Strategic role of Human Resource in business dicisions Essay

Strategic role of Human Resource in business dicisions - Essay Example The role of human resource in taking business decisions lies both in strategy formulation and implementation. However, strategy implementation is more significant and human resource has a great role to play in it because human resources are more flexible than organizational strategies (Sluijs, Klyutmans). Traditionally, Human Resource was considered to be an administrative department only with almost no role to play in business planning and decisions. Gradually, the function evolved and played its role in performance management, managerial development, competency mapping, succession planning, change management and business networking. Inputs from HR started being a part of business decisions. Today, administration and line management is only one of the roles of HR. Human Resource has evolved to become an essential component of management teams for decision making. Many of the line management tasks in Human Resource have become transactional in nature and are therefore controlled by information systems. For example, there are information systems for recruitment, Learning & Education, Employee benefits, Payroll, Performance management and Expenses. Therefore, the role of HR has been oriented more towards strategic planning and change management. The line management part of HR has been replaced by her which a company can even afford to outsource to an It organization or internal IT team but it is the strategic part where key inputs are required from Human Resource (Edward, 2001). Inclusion of Human Resource in strategic decision making leads to greater profitability of the firm. HR being a strategic partner ensures higher management support in training and education activities which leads to increased productivity and workforce engagement. HR can justify required fund allocation for various activities such as training, recruitment, increasing salaries and benefits. These activities help a firm in retaining existing talent,

European Political Change Essay Example for Free

European Political Change Essay The 15th century was beginning of Renaissance giving rise to many changes in the political and economic scene of Europe. Mattero Palmeiri wrote in 1430s, â€Å"now indeed may every thoughtful spirit thank god that it has been permitted to him to be born in a new age†. The Renaissance was inspired by study of Greek and Latin text and the admiration of Roman and Greek era. The classical examples of this age can be seen in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. On political scene ambition was the driving force of the age; which can be clearly observed in Machiavellis political writing The Prince. The influence of Protestants was growing due to the corruption of Church giving rise to many powerful kings and princes in Europe. Some of the famous political figures of the time include King Henry VIII. One of the important developments in the early 17th century was the pan-European sentiment. Emeric Cruce in 1623 proposed the idea of European council to end wars and create lasting peace. All European countries except Ottoman and Russian Empire did not agree to it. Both of them were considered outsiders in Europe; however the idea of unity remained shattered for many centuries to come. The next centuries (15th to 17th) saw many wars among European powers coupled with extensive conquest of colonies in Asia and Africa. Portugal led the way for colonial expansion followed by Spain and France to have colonies in Africa and Asia. The Britain took control of whole of Australia, New Zealand, India and parts of Africa and North America; while China was lost. Europe during this time was going through internal crisis and conflicts. Germany in the early 16th century was divided into small kingdoms and states under the framework of the Holy Roman Empire. Thus we can say at this time the whole of Europe was divided into small states and kingdoms. By late 18th century France was in disarray due to the lavish expenditure of the Royal House. The situation was worsened when people of Paris revolted and in the late 18 century (1792) monarchy was abolished in France. Reference: V. H. H. Green; Edward Arnold, Renaissance and Reformation: A Survey of European History between 1450 and 1660. London: 1952. Lectures on Early Modern European History.† The History Guide. 11 Dec 2006 http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/earlymod.html. Oscar Halecki, A History of East Central Europe. 11 Dec 2006 http://historicaltextarchive.com/books.php?op=viewbookbookid=1.

