Impact of Isolation in Death of a Salesman :: Death Salesman essays

Effect of Isolation in Death of a Salesman                                                       Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman is the tale of a man, Willy Loman, gone hard of hearing to the outside world. Despite the fact that many attempt to support him, he closes them out and makes his own existence wherein he is effective and adored by everybody. In Death of a Salesman, Willy has numerous impacts both great and awful endeavoring to coordinate his life; it is his refusal to pick the accommodating counsel that will at last lead to his ruin.         One negative impact in Willy's life is the failure of his companions to go up against him about his issues. It is Willy's better half that causes him the most mischief. In her vain endeavor to secure Willy, she really permits his possible passing. The primary indication of her carelessness comes in one of Willy's flashbacks. Willy gloats, I did 500 gross in Providence and 700 gross in Boston(35). Be that as it may, as Linda starts figuring his bonus, the worth quickly lessens to about 200 gross all in all trip(35). Linda sees what is happening yet doesn't go up against him. A fundamentally the same as circumstance happens later in their life when she discovers that Willy is no longer on compensation, however gets cash each week from Charley. Again she won't stand up to him. By not standing up to Willy in both of these occurrences, Linda permits him to sink further into his bogus reality. Yet, Linda aggravates an even slip-up that tak es into consideration Willy's self destruction. She recognizes his self-destructive propensities when she says, He's been attempting to slaughter himself(58). She tells the young men that she has discovered the elastic hose in the storm cellar, however she despite everything won't go up against Willy. Another character who can't be honest with Willy will be Willy's manager Howard Wagner. Howard permits Willy to keep his activity, yet doesn't pay him. On the off chance that he had quite recently terminated him directly out it would of constrained Willy to get another line of work. By leading him on, Howard permits Willy to keep up his dreamland unchallenged. These are instances of the most negative impacts throughout Willy's life basically in light of the fact that they can help yet decide not to.

Creation Vs Evolution Essays - Evolutionary Biology, Free Essays

Creation Vs Evolution Essays - Evolutionary Biology, Free Essays Creation Vs Evolution There are a wide range of living things on earth. New species and distinctive sub species are advancing each second as others cease to exist. So as to clarify the starting point of life, individuals have utilized the holy book story of creation, while others concocted their own speculations. Out of every one of those hypotheses, the hypothesis of development by Charles Darwin appears to have the most supporting proof to back it up. Proof on earth proposes that solitary cell animals are the predecessors of all life. These living beings gradually advanced into air breathing animals when oxygen was made. Gradually, the as land evaporated, these animals moved away from the water and on to land where they advanced legs and a solid spine. The hypothesis of advancement by Charles Darwin clarified how life developed from natural selection, it gives a consistent clarification of the transformative procedure these animals took, and how human became. Proof on earth shows that solitary cell living beings in the long run developed to multicelled living beings and complex creatures. On the off chance that you take a gander at old fossil records, the most seasoned fossils are on the whole single cell animals. These straightforward animals don't expect oxygen to live. It took in vitality from the sun and other vitality sources. Gradually as oxygen shows up on Earth, a portion of the life forms started to advance lungs to inhale oxygen since When free oxygen entered the image. Breathing is more effective than drawing vitality from the aging procedure that prior magnifying instrument life utilized. (Science: Biology Pg. 36) Other life forms that didn't advance lungs either ceased to exist or went down to more profound profundities of the sea; Oxygen was first think about a contamination by infinitesimal animals. (Development Pg. 36) Because of the free Oxygen the individuals who didn't change were executed. The advancement through chara cteristic determination and natural selection shows that Darwin hypothesis is right. Because of the absence of oxygen inside the sea , fish gradually advanced to the state of land. Because of the unexpected increment in the number of inhabitants in fish and other marine life form. Because of the abrupt increment in the number of inhabitants in marines life, the oxygen level inside the sea diminished. Researcher accept that the lung fish advanced as a result of an absence of oxygen in the ocean. The lung fish figured out how to ascend from the ocean and take in the oxygen fundamental for endurance. (Development proof Pg. 38) As more land develops and dry, downpour gathered and shaped new water lakes and waterways. A portion of the fish got abandoned by the retreating sea. Many fish that became abandoned kicked the bucket since they couldn't adjust to the new condition; those fish required salt water to lived passed on. Be that as it may, some adjusted to their condition. (Development Pg. 38) The projection blade fish was another transformative way fish toke to maintai n a strategic distance from the absence of oxygen in the ocean. Fossil record shows that flap finned lung fish took another developmental way. (Microsoft Encarta Pg. 2) The projection balance fish was practically fit for leaving the water. It just required more muscles in the joints to have the option to lift it self up, due to this numerous individuals accept that the flap balance fish was the predecessor of early reptilian animals. The diverse developmental ways the fish have taken shows that life changes in reactions to various ecological conditions. Fossil records in South America, uncovers that there are many sub types of mankind. The fossil of Neanderthal man was find not long after Darwin distributed his book on advancement.. The Neanderthal man was consider to be a progenitor of humankind on account of the size of the skull which recommended that it had a little mind. The slanting brow is additionally a sign that it is a predecessor of mankind. Not long after the disclosure of the Neanderthal was found in the 1890's. This fossil was known as the Java Man, the Java Man was not think about the missing connection among people and primates. (Advancement Pg. 102) The Java Man was too indistinguishable an ordinary human to be the missing connection. The missing connection is a fossil of an animal that is in a transitional state between it unique structure and it

Engineering leadership the one-hour edition

Engineering leadership the one-hour edition About 20,000 visitors took a peek at MIT during last Saturdays Under the Dome Open House. To put that into perspective, hosting this many visitors on campus is as if about ten Campus Preview Weekends took place at the same time. Wow. If you havent seen the flashmob video yet, you have my permission to put down your AP study books and take a look. As I hinted at in my last entry, the GEL program had a hands-on hour-long activity of its own, called Deliver! The goal of Deliver! is to build a bridge out of paper, paper clips, and pencils under tight time pressure. The better the bridge design, the more vehicles (or in this case, washers) it can hold. According to Diane Soderholm, the Education Director for the GEL Program, almost every team practiced key leadership skills while building a paper bridge on time, within their materials budget, and to the requirements specified. Now I mentioned before how GEL students did a similar activity in an Engineering Leadership Lab earlier in the school year. So, how did the Open House visitors performance stack up against those of MIT students? Diane said that the visitors, including children, parents, and some real engineers, focused on meeting the time, materials, and requirement specifications, and did not go for the cool factor that trips up some MIT students. This is a lesson Ive learned over and over in the GEL program. Its our instinct to push the boundaries sometimes, and so we forget what the customer asked for in the first place. Leah 11 was helping at the GEL booth on Saturday, and commented on the activitys prime real estate in the Stata Center: We were situated between a levitation station and the robots throwing tennis balls so we couldnt have asked for a better location. The Deliver! station was also gracedâ€"not once, but twice!â€"with a visit by the ultimate MIT VIP: President Susan Hockfield! After the Open House event, President Hockfield sent a note to program director Ed Crawley, saying I greatly enjoyed the enthusiasm of the Gordon team, which amplified the dozens of other activities that lined Statas student street. I dont know if the visitors or the MIT participants had a better time. Please thank your colleagues for showing the world how MIT works. Her May 2nd email to the MIT community called the Open House a smashing success: The campus sparkled, and, more important, so did the eyes of thousands of children who came to explore MIT and to glimpse their futures. Nothing captures that better than a note I received just hours afterward from an alumna who had brought her 6- and 11-year-old sons: We were stunned by the organization, scale of the experiments shown, and sheer number of staff and students involved. We participated all across the tute, the kids almost running between buildings as I read the options ahead. We saw the Army helicopters, water rockets, and all the exhibits in Johnson and the Rockwell Cage. We did materials experiments, were in Building 33 and 41 for events, saw the ship models and viewed parts of lectures on robotics in Course 2. We loved all the activities in Stata [including] the DARPA autonomous vehicle The flying car, motorized shopping cart, and the students trying to commercialize the Braille label maker were also big winners The best part was over dinner, when my kids sat there with paper and pencil trying to invent a different way to make the helium blimps they saw race. They [had] decided to forgo a trip to Toscaninis so they could get home even faster as they had decided to make a robotic arm from their pneumatic LEGOs, discussing the design all the way home The arm is already finished We have been home only 45 minutes. Its been 30 years since an event like Under the Dome took place at MIT, but as a recent Tech article suggests, we probably wont have to wait that long for the next one. Thanks to Bruce Mendelsohn for the pictures!

