Scholarship Essay Essay Example for Free

Scholarship Essay Essay I am always optimistic even as a high school senior that one day it can be done. It is going to defnitely take some time before our current leaders realize the need to embrace change and stop worthless politics of hunger for power and money. The community and the world around us have become hostile even to innocent human beings. People are increasingly becoming selfish and full of greed with the mind of amassing wealth in banks as they oppress the poor. I wish I had the power to act immediately and stop these scandalous behaviors which have become fatal. However, if I had the power to change the community and the world, I would target three things: poverty pattern, disease burden and leadership. First of all, as countries such the United States continues to experience some fast economic growth despite the difficulties at the same time, the gap between the poor and the rich continues to widen. There is poor income distribution among different classes of people. It is not surprising around the world to find some class of individuals who are 8.5 times richer than another class. Just because the records of poverty rate continue to increase every year, it does not mean a country should be considered a poor state. If income was evenly distributed, the communities around the world would be living in happiness. Poverty increases crime, diseases and mortality rates. All this have made some poor countries such as India, Turkey and places in Africa experience poor living standards. If I had the power to change the world, I would heavily tax the rich and use the revenues to feed, educate and provide healthcare to the poor to the entire world. Diseases continue to be a burden especially to the poor. Even the world scientists, policy makers and giant pharmaceutical companies have become overly influenced by worthless politics which benefit the rich. Today, most medicines developed target rich individuals who can afford to buy them. Since the poor have no money to afford even essential medicines, drug researchers have become biased in their effort to discover new medicines for the poor. The leading cause of deaths in some extremely poor places according to the World Health Organization is diarrhea which is as a result of having poor access to clean water. Malaria has also been blamed to cause deaths in countries such as Kenya, Thailand and Bangladesh. If I had the power to change things, I would command researchers, policy makers and governments to support R D for drugs which can treat these diseases of the poor. Finally, leadership is critical for economic growth of any country. Places like Turkey has always experienced challenges with its unstable currency, highly corrupt leaders and issues with human rights. This is because of poor leadership which has no point of figuring out on how to distribute wealth equally among all regions. Some areas are extremely poor and corrupt compared to other areas and the leaders still don’t seem to see any problem with such a state. Good leadership is to unite all people and share the resources in an equitable manner. If I had the power to change things, I would remove all corrupt leaders in power and prosecute them. As a motivation to honest leaders, I would reward them by publically awarding them with to higher ranks. This can reduce the problem of poor leadership.

The Evolution of British Tea Traditions in the 18-19th Centuries Essay Example for Free

The Evolution of British Tea Traditions in the 18-19th Centuries Essay Foreigners have many ideas about what the English like. I can say that a nation is born from its land, its history, its art, its institutions and its traditions. Britain is famous for its immutable traditions. The traditional love of English people for tea is well known by all over the world. The English have always drunk tea as a nation. And I understand their love for tea: it’s good any time of day, it’s very refreshing, and it can restore you, when you are tired. But it’ll be better to notice, that time is changing everything. It’s changing the style of our life. It’s becoming faster and faster every year. Different life – different traditions! Certainly tea-drinking, as a part of the English tradition, changed. Nowadays, unlike food, tea could be offered to anyone at any time without inconvenience and without breaking any of the rules of decorum. Its service provided a focal point for social activities, enabling people of differing rank to meet and converse, and helping to spread the polite values of refinement, gentility and sociability. More than two centuries ago, in early eighteenth century Britain tea was usually prepared by the lady of the house in front of her guests. It was habitually taken in the mid-afternoon, after dinner, but as the century progressed, it was also more often drunk at breakfast. According to Likhachev D.S., who worked on the analysis of the Nature of cultural traditions, Each generation, in its activities, makes the choice of existing traditions (taking some tradition or aspects of them and at the same time rejecting others), and gives them their own interpretation. And so, most likely, the tea-drinking tradition was changed by the generations, the slaves of time in manifest error of what a real tradition is.

