The American Revolution A Concise History By Robert J....

In The American Revolution: A Concise History, by Robert J. Allison, the main thesis of the book is the American Revolution. Allison thoroughly describes not only events that took place during the war but the events that caused the war and its aftereffects. Allison discusses tons of key players who were a major part of the war that many were unaware of like John Burgoyne, Henry Clinton and several other generals and/or politicians who helped shaped the war. Furthermore, one major point Allison would continue to bring up in the book is unity. In the beginning of the book, Allison illustrates how each colony functioned and how divided the colonies were before. He even mentions how the colonies had ‘no formal communication system joining them’. But as Allison continues to discuss the wars’ events, he shows how the colonies began to unify to fight against the British. Another main point the books makes is how America was viewed after the war. After the American Revo lution, immigrants and people who came to America saw how fast it was changing with their landscape, educational rates, and the diverse amount of religions. Allison states that many saw ‘these features continued to set America apart,’ . In addition, Allison explains how America did not want their government to end up like Britain’s government and creating a republican government. The government proposed was one of ‘a national government with a national legislature, executive, and judiciary. TheShow MoreRelatedFounding of the United States708 Words   |  3 Pageswere characterized by influential political leaders and also strong statesmen who able to offer the right leadership and guidance in these periods. These period are; American Revolution, Jefferson Era, Americas Economic Revolution and the Civil War. The American Revolution took place between 1775-1783 and is popularly known as the American war of independence and is considered by many scholars to be one of the most important and iconic wars of all time. It was a fight between the British and its 13 coloniesRead MoreAmerican Revolution Essay2256 Words   |  10 PagesA revolution is defined as being a generally violent attempt by many people to end one rule of governing, and to create their own (Websters Dictionary). The founding of our own independent country is based on such a notion, with our forefathers fighting to gain their freedom from the oppressive rule of Colonial England. With rampant fears of tyranny from a country deemed a super power, the American people were divided in their views of creating their own government, making the definition of a revolutionRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesThree Ethical Decis ion Criteria 187 †¢ Improving Creativity in Decision Making 188 Summary and Implications for Managers 190 S A S A S A L L L Self-Assessment Library What Are My Gender Role Perceptions? 166 glOBalization! Chinese Time, North American Time 171 Myth or Science? Creative Decision Making Is a Right-Brain Activity 181 Self-Assessment Library Am I A Deliberate Decision Maker? 183 An Ethical Choice Whose Ethical Standards to Follow? 185 Self-Assessment Library How Creative Am I? 190Read MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesInterior Design Senior Media Editor Senior Photo Editor Production Management Cover Design Cover Credit George Hoffman Lise Johnson Sarah Vernon Amy Scholz Laura Finley Dorothy Sinclair Sandra Dumas Susan McLaughlin Kevin Murphy Laura Ierardi Allison Morris Hilary Newman mb editorial services David Levy  ©Michael Eudenbach/Getty Images, Inc. This book was set in 10/12 ITC Legacy Serif Book by Aptaracorp, Inc. and printed and bound by Courier/Kendallville. The cover was printed by Courier/KendallvilleRead MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 PagesExpert Systems 241 Obtaining an Expert System 242 Examples of Expert Systems 242 Neural Networks 244 Virtual Reality 245 Review Questions 250 †¢ Discussion Questions 250 †¢ Bibliography 251 Chapter 7 E-Business Systems 253 Brief History of the Internet E-Business Technologies 254 254 Legal and Regulatory Environment 257 Strategic E-Business Opportunities (and Threats) B2B Applications 260 B2C Applications 263 Two Dot-Com Retailers 264 Two Traditional CatalogRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 Pages and my daughter, Anna C. O. ââ€"   To Carol, Allie, and Teri. J. D. ââ€"   About the Authors puter Teacher of the Year award in 1988 and received the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement in mathematics in 1999. Chris is a frequent contributor to the AP Statistics Electronic Discussion Group and has reviewed materials for The Mathematics Teacher, the AP Central web site, The American Statistician, and the Journal of the American Statistical Association. He currently writes a column for Stats