How to Start an After School Club

A childs education does not take place only in the classroom, during regular school hours. The home, the playground, and the school campus, in general, can all be invaluable settings for a childs personal and scholastic growth. One way to enhance a students school experience is through extracurricular activities such as clubs. At the elementary school level, some appropriate, enjoyable, and educationally beneficial themes might be: Creative WritingBooks and ReadingChess and Other Board GamesOutdoor SportsCollecting and Other HobbiesMusic, Drama, and ChorusArts and Crafts (knitting, drawing, etc.)Anything else that fits the interests of your schools population Or, consider starting a club about the latest fad (for example, Pokemon a few years ago). Even though these extremely popular fads can also be annoying to adults, theres no denying that they do inspire boundless passion in the imaginations of a wide range of children. Perhaps, a Pokemon club could involve creative writing, original games, books, and songs about those colorful little creatures. Surely such a club would be bursting with enthusiastic young members! Now, once youve decided on the topic, consider the technicalities of starting a new club on campus. Here are some things to consider once youve determined the type of club youd like to start at your elementary school campus: Get permission from the schools administration to start the club on campus. Also, designate the time, place, and supervising adult(s) for the club. Look for commitment and set it in stone, if possible.Determine the age group that would be included as members of the club. Perhaps kindergarteners are too young? Would sixth graders be too cool for the concept? Narrow down your target population, and youll simplify the process right off the bat.Take an informal survey of how many students might be interested. Maybe you could place a half-sheet of paper in the teachers mailboxes, asking them to take a show of hands in their classroom.Depending on the results of the informal survey, you might want to consider placing a limit on the number of members to be initially accepted to the club. Consider the number of adults that will be able to attend the meetings to supervise and help out consistently. Your club will fail to meet its objectives if there are too many kids to handle effectively.Spe aking of objectives, what are yours? Why will your club exist and what will it set out to accomplish? You have two choices here: either you, as the adult facilitator, can determine the goals all on your own or, at the clubs first session, you can lead a discussion of club goals and use student input to list them.Design a permission slip to hand out to parents, as well as an application if you are having one. An after-school activity requires parent permission, so follow your schools rules to the letter on this topic.  Make a concrete plan for the first day and subsequent sessions, as possible. Its not worth holding a club meeting if it is disorganized and, as the adult supervisor, its your job to provide structure and direction. The number one principle in starting and coordinating a club at the elementary school level is to have fun! Give your students a positive and worthwhile first experience with extracurricular involvement. By creating a fun and functional school club, you will be setting your students on the path to a happy and fulfilled an academic career in middle school, high school, and beyond!

The Tuition Fee Cap Of Universities Essay - 1726 Words

INTRODUCTION in 2012, the tuition fee cap of universities in England increased to  £9000. Wales, Scotland and North Ireland also raised their fee. With the agreement of the parliament, the UK government allowed universities to charge Students up to  £9000 per year instead of the  £3375 in the previous two years. This contentious policy leads to protest in London and strong objection among students and schools. The opposition argued that raising the cap on tuition fee will put huge pressure on both universities and students, as the cuts to university funding will force the universities to increase the tuition fee that adds up to student s financial burden. Supporters, however, claimed that by cutting down university funding will benefit the rest of the economy. This essay will be examining both sides of arguments and give reasons to why the policy is unfair to current and future university students. As for the impact on the economy in the UK, Graphs, and statistical data will be included to further explain and analyze. Before debating on whether increasing tuition fee is unfair to future students, we should keep in mind that the current education system and policy can never benefit everyone. Especially when the competition between universities is a lot more intense nowadays. Increasing the income and value of the school is the priority. If one has no money or resources provided, it is less likely that he or she can be enrolled at a university compared to others. Thus, theShow MoreRelatedEco204 Raise or Lower Tuition? Essay710 Words   |  3 PagesTo raise more revenue, Nobody State University increases its tuition so, this would not increase the revenue but it would decrease the revenue. If one increase then the other would definitely decrease. 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I’ve seen it first hand growing up in a middle-class family and the first to attend collegeRead MoreAnalysis Of Hennepin County, A Non Profit Government Agency And Our Mission1367 Words   |  6 PagesCounty, 2016) Tuition reimbursement program allows the county to share a portion of the cost of education for degree or certificate programs for eligible employees; granted, the employee will be reimbursed 100% of tuition and course-related student fees and books, fees up to $5,250 annually. An eligible employee must work 40 hours a week and receive an honorable performance review. County employees receives tuition discounts for attending the following colleges: o Capella University 10% discountRead MoreAnalysis Of Hennepin County, A Non Profit Government Agency And Our Mission1330 Words   |  6 Pagesretain them. 3. Tuition reimbursement program allows the county to share a portion of the cost of education for degree or certificate programs for eligible employees; granted, the employee will be reimbursed 100% of tuition and course-related student fees and books, fees up to $5,250 annually. An eligible employee must work 40 hours a week and receive an honorable performance review. County employees receives tuition discounts for attending the following colleges: o Capella University 10% discountRead MoreGraduation Speech : College Tuition1634 Words   |  7 PagesFrom 1978 to 2013, college tuition costs rose by 1,120 % in America. College costs are the highest in history and more students are going to college than ever before. Most people push for free tuition for all community colleges and universities; however that is not a viable request Someone is going to have to foot the bill in the end. 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Even though I don’t have to worry about getting into a University for another four more years, I stress of the thought every day. Will I have a high enough GPA? What about my SAT scores? Do my parents even have money saved away for me and tuition? What do I want to do with my life? Thoughts like these run through my mind and stress me out all the time it seems, but I’m learning how toRead MoreHigh Education Issue Paper : Higher Education1852 Words   |  8 PagesHigher Education Issue Paper Jacob De Weerd University of Florida EDHD 6066 December 1, 2016 Abstract: The topic of this paper is the states’ decreasing financial support of higher education, the reaction and response from institutions who have lost funding, and the creative ways public institutions are locating additional streams of revenue. 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The drawback for this is that it could affect the funding of the universities as there would be reduction of the income from tuition fees. However, taking the slow step in reducing the number of student intake would make the effect less significant. In addition to this, restricting the entry requirements into MPharm course1 could also be an effective