Sound Technique In Citizen Kane Film Studies Essay

Sound Technique In Citizen Kane Film Studies Essay The dramatic film Citizen Kane in 1941 is a story of group of reporters that are trying to interpret the last words of Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), who is the millionaire newspaper business man, Rosebud and to examine his lifestyle. The film starts with a news roll detailing Kanes life, and after that the film shows the audience flashbacks from his life and illustrates to the audience of a man who had everything and anything he wanted to a man who died and had nothing. The newsreel reporter Jerry Thompson (William Alland) starts to investigate the people from Kane past such as friends, lovers and colleagues to identify the real meaning of Rosebud. The first scene in the movie when Kane is dying and holding the crystal glass globe in his hand then he whispered a word that is heard spoken by enormous, mouth that fill the screen ROSEBUD. When he said it, no one could hear him because he said it in a low tone; however, only the butler heard it. The sound of Kane saying it and all the noise and silence before he dies illustrates to the audience that the word is something important in the movie and makes them think about the mystery of the movie. After he has pronounced his last dying words, the crystal glass globe rolls from his hand; the ball jumps down two steps (stairs) and smashes into pieces. The audience hears a loud beat when the crystal glass globe shatters into tiny pieces the sound of the shattering globe indicates that the Kane is heartbroken. Through the unclear lens of the globe a nurse is seen entering the room. She lays out the body of Kanes dead body and the music that has been suspended in a minor key finishes on a main musical tones. (Spurr Cameron, 2009). Then the scene cuts suddenly to news announcement, full of loud music that makes the audience forget about the previous scene. However, Rosebud was repeated in more than one scene that was presented in different type of flutes, bass clarinets, and bassoons to create a sense of darkness, vagueness and mystery to the audience. Moreover, a scene that started when the camera pans from top to bottom while focuses on the statue. The audience hears Miss Andersons voice heard before she appears in the shot. The feature of her voice is ordinary sound qualities of the room. The size of the room is shown to the audience when both Miss Anderson and Mr. Thompson the reporter are in the same frame. This scene shows the audience the importance of the large cold stone pillared library room that matches the cold strict character of Miss Anderson. Also the sound of Miss Andersons footsteps, as she walks towards the room to give Mr. Thompson the document he needs about Kane. When Miss Anderson opens the door to the room, the sound of the door that the audience hears which shows them the size of the room and the importance of the room. After the conversation between Mr. Thompson and Miss Anderson, and Miss Anderson leaving the room the audience could hear the closing of the door with music. The sound of the door mixed with music is a transition to the next shot. A next scene shows the audience when Susan Alexander Kane (Dorothy Comingore), who is the Wife of Charles Kane, sitting in her club after the death of her husband and Thompson comes in to talk with her. Thompson sits down, and then Susan tells him who told you, you could sit down? and he replies, I thought maybe we could have a talk together. Then she replies, Well, think again. Why dont you people leave me alone? I am minding my own business. You mind yours. Get out of here. Get out! .When she was saying get out she was shouting with a high tone which illustrated to the audience she is mad and upset. Before he comes in the club the audiences hears heavy rain and thunder this also demonstrates to the audience the anger, tension, and sadness. Also another scene, the audience saw that Kane had grown up from a child into an adult in only two shots. As Charless guardian gives him his sled, and Charles wishing him a Merry Christmas and unexpectedly the audience sees another shot of his guardian after almost fifteen years later, and the phrase is completed and a Happy New Year. This showed the audience that he has grown up, and it showed only by continuing the soundtrack. Another scene, when Kane takes his wife Susan to go to a picnic and suddenly slaps her in a tent near the beach. They are both silently angry at each other while a lady near their tent wildly launching with a loud voice at the background. This illustrated to the audience the misery and sadness of both Kane and Susan. In addition, the director used a numerous number of voices, each saying a sentence or a phrase or sometimes half a sentence and joining the dialogue in an immediate sequence, this action gave the audience an impression that the whole town was talking and also knowing what the whole town was talking about. The director also use the over lapping dialogue which made the scene look more realistic to the audience. Moreover, the director used a technique of putting the sound and audio before of the visual in scene transaction. In other words, when a scene came to a close, the sound and audio would change to the next scene before the image did. Moreover, the opera rehearsal scene where Kanes wife Susan sings; for example, when the camera slowly pans up the walls of the opera hall from Susan beginning her singing presentation to two stagehands both were looking shocked and disgusted of Susans singing. According to Louis Giannetti in Understanding Movies, music is a greatly abstract art, tending toward pure form. When combined with lyrics, music acquires a more focus content because words have specific references. While words and music both express meanings, each does so in a special manner. With or without lyrics, music can be more specific when put together with film images. (Giannetti, 2010). Moreover, according to Understanding Movies, one of the most continuing and popular film genres is the musical whose major raison is song and dance. Like opera and ballet, the narrative elements of musical are usually pretexts for the production numbers, but some musicals are exceptionally sophisticated dramatically. (Giannetti, 2010) The films numerous use of mixture allows to create stability between the images and passing of time that would otherwise seem disjointed and disorganized. In a scene that is illustrating Charless hectic actions as a newspaperman, suddenly a scene where it shows people dancing and singing with music in the background after that the scene shifts to another scene and time passes. Also, another scene where Kane and his first wife Emily (Ruth Warrick) are having breakfast, the scene here is presented in an elegant way where both are dressed fancily, and exchanging loving words, then the words dies away out after seconds. This scene showed the audience of the timing passing. Moreover, in another scene when Emily is disagreeing with Charles over the suitability of hanging an anonymous gift one of his friends has given their son in the nursery. The music in the background demonstrates to the audience that there is something wrong while still maintaining a distressingly joyful attitude, and Kanes rejection into taking his wife Emily seriously while they are having breakfast. The Sound Technique that is Connected to Another Technique Citizen Kane is an excellent example of sounds but it is also connected to different techniques, such as movements and cinematography technique. For example, in Citizen Kane extreme deep focus, diverse camera angles (including low angles that exposed set ceiling) and unusual use of lighting and deep shadows all these techniques were used in the film. Moreover, Citizen Kane had a storytelling technique; changeable narrative forms such as the opening of the film when a newsreel man was talking, and then the interviews and the flashbacks. Sounds in General The music of movies in general has a powerful effect on the audience. The music of any movie is to evoke or enhance emotions in the audience. When audiences listen to music a certain emotional feeling the music awakens the memories that the audience faces in the present or past. Moreover, music is able to move through time and leave at two different points at once. Music helps to enhance the effect of a shot to the audiences. Also, music creates tension in a movie. Citizen Kanes music was considered one of the major things in the movie because the music had an important role when the scene changes from one to another and to develop the emotion and the mood of the film to the audience. The director sometimes used music that would work with the sound effects throughout the film. According to the book Understanding Movies, sound effects also express internal emotions. When there is silence in a film it makes the audience pay more attention to the scene. Any important silences in a film creates to the audience a sense of something approaching or something that is about to happen. Moreover, like the freeze frame, silence in a sound film can be used to represent death, because usually sounds are linked with the presence of continuing life. (Giannetti, 2010). In addition, according to Louis Giannetti, loud sounds tend be forceful, intense, and threatening. On the other hand, quiet sounds strike the audience as delicate, hesitant, and sometimes weak. (Giannetti, 2010) Conclusion In other words, music in films is highly effective to the audience. Music creates tension, brings out emotions, and is definitely one of the most vital aspects of the cinematic experience. Furthermore, it has shown that music is highly complex and artful; it does not only bring the emotional impact on audience by also comprising some of the most dazzling music produced over the year. (Donnelly, 2001). Moreover, sounds help the audience to understand the movie better and also emphases on the vital parts in the movie.

