Instinctively, I hold my breath. The pungent fragr Essays

Instinctively, I hold my breath. The pungent fragrance of roasted coffee beans and the shrill sound of steam whistles from the espresso machines force my senses into overload. Before me are mounds of freshly-baked goodies and colossal stacks of books piled on bookshelves as high as the ceiling. Pressing my nose against the glass cover, I don't budge until the ginormous chocolate-chip cookie is within my possession. With one hand holding my cookie, I collect as many books as my chubby arms can hold and plop into my favorite blue armchair. I would look forward to this routine: every Saturday, when the big hand hit six, my parents would take me to Timothy's, their coffee shop, and I would begin the day's quest. To my childhood self, Timothy's was my bridge to Terabithia. In this world, I've been a resident of Dr. Seuss's topsy-turvy Thneedville; an acrobat, weaving words into webs with Charlotte; and a palace spy in Wonderland, fighting for my life in a game of flamingo croquet. Braving these adventures instilled in me a sense of invincibility that pushed me to tackle new experiences, even engaging in mischievous absurdities, both in this world and reality. Draping myself in jewelry constructed out of straws and cup sleeves, I would unabashedly strut all around the cafe. Expressions of this unwavering self-confidence and sense of invincibility were not solely limited to my sense of fashion, but rather, it was ingrained in every thought and action that I had. I believed that Timothy's should've been called Anna-Banana's, that the blue armchair was my throne, and that the deliveryman's dolly was my royal carriage. Ignorant to the laws of gravity, I once jumped off the dolly after reaching peak acceleration, wholeheartedly believing that I could fly. With a bruised ego and scraped knees, I learned a valuable lesson: invincibility is a mere delusion. I realized that Timothy's was never a world constructed solely for me, at least in the way I had imagined. There were no adoring crowds, and the blue armchair wasn't mine. While I had imagined glorious adventures, in reality, my family's livelihood depended on the success of this cafe. Moving to Canada without any support, my educated parents relinquished their professional aspirations to build a stable business to provide for me. Awareness of my parents' sacrifices for my success imbued my understanding of the interdependency of people, their successes, and their failures, providing me with a new lens to construct my understanding of the world. Shifting from being front and center to an observant spectator, I began to see beyond myself, picking up the art of people-watching. As if placing an invisibility cloak on, I would quietly sink into the blue armchair, discreetly watching peoples' behavior and interactions with one another. I found myself creating whimsical backstories of circumstance for each passerby, intertwining chance encounters and meaningful exchanges. People-watching not only helped me to become more aware of those around me, was also as an opportunity to explore undiscovered parts of myself. I learned that despite the many sports that I have experimented with, I am the MVP at bench-warming. I make a mean latte, often topping my creations with adorable foam cats. I adore Broadway musicals and am always ready to showcase my dancing at a flash mob. I passionately believe in advocating for human rights, actively engaging in Amnesty International's initiatives. And, I discovered that I am not only an advocate for but also identify with the LGBTQ+ community. To say that I have figured out all of who I am would be a lie. Unlike the world of fantasy, there is no single defining moment - no Excalibur, no Sorting Hat - that marks my complete evolution. My niche in the world constantly changes, but what remains steadfast is my commitment to a life of service and adventure, albeit it isn't as cozy as the blue armchair.

Eva Luna essays

Eva Luna essays Novel: Eva Luna by Isabel Allende; 307 pp; Cost: $7.99 Eva Luna is based on the life of the protagonist of the novel, Eva Luna. The story begins with the tale of how Eva Luna was concieved by her mother trying to save the life of a snake bitten indian. It takes place in an unnamed South American country because the characters speak Spanish. Eva's mother dies when she is only 7 years old and is forced to work as a servant in different houses. One thing she inheirited from her mother was the gift of story telling. Wherever she would go everyone loved to hear her improvised stories. At the age of 17 she worked in the house of a Turkish immigrant named Riad Halabi whom she falls in love with but he is twice her age. She is then forced to move to the city were she is reunited with her transexual friend, Mimi. At first Eva works at a military warehouse but Mimi insists that Eva make a living from her stories. After an attempted suduction by one of the military generals, Eva decides to quit her job at the warehouse and write stories for a living. Her and Mimi live successful lives without the help of men. Mimi is a well known soap opera actress and Eva writes the plots for them. Along with the story of Eva Luna is the story of the European immigrant Rolf Carle. He comes from a broken family and migrates to the South American country and lives with his aunt and uncle in the countryside. As he gets older he decides he wants to become a journalist and soon enough he is known as one of the most prominant journalists in the country. Rolf and Eva meet and thier separate stories become one. The important theme in this book is feminism. None of the females in this story are dependent on any man and they all seem fine without them. Some men are mentioned and come and go but the women still move on without them and live thier lives. The only sign of dependency is Zulema. Zulema becomes dependent on a man she falls in lov...

