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LIFE INSURANCE

Life Insurance

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Insurance is a pledge or guarantee for a specific potential loss in future which is characterized by exchange for periodic payment. The purpose of insurance is to guard the financial well-being as well as interest of a company, individual or any other entity which could be affected in the case of potential and unexpected loss in future. Insurance vary in types, some are requirements of the laws of particular states while others are optional. Insurance types vary from car, health, business, disability as well as life insurance among others. This paper seeks to analyze life insurance as an individual entity.

Life insurance is a guarantee for the future loss of life by an individual. In modern society, life insurance is a core prerequisite for an individual as well as the associated beneficiaries. By reaching a rational agreement to the terms and conditions of an insurance policy, this creates a non binding or binding contract between the insurer and the insured. More often than not, this is in exchange for premiums (payments made by the insured). Life insurance therefore plays a major role in protecting an individual and his/her respective beneficiary in the form of next of kin.

Features of life insurance vary greatly depending on the type of government. In federal governments however, the following are salient features of life insurance. First is that, one can take loans and make early withdrawals without penalty. This feature makes the funds accessible in times of need. The second feature is that, premium or individual member withdrawals may be tax free. This ensures a reduction in the tax burden and therefore brings forth a cheap option of accessing money as well as benefits of a life insurance. These features among others ensure that an insured individual lives a life free of day to day stress.

Life insurance has a number of advantages. The first benefit is asset protection. This is considered the core benefit of life insurance. This benefit caters for the financial benefits and interests of one’s family. Life insurance products have strong inherent proposition for wealth creation. A customer of life insurance therefore has investment options provided for by the insurer. This feature therefore provides a sense of security.

Secondly, it allows for savings based on goals. Conventionally, every individual has goals in life. Some of these goals can only be achieved through objective based savings. These savings could play fundamental roles of education, construction as well as meeting future planned and unplanned for events. Therefore, life insurance savings help the insured to meet future needs.

Third is that it provides for protection against the ever rising health and health related expenses. With the ever straining global economy characterized by increased standards and expenditure on basic human needs. The safest way to safeguard the future is by obtaining life insurance which might in future cater for unexpected health expenses. This therefore reduces future unexpected expenditures in catering of basic needs.

Finally, life insurance allows for growth through dividends. This is achieved by the fact that every end of a financial year, the insurance provider gives back to the stakeholders in the forms of bonus and dividends. This provides a boost economically to life insurance stakeholders and thus improves their quality of life as well as their living standards.

Life insurance therefore is a fundamental aspect of human life. It allows for asset protection in case of future unexpected events. Through asset protection, the implication is that social as well as economic protection is guaranteed. It also allows for goal based savings. These savings more often than not cater for future unexpected expenditures. It supplements for the ever rising health related expenditures which reduces the burden of unnecessarily spending too much on a health issue that could otherwise been dealt with using cheaper means. Through annual stakeholder bonus and dividends, life insurance boosts the living standards of individual stakeholders.

References

Berwick, G. (2007). The Executives guide to insurance and risk Management. Australia: Fastbooks Publishers

Koller, M. (2011). Life Insurance Risk Management Essentials, London, U.K: Springer Publishers

Life insurance is basically a contract between an insurer who is the policy giver and the insured who is the policy holder.

Life insurance

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Life insurance is basically a contract between an insurer who is the policy giver and the insured who is the policy holder. The insurer promises to pay a fortune to the insured upon his/her death in exchange of agreed premium payments from the client. The contract which is negotiable depends on other external factors that influence payment such as the current health conditions of the individual, particularly on issues to do with terminal illness.

These contracts are legally binding with written specifics concerning the limitations and extensions of liability on the insured events. The liability of the insurer may be limited in cases such as suicide where the contract may be ruled null and void. Such special exclusions will wholly depend on the time agreement between the two parties or the statutes of the locality where the contract was enforced.

Mortality tables are used to calculate policy prices given by the insurer with keen actuarial studies on probability of death occurrences and statistics. Some of the variables also used by insurers are gender and age. Age indeed is considered an important variable of interest as rates rises with age.

In an event of the death of the insured, the claim can only be settled upon provision of an authentic death certificate as objective evidence with additional investigations by the insurer on the cause of death. When all these are proved, the insurer will now have an obligation to settle the claim with the beneficiaries, either on annuity payment or lump sum.

Types of life insurance

Life insurance policies may either be temporary or permanent. Temporary provisions are those that cover up to an agreed period while permanent are those that remain active throughout the policy holder’s life unless defaults in payments of premium occur; where your cover will be terminated with no refunds. Under temporary and permanent, life insurances is also divided into the following subclasses: universal, endowment, term and whole life insurances.

Universal life coverage is a permanent coverage with flexible premium payments and death benefits. Flexible death benefit is where the insured can chose to reduce or increase the death benefit. This cover is also less expensive when compared to whole life policy.

Endowment life insurance is a cover linked to an agreed age known as the endowment age. The value of the policy is equated to benefits on death at a certain age. Endowments are temporary and are paid out at the specified age whether the policy holder outlives or dies. Compared to whole life or universal life, endowments are expensive due to the shortened periods.

Term life insurance offers a cover to a specified period with factors such as length of cover, premium to be paid and the lump sum amount, taken into great account. Term life insurance can also be renewable depending on agreements.

Whole life cover is a permanent life cover with benefits provided at death. The premiums payments are constant throughout depending on earlier quotations at the onset of the contract. This policy accumulates your cash reserves from investments made by the insurer using your premiums. The interests from these investments can be used to settle your remaining premiums or be reinvested upon your consent. When compared to term, payment of benefits in this policy occurs upon regardless of age.

Despite the lack of efficacy in claim settlements by some insurers or breach of contract upon complexities, life cover is an investment worth taking to financially protect your loved ones in your absence.

References.

