Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart Goals are helpful in life to make one work harder at the wanted task; however, too much of anything is not helpful at all and can turn into an obsession. Also, one must realize change is inevitable. Living your entire life based on trying not to be like someone is not beneficial as proven in Chinua Achebe‚ ¡Ã‚‚ ¯s, Things Fall Apart and having the fear of change will cause one to live in fear forever. The protagonist, Okonkwo, has strong characteristics that make him successful and earn many honor titles. Unfortunately, he does have major character flaws that lead to his demise.One of his major character flaws that I noticed was his obsession with trying to be better than his father was. Now, those characteristics are beneficial to have because it allows one to strive harder for specific goals. One of my main motivations in life is to become successful so I will never have to struggle like my parents did.English: Igbo Ukwu pendant.Just as Okonkwo did not want to be like his father, Nwoye did not want to be like Okonkwo. Nwoye possessed traits that Okonkwo did not such as gentleness, forgiveness, and acceptance. Okonkwo saw these as signs of weakness. "Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger. To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength" (Achebe 28). Okonkwo considered Nwoye to be lazy and wanted him to be a success like himself. "Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man. I will not have a son who cannot hold up his head in the gathering of the clan. I would sooner strangle him with my own hands" (Achebe 33). This is an example of the difference in personal...

How to Pay for College Without Loans

How to Pay for College Without Loans SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The question of how to pay for college is usually one with a complicated answer. Your own unique financial situation, interests, strengths, weaknesses, and preferences all come into play. Some of the most important factors that come up center around your ability and willingness to take out student loans. In this guide, I'll thoroughly cover how to pay for college without loans. This can help you pay for college without going broke, or at least graduating without a load of student debt. Maybe taking out loans for college isn’t a good financial option for you. Maybe your parents can’t or won’t co-sign on the necessary loans. Maybe you just hate the thought of having student debt. Whatever your reasons, choosing to pay for college without loans is a completely valid decision. I won’t sugarcoat this - it might make paying for college more difficult, especially if you don’t have many other financial aid options available. That isn’t to say, however, that there aren’t some viable options available for almost any student who wants to avoid taking on debt. Before going through all these options, I’ll briefly talk about college expenses and the reasons why some people choose to take out loans. Then, I’ll give non-loan aid options for students based on whether they demonstrate high or low financial need. I’ll finish off with info on how much aid you can expect to receive without having to take on debt. What Does College Cost? Why Do People Take Out Loans? The first expense you probably think of when calculating colleges costs will probably be tuition. Average tuition rates vary by the type of school you attend: $31,231 average tuition for private colleges $9,139 average tuition for in-state residents at public colleges $22,958 average tuition for out-of-state residents at public colleges Tuition is expensive enough on its own, but it's not the only major expense associated with attending college.You’re also responsible for room, board, transportation, books, and personal expenses.The cost of room and board also varies by school type, although not as widely as tuition costs: $,188 average room board at private colleges $9,804 average room board at public colleges If we add tuition, room, board, and other expenses, the average cost of attending college in the US ranges from $19,000 - $42,419.This is a pretty huge annual expense when we consider that the average US household income is about $50,000. So how does the average student afford these huge expenses? As it turns out, most students don't end up paying full sticker price for college. As of a few years ago, the average student received about $7,000 in non-loan financial aid per year - the rest of college costs would be covered by family contributions or (as we'll talk more about shortly), loans. A financial aid award of $7,000 makes a significant dent in total college expenses, especially if you're attending a less expensive school, but it would rarely cover all tuition, room, and board costs. If non-loan aid and family contributions don't add up to students' total college costs, they'll need help making up the difference. The average US student has about $28,400 in loans after graduation. In my experience, most students anticipate having to take out loans unless they're