Category: Personal Experience

A few years ago, my softball team and I during Christmas time decided to go buy toys, wrap them up, and go give them to a shelter for girls who got removed from their families. As the girls only spoke Spanish, I had a bigger role than expected as I was the only one who spoke and understood Spanish, so in order to communicate with them I was the assigned speaker. My communication skills came in handy as I translated what my coaches were wanting to say to the girls and seeing those smiles on their faces is something I won’t ever forget. As we did this, I realize that my teammates were relying on me to speak to the girls for them, making me a leader figure, as I was keeping everyone under control and telling them not to get stressed over the fact that they didn’t know what the girls were trying to tell them. Regardless of the difficulties, as we started handing them their gifts, they all started to come up to us, thanking us with tears in their eyes, especially grateful for having someone to translate what they were saying because they wanted everyone who came to get their equal love and gratitude for what we all had done. The workers at the shelter had told us that they hadn’t smiled like that in a while, so knowing we all came as one to do that for them made us all feel good about what we had accomplished.

This volunteer opportunity was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Seeing children in shelters is near to my heart just because of the imaginable pain they go through, not having that constant support and love from their families. It hurts me to know they have to face that at such young ages. The girls thought they wouldn’t have a Christmas this year because of the circumstances they were being faced with, but we turned that around for them. This experience was so surreal and a one-of-a-kind opportunity we took full advantage of. It was more impactful for me as I could actually communicate and hold conversations with them one by one without them struggling to try to speak another language. You could tell they were genuinely happy as they don’t get to experience this the same way we do every year. It’s taught me to always be thankful for what you have because it can easily be taken away from you as you never know when you can get it back or even if you do. It’s always the little things that make people the happiest, especially when it’s unexpected, and the girls taught me that and I will forever continue holding them close to my heart.

In my personal life, I try to maintain the best wellness I can, but I know I can always do better. Although it is important to keep in mind all the domains of healthy living, I choose to focus on sleep, physical activity, and mindfulness for my personal needs.

Getting enough sleep is a common problem among college students. I often find myself staying up all hours of the night completing homework assignments or studying for upcoming exams. This way of life is not sustainable because the body has a hard time functioning when it cannot have the essential amount of rest every night.

In addition to the physical benefits that sleep has, such as energy conservation and cell repair, there are also prominent functions for the brain. For example, adequate amounts of sleep have been shown to improve memory. A study on rats that pharmacologically increased or decreased sleep after learning how to complete a maze showed that an increase in sleep showed greater memory retention. (Rasch & Born) Keeping memory sharp has benefits in both academic and everyday life. As a student who hopes to become a registered nurse, memory is something that I would like to improve as much as possible to excel in my field. It is easy to make mistakes when tired and whether I am a student in college or a nurse in a hospital with sick patients, I cannot afford to make mistakes. Improving this pillar of healthy living is necessary for me to succeed wherever I am in my walk of life.

Endless strategies are claimed to help individuals sleep better. The most obvious is getting to bed earlier, but this is easier said than done. Going to bed earlier requires less procrastination with homework and greater self-control. Creating to-do lists helps me to visualize all that I need to accomplish and ensures that everything is done on time. It always feels good to cross everything off a to-do list and it gives me peace of mind when I am trying to fall asleep. Another trick that I use is setting a reminder on my phone to tell me to get into bed. Sometimes I get so caught up in the tasks of everyday life that I lose track of time. But even if I get into bed earlier there is no guarantee that I will be able to fall asleep right away. To solve this problem, I plan on putting away all electronic devices before getting into bed so as to not distract myself. When I use my phone in bed, I always stay up later than intended and it is a problem. Studies show that those who bring their phone into bed with them report a much lower quality of sleep. (Exelmans & Bulck) It is not necessary to be staring at a phone or computer twenty-four hours a day, but sometimes it is hard to put the screen down. I would like to be able to read more books, so I also plan on reading before bed instead of using my phone or computer. Hopefully, this will allow me to fall asleep more easily and achieve a better night’s rest. Another high priority that I hold for myself is to exercise more often.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should exercise at least thirty minutes a day, every day of the week. This prevents many health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis. (Peluso & Guerra de Andrade) In addition to the physical benefits that exercise will provide the body, it also positively affects the brain. More specifically, “epidemiological research shows a consistent relationship between higher physical activity levels and a reduced risk of developing dementia.” (Erickson, Weinstein, & Lopez, 2012, p. 616) If I am able in any way to prevent memory loss in the future, I want to take advantage of it. I have seen what dementia has done to family members and friends and it is a heartbreaking condition. If simply engaging in physical activity consistently is an easy way to prevent this disease, I will do everything I can.

