Finding Forrester Analysis

Finding Forrester Analysis The film Finding Forrester is a movie about a young boy, Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) that lives in the Bronx. He has an intellectual talent for writing, quite contrary to his stereotypical ghetto friends. Jamal meets and befriends William Forrester, once a great Pulitzer Prize winning author who now lives in solitary. Forrester mentors Jamal and teaches him life lessons. Jamal in turn helps Forrester break free of his tough, leathery shell and reclusive life. This movie, although slightly boring and predictable, highlights the breakdown of stereotypes in our culture and the relationships that blossom through pure chance. I do not recommend watching this movie in theaters; save your money. Overall, the storyline is unoriginal and dull. It begins during a casual basketball game. Jamal and his friends notice someone hiding behind a window curtain, looking down at them. Known to the boys as The Window, William Forrester (Sean Connery) lives alone, never leaving his apartment. This may sound interesting, but to me, this is the only part of the movie that raises curiosity and suspense. After school one day, Jamals friends dare him to break into the authors apartment. Jamal climbs in through the window and ultimately gets spooked by Forrester, leaves his book bag behind, and flees down the fire escape. If it were my home, the police would be called; however, Forrester doesnt find it necessary. Surprisingly, the next day Jamals backpack is dropped to the street. Well, Jamal recovers his book bag and he finds his journals marked up with corrections, praises and other remarks. Unbelievably, Jamal, wishing to discuss the editorial markups in his journal, returns to Forresters ap artment. I cannot imagine a teenager returning to confront the owner of the apartment he broke into the day before. After knocking on the door, the grumpy author hollers at him to stay away and tells him he should consider writing a 5000 word essay on why he belongs out of his house. The following day, Jamal returns to deliver the essay by leaving it outside Forresters door. Can you guess what happens next? I can. These two characters officially meet face to face the following day when Jamal returns to ask about the essay he left behind. Forrester allows Jamal to enter his home. After a few racist remarks were sputtered, testing Jamals character, a unique friendship begins. Would you befriend Jamal after he breaks into your home? Also, I do not believe black men or women would tolerate racial slurs or remarks that Forrester feels necessary to express. To me the clichà ©, only in the movies rings true. Resuming with the plot, Forrester is amazed at Jamals writing and begins to couns el him on intellect, writing, and life. During this time Jamal receives a scholarship to an à ©lite private school typically attended by rich children with a far different background than him. There he meets Claire Spence (Anna Paquin) and his professor, Henry Crawford (F. Murray Abraham). Claire shows Jamal around his new school and a strong bond cultivates. However, Professor Henry Crawford believes Jamal is only attending the school for his basketball skills and cant believe he is there for any other reason. After all, Jamal is an avid basketball player. The school is inevitably hoping to receive the coveted trophy at the end of the season and Jamal is the boy to do it. After several weeks, Crawford accuses Jamal of plagiarism when he submits a paper he wrote for a writing contest. Conflict and unexciting suspense finally happens again when the professor claims the paper had similarities to an essay Forrester once published. When Jamal refuses to admit he plagiarized or received permission from Forrester himself, he was eliminated from the competition. I would not go out of my way to watch this movie. The ending, with its rather soft climax and humdrum resolution provides entertainment for Sunday mornings when you have absolutely nothing else to do, but watch television. Although, Sean Connery did a wonderful job playing the character of author, William Forrester, I would rather see him playing the role of 007 in James Bond or something with a bit more excitement. I do not think he could do a horrendous job acting even if he was casted in this monotonous movie. Rob Browns acting of Jamal Wallace is rather mediocre. His movements and actions throughout the film were forgettable. I believe he did a satisfactory job representing his character; I just cant brag about his acting abilities in this film. Although, he never plays a leading role, F. Murray Abraham, is also an experienced actor. He ranks near the top of the list with Sean Connery. He did an acceptable job performing his role as Professor Henry Crawford. Even though his character was slightly far-fetched, his acting was believable. At the very end of the film, Matt Damon makes an appearance as Forresters attorney. He is an excellent actor, but the part he plays in Finding Forrester is extremely small. Overall