Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Impact And Issues With Volunteering Role - 1309 Words

Impact and issues with volunteering role There was a noticeable impact on the patients form both my personal observations as well as the comments of the nursing staff in charge. Patients looked forward to the visits from both me and my fellow volunteers and were on the whole extremely grateful for the services we provided. The nursing staff also had their burden eased as they could leave the non-medical parts of the patient care to us so they had more focus on the patient’s medical care. I was often thanked by the nursing staff so I believe that there was a positive impact. I also observed many of the patients that I interacted with regaining their health and eventually being discharged as they become fit to live independently again and although the majority of this should attributed to medical intervention I believe a small amount of this can be attributed to the volunteers who helped maintain the mental and overall wellbeing of the patients. However, the impact from my volunteering is unlikely to be sustained outside of the hospital setting as the nature of the volunteering I did meant that I helped those who were acutely unwell and staying in hospital. Once they had been discharged and regained their usual functionality in day to day activities my interaction with them was at an end. I was able to build a strong relationship with a few of the patients though and it is my hope that some of those patients will remember me even when they are back to their normal lives, whichShow MoreRelatedBuilding Effective Service Learning Programs in Local Communities1387 Words   |  6 Pageshaving a positive impact on adolescents by counselors and educators, but it is important to identify potential issues with effective service learning. (Middleton Kelly, 1996). One of the biggest issues stems from a lack of facilitation on the larger social issues involved with community service. When there is a proper forum to discuss the experie nces they receive while volunteering, students are given a chance to understand how policies and civic involvement play a direct role in the lives of peopleRead MoreThe Importance Of Benefits Of Skills- Based Volunteering Essay1436 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the most important benefits of skills- based volunteering is the ability to build leadership skills. During a student’s college career, leadership development is taught through a traditional classroom setting, which teaching what are crucial leadership skills and what theories are out there. With only 25 College of Business registered student organizations, there is also a limited number of ways to gain leadership positions in the College of Business. Therefore, there is only a limited numberRead MoreVolunteering At The Boys Girls Club923 Words   |  4 Pages Volunteer project For the volunteer project, I decided to volunteer at the Boys Girls Club. Volunteering at the Boys Girls Club has been a great experience. Interacting with the children’s and trying to get to know them little by little has been real nice. Each child is unique in their own way. During my experience volunteering I noticed a couple things that related to what we learned in sociology. Its really hard not to relate anything to sociology anymore; everything seems to be connectedRead MorePersuasive Speech About Volunteer1448 Words   |  6 PagesGetter: imagen being able to be 12% happier by sampling helping others? according to a study in Social Science and Medicine which was supported by Harvard University in 2014, When researchers at the London School examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of American adults, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were 12%, Compared with people who never volunteered 7%. B. Purpose Statement: So, Today I’m going to persuade you to volunteerRead MoreBoys Girls Club Of Kern County1529 Words   |  7 PagesPossible teen program. However, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the organization structure, personnel, budget and finance, and the strategic plan of the after school program offered by this organization. Additionally, this paper will analyze the issues related to each of the factors discussed and provide useful solutions. The paper was made possible due to the coordination with Ana Martinez, who is the site director for the Niles Street Clubhouse. Organization Structure The organizational structureRead MorePersonal Journal: Past Experiences Shaping Future Career and Life1500 Words   |  6 Pages Understanding the impact of past experiences, the resulting feelings and beliefs and the resulting impact on how individuals view the world effects the way individuals in a social work perspective approach practice (Chenoweth Mcauliffe, 2005). Gambrill (2005) argues about the importance of self-knowledge in understanding an individuals own strengths and limitations, while Thompson (2000) expanded on this idea including understanding how the use of self impacts on theory and knowledge. This essayRead MoreAn Organization For A Volunteer Program1036 Words   |  5 PagesLeadership, which in turn impacts the Economic Development of the community and society at large. Let me begin with Volunteerism, Volunteering is an essential quality an organization or institution can and should exhibit, another way of getting residences involved in their community. This is the true definition of having and giving the[a] community a chance to have a say or be involved in an action that may and/or will benefit their community at large. Volunteering as seen through my own experiencesRead More Mellsy’s Outline for Research Paper1560 Words   |  7 PagesMellsy’s Outline for Research Paper Have you ever thought about volunteering your time to a local charity or community organization? There are many different reasons for you to start volunteering your services: To help others, to learn about an activity or organization that interests you, to beat boredom if you find yourself sitting around the house feeling totally bored, volunteering in an activity you enjoy can be a great way to change things, to overcome a loss you have experienced one ofRead MoreHow I Feel A College Education873 Words   |  4 Pageseducation would make a difference not only in my life but in my community. I would expand my horizons to be a role model and help those in my great Latino community. By helping them get the help they need from doctors to tutors and psychologist that’ll help them maintain the inspiration to continue their education. By showing them how going to school and getting a college education can impact their lives for the better. By providing my Latino community with the resources and help that’ll they need canRead MoreSample Resume : Soft Skills1175 Words   |  5 PagesSoft Skills in Workplace Volunteering and Internships Carrie Priest MGT300 –Principles of Management Colorado State University – Global Campus Melinda Curley October 16, 2016 Soft Skills in Workplace Volunteering and Internships In this paper I will explore the four soft skills I have selected that are important to my mentorship opportunity and how these soft skills would positively impact my mentorship experience. I am currently involved in the Leadership Mentor Program at work where senior

