A Qualitative Study on Technology and Its Effects

There are several reasons behind the reference made by educational experts upon the effects of technology upon the learning progress of the students based upon the implication of the said modern innovation based upon the quality of education fostered by the said element of educational advancement.For this particular reason, I aim to examine the actual results that technology actually leaves the students with as they try to push through with their studies in American schools. Constant assessment of the effects that the technological innovations place upon the systems of learning among students in the United States is believed to be among the procedures by which the quality of education could be increased in the said country.Handling students who are from different countries and races are normally one of the challenges that the said country particularly faces. Through this, the studies made to prove the impact of technology upon learning have made this challenge much easier to deal wit h since technology is indeed becoming the common language of students around the world.To be able to get through with the study, I aim to present the ideas supporting technology’s effectiveness in education through addressing the question â€Å"How is technology able to improve the learning procedures and progress of students of the present modern generation?†The qualitative approach has been proposed for the completion of the paper for the aim of actually assessing the current educational situation among schools in the United States based on the quality of teaching that the students receive from their educators and the quality of learning that they are able to imply within themselves through technology.Literature ReviewTo be able to meet the discussions needed for this study, I aims to use three major books namely Nicola Yelland’s Shift to the Future: Rethinking Learning with New Technologies in Education; Oliver Van DeMille’s A Thomas Jefferson Educatio n: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century; and Ann E. Barron’s New Technologies for Education: A Beginner's Guide from which the major issues and theories of the merging of technology and education that would be presented in the study shall come from.Along with these, two major internet websites pertaining to the topic being discussed would also be added as a source for this paper.The said sites are entitled â€Å"An Evaluative Study of Modern Technology in Education† by Seymour   Pappert which talks about the evaluative results on the effects of technology upon learning and teaching; and the article on the â€Å"Incorporation of Technology into Modern Education† which primarily discusses the ways by which technology is implemented in education in the American region. These sources shall be treated by I as the primary source of information as support to the ideas that are to be presented within the study.Proposed MethodologyThe method by which I aim to utilize to be able to come up with the necessary actual proofs that would support the claims I would be suspending shall be the assessment of the impact of technology upon learning through interviews and survey made on a particular Californian Public School in comparison with the results of a survey made on an online learning institution.The survey should be more of like a written interview-survey material that shall be passed on to other students through the internet, while actual interviews shall be done among the young students of a Californian school. The fact that I would be interviewing both the children and the educators shall help me see and actually be affected by the result of the supposed to be performed interview within the research.Significance of the StudyI see the impact of this study as a major way by which educators would be able to understand the essentiality of the implications of technology upon the learning strategies that the institutions serve to their students particularly in the United States. Observing the evaluations made upon the effects of technology in the modern day learning shall indeed add up to the knowledge of the institutions making it easier for them to accept the fact that technology is now a necessity in teaching and learning as well.As for my own part, I see the importance of this study to have an impact on the ways by which I particularly view the importance of technology in teaching my students with regards several issues in the society especially with regards the modern innovations of the communication systems within the human society. As I have taught basic computer application to college students for two years and now currently work as a Computer Resource Assistant in a High School, I know that this study shall give me the knowledge that I need to apply in my career.And since when I finish my masters, I also intend to teach college or adult education, be a school district instructional technology sup ervisor or technology trainer in corporate settings, I know that this study shall affect my motivation in my aspirations in the future. I am also thinking about opening a training center that would offer crash courses for computer applications, learning the impacts of the technology upon learning shall indeed help me understand the needed applications for the training in a better perspective.BIBLIOGRAPHY:First 1100 characters of Incorporation of Technology into Modern Education. (2005). Incorporation of Technology into Modern Education. http://www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=27239. (June 11, 2007).Seymour Papert. (2001). An Evaluative Study of Modern Technology in Education. http://www.papert.org/articles/AnEvaluativeStudyofModernTechnology.html. (June 11, 2007).Oliver Van DeMille. (2006). A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century. George Wythe College Press; 2nd edition.Nicola Yelland. (2006). Shift to the Future: Rethinking Learni ng with New Technologies in Education. Routledge; 1 edition.Ann E. Barron. (1997). New Technologies for Education: A Beginner's Guide. Libraries Unlimited; 3 Sub edition.