the actors received a passable grade for their abilities to play their parts in this somewhat lame movie. We expect far-fetched movie plots in science fiction or movies about green, three-headed monsters. While watching this flick, you want to believe what you see is true and some aspects are indeed genuine. Every day, we see intellectual children and teenagers do remarkable things, achieve the unachievable. Personally, if you are going to make a film that others can relate to, specifically, black, inner city teenagers, then everything in the storyline should be realistic. Honestly, I have to admit, I find movies that break stereotypical boundaries motivational, but I would not waste my money paying inflated ticket prices to see Finding Forrester in the theater. I suppose every movie cant be full of suspense and action. To me, this 3 out of 5 star movie is best watched on HBO or Showtime. Save your money. Dont see it at the theaters. Finding Forrester, Dir. Gus Van Sant, 2000, Columbia; Fountainbridge Films; Laurence Mark Productions, DVD, 136 minutes. CAST: Sean Connery: William Forrester Rob Brown: Jamal Wallace F. Murray Abraham: Professor Henry Crawford Anna Paquin: Claire Spence Busta Rhymes: Terrell April Grace: Ms. Joyce Michael Pitt: Coleridge Michael Nouri: Dr. Spence Richard Easton: Matthews Glen Fitzgerald: Massie Zane R. Copeland Jr.: Damon Stephanie Berry: Janice Fly Williams III: Fly Damany Mathis: Kenzo Damien Lee: Clay Matthew Noah Word: Coach Garrick Charles Bernstein: Dr. Simon Matt Malloy: Bradley Matt Damon: Sanderson RATING: C 3 out of 5 stars

ANZ Sustainable Business Practices Essay

â€Å"Sustainable† business practices are being touted, or even required, more and more by western society. What is ANZ’s sustainability policy and how is this congruent (or not) with cutting edge sustainability thinking and theory. Does this thinking and practice change across borders? And if so, how does the ANZ’s Australian head office engage with it? Does what they espouse align with the reality of their practice? Over the past few decades, sustainable business practices have become more prevalent and required in corporations. Australian organisations are required to be responsible for being sustainable socially, economically and environmentally, here we focus on the environmental factors. Australia’s government is constantly coming up with new way for its people and businesses to follow more sustainable programs. Western society as a general believes that sustainable business practices are an essential part of any business policy. Pushes through meeting between world leaders, countries are now more than ever expected to upkeep sustainable conventions. Although almost all large corporations claim that they have strong sustainable business practices and policies, not all corporations espouse what they preach. It is difficult for any corporation to achieve sustainability at a level which pleases everybody, however most organisations are noticing that having sustainable business practices is rewarding both financially and at a customer satisfaction level. Meeting the needs of a business and its stakeholders, while at the same time managing it’s effects on society and the environment are core to business sustainability (Pojasek 2007). The culture we live in thrives off of new and improved ways of living. Finding the most sustainable option, in every case, allows organisations and their customers to grow. This generation will not stand for ignorance and insensible approaches to sustainability in the corporate world. Large businesses must be aware that the decisions they make will often impact beyond the walls around them, and that they must answer for the damage they cause. Organisations that shy away from sustainable options, be it due to finances or ignorance will see themselves placed under immense pressure from government organisations all the way down to the consumers. This push for a better tomorrow, is being incorporated around the world on a business and personal level. Burke (1991), lists ten characteristics for a sustainable  society, such as using renewable resources and linking development with conservation, these when applied to an organisation build a trust and a loyalty with stakeholders who align their morals with the companies they choose. If everyone were to stand by these rules, the prospect of the population doubling in the next fifty years may not seem so daunting. However not everyone abides, as it is not always economical or immediately beneficial to be sustainable and some corporations cannot see the footprints they are leaving behind for the next generations to deal with. Corporations need to see the potential for improving business value through sustainability, starting internally with management, before reaching out. The general consensus is that sustainable business practices are vital in the longevity of any organisation and needs to be taken seriously. Australia is ranked quite highly when it comes to cutting edge sustainabil ity thinking and theory. In fact