Lao Tzu And Machiavelli Analysis - 1038 Words

There are many indescribable qualities that make a leader. However, a leader can be interpreted differently. A leader must ensure the safety of his subjects, however, there are different ways in which to do so. The absence of admirable leadership leads to chaos and social unrest. Within Lao Tzu’s Thoughts from the Tao-Te-Ching and Machiavelli’s The Prince, there are similar ideas surrounding the definition of a leader. They ultimately explore their idea of what an optimal government would be like; more specifically, what an ideal leader is and how they can maintain social tranquility. Even though both authors contemplate what a leader is, both of their opinions differ, and it is most transparent through their stance of war and their†¦show more content†¦Without peace, we cannot be content or satisfied. By using a hypothetical of the Master, a figure who is all knowing, it shows the audience how government should be. The Master is all knowing, he knows right fro m wrong. By doing this the audience is more attuned to hearing Lao Tzu’s points. If the Master is really virtuous as he is described we would expect him to be omniscient. Man is an enigma. Man is something vast, complicated, that philosophers have been trying to figure for centuries. Different minds have different perceptions. Lao Tzu, for instance, believed that government should trust its people, and not micromanage. He believed people are naturally good, but oppressing them brings out the worst in them. Rulers have to be humble and take care of their people, focusing on matters that are important to their people, not getting caught up in the affairs of other countries. â€Å"If you don’t trust the people/ you make them untrustworthy,† (Lao Tzu 58). This statement illustrates how a government is always on edge believing its citizens are going to do something, then they are. If one were to label someone as insane, then that person could not escape from the idea that they are insane. If a government were to control their citizens because they do not trust their citizens then they create a vast majority of laws, all citizens are forced to obey. Their sense of virtue is taken away,Show MoreRelatedEvaluating Historical Views of Leadership Essay1194 Words   |  5 Pages Evaluating Historical Views of Leadership March 9, 2014 University of Phoenix Evaluating Historical Views of Leadership This paper evaluates the leadership views of Plato, Aristotle, Lao-Tzu, and Machiavelli from the point of view of the modern military leader. The process of evaluation includes an examination of the commonalities and disparities between these views of leadership. The paper explores a definition of modern military leadership. The paper includes an assessment of theRead MoreOrganizational Behaviour Analysis28615 Words   |  115 PagesORGANISATIONAL ANALYSIS: Notes and essays for the workshop to be held on 15th - 16th Novemeber 2007 at The Marriot Hotel Slough Berkshire SL3 8PT Dr. Lesley Prince, C.Psychol., AFBPsS University of Birmingham November 2007  © Dr. Lesley Prince 2007. Organisational Analysis: Notes and Essays Page i Page ii Please do not attempt to eat these notes. CONTENTS Introduction to the Workshop Topics And Themes The Nature and Scope of Organisation Theory Levels of Analysis The Metaphorical

Racism During The Civil Rights Era - 1562 Words

Makenna Johnson Mrs. Walker English 10 23 February 17 Racism in Children The time of racism, segregation, and discrimination in the Civil Rights era was a difficult time for many people: whites, other races, and even children. Racism brought the realization to many people to think about how racism might affect their children and the way they were brought up. The real interesting fact is, that even though most Americans showed concern towards children there wasn t a large percentage that took in consideration the feelings, thoughts, and affects that African- Americans and other racial children, including whites had towards the consent segregation, discrimination, and racism that went on in the Civil Rights era. Even the†¦show more content†¦It has been described in Parents Fight by Katie Nojimbadom, who indicates that most black parents fought for desegregation so they could give their children the best option for having any type of an education. Going along with wanting the best for children, DeNeen L. Brown says in his document on Parents Keeping Kids Incident says that when he was young, he wasn t told or explained what was going on with segregation between blacks verses whites. This was the case because, his parents didn t want him to get caught up in all the drama and have anger towards people. Either way each type of view has it s own pros and cons, wether it s wanting your children to have the same racist thought as you have or wanting to keep them insistent from the corruption of society. Overall it s hard for children to grapple with someone s beliefs because everyone wants to be right even if their completely wrong, so kids end up not knowing the truth. Many people usually just skip over what the beliefs of