The Paper Please Law

Moreen Prasad September 20, 2012 ENG 101 Rhetorical Analysis Papers Please! The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, often referred to as the Papers Please Law, has stirred up an extensive amount of controversy gaining national and international attention. The Act basically states that people who: are not citizens of the United States; are over the age of 14; and visit the United States for more than 30 days are required to obtain and possess registration documents at all times.However, the creators of the Arizona Act took it one step further when they enforced the failure of carrying your immigration documents with you at all times, a state misdemeanor crime. The state also has made it a requirement for officers to determine a person’s immigration status during any type of lawful contact, if there might be â€Å"reasonable suspicion† that the individual is an immigrant. The Arizona Act is not only unjust, but is bias and condones racism which is what leaders in the past have sacrificed their lives for in hopes of creating equality. What kind of society are we trying to create? One rooted in exclusion, punishment, and fear, or inclusion, forgiveness, and civic cohesion? † asks Lindsay Brooks, editor of â€Å"News Story: Arizona Illegal Immigration Law. † Brooks appeals to citizens in a moral manner in the question imposed, which the majority of people would answer this question with inclusion, forgiveness, and civic cohesion. The authors writing style and language impact the audience significantly. The author uses the word civic cohesion, implying that to punish, fear, and exclude would be uncivilized of the American population.The author uses pathos when referring to inclusion and forgiveness to create feeling within the audience. Forgiveness often requires a change of heart and acceptance. Arizona’s governor signed the Papers Please Law, under an executive order requiring the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to provide local police with additional training on what does and what does not constitute â€Å"reasonable suspicion. â€Å" â€Å"The question is what exactly counts as suspicious behavior? And how does one receive efficient training for such judgment? † (Brooks).The author implies that logically, authorities are most likely pulling over and or pointing out anyone looks like a possible target which requires not training, but off the head judgment. The term, â€Å"reasonable suspicion† will simply permit police misconduct. Targets will be based off of obvious and basic judgment such as stereotypes, race, ethnicity, etc. The author creates a question within the readers’ mind of how judgment will be made and how targets will be established and then answers it as she would expect the reader to, persuading the reader to adopt the argument.The author not only addresses but questions the morality of stereotypes that many people encounter. In add ressing stereotypes, the author creates a sense of mutual understanding and trust. The idea of judging ones status does not resemble the society we are trying to create with inclusion, forgiveness, civic cohesion, and equality. Although an individual’s personal decision regarding mass deportation is vital, the situation does not stop at the state boundaries of Arizona. â€Å"As The New York Times wrote in an April 29th editorial, â€Å"The Supreme Court has consistently ruled that states cannot make their own immigration laws. The author adds credibility to their argument. The author demonstrates that she is making more than just an opinion based argument, but is knowledgeable in politics and the concept of law making. When the author speaks upon politics, it makes the audience feel a sense of legitimacy within the argument. In order to create a society that resembles inclusion, forgiveness, and civic cohesion and functions effectively, we must not let our people be exploit ed. â€Å"†¦framed around the same philosophical question: deportation or immigration. † (Lindsay).The author ends the article with a question for the audience to bear in mind which includes ethos, pathos, and logos. Although the author has been persuading the audience to take a stand against the Papers Please and Arizona Act throughout the article, she leaves it to the reader to decide for themselves exerting the right amount of pressure without overwhelming them. I do not agree with the Paper Please law because it allows police misconduct and the law itself is bias and condones racism. It is our job as a community to not let history repeat itself, but to keep progressing forward towards equality.