the most sustainable company in the world in 2014 is Westpac Banking, which is an Australian corporation (Smith 2014). With four companies placed in the top hundred, on the most sustainable companies list, one can see that Australia’s expectations for business’ to adopt sustainable approaches throughout all their business operations is taking effect. The government uses many tactics to make sure that businesses are using sustainable business practices. One method is the annual Australian business award for sustainability, this is useful, as it is important to commend sustainable companies and it encourages a healthy competition to have the best continual business model and be more aware and proactive in regards to the environment. The Australian government is active in its move to promote and push for sustainable business practices, one of their more recent resolutions is the Clean Energy Legislation, which is made of individual bills covering levys on green house gases and fuel tax, this enforces corporations to oblige and making a move towards being green (Griffiths, 2012). However this means that certain organisations will do the bare minimum of what is required of them by law and nothing more. There are other initiatives in place to encourage sustainable business practices which are not legally binding, such as Sustainable Bu siness Australia, who provide policy recommendations and resources for sustainability challenges (SBA, n.d). Companies who become members with SBA are held in high regards by their stakeholders as they abide by the recommendations regarding carbon  action and resource solutions. There is also an emphasis on the people, and their crucial role in creating business value. Previously people were satisfied with just their basic needs being fulfilled, but no longer, we now see Maslow’s hierarchy of needs triangle unravelling as people require more to feel satisfied with themselves and what they do in their work space (Kiel, 1999). With encouragement from government and local communities, Australia is making an effort with great determination towards having the best sustainable business practices. ANZ (2013) asserts that it endeavours to recognise the environmental impact within its work places and branches, following social and environmental pressures to reduce them. ANZ makes it clear that they are aware of their environmental impact directly through their buildings, structures and empl oyees, as well as indirectly through their lending. They are certified carbon neutral with the National Carbon Offset standards and create progress reports biannually regarding their impact on a variety of areas such as gas emissions, water and paper usage and resource efficiency among others, they have been doing so for ten years (ANZ 2004). Although ANZ has variety of KPIs and targets to meet, they cannot always fulfil their requirements. One of the targets for 2013 was to reduce paper usage by converting everything into electronic statements, New Zealand successfully did so, however Australia did not reach that target, and has set it as a goal for the year to come (Nash 2013 p.68). ANZs sustainability policy is very broad and covers a range of issues, beginning with educating sustainability, it is seen as vital to begin by reaching out and teaching staff so they are aware of the impacts they have on the environment, directly and indirectly. The policy goes over safety, fairness and responsibility as well as maintaining an environmental management system and integrating government and community needs in regards to sustainability (ANZ 2004 pg.2). ANZ’s sustainability policy goes above and beyond what is required of them by law, this is the case through to stakeholder. ANZ works closely with its stakeholders through collaboration and engagement, progress is reported to stakeholders regularly and based on responses, ANZ makes public commitments which they aim to accomplish (ANZ n.d.). Questionable practices and unethical behaviour would have stakeholders removing themselves from being associated, for this reason ANZ aims high to please its stakeholders which intern promotes sustainability and business  continuity. Crossing borders to the rest of the world we find variations in sustainable business practices from commendable nuclear recycling in France to disgraceful toxic waste dumping off the Ivory coast. Every co untry has a different set of laws and legislations set up that can affect the way one runs a sustainable business. An Australian based corporation with locations around the world, still has to abide by the countries laws that they are set up in. Luckily more and more people are realising the benefit of sustainable business practices around the world such as Ray Anderson (Ted Talks, 2009) who claims, â€Å"The biggest culprit in this massive mistreatment of the earth by the human kind†¦that culprit is business and industry†, and that the only solution is for businesses to take responsibility of their actions and move towards more sustainable resolutions. In 1997 many of the