How to Cancel ACT Test Registration

How to Cancel ACT Test Registration SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Have an ACT date coming up that you can’t make or think you’re not going to do well on? Learn here how to cancel ACT tests or change your ACT test date. Additionally, we'llalso cover some reasons why you might cancel your ACT registration – and help you decide if canceling is truly the best move. How to Cancel Your ACT Registration Completely Unfortunately, there is not really any way to flat-out cancel your ACT registration. According to the ACT's website, "If you decide you do not want to test,your basic registration fee and any additional service fees (e.g., late registration, test center change) are nonrefundable." Optional services (like additional score reports), however, are refundable. That means your options are to change your test date (we have a how-to below), or, if you’ve decided not to take the ACT again or at all, to simply not show up and accept the fact you’ve lost money. If you do not test, your test won’t be scored and no score report will be created for that test date. This means if you haven’t registered for the ACT yet, only register if you are 100% certain you will be taking the ACT at some point! How to Change Your ACT Test Date This is the best option if you still want to take (or re-take) the ACT, but you can’t make it on the date you signed up for. (You can also do this if an emergency comes up on test day and you have to no-show.) Log into your ACT account and select â€Å"make changes to your registration." You can do this at any point before the next ACT test you want to take. However, note that if you are doing this before the last test of the academic year (June) you won’t be able to make changes until July when the tests for the next academic year open for registration. (If this is the case for you, simply don't show up for the June test, and you will be able to transfer that registration to a later test once the new dates open up.) To change your test date, click the "change" button next to "Test Date and Test Option." You will be able to sign up for a future test date, though you will have to pay the $25 test date change fee. Make sure to do this no later than the registration deadline for your new test date or else you'll also have to pay the $27.50 late registration fee. If there is space available for your test option (either ACT or ACT Plus Writing) at your preferred test center on your new test date, you will be assigned there. You will be charged up front when you register for your new test for the cost of taking the ACT. However, the fee for your original test will be refunded – meaning the only additional charge is the test change fee. Can You Get a Refund? You won’t be able to get a refund for your basic registration fee or fees for late registration or test date change. Basically, once you’ve paid for the ACT, you’re never going to see that money again, whether you end up testing or not. Another reason you should really think carefully before signing up for the ACT. However, you can get some money back for optional services if you signed up for them: score reports for 5th and 6th colleges ($12 each), test information release ($20), or ACT With Writing ($16.50). To request a refund, write "REFUND" on your unusedticket and mail it to ACT, or write a letter including your identifying information and the test date and test option for which you registered. Label your envelope "REFUND." Refunds will be issued about eight weeks after the test date. Send your refund request here: ACT 301 ACT DriveP.O. Box 414Iowa City, IA 52243-0414U.S.A. Also note that ACT doesn't issue refunds after July 31st for the previous academic year of testing. Are You Sure You Want to Cancel Your ACT? Your choices for â€Å"canceling† your ACT date are either to no-show (and not register for a future ACT) or simply to change your test date. Given that you’ve already paid money that can’t be refunded for the ACT, make sure you think carefully before no-showing. In the vast majority of cases it makes sense to either take the test or move to a later test date rather than no-show completely. You can make a lot of progress in a short amount of time studying for the ACT, so if you're nervous about not doing well, consider an intense study regimen in the weeks before the test. And if you're certain you don't have enough time, you might as well push your registration later, rather than just skipping the ACT completely. (Even if this sign-up is for a retake, you can always improve your score, unless you are one of the rare few who got a 36.) Possibly Acceptable Reasons to No Show on ACT Test Day There are two cases in which it might make sense to go ahead and skip the ACT. Scenario 1 You've already taken the ACT, created a list of schools to apply to, and done some research on their ACT statistics. Turns out your first ACT score is well within range for admission even for your top choice schools, so there is no reason to retake the ACT. Odds are, this is not going to be the case for the majority of students. Even if your original ACT score is in range for admission at your target schools, getting a higher score can always improve your scholarship options. Scenario 2 You've taken both an SAT and ACT practice testand determined you would do better on the SAT, so you are going to focus on preparing for