black women and stds :: essays research papers

BLACK WOMEN AND STDS Many African-American women who live in rural areas do not perceive themselves as being at great risk for contracting HIV,new study results suggest. Consequently, these women may engage in more sexually risky behaviors than their urban and suburban counterparts, researchers report. "Much more work with low-income rural women of color needs to be conducted regarding HIV prevention needs and how best to respond to those needs," lead study author Dr. Richard A. Crosby of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, told Reuters Health. "This is an important population of women who can clearly benefit from increased HIV prevention efforts." Crosby and his team surveyed 571 low-income African-American Missouri residents. About one quarter of the respondents lived in rural counties, while the majority lived in urban or suburban areas. Rural women were twice as likely as urban or suburban women to say that they did not have a preferred way to prevent HIV or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), because they "don't worry about HIV or STD," the investigators report in the April issue of the American Journal of Public Health, journal of the American Public Health. The women who lived in rural areas were also two times more likely to report never using condoms or not using condoms because they believed that their partner did not have HIV--regardless of whether or not their partner had actually been tested for the virus. And these women were twice as likely to report that their past or current partner had not been tested for HIV. "Because this belief (that their partner did not have HIV) was based on something other than the partner's HIV test, the finding suggests that rural women may be more likely than non-rural women to 'take their partners' word' that they are HIV negative," the authors write. Rural study participants were about half as likely as their non-rural counterparts to report that they had ever been diagnosed with syphilis or gonorrhea. They were also about twice as likely to report not having received counseling about HIV during their last pregnancy, the report indicates. Overall, however, the reason for the discrepancy in HIV beliefs and prevention practices between urban and rural women may be because "HIV is less salient, as a threat, among rural women," Crosby speculated.

Cultural and Relationship Values Analysis Essay

Baderman Island Resorts has decided that it is a good time to implement a new employee handbook. Please be sure to read this memo in its entirety to understand why the handbook has been changed. Baderman Island Resort continues to grow in popularity and brings all types of travelers to the island. Because of this, the Boardman Management Group thinks that having a well-developed employee handbook will be beneficial for current and future employees. Also, The Boardman Management Group understands how important it is that every employee understand the organization’s specific goals, cultural values. As well as understanding the significance of each member of the organization to providing the finest customer service to our guests. Baderman Island Resorts will be changing to follow a more compliance-based cultural system. Boardman Management Group feels that this change will allow for increased growth, success and profitability. This new system is not meant to discourage the employees from continuing to take the initiative to be self-motivating and to continue to provide quality customer service. The internet blog section will continue to remain so employees can make suggestions and offer ideas. This new handbook will still encourage anindividual-based culture. Employees are responsible for their own job performance and for making sure that they follow the policies and procedures. Although there will indeed be times when a team-based culture will be necessary in order to complete certain duties accurately and successfully. The mission and vision statement for all employees is the quality customer service, an extraordinary vacation experience where the guests’ needs and desires are met above and beyond, and to guarantee the guests will not be disappointed. There has been a change to the mission and vision statement that discusses the future additions and attractions that are the process of developmental stages which will show the future and current guests that the Baderman Island Resort will be the place to visit in the future. The first thing that will be covered in the new employee handbook will be employer rights. This will include health and safety, diversity, affirmative action and due process procedures. There will also be coverage of the employee rights as well. This will include the same items covered in the employer rights. The final use of the employee handbook will be as a training, reference, and compliance tool to help the organization stay organized and focused on the goals and objectives of the company. Employees will be able to stay knowledgeable on the policies and procedures, and to remind the employees of the employer’s responsibilities and their rights. My hope is that this memo has been informative towards the new employee handbook and the direction that Baderman Island Resorts is heading towards. I believe that the new employee handbook will be an excellent tool for the employees to prevent confusion and questions that the employees may have. Employee Handbook for Baderman Island Resort Mission and Vision of Baderman Island Resort The mission and vision statement for all employees is the quality customer service, an extraordinary vacation experience where the guests’ needs and desires are met above and beyond, and to guarantee the guests will not be disappointed. Cultural Values of Baderman Island Resort Baderman Island Resort has the belief that in order to continue to succeed in the current market that the organization will need to become a morecompliance-based culture. To ensure that all laws are followed to make sure that the integrity of the company and employees is followed. Employee Rights Baderman Island Resort is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEOC). The company’s philosophy is to recognize individual attributes and values that each employee brings to the job with respect and acknowledgement. By recognizing these principles it will allow the company to successfully reach its goals of providing excellent customer services and ultimately corporate profitability. Employer Rights Baderman Island Resort has contracted with an employment law firm to provide legal advice and to handle any employee/employer disputes and EEOC issues. Baderman also has the responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy work place for all employees. However in the event that an employee is injured on the job or becomes ill, workers compensation and FMLA leave are offered as well.