worlds countries met in Kyoto, Japan to discuss greenhouse gas emissions, through this the Kyoto protocol was created with the aim to help avoid global warming (Gang 2007). Through these worldly events and meetings between leaders, countries are becoming more obligated to be vigorous in their attempts to create a sustainable future. As the governments accept new world protocols and create their own, businesses must oblige and follow suit. Overall western societies are all on the same page when it come sustainability, as they can afford to take steps to preparing for a greener future. It is a struggle with third world countries who do not have the funds to improve on their sustainability, such as the upfront costs of solar power. What must be realised that no matter poor or not, one cannot afford to be wasteful or carless with resources on this planet. Since 1835 ANZ has branched itself all over the world, originating in the United Kingdom, then Australia and now in the Asia Pacific region amongst other areas. Considering that business is being conducted in these areas, and major lending does occur, the effects of this must be contemplated. ANZ proactively adopts a program called the sensitive sector policy, which regulates who ANZ lends to. Employees who are working in the lending field at ANZ are thoroughly trained in social and environmental risk and how the people and companies they lend to will affect the standard of living and the environment in the country that they are in. This training goes on, and is consistent in all of ANZ’s branches across the planet from Australia to Hong  Kong and Singapore (ANZ n.d.). ANZ does put an effort in to having a globally sustainable business policy, not just within their company but also through the communities it works in. In 2013 one of ANZ’s global key aims was to have their staff do at least 100,000 hours of volunteering in the districts that they operate in. They hit ninety precent of their target, which is an achievement (Nash 2013). What ANZ is seeing is that businesses need to seek sustainable solutions internally as well as externally, as they have an affect on whichever communities they are in. They use a geocentric view, which is more world orientated and find people from around the globe who are best suited to knowing what is needed in the communities that they are in. ANZ uses an accommodative approach to corporate social responsibility. Luke (2013) says that CSR is a type of political agenda, a way to deceive people that one is doing good for good, even so the social impact programs and the environmental outreach, whether a form of coercion to be seen as a good and successful company, still has a positive effect even if the intentions weren’t so. ANZ also partners with WWF, which is aimed at creating awareness, providing information and education in regards to the environment and sustainability within the corporation and to the customers it serves (ANZ, n.d.). ANZ aspires to have and uphold sustainable business practices globally and believes that it is. Although companies aim to achieve the best sustainable business policies, often they cannot hold true to their word. Unfortunately for ANZ due to their investments in projects which will have an adverse affect on the climate and natural habitats of the Great Barrier Reef, their customers are protesting, threatening and are indeed changing banks (Vincent, 2013). In fact ANZ is Australia top lender when it comes to coal and gas projects, they have already lent a whopping $1.1 Billion to the undertaking of finding fossil fuels in the Great Barrier Reef (Charlie, 2013). Interestingly though, ANZ’s attitudes on the subject of coal and fossil fuel investments are not negative. ANZ actually approaches the subject of their investments in coal and fossil fuels as a positive, even though this area is receiving a large amount of negative publicity on the news and from a variety of NGO’s. They do not try to hide their investments either. Their argument is that coal is one of Australia’s main sources of energy and is also our second largest export, therefore helping finance the country (Nash, 2013). Although they do  fund many of these fossil fuel and coal schemes, they do control where they invest, ANZ has recently not agreed to lend to three coal and gas-fired power prospects, because of various reasons including the level of gr eenhouse gas involved and incompetent business practices (Nash 2013). Whilst the intentions of most large corporations are for the good, often the product of their doings is not seen that way. To continue to be a successful business, one must always seek to improve and to look towards a sustainable future. ANZ has done an outstanding job at doing so, winning awards in innovation and excellence, and coming in as a finalist in the award for the best sustainable development in the new buildings category. All architects and builders now look towards creating a harmony between building designs and being environmentally conscious. Studies have shown that using sustainable