Rappaccini’s Daughter Essay: The Ambiguity -- Rappaccinis Daughter Es

The Ambiguity in â€Å"The Rappaccini’s Daughter†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The literary critics agree that there is considerable ambiguity in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"Rappaccini’s Daughter.† This essay intends to illustrate this statement and to analyze the cause of this ambiguity.    Henry James in Hawthorne mentions how Hawthorne’s allegorical meanings should be expressed clearly:    I frankly confess that I have, as a general thing, but little enjoyment of it, and that it has never seemed to me to be, as it were, a first-rate literary form. . . . But it is apt to spoil two good things – a story and a moral, a meaning and a form; and the taste for it is responsible for a large part of the forcible-feeding writing that has been inflicted upon the world. The only cases in which it is endurable is when it is extremely spontaneous, when the analogy presents itself with eager promptitude. When it shows signs of having been groped and fumbled for, the needful illusion is of course absent, and the failure complete. Then the machinery alone is visible and the end to which it operates becomes a matter of indifference (50).    When one has to grope for, and fumble for, the meaning of a tale, then there is â€Å"failure† in the work, as Henry James says. This unfortunately is the case of â€Å"Rappaccini’s Daughter.† It is so ambiguous in so many occasions in the tale that a blur rather than a distinct image forms in the mind of the reader. The Norton Anthology: American Literature states in â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne†:    Above all, his theme was curiosity about the recesses of other men’s and women’s beings. About this theme he was always ambivalent [my italics], for he knew that his success as a writer depended upon his keen psychologi... ...WORKS CITED    Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms, 7th ed. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1999.    Hawthorne, Nathaniel. â€Å"Rappaccini’s Daughter.† ElectronicText Center. University of Virginia Library. http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/browse-mixed-new?id="HawRapp"&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public    James, Henry. Hawthorne. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997.    Kazin, Alfred. Introduction. Selected Short Stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York: Fawcett Premier, 1966.    Lang, H.J.. â€Å"How Ambiguous Is Hawthorne.† In Hawthorne – A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by A.N. Kaul. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.      Ã¢â‚¬Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne.† The Norton Anthology: American Literature, edited by Baym et al.   New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1995.   

Telecommunication Industry Analysis

The domestic telecommunication industry offers a broad range of services through four primary product segments: radio, television, voice communications, and broadband services, the two largest being voice communications and broadband services (Industry). These services are offered to businesses and personal consumers, and are the industry’s primary user segments. Companies in the telecommunication industry are the primary means by which communication is provided, whether it is by telephone, Internet, or television. Using transmissions of signals over networks of radio towers, data is transferred to customers using devices, such as a phone (Telecommunications). Determining which segment to market to and who drives the market is integral for companies in the telecommunication industry to understand. User Segments The telecommunication industry markets to two segments: business and personal consumers. The business segment utilizes the services of the telecom industry for better communication, higher efficiency, and better distribution of data (Telecommunications and Business). As businesses require communication devices for email, phone, teleconferencing, and data transferring, companies are marketing to businesses offering the most advanced and efficient products. Businesses also allow for a larger budget for spending, and consequently telecommunication companies are refining their product to fit their needs on a larger scale. AT&T and Verizon Communications are the leading providers in the business segment, offering services such as videoconferencing, networking, Internet, and voice communications. Personal consumers are the other segment the telecommunication industry markets to. With over 290 million subscribers in the United States (U.S.), companies in the telecommunication