Marketing Fundamentals assignment (referral) 2 Essay

Marketing Fundamentals assignment (referral) 2 - Essay Example Hutchison Whampoa Limited is an international corporation having many diversified businesses including port operations, retail, property development and infrastructure, technology, and telecommunication operations. 3G Mobile Services is a mobile media company that operates from United Kingdom. The main businesses include communications, media and entertainment and information services (Hutchison 3G UK Limited, 2008). It is critical that target market for company's products and services is identified and analyzed. The target market where the company will operate and the customers to target pose significant insights into the demographics, market structure and other parameters. A proper research can provide credible results that can then be used to develop positioning and targeting strategies. Companies can access the market and capitalise on the endless opportunities only if these companies can understand the exact requirements of the target customers and modify their products and services accordingly. In addition to product and services development, the companies need to decide on the pricing of their products and services. The right price may spur the sales but too high or too low a price will definitely affect the company negatively. Pricing is a critical decision and hence can only be taken if exact market information is available. This decision has far reaching effects. Market is se Market is segmented based upon demographic factors like age, preferences, gender, and other factors related to potential customers; geographic factors like location, climate, population, etc; psychographic factors like attitude, lifestyle and values; and/ or behavioral factors like usage rate, brand loyalty, etc (Eztel Walker Stanton, 2003). Market Segmentation for 3G 3G has chosen United Kingdom as its primary target market based on its specific geographic factors like high population density, and relatively better law and order conditions, etc. This is also because of 3G's expertise and experience to operate in this region and the huge inroads that the company is able to create inside the big UK market for mobile communications. Being a mobile media company, it is critical for 3G to develop its products and services with specific focus on the UK's customer requirements. Based on the analysis carried out by 3G, the company identified various segments of mobile phone service market in UK. Some of these market segments that 3G identified during their market segmentation research are discussed in the following sections. With the advent of modern technology, only a small segment in the target market wants to use mobile phones for making and receiving phone calls only. They prefer various other features with their mobile phones. These factors are all based on the demographic, behavioral and psychographic factors that were considered by 3G during the research for market segmentation: Video Calls Many users (especially in the 15 - 40

Governments Role In Ensuring Environment Protection Environmental Sciences Essay

Governments Role In Ensuring Environment Protection Environmental Sciences Essay Wide spread on climate change and global warming has been immensely forced the nations to the sustainable development. Environmental challenges in various bio diversity in balances has been wide spread more over the world. Improper Land Use Planning and Bio diversity in balances to the Conservation of Micro ecosystems is challenging to whole nations. Sri Lankan challenges however have been land degradation due to Soil Erosion, depletion of Coastal Resources, Waste Disposal, Loss of Biodiversity and Inland water Pollution, from where Sri Lanka is poor on waste disposal as a matter of priority. Some LAs, NGOs, the private sector have initiated waste treatment practices such as composting of waste at household level, recycling of waste materials, incineration and landfills. International conventions protocols treaties on environment has been keeping strength to conservation prevention of the environment. Role of government as the policy maker is crucial in the context of conservation prevention of the environment. In Sri Lanka post conflict era has been the Elysium for the sustainable development. Various naming programs authority bodies urge to impose policies practices on conservation prevention of the environment. While laws policies imposed, Sri Lankan government is boosted on all the blooming programs.. However common conflicts on human nature issues still and prevailing situation in most of the rural areas. Also government should consider on the international bodies come in the face of nature lover whether they have the genuine interest or other motives Most importantly, the government should be very careful whether it would affect the sovereignty of the country. Many more responsibilities to be taken and practices to be monitored by the Sri Lankan government to ensure conservation and protection of the environment. Introduction Environmental conservation is the maintenance of the habitat, or preservation of the environment. Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and (or) humans. Due to the pressures of population and our technology the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently. This has been recognized and governments began placing restraints on activities that caused environmental degradation Global warming climate change is in a whistle blowing topic in the present world. By decades passed by all the high powering technological movement has vastly blind the human nature and the future resources remain in the world. While men stepping in to the moon by one hand on the other hand vastly destructing the natural environmental balance. Though all the regulation bodies trying to get into the one table to get on unite on the conservation protection of environment, some the main world hasnt been able to pull their genuine effort towards the reality, as an example British petroleum oil leakage is a significant moment where invaluable marine species has been polluted destroyed due to the oil leakage. Increasing human pressure on the environment increases the counteraction the quest for designation of more land and sea areas for protection. The boosting trend of designating more sites of protection has been noticed in the last years in the world. The area that could be designated as protected to balance the economic pressures is becoming scarce. Identified key challenges in this sector have been mainly broad down as follows. Environmental Challenges Today the challenges