in one of two situations: They demonstrate very high financial need, thereby qualifying for many need-based aid programs. If they attend a school that meets all financial need, their families may not have to pay a cent to send them to college. They come from wealthy families who are able to cover all college expenses, even if they don't qualify for any need-based financial aid. Most students are somewhere in the middle, with a gap between what they have (savings, grants, scholarships) and what they need (total cost). This is where loans traditionally come in. There’s nothing inherently bad about taking out student loans, but if you’re striving to avoid student debt, the next section will outline all viable options and strategies. Financial Aid Options: How to Pay for School Without Student Loans Want to say no to student loans? This section will outline realistic financial strategies to help you do that. Your options for paying for school without loans largely depend on your financial status. Many non-loan financial aid options are need-based, so students who demonstrate high financial need tend to have more aid opportunities. There are some merit-only aid options that don’t take financial need into account - if you don’t demonstrate much financial need, those options will be a good place to start. Before you start considering non-loan payment strategies, you may find it helpful to estimate your own financial need. This way, you'll have a better idea of what aid options (merit-based only, or merit- and need-based) are available to you. Unfortunately,the amount you believe your family can afford doesn’t always match up with the amount that aid sources (schools, government, and private scholarship funds) determine you can afford. To get a realistic idea of what many need-based aid sources will expect your family to contribute, check out the FAFSA4caster: Enter in relevant financial information to get an unofficial EFC, or Expected Family Contribution The federal government, schools, and some need-based aid sources use this number to make an assessment of your family’s financial need The lower your EFC, the more aid you're likely to be eligible for Once you make this estimate, you'll know whether you should focus on the need-based aid options. High Financial Need: Need-Based Aid A lot of non-loan financial aid options are available for students from low-income families. Many of these aid sources are based on financial need or a combination of merit and financial need. Grants Federal grants: The Pell Grant is awarded to students with low EFCs. Check out Pell Grant eligibility requirements and application instructions. Institutional grants: Many top schools have exceptional need-based financial aid programs. Some even claim to meet 100% of unmet need without using loans - that is, anything that you can't afford to pay after getting federal grants or scholarships. Scholarships Many top scholarships are need-based and provide very generous awards.If they cover all unmet need, they'll pay for all expenses that aren't covered by grants or other scholarships. Some awards give you a set amount every semester or every year; others are nonrenewable, one-time awards. It'snot easy to budget around scholarships because they’re unpredictable, and the best ones tend to be very competitive. To start your scholarship search, check out our guides to the top scholarship programs for high school seniors and high school juniors. The Perkins Loan I know this is supposed to be a post on non-loan financial aid options only, but hear me out - if you plan on pursuing certain service careers, you could be eligible for 100% loan cancellation if you take out a Perkins loan. If you get your loan canceled or forgiven, it essentially functions as a grant - that is, it's free money to pay for school. The Perkins loan is meant for students with exceptional financial need. Read more about the Perkins loan program, its eligibility requirements, and the forgiveness process. Schools You may be able to avoid student loans just by applying to the right schools. Some schools, particularly top private colleges, tend to offer generous financial aid packages. Like I mentioned earlier, some of them even commit to covering all unmet financial need - the schools with the best financial aid programs don't ask students to take out loans in order to cover costs, either. If you're interested in public schools, stay in-state -resident tuitions and costs are usually much lower forthan those for non-residents. Low Financial Need: Merit-Based Aid There are fewer non-loan aid options for students who come from higher-income families, but they’re still out there! Keep in mind that you don't have to be higher-income to qualify for merit-based aid - anyone could theoretically benefit from the aid options listed below. Scholarships There are a ton of merit-based scholarships out there. You’ll have to make sure to carefully read all eligibility requirementsbecause some scholarship programs also take financial need into account. To get started with your scholarship