children are but, thats wrong children are the most effected by racism, segregation, and discrimination because they are the ones who will have to live with the outcome of all the marches, protest, and court cases about racism. For African American kids their thoughts were probably not shared that often due to the time period of theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of `` Ozymandias `` And The Ballad Of Birmingham ``1266 Words   |  6 Pageswhat is considered racism, can be defined in many different and seemingly unique ways. Robert Frost made an attempt to define poetry, â€Å"A poem is an idea caught in the act of dawning†(Kennedy and Gioia). Poetry can carry a sensitive message, as seen in the poems â€Å"Ozymandias† and the â€Å"Ballad of Birmingham†, as they present two separate ideas. â€Å"Ozymandias† involved the destruction of a statue, and the â€Å"Ballad of Birmingham† depicts racism and segregation of the civil rights era. Racism and segregationRead MoreThe Klux Klan And The Civil Rights Era1585 Words   |  7 PagesRacism isn’t born, it’s created. The Ku Klux Klan is a group of people who believe that any race other than white is beneath them. Throughout history they time and time again show t heir true colors, while still claiming to be Christians. From the start of the Klan, to the Civil Rights Era, even to today, the Klan has been a well-known group revolving around hate, racism, and bigotry. The Klan began in 1866, in Pulaski, Tennessee. Just after the Civil War ended former confederate soldiers put togetherRead MoreThe Breakdown Of The New Jim Crow Essay1474 Words   |  6 Pageswhen discussing Michelle Alexander s The New Jim Crow, a nonfiction book that argues that Jim Crow has reemerged in the mass incarceration of black people in America. Originally, the name for this era we know as Jim Crow was inspired by a racist character played by Thomas Dartmouth Daddy Rice. During the 1800s, Rice would dress in blackface and perform a song titled Jump Jim Crow. (Bart-Planged) A decade or so after slavery was abolished in 1865, the name of this belligerent character was usedRead MoreRace: A Prevailing Factor in American Politics1180 Words   |  5 PagesStates. It has been expanding in light of the civil rights era which was primarily an issue of black and white relations to the discussion of the rise of Hispanics in number and political power. Race is not something exclusi ve to the United States when it has come to discrimination. More recently that most would not like to be reminded of was that the ending of apartheid in south Africa roughly 20 years ago in 1994, much later than the end of the civil rights movement in 1968 here in the united statesRead MoreThe Fight Against Racism And Discrimination1737 Words   |  7 PagesMichelle Chansuyco History 110 Class Number – 30 Final Paper—The Fight Against Racism and Discrimination Throughout history we have seen how racism has evolved and has impacted the lives of many minority groups in America. With the migration of people from different backgrounds all over the world, the United States has truly become a melting pot of cultures, religions and backgrounds. However, with this massive influx of people, nativism is bound to cause problems. Over time, through the effortsRead MoreRacial Stereotype in the Movie The Green Mile1279 Words   |  6 Pagesstill the law. One believes that the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s made America safer for all races, but in fact, racism and discrimination are still big factors that continue to plague films, music, and even video games. I the article Race the Power of an Illusion, Dalton Conley says, â€Å"the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s really marks both an opportunity and a new danger in terms of racial relations in America. On the one hand, the Civil Rights era officially ended inequality of opportunityRead MoreRacism : Black Or White?949 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica. Racism is the belief that race is the reason for human traits and that racial differences cause a race to be inferior or superior to other races. Racism affects how Americans live and work together in America. Recitatif by Toni Morrison published in 1983, fifteen years after the Civil Rights Movement, is an example of fictional writing that addresses the topic of racism that occurred in America. Morrison’s use of mai n characters with unrealved races in the context of the era of the civil rightsRead MoreThe Black People And The Civil Rights Movement1741 Words   |  7 Pagesslaves, who were the victims of rape, murder, and many other brutal things. Then came the civil rights period where most black people were free persay, but still lacked basic human rights. Today, black people in America are living in a place that appears to be equal and racially unbiased. This however, is not true. Black people are still exposed to racism, and unfair treatment. However, many people believe that racism and racial injustice do not exist in America. I believe that the progress, that has beenRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Long