Expression of Motivation to Become a Physician Assistant Personal Statement

Expression of Motivation to Become a Physician Assistant - Personal Statement Example First, whilst undertaking my undergraduate degree in Science and Biology from the Azad University of Tehran that is located in Iran, I was able to gain background knowledge about human health and ways through which the health of an individual can be improved or maintained in a desirable state. Secondly, in my pursuit to gain a deeper understanding and knowledge, and even make advancement in my career I undertook a postgraduate degree majoring in health administration. Through this postgraduate degree, I gained knowledge on leadership, management, and administration skills that are applicable in public health systems, and health care facilities. Additionally, I trained as a Pharmacy Technician at the Boston Reed College, in the year 2009 and in the period of 2004 to 2007, I completed 60 credits towards an associate degree in Nursing at the Glendale Community College. From my educational background, it is evident that I have a deep desire and I am highly motivated to advance in my medi cal career which includes becoming a PA. In regards to work experience, I have had the opportunity of working in the healthcare industry for the past eight years. For instance, I have been an intern at the Northridge Hospital medical center for the past year and as an intern, I was able to obtain practical knowledge and further learn routine practices of PA. I worked under the supervision of a safety officer to ensure that all joint commission guidelines for the physical environment of care at the hospitals remain compliant. I was also charged with the duty of ensuring safety and facility quality controls comply with local, federal, state regulations and further provided consultations. Prior to my internship at the Northridge hospital, I worked at the cardiologist office for seven years as a medical assistant where I interacted with patients and PAs, thereby becoming familiar with the roles of a PA.

EMR feasability Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

EMR feasability - Article Example It is feasible to implement Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in hospitals that plan strategically to accomplish the inaugural state requirements of a meaningful use. EMR is an essential and exciting step towards the right direction. Currently in this rural area, there are no certified products of EMR in the market; however, the bodies responsible for certification are already planning to do so. This certification process and technological interoperability within the healthcare facilities have been awarded significant thought and attention by government officials and healthcare leaders. The feasibility of implementing EMR is limited with time; however, the process of implementation is very realistic and feasible. This will bring major changes in the healthcare industry; therefore the implementation process should be given top priority due to its feasibility. The paper has ascertained that creation of inter-related health systems, rather than stay alone silos of rural health care syste ms is a realistic opportunity to implement an EMR medical offices (Jones, 2008). The implementation of EMR is beneficial in the following ways; EMR improves greatly the quality of care through keeping up to date patient records and enhancing their accessibility; EMR allows easy tracking of patients by clinic staff who need follow up care; EMR allows physicians to find comprehensive patient medical records from the past; EMR improves the ability of clinicians to help the patients in managing the treatment of most complex diseases; and it also allows researchers and clinicians to analyze long term trends and patient data. On the other hand, implementation of the EMR has a lot of challenges some of which are: need for training data clerks in data entry and management which can be expensive to the implementer; setting up a system of information technology can be much expensive on the part of the implementer;

Clinical Effect of LANAP in Treatment of Periodontal Pockets

Clinical Effect of LANAP in Treatment of Periodontal Pockets Aim: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical effects of LANAP as an adjunctive to non-surgical periodontal therapy in the treatment of moderate periodontal pockets. Materials and methods: A total of 38 patients (22 males, 16 females; mean age 36 ±10.1 years) diagnosed with generalized chronic periodontitis were included in this randomized, single –blind clinical study. All the sites were divided into 2 groups: test group (n = 469), treated with laser along with SRP and control group (n=481), treated with SRP alone. Data collected at baseline and after 6 weeks and 24 weeks included sulcus bleeding index (SBI), plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Changes