Friday, December 27, 2019

Should College Athletes Be Paid - 869 Words

For some time, there has been much debate on the topic of paying college athletes. In courtrooms across the United States, a resolution—and a possible revolution—is beginning to gain traction. Some people believe that a scholarship is payment enough, whereas others believe the athletes are being exploited to generate millions of dollars toward the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Although student athletes and universities should agree on a term for scholarships, paying athletes additional money would undermine the value a college education. Scholarships should not be taken away at the whim, but instead an agreement should be made between the athletic department and the student for him/her to be able to complete higher education. Like many other scholarships, athletic compensation is not guaranteed, but the criteria for renewal are much different. Union officials were shocked that scholarships could be pulled â€Å"at the whim of a coach.† Coaches have the authority to pull scholarships from the athletes they believe are underperforming. This can pose a problem for students who rely on these scholarships to get through college. Athletes who do not receive anticipated scholarships tend to be overwhelmed with new bills. Joseph Agnew was cut from his team before senior year, leaving him with $35,000 in tuition and other bills if he wanted to finish his degree. The one-year rule that Agnew experienced allows colleges to cut athletes that underperform in both schoolShow MoreRelatedShould College Athletes Be Paid?1578 Words   |  7 PagesAshay Mehta Nou Per 8 Should College Athletes Be Paid? One of the hottest debates in the sports industry is if college athletes should be paid. If you want to pay these athletes, how would the college determine the dollar amount that should be paid? Should the basketball team make more than the football team? Should the the soccer team be paid as well? Cheerleading? Chess team? Should everyone on the team get a salary? What if your college is good at football and your basketball team is awfulRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1398 Words   |  6 Pagesbelieve that college athletes at the highest performing schools are better treated than others. Although they do not get paid, they do receive some benefits for being athletes that other students would not get. One advantage for playing a sport is access to scholarships that some schools reserve for their athletes. Depending on the school and the athlete’s performance, money towards tuition is often given. Only some schools are willing to grant â€Å"full-ride† scholar ships for certain athletes. AccordingRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1289 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the years college sports have been about the love of the game, filled with adrenaline moments. However, the following question still remains: Should college athletes get paid to play sports in college? Seemingly, this debate has been endless, yet the questions have gone unanswered. The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) plays a vital role in this debate. The NCAA is a billion dollar industry, but yet sees that the athlete should get paid for their hard work and dedicationRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1334 Words   |  6 Pagesrising to the surface is â€Å"Should college athletes be paid?†. This has become a burning question. The NCAA is a multibillion-dollar industry, that makes millions, if not billions, in revenue. Yet it’s still maintains the non-profit status meaning that the industry is not set on making a profit and none of the revenue that is made is distributed to its members, managers, or officers. While most players who play in college sports are under a scholarship, that pays for the college tuition, books, and housingRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1364 Words   |  6 PagesHave you paid attention to all of the news that has been surfacing about collegiate sports lately? It is a big topic now days in the world of sports on weather college athletes should be getting paid to play sports. College athletics have gained great popularity of the past few decades, and have brought schools lots of revenue. A lot of college athletes think they should be getting paid for their services they do for their school. College sports like basketball and football generate over six billionRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1130 Words   |  5 PagesWhat college athlete would not want to be paid to play the sport that he or she loves? The real question is, though, should college athletes be paid fo r their roles in a college’s athletics? They are many points to each side of this recent controversial topic, which is why this has been made into such a hot debate in the past couple of years. As of right now, these athletes are not getting paid, but many of them truly believe that they should. Others believe that they already are being paid throughRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?986 Words   |  4 PagesPaying the College Athlete The college athlete has steadily grown in popularity in the United States over the span of the past decades. Monetarily speaking, this increased publicity has been extremely beneficial for National Athletic Association (NCAA) and all the colleges involved in athletics which has sparked the dispute of whether or not the athlete should be paid for