Case 5-2 Lexsteel Corporation Free Essays

What should the controller of Lexsteel do in order to address the potential problems within the corporation? †¢The controller became aware of the potential problems with the accounts payable system because of the discussion made with the external auditors. †¢Each branch manager is given the authority to order materials and issue emergency purchase orders directly to the vendors. †¢Physical counts of raw materials are not performed since there is a cost-effective computerized perpetual inventory system. We will write a custom essay sample on Case 5-2: Lexsteel Corporation or any similar topic only for you Order Now †¢COMPUTER RESOURCES: The host computer mainframe at corporate headquarters is linked to the computers at each branch locations. Data transmission occurs between leased telephone lines between host computer and branch offices wherein it is maintained in an integrated database. The software also allows flexibility for managing user access and editing data input meaning there is no control over the software for it allows data editing without the proper authorization given. †¢PURCHASING PROCEDURES: The production orders and appropriate bills of materials needed are generated by the host computer at corporate headquarters. While the purchase orders for raw materials are generated by the purchasing function and is mailed to the vendors which contain an instruction to the vendor that the materials should be directly delivered to the manufacturing plant. There is a control between the generation of production orders needed and the purchase orders issued to the vendor but it is not an exception in the occurrence of fraud. At receipt, the manufacturing plant examines and verifies the count against the packing slip and transmits the receiving data to the accounts payable at corporate headquarters. Even though there is a proper segregation between custody and recording, still fraud may occur because of collusion. Also, each branch manager is given the authority to order materials and issue emergency purchase orders directly to the vendors. Fraud may also occur if collusion will be made by the branch manager and the vendor, with that proper control is a must. Since the company employs a cost effective computerized perpetual inventory system, physical counts of raw materials are not performed. With that, the generation of production orders and purchase orders may be deceived because the count of raw materials that are needed are not matched with the proper physical count on its ending inventory. †¢ACCOUNTS PAYABLE PROCEDURES: Vendor invoices are mailed directly to the corporate headquarters and entered by the accounts payable personnel when received. This often occurs before the branch offices transmit the receiving data so the recorded vendor invoices are not properly matched with the receiving report. Uncertainties of amount may exist. The checks and the payment listings are made by the accounts payable function and are transmitted to the treasurer’s office for signature and mailing to the payee. After validation, payment listings are returned to the accounts payable section for filing. In here, there is no proper control in the preparation and validation of checks and payment listings for the verification of it is not done which may result into collusion and creation of dummy payee made by the treasurer’s office and the accounts payable function. How to cite Case 5-2: Lexsteel Corporation, Papers

Male Vanity free essay sample

Examines the growing market for a variety of male health and beauty products. Men today will do many things to keep up a good appearance that in the past they would have considered too feminine or otherwise wrong for men to pursue. Men are working harder to make themselves look younger, stronger, more powerful, and healthier. This is part of a general trend in which all people are more interested in health, exercise, and youth, things that our whole society sees as important. Men are going to great lengths to give themselves a better appearance. One way to see how important this has become for men is to look into the way men are buying certain products to add to their appearance and their health. One observer writes, As the bulk of the male baby boomers approach 50, now more than ever, men are examining their options for looking as fit and healthy as possible. We will write a custom essay sample on Male Vanity or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page While it

Friday, May 1, 2020

Employment Relations Australian Financial Review

Question: Discuss about theEmployment Relations for Australian Financial Review. Answer: Introduction The current report is based on the changes that should be made to Better Off Overall Test. The Fair Work Commission when determining whether to approve a proposed enterprise agreement applies this test. The test is conducted on the basis of the relevant modern award that covers employees that could be covered by the proposed the enterprise agreement. As put forward by Angwin (2017), BOOT requires each award-covered employee as well as each prospective award-covered employee should be better off under the agreement. It is also identified that BOOT develops award conditions that need to be traded off. An agreement passes the better off overall test if Fair Work Commission Australia is satisfied that each award covered employee as well as each prospective award covered employee could be better off overall if they were employed under the agreement instead of the under the relevant modern award (Bray 2014). Fair Work Commission Australia could be able to investigate the cases of employees in implementing the better off overall test. However, as the corporate environment has been dynamic, the policies of Fair Work Commission need to be changed. By evaluating the effectiveness of current policies, a set of suggestions have been provided. Background The Better off overall test is a principle in Australian organizations agreements that need employees are better off under the agreement than if the significant award applied. The Fair Work Commission considered the application of BOOT regarding its application to every single employee or to majority of workers. As put forward by Clark, Taylor and Oakes (2016), the Fair Work Commission discarded a proposed enterprise agreement for Coles Supermarket because it did not pass the better off overall test. When the regulations require that each work should be better off the under an organizational agreement than the award, Fair Work Commission might not be satisfied if a majority of employees will be better off. Thus, a state of disagreement and controversy has been observed between the Fair Work Commission and the employers (Fair Work Commission 2017). It is possible for Fair Work Commission to approve an agreement that does not fulfill the requirement of BOOT, but only in some limited ca ses where the tribunal considers that approval of the agreement is not contrary to the public interest (Hannan 2016). Aim of the Report The aim of the report is to evaluate the effectiveness of Better Off Overall Test and provide suggestions to improve the Test. Thereby, considering this particular aim, the report focuses on the current effectiveness of the test because of which the employers and employees are in the consistent controversy. Scope of the Report The report only focuses on the current effectiveness of BOOT and based on the analysis, it provides suitable strategies that increase the efficiency of the test. However, Fair Work Commission in Australia has certain issues with the Better off test but the report does not include those issues. Discussion BOOT and its introduction The better off overall test is implemented by Fair Work Commission to judge the effectiveness of the proposed enterprise system. This test is significant as it is developed on the basis of relevant modern award that includes workers that need to be covered by the proposed enterprise system. It includes each award-covered worker as well as each potential award-covered to better off under the agreement. In order to decrease the level of inefficiency and flaws in the employment policy, the Fair Work Commission has introduced BOOT. According to the principles of Fair Work Commission, the enterprise agreement must pass the better off test (Fair Work Commission 2016). Thereby, the Commission accepts the terms of the enterprise agreement or the outcome of the Test, each award-covered employee must be better off under the agreement in comparison with the relevant modern award. The Commission in Australia has shown its concern regarding the pay rates for junior as well as casual employees in the agreement. BOOT Applied to Coles The department of Fair Work Commission disapproved the proposed enterprise agreement for Coles Supermarket due, since it did not pass the better off overall test. As per the regulations, each employee should be better off under an enterprise agreement instead of the award. The organization Coles tried to minimize the penalty rates as well as compensate for the deduction via entitlements. The enterprise argued that by increasing the standard rate to a certain extent and providing other significant benefits. As per the regulation, the company has to compensate its employees adequately for the loss of wages. According to department of Fair Work Commission, the contingent leave entitlements depended on a particular employee availing that leave benefit. In several cases, these contingent entitlement might not properly compensate for the clear as well as unambiguous deduction in wages at the time of penalty rate periods (Hannan 2016). Eventually, the Fair Work Commission in Australia advis ed Coles to reapply for the acceptance of revised enterprise agreement once the company identified these deficiencies. Thereby, while reapplying for the approval of new enterprise system, Coles developed undertakings to meet the criteria of Commissions concern with an undertaking of giving employees a right to ask for a reconciliation to check employees wages in roster criteria is larger than what will be entitled to receive. Based on the undertakings provided by the company Coles, the newly proposed agreement was further approved (Oakes and Clark 2016). Thereafter, according to the criteria, an individual employee sough leaves to appeal the accepted decision on certain grounds that should include the following The agreement did not fulfill the criteria of BOOT and the non-monetary benefits under the agreement seem to be unacceptable to offset a negative wage outcome A clause dealing with the pay rates for part-time workers who accepted additional hours developed a clear detrimental to part time workers The reconciliation technique undertaking considered by Coles is only triggered on the demand of a worker In spite of the objection of Coles, Fair Work Commission agreed to the appeal mentioning the core significance of assuring that the agreement meets the criteria of BOOT considering the significant number of workers, who might be disallowed from the benefits if BOOT is not properly passed. The Fair Commission Work has decided that Coles did not meet the criteria of BOOT and the company was given a particular deadline to deliver fresh undertaking to identify the concerns of the Commission. Nevertheless, the company was failed to provide these undertakings and as the consequence, the agreement has now been disapproved in spite of reports of stringent support of employees. Consequently, almost 10,000 employees of Coles how were covered by the agreement have now fallen back under the earlier agreement developed in 2011 (Stevens 2017). BOOT was applied to HM The Fair Work Commission has disapproved an application by H M to approve their 2016 enterprise agreement based on the fact that it did not pass Better Off Overall Test. The Fair Work Commission department puts an end to the long-term dispute over the agreement between HM and the shop. In accordance with the application approval, an analysis of 50 randomly selected casual rosters by the SDA identified that two out of 50 employees were deprived from the benefits in comparison with the award under the agreement. The fundamental claims increased the concerns regarding less break times as well as the working hours being averaged to assure that employees were not being told to work on weekdays as well as weekends frequently. As put forward by Desir (2017) the loss of penalty rates on Saturday, weeknights and Sunday leaves were not given compared to the awards. In this context, Low (2017) also commented that non-casual employee working above 60% of the hours after 6 pm on weekdays will be worse off than the award under the agreement. In order to respond to the situation, HM reported that agreement left salaried workers better off overall as it requires them to guarantee minimum salaries for all hours worked fulfilled the criteria of award. The company also provides long breaks, volunteer leaves and parent leaves as well as increased notice of termination. In this context, Marin-Guzman (2017) commented that over several months, the SDA on supporting HM retail workers right across the nation increased its concern with the agreement. The company did not comply with the BOOT test. Like the employees in others, the workers of retail employees deserve fair pay, adequate breaks as well as decent working conditions that give them a chance to keep the balance between their personal as well as family lives. In addition to this, SDA is trying to negotiate an agreement with HM that contain fair pay as well as working condition. Thus, they could compile with the conditions of Fair Work Commission tries to compile with the conditions of Fair Work Commissions Better Off Test. Strength and Weakness of BOOT Strength The introduction of BOOT is effective for the workers as they have the opportunity to avail the necessary employee benefits working in an enterprise (Stevens 2017). The BOOT agrees to the conditions to be traded off as long as the overall benefits received by the employees remain as more favorable The employees feel a sense of satisfaction as the employers negotiating with the enterprise agreement the workers. The employers must have to consider all required conditions, benefit as well as disadvantages to keep pace with the modern corporate environment While preparing enterprise agreements, the organizations need not be concerned with assuring each and every conditions that leave the workers better off instead of being covered by the advanced award. For the employers, BOOT could deliver a much simpler system for compensating the employees when compared to the strict application of the significant relevant advanced awards. In several workplace, there is more than one award that is applicable to its employees. The BOOT test could streamline this technique by incorporating penalty rates, overtime as well as other allowances entitlement into a base rate payable to worker in accordance with the classification. Weakness For organizations, the major disadvantage is the time as well as cost required to negotiate enterprise bargaining to manage the approval process with the Fair Work Commission (Patrick 2017) The organization must have to follow the stringent procedures as well as the timeframe that needs to be implemented. The failure to the implementation could lead result in the rejection of agreement If workers want to be represented by the union, they have to pay union fees, which over time could amount to a particular amount of money (Marin-Guzman 2017). To approve the enterprise agreement, the organizations require a majority of votes and if the employees do not agree with the union, the union does not have to any options besides subject to the agreement. Table 1: Strength and Weakness (Source: Marin-Guzman 2017) How BOOT test can be improved The implementation of BOOT has always been effective for the organization as it helps the organizations to deal with the employees and their external disputes. If an organization passes the BOOT test and the company is able to satisfy Fair Work Commission, the employees of each department will better off under the enterprise agreement. However, it is also observed that Fair Work Commission is involved into the dispute with the enterprise regarding the Fair work judgment. Thus, it is necessary for the enterprise to pass BOOT test to avoid the dispute with the employees and Work Commission. Fair Work Commission has to make the judgment to make up for any loss of award entitlements and conditions. In some particular context, Fair Work Commission could approve an organization agreement that does fulfill BOOT. Moreover, Fair Work Commission should ensure an individuals base rate of pay under an organization agreement should not be less than the base rate of pay under the relevant modern a ward. The Fair Work Commission could vary an organizations agreement to remove the ambiguity as well as uncertainty on the application of companies. In this context, () commented that in order to avoid the disputes as well as its consequences, the enterprise and the workers could make a joint application to Fair Work Commission. Conclusion On the completion of the report, it can be added that enterprises should comply with the rules and regulations developed by Fair Work Commission. In order to avoid the employee dispute and pressure from the Commission, the enterprise should comply pass the BOOT test. However, it is also observed that the decision of Fair Work Commission will set a precedent but it will not be an eventual solution for other sectors in Australia. To avoid the further dispute with the Enterprises, the Fair Work Commission should implement the following recommendations. Recommendation To balance the benefits of both employers and the employees, Fair Work Commission needs to become an independent body with the power to implement a series of actions that are effective for all parties involved in the scenario. The department of Fair Work Commission should cover employers, workers, unions as well as other associates. The Fair Work Commission should develop the following principles to keep the balance among all parties. The principles must include the following business, as there are many sectors where the workers do not receive the fair judgment Any organization that is constitutional corporation Any organization in Victoria The commonwealth authority All registered organizations The Fair Work Commission should exercise the powers outlined in the dispute resolutions techniques. The Commission should assist with the dispute by mediation or developing a suggestion. The Commission could arbitrate the dispute if the dispute resolution techniques allow the parties. Moreover, the general protections provisions of Fair Work Commission should focus on protecting the employees from the possible adverse actions based on certain rights such as workplace right, entitlement right as well as industrial activities. The dispute resolution process of Fair Work Commission should include conciliation. Instead of continuing with the existing principles, Fair Work Commission should publish a comprehensive guide with the intensive information about the procedures. References Angwin, M 2017. EBAs are now just a blockage to productivity, Australian Financial Review, 14 February, p. 39. Bray, M, Waring, P, Cooper, R and Macneil, J. 2014. Employment relations: Theory and practice, 3rd edn, McGraw-Hill Education (Australia), North Ryde. Clark, S, Taylor, J and Oakes, D 2016. Coles could be forced to renegotiate pay deal with thousands of workers after Fair Work ruling, ABC News, 31 May. Available at URL: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-31/part-time-coles-worker-wins-fair-case-against-supermarket-giant/7463132 [Accessed 28 February 2017]. Desir, B 2017. HM enterprise agreement fails BOOT, National Retail Association, 29 January. Available at URL: https://www.nra.net.au/hm-enterprise-agreement-fails-boot/ Fair Work Commission (FWC) 2016. Decision FWCFB 2887: s.604 Appeal of decisions: Vice President Watson, Deputy President Kovacic Commissioner Roe: Melbourne, 31 May 2016, FWC, Commonwealth Government Printer. Fair Work Commission (FWC) 2017. Decision FWC 310: s. 185 Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement: H M Pty Ltd, Sydney, 16 January 2017, FWC, Commonwealth Government Printer. Hannan, E. 2016. Coles workers may lose pay rise after Fair Work veto, Australian Financial Review, 10 June, p. 7. Hannan, E. 2016. Fair Work ruling could hurt Coles staff, Australian Financial Review, 1 June, p. 3. Low, C. 2017. HM fails to secure enterprise agreement, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 January. Available at URL: https://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/hm-fails-to-secure-enterprise-agreement-20170117-gtsxwl.html [Accessed 28 February 2017]. Marin-Guzman, D. 2017. Fair Work takes swipe at H M over failing to disclose pay cuts, Australian Financial Review, 18 January, p. 3. Marin-Guzman, D. 2017. Watson cuts moorings with final dissent, Australian Financial Review, 23 January, p. 4. Oakes, D and Clark, S. 2016. Coles refuses to boost penalty rates for workers despite Fair Work ruling, ABC News, 10 June. Available at URL: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-09/coles-refuses-to-boost-penalty-rates-despite-fair-work-ruling/7496114 [Accessed 28 February 2017]. Patrick, A. 2017. Fair Work Commission at war with itself, Australian Financial Review, 24 January, p. 37. Stevens, M. 2017. Brutally honest of broken system, Australian Financial Review, 23 January, p. 28. Stevens, M. 2017. Fair Work tinkers as IR system burns, Australian Financial Review, 24 February, p. 32.