The Vampire Diaries Dark Reunion Chapter Nine Free Essays

string(81) " talk about that now\?† â€Å"Because maybe you can answer this question\." â€Å"†¦ And so, ladies and gentlemen, I give you the class of ’92!† Bonnie threw her cap into the air along with everyone else. We made it, she thought. Whatever happens tonight, Matt and Meredith and I made it to graduation. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Nine or any similar topic only for you Order Now There had been times this last school year when she had seriously doubted they would. Considering Sue’s death, Bonnie had expected the graduation ceremony to be listless or grim. Instead, there was a sort of frenzied excitement about it. As if everyone was celebrating being alive-before it was too late. It turned into rowdiness as parents surged forward and the senior class of Robert E. Lee fragmented in all directions, whooping and acting up. Bonnie retrieved her cap and then looked up into her mother’s camera lens. Act normal, that’s what’s important, she told herself. She caught a glimpse of Elena’s aunt Judith and Robert Maxwell, the man Aunt Judith had recently married, standing on the sidelines. Robert was holding Elena’s little sister, Margaret, by the hand. When they saw her, they smiled bravely, but she felt uncomfortable when they came her way. â€Å"Oh, Miss Gilbert-I mean, Mrs. Maxwell-you shouldn’t have,† she said as Aunt Judith handed her a small bouquet of pink roses. Aunt Judith smiled through the tears in her eyes. â€Å"This would have been a very special day for Elena,† she said. â€Å"I want it to be special for you and Meredith, too.† â€Å"Oh, Aunt Judith.† Impulsively, Bonnie threw her arms around the older woman. â€Å"I’m so sorry,† she whispered. â€Å"You know how much.† â€Å"We all miss her,† Aunt Judith said. Then she pulled back and smiled again and the three of them left. Bonnie turned from looking at them with a lump in her throat to look at the madly celebrating crowd. There was Ray Hernandez, the boy she’d gone to Homecoming with, inviting everybody to a party at his house that night. There was Tyler’s friend Dick Carter, making a fool of himself as usual. Tyler was smiling brazenly as his father took picture after picture. Matt was listening, with an unimpressed look, to some football recruiter from James Mason University. Meredith was standing nearby, holding a bouquet of red roses and looking pensive. Vickie wasn’t there. Her parents had kept her home, saying she was in no state to go out. Caroline wasn’t there either. She was staying in the apartment in Heron. Her mother had told Bonnie’s mother she had the flu, but Bonnie knew the truth. Caroline was scared. And maybe she’s right, Bonnie thought, moving toward Meredith. Caroline may be the only one of us to make it through next week. Look normal, act normal. She reached Meredith’s group. Meredith was wrapping the red-and-black tassel from her cap around the bouquet, twisting it between elegant, nervous fingers. â€Å"Be careful with that; you’ll ruin it,† she said aloud. Meredith’s look of thoughtful melancholy didn’t change. She went on staring at the tassel, kinking it up. â€Å"It doesn’t seem fair,† she said, â€Å"that we should get these and Elena shouldn’t. It’s wrong.† â€Å"I know; it’s awful,† Bonnie said. But she kept her tone light. â€Å"I wish there was something we could do about it, but we can’t.† â€Å"It’s all wrong,† Meredith went on, as if she hadn’t heard. â€Å"Here we are out in the sunlight, graduating, and there she is under that-stone.† â€Å"I know, I know,† Bonnie said in a soothing tone. â€Å"Meredith, you’re getting yourself all upset. Why don’t you try to think about something else? Look, after you go out to dinner with your parents, do you want to go to Raymond’s party? Even if we’re not invited, we can crash it.† â€Å"No!† Meredith said with startling vehemence. â€Å"I don’t want to go to any party. How can you even think of that, Bonnie? How can you be so shallow?† â€Å"Well, we’ve got to do something †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I’ll tell you what I’m doing. I’m going up to the cemetery after dinner. I’m going to put this on Elena’s grave. She’s the one who deserves it.† Meredith’s knuckles were white as she shook the tassel in her hand. â€Å"Meredith, don’t be an idiot. You can’t go up there, especially at night. That’s crazy. Matt would say the same thing.† â€Å"Well, I’m not asking Matt. I’m not asking anybody. I’m going by myself.† â€Å"You can’t. God, Meredith, I always thought you had some brains-â€Å" â€Å"And I always thought you had some sensitivity. But obviously you don’t even want to think about Elena. Or is it just because you want her old boyfriend for yourself?† Bonnie slapped her. It was a good hard slap, with plenty of energy behind it. Meredith drew in a sharp breath, one hand to her reddening cheek. Everyone around them was staring. â€Å"That’s it for you, Bonnie McCullough,† Meredith said after a moment, in a voice of deadly quiet. â€Å"I don’t ever want to speak to you again.† She turned on her heel and walked away: â€Å"Never would be too soon for me!† Bonnie shouted at her retreating back. Eyes were hastily averted as Bonnie looked around her. But there was no question that she and Meredith had been the center of attention for several minutes past. Bonnie bit the inside of her cheek to keep a straight face and walked over to Matt, who had lost the recruiter. â€Å"Good.† â€Å"Do you think the slap was too much? We didn’t really plan that; I was just sort of going with the moment. Maybe it was too obvious†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It was fine, just fine.† Matt was looking preoccupied. Not that dull, apathetic, turned-in look of the last few months, but distinctly abstracted. â€Å"What is it? Something wrong with the plan?† Bonnie said. â€Å"No, no. Listen, Bonnie, I’ve been thinking. You were the one to discover Mr. Tanner’s body in the Haunted House last Halloween, right?† Bonnie was startled. She gave an involuntary shiver of distaste. â€Å"Well, I was the first one to know he was dead, really dead, instead of just playing his scene. Why on earth do you want to talk about that now?† â€Å"Because maybe you can answer this question. Could Mr. Tanner have got a knife in Damon?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Well, could he?† â€Å"I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bonnie blinked and frowned. Then she shrugged. â€Å"I suppose so. Sure. It was a Druid sacrifice scene, remember, and the knife we used was a real knife. We talked about using a fake one, but since Mr. Tanner was going to be lying right there beside it, we figured it was safe enough. As a matter of fact†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Bonnie’s frown deepened. â€Å"I think when I found the body, the knife was in a different place from where we’d set it in the beginning. But then, some kid could have moved it. Matt, why are you asking?† â€Å"Just something Damon said to me,† Matt said, staring off into the distance again. â€Å"I wondered if it could be the truth.† â€Å"Oh.† Bonnie waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. â€Å"Well,† she said finally, â€Å"if it’s all cleared up, can you come back to Earth, please? And don’t you think you should maybe put your arm around me? Just to show you’re on my side and there’s no chance you’re going to show up at Elena’s grave tonight with Meredith?