they are having. In the process, I managed to have a support group that could easily help me deal with homesickness and other difficulties of being an international student. The interactions with other international students helped me become more prepared in dealing with the rigors of university life. Maximizing Adjustment to the University For international students who want to make the most out of the university, there are several tips that could be followed. For one, improving English skills is a must. It might take more time and effort to do so, yet, it is of utmost important that English skills become excellent. International students should also form support groups that could help them deal with homesickness and other challenges of being in a foreign society. The emotional support given by others makes a lot of difference in the adjustment process. Lastly, international students should be able to maximize all available resources at their disposal through consistent and persistent studying and pursuit of knowledge. This is the best way to deal with the adjustment process. Conclusion This essay has looked at the experiences of international students in adjusting at a university. Universities do have a culture of literacy, which the international student may not be prepared for. As such, they need to double their efforts in learning, in interacting and talking with othersââ¬âfriends, professors, classmates, and other international studentsââ¬âand gaining access to all forms of educational resources. By establishing support groups and mentoring relationships, international students could do well in their university education and prepare them for excellent work even beyond the university. Through this, they could contribute better to their society and their world. Reference Bartell, M. (2003). Internationalization of universities: A university culture-based framework. Higher Education, 45 (1), 43-70. Nevile, M. (1996). Literacy Culture Shock: Developing Academic Literacy at the University. The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 19 (1), 38-51.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Storm Born Chapter Five
The fact that we were having a standoff while completely naked might have been hilarious under ordinary circumstances. But these were not ordinary circumstances, and even my twisted sense of humor had its limitations. ââ¬Å"Me?â⬠I demanded. ââ¬Å"What about you? You're not a veterinarian. Veterinarians give dogs rabies vaccines. They don't throw elementals around.â⬠Kiyo regarded me levelly. ââ¬Å"And Web designers don't banish elementals to the Otherworld.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, well, sometimes I moonlight.â⬠The faintest ghost of a smile flickered across his face. He relaxed a little, found his pants, and pulled them on. Not me. I stayed rigid and ready to strike. I was also trying very hard to think of him only as a potential threat, not as the man I'd just slept with. Because if I thought about that, I might falter. Worse, I might have to face the fact that I had just let a creature of the Otherworld ââ¬â His pants now on, he approached me. ââ¬Å"We need to talk about this ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"No. Don't get any closer.â⬠If I could have cocked the wand like a gun, I would have. ââ¬Å"What are you going to do? You can't cast me out. It won't work.â⬠I hesitated, wondering about that. He seemed so human. He had felt human. I hadn't sensed anything from him like I would one of the gentry, yet his speed and strength had been superhuman. And that wasn't even counting his unholy stamina. That should have been a dead giveaway right there. ââ¬Å"What do you want from me? Why did you bring me back here?â⬠His eyebrows rose. ââ¬Å"I thought it was obvious. I wanted to have sex with you.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, damn it! There's more to it. What's going on? What are you trying to get from me?â⬠My cool demeanor was plunging rapidly. ââ¬Å"Did someone send you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Look, Eugenie, just put the wand down. We'll talk. We'll figure this out.â⬠ââ¬Å"I thought you couldn't be cast out,â⬠I reminded him. ââ¬Å"Why are you afraid of the wand? Maybe the Otherworld couldn't hurt youâ⬠¦but what about the Underworld?