in PD and CAL were analyzed separately for moderate (4-6mm) and deep (≠¥7 mm) pockets. Results: The results obtained in both the groups showed that API and BOP after 6 weeks and 24 weeks was superior to the baseline (PË‚0.0001). At 24 weeks pot-operatively, a significant (PË‚0.0001) improvement was seen in moderate and deep PD and CAL in both the groups. In between the groups, after 24 weeks, test group showed significant gain in CAL in moderate pockets (PË‚0.0001) and decreased PD in deep periodontal pockets. (PË‚0.0017) Conclusion: The present study indicates that, LANAP using Nd:YAG laser (1064nm) with SRP as an effective non surgical periodontal therapy in the treatment of moderate periodontal pockets. Key words: chronic periodontitis, clinical attachment level, Lasers, non-surgical periodontal therapy, pocket depth. Introduction The primary goal of periodontal therapy is to control periodontal infection by the removal of supragingival and subgingival biofilms and smear layer, which contains bacteria, bacterial endotoxins and contaminated root cementum.1-2 Removal of these pathologic substances ensures biologic compatibility between the diseased periodontal radicular surface and new connective tissue attachment (CTA).3 Traditional approaches like non – surgical and surgical periodontal methods using both hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers have been carried out for several years with great success. Laser therapy has been proposed as an alternative or adjunctive treatment to conventional periodontal therapy.4 Maiman in 1960 developed the first laser prototype and later by Goldman et al (1964), Stern RH and Sognnaes RF ( 1972) reported the effect of laser on dental tissue and on enamel and dentin.5 Myers and Myers (1989) suggested that the Nd:YAG laser could be used for oral soft tissue surgery. Various types of LASERS like CO2, diode lasers (gallium-aluminum-arsenide and indium- gallium-arsenide), neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG), and erbium: Yttrium – aluminum-garnet (Er: YAG) with varying wavelengths (635 to10,600 nm) have different levels of tissue penetration depending on reflection, scatter, and absorption.6 Low level laser therapy (LLLT) using diode laser can facili tate collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, and growth factor release, which eventually accelerate wound healing.7 Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) was introduced by Dr. Robert H. Gregg and Delwin McCarthy in 1989. Initial reports suggest that LANAP is associated with cementum mediated new connective tissue attachment (CTA) and apparent periodontal regeneration of diseased root surfaces in humans.8 When laser irradiation is delivered cautiously, the regenerative potential of laser is high, and, undoubtedly, new fibroblastic activity in the connective tissue promotes new connective tissue attachment.9 The indications for LANAP are the same as for standard periodontal therapy that includes periodontal pocket depth (PD) ≠¥ 4mm, radiographic evidence of bone loss, and positive laboratory test for presence of putative periodontal pathogens. The results of recent research suggest that a Free- Running, Pulsed Nd:YAG laser (PerioLase ® MVP-7 laser, Millennium Dental Technologies) provides a viable alternative to traditional periodontal surgery. Properly applied PerioLase MVP-7 laser has been shown to produce less bleeding, swelling, discomfort and periodontal regeneration.10 The use of lasers in periodontics is rapidly increasing. Despite enormous clinical research and a plethora of scientific literature, controversy exists to date among clinicians regarding the application of lasers in the treatment of periodontal disease. There is limited evidence on the clinical efficacy of LANAP over conventional surgical or non surgical periodontal and periimplant therapies. Consequently, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical effects of LANAP therapy using 1064-nm of Nd: YAG laser with SRP versus the effect of SRP alone in the treatment of moderate to deep periodontal pockets. Material and methods: A total of 38 patients (22 male and 16 females) with mean age of 36 ±10.1 and diagnosed with generalized chronic periodontitis attending to the department of periodontics, sibar institute of dental sciences, Guntur, India, were included in the study. A randomized split mouth method was carried out in all the patients with two quadrants as test group (TG) treated with LANAP along with SRP and other two quadrants as control group (CG) treated with SRP alone. Teeth with PD and CAL ≠¥4mm on at least one from the six surfaces were included into the study. Patients were selected according to the following inclusion criteria; History of no periodontal treatment in the last 12months, no use of antibiotics within the previous 6 months, no systemic disease that influence the periodontal therapy, no