† Matt snorted, but the faraway look disappeared from his eyes. For just a brief instant he put his arm around her and squeezed. D..j. vu, Meredith thought as she stood at the gate to the cemetery. The problem was, she couldn’t remember exactly which of her previous experiences in the graveyard this night reminded her of. There had been so many. In a way, it had all started here. It had been here that Elena had sworn not to rest until Stefan belonged to her. She’d made Bonnie and Meredith swear to help her, too -in blood. How suitable, Meredith thought now. And it had been here that Tyler had assaulted Elena the night of the Homecoming dance. Stefan had come to the rescue, and that had been the beginning for them. This graveyard had seen a lot. This graveyard had been the beginning, and the end as well. And maybe there would be another end tonight. Meredith started walking. I wish you were here now, Alaric, she thought. I could use your optimism and your savvy about the supernatural-and I wouldn’t mind your muscles, either. Elena’s headstone was in the new cemetery, of course, where the grass was still tended and the graves marked with wreaths of flowers. The stone was very simple, almost plain looking, with a brief inscription. Meredith bent down and placed her bouquet of roses in front of it. Then, slowly, she added the red-and-black tassel from her cap. In this dim light, both colors looked the same, like dried blood. She knelt and folded her hands quietly. And she waited. All around her the cemetery was still. It seemed to be waiting with her, breath held in anticipation. The rows of white stones stretched on either side of her, shining faintly. Meredith listened for any sound. And then she heard one. Heavy footsteps. With her head down, she stayed quiet, pretending she noticed nothing. The footsteps sounded closer, not even bothering to be stealthy. â€Å"Hi, Meredith.† Meredith looked around quickly. â€Å"Oh-Tyler,† she said. â€Å"You scared me. I thought you were-never mind.† â€Å"Yeah?† Tyler’s lips skinned back in an unsettling grin. â€Å"Well, I’m sorry you’re disappointed. But it’s me, just me and nobody else.† â€Å"What are you doing here, Tyler? No good parties?† â€Å"I could ask you the same question.† Tyler’s eyes dropped to the headstone and the tassel and his face darkened. â€Å"But I guess I already know the answer. You’re here for her. Elena Gilbert, A Light in Darkness,† he read sarcastically. â€Å"That’s right,† Meredith said evenly. † ‘Elena’ means light, you know. And she was certainly surrounded by darkness. It almost beat her, but she won in the end.† â€Å"Maybe,† Tyler said, and worked his jaw meditatively, squinting. â€Å"But you know, Meredith, it’s a funny thing about darkness. There’s always more of it waiting in the wings.† â€Å"Like tonight,† Meredith said, looking up at the sky. It was clear and dotted with faint stars. â€Å"It’s very dark tonight, Tyler. But sooner or later the sun will come up.† Just like he showed Elena, Meredith thought. In a way she was enjoying this verbal fencing, but she never lost sight of what she had come here for. Her cold fingers dipped into her jacket pocket and found the tiny sprig of vervain there. â€Å"That’s all right, Tyler. I think I’d prefer to stay here.† â€Å"You sure about that? A cemetery’s a dangerous place to be alone.† Unquiet spirits, Meredith thought. She looked right at him. â€Å"I know.† He was grinning again, displaying teeth like tombstones. â€Å"Anyway, you can see it from here if you have good eyes. Look that way, toward the old graveyard. Now, do you see something sort of shining red in the middle?† â€Å"No.† There was a pale luminosity over the trees in the east. Meredith kept her eyes on it. â€Å"Aw, come on, Meredith. You’re not trying. Once the moon’s up you’ll see it better.† â€Å"Tyler, I can’t waste any more time here. I’m going.† â€Å"No, you’re not,† he said. And then, as her fingers tightened on the vervain, encompassing it in her fist, he added in a wheedling voice, â€Å"I mean, you’re not going until I tell you the story of that headstone, are you? It’s a great story. See, the headstone is made of red marble, the only one of its kind in the whole graveyard. And that ball on top-see it?-that must weigh about a ton. But it moves. It turns whenever a Smallwood is going to die. My grandfather didn’t believe that; he put a scratch on it right down the front. He used to come out and check it every month or so. Then one day he came and found the scratch in the rear. The ball had turned completely backward. He did everything he could to turn it around, but he couldn’t. It was too heavy. And that night, in bed, he died. They buried him under it.† â€Å"He probably had a heart attack from overexertion,† Meredith said caustically, but her palms were tingling. â€Å"You’re funny, aren’t you? Always so cool. Always so together. Takes a lot to make you scream, doesn’t it?† â€Å"I’m leaving, Tyler. I’ve had enough.† He let her walk a few paces, then said, â€Å"You screamed that night at Caroline’s, though, didn’t you?† Meredith turned back. â€Å"How do you know that?† Tyler rolled his eyes. â€Å"Give me credit for a little intelligence, okay? I know a lot, Meredith. For instance, I know what’s in your pocket.† Meredith’s fingers stilled. â€Å"What do you mean?† Meredith backed away a step. â€Å"You think that’s going to help you, don’t you? But I’m going to tell you a secret.† Meredith’s eyes measured the distance between herself and the path. She kept her face calm, but a violent shaking was beginning inside her. She didn’t know if she was going to be able to pull this off. â€Å"You’re not going anywhere, babe,† Tyler said, and a large hand clasped Meredith’s wrist. It was hot and damp where she could feel it below her jacket cuff. â€Å"You’re going to stay right here for your surprise.† His body was hunched now, his head thrust forward, and there was an exultant leer on his lips. â€Å"Let me go, Tyler. You’re hurting me!† Panic flashed down all Meredith’s nerves at the feel of Tyler’s flesh against hers. But the hand only gripped harder, grinding tendon against bone in her wrist. â€Å"This is a secret, baby, that nobody else knows,† Tyler said, pulling her close, his breath hot in her face. â€Å"You came here all decked out against vampires. But I’m not a vampire.† Meredith’s heart was pounding. â€Å"Let go!† â€Å"First I want you to look over there. You can see the headstone now,† he said, turning her so that she couldn’t help but look. And he was right; she could see it, like a red monument with a shining globe on top. Or-not a globe. That marble ball looked like†¦ it looked like†¦ â€Å"Now look east. What do you see there, Meredith?† Tyler went on, his voice hoarse with excitement. It was the full moon. It had risen while he’d been talking to her, and now it hung above the hills, perfectly round and enormously distended, a huge and swollen red ball. And that was what the headstone looked like. Like a full moon dripping with blood. â€Å"You came here protected against vampires, Meredith,† Tyler said from behind her, even more hoarsely. â€Å"But the Smallwoods aren’t vampires at all. We’re something else.† And then he growled. No human throat could have made the sound. It wasn’t an imitation of an animal; it was real. A vicious guttural snarl that went up and up, snapping Meredith’s head around to look at him, to stare in disbelief. What she was seeing was so horrible her mind couldn’t accept it†¦ â€Å"I told you it was a surprise. How do you like it?† Tyler said. His voice was thick with saliva, and his red tongue lolled among the rows of long canine teeth. His face wasn’t a face anymore. It jutted out grotesquely into a muzzle, and his eyes were yellow, with slitlike pupils. His reddish-sandy hair had grown over his cheeks and down the back of his neck. A pelt. â€Å"You can scream all you want up here and nobody’s going to hear you,† he added. Every muscle in Meredith’s body was rigid, trying to get away from him. It was a visceral reaction, one she couldn’t have helped if she wanted to. His breath was so hot, and it smelled feral, like an animal. The nails he was digging into her wrist were stumpy blackened claws. She didn’t have the strength to scream again. â€Å"There’s other things besides vampires with a taste for blood,† Tyler said in his new slurping voice. â€Å"And I want to taste yours. But first we’re going to have some fun.† Although he still stood on two feet, his body was humped and strangely distorted. Meredith’s struggles were feeble as he forced her to the ground. She was a strong girl, but he was far stronger, his muscles bunching under his shirt as he pinned her. â€Å"You’ve always been too good for me, haven’t you? Well, now you’re going to find out what you’ve been missing.