Strategic Management Involvement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Management Involvement - Essay Example This pattern in decisions as well as actions clearly defines what Mintzberg called "realized" strategy. The examples given below clearly describe the situations in which this realized strategy will completely fail: External analysis is clearly described by Fahey and Narayanan (1986), they imply that organizations always in order scan the environment to recognize the ever changing trends and new patterns, keep an eye on all the specific trends as well as patterns, estimate the future course of the monitored changes and patterns, and then in the analysis the organizational impact these changes and patterns will have on the organization (Dolence etal 1997). Merged long with internal analysis of the organization's, well defined vision , mission statement , strengths, and weaknesses, external analysis greatly helps decision makers in creating strategic directions as well as strategic plans. The first and foremost goal of environmental scanning is to make the decision makers aware of the potentially important external changes long before they take shape so that decision makers have enough lead time to act in response to predicted the change. Therefore, environmental scanning plays a very important role for the organizations to manage change (Capon 1987). Environment Domains is a very board area, External environment refers to those people, resources, leadership and communication structures existing outside the organizational structure which may involve the following sector Industry sector Raw material sector Financial sector Market sector Technology sector Government sector International sector Internal and External Analysis Internal analysis of the organization is a practice that to help us to identifying the Strengths and weakness of the company, which point out some key factors that able the organization to get a better advantage of the market. And the most common tools are Core

Ethnicity in Cameroon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethnicity in Cameroon - Essay Example Its relief ranges from desert in the north, Savannah grassland to tropical rain forest in the southern region. (World InfoZone, 2008). It is called ‘Africa in miniature’ as it harbors almost all the political, economic, religious, cultural and relief features of the entire continent. (World InfoZone, 2008). Ethnicity has been a topic of debate in the country for a long period now. With over 250 different ethnic groups having different cultures and local dialects, representative governance and integration becomes difficult and thus has recently become a national topic of debate. This has its roots dating back to 1964 when the late Dr. Bernard Fonlon questioned the former president Ahmadou Ahidjo on the Functioning of the then Federal Republic of Cameroon which was failing. This led to the change of the structure to ‘the United Republic of Cameroon’ in 1972 and later to the ‘Republic of Cameroon’ in 1984. (Culture of Cameroon, 1997). The national question in Cameroon is more an issue of being either being part of the ruling majority and in which case, being submissive, paying allegiance to the powers that be, or being part of the geographically privileged southerners who dominate and control power. (Mentah, 2008). The latest tendency is for the ruling establishment to meticulously fuel ethnic exclusion, articulating ethnic animosity getting isolated entities or ethnic groups for the-right-moment political manipulation. (Mentah, 2008). This means that the system of government is that of little or no patriotism but a struggle to share in the constantly diminishing ‘national cake.’ (Nyamjoh, 1999). Though the country is politically very stable, the question of National unity and integration due to the ongoing ‘politics of regional and ethnic balance, chronic lack of vision as a country, the lack of real commitment to democracy, the propensity to vacillate on most issues of collective