The Stories Of Antigone, Gilgamesh, And Genesis - 1091 Words

The stories of Antigone, Gilgamesh, and Genesis were stories that are applicable even in situations happening today. These all have universal themes and have symbols. These stories are iconic because the way the authors’ composed the stories. The authors used literary devices to portray underlying messages. These stories have common elements, such as theme, even though they were written in different decades. A common theme between Antigone, Gilgamesh, and Genesis is the bond within siblings. In the story of Antigone, Antigone wanted to bury her brother out of love and respect for him; therefore, she died because she loved her brother so much. Antigone also loved her sister very much. Antigone buried her brother without Ismene’s help because Ismene believed that Antigone should not try to override the law. Ismene planned to keeps Antigone’s secret about burying her brother; furthermore she promised to bury her brother if Antigone did not succeed. In Gilgamesh, Enkidu and Gilgamesh were supposed to be enemies. The gods created Enkidu half human and half beast to match Gilgamesh in a battle; instead, the two characters became best friends. Some critics could even describe them as brothers. Gilgamesh lost himself after Enkidu’s death. He kept his body so long that worms started to deteriorate Enkidu; he also took Enkidu’s animal skins and pulled out his hair in ho pes that Enkidu would come back to life. In the book of Genesis, Cain killed Abel because God accepted Abel’s

