Blog Archive Friday Factoid Stanford GSBs LEED Certified Facilities

Blog Archive Friday Factoid Stanford GSB’s LEED Certified Facilities Thanks in part to a $105M gift from Nike founder and chairman Phil Knight (MBA ’62), the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) has constructed a new $350M campus in recent years. The 360,000-square-foot campus of the Knight Management Center, which opened in April 2011, expanded the school’s existing campus footprint by 100,000 square feet. The extended campus is intended to allow the use of a wider variety of teaching methods and to increase interaction among students and faculty, including those from other Stanford University schools. Forty-two small classrooms, 7 large classrooms, 276 seats in the auditorium, and 60 faculty offices were added. The Knight Management Center is a green, environmentally friendly building, boasting state-of-the-art technology. Each classroom has three screens and dormant cameras for computer presentations, as well as plenty of natural light (in contrast to many of the previous lecture halls, which were windowless). With an eye toward preserving green space, the 870-space parking lot was built underground. The school is employing sustainable practices with respect to site development and the conservative use of water and energy. In early 2012, the Knight Management Center was awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum ratingâ€"the highest level of LEED certification granted by the U.S. Green Building Councilâ€"in recognition of its minimal environmental impact. To learn more about the Knight Management Center and its official launch, check out these  slideshows and videos. For more information on the Stanford GSB or 15 other leading MBA programs, check out the  mbaMission Insider’s Guides. Share ThisTweet Friday Factoids Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business) Blog Archive Friday Factoid Stanford GSB’s LEED Certified Facilities Thanks in part to a $105M gift from Nike founder and chairman Phil Knight (MBA ’62), the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) has constructed a new $350M campus in recent years. The 360,000 square foot campus of the Knight Management Center, which opened in April 2011, expanded the school’s existing campus footprint by 100,000 square feet. The extended campus is intended to allow the use of a wider variety of teaching methods and to increase interaction among students and faculty, including those from other Stanford University schools. Forty-two small classrooms, 7 large classrooms, 276 seats in the auditorium and 60 faculty offices were added. The Knight Center is a green, environmentally friendly building, boasting state-of-the-art technology. Each classroom has three screens and dormant cameras for computer presentations, as well as plenty of natural light (in contrast to many of the previous lecture halls, which were windowless). With an eye toward preserving green space, the 870-space parking lot was built underground. The school is employing sustainable practices with respect to site development and the conservative use of water and energy, and in early 2012 was awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certificationâ€"the highest level of LEED certification granted by the U.S. Green Building Councilâ€"in recognition of the campus’s minimal environmental impact. To learn more about the Knight Center and the official launch, check out these slideshows and videos. For more information on the Stanford GSB or 15 other leading MBA programs, check out the mbaMission Insider’s Guides. Share ThisTweet Friday Factoids Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)

Westward Expansion Of The United States - 1017 Words

Westward expansion seemed perfectly natural to Americans in the mid-nineteenth century. Many settlers even believed that America, as a nation, was destined−by God himself− to expand westward. This ideology became known as the Manifest Destiny. Although many Americans thought it to be a kindly movement driven by pride, it continuously proved to be aggressive, racist, and imperialistic. Enthusiasm over territorial expansion began in 1803 when Napoleon decided to offer the United States the entire Louisiana Territory and later escalated with the issues of Texas and Oregon. In the 1820s, the United States offered, twice, to purchase Texas from the Mexican government. However, it was not until 1824 that Mexico enacted a colonization law offering cheap land and a four-year exemption from taxes to any American willing to move into Texas. By 1830, the number of Americans living in Texas was more than double the number of Mexicans there, hence why the Mexican government prohibited any further American immigration in the region. Nonetheless, Americans kept circulating into Texas anyway. From then, friction between American settlers and the Mexican government kept growing and resulted in sporadic fighting in Texas throughout 1835. American settlers proclaimed their independence from Mexico and, thanks to General Sam Houston, finally received it on April 21st 1836 after the defeat of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at the Battle of Jancito. American settlements were now spreadingShow MoreRelatedThe Westward Expansion Of The United States960 Words   |  4 PagesThe Westward expansion began for the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. For $15 million dollars, President Thomas Jefferson purchased from France 828,000 square miles, including most of 14 current states, thus doubling the size of America. Jefferson now had the land, but how to populate it was another story. On a three year expedition, Lewis and Clark were sent by Jefferson to explor e the lands to get a better understanding of the geography and resources of the West. During the 1830sRead MoreThe Westward Expansion Of The United States1144 Words   |  5 Pagesbranching and expansion.