The Turning Point
Probably the most important turning point in my life happened in 1992. At this time, I was eight years old and living in Williamsport Pennsylvania. My dad had a well-paying job at Anchor Darling Valve Company, I was attending a parochial school and I thought life was just great. At the time we lived in a large four-story house with a separate three-story garage and an acre of forest for a backyard. I had a ten-speed bicycle and I would often go bicycling with my friends at the nearby cemetery. No-one ever objected to this, in fact people would often have picnics at the top of this hill at the cemetery. I guess the only things I ever complained about were the constant music lessons and practice sessions my parents subjected me to.
Life was great until my dad came home one day with bad news. As it turned out, his well-paying company was downsizing and they had to let him go. Well, I didn't think much of it at the time. "So he'd get a new job," I thought. Well anyway, he took out his resume and started mailing away. Oh well, life goes on. Well soon enough companies began to take interest in him and he decided to join a company called Cellular One (which would later be bought by ATT and become ATT Wireless Services). So what was the catch? Well, Cellular One's offices are based in Pittsburgh which is not exactly an easy commute from Williamsport. "Carlos, we will have to move, but it won't happen for a while. We'll make sure you finish the school year and besides, I still have to look for a job in Pittsburgh too," my mom told me. Somehow, although I knew my parents had many friends in Williamsport,...
... middle of paper ...
...ttsburgh than I would have ever been able to in Williamsport. I learned how to ski and rock climb, things I became good at and still do today. I also suddenly had a deep appreciation for music. This was something I had never had, now all of a sudden, I actually practiced when I was supposed to (this probably had something to do with the new music teachers). I also took up karate again and eventually earned my black belt. I realized that Williamsport was actually a dull place to live in and the only things I really missed were my friends and the house. Before I knew it, we had lived in Pittsburgh for six years and although it may not be the best place to live in, it has opened up a whole world of opportunities to me. That was something I may never have gotten if I had stayed in Williamsport or if I had continued to move around.
A very significant milestone that occurred in my life was the purchase of my first car with my own money. I know some might think that buying a car isn’t that serious or such an achievement, but to me it was. It was important to me because not only did I work hard to save up enough money but I also payed for my car in full. Now this wasn’t easy. I had to discipline myself to not go shopping on the weekends & to only spend money when I really needed to. Knowing that no one helped me to get my car and that I no longer had to depend on anyone gave me a feeling of independence and freedom. That freedom was something that I longed to experience ever since I received my
...P., Vorrasi, J. A. (2002). Effects of Gun Violence on Children and Youth. Journal Issue: Children, Youth, and Gun Violence, 12(2). Retrieved from http://futureofchildren.org/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=42&articleid=166§ionid=1068
"Children, Youth, and Gun Violence: Analysis." Princeton. The Future of Children, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014. .
I believe that we all have freedom in our minds to do whatever we want in life. I am free to make up my own opinions, which directly influence my daily life. I take into account all outside influences however; I feel I still have say in what I want to do (Sewell pg. 20). Agency gives me the sense to be an individual in this world but there are still times when I require guidance from others. We as a society come together as individuals to work towards understanding one another in many social situations (Sewell pg. 21). Basically, to have any sort of agency we all need structure which in turn gives us a backbone within the walls of being part of society. I believe that structure gives us direction in our daily lives within the set of rules and regulations provided by society. We have a freedom to follow or to not follow these guidelines (Sewell pg. 6).
The issue of prostitution has sparked different reactions from societies around the world, with each culture defining it in their unique way. However, most communities agree on the definition of prostitution as the act of directly engaging in sexual activities for financial gains. The practice has been in existence since time immemorial, although, the reaction of people in the society differs. Various theoretical approaches have tried to explain the concept of prostitution considering the principal causative agents and the sociological impacts and responses. This essay will describe the theoretical approaches relating to prostitution and the sociological understanding and effect of the practice to the society.
I strongly believe everyone has the turning point of life.It might change the way you see the world depends on what you have been through. In the same way, Moving to Florida is my huge turning point and can be compared to a new journey waiting to be explored. I completely changed myself in a positive way because of this journey has taught the magnificent lesson that I would never learn in my country.