search, check out our guides to the top awards for high school seniors and juniors. The Coca-Cola Scholarship is a particularly large merit-based scholarship award. Schools Even if your family has a relatively high income, you may still qualify for institutional grants at certain schools. Some private schools with top financial aid programs award aid to families who make well into six figures - for example, Harvard doesn’t ask families to contribute more than 10% of their adjusted gross income. If you're interested in public schools, apply to college and universities in-state - your tuition will be much cheaper, on average, than if you attended an out-of-state public school. If you ultimately won’t qualify for much need-based aid but have other academic, athletic, or artistic strengths that make you a competitive applicant, you could qualify for merit-based aid. Start by checking out this list of schools that award the most merit-based aid - all the schools listed awarded merit aid to at least 40% of their students last year. How Much Can You Get Without Loans? You don't need a fountain pen to do these calculations, although you're welcome to use one. In this section, I'll run through realistic expectations of how much money you can earn through different aid options. I'll run through realistic example situations at the end. Grants and Other School-Based Aid This aid will vary widely (not unsurprisingly) by school. Schools’ net price calculators will give you a good idea of how much money they could offer you if you were accepted. You’ll have to enter relevant financial info (e.g. income, assets) for both you and your parents in order to get an accurate estimate. If a school awards merit-based aid, they might also ask about things like GPA and SAT/ACT scores. To access a particular institution's net price calculator, just google "[school name] net price calculator." Scholarships Unfortunately, there’s no good rule of thumb to estimate how much money you could get from scholarships that you apply to. Many scholarships are pretty competitive, so the more programs you apply to, the better your chances of getting funding. If you start looking at scholarships earlier in your high school career, you can get a head start in targeting better scholarships. Examples I'll run through two different financial aid scenarios here to show you howyou can cover your college costs without taking out any loans. In the first example, the student is attending a public school and has low financial need; in the second example, the student is attending a private school and has high financial need. Public School + Low Need Student A is a high achiever who comes from a relatively wealthy family in Arizona. I plugged some general academic and financial information into Arizona State University's net price calculator to come up with her Cost of Attendance. Here's her background information: Current high school senior in Arizona National Merit Program Finalist Ranked #5 in a class of 150, 3.8 GPA 730 on SAT critical reading and math sections Combined family income: $150,000 And here's her financial aid output: There are a few things you should notice about this output: She's saving money right off the bat because she's applying to an in-state public school. Her tuition costs are $10,478, but tuition for an out-of-state resident at ASU comes to $25,042. Her expected family contribution (EFC) is pretty high - ASU expects her family to be able to afford $32,770 a year, which more than covers her costs. She isn't offered any need-based aid, but she is offered a merit-based scholarship of $13,000. She wouldn't be offered this scholarship if she wasn't a high-achiever. With this scholarship, her total out-of-pocket costs for the year come to $14,260. Since Student A's parents make $150,000 a year, ASU assumes thatthey can more than afford a bill of about $14,260 a semester - they wouldn't have to take out any loans to cover these expenses (although they could if they wanted to). Sometimes, though, families are unwilling or unable to make such a contribution. If this is the case for Student A, she could help mitigate these costs by applying to scholarship programs. Private School + High Need Student B is a California resident who's applied to Stanford. He comes from a family of 4 with high financial need. I plugged in some general demographic and financial information (no academic or merit information) into Stanford's net price calculator. Here's his background info: Current high school senior in California One 15-year-old sibling Combined family income: $40,000 And here's his financial aid output: Here's what you should notice about this output: Unlike for Student A, Student B has been offered financial aid based only on financial need - not on merit (although keep in mind that Student B would have to be a high achiever in order to get into Stanford in the first place). Student B'stotal costs ($64,900) are higher than those of Student A ($27,260), but Student B was offered way more in scholarship grant money ($59,900) Stanford doesn't