† That quote, once said by Stephen Jay Gould, can represent the Westward Expansion of the United States. In the early 1800s, the United States started trying to expand west. The U.S. acquired Florida, Texas, the Gadsden Territory, the Mexican Cession, the Oregon Territory, and the Louisiana Territory. All of those acquisitions helped evolve the United States into what it is today. Almost all of the land we own is from the Westward Expansion. Unfortunately, the United States were greedyRead MoreWestward Expansion Of The United States1477 Words   |  6 PagesThe United States began its life as a small nation consisting of only thirteen states. Over time the leaders of this county recognized that in order to prosper the nation would need to expand beyond the current set border s. Westward Expansion was the only solution, to adopt such a large endeavor meant that the population had to have a reason to migrate west. Expansion had appeal to the Southern land owners for the fact that the Missouri Compromise did not affect territories that were not part ofRead MoreThe United States Westward Expansion919 Words   |  4 Pagesculture. The United States grew drastically and new land became available over time. This surge in population created the Manifest Destiny, the belief of expansion from sea to sea. The United States’ westward expansion was a wicked, but vital component during the 1800s that allowed the nation to exercise its power and prosper economically at the price of unfair manipulation towards Native Americans as well as a cruel game of tug of war with the lives of slaves. In order to promote expansion, the federalRead MoreWestward Expansion Of The United States1054 Words   |  5 Pages Westward Expansion in the United States created controversy about the admission of new states into the union. The first provision of the Westward Expansion was the Compromise of 1850. This compromise was designed to settle disputes among the North and South states about slavery expansion. Senator Henry Clay proposed that California be admitted as a free slave in a trade-off for tougher fugitive slave laws for runaways. As a part of the compromise of 1950, Congress also passed the Fugitive LawRead MoreWestward Expansion Of The United States1060 Words   |  5 PagesWestward expansion changed into the preference of the US to govern the territories of western components of the United States that had been either unclaimed or occupied by using other international locations. It is pertinent to comprehend that the us history became inspired with the aid of England in diverse methods. Within the second 1/2 of 18th century, the railroad which that turned into invented in England introduced a main effect in the USA enlargement to the West. Railroads originated fromRead MoreThe Impact Of Westward Expansion On The United States1571 Words   |  7 Pagesopened the door to westward expansion. Thomas Jefferson purchased this extensive plot of land with the hopes of strengthening and expanding the Republic, unaware that it would have the opposite effect. Jefferson’s fateful decision to expand the United States nearly destroyed the Republic that Americans worked so hard to build. It triggered the rise of divisions amongst Americans. These small cracks continued to grow and tear at the seams of the nation. Although westward expansion between 1800 and 1848Read MoreWestward Expansion and the Effects on the United States Essay1050 Words   |  5 PagesRunning Head: WESTWARD EXPANSION Westward Expansion and the Effects On the United States October 3, 2007 Abstract The Louisiana Purchase was the largest land deal in our history. It doubled the size of the United States and gave us a strong face as an economic power. It brought immigrants from all over the world for the idea of owning land and making a living for themselves. We also had a second expansion with the Adams-Onis treaty in 1819 (Davidson, 2002, p.p. 246-247) where weRead MoreEssay On Manifest Destiny1551 Words   |  7 PagesManifest Destiny was a widely spread belief that settlers in the United States should expand across North America. It was the belief that fueled the westward expansion. The westward expansion led to many other events in and around the United States. Before Manifest Destiny and the westward expansion the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War took place which allowed America to declare independence. Manifest Destiny was a big influence on the evolution of transport and technology. Before weRead MoreManifest Destiny1555 Words   |  7 PagesThe Evolution Of Transportation Manifest Destiny was a widely spread belief that settlers in the United States should expand across North America. It was the belief that fueled the westward expansion. The westward expansion led to many other events in and around the United States. Before Manifest Destiny and the westward expansion the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War took place which allowed America to declare independence. Manifest Destiny was a big influence on the evolution of transport

Patterns of Paragraph Devt - 1169 Words

