Youre Admitted! Congratulations!!

Youre Admitted! Congratulations!! Awww yeah! If you’re reading this, it means you just got some really awesome news. Allow me to be the first to say WELCOME TO THE ILLINI FAMILY! This is you right now: This is the entire admissions office right now: Honestly, we are so proud of you because we had one of the most competitive applicant pools we’ve ever had. So take a moment and really let this sink in, because all of your hard workâ€"not only through application season, but also from the past four yearsâ€"has finally paid off. BUT! Now comes another step in the admissions process: what to do after you’re admitted. Don’t fret, Im here to walk you through the process. In fact, if you log into your myIllini account, you’ll get access to your Admitted Student Checklist, which will outline everything you need to do before school starts in the fall. The very first task on the checklist will be to accept or decline your offer of admission. If you’ve visited campus before and you know Illinois is your top school and you’re gung-ho about becoming an Illini, you can accept your offer on the spot and continue the Admitted Student Checklist. However, a lot of students may not be ready to do that yet. I always encourage students to visit a campus before you accept your offer. You can check out our visit options by clicking here. I know many of you might not be able to attend a campus tour or make the trip to campus, and that’s okay! We have Self-Guided Tours and Campus Photo Tours available on our website, too. Once you accept your offer, the next step is to claim your NetID and password. Your NetID and password is what you’ll use throughout your next four years at the university to get access to various campus resources. To do this, you need your Activation Code and University Identification Number (UIN), both of which are available when you log in to myIllini. After you claim your NetID, you’ll have access to the rest of the Admitted Student Checklist. More information will be shared on the checklist, and there will be more for you to complete as we get closer to fall. Through the checklist, you’ll eventually be able to check on your Financial Aid, setup billing/payment options, submit a housing contract, and register for Summer Registration (where you’ll schedule courses). I’m sure you still have a lot questions, because this is a lot of information to process: being admitted, weighing your options, completing next steps, etc. I want to give you a couple more links so you can find any additional information you need. Check out the  Admitted Student page on our website and Zoe’s blog detailing every aspect of the Admitted Student Checklist. As always, feel free to contact me or the Office of Undergraduate Admissions if you have any questions or concerns, and once again, congratulations, future Illini! Danny Admissions Counselor I am originally from New Jersey, but I grew up and graduated high school in the north suburbs of Chicago. I love being an admissions counselor because I get to meet and interact with remarkable students almost every day!

Web Design Certifications - Beginner Through Advanced

So you have become quite the master of web design. Your pages look fabulous and you are pretty sure this is what you want to do for a living. If you are also looking for a way to make your skills stand out in the pile of resumes on the desk of a future employer, then you might want to consider a webmaster certification. There are quite a few web design certifications out there that will test your ability to design, code, and implement web pages and sites. Although many are oriented towards the beginner, there are also a few very advanced certifications that will elevate you to the level of Web Master. Beginner Web Design Certifications Beginner web design certifications focus on page layout, use of graphics, HTML, use of browsers and style sheets. These will start you on the path to more advanced certifications. CIW Associate:Â  The CIW Associate certification only requires one exam. Its referred to as the Foundations exam and must be passed before going on to any other CIW track. The exam covers internet, page authoring, and networking basics. Earning the CIW Associate also qualifies you for the CWP Associate CertificationCWD (Certified Web Designer):Â  The CWD certification is offered by the Association of Web Professionals (AWP). You will need basic internet and design knowledge to pass the single exam. The exam is given online by Jupiter Systems, who are the current sponsors of the AWP. A Web Manager and Technician Certifications are also offered by the AWP. These are more intermediate certs and focus less on design.CAW (Certified Associate Webmaster): The CAW certification is offered by WOW and covers most of the basics with a focus in markup and scripting. One exam is required, costs $125 and is available through VUE.HTML Developer Certificate from W3C:Â  The World Wide Web Consorti um (WC3) is the group that sets the standards for the internet. They offer a basic, 70 question exam that results in a certificate and tests you on HTML, XHTML, and CSS. All the materials needed to study are free on the site so, considering the source and the cost, this is a great choice for a certification.