Walk Home 1307 Words   |  6 Pagesby African American woman, in which Tate Taylor adapted from Kathryn Stockett’s novel and rewrote and directed in the year 2011. This film stereotypes the roles of African American women during this time in history and fails to focus on the crucial reality faced by black women as domestic workers. The Civil Rights movement was very effective for African Americans; however black women still are faced with the double standard of being a black woman. Nonetheless, agreeing with Valerie Smith’s statementRead MoreAfrican Americans And The Civil Rights Movement1260 Words   |  6 Pagesagainst desegregation and racism. It was an era where blacks couldn’t have the same rights as a white individual. African American were treated with hate and anger. The Civil Rights Movement is embodied in dramatic recorded speeches. Speeches like â€Å"I have A Dream†, the â€Å"Black Revolution†, and â€Å"Black Power’ and Coalition Politics. These speeches were written by great leaders. Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and Bayard Rusting were just some of the wise leaders of the Civil Rights. However, these influential

Determinants for Competitiveness in MSMEs

Question: Discuss about the Determinants for Competitiveness in MSMEs. Answer: Introduction: The Diamond model was applied by Porter to analyze the national competitiveness surrounding the social groups, economic institutions and nations in their endeavor to prosper and advance. Porters Diamond structure has been researched extensively and has subjected to many qualms and censure. The Diamond model is appropriate for developed countries, which has over the years, neglected historical proportions of the late development theory. As per Fainshmidt, Smith and Judge (2016), the impact of national culture has had little attention, which downplayed the responsibility of the circumstances while it remained one of the main significant aspects contributing towards national competitiveness. Queries have been raised a number of times in determining whether factor and conditions pertaining demand are purely national or transnational. The model recommends that the base of the national home of an industry cooperate well in achieving the advantage on a universal scale. Porter has long argued that spirited industries take the appearance of particular bunches of local based firms. These groups are inter-related during vertical associations like buyers incorporating with suppliers or through other parallel associations through expertise, skills, distribution channels and customers (Wilson 2016). Principle: The echelon of national competitiveness and economic development of a country is not only associated with the political surroundings and the total situation of the economy, but also on the home base factor. Porters analysis states that the firms act as principle factors instead of the states and nations in creating competitive advantage and sustaining it through an extremely localized process. The national competitive advantage theory of Porter, the Diamond model has been widened as an apparatus for learning hundreds of manufacturing among ten nations. The sole purpose is to examine the factors that a nation could attain accomplishment internationally in a scrupulous industry. Porter believed that there are four determinants, on which national competitive advantage of a country depends within a particular industry: Factor conditions, takes into account both the advanced and basic factors like physical, human, knowledge and capital resources along with infrastructure where advanced factors plays a major role in the competitive advantage. Demand conditions, where Porter plays exacting stress on the demand structure that exists in the local market and the local demands role provided that the impulsion for improvement the competitive advantage. Connected as well as the supporting industries, refers to the group of contractors and end-users in secure propinquity for stimulation of modernism and increasing competitiveness. Firm strategy, formation and rivalry, which comprise the way a firm manages and chooses to compete. Domestic rivalry is efficient in upgrading competitive advantage that provides anxiety to firms in improving the feature of innovation, excellence and cost of controlling. The Government and the chance events are the two external variables influencing the four Diamond model determinants. On the other hand, it can be mentioned that from Porters perspective, chance events can generate discontinuities that permit shifting in the cutthroat position (Wei 2014). Government, on the other hand, could either benefit or unfavorably affect the four determinants of industrys national advantage. Pharmaceutical Industry Example: The first submission of Porters Diamond approach is highly praised and criticized. Its exclusive focus has been on the concept of home base factor. This led to the failure of the effects incorporating in the multinational activities of his model. Germanys success in the pharmaceutical industry is due to their strong Research and Development (RD) base, though