PATTERNS OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT 1) Narrative - An account of a sequence of events, usually in chronological order. Example : The barber was cutting our hair, and our eyes were closed--as they are so likely to be. . . . Deep in a world of our own, he heard, from far away, a voice saying goodbye. It was a customer of the shop, leaving. Goodbye, he said to the barbers. Goodbye, echoed the barbers. And without ever returning to consciousness, or opening our eyes, or thinking, we joined in. Goodbye, we said, before we could catch ourself. Then, all at once, the sadness of the occasion struck us, the awful dolor of bidding farewell to someone we had never seen. We have since wondered what he looked like, and whether it was really†¦show more content†¦It would be impossible for any parent reading these vagaries to picture what goes on in the schools’ classrooms. 5) Analogy - is a comparison of two different things that are alike in some way. So a paragraph by analogy would mean that you are writing multiple sentences that develop upon the ideas of what you are comparing. The easiest way for you to come up with the paragraph would be to make a list of all the different ways the subjects are alike. Make these into complete sentences and your paragraph will almost form itself. Example : I am to dancing what Roseanne is to singing and Donald Duck to motivational speeches. I am as graceful as a refrigerator falling down a flight of stairs. 6) Descriptive - paragraph describes how a person/thing looks, or feels. In descriptive paragraphs, you can describe people, places, objects, or events. The main purpose is to create an image in reader’s minds. In short, it is like painting with the words. Example: A Friendly Clown On one corner of my dresser sits a smiling toy clown on a tiny unicycle--a gift I received last Christmas from a close friend. The clowns short yellow hair, made of yarn, covers its ears but is parted above the eyes. The blue eyes are outlined in black with thin, dark lashes flowing from the brows. It has cherry-red cheeks, nose, and lips, and its broad grin disappears into the wide, white ruffleShow MoreRelatedArticle II: Declaration of Principles and State Policies16349 Words   |  66 PagesSECOND KIND The legislative and judicial acts of de facto government =VOID AB INITIO. Patterns of Government What superficially appears to be a bewildering variety of applications of constitutional democracy can be reduced to the following basic patterns: †¢Direct government – the people, organized as the electorate, are the preponderant power holder(Ancient Greek City-States) †¢Assembly government – name for the pattern which the parliament as the representation of the people is the preponderant power

Why Private Troubles Become Public Issues - 1645 Words

Sociological Imagination is the way we learn and expound on social problems in order to decipher how and why private troubles become public issues. Private issues are the problems faced at the individual, or micro, level, while public issues are seen at a macro level, affecting institutions or society. With sociological imagination, we can begin to understand how different social problems came about from the individual level. A close friend of mine, I will call her Emily, loved running track, singing, and spending time with her close friends. One night while she was in the car with her boyfriend, another driver was speeding and hit her car head on after the other driver lost control. She doesn’t remember too much from the night of the crash, but she remembers waking up almost a month later in an intensive care unit with part of her head shaved, tubes all over her body, and only one leg. She came to learn that she had gone through thirteen surgeries while she was in a coma, two of them were brain surgeries, most were abdominal, and another took her right leg just below the knee. Not only is she suffering major medical problems, but now Emily also suffers mental problems such as depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Emily is not running anymore, but often uses a wheelchair to get around because her prosthetic is painful for her to wear. Emily has trouble singing notes she could previously hit, and gave up on some of her choir goals ever since the major carShow MoreRelatedThe Sociological Imagination And Me Essay1343 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween personal troubles and public issues. Next, I will use my sociological imagination to reflect on my personal biography. I will take an issue, incident, or circumstance from my own experience and demonstrate how it could be understood as a product of social and historical forces. I will use Mills’ conception of personal troubles and public issues to explain my own biographical detail socially. Lastly, I will explain the interplay between personal troubles and public issues. The SociologicalRead MoreCoffee growers Essay928 Words   |  4 Pagesglobalization, will your own consumption habits change at all? Explain why you would change or not your consumption habits. I prefer not to drink coffee as a result my consumption will not change. 3. In what ways is the â€Å"coffee-go-round† an example of what Mills called â€Å"public issues† and â€Å"private troubles?