Friday, December 27, 2019

Family Is The Most Significant Impact On My Life - 876 Words

Family is my everything. Family has shaped both my character and my identity; however, my sister has had the most significant impact on me. My sister, Jordan, and I grew up as any typical sisters would. We never saw eye to eye and fought over who borrowed whose shirt. That all changed the summer going into my freshman year of high school and her freshman year of college. Jordan’s dream college was Arizona State University and unfortunately we were still living in Colorado at the time. My family was in nowhere of a financial position to be sending her out of state. We were faced with the ultimatum of either moving to Arizona or sacrificing her college dream. The move to Arizona was mutually difficult for us. For the first time we were both in a vulnerable state of mind and it was essential to rely on each other for support. This situation taught me about the importance of sacrifice. I was a tenacious and selfish teenager who needed to learn what it meant to sacrifice for loved ones. That is something Jordan enlightened me on. That first year rapidly changed the dynamic of our sisterhood. She was no longer solely my sister; but, she was my ally, therapist, critic, teacher, and most of all best friend. Each year that I mature, I learn and strive to me more like my sister. She has influenced my identity even more than I would perceive possible. She has taught me to be strong. In the middle of high school, my parents had decided to get a divorce. This decision opened up an entireShow MoreRelatedOpen Letter1115 Words   |  5 Pagessuch a medium in order to make an impact, I am not surprised to learn that this may hinder more than help. This is not to vilify those involved or even take sides in an issue that honestly affects currently half a million people, but in the long run may impact millions. This is a letter to put a back story to those forgotten by the issue at hand, the student affected by a five week strike of Ontario Colleges. I am 25 years old, have been in post secondary prior to my latest education, and I have neverRead MoreMy Experience With Applied Psychology1380 Words   |  6 Pagesdaily life and the challenges that face us. I believe that applied psychology does no t represent a particular thing but rather a fluidness that flows in and out of our minds both consciously and unconsciously. The three life themes which most critically relate to my experience with applied psychology in my life include: college life, family life, and my challenges. These three critical areas indicate where I actively see applications of psychology in my life thus far. The theme of college life hasRead MoreDescriptive Essay About Pashtun1279 Words   |  6 Pages I have a place with Pashtun family. My dad and mom both are Afghan, and their entire age are Pashtun. Pashtun (also spelled Pushtun, Pakhtun, Pashtoon, Pathan) are a people who live in southeastern Afghanistan and the northwestern domain of Pakistan. They are one of the greatest ethnic social occasions in Afghanistan. There is no bona fide written history of the Pashtun in their own specific land. Pashtun are for the most part serene drifters (herders who move sometimes to find brushing land)Read MorePersonal Statement On Values And Goals984 Words   |  4 Pages1. In terms of values and goals it is important to know, my goals in this profession would be to impact the lives of others; as well as to be able to help or assist to the best of my abilities. Another goal I have is, to inspire or make in difference in some ones life. Although I am aware that I am not capable of changing or impacting every ones life whose path I cross, my goal is to try to achieve them. On the other hand, my values are similar to the values addressed in the book. For instance, â€Å"beingRead MoreThe Value Of How I Am Seen915 Words   |  4 Pageshas left my family as one of the only constants in my life. Through the great deal of experiences and challenges I have faced alongside my family, I have learned through both positive and negative means some of the things I truly value. The interactions between my sister and I in particular are predominantly amiable, but over some of the coarser periods of time in our relationship, our personal vendettas against one another have shown me that I value my public image above most things in life. It isRead MoreFamily Life Cycle Essay865 Words   |  4 PagesEnds There are moments in life that society portrays as phases or experiences in which most and predicted to go. These moments are referred to as stages, by theoretical approaches, that are predicted as normative events. The â€Å"Family Life Cycle† approach suggest that families have life courses with predictable stages that are identified by normative events. Though, non-normative events that are not often experienced by families can take a different toll on ones life. In the story, â€Å"Road Ends†,Read MoreTechnology, Social Media, And Education890 Words   |  4 PagesThe three most significant new developments in society during my lifetime thus far would be: technology, social media, and education. For my father, the three most significant new developments in society throughout his lifetime would be the Soviet/Afghan War, migration, and technology. In the past decade, technology has revolutionized the way humans in society today think, speak, work