Philosophy of Aldi Essay Example For Free At Magic Help - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2309 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Marketing Essay Type Case study Did you like this example? Aldi have made great strides in entering the UK grocery market. Please analyse Aldis current marketing strategy and provide recommendations for how Aldi can enhance their marketing strategy to gain a greater share of the UK Grocery Market. Introduction Marketing in simple terms can be described as offering a right product at a right place at the right time and with a right price. The Management Gurus emphasise on the four Ps of marketing which are often called the marketing mix. These four Ps are Product, Place, Price and Promotion. Marketing mix is an important tool to make an efficient marketing plan for a successful product offering. These four Ps of marketing mix can help achieving the business targets of sales, profit and consumer satisfaction. The essay examines marketing strategies of a German supermarket chain named Aldi, in the UK. The paper is divided in to four sections. The first section gives a brief history about Aldi. The second section talks about its position in the UK market. The third section analyses the marketing strategy of Aldi on the basis of the four Ps. The last section gives recommendations on marketing strategies for the future growth of the company in UK market. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Philosophy of Aldi Essay Example For Free At Magic Help" essay for you Create order A brief history of Aldi Aldi, one of the worlds largest privately owned companies, is a grocery supermarket chain with a base in Germany. The name Aldi has come from the abbreviation of Albrecht (family name) Discount. The business started in 1913 with a food store in the town called Essen in Germany. By 1960s this family business was expanded to 300 stores in Germany and that is when the business was separated into two groups Aldi Nord (North) with a headquarter in Essen and Aldi SÃÆ'Â ¼d (South) with a headquarter in MÃÆ'Â ¼lheim an der Ruhr (Emsell, 2011). The business was separated over a disagreement on whether to sell cigarettes in the stores or not (Ruddick, 2012). These two organisations now operate independent to each other. On international levels, Aldi Nord operates in Portugal, Denmark, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Spain, and Poland. Aldi SÃÆ'Â ¼d is functional in Ireland, United Kingdom, Hungary, Switzerland, Australia, Austria and Slovenia and United States of America with over 8000 stores in total (Aldi UK website, 2015). Aldi in the United Kingdom Taylor and Lee (2007) have stressed the adverse effects on the international buyer behaviour due to cultural disparities. KPMG (2014) states that the shopping culture in UK is associated with the quality and not necessarily with price. It further mentions that higher level of customer services is one of the main attributes of this culture. That is the reason why in spite of the dominance of the big four -Tesco, Sainsburys, ASDA and Morrisons MS and Waitrose have done huge investments in the grocery industry. However Aldi has not only managed to attract the customers in the UK by overcoming the hurdles but also has acquired a significant market share. Table 1- Market share of Supermarkets in the UK in March, 2015 Supermarket Market Share (In %) Tesco 28.4 ASDA 17.1 Sainsburys 16.4 Morrisons 10.9 The Co-operative 6.0 Aldi 5.3 Waitrose 5.1 Lidl 3.7 Iceland 2.1 Source: BBC, 2015 According to Wallop (2008), Aldi pledged to open one store every week in the UK with a target of opening 1500 stores in the country. Currently there are 500 Aldi stores in the UK (Aldi UK Website, 2015). Aldi has made its position in the top nine superstores of the country among Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons, ASDA, Waitrose, Lidl and Iceland. Aldi is now UKs sixth biggest grocery chain taking over Waitroses market share (BBC, 2015). The Marketing Strategies of Aldi Aldi is a discount supermarket chain and so cost control is in the culture of the business. The model of Aldis grocery retailing has remained unchanged since its initiation in Germany (Emsell, 2011). Price, Place and Product strategies The business philosophy of Aldi is to focus on indispensable investments and avoid the superfluous in order to give the customers maximum possible savings. According to Rudolph et al (2012, p-142), Aldis cost only add 13% to the procurement price, 2% each for logistics, rental, overheads and marketing plus about 5% for staff. Instead of extending its opening hours like other competitors in the UK, all Aldi stores function limited opening hours, which recently extended to 12 hours ( from 8am to 8pm). In contrast, many other competitor stores are available for shopping for 24 hours, 7 days and 365 days which seems an apparent strategic intention. One cannot see the add on services at any Aldi store, for example lottery terminals, childrens play area, photo booths, lavatory, dry cleaning services, currency exchanges, news agent, tobacco counters on entry and exit, a separate customer service counter or a coffee shop. The simple reason being that these facilities have its cost which w ould add up to the end cost to the customer (Emsell, 2011). In a typical Aldi store, one can also observe three to seven employees to run the entire functioning of the store which is a different strategy to other supermarkets which have a high staffing level to provide high standards of customer service. The firm can achieve a low payroll to sales turnover ratio with such staffing