â⬠He didn't answer. I sent my will into the wand and felt the air crackle with power. Fear crossed Kiyo's face. So. He was afraid. That was all I needed to know. The words were on my lips to send him to the crossroads, but suddenly he moved with that rapid speed I'd seen earlier. He backed up toward the sliding glass door, opened it up, and then ran out and over the edge of the balcony. A small scream escaped me in spite of myself. We were three floors up. I dropped the wand and dashed off to the balcony, peering around on the ground for him. No way could he have survived that uninjured. Yet, there was no sign of him. A few bats flew up over the eaves of the building, and around the far side of it, I saw the flicker of headlights. A coyote howled from far out in the desert, and a cat slunk into the shadows. There was life out here but not the kind I sought. With a lot of maneuvering, I hung over the side of the balcony, making sure he wasn't hiding under it like escaping people often did in movies. Nope. Nothing. I gazed back over the desert, wondering what had happened to him. It was possible he could have ââ¬Å"jumpedâ⬠figuratively to the Otherworld. He'd have to be a very powerful gentry to do that without a thin spot nearby, but similarly, a strong gentry would have also been able to hold a perfect physical shape in this world. I supposed it was also possible someone so powerful could pass themselves off as human. I hadn't encountered any who were that strong. Walking back inside, I sat on the bed cross-legged, wrapping my arms around me. The residual ice from the elemental had melted into small puddles. The bed smelled like Kiyo and sex, and I swallowed down the nausea building within me. Oh God. What had I done? Had I had sex with a monster? Had I had sex with the very kind of thing I hunted and hated and killed? Kiyo had spoken to me about honesty, yet it seemed to have all been a lie. At least it had been safe sex. Worst of all, I had liked him. Really liked him. When was the last time that had happened? Dean and I had seemed to date and sleep together simply because neither of us had anything better to do. With Kiyo, I had started to feel a real connection. Real chemistry. His betrayal hurt me deeper than I liked to admit. I opened my eyes, thinking. Most gentry were too technologically inept to function seamlessly in the human world, yet he had navigated it well. He'd had a car back at the bar, one we'd passed over in favor of letting me drive. He'd also had a wallet and cash to pay for drinks and the condoms. And if he was checked into a hotel, he had to have a credit card. Credit cards were traceable. If he had a dual life in our world, I should be able to find out something. I picked up the phone and hit the button for the front desk. ââ¬Å"Good morning, Mr. Marquez,â⬠a pleasant desk clerk answered. Kiyo Marquez. It was a start. ââ¬Å"Um, actually this is Mrs. Marquez. I was wondering if you could tell me if myâ⬠¦husband already prepaid for the room?â⬠A pause while she looked it up. ââ¬Å"Yes, he did upon check-in. He left the same card on file for incidentals.â⬠ââ¬Å"Can you tell me the number on the card he used?â⬠A longer pause. ââ¬Å"I'm sorry, I can't give that out to anyone but the cardholder. If you can put him on the phone, I can tell him.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ohâ⬠¦I don't want to bother him. He's in the shower. I just wanted to make sure we weren't maxing out the wrong card.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦I can tell you it's a Visa ending in 3011.â⬠I sighed. That wouldn't do me much good, but I doubted I'd get more from this woman. ââ¬Å"Okay. Thanks.â⬠ââ¬Å"Is there anything else I can help with you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeahâ⬠¦can you connect me to room service?â⬠I ordered breakfast on Kiyo and then showered while I waited for it to show. I needed to wash away the sweat, to wash away the scent of his body on mine. When the food arrived, I munched on toast and ransacked the room for some kind of evidence. Kiyo's wallet had been in his pants, so that was gone. He had no other personal possessions in the room, save the other discarded clothing from last night. I explored every drawer and nook, just in case he'd hidden something away. The sun was well up over the horizon when I finally left the hotel. When I arrived back home, I called Lara and told her his name. I asked her to see what connections she could find to it, Phoenix, and vets. She excelled at that kind of thing, but I knew it might take a few days. Fortunately, a career in banishing and destroying is a great way to relieve frustration while waiting. My first job the day after the Kiyo incident involved frisking a marid out of someone's bathroom. Marids are one of the djinn ââ¬â genies to most Americans ââ¬â and are tied to the element of water. Like the keres and most other djinn, marids tend to occupy some sort of physical object. Only, rather than a bottle or lamp, they prefer someplace wet ââ¬â say, like, a sink pipe. Annoyed at being troubled with such an idiotic task, I cast my circle in the large, black-tiled bathroom and used the wand to yank the marid out of the pipe. She materialized before me, looking very much like a human female, save for her death-pale skin and rippling blue hair. A silk dress hung from her body. I saw her tense up, instinctively ready to lash out at me with her power. Then she did a double take, sizing me up from head to toe. A funny look came over her face, and moments later, she lit up with a schmoozing smile. She swept me a low bow. ââ¬Å"My lady,â⬠she said grandly. ââ¬Å"How may I serve you?