Essay --

Report on family Breedlove Evaluator Morgan Bluebird, MSW intern February 12 2013 All personal information collected and used is protected from unauthorized disclosure by the Privacy Act. The Privacy Act also affords family of the clients the right to challenge the accuracy and completeness of the information and have it amended as appropriate. Identifying Information and Referral Source Clients’ name: Cholly Breedlove Client’s name: Pauline Williams Breedlove Day of birth: 21-06-1901 Day of birth: 13-03-1903 Role: Man of the house Role: lady of the house Civil status: Married Civil status: Married Clients’ name: Sammy Breedlove Daay of birth: 11-09- 1925 Role: Son of mr. Breedlove and mrs. Breedlove Civil status: Not applicable Client’s name: Pecola Breedlove Day of birth: 07-04-1928 Role: Daughter of mr. Breedlove and mrs. Breedlove Civil status: Not applicable The problem stated in this assessment relates to Pecola Breedlove, therefore when speaking of the client, it refers to her. The client is referred by her primary social worker, Dr.Trampene. Presenting the problem Pecola Breedlove, daughter of Cholly and Pauline Breedlove is suffering under the rough treatment at the hand of her family, what is more the functioning of her family in total. As mentioned before the development of the client may be thwarted if no intervention will be applied. The dysfunctional family causes the most damage to her because of the everyday violence as well as it engenders several negative external factors. The client is facing problems that relate to an inferiority complex, also Anxio... ... cruelty - physical abuse - sexual abuse - Z62.4 Emotional neglect of child Cholly Breedlove: - Z61.1 Removal from home in childhood - Z62.4 Emotional neglect of child - Z61.8 Other negative life events in childhood - F43.1 Post-traumatic stress disorder - Z72.6 High-risk sexual behaviour Pauline Breedlove: - F60.2 Dissocial personality disorder, not out of the question - Z60.4 Social exclusion and rejection - Z61.8 Other negative life events in childhood Treatment: 1. Weekly individual psychotherapy to reduce depressive symptoms and improve social and occupational areas for all four client. 2. Psychiatric evaluation to address potential use of antidepressant medication, for Pecola and Cholly Breedlove. Antidepressant drugs may be used in addition. 3. Out of home placement client 4. Biweekly couples Therapy session