† The public issues are coffee growers in poor rural area are not paid reasonably for their crops. The private troubles are coffee growers are trapped to sell only coca because of the competitiveRead Moreweb dubois1041 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferent cultures differ on social issues such as suicide? How does the psychological perspective view suicide? What is unique about the sociologist s perspective? On a social issue such as suicide, cultures differ because many people feel this is a personal problem whereas others feel that this can be a public issue. If a person commits suicide, it may have been as a result of his or her personal problems. In a larger society, this suicide is a public issue because the person who committed suicideRead MoreSociological Imagination Summary1307 Words   |  6 PagesWright Mills begins by describing the perilous situation of the American man during the 1950s. He describes they situation as one of internment and frailty. Mills sees men as restricted by the routines of their daily lives. They go to their jobs and become workers, they go home and are family men. The American men of the 1950s were in a state of powerlessness due to the effects of World War Two and the looming threat of nuclear warfare between the United States of America and the former Soviet UnionRead MoreAnalysis of the sociological imagination and its use in sociology.1483 Words   |  6 Pagesconsciousness for understanding social processes. It is a way for a person to look at their life as a result of their interaction with society. It can explain why a life is lived the way it is and all events, decisions, successes, and failures that have occurred. Further more it enables us to understand the relationship between private troubles and public issues. Only by understanding how society affects us as individuals can we ever hope to change society effectively. A classical approach to sociological imaginationRead MoreWhat Can We Do? Becoming Part Of The Solution1619 Words   |  7 Pagesmeaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals(Mills, 3). Sociological imagination helps individuals to contemplate their own troubles in a deeper level and view their daily routines in an entirely new perspective. Sociology imagination has also helped people to connect their personal troubles with societal issues. In the article, â€Å"What Can We Do? Becoming Part of the Solution.† by Allan G. Johnson, a well-known author, novelist, and sociologist, indicates that, â€Å"PrivilegeRead MoreMarriage Is A Social Institution1078 Words   |  5 PagesUnited States. This phenomenon as a sociological imagination shows the marriage and divorce now are not only concern a private matter, it starts to translate to a public issue so this essay starts with how marriage concern a social problem. 2nd paragraph: The background of the author the summary of this articles --the background of the author ‘Marriage as a public issue ’ is written by DR. Steven Nock. He is a professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia and works in Federal DepartmentRead MoreIs Employer Monitoring of Employee Social Media Justified? Essay702 Words   |  3 Pagesa mountain out of a molehill.   While employees unquestionably have a right to express themselves in private about any issue they choose, if that employee is expressing an opinion in a public forum about their employer then it immediately becomes an area of legitimate interest for that employer. The key distinction seems to be between public and private.   If an employee posts content in a private forum – for example their personal Facebook wall with security settings on – then it is not appropriateRead MoreHomelessness Case Study1683 Words   |  7 PagesCase Study This report is concerned with the connection between homelessness its historical framework and the governance of the pervasive ‘victim blaming’ ideologies and the social issues it brings to society. Structural issues create different risk levels among certain populations. (Heinz, 2005, p. 61) The homeless have been regarded historically as objects of empathy and disparagement in the media, political, and the economic domains. (Farrugia, 2011a) These sentiments are tied to how homelessRead MoreOf The Sociological Imagination In Georges Dubys Madame Bovary1380 Words   |  6 Pagesemployment and unemployment rates, they can become more aware that they are not the only one having this â€Å"personal problem†. This way it will help to understand what social problems lead to an unfortunate social outcome. If people paid more attention to the social problems, it would help people to take actions and strategize ways on how to improve their society. However, people are t oo focused on their private life which enables them to focus on the global issues. Mills explained if a person has sociological

A career in graphic arts Essay Example For Students

A career in graphic arts Essay A career in graphic design is perfect for a creative individual who has a sense of design. A graphic designer is one who creates ideas that are expressed in words and/or pictures, and generally solves problems of visual communication, says Paul Rand, a professional designer (23). Employment in this profession is projected to increase 29% by the year 2006, which is the highest of any career according to a study done by the American Institute of the Graphic Arts (3). A graphic designer may work in a variety of places including a large firm or corporation, a specific design agency, a magazine or newspaper, or even in his own home as a freelance designer. There are few specific requirements needed to be involved in graphic design. However, there are similar traits and qualities that most designers generally possess, including training, knowledge of specific elements, using criticism positively, and a keen eye for color and balance. The cost of being a graphic designer must also be factored in. Graphic design is a career that offers a creative outlet but can be quite stressful, which is why designers must be cooperative and work well with others. A dexterous designer knows how to use criticism positively. Oftentimes criticism is what makes a piece of art better. Depending on the project, job duties may include designing and