â⬠ââ¬Å"You can't,â⬠I told her, holding up the wand. She kept the smile, but there was tension in it. ââ¬Å"Of course I can. I have the ability to conjure up riches and other wonders. I can make your dreams ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Stop it. I'm not falling for this.â⬠The myths about djinn granting wishes aren't entirely fabricated. She wasn't all-powerful, but she could definitely pull some tricks out of her hat. When faced with danger, a djinn's most common strategy is to try bargaining with the enemy. Unfortunately, the ââ¬Å"wishesâ⬠they grant rarely turn out the way others expect. Uneasily, she backed up toward the wall. She hit the edge of the circle first. Glancing around, she realized she was trapped. The smile slipped, replaced by true fear. ââ¬Å"Surely there's no need for violence,â⬠she said. Her eyes widened. ââ¬Å"Please.â⬠I stared. I rarely had Otherworldly creatures beg for mercy. I hesitated for a moment, then my Kiyo-induced bad mood took over. I poured my will into the wand, ready to push her through the gate. She felt the power charge up in the air and kicked into true self-defense mode, now that she realized her wheeling and dealing wouldn't work. Her magic trickled into the circle. It reminded me of mist or fog, a soft dampness filling the air. I blinked in surprise. I didn't usually sense magic in this way. Most often, I felt Otherworldly power as a tingle or a pressure. This was tangible. She saw my surprise. Her eyes widened with hope. ââ¬Å"You see? You have no need to tear me apart. Like calls to like.â⬠Like? I was puzzled but didn't hesitate to take advantage of her distraction. Her magic might be weaker in my world, but I still didn't want to fight it head-on. Far easier to deal with her this way. A moment later, I had made my connection to the Underworld. She grew more pale when she realized I'd used my wand to ensnare her and begged me again for mercy. Gritting my teeth, I thought about the way Kiyo had used me and grew angrier. No. No quarter for Otherworldly creatures. And yetâ⬠¦staring into her eyes, I recalled the brief feel of mist from her magic. Like calls to like. I didn't know what that meant, but it had struck me. At the last possible second, I decided to spare her after all ââ¬â in a manner of speaking. There was no way I could allow her to stay in this world. Instead, I shifted my focus to the Otherworld and sent her over there in entirety, rather than giving her instant death via the Underworld. When it was all over, I stared at the empty bathroom, wondering what had come over me. ââ¬Å"Going soft,â⬠I muttered. It took Lara awhile, but she found something about Kiyo a few days later, the same day I decided to go see Roland and break the news that I was going to go after Jasmine. Something about that encounter with Kiyo and the elemental in the room had made me decide I couldn't leave that poor girl to the mercy of the Otherworld. Roland might not like it, but he couldn't stop me, not anymore. My powers had surpassed his awhile ago. I also intended to ask him about my newfound status as bachelorette of the year in the Otherworld. At least in the few days since being with Kiyo, there had been no other attacks specifically targeted at me. Wil had left a million messages with Lara, but we'd been putting him off. I'd had only a handful of small jobs: one banishing and a couple of exorcisms. I could almost have said it was a slow week. Not much was happening while I waited. What also wasn't happening was any healing of the scratches on my back. The blood had dried up and scabbed a little, but the marks didn't fade at all. They stayed red and angry-looking, although they didn't hurt. Every morning I would look at them, hoping they had disappeared. They never did. I harbored a secret thought that if the scratches went away, so would my feelings about Kiyo. I couldn't stop thinking about him. I'd spend my days venting and fuming over him, and at night, scandalous dreams would play through my head, making me wake up hot and restless. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I'd never behaved this way, especially with a guy who represented everything I stood against. ââ¬Å"I finally turned up a Kiyo Marquez at a vet hospital in Phoenix,â⬠Lara told me as I drove out to my mom's house. ââ¬Å"I had to call around a lot. They say he doesn't work a full schedule there and is on vacation for the next two weeks. I couldn't get anything else. His address and phone number are unlisted.â⬠I thanked her and pondered this. So Kiyo hadn't completely lied. He had a job, a very human one. It still didn't mesh with what I'd observed or knew. I saw my mom bent over in her garden when I arrived, requiring me to sneak inside quietly so I could speak with Roland in private. I found him in the kitchen, almost exactly in the same place as last time. We exchanged greetings, and then I dove in, deciding to save the Jasmine thing for last. ââ¬Å"More of them know my name. I've fought with two now who knew me as more than Odile. I also heard about a third who knew who I was.