building methods can be more cost efficient in the long term (Sims, Rogner & Gregory, 2003). ANZ has gone above and beyond in 2009 when they completed the work on their accredited six green star ANZ headquarters, situated in the docklands of Melbourne. This building includes a myriad of environmental features such as solar power, wind turbines, tri-generation black water recycling, and use of the river cooling (Puchalski 2011). One of ANZ’s objectives for the coming years is to increase their lending to lower carbon emission power and financing new energy opportunities. While it was uncovered that one of ANZ’s customer was attaining oil from illegal palm oil plantations, ANZ identified the situation, and through delicate discussion, cleared the air and made sure that all practices were completely certified (Nash 2013). ANZ has many goals and KPIs both financial and non financial that they set and aim to achieve every year, a surprising amount of these are part of their sustainable business policy. As a corporation they are doing more good than harm. Whilst countless organisations aim for profit growth, the need of sustainable business practices means that choices may be made that might not necessarily maximise capital, but will be beneficial for society and the environment. Sustainable business practices are essential to all organisations, even more so in the western world. Sustainable technology is constantly growing as the need for it expands. However it is not always simple to comply and meet everyone’s expectations when it comes to sustainability, even so through world incentive corporations are being pushed to take the matter seriously. Although there are set policies for  what is appropriate and approved, businesses have the ability to surpass what is expected of them and in doing so help nurture a sustainable future. Reference List ANZ 2013, Our approach and performance, ANZ, Australia, viewed 25 April 2014, www.anz.com.au/about-us/corporate-responsibility/framework/urban-sustainability. ANZ n.d., Engagement and best practices, ANZ, Australia, viewed 6 May 2014 http://www.anz.com.au/about-us/corporate-responsibility/environment/engagement-best-practice/ ANZ n.d., Sensitive sector policies, ANZ, Australia, viewed 26 April 2014, http://www.anz.com.au/about-us/corporate-responsibility/customers/responsible-business-lending/policies-guidelines/sector-policies/. ANZ n.d., Stakeholder Engagement, ANZ, Australia, viewed 25 April 2014, http://www.anz.com.au/about-us/corporate-responsibility/more-mike/stakeholder-engagement/. Burke, J, 1991, Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living, IUCN/Gland, Switzerland, viewed 25 April 2014, https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/edocs/CFE-003.pdf. Charlie, 2013, Coal and climate dominate ANZ AGM, 350 Australia, viewed 23 April 2014, http://350.org.au/coal-and-climat e-dominates-anz-agm/. Griffiths, M 2012, ‘Climate change policy in Australia: contexts and consultation on the Clean Energy Legislative Package’, Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on e-Government, held in Barcelona, Spain 14-15 June, 2012, Academic Conferences and Publishing International, M. Gascà ³, pp. 1-9. Kiel, J 1999, ‘Reshaping Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to reflect today’s educational and managerial philosophies’, Journal of Instructional Psychology, September, Vol. 26 Issue 3, p167, viewed 6 May 2014, Teacher reference centre Luke, T 2013, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility: An Uneasy Merger of Sustainability and Development’, Sustainable Development, March, Vol. 21 Issue 2, p83, viewed 5 May 2014, EBSCO Host. Nash, J 2013, Corporate sustainability report 2013, ANZ, viewed 25 April 2014, http://www.anz.com/resources/e/2/e29f5bf3-8b7e-456f-a3a3-f381b46a99f8/ANZ_Sustainability_Review_FY13.pdf. Pojasek, R 2007, â₠¬ËœA framework of business sustainability’ Environmental quality management, December, vol. 17, issue 2, p.81, viewed 23 April 2014, Wiley Online Library.

Jake – creative writing

I pushed off onto the ice; whoosh! I felt alive. I looked around at children laughing and falling, young lovers skating round and round, hand in hand. I turned to see Jake gliding toward me, a look of boyish glee on his face. I smiled and took his out-stretched, gloved hand in mine. We lapped the frozen lake together in synchrony, talking, laughing and generally showing off, when Jake decided to show me, and everyone else on the opaque ice, what he was made of. He sped off, jumping and twisting like half of Torville and Dean, receiving many admiring glances as he landed, sure-footed, back on the ice. â€Å"Bet you can't beat that!