How to Write the Carnegie Mellon Essays 2015-2016

Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1900, Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university home to over 6,000 undergraduates. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the college boasts 17 varsity teams in the NCAA Division III classification. While it frequently finds itself placed in the top 25 colleges in the nation, perhaps Carnegie Mellon is best recognized for its phenomenal Computer Science program—except for a brief deviation in 2009, CMU is consistently ranked #1 in Computer Science, beating out the likes of Stanford, Cornell, and MIT. Its other programs aren’t too shabby, either, and as a result over 33,000 seniors each year apply to CMU. Applicants to CMU have seven different colleges to choose from: Regardless of whichever college student choose, all applicants are required to fill out a writing supplement. With an acceptance rate of just 18%, students will need to write top-notch essays to secure their spot. Luckily, Admissions Hero is here to help: Note: this year’s CMU app is essentially identical to last year’s. We’ve updated this year’s post only slightly to reflect new trends in admissions. Read last year’s post here . Please submit a one page, single-spaced essay that explains why you have chosen Carnegie Mellon and your particular major(s), department(s) or program(s). This essay should include the reasons why you’ve chosen the major(s), any goals or relevant work plans and any other information you would like us to know. For freshmen applying to more than one college or program, please mention each college or program to which you are applying. Because our admission committees review applicants by college and program, your essay can impact our final decision. Candidates applying for early decision or transfer may apply to only one college and department. This prompt is essentially asking you to write a â€Å"Why X† essay for Carnegie Mellon. Because so many students apply to CMU, the admissions officers are interested in accepting only the students who are genuinely interested in attending CMU. Therefore, you should do some research to find specific examples of resources you would like to take advantage of as a potential CMU student. For some, this might mean going online to read more about CMU’s Fine Arts resources; for others, you might want to ask your close friend who attends CMU about the engineering facilities. Either way, the goal is to have some details on-hand for when you go to write your essay. When you actually answer this question, your best bet is to cover three topics: If you can answer all three questions in a smooth manner, then you will have an effective essay.   List the books (if any) you’ve read this year for pleasure. Choose one and in a sentence describe its impact on you. There’s no â€Å"trick† to this question—the adcoms literally just want to know what books you’ve read this past year. You should have some books to list, but be as truthful as possible. If you are unsure which book you want to choose to describe in one sentence, then ask yourself, â€Å"Is there anything I want to tell the admissions officers about myself that I haven’t already?† If you have a clear answer to this question, then you can strategically choose a book that will allow you to convey that message when you describe its impact on you. For example, if you haven’t yet told the adcoms about your deep love of philosophy—specifically, when it comes to morality—then you might accordingly choose Justice , by Michael J. Sandel and describe how the book allowed you to examine various case studies and develop a new perspective on what morality really is. If there was an interruption during your secondary school or collegiate experience or between your secondary school and collegiate experience (gap year(s)) when you were not enrolled and as a result, not making normal academic progress, please explain the reason for the interruption. The majority of students will not have to answer this question; however, if you are a student who fits the description above, then your best bet is to honestly describe what occurred. If you feel that your reliability or character is called into question when you only objectively describe the situation, then succinctly explain yourself at the end of your description and—if appropriate—express that things will be different in the future. For students whose interruptions were due to taking a gap year (or something similar), then describe your experience and explain its impact on you briefly. For example, maybe you volunteered in Africa for 6 months and now you are a more mature individual. Finally, if you took time off due to a family occurrence or illness, then—once again—explain the situation and leave it at that. While not a requirement, have you been interviewed by an alumni or on campus representative prior to applying for admission? If so, indicate the name of your interviewer and tell us how it impacted your decision to apply. This question is pretty straightforward if you did not get interviewed before applying to CMU—don’t answer it. If you did receive an interview, then hopefully you remembered to record your interviewer’s name. When describing how it impacted your decision to apply, it’s best to recall specific details from your conversation—for example, maybe you and your interviewer share a love of Quidditch, and your interviewer mentioned to you that CMU has a strong Quidditch team. Mentioning small yet specific details about either CMU or your interviewer’s experience with CMU will go a long away in showing that you were impacted by your interview.

Fluid lab ( Head loss through a pipe) Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Fluid ( Head loss through a pipe) - Lab Report Example he pipe whereby its zero at the surface of the pipe, and this is attributed to the no- slip conditions, and its goes to the maximum at the center of the pipe. The rate of fluid flow in a given pipe is not constant. This is attributed to the various opposing factors that hinder the constant flow of the fluid. This factors result in loss of energy of the fluid otherwise known as head loss. Thus head loss can be defined as the total amount of energy reduction of the fluid as it moves. The head loss is caused by the friction of the fluid particles as they are in motion and other minor losses which are caused by various factors which include bends in the pipe, constrictions in the pipe, joints, among others. The losses due to friction are referred to as friction losses and are considered to be the major losses in the pipe (Spellman, 2008). The layout of the apparatus was inspected to make sure that the function of each component is understood. Measurement of the medium and the largest pipe was made and the Q and h of the pipes recorded. From the graph, it can be seen that the velocity is directly proportional to head loss due to friction in that as velocity increases, the head loss due to friction increases. This is a linear