smoking or alcohol and no pregnancy and lactation. Exclusion criteria are teeth with grade III mobility (11) and patients using removable or fixed partial dentures. The study protocol has bee n approved by institutional ethical committee and informed written consent from all the recruited subjects was taken before start of the study. Before the start of the treatment, the data of all enrolled patients including periodontal parameters like plaque index (PI),(12) bleeding on probing, (BOP) (13) pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded at baseline, 6 weeks and 24 weeks post-operatively. Full mouth CAL and PD was measured at all the six surfaces of each tooth using UNC-15 periodontal probe. At each interval all the clinical parameters were recorded and maintained by single examiner (TP), who was unaware of the study design. All the patients received complete supragingival scaling with an ultrasonic device in two appointments at one week interval by the examiner (TP). Oral hygiene instructions were given at every appointment and followed by use of 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash as directed twice daily for two weeks. Patients were recalled after three weeks and randomization was carried out using slip method with each quadrant is coded with a number, subsequently resulting in two quadrants as test group and other two quadrants as control group. To overcome the selection bias, randomization was performed by independent instructor, who did not participate in the study. LANAP protocol was followed along with SRP for the test quadrants, whereas SRP alone was done for the remaining two quadrants. Under local anesthesia, first application of laser is performed using Nd:YAG laser (1064nm) at power setting of 3.0 watt, 150-us pulse duration, and 20Hz (14) into the gingival sulcus by placing the fiber optic delivery system (0.2-0.3mm) parallel to the long axis of the tooth and moved laterally and apically 1 mm less to the clinical measurement value obtained for the pocket depth. All the six surfaces of each tooth were treated with laser. The objective of placing the laser into the sulcus is to remove the diseased epithelium towards the soft tissue wall of the periodontal pocket and also to create a trough with significant hemostasis. Full mouth SRP was performed for each patient in both groups using area specific gracey curettes until the roots were smooth and no visual or tactile evidence of calculus or altered cementum. After thorough SRP, laser fiber-o ptic delivery system is passed through the pocket for the second time at power setting of 4.0 watts, 635-us pulse duration, and 20Hz to achieve a stable fibrin clot and pocket seal.(14) The control teeth received all of the aforementioned treatment except for the laser therapy and suturing was not done. Full mouth SRP in both the groups and laser application in TG was carried out by the single clinician (KK). All the patients were given post operative instructions and medication including 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash twice daily with supragingival brushing for two weeks. Antibiotics (amoxicillin 500mg, every 8 hours) and analgesics (ibuprofen 400mg, every 8 hours) were advised for 5 days. Patients were recalled at 1week, 6 week, and 24 week for postoperative follow-up, where the clinical measurements were recorded at 6 weeks and 24 weeks respectively and oral hygiene is reinforced in all the visits. All the subjects completed the study protocol and were followed up to the end of the study. A total of 481 sites in control group and 469 sites in test group were examined. Statistical analysis: Data was expressed as mean values of API, BOP, PD and CAL (4-6mm and >7mm) were evaluated using a software. Comparisons were made within the group and between the groups at 6 weeks and 24 weeks using wilcoxon matched paired t- test and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results None of the 38 patients participated in the trial had reported pain or any discomfort. Healing after 24 weeks was satisfactory and uneventful as observed by the investigator and reported by the patients respectively. However, six patients in test group compared to 4 patients in control group experienced dentinal hypersensitivity during first 4 weeks post-operatively, which has subsided. The BOP and API results (mean  ±SD) for LG and CG at baseline, 6 weeks and 24 weeks were presented in table 1. Significant reduction was observed in the mean BOP and API scores from baseline to 6 weeks and 24 weeks post intervention (pË‚0.001). The finding held strength in both the groups. However, neither of the groups had shown significant differences in the mean BOP and API scores between 6 weeks and 24 weeks post intervention. Similar findings were observed on comparison of mean pocket depths with significant differences observed from baseline to 6 weeks (PË‚0.0001) and 24 we eks (PË‚0.0001) as well in both the test and the control groups. However no significant differences were found between the test and control groups both at baseline and post intervention, suggesting accurate randomization and near equivalent impact of both the interventions respectively. (Table 2) The mean CAL score for teeth with CAL≠¥4mm was higher in the TG at baseline and this difference was marginally significant (p=0.0493). However, the differences lost significance after the intervention both at 6 weeks and 24 weeks. A statistically significant gain (PË‚0.0001) of CAL (4-6mm) is noticed in both the groups when compared from baseline to 6 weeks and 24 weeks. Inter group comparison of CAL (4-6 mm) at 6 weeks showed that a significant gain is achieved in TG at baseline to 6 weeks (PË‚0.0244), baseline to 24 weeks (PË‚0.0005) and 6 weeks to 24 weeks (PË‚0.0016) (Table 3). The mean pocket depth of sites with PD ≠¥7 mm in test group was 8.38  ± 1.18 and in CG it is 8.49  ± 1.05. The difference in the mean values between the groups at baseline was not significant (PË‚0.6791). Both the groups showed overall improvement in 6 weeks and 24 weeks postoperatively, which was statistically significant (PË‚0.0001). However, 24 weeks post intervention comparison revealed significant gain in the TG compared to the CG (p At baseline, there was no significant difference between the mean CAL scores of the two groups for teeth with CAL≠¥7mm. A significant gain in attachment was observed in both the groups from baseline to 6 weeks and 24 weeks (PË‚0.0001). Unlike mean pocket depth for sites with PD≠¥7mm, mean CAL scores for teeth with CAL≠¥7mm were not significantly different between the two groups at 24 weeks post intervention. Table 5 Discussion: Various treatment approaches have been carried out in the treatment of periodontal pockets and laser assisted periodontal therapy is most widely used nowadays. Laser mediated periodontal therapy has shown significant benefits from subgingival soft tissue curettage as well as in subgingival bacterial loads.(15) According to previous studies, adjunctive use of the diode laser along with conventional SRP has shown to have an additive effect in reducing subgingival bacteria in periodontal pockets measuring ≠¥4mm.(16) A study by Talat Qadri et al observed a significant reduction in inflammatory markers (IL-1ÃŽ ² and MMP-8) levels in GCF, sites treated with SRP and Nd:YAG laser than SRP alone. (17) Another study by Aykol G et al observed decreased GCF levels of Matrixmetalloproteinase-1, tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-1, transforming growth factor-b1, and basic-fibroblast growth factor suggesting LLLT as an adjunctive therapy to non-surgical periodontal treatment and improves periodontal healing. (7) According to Slot DE et al 2010, stated that there was no significant difference in all clinical parameters between the sites treated with SRP and Nd:YAG laser than SRP alone, (18) these results are in support to his earlier systematic review.(19) In the present study, Nd:YAG laser with wave length of 1060-nm has been used to evaluate clinical benefit of LANAP as an adjunct to conventional periodontal therapy for achieving new attachment. The present results indicate that non surgical periodontal therapy using hand instruments or in combination with LANAP procedure shown significant improvements in clinical parameters (BOP, PD, and CAL) for both moderate and deep pockets at 6 weeks and 24 weeks after treatment. Similar results were presented in earlier case reports and case series, showing significant improvement in gingival inflammation during observation period from baseline to 6 weeks and 24 weeks. . Histologic evaluation of LANAP in humans for the treatment of periodontal pockets has shown new connective tissue attachment and periodontal regeneration. (14) Nevins ML et al evaluated periodontal regeneration performing LANAP procedure in humans and stated that there was a significant degree of periodontal regeneration with new cementum, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone (10). In a prospective study done by Nevins ML et al, evaluated the efficacy of LANAP therapy in eight patients for a period of 9 months and concluded that majority of treated sites showed improvement in all clinical parameters.