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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Two Mothers Are Better than One ?

I've always envied people with only two parents. They never have to feel sorry for their real mother because she is lonely, and they never have to feel they should care more about their stepmother because she is the one who has provided them with the necessities most of their lives. Since I have two mothers, I have known these feelings. I know what it's like trying to decide which mother I should care about more so that I could tell my friends the next time they asked. It really should be a clear-cut decision. My two mothers are so different in everything that I should be able to look at these differences and decide.

A major difference between the two is how responsible they are. My stepmother has always had a steady job. She enjoys going to work each day and knowing that at the end of the week she'll get a paycheck. With this paycheck she pays bills, buys groceries, and makes sure we all have clothes to wear. On the other hand, my mother doesn't particularly care for steady jobs. She is a singer and has worked three or four nights a week in nightclubs most of her life. With her money, she buys things like new guitars and amplifiers. Her idea of providing for us, as dad tells me, is to send hundred rupees a month, which is to be divided three ways. She only does this, however, when she's out of state.

Discipline is another major difference between my two mothers. My stepmother, who can be very strict at times, believes that children should obey their parents, do what they are told when they are told to do it, and respect their elders. My mother, who was never disciplined herself, has quite different views. She has always encouraged my brothers and me to rebel against rules, to ask why we had to do certain things, and to resent being made to do things we thought were stupid. (Going to bed at ten was stupid.) My father always told us that our mother only did this to cause trouble, but I'm not so sure about that. Maybe she did, but then again maybe she thought going to bed at ten was stupid, too!

Education is another big issue my stepmother is concerned about. She believes, like many people, that to be able to succeed in life, one has to have a good education. She always told us that she didn't want us to turn out like she did, a truck driver who had to be away from his family for weeks at a time. She used to punish me and my brothers for making C's on our report cards. Her theory is that a C is average, and her kids are not average. I wouldn't place any money on that. My mother believes that an education is good to have, but one doesn't have to have it to survive. She always says, "Look at me; I made it." I don't think, however, that I would call sleeping in the back of a station wagon "making it."

So here I have it. All their differences down on paper, and I can look at them objectively and decide which mother to love more, but it isn't that easy. I love my mother because she is just that, my natural mother. I respect her; I am obligated to her, and I want to make her proud of me. Then there is my stepmother, whom I respect very much; whom I feel obligated to; whom I want to make proud of me; and, most important of all, whom I have grown to love as much as any child could possibly love a parent. I guess I'll never really know which mother I love more. I don't see why I should have to love either more. I think I'll just love both of them in almost equal amounts.

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What is the Better Purchase: LCD TV or Plasma TV?

We live in a world of choice. In each moment, we are presented with the opportunity to choose from an array of options. The truth is, though, that we do not always make our choices consciously. Sometimes, instead of choosing what is best for our personal requirements, we fall in the trap of commercial tricks and purchase a product we do not need. When we want to make a choice based on facts and objective reasoning exclusively, we need to methodically analyze and compare each product based on the criteria that we value. In this essay, I will try to do just that when choosing between the two most popular types of TV’s – LCD and plasma. When entering the technical department of any supermarket or a high-tech store, many people ask themselves whether a LCD TV is better than a plasma TV or vice versa. To answer this question, we need to compare the two products based on several relevant technical criteria.

From a layman’s eye, LCD and plasma TVs may look alike; however, a keen eye will notice the difference between these sets. These differences permit customers to have a manifold of choices based on their particular requirements. A plasma display comprises of two glass panels packed in compartmentalized spaces, with many small plasma cells. Plasma cells are normally charged to a precise electrical voltage level. On the other hand, an LCD display is comprised of aqueous crystals that are normally preset between two panels of glass. Displays are further enhanced by utilizing electricity voltage on the LCD TV set panel.

As a result of such technical differences, a conclusion can be drawn that plasma TV sets are better in comparison to LCD TV sets when it comes to lighting. Also, many users have noted that plasma screens give an enhanced black color display as compared to LCD screens. In addition, a plasma TV affords better viewing angles.

Another crucial criterion to consider whenever we compare two products of everyday use is the pricing range. The price of any TV set depends on the display diameter and the stylistic configuration of the device. One may spend up to a million dollars on a TV set that was designed and custom made exclusively for their interior, and may even be inlaid with precious stones or a designer label. However, when we aim to compare two products based on their cost, we need to select two equally-sized, factory-made for mass consumption products of one or two popular brands, and compare their prices. An average plasma TV is cheaper than an LCD TV. This is largely due to the fact that a plasma TV costs less to assemble, thus translating into a lower price (Fields, Price Comparisons of Viewing). The price criterion once again speaks in favor of the plasma TV. At the same time, when taking the price factor into account, we have to understand its changeability. Since LCD TVs are a much more current technological invention than the plasma TV, there is a high possibility that the price of LCD products will decrease palpably in the near future, as technological progress offers us new alternatives.