Function Of The Lymphatic System

Function Of The Lymphatic System The key function of the lymphatic system is to bring together and transport tissue fluids from the intercellular spaces that does gas exchange, water transport and also for ion movement into all the tissues of our body and then back to the veins into the blood system. It does an important role by returning plasma proteins to the bloodstream, and then digests the fats that are absorbed and then it transported from the villi into the small intestine then to the bloodstream thru the lacteals and lymph vessels. The new ones of lymphocytes are being factory-made in the lymph nodes antibodies and anti-assist that the body builds up an effective immunity to infectious diseases. The lymph node does an important role to protect mechanism of the body and it filters out micro-organisms such as, bacteria and foreign substances e.g. toxins. As it transports giant molecular compounds e.g. hormones and enzymes from their manufactured sites into to the bloodstream. The lymph nodes are small and they are bean-shaped like kidney It work as filter of the lymphatic fluid and as the lymph passes through the lymph nodes, pathogens present in the lymph activates lymphocytes and macrophages to destroy the microbes. Lymphatic vessels take place through the body beside arteries in the veins or viscera also in the subcutaneous tissue. They absent from the central nervous system to bone marrow, teeth, and avascular tissues. A lymph vessel transports the fluid it is called lymph, the lymph contains white blood cell that transports in and out of the bloodstream as its needed. If the body is attacked by a foreign substance, its often transported from the bloodstream into the lymphatic system for removal. The lymph vessels has not have central pump however, lymph needs to be transported by the peristaltic contractions of the vessels themselves. Lymphatic ducts are a main lymph vessel that gathers lymph draining from the right upper our body and head. The lymphatic duct is quarter-inch in diameter and about two inches long; it discharges into the right subclavian vein, delivering lymph into to the bloodstream. The thymus is an organ in the body controls the immune processes, the thymus procedure is a type of white blood cell that is known as a T-lymphocyte by this it means that they help our cells to recognise and destroy invading viruses, bacteria, abnormal cell growth e.g. cancer, and foreign tissues. Thymus gland helps to protect the heart along with the pericardium, as it produces hormones that stimulate the manufacture of certain infection fighting cells. In the children it helps immunity by producing white blood cell including T-cells. It atrophies as the child gets older therefore, person grows its roles becomes less so that the adults doesnt tend to have one as the bones and spleen take over those jobs. The spleens function is connected to the immune system or with the blood supply. The spleen get rid of the old red blood cells that is call erythrocytes from the blood supply and also removes stores and then produces white blood cell called lymphocytes. The lymphocyte produces antibodies and assists in removing microorganisms and bacteria from the blood supply. Task 2(M5) The lymphatic system maintenance the immune system in removing and destroying waste remains, toxins, dead blood cells, pathogens, and cancer cells. The lymphatic system absorbs fats and vitamins from the digestive system then delivers the nutrients to the cells where it uses it cells, also the lymphatic system get rid of excess fluid and also waste products from the interstitial spaces among the cells. The main maintain is the fluid and balance protein in the body, the lymphatic system performances as a minor circulatory system and plays a key role in continuing homeostasis good healthily. The Lymph is the fluid that is carried by the lymphatic system. It initiates as blood plasma the liquid component of the blood, after when it has been lost from the circulatory system due to hydrostatic pressure. Then the plasma leaks out of the blood vessel and into the surrounding tissues. Then it enters the lymphatic system once when its within the lymphatic system, the lymph has alike work to the original interstitial fluid, and the extracellular fluid that surrounds cells. The large gap between the cells is designed, which allows fluid, interstitial proteins and other e.g. bacteria to flow into the lymph capillary. The lymph has one way system that travels between the cells of the body, from the interstitial spaces to the subclavian veins just next of the neck. As the lymphatic system doesnt have no central pump like heart to pump it, its movement depends with the muscles and joint pumps. As it moves upper body towards the neck the lymph passes slowly through the lymph node that filters, it to remove debris and pathogens the neck lymph flows into the subclavian veins on whichever side of the neck. The fluid vertebral into the venous circulation of the circulatory system from the tissues in order to stop dehydration fights against the infections and recycle plasma protein. The blood carries nutrients, oxygen, and hormones for the cells. The 10% remaining of the fluid that stays in the tissues as its known as lymph. The 90% of this fluid then returns to the venous circulation through the venues and continues as venous blood. The (MALT) mucosa associated lymphoid tissue is immune responses to specific antigens come across alongside all mucosal surfaces, MALT inductive immune tissues where antigen sample occurs. The larger group function is like lymph nodes smaller, spreads MALT are mostly T lymphocytes also it has B cells and plasma cells. The IgA in the intestines and respiratory tract is to protect against pathogens that may access to underlay tissues. lymphatic-system Task 3 (D3) Infection of the Lymphatic System Lymphedema: One of the disorders which occurs due builds-up of lymphatic fluid in the interstitial tissue. The affects is swelling in the arm, legs and in other part of the body. The harshness of this disorder varies an abnormal virus which is painful, disfiguring and cellulite infections deep in skin. If this doesnt get treated, the skin eventually becomes fibrotic thickening of the skin and subcutaneous tissues losing normal structure, functionality and movement. There are two types: Primary Lymphedema: Is genetic condition that occurs due to impaired or missing lymphatic vessels, which can affect from one to several as four limbs at other part of the body this may carry an internal organ which could be exhibited at birth, develops onset of puberty or happens in adulthood without any apparent causes. Secondary Lymphedema: is basically developed regional lymphatic insufficiency which occurs due to infection, any operation or suffocating that disrupts the lymphatic vessels or even loss lymph nodes. http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens8897831_1262976791exercise_for_lymphedema.ghttps://www.vascularweb.org/vascularhealth/PublishingImages/NorthPoint%20Images/Lymphedema_01_Base_225.jpg There are a few abnormal count of the patients blood: His Red Blood (Platelet count) is in the normal range, but its very low His white blood cell count is higher than the normal average range, its 15.0 when its meant to be between 4.0 -6.0 His Basophilis and Eosinophils both are very low His Lymphocytes is too high, its over the normal range His Monocytes is in the average but its high The underlying mechanisms that could have produced this abnormal blood count in a patient with Lymphoma, is because Lymphoma is a cancer that attacks the white blood cell by that the patients blood count to have Lymphoma. Patients with lymphoma produce abnormal lymphocytes, which they are white blood cell. Lymphocytes are mostly found in the lymphoid tissues and lymph nodes, which that make the lymphatic system. this is where lymphoma occurs