(20) The results obtained in this study using LANAP therapy have showed a significant improvement in BOP, PI, PD and CAL, similar to the previous studies. (8,10,14,19-20) Sites with PD of 4-6mm has shown significant reduction in both the groups at 24 weeks post operatively, indicating that both the therapies were effective in treating moderate periodontal pockets. However at 24 weeks post-operatively, a significant gain in CAL at 4-6mm in the sites treated with LANAP was observed, suggesting a new cementum and new connective tissue formation (new attachment). This data supports to the earlier study by Yukna RA et al (2007) and Nevins MI (2012), where histological examination of all six LANAP treated teeth showed formation of new CTA. PD with ≠¥7mm sites in both the groups were treated non- surgically with LANAP therapy as an adjunctive in test group. All the patients included in this study had average PD of 4-6mm with few sites ≠¥7mm. Non-surgical periodontal treatment was carried out for all the sites including sites with ≠¥7mm, as they were located in isolated areas. Systematic reviews have proven that in terms of PD reduction and CAL gain in open flap debridement procedures were effective in sites with PD >6mm. (21) In the present study, test group showed significant reduction in PD in sites with ≠¥7mm when compared with control group, but no significant gain in CAL is achieved at 24 week post-operatively. These results were similar to the previous study by Nevins ML et al 2014, where initial sites of ≠¥7mm had at least 2mm of PD reduction in 91% of sites and CAL gain of 2mm in 77% of sites. Greater retraction of periodontal tissues in deep periodontal pockets (≠¥7mm) in test group led to significant reduction in PD with no significant gain in CAL. LANAP appears to be safe procedure that resulted in new CTA formation with no significant side effects beyond dentinal hypersensitivity or gingival recession and no damage to the root surfaces.(22) Even though LANAP therapy has been introduced 15 years ago, very few case reports and case series has been reported till now with substantial clinical and histological evidence. However controversy remains regarding the efficacy of LASERS, mainly LANAP therapy in treating the periodontal disease and periodontal regeneration. This is the first randomized controlled clinical study done to evaluate LANAP as adjunctive to SRP in the treatment of periodontal disease for a period of 24 weeks. LANAP therapy should be further evaluated with long term clinical trials with larger sample size to compare the clinical results with conventional therapy. . Conclusion: Within the limits of the present study, the results indicate that LANAP therapy as an adjunct to non surgical periodontal therapy using Nd:YAG Laser offered superior results when compared with SRP alone. Present study focussed mainly in the treatment of moderate periodontal pockets and achieved significant results in all the clinical parameters observed. Deeper pockets also showed promising results with LANAP therapy, suggesting that further studies are necessary to adequately test the potential benefits following the LANAP protocol in the treatment of periodontal diseases.

Saint Augustine Essay -- essays research papers

Saint Augustine was born on 354 CE in Tagaste, Africa. His given name was Aurelius Augustinus. His father was Patricius, a pagan who was baptized Christian before he died, and his mother was Monica, a baptized Christian with an influential role in the life of her son. Augustine is regarded as one of the most intelligent Christian theologians and bishops of all time. His works and actions have left a major imprint on the Church and its doctrine. As a boy, Augustine was not baptized and grew up in the Roman Empire. He studied under the local schoolmasters in Tagaste until he turned fifteen and moved to continue his studies in Madaurus. From Madaurus, he moved to Carthage for advanced studies in rhetoric and law. It was in Carthage that he took a concubine and later had a son named Adeodatus from her. It was in this period of his life that embraced Manichaeism, which is a belief that one god is responsible for all good and another responsible for all evil. Augustine’s belief in Manichaeism prompted Monica, his mother, not to allow his entrance into the family’s house. Even with her actions, she continued praying and hoping that Augustine would find the Lord. After he ended his studies in Carthage, he became a teacher and was constantly on the move throughout Northern Africa. Augustine stopped teaching and moved to Milan where he gained the position of Public Orator. In Milan, Augustine met Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan. Augustine grew to love Ambrose’s allegorical interpretations of the Bible and this led to his appreciation and new understanding of the Scripture. He also studied and learned to appreciate Plato’s works and started linking a lot of his works into the meaning and messages in the Bible. Augustine’s family, including his mother, joined him in Milan. Her constant prayers for his conversion to Christianity and the strict ethical demands of Ambrose made Augustine’s appreciation of Plato’s work grew deeper. It made him no choice, but to convert to Christianity. On Easter Sunday of 387 CE in Milan, Augustine along with his son and his friend, Alypius, were baptized by Ambrose. After Augustine’s mother passed away, he traveled throughout the Roman Empire. He wrote many of his books on theology