​BCIP (Brainbench Certified Internet Professional):Â  Brainbench offers several good certification preparation exams. In addition, you can apply several of the skills exams to get the BCIP certification. It requires 4 exams in total and a couple of them are free. Most run from $20 to $50, making this a very affordable certification and an excellent way to test your skills in preparation for more advanced certs. Intermediate Web Design Certifications Expect to have knowledge of coding and scripting along with some solid job experience to jump to the intermediate level of certification. AWP (Associate Webmaster Professional): Sponsored by WebYoda, the AWP requires one exam. Exam topics cover Internet Fundamentals, basic and advanced HTML XHTML knowledge, and expertise with CSS.Coldfusion MX Developer Certification: If you have experience with programming languages and one year of working with Coldfusion, you are eligible for this exam. It consists of 66 questions. A score of 80 percent or above will earn you an Advanced Developer Certification.DreamWeaver MX Certification:Â  Proficiency in Dreamweaver plus experience with coding, graphics, and website management will help you with this exam. The exam is 65 questions and you must score 70 percent or better to pass.Flash Certification: Macromedia offers two tracks for the Flash certification: Flash MX Designer and Flash MX Developer. Each requires one 65 question exam. The Designer exam requires knowledge of Flash motion design, optimization, and publishing. The Developer exam requires knowledge of relational databa se design along with one to two years of experience in software development web design.MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist): This certification was created for anyone developing on .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications. You must pass two exams, one focusing on the .NET Framework 2.0 foundational skills and another focusing on Web-based client development. From here you can take one additional exam to obtain the MCPD: Web Developer certification. Advanced Web Design Certifications Advanced certifications will require that you expand your horizons well beyond proficiency in internet and design concepts. Depending on the cert you choose, you will now need to master e-business, marketing, security, management, and more advanced scripting skills. CIW Master:Â  There are several tracks for CIW Master candidates to choose from, including Administrator, Developer, Web Site Manager, and Security Analyst. Each track requires multiple exams on a variety of subjects.CWP:Â  The CWP certification requires that you hold the AWP certification and take one exam. Although training offered by WebYoda (the sponsor of the CWP) is recommended, it is not required. The exam covers web design graphics, e-business concepts, intermediate Java skills, and e-marketing concepts.Global Knowledge Webmaster:Â  This certification is achieved through a serious of lecture and lab classes covering Java (or Perl), advanced web design, databases, and XML development. Want a way to validate your awesome web design skills? Get Certified. So you have become quite the master of web design. Your pages look fabulous and you are pretty sure this is what you want to do for a living. If you are also looking for a way to make your skills stand out in the pile of resumes on the desk of a future employer, then you might want to consider a webmaster certification. There are quite a few web design certifications out there that will test your ability to design, code, and implement web pages and sites. Although many are oriented towards the beginner, there are also a few very advanced certifications that will elevate you to the level of Web Master.

The Case for Rand Paul for President in 2020

Though Rand Pauls bid for the Presidency in 2016 ended after the Iowa Caucuses, he has an opportunity to rebound in 2020. Rand Paul is the libertarian-conservative son of former Texas congressman Ron Paul who retains great appeal as an outsider candidate, the type of candidate that has been successful in Republican primaries in recent years. In his 2010 run for the US Senate, Pauls primary opponent was a hand-picked ally of US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Though his name helped him become a US Senator, Rand Paul would have to prove himself in the years that would follow. By 2016, Paul had even managed to become a strong ally of Mitch McConnell, proving that outsiders and insiders can work together. Seizing on an Opening In the first two years of his political career, Paul was not viewed as a major player in the political world. Fellow rising stars Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida received most of the attention and press and played a larger role in Mitt Romneys presidential campaign. Christie was the early favorite of the more entrenched and moderate politicians and voters, while Rubio was well-liked by everyone, but a clear favorite of the Tea Party. And then something happened: Rand Paul filibustered a nominee to bring attention to the federal governments droning program. Pauls numbers shot up immediately, and he was now gaining an audience. His libertarian-leanings made him a natural spokesperson to promote abolishing the IRS during the tea party targeting scandal and as a privacy advocate during the NSA surveillance scandal. As the Obama administration agreed to intervene in worn-torn Syria - in which that intervention could possibly once again lead to arming terrorist-supporting forces - Pauls opposition was sound. In 2013, nearly every breaking story was starting to play perfectly into Pauls political realm as Rubios ill-advised enforcement-free immigration push led to a quick erosion of conservative support. A Libertarian-Conservative Platform A Rand Paul candidacy could possibly shake up the field like no