Essay --

This article by Shakoor et. al, (2011) is a longitudinal study of children’s theory of mind and adolescent involvement in bullying. Theory of mind (ToM) is a prediction of everyday behaviors based on a person’s mental state. Understanding of false beliefs is a Core ToM, which has usually developed by age 4. By age 7 more advanced skills develop including embedded mental states (‘what he thinks what she thinks’) and understanding that emotions can influence other people’s beliefs. Developing these skills are important for shaping healthy social interactions and can be important with decoding social cues as well as being able to adjust behaviors. Therefore, those that are delayed in developing ToM could be exposed to social interactions that are negative; because of this they may find it difficult to establish good relationships during their life (Shakoor et al., 2011, p. 254). The major research of this study was whether or not children who were involved in bullying during adolescence had poor ToM in childhood. The theory being tested was that poor childhood ToM can cause bullying during early adolescence. Bullying effects on average 27% of adolescents and children every year. This is a negative social experience that happens worldwide. Children who do not have good ToM are at a greater risk to become involved in bullying situations. This is because ToM skills support social interactions. Children with poor ToM do not have a good understanding of the emotions and intentions of other people. This puts at risk the children’s ability to perceive social signals that reveal nonreciprocal interactions, which puts the child at risk of being subjugated or victimized. Poor ToM can also affect children’s ability to be able to stand up for th... ...ying, they just took the word of the teachers and the mother. Also if the children hang out with kids at school who are bullies that would influence them to be bullies as well regardless of ToM. I found that the conclusion of the article made sense based on the data of the study. The conclusion stated what should be done to help prevent bullying and listed some training strategies to help improve children’s ToM. The authors named all the limitations that I can think of. The main one being that the study does not generalize to all children because the data only came from twins. For future research studies they can compare the data collected from the twins with data collected from children who are not twins. Also they can collect data on what type of bullying was taking place with each child whether it was relational or physical (Shakoor et al., 2011, p. 259 & 260).