industry are on a very competitive playing field. AT&T and Verizion, again the leading providers in the personal consumer segment, spend a large amount each year on advertising trying to reach their markets (The Account). Consumers want products with the most speed and reliability, which forces companies to update constantly. With new products and features coming out regularly, it is imperative these companies stay current with the latest technology. Product Segments The two product segments that define the telecommunication industry are voice communications and broadband services. Voice communications entail phone services such as phone calls and voice messaging. Businesses and personal users rely heavily on this service, as people are requiring reliable and efficient phone service in their everyday lives. Features play an integral role in defining the product, so companies must have feedback from consumers to know how to improve their product (Cell Phone). Broadband services offer Internet access to its users. This technology is improving constantly, becoming faster and more efficient. Integrating into phones, television, and DSL, broadband services are becoming increasingly important to having a reliable product and reaching customers (Industry). Over the past decade, Internet subscribers have doubled, reaching over 266 million customers (World), which shows the prevalence of broadband services in the United States. As many of the telecommunication companies have merged in recent years, they are able to offer a larger product as well as â€Å"bundled media packages†, which brings in new revenue sources and opportunities for growth (Industry). In the telecommunication industry, the consumer is driving the market. As technology is advancing and more features are becoming available, companies must customize their products to fit the consumers’ needs. Many consumers require different features and options, which require the companies to stay current with recent trends. Customer service has also played a large role in the satisfaction of customers, and the companies take a lot of feedback to improve their products (Industry). Trends in the Telecommunication Industry As the telecommunication industry evolves, so do the trends that drive it. Demographics have become less important, although age and occupation does play a major role (Market). Teens are becoming a target for companies, as well as business professionals (Teens). Consumer trends are driving adoption of phones in the market, as social networking, jobs, and personal use are becoming parts of everyday life (Consumer). Technological advancements are playing a major role in the development of the telecommunication industry. Products are becoming faster, cheaper, and of higher quality, as well as including features and applications for consumers so they can communicate and work more efficiently (Top). Competitors One of the top competitors in the telecommunications industry is AT&T. With over $124 billion in total revenue (T), AT&T is one of the largest providers of telecommunication services in the United States. Their main products are for businesses as well as the consumer, including wireless, broadband, phone, and data solution services. AT&T’s strategy involves working with its suppliers and customers to improve their efficiencies and form a positive, long-lasting relationship with them. They improve their company by becoming more sustainable, in hopes of promoting a positive impact on the communities it serves (AT&T Corporate). Verizon Communications is also a leading competitor in the telecommunications industry. With $106.5 billion in total revenue last year (VZ), Verizon is another leading provider of telecommunication services in the United States. Verizon offers products similar to AT&T, which enables them to compete closely with AT&T. Their basic strategy involves being proactive in improving their services to satisfy customers. Verizon continually adapts to new technology and brings innovation to all its products. Their goal is to improve the quality of life for its customers by offering innovative products (Verizon). Sprint Nextel Communications, totaling $32 billion in total revenue in 2010 (S), is a smaller competitor but is still among the top companies in the domestic telecommunication industry. Sprint offers phones for business and personal use, as well as business solutions to help the company operate its communications with more ease. Part of their strategy is to foster and develop relationships with organizations to form alliances and deliver integrated products and services. Sprint is also involved in becoming more responsible, in regards to its products, the environment, and its customers (About).