level which can help the lower the prices. According to The Times 100 Business case studies (2010), the key idea that makes Aldis approach work is the concept of limited assortment. The Aldi store size is relatively small in comparison to the rival grocers with an average floor space of between 650 square meters to 1000 square meters. The usual Aldi store has a common layout with only four shopping aisles also the packaging and displaying products strategy at Aldi is cost effective. However the stores generally have a free parking space which attracts customers significantly. The case study further ment ions that while selecting a location for store, Aldi takes in to consideration the population of the area which should be more then 30,000. Also the stores are always at the very good visibility from a main road and with good public transport connectivity. The sales philosophy of Aldi is very different to other leading grocers in the UK. As the branded products have less operating profit, Aldi has taken an approach to sell products which are equivalent to brands (Wood, 2011). A typical large Tesco or Sainsburys store stocks around 50,000 product lines, of which 50 per cent are their own brands (Voberda et al., 2011). The success key for any business is to attract the buyer which certainly depends largely on a competitive pricing. Being a discount retail chain, competitive pricing is at the core of Aldis philosophy. Aldi works on economies of scale. In simpler terms it means, buying products in large quantities so it gives leverage for bargaining for the best possible price which allows Aldi to sell at the most competitive prices. Currently every week Aldi comes with a different range of products on a Thursday for example bathroom accessories, garden furniture, kitchen and other household equipment. These products are different to the usual grocery items in the stores in terms of its availability. These products are limited in stock and not permanently available in the store. One can observe a great deal of excitement in the customers in the stores due to the scarcity and affordability of the products. To promote these product ranges, posters of the items are found in the stores for the upcoming week. Promotion Strategies According to the Times 100 Business Case studies (2010), one of the unique marketing strategies Aldi has adopted is the advertisements with brand comparisons. These adverts demonstrate that Aldi brands are of equal quality to well-established brands for example, Pampers diapers, Heinz tomato ketch up and Fairy Liquid. To prove this Aldi ran blind taste experiments amongst a section of shoppers. This experiment suggested that the majority of consumers that preferred the well-known brands also liked Aldi brands. These findings created the basis to Aldis most popular Like Brands campaign. The advertisements of the Like Brands provided the business with a stand to speak about its quality and most importantly its value for money. This campaign was effective in showing the customers how much more their money can fetch by shopping from Aldi with a slogan, Like brands. Only cheaper. The campaign provided a character to the Aldi products because the advertisements use humours which help to build confidence and an emotional connection with target audiences. In addition, according to Times 100 Business Case studies (2010), Aldi prints around 1 million copies of brochures per week to distribute in the store as well as to customers living in surrounding areas. These brochures promote products with limited availability and seasonal and weekly offers available in stores. Another campaign of Aldi is swap and save. The newspaper adverts of Aldi promote the Aldi brands by showcasing the saving customers can have by swapping from the leading grocers to Aldi. This promotion is in the similar lines of Tescos big price drop campaign or Sainsburys brand match campaign. In this era of social media, it has become easy at the same time unavoidable to communicate directly with the targeted audience. One such online campaign of Aldi is Aldi Advocates. This particular promotion is for consumers who recommend Aldi to others because of its low prices compared to other brands. For exampl e, the I Love Aldi campaign asked fans of the Aldi Facebook page, to send a virtual Aldi Valentines card to a Facebook friend, completing the sentence I love Aldi because This was encouraged by providing rewards of ÂÂ £10 vouchers and a box of Aldi chocolates for their Valentine (Aldi UK Facebook Page, 2015). Recommendations The UK grocery industry is one of the most established and competitive globally, however dynamics of such industry change rapidly (KPMG, 2014). In spite of Aldis great stride in entering the UK grocery market and taking over a significant market share, one cannot deny the fact that the dynamics of ever changing business world can hurdle this growth. One can also not deny the fact that the competitors are also working towards increasing their market share and exploiting the resources. Though Aldi has managed to reach in to the competition with Waitrose, Cooperative and Morrisons, the market share of Tesco, ASDA and Sainsburys is comparatively very high (Table -1). Also Lidl and Poundland have a similar market