and communicate. With the rapid progression of technology, the world has become a smaller place; keeping in touchRead MoreLong Term Conditions ( Ltc ) Essay1596 Words   |  7 Pageslong-term or recurring condition that can have a significant impact on people’s lives† (National Health Committee NHC, 2007, p. 116). Two out of three adults within NZ have or have had a LTC, resulting in the most prominent cause for hospital admissions, premature deaths and an increase in health expenditure (Auckland District Health Board, 2013). This assignment will cover Olivia’s (pseudo name) experience of living with a LTC and how this has impacted her life. A reflection on learning about LTC willRead MoreMaster Resilience Training s Impact On The Army And Common Misconceptions1337 Words   |  6 PagesMaster Resilience Training’s Impact in the Army and Common Misconcep tions MRT is part of Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness, CSF2, program. It is designed to build the resilience and enhance the performance of those who serve by giving them the skills to thrive, not just in the Army life, but also within their personal lives. This is all accomplished while meeting a wide range of operational demands. MRT has often been misunderstood and overlooked as a program in the Army. When implementedRead MoreEssay on The Unexpected Loss of a Family Member773 Words   |  4 PagesOur family was never close but we didn’t care. Nobody thought one day things might be different. All of that changed on September 20, 2014 when a hostile argument ended with the death of both my aunt and uncle. For years their marriage was falling apart. My aunt was very materialistic and wanted my cousins to have whatever they asked for but in reality my uncle knew it was impossible financially for them to achieve this. He would try to explain this to her but it usually le d to arguments where

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Women Across Cultures Face Similar Forms Of Oppression

Women across cultures face similar forms of oppression in varying ways. The stories of Maxine Hong Kingston, Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn, Banana Yoshimoto, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie bring awareness to these heartbreaking yet inspiring narratives of the lives of women outside of North America. While some of the works are fictional, there is still an air of realism that accentuates the general ideas conveyed in the individual narratives. Themes such as tradition, assimilation, racism, classism, education, and point of view in story-telling are present throughout these books. This allows readers to understand different systems of oppression on a global scale and can possibly inspire a form of altruism that can lead to philanthropic†¦show more content†¦Everything traditional in Kingston’s family were not acceptable in the United States. This presented a unique obstacle to Kingston and her family, having to preserve a culture while assimilating to another cultur e. Kingston’s mother, Brave Orchid, constantly used the term ghost. In reference to humans, she used the term to represent difference in a negative light. Often times, the American citizens were behaving in a way that was in opposition to her culture. On page 107, Brave expressed her desire to have all of her children and their families together at home and not be wandering ghosts. Perhaps, she is referring to the cultural differences between China and America. Whereas American culture is more individualistic, Chinese culture is more so collectivistic. Kingston detailed how her mother cut a part of her tongue. Initially, she believed that her mother did so to prevent her tongue from being ready. In Chinese culture, it is said that â€Å"a ready tongue is an evil† (Kingston, 1989, p. 164). However, when her and Brave discussed the matter, Brave stated that she cut her tongue so that she is able to easily speak other languages. Kingston was confused about why her mother would be contradictory to the age-old saying. Brave explained that things operated in a different manner in the United States. Again, she referred to the country as ghost to indicate a difference. On theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem The Tigers Aunt Jennifer s Tigers 1214 Words   |  5 PagesIn reference to the unjustified subordinate position of women in American society, Malala Yousafzai once meaningfully stated â€Å"We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.† This idea of women being â€Å"held back† in society is explored in Adrienne Rich’s Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers. Specifically, the poet examines the marginalization of women in society through the clear juxtaposition of Aunt Jennifer’s desire to be powerful like the fearless tigers, and the reality of her life as the subject of subjugationRead MoreIndividual Liberty and The Bill 94 in Quebec, Canada1077 Words   |  5 Pages2002). All individuals have a right to be free and a right to decide how they want to live without interference from the state. (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2002). Muslim women have the right to freely cover their face without limitations or discrimination from state authority. Bill 94 would terminate the individual choice of Muslim women and interfere with their individual rights and liberty. Locke believes that the pursuit of happiness comes from co-operation (Columbia Encyclopedia, 2002). He explainsRead MorePrint Campaign Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesThe ISHR, International Society for Human Rights, launched a series of print campaigns back in January of 2008 to advocate the rights of Muslim women in the Middle East. â€Å"Stop the oppression of women in the Islamic world† and â€Å"Some women need a change of view†. The ISHR is â€Å"an independent, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights.† (Source: ISHR website 2017) The ISHR support defenders of human rights, underpi n human rights initiatives, as well as lead andRead MoreThe Double-Fold Oppression Of Intersectionality. The American1642 Words   |  7 PagesThe Double-Fold Oppression of Intersectionality The American nation has long served as a battlefield for whites and their social norms versus African Americans and their native cultures. Although successful in previous years in acquiring basic civil rights, the early 20th century signified the African American downfall as their white foes discovered a new source of perilous power. From the early to mid-1900s, white backlash increased with the passing of legislature to segregate blacks, most prominentlyRead MoreThe Bronx Of New York City990 Words   |  4 Pagespower movements which promoted black nationalism, liberation and empowerment as a response to systemic anti-black racism. This platform allowed many young black men to address and vocalize the issues that affected their communities due to systemic oppressions upheld by white hegemonic ideologies and institutions. Throughout this time, artist’s addressed issues of poverty, unemployment, wealth inequality -- essentially used as a critique of neoliberalism. It was not u ntil the corporate profitization ofRead MoreA Raisin In The Sun Archetypal Analysis1452 Words   |  6 Pagesparticular person, but can rather be an emotion that is universally felt by others that have encountered similar situations and in turn may result in those people forming the same mentality and character. Correspondingly, any piece of work can be approached through an archetypal analysis that enables one to gain insight into the conventional and universal experiences within the society of which that form of literature is based upon. These repeating and shared experiences are especially prevalent in theRead MoreIs Discrimination And Inequality Truly Equal? Is There1822 Words   |  8 Pagesdemonstrates the idea of levels of oppression. â€Å"In the 1960s and 1970s, African-American women activists confronted the puzzle of how their needs simply fell through the cracks of anti-racist social movements, feminism, and unions organizing for workers rights. Each of these social movements elevated one category of analysis and action above others, for example, race within the civil rights movement, or gender within feminism or class within the union movement.... Black women s use of intersectionalityRead MoreColonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora Essay2014 Words   |  9 Pagesand Oppression in the African Diaspora The experiences of the women of the African diaspora are as diverse as the regions they have come to inhabit. Despite the variety in their local realities, African and African-descended women across the planet share in many common experiences. Wherever they have made their homes, these women tend to occupy inferior or marginalized positions within their societies. Whether in the United States, Europe, Latin America, or even Africa itself, black women mustRead MoreThe Impact Of Social Group Work On The Workplace1434 Words   |  6 Pagesunderstands what they are going through, this is where social group work could help. Social group work emerged after the first world war and started out as method committed to empowering individuals though the interaction of others going through similar situtions. While it emerged after the first world war Clara Kaiser (1959) explains that there is not actual birth date to social group work (citied in Glasser Mayadas, 1986). During the 1920’s group work posed 3 major strands; the individual growingRead MoreMy New Perception Of The World And Gender Studies Class Essay1751 Words   |  8 PagesI have never formally learned about the proper terminologies that define the systems of oppression that I experienced in my everyday life. I feel that this information was vital to me because now that I can properly identify these problems I have the tools necessary to fix them. I also learned that may of those themes are universal and the way that women in particular suffer is the same across various cultures. Considering the theories, novels lectures, class discussions , and presentations I can say