other candidate outside of, say, Sarah Palin. Paul would likely be the most fierce advocate for federalism and limited government. His states right approach on issues ranging from gay marriage to marijuana legalization is one in which the grassroots of the Republican Party is rushing to following years of being let down by big government Republicanism. Paul would be less prone to agreeing to big government programs out of fear of being attacked by the media. He would also likely have the least interventionist foreign policy of all the candidates. Foreign policy is an area where the Republican party desperately needs to have an honest talk about the United States proper role. After 8 years of what is turning into one foreign policy disaster after the next, 2016 may be the perfect time to have that debate. Too often, Republicans seem too afraid to just say not to supporting interventionist policies. The debate is needed. While Paul leans very libertarian overall, he is not a socially-liberal libertarian. He is very pro-life and has stood up for life. If anyone can make the argument that you dont have to hold Christian beliefs to realize that a life is a life, Paul might be that guy. On Economic policy, he is good on taxes, subsidies, and opposing crony capitalism. He is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment. He joined fellow tea party star Ted Cruz in opposing the Rubio immigration plan. Does Paul have flaws? Of course. But he is firmly entrenched on the liberty and freedom side of the GOP, perhaps more-so than any other potential candidate. Electability Which brings us to the most important question: is Rand Paul electable? While Paul became a viable US Senate candidate mostly because of who is father was, he is in many ways very different than his father. His father was never taken seriously by most observers. Whether it was his larger-than-reality personality or some of the positions he took (and the way he explained them), Ron Paul was just never a mainstream kind of candidate. Rand Paul is different on many levels. Paul is more measured in his approach. He is naturally gifted in debating points that most conservatives wouldnt touch. He knows how to pick his battles and knows how to not step into a trap. As a politician, Rand Paul is proving to be vastly superior to his father. His appeal can also be broad. He is now a grassroots conservative favorite, though he lost the battle of outsider to both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in 2016. He has had some trouble convincing the more interventionist crowd on his foreign policy, and would need to work on that portion of his platform before launching another bid. His argument does have some appeal: We are tired of funding nations run by people who hate us; We are tired of arming rebels who wind up being more extreme than the people we wanted overthrown, and then get attacked with our own weapons. Obama ran on change in foreign policy and has been no less interventionist or check-write happy than any of his predecessors. Rand Paul needs to find the right balance on foreign policy that both adheres to his beliefs and exhibits strength and resolve when necessary. Then there is the youth factor. In 2012, Mitt Romney won with people over 30, but overwhelmingly lost the 29-and-under crowd. While Ron Paul did not have broad support, he did have a lot of support with younger people. Rand Paul has positioned himself against both the Obama Administration and entrenched Republicans like John McCain on the governments US citizen data-mining programs. Paul even threatened a class-action lawsuit with the American people over that surveillance. His libertarian and hands off view of government can actually appeal to the age brackets that overwhelmingly supported Obama, and who have gradually become disenchanted with the direction he has taken. Rand Pauls electability is enhanced because he might have the best chance of persuading the age bracket the GOP does worst with.

Essay on Is Diversity The Solution to Affirmative Action

IS DIVERSITY THE SOLUTION TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Equal employment practices, in many organizations, have been established through affirmative action programs. These programs were created by government mandate to create a fair and non-discriminatory working environment in organizations. The need for affirmative action was recognized as early as the 1940’s, as a concept, based on the racial diversity of our country. The goal was the redistribution of opportunities on the basis of race. Now as we approach the 21st century, affirmative action seems to be a dying issue, legally and otherwise. The fact still remains that we have a racially and culturally diverse population, here in the United States, and something has to take the place of†¦show more content†¦When affirmative action was established assumptions were made as to the benefits of initiating programs. Joseph Coleman (1997) agree, that the organization and the individuals would benefit and advances of productivity would make it all worth while in the long run ( p. 259). Programs established under the heading of affirmative action have been under close scrutiny for years, and have recently come under fire from many arenas, as being discriminatory toward the dominant race, specifically White males. It is also believed that affirmative action gives preferences to unqualified individuals. Eastland (1996) says, Affirmative action has turned out to be a bargain with the devil, (p. 7). The federal and state laws that pushed implementation