Summer Of Self-Discovery

“Although humans exhibit strong preferences for equity and moral prohibitions against harm in many context, people’s priorities change when there is an ‘us’ and ‘them’” (Saxe). Within society, many individuals are beginning to identify with various groups that begin to tear each other down, rather than lift each other up. The urge to fit in eventually overpowers the mind of one’s independence. The need to be accepted and to have the approval of others ultimately conflicts with one’s own morals and beliefs. Although individualism is highly praised, one’s surface attributes and appearance may have a negative connotation in that they are categorized as a specific stereotype, therefore these ideas will turn toxic as one is automatically grouped

No matter how much a person desires to live according to their personal autonomy, he or she will never escape the influence of societal forces. Explicitly or subtlety, these forces shape our individuality. One intriguing manner that these societal forces manifests itself in is our name. As Ruth Graham writes, “It’s becoming increasingly clear today that names carry a wealth of information about the world around us, the family we arrived in, the moment we were born—and that they mark us as part of cultural currents bigger than we realize.” Names alone provide evidence that individuals are made by interactions with social institutions and groups. Ultimately, the inescapable nature of society’s influence demands individuals to ponder how much personal autonomy is actually autonomous and to what extent does the pursuit of personal autonomy lead to a life of emptiness and vanity.

I selected this article, because it is relevant in my life. My sister, passed in August. She had suffered from lung disease for over 10 years, even though she was totally dependent on the ventilator, she was conscious and alert. She was weak but, could still walk across the room unaided. And if it meant that she could go shopping, she would have you pack up the whole house; 3 tanks of oxygen, portable ventilator, suction machine, and wheelchair.

To the ignorant and self-oblivious person, the true individuality of a man’s self is presumed through his ability to possess an apt and socially preferable state of mind. Quite ironic in fact—and if I’m not mistaken—the widespread consensus regarding human identity, is that it is at its most ripe, and fertile upon one’s inevitable decision to conform to the mass. Such logic is somewhat of a paradox-in-itself and if we deconstruct the meaning of the terms ‘conform’ and ‘individuality’ their contrast is vast, and their apparent use is irrational, therefore all aspects of the human mind remain complacent, and mundane to a certain degree that it erases any former beliefs of a unique human being. Rather, human personality is an

One brave doctor asked if he would look at my niece’s chart. He took a look and asked what she was still doing at that hospital. Without knowing it the hospital was giving her the wrong treatment and not enough trauma treatment. My niece was flown out of that hospital to what is now Banner University Hospital. A few hours later my niece had woken up and we could see that the treatment was already working (the iron lung) among other

Ian Hacking’s “Making Up People”, discusses categories that classify and differentiate people from others. Hacking uses the term “dynamic nominalism” to describe the production of groups and categories created by humans, where humans are “making up people”. He argues that the concept of dynamic nominalism is that by giving a name to a category or group, the people in this group or category will adopt characteristics to fit this new label. In this essay, I will explore Hacking’s term, dynamic nominalism and defend his view by discussing gender and stereotypes.

Labels are everywhere. Whether conscious or subconsciously, they are a fundamental part of our lives. We label together foods, clothing, colours and things that are alike. But what happens when we expand this form of “labelling” to split up types of people? When we assume character traits about those who belong to a certain group, this can intensely affect the way many react in life. Those who are judged for their sexual orientation, gender, income, mental problems etc., may eventually begin to conform to a stereotype that they belong to. In turn, this stereotyping may be the reason for certain people to partake in deviance acts.

Karen Meunier, is the education consult for New Orleans’s Childrens Hospital Ventilator Assisted Care Program (VACP). Mrs. Meunier educated the audience on the history of ventilators. Next, Mrs. Meunier stated the criteria for the children who are enrolled in the Ventilator Assisted Care Program. Overall, these children either have a neuromuscular, brain and/or spinal cord injury, and/or birth related diagnosis. The children in the program live at home in Louisiana, under the age of 26, Medicaid eligible, and require daily mechanical support of respiratory efforts. Lastly, Mrs. Meunier informs the audience about each member in the VACP staff. The VACP staff includes an education consultant, respiratory therapist trainer, two case managers,

“Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk” (Susan Scarf Merrell). Merrell, an American author and a creative writing and literature teacher at Stony Brook Southampton, states that since the early days of your youth to the end of our story our siblings are there throughout our whole journey. Life is similar to a play; parents pass away during the first half; while one’s children come in during the second half; but siblings are there throughout both acts. Tobias Wolff’s, The Rich Brother, portrays the relationship between two brothers that are complete opposites; yet they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else will ever be able. The Rich Brother describes a complex sibling relationship that is fairly common in today’s society; Tobias Wolff makes use of pathos by incorporating real life sibling abuse; and ethos in his own life and credentials.

Though the death of a parent can create deep bruises or permanent scars, that time of agony is often seen as a time of realization. The loss of a parent will help the child to come to realize their love for them. In “A Wall of Fire Rising”, Little Guy cries this tender line from a school play after he witnesses his father’s death: “‘At night I relive once more the last caresses from the hand of a loving father, a valiant love, a beloved friend’” (66). Little Guy’s father was consumed by his yearn for freedom, and he gains his freedom through death at the expense of his wife and only child. Pain that Lili, the wife, and Little Guy experience is a price he was willing to pay because he loved his family and wanted to prove to his son that freedom is

Respiratory therapists have one of the most exciting and gratifying careers within the medical field. Unfortunately as with any other job or career, it doesn’t come without having challenging times. Respiratory therapists work along-side physicians and are highly trained to treat patients with any sort of lung concern or breathing complications. This job requires hands on care, and deals with life and death daily. One specific scope of this field involves caring for patients (of all ages) attached to mechanical ventilation. It is the respiratory therapists’ responsibility to remove assistive ventilation to patients with written order from the doctor; which ultimately results in death of the patient (Keene, Samples, Masini, Byington).

As the great American writer Audre Lorde had voiced, “unless one lives and loves in the trenches, it is difficult to remember that the war against dehumanization is ceaseless.” This demonstrates that the hierarchical standard of an admirable human is not someone who is seen within darkness or dissociation from a social state. People are naturally imposed on wanting to gain an infiltrated categorization of themselves.

Unfortunately, the search for such a new identity all too often proves to be a painful and fruitless odyssey. Yet like the water that's always attracted by gravity, the human soul is constantly and relentlessly evolving—along with the world around it. Thus in the end, we often are left only with ourselves rather than labels and concepts.

The three major life-breathing concerns for a patient is a disruption of the airway, breathing, and circulation. When a patient goes into cardiac arrest due to pre-existing conditions or trauma, an EMT will initiate the steps of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and hopefully using an available automated external defibrillator (AED). However, some patients due to having a terminal illness, age, or personal choice does not want to be resuscitated or have

tender and loving relationship scarred by loss and tragedy. Of the four sons born to them, only one