Maclean, J. B. (1962). Life insurance (9th Ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.Steuer, A. (2010). Questions and answers on life insurance: the life insurance tool book (3rd Ed.). Alameda, CA: Life Insurance Sage Press.

Life Is The Most Precious Gift We Have As Human Beings, Deathography

Life Is The Most Precious Gift We Have As Human Beings, Deathography

Introduction

Life is the most precious gift we have as human beings; it is through the life that we poses that we get to experience all the wonders of the world. Life is also full of hardships in that everyone is prone to be faced with some sort of challenges that vary in one way or another. Life occurs in different stages which are determined by the biological structure of our bodies. Life begins when a sperm fertilizes a female egg in the ovary; this is followed with the birth of a human being. When a human being is born, they are armed with are with an immune system that helps defend the body when it comes under threat. All human beings are thus faced with the fact that they will die one day. Despite the fact that as human beings, we do not have the quality of immortality, we are tasked with the duty of preserving our human race through the maintenance of our health (Boerre, 2006).

Death can be caused by many factors some of which have proved to be inevitable. Human beings are thus at the mercy or fate of the superior being they believe in terms of protection. Human beings can also prolong their life through the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle which in turn has been known to improve the sustainability of the bodies. The loss of a loved one is one of the hardest experienced to deal with. One does not have to experience loss to feel the pain a person undergoing grief is going through. This is brought about by the quality we have as human beings that makes us vulnerable to our emotions (Family Education Network, 2010).

This research paper focuses on the deathograghy of my grandfather. It looks at the ways in which the death of my grandfather affected me as a child. It father looks at the ways in which human beings deal with death in terms of ours vulnerability to the factor.

The experienced of the loss of a loved one is a stage that we all have to go through as human beings. This involves dealing with the fact that humans cannot resurrect from death and can only be missed by their loved ones. There are many causes of death as stated earlier. The cause of a person’s death influences the way in which human beings approaches grieving. If a loved one dies a sudden and an unexpected death, the family and friends have a harder time dealing with their death in that they were not emotionally prepared for the loss of the individual. If a person has undergone a lifetime of suffering due to the condition that they were faced with, the family and friends may have an easier time adapting to the possibility of their death.

Another factor that influences the reaction to the death of a loved one is the age of the diseased. If a person loses their life at a young age, it is hard for the friends and family to cope with the loss due to the question of what could have become of the individual if they were to live a full life. If a person loses their life at an older age, they leave their relatives with memories that can be in form of a legacy which cushions the pain. Despite these factors, dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy. Human beings have feelings which on many occasions are uncontrollable. One thus has to be given time to grieve so that they can move to the next stage which is the acceptance of death (Orbach, Gross, Glaubman, 2006).

The experience of the death of a loved one at a young age affects the way we view life in terms of positivity or negativity. As children, we are brought up in a world where our parents protect us from the evils of the world. This protection can only go on for a period of time in that there comes a time in our life where we have to face the reality. I was only seven years when I lost my grandfather. This occurred several years ago but the memories are still fresh in my mind. My grandfather was a big part of my life. My parents ensured that we had a personal relationship at a young age. The relationship between a grandparent and a grandchild is different from the relationship between a parent and a child. Parents always nag their children to give them grandchildren so that they can spoil them silly. This is one of the perks of being a senior member of the society. My grandfather and I were inseparable, his main aim was to teach me all the lessons he taught my father as a child. Our connection was thus important for my growth and development. These memories that I carry of him have influenced the way I approach certain situations to date (MedicineNet.Com, 2004).

Personal experience (deathology) of the loss of my grandfather

My grandfather was just like any regular elderly person. He was full of wisdom and was always slow but sure of the things he spoke about. My grandfather had also been battling with conditions that were caused as result of the old age. These conditions ranged from the inability of his cognitive ability to compute various facts at a faster pace. He was also prone to being attacked by high blood pressure and arthritis which affected the immune system of his body. Before his death, my grandfather had shown signs of a potential heart attack due to his weak state. The experience of his suffering made me aware that there was something wrong that I could not get around to. I thus developed some sort of fear in preparation of worse circumstances that were to follow. This shows that young people can detect when there is a problem in a household.

One day after I had taken a visit to my grandfather’s house, I carried out my daily activities that I took on with him. When it was time to go back home with my parents, I said goodbye. This goodbye was however different from the others in that it was long in nature. It may have been a symbol that I should maximize on the little time I had left with him. The look in his eyes indicated that he was going to miss me before I had left his house. When I reached home, I went to bed and work up with my parents standing next to my bed. This time they were not filled with the usual happy faces they woke me up with in the morning. At this point, I could tell that something was wrong compared to the previous times he fell sick. My parents thus changed their tone and told me to sit down. This was shocking due to the fact that I was already sitting down. My dad then started telling me a story on how sometimes people live their homes to go to a better place. I then cut his story short by demanding to know what was really wrong. They then told me that my beloved grandfather had passed away five hours after I had left his house. I immediately went into a state of shock that was accompanied with a lot of screaming seeing that I was a child. I was not familiar with the concept of death at this age, what made me react this way was the fact that I knew that he was not coming back again. This was made possible by the story my father told me about my grandfather going to heaven.

Research shows that there are various stages of reaction to the death of a loved one. The first stage is denial where we go into a state that makes us think what is happening is not real or just a dream (Koocher, 2002). I then told myself that everything was going to be okay, this was accompanied with the thoughts I had of meeting him the next time I go to visit.

The second stage one goes through after the loss of a loved one is the grief stage. This involves dealing with the situation by recognizing that a loved one will not be coming back. This is accompanied by the shedding of tears due to the intensity of the pain that a mourner has. The time it takes for a person to grieve varies with the person, the cause of death, the age of the diseased and lastly the support of the friends and family of an individual (Hois, 2001). When I realized that my grandfather was really gone, I cried for about a week remembering all the precious time we spent together. This was a very difficult time for me due to the fact that I was a child who was used to getting what I wanted. Learning that I could not get everything I wanted was a new experience for me in that I knew that I would have to face other challenges in life. Another factor that I dealt with was the realization that my parents and siblings were not going to be around forever as I had imagined. This opened doors for a new source of fear which I later termed the fear of the unexpected (Sengendo & Nambi, 2001).