along the way. He had no aspirations of priesthood, but through a mere chance visit at Hippo in Africa; the bisho... ...howed that the Church is the union of all people into Christ. He defined free will, Christian sacraments, and original sin. His argument with the Donatists clarified Christian doctrines for further generations to come. Pelagianism was the final controversy that Augustine handled. They believed that God’s grace is not needed for salvation, but only good works. Augustine fought this controversy by explaining that grace was necessary for salvation because without it, people would be even more sinful. The leader of Pelagianism, Pelagius, never met with Augustine, but as a result of this controversy, "God’s saving grace" was clearly understood through Augustine’s arguments. On August 28, 430 CE in Hippo, Augustine died. He is regarded as one of the greatest and intelligent saints of the Church. He clarified Church doctrines, established monasteries for new priests, educated many into the meaning of Christianity and made Christianity humanistic which is nurtured by God’s love and grace. Brown, Peter. Augustine of Hippo. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967. Possidius. The Life of Saint Augustine. Villanova: Augustinian Press, 1988.

Cultural Wedding Ceremony Comparison

Every country has their own way of marrying two people that want to spend the rest of their life together. Each has their own unique ritual of how they go about a wedding ceremony. African and Chinese cultures both have very intriguing ways of how they proceed with their ceremony. It is found that there are many differences between the two of these cultures. This is a result of their own independent beliefs and traditions which causes them to go about their own unique ritual, although there are few similarities between the two countries. In the Chinese culture the wedding date is chosen based upon astrological signs and birthdates.Every Chinese ceremony commences on the half an hour which is the belief that will guarantee good fortune for the new couple. The night before wedding day the bride is bathed in citrus-infused water in another belief that it will cleanse her of her evil influences. This is the only way in which the two ceremonies are similar because they both consist of the bride being bathed before the wedding, although which is done in their own individual style. The bride in a Chinese wedding will be seen wearing three different dresses throughout wedding day.These dresses include a traditional white dress, a traditional Chinese bridal dress, and a cocktail dress. Also the groom will be placed through a series Mitchell2 of tests and stunts to prove that he is worthy to claim his future wife. When the bride arrives at the grooms’ home she is always greeted with firecrackers, gongs, and is forced to jump over an iron basin lit with charcoal to represent prosperity and to again cleanse of all evil spirits. The Chinese culture with also uphold their traditional tea ceremony. The bride will serve tea to her parents as a sign of respect.The Chinese wedding ceremony is always filled with symbolism. Their ceremony represents a ladder that the new couple will climb to success. On the other hand the African wedding ceremony is a tradition that stems a ll the way back to the days of slavery when slaves were not allowed to marry. Their marriage ceremony is a ritual well-known as â€Å"jumping the broom†. This ritual was created to represent the beginning of their new life together. The new couple will jump over a broom at the same time and are pronounced married after they have done so. The broom is often decorated with ribbon and tulle.On wedding day the bridesmaids bathe the bride in hammam before dressing her previous to the ceremony. During a libation ceremony a prayer is said and an elder presents water and liquor as an offering to god and their ancestors for their blessing. Then the groom will ask permission from the brides’ mother to marry her daughter while presenting her father with gifts to symbolize his ability to care. Another tradition is the tasting of the four elements during the ceremony. The four elements consist of lemon for sour, vinegar for bitter, cayenne for hot, and honey for sweet. The four tas tes are a symbol of the different moods of married life.Sometimes tribes will mound the couples’ wrists with plaited grass when walking down the aisle, and others just hold hands. Mitchell3 The difference between these two countries with their ceremonies represents their freedom of independent beliefs, which leads to separate traditions. Although, the similarities between the two ceremonies are also intriguing. Both wedding rituals consist of a lot of symbolism. Most of the symbolism that is present for both cultures also represents their beliefs, and every time their beliefs are symbolized is how their cultures are shown to be unique.

