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See what I've Done,
4 of my college essays for you to read...

Volunteering Journal...Essay #1
November 8, 2000: Today was my first day of volunteering. I have to say that it was a little uncomfortable and a little disorganized. I guess when you're dealing with people whose ages range form 60-90; things can get a little crazy. My first task this morning was to walk around door to door and ask the elders if they wanted to come for morning exercise. WOW! They were not exactly all enthusiastic about this idea. Some however were excited and joined me in the tea room for thirty minutes of "Seniorbics". We spent the half hour moving our arms and legs while sitting in a chair. After the exercise session, I did one on one visits with some of the members at Alterra. My favorite member thus far is Dub Howely, who takes to me about his time at UNC and leaving to become a dentist by attending Graduate school at Emery University. The two of us chatted for almost an hour. All and all, I spent about 1-2 hours there this morning, and although it started off a little scary, by the afternoon, I was doing just fine. I go back again tomorrow to take a field trip to the Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill; we'll see how that goes.
November 9, 2000: Well my second day was spent entirely at the Botanical Gardens where I saw more plants than I ever thought existed. However, we started the day by making our own hot tea and eating Gingerbread cookies. It was really cold outside today so we tried to spend a good deal of time inside conversing and eating. We made the tea out of fresh herbs from the garden. Everyone was really interested in hearing my stories of playing volleyball at UNC, so I spent a lot of the time talking instead of listening. After we walked around the gardens, we decided to load the bus and head back to Alterra. This may have been my favorite day yet.
November 14, 2000: I am going to go back on what I said last time about that day being my favorite. Although I enjoyed the day at the Botanical Gardens, today was my favorite day yet. All we did was sit around and talk the whole 2 hours I was there. I think for the elders having someone to share stories with is very exciting. My new friend Helen told me about losing her daughter to a brain tumor, and her husband to cancer. I couldn't believe how honest and straight forward so many of them were. My other friend who I think I mentioned before, Dub Howeley, told me more about dental school and his practice of 50 years. He talked about his wife and how he missed her so much. Dub also told me of his son, who comes to visit a couple times a week and makes more money than he "could ever think of". Oh, today was so fun and refreshing, I am actually really looking forward to coming back tomorrow.
November 15, 2000: Today was quite interesting as I learned how to play Poker and actually won two games. I started off the day with once again leading the exercises for "Seniorbics", however my group was really small this morning as only about five people came to the tea room. It was funny though because about half way through exercises a whole bunch of people started to show up. I thought they were just coming late, but was informed that they were "card sharks" and were waiting for the Poker to start at 10:30am. We quickly finished up our "Seniorbics" and got the room ready for Poker. I sat out the first couple times, to watch and learn, but soon was in and winning. Today was fun, I think that a lot f the members are starting to recognize me now and even remember my name. I am leaving for the weekend, so will not return until Monday to finish up my hours.
November 20, 2000: Today I finished with my 10 hours but decided that I was going to come back at least once a week to help continue to volunteer. I already talked about my favorite day, but I think that today was the member's favorite day. I first as usual lead some early morning exercises but then it was time for BINGO. I was amazed at how many people came in to play Bingo. We even ran out of chairs and table space for people to sit at. Thankfully there were two of us this morning, as another girl by the name of Amanda, helped me to get everything organized. We called about ten games of regular Bingo and had almost the same winners everything. A lady by the name of Delores won three times in a row capturing the Bingo crown from me for that day. I was there for over 2 hours this morning but the time flew by as watching these elders play Bingo was absolutely gratifying.

Philosophy Paper on Title IX...Essay #2
When Title IX was first established in 1972, it was aimed at creating an equal playing field for women in both athletics as well as academics. However, over time it has become increasingly more argued in the athletic side. Women want their rights; and why should we blame them? Sports are fun (well at least to most people), and should be practiced by everyone who wants to, regardless of sex. Providing equal opportunity for both men and women should in the year 2000, be a given. We have seen that women are just as capable, willing, and deserving of all things men have and do. Not sharing both the basic and scarce benefits of sports with women is just playing unjust. We have learned over time that denying a group of people something they want is wrong. That is, we saw how unjust denying slaves freedom was, and ended it, why should it be any different for women who is being denied her freedom to sport. Title IX ought to be implemented as a step towards the creating of equal opportunity goals because of all it has to offer women both scholastically and athletically. This law provides the basic outline of where equal opportunity should start, and hopefully only continue to grow. In reconstructing this argument, the basic idea is that Title IX ought to be established in order to provide for equal rights among sexes. This law allows for women to explore the wonderful world of competitive activity and builds self-confidence. Women should be given equal access to the benefits of sport because they deserve them as human beings. Obviously, Title IX was not just established without any consideration, somebody thought that equal opportunity was important and thus should be looked at more closely. Equal rights is a problem in this country and Title IX was established to help women acquire equal opportunities and equal benefits.