Friday, April 10, 2020

Sample Irish Essay on Homelessness

Sample Irish Essay on HomelessnessAn Irish essay on homelessness is quite easy to write and can be based on any topic, however we are going to look at the most famous homeless person in history. He was St. Patrick of Ireland, the patron saint of Ireland. With an eye towards a great article, let's get started!'St. Patrick of Ireland' is well known for his life story, which begins when he was a boy. There is very little information available, but it seems that he was orphaned and went to live with a Catholic priest named Father Denis Boyne. The rest of his childhood, his own mother being dead by then, went largely unseen, other than a few paragraphs in some of his biographies.A quick look at the website of the Irish National Heritage Board, shows that we have everything we need for the story of Patrick. He was born on August 22nd in AD 360 at Mount Kellems in County Galway. He is said to have died of leprosy in AD 432. He is also credited with writing the first book of poetry in Irelan d.As you can see, Patrick was one tough cookie, and had very strong moral values, which gave him something to stand by in the rough and tumble of Irish society. People will judge him very harshly in their own way, but at least they will remember where they stood when the rough and tumble happened.While we are on the subject of sample essays, what about a sample Irish essay on homelessness? Here we begin with a very basic look at the history of the homeless, and what could have led them to be homeless in the first place.The History of Homeless People in Ireland is a fairly simple one. Historically, people would visit the graveyard and the graveyard keepers would keep a lookout for any homeless people. If anyone looked homeless, they would be hauled off and given food and shelter. However, the society did not have a stable way of providing this for the homeless, and many were driven out of town and into the countryside, only to be caught up in warring factions and their own troubles.S o, as you can see, the Irish people never really had a written or actual name for the homeless, so they had to create a new word. The word homelessness can be traced back to an Irish phrase, 'thar hobae' (literally 'the hogs head') which refers to a fat beggar in a town who would beg for food and shelter. So if you write an Irish essay on homelessness, don't forget to include that one little detail!

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Valedictorian Speech free essay sample

Faculty members, teachers, family, friends and fellow graduates good morning, today is a day to be thankful and to be inspired. As I look around I see so many familiar faces and I would like to thank all of you for being here with us on this Joyous occasion. Standing here In front of all my classmates, the only thing I can see is the potential within each and every one of them. Some may become doctors, lawyers, teachers, and entrepreneurs.Just remember the long road e have traveled together to where we are today. Yes, It was long and I know sometimes we didnt think It was ever going to end. But It was an amazing Journey. Now this day we have been walling for Is finally here and our Journey together Is over. But there Is a new adventure Just around the corner. It will be hard at first but every one of us has the capability of making It In life. We will write a custom essay sample on Valedictorian Speech or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page On your new adventure, you do not have to be alone. Our family and friends will always be there for us just like they have always been. If it was not for some of the parents that are here today we most likely would not be here either. Being a parent is hard, now knowing when to let them go, letting us take responsibility. But I would like to thank all of you for being there to help us succeed and never letting us give up on ourselves. You guys were there to see us through everything even if we werent your children. I appreciate that. Hopefully, we can fulfill all the dreams that you have for us. We will still need your support in achieving our dreams. Our class has a lot of potential, you can ask anyone and they will tell you that. I would also like to recognize our teachers at placer national high school. Because without the enthusiasm that they have I dont believe that I could have made it this far. The teachers at this school make you believe that you are someone and that anything is possible. It is not only the teachers, but the staff and student body make you feel like youre at home and you can trust all of them. I love this school with all my heart and soul and everything it stands for.If I had dodo it all over again, I would In a heartbeat. Our years at placer national high school have been filled with great memories and life changing events. As we go out to start our new adventures, I hope that even though we will make new memories that we will never forget the memories that we made together at placer national high school. L hope that whatever path you take may be bright and filled with love and adventure. I also hope you all the best In life and I love you all. Can you believe It guys, WE DID IT!!Thanks again to everyone for being here to share this Joyous occasion with us. Valedictorian Speech By reentry with us on this Joyous occasion. Standing here in front of all my classmates, the only we have traveled together to where we are today. Yes, it was long and I know sometimes we didnt think it was ever going to end. But it was an amazing Journey. Now this day we have been waiting for is finally here and our Journey together is over. But there is a new adventure Just around the corner. It will be hard at first but every one of us has the capability of making it in life.On your new adventure, you do Our family and friends will always be there for us Just like they have always been. If it my heart and soul and everything it stands for. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat. Our years at placer national high school have been filled with great that we made together at placer national high school. hope that whatever path you take may be bright and filled with love and adventure. I also hope you all the best in life and I love you all. Can you believe it guys,