expect Student B's family to make any financial contribution to these costs. Stanford does, however, expect Student B to contribute a small amount ($5,000) through a student job and/or savings. $5,000 a year is a significant, but manageable, bill for a college student.Student B could pay this bill in a number of ways without taking out loans - he could get a work study job during the school year and/or summer, for example. He could alsoapply to different scholarship programs to see if he could cover some or all of the cost with outside funding. What's Next? We've covered thoroughly how to pay for college without loans. Now you have a shot at paying for college without going broke. Financial aid comes in many forms and from many sources. Get clear, simple instructions on applying for financial aid. Whether you have high or low financial need, you should definitely submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Learn more about the FAFSA and how to submit one. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Living Assignment

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Living - Assignment Example There is still no cure for the virus that causes AIDS. However antiretroviral treatments that suppress the HIV virus are available. Some patients have been known to regain strong immune systems as a result of antiretroviral therapy. The therapy not only helps prolong lives but also prevents people infected by the virus from developing AIDS. Celebrities like Rock Hudson, Freddie Mercury, and Arthur Ashe who died of the disease have given a face to it ensuring that it is known to one and all. They have also helped to educate, empower and raise public awareness. Some have funded organizations that financially help AIDS patients. The challenge is to spread awareness of the ways in which the virus is transmitted to prevent the infection. As former US president Bill Clinton remarked: â€Å"new data from 51 countries suggests 70 percent of HIV-related deaths could have been prevented.† Numerous initiatives have been launched to lower prices of life-saving antiretroviral drugs in order to improve access to treatment. Scientists the world over are working overtime to find a cure for the disease. There are a whole host of organizations working to combat the disease, find cures and help and educate those communities that do not have the means to help themselves. Bill Clinton at the world AIDS conference in Melbourne observed, â€Å"The AIDS-free world that so many of you have worked to build is just over the horizon. We just need to step up the pace.†Ã‚  

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

History - Essay Example The participation of Southern states in the adoption of the amendments of ending slavery was a light to the blacks; however, they reject the 14th amendments and this incited the Radical Republicans in passing Reconstruction Acts. These acts brought about division in Southern states based on their racial differences. 2. Describe the kind of violence Lucy McMillan experiences via 1871. How does this illustrate the problem of reconstruction? Lucy McMillan experiences the 1871 violence between Blacks and the Whites during the reconstruction era. McMillan illustrates the problems of reconstruction as it directly affects the citizens of North and South. The problems included lack of knowledge concerning land problems by most of the black leaders who had participated in the Reconstruction this made it possible for the whites to win over them. 3. How do the Louisiana Black Codes reinstate a kind of â€Å"virtual slavery† in 1865? Louisiana succeeded in his deal of protecting the Black s, his codes had significance in ending virtual slavery, and he denied the pardons involving those who had killed the African American war prisoners. Louisiana allowed each state in creating a new constitution, this came after taking an oath of allegiance by 10% of the total voters, through Louisiana’s efforts ending of discrimination of the blacks. 4. What kind of tribute does William Howard Day give to President Lincoln? Abraham Lincoln is not connected to any religious beliefs he, however, hold a strong believe that God is all-powerful. William Howard Day gave tributes to President Lincoln concerning his leadership especially during the reconstruction era. William confounded the president about his act of spending money and that his leadership is not trustworthy. William also pointed out Lincoln’s weakness as a man full of pride and self-centeredness. CHAPTER TWO 1. Is frontier settlement best understood as the story of competing ethnic, religious, and racial groups , or is it best understood as the place where capitalism left its mark? Frontier settlement is the region within a country fronting on another country usually neighboring country, in this settlement there are habitations. Frontier is usually a political and geographical region and found near a boundary. Frontier settlement being a political area can be best understood as a story involving competing ethnic, political and religious groups. 