At the same time, it is logical to assume that the LCD TV will also have some considerable advantages that help it successfully compete with the plasma TV on store shelves and in consumers’ households. One such important advantage of the LCD TV would be its lifespan. LCD TVs have a longer lifespan, as opposed to the plasma TV (Franz, TV Statistics). It also has superior screen resolution. This would be a decisive factor to choose LCD over plasma for those consumers who enjoy playing high-resolution video games on their TVs. However, this would not greatly matter to an average TV viewer, since a plasma TV perfectly copes with the other tasks of a regular TV set without any resolution imperfections for the viewer.

Ultimately, technology matters less when it comes to obtaining such a popular domestic device as a TV set. After all, it is about the reliability and safety of the device that every member of your family will use practically every day. Having compared the two most popular types of TV sets, I came to the conclusion that there should be no controversy between LCD TVs and plasma TVs. It is not about which TV set is more worth its cost, or which is better-selling, but about the purpose for which the TV set is being used. Notwithstanding the similarities between plasma and LCD TV sets, their understated differences might be crucial when taking into consideration the TV’s use, the environment, and location.

Buying the largest, most costly TV set that will occupy no less than a whole wall in your living room might not be one of the smartest decisions for a household with children and pets, while it would perfectly suit a hi-tech apartment of a young business person. Consumers should remember a couple of basic tips when choosing one type of TV over the other. For instance, if you want to fit a TV set into a huge space, then a plasma TV will do better due to the wider viewing angle and the lower price of big sizes. The debate about which TV set is better is far from over. In the end, the question lies more in the hands of the consumer. Next time you buy a plasma or LCD TV set, do not be surprised if your neighbor criticizes your choice.

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My Two Homes.

     There are two places that have had a profound impact in my life. One of them is New York City, where I live now, and the other is Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, where I was born and lived the first part of my life. When you compare them, they seem like dramatically different places, but they have some things in common, and I love them both.

     There are many reasons why New York seems like my home away from home. Both cities are striking and distinctive. For example, each has its own nickname. Everyone knows New York is “the Big Apple.” Quetzaltenango is known as “Xela” (pronounced shey-la), which is a lot easier to say! Second, both cities have a “Central Park” where people like to go and walk. Although Central Park in Xela is smaller, its tropical flowers and colonial architecture make it just as beautiful as New York’s. Furthermore, when you walk around Xela, you find many tourists and people from other countries, just like in New York. For me, this means conversations in Xela are just asinteresting as conversations in New York.

     Despite their similarities, these cities are different. Life in Xela is more colorful, and the pace of life is slower. For this reason, whenever I return to Xela, it is like an escape. When I arrive, the first thing I notice is the color. In New York, many people wear black to be stylish, but in Xela stylish clothing is the rainbow-colored clothing of the indigenous people. And because Xela is smaller, the beautiful green mountains outside the city are always visible. The second thing I notice is the pace of life. They say New York never sleeps, and it must be true, because I always see people walking and cars on the streets, even late at night. Unlike New York, my Guatemalan city definitely sleeps. A few families take a walk in the city’s Central Park, but by ten o’clock the streets are pretty deserted. In Xela people eat their breakfast at home, and most come home from work for a much more relaxed and longer lunch. In contrast, New Yorkersare often in such a hurry that they don’t even stop to eat. For breakfast they buy food on the street and eat it while they are walking or on the subway. At lunch they order food from work and eat at their desks.

     In conclusion, these are the two cities I love. For me, both are home, both are unique, and both are filled with interesting people. These places represent the best of both worlds. New York is more hurried and rushed when I need energy, and Xela gives me a slower pace when I need to relax. Together they keep me balanced.

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Attitude Is Everything.

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested. "Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life." I reflected on what Jerry said.

Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in the restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combinations. The robbers panicked and shot him.

Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I said. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead." Jerry lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

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An Embarrassing Incident.

     Where I grew up, the rules for family life are very strict. My parents taught me that I should respect grandparents more than anyone else because grandparents had lived the longest. They had more knowledge about life, and no matter what they said, even if it did not make sense, they were right. Hugging or kissing grandparents was disrespectful. Instead, I was told to greet them by kissing their hand. I thought that everyone lived and thought just as I did. I soon found out this is not true.

