Would one be willing to break the law to ensure a better future for their family? Sure, in fact, that’s the only way it can be done in many situations. These situations are very often related to illegal immigrants. Some immigrants have no choice but to break the American law. But one main reason for Mexican immigrants is due to the country’s poor fiscal management and inequality of wealth. In fact, Mexico has more billionaires than Switzerland. Even the Mexican government has worked to make illegal immigration to the U.S. easier. It plans to produce 70,000 maps marking main roads and water tanks for people wanting to cross illegally into the U.S. "The only thing we are trying to do is warn them of the risks they face and where to get water, so they don't die.” (Mauricio Farah of Mexico's Human Rights Commission).

The U.S. encountered a wave of illegal immigration from Mexico in the early 1950’s, and it still continues to this day. In 2007, about 880,000 people were arrested for attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, the majority of them hailing from Mexico and Central America. The year prior to 2007, there was an estimated 1.1 million arrested, which means border control has stepped up its security. This was only possible due to the 284 miles of fencing constructed along the U.S.-Mexico border before the end of 2007, and by the end of 2008 that number should increase to 670 miles. Even after all of these efforts there are still a few lucky ones who evade the border control, with the help of smugglers often known as “coyotes”, and reach America.
But one of the reasons why it is such a hot topic now is because the parents of families are being deported, while their children, whom are often birthright citizens of America, stay behind and just watch. An estimated 13.9 million people -- including 4.7 million children -- live in families in which the head of household or the spouse is an unauthorized immigrant. Another reason is the increased unemployment rate since illegal immigration began.

Many Americans claim that they have been replaced by immigrants because of the immigrant’s willingness to work for lower wages. But CBS News/New York Times poll, asked Americans "Do you think illegal immigrants coming to this country today take jobs away from American citizens, or do they mostly take jobs Americans don't want?" by a ratio of 2-to-1 the answer was "Take Unwanted Jobs". Today’s work force is always talking about how illegal immigration is going to be the downfall of our economy. Although, Business Week says that illegal immigration may strengthen the economy, ultimately raising industrial growth by keeping wages down and, by this, it is helping create as many new jobs as the immigrants themselves are taking away. Those who are positive that immigrants are here to take their jobs want nothing to do with them, particularly those who immigrated from Mexico and Latin America.

This hatred, if you will, of immigrants is the result of several attempts of mass deportation. According to the Washington Post, the liberal Washington think tank, Center for American Progress puts the cost of forcibly removing most the nation's estimated 10 million illegal immigrants at $41 billion a year. But if immigrants are not hurting the economy and actually helping it, why do we still bother to resolve this, so called, problem.

Cost of educating illegal immigrants, law enforcement costs, identity theft, drug smuggling, and gang violence, these are all the hot topics debating whether illegal immigrants should stay or go. But illegal immigrants are not the only ones contributing to these problems. Native born Americans also contribute to the rise in almost every one of the categories listed above.

So before one goes on and on talking about how illegal immigration should be stopped, take the time and look at the facts, because facts don’t lie, well usually. But look at them and think to yourself “what is right and what is wrong?”

Would one be willing to break the law to ensure a better future for their family? Sure, in fact, that’s the only way it can be done in many situations. These situations are very often related to illegal immigrants. Some immigrants have no choice but to break the American law. One main reason for Mexican immigrants is due the country’s poor fiscal management and inequality of wealth. In fact, Mexico has more billionaires than Switzerland. Even the Mexican government has worked to make illegal immigration to the U.S. easier. It plans to produce 70,000 maps marking main roads and water tanks for people wanting to cross illegally into the US. "The only thing we are trying to do is warn them of the risks they face and where to get water, so they don't die.” (Mauricio Farah of Mexico's Human Rights Commission).

But one of the reasons why it is such a hot topic now is because the parents of families are being deported, while their children, whom are often birthright citizens of America, stay behind and just watch. An estimated 13.9 million people -- including 4.7 million children -- live in families in which the head of household or the spouse is an unauthorized immigrant. Another reason is the increased unemployment rate since illegal immigration began.