2. Was the West truly the place where Americans were most individualistic, democratic, and free, as Turner argued, or was it actually riddled with inequalities? Fredrick Jackson Turner in his thesis called Frontier or Turner Thesis stressed the liberty involving movement of releasing Americans from Europeans. From his thesis, it can be concluded that the west was not the place for Americans, the acquisition of the place based on the inequalities hence lacking democracy and full of individualistic. 3. One of the biggest occurrences of the 1870s was C uster’s Last Stand. Discuss the reminiscences of the battle. Custer’s Last Stand occurred in 1876, is a battle involving the most prominent act, which was pioneered by several leaders of war. The battle left several reminiscences among those who were involved and those who were affected. Several people killed 268 were killed, and 55 injured during the battle the battle led to displacement of hundreds of people. 4. Why did the

Comparing Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing Essay -- Compare

Comparing Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing As illustrated by the two plays Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare was a true romantic. In each play, his characters suffer great hardship, but in the end, he delivers them to a life of eternal love. Characters plot against each other in each play. The relationships of the people in his plays are not always what they seem. Whether it be a tragedy or a comedy, Shakespeare encompasses three elements into his plays: love, intrigue, and identity. Love is the biggest theme in both Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing. In both plays, hate acts as a force that attempts to tear both lovers apart, but their love holds them together. In Romeo and Juliet, the two lovers’ families hate one another. As a result, Romeo and Juliet are not allowed to see each other so they have to meet in secret. Despite their families’ attempting to interfere, Romeo and Juliet end up with one another for eternity in the after-life. In Much Ado About Nothing, Claudio and Hero plan to be married. Don John deceives Claudio into believing Hero is having an affair with one of his men. Claudio then calls off the wedding. When he discovers the truth, they marry immediately. In both plays love is the bond that holds the lovers together, in spite of many obstacles the two face. Intrigue is shown in both plays by the characters that act as liaisons between the lovers. For example, Romeo and Juliet cannot simply go out ...

Marfan Syndrome Research Paper

Jethro LeRoy Gibbs Mr. Vance Biology 24 December 2012 Strong Externally, Weak Internally There was a high debate and many aweing theories arguing if Abraham Lincoln had a disorder called Marfan syndrome or not, which was eventually resolved when Lincoln actually inherited a disease called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B. Contributing to the dispute of Marfan syndrome in Abraham Lincoln, in 1964 a physician published his findings and observations in the Journal of the American Medical Association which diagnosed Abraham Lincoln that he had Marfan syndrome (Kugler).However, his conclusions were eventually proven wrong. But despite the false accusations, Marfan syndrome does exist in this world. Anyone who inherits Marfan syndrome faces the real risks and threats which contain devastating consequences. For example, a hard blow to the upper chest can result in immediate death because the connective tissues are alarmingly weak which can lead to serious heart complications and interna l bleeding (Schnitzer 198). Abnormalities in the skeleton, heart, and eyes all contribute to the characterization of Marfan syndrome (Schnitzer 198).Any affected or damaged connective tissues can create or cause internal complications, especially concerning with the heart and the aorta (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†), which is the most serious life threatening risk that can prove to be fatal (Jay). Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder, characterized by several malfunctions including long bone overgrowth and several abnormalities of the skeleton, heart, and eye, which is caused by a defect and negative mutations in the fibrillin gene or fibrillin-1 that can weaken and devastate the connective tissues throughout the body guaranteeing further complications.In other words, Marfan syndrome weakens the connective tissues, augmenting the risk of damage in bone overgrowth, the skeleton, heart, and eye and at the same time affecting multiple crucial systems throughout the body. Marfan sy ndrome is a no laughing matter, according to four significant reasons: its expanded history, problematic causes, genetic description, and current research. First, Marfan syndrome was carefully observed in the late 1800 century. In 1896, a young patient was meticulously examined by Antoine Bernard – Jean Marfan, hence the name Marfan syndrome, who observed and first described the disorder (Keane).Marfan observed that the young