For minors “Exceptional lethality, combined with easy access, accounts at least in part for the fact that firearm-related injuries remain the second leading cause of death among children and youth ages 10 to 19”(Reich, Culross, Behrman; Children, Youth, and Gun Violence: Analysis and Recommendations). Guns have become an easily accessible not only for adults who can currently legally obtain them but also illegally by the nation's youth. Unlicensed and private vendors of guns are not required to ask for an ID or to perform a background check making it easy for a minor to obtain a gun because of irresponsible vendors. Minors are more often than not going to have little to no experience with correctly and responsibly operating a firearm making them not only a danger to others around them but also to themselves. With access to dangerous weapons at such an early age makes it easier for youth plotting a mass shooting to carry it out just like the teenagers who attacked Columbine High School in Colorado. Gun violence among youth is also very prevalent in low income and racially ethnic neighborhoods high in crime due to gangs that recruit teenagers and have them carrying guns around to defend their territory and do the bidding of the gang. This easy access of guns by youth
When I was nine years old, my parents, two siblings, and uncle decided that it was time for us to move from Missouri up to chilly Massachusetts. Both my uncle and father were construction workers. There were so many projects in Massachusetts, it was sensible for us to move. Financially, this was also the solution to our money problems. All around we were all very excited for this move, all except for myself. About halfway to Massachusetts, I had a gut feeling that this was a bad decision. Upon arrival, I felt like a fish out of water and, I was. Everything was so different compared to how Missouri was.
Craw, Holly. 2010. “A Brief History of Prostitution Laws and the Trafficking Victims Protections Act.” Examiner, Nov. 23.
There are many factors that influence youth violence and as well, various effects that it may have on the surrounding world. Homes containing absent parents, a low income, and substance abuse, have negative effects on the children, making them become more at risk for violent behaviour (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Children raised in these types of families tend to relay the same behaviour on to their future families and children since the family is the first primary method of socialization (Voisin, 2007, pg 53). A child is at risk for violence if they have been a victim or an observer of violence in their past. Youth violence may also develop if the child has a mental disability, a low intelligence level or is extremely introverted (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Peers and the community also ...
Thompson, W. E. and Bynum J. E. (2010). Juvenile Delinquency: A sociological Approach Eighth Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Thompson, W. E. and Bynum J. E. (2010). Juvenile Delinquency: A sociological Approach Eighth Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
As we all have observed, throughout history each culture or society has unique norms that are acceptable to that group of people. Therefore, to establish and come to the acceptance of these basic norms, each society must develop its’ own strategies and techniques to encourage the fundamentals of behavior, which is clear in our modern society. Most do assume that everyone in a society will follow and respect such norms. However, some tend to deviate from the adequate norms and demonstrate deviant behavior. Nevertheless, we are inclined to ask ourselves, why do people decide to violate such important standards of living?
Everyone has milestone days in his/her life that change the direction of his/her life for better or worse. Let me tell you one of my experiences that I will never forget from when I was 12 years old.
Known to the world as a disgraceful, distasteful, and an immoral act of self pleasure, [prostitution] is recognized as a profession. Prostitution is also known to some people as freedom of choice and expression and those who choose that way of life and not allowing the influences of the normal sector to put a damper on their personal decisions (Spector, 2006). It has been around since the beginning of civilization. Not only is prostitution, itself is a controversial issue but defining it appears to have severa interpretations, both legally and socially. Despite the array of meanings, they all move toward defining the gender, personal gain, and the actions of the worker (Flowers, 1998). Because the definition only was pertaing to a certain gender, the term sex worker came into play to define all sexes and not excluding anyone who is associated with the sex world. There is not a specific gender in naming who is a prostitute. Prositutes can be children, women, as well as men. Sex workers come from all walks of life, from the child who was kidnapped and kept as a sex slave to the woman who need a fix, to the man who has experienced a fast way to obtain money. The environment in which prostitutes work are in all areas, the streets, bars, cars, dance clubs, hotel rooms, and private homes (Ditmore, Levy, & Willman, 2010). Sometimes depending on the home environment, the decision to become a prostitute is not a hard one, when there are many negative obstacles and variables that enhance the decision to enter the life of a prostitute (Barry, 1995). There are many