in this sector have been identified materialize in all ends through out the world. Therefore number of environmental threats challenges is on the air Improper Land Use Planning Inappropriate planning of usage of Land Depreciation of Forest Cover (Deforestation) Reduction of remaining forests Land Deprivation ( Soil Erosion, River Sedimentation; Desertification,) Insufficiency of Drinking Water to the humans Environmental Pollution (Air, Water Soil ) Loss of Biodiversity ( Degradation and loss of Natural Habitats ) Ozone Layer Reduction Green House Gas Emission and Climate Change Natural Disasters and Earth Slides Lack of Responsibility towards Values Accounting of Environment Increasing risk to rare species Unsound Management of Natural Resources Unsustainable Development Activities (Unsuitable Agriculture Expansion and Settlements) Misuse of sea coral reef and inland earth mining. Uncontrolled Mining of Sand and other Minerals Spread of Alien/ insidious Species Introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms Hard, unsafe and Industrial Waste generation Health Hazards Related to Environment Pollution. Wildlife reduction In the context of the above unbeatable challenges human beings have been more more victims of the nature. As an example Tsunami 2004, damaged mostly South Asian countries. Therefore it should be the one and only challenge where all nations fight for. From from the Eighteenth century to the Twentieth globally known practices regulations have been imposed. International conventions, protocols treaties on environments have been powering bodies of this. International Conventions, Protocols Treaties on Environment Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (]971) Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973) Convention on the conservation Of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS 1979) United Nations Convention on The Law Of the Sea Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985) Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) Basel Convention on the Control of Trans boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989) Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) United Nations Convention To Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought And / Or Desertification, particularly In Africa (1994) International Plant Protection Convention International Convention for the Preservation of Pollution of the Sea by Oil Convention on the Continental Shelf Convention on the high seas International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil pollution Damage International Convention Relating to intervention on the high seas in cases of oil pollutions casualties The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from the ships (MARPOL)- 1973 Bio safety Protocol ( Cartagena) Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Key Challenges for Sri Lanka Land Deprivation Due to Soil Erosion Agriculture the major contributor to the Sri Lankan GDP is affected by the degradation of land due to soil. From the total lands usable Land area is about 31% only . Production based on Land to GDP has declined to 18% compared to 26% in 1978, due to expand action of the economy. Many agricultural practices of past and present have reduced the productive capacity of soil and land in the country. Some direct and indirect factors, that add to soil erosion, are : Traditional cultivation Methods ( Chena cultivation) Insecure land occupancy with alteration of cultivation methods also causes ruin of land because land is broken down to number of plots without considering the conservation measures. The increasing rate of clearing forestry cover. Some of the crops cultivation in the hill country such as potatoes, tobacco and vegetables has led to severe erosion. Fast developments on infrastructure. Reduction of Coastal Resources Sri Lankan beaches are blessed by coastal resources where ecological processes of both land and maritime environments become interlinked and are influenced by human activities. Minus impacts on the coastal resources include: Erosion of coastal area (about 1 meter per year) due to river daming, sand mining, collection of coral rubble and removal of coastal vegetation) Reduction of flood buffering capacity of mangroves, in lagoons. Removal f coral reefs as a result of human activities and increased sea temperature. Unplanned fishing practices. Infrastructure construction. Loss of Biodiversity Loss of biodiversity is due to several pressures arising from the following activities: Population increase and conversion to other land uses Removal of materials/species from the wild Competition between foreign species and native species Lack of understanding of scientific management Under-valuation of biodiversity Inequity in ownership, in balance distribution of benefits to community Legal and institutional systems that promote activities detrimental to biodiversity conservation Environmental interlinking system known as Bio diversity is mainly reduced due to ruining of natural eco system, loss of genetic species material. Waste Disposal Number one conflict in Sri Lanka is today the waste management. Especially urban areas are flooded with waste. Lack of management of the authorizing bodies and also the human behavior and attitude towards the waste disposal is very poor in main city limits. This risk has cause major health issues where number of people has been killed by dengue recent months. Although many talks waste disposal is not only a governments duty. Government can implement policies formalize but the governing agencies has to over see the practical situations. Community has a major responsibility towards the solid disposals. Risk arises in the area where hospitals industries located. Governing agencies has major issue on lack of resources to overcome tones of waste mountain management. On the other hand during the rainy days urban areas are flooded within seconds due to poor waste management methods block of drainage system. This also causes pollution of ground water and natural habitats. Major issue is f acilitating insect breeding such as mosquitoes Inland water Pollution Misuse of agro chemical fertilizers has polluted inland water ponds, reservoirs, streams and rivers. Sri Lanka is proud on having man made reservoirs where most international engineers are surprised by the ancient technology we owned. Development in the industrial sites urban areas has caused water pollution in many ways. Recent International Conventions, Protocols Treaties on Environment Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985) Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) Basel