preparing layouts, sketching out ideas, arranging the materials needed, or putting together the final image. Since there may be different requirements for each client, a graphic designer (on average) should have the ability to be spontaneous and creative and work well under pressure and stressful in situations. DO NOT be a designer if you stress out easily! says Steve Jones (interview). In many cases a designer has deadlines which may not be negotiated with his clients, and therefore he must work productively. There is also the downside of creating an image that is not accepted by the client; the designer must then discuss what is wrong with it and perhaps start over. Any job becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or doing it better. (Borenstein) Certain clients leave the project completely open-ended and up to the designer, while others have a specific idea in mind. It is important for the designer to remember that he is creating a piece of work for someone elses liking, and it may not be exactly what he would do on his own time. Most clients, however, choose their designers by looking at their portfolios or recognizing other pieces they have created. A client usually hires someone with a style he prefers. Other qualities that a designer must have include the ability to make original designs, knowledge of composition, and attention to detail. Social skills play a major role in the profession. While creating a design may be done independently, the final piece is usually presented by the designer to someone else. It is not likely that advanced math will be used, but basic skills such as adding and subtracting quickly and accurately are necessary. There is also not a lot of physical activity essential to the artist. At the end of a project, your brain will feel like it just ran a marathon. (Anderson) The amount of time it takes to create a piece of graphic art depends on the individual. If he is given a deadline, for instance, the designer will use his time wisely and efficiently to finish the project. A designer often works from his home, which allows them to choose their own hours. An experienced artist is aware of their personal style of creating and finishing a project. Some work well in an office setting, while others work more efficiently at night when it is quiet. .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 , .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 .postImageUrl , .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 , .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28:hover , .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28:visited , .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28:active { border:0!important; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28:active , .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28 .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud986d1dbb9d3555d0cb5f243fdbdbf28:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Beowulf And King Arthur Essay Due to the variations in styles and individuals, a graphic designer generally spends around 25-50 hours a week working on projects. Preparing to be a professional graphic designer can vary depending on how much experience is desired by the individual. On average, the minimum amount of education is between two and four years of training in either fine art or design. Many choose to attend a general university to start with and often transfer to a specific art or design school. High school students are not expected to take classes specifically in graphic design, but advanced art classes will help them in the future. A basic four-year high school curriculum (English, math, science, and history) is all that is expected to have been taken by a high school student; however, college preparatory classes are beneficial. Since the demand for designers is quickly increasing, finding a job after advanced training is quite simple. Employers will look for those with a strong background, experience, and a large portfolio. A designer may have a natural ability to create an extraordinary piece of design; in this case a lot of training is not necessary. For this reason, students who wish to find work as soon as possible should look into attending an art school after they graduate from high school. Graphic design requires one to have knowledge and experience in working with images and type. Typography is the term used to describe the use of words and type to convey a message (Perfect). One who has an intelligent sense of design is familiar with how to incorporate color with type and image to create an emphasis where needed. It is important to be able to catch on to things quickly. A strong vocabulary will be to the designers advantage, because oftentimes words are used as the main focus; any misspellings would not be the clients fault. When looking at advertisements in magazines, for example, the ones that catch the eye have a good balance of image and type; there is not too much of one or the other. Computers are quickly becoming the most popular tool for combining image and type. The materials needed in graphic design can be quite expensive, but the final product will be worth it. As any artist knows, the cost of supplies adds up fast. The image(s) can either be taken from a photograph, a sketch, a painting, or any other type of art. There is also the need for access to a computer, scanner, and printer. Computer programs that are specifically designed for the graphic arts can be quite costly, such as Photoshop (about $600). In order to produce a nice piece of work, these materials are necessary. Other computer programs include Quark, Adobe Illustrator, and Corel Draw. In order to be a leading designer in the future, individuals in the profession must have the ability to come up with original and unique ideas. One who enjoys preparing layouts for school projects or arranging art into a final composition would excel in the graphic design field. Not anyone can be a graphic designer; only those who accept responsibility and have a natural ability in design will enjoy this career. Modern-day designers will be the leaders of the next millennium and will produce the designs that will be seen for years to come. The opportunities as a graphic artist are endless.Bibliography:paul rand american institute of the graphic arts