Many Americans claim that they have been replaced by immigrants because of the immigrant’s willingness to work for lower wages. But CBS News/New York Times poll, asked Americans "Do you think illegal immigrants coming to this country today take jobs away from American citizens, or do they mostly take jobs Americans don't want?" by a ratio of 2-to-1 the answer was "Take Unwanted Jobs". Today’s work force is always talking about how illegal immigration is going to be the downfall of our economy. Although, Business Week says that illegal immigration may strengthen the economy, ultimately raising industrial growth by keeping wages down and, by this, it is helping create as many new jobs as the immigrants themselves are taking away. Those who are positive that immigrants are here to take their jobs want nothing to do with them, particularly those who immigrated from Mexico and Latin America.

The U.S. encountered a wave of illegal immigration from Mexico in the early 1950’s, and it still continues to this day. In 2007, about 880,000 people were arrested for attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, the majority of them hailing from Mexico and Central America. The year prior to 2007, there was an estimated 1.1 million arrested, which means border control has stepped up its security. This was only possible due to the 284 miles of fencing constructed along the U.S.-Mexico border before the end of 2007, and by the end of 2008 that number should increase to 670 miles. Even after all of these efforts there are still a few lucky ones who evade the border control, with the help of smugglers often known as “coyotes”, and reach America. But that was the easy part.

Anzovin, Steven. The Problem of Immigration. New York, 1985


"Illegal Immigration to the United States " Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. May 5, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States#Visa_overstay

Tim Gaynor PhoenixTim Gaynor Phoenix. "FACTBOX: Illegal Immigration in the United States." May 5, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0731888120080208

What is it called when the polar ice caps are melting because of the overwhelming amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? It's called global warming. Some scientists declare that it doesn’t exist but some are hardcore believers of global warming. Take for example, Al Gore. Al Gore, a runner-up in the 2004 presidential election, takes global warming awareness to the next level. He goes around the entire country persuading citizens of the United States to believe that global warming is not a hoax and if it goes unchecked can cause catastrophic troubles for future generations.

One of the most discussed topics of global warming is the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is just like what happens in a greenhouse. Heat enters the greenhouse, in our example the earth being the greenhouse, and doesn’t leave because of all the carbon dioxide preventing it from leaving. Heat rays from the sun can enter the earth because of holes in the o-zone layer. Holes in the o-zone layer are caused by aerosol cans and other aerosol products, which result in the harmful UV rays from the sun to penetrate the o-zone layer more easily. Co2 levels in the earth’s atmosphere are the highest on record, because of the constant use of gas burning automobiles and coal burning power plants. With the rising temperatures the polar ice caps are beginning to melt a steady pace. If this continues the polar ice caps will be gone somewhere in the next 50 years. Not only will it cause rising sea levels, but it will cause habitat destruction. One can see why global warming is such a hot topic to so many people.

Al Gore is such a dedicated believer that he even won the Noble Peace Price for his work for global warming awareness. If there were more people who will just open up their mind and just listen to one of Al Gore’s sermons, global warming would not be a problem of the future.

When you think critically you are critically thinking. What is critically thinking though? When you critically think you take opportunities and obstacles life throws at you and you make the most of what they have to offer. In other words its looking at a situation or decision and finding the best solution or the most logical solution.


Let's say, for example, you are planning to purchase a computer. You should begin by asking yourself "What kind of computer should i buy?" Are you going to use the computer just for video games or for you homework or maybe even your business? You need to ask yourself a more clear question. "What will I mainly use my computer for?" This question serves as a better guide of what kind of computer you should purchase. Considering that you have some kind of financial limit you should also ask yourself "How much should I spend on this computer?"

When you finally decide on which computer to buy do some research. Look at some consumer reports and check the dependability and other related factors. Then check if it is accurate to your solutions. If it is then you just though critically. Way to go!

I disagree with the first quote because thinking 'can' be a solitary and lonely business, but it always shouldn't be. Make thinking fun! Talking to yourself is a great way of making it a fun business. When you talk to yourself your thinking out loud, which means your expressing your feelings and words to entire world, and the ones ease dropping on your own conversation.

You don't always have to think by yourself. Join a group of friends and think together. Put your heads together and just think! When you are with your friends you are usually not lonely. Friends keep you company and just make it fun and definitely not lonely.

When you ask your friends a question do they answer back? Of course they do, except when there mad at you or something. But other than that they should always give you an answer. But I'm not saying that you can't answer your own question but you shouldn't always have to.

This quote is a great quote; don't get me wrong. But thinking is not always so dismal and depressing. Thinking as a whole is an excellent way of achieving a common goal. So next time you feel all depressed and down in the dumps about 'thinking'. Call some friends over and put heads together and just think!!!