† I can’t breathe, Meredith thought wildly. His arm was across her throat, blocking her air. Gray waves rolled through her brain. If she passed out now†¦ â€Å"You’re going to wish you died as fast as Sue.† Tyler’s face floated above her, red as the moon, with that long tongue lolling. His other hand held her arms above her head. â€Å"You ever hear the story of Little Red Riding Hood?† The gray was turning into blackness, speckled with little lights. Like stars, Meredith thought. I’m falling in the stars†¦ â€Å"Tyler, take your hands off her! Let go of her, now!† Matt’s voice shouted. Tyler’s slavering snarl broke off into a surprised whine. The arm against Meredith’s throat released pressure, and air rushed into her lungs. Footsteps were pounding around her. â€Å"I’ve been waiting a long time to do this, Tyler,† Matt said, jerking the sandy-red head back by the hair. Then Matt’s fist smashed into Tyler’s newly grown muzzle. Blood spurted from the wet animal nose. The sound Tyler made froze Meredith’s heart in her chest. He sprang at Matt, twisting in midair, claws outstretched. Matt fell back under the assault and Meredith, dizzy, tried to push herself up off the ground. She couldn’t; all her muscles were trembling uncontrollably. But someone else picked Tyler off Matt as if Tyler weighed no more than a doll. â€Å"Just like old times, Tyler,† Stefan said, setting Tyler on his feet and facing him. Tyler stared a minute, then tried to run. He was fast, dodging with animal agility between the rows of graves. But Stefan was faster and cut him off. Stefan was dragging Tyler back. â€Å"I always knew you were a jerk,† he said, shoving Tyler against a headstone, â€Å"but I didn’t know you were this stupid. I’d have thought you would have learned not to jump girls in graveyards, but no. And you had to brag about what you did to Sue, too. That wasn’t smart, Tyler.† Meredith looked at them as they faced each other. So different, she thought. Even though they were both creatures of darkness in some way. Stefan was pale, his green eyes blazing with anger and menace, but there was a dignity, almost a purity about him. He was like some stern angel carved in unyielding marble. Tyler just looked like a trapped animal. He was crouched, breathing hard, blood and saliva mingling on his chest. Those yellow eyes glittered with hate and fear, and his fingers worked as if he’d like to claw something. A low sound came out of his throat. â€Å"Don’t worry, I’m not going to beat you up this time,† Stefan said. â€Å"Not unless you try to get away. We’re all going up to the church to have a little chat. You like to tell stories, Tyler; well, you’re going to tell me one now.† Tyler sprang at him, vaulting straight from the ground for Stefan’s throat. But Stefan was ready for him. Meredith suspected that both Stefan and Matt enjoyed the next few minutes, working off their accumulated aggressions, but she didn’t, so she looked away. In the end, Tyler was trussed up with nylon cord. He could walk, or shuffle at least, and Stefan held the back of his shirt and guided him urgently up the path to the church. Inside, Stefan pushed Tyler onto the ground near the open tomb. â€Å"Now,† he said, â€Å"we are going to talk. And you’re going to cooperate, Tyler, or you’re going to be very, very sorry.† How to cite The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Nine, Essay examples

The National Youth Service Corps Schemes in Nigeria

Introduction The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which requires companies to treat all their stakeholders in an ethical and socially responsible manner has gained primacy all over the world in the course of the last two decades. Today, companies are expected to behave responsibly and the number of CSR initiatives has risen significantly as companies seek to become more competitive and foster greater social cohesion.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The National Youth Service Corps Schemes in Nigeria specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Emphasize on CSR has been due to the realization that corporate responsibility is necessary if a corporation wants to increase its chances of succeeding. A less known concept is that of National Social Responsibility (NSR) which explores how a nation treats its stakeholders (citizens) in a responsible manner. Jawahir and Hopkins (2008) lament that while CSR has been imp lemented aggressively in many countries; most nation states lack social responsibility programs for their citizens who are the key stakeholders of the state. In spite of the poor results in NSR by many states, there have been some NSR programs which have shown great success. An example of this is the National Youth Service Corps Schemes (NYSC) which is a Nigerian national youth programme that lasts for one year. While the NYSC was originally created as a Peace Keeping initiative, the program has become an instrument of making the youth more socially responsible. This paper will set out to illustrate the similarities between CSR and the national youth service initiative in Nigeria so as to demonstrate that the NYSC is a successful model of how corporate social responsibility can go national. Snapshot of Nigeria Nigeria is a developing country in Africa and it is ranked as the most populous nation in the continent. Elaigwu (2008) documents that â€Å"Nigeria has a total area of 932,7 68 square kilometers and boasts of a population of about 130 million people, as well as a population growth rate of 2.6 percent† (p.1). It is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse countries (with over 300 identifiable ethnic groups and over 400 lingo-cultural groups) and this communal heterogeneity makes governance a complex affair. The official language of the country is English but the languages of the three large ethno linguistic groups; the Hausa, Yoruba, and the Igbo, make up the major languages of the Nigerian people.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are three major religions in Nigeria: Islam, Christianity and African Traditional Religion. Of the three religions, the African Traditional Religion is the oldest one and it is also the religion that has suffered the greatest loss of followers as Nigerians move to the other two predominant religions. An important feature of Nigeria is that it is a federation of a number of states. This federation was established by the British colonial rulers in 1954 and it has survived intact up to date. Elaigwu (2008) notes that this federation of previously independent states was not the result of voluntary union or contract between the states but rather an imposition by the British colonial rulers. While the federal system was introduced in 1954, the various states maintained a lot of autonomy and this only increased after independence due to the mutual suspicions and fears that existed among ethnic groups (Elaigwu, 2008). Nigeria has had a turbulent history after it attained independence from Britain. The country gained its independence from Britain in 1960 and a government was formed with Nnamdi Azikiwe being the first president of the country. The post of president was largely ceremonial and the real power was wielded by the prime minister who was Abubakar Tafawa. While most other African co untries had years of relative peace following independence from their respective colonial masters, Nigeria’s independence was followed by civil wars which were sparked by a number of reasons. From the onset, there existed rivalry and suspicion among the major ethnic groups: Hausa-Fulani in the north, the Yoruba in the west and the Ibo in the east. Abubakar’s rule was marred by great corruption and inefficiency in delivery of services to the county’s population. Opposition to this corrupt and ineffective government led to a coup in 1966 which resulted in the ousting of the first president of Nigeria. A counter-coup closely followed this and Colonel Yakuba Gowon took leadership. Due to the huge militarization of the country that followed these coups, there was a secession attempt by the Eastern Nigeria region and this sparked a civil war in 1967. The war ended in 1970 having caused