OCD Disease Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis, Abnormal Psychology

OCD Disease It was 9:30 a.m., and Nancy, a 36-year-old attorney, had arrived late for work again. Nancy knew she needed to catch up on her legal assignments, but a familiar worry nagged at her. No matter how hard she tried, Nancy could not dislodge the thought that she had left a pot burning on the stove. The image of her home engulfed in flames was so vivid she could almost smell the smoke. Nancy tried to shut the thought out of her mind, reassuring herself that she had turned the gas jet off. But even remembering her hand touching the cool stove burner-a precaution she took whenever she left the house-still left her wondering whether she had checked carefully enough. The pot and stove were not all that had been on Nancy's mind that morning. For Nancy, leaving the house entailed a time-consuming routine designed to ensure that no major or minor disaster-such as a fire, burglary, or household flood-would strike while she was away. Like a pilot preparing for take-off, she would spend more than an hour checking and rechecking that all appliances were turned off, all water faucets shut, all windows closed, and the doors to the house securely locked. Except for necessities such as work, Nancy avoided going out because it meant performing this arduous routine. But even these measures were not enough to keep her from worrying. A few weeks earlier, Nancy had hit on the idea of documenting that everything was safe before she left home. Now, sitting at her desk, she pulled a completed checklist from her purse and reviewed it to see if the "stove and oven" item and been marked off. At first, she felt relieved to see that it was. But then a new thought struck: What if this wasn't today's checklist? Panic overtook reason. Nancy dialed the local fire department and asked that truck be sent to investigate a fire at her house. (Goodman, 1994, pp 103, 104) The first modern description of OCD was provided in 1838 by Jean-Etienne Dominique Esquirol, a French psychiatrist. Esquirol called the disorder the folie de doute, or doubting madness, and suspected it was rooted in a physical problem in the brain. During much of the 1900's, psychoanalytic theories dominated the study of OCD. Many psychoanalytic theorists believed OCD originated from conflicts early in a child's development over such issues as toilet training. (Goldman, 1994, p.104) Researchers theorize that an antibody may actually cause OCD. The antibody called D8/17, is produced to fight streptococcus bacterium that causes rheumatic fever. However D8/17 may attack healthy cells in the brain's basal ganglia region, which helps control basic movement sequences, such as walking or eating. (Klobuchar, 1998, p.266) The obsessions or compulsions must cause marked distress, be time consuming (take more than 1 hour per day), or significantly interfere with the individual's normal routine, occupational functioning, or usual social activities or relationships with others. Obsessions or compulsions can displace useful and satisfying behavior and can be highly disruptive to overall functioning. Because obsessive intrusions can be distracting, they frequently result in inefficient performance of cognitive tasks that require concentration, such as reading or computation. In addition, many individuals avoid objects or situations that provoke obsessions or compulsions. Such avoidance can become extensive and can severely restrict general functioning. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1994). Symptoms of OCD include repetitive, ritualized behavior, such as counting, hoarding objects, or handwashing; obsessive fear of threats, such as germs; or a fear of committing violent acts. (Klobuchar 266) The American Psychiatric Association classifies OCD as an anxiety disorder. People with OCD suffer from persistent and disturbing thoughts, images, or impulses, called obsessions. They relieve the anxiety caused by their obsessions through compulsions-repeated behaviors that they feel driven to perform. (Goodman, 1994, p.104) The DSM-IV defines obsessions as recurrent thoughts, images, or impulses that are anxiety-provoking and are perceived as intrusive or senseless. (Gragg & Francis, 1996, p.1) The intrusive and inappropriate quality of the obsessions has been referred to as "ego-dystonic." This refers to the individual's sense that the content of the obsession is alien, not within his or her own control, and not the kind of thought that he or she would expect to have. However, the individual is able to recognize that the obsessions are the product of his or her own mind and are not imposed form without (as in thought insertion). (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1994). Obsessions typically fall within seven major categories. i.e. Contamination obsessions, which typically involve excessive concerns about germs, disease, and cleanliness.