Fox, Michael J. Excellence

Hoff, Benjamin. The Crooked Tre, pp. 1

Wikipedia
Retrieved from the Web April 29, 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism

Many people believe that excellence means trying your best and never giving up. Giving it your all in everything you do is a great way to achieve excellence. But some people strive for excellence only to reach their goal of perfection. When you give it your all and try your best what else is there to offer. Your best is never going to be perfect, thats why perfection is out of reach to humanity. But never giving up is what defines excellence from perfection. Perfection is unattainable, but excellence is achievable thats why people do their best to accomplish excellence. People who believe that the true meaning of excellence is perfection set their standards to high. They try their best and give it their all but ultimately never reaching perfection, which can sometimes result in cheating.
Plagiarism is the common result of setting standards to high, and not being able to achieve those standards. 'Plagiarism is the practice of claiming or implying original authorship of (or incorporating material from) someone else's written or creative work, in whole or in part, into one's own without adequate acknowledgment.' (Wikipedia) Plagiarizing is not only unfair to other students but to those who the ideas were stolen from. Plagiarizing is started to become more and more common as information is more easy to obtain. When you cheat you are only hurting yourself. Yeah you got your homework done but thats not the point. The point is, education is not to just to get your homework done and handed in on time but to learn and by cheating you are not learning anything. Plagiarizing is a high offense in college and could result in automatic failure. So if you plan to plagiarize think about the consequences and do the right thing.
In the story 'The Crooked Tree' by Benjamin Hoff a man does not know what to do with his useless tree. Another man replied "It is useless to you only because you want to make it into something else and do not use it in its proper way." To me excellence is trying your best, giving it your all and using an idea or item in it's proper way. When you use an idea in its proper way your are taking advantage of what the idea has to offer. Of course your not going to find the proper use of an item right away, but thats why you never give up and keep trying. In doing so your are achieving excellence.
So excellence, to me, means to never give up, and using things in its proper way. But be careful not confuse perfection with excellence. Excellence is obtainable, perfection is not. But strive to be the best you can be and also be careful not to take things out of hand and resort to cheating or plagiarism. You are not learning anything by cheating, in fact cheating is the exact opposite of excellence in my mind. "I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business." (Michael J. Fox)

Education means to ‘draw out’. Drawing things out simply means taking complicated thoughts and ideas and translating them into easier forms, or more simply learning. Many people today think that education is school, and that the only way you can get an education is going to school or post-secondary school. Though that is true, what about the period before your first day of school, and the time after you receive your Bachelor’s Degree in college, you don’t go to school for those periods. Again education simply means learning and you start learning from the moment you enter this world and you still continue to learn whether you realize it or not. Learning experiences don’t always happen in the classroom. “We think we learn from teachers, and sometimes we do. But the teachers are not always to be found in school or in great laboratories. Sometimes what we learn depends upon our own powers of insight.” (Eiseley, 167).

In the essay How I Discovered Words: A Homemade Education by Malcolm X and Alex Haley they talk about being able to learn how to read and write by yourself. A man imprisoned in the Norfolk Prison Colony became frustrated at not being able to express what he wanted to convey in letters that he wrote. So the best thing he could was get a hold of a dictionary. Then he started to handwrite each letter starting with the A’s. Then came the B’s and so on until eventually it became the whole dictionary. He would then read his handwriting back to himself aloud. Through this technique he taught himself how to read and write. This is only one of many examples where learning experiences can happen anywhere. Which means you can learn from almost every experience that life has to offer.

In the movie Dead Poets Society, John Keating the new English teacher at Welton Academy encourages his students to focus on carpe diem which is Latin for ‘seize the day’. At the very beginning the students begin to realize that they’re never going to learn a thing from this crazy teacher. But ultimately Keating teaches the boys the life lessons he wanted to impart to them through poetry will be taken to heart. These boys didn’t realize what a great opportunity they were offered until it was to late. Sometimes you learn through experiences you never thought you could. That’s why you should live life to the fullest.

If you live life to the fullest you’ll never miss out on an opportunity you wanted to take. Therefore, you are learning most of what life has to offer. So mainly, education is living life to fullest, and living life without any regrets. That means accepting every opportunity that is offered and using those experiences to the fullest.

Eiseley, Loren. "The Hidden Teacher." Seeing Metaphors 21 April 2008:
167-169.

X, Malcolm, with Haley, Alex. "How I Discovered Words: A Homemade Education." Seeing Metaphors 21 April 2008: 187-189.

Weir, Peter. "The Dead Poets' Society." Touchstone Pictures: 1989

Growing up around fast food I knew that I would end up working in the food service business. I’ve been quite interested in working in food service ever since middle school. I was finally offered a job at McDonald's where I worked as a cashier. Although I only worked there for several months I learned a great deal about being a disciplined worker.

As a cashier my main duties were to take orders and prepare the customers trays for them. I generally excel in faster working environments, mainly because I feel more comfortable working in these conditions. I am a very fast learner and pay close attention when receiving important information. My other duties were janitorial duties. I would make a routine check of the lobby and make sure it was spotless. The routine check would usually include wiping tables, sweeping, collecting trays, emptying garbage’s, and mopping.

In order to be a cashier you have to have good people skills, such as keeping eye contact, being friendly, reasonable, and cooperative. Being a member in a great youth group has allowed me to develop these skills greatly. I have also developed great listening skills from weekly sermons and tend to use all of these skills to the fullest. In the food service business you have to deal with all sorts of characters, some more kind than others. Those who aren’t so friendly are difficult to deal with but with my prior work history I have dealt with a handful of disgruntled customers. A win-win solution is always the best way to solve a conflict-resolution, and I can assist in finding a win-win solution.

I should be chosen for this position because I can only benefit your business, and I will bring a good attitude and swagger to work everyday, along with a handful of useful skills and a smile.

David Moua
1229 East Fairview St. Apt. A
Marshall, MN 56258
Phone: (507)929-1044
Email: vay_moua08@hotmail.com





April 3, 2008


Macalister College
Cashier
1600 Grand Ave. Campus Center
St. Paul, MN 55105

Dear Macalister College:

I am responding to your cashier position advertised in the Star Tribune. My previous employers have allowed me to have experience with this kind of job. I believe that I will be an asset to your establishment.

Being friendly and reasonable are essential for both previous jobs and school. The Tracy Hmong Alliance Church has provided me the opportunity to show my dedication and honesty towards people. Being involved in the sports program at my church has helped developed my communication and leadership skills.

Basic math is essential in being a successful cashier, and I can assure you that I have this skill. I am comfortable with handling cash and dealing with all sorts of customers. Holding my poise during a rush hour is also one of my strengths.

I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you for an interview and discuss my resume. Please contact me at my home anytime after 3:30 p.m. at (507)929-1044 to set up an interview. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,



David Moua

Enclosure

David Moua
1229 East Fairview St. Apt. A
Marshall, MN 56258
Phone: (507)929-1044
Email: vay_moua08@hotmail.com

Objective

To be employed as a cashier at Food Services for Macalister College.

Education

Currently attending Marshall Senior High School as a senior.

Work Experience

April 2005 to July 2005: McDonald’s of Marshall. Running orders for lounge and drive thru. Cleaning lounge area and bathrooms. Operating the cash register for both lounge and drive thru. Presenting for drive thru. Handling the fry hopper.

Qualifications

Communication Skills ~Detailed listening skills ~Cooperative Skills

Human Resource Skills ~Friendly ~Helpful
~Ethical ~Reasonable
~Loyal ~Trustworthy

Other Skills ~Multi-tasking ~Organized
~Disciplined ~Employee Trust

Activities: Church Volunteering- Prepared, planned, and helped in
Church events.
Volunteer Work- Volunteered five hours at the Marshall
Local Food Shelf.
Intramural Sports- I participated in several of intramural
Sports to better round myself.

1. The cover letter accompanies the Resume, and it should not repeat anything on the Resume.

2. The resume is divided into five different parts. The first is the writers name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Next is the statement of objective. Then comes the details about performance and programs outside of high school. After that are the details about abilities. And last are current and prior work expriences.
The cover letter has 7 different sections. First comes the heading, including the date. Then the inside address. After that comes the body, which includes concise, courteous; connects resume to specific position. Next is the closing which is followed by a comma, then your signature, and lastly your typed name.

3. It shows the employer you understand their needs.

4. Yes, because he has prior experience working with kids, and he has a really good background in swimming. Which is very useful.