The last stage in dealing with the loss of a loved one is the acceptance of the death. This involves accepting the reality of the situation at hand. It also involves a deeper appreciation of the loved one and the value they brought to your life. This also involves moving forward as a human being and looking forward to the positive things life brings (Souza & Klein, 2001). I took two weeks to accept that my grandfather was gone forever. This acceptance was not complete in that I would occasionally breakdown when I remembered him. Accepting the death of my grandfather also meant that I had become a more mature person despite being only seven yours old. I could thus approach the difficult situations in life with more maturity due to the hard time I had gone through.

The loss of a loved one affects the immediate friends and family for the worst or on some occasions the better. Some children have been known to blame themselves for a death of a loved one in that they are suspicious at a young age. This type of situation is not ideal for the health of a child in that it affects the proper development of the child in terms of self esteem and confidence. It also makes a child approach all the difficulties they come across in their lives with a negative point of view as opposed to being positive. Children who have lost loved ones at an early age tend to act out more often than not due to the constant need of attention from the people who surround them. It is thus important to ensure that the proper stages of grieving are followed though the use of counseling from the family or a professional (Boerre, 2006).

Conclusion

Death is inevitable to all the living things that walk on the face of this earth. Human beings are therefore tasked with the responsibility of living a healthy and full lifestyle. This involves being positive even though one is faced with hardships. One of the ways that makes the acceptance of the death of a person easier is the knowing that the person was happy and enjoyed their life to the fullest. Another way that human beings can go about this situation is the appreciation for the life they still have due to the fact that it is not a permanent gift.

References

Boerre, G. (2006) Jean Piaget. Personality Theories. Retrieved August 18, 2011

from http ://webspacg.sh ip.edu/csSmee, Clive. (2000). “Department of Health Special Section: Reconsidering the Role of Competition in Health Care Markets”. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 25 (5): 945–951

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2010) Death. Retrieved August 18, 2011

from http ://www. merriam-webster.com/d dictionary/death

MedicineNet.Com (2004) Grief. Retrieved August 18, 2011

from http ://wwv.medicinenet.com/script/main/art. asp? Article key: 83 860

Family Education Network (2010) ‘Helping Your Child Deal with the Death of a Parent’.

Retrieved August 18, 2011 from http://lifb.familyeducation.com/death-and-dying/toddler/53 891.html

Gardner, H. (2006). Multiple Intelligence: New Horizons, New York, Basic Books.

Hois, S. (2001) Effects of Separation and Loss on Children’s Development.

Retrieved August, 20 I 1 from http: //www. Nurturing parenting commit research validation/ effects_separation_and_loss.pdf

Hughes, D. L. (2007). “Universal coverage in the land of smiles: lessons from Thailand’s 30 baht health reforms”. Health Affairs, 26 (4): 999–1008.

Munir, F. (2005)’Muslim Understanding of Death’. Alkalirna, 7 (l).

Koocher, G. (2002) ‘Discussing Death with Children’. Children Today, l9-37.

Kornhaber, L., Fierros, G., Veneema, A. (2004). Multiple Intelligence: Ideas from Research and Practice, Pearson / Allyn and Bacon Publishers.

Kr”rbler-Ross, E. (1969). On Death ancl Dying. New York: McMillan.

Orbach, I., Gross, Y., and Glaubman, H. (2006) ‘Children’s Perception of Death in Humans and animals as a Function of Age, Anxiety, and Cognitive Ability’. Journal of Child

Psychology and Psychiatry, 26(3), 453-463.

Sengendo, J. and Nambi, J. (2001)’ the psychological effect of orphan hood: a study of orphans In Rakai district’. Health Transition Review, 105- 4

Shanks. N.H. (2007). Introduction to Health Care Management. Johns & Bartlett Publishers.

Souza, P. and Klein, D. (2001). Child Mental Health in Sonoma Country Family Action

Of ‘Sanoma country, 89-91.

Stowe, H. B. (1865) Little.Foxes,’ Or the Insignificant Little Habits Which Mar Domestic

Happiness. United Kingdom: Kessinger Publishing.

Natiorial Institute of Health Patient Intimation Publications (2006) Talking Children about Death, p. l-14.

Life Is Valuable To Me, Like Life Is A Race…

Life Is Valuable To Me, Like Life Is A Race…

The term life to me has many meanings, but one thing that becomes apparent every time I think about the matter is that life has too much value and that we have to live life as best as we can so as to rip the best things it has to offer us before we run out of time. Life is fast, and unless one values it and lives as if it were valuable, there is a big chance that one can lose out. This paper, therefore, is my story of how I perceive life. Life to me is like a race; a fast race that you either win or lose. To me life has a lot of value and this value has to be utilized to the minimum. The story below will show how I discovered that life is valuable, and how I became to perceive life like a race.

In my younger days, before I developed into the person I am today, I was a troublesome child; hardheaded and set on my ways without the hope of ever listening or considering the views of others. Before all changed, I attended and became a constant member of one of the most common schools on earth; a school that everyone has attended at least once in their lifetime. This school takes in everyone no matter what state, stage or position in life they are in; these things do not matter to this school, and I am sure everyone has gone to the school once. The school am talking about here is the extremely common school in life called the School of Hard Knocks. Up to date I have not come across a more effective, memorable and efficient school in life.