Title IX states that, ""No person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal aid." This law was formed to help create equal access to basic benefits such as, self-esteem, competitiveness, health, and fun. It was also created to help ensure that women get equal share in the scarce benefits such as, college scholarships and money put into their programs that both them and men received. Title IX ought to be implemented as a step towards achieving the equal opportunity goal for many reasons. First and foremost, this law allows for women to have the funding they need in order to excel at their sport. Without funding, most things would not exist, and especially not women's athletics. However, aside from the money, Title IX along with equal opportunity provides confidence for young girls, something that growing up these days, girls should definitely have. Self-esteem has become such an issue among our younger generation that denying the benefits of sport would only increase this already serious problem. Many great female athletes have become famous for what they can do on the playing field.
Two of the most recent are not only UNC grads but Olympic performers as well. Mia Hamm and Marion Jones have gone far and beyond what others ever thought was imaginable for a female athlete. These women would not be where they are today, without the help of Title IX. They were fortunate to become great role models for our young girls across the country. One of the other basic benefits of sports is health. Why would we ever want to deny the opportunity of becoming healthy and fit to somebody? Trying to stay fit in order to remain healthy constantly overwhelms us as a country. It would make no sense to take away the one thing that is easily accessible to aid in the battle to stay fit. Sports can amaze us in many ways, including showing displays of grace and beauty and illustrations of human heroics. Both males and females want to be a part of sports for this reason.
Lastly, sports provide for some basic necessities in life, such as self-determination, self-expression, and self-respect. These virtues should be shared by both sexes, not just male. Some common arguments against Title IX and other equal opportunity laws is that if women want compete in the same sports as men then the rules must remain the same as well as the apparatus, standards, etc. And my response to this would be that we are constantly changing rules in sport in order to favor men, so why not women too. For example, the game of basketball has been modified numerous times in an attempt to challenge all its participants. The thee point line is further away in the pros than it is in college; the fouls are different in the NBA compared to college, and so on. The point is that we do modify things in order to accommodate, so this argument to me is not valid. Next, many people say that if women want to compete with men, they must compete on the same level as men. This would be okay, if we expected it of men, but once again we do not. For example, heavy weight boxers are expected to box other heavy weight boxers, and are never allowed to box someone of smaller stature unless it is requested from the lighter weight boxer. Also, in wrestling, the same type of thing occurs. Men of a certain weight must wrestle other men of that weight, and must stay in that weight class unless once again a lighter wrestler wants to challenge. In conclusion, what I have to say is very simple. There is no argument that has been established against Title IX that cannot be proven otherwise. As much as people want to fight it, the fact is that denying women access to equal opportunity is wrong and unjust. Females have every right to experience what men experience and this cannot be augured. Denying women the benefits of self-respect, self-confidence, general health, and self-determination does not make any sense. In a day where we have, as a country realized that denying any one of something others have is wrong, I cannot understand why we would want to not allow for freedom of sports in females lives.