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Case Study of John-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Case Study of John. Answer: Past Medical History John is 45-year-old man who is living with his family. John was referred to the Monash Medical centre with the history of headache and muscle pain in the legs that he was forced to leave his job as a carpenter. Upon diagnosis, it was found that John was going through anxiety and depression that have worsened in the past few months. Mental Status Examination General description John is an English Carpenter who is has come with the problem of major muscular pain and has problems in sitting and while walking. He is well oriented and well perfuse. There was no abnormality found while looking at him. Mood and Affect He does not have any extreme mood while talking to him. However, he remained disturbed due to his pain in the muscles. Speech John articulated himself very clearly. He answered all the questions very clearly but in a slower rate. He has soft spoken man and was having some breathing problems while talking for a very long time. Perceptual disturbances John exhibits a normal perception. The symptoms of illusions, delusions, hallucinations, misinterpretation and passively phenomenon were not seen elicited in John. Thought Processes The thought process of John has decreased. It has also decreased the rate of the speech in him. He did not exhibit any formal form of thought disorder. He did not use or created his own word to express his feelings. No negative thought disorder was seen in John. However, John is very much disturbed and anxious about his health and feels restless while thinking about his health. He is very much guilty that he is unable to care of himself and finance his own medication. Cognition John is alert and oriented in terms of time and place. He is able to answer all the questions asked about his past and is able to recall every single incident. Judgement and Insights treatment However, when John was questioned about his condition, he accepted that he is ill and he requires treatment Case formulation Summary of presenting problems 80% blood clot in his left leg Persistent and worsened headache over a last 4 weeks Experienced non-epileptic tremors Symptoms of anxiety and irritability Acute depression Insomnia History of melancholy Fear of brain tumor Financial crisis and stress Main concern Major depressive disorder and anxiety is the main concern of the client. Predisposing factors John has a strong family history, which predisposes him to develop a mood disorder. According to Levinson et al. (2014),a large sample of people diagnosed with non-anxious control and general anxiety disorder showed the family history of the psychological problems. As per the behavioral genetics research, metal disorders are highly attributed to genetic factors. In the govern case study, Johns parental cousin Bipolar Affective Disorder and maternal cousin has anxiety. His older brother, Jeffrey has also suffered from panic and depression with admission at the clinic previously. His youngest brother, James is currently suffering from severe sleep deprivation due to being the new father of twins. Johns father suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Thus, it is evident that these genetic factors have cumulative influence on Johns psychological condition. Precipitating factors The precipitating factor in case of John is the financial dependence. He is financially not stable to fund the whole process of medications. Due to lack of financial independence, John started to have symptoms of anxiety and irritability. Anxiety and acute depression added to insomnia. (Cruwys et al. 2014). The history of drug and alcohol also precipitated his current condition. In addition, John has also suffered a lot of physical injuries. He suffered a spider bite that developed into cellulitis requiring IV antibiotics. He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on the trampoline and had to undergo surgery. After debilitating pain from osteitis pubis he also had to undergo psychiatric consolation. John also carries the feeling of guilt as he was not able to save his co-worker. He had short term relationships with his two women in the past, which may add to his guilt. Other precipitating factors are One of his sons has a developmental difficulty that has been categorized as a sensory processing disorder with attention deficit disorder. John was treated for a depressive illness that emerged after his sons developmental difficulties. Increasing alcohol consumption of Johns wife Marie is the other cause of anxiety in John (Catarino et al. 2014). The stress due to workplace bullying and fatal accident led to multiple inpatient admissions. Thus, he is currently in need of social support of community. The lack of rationalized thoughts, anger, guilt, lack of personal hygiene, and lack of financial stability are the precipitating factors of John. These factors are manifested as escalating panic attacks and phobic responses to the workplace, pervasively low mood and neuro-vegetative symptoms. John has the fear of brain tumor is further adding to anxiety and depression These psychosocial stressors are responsible for the Major depressive disorder and anxiety in the patient (Song and Lindquist 2015). Perpetuating factors The major perpetuating factor is the financial strain which is allowing Johns depression to continue. It is the ongoing problem along with the debilitating pain from osteitis pubis it is also adding to stress. His sons developmental disability. Fear of brain tumor and wife;s increasing alcohol consumption are the perpetuating factors. The use of the antidepressant and antipsychotic medication and treatment process in condition where he is having financial crisis is increasing his depressive state (Swank et al. 2014). Protective factors The protective factors in case of John are having ECT that improved is condition, adequate family support to cope with illness, ongoing medications to improve his physical health. His perceptions, insight and judgments are good. As John is cooperative, he is suppose to recover soon provided he adheres to medication and interventions (Cuijpers et al. 2014). Care plan- Nursing interventions Nursing Diagnosis Planning/Outcome Nursing Intervention Rationale Discharge Depression Short term goal: 1. Strict adherence to medication 2. Express feelings atleast once daily Long term goal: 1. Express feelings of emotional state 2. Able to gain work function and maintain and job 1.Establish a therapeutic relationship with John through patient cantered care. The nurses should always maintain the therapeutic distance with the patients and exhibit their proper postures (Hockenberry and Wilson 2014). 