Communications: An Integral Part of Education Essay -- essays research

Communication: An Integral Part of Education Communication is a skill that everyone needs to acquire and learn how to utilize effectively. In any given profession, communication is required regardless of whether or not the field is a creative, professional, or strictly business. Especially in the field of elementary education do the teachers and staff need to possess exemplary communication skills. This is not only with the students but as well as with fellow faculty members and the parents’ involved in the community and school. All areas of communication are vital to be an effectual educator but none as important as understanding the culture of the teaching environment, using rhetoric in class lectures and lessons, and becoming a valued and skilled public speaker. With the three above qualities mastered, only then can an educator truly be seen as an effective communicator.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To honestly and successfully understand culture, the educator must know that culture is â€Å"a system of ideas, values, beliefs, structures, and practices that is communicated by one generation to the next and that sustains a particular way of life† (Wood, 2002, p.95). In appreciating and analyzing this, a teacher must then now use this basic understanding of culture and formulate their lesson plans and agendas to encompass the variant cultures in any given school setting. Not only America, but Texas too has become a melting pot of varying cultures from all expanses of the world. This makes educating at this time very fascinating and exciting but potentially frustrating. Language and cultural barriers often create obstacles in the classroom which makes teaching in a normal and systematical approach ineffective. Cultural barriers can most easily be tackled by teaching other children about the importance of culture and in teaching them â€Å"tolerance, in w hich a person accepts differences, although he or she may not approve of or even understand them† (Wood, 2002, 117). Not only in culture but in just plain communication skills, students learn very quickly important ways of communicating effectively and ineffectively. Once thrust into school, children begin for the first time to communicate and express themselves without their parents’ around. In a recent study â€Å"it was reported that all of the communication skills perceived as important to children ranked as follows ... ...portant skill to hone, yet it must be followed through properly. If it is seen as some domineering perspective, then it can be misleading. Rather, as a clear and successful educator, communication must be a vital and integral part of teaching. In becoming a lucrative educator, understanding culture, using rhetoric to be advantageous rather than harmful, and polishing public speaking skills will create a certain amount of validity in the chosen field of education. Therefore, to be an elementary education major a rudimentary knowledge of communication and its’ importance will make the job easier and more fun for both the student and the teacher. Bibliography Aylor, Brooks. (2003). The Impact of Sex, Gender, and Cognitive Complexity On The Perceived Importance of Teacher Communication Skills. Communication Studies. Vol. 54, Issue 4; Pg. 496. Greenspan, Stanley. (2003). Reciprocity: a two-way street. Scholastic Early Childhood   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Today. Vol. 17, Issue 6; Pg 21. Sears, William. (2002). Cool Communicators. Parenting. Vol. 16, Issue 2; Pg. 68. Wood, Julia. (2002). Communication in Our Lives. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thompson Learning.

Forces in a Rolling Boat :: Physics Boating

Every boat has a degree of roll from which she can no longer recover. Two forces are locked in combat for a ship about to capsize: the downward push of gravity and the upward lift of buoyancy. Gravity is combined with the weight of the vessel and everything in board-crew, cargo, fishing gear- seeking the center of the earth. Buoyancy is the force of all the enclosed air in the hull trying to rise above water level. On a evenly balanced and stable ship, these two forces are equal and cancel out each other, but all of this changes when a boat gets shoved over her side. Instead of being equal, the two forces are offset. The center of gravity stays the same but the center of buoyancy migrates to the submerged side, where more air has been forced below the waterline. With gravity pushing down to the center and buoyancy pushing up from the submerged side, the ship pivots on its center and returns to an even keel. The more the ship heels, the farther apart the two forces act and the more leverage the center of buoyancy has. To simplify, the lateral distance between the two forces is called the righting arm and the torque generate is called the righting momentum. Boats want a big righting momentum so they will right from extreme angles of keel. The righting momentum has three main implications. First of all, the wider the ship the more stable she is. The next thing is how tall the ship is. The taller the ship, the more likely she is to capsize. Finally, there come the point of no return, were the boat can no longer right itself. To most it seems like this would happen when the boat’s deck has reached a 90 degree angle to the water, but in truth, trouble comes to the boat a lot sooner.