Marketing Strategy Of Design A New Cell Phone Essay

Marketing Strategy Of Design A New Cell Phone - Essay Example Firstly, I am interested in the market the product to the company email list as these people have already expressed an interest in purchasing our product or services. Then, I will surely market the product to my friends, relatives, and social networking friends and followers. I would adopt content marketing as it would publish more content than normal marketers do (Business marketing association, p.22). I would publish several articles that provide useful tips to cell phone users. Finally, I have decided to release a video that contains different features as well as a special report on the product and I will post the video in company website and social networking sites. I will also adopt other common promotion techniques such as TV advertisements and flux boards. Â   Â   Â  Likewise, I will choose the right time to launch the product since it has been psychologically proved that people have different mindsets during different times of the year. Agreeing with the suggestion put for ward by Chaturvedi, Kumar, and Rahul (2009), I would like to introduce the product either during spring or early summer because seasonal fluctuations can also have a significant impact on the product launching process (p.102). Similarly, I would also depend on technological support like e-commerce to make the product launch more successful.Product Features and Marketing TacticsIt is obvious that the fame of cell phone industry has reached sky heights as a result of recent technological developments.

Methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Methodology - Essay Example Finally, inductive approaches do not always allow researchers to capture the complexity of various social phenomena (Cargan 2007). This is why, when researchers cannot overcome the major limitations of inductive data, they begin their study with a theory, followed by a hypothesis and research (Saunders et al., 2007). In other words, they apply for deductive research approaches. Deductive data is usually derived from the study of earlier experiments, empirical and theoretical literature. In other words, deductive approaches rely on the previous studies and lead to the creation of generalizations and assumptions from earlier formulations (Cargan 2007). The use of deductive data in research is very common. According to Saunders et al (2007), deductive data allows developing conceptual frameworks from theories considered in the literature. These frameworks are then tested using the data (Saunders et al. 2007). Researchers who use deductive data develop new theories, based on the earlier studies in the same field. In deductive approaches, researchers usually begin with the analysis of literature. At times, meta-analysis designs are used to systematize earlier research findings. All these steps are integral to deductive approaches in research. With deductive data, researchers find it easier to make generalizations and develop recommendations for future research. ... Mixed methods research Mixed methods have already become a defining feature of contemporary research. Mixed studies are often valued for their strength and reliability. Basically, mixed methods designs involve the use of both quantitative and qualitative features (Denscombe 2010). The concept of mixed methods can be traced to the end of the 1950s (Creswell 2003). Mixed methods exemplify a logical and promising response to the limitations inherent in all research methods. With the help of mixed methods, researchers can â€Å"neutralize or cancel the biases of other methods† (Creswell 2003, p.15). Triangulation is a popular method of research, which is used to ensure better validity and reliability of the study findings (Creswell 2003). For example, the results obtained from one method can be used to inform another method of research, or one method can be nested within another research strategy to ensure effective analysis of the different levels of data (Creswell 2003). Researc hers who use mixed methods in their studies can choose from three research procedures. First, in sequential mixed method approaches, researchers use the data obtained from one research method to improve the quality of the results obtained from another method (Creswell 2003). The data obtained from one method can also be used to improve the second method used a mixed study design. Second, researchers can also use concurrent procedures, when qualitative and quantitative data are used simultaneously to study one research question (Creswell 2003). Finally, there are also transformative procedures when a particular theoretical framework is used to interpret both quantitative and qualitative study findings (Creswell 2003). The choice of particular procedures and