of affirmative action programs, did not dictate that quotas be set, but stressed that individuals be judged by their qualifications---meaning skills, knowledge, talent and experience---rather than by their gender, race or national origin. Affirmative action was meant to be an inclusionary action, not an exclusionary one, such as racism. The intent of affirmative action was to bring equality of opportunity to all Americans no matter what their endeavors were. There has been great difficulty in measuring the effects of affirmative action programs over the years. Even though the average of African-Americans and minorities, thatShow MoreRelatedAffirmative Action Is The Perfect Plan1173 Words   |  5 PagesAffirmative Action On March 6th, 1955, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 10925 enforcing that government corporations not discriminate against anyone based off their race and skin color. This became â€Å"positive† discrimination otherwise known as affirmative action. Affirmative action is a method benefiting anyone who have experienced discrimination particular to one’s education and/ or employment (Affirmative Action). In today’s age affirmative action is creating â€Å"reverse racism† dueRead MoreDiversity Management Focuses On The Heterogeneity Inside The Organizations1315 Words   |  6 PagesDiversity management focuses on the heterogeneity inside the organizations. Diversity management was a response to the common situation when companies started to hire employees of various age, nationality, race, religion etc. It is based on the principle that the differences between people do not have to prevent them from working together. This is directly connected with the concept of ethical behavior. Generally ethics is defined as a moral code which is accepted in a concrete society, thoughRead MoreAffirmative Actions Have Consequences Essay example1219 Words   |  5 Pagesthe scene. Fisher’s lawyer argued against affirmative action on the grounds of unfair treatment. Some sided with Abigail, but all those who opposed her case said nothing about affirmative action as a means to increase fairness; their only claims stressed the importance of diversity in a university setting (Leonhardt 1). The Supreme Court is getting more and more appeals for cases concerning what seems to be a growing and important issue. Affirmative action is defined as a policy or program for correctingRead More The Ineffectiveness of Affirmative Action in Establishing Diversity1394 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ineffectiveness of Affirmative Action in Establishing Diversity People generally agree that diversity is beneficial to college campuses. In 1978, in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, the Supreme Court decided that race could be used as a factor in deciding college admissions - setting a precedent for the use of affirmative action (Lane A1). Justice Lewis Powell, who belonged to the majority opinion, cited diversity as the primary reason behind his decision. He acknowledgedRead More Affirmative Action needs to be Changed not Ended Essay1321 Words   |  6 PagesAffirmative action: Should it be mended or ended? Affirmative action is an attempt to correct unequal distribution of benefits (status, income and wealth, power and authority), and burdens associated with ethnic and gender differences. Affirmative action has been promoted by the Federal government since the mid 1960s, when president Lyndon B. Johnson ordered federal contractors to adopt affirmative action plans. (Congress and the Nation, 748). This paper will focus on the relevance of affirmativeRead More The Affirmative Action Debate Essay1642 Words   |  7 PagesFor the sake of this essay, affirmative action in education is defined as: â€Å"policies and programs designed to advance equality of educationalopportunity for individuals from groups that have suffered systematic historical discrimination† (Mickelson 29). What is being referred to here is race-based affirmative action, or the act of taking into consideration an applicant’s race in the college admissions process. This is a hot topic all over the United St ates and has been for quite a while, the debateRead MoreAffirmative Action : An Controversial Government Policy917 Words   |  4 PagesTemple Duarte Affirmative action has become one of the most controversial government policies in modern history. Especially in college admissions, affirmative action requires the use of quotas, which results in recruiting members of an underrepresented group rather than the most qualified for the job or university. Is affirmative action really the best solution to making sure minorities are gaining the educational opportunities they need? In its original form, Affirmative Action was designed toRead MoreAffirmative Action : Equal Employment Opportunity1004 Words   |  5 PagesWilliams 1 Kyle D. Williams Ms. Denk Honors English 9 12 May 2017 Research Paper In 1961, president John F Kennedy issued an executive order which created the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity and funded new actions to bring about â€Å"affirmative action† in eliminating racial bias in employment. In 1969 President Richard Nixon created the Philidelphia Order, a plan to make sure fair hiring was enforced. Initially, these acts were meant to correct past mistakes, and the opportunities were similarRead MoreRacial Inequality And Affirmative Action900 Words   |  4 Pagesbarriers, President John F. Kennedy created the affirmative action program to provide equal opportunities for everyone, whether in education