Pedestrian Counts

1. Pedestrian Counts My Isoline Map of Cambridge shows that, as I predicted, the overall trend of my data is that the further you move away from the city, the fewer the number of pedestrians. This theory is backed up by my scatter graph, which shows a negative correlation meaning that the pedestrian counts and the distance away from the city centre are inversely proportional, with lower counts the further you move away. The two innermost, red coloured zones of the map have pedestrian counts in the mid four hundreds. These counts are this high for a number of reasons. They are in the centre of Cambridge's CBD, and as a result are filled with high demand shops and services, and a large number of densely populated office blocks. For instance the reading recorded on Market road, showing 419 people passing that point in ten minutes was most probably due to the famous ‘Cambridge Market' which lies there. The highest reading of 465 on the corner of St Andrews street was again due to the presence of a great many shops and services. I also note that the time when these readings were taken is also important. The fact that they were taken at 11:30am on a Wednesday morning is crucial as this would be one of the times where the highest density of people would be shopping and working in offices. If these readings had been taken at 11:30am on a Sunday then I believe that the results would have been very different. At point number 27 I would say that there is an anomalous result. A pedestrian count of only 90 here does not keep in with the 400+ trend, and though there are a few similar results around it, such as the 107 at point 28, I feel that this result is an anomaly. A possible explanation for this is that there are very few shops in that area, but I think that a more likely one is that the boys took the reading at a point which was not actually on the main road, but down a tiny side street. Of course the boy may simply have got it wrong. The next zone on the Isoline map is coloured orange and deals with pedestrian counts from 300 down to 200. These points are situated mainly near the larger collages meaning I would estimate that the majority of the pedestrians would be tourists. This theory is corroborated by the fact that the highest reading of 270 was recorded at the corner of the St John's Collage, a place of great tourist interest. The final yellow zone is for counts of 200 to 100. They seem to be mainly clustered around the western side of the shopping district, with four out of the seven reading found here. The other three readings are on main roads, with the highest of 178 being found at a junction of two main roads. This Isoline map is similar to the Burgess Urban model, in the highest density of people are in the centre of the town. However, it also differs from it as the zones are clearly not circular, with no people being found on the river. 2. Tax Discs As you can see from my tax discs map, most (12 out of 20) of the cars I surveyed were registered in Cambridge. This fits my prediction, and the is obviously because the survey was carried out IN Cambridge, and therefore any residents surveyed were very likely to have their car registered at the placed they lived. In regard to the other 8 cars not registered in Cambridge, the ones registered in relatively far off places such as Kent and London and were most probably belonging to tourists who had come up to see Cambridge.

The Importance of Understanding Diversity in a Business Setting

The Importance of Understanding Diversity in a Business Setting â€Å"Diversity is defined as real or perceived differences among people in race, ethnicity, sex, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religion, work and family status, weight and appearance, and other identity-based attributes that affect their interactions and relationships (Bell, 2012, p. 5)†. The work force of today is more diverse than ever, and the marketplace progressively more global.By 2010 the number of women in the U. S. labor force increased by almost 10 million, a growth rate almost one-third higher than that of men. The success of a workplace depends on a manger’s ability to promote a work environment that is inclusive to every person, and that allows every employee to reach his or her full potential (Gaines & Wilson, 2005). Benefits of a Diverse Workforce According to Bell (2012) there is a lot to be gained from a diverse workforce.Having employees’ who are from variou s backgrounds can improve the company’s marketing ability by being able to develop products that meet the needs and appeal to a more diverse population. By creating a reputation that values all types of employees can lead to better customer loyalty. Research has shown that groups of people with varying backgrounds bring differences that result in greater creativity and problem-solving abilities. These groups have also displayed more cooperative behaviors on group tasks.The benefits to having a diverse work force are many. Having a work environment centered on creating a comfortable and productive atmosphere requires management’s ability to understand that there are differences but that it is important to bridge these gaps and promote working together as a team. Managing a Diverse Workforce It is important as a manager to acknowledge differences, and promote diversity. Successful managers avoid using stereotypes, and generalities when communicating.Managers need to pay attention and respect people’s  values and beliefs. They should establish relationships with their employees’, and remember that each person has different talents and strengths. They can learn what works to motivate and reward each employee. Employees’ need continued support in working to their potential by having management provide ongoing opportunities for learning and development (Gaines & Wilson, 2005). Educating and offering classes on cultural diversity is a good way for employees to learn about how to interact and work productively with a diverse workforce.Left Handed in a Right Handed World Being left handed the ball sock experiment was interesting. I found that I have adapted in a lot of ways by becoming more ambidextrous. The most challenging part of the experiment was not having the use of both hands. I could not write legibly at all with my right hand, and I found when flipping through a magazine with my right hand I preferred to flip the â€Å"no rmal† way front to back. When I usually flip through a magazine using my left hand I prefer flipping from the back to front.It did give me an appreciation for the challenges faced by those who do not fit into what the society sees as normal. I felt I had a disability and it was challenging to do my normal everyday tasks, plus I got some strange looks from my family. I also learned that it is possible to adapt to new situations. Being a lefty my whole life I have been viewed as different from what is considered normal. Sure I can only use extremely sharp scissors to cut paper, and I can barely use a knife to cut my food but I have never looked at this as a negative thing, I have always felt it makes me special and unique.ConclusionIn closing a diverse workforce is quickly becoming what is normal for today. We must start becoming more aware and understanding of individuals who are not exactly like us. Management must adapt to these changes by realizing that there are many positi ve benefits to having a diverse work force and treat every employee as an individual with different strengths and talents. In order to successfully work in today’s business world we all must be open minded and willing to accept our differences and develop an appreciation for a more diverse population.