the base is mostly due to the result of their outward investment in FDI, comprising of larger multinational activities than home base. The pharmaceutical industrys competitive advantage lies in the innovative competencies, RD, and its marketing and distribution potential. Other determinant factors are regulation of the Government, financial system, education and private businesses persuades an industry and the success of the company. The multinationals do get competition from the local players that are mostly specialized in the sales of the non-RD concentrated drugs. The procedure of the pharmaceutical companies comprises mostly of producing and distribution. In addition, it is known that the demand for pharmaceutical company is short in China as compared to UK, Germany, Japan and USA (YU and QIU 2015). Referring to the European figures, pharmaceutical companies in European countries are much more labor concentrated than the US and the Japanese. The companies of USA and Japan relies mostly on capital and Research and Development, divergence of the share on total productions value, which is generally higher for compa nies of US and Japan than its European counterparts. It is the habit of the European countries and the US to participate on the new product development level. Germanys strong RD and skilled labor force has accounted it to come up with third largest pharmaceutical company of the world, Bayer which operates in more than 50 countries. Bayer has over the years invested heavily in the US markets and has continued its endeavor for new product markets. The company has put in a lot of attempt in investing in new drugs that they outsourced around 5.3 billion Euros to India for chemicals. Moreover, they invested in the RD of Chinas agricultural industry, spending more than 100 million Euros there. In case of UK, it lacks innovativeness when compared to countries like United States. Pfizer, the principal pharmaceutical company of the world has competitive gain over GSK in the British markets. The company has shown its dominance in promotion, patenting and high level operations of RD. In assessment of US, Germany, UK and Chinas pharmaceutical industries, Bayer has insistently endowed in research and development and ranks extremely among the companies listed in America. The strong position of Bayer in the pharmaceutical industry is due to the factors like Germanys education facilities which supplies knowledgeable human capital along with skilled labor, which are highly required in competitive market (Kharub and Sharma 2016). Porter does not regard outward in foreign direct investments as a major factor for contributing the competitive advantage. Automobile Industry Example: Scholars have criticized the discussion of Porter about state and the multinational corporations (MNE) role in the national competitive advantage theory, arguing the fact that the diamond theory is limited to its use in the developing countries (Hwang et al. 2015). The emphasis is on the various human resources factor and the material factor that affects the national competitiveness. In case of automobile industry, China having low-level education produces bigger number of unskilled labors as compared to other developed countries like US, Germany, UK and Japan. Firms like Toyota in Japan has the maximum expenditure in RD and innovativeness, whereas, China is less spirited when it comes down to innovation in sectors having high technology (Harzing and Giroud 2014). Chinas automobile industry has main competitive advantage in is its gigantic workforce and economical labor cost as compared to US, Japan and other European countries. This leads to attracting more FDIs and MNEs that in turn augments the national competitiveness. Porter, has downplayed the Governments role in the national competitive advantages theory. Countries, which are part of the late developed economies, get substantial support from the Governments. For example, Chinas financial institutions and enterprises are state owned which makes it a favorable destination for larger industries on their reliance on the Governments assistance. Chinas example of its industry illustrates the fact that governments authority and power is significant in the success of its automobile industry. Porters ignorance of the late development theory considered the states role (Fri, Pehrsson and Silen 2013). The Diamond concept is less applicable for countries that are less developed in analyzing the advantage of national competitiveness as that of China. The automobile industry of Japan witnesses designs of the parts jointly with suppliers and car manufacturers, whereas, in case of European firms, cars are produced without any assistance from its suppliers (Huggins and Izushi 2015). UK holds the leading position in the technology-driven motor industry. This depicts the ambiguity avoider and illustrates the important impact national culture has on these relations. Countries, which are less, necessitated for avoidance of uncertainty, has loose relations and the indecision to change is slighter. This leads to the fact that Diamond