Ethnic Conflict...Essay #3
With the rise of African nationalism after World War II, Europeans decided to give independence to their colonized countries. The main problem was that the division of the countries that had been drawn during the beginning of African colonization were not done according to ethnicity. This created a problem with democratization. In the three pieces of literature we read, each author goes in to details about a certain aspect of African liberation that created conflict. All of these points lead to the idea of ethnic conflict and how it is perceived. There were three assumptions mentioned in class that are connected to thinking and writing about ethnic conflict. They were: 1) ethnic identities are timeless and unchanging, 2) ethnic identities motivate people to persecute and kill other people, and 3) ethnic diversity inevitably leads to violence. All three of these assumptions can be debated. In Daniel Brower's The World Since 1945, he stresses the ideas of African nationalism and political rule. He critiques those who say that it was hard for African states to implement self-rule. He believes that it was the fault of the European countries that were in power to take care of the countries that they colonized. It was their job to ensure prosperity. When they had to deal with problems in their own countries, they tried to abandon the African tribes, religions, and regions they had divided. Of course, they provided economic aid, but they didn't help them to reconstruct their governments. The African people tried to unite for the cause of eliminating colonialism. Brower is trying to emphasize how the African people were divided by ethnicity when ruled by Europeans, but, for the most part, found a common identity to fight for independence. Zaire was an Norton 2 example of one of the countries that resulted in violence after it was decolonized. There were tribal wars. Brower seems to think, though, that it was not necessarily a result of ethnic conflict more so than it was a result the country being freed from Belgion rule in a time of total chaos. Brower also talks about democracy and apartheid in South Africa.
Although, the British had given it self-rule, the white population controlled the government. From my interpretation of the text, I believe he is blaming the beginning of this racist ideaology on the British for not helping the South African to reestablish a true democracy when they decolonized this territory. He blames the white population of South Africa for creating the idea of ethnic separation and identity within their country. He says on page 127, "Their racial policies intentionally sought to strengthen the divisions among South Africa's ethnic groups, which they referred to as tribes. They were responsible for creating a regime of white supremacy in the very years when the European empires were disappearing from the continent of Africa." It seems as if the African leaders had more success with uniting people of different ethnicities and backgrounds, than the Europeans. Although, the position of leader was abused in the African states. There was a lot of corruption that caused many economic problems. In response to the three assumptions, all three can be argued against by using the Brower text. First of all, ethnic identies had to have changed during the period of colonialization because people of the same tribes and religions were divided. Ethnic identities do not always motivate people to persecute and kill. This seems true in the case Norton 3 of Europeans, but that is the only pattern that can be seen. Ethnic diversity leads to violence only when a group feels that their group is being threatened. In Paul Henze's article, he attempts to understand the true idea of democracy. He says that in our western society, we tend to have a set belief about what democracy should be like. He is saying that it is different in every situation. While we worry about certain laws being passed and establishing new organizations, other countries are just starting from the very beginning. Henze says that in many countries who gained independence, democracy did not start simply. He says on page 41, "...much less attention was devoted to bottom-up or grassroots activities such as teaching people how to participate in democratic processes or adapting indigenous democratic procedures and attitudes to modern requirements." He explains how this created problems with different parties and groups within Africa. The transition from the Derg to the EPRDF leaders was smooth at first, but had its problems. Henze believes that placing politics before economic problems was what caused the turmoil in Ethiopia. Ethnic conflict was not what lead to violence. He also blamed the media, especially the written press, for the conflict in Ethiopia. Eritrea did not permit independent newspapers and their political concerns have not been as crucial. Henze did not believe ethnic conflict and its changes were the root of the problem.
In Roy Pateman's Eritrea: Even the Stones Are Burning, he does not stress the idea of ethnicity as the main problem. In Eritrea, the divisions between people has more to do with social class. The Eritreans have been successful as the fastest growing economy in Africa. Their identity was united because they fought as one to have their Norton 4 own separate identity from Ethiopia. He also explains how their success is rooted in the development of their military in the past twenty years. The Eritreans are moving toward a successful democratic state. They are trying to be wary of any ethnic group becoming more powerful than the others, for it will create unnecessary conflict. The PFDJ leaders worked hard to create a centralized democracy. Everyone had imput into all decisions and this is key to the success of this country. One of Pateman's main points is how the Eritreans fought so hard and long so that their successors could have independence, regardless of their ethnicity. He stresses their united front against the Ethiopians. In the case of Eritrea, ethnic diversity did not lead to violence, it lead to unity. There was no motivation to persecute and kill their fellow countrymen.