their hard work and dedication on the field and to their school or if the athletic scholarship is more than enough. College athletesRead MoreShould College Athletes Be Paid?1239 Words   |  5 PagesLindsey Simmerman Speech 102 T/Th 1:00-2:15 October 25, 2016 Should college athletes be paid to play? Specific Purpose: To persuade the class to agree with my stance on paying college athletes to play sports Thesis: College football is the hours players spend practicing and performing, the number of injuries the players face, and the persona these athletes must portray every day all the while watching their schools, coaches, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) get all the compensationRead MoreCollege Athletes Should Be Paid1254 Words   |  6 PagesSome college athletic departments are as wealthy as professional sports teams. The NCAA has an average annual revenue of $10.6 billion dollars. College athletes should be paid because of the amount of revenue that they bring to their college. Each individual college should pay its athletes based on how much revenue they bring to the college in which they attend. The colleges that win their Division title, their Conference title, or the National championship, give bonuses to the Head coach of thatRead MoreCollege Athletes Should Not Be Paid1558 Words   |  7 Pagesstudent-athletes participate in a variety of different s ports, and currently they do not receive paychecks for their performances. College athletics have attained an extensive popularity increase among Americans over the past few decades. This has resulted into increased revenues for the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] and the participating colleges, which has fuelled the debate of whether or not college athletes should collect an income. College athletes should not be paid to play

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Living With And Around Immigrant Community - 1684 Words

Living with and around immigrant community gives me personal experience of how legal and illegal immigrant families lives in United States. I have heard and experienced so many incidents of immigrant families that makes me question equality of immigration system of United States. Six year ago friend of mine came to United States at the age of 12. After finishing school and college he wasn’t able to find the job he was looking for and within certain period of time if he doesn’t settle in United States his visa would expire. After trying very hard he had no choice but to stay in United States illegally because if he goes back to his home land he had to redo two years in college to get the medical license in his country. Already paid so much for college in United States he couldn’t afford to do that, and he decided to stay. This left me wondering, if this is happening to the people coming legally, what is happening to those coming illegally in United States? The Uni tes States should continue to support amnesty, because most illegal immigrants are hardworking individuals with families who contribute to the community and stimulate the economy. In United States of America the diversity if undocumented immigrants is huge. There are immigrants coming from worldwide. The most accounted undocumented immigrants ended in United States is from Mexico, which is about 60% of the undocumented population. Other Latin American countries contributing heavily to the undocumented populationShow MoreRelatedCultural Diversity in New York Essay1646 Words   |  7 Pagesseen people from around the world move to the city and call it home. From the earliest points in our history as a nation, New York has been a center for trade and economic growth. New York is known world wide as a cultural melting pot. While other states have had immigration surges, none have compared to the diversity and sheer number of immigrants that have made their way to the City. This paper will focus on the Immigration patterns and the diverse, yet culturally similar communities within New YorkRead MoreChinese Migration Essay1367 Words   |  6 Pagesagainst Chinese i mmigrants, yet it did not influx the United States until the early 1880’s with the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Chinese migration is particularly important, because unlike European immigrants that travelled with families, Chinese immigrants travelled alone which created bachelor societies, or Chinatowns. After the U.S. initiated the quota system, Chinese migration shifted from laborers to professionals and students. That being said, Chinese immigrants have faced constantRead MoreMulticulturalism Is The Preservation Of Different Cultures Or Cultural Identities Within A Unified Society?1669 Words   |  7 Pagesfull of many different ethnicities and cultures, but even though Canada is housing them, it’s just not working. Problems in multiculturalism are most prominent in three areas, the communities, the schools and the workforce. Multiculturalism in the communities are facing struggle because of the cities’ appeal to new immigrants and because o f the segregation in ethnic enclaves. Multiculturalism in the schools is evident when unfair religious accommodations are made and when schools are stereotyped basedRead MoreChanges Restrictions Should Be Allowed Into The United States Essay987 Words   |  4 PagesJust as my family got the chance to live in a country filled with a land of opportunities; immigrants should be allowed into the United States. Looking at the numerous advantages of opportunities