† he laughed across to me, his heavy breathe coming out cloudy in front of him. I couldn't ignore a challenge like that. I flew across the ice as though I had sprouted wings, oblivious to the cheers and shouts around me. I jumped, twisted, pirouetted and twirled elegantly, breathing in the sweet, pine-scented air. Torville was always the better half of the skating partnership. I skated back toward Jake, a triumphant smile flitting across my face. All at once the ice gave way beneath me; I didn't even have time to scream before a chasm opened up, swallowed me whole and the freezing water surrounded me. A memory flashed; this had happened before. I was only six then but the same fear I had then burned through my mind and numbed my body. I pushed upward, but my sodden clothes pulled me under; down, down. I tried to kick the heavy boots off my numb feet and pushed one last time. My outstretched fingers hit solid ice. I clawed and desperately clutched at the ice trying to find the hole. As my mouth filled with water I knew that this was the end, but I didn't care anymore because I was so cold. I just wanted to be warm. Suddenly a strong hand grabbed me from behind, wrenching me from the water and bringing me back to my senses. I looked up into Jake's hazel eyes; they were clouded with fear and worry. He planted a warm kiss on my cheek and wrapped his dry coat around me. â€Å"I love you,† he whispered in my ear. I was too cold to talk but my eyes radiated all the love I had for him. â€Å"An ambulance has been called, dear,† â€Å"it won't be long now,† a kindly old man murmured, smiling. â€Å"Thank you,† Jake replied, being my voice. I was completely numb to everything. I remember everyone coming forward and piling coats on top of me as Jake held me on the frozen ground. Jake whispered in my ear the whole time to try and keep me awake. Hazily, I tried to concentrate on the softness of his voice and the pain of my body eased. I don't know how long I lay there until the ambulance arrived and the young paramedics lifted me onto a stretcher and carried me into the ambulance. Jake was pushed aside when he explained he was my boyfriend. â€Å"I'm sorry,† the young man said, â€Å"but it's hospital policy; only family are allowed on board.† â€Å"Ok† Jake, said, pain in his voice. â€Å"I'll go and get her mum.† He nodded. â€Å"Be strong, beautiful† he called to me as he ran to get his car. I woke up a few hours later in a hospital bed, with my mother's face, shiny with tears and mascara stains, looming over me. â€Å"Hi sweetheart, its ok, I'm here now.† She said, her voice cracked and strained with worry. I tried to move my arms and legs before realising I was wrapped up in tinfoil. My mother, noticing my confused face, smiled and said â€Å"Its fine love, it just to keep you warm. The doctors want to keep you in over night to check that everything's ok, and then you and me can go home.† â€Å"Where's Jake, Mum?† † Didn't he come with you to the hospital?† Mum's body stiffened and she quickly turned her face away from mine. â€Å"What's the matter?† â€Å"Where is Jake?† I asked again, a hint of despair creeping into my voice. Just then the door inched open and Chloe's head popped round the door. † Lily?† â€Å"Lily, are you in there, I think they said room 2b.† â€Å"LILY!† Jessie squealed, as she pushed passed Chloe and embraced me in a hug as best she could, considering the way in which I was wrapped up. â€Å"Oh my god you look like a chicken drumstick!† joked Nia as she, Chloe and Jessie surrounded the bed. Mum quietly slipped out of the room and I smiled back at my friends soaking up the attention. Everyone that I cared about was around this bed. Except Jake. I felt a pang of sadness and rejection as it sank in that he had not yet come to visit. â€Å"You have missed so much!† Chloe stressed as she sat down on the comfy chair beside my bed. â€Å"Have I?† â€Å"I've only been here for half a day.† Chloe grimaced, â€Å"Yeah, well a lot happens in half a day you know!† she said. â€Å"Especially if someone's after your man!† added Jesse with a nod at Nia. â€Å"You know how Amy's been trying to steal Drey for ages, yeah?† â€Å"Well Nia caught Amy at a party, all over him like a rash!† she said raising her voice shrilly at the end of her sentence, causing the other two to glare and stare pointedly at the ‘please be quiet' sign. â€Å"Oops,† she giggled. â€Å"Sorry.† â€Å"What did you do Nia? I hope it wasn't anything stupid!† I said trying to sound mature. â€Å"Of course I wasn't stupid. She just needed teaching a lesson.† â€Å"She smacked her one!† Chloe whispered stifling a giggle. â€Å"And broke her nose.† â€Å"You broke Amy's nose?† I questioned disbelievingly as Nia turned the colour of an over-ripe tomato. â€Å"No! You didn't?† I looked at Nia and the smug, satisfied look on her face said it all. â€Å"I chucked Drey of course. He wasn't exactly beating her off with a barge pole.† â€Å"Men! Who needs 'em?† cried Jessie loudly, only to be kicked and elbowed into silence. Jesse looked surprised but then, as though remembering herself, she quietened and sank back into the other chair looking upset. What the hell was going on? â€Å"Err†¦ What's wrong, guys?