patient had developed long, thin digits – such as the fingers, thumbs, and toes on the hands and feet – as well as the development of unusual long limbs (Keane). Little did he know, however, that this disorder was caused by mutations in the fibrillin gene that encodes a significant component, connective tissues (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†). But the cause was eventually discovered and identified by researchers in 1991, with the help of a generous foundation, the March of Dimes (â€Å"Birth Defects†), which is the second reason why Marfan syndrome is a serious matter.Fibrillin is a protein found in different areas of the body such as the aorta, ligaments, bones, and the lungs (â€Å"Birth Defects†). Thus, fibrillin helps regulate a transforming growth factor called Beta that plays a crucial role in tissue growth and repair (â€Å"Birth Defects†) which helps stabilizes many significant areas throughout the body. Genetic description becomes the third reason. Marfan syndrome can be inherited by anyone (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†), making it autosomal dominant (Jay).Autosomal dominant basically means that one parent can be diagnosed with the disorder (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†) and have a 50-50 chance of passing it on to their children (Jay). The bottom line is that Marfan syndrome is a dominant genetic trait and that everyone can inherit it under certain circumstances (â€Å"Birth Defects†). Finally, being the fourth reason, current research is still underway, despite the fact that the re is no cure yet. However, beginning in the year 2007, a clinical trial began comparing the effects of two different medicines in the effort to reduce the rate of progression of aortic complications (â€Å"Birth Defects†).Unfortunately, studies show that about 25 percent of cases dealing with Marfan syndrome are sporadic, or in other words, caused by a new mutation (â€Å"Birth Defects†). Affecting as many as one in every 10,000 to 20,000 people (â€Å"Donohue†), Marfan syndrome is one of the most common genetic abnormalities. Despite the fact that a cure has not been discovered yet, medical researchers as well as doctors are striving their best to prevent or slow the symptoms of Marfan syndrome and to reduce the complications as well.Marfan syndrome comes with some unfortunate factors such as the signs and symptoms, test screening and diagnosis, and the prognosis also known as the outcome. First, signs and symptoms are crucial to identify as soon as possible. The symptoms of the disorder include, but are not limited to, flat feet, chest that sinks in or sticks out, thin and narrowed face, small lower jaw, nearsightedness, dislocation in the lenses of the eye’s, learning disability, and scoliosis or when the spine curves to one side (Board).However, identifying the symptoms of the disorder can prove difficult (Jay) since age is a crucial factor involved (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†) and that the establishment of a specific, formal test still does not exist (Jay). In other words, doctors become aware of this disorder in people only when the noticeable signs occur caused by the disruption of the connective tissues. Also, the disorder is present at birth even though it may not be diagnosed until at a later time (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†).But when the symptoms do occur, the hands, fingers, feet, and toes may be unusually long as well as the tallness in height with long, thin arms and legs (Schnitzer 198). Skeletal abnormalities include a few deformities of the chest and face (Schnitzer 198). Other symptoms deals with the eyes, such as the dislocation of the eye’s lenses (â€Å"What is†), and the lungs, which can increase the risk and trigger asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and collapsed lungs (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†). Secondly, the diagnosis of this syndrome can be determined by some medical evaluation.Based on a clinical diagnosis, the heart, eyes, blood vessels, spine, and skeletal system are most likely to be checked out by medical professionals (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†). When diagnosing a disorder, machines and methods are used to receive valuable information about the status of it. For example, to monitor the changes in the heart and blood vessels, chest x-rays, an electrocardiogram (ECG) and an echocardiogram – which is a type of machine that uses high frequency sound waves to produce a moving picture – all may be used in the process (â€Å"Marfan Syndrom†).Thirdly, the outcomes may seem very challenging to those who have the disorder, but there is a feasible way to live through it all. Changes in the heart and blood vessels were developing in about 90 percent for those who inherit the disorder (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†). Because of this change, people must restrain from heavy activities and exercise as well as strenuous competitive sports which can all place high stress on the heart and