Since I was hard headed, stubborn and set on my ways in more than one way, it is only fair to admit that I got quite a share of this School of Hard Knocks education. I remember listening to a youth counselor in one of the many youth camps I attended. He was talking about how the fastest runner in a race does not always have to reach the finish line before the other runners who might even have started the race at a lesser speed. This seemed like something that had been taken out of the bible as I had attended some bible classes in my days and I was sure there was a verse a verse in the bible that had the same ideology of life.

Little did I know that I would later live the exact experience the youth counselor at summer camp was explaining? At the same camp, we constantly held summer competitions that involved various games such as racing, football, and other kinds of sports. One of the competitions that were being held at that time was a racing competition. I was considered an extremely excellent runner in most of the camps that I had attended, and I was sure that, in this particular camp, I was by far the fastest runner. I was sure would outrun everyone else in this particular race.

The race soon began and as I had thought I was outrunning everyone else and I was way ahead of them in a few seconds, but there was a problem. In the previous three months, I had dislocated my foot ankle, and though it had healed well, I started feeling some discomfort in my bad ankle. The doctor had warned that I should not strain the leg for a number of months, but I assumed that the leg had healed in the three months I had been idle. However, this was not the case, the discomfort increased, and I could not walk or run properly. I started to limp badly, and in no time, the other racers had outrun me and they were way ahead of me. However, I was glad that it was not that serious as no one stopped to see what was going on.

I was able to complete the competition, only, I finished it last. I had anticipated that I would finish first and take home the crown. Someone else, however, won and got to take the coveted price home. I was so sad that someone had taken away something I had wanted so bad, and by the fact that I would not enjoy to watch my parents as they beamed with pride when I showed them the trophy. However, I was glad that my little brother had won more than 10 trophies in math contests. I saw it as a way life evened out my defeat. I am extremely proud and happy to have such a talented brother, and I was glad that his trophies were around to hide the fact that I had not brought home any trophies.

I learned a number of lessons from this experience. For example, I learned that an individual’s talents, abilities and capabilities only count for a small percentage of the successes such an individual achieves later in life. Another lesson I learned is that life can be understood or taken as a race. A race, therefore, can be a good example of how life is. Take, for example, the fact that in a race there are no guaranteed wins. Life is just the same. One can be sure that they have all abilities and resources to achieve certain goals, but at the end, they can fail to achieve the same goals just like a racer can fail to win. It was clear from my experience that there are no guarantees that an individual will always emerge at the top even if they have the capacity to achieve this. It was during this juncture that I remembered my counselor’s words about the fastest winner not always obtaining the trophy, and I realized that his words were true.

There, I was the fastest runner in the camp expecting to emerge the winner; something that was disapproved at the end. Back to life, we can make the same conclusions as in a race. The wise sometimes go without food, and the skillful, in life, are not always the ones driving the biggest cars. Additionally, the most educated people are not always the richest, or the successful individuals in life. It would be fair to conclude that the outcomes of life, just like those of a race are influenced by several variables, and not just by abilities or skills. For example, ones success can be determined by chance, by one being at the right place and being at there at the right time. These variables that determine success not only apply to track racers but also to the skillful, the educated, the wise, strong and the wealthy.

This, however, does not mean that being wealthy, skillful, educated, wise, strong, or having special abilities is wrong. It is quite clear from some examples that good education, or the appropriate skills can contribute to one leading a successful life. Take Bill Gates, for example, his skills, education, wisdom and hard work have made him one of the most successful and wealthiest men worldwide. However, it is essential to realize that, especially after the example with my experience, that there are no guarantees that something is going to go the way one sees it. This means that one’s success is mainly determined by other forces and not just his attributes.

I changed a lot after some of the experiences I got from the school of hard knocks. I spend less time being stubborn and rude, and, as a result, I spend less time in this hardship school.

I realized that some situations can go either way; I could win in some cases or at other times, I could lose. After learning this, I became more comfortable with life, and I realized that I did not always have to win for me to be happy and content. I learned that I should take and value each situation the same; both winning and losing. I later learned that I should never take my winning or losing at face value and that I should consider the overall worth of each situation. For example, if I lost it did not mean all was lost. I could have lost and let someone else win who needed the win much more than I did.

With the exception of some of these bad experiences I had at the school of hard knocks, I had a wonderful time at most of these camps, and I sometimes think that my loosing at that particular race was essential and extremely beneficial for my life. The reason I say this is that, without these experiences, I would not have learned the valuable lessons I learned after I lost that race. Later I discovered that some of the finest teachings are those that we win and never receive a trophy. The experiences life teaches us are prices worth more than other prizes received as trophies. This is because it is not only kind of trophy that helps us learn through valuable lessons and help us mature and grow up into adults who are productive.

Conclusion

As it was indicated in the above story, a race can be exemplified to life. The reason I conclude this way is because in most cases the two have the same goals, and one of them is to emerge successful at the end of hard work. Races can be used as metaphors for life because they impose on individuals the same lessons life imposes on them. For example, one can learn from races and life that winning or becoming successful is not a guarantee, and that at times people lose and other times they win. It was learned from the above story that people should value the outcomes of their just the same.

Life Lessons

Life Lessons

Jane has been my friend since childhood. I have known her for as long as I can remember. We went to school together, played together, had sleepovers at each other’s houses. There was never any question that she would always be a part of my life. Nothing could come between us. I believed that we had a healthy friendship because we gave each other space but managed to keep our friendship quite strong. We went to different high schools but remained in the same area, so we would hang out frequently. As we grew up, we shared our triumphs and joys. When I felt sad, I would talk to her about whatever was bothering me. She became more than a friend; she was my family. However, something happened that would change our friendship forever.

One weekend just after I joined college, I asked Jane if she would go out to dinner with me. I had not seen her for a while, and I wanted to talk to her about some challenges I was experiencing while transitioning to college life. I knew I could rely on her for honest and sound advice. She told me that she was feeling rather ill so she would not make it. I wished her a quick recovery and told her I hoped we could hang out soon. However, soon after this, I began to notice that something was amiss. Jane stopped taking my calls and took days to respond to my texts. I was quite hurt as this was unlike her, I tried to ask her what the issue was, but she was not forthcoming. It broke my heart to imagine that our friendship was coming to an end, and I had no idea why.