the SAT instead. This is only a good idea if you see a drastic difference between your potential SAT and ACT performance. Since you’ve already signed up for the ACT, unless you think you are headed for a disastrous score, it makes sense to take it anyway. If you do terribly, you can always delete your score. Furthermore, you should have made the SAT vs ACT decision before signing up for either test. Reasons You Should Bite the Bullet and Take the ACT Anyway Since the ACT is essentially non-refundable, you should either try to make your original date or move to a later ACT. If not, you’re throwing money and the chance for a higher score away. Below is a list of scenarios where it makes more sense to take the ACT (possibly at a later date) instead of straight-out cancelling. If you’re worried you won’t have enough time to study before your original test date, consider embarking on an intense, short-term study regimen, like our 10-day study plan. You can make huge strides in a few days. And for some students, pushing your test date later could encourage procrastination. If you have an unmovable conflict on your original ACT test day – like a family event or important sports tournament – simply move your test date instead of canceling. If you really think you will not have time to adequately study before the test date, move to a later ACT test date and commit to a study plan and start as soon as possible so you’re not tempted to procrastinate. This is especially true if you haven’t taken the ACT yet. If you’re feeling unprepared, you can move your test date forward. Even if you’ve already taken the ACT, unless you got a 33 or higher, odds are you could improve your score on a retake, opening more college and scholarship doors for yourself. Most schools don't require you to send the scores of every ACT you take, so if you take the test and aren't happy with your score, these schools never have to know! We have a list of the schools that require all ACT scores be sent to them. If you signed up for a retake and are frustrated with your studying progress, don’t give up before you’ve exhausted your options. Check out some of our links below. What’s Next? Need ACT studying resources? We’ve got ‘em! Check out our guide to ACT vocabulary, writing the ACT essay, and specific guides for what to expect on each section – English, Math, Reading, and Science. Not sure you can go it alone? Consider our PrepScholar ACT prep program – the only program in the business with a 4-point improvement guarantee. Need to improve ASAP before your test date? Check out our guide for going from a 25 to a 32 in just 10 days. Not sure if the ACT is right for you? Learn how to find out for sure whether you will be better at the ACT or the SAT. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points?We have the industry's leading ACT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and ACT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Theories of Electricity and Magnetism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Theories of Electricity and Magnetism - Essay Example It is possible to transform an electric field into a magnetic field and vice versa. This essay will therefore analyze the properties of electricity and magnetism and their relationship with respective theories. Magnetism There are three basic properties of magnetism. These properties are the basic behaviors of magnets and they define laws that govern magnetism. The first property of magnetism is the bipolar property. According to this property, a magnet has two unlike poles. It is also impossible to separate the two poles of a magnet or to create a monopole magnet. This indicates that whenever a magnet is split into two pieces, two unlike poles always result creating two independent and complete magnets. The second property of magnetism is the attraction of unlike poles and repulsion of like poles. This significant property forms the basis of most theories that governs magnetism. The third property of magnetism is the existence of a magnetic field or the region around the magnet with in which the effects of a magnet are experienced (David 109). A magnet has a strong field around its poles and its strength varies inversely with the distance from the magnet. Theories of magnetism are based on the three properties and they explain why magnets behave the way they do. Magnetic theories are also used to predict occurrences that cannot be verified physically as the three properties. The first significant theory of magnetism is the Weber’s theory of magnetism. According to this theory, the magnetic property of a magnet is based on the magnetic property of each individual molecule. Weber hypothesized that each molecule behaves like a tiny magnet that has the bipolar property discussed above. According to Weber’s theory, the difference between a magnet and non-magnet results from the magnetic field of each molecular magnet. During the magnetization process, the molecules of a piece of material are aligned in one direction with all their south poles and north poles facing in a similar direction. In an un-magnetized material opposite poles of each individual molecule are oriented in a similar direction resulting in cancellation of the magnetic force. Such a material will have zero resultant force (David 119). This theory is closely related to the bipolar property of a magnet. According to the