aorta (â€Å"Birth Defects†). Thus, participation in less vigorous activities – such as walking, golfing, swimming, and slow-paced tennis – was consider safer to do (â€Å"Birth Defects†).But despite the helpful guidance and support of many programs, treatments, and changes, 50 is usually the average age of death for those who sadly have the disorder (Schnitzer 198). Heart complications and failure is usually a cause for this. However, there have been records and reports where patients have survived beyond the age o f 50, well into their 60s (Board). Despite whether the factors are negative or not, inheriting this type of disorder requires immediate attention and possibly significant changes as well.People who inherit Marfan syndrome will most likely face devastating changes due to the many negative complications and the risks factors that follows. Concerning with the complications, there are four main areas where the disorder can create devastating results which include the heart, face, eyes, and chest. Heart malfunctions is the first one, which is the most serious not to mention the most deadly complication of all (Jay). This is because the aorta, connected with the heart, could easily rupture due to enlargement (Jay).Cardiomyopathy, which is basically the enlargement and the weakening of the heart muscle, is another problem because this could lead to heart failure (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†). But the bottom line for the heart complications associated with the disorder is that the large b lood vessels connecting to the heart may gradually weaken and expand, which can eventually rupture causing death (Schnitzer 198). Complications in the eye, such as nearsightedness and the dislocation of the lenses, can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses; however, more advanced methods may include the usage of medical lasers (â€Å"Birth Defects†).Other complications involve with the chest – in which it may protrude outward or inward – joints – where it becomes increasingly flexible – and the face – where patients may have a long, narrow face and the roof of the mouth may be higher than normal (â€Å"Marfan Syndrome†). Risk factors are another concern, closely following the complications of the disorder. For example, activities that demand such strength and vigorous energy should be avoided at all cost for those who inherit the syndrome because of the following risks, capable of damaging the aorta and eyes (Jay).When someone d iscovers that a family member has Marfan syndrome, it would be the best course of action to visit a genetic counselor to discuss and ascertain who else have or may have inherit the syndrome. Another example involves with pregnancy. If a woman inherits the disorder and becomes pregnant, not only is she at great risk of her aorta rapidly enlarging, causing it to burst resulting in death, but she is also at risk of passing the inherited disorder to her newborn (â€Å"Birth Defects†).Thus it is considerably wise when one or the other parent inherit the syndrome speaks to a genetic counselor and avoid pregnancy to avoid death in return. Despite the numerous complications and risk factors associated with the disorder, there are many feasible solutions and methods on better controlling the outcome of the situation and matter. Despite the many complications associated with Marfan syndrome, there are several ways to fight back and come up with positive solutions using the advantage of special treatments and knowing how to prevent it. First, knowing how to fight back the disorder can be helpful.Some will need regular, medical check-ups, while other may need surgery. Otherwise, three significant steps can be taken to either detect or monitor the disorder thus preventing further complications. One, a medical examination by a cardiologist can examine the heart and other vital organs (Jay). Two, examination of the eye to check the position of the lens on a regular basis can prove crucial (Jay). Three, the participation of genetic counseling is recommended where patients are informed about the risks of passing the disorder on to children and are given advice to deal with the disorder (Jay).Another way to treat the syndrome is using beta blockers, which are high blood pressure medications where they help reduce the strength and frequency of heartbeats (â€Å"Birth Defects†). Surgery is the last defense against the disorder for many. Surgery is only required when the aorta dilates or stretches too much to the extent where necessary repairs need to be made to avoid extensive internal damage (â€Å"Birth Defects†) which can be fatal. Secondly, prevention is harder than it looks when it comes to Marfan syndrome, since the symptoms usually begins at a very early age in either childhood or adulthood.Thus, there is really not a successful way to prevent the disorder (â€Å"Birth Defects†). However, if the diagnosis can be detected at an early age, there is the opportunity where help and treatment can increase the chances of avoiding serious complications (â€Å"Birth Defects†). Although