In order to achieve an adequate amount of exercise, there are many opportunities that are so graciously offered by the WE community. For example, I signed up for the free incentivized gym pass in which I have to go to the gym a certain amount of times to keep this pass free of charge. This forces me to be active consistently as I do not want to pay the full price for this pass. In addition to the gym membership, the WE community offers the use of their peloton bikes and TRX machines twenty-four hours a day. I plan on using these machines more often because they are so accessible. Unlike the gym, there are no restricted hours for these workout machines, so there is no excuse not to utilize them in my free time. Although I do want to prioritize exercise, I also recognize that it is possible to overdo it, causing adverse effects. It has been shown that extreme periods of vigorous exercise can lead to a worsening in mood. It is recommended to engage in moderate exercise for a longer period of time instead, to avoid mood disturbances. (Peluso & Guerra de Andrade) This is a good reminder to avoid pushing myself too far. Living a healthy lifestyle should not be stressful, but if it does become overwhelming, meditation is an excellent option to wind down.

According to Hofmann and Gómez (2017), “Mindfulness refers to a process that leads to a mental state characterized by nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment experience, including one’s sensations, thoughts, bodily states, consciousness, and the environment, while encouraging openness, curiosity, and acceptance” (p. 741) This unique form of meditation proves to be extremely beneficial as it helps to regulate emotions. It does this by changing the way the brain works. It activates the prefrontal cortex which is responsible for logical thinking and it deactivates the amygdala which is responsible for aggression. This results in a more relaxed state of mind and less of a tendency to act out. It also has been shown to improve attention span with long-term use. (Tang, Hözel, & Posner) Presently, I participate in mindfulness through my Healthy Brains, Healthy Bodies class, but would like to engage in this activity more often.

The WE community offers many opportunities to use mindfulness that I plan on taking advantage of. I started attending free yoga classes weekly in which mindfulness is used regularly and I have found it to be very beneficial. In addition to these classes, my Apple Watch has a “Breathe” app on it that reminds me throughout the day to participate in mindfulness. The app vibrates to help regulate my inhalation and exhalation. This allows me to focus on my breathing and to center myself. I find that when I take time to think about the present, I am calmer and more focused. My goal is to set aside at least ten minutes a day to participate in deep breathing and stillness.

In my daily life, I try to participate in the pillars of wellness as much as possible. Though I feel that I am doing a pretty good job at engaging in healthy habits, I know there is always room for improvement. Making time in my busy schedule to get enough sleep, physical activity, and to participate in mindfulness is essential. I plan to stay organized so that I can get to bed earlier and utilize my resources to engage in physical activity and mindfulness more often. Living a healthier lifestyle is easier than it seems, especially with how accessible all the tools are.

Current Health State and Behaviour

I view health as a combination of physical and mental fitness. My opinion is that ‘good health’ would suggest a person is physically and mentally well. When thinking about somebody who is healthy, I think of somebody who eats healthy foods, drinks plenty of water, exercises regularly, avoids alcohol and cigarettes, and has a fit state of mind. I think that well-being is related to comfort and happiness; this can be affected by health and lifestyle factors.

My behavioral immunogens:

• I drink at least 1000ml of water each day.
• I walk for at least 60 minutes each day.
• I eat at least two portions of vegetables each day.
• I go to the gym for 45 minutes, three times each week.
• I enjoy socializing with friends, family, and colleagues.
• I brush my teeth for two minutes, two times each day.

My behavioral pathogens:

• I smoke at least 20 cigarettes every six months.
• I eat one portion of chips every day.
• I drink five 3.15 units of alcohol each month.
• I drink at least one 250ml bottle of carbonated drink each day.
• I spend a minimum of 120 minutes in front of a computer screen each day.
• I do not brush my teeth after every meal.

Potential behavior immunogens:

• Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.
• Drink 2000ml of water each day.
• Go to the gym for 30 minutes each day.
• Go to the dentist every six months.

Desired Health Outcome

I weigh 53.55kg and my BMI is 20.9. Even though my BMI is in range I feel as if I have too much fat around my abdominal area. This may cause visceral fat around my organs, which can cause health problems.

I lack confidence when trying on new clothes as I don’t like the appearance of my body.

Eat less foods that are high in saturated fat and I will avoid eating sugary foods. (e.g. chocolate, cakes, crisps, full-fat cheese)

Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. (e.g. lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, apple, banana, pear, grapes, orange)

Attend the gym for 30 minutes each day. Carry out cardio exercises, using the treadmill and the cross trainer.

Drink 2000ml of water each day.

I wish to lose two inches of fat from my abdominal area, measuring at the waist. I will measure this in 12 months to see if I have lost any fat from my abdominal area.

I hope to feel healthier, have more energy, and have more confidence from losing the fat around my abdominal area.

I have a diet that is high in sugar, which has previously caused cavities in my molars. I avoid going to the dentist and only attend if I have dental pain. I have not attended a dental check-up in two years.

I currently brush my teeth twice a day, but I do not floss.

I have recently been experiencing dental pain.

Visit the dentist as soon as possible.

