Smoking has become very common and fashionable, especially among young boys.

Smoking has become very common and fashionable, especially among young boys. This habit usually begins at school when boys try to experiment with every new thing that they can lay their hands on.

Despite the warnings given by doctors about the ill-effects of smoking, people continue to smoke. Smokers are addicted to it, and even if they want to, they cannot refrain from picking up a cigar or cigarette and puffing away. Some youngsters smoke for the sake of society and some feel that would make them appear liberated and broadminded.

In the beginning, a teenager may take a few puffs from his friend's cigarette; then comes a time when it becomes an indispensable part of his life. Several puffs lead to the formation of a habit. Soon smoking begins to affect the health of the smoker. He becomes a chain-smoker. This smoke is toxic and the nicotine in the cigarette is known to cause cancer. It is ironic that despite the fact that every smoker is aware of the ill effects of smoking, he does not give it up.

Tobacco companies are doing very well all over the world. Every packet of cigars or cigarettes has a warning inscribed in it: cigarette smoking is injurious to health." Yet the smoker never reads this warning and even if he reads it he never pays heed to it.

The government raises the price of tobacco every year. This is usually done to discourage people from smoking. Yet smokers continue to be slaves of this habit and often spend a substantial part of their earnings on cigarettes. Cigarette advertisements lure people into smoking and most active smokers cause a great deal of harm to passive smokers as well. Smokers force the members of their family to bear the ill effects of the smoke that they exhale. Smoking can be stopped by a strong will power and every person has the capacity to give it up once he sets his mind at doing so.

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Maybe Not a Professional Athlete, but Still a Success

At this moment, somewhere in the world a young boy is dreaming about becoming a famous soccer player. He has posters of famous soccer stars in his room, and every day he goes out to practice with his friends. He even cuts his hair in the same style as his favorite player. Thousands of young people feel the same as this boy. Only a few children actually become professional athletes, but all of them will learn valuable skills while they pursue their dream. The factors that determine, if an individual can have a successful career in professional sports include physical ability, mental clarity, and the ability to work well with others.

              To become a professional athlete, a person must stay healthy and physically strong. A soccer star should be able to run faster and farther than most other athletes. A basketball player has to be able to fake, block, and shoot while other powerful players are trying to stop him. Finally, to make a career of sports, the player must be able to avoid injuries. Many young athletes have to quit because they have sports injuries from playing year after year. So a powerful, agile, and resilient body is essential.

             Another factor that contributes to a successful career in sports is a strong mind. An athlete must be able to manage stress and focus on the game. A tennis player might feel a lot of stress, which could interfere with her ability to concentrate. She might hit the ball out of bounds. A crowd of people yelling at a baseball pitcher might make him throw balls instead of strikes. To succeed, an athlete must be able to play under this kind of pressure. In addition, an athlete must be able to make quick, strategic decisions. Making the right decision to pass or shoot, for example, is extremely important, especially in team sports.

 Finally, an athlete must be able to cooperate with his team members. So even though he might want to keep the ball and make all the shots, he must focus on passing the ball to the player who has the best chance of scoring. He must follow and trust his coach’s strategies for the team, even if it means he will not score the winning shot. He must understand his teammates’ abilities and know who is the fastest player and who is the most accurate. He cannot think only about himself if he wants his team to win.

In conclusion, the three contributing factors to a successful career in athletics are physical ability, mental clarity, and the ability to work well with others. Not all children will become professional athletes, but these skills will be valuable to them later in their lives. Staying healthy will help them grow and live longer lives. Developing a strong mind will help them do well in school and in careers. And if they learn to work well with others, they will get along well with colleagues and friends.

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Why Medicine?

My earliest impression of medicine occurred when my mother repeatedly required the assistance of physicians in dealing with her chronic migraine headaches. Her doctors were always there for her, day or night. The respect that my parents bestowed on doctors, and the doctors' ability to ease suffering, sparked a desire to one day become a physician myself. This was an ambitious goal for someone coming from a family in which no one had obtained a professional degree. However, my traditional family-oriented culture, emphasizing doing good for others, contributed to this decision to pursue a career in the medical field. Furthermore, the American individualistic spirit gave me the confidence and opportunity to undertake a challenging medical career.

I also had the chance to gain some firsthand experience in the medical profession when I volunteered for over a year in the emergency room of a regional hospital. From my volunteer experience, I learned the importance of organization and effective communication skills, and I was exposed to the diversity that exists in my community. It has also demonstrated to me why the American health-care system is the best in the world; I saw some knowledgeable minds using some very sophisticated equipment. But I also saw many ways it can be improved. For example, uninsured homeless and immigrant people would often come in, complaining of problems they had been having for a long time. Although we would treat these people as best we could, a health-care system that intervenes in such sicknesses earlier would have minimized costs associated with treating diseases in their later stages.

As a doctor, I hope to participate in these changes in order to benefit more people than are currently being served. Doctors should be able to serve people of all different races, ages, backgrounds, and cultures. I intend to use my skills and unique experiences to achieve this vision of what I think a doctor should be.

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Testing in the 21st Century

Before the invention of computers and the Internet, the average classroom was similar to the world outside. People worked at desks, got information from books, and wrote with pencils. However, today the outside world is very different. People can get information anytime and anywhere. They use this information in their work and daily lives. At the same time, most schools don’t allow students to use this tool when they are taking tests. This policy needs to change. Clearly, if schools want to prepare students for the future, they need to allow college students to use the Internet when they are taking tests.

             Students should have Internet access while they are taking tests because the Internet is the most important tool in the modern world. Like other tools, students need to learn to use the Internet if they want to be successful. For example, an accountant who knows how to get information about tax laws will save clients’ money. A doctor who can get correct information about new medicines can help her patients. In addition, information changes quickly. For example, new scientific information replaces old information every day. No human can learn about or remember all the changes, so people are better off if they can look up the newest information. Finally, people are using more information now than in the past. Take today’s global economy. Business students need to learn about different markets and products, and they need to know where to get the best information. Having experience using the Internet to get the right information is more helpful than studying textbooks with information that may not be true anymore.

Old-fashioned people say students need to study facts and information and then use their memories to take tests. They say being able to memorize is important. They have a point. Memorizing is useful for some things like poetry, passwords, and people’s names. However, it is not realistic to think that memorizing is the main skill for life outside of school. Students will be more qualified if they learn how to use the Internet to get useful new and correct information. Instead, schools can change their tests so that new ways of getting information are part of the test. 

     In conclusion, the Internet is the most important tool for human beings in the world today. Schools need to stop being afraid of it. Being able to go online during tests is a better way to help college students prepare for the real world.

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