or in the workforce. Even if this was a program created in the 1960’s, problems continue to present itself as shown through the many court cases, such as Brown vs. Board of Education, Fisher vs. University of Texas, Grutter vs. Bollinger et al, and Hopwood vs. State of Texas. Thus, racial inequality and affirmative action continues to b e a controversial topic evenRead MoreImposing Affirmative Action in El Paso Essay669 Words   |  3 Pages Imposing Affirmative Action in El Paso Have you ever applied for a job knowing that you are more than qualified for the position? But somehow you remain overlooked by someone who is bilingual, and perhaps less qualified. Well I have, predominantly here in El Paso. El Paso, a city constantly growing with more: schools, hospitals, and jobs; Where many have flourished in these endeavors. However people who are not bilingual seems to be excluded in these opportunities. But instead of remaining

The European Enlightenment Essay Research Paper Western free essay sample

The European Enlightenment Essay, Research Paper Western Civilization The European Enlightenment Researchers show the European Enlightenment came approximately as the consequence of the new natural scientific discipline thoughts of Isaac Newton, the political and societal theories of great minds like Hobbes, and the psychological science of John Locke. Much of Newton # 8217 ; s thought comes from the 13th century scientific discipline of work forces like Galileo, Copernicus, and Kepler. Hobbes # 8217 ; s political and societal theories can be traced back to the Northern Renaissance, and the psychological science of Locke comes from the fifteenth and 16th centuries. There were many contradictory bends in the seventeenth and 18th centuries, foremost, with the overthrow of the monarchy in the 17th century and its replacing by a democracy, followed later in the century by a diminished monarchy. By the terminal of the 17th century England would see the a loss of the sovereign # 8217 ; s powers in England # 8217 ; s # 8220 ; Glorious Revolution. We will write a custom essay sample on The European Enlightenment Essay Research Paper Western or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page # 8221 ; The seventeenth and 18th centuries saw the development of # 8220 ; absolute # 8221 ; monarchies and a more tightly-centralized national authorities. Many historiographers regard the growing of the # 8220 ; absolute monarchy # 8221 ; as the beginning of the modern province. Because this growing in absolute and centralised power of the authorities and the monarchy, this age is called the # 8220 ; Age of Absolutism # 8221 ; ( 1660-1789 ) , get downing with Louis XIV and stoping with the Gallic Revolution. Crisiss and calamities chiefly motivated tyranny of the sixteenth and 17th centuries. Absolute monarchies were originally proposed as a solution to the bloody civil and spiritual wars break outing as a consequence of the Reformation. These absolutists argued several of import functions of the national authorities should entirely be in the custodies of the sovereign: the armed forces, judicial system, and revenue enhancement aggregation. Powers such as these usually belonged to the nobility and local authorities now required the formation of a national civil bureaucratism that merely answered to the male monarch. This bureaucratism had to stand against powerf ul forces opposing the male monarch such as the church and aristocracy every bit good as other parts. In order to centralise the disposal of the province, the authorities had to develop ways to take the political authorization off from nobility. The sovereign that to the full grasp and developed these absolutist rules was that of Louis XIV who ruled France from 1643 to 1715. The reign of Louis XIV is considered the beginning of the modern province. Many states and leaders turned to him as a theoretical account of this new authorities. Here, the armed forces was under the direct control of the authorities and a national revenue enhancement aggregation in which revenue enhancements went straight to the national authorities instead than go throughing through regional aristocracy. However, after decennaries of bloodshed over faith made it clear that political integrity could merely be a dream unless spiritual integrity was foremost achieved. To make a solution, Louis, a Roman Catholic himself, actively worked to acquire rid of the Protestant Huguenots, Quietists, and the Jansenists. Louis # 8217 ; s menace as he saw it was that of the Protestant Huguenots. He destroyed their churces, burnt their schools and forced Protestants under fright of imprisonment or decease to change over to Catholicism. Rene Descartes, in the 17th century, attempted to utilize ground to procure his religion. He tried to unclutter everything and get down with a clean slate with the bare lower limit of cognition: fundamentally that merely of his ain being. ( # 8221 ; I think, therefore I am # 8221 ; ) . It was from this point that he tried to ground his manner to a complete defence of Christianity. Logic could be a powerful avenue to truth, and it entirely defended all sorts of absurd impressions. The 17th century was torn with witch-hunts and spiritual wars. Led by minds like John Locke and David Hume, great Britian developed its ain enlightenment. After beheading the male monarch, the monarchy was restored, this experience created an openness toward alteration. Because England had gotten its revolution out of the manner early, it was much more able to continue swimmingly toward democracy.