theory, the two poles of each magnet results from the fundamental molecular magnet that forms the magnet under consideration. The inability to create a monopole magnet also has its basis on the existence of bipolar molecules. Each split or separation of a magnet results into two independent magnets with independent south poles and north poles. This is because the splitting of a magnet does not affect the direction of the magnetic force of each individual molar magnet. Finally, the theory supports the field property of magnets. This is because the magnetic field around each magnet results from the cumulative field of each individual molecule. The sec ond significant theory of magnetism is the domain theory. This theory is based on the orbiting or spinning of electrons around the nucleus. The spinning of electrons creates both an electric and magnetic field around the electron. When most of the electrons within an atom spin in a similar direction, a magnetic field results around the atom. Magnetism results from the resultant effects of such electrons. On the other hand, the atoms of a non-magnetized mater

Marketing Managment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Marketing Managment - Essay Example This paper approves that organizations buying behavior is dissimilar to the consumers. Organizations are affected by environmental, organizational, interpersonal and individual factors. These individuals have their own set of behaviors and tend to influence others through interpersonal contact. In the environmental factors side, economic conditions is considered, the state of technological change is monitored, political and social factors are kept in mind and competitive developments play a major role in the company’s decision. At present, green marketing/ environment marketing has no strategies for the conventional process of segmenting, targeting and positioning. This is due to the fact that green marketing is a relatively new phenomenon with not set rules therefore the process is constantly updated, shifted, revised and new rules are created. One can use the traditional way marketing works with segmentation, targeting and position and merge newer reforms into this. This essay makes a conclusion that research conducted in the field of environment marketing, needs to be extensive and experimental. Organizations that declared their own selves to be socially responsible should understand the transitional phase green marketing in undergoing. Universities etc need to implement details about green marketing into their curriculum. Countries that are remote need to be made aware of their natural resource and taught the proper implementations of these. Above all green market is a profitable theory which needs to be realized by governments of other countries. Organizations such as The Body Shop have shown to their competitors that ozone-friendly products are in demand and appreciated by the public. However the publics of developing countries do not have this option and must be given so.

Themes of Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt vonnegut and Catch 22 by Joseph Hell

Themes of Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt vonnegut and Catch 22 by Joseph Heller In the books, Slaughter House 5 by Kurt Vonnegut and Catch 22 by Joseph Heller there are many themes that at first don’t appear to be related but once given a closer look have striking similarities. Both books are about one mans experience through World War II, one being a fighter pilot and another being a soldier. Each man is known as an anti-war hero. They do not agree with the war and do not find it appropriate to fight for it. Neither of the two men was the average â€Å"John Wayne† war hero that fights and dies for his country. This is what makes these two books stand out from other war books. Both of these books also were used during the Vietnam War as anti-war books denouncing the war. One major theme that comes up in both of these books is the theme of no free will. In Slaughterhouse 5 Vonnegut proclaims through the narrator that there is no such thing as free will and that all things in life are predestined. That no matter what we chose to do we really aren’t choosing to do it at all and that the choice was already made. In Catch 22 the theme is the same just brought to our attention in a different way. Catch 22 is a paradox, leaving no way of escaping from a dilemma. No matter what we do or say we can’t escape it thus leaving us with no free will. Catch 22 is best described in the book when Yossarian states, You don’t have to fly anymore missions if you’re crazy, but you have to ask first and if you ask than you’re not crazy because anyone that wants to get out of combat is not crazy (Heller 46). The utter simplicity of this â€Å"catch† at one-point makes Yossarian let out a whistle. So in essence both of these characters are plagued with the fact that they have no free will. Billy Pilgrim because everything in life is predestined so he has no say in what goes on and Yossarian because he has to keep flying more missions because of Catch 22. Another major theme that comes across in these books is the anti-war hero. Both main characters are the exact opposite of what we would consider war heroes. Yossarian has no intention of laying down his life for his country and thinks anyone that would is utterly stupid. He many times in the book tries