Health Education and Promotion Models Assignment

Health Education and Promotion Models - Assignment Example On the contrary, the participatory design is aimed at creating successful community health promotion interventions. In addition, the Precede health promotion program planning model has eight phases as discussed. The first phase involves defining the ultimate outcome. It focuses on what the community wants and needs. It may seem unrelated to the issues of phase one. Phase two is for identifying the issue. In this phase, one looks for the issues and factors that might cause or influence the outcome identified in phase one. Phase three involves examining the factors that affect behaviour, lifestyle and responses to the environment. In this period, factors that will create the behaviour and environmental changes in phase two are. Step four identifies best practices and other sources of guidance for intervention design, as well as administrative, regulation and policy issues that influence the implementation of the program or intervention. Phase five is all about implantation. This step i nvolves doing just that setting up and implementing the interventions that have been planned for. Step six is for process evaluation. This phase is about the procedure but not results. Impact Evaluation is for stage 7. One begins by evaluating the initial success of the efforts. Step 8 is for Outcome Evaluation. The interventions must be working to bring about the outcomes the community identified in step 1.Proceed health promotion planning model has four assumptions. In this model, it’s assumed that health and other issues are essentially quality-of-life issues. It that health and other issues must be looked at in the context of the community. Health is also a constellation of factors that add up to a healthy life for individuals and communities. It that behaviour change is by and large voluntary, health promotion, is more likely to be effective if it’s participatory (Green and Kreuter2005). Health belief model is also a

Article Summary and Reaction Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Article Summary and Reaction Paper - Essay Example There were attempts to make the customers satisfied with the services that the company will offer. The hearing of the case occurred on November 30, 2011 after the company had filed the protection plea through its lawyers and other legal advisors. The airline had fought to escape the filing for bankruptcy and hoped that the court would help it to regain its status in the industry. The article expounds on the term bankruptcy. It also introduces Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, 2015). The chapter provides for reorganization under bankruptcy situation, mainly involving partnership or cooperation. The chapter helps in the reorganization of businesses that have seriously high burden of debts. Under the chapter, the debtor proposes a plan to that would ensure profitability after bankruptcy. The article outlines the best case in which Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code. The article outlines the applicability of the code in helping organizations restructure and present a plan for profitability. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. (2015). Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code. Retrieved April 13, 2015 from

Discuss using named examples, the use of and applicability of Essay

Discuss using named examples, the use of and applicability of bio-indicator organisms in the environmental assessment of fres - Essay Example According to Durranti, a bio- indicator is defined as a plant or animal species whose presence or absence gives information on the state of a given environment (Chu, Chanb and Chow 2005). The Use and Applicability of Various Bio-Indicator Organisms in the Environmental Assessment of Freshwater and Marine Systems There exist several bio-indicators that have been applied to measure the health status of freshwater and marine environments. To begin with, Chin argues that by identifying the kind of animal species present in a given water body, biologists are able to analyze the quality of water in that water body (Chin 2006). For instance, the presence of many carnivore fish species might suggest a higher quality of water compared to a water body dominated primarily by omnivores. A healthy water body supports life for many micro-organisms that are predated upon by the carnivore fish. For many years, fish have been used to indicate the quality of water bodies. This has been accomplished th rough determining the kind of fish that live in a given water body, measuring alterations in fish species composition and species proportion (Jackson 2001). Changes in fish length and tropic level can as well be used in determining the health of aquatic environment. ... From the experiment, it was established that samples from the lake had a high number of comets and mainly in second and third classes. Thus the results suggested that Lake Igapo is an aquatic environment that was characterized by a high level of genotoxicity and other pollutants. In Izmir Bay of Mediterranean (in Western Turkey), fish are used to determine the level of water pollution in the sea (Gonenc 1999). Izmir is an industrial and commercial centre. The presence of metals such as lead and zinc in freshwater and marine environments can be indirectly measured using inorganic acids, such as sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid (Turner and Tessier1995). These acids are applied on intestinal specimens of different fish species. If the above metals are present, the acids react with the specimens to form oxides. Bonnan notes that some aquatic pollutants might remain active for many years and through several generations. Examples include mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds (Farris, J. et al 1993). Genotoxicity biomarkers can be applied in sentry organisms to enhance the identification and assessment of mutagenic hazards and their sources. One of the most suitable methods of identifying the response of organisms to such contaminants is by use of micronucleus (MN) test. This can be used as an index of the total genetic damage of cells during the lifespan of an organism. Fish and bivalves have been the main target for such experiments. Gill and haemocyte cells are the commonly used tissues. Due to rising carbon dioxide concentration s in the 21 century, the acidity of sea water has increased as well. Consequently, global temperatures have been driven up, including