2.Allow John to express feelings, expectations, concerns and fears- Nurses must have some sense of empathy towards their patients (Lehne and Rosenthal 2014). Nurses should motivate them to do activities that will improve their personal health and should train them to start to take care of themselves, when needed (Song and Lindquist 2015). 1.Arrange of group sessions and therapy among people with similar problems (Young and Skorga 2013) 2.Refer client to occupational therapy Ongoing relationship builds trust and may facilitate coping (Hans and Hiller 2013) Use of empathetic communication skills and by demonstrating sensitivity to clients problem, it becomes easy for the client to interpret the circumstances in better way (Thompson and McCabe 2012). Communication and discussion of feelings and thoughts help voicing of actual threats and immediate intervention (Pennebaker 2012). Acknowledging and empathizing promotes a supportive environment that enhances coping. Interacting with people other than nurse allows patent to gain better insight (Hans and Hiller 2013). Occupational therapy will help client to gain independent functioning by learning new skills to cope with personal and professional activities in daily basis (Muskett 2014). On discharge John will have better physical health due to medications and decrease in depression. Patient is expected to accept circumstances. Reduced depressive state is expected by regaining work function, improved communication skills and emotional confidence. Anxiety Short term goal: Decrease disturbed thoughts Long term goal: Resolve the problem in correct way and enhance the Self promoting behaviour of client and self motivation activities The nurses should interact with the patient with a very low and soft tone, refuse negative thoughts (Temel, and Kutlu 2015). Engage client in reflective practice such as writing journals (Varcarolis 2016). Set non repetitive routine for the client where he will encounter low responsibility to high responsibility tasks to be accomplished on daily basis. This can be followed by increasing the self motivating ability of client (Song and Lindquist 2015). Maintaing journal help the client to keep track of thoughts and source of anxiety (Kircanski et al. 2012) Taking responsibility will decrease anxiety and panic as the patient will gain confidence by fulfilling responsibilities. It will eliminate the feeling of hopelessness and improve self motivation (Thompson et al. 2012). The patient should self-motivate himself or herself thinking that life is worth living for. They should indulge in various forms of activities that will motivate them to do the work that are related to the self-motivation. It will help them gain confidence and prevent them from any sort of suicidal works (Lehne and Rosenthal 2014). On discharge time, John will have high self-esteem and better problem solving skills. The client will report reduced anxiety. The client will less fears once he learn to self motivate himself. References Catarino, F., Gilbert, P., McEwan, K. and Baio, R., 2014. Compassion motivations: Distinguishing submissive compassion from genuine compassion and its association with shame, submissive behavior, depression, anxiety and stress.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology,33(5), pp.399-412. Cruwys, T., Haslam, S.A., Dingle, G.A., Haslam, C. and Jetten, J., 2014. Depression and social identity: An integrative review.Personality and Social Psychology Review,18(3), pp.215-238. Cuijpers, P., Sijbrandij, M., Koole, S.L., Andersson, G., Beekman, A.T. and Reynolds, C.F., 2014. Adding psychotherapy to antidepressant medication in depression and anxiety disorders: a meta?analysis.World Psychiatry,13(1), pp.56-67. Hans, E. and Hiller, W., 2013. A meta-analysis of nonrandomized effectiveness studies on outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy for adult anxiety disorders.Clinical Psychology Review,33(8), pp.954-964. Hockenberry, M.J. and Wilson, D., 2014.Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. Kircanski, K., Lieberman, M.D. and Craske, M.G., 2012. Feelings into words: contributions of language to exposure therapy.Psychological science,23(10), pp.1086-1091. Lehne, R.A. and Rosenthal, L., 2014.Pharmacology for Nursing Care-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. Levinson, D.F., Mostafavi, S., Milaneschi, Y., Rivera, M., Ripke, S., Wray, N.R. and Sullivan, P.F., 2014. Genetic studies of major depressive disorder: Why are there no GWAS findings, and what can we do about it?.Biological psychiatry,76(7), p.510. Muskett, C., 2014. Trauma?informed care in inpatient mental health settings: A review of the literature.International journal of mental health nursing,23(1), pp.51-59. Pennebaker, J.W., 2012.Opening up: The healing power of expressing emotions. Guilford Press. Song, Y. and Lindquist, R., 2015. Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on depression, anxiety, stress and mindfulness in Korean nursing students.Nurse Education Today,35(1), pp.86-90. Swank, S., Harden, R., Bakshi, R. and Maletta, E., 2014. (224) Pain predicts depression in for-profit nursing home residents.The Journal of Pain,15(4), p.S32. Temel, M. and Kutlu, F.Y., 2015. Gordon's model applied to nursing care of people with depression.International nursing review,62(4), pp.563-572. Thompson, L. and McCabe, R., 2012. The effect of clinician-patient alliance and communication on treatment adherence in mental health care: a systematic review.BMC psychiatry,12(1), p.87. Varcarolis, E.M., 2016.Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing-E-Book: A Communication Approach to Evidence-Based Care. Elsevier Health Sciences. Young, C.F. and Skorga, P., 2013. Collaborative care for depression and anxiety problems: Summaries of Nursing Care?Related Systematic Reviews from the Cochrane Library.International journal of evidence-based healthcare,11(4), pp.341-343.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Parable Of The Cave And Road Not Taken Essays - Platonism

Parable Of The Cave And Road Not Taken Taking the High Road "The unexamined life is not worth living," In The Apology, Socrates relates that the most important goal in life is the improvement of the soul. We should search others, our environment, and ourselves so that we may come to a better understanding of the world. The Parable of the Cave tells of the journey that Socrates was trying to relate, in that each person is faced with different realities as we travel to try and reach "the intellectual world." This journey of enlightenment draws close parallels to another piece of literature by Robert Frost. In his poem "The Road Not Taken," he describes how he felt as he came upon the fork in the road and chose to take the road less traveled "and that has made all the difference." The use of life as a journey is nothing new to literature, but with Plato and Frost both show that this journey is not easy and there are many choices along the way that we must make that will determine the quality of the life we will lead. The main factor that drew me to the Parable of the Cave was the way it described our journey through life. It begins by telling us that the reality we initially see when we are chained down in the cave is nothing more than an illusion. This is true in my own life in that I was told by my parents what was right and what was wrong without questioning the reason behind it. They kept a chain of sorts around me so that I was not harmed by all of the realities of the world at once, but rather gradually introduced to them as I grew up. As we are released from bondage, our reality is immediately changed. When we first look toward the light we "will suffer sharp pains;" as we try to adjust to this new reality that is suddenly thrown upon us. The bondage that we experienced in the beginning is no longer there and the full weight of the world is pressed down on us without the help of others and now responsibility for our own actions becomes the controlling factor in our life. The light that first shocked us into reality now causes you to come to a crossroads in life. Looking directly at the light will cause some pain and suffering, but offers a "clearer vision" or "turn away and take refuge in the objects of vision which he can see" and return to the reality of which he was accustomed, but is only an illusion. Many people are scared to face reality and would rather turn back to the shelter that they are comfortable with. Independence and freedom are things these people could live without, so long as they had someone to lead them. Unfortunately, the majority of people fall into this category. They become sheep and require a shepherd to guide them through their lives. The others who can overcome the blinding light are able to ask of themselves what they are trying to accomplish in their lifetime. They may make mistakes along the way, but because they had the strength to try, are able to learn from those mistakes and become more intelligent as they age. Those that never leave the depths of the cave remain in an illusion. "Ignorance is bliss," and these people never want to have to struggle with their lives, but would rather remain without the responsibility the new knowledge would bring them if they were to walk towards the light. The light allows us to see things more clearly and this is the goal that we are trying to reach in our lifetime, but are almost assured of failing. Why then should you constantly fight toward this goal over adversity and hardship only to fail in the end? The journey is the most important part of the trip, not the destination. The things learned along the way will make your life more fulfilling and enjoyable. The Parable of the Cave shows how this journey can be related to our own lives and the struggles we face throughout our lifetime. The journey talked of in The Parable of the Cave has many parallels with the poem by Robert Frost entitled "The Road Not Taken." The last line of the poem reads, "I took the road not taken and that has made all the difference." The road usually taken is the easy