to get out of flying more missions by admitting himself to the hospital although he is not sick and ... ...how the ridiculousness of war. They were written to share with everybody that sometimes it isn’t the soldier who kills the most enemy or the pilot who bombs the most targets that are the heroes of the war but it is those people that stand up and proclaim the utter stupidity of war. The heroes are those who stand up for what they believe is right even if that means disobeying an order. These books were written most of all to share with us that war is wrong and is a waste of valuable lives. They convinced us that all free will and sanity is lost in war and that it can destroy men not just physically but also mentally. I think Heller put it best when he described what Yossarian was going through when his friend was dying in his arms, â€Å"Yossarian was cold, and shivering uncontrollably. He felt goose pimples clacking all over him as he gazed down despondently at the grim secret Snowden had spilled all over the messy floor. It was easy to read the message in his entails. Man was matter, that was Snowden’s secret. Drop him out a window and he will fall. Set fire to him and he will burn. Bury him and he will rot, like other kinds of garbage. The spirit gone, man is garbage

Knowledge and Power

Knowledge is power – or is it?   The assertion that knowledge is power has been variously attributed to Sir Francis Bacon and Albert Einstein, as well as many other notable and obscure figures.   But perhaps Eudora Welty, Flannery O’Connor, and Richard Wright all know otherwise, as demonstrated in their respective stories:   â€Å"The Worn Path,† â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find,† and â€Å"The Man Who Was Almost A Man.† These stories each show that knowledge is not an absolute bestower of power; that power does not logically and necessarily follow once one possesses knowledge.   Neither are the terms knowledge and power mutually exclusive, but, as can be seen in the following analysis of the short stories mentioned above, the power resulting from knowledge only comes if the person possessing the knowledge knows how to use it, and if the person then also feels powerful.   The power gained from knowledge is not an absolute power, but is, to a certain extent, subjective. Let us first look at Phoenix Jackson, the central character in Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path† and perhaps the most powerful character in any of the three stories.     Phoenix has gained knowledge, and therefore power, from years of quietly studying human behavior, from paying close attention to her surroundings, and from her own self-awareness of how she affects others in the world.   Phoenix Jackson might appear at first glance to be lacking any power: she is an elderly, frail-looking woman whose eyesight is failing. Phoenix is also a very poor woman with few valuable possessions; poor people in her position are virtually always seen as lacking power.   However, upon closer observation the reader can see that Phoenix is a very powerful woman indeed.   Phoenix uses her knowledge of her physical surroundings to enable her to move about in a rather dangerous world, full of obstacles both animate and inanimate.   On her journey into town Phoenix encounters many potential dangers, but because she is knowledgeable about their existence, she avoids harm.   This capacity to keep herself safe is one trait which makes her a powerful woman. Phoenix even appears to use visualization to help her get across the creek; her ability to visualize the log and her safe passage is another form of knowledge which makes her powerful.   Phoenix has â€Å"body knowledge† – she has developed the capacity to remember where her body should go, even as her eyesight fails her.   The reason this body knowledge makes Phoenix powerful is that she is conscious of the knowledge and of how to use it; for example, when Phoenix reaches the city and â€Å"depended on her feet to know where to take her.† (Welty, p. 5).   Later in the story we see Phoenix walking up the steps of her destination, â€Å"until her feet knew to stop.† (Welty, p. 6) Phoenix Jackson has also gained power during her long life with her knowledge about human behavior.   Phoenix knows how to use both her own self as well as others’ reactions for her own purposes.   Phoenix is seen manipulating the white hunter so that she can put his fallen money into her own pocket.   Phoenix knows, after only a very brief encounter, that the hunter’s ego can be easily manipulated for her own purposes.   The hunter wishes to appear strong and in control, which Phoenix knows as she reminds the hunter that she needs to be â€Å"rescued† from the cur which ahs knocked her over.   Phoenix is able to pocket the money while the hunter is occupied with ridding her of the dog. One cannot manipulate others without possessing some sort of power, and powerful Phoenix is seen manipulating others at least twice more as the story proceeds.  Ã‚   Phoenix knows, almost instinctively it seems, who she can stop on the street to ask for assistance with her shoes.   But this small gesture is full of knowledge; Phoenix could have stopped any number of people on the busy street, but consciously chose to stop a certain woman.   