the death of up to 3 million people and greatly damaged the infrastructure of the y oung nation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The National Youth Service Corps Schemes in Nigeria specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Even though the federal government of Nigeria won the war, it realized that for peace to prevail in the multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, unity had to be achieved among the various constituent parts of the state. Achieving nationwide unity in Nigeria was going to be hard since the country has many ethnic groups (estimated to be around 375) and there is no common ancestry upon which loyalty for the land could be based. It was therefore recognized that the desired unity and true feelings of loyalty for the state were not going to come about naturally but they could only be achieved through a deliberate social process. National Youth Service Corp. Program The National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) was started in 1973 under the leadership of the military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon. Agumagu, Adesope and Njoku (2006) note that the core objective of the scheme is to instill in the Nigerian youth â€Å"the spirit of selfless service to the community, and emphasize the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians irrespective of cultural or social background† (p.70). The initiative also has unity as a central point to the entire scheme. Agumagu et al. (2006) point out that as a result of the turbulent history experienced by Nigeria since her independence, there is need for unity among the people. The NYSC program is compulsory for all graduates in Nigeria since if it were voluntary in nature, only a few youths would be willing to engage in it and this would hurt the vital goal of enhancing national unity in the highest number of people. The NYSC scheme encourages the youth to serve their nation in whatever capacity they have professional training in (Agumagu, et al., 2006). All corps members are expected to make positive contributions to the com munities where they are serving. The reason why the youth were targeted by the state as agents of change is because this group is uniquely placed to influence the society. The youth are a unique group who possess potent energies that can be channeled into meaningful activities for the purpose of national development.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Obadare (2005) notes that the potency of youth as a social category in African has been trivialized and over-simplified due to the negative connotation attached to the term â€Å"youth† in Africa. The term African youth has come to be a metaphor for violence, crime, and struggling in the continent. This overgeneralization overshadows the reality that the youth can be engaged in peaceful social processes and serve important roles in advancing the prosperity of a nation. The scheme is made up of four phases which are undertaken in a sequential manner. The first phase is mobilization where the corps members are posted to the various stations where they will serve. In order to achieve the objective of forging unity and inter-ethnic understanding, members of the NYSC are required to serve in states far away from their own home state so that they can learn the ways of life of culturally different Nigerians. Being posted in other states also helps to get rid of stereotypical views t hat the individual might have had concerning other ethnic groups and a more liberal outlook is adopted by the corps member (Agumagu et al., 2006). The oriental phase takes two-weeks during which the corps members are initiated into the details of the program. The orientation phase is designed to provide the new corps members with a proper understanding of the goals of the program as well as the ideals that are held by the NYSC. The first part of the orientation consists of citizenship and leadership training during which the corps members engage in drill and non-drill activities (Agumagu et al., 2006). The non-drill activities include a series of lectures on history, politics, and administration and the activities are aimed at increasing knowledge of the corps members in their national heritage. The drill activities are conducted by Army officials and they include survival techniques, parading, uniform, and discipline. The third phase consists of primary assignments and each of the corps members is required to perform his national service in the area where he/she has been deployed. The service provided is normally of a specialized nature and the corps member is placed in a field relevant to his academic qualification. The final stage consists of winding up activities (both the primary assignments and community development services) and a final passing out parade during which corps members are awarded with certificates (Agumagu et al., 2006). A graduate in Nigeria is only eligible for legal employment after they have acquired this certificate which acts as proof that they have successfully completed the NYSC program. While the need for the NYSC was acknowledged by the political leaders and the youths of Nigeria, the initial reaction to the NYSC scheme was not favorable and there was widespread opposition to the program by many students. This opposition which mostly emerged from the university students was because the students had not been involved in the develo pment of the program and there was little attempt by the government to promote the ideals of the scheme to the population. However, the scheme came to be accepted by the youth and it has been running successfully for the past 29 years. Literature Review From its conception, the NYSC had political motivations and the government of Nigeria hoped to advance some values using the program. The government had witnessed a breakdown in relations between people of differing ethnic groups and a civil war which led to immense losses for many Nigerians. For the nation to succeed in future, plans had to be put in place to foster reconciliation and promote peace and unity in the country and the NYSC purported to fulfill this objectives (Agumagu et al., 2006). In a similar manner, CSR acknowledges the political realities in the environment the company exists and stays in tune with sociopolitical movements for social equity and justice. As such, CSR is influenced by the political environment and so me of the activities implemented are politically motivated. In establishing the NYSC, the government was admitting that it needed the input of the youth so as to fulfill the goals of development and unity (Agumagu et al., 2006). This admission is based on the reality that the state has an intimate connection with its citizens and the manner in which it carries out its activities will influence the actions of these stakeholders. Similarly, CSR is emphasized upon due to the interdependence between corporations and the society and from the acknowledgement that the organization’s activities will have an impact which may lead to positive or negative consequences within the community. A core goal of the NYSC is to encourage self-reliance in the Nigerian youths. NYSC aims to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship in corps members and therefore enable them to become self-employed once they are through with the program. This deemphasize on dependency on public service employment is cru cial in Nigeria where the number of employment candidates far outweighs the employment opportunities provided by the government and the private sector. CSR initiatives aim to achieve the same results for the community. Kent, Cheney, and Roper (2007) reveal that some CSR programs target unemployed members of the community and help to make them self-reliant and establish their own income generating activities. NSR requires the state to be committed to maintaining a good overall quality of life for its citizens. This requires that resources be dedicated to communities which are poor in order to promote a rise in the living standards. In Nigeria communities, especially in the rural areas, suffer from a dire lack of skilled labor which