in this country, why should there be restrictions? As it is said that â€Å"America is a melting pot†, since different races come together to create one union. Immigration to the U.S. should be allowed because immigrants bring needed diversity, important job skills, unusual perspectives, and a richness of customsRead MoreThe Polish s New Prosperity1536 Words   |  7 Pagestheir skin or the language they speak they have the right to coexist. Immigrants from all around the world have come to one great nation to live the dream. America was founded by immigrants which today are now naturalized citizens by birth and that have several generations of families. The American population will always continue to grow not with the naturalized births but with the arrival of immigrants. â€Å"Immigrant communities in the first half of the twentieth century were marked by increasingRead MoreIllegal Immigrants And The United States1594 Words   |  7 Pagespotentially undocumented individuals living and working in the United States, and they aren’t going be be removed all at once, so while these individuals are here, why not give them the necessary tools and programs to allow them to function as productive members of society without restriction. In many of our readings, we’ve witnessed legislation that has also played a role in the deterred success of illegal immigrants and those here legally. Legislation such as barring immigrants from being able to acquireRead MoreThe Impact Of Immigration Policies On Communities And The Future Of West Michigan1567 Words   |  7 Pages The Impact of Immigration Policies on Communities and the Future of West Michigan â€Å"I’m 50% Dutch, 25% German, 15% Polish and a 10% mixture of others I can’t remember.† Does this sound familiar at all? These types of phrases were one of the first things to befuddle my perception of my new found West Michigan friends when our family first moved up to Grand Rapids from a small town in Texas in 2008. It perpetually amazed me as to how so many people had so many different â€Å"percents† and a few evenRead MoreTortilla Curtain, Candido And America1297 Words   |  6 PagesIn Tortilla Curtain, Candido and America have a very difficult time living in Los Angeles. Being illegal immigrants is harder than they thought. Delaney Mossbacher, a middle-class man, hit Candido Rincon, a Mexican immigrant, with his car as he was crossing the road. Candido was badly injured, but accepted twenty dollars from Delaney and ended up going their own ways. Delaney, his wife, and stepson, Jordan, live their routine life in a neighborhood called Arroyo Blan co. This incident left CandidoRead MoreEssay on The City of Los Angeles1470 Words   |  6 PagesLos Angeles is a city with a large population which consists of a substantial number of immigrants. A wide range of immigrants from around the world have settled in Los Angeles making it one of the most diverse cities in this country. Many citizens of Los Angeles have strong arguments on whether or not an immigration reform is beneficial or if it is going to harm the city and its residents. The topic of immigration is of great importance because it is an issue that Los Angeles has experience forRead MoreImmigrants Should Not The American Dream1305 Words   |  6 PagesAllowing immigrants to enjoy the American Dream has been a controversial topic for quite some time. Many people argue that immigrants should not be able to enjoy the American Dream simply because they are not American. Others argue that anyone should be allowed to enjoy the American Dream because everyone deserves a chanc e at success. Immigrants should be allowed to enjoy the American Dream because American is a free country, immigrants can’t help what situation they were born into, and immigrants positively

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Installation and Site

Installation and Site-Specific Artwork Essay Artworks are a product of the context in which they are created, formed through the skills and interpretation of the artist. The events and issues of the time and place which the artist experiences determines their ideologies and inspiration. Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveira’s utilises discarded pieces of wood from his home country in order to create his gargantuan installations. From Sao Paulo, the 40 year old artist showcases issues in regards to urban degeneration to promote thought and increase audience awareness. Mark Jenkins is an American installation artist living in Washington DC, who works with interactive sculptures using plastic tape casts. Born in 1970, he insists the art of his creations is in how the sculpture affects the area and audience around it. Jenkins uses his installations to shock and raise social consciousness around the issue of suicide. Henrique Oliveira’s work Baitagogo is an installation artwork which interacts directly with its surroundings in Palais de Tokyo museum in Paris. The 22,000 ft. tructure encapsulates a tumour-like growth emerging from the buildings beams, writhing around itself in a knotted, tree-like form. The outer bark of the structure is comprised of wood fencing from construction sites in Brazil. This peculiar source of his materials is almost cheeky in the way that he’s taking from the rich to support his artwork, in which he is supporting the poor. By taking this material he is also quite literally breaking down barriers between the rich and poor, as the wooden beams are in place to restrict general access to the