Perhaps Phoenix knew that this particular woman would be more inclined to help her, as she appears to be a â€Å"nice lady† (Welty, p. 6) full of Christmas spirit, heavy as her arms are with presents. Phoenix again uses her knowledge about human behavior in order to manipulate the attendant at the clinic, who feels compelled to give a pitiful old woman some money.   It is not clear whether Phoenix is manipulating the nurse in order to get medication for herself or whether she does indeed have a grandson waiting at home, but the nurse is manipulated by Phoenix nevertheless, as she uses her age as an excuse for memory loss. The grandmother in Flannery O’ Connor’s short story, â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find,† is not so self-aware as Phoenix and it is her failure to use her knowledge powerfully which gets her killed in the end.   The grandmother does indeed have knowledge but somehow is unable to use it to her advantage. It is an interesting side-note that the grandmother, the mother, and Red Sam’s wife are the only characters in O’Connor’s story who are not given names; even the cat has a name.   Perhaps O’Connor used this as a subtle indicator of who did and did not have power.   Indeed, neither the grandmother nor the mother appear to be very powerful characters in this story; and Red Sam’s wife, though not a central character, is portrayed as simply chattel for her husband, who orders her around and treats her dismissively. John Wesley’s and June Star’s grandmother knows from her years on earth that a good man is indeed hard to find; she knows that truly trustworthy people are rare treasures among the human race.   The grandmother’s discussion with Red Sam shows us that she is aware of just how devious people can be.   The grandmother knows that people are inherently untrustworthy. However, the grandmother’s knowledge does not then result in her having power, for she does not use the knowledge correctly.   The grandmother gave up the potential power of her knowledge when she revealed what she knew during the encounter with the Misfit.  Ã‚   When the grandmother recognized the Misfit, she could have used this knowledge to protect her family. Perhaps Eudora Welty’s Phoenix Jackson would have used the grandmother’s knowledge in some cunning way to manipulate the Misfit.   But O’Connor’s grandmother is not as powerful as Welty’s character, simply because she fails to cultivate her knowledge into a powerful tool.   The grandmother was knowledgeable but still powerless to save her own and her family’s lives. The third character who shows us that knowledge is not necessarily power is Dave, in Richard Wright’s â€Å"The Man Who Was Almost a Man.†Ã‚   Dave shows us that the power from knowledge is partially subjective and not an indisputable fact.   The reader sees very quickly that Dave feels â€Å"small,† not only in his physical stature but in his standing among his peers in the community.   This feeling of smallness is what makes Dave feel virtually powerless. Dave appears to have very limited knowledge of human behavior and of himself as a developing man.  Ã‚   Fear is a large factor in Dave’s twisted perception of what will give him power.   Dave is scared of other boys who are all bigger than him; he has also been raised to be scared of the adults in his life.   This fear has given Dave the â€Å"knowledge† that, if one is feared, one has power.   Of course this knowledge is flawed. But Dave’s knowledge is not a mature, conscious knowledge; it is a knowledge born of his own very limited backwoods experience in the world.   Dave sees that, if he can scare others as others have scared him, he will become a powerful man.   Once Dave has knowledge of how a gun makes him feel, he thinks he has discovered an important part of becoming a man.   Perhaps the most important discovery made by Dave is that his actions have consequences; once Dave kills the mule, he sees that something he has done has made a difference, albeit a negative difference, but a difference in the world all the same. Although Dave’s knowledge has the potential to give him power, it is not well developed and is based in fear.   Therefore his knowledge may make him an even less powerful person.   Dave does not know how to use his new-found knowledge.   Instead of making him a powerful person, his knowledge may be turning him into a dangerous person as the flawed knowledge becomes more entrenched into his personality. Knowledge is power†¦.the central characters in the stories analyzed above each show us, in their own way, that this statement is very over-simplified and not necessarily true.   Power can indeed come from having knowledge.   But that knowledge must be carefully cultivated and used appropriately in order to then provide power.   And there are occasions when we can have knowledge but lack the awareness to use that knowledge to our advantage, or power. Last, if we have knowledge but lack the conviction that we have power to use our knowledge in useful ways, we are still left as powerless as if we did not have the knowledge at all.   So power resulting from knowledge must also include self-awareness, awareness of others, and the ability to adapt our knowledge to particular situations.   