model has negated the contact of national culture on the nations competitive improvement. Effectiveness of Diamond model in Countries: The presence of sustaining industries is of significant magnitude to the growth of a particular industry. A critical perception analysis states that the national competitive strengths have a propensity to be connected with clusters of industries. On the other hand, it is known that Silicon Valley in USA and Silicon Glen of UK are high-tech techno clusters including computer software on an individual basis and semi-conductor firms (Wonglimpiyarat 2016). In Germany, traces of similar clusters can be found in synthetic, textiles and synthetic dyes. Another example to understand Porters diamond concept is its attention on local skilled labor, which includes different schools of films like UCLA and USC in the area. The skilled technical personnel that Hollywood generates are unparallel and unmatched across the globe and that is evident from the movies we get to see coming out of it. Resource constraints might also persuade the expansion of substitute capabilities; Japans comparative requirement of raw materials has urged efficiency and zero-defect mechanization (Ibusuki, Bernardes and Consoni 2015). Moreover, in case of Germany automobile companies like Porsche and BMW has ruled the world in the segment of luxury cars, though its market in the cheaper, mass-produced autos is relatively weaker. This can be stated that in Germanys domestic market the demand has been traditionally for high level of performance in engineering. Competitive wise the Japanese automobile industry sees fierce competition among several main competitors like Honda, Toyota, Isuzu and Mitsubishi in its domestic market as well as in the international market. Factors against the Diamond Model: The Multinational agencies search for improvement in their global capability and proficiency when a host population does not possess all the basis of competitive advantage (Psofogiorgos and Metaxas 2016). Their actions in some or all determinants add to the competitiveness of a host nation in the end. For example in the Canadian scenario there are twenty-five industries taking in the four major setting or the two exterior variables. In analyzing Canadas international economy, it comprises of the competitive advantages in aspects related to trading than the other European countries, Japan and UK who have strong base of the diamond model. A companys success level within an industry depends on the level of improvement in the Research and Development, attracting the FDI and MNEs, devoting investments in abroad taking into account the technological aspects and the labor skills (Casson, Porter and Wadeson 2016). As multinational companies have started investing in other economies like that of Canada, competitive advantage would be gained in making industries globalized. Porters framework needs modification in analyzing the characteristics of Canadas foreign owned businesses like the Canada-US free trade conformity. The major problem has been with porters model is that the narrow definition it possesses in his applying of foreign direct investment. According to Porter, inward FDI is not healthy as compared to the outward FDI (Zhang and London 2013). A foremost part of auto industry of Canada is USA possess. For instance, Chrysler and Ford have considerable inmost FDI in Canada where valuable contributions are being made by USA in Canadas international competitiveness (Brosnan et al. 2015). Another criticism on Porters national diamond model determines around supposition that bring about it. Unrelenting affluence may be attained devoid of a nation fetching innovation-driven, strong diamonds are not put into place in dwelling bases of many worldwide triumphant industries (Bhawsar and Chattopadhyay 2015). Internal foreign direct investment does not specify deficiency of competitiveness or low general efficiency. Porter comprehensive from North American and Japanese experiences; for countries in existence of budding developed world regions, the model needs re-examination. Conclusion: From the evidences discussed above, it can be considered that there lies much inconsistency between the evidences of industry among different nations and Porters theory of Diamond model. Porter stated that firms are in the habit of improving their home base for updating the determinants and gaining national competitiveness. Nevertheless, as found in the illustration of the pharmaceutical industry, Germany played an important role in enhancing the base of its RD depending on the Government and FDI, which Porter does not approve of. Porters study of the diamond model is done for ten countries, though no satisfactory answer has been provided for the less developed ones. In Pharmaceutical industries case study, Porter did not take into account the Late Development theory, not appropriate for countries like China. The impact of national culture stays missing in Porters analysis, and Porter has given little consideration to the role played by Government and MNEs participation where automob ile