Attend dental check-ups at least every six months.

Eat less sugary foods.

Brush my teeth one hour after every meal or use sugar-free gum.

Drink 250ml water straight after every snack or meal to neutralize the acid in my mouth.

Floss once at the end of every day.

I wish to have stronger and healthier teeth by changing my diet and attending dental check-ups every six months.

I hope to not need any more fillings for at least another 2 years.

By having healthier teeth and gums, my overall health may also be improved.

My teeth may become more aesthetically pleasing if dental hygiene and diet are improved.

When attempting to set a goal for anything, I tend to struggle, with numerous ideas running through my mind. ‘Which is the best one to decide with.’ That is the question, so when I was asked about setting a goal for why I am studying K219, I was very surprised at how easy it came to me. My goal is to complete my course. I don’t feel this is too unrealistic, after completing K101 last year, considering I had been out of education for over fifteen years, I amazed myself on fully completing and passing the course.

When looking at the goal, I have set is it possible to achieve? Well-having proved myself wrong last year and completing my first year of university study, I believe it is possible. I can study and set time aside to do so. I can guarantee some stressful situations may affect the time I have set aside for studying or even my concentration on the course materials. These could range from misunderstanding the course, and material to family, or work stress. While reflecting on these factors that I may have no control over, they could potentially affect my ability in accomplishing my goal. But with self-control and discipline, I feel I will always do my best in getting back on track. External health factors could also play a part in staying on track. When I was asked to reflect on factors that may affect my ability in accomplishing my goal, I found the determinants of health (Dahlgren and Whitehead, 1993) opened my eyes a little more I never thought of considering factors such as age, sex, and constitutional factors that could all play a significant part in of affecting my ability to achieve the goal. Health is determined by many things mentioned by (Blaxter,2010). To me, health represents when you are ill.

Seen that health can represent many different factors and we all have different opinions in describing health. Well-being can also be seen in the same light as health. But as I start to sum up my goal, I again refer to (Blaxter,2010) looking at my well-being as a learner and on a personal level. Blaxter describes health as both internal and external circumstances. To be more positive by not allowing complications to affect our ability in accomplishing the goal no matter what our age. I see this as the same for well-being as all these can play a significant part in our mental state, this will affect one’s well-being in being able to feel in control and empowered and believing in yourself. My well-being state will have an impact on me being able to fully accomplish my goal. By staying focused and believing in one’s myself, I am determined to succeed till the end.

I won’t allow these factors to push me back, with resilience I will bounce back when needed by overcoming any hurdles that may arise. The resilience I feel I will personally need to be able to accomplish my goal to the satisfaction that is needed is by believing in myself and looking at the further outcome of my goal and the future this will have. I will need to deal with unfortunate and complex decisions along the way. But by keeping my goal in mind I am confident in being able to maintain my path to success. Adversity and general challenges will all play a part in my forthcoming studies but having an effective plan and support from my tutor and family I feel these pushbacks won’t cease me in maintaining my end goal (Hoppes,2011).

To conclude lifestyle choices will play an enormous part in me being able to fulfil my goal of completing my studies this year. The capabilities approach (Nussbaum,2011) aided me to note down different factors in overcoming my emotional state of mind and believing in myself, knowing I will bounce back no matter the difficulties, I just need to believe. I know the beneficial outcome will encourage me to stay on the right path in achieving my studies to the full potential. These will include a career path I am working towards, providing better opportunities for my family, and being in a job I will thrive and enjoy, all this means a successful outcome and a happier mental state in the long run.

Life is never easy for anybody and I state this as someone who has been through so many experiences as I keep growing in life. Furthermore, true being is not at all discovered until one is put through so much that you begin to test yourself and see how much you are capable of withstanding. Everything that happens to you has a long-lasting effect on who you become as a person. For me, my story is not the best, but it is what made me become the best version of myself that I can be. I did not have the best childhood to start off. I lived with both of my parents and all was well until the 8th grade when everything I thought I knew of my life changed. I personally did not believe anything to be wrong with my family or our lifestyle. As everything seemed great, one morning, I saw my father walk out of the door without saying a word, I was not able to say goodbye or anything. I thought he might have gone to the store or to visit a friend, but he did not return. That is when I realized that I was on my own.

My mother and my brothers along with me, were all alone. All we had now was each other. My father’s side of the family didn’t speak to us either. But why? To this day I still do not know the reason. It has been years since I last heard of my father and his whereabouts. The first year was the hardest. I did not know how to do many things, but after a while, I realized that I was going to have to grow up and learn to do things around the house and outside to be able to fill in that spot that my father took with him as he walked out of the door. I learned to mow the lawn and fix certain pipes when the water wouldn’t run correctly. At fourteen years old I learned what parts of the engine to check when a vehicle breaks down in case my mother ever had her car break down and she needed help. I wasn’t the best at everything, but I know my heart was in the right place and I was beginning to learn everything bit by bit.