How to Join Your High School’s Student Council

How to Join Your High School’s Student Council SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Thinking about joining student council? You should be! It's a great way to make friends and gain leadership experience, especially if your interested in politics. However, it can alsorequire a significant time commitment. What is student council and what duties will you have as a member? How do you join? Should you join? I'll answer these questions and more below! What Is Student Council? Student Council, sometimes called Student Government, is the elected governing body at your high school. The group is composed entirely of students; often they have a faculty adviser. Typically (though this may vary slightly by high school/region), each grade level has itsown grade-level council (i.e. freshman student council, sophomore student council,junior student council, and senior student council). Usually, each grade-level council has their own faculty adviser.The grade-level councils typically plan and execute grade level specific programs (such as creatinga class t-shirt, organizing a class fundraiser, planning the class float for the Homecoming parade, etc.). Additionally, there is usually a school-wide student governmentthatplans and executes programs for the entire school (such as Homecoming Week or a school-wide fundraiser). The school-wide council typically has itsown faculty adviser but still gets assistance with itsevents from the grade-level councils. Think of the individual grades as individual states with their own governments, but they all fall under one country (school) and one federal government (the school-wide student council).I’ve created the chart below as a visual reference of this hierarchy. Additionally, I’ve listed the typical positions available on each council. What Do Student Council Members Do? In this section, I’ll discuss the general responsibilities of all members. I'll then go on to discuss the duties of specific officers (President vs. Secretary, etc.). Duties for All Members All student government membersare responsible for attending meetings (usually weekly, though the specifics will vary from school to school). If you’re on a grade-level council, you’ll likely have meetings both with your grade-level council and the school-wide council. These weekly meetings include all members of the council as well as the faculty adviser. At these weekly meetings, members brainstorm events they'd like to plan and divvy up the tasks.Occasionally (typically once or twice each school year), the grade-level student councils will hold an open meeting to allow their classmates to come and voice their concerns or suggest ideas. As I said above, members of the grade-level councils are responsible for planning and executing grade-level specific programs(such as creatinga class t-shirtororganizingJunior Prom).Members of the school-wide council plan and execute programs for the entire school (such as Homecoming Week or a school-wide fundraiser). In addition, members of grade-specific councils are responsible for assisting the school-wide council in planning and running major school-wide events such as the Homecoming parade, Homecoming dance, and pep rallies. Typically, senior student governmentmembers have an obligation aftergraduating from high school:planning your high school reunions. What Are the Position Specific Duties? I’ll go down the hierarchy. The duties of each position remain the same whether it’s for the freshman council or school-wide council. As I said above, every member is responsible for attending meetings and helping make school events happen. The duties listed below are the additionalduties for each position. President:Responsible for planning and running meetings (i.e. creating meeting itineraries, facilitating discussions), delegating tasks (i.e. deciding who on the council will be in charge of finding someone to design the class t-shirt, who will be responsible for finding a company to print the t-shirt), and for holding people accountable (i.e. making sure people complete their assigned tasks). 1st / 2nd Vice President:Responsible for assisting the president (i.e. running meetings in their absence, making sure people are completing assigned tasks, etc.) Secretary:Responsible for taking notes at all meetings and emailing those notes to all council members. Treasurer:Responsible for budgeting and managing money (i.e. collecting money when selling tickets for Homecoming, depositing that money into the proper account, keeping records). HowCan You Join Student Council? To be in student government, you need to be elected.Elections for freshman student council typically happen at the beginning of the school year, in the fall.Elections for sophomore, junior, senior, and school-wide student councils typically happen near the end of the school year before summer vacation.You usually have to sign up to run. Make sure to talk to the front office at your school and askhow to sign up to run for student government. If you’re trying to run for a position for the first time (i.e. you’ve never held a position on student council at your high school before, whether as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior), I recommend first trying to run for what are considered smaller positions:treasurer or secretary.There is usually less competition for these positions, which will make it more likely that you’ll be elected.Additionally, while these positions are considered smaller, you have the same responsibility as the president or VP,to help plan and execute great events. If you hope to be class president someday, you can prove yourself in a smaller position and then run for bigger positions in future elections.I started as my freshman treasurer, then became sophomore VP, then junior class president, and I becameStudent Government President my senior year.No matter what position you run for, how you campaign