construction site. He also makes use of native wood from around his home, interweaving his Brazilian heritage into the components. The artwork is a response to the increasing amount of ‘favelas’ or slums emerging in his hometown, Sao Paulo, in a similar tumour-like fashion. Taking inspiration from medical and biological textbooks, the tumorous Gordian knot of the structure conveys the chaos and violent disarray of slum cities. Oliveira takes inspiration from many aspects of his life; â€Å"I believe that all everything that we make is the result of our life experience, our culture, our language and the exchanges we have made with other people during our lives,† The installation represents a reverse in urbanisation, in the way that the wooden structure of the building is returning to its former self, but in a negative light. As poverty in Brazil increases so does this parasite infect the structure of the building. The growth seems to burst forth from the beams, indicating the overwhelming surge of sickness it represents. The irony of this message is that the artwork appears to be harmless and graceful, a natural commodity, though what It represents is so toxic. The artwork, though it appears graceful, is a weed, set to strangle the building, frozen in time and space for us to consider. The stark white flawlessness of the gallery contrasts with the rough, organic, textured appearance of the structure, highlighting the vast societal gap between the rich and the poor in Sao Paulo while the overwhelming size of the artwork identifies the magnitude of the economic and cultural crisis. The artwork delivers a strong message to the audience in regards to our own self destruction. It comes as a warning of the escalation of this parasite, this poverty. The installation resembles a tree, but it was created by man, this identifies man as the creator of this problem, and the potential for the creator to become the disarmer. Just as the artist created this work, so can he take it down. Economic equality is the issue Oliveira is presenting, and awareness of this issue can help to prevent an intensification of this problem. .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e , .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e .postImageUrl , .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e , .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e:hover , .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e:visited , .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e:active { border:0!important; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e:active , .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8f9fe63d53498977ea502ce2effd828e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Age Of Romanticism EssayMark Jenkins’ Dublin from his outside series depicts what is first interpreted as a woman stepping off the edge of a building. The artwork was situated in Dublin, Ireland, during September 2011’s suicide awareness week, on an ordinary street, pedestrians unrestricted and unaware of the artwork prior to its installation. With a much closer inspection of the artwork, the figure is revealed to be made out of a plastic tape cast, wearing a wig and plain clothing as a disguise. Jenkins describes his art making process, â€Å"First I was only installing clear tape figures made from casts of myself but later I began dressing them with my own clothes with the idea to camouflage the art as reality. † This gives the artwork an initial authenticity and shock factor. The blonde hair of the figure hides any expression from view, giving a mysterious anonymity to the artwork. Her facelessness allows the audience to substitute their own imagination into the identity of the figure. The figure is shown with her hands in her pockets, a casual gesture which is juxtaposed to emphasise the dangerous circumstances she is in. The figure is exposed to the elements, the wind being able to flutter in the wind contrasts with its stillness, the only indication we have that it is not alive. The positioning of the figure is one which would not be sustainable as a human, the rigidity of the cast allows it to balance precariously on the edge of a building where a real person would most likely fall and die. This captures a moment between life and death which would not usually be able to be studied. The artwork forces the audience – which is anyone who passes the installation – to consider the issue of suicide, and what their response would be in a situation when the figure was a real person. It brings the idea to the mind of anyone passing by, regardless of if they wanted to or not. In this case, the audience were not necessarily art enthusiasts or gallery-goers, any member of the public could have been subjected to it. In this way, the installation is brutal in its message, however effective. It also instils a sense of relief within the audience upon the realisation that the subject isn’t alive, and is suspended in space rather than falling to its death. The controversial artwork was placed atop a building where it was not particularly authorised, and as a result of many alarmed phone calls, was taken down soon after its installation. Despite the brevity of the artworks exposure, it stirred much interest in the general public, with people stopping to pause and ponder its meaning. The attention given to the artwork, Mark Jenkins believes is a fundamental part of its significance; â€Å"The more people that stop to look at it, take pictures of it, it