â⬠ââ¬Å"Were the attacks specifically targeted at you, then? Like revenge attacks?â⬠ââ¬Å"One was. The other was part of a job. Why? Did they come looking for you when your name got out?â⬠ââ¬Å"A little. Inconvenient, but not the end of the world.â⬠ââ¬Å"The weird thing hereâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Yes?â⬠ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦they've also sort of been, like, soliciting meâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He arched an eyebrow. ââ¬Å"Like for sex?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah.â⬠Roland undoubtedly had done all sorts of sexual things in his life ââ¬â most with my mother, God help me ââ¬â but he was enough of a father figure that I didn't feel entirely comfortable discussing such things with him. ââ¬Å"Well, you know how they are with human women. If one were trying to get back at youâ⬠¦well, rape is a common enough act of retaliation.â⬠ââ¬Å"Great. I'd rather they just beat me to death.â⬠ââ¬Å"Don't make jokes like that,â⬠he warned. ââ¬Å"If your name was just discovered, it's probably pretty hot right now. But I imagine the hype will die down eventually. Just wait it out. In the meantime, watch your back ââ¬â not that you don't already. Do the usual things. Keep your head clear. Stay armed at all times. Don't drink.â⬠He cut me a look. ââ¬Å"Stay away from the peyote.â⬠I rolled my eyes. ââ¬Å"Come on, I haven't done that in years.â⬠He shrugged. ââ¬Å"You've got something else to unload. I can see it in your eyes.â⬠ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦speaking of watching my backâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I stood up from the chair and took off the loose button-up shirt I wore over a tank top. I swept my hair aside and turned around so he could view my back. He gave a small grunt when he saw the scratches. ââ¬Å"Those look nasty. You get in a fight today?â⬠ââ¬Å"They're from four days ago. They won't heal.â⬠ââ¬Å"Do they hurt?â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠ââ¬Å"What gave them to you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not sure. He looked human, butâ⬠¦I don't know.â⬠I let my hair drop and turned around, putting the shirt back on. ââ¬Å"How'd he get you at that angle and position?â⬠Roland looked puzzled. ââ¬Å"Were you wrestling?â⬠ââ¬Å"Uh, that's really not important,â⬠I said hastily. ââ¬Å"Have you ever seen anything like it?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not exactly, no, but I've seen enough to not think this is too out there. If there was enough magic or whatever used to inflict them, they may just take awhile to heal.â⬠That didn't really make me feel better, but I was unwilling to elaborate on my encounter with Kiyo. I took a deep breath. ââ¬Å"There's one more thing.â⬠ââ¬Å"I know. You're going after the girl.â⬠So much for my dramatic proclamation. ââ¬Å"How'd you know?â⬠ââ¬Å"Because I know you, Eugenie. You're foolish and headstrong with a naive sense of righteousness. You're like me.â⬠Not sure if that was a compliment or not. ââ¬Å"Then you understand.â⬠He shook his head. ââ¬Å"It's still dangerous. And stupid. You cross in your own body and ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"And what?â⬠We both looked up like guilty children. My mother stood in the doorway in a wide-brimmed hat and dirt-covered gloves, further evidence of her gardening. I had a few planters out in the rock garden that passed for my backyard, but she maintained a veritable oasis. Her long, slightly graying hair streamed down her back as she regarded us. Her hair lacked my reddish hue, and her eyes were just blue, not violet-blue. Otherwise, everyone said we looked alike. I wondered if I'd age like her. I hoped so, although I would probably dye any gray away. ââ¬Å"What are you planning on doing, Eugenie?â⬠she asked in a level tone. ââ¬Å"Nothing, Mom. Just hypothetical stuff.â⬠ââ¬Å"You're talking about going over there. I know what that means.â⬠ââ¬Å"Mom ââ¬â â⬠I began. ââ¬Å"Dee ââ¬â â⬠Roland began. She held up a hand to stop us both. ââ¬Å"Don't. I don't want to hear it. Do you know how much I already worry about you in this world, Eugenie? And now you want to walk right into their homes? And you.â⬠She turned on Roland, her eyes flashing. ââ¬Å"I spent twenty years worrying about you. I'd lie awake, wondering which night would be the one you didn't come home. I thanked God the day you retired, and now you're encouraging her to ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Hey, whoa, he's not telling me anything here. Leave him out if this if you want to thrash somebody. This is just me. He's not involved.â⬠Roland turned on me. ââ¬Å"Eugenie, if you insist on going, I might as well go ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Mom's right. Your fight's done. This one's mine.â⬠My mom turned on me. ââ¬Å"It's not yours either! Why can't you just worry about keeping them away from here? Why go after them?â⬠I told her. She kept her face proud and stony the entire time I spoke, but I could see her eyes betray her. The severity of the situation wasn't lost on her, even as her words continued to deny that truth. ââ¬Å"You're just like him. Too noble for your own good.â⬠She suddenly looked older than her age. ââ¬Å"You're compensating for some sort of lack of attention as a child, aren't you?â⬠There she was, slipping into therapist mode again. ââ¬Å"Mom, she's fourteen, er, fifteen now. If this were someone kidnapped locally, you'd agree to any measures to get her back.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'd agree to measures that involved backup, not you alone.â⬠ââ¬Å"I have no backup.â⬠ââ¬Å"Except for me,â⬠piped in Roland. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠my mother and I told him together. She turned to me and used that deadliest of weapons known to mankind: the Mom Card. ââ¬Å"You're my only child. My baby. If something happens to youâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I was ready for her. ââ¬Å"Jasmine's someone's baby too, even if her mom is gone. That almost makes it worse, actually. She lost her parents. She has no one. And now she's trapped, being held hostage by some asshole who thinks it's okay to kidnap and rape unwilling girls.â⬠My mom flinched as though I'd slapped her. She looked at Roland. They exchanged one of those long looks that couples who have been together for ages can do. I don't know what they communicated, but she finally looked away from both of us. ââ¬Å"Whenâ⬠¦you get her back, bring her to me. It doesn't matter if it'sâ⬠¦gentry or humans. She'll need the same kind of therapy any other victim would.â⬠I knew she did that kind of counseling with patients all the time, but I'd never thought of her as helping gentry victims. It was very kind for someone who tried to pretend the Otherworld didn't exist. ââ¬Å"Mom ââ¬â â⬠I attempted. She shook her head. ââ¬Å"I don't want to know anything else about it until it's all over. I can't know.â⬠She left us then, returning to the peace of her garden. ââ¬Å"She'll recover,â⬠Roland told me after a quiet moment. ââ¬Å"She always does.â⬠Forced to accept the fact that I would be going over now, he was only too willing to flood me with as much tactical information as possible. It grew dizzying. At one point, after I'd refused his third request to go with me, he said, ââ¬Å"I assume you'll be taking your other help.â⬠The tone in his voice showed undeniable derision for my ââ¬Å"other help.â⬠I knew he didn't approve, but he had to recognize the benefits. ââ¬Å"You know they're an asset.â⬠ââ¬Å"So is a grenade ââ¬â until it goes off in your hand.â⬠ââ¬Å"They're better than nothing.â⬠He scowled but said no more, instead discussing more logistics with me: where and when to cross over and what weapons to bring. We decided it would be best for me to wait until the moon was in crescent phase, so I'd have a stronger connection to Hecate. She facilitated transitions, particularly to the Otherworld, which might be useful if I needed a hasty retreat. There'd be a nice crescent in about four more days. I left their house without seeing my mother again. I hoped she wouldn't take her feelings out on Roland, and I wondered how much it must suck to love someone who always walked into danger. I decided if I ever got married, I'd choose someone with a normal job whom I could expect to be home at normal hours. Like an electrician. Or an architect. Or a veterinarian. Ack. As I got into my car to depart, I saw the strangest thing. A red fox watched me from the tree line on the far side of my parents' house. More surprising than seeing it watch me so seriously was the fact that it was a red fox in the first place. They weren't common in southern Arizona. You were more likely to see a gray fox or one of the silly-looking little desert kit foxes. I stared into this one's yellow-brown eyes and shivered. Too many weird things were happening lately for me to feel comfortable with a studious fox, no matter how beautiful. When I got back to my house, I knew it was time to solicit the ââ¬Å"other help.â⬠This was one of the areas where my path had split from Roland's. He'd been my mentor and had years more experience, but we both knew I'd grown stronger. He could never have done what I was about to do. If he could, he might have understood why I relied on this sort of assistance. I closed my bedroom door and then shut the curtains and blinds. Darkness fell, and I lit a candle, letting it be my only light source. I was strong enough to do a summoning without the stage tricks, just as I could cast out a spirit without divine help, but I didn't want to waste the extra strength today. I produced the wand and touched the smoky quartz crystal on it, strengthening my connection to the spirit world. Closing my eyes, I focused on the being I wanted and then recited the correct words. I often improvised words when I cast out creatures ââ¬â hence my frequent use of expletives ââ¬â but it didn't usually matter, so long as my intent and meaning proved clear. For a summoning like this, however, I had to have everything right. I was essentially invoking a contract, and as any good lawyer knew, technicalities were everything. The room grew freezing cold when I finished the incantation, a different kind of cold than the elemental had caused. A pressure sort of swirled around me, and then I knew I was no longer alone. I looked around and found him in the corner he usually appeared in, a black shape hidden among the shadows. Red eyes gleamed out at me from the darkness. ââ¬Å"I am here, mistress.ââ¬
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Developing A Knowledge Confidence Plan - 1407 Words
PLAN 2 Developing a Knowledge Confidence Plan As a future nurse it is very important to identify areas of knowledge that are strong and areas that could use further development (CRNBC, 2011). This provides the opportunity to improve confidence and collaborative capacities within nursing practice (Hatrick Doane Varcoe, 2014b). The purpose of this paper is to use scholarly literature, practice experiences, and class concepts of Nursing 341, to gain better understanding of my current knower status. Specifically, it will provide a written summary and analysis of observations relating to myself as a knower. Also, the paper will consider the four areas of nursing inquiry observing them through differing levels of perspective. Finally, it will include a concrete plan addressing my knowledge development needs with specific goals for this term. Ways of Knowing: Summary The four ways of knowing, embodied in the nursing discipline, are all equally important to practice (Hatrick Doane Varcoe, 2014b). For this reason it is important to consider areas of strength as well as areas that may require more focus in the future to ultimately improve future practice. Areas of Strength After observing myself as a knower, I found that my strengths lie in the following three forms of inquiry: aesthetic (meaning), ethical (values), and sociopolitical (context) (Hatrick Doane Varcoe, 2014b). This is because I feel that my knowledge within this area can be applied within multiple viewpoints.Show MoreRelatedThe Goals And Priorities Of Nurses And Inter Professional Team1608 Words à |à 7 PagesDeveloping Confidence Nursing is a demanding profession, with a great deal of pressure to make the right decisions and work effectively with a group of knowledgeable individuals, all with varying values, beliefs, and goals. Although the goals and priorities of nurses and the inter-professional team are usually clear, we all work from different forms of knowledge. ââ¬Å"This different knowledge arises out of the unique standpoints from which nurses experience their work and their patientsâ⬠(Hamilton Read MorePersonal Statement On Self Confidence1099 Words à |à 5 Pageslearnt at university, to plan out my vision before expressing it. This will help others buy in to my vision. To do this, I will need to improve my self-confidence. Self-confidence is an important characteristic of successful leaders. Cavallo and Brienza (2006) explain that self-confidence assists in the imaging process. Having self-confidence not only helps, when and how well you explain your vision, but, can help in developing an advanced vision (Sosik Dinger, 2007). Sosik and Dinger (2007)Read MoreNCFE LEVEL 2 UNIT 2 Essay733 Words à |à 3 Pagescourses that might help me improve my care. Being supportive and empathic towards everyone. 1.2 Maintaining trust and confidence in the patients by respecting the confidentiality norms. This is in protecting the rights and promoting the interests and independence of service users. Respecting dignity, privacy, culture and religion of service users. Maintaining the trust and confidence of the service users by keeping confidential information except the one that will pose danger to them. 1.3 UnderstandingRead MoreDevelopment Plan For The Professional And The Academic Field1521 Words à |à 7 Pagesthe professional and the academic field? A development plan is defined as a structured and supported process commenced by learners to consider their own learning, performance and achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development. In another words, a development plan is an inclusive process, which is opened to all learners, in all higher education provision settings, and at all levels. An effective development plan can improve the ability of learners to re-examine, arrangeRead MoreMy Nursing Philosophy : My Philosophy Of Nursing Practice1074 Words à |à 5 PagesNursing philosophy My philosophy of nursing practice is being kind to others. I use my knowledge and skills to help people. I also respect patientsââ¬â¢ preferences, values and choices even though they differ from mine. I will try to understand and show empathy to my patients through seeing them beyond their illness and provide holistic and culturally sensitive care. Nursing is not just a job that looks after the sickness, rather, it is about the humanity, about being a human for another human. As aRead MoreMy Cooperative Education : An Intern At Volunteer Service Abroad Essay1572 Words à |à 7 Pagesimmersing myself in the work environment, has allowed me to grow in numerous ways. From this experience, I have learnt invaluable skills that I would not have learnt elsewhere. In terms of personal development, self-development, Developing Relationships, Adaptability, Confidence, Initiative and Time Management were the primary skills that I learnt. There was an abundance of experiences that have triggered the development of these skills. 