is important. Youonly need onetip to win your campaign... The Most Important Campaign Tip:Make Sure People Know (and Trust) You! Plain and simple, you will not win your campaign if only tenpeople know who you are.You will also likely not win if your entire grade knows you, but onlyas the person failing all of your classes or the person who doesn’t take anything seriously (aka class clown).To win the campaign, you need to make sure people know you and trust you. How do you get people to know you?If your school allows it, make posters, stickers, pencils, etc. with your name on it.The size of the posters doesn’t matter, butthe quantity does.It’s better to print 50 posters on printer paper than to make 10 on fancyposterboard.You want people to see your name so that they can talk to their friends about you andtry to figure out who you are before election day. Next, start to develop your campaign platform or main focus. Why do you want to be on student council?Do you want to improve school dances? Do you want to have a wider variety of school lunch options? Create a class field trip? Start a fundraiser? Having a focused platform will help you seem trustworthy and will help you stay motivated. Now you have to spread your message.During your lunch period, you should not be sitting down; instead, walk around the cafeteriaorcampus. Introduce yourself! Hand out pencils and stickers.Talking to people is your best weapon.Tell them about yourself and why you want to be part of student government. Ask them what events they’d like to see planned this year or what ideas they have. However, you don't want to annoy other students (if you do, you definitely won't get elected), so try to cap yourself at 2-3 minutes of chatting, and then move on to another group. How do you get people to trust you?This is amore difficult task. Talking to people and asking about their ideas will help build some trust.To continue to build trust, you need to show your competence in the classroom.Make sure you’re known as the person who does all of their homework, gets good grades, engages in class discussions, etc.Don’t be known as the person who is always late to classor on their cell phone. How to Ace Your Campaign Speech Some schools allowcampaign speeches (mine didn't!). Speeches provide you with another opportunity to show that you're trustworthy. Here are my bullet points for a good campaign speech: Introduce yourself (It may seem obvious, but it will helpstudentswho may not know you). â€Å"Hi, I’m John Doe, and I’m running for sophomore class secretary.† Say why you want to be on student counciland why you’re qualified. Your qualifications will bea combination of personal characteristics and past experiences and successes. â€Å"I'm an excellent note-taker. I served as drama club secretary.† State your campaign platform or main focus. â€Å"I want to plan a class trip to Disney.† Explainhow you plan to accomplish your goals. â€Å"I will raise the money for the class trip by hosting a school-wide hot dog eating contest.† End with your name(again,it'll helpstudentswho may not know you). â€Å"Remember, vote for John Doeforsophomore class secretary.† These should be the main points you hit, but also try to inject some humor into your speech to make it more entertaining.Your speech should NOT be too long (I’d recommend 2-3 minutes maximum).Make it brief or you’ll lose your audience. What Are the Benefits of Joining Student Council? By joining the student government, you’re able to influence your high school.You can start new events and fundraisers.For example, as student government president, I started a donation drive to collect used prom dresses for a non-profit called Becca’sCloset.If there are things that bother you about your school thatyou'd like to improve, student council gives you an opportunity to do so.If you hated the Homecoming dance last year, you can plan a better event.Instead of having the Homecoming dance in your gym, you can move it to a hotel ballroom. If you dislike school lunches, you can try to change the menu. Student governmentalso gives you agreat leadership experience to discuss on your college application.Colleges like to see leadership experience and involvement on your resume.It shows that you can get involved in your school and improve things, which makes colleges think that hopefully you would do the same at their school. Be aware that there are potential drawbacks to joining student council.You might get blamed or criticized if people don’t enjoy your events.Nothing is worse than the class t-shirt. Someone is always unhappy and doesn’t like the design. People get this upset, SERIOUSLY. Should You Join Student Council? If you’re truly interested in planning school events and organizing fundraisers, then YES!If you’re just looking for another activity on your resume, then NO!Colleges aren’t looking for students with a laundry list of activities on their resume.Colleges are looking for students who do one thing and who do it VERY well.For more on this, read our article, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, by a Harvard Alum. If you love the idea of improving your school, then make student council your main extracurricular.Don’t be a mediocre student governmentmember! To be an effective member of student council, make sure you have the time to commit to it. You'll want to have at least fivehours per week to dedicate to student council. Plan ononehour for meetings and fourhours for event planning or executing events. Be on time to meetings and events. Show up to meetings with ideas for events. Take charge of event planning. Try to plan the best events your school has ever had.Plan new amazing fundraisers!Try to make real positive changes at your school! What’s Next? Interested in learning about other great extracurricular opportunities? Learn more about job shadowing, community service, and volunteer abroad programs. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: