Understanding Behavior Essay Example For Students

Understanding Behavior Essay The behavior of a person can usually be explained by that persons stateof mind. The external conduct is almost always directly linked to internalemotions. Knowing this fact is very beneficial to someone like a guidancecounsellor because it lets him or her almost read the physchlogical stateof a student based entirely on their behavior. In Darlenes case herbehavior has been very well documented making the task of phsycologicalassesment a much easier job. There are many facets to Dralenes behavior,each revealing a different part of her state of mind. Judging from the wayshe dresses and is groomed it appears as if she comes from a family lesswealthy than most of the other children at her school. We will write a custom essay on Understanding Behavior specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now This has probablybeen a factor in her sullen behavior. Because she cant afford moreexpensive clothes, she has been put into a different social class than mostof her peers. It is known that all humans have an emotional need to beaccepted by their peers but unfortunat for Darlene, being accepted is aneed that she has not satisfied due to her lack of wealth. Darlene alsoexpressed that this form classism against her was apparent at sundayschool. It was so great in fact that she actually quit the classes to getaway from the sunday school snobs. It should come as no surprise that Darlene has also expressed a desireto quit highschool as well. This may also explain her reluctance to joinany clubs and the way she anticipates unfriendly reactions from people shemeets.Darlenes teachers agree that although Darlene has an aboveaverage intellect, she still only aquires average marks. I believe thisproblem can be traced to her parents. It si known that Darlenes parentskeep Darlene in 6 days of the week, and when they do let her out she mustbe home at ten. It is also known that Darlene must do alot of housework onthe weekends if she wants to get her weekly allowance and that her parentsdo not approve of her friends. Darlenes poor pe nce in school may verywell be Darlenes way of getting back at her parents. By getting averagemarks she is trying to tell her parents that keeping her in and being sorestrictive of her social activities wont help her school work, it willonly make it worst. I will assume that Darlene also feels like her parentsdont pay enough attention to her. Both her parents probably work,explaining why Darlene has so many responsibilities at home, and neither ofthem likely have much time to spend with their daughter. Darlene wouldalso like more freedom to do go out and choose friends. The physologicalneeds Darlene lacks are social acceptance, attention from her parents andfreedom. If I were to advise Darlene on a course of action it would be todiscuss the problem with her parents and not to try and hurt them by doingpoorly in school because that is not hurting her parents, it is onlyhurting her. I would tell her that the only person in the world Darlenecan change is herself. I would also tell Darlene that any peer that doesnot like her based solely on how much money she has is not worth having asa friend. I would tell her to ignore people who treat her badly becuase ofher lack of wealth and eventually they will stop annoying her because theywill not get any reaction from her. Darlene will have to work on herattitude though, so she can be more sociable and more accepted.

Soothing Quotes About Heartbreak

Soothing Quotes About Heartbreak A famous- and true- adage goes like this: A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. All those who have had their hearts trampled upon will agree that the presence of a friend can ease the pain. So if you have a friend going through a tough heartbreak, just be around. If you find yourself at a loss for words, dont fret. These love and heartbreak quotes can help you to soothe your friend aptly express your feelings without making you sound like a know-it-all. Heartbreak Quotes Anonymous If we deny love that is given to us, if we refuse to give love because we fear pain or loss, then our lives will be empty, our loss greater. Robert Frost â€Å"The only way out is through.†Ã‚   Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood â€Å"What happens when people open their hearts?  They get better.†Ã‚   Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses â€Å"Scars have the strange power to remind us that our past is real.†Ã‚   David GraysonLooking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so. Jim Henson â€Å"Only time can heal your broken heart. Just as only time can heal his broken arms and legs.†Ã‚   Javan Love can sometimes be magic. But magic can sometimes ... just be an illusion. Richard Puz, The Carolinian â€Å"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. (From an Irish headstone) Robert James Waller, The Bridges of Madison County â€Å"The human heart has a way of making itself large again even after its been broken into a million pieces.†Ã‚   Marcel Proust â€Å"We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full.†Ã‚   In reality, in  love  there is a permanent suffering which joy neutralizes, renders virtual delays, but which can at any moment become what it would have become long earlier if one had not obtained what one wanted- atrocious. Spanish ProverbWhere there is love, there is pain. Charles M. Schulz Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love. Laura Fitzgerald, Veil of Roses â€Å"Given enough time and distance, the heart will always heal.†Ã‚   Shannon L. Adler â€Å"Time doesnt heal all wounds; only distance can lessen the sting of them.†Ã‚   John Christopher, The Sword of the Spirits â€Å"And though I remember her name I cannot recall her face. All things pass.†Ã‚   Steve Goodier â€Å"It’s true that laughter really is cheap medicine. It’s a prescription anyone can afford. And best of all, you can fill it right now.†Ã‚   Amy Hempel â€Å"Consolation is a beautiful word. Everyone skins his knee- that doesnt make yours hurt any less.†Ã‚   Jean de la Fontaine â€Å"Sadness flies away on the wings of time.†

Org Behaviour 3 Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Org Behaviour 3 Leadership - Essay Example This has been done using the assessment and insight into self assessment, introspection and reflection through the personal mission statement for the development of leadership and finally integration and extension through the personal model of leadership. The self assessment emphasises on the self confidence, and the instrumental and end values of an individual. Moreover it also includes analysing his emotional intelligence, his ways of receiving feedback and incorporating changes as per those feedbacks, and the extent of his innovativeness. This is followed by the development of his personal mission statement, personal values, personal goals and also the personal action steps. The personal model of leadership is developed which emphasizes in his abilities, personality, values. Finally, the gaps are determined and presented with regards to espoused and the desired theories of leadership. Main Body Part 1-Awareness and Insight through Self-Assessment- 1.1 Your self-confidence The ques tions assigned in exercise number 2 are aimed at assessing the self confidence level of the respondents. The questions are structured to assess the ability of the responden

Dq-4.1-Terence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dq-4.1-Terence - Essay Example knowledge workers have extra-ordinary capabilities and are knowledgeable in most of the working environment aspects more than their fellow employees are. Collaboration among knowledge workers entails an organization encouraging this type of employees to work together and with integrated systems so that they can be able to exploit their full potential as a foundation the company’s development (Davenport 2005). The collaboration of knowledge workers is very essential to an organization because the results are fulfilling; usually, great minds put together is one best thing and core source of growth and improvement for decision-making and innovation in marketing and production. Decision-making is a significant feature for any organization but most of the time, management is left all the issues involving decision-making and it is their duty to come up with processes best for the task. Despite the drawbacks, if perfectly used, knowledge workers are can be an important facet of the decision-making process but specifically when their abilities merge through collaboration. This can be effective if they get time to ponder individually on matters at hand, evaluate, research and finally come up with strategies; thereafter, the collaboration makes a significant impact as they work on a final decision together through considering and evaluating individual strategies. Additionally, an improvement can be made in the decision making process between knowledge workers by encouraging them socialize more and outside the working environment, which enhances the structure knowledge and makes learning a part of the organization’s, culture. The integrated ERP is one of the core structures of a company since without it most of the corporate functions are hard to achieve; moreover, it enhances the organization’s shape and centers information circulation using its technological advancements. On the other hand, knowledge workers focus on modern interventions in the aspect that their

History Of Localization And Glocalization Marketing Essay

History Of Localization And Glocalization Marketing Essay Social capital in multinational companies is part and parcel of human resource management, whether locally or internationally. The terms globalization, localization and glocalization are expressions introduced to economy only recently. It is needless to say that globalization and localization refer (in finance) to economic concepts including multinational corporations, sale and purchase and other services. Since the end of the Cold War, we have been facing economic struggle instead of the military one that prevailed for many decades.   But glocalization is an exceptional term, since it is coined of two words (globalization and localization). In this paper I intend to examine the evolution of glocalization and present some practical examples from my environment (Norway) to find out how this term works. Some sociologists, anthropologists and economist classify capital into three main types. Pierre Bourdieu distinguishes between three capitals: economic capital, cultural capital and social capital. In this paper I will try to describe the structure of the banking industry with a focus on Western Europe and the Nordic countries. Furthermore, I will describe how my own organization (Nordea Bank ASA) should relate to the global evolution toward a more global banking industry. Let me start with the notion of globalization in economy first and then proceed to glocalization. Theodore Levitt article, Globalization of markets in the Harvard Business Review in 1983 introduced a heated discussion of consequences of globalization, which revolved around global governance, independence and local market conditions. Globalization in this context is defined as a process where banks are larger and fewer and where they operate largely across countries and regions, i.e. that we call global oligopoly. The globalization of the banking industry is still in its infancy, but some features appear already to be central to the development of this industry in the coming years. In Norway, globalization will involve new challenges and opportunities for Norwegian banks both in Norway and abroad.   The Europe Commission has set a goal to reduce the many trade barriers that stand in the way of an efficient financial market in Europe. It is not easy to set borders between globalization and glocalization in economy or in social applications. Glocalization is defined by (Wellman B. 2001) as the following Glocalization is a neologism meaning the combination of intense local and extensive global interaction   Du +1-et dette offentlig. Angre Glocalization is a proposed solution to some problems of globalization. Critics believe globalization causes conflict between an emerging worldwide system of values and regional autonomy, resulting in the destruction of local cultures. Glocalization proposes to mediate between this global system and local community and that local practices be respected. It often involves tailoring products intended for international distribution to the tastes of local consumers. To illustrate the strategic implications and choices, I will use the model The nine strategic windows (Solberg 1997). C:UsersIhabDesktopniggaUten navn.bmp This approach is a dynamic model that enables us to indicate which strategies the players should choose in the future market. The analysis will therefore focus on the conditions that should be present for such a role that each bank should use effectively. The two dimensions of this matrix are the industrys globality and the banks ability for internationalization. In the study, I will use the model with nine windows indicating nine specific strategic options. Over the last 30 years, we have seen that some Norwegian banks seeking to internationalize their operations by establishing branches abroad. Banks range from Stay home market, to Strengthen position in the global markets orfind new owners with the international network . Thus different banks are located not only at different points along the y-axis, but also along the x-axis (the industry globality). If one is located to the left of the matrix, it indicates little globality. There will be fewer opportunities and threats of global ization, which should then set the orientation of the strategies that banks should choose depending on how they are positioned along the y-axis. I have already placed some Norwegian banks in this picture. Globalization of the banking industry had impacts on Norwegian banks and Norwegian banking industry. This is due to the fact that in the past banks had different products and services in diverse markets and were affected differently by the structural and international barriers. The strategies will be on the one hand more affected by consolidation in established markets; on the other hand, globalization could represent major threats but many opportunities. Other strategic alternatives will be more effective, depending on the location along the y-axis. Studies of multi-national companies (MNS) use of European banks (Berger Smith 2003; Berger, Dai, Ongen Smith 2003) show that the banking industry still has some way to go before it can be called global. A problem with this model is in its construction. It is simple to understand, there are many ways to define the two dimensions and fault localization could lead to completely w rong conclusions in strategic choices in an individual company. As a practical example, Nordea Bank, which is the largest bank in the Nordic and Baltic region with headquarters in Stockholm bank, is the result of successive Nordic acquisitions and mergers in the period 1997 to 2000. Through its around 10 million customers of which 4.9 are the online customers and 1,300 branches is the market leader in the Nordic region with 35, 20, 20 and 15% market share to Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.   Our vision is to be the leading Nordic bank. Growth strategy has been mergers and acquisitions, but the strategy is further organic growth in the Nordic and near abroad emerging markets (Annual Report 2006). In Norway, the goal is to increase market share in the retail market. Nordea is well equipped to meet the challenges that globalization entails. Furthermore, our assessment is that the Baltic / Poland for strategic reasons should be developed in order to restrain the activities of other banks, especially German and Austrian, but also other fore ign banks. The possible scenario is that Poland is an exciting emerging market is an arena where major Western European banks competing for market share. We realize that this may be difficult in Russia. Nordea has a major share in Ogresbank but does not control the bank 100%.   In this respect, Russia should be an important priority for Nordea.   http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/glocalization.asp#ixzz2NYBBvRnm Finally, I have proved to review the social culture, social capital and glocalization in Nordea and other firms. Some other examples, I intend to cite are McDonalds Corporation and MTV Networks activities. McDonalds Corporation has restaurants in more than 100 countries. Instead of offering an American-style menu in a place like Dubai and other Islamic countries, where people do not eat pig meat, McDonald sells mostly chicken, lamb and beef. Big-ticket items in the automotive industry are examples of glocalization. Mercedes-Benz or BMW car manufacturers present many different engine offerings and trim levels for their home market.   But the cars offered abroad are usually limited to more powerful engines and higher-end interiors. Likewise, MTV Networks, which broadcasts in many countries, does not offer the same programming in all those countries. The network tailors each channel to suit those countries individual tastes and features regional and international musicians. With satellite TV, audiences can even glocalize their living rooms. Numerous foreign-language channels can be ordered, so an immigrant from Italy can catch her favorite variety shows on RAI International, or an Egyptian expat can catch regional news from back home on Al Jazeera channel.

The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 42

By now Matt and Mrs. Flowers couldn't ignore the blinding lights anymore. They had to go outside. But just as Matt opened the door there was – well, Matt didn't know what it was. Something blasted straight out of the ground and into the sky, where it got smaller and smaller, became a star, and disappeared. A meteor that had gone through the Earth? But wouldn't that mean tsunamis and earthquakes and shockwaves and forest fires and maybe even the Earth ripping apart? If one meteor that hit the surface could kill off all the dinosaurs†¦ The light that had been shining upward had faded slightly. â€Å"Well, bless my soul,† said Mrs. Flowers in a small, shaken voice. â€Å"Matt, dear, are you all right?† â€Å"Yes, ma'am. But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Matt's vocabulary couldn't stand the strain. â€Å"What the hell was it?† And to his slight surprise, Mrs. Flowers said, â€Å"My sentiments exactly!† â€Å"Wait – there's something moving. Get back!† â€Å"Dear Matt, be careful with that gun†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It's people! Oh, my God! It's Elena.† Matt abruptly sat down on the ground. He could only whisper now. † Elena. She's alive. She's alive!† From what Matt could see, there were a group of people climbing and helping others climb out of a perfectly rectangular hole, perhaps five feet deep, in Mrs. Flowers's angelica patch. They could hear voices. â€Å"All right,† Elena was saying, as she bent down. â€Å"Now grab my hands.† But the way she was dressed! A scrap of scarlet that showed all sorts of scratches and cuts on her legs. On top – well, the remains of the gown covered about what a bikini would. And she was wearing the largest, most sparkly costume jewelry that Matt had ever seen. More voices, going on through Matt's shock. â€Å"Be careful, yes? I will lift him to you – â€Å" â€Å"I can climb out my own.† – surely that was Stefan! â€Å"You see?† Elena rejoiced. â€Å"He says he can climb out his own!† â€Å"Oui, but perhaps one small lift – â€Å" â€Å"This is hardly the time for machismo, little brother.† And that, Matt thought, fingering the revolver, was Damon. Blessed bullets†¦ â€Å"No, I want – to do it myself – okay – got it. There.† â€Å"There! You see! He's better every second!† Elena caroled. â€Å"Where's the diamond? Damon?† Stefan sounded anxious. â€Å"I have it safe. Relax.† â€Å"I want to hold it. Please.† â€Å"More than you want to hold me?† Elena asked. There was a blur and then Stefan was lying back in her arms, while she said, â€Å"Easy, easy.† Matt stared. Damon was right behind them, almost as if he belonged there. â€Å"I'll watch the diamond,† he said flatly. â€Å"You watch your girl.† â€Å"Excuse me – I'm sorry, but†¦could somebody please lift me out?† And that was Bonnie! Bonnie, sounding plaintive but not afraid or unhappy. Bonnie giggling! â€Å"Have we got all the sacks of star balls?† â€Å"We've got all the ones from that house we found.† And that was Meredith. Thank God. They'd all made it out. But despite his thoughts, his eyes were drawn again to one figure – the one who seemed to be supervising things – the one with golden hair. â€Å"We need the star balls because any one of them might be – † she was beginning, when Bonnie cried out â€Å"Oh, look! Look! It's Mrs. Flowers and Matt!† â€Å"Now, Bonnie, they'd hardly be waiting for us,† Meredith put in. â€Å"Where? Bonnie, where?† Elena demanded. â€Å"If it's Shinichi and Misao in disguise I'm going to – hey, Matt!† â€Å"Will someone please tell me where?† â€Å"Right there, Meredith!† â€Å"Oh! Mrs. Flowers! Um†¦I hope we didn't wake you.† â€Å"I have never had a happier awakening,† Mrs. Flowers said solemnly. â€Å"I can see what you have been through in the Dark Place. Your – er – lack of sufficient clothing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A sudden silence. Meredith glanced at Bonnie. Bonnie glanced at Meredith. â€Å"I know these clothes and gems may seem a little too much†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Matt found his voice. â€Å"Those jewels? They're real?† â€Å"Oh, they're nothing. And we're all dirty†¦.† â€Å"Forgive me. We stink – which is my fault – † Stefan began, only to have Elena cut in. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers, Matt: Stefan's been a prisoner! All this time! Starved and tortured – oh, God!† â€Å"Elena. Shhh. You got me back.† â€Å"We got you back. Now, I'll never let you go. Ever, ever.† â€Å"Easy, love. I really need a bath and – † Stefan stopped suddenly. â€Å"There're no iron bars! Nothing to shut off my Powers! I can†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stepped away from Elena, who clung with one hand. There was a soft, silvery flash of light, like a full moon appearing and disappearing in their midst. â€Å"Over here!† he said. â€Å"Anyone who doesn't want little beastly parasites, I can take care of you.† â€Å"I'm your girl,† said Meredith. â€Å"I have a phobia about fleas, and Damon never even got me any flea powder. What a master!† There was laughter at this, laughter Matt didn't understand. Meredith was wearing – well, it had to be costume jewelry – but still it looked like about a few million dollars' worth of sapphires. Stefan took Meredith's hand. There was the same soft flash of light. And then Meredith stepped back saying, â€Å"Thanks.† Stefan's low response was, â€Å"Thank you, Meredith.† Meredith's blue dress was at least in one piece, Matt observed. Bonnie – whose dress had been slashed into starlight-colored ribbons – was raising a hand. â€Å"Me, too, please!† Stefan took her hand, and it happened all over again. â€Å"Thank you, Stefan! Oooh! I feel so much better! I hated itching!† â€Å"Thank you, Bonnie. I hated to think I was dying alone.† â€Å"Other vampires, take care of yourselves!† Elena said, as if she had a clipboard and were checking items off. â€Å"And, Stefan, please – † She held out her hands to him. He knelt in front of her, kissed both her hands, then enshrouded them in the soft white light. â€Å"But I'd still like a bath†¦Ã¢â‚¬  said Bonnie pleadingly, as the new vampire – the tall fit one – and Damon had each sparked a moonlight glow around themselves. Mrs. Flowers spoke up. â€Å"There are four working bathtubs in that house: in Stefan's room, in my room, in the rooms on either side of Stefan's. Be my guest. I'll put some bath salts in each right now.† And then she added, holding her arms out to the whole ragged, bleeding, dirty bunch of them: â€Å"My house is yours, my dears.† There was a chorus of passionate â€Å"thank yous.† â€Å"I'll arrange a rota. For feeding Stefan, I mean. If you girls are willing,† Elena added quickly, looking at Bonnie and Meredith. â€Å"He doesn't need much, just a little every hour until morning.† Elena still seemed very shy of Matt. Matt was very shy of her. But he stepped forward, empty hands held up to show that he was harmless. â€Å"Is it a rule that it's only girls? Because I've got blood, too, and I'm healthy as a horse.† Stefan quickly looked at him. â€Å"No rule about only girls. But you don't have to – â€Å" â€Å"I want to help you.† â€Å"Okay, then. Thank you, Matt.† The proper response seemed to be â€Å"Thank you, Stefan,† but Matt couldn't think of anything until, â€Å"Thanks for taking care of Elena.† Stefan smiled. â€Å"Thank Damon for that. He and the others all helped me – and each other.† â€Å"We Also Walk Dogs – at least Sage does,† Damon said slyly. â€Å"Oh – that reminds me. I should use that de-parasiting trick on my two friends. Saber! Talon! Heel!† He added a whistle that Matt could never have imitated. In any case, Matt was operating in a dream. A huge dog, almost as big as a pony, seemingly, and a falcon came out of the darkness. â€Å"Now,† the fit vampire said, and once again the soft light shone. And then: â€Å"There. If you don't mind; I prefer to sleep out-of-doors with my friends. I am grateful for all your kindnesses, Madame, and my name is Sage. The hawk is Talon; the dog, Saber.† Elena said, â€Å"Dibs on Stefan's bath for Stefan and me, and Mrs. Flowers's bath for the girls. You boys can work things out on your own.† â€Å"I,† Mrs. Flowers said gravely, â€Å"will be in the kitchen, making sandwiches.† She turned to go. That was when Shinichi arose from the earth above them. Or rather when his face arose. It was clearly an illusion, but a terrifying and marvelous one. Shinichi actually seemed to be there, a giant, perhaps supporting the world on his shoulders. The black part of his hair blended in with the night, but the scarlet tips made a flaming halo around his face. Having come from a land that was dominated by a giant red sun, night and day, it was an odd sight. Shinichi's eyes were red as well, like two small moons in the sky, and they focused on the group by Mrs. Flowers's house. â€Å"Hello,† he said. â€Å"What, you look so surprised? You shouldn't be. I really couldn't let you come back without popping up to say ‘hello.' After all, it's been a long time – for some of you,† the giant face said, grinning. â€Å"Also, of course, to share in the festivities – we've saved little Stefan, and, my, we even fought an oversized chicken to do it.† â€Å"I'd like to see you take Bloddeuwedd on, one on one, and get a secret key out of her nest, at the same time,† Bonnie began indignantly, but stopped when Meredith squeezed her arm. Sage, meanwhile was murmuring something about what his own â€Å"oversized chicken,† Talon, would do if Shinichi were brave enough to show up in person. Shinichi ignored all this. â€Å"Oh, yes, and the mental calisthenics you had to go through. Truly formidable. Well, never again will we mistake you for blunder-headed idiots who never really asked why my sister would give you any clues in the first place, much less clues that Outsiders could understand. I mean† – he leered – â€Å"why not just go and swallow the key in the first place, hmm?† â€Å"You're bluffing,† Meredith said flatly. â€Å"You underestimated us, plain and simple.† â€Å"Maybe,† said Shinichi. â€Å"Or maybe it was something else entirely.† â€Å"You lost,† said Damon. â€Å"I realize that may be an entirely new concept for you, but it's true. Elena has gained much more control over her Powers.† â€Å"But will they work here?† Shinichi smiled eerily. â€Å"Or will they suddenly disappear in the light of a pale yellow sun? Or in the depths of true darkness?† â€Å"Don't let him bait you, Madame,† Sage shouted. â€Å"Your Powers come from a place he cannot enter!† â€Å"Oh, yes, and the renegade. The Rebel's rebel son. I wonder†¦what are you calling yourself this time? Cage? Rage? I wonder what these children will think when they learn who you really are?† â€Å"It won't matter who he is,† Bonnie cried. â€Å"We know that. We know that he's a vampire, but that he can be gentle and kind and he's saved us over and over again.† She shut her eyes, but held her ground against the gale of Shinichi's laughter. â€Å"So ‘Madame,'† Shinichi mocked, â€Å"you think you have gained ‘Sage.' But I wonder if you know what in chess we call a ‘gambit' is? No? Well, I'm sure your intellectual friend will be glad to inform you.† There was a pause. Then Meredith said, with no expression at all, â€Å"A gambit is when a chess player sacrifices something – for instance, a pawn – deliberately – just to get something else. A position on the chessboard that they want, for instance.† â€Å"I knew you'd be able to tell them. What do you think of our first gambit?† Another silence, then Meredith said: â€Å"I presume you mean you've given us back Stefan to achieve something better.† â€Å"Oh, if you only had golden hair – as your friend Elena has so generously displayed.† There were various exclamations on the theme of â€Å"Huh?† – most of them directed at Shinichi, but some at Elena. Who promptly exploded. â€Å"You took Stefan's memories – ?† â€Å"Now, now, nothing so drastic, my dear. But a thirty-meld-a-session beautician – now, she was most cooperative.† Elena turned her gaze up at the giant face with a look of utter contempt. â€Å"You†¦cad.† â€Å"Oh, I'm stricken to the heart.† But the thing was, Shinichi's giant face did look stricken – angry and dangerous. â€Å"Between you, all such close friends: do you know how many secrets there are? Of course, Meredith is a mistress of secrecy, keeping her secrets from her friends all these years. You think you've already pumped her dry, but the best is yet to come. And then, of course, there is Damon's secret.† â€Å"Which if spoken of here and now will mean instant war,† Damon said. â€Å"And you know, it's strange, but I got the feeling that you came here tonight to negotiate.† This time Shinichi's laughter really was a gale, and Damon had to leap behind Meredith to prevent her being knocked into the hole the elevator had made. â€Å"Very gallant,† Shinichi boomed again, shattering glass somewhere on Mrs. Flowers's house. â€Å"But I really must be going. Shall I leave a synopsis of the prizes you still have to search for before your little company can look each other in the eye?† â€Å"I think we already have them. And you are no longer welcome around this home,† Mrs. Flowers said coolly. But Elena's mind was still working. Even standing here, knowing that Stefan needed her, she was searching for the reasons behind this: Shinichi's second gambit. Because she was sure that this was one. â€Å"Where are the pillowcases?† she said in a sharp voice that frightened and bewildered half the group, and simply frightened the rest. â€Å"I was holding one, but then I decided to hold on to Saber instead.† – Sage. â€Å"I had one, at the bottom of the hole, but I dropped it when somebody lifted me out.† – Bonnie. â€Å"I've still got one, although I don't understand what good – † Damon began. â€Å"Damon!† Elena whirled to him. â€Å"Trust me! We've got yours and Sage's safe – what's happening to Bonnie's in the hole?† The moment she had said â€Å"trust me† Damon had dumped his pillowcase on top of Sage's, and by the time she was finished, he had leaped into the hole, which was still so bright with leylight as to hurt any vampire's eyes. But Damon made no complaint. He said, â€Å"I have it safe now – no, wait! A root! A damned root is curled around one of the star balls! Someone toss me a knife, quick!† While everyone else was slapping their pockets for knives, Matt did something that Elena couldn't believe. First he glanced down into the six-foot-deep hole while pointing – a revolver, was it? Yes – she recognized it as the twin of Meredith's. Then without trying to let himself down easily, he simply jumped as Damon had, into the hole. â€Å"DON'T YOU WANT TO KNOW – † roared Shinichi, but no one was paying any attention to him. Matt's jump didn't end lightly as Damon's had. It ended with a gasp and a stifled curse. But Matt didn't waste time; still on his knees, he handed the gun up to Damon. â€Å"Blessed bullets – shoot it!† Damon moved very fast. He didn't even seem to aim. But he must have clicked the safety off and aimed immediately, for the root was now streaking for the soft wall of the hole, its end wrapped tightly around something round. Elena heard two shattering revolver shots; three. Then Damon stooped and picked up a vine-wrapped ball, medium-sized and crystal clear where its true surface could be seen. â€Å"PUT THAT DOWN!† Shinichi's rage was beyond all measure. The two burning red spots of his eyes were like flames – like moons of fire. He seemed to be trying to get them to comply by sheer volume. â€Å"I SAID, DON'T TOUCH THAT WITH YOUR FILTHY HUMAN HANDS!† â€Å"Oh, my God!† gasped Bonnie. Meredith said simply, â€Å"It's Misao's – it has to be. He'd gamble with his own; but not with hers. Damon, hand it up to me, along with the revolver. I bet it's not bulletproof.† She knelt, reaching into the hole. Damon, with a raised eyebrow, did as she said. â€Å"Oh, God,† Bonnie cried, from the edge of the hole. â€Å"Matt's sprained his ankle – at least.† â€Å"I TOLD YOU,† roared Shinichi. â€Å"YOU'LL BE SORRY – â€Å" â€Å"Here,† Damon said to Bonnie, taking not the slightest notice of Shinichi. Without any more ado, he picked up Matt and floated up out of the hole. He deposited the fair-haired boy beside Bonnie, who looked at him with the wide brown eyes of utter confusion. Matt, though, was a Virginian through and through. After swallowing only once, he got out a â€Å"Thank you, Damon.† â€Å"No problem, Matt,† Damon said, and then â€Å"What?† as someone gasped. â€Å"You remembered,† Bonnie cried, â€Å"You remembered his – Meredith!† she broke off, looking at the tall girl. â€Å"The grass!† Meredith, who had been examining the star ball with a strange expression, now tossed the revolver to Damon and tried with her free hand to tear away the grass that had twined around her feet and up her ankles already. But even as she did so, the grass seemed to leap upward and grab her hand, binding it to her feet. And now it was sprouting, growing, racing up her body toward the ball which she held high in the air. At the same time, it was tightening around her chest, forcing air out of her lungs. It all happened so fast that it was only when she gasped, â€Å"Somebody take th' ball,† that the others leaped to her aid. Bonnie was the first to get there, tearing with her fingernails at the greenery that was squeezing Meredith's chest. But each blade was like steel, and she couldn't rip away even one of them. Neither could Matt or Elena. Meanwhile, Sage was trying to lift Meredith bodily – to pluck her from the earth – and having no more success than the rest. Meredith's face, clearly visible in the light still shining from the hole, was going white. Damon snatched the star ball from her fingers just before the tangled greenery running up her arm could reach it. He then began moving literally faster than the human eye could track, never stopping in any one place long enough for any plant to grasp him. But still, the grass around Meredith was tightening. Now her face was turning blue. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open for a breath that would not come. â€Å"Stop it!† Elena screamed at Shinichi. â€Å"We'll give you the star ball! Just let go of her!† â€Å"LET GO OF HER?† Shinichi bellowed laughter. â€Å"MAYBE YOU'D BETTER LOOK TO YOUR OWN INTERESTS FIRST BEFORE ASKING ME A FAVOR.† Wildly, Elena looked around – and saw that grass had almost completely enveloped a kneeling Stefan, who had been too weak to move as quickly as the others had. And he had never made a sound to call attention to himself. â€Å"No!† Elena's desperate scream almost drowned out Shinichi's laughter. â€Å"Stefan! No!† Even knowing it was futile, she threw herself at him and tried to rip the grass away from his thin chest. Stefan simply gave her the faintest of smiles and shook his head sadly. That was when Damon came to a stop. He held the star ball up toward Shinichi's lowering visage. â€Å"Take it!† he shouted. â€Å"Take the ball, damn you, but let the two of them go!† This time the gale of Shinichi's laughter went on and on. A spiral of grass grew from a point beside Damon and an instant later had formed a hideous, shaggy green fist, which almost reached the star ball. But – â€Å"Not yet, my dears,† gasped Mrs. Flowers. She and Matt had come breathlessly from the boardinghouse storage room – Matt limping badly – and they both held what looked like Post-it notes in their hands. The next thing Elena knew, Damon was moving at ferocious speed again, away from the fist, and Matt was slapping a bit of paper on the grass covering Stefan, while Mrs. Flowers did the same to the greenery on Meredith. As Elena watched in disbelief, the grass seemed to melt, dying away into hay-colored blades that fell to the ground. The next moment she was holding Stefan. â€Å"Let's get inside, my dears,† Mrs. Flowers said. â€Å"It's safe in the storage room – the able help the wounded, of course.† Meredith and Stefan were taking great gasping breaths. But Shinichi had the last word. â€Å"Don't you worry,† he said, strangely calm as if he realized he'd lost – for now. â€Å"I'll get that sphere back soon enough. You don't know how to use that kind of Power anyway! And besides all that, I'm going to tell you what you've been hiding from your so-called friends. Just a few secrets, yes?† â€Å"The hell with your secrets,† shouted Bonnie. â€Å"Language, language! How about this: One of you has kept a secret all their life, and is doing so even now. One of you is a murderer – and I am not speaking of a vampire, or a mercy killing, or anything like that. And then there is the question of the true identity of Sage – good luck on your research there! One of you has already had their memory erased – and I don't mean Damon or Stefan. And what about the secret, stolen kiss? And then there is the question of what happened the night of the motel, that it seems that nobody but Elena can recall. You might ask her sometime about her theories about Camelot. And then – â€Å" That was when the sound as loud as Shinichi's giant-sized gales of laughter interrupted him. It tore through the face in the sky, leaving it drooping ridiculously. Then the face disappeared. â€Å"What was that – â€Å" â€Å"Who has the gun – ?