Launching a Mass Media Campaign free essay sample

This seemed very attractive to revolving prime customers. Low interest rates are always attractive to revolvers than transactors. Previously subprime customers were ignored and Capital One is offering products to them which were not available earlier. Further Capital One didn’t rely on reward programs or partner in Canada. Reward programs are generally desired by super prime costumers. What do they think about the brand now? Up until now, Canadians primarily knew Capital One as a price player. But because of U. S. dvertising spillover few of them are aware of it as â€Å"great value without the hassle. † What should they think after seeing the ad? The target audience should feel that Capital One offers a great value and hassle free transactions. Subprime customers should be able to feel that they are no longer ignored and new offers have come for them and that they can also have credit cards now. We will write a custom essay sample on Launching a Mass Media Campaign or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Prime revolvers should be able to think of replacing their primary card with Capital One because of its low cost or other rewards. Others should feel Capital One is more convenient and it offers better service than other banks. Proposition/ USP? * Offering the lowest rates in the country, much below its competitors * Constantly provide new products to perfectly align to the needs of select customers Substantiation In print ads, substantiation can be done by comparing different credit card services as shown in Exhibit 10. This will help customers in evaluating different offers. In mass media they can say that they are offering the lowest rates in the country. Tone of Voice: The tone should be humorous, creative and musical. In the test scores of their ads it was found than branding, enjoyment, unique/interesting are the top three features required. â€Å"Hands in Pocket† campaign was very effective for Canadian market. At that time top5 Canadian banks charged high rates of around 20% and Capital One offered lowest rate in the country. This ad shows that the Big 5 Canadian banks constantly have their ‘hands in the consumer’s pocket’. It made lot of sense to the customers. Also to appeal to their love for music the tuned were composed by a Toronto composer. The tune became viral soon after its release. Campaign Requirements: * Create brand image for long term goals of influencing customer satisfaction and behavior * Since there is similarity in products offered, brand personality is particularly important for long term success * Needs to be creative and include power idea, inherent drama and music(use of jingles) * Should be visually arresting, reward the customers, unexpected and with clarity

Drugs in My Neighborhood

Drugs in My Neighborhood The suppression of Drug abuse is arguably one of the most pressing concerns of governments and communities all over the world. In United States, the number of people involved in drug abuse is constantly rising at an alarming rate. The mere existence of such habits in America is shocking since its states are characterized by having elaborate law enforcement, above average education and healthcare systems which are in place to ensure that majority of the population have access to these social amenities when they need them. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Drugs in My Neighborhood specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the inequitable distribution and inefficiency of such facilities has contributed highly to the moral decadence being experienced in most parts of America. In a bid to explore the various impacts that are brought about by drug abuse, I took it upon myself to investigate the various aspects that could have contributed to drug abuse in my neighborhood (Flushing, New York). The data utilized in this research is quantitative in nature and I collected it through various interviews that I carried out in different parts of the neighborhood. The questions asked during the interviews were formulated in such a way that they could help establish the reasons as to how the targeted participants got caught up in drug abuse, why they did it, the effects that developed from their habits and how they managed to recover from their addiction. This paper shall therefore bring to light the causes and effects of drug abuse in Flushing, New York as portrayed through the interviews. The underlying factors that have contributed to this vice shall be uncovered and recommendations on possible solutions offered. My neighborhood Flushing is among the largest neighborhoods in New York City. Founded in 1645, the neighborhood has grown and today, it is the most diversified area in New York. As such, i t is home to numerous people with different ethnical backgrounds. It is well maintained and has all the necessary social amenities such as schools, hospitals and recreational centers. However, just like any other neighborhood, Flushing is characterized by incidences of crime, gang related feuds, drug abuse and gross misconduct especially among the youth. These immoral attributes makes this neighborhood a force to reckon with. Drug abuse in Flushing Drug abuse in Flushing is relatively high due to the large number of people living within the neighborhood. Most of the people living in the area lead an average life with little to no money to spend. Unemployment rates are high especially among the Youth and low incomes are common in a considerable percentage of the people who dwell in this constituency. Siegel Welsh (2008) reiterates that the constant use of drugs have been linked to psychological factors that affect the individuals. Advertising Looking for research paper on h ealth medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These factors include: stress, depression and anxiety. The fact that life is becoming harder each day has been used by many abusers in this community as an excuse to drug abuse. Many claim that the use of drugs presents them with an effective coping mechanism in times of hardships. In the course of my research about drug abuse in my neighborhood, I managed to meet and interview different people who had experienced the effects of drug at some point in their lives. I targeted individuals who were recovering or had recovered from drug abuse. My decision was based on the fact that such individuals were more than willing to share their experiences with other people as a means of redemption and personal healing. As such, the testimonials used in the compilation of this study were consensual and directly recorded through the interviews. My first interview was on the 21st of April 20 10. On this day, I interviewed an alcoholic who had suffered greatly under the influence of cheap liquor and drugs. He sadly narrated how he had a strong family, a stable job and was respected by many in the neighborhood. However, things turned for the worst after he got retrenched from his office. He claimed that he had been unemployed for five years after loosing his job as an architect. In addition to this, he had three children and a nagging housewife. During the interview, he stated that: â€Å"I normally left the house early in the morning and went to a local bar where I spent the whole day with my new friends†, he says. â€Å"I became such a regular that I often drunk on credit, borrowed money from friends and paid back the debt. The thought of going back home was such a stressor that I opted to spend more time at the pub. When I finally got back home, I always took some sleeping pills to help calm my nerves.† His wife recalls how for seven years that her husb and came home drunk, moody and soaked in urine. â€Å"At times, he beat me so violently that I had to be hospitalized†, she says. She further acclaims that their children were afraid of him and despised him for his actions. Research has it that children brought up in an environment where alcohol consumption is common, end up using it too (McKenzie, 2007). For example, a child brought up in a family where the father is a drunkard is more likely to start drinking than a child brought up in a home where the parents do not drink. On the 24th of April 2010, I had another interview with yet another alcoholic. Her testimonial was a clear revelation on how parental negligence may be detrimental to the social and psychological welfare of the children. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Drugs in My Neighborhood specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More During the interview, she had this to say; â€Å"both my parents we re alcoholics throughout my childhood. They were never concerned about how my brother and I spend our day nor the activities that we were involved in. we started by stealing small amounts of alcohol from their stash. It seemed like harmless fun at first but it got worse as we joined high school. Our parents had such a large pile of alcoholic beverages that we could afford to steal some and sell to other students at school†, says a young girl in Flushing whose brother died of a drug overdose three years ago. â€Å"We were out on a party at a friends place. I had no idea that my brother was doing hard drugs. Late at night, I heard someone scream from upstairs. I ran up the stairs only to find my brother lying down on the floor stiff, his lips all dried up and foam was oozing off his mouth†, she laments. After the burial, she ran away from home and joined her friends on the streets. However, life on the street was not any better. Since she had no income, she resulted into prostitution as a means of survival on the streets as well as a way to sustain her habits. â€Å"I once had an abortion and still went back to the profession. A few months later, I was pregnant yet again but I went through with the pregnancy and gave birth to a baby girl. I ran out of the hospital after three days leaving the kid behind†, she says. It took her two years to sober up after a near death experience while using heroine. â€Å"I was taken to a rehab where I recovered from my drug problem. Up to date, I blame my parents for what happened to us. I have lost my child due to mistakes that could have been prevented; if only my parents took their responsibility accordingly†, she adds. Evidently, environmental factors do play a pivotal role towards molding our character. From this interview, it was clear that the environment through which these children grew up provided them with an avenue through which they got involved in drug abuse. In addition to this, lack of money and other basic necessities out in the streets worsened the situation. Peer pressure and poverty have also played a pivotal role in the emergence of drug abuse in Flushing. On the 27th of April 2010, I headed down to ‘Kissena’ street where I had a chance to interview a member of the â€Å"Bloods† gang. During the interview, he narrated that: â€Å"I dropped out of school in high school because my mom claimed that she could not afford to feed us and pay for our tuition fees. With nothing much to do in the neighborhood, I started hanging out with my friends on the blocks and I finally got recruited into one of the most notorious gangs in the neighborhood†, he asserts. Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It was so cool; I had money trickling in from the robberies and drug sales, a constant supply of drugs and girls. Also, I was told to oversee the drug supply and deals that went down in my neighborhood and our territories in other places’, he claims. He confesses that as a marketing strategy, he would sell drugs to kids in school and coarse people in the community forcing them to fear and respect him. This went on for a while until he was shot on his way home at night. â€Å"I was so high that I never felt the bullet hit me. After waking up the following morning, I realized that I was in the hospital handcuffed to my bed. The cop claimed that he found drugs in my jacket and I had to go down for that†, he narrated. After three weeks in jail, he was let out and went back to the street where his gang members were armed to the tooth ready for retaliation against the rival gang responsible for his shooting. He further asserts that the use of drugs made them feel invincible and fueled their anger. He insists that if he were sober, he never would have signed up for that suicide mission which saw five of his friends die in the shootout. In addition to this, he claims that poverty, greed and peer pressure are the core reasons as to why most of the youth in Flushing indulge themselves in drug abuse and gang violence. On the same day, another girl involved with a gang claimed that lack of education and proper guidance on matters pertaining to drugs were among the reasons she became a junkie. â€Å"I never finished school and my boyfriend at times took me out to parties where I was introduced to marijuana. The feeling was so relaxing and at times helped me relax and think clearly. I was later introduced to Heroine which I was told was better than anything else I had ever used. Thinking that I would stop if I didn’t like it, I got hooked. After a while, my boyfriend dumped me for another girl. I had to do what I had to do to get a fix†, she c omments. She quit using and went to a rehab recently when her daughter was taken by child protection services as a result of child neglect. She told me that she is reforming her life so that she can have her baby back. Low self esteem and alienation especially among the youth has also played a part in the promotion of drug abuse (Siegel Welsh, 2008). In an interview with a girl from a private high school in Flushing, I realized that some girls end up abusing prescription drugs so that they can fit in with the popular crowd. The truth to this statement was further strengthened by an interview I conducted on the 28th of April 2010. The victim who is a young girl in high school had this to say; â€Å"I was recently released from a rehab where I spent four weeks recovering from my addiction. I was hooked up on dietary pills which I used to check on my weight. Life in high school is so tough and the only way you can get through those years is by being at par with the current trends an d being recognized by the popular kids. I started taking the pills a while back when my friends advised me that they were the best in handling my weight. After a while, I could take them even without eating and I started passing out on a regular basis. My mom took me to the hospital where she was told that drug treatments were not advisable and I had to be rehabilitated in order to detoxify†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ said the patient. On the same note, the availability of illicit drugs has increased tremendously. Dale Marsh (2000) assert that the number of establishments licensed to sell alcohol in New York is very high. In addition to this, the low prices at which these drugs are being sold makes them affordable even to the younger generations a fact that further facilitates the continual abuse of drugs in Flushing. Additionally, the authors suggests that the indulgence of alcohol and drug abuse by underage individuals is brought about by the fact that they can easily buy these drinks at th e stores or have other people buy for them. Also, opportunities to use have been increased in school settings through keg parties and other social events which encourage the individuals to use freely without fear of consequences. However, the local law enforcement agencies in conjunction with the concerned community members have put forward efforts which aim at educating, minimizing and prosecuting drug abuse offenders. In addition to this, non governmental organizations have also stepped into the campaign against drug abuse and have helped in establishing more schools, rehab centers and recreational areas where the youth can get assistance or avoid the chances of being drawn into the vice. In addition o this, the police in Flushing are working extra hard to ensure that all gangs are eliminated and those responsible for drug peddling face justice. If more initiatives are implemented, then Flushing will go back to be an iconic neighborhood viewed with admiration by other neighborhoo ds within New York. Conclusion There is dire need for the mitigation of drug abuse in our communities. The vice not only threatens our future but also our ability to be more productive in our societies. From the research findings, it is evident that this vice is targeting the youth who are ignorant and more susceptible to its influences. The various factors that have contributed to its prevalence in Flushing, New York have been identified and their effects analyzed. Recommendations have also been made on how best this problem can be countered. If more efforts are put by the authorities responsible, this neighborhood will yet again be a safe and drug free zone for the generations to come. References Dale, A. Marsh, A. (2000) Evidenced Based Practice Indicators for Alcohol and Other Drug Interventions: Literature Review. Perth: Best Practice in Alcohol and Other Drug Interventions Working Group. McKenzie, J. (2007). An Introduction to Community Health. USA: Jones Bartlett Learning. Siegel, L, J Welsh, B, C. (2008). Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law. USA: Cengage Learning.