Convention on the Control of Trans boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989) Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) United Nations Convention To Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought And / Or Desertification, particularly In Africa (1994) International Plant Protection Convention International Convention for the Preservation of Pollution of the Sea by Oil Convention on the Continental Shelf Convention on the high seas International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil pollution Damage International Convention Relating to intervention on the high seas in cases of oil pollutions casualties The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from the ships (MARPOL)- 1973 Bio safety Protocol ( Cartagena) Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Role of government By reasoning out the convention and protection of environmental issues it is the National governments who has important role in this context. Policy making to the powering agencies educating community many more activities lies on them.Internationaly most of the developing countries has imposed rules on clean environment. National government can impose rules policies while provincial authorities can practically implement the good environmental practices.International monitoring agencies also playing major role by funding environmentally sound projects. This has been the practice and it has been added to the accounting practices where feasibility reports are combine to a sustainability reporting. Environment protection is another important role where governments responsibility is to codify laws regarding pollution, convention and sustainable uses of natural resources. As the funding agent for low enforcement there role is immensely crucial. Though huge technical measures are been world spread on climate change global warming individual countries can contribute on their own to reduce the impact. Alternate energy generation projects are the new industrial practices which add numerous values to the enviromental issues. Now developing countries urge to buy carbon credits from poor countries where new economical intangible market has been created. This has lead to huge cash generation project, where timber plantation forestry cover of one acre would approximately generate US dollars 1000/ per year or so. Therefore ultimate governance lies on global interconnection of the countries. Developing risk management strategies are the other responsibility to a government where major natural disasters can be overcome by minimum damage to the community. Earth slides, floods, volcanoes, hurricanes other natural disasters can be estimated by professional bodies and necessary steps could be undertaken. As an example taking hurricanes : the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) The strongest hurricanes in the present climate may be upstaged by even more intense hurricanes over the next century as the earths climate is warmed by increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.USA is harshly criticized by the nations on emission of green house gases in the atmosphere. Common example is USA failed to respond to the Katrina Hurricane wrought on New Orleans: poor management plan for the natural disaster also illustrates the risk management strategies are very poor. Considering Sri Lanka though there were many issues facing and transforming after Tsunami disaster is some what appealing to the western world. By proper strategies imposed on natural disaster Sri Lanka too can win this unbeatable challenges within few years. Though we are blessed with the tropical climate our responsibility towards the environment is not linear. As an example compare to other countries we have comprehensive legal system on coastal zone management laws alone, to safe guard coastal resources. But the appreciable improvement has not bought due to lack of political will on taking effective mechanisms required for implementing and monitoring such laws. Sustainable Way Forward On the challenges Sri Lanks is facing through out there have been various community programs social activities going forward. While been a friend to the environment nation can be build in economically viable too. In the context of these ideas following programs has been imposed by the ministry of Environment. Pilisaru Waste Management programme Piyakaru Purawara Green Cities Programme Ran Derana Programme Gaja Mithuro Programme Wana Senasuna Programme Haritha Gammana Eco Village Programme Jeewa Jawaya Programme Dewa Jawaya Programme Haritha Niyamu Programme Hela Thuru Viyana Programme Major Policies Developed by the Ministry While urging towards the programs Sri Lankan government has imposed practical national policies aiming sustainability National Environment Policy 2003 This aims to promote sound management of Sri Lankas environment balancing the needs for social and economic development and environment reliability. It also aims to manage the environment by combining together the activities, interests and perspectives of stakeholders and to assure environmental accountability. National Forestry Policy 1995 This gives the clear direction to protect remaining natural forests of the country in order to conserve biodiversity, soil and water resources. The forests under the law enforcement of the Forest Department is being reclassified and placed under four management systems ranging from strict conservation, non-extractive use, management of multiple use forests for sustainable production of wood and management of forests with community participation. The National Policy on Wild Life Conservation 2000 The policy urge the commitment of the government to conserve wildlife resources through promoting conservation, maintaining ecological processes and life sustaining systems, managing genetic diversity and ensuring sustainable utilization and sharing of equitable benefits arising from biodiversity. It emphasis the need for effective protected area management with the participation of local communities. National Air Quality Management Policy 2000 The purpose of this policy is to maintain good air quality to reduce morbidity due to air pollution and in turn reduce national health expenditures. National Watershed Management Policy 2004 Policy aims to conserve, protect, rehabilitate, sustainably use and man ­age the watersheds while managing their environment characteristics with the involvement of people. Cleaner Production Policy 2004 The objective of this policy is to incorporate the cleaner production concept and practices into all development sectors of the country. To implement