Starting off my freshman year, I knew it was going to be tough. Not having my father around was about to hit me hard. My mom had to head off to work so I had no ride to school and had to walk myself. I would wake up so early in the morning to get ready for school and then proceed to take a forty-minute walk to get there. During the walk, all I would think about was my father; therefore, I came up with the conclusion of finding something to do in order to distract myself. As a result, I decided to join basketball. Naturally, in my freshman year, I was already six foot so I was placed in the varsity to play small forward. I had some basketball background so I knew what I was doing, but the position was new to me. I became so dedicated to basketball as it would help my mind stay away from my past. However, I would forget about my grades and would not do my work. With all this happening, I taught myself to be disciplined and know balance.

Everything comes as a result of something else. I had to teach myself that. As I demonstrated determination in the classroom, I let it all out on the court. I became a captain in my sophomore year because of all of my hard work. Throughout the years leading up to where I am now, senior year, I have learned what struggle is and what being alone is like. It is indeed quite difficult, but I know I had people such as my mother depending on me to move forward. Everything I did, I did it for my mother. I learned that if you don’t feel like doing something, look for a reason to do it. Having a single parent was truly a difficult circumstance to withstand, but it helped me mature. Maturity in the early stages of life is so beneficial and amazing as you grow up. I know my place and I know my worth. Now at eighteen years of age, I know how to do most things people would not imagine me doing. My father walking out of that door was the beginning of me becoming myself. It may seem like something horrible to happen to someone, but I am grateful, for it motivated me to become my own me and create my own path.

Everyone is born with these things called Human Rights. These are the laws that say you have the right to certain things that everyone should be able to have. There are thirty of them. I’m not saying people should know all of them but I’m saying that everyone should know a few of them. These are the rights that belong to the human race. Even though everyone is supposed to have these Human Rights, there are still places that don’t acknowledge them. In a famous speech called “The Perils of Indifference,” holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel talks about the fact that people should not remain indifferent when they hear about other people who are suffering. He explains that “Indifference, then, is not only a sin, but it also is a punishment. And this is one of the most important lessons of this outgoing century’s wide-ranging experiments in good and evil.” (Weisel 2). By saying this, Weisel is telling his listeners that when people turn their back on people who are suffering it is a sin but it is punishing the people who are suffering. Even if you don’t know the people who are suffering you should still help them no matter what they are going through. The people in the holocaust were suffering behind the big black gates and no one seemed to look and ask what was behind those gates. Everyone should always be curious and not look away from the people who are in pain and suffering. This will always be a thing even in the world we live in today. People way too often turn their back on people who are suffering and in pain. When and if people see someone who is in pain and suffering take a stand and protect the people who are being mistreated in the world and try to help them to the best of everyone’s abilities.

One way Human Rights are being violated is China’s two Child policy. This is violating a few human rights an example is in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 16 you have the right to marry who you want and have as many kids as you would like. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) The history of China’s two-child policy is not amazing because it Started as a one-child policy in 1979. If Chinese Citizens did decide to have a second child they would get fined. In the rural areas of China, women could have 2 kids if the first was born a girl (BBC). When the Chinese work from age 25 through 59. 30% of the Chinese population is elderly with the population being 1.36 billion people. ( Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

With China’s One Child Policy, there were many places where Chinese officials do a thing called sterilization. Which is a procedure to make women not able to have kids. Chinese officials often come and take pregnant women out of their houses and if women are pregnant with their second child no matter how far along women are they can force women to have an abortion. The procedures are usually done by untrained people which could lead to many side effects. There are many stories people have told about the offices coming into people’s houses and doing those things, but the way people were treated was so terrible. In a rural area of China a girl told her story, “’ When my mother had my little brother, we were fined. We had no money so they took away the things in our home – our television set, our benches, and even our food. After that, there was still forced sterilization, and now she has a disease. Who will take responsibility for this?’ said Wannengjunren. (BBC). If the people didn’t have enough money they would have their things taken away and be starved by taking away their food. When women went to the hospital to other have forced abortions or go through sterilization the women would often be beaten and starved with no food or water. The officials would sneak around in the middle of the night and try to catch people hiding their other children if they had any. In an article from the BBC, the woman told us her story about the night raids. “I can remember how officials would come in the middle of the night to catch people, everyone in my village would wrap up in their blankets and run to the cemetery at a nearby hill to spend the night” (BBC).