kind of grows the piece. † The artwork used the idea of an urban theatre – using the street as a stage and catching the audience unawares for maximum coverage and impact. Scandalously, this artwork is one of the more tame artworks of his collection in regards to suicide, as the figure is identifiable as being inanimate, unlike some of his other controversial works, which have had ambulances and police called to the scene of what appears to be a life or death situation. Henrique Oliveira and Mark Jenkins are artists of vastly different cultures and environments. They are both affected by significant issues in desperate need of society’s attention. Despite the vast difference between the issues upon which they focus, both demonstrate through their art making practice and the ideologies they display, that artworks are a product of the context in which they are created. This is not art, static in a frame upon a wall, this is life. .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 , .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 .postImageUrl , .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 , .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6:hover , .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6:visited , .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6:active { border:0!important; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6:active , .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6 .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .udbf9117bb18de11d32bb7c4667b3b8c6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Venus de Milo EssayBibliography: http://blog.gessato.com/2012/09/17/architectural-anthropomorphism-by-henrique-oliveira/#ixzz2vQZQU7Ds Architectural Anthropomorphism (8/3/14) http://inhabitat.com/Henrique-oliveiras-organic-scupltures-made-from-reclaimed-wood-symbolize-sao-paulos-favelas/ Henrique Oliveira (8/3/14) http://yatzer.com/Henrique-Oliveura-yatzer Henrique Oliveira talks to Yatzer (8/3/14) http://itsnicethat.com/articles/henrique-oliveira-baitagogo It’s Nice That: Art (8/3/14) http://journalnow.com/relishnow/article_f48dbcd9-d2d3-59fe-941d-eb69bd126ca1.html Testing the Limits (10/3/14) http://medialectic.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/mark-jenkins/ Mark Jenkins (10/3/14) http://washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/8186/using-his-indoor-voice Using His Indoor Voice (10/3/14)

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Tiny Miracle free essay sample

â€Å"Okay, well, good luck, Jay. I hope everything goes well,† my mom said into the phone as I listened. My sister in-law, Shavone, was eight months pregnant and everyone was anticipating the arrival of baby Ethan. Early the next morning, we got word that he had been born. Racing around the house getting ready for school, I passed my step-dad and asked, â€Å"When do you think we’ll hear from Jason?† As if on cue, the phone rang. It was Shavone’s mother; the baby had been born and immediately taken to the neonatal ICU. Arteries on the left side of Ethan’s heart had not developed and doctors would have to put in artificial ones. Things looked very positive for Ethan and surgery was scheduled. When my mother called a few days later to see how everything was, nothing prepared us for the news we received: Ethan was not doing well. We will write a custom essay sample on Tiny Miracle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I muted the television as I listened to Mom panicking on the phone. When she hung up, she was crying, which instantly brought tears to my eyes. I walked over and hugged her. â€Å"Things aren’t looking good for Ethan,† she managed to say. The doctors didn’t think he would have a chance in surgery and had prepared my brother and his wife for the worst. We sat in silence for a long time, crying and holding each other before I made my way to my room and just sat there; I had no energy or desire to do my homework. Walking into school the next morning my only thoughts were of Ethan. I went to see my religion teacher and asked for her prayers, then found my guidance counselor, an amazing person who had been a rock to me. She contacted my teachers and let them know what was happening. All that day my teachers asked about Ethan and comforted me, which meant a great deal. During the course of that week I was not myself. Ethan’s condition worsened before it improved, which caused many sleepless nights. There was one thing, however, that assured me things would be all right: the love and support of my friends. My entire religion class came together to pray and support a baby neither they nor I had even met. The only connection we had to Ethan was through pictures, but the love and care we all had for him could not be put into words. My biggest support was my religion teacher. From the day I asked for her prayers, she’s been there. I keep her updated on Ethan and my family and I know her prayers give so much comfort to my brother and sister-in-law. Pictures of Ethan decorate her classroom, showing people just how strong someone so little can be. Ethan was released a month after he was born. He went home with a feeding tube and medication, and although he’ll soon need the first of many additional surgeries, he already has enriched many lives. From this experience I’ve gained faith in the support people can give. I can never thank everyone who helped me through this, but I know every time I think of my nephew, I’ll remember all those who prayed for him.