Electronic Monitoring and Workplace Privacy - 1774 Words

Electronic Monitoring and Workplace Privacy Workplace privacy is one of the biggest issues facing businesses today. Do you feel like you are being watched all the time, all your e-mails being read, and every key stroke is being monitored by your boss? Some people feel this way and that is why privacy in the workplace is a problem with many businesses today. Employees feel like they are not being trusted, or feel the company invades on their personal privacy, or violates their fourth amendment rights. On the other hand many businesses have many federal and state laws to follow, and must keep their assets safe, and their employees. Technology makes communications of all sorts as easy as a few pushes of a button. This technology makes it†¦show more content†¦This view is upheld in many courts. One such case is the McLoren v. Microsoft, and Smyth v. Pillsbury. Nord, McCubbins, and J. Nord, explain, in the case of McLoren v. Microsoft, McLoren was part of a harassment investig ation, and Microsoft broke into McLoren’s password protected personal e-mail folder to gather evidence. McLoren claimed, the password protected folder was like a personal locker, for personal items. The court rejected the argument, stating the e-mail was first received in the inbox of the e-mail provided by Microsoft and moving it to a personal folder is no exception (Nord, McCubbins, and J. Nord, 2006). In Smyth v. Pillsbury Company, Nord, McCubbins, and J. Nord, explain, Smyth sent unprofessional comments in an e-mail, from home to his supervisor. Pillsbury fired Smyth. The courts upheld this action, because the e-mail was retrieved from storage at the company owned servers (Nord, McCubbins, and J. Nord, 2006). With these examples of employees misusing company communication equipment, employers must monitor employees to avoid legal liability. Employers have to monitor employees for security concerns relating to intentional or accidental release of sensitive data. Mohl, sho ws in a 2006 survey by Proofpoint Inc. â€Å"more then one in five outgoing e-mails contains content that poses a legal, financial or regulatory risk†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Mohl, 2006 p.69). Lee, and Kleiner, show how people v. Eubanks, management foundShow MoreRelatedHow the Growth of Electronic Monitoring Has Changed Employee Expectations of Privacy in the Workplace1151 Words   |  5 Pagesuse of the internet for personal pursuits in the workplace has seen phenomenal growth over the last quarter century. Along with this growth, employers and employees alike have used the internet as a tool to increase profit, manage time and facilitate communications. However, such technological advancement has its issues. The problem investigated is how the growth of electronic monitoring has changed employee expectations of privacy in the workplace. Should employees be able to use the internetRead MoreEmployee Privacy Rights In The Workplace Essay1390 Words   |  6 Pagesof privacy is a big concern in the workplace. With the expanding of new technology, many employees are concern about his or, her privacy in the workplace. Employees have the right to go to work knowing that his or, her employer will not invade their privacy. The rights to privacy in the workplace only provide limited protection for workers against monitoring and breach of confidentiality. The National Work Rights Institute states, under the federal law, the limited protection the Electronic CommunicationRead MoreThe Case of the Omniscient Organization1207 Words   |  5 Pagesan all-time high. Instead of identifying and addressing the underlying business and management problems, DS decided to treat the symptoms by turning to SciexPlan Inc. to help radically restructure the work environment through the use of employee monitoring technology. Background DS has justified its work environment restructuring based on past failures rather than future goals for success. The company has created a system to compile a comprehensive database of information on every employeeRead MoreThe Rights and Ethics of Employees with Respect to Privacy at Work788 Words   |  4 Pagesand Ethics of Employees with Respect to Privacy at Work Widespread use of electronic communications media such as e-mail and information resources such as the Internet has prompted many employers to engage in electronic surveillance of their employees. Employers are monitoring—and even recording—employees’ personal phone calls, e-mails, and workplace conversations. Video cameras are trained on employee parking lots, break areas, and other parts of the workplace. Today’s employers have the legal rightRead MoreEssay On EPM1018 Words   |  5 PagesCurrent Use of EPM by Private Employers 1. Form of Monitoring Electronic monitoring makes it possible for employers to monitor the activities of their employees continuously and secretly. Although electronic monitoring includes a wide range of practices, three general categories dominate computer-based monitoring, telephone call, accounting and service observation; and video surveillance. a) Computer-based monitoring: This allows an employer to review specific activities of employees who work onRead MoreThe Ethical Dilemmas That Arises From The Employer1604 Words   |  7 Pages Moral Rights in the Work Place Abstract Many questions on privacy and electronic monitoring of employees make complex answer. This paper will explain the ethical dilemmas that arises from the employer. Research Question: Privacy and Electronic Monitoring in the Work Place? Introduction: Work is one of the most important and highly valued human activities in large part because it is necessary for so many other central human goods. Moral Rights and Work are connected because by theRead MoreEssay On The Use Of Monitoring Techniques Used In The Workplace902 Words   |  4 PagesUse of Monitoring Devices at the Workplace For the past decade, many companies have changed their way of using modern technologies. Therefore, it has resulted in newer strategies to manage employees at the workplace. The increased usage of surveillance and monitoring have caused concerns for both employees and employers. These technologies should not be allowed at the workplace because it can create poor working environment and violates privacy rights. The most important reason why monitoring devicesRead MoreInstalling A Office Surveillance System1714 Words   |  7 Pagesadvancement in technology especially in the security industry, there is a huge surge in the numbers of company surveillance of the employees and different ways of supervision have been established. Many companies have installed security cameras in the workplace and have access to the browsing history and emails of workers. However, there has been an uproar among the workers lately as they are more exposed to social media and news from different places. More and more cases of employers overextending theirRead MoreElectronic Surveillance and the Right to Privacy1025 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Outline: Electronic surveillance and the right to privacy Purpose: To inform the audience about electronic surveillance and the right to privacy Thesis: Electronic surveillance and the right to privacy is an increasingly controversial issue in modern American society. In this speech I will describe the technology, how employers and the government use the technology, and how the courts have interpreted the right to privacy. Organizational Pattern: Topical I. Introduction A. Attention Getter- IRead MorePrivacy in the Workplace1140 Words   |  5 PagesExplain where an employee can reasonably expect to have privacy in the workplace. Privacy in the workplace is very hard to get. Advancements in technology have been made that allow companies to monitor every aspect of an employee use of their systems. This is very evident if you have a job that involves you to be on the telephones. Companies are able to listen to each phone that is made, see every website that you have visited and read any email you have received. For example, I used to work