Class in America

Mantsios Class in America In Mantsios article â€Å"Class in America† he states that Americans hold beliefs that blind them to social classes, citizens in America have four myths they use to ensure talk about the classes never take place. America has the largest gap between rich and poor in the world, and the lower class has no means to an end they can’t afford health care or quality education. The upper class avoids talk about social class the most; wealthy people don’t want to admit that they are better off than others. While the lower class sees how much better off others are than them, but they still don’t like to label themselves.I agree with Mantsios that most Americans avoid talk about classes although I am not one of them. Also I would agree there are myths that this country was founded on that may have at one point been true, but not anymore. As for Mantsios’s opinion on health care and education I would have to disagree, although many lowe r class Americans do not get the education and health care they need to survive I was not one of them. Mantsios States Americans avoid talk about classes. Americans avoid phrases like upper class, middle class and lower class because it’s an ugly truth about American society.Those terms are not in Americans vocabulary, unlike the rest of the world. Both the lower class and upper class avoid using class distinctions. When I was in high school I had a friend whose parents were very well off. I have tried to talk to my friend about the wealth of his parents. My friend won’t admit his parents are wealthy and he thinks that everyone is as well off as his family. His father owns a landscaping company where my friend works in the summers when he isn’t in college. I’ve worked for my friend’s father before for about six months and then I was laid off when the economy hit the peak of the recession.My friend, his brother and I were the only white people his f ather had working for him the rest were Mexican and barely spoke English. I felt like my friend’s mother looked down on me because her husband’s employee and instead of being in college I was working for him. This feeling I got from my friends mom wasn’t just from working for their company. The entire time I’ve been their son’s friend which has been since first grade, I’ve felt small in their eyes like I wasn’t good enough to be friends with him. In Mantsios’s article he says there are four myths that Americans believe to ake sure talks about class never take place. These myths are that our country is classless, that we are mostly middle class, America is slowly becoming better off and everyone has an equal chance to succeed. If someone pays attention they can see the classes all around them. Each state has a minimum wage that the country’s lower class usually is stuck barely making a living, and barely surviving because of the low wage. The upper class consists of business owners and huge company executives. These people are very well off and have everything they want and need while the lower class suffers.With an economy like Americas, the poor is getting worse off every year. The fact is America has the largest gap between rich and poor in the world. This gap is the largest it’s ever been and shows no sign of improving its steadily getting worse. The lower class is the biggest contributor to the nation’s unemployment rate, because their jobs depend on the economy to keep working. The lower class has to work extremely hard to work up the class ladder. Working class citizens have nothing they need to succeed while the upper class has everything they want in life.Another one of Mantsios’s main points is that the lower class has a high chance of health issues and a low chance of quality education. In this Article Mantsios sites Richard De Lone, He states that SAT scores strongly depend on the wealth of the students’ parents. The more wealthy the parents the better score the student got on the SATs. If the income of a family was over a hundred thousand then the students averaged a score of 1130 on their SAT. I would have to say I was not one of these Students my family was poor, but I got a good education and feel that I have a wealth of knowledge.Growing up in a lower class family my mother was barely able to pay the bills. My father left my mother when I was fourteen. So she was forced to provide for my siblings and me on her school bus driver salary. My mother had the best health benefits a job provides, her children never went without healthcare. I will say the majority of lower class family’s do not have this luxury, it depends on the job. My siblings and I have also had a quality education because my mother researched the school districts in our area before deciding where to enroll her kids.The lower class can get a quality education we just have to be determined to work hard. In order to get a college education as a lower class citizen I have to work a full time job while going to school full time. I have a wonderful role model my mother got her bachelor’s degree while working to full time jobs one graveyard and one during the day while going to school full time. If she can do that then I can’t disappoint her all she’s ever wanted for her children was a better life. The government provides financial aid, but it isn’t enough to live on while going to school.I have to utilize every free moment I have to complete my assignments, because of that I don’t have any free time. College is my only shot at moving up the class ladder of America. Americans Don’t want to believe the US is a class based society because of the myths that this country was founded on. The upper class gets everything they need, top of the line health care and education. America is not a middle class country the gap between upper class and lower class is getting bigger with each year. With an economy in the toilet the poor are getting worse off and the rich are getting better off.Success in America isn’t equal in America it’s not what you know it’s how much money you’ve got and who you know that matters. The gap between rich and poor in America is eleven to one the largest in the world, japans gap is only four to one. The reality is the poor have a higher chance of health issues and low chance of a quality education because they have no means to help themselves. Mantsios, Gregory. â€Å"Class in America. †Ã‚  Ã‚  The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings. 2nd  ed. Ed. R. Bullock & M. D. Goggin. New York, NY:   Norton, 2010. 