is needed to achieve optimal results in food production and industry. The NYSC program helps to alleviate this problem by sending skilled candidates to these areas (Agumagu et al., 2006). The knowledge and skills of these skilled members of the corps is ha rnessed and used to achieve favorable outcomes such as food production, economic recovery and industry development in impoverished regions. Some of the CSR strategies implemented by companies also aim to improve the lives of the community members. Kent et al. (2007) reveals that in some rural areas, companies implement water and sanitation programs that program help to deliver clean water to the community therefore improving their quality of life. CSR promotes cultural awareness which is a necessity for many companies as they serve increasingly diverse cultural groups. The NYSC promotes cultural integration through the youth. This is achieved since the program requires that each corps member serve in a state different from his/her state of origin. The youth are therefore exposed to cultures and traditions that may be significantly different from their own. This exposure to different cultures leads to an appreciation for the other people’s ways of life. Without exposure to oth er cultures, a person may see their culture as the only â€Å"right one† and the rigid stance will lead to poor relationships. The NYSC forces individuals to experience other cultures and this leads to an accommodative outlook since the individual appreciates that different people have different ways of doing things. The NYSC scheme does not only influence the opinion of the corps members but also their immediate relations. Obadare (2005) points out that the parents and relations of corps members acquire an interest about the specific area where their kin is posted. This forces the relatives to â€Å"think national† and therefore fosters a national consciousness and integration. A key positive outcome of many CSR programs is to empower community members. This empowerment may be achieved through training and seminars where individuals are equipped with knowledge and life skills that help them to become productive members of the society. The NYSC has also achieved this g oal of empowering corps members and the community at large. Agumagu et al. (2006) asserts that corps members develop a high level of self confidence as a result of their engagement in the program. The community members are also empowered through the teaching services that are provided by corps members. In addition to this, the national service increases the awareness of the participants of the needs of others. NYSC gives the state an opportunity to add value to its citizens by instilling professional knowledge to the youths. As has been noted, the programme is meant for graduates of tertiary institutions and a majority of these graduates possess little or no work experience. Agumagu et al. (2006) reveal that NYSC provides on-the-job training and experience for corps members therefore increasing their professional value. Individuals who have gone through the program gain important work experience which makes it easier for them to get gainful employment after they have completed their year of service. The NYSC scheme leads to a formation of a positive attitude towards community development service as the members engage with the community. The NYSC promotes the kind of service described by Sherraden (2001) as â€Å"an organized period of substantial engagement and contribution to the local, national, or world community, recognized and valued by society, with minima; monetary compensation to the participant† (p.2). This service provided by the youth meets certain human needs and promotes the development of the community. Agumagu et al. (2006) states that as corps members attend various community development service sessions, individual members see the need to be more committed. The members are enthusiastic as they share ideas and discuss how they should act in order to bring about progress in the community they are serving. CSR also promotes community service since the companies are expected to engage in community development projects without any compensati on. NSR can be used to obtain a positive influence on citizenship. This is the case with the NYSC where some explicit ideals are instilled in the members of the corps during their service. An objective of the program is to impart a right attitude, good values, and enhance the development of good qualities in the youths of Nigeria. The service that the youth are obligated to support promotes good citizenship which helps in the development of the nation. This is similar to CSR which aims to present the company in a positive light to the public. Kent et al. (2007) reveal that while CSR has emerged as a strategic process that is beneficial to the society, the primary concern of this strategic process is managing the image of corporations and countering any real or potential criticism of the social impacts of profit-driven businesses on the lives and values of people. The companies therefore undertake image management through a guided philanthropy which is quickly publicized to the commu nity that counts therefore raising the standing of the company. The same can be said for NYSC which was entrenched in the constitution of the country as a â€Å"national interest† as perceived by the military regime of the time. CSR aims to address the particular social problem of social exclusion which is where some individuals or groups lack access to rights and benefits that are fundamental to other members of the community. CSR helps to alleviate this problem though implementations of programs which help enhance the social inclusion. Companies can also take up greater advocacy for sufficient social changes so as to foster social inclusion and therefore benefit the previously marginalized groups (Agumagu et al., 2006). The NYSC also promotes social inclusion through the interaction among corps members and with the communities. Through interaction among the corps members, graduates hailing from varied ethno-cultural groups are able to appreciate the similarities existing be tween their cultures. Interaction with the communities leads to a reduction in ethnic chauvinism and the graduates are able to develop healthy attitudes towards groups that were otherwise excluded. A key goal of all corporate social responsibility initiatives is to bring about positive changes to the communities that the company interacts with. Arguably the most frequently mentioned vision statement in the corporate social responsibility plan of many organizations is to give back to society. CSR therefore involves giving to the community without expecting any repayment for the services rendered. The NYSC also applies the same philosophy since the corps members are expected to offer services to their nation without expecting repayments for the actions. The then Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, best articulated the mandate of the NYSC at the formal inauguration of the NYSC Directorate in June 1973 as; mobilizing the youths and preparing them to â€Å"offer willingly and without asking for return, their best in the service of their nation at all times† (Obadare, 2005, p.14). The corps members are supposed to learn about the higher ideals of service to the community beyond the thought of reward as they serve their nation for no payment. Most CSR efforts have a number of tangible contributions to the society. For example, some companies build social facilities such as hospitals, schools, and roads for the community that they interact with. Others contribute labor to health care facilities or even homeless shelters. These physical contributions improve the lives of the society and also increase the wellbeing of the community members. The NYSC scheme also brings about some tangible benefits to the various stations where the corps members are deployed. These contributions are mostly in the form of skilled manpower supply and in the education sector where a majority of the corps members serve in (Agumagu et al., 2006). The program members also make a contribution to the