Only then can we say that knowledge is power. Knowledge and Power â€Å"Scientia Potentia Est†, a famous aphorism that is otherwise translated as â€Å"For also Knowledge itself is Power†, was conceptualized during the late 16th century by the world-renowned Philosopher and Statesman of that time, Sir Francis Bacon. Indeed, Sir Bacon developed an understanding of the idea that by accumulating knowledge, one is able to exert, impose or influence power (as can be inferred) towards another.For instance, a person who has accumulated knowledge can withhold himself or herself from sharing this knowledge to others. Thus, a sort of personal advantage develops between those who have knowledge and those who want knowledge. The former, if desired, can ultimately influence the actions of the latter if the existing desire for knowledge is used against them. Otherwise, the same result could also be inferred from the opposite: once knowledge is shared by the person who has accumulated them, power is reflected in the sense that the person who has sha red it had the privilege of sharing it.Such an example only perpetuates the idea of ambiguity of the concept of power. Indeed, power, in all its forms and contexts, is a concept that has been contested my many scholars and philosophers alike for decades, even centuries. Some relate power in the form of having the ability of exercising coercion. Others relate the concept with the possession of material wealth. Still further, others profess that power is somehow related to social class. Unfortunately, these credible attempts at establishing links to the concept of power only express supplementary ambiguity to the term.For example, even though power can be somehow related to the ability of using force (coercion), the term can also be associated with the ability of persuasion – a rather mild version of quasi-coercion that does not involve the usage of force.   The same thing goes with the idea of power as equaled to the possession of material wealth and as represented by social class. Contrary to the latter statement, intangible or incorporeal wealth can also be associated with power as a substitute for material wealth. Also, behind social class lie the idea of power as related to personal or group charisma and expertise. In other words, a person belonging to the highest social class in society cannot be more powerful over those that are below his social class if those individuals under his class are more charismatic and more adequate and excellent in terms of abilities and skills.Having identified the cumbersome and volatile nature of power, is it still plausible to conclude that knowledge is indeed power? Is there a relevant connection between the two concepts? If none, can a relevant connection be established; no matter how arguable or refutable? Basically, does the possession of knowledge represent the possession of power?To answer this question, let us first understand how scholars and philosophers of the past have identified and/or defined power dur ing their time.The great 19th century philosopher, Sir Friedrich Nietzsche, often described the concept of power as something that expresses one’s domination over other human beings. If so, then knowledge could indeed be a source of power since the ignorance of knowledge denotes inferiority in logical thinking and skillful know-how; thus, disavowing the ability or opportunity of the individual to dominate others who do possess knowledge. However, another dilemma may arise from the latter statement. If knowledge is truly a source of power, how come individuals who do possess knowledge are not powerful?The answer, of course, is that knowledge in itself is not power. In order for knowledge to become a source of power, the individual must be able to aptly apply or exercise his or her knowledge in the form of actions for the purposes of achieving or producing results. As some scholars have put it, â€Å"knowledge is power only if one knows how to use it†.   Truly, if one individual possesses a myriad amount of knowledge but does not know how to translate it into action, then power is not represented. This concept, however, does not stray away from the concept of knowledge as a source of power nor does it emanate from the idea of action as a source of power rather than the mere possession of knowledge.It must be understood that actions are determined by the individual’s mind. If a certain amount of knowledge is absent within the individual’s cognitive processes then the action executed may not produce tremendous results that are reflective of the representation of power. However, if knowledge is indeed present, chances are that actions executed may produce excellent results that would be quite superior to actions that are conducted without knowledge. Simply said, actions augmented by knowledge reflect power on the part of the individual (superiority).In order to make the preceding points more plausible, let us try establishing the conce pt in a certain field or study. In this instance, let us put the concept of power as knowledge into the workplace – in this case a corporation.Most corporations possess similar theories of organization ranging from the classical theory of organization to the more systematic (systems) theory of organization. And with these models comes a set of different levels, styles or concepts of hierarchy and/or bureaucracy (formal and informal, orthodox or unorthodox). In other words, corporations always try to establish a â€Å"division of power† among its leaders and workers. Now, let us try to apply the concept of knowledge as power in a leader-worker relationship. Leaders of corporations, in all