I decided to give Jane some space to work out any issues she might have. I wrote her a text saying that I would be available to talk whenever she was ready. Still, she did not respond to this. After a few weeks, I grew quite concerned and decided to visit Jane’s house where she lived with her parents. I had been there before, but I did not find Jane at home and decided not to pry further. On this particular day, I found Jane’s mother making lunch, and she invited me to join her. Tactfully, I explained what had been going on between Jane and I. Jane’s mother was quite sympathetic and told me that Jane had been going through a hard time.

A few days before, Jane had checked herself into a mental health facility as she had been struggling with a diagnosed mental illness for a few months. I was alarmed, but her mother told me that she was doing well. Jane did not want to burden me with her illness as she was quite unwell, but she wanted to get better before telling me all about it. She knew that I was in a new chapter of my life in college and wanted to give me time to enjoy myself.

I was both relieved and saddened to learn about this. My best friend did not give me the chance to be there for her during a tough moment, and I felt that I had failed her. On the other hand, I was glad that she had taken the proper steps towards recovery. I learned an important lesson from this experience. As humans, we all go through different phases in life that some of our closest friends and family might not identify with. When this happens, we must walk the difficult paths alone and find a solution to our problems. I also learned the importance of giving our loved ones the space that they need to figure out their lives. When Jane felt better, she called me to explain, and I believe that our friendship is stronger than ever.

LIFE OF BARRACK OBAMA

LIFE OF BARRACK OBAMA

Student’s name

Department of affiliation

Course

Instructor

Date

LIFE OF BARRACK OBAMA

Introduction

Obama was the president for 8 years

Obama had a difficult childhood

He has a supportive family

He supports his friends especially Joe Biden

Body

The childhood of Obama

The separation with his father

His basic education

His mother

Middle life and college education

His life at Punahou School

His life at Occidental College and Columbia University

His life at Harvard and Meeting Michelle

Later life

His political career

Being the president

Writing career

Family life

Conclusion

After presidency

Supporting Joe Biden and staying with family

References

Olive, D. (2010). An American Story: The Speeches of Barack Obama-A Primer. ECW Press.Darsey, J. (2009). Barack Obama and America’s journey. Southern Communication Journal, 74(1), 88-103.

Remnick, D. (2010). The bridge: The life and rise of Barack Obama. Picador.Obama, B. (2009). Barack Obama. Timeline, 9(10), 11.Maraniss, D. (2012). Barack Obama: The Story. Simon and Schuster.Brill, M. T. (2006). Barack Obama: Working to make a difference. Lerner Publications.

Life Span Case Study

Life Span Case Study Project

Student’s name

Institutional affiliation

Life Span Case Study Project

Part One: Case Background

For the purpose of this assignment, I assessed the life experiences of Tom. Tom is 68 years old, and he is my father’s old acquaintance and a family friend. Tom was born in Cambridge, Boston, where he lived early in his life. Currently, Tom resides in Austin Texas where he lives with his elderly wife. Tom and his wife live alone in a house which they own. From time to time, their host their children and grandchildren who come to see them from time to time. Tom and his wife are both retired, and they rely on pension for their day-to-day expenses. Tom’s former occupation was that of a doctor. He spent the better part of his life working as a health provider. His area of specialization was paediatrics, meaning that he helped treat and manage medical issues affecting children, infants, and young people. Tom is still married to his wife, Alyssa. Tom and his wife have three children, namely June (37), Peter (32) and Shawn (25). Additionally, they have two grandchildren, namely Chantelle (9) and Bambi (5).

Part Two Topical Investigation

Tom described his relationships as genuine, uncomplicated, strong, sincere, steadfast and unbounded. Tom mentioned that he had learned an important lesson; that one does not need many friends, just enough. He said that he has strong ties with the people dear to him and that he has had the same friends for the last four decades. He mentioned that he is picky with the people that he invites into his life as friends. His circle of friends is small but functional. He said that his friendships changed drastically over the years. Being an outgoing person meant that he met many people in his lifetime. At one point, he had the habit of mistaking acquaintances for friends. He thought his work colleagues were his friends, but he learned the importance of keeping personal life separate from professional life. Notably, Tom mentioned that he realized that he needed more friends than enemies as he grew older. Tom said that working as a young adult was easier than during the middle and older ages. He said that he had a lot of excitement and energy as a young adult that comes with holding an entry-level position. He had goals he wanted to accomplish, and his eyes were set on the prize. He was very dedicated to his career. He would show up to work two hours before the recommended time and he did not mind working overtime. However, he mentions that as he grew, the energy reduced and excitement died down. His work seemed very easy in old age because he had gained years of experience in the field. He, however, struggled with deadlines as his pace reduced significantly.