The Historical Development Of The Juvenile Essay Example for Free

The Historical Development Of The Juvenile Essay The Juvenile Justice System was a creation of the Progressive Era reformist. Prior to this time there was little consideration for children as needing or deserving different treatment than adults. To tell the truth there was relatively no separation of adults and children up to this point in time. In retrospect it could be said that the creation of a separate stage in the life of growing people led to the creation of a separate justice system. So the creation of adolescence and its separation from the rest of society also gave rise to the Juvenile Justice System. This section of the paper looks into this development. As late as the eighteenth century children regularly participated in activities that would now be considered adult in nature (Empey, 1976). This included but was not limited to engaging in sexual activity at an early age, learning and using obscene language, drinking alcohol in taverns if not at home, working and learning trades and fighting in wars (Empey, 1976). In the United States there was little difference than the rest of western society. Colonial reformist saw deviant behavior as something to be concerned about but it was considered a critical social problem or a breakdown in the social organization (Empey, 1976). Basically they saw humans as inherently weak and drew a parallel between sin and crime and they treated either equally with the same harsh, usually public, punishments. But with the newly won freedom of the United States came a new perspective on things. With peoples freedoms being based on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which had their foundations in the Enlightenment Eras philosophies, there came many changes in the way people saw things (Empey, 1976). People were no longer seen as inherently evil or preordained to a certain life path. Deviance was no longer equated with sin; it was due to a flaw in upbringing or other social problem. With these new philosophies dominating society there came a pressing need to most to change and revise the criminal codes of the past and also the reduction in punishment for a majority of less serious crimes. But even this did not create a separation of youths and adults in society or in the criminal justice system. That did not occur until the early nineteenth century when Progressive Era reformist were pushing for a  serious of programs aimed at helping the youth of society (Empey, 1976). Among these programs were child labor laws, mandatory schooling, kindergarten programs and increased intervention and rehabilitation for the wayward youth of society (National†¦, 2001). The backlash of several of these programs, whether intentional or not, was the stratification of our society by age. It is this stratification that latter allowed for the complete separation of youth from the rest of society during adolescence. It also led to the creation of Houses of Refuge and Orphan Asylums in most major cities. In fact by 1825 these institutions for juvenile offenders and other lost youth were common in most populous cities and states (Empey, 1976). It was the purpose of these institutions to act as a substitute for family and community but as is usually the case they soon became overcrowded and became nothing more than warehouses for these youths. By the end of the nineteenth century reformers felt even more effort was needed to solve the problem and more legality was sought to back their actions. They pushed for more power to interfere in troubled youths lives, they saw no need to wait until the child committed an offense before giving them guidance, and these powers were granted. Now a child could be pulled from any situation in which it was felt they were being corrupted or adequate attention and structure were being provided. These new powers and the increased emphasis of the reformist for a separate system for children gave rise to the Juvenile Justice System. In 1899 the Illinois Juvenile Court Act gave birth to the first juvenile court in Chicago (National, 2001). By 1925 a functioning juvenile court existed in every state in the U.S. except Wyoming and Maine (Schlossman, 1983). Empey, LeMar T.; The Social Construction of Childhood, Delinquecny and Social Reform in _The Juvenile Justice System,_ Vol. 5, Pp. 27-51, Malcolm Klein ed., Sage Publications, 1976. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine: _Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice_. Panel on Juvenile Crime: Prevention, Treatment, and Control. Joan McCord, Cathy Spatz Widom and Nancy A. Crowell, eds. Committee on Law Justice and Board on Children, Youth and Families. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2001 Schlossman, Steven; Juvenile Justice: History and Philosophy in _Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice,_ Vol. 3, Pp. 961-969, S. Kadish ed. New York: Free press, 1983