2.1 Self-development and Resilience A co-worker offered to provideRead MorePrinciples of Personal Development in Adult Social Care and Settings1049 Words à |à 5 Pagesactivities is an important way to develop own knowledge and skills. Reflection on your own practice is important because it allows you to assess what you are doing well, identify areas where you might like or maybe need more training or guidance in to ensure you are performing to the best you can, and are meeting all standards and expectations within the elderly house policies and procedures. Reflecting on your practice can enhance and improve your confidence and self esteem because you can look atRead MoreReflection Personal Development Plan1163 Words à |à 5 PagesReflection- Personal Development Plan Reflection is a major factor in developing self-awareness to improve services provided to everyone around me, this is to develop my own understanding in realising the good and bad made previously. Moving forward with a better understanding, as well as rectifying the mistake whilst recognising the good points, (Horton-Deutsch and Sherwood, 2008). Ordinarily whilst working in a domiciliary setting and visiting vulnerable adults within their homesRead MoreMath Results Essay1647 Words à |à 7 PagesPercentileRangeDescribing a high range scoring person... 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Working in a domiciliary setting and visiting vulnerable adults within their homes, I am constantly trying
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Marchands framework and Strategic Management of Information Systems Free Essay Example, 1000 words
Managers who have ample information would not invest the resources in a situation where many competitors are present as there may be market risks present. The second element of Marchandââ¬â¢s (2000) theory is the reduction of the costs. As Amprimo (2008) asserts the reduction of the costs is closely related to the management of risks. Firm and business owners try their best to reduce their cost of production. Reduced costs may mean that the businesses are able to enjoy better profit margins and so are better off. It is important that the managers are aware of the costs involved in each of the operating activities of the firm. This can help them to do a cost and benefit analysis before entering into an agreement with another company or investing in some kind of product. If the managers are aware of the fact that the production of even one or two more units of output can lead to a reduction in the cost rate, they would invest more of the limited resources in such a business. Even a one unit increase in the output can help the firms to achieve economies of scale and operate at the minimum cost level. We will write a custom essay sampl e on Marchand's framework and Strategic Management of Information Systems or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The third element of Marchandââ¬â¢s (2000) framework involves the addition of the value to the businesses. It is important that value is added to businesses in terms of increased number of markets and customers. Today, increased Globalization has led to a demand for increased flexibility (so that a large number of markets can be targeted). The flexibility, as Oliff (1991) relates, can only be raised if Marchandââ¬â¢s framework is followed. This is because the interaction of the information systems with the information management can lead to the making of better designs that can increase the number of customers. Managers, even if they have limited resources, if are knowledgeable about the organizational information, for example costs and risks, can achieve value addition as Amprimo (2008) relates. Limited resources may be a hindrance to an increased variety of customers and markets so it is important that managers invest efficiently. If the manager is able to handle the relevan t information, the business can expand through the consequent business strategies. The fourth and the last element of Marchandââ¬â¢s (2000) framework is linked a lot to the third one as it is the creation of new reality. The creation of new reality refers to the introduction of new products, new services, new technologies and new business ideas etc. According to Curley (2007), business value can be used by managers in order to create product differentiation that can lead to the creation of new businesses and services.
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