Tom reported that over the years, his stress levels have changed. As a young adult, he had high-stress levels because he was worried about many things. He had just begun to build a career and was worried about making ends meet and starting a family. The anxiety levels reduced over the years as he grew old. Today, he has low-stress levels since he is retired, and he does not worry about bills since he owns a house, his children are grown, and he has a pension. Tom’s highest educational achievement was graduating with a Masters in Pediatrics and Child Health from Miami University. This achievement was a defining moment in his life because it helped him grow both professionally and as a person. To date, it is among the proudest moments in his life. Tom coped with stress over the years by talking to a professional therapist and confiding in his life partner. His occupation was not easy, he constantly had to deal with sick patients every day, and this seemed to take a toll on his life. Seeing a therapist helped him overcome challenges he went through both professionally and as a person. Tom reported that his romantic relationships have gotten better over the years. He married his wife at 28 years and has since spent 39 years with her. Each day their relationship keeps changing for the better. Tom mentioned that he has a strong relationship with his parents and siblings. Although they live in different states, they talk every day and see each other from time to time. Tom’s personality has remained the same over the years. Nothing much has changed. Tom is still the loving, compassionate and self-respecting individual he was 40 years ago. Tom’s level of intelligence has improved over the years. As they say, with age comes experience. His experiences as a paediatrician have groomed him into the intelligent older adult he is today. His area of expertise is paediatrics. He specialized in treating diseases in children and infants. Tom speaks Spanish as a second language, which helped him communicate with his patients during his time as a doctor. Over the years, Tom has improved morally. He has taken up virtues that he did not have while growing up. Tom has learned to be resilient, honest, and always do good. Tom has improved emotionally over the years. Initially, Tom was soft-hearted, and he would tear over the slightest issues, but his career as a doctor taught him to be strong emotionally. Tom describes his mental health as stable. He struggled to get where he is, but his mental health is good currently. Tom’s self-esteem has improved over the years. He was not always the confident individual we see, but after years of working on himself, he is confident, and his self-esteem skyrocketed.

Without a doubt, Tom has encountered discrimination because of his Hispanic roots. Growing up, he was picked on in school, and people would tease him because of his accent. He eventually overcame the discrimination and did not encounter it much as an adult. His life is better or nearly the same as theirs compared to his peers. Some are doing better than him, while others are doing worse-off. Tom is grateful that he has a house and a pension, and he does not have to live in shelters or facilities for the older people at his age. Tom’s life was not particularly impacted by any historical event except the covid-19 pandemic. Over the years, Tom’s memory abilities have gotten better. His brain is more alert than before, even in old age. Tom physical health is doing well. He works out every day and eats healthy. Besides his walking pace reducing, Tom’s physical health could not be at a better place. Tom’s relationship with his children and grandchildren has improved for the better. He has strong bonds with his three children, and he keeps in regular contact with them. Tom’s diet has improved over the years. He eats healthy foods and exercises regularly to keep fit. Tom’s greatest accomplishment is his family. He mentioned that family is life greatest gift and his family is his reason for being. He said that there is nothing left for him to accomplish in life because he is happy with what he has achieved over the years. He advised that to live a happy and healthy life, one of the secrets is beginning early to take care of their health. He also noted that walking one’s path, making every moment count, and most importantly, letting and living will go a long way in attaining a happy life.

Part 3: Theories

Two theories that apply to the case of Tom are Erik Erikson’s and Sigmund Freud’s theories of development. Erik Erikson was a theorist that modified Freud’s psychosexual theory by dividing it into eight stages. Each stage describes two conflicting ideas that a person goes through to become a valuable member of society. According to this theory, human beings go through eight developmental stages in their lifetime, starting with infancy to late adulthood. According to Erikson, the eight stages of development include trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, and integrity vs. despair (Erskine, 2019). Successfully completing the task at each stage leads to a healthy personality and competence, while failure to complete the tasks translates into inadequacy. The eight-stage, dubbed integrity vs despair, most applies to Tom’s case. This stage starts when an individual is in their mid-60s and lasts until they die. Erikson opined that individuals in late adulthood often look back at their lives and either feel a sense of failure or satisfaction and their life choices inform this. A person who feels proud of their accomplishments and life choices has a sense of integrity and has little or no regrets. On the other hand, people who do not have accomplishments feel as if they have wasted their lives (Maree, 2021). They tend to focus on how things could have and should have been. They approach the end of life with despair, bitterness, and depression. In this case, Tom said that there is nothing more that he feels he ought to have accomplished. Tom does not have any regrets in his life. He attained all the goals that he had set for his life, that is why he feels happy and fulfilled.

Moreover, Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic personality theory also applies to the case of Tom. Freud argues that human behavior results from interactions between the id, ego, and superego (Gumiandari, & Nafi’a, 2019). Freud posited that personality develops from childhood and is shaped in a series of five psychosexual stages, which he referred to as the psychosexual theory of development. The id seeks instant gratification of basic physical urges and needs and operates outside of conscious thought. The superego pays attention to morals and social rules. The ego is the pragmatic and ration structure of human personality. The ego is partly unconscious, partly conscious and less primitive than the id (Jenkins, 2017). This theory applies to the case of Tom in various ways. Tom mentioned that over the years, he learned that colleagues are not friends. He was in the habit of letting colleagues into his personal life. However, he realized that having a few friends is better than having many friends. As a young adult, he wanted to make friends (id), and he did not want to lose them (superego). However, he quickly realized that although he craved friends, he had to select them carefully (ego).

Part 4: Summary

In closing, Tom lived a fulfilled and happy life. One can tell that he had carefully planned his life. Tom is a hardworking and principled man who prioritizes his goals. Family is the one thing that is very important to Tom. He has maintained solid and functional relationships with his wife, children and grandchildren. He had a fulfilling career that he loved and held for over four decades. He made sure to prepare for late adulthood by buying a house to retire With his wife. Tom’s lifespan is in line with the personality development theories. He grew up and went through internal struggles that shaped his life. Tom’s life is cynical. He ended up right where he started. He always wished to retire with his life and lead a stress-free life as he enjoys his pension. From this interview, I have learned many lessons about the importance of walking one’s own path and making every moment count because one is not young forever.

References

Erskine, R. G. (2019). Child development in integrative psychotherapy: Erik Erikson’s first three stages. International Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy, 10, 11-34.

Gumiandari, S., & Nafi’a, I. (2019). Gender bias constructed in Freud’s concept on human psycho-sexual development (an analytical study based on Islamic psychological analysis). Palastren Journal Studi Gender, 12(1), 211-256.

Jenkins, W. J. (2017). An analysis of Sigmund Freud’s interpretation of dreams. Macat Library.