Qualitative Article Review Essay

Purpose The purpose of this article is to show that there is a correlation between dropout rates and teen pregnancy, and to discuss ways to prevent teen pregnancy. The American Promise Alliance evaluated data on school districts that struggle with both poor school completion and high numbers of teen births. They identified 25 schools with the highest dropout and teen pregnancy rates. And they also evaluated school districts with high school completion rates and innovative pregnancy prevention programs to help students avoid early pregnancy and parenthood. The 25 persistently low achieving school districts account for twenty percent of all high school dropouts in the USA. Thirty percent of all teen girls that drop out of school cite pregnancy or parenthood as the reason. Thirty four percent young women who were teen mothers did not earn a diploma or GED. Less than two percent of teen mothers attained a college degree by age 30. School districts with higher school completion rates recognized the correlation between teen pregnancy and school dropout; they initiated programs to address these two high priorities. School districts collaborated with organizations receiving federally funded teen pregnancy prevention grants, such as US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Adolescent Health’s (OAH), and evidenced based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program(TPP). Through their collaboration, grantees could use the funds in a variety of evidenced based models to meet the needs of their school, community and the age of the students being served. Description of Participants/Sample The participants in this study were all the teenagers in the USA. All USA students that attended public schools were a part of the data collection. School completion, pregnancy rate and dropout rate data was gathered from every public school in all the US school districts. Research Design/Data Analysis America’s Promise Alliance analyzed data from four reputable sources on teen pregnancy and dropout rates, and identified the school districts with the highest dropout rates. They also analyzed the data on teen birth rates or teen pregnancy rates from these school districts with high dropout rates. Method Diplomas Count 2011, Common Core of Data (CCD), VitalStats and Child Trend were the four sources of data information that was used to examine the number of dropouts and teen births within the 25 persistently lowest achieving school districts. Diplomas Count is a national report from Education Week and Editorial Projects in Education (EPE) Research Center, which provides graduation rates and graduation trends for all the public schools in the USA. Diplomas Count then identifies the 25 persistently lowest achieving school. Data on total school enrollment and enrollment by grade level was extracted from CCD. VitalStats and Child Trends provided data on teen birth rates and numbers. Results The data draws a parallel between high school dropouts and teen births. The data shows the school districts that struggle with poor school completion and high numbers of teen births and how various school districts are tackling these issues. Opportunities for Further Research The America’s Promise Alliance needs to collect more data for evidence that teen pregnancy caused dropouts, rather than just being correlated with dropout rate. After the 25 identified school districts with the high dropout and teen pregnancy rate implemented pregnancy prevention, the Alliance could check back in a year with these school districts to see if the dropout rate changed. Threats to Validity The four sources cited in this study are all very reputable sources that are cited often in the field of education. But although the America’s Promise Alliance spent a lot of discussion regarding the link between dropout rates and teen pregnancy, and suggesting that combating teen pregnancy could lower dropout rates, they ended the article by saying â€Å"readers should note that this data is meant only to draw a parallel between high school dropouts and teen births. No quantitative analysis to examine the statistical significance of the association between these two issues was performed and, therefore, causality should not be inferred.† They spent most of the article talking about things (teen pregnancy and dropout rates) that only made sense if there was causation, and then at the end of the article they retracted this conclusion from the readers. Insight and Criticism Teens getting pregnant while still in school are more likely to drop out of school, but the data in this article does not prove this, but I think it made a strange correlation between the two. There may be other factors that make pregnancy and dropping out more likely. Implications of Findings Thirty percent of teen girls who drop out of school cite pregnancy or parenthood as their reason. The connection between teen pregnancy or teen parenthood and educational attainment is strong. All interested parties in the prospect of these teen parents and their children need to collaborate and develop strategies to reduce the risk of them dropping out of school. References Shuger, L. (2012). Teen pregnancy and High School Dropout: What Communities are Doing to Address These Issues. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned pregnancy and America’s Promise Alliance. Retrieved November 2012, from www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/†¦/teen-preg-hs-dropout.pdf