A Dream – creative writing

One by one we stepped of the bus after a comfortable nap on the red beds situated at the end of the bus. I was last to get off, I had a feeling of perpetual tiredness in my legs, I felt shaky and nervous. At first I couldn't think about what I was going to do on the pitch, all I thought about was after the match. As we walked down the tunnel, I saw framed pictures of legends such as Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and Eric Cantona. The sense of ‘I could be one of them' filled my empty head full of impossible thoughts. The tunnel was painted red and white, our home colours, the colours of victory. It was very long; all you could see in the darkness was the grass at the end of the tunnel like little green spikes they stuck out of the ground with light catching glimpse of their strong straight body. The smell of the hazy grass from down the tunnel went up my nose and soon reached my brain to intensify my nerves even more. It was quite a walk down to the home changing rooms. On the way I was greeted by many enthusiastic fans but instead of helping me, this made me even shakier and plunge further into my lethargy. I couldn't understand this as I had just had a two-hour nap. I silently entered the freezing cold changing rooms, which were supposedly painted white to give each player a calm feeling, checked my watch and looked around. I felt numb, the feeling of expectation had got to me, the blood in my body began to freeze and I couldn't hear anything. After a few moments the gaffer put his arms around me and I came out of my mood. All the players were lively, each one getting changed, concentrating on their own thoughts and weird pre-match rituals and superstitions. All focused on the one thing that really mattered; winning. When everyone was ready, the gaffer started talking. He said that we be should our best and all other things a managers says to make their players comfortable. To be honest with you I wasn't listening somehow the things he said just went into one ear and out of the other like an elephant talking to a cat. All I listened to was the roars and scream of the passionate fans waiting who started on their usual tones. I think the gaffer new I wasn't concentrating. He suddenly walked towards me and patted me on the back with his warm, big-palmed hands. As he did this I felt a big burden on my back. I felt as If I was carrying a big box full of millions of hopes and desires. As we walked out of the changing rooms we were joined by the away team, who all looked irregular. I was the captain for today so I was at the front of the team. The captain for the away team looked serious; he was tall with broad shoulders, had scruffy black hair, had a cold white face like a newly chilled corpse and stank of rubber. Funny I heard he had two left feet. Now adrenaline had kicked in and excitement had begun. We started slowly walking out to the stadium and soon we got faster and faster until we were jogging. The crowd was ecstatic. The stadium was jam-packed and all I could see was a sea of flashing bulbs from the photographers. The crowd started chanting my name and soon a feeling of nausea from the grass hit me hard. I walked slowly to the centre circle, with the ball at my feet. I looked at the other team, they all looked serious and some looked at me with spite. All of their players were bigger than us; almost Herculean in stature, most of them had short black hair and muscled legs like an army of action-man dolls. I took my feet off the ball and put my worn out boots into the soft, sturdy green grass. Everyone was in their positions and the whistle was blown, we were off†¦ The whistle went and it was half time, we were 2-0 down and everybody was disappointed. In the changing rooms, it was very quiet. Not really because of anyone but because of our performance, we were being stuffed. No-one was talking. The gaffer didn't lay into us. He didn't have to. We all knew we were playing rubbish. It was now going to be like a cat and mouse chase. The expression on each players face said it all really. I was just thinking of what I was going to do. Could I pull it off? Could I do the unimaginary? Could I†¦.. I couldn't understand why we were playing so badly but I had an epiphany, it must be because of their lazy useless captain not giving enough support†¦. me! I was going to pull it off I told myself. I was going to do the unimaginary. I was going to†¦ I gave a huge shout of encouragement to all the players like a commander rallying his weary troops. I slowly turned my head to face the other team. They all looked happy, as if this was a stroll in the park, as if they thought it was all wrapped up, as if they thought they had me all worked out, but had they? The whistle blew once more and we were off†¦ It was the 80th minute and we scored. It was better late than never. The ball rattled the net, and bounced on the floor a few times like a bouncy ball waiting to be caught. The crowd went mad. The player, who scored, picked up the ball after a little melee with the goalie who tried to stop him. He jogged back to the centre circle with the ball, with one hand in the air, appreciating the support the fans were giving him. The whistle was blown once more and we were off again†¦ The final whistle went it was 2-2. We scored in the last dying seconds