Maree, J. G. (2021). The psychosocial development theory of Erik Erikson: critical overview. Early Child Development and Care, 191(7-8), 1107-1121.

The article Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder a review of the essential facts by Daley D

Life Span Development

Author

Institution

Date

Introduction

The article “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: a review of the essential facts” by Daley D examined the various issues pertaining to the condition. It explains that ADHD refers to a complex disorder that results from genetic and environmental influences or factors. Daley explains that while there has been modification in the name for the last five decades, ADHD’s current diagnosis shares the core inattention, impulsivity, motor restlessness, and symptoms with the earlier terms. The earlier terms include hyperactive child syndrome, minimal brain dysfunction and attention deficit disorder. In addition, the writer states that the etiological explanations of the disorder are either environmental or biological. Biological explanations of the disorder include brain structure and genetics, as well as their bearing on neuropsychology. The predisposing environmental factors include diet and parenting. As concerning intervention methods, the writer focuses on psychosocial intervention and the use of medication. However, he acknowledges that the use of medication has been known to have side effects especially in the case of children below school going age. He also examines asserts the fact that very little is known concerning the relationship between the later expression of ADHD disorder and the early hyperactivity.

It is noteworthy that the writer has been very thorough in examining the predisposing factors and the causes of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. However, the intervention section has been virtually neglected in this journal. Unlike the other sections, the writer has not examined any specific methods of interventions that are used in treating Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but only goes on to generalize in the form of medication and psychosocial intervention methods.

In addition, the writer has ignored the significance of dietary methods of treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Supplementing or modifying one’s diet would in fact remedy the symptoms that are associated with the disorder. In any case, he had acknowledged that the condition could also be caused by the diet of the individual. Would it not follow that changes in the diet would be effective in treating it? Studies show that an individual could eliminate toxic additives in the diet and consume more organic whole foods in order to remedy the problem (Selikowitz, 2009). Food dyes, synthetic sweeteners, processed foods and artificial additives have been shown to trigger abnormalities in the brain, which spurs uncontrollable behavior and inattentiveness. Given that diet plays a significant role in enhancing focus, behavior, and metal capacity, the writer could have done more than mention it among the causes.

In addition, the writer opines that parenting has a bearing on the occurrence of children as well as their parents. While this may be the case, it is noteworthy that the writer does not provide a clear relationship between parenting and the occurrence of ADHD. In addition, that assertion would raise question as to whether the disorder is an ailment or just a result of the environment. It is noteworthy that ADHD has been shown to have a relationship with an individual’s genetic makeup. In this case, the assertion that the condition would arise as a result of parenting raises questions as to whether parenting would have any impact on the genetic make-up of a child or even the parent. Science has shown that this is impossible, which raises questions as to the assertion that parenting causes ADHD (Selikowitz, 2009)

Conclusion

Much is unknown about ADHD, not only as pertaining to it very nature but also on its causes and even the possible remedies. Much still remains to be done on the issue in order to offer a clear explanation to these issues.

References

Mark Selikowitz, 2009. ADHD. London: Oxford University Press.

D. Daley. (2006). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a review of the essential facts

Child: Care, Health and Development journals, Volume 32, Issue 2, pages 193–204

<http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2006.00572.x/full>

Lifes disappointments

Life’s disappointments

Contents

TOC o “1-3” h z u Introduction PAGEREF _Toc381195462 h 1Coping with disappointment PAGEREF _Toc381195463 h 1Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc381195464 h 2

IntroductionIn life one is likely to face disappointments. Life’s disappointments come in different sizes and shapes and they occur to people of different ages though at the core exists a similar principle. Disappointments exist as a result of the difference between what one expects and what is there in reality. Depending on how deep the disappointment is one might experience a wide range of emotions such as sadness, hurt, jealousy or anger over a period of time.

Coping with disappointmentIf one is already in the throes of disappointment they should not be depressed instead one should sit down and the alternatives that may present themselves in the situation. Denial is very powerful therefore accepting the situation as it is very crucial. For instance if the disappointment is someone that has not come through in the intended way then one should let go and focus on things that they will get positive returns.

One should also draw inspiration fro their role models after being disappointed. Very many people around us can be role models as they come through difficult situations successfully. This can be friends, family members or even celebrities. Gaining strength from their life journey’s of this people enable one to move forward towards their future as well as from disappointing situations.

Talking to friends or family can help one get cope with the situation easily. Letting out the disappointment is very important this is by letting people around you know how one feels. People can give their ideas on how best one can handle the situation. One should not allow themselves to be victims but instead one should be ready to talk of about disappointments, acknowledge them and forgive those that disappointed them and move on. Holding on resentment that is negative will only weigh someone down .one should not look back but forge forward.

One should find hope and optimism in their life. If the particular situation that lead to the disappointment has failed then should look forward to other options that can work out. Creation of other goals and objectives as well as finding people that will cheer one also helps the situation. In life there are always positive things to aspire to therefore one should not be afraid of taking risks simply because of one or two disappointments that someone has been through.

Some disappointments have the potential of hitting someone hard and it often takes time before working them through and moving forward. One should therefore be patient with themselves as they go through that phase of recovery. Knowing that at the end of the day there is hope in every situation and therefore approaching a situation differently ensures that one gets through the situation and any other disappointment that they might come across.

ConclusionCoping with disappointments is just the same as coping with loss. Disappointments help one build their character and patience if one deals with them appropriately. When one copes with the disappointment in a healthy way then one will reach a point where they not only accept the situation but also learn from it. Coping with disappointment is very difficult but if one words through it then other opportunities present themselves.