Feminism The Generation Of The Feminist Movement

Jayonnah Jennings Mrs. Wallace English 12 Period 3 01/28/15 Feminism Facts have shown that our generation is the most progressive generation in the feminist movement. Maybe it is thanks to our old childhood girl group â€Å"The Spice Girls’ and their catchy songs about honoring your mother, setting your boundaries, or just plain ole’ dancing. The Spice Girls take the cake on girl power. Oh, power! That is where misconceptions come into play when speaking of feminism. Going out of the way to get evidence, I questioned random students at Cibola High School what their definition and understanding of feminism was. Only few knew their stuff while most were unsure of what feminism really is, in fact some began to confuse it with misandry. So, what†¦show more content†¦Women’s friendships became unbreakable. These bonds strengthened the protest of the first-wave feminism which lead to the ratification of the 19th amendment on August 18, 1920. The 20 s was a time that set the stage for the work of former activist. In the 20 s woman were seen as more than house makers. In the 20 s Flappers were introduce and they held different goals set to accomplish. The women of the 20 s introduced a new topic of discussion amongst the community. Political equality was no longer the focus. New feminists desired social equality. They redefined acceptable social behaviors by the way they dressed, their new approach to courting, and their way of conducting themselves in public. By most descriptions, Lois Long, a reporter for The New Yorker, was the overall inspiration of the 1920s flapper. Her writing provided a voice for these new feminists. With her column, â€Å"Tables for Two,† Long reviewed nightclubs all over the city. â€Å"Tables for Two† first appeared in issue of the New Yorker on September 12, 1925. Her combination of dry humor and uncompromising honesty gained her a huge following. Her column had a confidential tone that was very appealing; it read as if she was telling a friend about her antics the night before. Typical of the flapper’s carefree outlook she summed up her idea about