of the match. All content with ourselves we trudged off to the gaffer and sat down on the pitch. I still couldn't get my head around the smell of the grass, warm and comforting like high summers. The gaffer sent all the coaches to massage the life back to our limbs. I could see that even the fans were tired, hoarse and emotional from their unswerving enthusiasm, as most of their voices had now gone from all the shouting, but I guessed it had helped as we were still in this match. Now the tables had turned, as I looked at the other team, they were all tired and didn't have a grin on their face any more. The whistle was blown louder than before this time and again we kicked-off†¦ Extra-time ended and scores were still 2-2 and everyone looked dead beat. We kept looking at the referee as we just wanted this to end. We were under pressure and running scared. Many times I thought it might be over but I still kept my head held high as I thought I had done a pretty good job, being the captain of a previously sinking ship, though with my skill, we had avoided the metaphorical iceberg. As we were walking back to the referee, the players had their heads down, as if they were out of this. I guess this was mostly because of what was to follow, penalties! The gaffer had a little notebook and pencil in his hand as he was going round asking each player if they wanted to take a penalty, it reminded me of what had happened last time I was here. Most of them just stood still and were too shocked and scared to say anything. Although he never came around to me, I was on the list. I guess I had to take one, or be blamed if we lost. They missed one and scored the rest, we had scored all our penalties up to now. Their fans had now got restless and started booing their own team; it showed how fickle 56,000 fans can be in times of need. Their manager looked disappointed, for all the training they had put in, wasn't going to help. One more player was left to take a penalty†¦ me, if it went in, we won, and if it didn't then more penalties would follow. I slowly started making my way to the ball. Half way, I stalled, I stood still but it seemed time had stood still. This time there was no-one near to put their arms around me to help me to come out of this mood again. My whole body froze and cold chills were sent to my brain. I looked forward and all I could see was the goalie looking nervous, billboards gaudily advertising a shirt brand and the thousands of faceless fans. Fans were screaming and shouting my name, I felt proud to be leading my team. My boots were frozen into the soft ground. No blood was felt at my toes and my knees were giving way as if my fit and tones body had been replaced by an arthritic and wizened shell. I couldn't stand any longer. There was no life left in my body. I was nervous; I was scared as I was remembering the last penalty shoot-outs. I had walked steadily to the ball and had concentrated on where I was going to kick it. The goalkeeper had gone the right way and my shot was stopped to the delight of the away supporters. They had won the cup. This was the same match, the same cup, the same away team, but would it be the same outcome. I returned to the present. My stomach was still frozen searching for any water left in my parched body, any lifeline left to give, any blood left to melt. My neck wouldn't twitch and my Adams apple felt frozen, I couldn't speak as my mouth was so dry that I felt my lips were being savaged off. My head was stiff; my face was pure cold white and my brain full of ghastly thoughts (I still couldn't get over what had happened the last time I was here). The fans started making their voices heard even more by intensifying the stadium with their passion, something not many people can give, something only a true fan possesses. Nerve receptors in my body didn't know which way to flow and no warm blood could be felt anywhere around my body except my ears. Even they wouldn't twitch, only the sound of screaming entered my ears, the sound I had heard many times throughout my lifetime. As a child I was abused by my violent father, who beat me every time I lost a match. That's why football is my life. It has always meant everything! I would scream in my bedroom but my mother was too scared to do anything about it, she too couldn't stand in my father's way. It took me until I was sixteen to stand up to him and kick him out of the house. I was bullied in school for not having a father, for not having many friends, for not having any football talent. I used to be called ‘footballer wannabe'; this infuriated me so much that all I concentrated on throughout my school years was football. And now what can those measly kids say to me, captain of a famous team, playing in a cup-final. Again my mind returned to the present. My body still stalled me, I didn't know what to do, either to let my knees give way, or stand there waiting for a lifeline to be found from the empty abyss†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Suddenly I heard the gaffer shout ‘come on ma lad, you can do it'. I woke of this terrible moment and blood started to flow again around my body. I coolly walked up to the ball, stepped back a few paces and ran as fast as I could towards the ball, hit it as hard as possible and stare. The ball rotated in mid-air and travelled towards the goal†¦..