When Chinese officials would sanitize women they would force them to basically not be able to have kids anymore. And the newer generations are too young to carry kids. So when China ended its one-child policy the birth rate was still going down. In China, men outnumber Women by 30 million. The one-child policy was introduced in 1979, after three decades of political-economic turmoil, in hopes that smaller families would help China deal with the extreme poverty the nation faced. In 1980, the policy was given teeth as Communist Party members were directed to have only one child, and in 1982 it was made universal and enshrined in the constitution. By 2014, however, facing demographic shortfalls, the Chinese government started to relax the policies, allowing families to have two children if one of the parents was an only child. (time)

Current State of the Issue

In the past, There have been protests against China’s one-child policy. On April 18, 2016, more than 2,000 grieving parents that have lost their kids with the one-child policy. In Bejing all of the parents and family wore white caps which were a symbol for the grieving parents who also carried around pictures of their deceased children. Now that the one-child policy was over there have been fewer protests and more love around China. On the darker side of things, there are shady adoptions and very little has been done to stop them.

In China, agencies will kidnap children and let American people adopt them. While we don’t yet know the scale of China’s stolen-children problem, let alone understand its implications for the adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents of Chinese-born children in the U.S. and around the world, it’s been life-altering, even traumatic, for the families it’s touched directly.

Children that have been taken from their families are being sold for a very steep amount of money. (Newsweek). On CNN there are stories about women who have had shady adoption agencies. –“an adoptive mother in the United States who discovered her daughter’s adoption papers were forged and a Chinese father whose baby was taken from him.”(CNN) Chinese police officers stopped their search after 2 days. When a little girl was stolen and sent to a different country where she doesn’t know anything. (Newsweek)

In recent years, the theory of children being kidnapped and put up for adoption has been increasingly challenged. ‘The more we look at the data, the more we realize the hidden children, they are not there,’ says Yong Cai, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ‘They have never been born or they have simply been aborted.’ While some do conceal their children or abandon them, sex-selective abortion and poor health care for baby girls account for most of the sex ratio disparity for very young children, which now stands at about 120 males for every 100 females.” (CNN)

Helpers and activism

As of 2015, China ad changed its one-child policy to a two-child policy. When the policy was changed it sparked an increase in birth rates. A total of 17.86 million babies were born in 2016, an increase of 1.31 million over the total in 2015. (BBC) China had loosened its one-child policy in recent years, and the program was officially expanded to a two-child policy as of the start of 2016. In a little more than 10 years, one-quarter of the world’s most populous countries will be 60 or older. About 30% of the population is now over the age of 50 – a demographic time bomb that holds up a terrifying specter of rising social costs and falling worker numbers to a wider country that is only just a little way behind. (BBC)

As of this year, China is planning to scrap the two-child policy completely. With birth rates continuing to plummet they are wanting to scrap it completely. In 2017, 630,000 fewer babies were born than in the previous year, a trend that could be driven by concerns over the cost and logistics of raising children. (Business Insider) In China’s annual meeting, they talked about changing their two-child policy to a potential 3 child policy. While still keeping their Family planning department. (Francis)

While family planning policies may still exist, for the first time since 1981, ‘family planning’ will not appear in the name of any government department. This could indicate a large shift away from the government placing importance on birth limits in the country. (Francis)

In this whole paper, you were reading how China was not letting people have more than 2 kids. While you were reading this paper I hope you were getting moved somehow in a way where you would want to help. In Elie Wiesel’s Speech the Perils of Indifference there is a quote “Indifference, then, is not only a sin, but it is also a punishment. And this is one of the most important lessons of this outgoing century’s wide-ranging experiments in good and evil.” (Wiesel 2). It seems like no one is talking about this in the world today. You are allowing innocent kids to get killed if there are more than two kids in their family, or even getting adopted illegally. You are sinning while letting kids get punished for something they had no control over.

So hopefully by now, you are asking, “Wow how can I help these kids that are in China?”Well, let me tell you how you can help. Christianpost.com is a website where you can find different places where you can donate and learn how to help with trying to get rid of the laws. When you want to donate you can go onto the website and fill out the information and it will give you different things to donate to. Some of the things are donating like 10 dollars a month to help a fostered child from China get everything they need. Nypost.com is a place where you can go to buy a shirt to let the law get rid of China’s law altogether. When you go donate at this site you are given a choice of different things to donate.

Works Cited

1. Berenson, Tessa “ Here’s How China’s One-Child Policy Started in the First Place” birth rates continue to plummet” Business Insider 12/3/19
2. How to help Nypost.com August 17, 2016 web April 4, 2018
3. Levenson Eric “China’s new two-child policy sparks increase in births’ CNN.com. 23 January, 18 Web 27 March 18
4. Time.com 29, October 2015 Web 12, March 2018
5. Sudworth John “The ‘model’ example of China’s one-child policy”. BBC, 30 October,15, web, 27 March, 18
6. Sudworth John “The ‘model’ example of China’s one-child policy”. BBC, 30 October,15, web, 27 March, 18
7. Ziv Stav “China’s One-Child policy and American Adoptees” http://www.newsweek.com/ 11 March 2015 web. 27 March, 18

‘Sexy Raggedy Ann’ rings my doorbell, high on October air, pumpkin spice vodka, and maybe one too many Tootsie Rolls. She is too old for trick-or-treating but her friends waiting in the car are laughing and she is grinning ear to ear. I do not answer the door.

This year I am in a haunted house for Halloween, all creaking porch and darkened windows, all empty, not a soul left to pass out treats. I am sure she will leave if I stand very still and do not make a sound. To my surprise, she stays. She pounds her tiny fist against my door and before I can protest it is swinging open and she steps inside. She wears six-inch platform Mary Janes that sink into the rotting floorboards, some expensive perfume that mingles with dust in the air, and a little blue dress, so short I’m sure my shutters blush.

Up close, I can see her freckles have not been drawn on her face and the curls beneath her wig are blonde but trespassers are trespassers even when they are beautiful so I throw everything I’ve got at her. I unleash bats from the attic to twist their claws into her hair, I call upon every creeping spider to spit their webs onto her shoulders, I send ghosts careening down the staircase to shriek and scream like rushing winds and drive her from my home in fright but I am surprised to hear her laugh instead.

She steps into my sitting room and lights a fire on the old wood stove. Every maple wall in my body is shaking because I know even rotten wood is prone to burn but she stokes the flames into a gentle glow that sends shivers up my spine.

Still, I rise up from the floorboards, a ghoulish girl draped in rags with eyes as black as night. I tell her, “You’re not afraid now but nobody loves the haunted house in May, nobody wants cracked mirrors and broken chandeliers.” She doesn’t run. Raggedy Ann extends her hand. She says, “There is beauty still in what you’ve become, but step with me into the light.”

One moment I am floating and the next my toes are brushing the floor. I touch her hand with my crooked fingers and spin out of my rags like a mummy undone. Underneath, my skin is pale and cold but her palm is a ray of sun in mine; She smiles wide and all my windows shatter. The evening light comes streaming in and fills my haunted home with gold.

In our everyday life, it encompasses the way in which we usually think, act, and feel on a daily basis. One of the key activities of daily living is human-human interaction. As mentioned by John Danne, “No one is an island”. This explains that all individuals interact with one another virtually daily and often more one time in any one day. To be able to survive in this society, there must be effective social interaction. In short, it is inevitable as it revolves around us. Theoretically, we were made to have both interactions and connections.

Social interaction in everyday settings allows us to gain more opportunities to learn about each other’s stories which can be inspiring to everyone. In recent years, technology had been advancing and one of the current trends is autonomous artificial intelligence robots. Currently, there are some robots that are on the market and are sold commercially. These robots are not designed to be useful. In fact, they are created to be there for humans as social companion robots. Technology is granting these machines the capability to adapt to typical human behavior.

The production of these social companion robots is designed to enter the space of human social interaction, both physically and semantically. They can follow, recognize, and react to humans’ actions in social contexts. These types of robots mainly interact with users and create companionship. Focusing only on companionship, one of the robots that are created by Blue Frog Robotics is a 60cm high robot called BUDDY.

BUDDY is a friendly companion robot. He is full of personality and reacts to his environment through a range of expressions that allow him to engage better. Apart from BUDDY, another company, SoftBank Robotics, manufactured a 120cm robot that is able to able process information, recognize voices, and detect different emotions by analyzing sounds, voice tones, and expressions, and learning through repeated interactions with people. This robot is called Pepper and is currently used in thousands of homes in Japan. Pepper is designed to be a day-to-day companion. Both robots, BUDDY and Pepper, are able to speak to optimize human interaction and is able to engage with people through conversation. Having a robot as a companion can be beneficial. Social companion robot is made to be convenient for us so they will be there for us whenever we need them. Most importantly, we can be comfortable around the robot and not afraid of any form of social anxiety. Owning a companion robot can lift our mood, and make us feel loved, less lonely, and happier. The key questions for having a robot as a companion: “Are all these autonomous artificial intelligence robots necessary to replicate our usual daily human interaction? “

Daily human interaction is unavoidable unless we chose to stay in our safe haven alone the entire day. When one stays alone too much, they are limiting their human interaction. As an illustration, let us take it as when one is often limiting its own human interaction on a daily basis, one will look to purchase one of the autonomous artificial intelligence robots for companionship. For instance, an introvert and the elderly. But is it necessary for both groups of individuals to own a social companion robot? Introverts tend to feel drained after meeting people and regain their energy by spending time alone. Introverts focus on internal feelings rather than on external sources of stimulation, enjoy solitude and prefer a small group of close friends. They are usually quiet and reserved, and introspective. Introverts’ characteristics may seem perfect for them to own a social companion robot as they do not have to deal with meeting new people and interacting with others that are out of their comfort zone. It is very convenient for an introvert just to choose to converse with a robot regularly as it does not require any commitment, small talk, expectations, and judgment. As many introverts thrive on routine and consistency, however, given that life is very unpredictable, some days do not go as planned. These tired introverted souls need something to nourish them and cheer them up, that is when this convenient robot will come in and provide them with a constant source of comfort. Despite having the benefits of having a robot as a companion, it is also not needed, even for an introvert, for an autonomous artificial intelligence robot to be there to imitate their usual social daily interaction.

We are all people who need people. Each individual is one of a kind, we cannot expect the same kind of experience we experience with the human on a robot. Those tired introverts can just choose to stay alone to recharge or hang out with a small group of close friends to seek comfort. They could seek companionship with a robot, however, it should not be a robot that is able to speak and communicate. When an introvert starts to prefer to talk to a social companion robot that they or could speak to on a daily basis, he or they may eventually choose to minimize their interaction with other humans. For example, when his or her own group of close friends want to hang out, he or she may choose not to reject it because the robot became his or her best ‘friend’ that they could converse with. With that being said, they should never try to treat and rely on companion robots as a close friend to prevent further widening their gap with society and themselves. Hence, owning a social companion robot might bring more harm than good. An example of a robot that provides companionship and does not speak is a robot called Lovot, created by a robotics venture company Groove X Inc. This company created a cute knee-high robot called Lovot whose primary function is to provide people with comfort and companionship. This robot acts like a pet dog and is specifically designed to create an emotional attachment, its only purpose is to be loved. Having such a robot will not hinder any social interaction for any individual. On the contrary, a companion robot should actually be necessary for a certain group of people but not for all. For instance, the elderly are staying alone at home. Given their circumstances, It is harder for them to go out and socialize with others. Hence, the battle against loneliness and social isolation is an important reason for social companion robots.

Loneliness and social isolation are already problems for many seniors and are even connected to cognitive decline and a greater death rate. While it is clear that a robotic companion cannot replace human interaction, where there is almost no chance for human care, a cute, interactive, and friendly robotic companion is a lot better than nothing at all. Having someone to converse with on a regular basis helps to keep an elder’s mind and body full of life and healthy. Therefore, having a companion that involves social interaction can essentially improve their physical health and mental sharpness, boost their immune system, have a more positive outlook on life, and makes them happier. When lonely elderly are happier, they will find it more motivated to live better and to participate in everyday activities as they found meaning in their life again. Another target user that would necessarily need a social robot is children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is when a person usually has, along with other issues, persistent and significant difficulties with social interaction and social communication. They feel overwhelmed by interacting face-to-face with the human.

The Yale University-led experiment was the first to utilize an autonomous robot in the home for autism. Brian Scassellati, professor of computer science, led a research study that began with a baseline assessment of the children’s skills and emotional development. A month later, a robot, called Jibo, was placed in 12 children’s homes and the children worked with the robots for 30 minutes every day for 30 days. Jibo watched the children play the games, offering directions and modeling good social behavior by turning its head and body, and making contact with their animated eyes. Jibo is able to tell stories and guide the child through a series of interactive games focused on improving social skills, emotional understanding, sequencing, and perspective. After a month, he assesses the children to measure their progress. The result shows that even without the presence of the robot, the children were noticeably better at making eye contact, improved joint attention skills with adults and initiating communication. Having a robot that aid and improvements in social interaction are indeed necessary to lead a better quality of life. All things considered, an able-bodied guy definitely does not need a companion robot as an additional way to socially interact. They should seek to interact with a person’s social contact – with relatives, spouse, friends, clubs, and other community involvement. Those social contacts are irreplaceable even if we have a social companion robot. We would not be able to connect as deeply with a robot as compared to humans.

There are research shows that those with close social ties and unhealthful lifestyles (such as smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise) actually lived longer than those with poor social ties but more healthful living habits. Certainly, people with both healthful lifestyles and close social ties lived the longest of all. From this, we are able to conclude that having close social ties that are able to afford opportunities for emotionally meaningful interaction and a sense of belonging is extremely important in one’s life. Hence, to avoid over-reliant on a companion robot, having a robot should only be deemed necessary to those who truly need social interaction on a daily basis but have little to no access and a chance to it. As the capabilities of technology increase, so does our dependency on it. If the new form of interaction is with robots and machines, it would change the way we interact with humans in the future as it affects the core of our social practices which might result in profound cultural and social change. With that being said, our lives will change along with technology. Every one should find happiness with people and not with social companion robots. If everyone were to depend on social companion robots as their means of social interaction and live without physical human interaction, we are potentially losing our sense of real connection. We will all become insensitive, unfeeling, oblivious, and numb to the social cues that we would have experienced only if the conversation had been made in person. By interacting with a human, not only they can learn about others, they can only learn about themselves and what they actually value in a relationship with others. In addition, our health is actually strongly dependent on other people. Having social support and social interaction can positively influence human beings’ physical and mental health. It lowers the chances of stress, depression, and anxiety. It is important to recognize that it is no substitute for the human touch. We all need this human touch and interaction to reconnect us with reality and bring us back to a world where everything is not expectable, sensible, and controllable.