Multicultural Case Study Free Essays

MCE Problem Solving Case Study Section 1: Problem Identification The problem identified is gender bias that male students have towards female teachers. The conflict is many male students do not respond to female teachers the same way they respond to male teachers. These students feel that they do not have to follow directions/instructions from female teachers and will not complete assignments given without constant reminders. We will write a custom essay sample on Multicultural Case Study or any similar topic only for you Order Now Male students who show this type of bias to female teachers are either from a single parent home, one where the female role is not respected, socialization of the student, or even a more affluent home. These students are not held responsible for their actions at home and feel that they are not accountable at school for their behaviors. Male students who come from single parent homes usually carry more responsibility at home and will attempt to carry this role over into the classroom. He feels that he is the more dominant member of the household and that he is always in control. This student will not always complete assignments taken home because of his responsibilities and may or may not do well on quizzes and tests. He may feel that these assignments have no bearing on his current situation because he is more focuses on survival for today and less worried about the future. The male students who come from a home where the female role is not respected will carry this attitude over into the classroom. When he is presented a classroom situation with a male teacher he is respectful, but when placed a classroom with a female teacher he acts out or refuses to give her the proper respect. He feels that he superior to her and does not have to listen to her. Socialization of the student could also play a role in gender bias against a female teacher. The loud male student will always catch the attention of the teacher where as the quite soft-spoken female student will be overlooked. This attention can cause the male student to continue to act out in that teacher’s class. A male student who comes from a more affluent home, the parenting comes in the form of money or gift giving. These students will hold a sense of entitlement in all situations causing them to feel that they are not responsible for their actions or behaviors. Even if corrected or punished at school they know that they will receive no punishment at home. They also realize that this provides a way out of that specific teacher’s class for a day or more. Section 2: Perspectives The first group affected by this problem is female teachers. These teachers begin to feel less confident in their teaching and begin to second guess themselves. It threatens the teacher authority level in the classroom when one student continues to disrespect, because it shows other students that they too can get away with it. After continual defiance or disrespect from students, teachers can begin to over react to situations that could be prevented with patience. Also, this disruption can prevent the teacher from accomplishing that day’s lesson because she is constantly correcting behaviors. Along with threatening a teacher’s authority these students can also cause fear in teachers. The next group affected is the male students. One effect could be the over generalization of all male students being placed into the same category as the defiant male students. This creates tension between the teacher and the entire male classroom population. This can also create a hierarchy between the males in the class by allowing the loud, defiant male to become the defacto leader, while the others follow. This action causes the teacher to lose control of the classroom, allowing that male to take control. The third group affected is the female students. The quiet, soft-spoken female will often be overlooked, while the dominant male will receive all the attention in the class. When the female students do well, they still do not receive the positive reinforcement they are due. After being exposed to this type of behavior the female students may begin to act out or defy authority figures because they feel that would gain more attention from the teacher. Also, seeing female teachers treated this way in the classroom can cause the female students to view this behavior as acceptable in everyday society. This can carry over into their lives, present and future. The fourth group affected by this problem is the parents of the students in the classroom. As a parent, you expect your child to receive an adequate education while in school, but if your child’s class is constantly disrupted they are not receiving an adequate education. The teacher may not be able to cover all curriculum scheduled for that allotted time because of student(s) being disruptive in the classroom. Also, if your child sees this behavior on a daily basis, he or she may begin to think that it is appropriate and may begin to mimic the behaviors. The last group affected is the school. First, if the teacher is unable to cover the necessary material or teach the material effectively the school’s test scores may begin to drop and will cause them to not reach their Adequate Yearly Progress. The administration will have to focus more on discipline issues rather than on the positive aspects of the school. The effect may also be seen with other teachers and their view of that specific teacher or classroom. Section 3: Challenges and Opportunities One challenge for the teacher, parents, and school is the agreed upon level of reinforcement given to that student, whether it be positive or negative. A challenge to the teacher is not allowing that student’s behavior to effect her attitude towards the rest of the male population in her current class and in future in classes. Another challenge to the teacher is attempting to make up lost instructional time that was given up when dealing with the disruptive/disrespectful student. This can put stress on her and the other students. A challenge presented to the male student, is that if allowed to continually disrespect female teachers in school it will negatively affect his relationship with all female authority figures, police officers, bosses, and significant other, in his adult life. One challenge presented to the female student is to be acknowledged and appreciated for doing the right thing in and out of class. This can also apply to male students who respect the female teacher and her authority. An opportunity for the teacher would be for her to learn how to effectively manage her classroom and diffuse hostile situations. It allows the teacher to grow professionally in both the science and the art of teaching. All students have the opportunity to learn what acceptable behavior is in the school setting and this behavior will hopefully carry over into their adult lives. The school has the opportunity to create a culture of acceptable behavior and to create a learning environment that provides an adequate education to all students. It also allows the school to create a precedent for future problems that may arise because of similar behavior issues. Section 4: Strategies †¢ Teacher could collaborate with other female teachers in order to get ideas about how to handle these situations. †¢ Do not ignore the problem, even if it seems small at that time. †¢ Set rule and expectations from day one. Let the students know that you are in control of the classroom. Develop a rewards system to reward student for positive behaviors. Take notice of successes in school or extracurricular activities. †¢ Give the student a daily job, in which he feels that he is important and is relied on. †¢ Involve as many outside parties as possible to help correct or improve behaviors. These parties could be parents, other teachers or coaches. †¢ Cre ate a mentoring style program to provide the student with a positive example from an older student. †¢ The teacher may have to get administration involved if the behavior(s) a level beyond that teacher’s control. Section 5: Solutions The solution can be divided into three separate and distinct stages: 1. Proactive 2. Constructive 3. Reactive In the proactive stage, the teacher must show that she is in control of the room from day one and assert this authority to insure that the students understand the rules, policies, and expectations. She must have confidence in her abilities as a teacher. In this stage, she must also have her approaches and tools needed to handle violations of rules, policies, and expectations clearly defined. She must be consistent in the enforcement of the rules, policies, and expectations in the classroom. In the constructive stage, the teacher must respond quickly to any demonstrations of rude or disrespectful behavior and must be consistent in recognizing these behaviors. The teacher should respond to the student with positive feedback, provide guidance or correction for more appropriate. In the reactive stage, the teacher could first collaborate with other teachers and determine methods to prevent the behavior from occurring. She needs to also reiterate the rules, policies, and expectations of the class. Next, she could develop a rewards system to acknowledge positive behaviors from that student in her class. One possible reward could be for the student to have a daily task. This task could be handing out papers or taking the attendance to the front office. The task should make the student feel important and noticed by that teacher. Once it reaches the level where the teacher is unable to handle discipline in class, she needs to involve as many outside parties as possible. These can include coaches, parents, other teachers, and/or administration. Section 6: Expected The solution gives each party impacted by the problem a fair and equitable opportunity to learn, teach, and be successful. The students are provided a safe and consistent learning environment, while being provided the rules, policies, and expectations of the classroom. This also provides the teacher with less stressful atmosphere that facilitates student learning. Section 7: Reflections Section 8: References Jana Bernhardt (2012). Am I Buggin Ya Yet? Dealing With Difficult Student Behaviors. [ONLINE] Available at: HTTP://thisisjustforfun. com/uploads/5227_NADE%20presentation. ppt25 Feb. [Last Accessed 25 February]. How to cite Multicultural Case Study, Free Case study samples