strategy of discounted products as Aldi. In such cut throat competition it is challenging to not only enhance the market share but also merely maintaining it. Morgan et al., (2004) in their study have emphasised on product quality as one of the most important determinants of ma rket share. Thirkell and Dau, (1998) revealed that quality and add on services have positive and high correlation with business performance. Thinking on the similar lines, one can recommend the quality enhancement to give a tougher competition to the leading supermarkets. However there is a risk associated with that approach as frequent changes in the business strategy can lead to loss of grip on the monitoring and controlling of the business. Businesses with a lack of clear strategy often face difficulties in customer targeting (Lancaster et al, 2002). However Aldi has a great scope in providing value added services. Facility of online shopping is one such value added service. Home delivery of the shopping items as well as click and collect services can be easily implemented in todays internet era as the other leading supermarkets are also offering such services. With plenty of options available, even with good quality and low prices, loyalty can be great issue of concern for a grocery firm. Various loyalty cards and point based reward system can be introduced to ensure the market share to be somewhat stable. UK being a culturally diverse country, a wide range of products such as Indian, Chinese, Caribbean grocery items should be added to attract more customers. The campaign of swap and save can be taken a step further by upgrading the software system. Currently it is showing the price difference on the newspapers and advertisements which should be reflected on the receipt after the shopping to inform the customers personally how much they have saved by shopping in Aldi. References Aldi UK Website (2015) https://www.aldi.co.uk/ Aldi UK Facebook page (2015). Available at https://www.facebook.com/AldiUK BBC (2015) Aldi overtakes Waitroses market share. BBC News dated 8th April, 2015. . [Online] Available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32218170 Emsell, P. (2011) Aldi The No Frills Retailer. University of Huddersfield. [Online] Available at https://eprints.hud.ac.uk/12404/1/Microsoft_Word_Aldi_case_study_for_Bus_Strategy.pdf KPMG (2014) The Future of the Grocery Sector in the UK. [Online] Available at https://www.kpmg.com/uk/en/issuesandinsights/articlespublications/newsreleases/pages/the-future-of-the-grocery-sector-in-the-uk.aspx Lancaster, G., Massingham, L. and Ashford, R. (2002) Essentials of Marketing. Fourth edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. Morgan, N., Kaleka, A., and Katsikeas, C. (2004). Antecedents of export venture performance: a theoretical model and empirical assessment. Journal of Marketing 68(1): 90- 108. Ruddick, G. (2 012) Billionaire Aldi heir Berthold Albrecht dies at 58. The Telegraph, dated 7th December, 2012. [Online] Available at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9729434/Billionaire-Aldi-heir-Berthold-Albrecht-dies-at-58.html Rudolph, T., Schlegelmilch, B., Bauer, A., Franch, J. and Meise, J. (eds.) (2012) Diversity in European Marketing: Text and Cases. Germany: Springer Gabler. Voberda, H., Morgan, R., Reinmoeller, P., Hitt, M.A., Ireland, R.D., Hoskisson, R. (2011) Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalisation, South Western: Cengage Learning. Taylor, C.R. and Lee, D. (2007) Cross-cultural Buyer Behavior. Amsterdam: Elsevier. The Times 100 Business Case Studies (2010). Creating Value through the Market Mix. [Online] Available at https://businesscasestudies.co.uk/aldi/creating-value-through-the-marketing-mix/introduction.html#axzz3gTvS06RA Thirkell, P. C., and Dau, R. (1998). Export performance: Success Determinants for New Zealand Manufacturing Exporters. European Journal of Marketing, 32(9/10): 813- 829. Wallop, H. (2008) Aldi pledges to open a new store every week. The Telegraph , dated 30th June, 2008. [Online] Available at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/2792467/Aldi-pledges-to-open-a-new-store-every-week.html Wood, Z (2011) Aldi effect is back: spending squeeze lifts discounter into profit. The Guardian , [Online] Available at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/oct/04/aldi-effect-back-discounter-profit

Gay Marriage Pros and Cons - 1152 Words

Marriage Is Not Equal For All Gay Marriages Mikaela Acosta Gay marriage has been subject to taboo because our society has this conformed and learned version of marriage; marriage is only held between a man and a woman. Although this is more common today to hear of gay couples, in the first couple centuries in America this was almost unacceptable to general society. Beginning in 2001 was when gay marriage began to become much more widespread starting in Canada, Norway, Belgium, Argentina, Sweden, South Africa, and Iceland. The actual first introduction of gay marriage does vary from different jurisdictions. Gay marriage is such a topic of interest because of the various conflicts in which it brings up, such as religious, civil†¦show more content†¦ISSN: 08962383 Accession Number: 502651234 Database: OmniFile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson) 