Fairy tales have always played an important role in my life and they’re honestly something I’m utmost grateful for. The fairy tale ‘The Little Mermaid’ by Hans Christian Anderson has personal significance to me as I can still recall my mother reading that story to me as a child before bedtime. Throughout the course of the story, I will discuss how the author effectively conveys both the elements of hope and warning in the story The Little Mermaid.

The aspect of hope can be seen multiple times throughout the course of the story. Immediately, from the first few lines of the story, we learn that the little mermaid was very eager and hopeful to see what life was like above seawater. She longed for the day she could rise above the sea just like her sisters did when they reached the age of fifteen. Being the youngest, she hoped her sisters would tell her every little detail about what life was really like above water. She had high hopes for what was above the sea ‘I know that I shall love the world up there, and all the people who live in it’. Another aspect of hope we see in the story is the Mermaid’s desire for the prince to fall in love with her and for them to live a happy and long life together. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work out of the mermaid and as a result suffered severe consequences.

Alongside that, the little mermaid ignored several warnings throughout the course of the story which resulted in her untimely death. As mentioned previously, the mermaid longed for the day she could follow in her sister’s footsteps and go above sea water and when that day finally came she took full advantage of it. She loved it that much she became so oblivious to how dark it becoming outside. After a while, she knew she should’ve returned back to her home under the sea as the tide was becoming very restless and loud but she decided to ignore these warning signs as she was so in awe looking at a boat of sailors. When the prince fell off the boat the Mermaid put her own life at risk by swimming among the beams and blanks which sewed the surface of the sea in a bid to save him.

Another aspect of warning we see in the story is when the witch confronts the little mermaid about how bad the potion could go. The sea witch tells her she must exchange her voice for a pair of legs that will cut like knives with every step she takes. The mermaid decides to ignore the consequence of this warning and without hesitation agrees and gives up her voice in a bid to get the prince to notice and love her. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work out in the little mermaid’s favor, and in the end, she dissolves into sea foam.

My high school was officially over. After studying in Pakistan for five years, I now had to make some important decisions for my future. I wanted to gain more quality education ad for that I wanted to move to a new country. I had two options, first was to move in with my dad in London or go to New York all by myself. Little that I knew what I was pushing myself into, I choose to move to New York. I was scared to experience something new although it was exciting. On paper, everything looked perfect about this new adventure that I was going into. Even my friends were more excited than me. I could not stop thinking about things that could go wrong. I knew that I had to move out at some time to be successful and make a living for myself.

Never in my life, I have been away from my family. Being the only child of my parents, I was very close to them. In Pakistani culture, a family is the most important thing for you. The fear of not getting to see my family for a year was scary. I was certain that I’ll be homesick in a few days. Moreover, I knew that I had to adjust to a few things. First would be the new language, I did know how to write, read and speak in English but to have a conversation in English fluently would be challenging. I also had to live alone which meant doing groceries, cooking food, cleaning, and so much more stuff. During my first few weeks, I felt homesick and depressed. I was missing my parents and my home. I was very sad and couldn’t focus on my studies. I knew this had to change because this was affecting my grades. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents because they had high expectations for me.

Despite all these various challenges, I got myself together gradually and fitted right in. The first thing that I had to change was being depressed. So, I started to find a job on campus so I could keep myself busy and you also get to interact with new people. After some research, I got my job in my college café. During my time working at the café, I got to talk to different people and realized that my experience and reactions were very normal for somebody who had just moved into a new country. During my meetings with my academic adviser, I used to ask him what I can do to do better. Moreover, I interreacted with other international students who moved here similarly to me and got to know so many things about how to manage my time and just improve as a person. I knew that I was getting a good quality education which gave me some leniency to grow myself as a better person too. Other than that, I was meeting so many new people from so many different backgrounds and cultures. This gave me an entirely new perspective on the world. I learned how to interact with people and have a conversation with them. Which ultimately helped me grow as a person too. This was the reason why I suddenly started to adapt to this new environment quickly.

For a new start, I decided to socialize and fit into this new culture. I started to accept the differences between my culture and other cultures. This made me respect people who were different from me and be more generous towards them. This also improved my socializing skills needed in a foreign environment and helped me get over depression and fit in this environment more easily. I also learned to rely on myself since it helped me to understand my strengths and weaknesses and work on them. Furthermore, I improved my cooking skills by watching different cooking videos which helped me to eat more hygienic food and not have to eat from outside three times a day, this also improved my savings.

As a result, I made numerous friends who have been of great help to me to date. I also started to improve my time management skills, so I could keep a good balance between studies and other activities. This helped me improve my grades and my overall personality. In the end, I was successful in getting over my depression and adjusting to a new environment. I got a valuable lesson that you should always try to change things physically and mentally in order to gain peace of heart and mind.