Channeling My Energy free essay sample

At nine years old, I wouldn’t walk into supermarkets; I would fly. I would grip the cool metal handles of the towering shopping carts with my childishly hot hands and push off with one foot, propelling myself into infinity. The only thing that could bring me back to earth were my mother’s disapproving looks and barely successful attempts to make me â€Å"Slow down!† or â€Å"Come back here† since I might â€Å"plow into someone.† At school, the poster-plastered walls seemed to close in after long days, edging closer and closer until I felt energy-induced claustrophobia creeping up my spine. The blue and green and yellow of the carpet and walls and finger paintings tumbled and blurred as I turned myself upside down and shifted my weight onto my surprisingly steady palms. â€Å"No handstands in the classroom!† my teacher would admonish, kneeling beside me and gently lowering me to the floor, afraid my precarious center of gravity would soon destabilize. We will write a custom essay sample on Channeling My Energy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"You have to learn to stay seated.† To little me, this seemed just too much to ask; sitting down for such long periods seemed a feat only someone as grown up as she could accomplish. It wasn’t long before my teachers started making other comments. Soon it wasn’t just â€Å"You need to learn to stay seated,† but things like â€Å"Paige is slightly immature and behind the other children socially† and â€Å"Maybe you should consider keeping Paige back a grade so she has time to mature and settle down.† My mother knew she had to do something. Suddenly I was sitting in an over-air-conditioned room with a smiling lady who showed me flashcards of dogs and fire trucks and houses, and prompted me to repeat as many as I could remember. She gave me different samples of sounds, testing how long I could remain focused on the voice crackling through the recorder. I was too young to know that she was testing my attention span and mannerisms for ADHD. After I was positively diagnosed, my mother enrolled me in gymnastics to address my overabundant energy. I was mesmerized by the many ways I could contort my body and the countless flips I could execute in midair. The possibility of moving into the advanced group with the older girls motivated me to spend my boundless energy tumbling and balancing in the gym, instead of sprinting and rolling in the supermarket. I soon realized that this solution could be applied to other areas of my life – even those that weren’t physical. After all, I didn’t merely have an excess of physical energy, but mental energy as well. The world seemed to me an incredibly complicated tapestry, and I wanted to unravel its mysteries thread by thread. When I was 10 years old, my brother introduced me to the wonderful world of the fiction novel. From that day on, I was hooked. Stories of vampires and werewolves and witches and warlocks from other worlds swirled in my mind; I constantly had my head in a book. To this day, I continue burning my mental energy on novels, although my tastes have transitioned from teen fiction to classics like Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But merely reading words on a page wasn’t enough. Somewhere inside me, I had created my own worlds, unbeknownst to my conscious mind. The day that my hand picked up a pen and put it to paper remains blurry in my memory; it is almost as though it happened of its own volition. I soon became addicted to the beauty of the English language, to the way hard consonants could be combined to elicit a sense of urgency and anger in a reader, and the way liquid consonants could be melded to coax out a sense of calm and happiness. High school came speeding toward me like a freight train, and instead of fully embracing the four years to come, I felt my excess energy – whether it be physical, creative, or inquisitive – made me different from everyone else. I was that teenager who pored over classic literature and wrote poetry for fun. The summer of eleventh grade, fate brought me to the moment when I discovered I was not alone in these pursuits. It was the first hot summer night of the Iowa Young Writer’s Workshop, and listening and observing the other teens around me, I felt the sense that I’d arrived at my intellectual home. Here were peers whose minds were always buzzing and whose hearts were always open. They were propelled by the same abounding energy that I was. They too understood the law of physics stating that energy could neither be created nor destroyed, only changed. And they, like me, had chosen to channel it into something positive.