2. Same-sex marriage, same-sex cohabitation, and same-sex families around the world: why â€Å"same† is so different. Authors: Saez, Macarena Source: American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy the Law; 2011, Vol. 19 Issue 1, p1-54, 54p Physical Description: Bibliographic footnotes Document Type: Feature Article Subjects: Cohabitation; Gay couples; Gay marriage ISSN: 15573753 Accession Number: 502142706 DOMA and the happy family: a lesson in irony. Alternate Title: Part of the Symposium on DOMA and issues concerning federalism and interstate recognition of same-sex relationships Authors: Wasserman, Rhonda Source: California Western International Law Journal; Fall 2010, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p275-303, 29p Statute: Defense of Marriage Act of 1996; Pub. L. No. 104-199, 110 Stat. 2419 (1996); codified at 28 U.S.C.  § 1738C (2006) and 1 U.S.C.  § 7 (2006) Statute Jurisdiction: United States Physical Description: Bibliographic footnotes Document Type: Feature Article Subjects: Gay marriage -- Laws and regulations; Parent-child relationship; Gay couples; Gay parents; Custody of children; Legislative history ISSN: 08863210 Accession Number: 502129764 Database: OmniFile Full Text Mega (H.W.Show MoreRelatedThe Pros and Cons of Gay Marriage1370 Words   |  6 PagesThe Pros and Cons of Gay Marriage LP 3: Argumentative Essay Patty Waters NAU Composition II Sue Cochran, Instructor Sunday, March 24, 2013 Abstract This essay covers the pros and cons concerning gay marriage. You will discover some new laws and amendments that are about to happen in our country, and some things that people are against. There are many issues that will be covered from rights and benefits to getting married legally. You will read reports, stories and articles from lawyersRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Gay Marriage1367 Words   |  6 Pagesdefinitions of marriage. Some say the definition of marriage is between a man and a women, while others say its about two people no matter the sex that commit their lives together because they love each other. There are many different definitions of marriage and it all depends on simply whom you are talking to about it. In past generations many people thought the definition of marriage was just so that they can reproduce children. Debate Content: Cons: The institution of marriage has traditionallyRead MoreEssay on The Pros and Cons of Gay Marriage1019 Words   |  5 Pagessame-sex marriage. Is this a good thing? Homosexuality is illegal in many countries. Leaders punish their own citizens by jail, or even death, for being gay. In the United States, however, many states allow gay marriage. Some people approve of it, but also, some do not. Society also plays a big part in the gay marriage legalization process. Same-sex marriage is a major controversial issue in the United States; specific examples would be the views of Americans, pros and cons of same-sex marriage, andRead MoreDid We Go Too Far?1383 Words   |  6 PagesWalker Did We Go Too Far? Same-sex marriage continues to be a very high debated issue in our society without a firm foundation to base our beliefs on, leaving most of us trying to find answers still. Now that the Supreme Court of the united states has rules that the constitution guarantees a right to same sex marriage’ What was known as â€Å"marriage†, the union of a man and a woman only, is starting to diverge. The Oxford Dictionary of English definition of marriage reads â€Å"the formal union of a man andRead MoreGod Hates Same Sex Marriage Essay978 Words   |  4 Pages Marriage is a precious gift given from the good lord up above. Marriage is a privilege that should be allowed to only a man and a woman. In the bible there are many scriptures that back up my opinion on marriage, and none of the scriptures say same sex marriage is okay. In this modern day and age people are altering the definition of marriage. People are trying to add between a man and a man or between a woma n and a woman. The importance of my topic is to keep the original definitionRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal966 Words   |  4 PagesGay marriage is one of the most debated and controversial issues in today’s society. Everyone has his or her opinions on gay marriage, whether it is acceptable or should not be allowed. According to The Washington post, â€Å"59 percent say they support same-sex marriage while 34 percent are opposed†(Craighil, P., Clement). While 59% of the supporting gay is a high number, however that number is skewed. There is a difference between tolerance and acceptance, but the 59% is the total of the both. PeopleRead MoreWhy Marriage Equality Is Not At All A Harm Society Or The World912 Words   |  4 Pagesin the world become more knowledgeable to that child. In my own life, the one issue that stuck with me is marriage equality. I believe everyone should have the right to marry whoever they feel their soul-mate is in the world. Even though some believe it is wrong, there are many reasons to prove marriage equality is not at all a harm to society or the world. To start, the definition of marriage (according to dictionary.com) is the state, condition, or relationship of being married; wedlock. No