Famous Writerss Quotes About New Years Day

Famous Writerss Quotes About New Years Day The New Years holiday is all about reflecting on the year thats ending and planning for the year ahead. We gather with new and old friends alike, and make resolutions that may or may not last through January. One great way mankind has found to commemorate New Years Eve is by writing about the annual holiday, producing quotes like the ones listed below. As Sir Walter Scott puts it, Each age has deemed the new-born year // The fittest time for festal cheer, so celebrate your New Years by reading these  quotes from famous authors  like John Burroughs and Mark Twain, which explore everything from the time-honored tradition of making temporary resolutions to the importance of beginning each year - and indeed day - with a fresh outlook on life. Like T.S. Eliot says in Little Gidding: For last years words belong to last years language / And next years words await another voice. / And to make an end is to make a beginning. Quotes About New Years Resolutions The most popular tradition of New Years in the United States is that of making resolutions for the year ahead, promising oneself to eat fewer desserts or exercise regularly, only to break that promise a few months later as famously expressed by Helen Fielding in Bridget Joness Diary: I do think New Years resolutions cant technically be expected to begin on New Years Day, dont you? Since, because its an extension of New Years Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Years Day isnt a good idea as you cant eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second. Some, like Andre Gide, also address the idea of resolutions with humor: But can one still make resolutions when one is over forty? I live according to twenty-year-old habits. Others like Ellen Goodman approach it with a quiet optimism for real change: We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. Mark Twain described these resolutions with an air of contempt multiple times throughout his writing and public speaking career. He once famously wrote, New Years is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions. Another time, Twain wrote:  Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever. Oscar Wilde, on the other hand, took the concept with a grain of salt and wrote about it with humor, Good  resolutions  are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account. Quotes About Fresh Starts and New Beginnings Other writers believe in the tradition of New Years Day being one for a fresh start or a clean slate - in writers terms, a fresh piece of paper or a blank page - and as G.K. Chesterton puts it: The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. Other writers find the fresh start a little easier that Chesterton, like John Burroughs who once said One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things, or Benjamin Franklin who once wrote Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Anaà ¯n Nin takes it one step further, saying every day is a resolution: I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me. On the Passage of Time Some writers focus directly on the idea of time passing in their musing on the traditions of celebrating the New Years holiday. Charles Lamb once wrote, for instance, Of all sounds of all bells... most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year. Venetian writer  Thomas Mann  also appreciated the solemness of the passage of time and the meaninglessness of humans bells and whistles for celebrating the changing of one second to the next, which time cares nothing for: Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunder-storm or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year. Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols. Two Short Poems About New Years Day Edith Lovejoy Pierce poetically described the first of the year as such: We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its  first chapter  is New Years Day. Edgar Guest and Thomas Hood, on the other hand, both wrote entire short poems dedicated to the passing of the old year into the new: A happy New Year! Grant that IMay bring no tear to any eyeWhen this New Year in time shall endLet it be said Ive played the friend,Have lived and loved and labored here,And made of it a happy year.- Edgar Guest And ye, who have met with Adversitys blast,And been bowd to the earth by its fury;To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently passdWere as harsh as a prejudiced jury- Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,The regrets of remembrance to cozen,And having obtained a New Trial of Time,Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.- Thomas Hood