† â€Å"What kind of gun could do that to him?† â€Å"One with blessed bullets,† Damon said coolly, showing them the revolver, pointed down. â€Å"You mean you did that?† â€Å"Good for Damon!† â€Å"Forget Shinichi!† â€Å"He is a liar when it suits him, that I can tell you.† â€Å"I think,† Mrs. Flowers said, â€Å"that we can retire to the boardinghouse now.† â€Å"Yeah, and let's go get our baths.† â€Å"Just one last thing.† Shinichi's voice, giant-sized seemed to come from everywhere around them; from the sky, from the earth. â€Å"You're really going to love what I have in mind next for you. If I were you, I'd start negotiating for that star ball right NOW.† But his laughter was off and the muffled feminine sound behind him was almost like crying, as if Misao couldn't help herself. â€Å"YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT!† Shinichi insisted in a roar.

Spirit Leader

To many cheerleading may not be considered a sport, however what those many people may not understand, is that like all sports it requires the same key components to succeed. The cheerleaders that are serious about this sport understand that many elements are needed in making a â€Å"die-hard† cheerleader. I would say these elements are dedication, commitment, heart and soul. It is with these concepts that separate who continues with their sport and who quits at the first sign of difficulty. I would like to be the â€Å"Spirit Leader† of our cheerleading team this season. One reason I’d make a great choice for this position, is that I would be dedicated to the team, and won’t give up when faced with an obstacle. To me, extra practicing, time spent making bows and signs, banners, or our spirit can, is not work, but a privilege. These tasks would not bother or frustrate me, as it would better all of us. I want to be apart of leading the team, and helping us all grow not only as individuals but as a family. Even though I’m fairly new at cheering, my enthusiasm and dedication is great, and would help toward making our team spirit soar this year. I remember as I walked into the first tryout day, last year, how nervous and inexperienced I was, and intimidated by the ones that â€Å"knew it all†. I believe my cheer skills have progressed over time. Even though I’m far from perfect, if I continue to learn and get better, it can help me better the team’s motivation and spirit this season. And bring spirit, love and motivation in leading the team and giving other girls someone to look up to. Being the spirit leader wouldn’t just be my job for the team, but the opportunity to inspire the girls with activities, challenges, and cheering together as a team. I would like to help keep our team connected, keep our cheerleader spirit alive, and have pride in our school. There’s always a time and place for fun, but being focused and keeping the big picture in mind is what is going to make us outshine the rest. We need to motivate our peers, keep the spirit flowing through the halls. Cheerleading isn’t just being a team, but a family. A Spirit Leader should have a positive attitude toward everything. Whether a stunt falls, or the music stops, I would be the motivating factor in keeping our team from falling apart. I need to show these girls spirit and motivate them in all aspects. If accepted to be the Spirit Leader of our team, I plan to execute the suggestions of our coach into making a spirit can, and a sign for the school of the weekly sport games. Also, I have ideas involving our â€Å"little sisters† for JV this year. As well as continuing to brain storm a list of other activities. I want to make this a phenomenal season full of spirit, laughter and love. To keep our school spirit up and running all season, I would like to try and get everyone involved; students, staff, faculty, athletes, families, and the community. To make the best of this year, we need to have support from majority of these people. Those are the people that look up to us, cheerleaders, to bring the spirit to school functions. As a Spirit Leader, I want to make a change in our school and community. That will take more dedication from everyone, especially myself, but I’m willing to do it. Cheerleading, to me, isn’t just about standing on sidelines yelling cheers, but about a group of people supporting another group through their spirit. It may not be about bows or matching outfits, either, but about how people can come together to achieve something great. Finally, it’s not just all about the ‘perfect‘ routine, but about all coming together and loving each other as a family. We can make a difference. I hope in your time reading this, I have helped you realize that I would be a great Spirit Leader for our cheerleading team. I am a team player, a motivator, and girl with lots of spirit! No matter what, we are a team and we’re all in this together. With my concentration, focus, dedication and time, I will help make our Chittenango Varsity Cheerleading team’s spirit shine, and bring our team together as one.