there are several feasible solutions and treatments that can be used to the full extent in treating the disorder, the many fatal risks are still present, and alarmingly high.The one, inherited disorder where connective tissues are consequently very weak caused by the defect in a gene called fibrillin-1 which results in many internal organ comp lications – such as the skeleton, heart, and eyes as well as the development in the long thin limbs and digits – is Marfan syndrome which can become increasingly deadly if not given the proper treatment it deserves. People who have the disorder suffer physically, internally, and mentally. Physically, they can develop skeleton abnormalities, changing the way how they look, and develop long, thin digits making them look unusually tall and thin.Internally, people can suffer all kinds of damage in the heart, eyes, skin, bones, blood vessels, the aorta, and the lungs. The disorder mentally affects both the patient and their relations with others, forcing change in their lives. Even though a cure for the disorder has not been successfully discovered, treatments and versatile methods have been introduced throughout the years since its discovery by Marfan himself. And, researchers today are still striving hard through their own success, failures, and teachings, hopefully openi ng up the gates to a cure of this devastating disorder, Marfan syndrome.Works Cited â€Å"Birth Defects. † March of Dimes. March of Dimes Foundation, n. d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. . Board, A. D. A. M. Editorial. â€Å"Marfan Syndrome. † PubMed Health. U. S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Jan. 0001. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. . Donohue, Paul G. , Dr. â€Å"Marfan Syndrome Is a Genetic Abnormality Marfan Syndrome Is a Genetic Abnormality. † Providence Journal [Providence] 7 Oct. 1986, ACCENT sec. : C-13. ProQuest Newsstand. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. . Keane, Martin G. , and Reed E. Pyeritz. â€Å"Medical Management of Marfan Syndrome. † Circulation. American Heart Association, n. d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. . Kugler, Mary, R. N. â€Å"President Lincoln and Marfan Syndrome. † About. com Rare Diseases. About. com, n. d. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"Learning About Marfan Syndrome. † Learning About Marfan Syndrome. Genome. gov, n. d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.

Marlow and Kurtz in Conrads Heart of Darkness Essay

Marlow and Kurtz in Heart of Darkness Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness revolves around the enigmatic character of Kurtz, a renegade that has split from the authority and control of his organization, that wants to put a stop to his extreme measures and unsound methods (Coppola, 1979; Longman, 2000). As a result of Kurtz actions, the character of Marlow is sent to retrieve Kurtz from the desolate outback and as the reader we are lead through the involvement of a tension-building journey up the great river Congo. Along the way, Marlow is given bits of information about Kurtzs actions and finds that he himself identifies with, and becoming somewhat fond of the man. Their relationship and ending moments helps to bring about a†¦show more content†¦On the other hand, Kurtz abandons the pretense of helping the natives achieve civilization, as displayed by the Europeans. He instead adopts their customs and becomes their leader, and they his servants in the never-ending quest for ivory, He began with the argument that we whites, from the point of development we had arrived at, must necessarily appear to them [savages] in the nature of the supernatural beings- we approach them with the might as of a deity (Longman, 2000, p. 2226). Furthermore Marlow also admires Kurtz resourcefulness and survival skills, especially when he is shown to have not died from fever, The wilderness had patted him on the head....it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation. He was its spoiled and pampered favorite. (Longman, 2000, p. 2225). When the boat is just short of Kurtzs outpost, it is attacked by the local natives- the siege ended up being benign, and Marlow the only one to realize this and keep his head, and the boat from running aground. This, coupled with Marlows resourcefulness in refurbishing the scuttled steamboat and his lack of involvement in the power struggles of the stations, as well as his refusal to condemn Kurtz based onShow MoreRelated Heart of Darkness Versus Apocalypse Now: The Death of Kurtz Essay816 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness Versus Apocalypse Now: The Death of Kurtz Joseph Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness to disguise his disapproval of European imperialism in the Congo. He describes the chaos and savagery found in the Congo to convince Europeans that they should stay out of Africa. Francis Ford Coppola made Apocalypse Now to disguise his disapproval of American involvement in Vietnam. 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