Short Story on the Afterlife

Short Story on the Afterlife A Dream I Had About the Afterlife Last night I dreamed that I had died. It wasnt the normal kind of dream. It wasnt the kind of dream that you wake up enthralled, afraid, or tearful from. It was something deeper than that. When I died, there was no white light to walk toward, no staircase in the clouds, no golden gate atop them, no heavenly chorus scoring each and every one of my footsteps, as if each one of them pounded on the drums of destiny, no heart, no passion, no feeling that every breath I took in my mortal life led to this moment, and that now my dreams were coming true, and I was ascending towards everlasting glory. There was none of that. But equally there was no fear. There was no anxiety, or panic, or hopelessness. The four emotions I had forever associated with death. The emotions that had left my mind crippled, contemplating other alternatives to constantly living with the big day forever looming over me. Emotions that had rendered me useless, unable to function, wondering what we are doing on this planet, and why something as spectacular as life on earth, with its inconceivable beauty and ability to emote human euphoria, could have such a terrifying and mind numbing opposite as death, and how we could know so little about it other than at its existential core, it is nothing but the absence of life in a previously living body. No. Instead of fear or euphoria, there was realism. Quite frankly, there was no commotion. I had died in a hospital, in a small room, my loved ones surrounding me as I lay in a bed drifting off courtesy of an incurable disease, as so many have done before me, and so many will do after. As I faded I felt my woes fade also. I dont think we realise it when our lives are so busy, but we always have our woes or problems on our mind, we just dont notice them as much. I thought about my family and friends. They held hands and sobbed around my bedside, knowing they were witnessing the last moments of my human life. I guessed that I should have been worrying about them, how they would cope without me, but three familiar words kept circulating in my head. Life goes on. Life would go on for them. They would be sad, but they would find closure, and then eventually it would be their time to go too. None of these things worried me. I had always pondered the afterlife, and by this point I had accep ted that I would either see them again, or that I wouldnt need to. I understood that love transcends life. And then it happened; though it didnt happen instantly. Throughout life I had always imagined that the moment of death would be similar to an abrupt power-outage, where in a split second, darkness would engulf everything. But it wasnt. It was a gradual process and I wasnt quite sure when life had ended, and whatever came next had begun. Those around my bed began to leave the room. They left in an orderly fashion, as if it had previously been decided how they would do so. Each of them did so matter-of-factly, and that was the first sign that I may have passed over, as Im sure in normal circumstances they would be crying and mourning uncontrollably. Instead, each of them just left. Some of them held my hand before leaving, and others kissed my forehead. And then, just like that, I was alone, albeit for just a few seconds. It was in this moment that I realised that I was witnessing my death out of body. I was standing in the corner watching this happen, not lying in the bed. And then I realised that I now had a purpose. I sat at a table in the middle of the room. It was small and there were only two chairs. The version of myself that I had just been watching got out of bed and sat at the table also. I was sitting across the table from myself. Somehow looking into my own eyes and staring back at them at the same time. Only when you look into your own eyes can you comprehend your existence. And then we talked for what felt like an hour, and yet it could have lasted for a thousand years because any comprehension that I had of time in my human life had faded, and I began to think that maybe time didnt exist anymore. We talked about the life I had lived on earth, about the relationships I had formed and the feelings I had had, what I had achieved in life, and what mark I had left on the earth. And then I as ked myself what was going to happen next, and of course didnt know the answer. Just as quickly as I had realised what my role was in my own passing over ceremony, I became clueless even faster. And there I was. At a table with another person, and yet somehow completely alone simultaneously; with the most pondered question of all time, and not a single answer. I closed my eyes and breathed in. I took two more, long, similar breaths, and I held the last one. I opened my eyes. And then I saw everything. Every sunrise and sunset from every possible corner of the earth. Every flower that had ever bloomed, every tree that had ever grown, every mountain that had ever been conquered. Every creature on land, in the sky and in the oceans. Every man who had ever made his dreams come true and every woman who had ever accomplished her greatest feat. Every new-born baby that had ever been born, potential in their eyes. I experienced every sensation that could ever be felt, and saw every note that had ever been played, I tasted success, I smelled hope and in all of these things combined I saw the face of God. I awoke in my bed and questioned my own existence again. As I write this I am still unaware of what my dream means. I believe that we are more than skin and bones. I believe that our bodies are nothing but vessels, and I believe that our souls are always yearning to escape them. I am unsure of the afterlife, and I wonder whether or not this life on earth is simply the afterlife to a previous one; that maybe every life is an afterlife and in each one we are promised something different for the next. I wonder how many times I have died before, I wonder how many times I will die again, and I wonder whether or not there is some end to this cycle. The only thing we can be sure of is death, for without death there is no life. There cannot be one without the other, but I do not believe that birth is the beginning and death the end. Until it is my time to become knowledgeable of what is next to come, I will just keep dreaming.