the policy sectoral policies were developed for health and tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Tourism. National Biosafety Policy 2005 The policy on biosafety set the overall framework in which adequate safety measures will be developed and put into force to minimize possible risks to human health and the environment while extracting maximum benifits from any potential that modern bio technology may offer. National Air Quality Management Policy 2000 The purpose of this policy is to maintain good air quality to reduce morbidity due to air pollution and in turn reduce national health expenditures. National Policy on Wetlands 2005 This policy seeks to give effect to National Environment Policy and other relevant national policies, while respecting national commitments towards relevant international conventions, protocols, treaties and agreements to which Sri Lanka is a party. National Policy on Sand as a Resource for the Construction Industry 2006 This policy statement reflects Sri Lankas constitutional, international and national obligations, including the Mines and Minerals Act No. 33 of 1992, the National Environmental Act of 1980, the Coast Conservation Act of 1981 and other relevant legislation, regulations and policy statements. This dignifies the effectively manage sand resource on the construction and keeping a better reserve for future generations. National Policy on Elephant Conservation 2006 Widely knowing conflict of elephants enforced the government to implement this policy. This natural creature interconnected with Sri Lankas history, culture, religions, and even politics that it would be difficult to imagine the island without it. Therefore the present policy was developed to ensure the long-term survival of the elephant in the wild in Sri Lanka through the easing of the human-elephant conflict. National Policy on Solid Waste Management To handle the serious issue of solid waste management ministry recognized the need for a national approach to handle this. Therefore National policy on Solid Waste Management has been prepared to ensure economically feasible environmentally sound solid waste management for the country through provincial and local authorities. This policy focuses on areas to ensure environmental accountability and social responsibility of all waste generators, waste managers and service providers, to actively involve individuals and all institutions for sound solid waste management practices, to maximize resource recovery with a view to minimize the amount of waste for disposal and to minimize adverse environmental impacts due to waste disposal to ensure health and well being of the people and on ecosystems. Sri Lankan Implementing Agencies Department of Forest Conservation The Forest Department (FD) was established in 1887. Over the years many initiatives have been taken to minimize the rate of deforestation by effective application of the provisions in the Forest Ordinance. Department of Wildlife Conservation The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) was established in 1949 and entrusted with the overall conservation of fauna and flora of the country and the maintenance of its diversity. Central Environmental Authority The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) was established in August 1981 under the provisions of the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980, which was later amended in 1988 and 2000. Marine Pollution Prevention Authority Marine Pollution Prevention Authority contribute to protect the marine environment from ship based and shore based maritime related activity, to comply with International and national obligations by promulgation of laws and regulations. Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) was established in 1993. It is mainly involved in promoting the conservation and management of the mineral resources of the country. It seeks to ensure that the mineral potential is realized for the benefit of the country and the minerals are extracted in an efficient, safe and environmentally sound way. State Timber Corporation The State Timber Corporation was incorporated in 1968 under the provisions of State Industrial Corporation Act No. 49 of 1957 for the purpose of extracting timber from the forests, conversion of such timber into sawn timber and finished products, sale of logs, construction of forest roads, operation of timber and firewood sales depots, and manufacture and marketing of any by-products from timber. Sri Lanka Wildlife Trust (WT) The Wildlife Trust of Sri Lanka (WT) is registered as a charitable Trust, in 1991 under the Trust Ordinance No. 1552 and the Code of Intellectual Property Act No. 52 of 1979. Conclusion While laws policies imposed, Sri Lankan government is boosted on all the blooming programs. However common conflicts on human nature issues still and prevailing situation in most of the rural areas. What we can think after all the authorites acts imposed? Some of the other issues created by the Convention Protection of Natural forests in Sri Lanka due to poor fund requirements. Therefore government should please the international bodies agencies to gain aid for the environmentally sound projects. Normally it is a norm that Sri Lankan government will not enforce forest conservation if it didnt come under a condition of a grant. But Non government agencies also impact some of our natural genetic resources by way of many projects developments. Some countries are strict on most of there genetic materials and keep the biodiversity sites under military support. As an example The killing of two Indonesian tribals who tried to enter to COMODO National Park is a popular story to show how they treat the people in biologically valuable sites. But some of the their approach of removing people from the forest and buffer zones are not an applicable option for Sri Lanka. In they recent past it has been noticeable while the laws regulations there people will act on the same manner where there need filled. Governement t therefore can be a practical partner in all ends take part on the conservation protection the environment where immensely keep pressure on the authoriting agencies to inject the attitude to the people. As a country we have to have policies and laws to protect the alienation of forest resources to stop pirating the genetic material, plant serum, plant species or the traditional knowledge. Therefore government should ensure above main objectives before entering into any agreement. Sri Lanka has many more way towards a clean nation. By overcoming spreading challenges on environments Sri Lanka is no sooner be the South Asian Miracle.