Introduction (16)

Lifetime Appointment of the U.S. Supreme Courts System

Student’s name

Institutional affiliation

Introduction

In the United States, the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court is among the most decisions a president can ever make. This is because inline with the U.S. Constitution, justices serving at the Supreme Court are allowed to serve a lifetime and are only separated from office if they retire, resign, or are removed from office. This aspect makes the U.S. democracy distinct from other democracies that strict term limits or mandatory retirement ages for high court judges. For instance, in the United Kingdom, justices undergo mandatory retirement at 70 years, as do judges in Australia High courts. Most judges in the United States history retire prior, but a few died while in office, including Justice Ruth Ginsburg, who recently died in September 2020 after serving at the Supreme Court for 27 years (Kearney, 2019). In 1787, by the time the U.S. constitution was ratified, the average life expectancy for white males was 38 years; today, the life expectancy in the U.S. stands at 79 years. This means that the average justice serves the courts for 28 years. There is an argument that the framers never intended justices to serve as long as they do now since life expectancy was considerably shorter at the time of the drafting of the Constitution. This essay points out the pros and cons of lifetime appointment of judges and asserts that the tenure of Supreme Court Justices should have strict age limits rather than lifetime appointment.

Pros of Lifetime Appointment of Judges

Permanency in Office Contributes to independence and Firmness of Supreme Courts.

The essence of guaranteeing justices a position on the benches for a lifetime or until they retire is to guard the courts against fighting partisan battles. The Supreme Court represents the highest Court in the entire U.S. justice system, making it susceptible to external influences hence preventing it from functioning fairly and independently. The Supreme Court is a point of reference against the president’s office as well as congress. Lifetime appointment is deemed helpful as it is intended to ensure that the corridors of justice are insulated against political pressure and they serve genuinely autonomous of government arms. This way, judges are protected from being sacked if they make decisions that are unpopular. In theory, lifetime appointment allows justices to concentrate on the law enforcement rather than politics. Additionally, while a president might nominate an individual to the position of justice because they view them as an ideological or political ally, they cannot be recalled even if political alignment or ideologies change upon getting to the bench. Noteworthy, there is data to suggest that as they age, ideologies of many justices drift leftward. This shows that article III of the Constitution is timely as it prevents wrangles that can arise from having justices that are unbiased or with personal interest in Congress, the Public, or the elected president. According to Alexander Hamilton, who wrote in Federalists No.78, the lack of limits in terms for federal justices “is the best expedient which can be devised in government to secure a steady, upright, and impartial administration of the laws” (Black, & Owens 2016).

Life Time Appointment of Justices Protects Courts’ Legitimacy

In this case, legitimacy is the court’s ability to resolve disagreements using ways that are acceptable by the citizens even when they do not like the decision. Critiques of the ideology of having a term limit maintain that having a lifetime appointment policy is viable as it insulates judges from political pressure hence protecting the Court’s legitimacy (McMillion, 2017). Worth noting, if citizens do not view Courts as legitimate, they are less likely to trust and follow its opinion. On the other hand, having term limits to justices’ tenure for 18 years would only cushion judges from politics from a given amount of time hence tarnishing the Court’s legitimacy.

Cons of Lifetime Appointment of Federal Justices

Lifetime Appointment is a Barrier to Combating Partisan Imbalance in the Courts System

As is, there is no political balance when it comes to giving each president equal nominations of justices through their terms in office. To date, presidential appointments are unevenly distributed between Republican presidents and Democrats. Of the past 18 justices, only four (4) were adopted by democrats, although less than 50% of presidents in the last 50 years were republicans. Worth noting, ideally, about 50% of justices should have been appointed by Democratic presidents and 50% by republican presidents to reflect the majority of the population’s political ideologies at the time of the vacancy. Lifetime appointment of judges does not solve the imbalance as there is no stipulated time when a judge should serve. If there was a term limit, it would solve the imbalance by limiting presidents’ appointments to two per term. This would allow future democratic presidents to appoint more justices to the Supreme Court than they have had thus far.

Life Time Appointment Exacerbates Divisiveness Following the Confirmation Process

Allowing federal justices to serve a lifetime reinforces the division which follows the process of appointing these individuals. Although Justice Scalia was confirmed in 1986 98-0, very few Democrats would agree with him. Notably, since then, no justice has been confirmed unanimously. Instead, nowadays, justices are being confirmed with narrow margins at high rates. Moreover, votes are now aligned with political party lines; for instance, Justice Kavanaugh and Justice Gorsuch were confirmed with 50-48 and 54-45 votes respectively. It is imperative to note that augmented partisanship of the process paints judges as mere political figures rather than unbiased interpreters of the Constitution. In turn, this affects the citizens’ viewpoint towards the courts and the entire justice system. If there were a law to limit the age of service for justices, it would balance the number of judges nominated by each president, thus helping the confirmation process become less partisan.

Conclusion

The issue of nomination of Supreme Courts’ Justice by the present elect in the United States is an important decision to the state and the citizens. This is because, in line with their Constitution, federal judges are permitted to serve a life time and are allowed to leave office only if thy resign, retire or are impeached. I maintain the position that there is need to put strict age limits that restrict justices to serve until they a particular age. The first reason for supporting this notion is that incorporating age limits would solve the imbalance by limiting presidents’ appointments to two per term. This follows the fact that there is no political balance when it comes to giving each president equal nominations of justices through their terms in office. Additionally, if there was a law to limit the age of service for justices, it would balance the number of justices nominated by each president, thus helping the confirmation process become less partisan. The division is evidenced by the narrow margins experienced during the confirmations of justices in the appointment and confirmation process. There is a need to cross-examine how viable article III of the Constitution and if need be, amendment in line with the legal procedures.

References

Black, R. C., & Owens, R. J. (2016). Courting the president: how circuit court judges alter their behavior for promotion to the Supreme Court. American Journal of Political Science, 60(1), 30-43.

Kearney, M. (2019). When to Step Down: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Supreme Court. Women Leading Change: Case Studies on Women, Gender, and Feminism, 4(1).

McMillion, B. J. (2017). Supreme Court Appointment Process: President’s Selection of a Nominee. Congressional Research Service.