Beka Lamb Essays

Beka Lamb Essays Beka Lamb Essay Beka Lamb Essay Independent study Project| ENG 3UI| | Beka lamb by Zee Edgell and The hummingbird tree| | Taneese Jones| 6/12/2011| | Introduction Summary of the novel: In the novel Beka Lamb by Zee Edgell, Beka experiences various events that contribute to her sense of responsibility and maturity. Beka Lamb is the debut novel of Belizean author Zee Edgell. It is the story of both Beka and Belize, an adolescent girl and an adolescent country. Set in Belize in the 1950s, fourteen-year-old Beka struggles with growing pains complicated by the society in which she lives while her country struggles to move from colonialism to independence. Among these is her parents growing disappointment over her habit of lying as Beka has  a tendency to tell tales in order to get out of trouble. Beka lies about passing her final exams and after being found out and witnessing the sheer sorrow in her fathers face, she recognizes that this must be a turning point for her. She vows to turn over a new leaf and thereafter stop telling lies. In addition, Beka receives a valuable life lesson as her best friend Toycie finds herself intertwined in a tragic dilemma. Beka learns about the pitfalls of infatuation, the pangs of betrayal and the stigma of an unwanted pregnancy. Death also plays a significant role in the novel as Toycies  horrific end sends shock waves throughout the small community. While the death of Toycie causes great grief and sorrow, it also serves to remind the villagers of the fragility of life and the secrets that can torment and consume an individual. On the other hand, death serves as an escape from all the problems   of life and it appears that Toycies death in some respects appears more favourable than the option of being forfeited out of an education and having to live with the stigma of an unwanted child. The aspect of change will be focused on in this presentation. Thesis statement- change in society can influence an individual’s character * Change begins its development when the main character beka lamb recognizes that a change began politically and how women were viewed in society. * Change develops as Beka has matured an developed as an individual * Change is developed into the issue of success and failure Sub-topic one Change begins its development when the main character beka lamb recognizes that a â€Å"change† began politically and how women are viewed in that society. A) Change is also associated with politics as we see that there is a symbiotic transformation as Bekas change is compared to political change and reform. It was implied by the researcher that Bekas internal change occurred simultaneously with the political amendment. She developed an interest in the political situation in her country. Her interest in the politics of her country and her attempt to understand and prove to her father that he was contradicting what he said about the political situation showed that she was on the verge of maturity. Her influence to notice the political change is due to the constant discussion from her grandmother miss ivy and her friend miss Eila. † An long befo’ time , you wouldn’t be at convent school. †The politics affected the economy as there was a lot poverty due to devaluation. The description of the houses as weathered wooden houses and rusty zinc rooftops further develops this theme and gives the reader a clearer image of what the situation was like in Belize. Also, the flashback that Beka had about the walk she and her friend had in Fort George shows that the girls preferred the wealthier areas and that the walk was a sort of escape from the town which seemed staler, dirtier and altogether less pleasant that the lovely areas they had left. B) The social insecurity that Edgell dramatizes involves the ethnic threat that Creoles feel from the rising Hispanic population and the socioeconomic frustrations that Creoles undergo as they try to rise from lower to middle class statusall in the larger context of Belize moving from colony to independent state. Zee Edgell seems hopeful that, through proper discipline, Creoles can both regain their status in the Belizean ethnic hierarchy and also move from menial to more professional occupationsand without compromising too much their rich cultural heritage. In Beka Lamb women are the ones who are seen as the care givers and the