697-717. Print. Class in America Mantsios Class in America In Mantsios article â€Å"Class in America† he states that Americans hold beliefs that blind them to social classes, citizens in America have four myths they use to ensure talk about the classes never take place. America has the largest gap between rich and poor in the world, and the lower class has no means to an end they can’t afford health care or quality education. The upper class avoids talk about social class the most; wealthy people don’t want to admit that they are better off than others. While the lower class sees how much better off others are than them, but they still don’t like to label themselves.I agree with Mantsios that most Americans avoid talk about classes although I am not one of them. Also I would agree there are myths that this country was founded on that may have at one point been true, but not anymore. As for Mantsios’s opinion on health care and education I would have to disagree, although many lowe r class Americans do not get the education and health care they need to survive I was not one of them. Mantsios States Americans avoid talk about classes. Americans avoid phrases like upper class, middle class and lower class because it’s an ugly truth about American society.Those terms are not in Americans vocabulary, unlike the rest of the world. Both the lower class and upper class avoid using class distinctions. When I was in high school I had a friend whose parents were very well off. I have tried to talk to my friend about the wealth of his parents. My friend won’t admit his parents are wealthy and he thinks that everyone is as well off as his family. His father owns a landscaping company where my friend works in the summers when he isn’t in college. I’ve worked for my friend’s father before for about six months and then I was laid off when the economy hit the peak of the recession.My friend, his brother and I were the only white people his f ather had working for him the rest were Mexican and barely spoke English. I felt like my friend’s mother looked down on me because her husband’s employee and instead of being in college I was working for him. This feeling I got from my friends mom wasn’t just from working for their company. The entire time I’ve been their son’s friend which has been since first grade, I’ve felt small in their eyes like I wasn’t good enough to be friends with him. In Mantsios’s article he says there are four myths that Americans believe to ake sure talks about class never take place. These myths are that our country is classless, that we are mostly middle class, America is slowly becoming better off and everyone has an equal chance to succeed. If someone pays attention they can see the classes all around them. Each state has a minimum wage that the country’s lower class usually is stuck barely making a living, and barely surviving because of the low wage. The upper class consists of business owners and huge company executives. These people are very well off and have everything they want and need while the lower class suffers.With an economy like Americas, the poor is getting worse off every year. The fact is America has the largest gap between rich and poor in the world. This gap is the largest it’s ever been and shows no sign of improving its steadily getting worse. The lower class is the biggest contributor to the nation’s unemployment rate, because their jobs depend on the economy to keep working. The lower class has to work extremely hard to work up the class ladder. Working class citizens have nothing they need to succeed while the upper class has everything they want in life.Another one of Mantsios’s main points is that the lower class has a high chance of health issues and a low chance of quality education. In this Article Mantsios sites Richard De Lone, He states that SAT scores strongly depend on the wealth of the students’ parents. The more wealthy the parents the better score the student got on the SATs. If the income of a family was over a hundred thousand then the students averaged a score of 1130 on their SAT. I would have to say I was not one of these Students my family was poor, but I got a good education and feel that I have a wealth of knowledge.Growing up in a lower class family my mother was barely able to pay the bills. My father left my mother when I was fourteen. So she was forced to provide for my siblings and me on her school bus driver salary. My mother had the best health benefits a job provides, her children never went without healthcare. I will say the majority of lower class family’s do not have this luxury, it depends on the job. My siblings and I have also had a quality education because my mother researched the school districts in our area before deciding where to enroll her kids.The lower class can get a quality education we just have to be determined to work hard. In order to get a college education as a lower class citizen I have to work a full time job while going to school full time. I have a wonderful role model my mother got her bachelor’s degree while working to full time jobs one graveyard and one during the day while going to school full time. If she can do that then I can’t disappoint her all she’s ever wanted for her children was a better life. The government provides financial aid, but it isn’t enough to live on while going to school.I have to utilize every free moment I have to complete my assignments, because of that I don’t have any free time. College is my only shot at moving up the class ladder of America. Americans Don’t want to believe the US is a class based society because of the myths that this country was founded on. The upper class gets everything they need, top of the line health care and education. America is not a middle class country the gap between upper class and lower class is getting bigger with each year. With an economy in the toilet the poor are getting worse off and the rich are getting better off.Success in America isn’t equal in America it’s not what you know it’s how much money you’ve got and who you know that matters. The gap between rich and poor in America is eleven to one the largest in the world, japans gap is only four to one. The reality is the poor have a higher chance of health issues and low chance of a quality education because they have no means to help themselves. Mantsios, Gregory. â€Å"Class in America. †Ã‚  Ã‚  The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings. 2nd  ed. Ed. R. Bullock & M. D. Goggin. New York, NY:   Norton, 2010. 697-717. Print.