industry example directs the fact that both Government and MNEs possess a greater effect in nationwide competitiveness. Reference: Bhawsar, P. and Chattopadhyay, U., 2015. Competitiveness: review, reflections and directions.Global Business Review,16(4), pp.665-679. Brosnan, S., Brosnan, S., Doyle, E., Doyle, E., OConnor, S. and OConnor, S., 2016. From Marshalls Triad to Porters Diamond: added value?.Competitiveness Review,26(5), pp.500-516. Casson, M., Porter, L. and Wadeson, N., 2016. Internalization theory: An unfinished agenda.International Business Review. Fainshmidt, S., Smith, A. and Judge, W.Q., 2016. National Competitiveness and Porter's Diamond Model: The Role of MNE Penetration and Governance Quality.Global Strategy Journal,6(2), pp.81-104. Fri, W., Pehrsson, T. and Silen, K., 2013. How phases of cluster development are associated with innovation-the case of China.International Journal of Innovation Science,5(1), pp.31-44. Harzing, A.W. and Giroud, A., 2014. The competitive advantage of nations: An application to academia.Journal of Informetrics,8(1), pp.29-42. Huggins, R. and Izushi, H., 2015. The Competitive Advantage of Nations: origins and journey.Competitiveness Review,25(5), pp.458-470. Hwang, B.N., Lin, G.T., Hsieh, P.S. and Hsi, P.H., 2015. Development of a Cause-and-Effect Model for Analyzing National Competitiveness of the Electric Vehicle Industry.Journal of Scientific Industrial Research,74, pp.605-608. Ibusuki, U., Bernardes, R.C. and Consoni, F.L., 2015. New Japan automotive industrial policy: analysis of the consequences for local RD based on new comer's strategies.International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management,15(1), pp.63-79. Kharub, M. and Sharma, R.K., 2016. INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF PORTER DIAMOND DETERMINANTS FOR COMPETITIVENESS IN MSMEs.International Journal for Quality Research,1(10), pp.471-486. Psofogiorgos, N.A. and Metaxas, T., 2016. " Porter vs Krugman": History, Analysis and Critique of Regional Competitiveness.Journal of Economics and Political Economy,3(1), p.65. Wei, H.A.N., 2014. Development of Agriculture Industry Cluster Based on the Diamond Model in the North of Anhui Province.Business Economy,4, p.009. Wilson, P., 2016, May. The Impact of Culture on Cluster Competitiveness: a Revised Diamond Model. InClusters as a Driving Power of the European Economy(pp. 162-175). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Co. KG. Wonglimpiyarat, J., 2016. Exploring strategic venture capital financing with Silicon Valley style.Technological Forecasting and Social Change,102, pp.80-89. YU, Q.Q. and QIU, J.X., 2015. Study on the Development of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industrial Cluster in Jiangsu Province from 2000 to 2012.China Pharmacy,7, p.002. Zhang, P. and London, K., 2013. Towards an internationalized sustainable industrial competitiveness model.Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal,23(2), pp.95-113.

Personal Reflections on the Self free essay sample

I  certify that  the attached  paper is my original work and has not previously been submitted by me or anyone else for any class. I further declare I have cited all sources from which I used  language, ideas, and information,  whether quoted  verbatim or paraphrased, and that any assistance of any kind, which I received while producing this paper, has been acknowledged in the References section. I have obtained written permission from the copyright holder for any trademarked material, logos, or images from the Internet or other sources. I further agree that my name typed  on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature. Students  signature (name typed here is equivalent to a signature):   Marjorie Neal When we talk about self, it is generally meant to be a reflection of an individual’s identity and separate from others and the environment (Huitt, 2009). We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Reflections on the Self or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The most widely used concepts when it comes to self are the self-concept and self-esteem. Self-esteem is the sense of self worth and dictates how we feel about ourselves where self-concept is dictated by how an individual answers the question â€Å"who am I? †(Myers, 2008). Research has shown that self-concept is the basis for all motivated behavior because self-concept that provides individuals with possible selves and those possible selves create the motivation for behavior (Huitt, 2009). Self-concept is built through the process of taking action and reflecting on the action one has taken as well as what others tell him about what he has done (Huitt, 2009). We are not born with a self-concept. Self-concept is developed through interaction with the environment and one’s reflection of that interaction. Self-concept has four parts: self-image, self-esteem, ideal-self and self-efficacy My sister had all the friends that my parents approved of, she got the good grades, she was not in special education classes and at home report cards and progress reports were