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Earths Bigger, Older Planetary Cousin

Earth's Bigger, Older Planetary Cousin Ever since astronomers first began searching out planets around other stars, theyve found thousands of planet candidates and confirmed more than a thousand as actual worlds. There could be billions of worlds out there. The tools of the search are ground-based telescopes, the Kepler Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, and others. The idea is to look for planets by watching for slight dips in the light of a star as the planet passes in its orbit between us and the star. This is called the  transit method because it requires that a planet transit the face of the star. Another way to find planets is to look for tiny shifts in the stars motion that are caused by a planets orbit. Detecting planets directly is very difficult because stars are quite bright and planets can get lost in the glare.   Finding other Worlds The first exoplanet (a world circling other stars) was discovered in 1995. Since then, the rate of discovery grew as astronomers launched spacecraft to look for distant worlds. One fascinating world that theyve found is called Kepler-452b. It circles a star similar to the Sun (a G2  star type) that lies about 1,400 light-years from us in the direction of the constellation Cygnus. It was found by the Kepler telescope, along with 11 more planet candidates orbiting in the habitable zones of their stars. To determine the planets properties, astronomers conducted observations at ground-based observatories. Their data confirmed the planetary nature of Kepler-452b, refined the size and brightness of its host star, and pinned down the size of the planet and its orbit Kepler-452b was the first near-Earth-sized world found, and it orbits its star in the so-called habitable zone. Thats a region around a star where liquid water could exist on the surface of a planet.  It is the smallest planet ever found in a habitable zone. Others have been larger worlds, so the fact that this one is closer to our own planets size means astronomers are close to finding Earth twins (in terms of size).   The discovery does NOT tell whether or not there IS water on the planet, or what the planet is made of (that is, whether it is a rocky body or a gas/ice giant). That information will come from further observations. Yet, this system does have some interesting similarities to Earth. Its orbit is 385 days, while ours is 365.25 days. Kepler-452b lies just five percent farther away from its star than Earth does from the Sun.  Ã‚   Kepler-452, the parent star of the system is 1.5 billion years older than the Sun (which is 4.5 billion years old). Its also a bit brighter than the Sun but has the same temperature. All these similarities help give astronomers a comparison point between this planetary system and our own Sun and planets as they seek to understand the formation and history of planetary systems. Ultimately, they want to know how many habitable worlds are out there.   About the Kepler Mission The Kepler space telescope (named for astronomer Johannes Kepler) was launched in 2009 on a mission to spy out planets around stars in a  region of the sky near the constellation Cygnus. It performed well until 2013 when NASA announced that failed flywheels (that keep the telescope pointed accurately) were failing. After some research and help from the scientific community, mission controllers devised a way to keep using the telescope, and its mission is now called K2 Second Light. It continues to search out planetary candidates, which are then re-observed to help astronomers determine the masses, orbits, and other characteristics of the possible worlds. Once Keplers planet candidates are studied in detail, they are confirmed as actual planets and added to the growing list of such exoplanets.