   

            One day, an American friend invited me to her birthday dinner. I was excited but at the same time nervous. I wanted her family to like me, and I wanted to use my best manners. Slowly, I walked up to the house and rang the bell. My friend came running out with a big smile, telling me she was happy that I came. Then she let me in and introduced me to her parents. They smiled and said hello. Later my friend said, “Come here. I want you to meet my grandpa.” I followed her into the living room where her grandfather was sitting. She introduced us, and he reached out his hand. He was going to shake hands, but I thought he expected me to kiss his hand, so I did. He pulled his hand away and looked at me in a strange way. Everyone else in the room looked at me, and my friend started laughing.

I was confused. I sat down and tried to figure out what had happened. Just then, a little boy ran to my friend’s grandfather and jumped on his lap. The little boy started to hug and kiss the grandfather. When I saw this, I got up, grabbed the little boy, and said, “NO.” I guess I said it loudly because the room became silent, and all eyes were on me.

   

  The next day at school my friend asked me why I kissed her grandfather’s hand and why I told the little boy to get away from his grandfather. I explained my customs to her, and she explained hers to me. I learned that good manners are not the same in different countries. Fortunately, my friend and I stayed very good friends.

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The Great Wall of China.

China is the largest country in Asia and the world’s most populous nation. It also has one of the
world’s oldest and continuous civilizations. The Chinese have occupied their vast territory for thousands of years and China boasts numerous achievements in a variety of disciplines. The country has produced many great thinkers and philosophers, and numerous artists and inventors from China have introduced creations that have changed perhaps billions of lives. Some of these creations include the compass, gunpowder, paper and printing, porcelain and silk. But perhaps the most well-known and recognized symbol of China is the Great Wall.

The Great Wall, or Chang Cheng in Chinese, is massive. It begins in the east at the Yellow Sea, Beijing, and continues west through numerous provinces. For thousands of miles, it winds like a snake through China’s varied terrain. Smaller walls extend from the main wall. According to conservative estimates, the Great Wall’s length is approximately 2,400 miles, its thickness ranges from 15-30 feet wide, and it reaches in height to about 25 feet. For many centuries, the Great Wall has been considered one of the world’s wonders.

Although it is often mistakenly thought of as a single wall, the Great Wall is a series of walls that were constructed, reconstructed and expanded over several centuries and, depending on the location, using different materials. The massive construction project was the idea of China’s first emperor, Shi Huangdi, who ended more than 250 years of regional fighting between several independent states, and united China. Once in control, Shi Huangdi wanted to maintain his power and position. The idea to create a massive wall along the northern border of the country was conceived by the emperor to bar assailants from kingdoms to the north of China. Construction of the Great Wall continued long after the reign of Shi Huangdi, particularly during the Han and the Ming dynasties. During these periods, features such as watch towers, gates and garrisons were added or enhanced and the Wall’s design was unified.

The Great Wall is of great significance as it reflects much of China’s extensive history. The wall helped define the empire and mark a boundary between the Chinese and foreigners. The great emperor, Shi Huangdi, wanted to keep the Chinese people together and at the same time isolate the foreigners, especially those to the north. The Great Wall survives today, more than 2,000 years after its initial construction. It attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world each day, being one of the most toured and significant monuments in the world. This has helped boost China’s economy through tourism and foreign exchange.

The Great Wall is undeniably one of humankind’s most prominent and enduring architectural feats. It is a testament to a people’s ability to plan, organize, create and work diligently together. The wall is a monument to the Chinese civilization, one that came at great costs and through countless sacrifices.

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Food from the Sea.

My father told me that we should always respect nature and learn where our food comes from. He said that food tastes better when you get it yourself and eat it in a natural place. To show me this was true, my father took me to the ocean, where we caught our own delicious crabs and ate them.

I will always remember the taste of the crabs we caught that day. The beach was quiet and still at six o’clock. The tide had just come in, so there were many crabs walking slowly on the white sand. We sat a few feet away from my father’s special crab traps. The traps were made of bamboo, and they looked like round cages, but one side had a small entrance for the crab to go in. There were some small, fragrant fish in the trap. The fishy smell made the crabs hungry, so they crawled into the traps. We watched the crabs walk into the traps, and I smelled the strong smell of the dark, oily fish. Overhead, we heard the sounds of seagulls and pelicans in the sky. I think the seagulls wanted to eat the fish, too. Once the traps were full, we took off our shoes and threw them over our shoulders so we could walk on the wet sand and feel the water pushing and pulling at the beach. Later, we built a fire and ate boiled crabs on the beach. We cracked their shells. The meat was white and pinkish and tender. It tasted sweet and a little salty. We did not want to stop eating crab. We sat on the sand surrounded by crab shells and watched the sun go down into the ocean.

From that day on, I knew my father was right. Food tastes best when it is something that you have caught or grown yourself. I have eaten crab many times since then, but it has never tasted as good as it did that day.

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