constantly compared. I never heard that I was doing a great job or that I had improved on this subject or that it was always how wonderful my sisters grades were compared to my C’s that I worked very hard for in the early years. By the third grade I was behind in reading and math so I had to go to special classes to get help on those subjects. I not only felt inadequate at home but the other students in school made me feel very stupid and not good enough. I was picked on at school and called all sorts of names from stupid to Margarine to Rhino. Looking back it was kids being kids and picking on me because they could see that it bothered me. I used to come home in tears and all my parents said was to ignore them and they would stop but they did not stop. I was in the â€Å"loser† group and there was no getting out of it. By third grade I believed them. When I entered Junior High School, I started off in the lowest group for my classes, the one that all the troublemakers were in and all the â€Å"stupid† kids. I got tired of being lumped with those kids and decided I could do better so I decided I was going to work hard and talk to my teachers about moving up a group. In sixth grade I went from group four to group three at the half way point in the year. This gave me a bit of a boost but I still was not happy. I wanted to be one of the smart kids like my sister was so that my parents would be proud. So in seventh grade I worked harder and talk to my teachers and I was moved from group three into group two. I was feeling better about myself and continued to push harder until I was finally in group one by the end of the eighth grade. Being in group one meant I could take the college level classes I wanted to take in High School, it also meant that I was just as good as my sister was but that did nothing for me at home because I was struggling to pull C’s and my sister was still pulling A’s. Nonetheless, I was proud of my accomplishment and myself so I tried college level classes in High School. I did fine in college English but not so good in Math. I found that high school was very difficult for me and after all those years of trying to be as good as my sister I still could not pull the same grades no matter how hard I worked at it. I gave up and stopped taking college level classes with the hope that the other classes would be easier for me and I could pull the A’s and B’s that my parents were so proud of my sister for getting. When I continued to struggle my freshman and sophomore year I gave up and decided that I was going to do what it took to get those C’s and nothing more. I became very discouraged. Then my parents separated and we moved from my hometown to the Cape with my aunt so I had to change schools half way through my sophomore year. I was happy with that, a new group of kids to meet and different expectations by the kids I already knew in that school so this was going to be easy and that was my easiest semester ever. I finally got the good grades that I was looking for and my mother stopped criticizing me for my choice in friends. She actually approved of most of my friends. My sister at that point became the problem child. Then it all fell apart. My mother decided that she was going to take a job in Boise, Idaho and my sister and I had to move with her across the country. I had finally adjusted to the idea of my parents getting a divorce and now she was going to take me away from all of my life long friends and everything I knew. My attitude, self-esteem and everything went right down the toilet. When we got to Idaho I didn’t care anymore. I was going to do what I had to do to graduate and get out of my mother’s house so I could go back to Massachusetts where I knew people and I was home. I made poor choices in friends, poor choices in behavior, and poor choices in my schoolwork all because the only thing I could see was anger. I was so angry with both of my parents, my mother for making me move to Idaho and my father for not fighting to keep us in Massachusetts. It was like my opinion did not matter and once again my sister was the queen. All the good I had done in junior high and down the Cape did not matter anymore. I graduated from high school, turned down a military career and moved back to Massachusetts where I met my first husband. It was a marriage destined to fail. My first husband was very abusive verbally and emotionally. He constantly made me feel like I was not worth the dirt I walked on. I was diagnosed bipolar two years after we got married and he never took the time to learn about it, said he didn’t believe in mental illness and did not help me find the help I needed so it was a very rocky ten-year marriage. I did get two wonderful children out of the marriage though, of that I was thankful and challenged. After my first husband and I divorced, I met my current husband. He is the exact opposite of my first husband. We have a very good relationship. It was the relationship with my first husband and all the abuse that I went through in the ten years we were married and my childhood experiences that made me who I am today.