intents and purposes, are the decision-makers of the entire system.Workers, on the other hand, have more of a hands-on approach compared to their respective leaders. As far as the relationship goes, it is the leader who will decide how the workers will act. Now, the question is, is thi s a simple form of exercising power? Is the authority of the leader over the workers a concrete example of power in the form of knowledge? The answer, of course, is no; it is not a simple form of power illuminated by knowledge – at least not completely. One possible reason why this is so is because the relationship between the two actors reflect two issues as can be inferred from the general concept of power.First, the source of power as reflected from the leader can mostly likely be originating from his or her given authority. In other words, it is the granted authority of the corporation that is providing the leader his or her own personal power and not his or her own possession of knowledge. Second, the worker cannot be subject to inferiority since the worker is aware that his or her job is to simply follow orders. For power to be present, one must be able to persuade or force an individual to do what he or she wishes. Otherwise, if the worker decides not to follow the ord ers of the leader, then it can be inferred that the worker is expressing power over the leader (charisma or personal ability). But that is another issue.If so, how is knowledge as a source of power reflected in a leader-worker relationship? One possible explanation could be found from the personal histories of both actors.Respective or high positions in most corporations require excellent abilities or practical know-how. As such, no normal individual can just apply or be promoted to such a position if the individual does not possess the necessary skills or abilities that the position requires. Simply said, leaders are on their respective positions simply because they possess the required skills and as a result, are thoroughly capable of fulfilling its functions.Workers, on the other hand, may not possess these prerequisites or capabilities. However, this does not imply that workers are not knowledgeable. This merely implies that workers are yet on the verge of acquiring or developin g the necessary knowledge for fulfilling the functions that are required by the position. And where can a worker acquire this necessary knowledge? The answer, definitely, is quite reflective of the answer to the whole problem of where can the idea of knowledge as power be inferred from a leader-worker relationship – from the leader.Indeed, if a worker wishes to achieve the same position as that of his or her own leader, then that worker must first develop knowledge based from his or her work and eventually acquire knowledge from his or her own leader. If recognized (or desired), the leader who possesses the knowledge that is required by the worker can now express or exercise power over the worker in the sense that the leader now has the choice of whether or not to impart his or her own knowledge to the worker.Going back to the previous points, if an individual withholds his or her own knowledge from sharing it to others, then power is gained in the form of an advantage; thus, producing a sense of superiority. As one head of a corporation has put it, â€Å"Knowledge is power and you do not share power.† The worker, however, can try to acquire knowledge of the same context from others and that action might change the idea of power in a leader-worker relationship. However, it is very unlikely that this is to happen for if the worker decides to gather power outside of his or her own corporation that knowledge may well be different from what the corporation may require or need.As mentioned earlier, power is a concept that has been contested my many scholars and philosophers alike for centuries. To suddenly come up with a personal explanation of power in the form of the possession of knowledge is something not new in the world of power.  As demonstrated, power is a really ambiguous term, let alone be defined in terms of knowledge. However, one cannot deny the fact that knowledge is indeed a source of power; for if knowledge is absent, one will not be able to exercise the myriad forms of power over others.In conclusion, if knowledge (in any form) is present within an individual and that that individual’s counterpart possesses a certain amount of ignorance of over the same type of knowledge, then the former is most likely to be more powerful over the latter. Simply put, the possession of knowledge is superiority over those who do not possess knowledge.Works Cited:Caruso, Denise. â€Å"Knowledge is Power only if you know how to use it.† March 2007 The New York Times 21 November 2007, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/business/yourmoney/11frame.html?_r=1&oref=sloginWimmer, Sandra. â€Å"For Illinois Agency, Knowledge is Power – and Promise.† August 2005 Government Procurement 21 November 2007,http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-procurement/1162860-1.htmlLloyd, Bruce. â€Å"The Paradox of Power.† May 1996 The Futurist 21 November 2007,http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/employee -development-leadership/553463-1.htmlGrant, Beau. â€Å"Knowledge is POWER.† October 2005 Government Procurement 21 November 2007, http://www.allbusiness.com/management/928236-1.html