whereRead MoreEssay on Gay Marriage 1616 Words   |  7 Pages Gay marriage is a very talked about topic in are country that shouldn’t be ignored. I believe men and women should be able to love freely and not be shamed by it. Marriage is a great factor in the United States. To some people it’s what we live for; is to get married and start a family. To not give everyone the same opportunity to have a happy marriage and family is unlike us. This problem is bringing a lot of hate, the same hate that was used in racial discrimination so why not give gays equalRead MoreThe Debate On Homosexuality And Homosexuality1229 Words   |  5 Pagesis defined as, the sexual or romantic attraction to members of the same gender. A male who practices homosexuality is known as being gay. The word ‘gay’ did not originally have any connect ion to a sexual connotation. In fact, the word was originally express feelings of happiness or carefree attitude. It was not until the twentieth century that people used the term gay to indicate a sexual orientation. Opposite of males, female homosexuals are given the term lesbian, which is derived from the poemsRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1434 Words   |  6 PagesGay marriage has slowly become a significant factor amongst individuals of today’s society. On June 26, 2015, it was ruled out by the U.S. Supreme Court that gay marriage was now legal. The first thing that I thought was that â€Å"Wasn’t it already legal in the United States?† Well, apparently no it has not been legalized in the United States! (Dumb me.) The U.S. is known to be a nation of equality and gives everyone the freedom of the speech, but it is actually a nation full of racism, sexism, and homophobias

A Journey free essay sample

At nine months I learned to walk. At the age of five I learned how to ride a bike without training wheels. In kindergarten I learned that I’m allergic to peanut butter. In second grade, on September 11th, 2001, I learned that there is a lot of evil in the world. In fourth grade I learned how to do long division after having several mental breakdowns. In fifth grade, I learned that I sing like a dying animal while trying out for the school play, â€Å"The Little Mermaid.† In sixth grade I learned that change can be a good thing as I entered middle school and made new friends. In seventh grade I learned that I love the city of Boston after a school trip there. In ninth grade I learned that I hate geometry. In tenth grade I learned how to light a Bunsen burner. In eleventh grade I learned about rhetorical strategies in AP English. We will write a custom essay sample on A Journey or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I’ve been alive for 17 and a half years and I’ve learned a lot. But I’m still learning. I’m learning new formulas, new words, new theories, new lessons and I’m learning about myself. I’m only 17 years old, and I still have a lot of things that I need to learn about myself. I don’t know how I feel about abortions. I don’t know if I’m a Republican or a Democrat. I don’t know if I’ll ever get married. I don’t know how I feel about the death penalty. I don’t know if I want to be a forensic scientist or a writer. When looking at the big picture, I don’t know much, but I do know that I love learning. I love knowing that I don’t know everything. I love knowing that there are tons of books that I haven’t read. I love knowing that there are hundreds of countries that I’ve never been to. I love knowing that there is a whole world out there that I have yet to learn about. I want to learn about it all. I hope to travel the world one day. I think that traveling is the best way to learn. Learn about other people, learn about other cultures, learn about life, learn about yourself. I’ve always wanted to travel to go someplace new and explore. Someplace where no one knows me. In sixth grade I made a pact with a group of my friends we would travel to Australia after we graduated high school, and we would raise dingos and koalas. We all signed a piece of paper while sitting in art class. We were determined to make it happen. Looking back, that was obviously an unrealistic plan. We’re not all friends anymore. No parents would let a group of teenagers travel to Australia by themselves. We didn’t know the first thing about dingos or koalas. And we totally disregarded the fact that we would be preparing for college after high school. Although our initial plan did not work out, my desire to go to Australia still lives on. In my life time I hope to go to Australia and swim in the Great Barrier Reef and learn about the animals that live there. I hope to go to Austria and ski the Alps. I hope to go to Spain and attend a soccer game. I hope to go to China and visit the Great Wall. I hope to go to Greece and see the Parthenon. I hope to travel to Ireland and go to the county where my Grandpa grew up. I hope to go to Kenya and go on a safari. I hope to go to India and visit the Taj Mahal. I think that traveling will allow me to learn. Learn all of the lessons that I have yet to uncover. Learn who I truly am. Learn what the world has to offer. Learn the secret to a happy life. Traveling will allow me to learn, and learning is the greatest gift that the world has to offer.