† I asked suspiciously. â€Å"Nothing†¦nothing† they all assured me. I was too tired to persist and suddenly felt overwhelmed by their noise. As though sensing this Nia announced, â€Å"Well we best be off† and nodding to the group they stood up and busied themselves putting the chairs and bedclothes straight, unnecessarily. One by one they all said goodbye bending over me for hugs. As they did so, I noticed that Jessie had glistening, held back tears in her eyes and she turned her head away as they left together. I slept for the rest of the day slipping in and out of dreams as my mum vigilantly sat beside my bed. The next morning I was allowed to go home. â€Å"You feeling ok, love?† asked my mum as she leaned across the car for a hug but I shrugged her off. â€Å"I'm fine thanks, mum; let's just get home, eh?† As we reached the main road mum questioned my sullen behaviour. â€Å"Are you sure you all right, love? You've hardly said a word.† â€Å"I'm fine, it's just that Jake hasn't called or come to see me in hospital. Doesn't he care?† Mum's eyes welled up and silent tears started to run down her face. She slowed down as her vision was blurred. I am no longer a child but when a parent starts crying you begin to worry. â€Å"Mum?† She just shook her head and continued driving in silence, along the slippery winter roads. When we pulled up to the house I got out of the car, stumbling toward the house in my eagerness to ring Jake. As mum followed me in she asked, â€Å"What do you want to do now, love?† with a tight, hollow smile on her face. â€Å"I'm just going to ring Jake for a chat. Don't worry I won't be on too long.† â€Å"Lily† mum said, catching hold of my arm; â€Å"We need to talk.† â€Å"Why? What's wrong?† â€Å"Sit down, love.† Mum said placing herself beside me and taking my red, chapped hands in hers. â€Å"I'm sorry to tell you this but†¦ Jake has passed away†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she trailed off. â€Å"No!† I cried jumping up from the settee â€Å"NO!† â€Å"Calm down sweetheart!† Mum said pulling me back down beside her. I flopped down and searched her dark brown eyes trying to see some sense but as our eyes connected I knew it was true. Jake was gone. After what seemed a lifetime, I found my voice. â€Å"How?† I croaked as my throat began to close and bright spots invaded my vision as I broke down, but I had to know. † Car crash† came the strangled reply. â€Å"He was on his way to the hospital, and a lorry skidded on the roads†¦.they're so icy this time of year†¦.anyway, I'm sorry love, they hit Jake's car straight on.† â€Å"The doctors said he felt no pain.† My mum put her arms round me pulling me toward her as she did when I was a child. It had worked so well then, a mother's love could beat off all the evil in the world, but not now, not this time. I couldn't see how anything could be true anymore. I pulled away from her warm bond, chilled to the bone, and ran upstairs to my room, my sanctuary. I looked at the pictures on the wall, Jake. Jake. JAKE I wanted to scream but no words came out. I began tearing them all down, the pain inside me forcing itself into a ball, which welled up in my gut and rose to my throat but which I refused to set free. Staring at the defaced walls, something inside me snapped and I collapsed sobbing on my freshly-made bed and drifted into coma-like sleep. I awoke later wondering where I was and what had happened. Looking around and seeing the floor littered with torn pictures, the anguish and pain returned, tearing at my mind, body and soul. I rolled onto the floor and looked under the bed pulling out the pink and silver box Jake had given me for our first anniversary. I carefully withdrew the letters he had written to me and inhaled the deep, musky scent he always sprayed on the paper, as he knew I loved the aroma so much. I looked down to see his loopy handwriting on the very first letter he had sent to me and began to read words that I knew would never be spoken by him again. ‘My darling Lily, I love you with all my heart and I wish you were here, with me now. I wish I could be near you always, you are my heart and soul and I would give my life to you†¦' I crumpled the paper tightly in my fist and held it to my heart which was shattered in pieces inside my chest. Mum found me still clutching his letter hours later. â€Å"Come on, Lily.† â€Å"Jake's mum has just been on the phone. It's the funeral tomorrow, are you up to it?† Unable to find my tongue, I nodded. At the funeral I stood with Jake's mother, Cheryl. As a widow, Jake was her only son and now he was gone too. I was all she had left to cling to; ‘the daughter she never had'. Speeches were made about Jake by his best friend James and his uncle Peter, who had been like a father to Jake since his own had died when he was only a small boy. Sermons over, the black, shiny coffin was carried down the aisle by Jake's friends and relatives. I held Cheryl's hand tightly, holding on to let her know I was there for her. Cheryl had arranged the whole thing, right down to what he was wearing inside the silk-lined coffin-his last resting place. As â€Å"I'll be missing you† echoed around the full church, all my emotions flooded in and I began to weep for this was â€Å"our song†; Jake's and mine. My chest tightened as I gasped for breath, yet taking no air. It was just