rural infrastructure and health care delivery therefore greatly benefiting members of the community. While most urban areas have the necessary skilled labor force, the rural areas suffer from a shortage of skilled workers. The NYSC assists in tackling this skilled manpower issue since the graduates who possess technical knowledge are posted in the areas where the skilled manpower is needed but lacking. A significant outcome of NYSC is that it has served as the main source of teachers and doctors in rural communities therefore contributing to the welfare of people in these areas. The NYSC stresses on sustainability and it teaches the corps members to protect the nation’s environment and natural resources. This is because sustainable development is critical to the overall long-term well being of the society and it is a core objective for many governments (Sherraden, 2001). For any development to be regarded as sustainable, it has to meet the needs of the p resent without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. CSR initiatives take this into consideration and all possible measures are made to use resources in a responsible manner. Criticism of NYSC While the NYSC has achieved many successes in its role as a national social responsibility strategy, the program is criticized for a number of reasons. To begin with, the success of NYSC in achieving its core goals of promoting unity, patriotism and citizenship values has been questioned considering the high levels of ethno-religious intolerance and uncivil behavior that has been carried out by the youth and the rest of the population in Nigeria. The effectiveness of some of the stages of the scheme is also below standard. Corps members reveal that the community development initiative of the NYSC which is aimed at enhancing community service and instilling values of selfless service to the nation is mostly a failure. This is because the initiative suffers from inadequate funding which makes it impossible for the corps members to carry out non-trivial projects in service to the community. Further compounding the problem is the fact that there lacks adequate supervision by the NYSC officials which has made the community development day for many corps members â€Å"a weekly holiday, another day for meetings and socialization by corps members†(Obadare, 2005, p.36). Another criticism to the program is that it fails to sustain the values of selflessness and an emphasis on unity in the corps members. Research on the success of the NYSC revealed that a while a significantly high number of serving corps members had a positive opinion about the scheme (86.7%), the proportion of former corps members who had positive opinions about the program was lower (70%) (Obadare, 2005). From these findings, it would appear that while the program instilled values in the corps members, the same values are easily eroded. However, this might not be a proble m with the NYSC scheme but rather with the overall society which makes it hard for the former corps members to live by the ideals inculcated during their year of service. Discussion Social responsibility has become an indispensable component for both corporations and nation states since it has not only social but economic consequences. This paper has provided a discussion of the NYSC in Nigeria and how it serves as a National Social Responsibility program. The National Youth Service Corps has been in operation since 1973 and the scheme has been instrumental in promoting service to the nation by the youths. The need for unity in Nigeria cannot be over emphasized considering the upsurge in inter-faith clashes that the country has experienced in the previous years. As a result of being exposed to this program, corps members are actively involved in the community development services and have a positive attitude towards community service. The whole community has benefited since the yout h are more willing to play their part in national development. As with many other national service programs in the continent, the NYSC was designed to mobilize young people for national development and foster peace and unity in Nigeria. The program has been able to bridge the gap that exists between the different peoples of the nation and therefore enhance unity and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. The NYSC as a National Social Responsibility has some major advantages over CSR. Kent et al. (2007) states that CSR sometimes fails to work as well as it could due to the voluntary nature of CSR. The CSR targets set by companies are therefore not always met since there is no binding obligation for the company to achieve these objectives. The regulations set to govern the CSR can also be changed as the company deems appropriate and not all companies will be willing to incur extra expenses in the name of CSR. In contrast to this, the NYSC program is compulsory for all graduates in Nigeria and the graduates cannot be legally employed until they have served they have completed their one year of service and have a certificate to attest to this. The scheme is therefore able to meet its targets since there is a binding obligation for the corps members to engage in the activities assigned to them. In spite of the criticism that the NYSC has faced, a majority of serving corps members and alumni of the program argue for the continued existence of the program. These points to the relevance of the program in promoting advancing its core objectives of national integration and peace as well as acting as a platform for national social responsibility. Just like CSR strategies give companies competitive advantages, NSR can give a nation advantages by promoting innovation and economic growth by the nations citizens. Conclusion This paper set out to demonstrate how the NYSC scheme in Nigeria acts as a CSR program on a national level. The paper has demonstrated that while CSR is often associated with businesses, NSR emulates some of the philosophies of CSR albeit at a national level. This paper has underscored the importance of the NYSC scheme in Nigeria and the role that this scheme has played in fostering unity and also bringing about community development. The program has had significant success in promoting national integration in the multi-ethnic nation of Nigeria. Moreover, the scheme has inculcated civic ethos and improved the standard of living for a significant number of communities in the rural areas of Nigeria. The NYSC has served as an essential pillar of nation building and how its relevance in the country is still strong even after 29 years of existence. This paper has noted that there are many attributes of the NYSC which are similar to Corporate Social Responsibility. It can therefore be suggested that the NYSC scheme takes CSR to a national level since the program is implemented through the entire country. The NYSC has gone beyond inculcating th e spirit of service and patriotism in the nation’s youth; it has proved to be an adept tool for national social service with many positive results being reaped by the communities and the nation as a whole. References Agumagu, A.C., Adesope, O.M. Njoku, M.C. (2006). Attitude of youth corpers towards the community development service of NYSC in Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Social Research, 6(1), 70-75. Elaigwu, J.I. (2008). The Federal Republic of Nigeria. NY: International Association of Centers for federal Studies. Jawahir, A. Hopkins, M. (2008). National social responsibility (NSR) and nation states. Web. Kent, S., Cheney, G., Roper, J. (2007). The Debate over corporate social responsibility. Cambridge: Oxford University Press. Obadare, E. (2005). Statism, Youth and the Civic Imagination: A Critical Study of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Programme in Nigeria. St Louis: Center for Social Development. Sherraden, Michael (2001). Civic Service: Issues, Outloo k, Institution Building (CSD Perspective). St Louis, Center for Social Development. This essay on The National Youth Service Corps Schemes in Nigeria was written and submitted by user Cailyn Lee to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.