Beware of Your Washing Machine and its Shiftless Partner, the Dryer :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Beware of Your Washing Machine and its Shiftless Partner, the Dryer Professor’s comment: This student’s writing embodies a peculiar configuration of literary polish, linguistic facility, playful authorial self-awareness, and unadulterated goofiness. It is proudly, but not without trepidation, that I submit this essay to 123HelpMe and unleash the elegant lunacy of Rob Geis upon an unsuspecting world. Around the world, across America, even here in town, there is a crime occurring—a robbery of unguessed proportions and most of us aren’t even aware of it.It happens every week, yet we blithely aid and abet the criminals, willingly, if unconsciously, destroying the evidence of their heinous offence. These criminals are everywhere. They can usually be found working in pairs. They lurk in the dark corners of our home, or even in well-lit shops. The patrons of these storefront locations cast furtive glances at one another, feeding coins into slots as they are slowly, quietly robbed of their most prized possessions. I am talking about, of course, a theft of laundry. The criminals are your washing machine and its shiftless partner, the dryer. Manufacturers of these devious devices paint them white in order to enhance their image of cleanliness and honesty, but behind this friendly exterior there lies a crafty heart. Laundromat models are even equipped with glass doors. Through these doors, we watch, hypnotized, as our belongings are spun away from us. While discussing this laundry larceny, I refer not to the occasional petty pilferage of the odd argyle sock, in which every washer/dryer seems to indulge. This well-known and carefully documented occurrence is merely the tip, as it were, of the iceberg. Long misunderstood as pure coincidence, the lost-sock phenomenon was finally explained in an episode of the cartoon â€Å"Ren and Stimpy.† In this episode, the two fearless adventurers travel to an alternate universe, where they find an extremely smelly planet, which contains, amongst other sundry items, all the socks that have ever disappeared from our world. In retrospect, this kleptomaniacal attitude toward socks should have tipped me, of all people, off a little sooner. I have come to realize that I have been granted the gift of the Virgo, which is my astrological sign. Virgos are renowned for their attention to detail, although there are a few unenlightened souls who refer to us as obsessive/compulsive at best and anal-retentive at worst.

Identify the positive outcomes for children

Identify the positive outcomes for children and young people that practitioners should be striving to achieve BY jess663 CYP core 37 2. 1 Identify the positive outcomes for children and young people that practitioners should be striving to achieve The 5 positive outcomes for children and young people that practitioners should be striving to achieve under the framework of Every Child Matters are: 1 – To be healthy: enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle. Physically healthy Mentally and emotionally healthy Sexually healthyHealthy lifestyles Choose not to take illegal drugs Being healthy is not Just about eating lots of fruit and drinking 8 glasses of water each day. It's about young people enjoying a healthy lifestyle, feeling good about themselves and having good emotional and mental health. We hope that all children should have access to health services, good nutrition and a good lifestyle. 2 – Stay safe: being protected from harm and ne glect. Safe from maltreatment, neglect, violence and sexual exploitation Safe from accidental injury and death Safe from bullying and discriminationSafe from crime and anti-social behaviour in and out of school Have security, stability and are cared for We should always make sure that all of the children are protected and safeguarded. We follow the correct procedure with regards to child protection issues. We ensure the building is safe. We risk assess the hall and make sure the windows and doors are secure. We make sure that all staff are appropriately checked and vetted. We ensure that there is no equipment that is dangerous. During circle time we go over the rules and regulations in the setting.We do a fire drill once a term so they know what to do. 3 – Enjoy and achieve: getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood. We should be enabling learners to make good progress in their work and personal development and to enjoy their education, including: R eady for school Attend and enjoy school social development and enjoy recreation We make sure the children are enjoy coming to our setting, providing a range of activities, making sure it is fun as well as enabling them to learn.We get feedback from them about what activities they like or o not like. We give the children a certain degree of choice for activities and snack. The parents also get newsletters about what we are doing each term and are encouraged to speak to their child about the topic, come along and speak to the child's keyworker or member of staff, or bring items in relevant to the specific topic, opening hours, holidays etc. Make a positive contribution: being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour.Engage in decision making and support the community and environment Engage in aw-abiding and positive behaviour in and out of school Develop positive relationships and choose not to bully and discriminate Develop self-c onfidence and successfully deal with significant life changes and challenges Develop enterprising behaviour If we try our best to ensure that the child has a happy time at our setting, it helps their confidence and self-esteem. They will want to take part and socialise. They enjoy what they are doing when they come to us and want to take part in what we offer for them.As they grow up they will want to go to school and have a good ducation and then go on to get a good Job and have a good quality of life. 5 – Achieve economic well-being: not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential in life. Engage in further education, employment or training on leaving school Ready for employment Live in decent homes and sustainable communities Access to transport and material goods Live in households free from low income This links to making a positive contribution. If they are happy and want to achieve, then they will want to be successful and achieve and h ave a good quality of life.

Dance in my life Essay

Ever since I was a little girl dance has always been an important part of my life. When I was five, my mom enrolled me in dancing classes after my sister, never realizing that dancing would ever lead to anything serious. For the first year, dancing was a side hobby to help keep me busy after school. Even though dancing was really fun to me, it did not become serious until my dance teacher looked me in my eyes and said â€Å"Lexus you have a big and lovable heart and I want you to dance with that heart of yours because I know that you have what it takes to become a great dancer.† That moment I knew that dance was going to always be a passion of mine. Over the years dance has helped me to grow in other ways. From it I have learned that hard work really does pay off. I learned that discipline and self-control are not only a vital part of dancing, but a necessary part of life. Also, I have recognized that motivation and perseverance are keys to success. What matters is not who wins in the beginning, but who is still on her feet in the end. Perhaps the most important lesson dance has taught is responsibility. Kaleidoscope has helped me in a lot of areas; even though I am small and tiny, I am very athletic, strong and I have a high self-esteem that anything is possible as long as you put your heart to it. I am encouraged now more than ever to try my best in class even if I look stupid because practice makes perfect. Becoming a Kaleidoscope officer hasn’t been a dream of mine till this year. Last year I thought I didn’t have what it took to become one, but this year, seeing how much you encouraged me to become a better dancer, it encouraged me to become a better person. When I tried out for Kaleidoscope, I wasn’t expecting to make it because I wasn’t in a dance class and I didn’t know Mrs. Karl personally at all. One day after school my friend told me to try out with her because she was scared to try out by herself. When I walked into the dance room I would have never thought I would be staying in that dance room. When I tried out, I took it as if god was giving me a chance to dance again and to fulfill a dream of mine. The term leader is someone who is in an advanced position to take the initiative in order to go forth and show the way but also to be able to make intelligent and creative decisions quickly and efficiently. Dance teams are all about unity. An exceptional dance group glides across the floor with all of its dancers moving as one. There are no individual standouts. No weak links. But there is one person whose job is to make the team as strong as  possible, on the floor and off. It’s one thing to be a good team player, but it’s another to be a good leader. Few will have the opportunity to feel the weight of the responsibilities and the happiness of knowing you are making a difference. Becoming a leader of any type of organization in my eyes is a huge job. It’s teaching respect by showing respect. It’s helping the other dancers, including myself, to strive and push themselves to be the best dancers I know we all can be. Having the title of being a Kaleidoscope Officer doesn’t mean being the boss of everyone, being in front of every dance, or just thinking that the Officer should come before everyone else. Officers are the inspiration of the team. They’re the person that everyone looks up to. Being a natural born leader is also a big role of a dance team. That means having self-confidence, good communication skills, courage, clear desire to make progress towards a goal, and a fair degree of understanding your fellow teammates. Being a leader requires focus on the big picture, doing what’s best for your team even on your worst days. If you’re negative, the team will take on the same attitude, even if everyone else has had a great day. As Officer of your dance team, I’ll definitely encounte r some sticky situations, like have to confront one of my teammates when they aren’t practicing full-out or not trying they’re hardest.