like drowning again, except this time there were no strong arms to pull me up. I was alone. Jake was gone. After the funeral, things didn't get better. Each day I sank deeper and deeper into depression, as I didn't see the point of going on without Jake by my side. Now he was no longer there to share my life I couldn't give a toss about anything; he used to be my backbone; my strength. Soon my friends tired of my depressive moods and each one wavered before eventually wilting away under the constant sorrow I was wallowing in. Mum tried of course but day by day our relationship became more strained as she tried to cheer me up and get me to take an interest in what was going on around me again. But the self-pity was all consuming and all efforts to encourage me to move forward were pushed away and rejected. After a couple of months, or maybe longer, something snapped. Black, black everything was black. But everything was clear to me, I would go and join Jake. The tablets that the doctor had left to help me to overcome my depression suddenly had a new purpose. They were my means of escape and one-way ticket to wherever Jake, my love, my life, was. It was so simply, quick and easy really. Why did I not think of it before? Why had I waited all this time and put all my friends through hell? Two packets of tablets later, nice, small pink ones each one bringing me closer to Jake I slipped into unconsciousness waiting to see the light I'd read about in magazines. But there was no light, only pain as the paramedics pumped the drugs out of my stomach. Mum crying again and angry at me for so selfishly wanting to waste my life in this way. Not that I cared then, but that was then and this is now. Waking up in the hospital once again, I felt the weight of depression that had pulled me down, like my clothes and boots under the ice, had lifted from me. I knew nothing would ever replace Jake and that my life would never truly be whole without him in it but somehow, some way after two close encounters with death I had seen a light and realised that life was a precious gift not to be wasted. It was different leaving the hospital with mum this time, knowing I was going home to start afresh. This time, instead of calling Jake, I went to say goodbye carefully putting all the things he had given to me in the box before sliding it under my bed.

Cultual Diversity in My Community - 1668 Words

Cultural diversity is a major epidemic in this world today. There are many small towns that do not want to deal with the diversity of people and do not want to accept diversity into their community. My community, which is known as Princeton, was developed in the early 1800 s, and we are one of those communities. The most common issues with cultural diversity are race and gender. Although the majority of people in my community feel that the days of cultural diversity are long gone, I would have to beg to differ with them and bring to their attention a few of the opposing issues that still occur here in our community. As our textbooks have taught us, cultural diversity has been alive since the beginning of time and from the way that it†¦show more content†¦Once the business was established, the owner began to hire in employees from the Hispanic race. The elderly people of the city petitioned for the restaurant to be closed at once. There were no substantial evidence for t he closure and therefore the petition was not granted. The community refused to allow any type of growth to come into it, especially when the business owners were from a minority race. Due to the rapid growth surrounding our community areas, the city was forced to agree on the expansion and growth of the city (Bull, 2007). Without the decision for approval to expand the city and businesses, the city itself would have eventually been taken over by the rapid growth of all the surrounding cities. Once the agreement for growth and advancement took effect, it has slowly begun to allow immigrants of all races the opportunity to move into our community. If it s not enough for our city leaders to be against the culture diversity, our long time members are as well. Therefore, a lot of the population refuses to go to the businesses that are owned by someone of a minority group. This situation has gotten so bad that some of the citizens completely refuse to go into a store or business if there was someone of another race working inside. The you nger generation of our community is moreShow MoreRelatedHybridity in Arudhati Roys the God of Small Things3718 Words   |  15 Pagesquestion of Hybridity especially with reference to examine Arudhati Roy’s epoch making work named The God of Small Things (1997). Every human being, in addition to having his own personal identity, has a sense of who he is in relation to the larger community--the nation. Postcolonial studies is the attempt to strip away conventional perspective and examine what that national identity might be for a postcolonial subject. To read literature from the perspective of postcolonial studies is to seek out--to