Comm 60 Paper...Essay #4
It was my freshman year at Boston College. Being from the south, I had no idea what to expect. I came from a small private school in Charlottesville, Virginia. My roommate was from Massachusetts and knew her way around the city. Me on the other hand, I was completely lost. I was nervous to be so far away from my family. But I was also excited to see what college had to offer. I felt that most of all I would enjoy the freedom. I could barely sleep the first night in the dorms anticipating what was to come. The first two weeks were a difficult adjustment. I called my parents everyday crying about how I didn't fit in. I had trouble meeting people that were like me. All I wanted to do was find one person that I connected with. Finally, the third week of school, I got my wish. After English class, a handsome and nicely built boy came up to me. He asked me how I did on the first paper and where I was from. We continued talking and walked across campus to the dining hall. He asked if he could sit and have lunch with me. I was ecstatic. This was an opportunity to not eat alone for once. I happily accepted. During lunch, he told me he was from Ohio and that he was on the football team. He said how different Boston was from home and how hard his preseason practices were. Then I realized that I didn't even know his name. I asked him. Eddie. He didn't ask mine. He already knew. I was so happy to finally talk to someone. After lunch we went our separate ways. The next class period we ate lunch together again to my surprise. We had much together everyday following that. I opened up to him and told him things I had never told anyone else. He opened up to me as well. We spent more and more time together and we dated on and off for the rest of college. There were other guys and girls between us. We had many of the same interests. But for some reason we hung out in different crowds. That sometimes put a strain on our friendship and relationship. We visited each other during breaks and met each other's parents and families. We did everything that people in relationships do without the label. We both graduated and Eddie received a job offer in Vermont. He asked me to come with him. I didn't have any idea what I would do so I went with him.
The summer following our graduation he asked me to marry him. Although we didn't have any concrete plans, I said yes. Looking back, I am not sure if that was the right decision. In Vermont I was so unhappy. It was colder than Boston and after living there for four years in college I was used to city life. I went from job to job with a feeling of unsatisfaction. Eddie's job was going well and he got a promotion fast. While we lived in an apartment, we bought land to build a house. After six months, we moved in. I hoped this would cheer me up. It did cheer me up for a while. We still decided to wait to have children until we both had established our careers. The only problem was that I never found stability within my career. Everyday I came home more miserable and took it out on Eddie. He would get upset with me and eventually began staying at work later. There would be nights when we wouldn't utter a word to each other. He became resentful because he felt I was not happy for him and his success. One day Eddie asked me to sit down so we could talk. I figured he wanted to work things out. Instead he said, "I am leaving. I can't do this anymore." Needless to say, I was shocked and hurt. I cried for two days straight. I felt an emptiness after he left. All I could think about was the happy times we had in college and in the first few years we lived in Vermont. I would lay in my bed and just picture his face. These days, we are still not together.
He has moved on with a new girlfriend. He called me the other day to talk about out separation. He said to meet him at Jack's Grill. My heart dropped when he said that. Eddie and I used to go there for drinks after dinner and tell each other about our day. I knew that this meeting would not be as pleasant or relaxing. Things are so different now. I feel like he is someone else. At thirty-eight, I am still reminiscent about my college days. I still remember how he used to tell me how pretty my dark brown hair was and how I had such silky smooth brown legs. I remember teasing him about how I wouldn't be able to wear heels at our wedding because he was too short! I said he was 5'8. He said he was closer to 5'10. I really miss our long talks. Even if we didn't have an intimate relationship, I wish we could still be close friends. "Lunch with My Ex" has seven short stanzas.
The lines are enjambed and marked and basically there is one type of punctuation, which is a period. There is one example of direct discourse in lines 18-20. Each stanza, except for the one with direct discourse, has just one continuous sentence. Each stanza is a memory that the speaker has about their ex. The grammar is very simple and I will say each stanza as if it is one complete sentence, and not as individual lines. The poem seems to be written as continuous thoughts running through the mind of the speaker as they have lunch. It is important to note that the speaker uses the phrase "I know" in the first line, but doesn't use it after that. This is significant because it shows how the speaker only knows bits and pieces about her ex now because so much has changed. All that she knows is in the past. The future is unclear to her. Throughout the poem, there are a few significant patterns of repetition. One of them is the use of the word he. The speaker never refers to her ex by his first name. This is important because it shows her view of their relationship and the impact he has had in her life. There is no need to say his real name, because the speaker assumes the audience should know who she is talking about. The speaker also does something really unique with her use of repetition. The speaker likes to repeat a word more than once within a stanza. Some of the examples of that are "looking" in lines 11-12 and "phoebe" in lines 26-27. I think she does this on purpose to place emphasis on these words and to show the thoughts running through her head that stand out.

Contact Information: Eve Rackham: rackham@email.unc.edu