Free Essays on Teens And Drugs

Drug use is the increasing problem among teenagers in today's high schools. Most drug use begins in the preteen and teenage years, these years most crucial in the maturation process. During these years adolescents are faced with difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence, learning to cope with authority and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily, adolescents are curious and vulnerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and there is a temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and availability. Drugs addiction among adolescents in turn lead to depression and suicide. One of the most important reasons of why teenagers use drugs is peer pressure. Peer pressure can have a positive or a negative effect, depending on the attitude of the persons group. We are greatly influenced by the people around us. In today's schools drugs are very common, peer pressure usually is the reason for teens using drugs. If the people in the group use drugs there will be pressure. One way a person is can be pressured is to directly offer them to try drugs. The other way is when someone sees everyone around using drugs and think that there is nothing wrong with using drugs. The person might try drugs just to fit in the social norms, even if a person had no intentions of using drugs one might do it just to be considered "cool" by his friends. Today drugs are considered to be an acceptable social phenomenon by many teenagers. Here is a personal example of drug use from a teenager, " When I started using, was only on weekends, at parties. I used drugs 'recreationally and th erefore thought I had no addiction problem. I used drugs like nicotine, marijuana or LSD to be happy or to have fun. I needed drugs. I kept using drugs; I used drugs like marijuana to fit so... Free Essays on Teens And Drugs Free Essays on Teens And Drugs The Increasing Problem of Drug and Teens Abstract There are many drugs that teenager use, among these drugs there is Marijuana, Ecstasy, Crystal Meth, Cocaine and LSD these are most commonly used. All these drugs can cause serious health and psychological problem including death. Teenagers use drugs for many reason; problems at home, peer pressure, TV and the internet. When a teen uses drugs there are symptoms that let us know that there may be a problem with drugs. There is no real solution or cure for drug use and drug addiction, as parents we need to communicate with our children and try to help them understand this time of self-discovery. The Increasing Problem of Drug and Teens Drug use is the increasing problem among teenagers in today's society. Most drug use begins in the adolescent years. These are the most crucial years in the maturation process. During the adolescent’s years, children are faced with difficult tasks of determining their self-identity, clarifying their sexual roles, affirmative independence, learning to handle authority and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are easily available, adolescents are curious and venerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and availability. Drugs addiction among adolescents in turn leads to depression, suicide, brain damage and other physical complications. We cannot put all the blame on teens and their peers alone. The media to certain extent is also to blame when teens use drug. The media has proven to be a lot more damaging than useful in the type of information meant for mature audience but end up with the immature audience. Soap operas and frivolous shows shown on TV contain immoral and untrue images of the world as it is more of the writer’s imagination or the way directors di... Free Essays on Teens And Drugs Drug use is the increasing problem among teenagers in today's high schools. Most drug use begins in the preteen and teenage years, these years most crucial in the maturation process. During these years adolescents are faced with difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence, learning to cope with authority and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily, adolescents are curious and vulnerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and there is a temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and availability. Drugs addiction among adolescents in turn lead to depression and suicide. One of the most important reasons of why teenagers use drugs is peer pressure. Peer pressure can have a positive or a negative effect, depending on the attitude of the persons group. We are greatly influenced by the people around us. In today's schools drugs are very common, peer pressure usually is the reason for teens using drugs. If the people in the group use drugs there will be pressure. One way a person is can be pressured is to directly offer them to try drugs. The other way is when someone sees everyone around using drugs and think that there is nothing wrong with using drugs. The person might try drugs just to fit in the social norms, even if a person had no intentions of using drugs one might do it just to be considered "cool" by his friends. Today drugs are considered to be an acceptable social phenomenon by many teenagers. Here is a personal example of drug use from a teenager, " When I started using, was only on weekends, at parties. I used drugs 'recreationally and th erefore thought I had no addiction problem. I used drugs like nicotine, marijuana or LSD to be happy or to have fun. I needed drugs. I kept using drugs; I used drugs like marijuana to fit so...

Dlamming the door Essay Example

Dlamming the door Essay Example Dlamming the door Essay Dlamming the door Essay There was more to that poem but I would rather not finish it now. After writing that poem I crept out of the house. I knew then, that I had to go to that lake. I left the house, slamming the door as I went. I went through the park, not the childrens one but the big one, which connects to the old meadow and hill. No one had been there for a very long time. I ran through the park and through the meadow, twisting my ankle on long tufts of dead grass. Nobody looked after that meadow so it looked like a necropolis but smelt distinctively of manure. I ran to the peak of the big hill, feeling the cold breeze sweeping along my face. My adrenaline was pumping. As I was standing at the top of that hill, I dont remember how, but I suddenly slipped. I tumbled down and lost control. Although it was only two minutes it seemed to last forever. I was encrusted in leaves and dried mud. I got up brushing out my hair with my fingers like a clumsy comb. I looked straight ahead of me, and there right before my eyes was that lake. The one I saw in my dream or close enough anyway. I inhaled the stench of wet moss, the silence around me was deafening. I took a second glance at the lake. I kneeled down and touched the water. Beautiful cold water, ripples glistening. I took a deep breath One, two, three. I plunged forward. I lay there for a few minutes, and then I felt myself being lifted out of the water. I opened my eyes and struggled to sit up but a man was saying, No, lie down; you are going to be fine. I remember seeing flashing lights and hearing a policemans car siren. After that traumatic experience and a few counselling sessions, my mother decided it was best for us to move. We went to Birmingham. I tried to move on, but all those memories from killing those innocent creatures for revenge came back to haunt me. Years went by, I got married and had two children. I promised myself that my history would not repeat itself. I did not want to raise my children to be spineless, cold murderers. Sometimes I try to forget about my past, but deep down I know that the past will always lie beneath me. 4:00pm. The kids should be home any minute now. I heard keys rustling through the door. I put the kettle on. Everything should be fine now. Psychoanalysis is now complete. I moved on right?