ones to take care of the home. The majority of them do not work and even having an education for the lower class is untold or unheard of. The Belizean society sets trends that as she is black she is looked down upon her to be another statistic as many of the other women in society have become. Beka decides to be different and as society tries to shape her destiny she pushes herself to be an example for younger children after she had realised that the way society view women had great impact on her and that she settled for what society viewed her to be. The story illustrates the reality of the Belize culture. Male characters work or become educated while the women maintain the homes and earn what income they can. In the novel, the few male characters have at least one fault that turns the reader away. Emilio impregnates Toycie, but then will not marry her. Bill fails to show consistent affection to his family; he often seems uninterested or too busy. The women who surround Beka influence her thinking and judgments. Interestingly, the women are politically well-informed. One would not expect the simple women to have interest in politics. While Beka respects her father, she does so partially out of fear and partially because she is supposed to. Bekas respect for Granny is different. Granny knows more about life and about Belize than either Beka or her father. Bekas ability to recognize this demonstrates not only Bekas maturity, but also her curiosity about and reverence toward the Belize culture. Subtopic two Change developes an individual. A) As the novel begins, Beka has just won an essay-writing contest at her school. That night, as she sits in her grandmother’s chair, she begins to reminisce about the long, uphill battle she fought to reach this point in her life. Seven months earlier, Beka was having trouble with telling the truth. She lied about small things, such as saying she swept the attic when she really did not. Her most recent lie, however, is the worst of all. She told her father that she passed first form when she really failed. Not only does Beka lie, but she neglects her school work as well. Characterized by her Aunt as a Queen, Toycie is almost the complete opposite of Beka. She is beautiful and studious. The quality that links them together is their ability to find themselves in bad situations. Their friendship had developed at a young age and has grown into a sisterhood. As a job, Toycie took care of Beka and her brothers. From there, the two shared many secrets. Being each others confidant, they spent a lot of time together. They would go on walks and share their thoughts or ambitions with one another. They also had a system of checks and balances. When Beka was in trouble at school, Toycie offered to help her with her studies. She also urged Beka to be truthful with her parents. In return, Beka tried to persuade Toycie to find help when she became pregnant. Beka was also there for her when her boyfriend refused to accept the baby as his own. In Toycies hardest times, Beka was always around, trying to help. Because of their strong friendship, Beka wanted to be her shoulder to lean on. B) When Toycie asks Beka why she failed first form she replies, â€Å"I fooled around instead of doing my work† (Edgell 35). Beka realizes that she does not focus on her schoolwork the way she should. When Beka does her chores, she skips parts of the floor while sweeping, she pushes old newspapers and dirty clothes under the beds while cleaning, and on her way to the market she lingers at Toycie’s house. However, once Beka tells her father the truth about failing first form, she realizes that she will have to act more responsibly in order to return to school. She begins by cleaning the attic: â€Å"Beka cleaned the attic with feverish energy; here was a way to start, a way to show her family that she could be different† (Edgell 26). Beka does not skip over parts of the floor and hide the trash like usual. She cleans with all the energy she has. After Toycies accident, Beka realizes that she wants better for herself. She begins to concentrate more on her studies. Mr. Lamb compared Beka to a Bougainvillea plant with all flash and no substance as well as phoneyness and having airs. It started to get bushy and wild and out of control just like beka and her lies. When he cut down the plant, it served as a symbol that Beka was changing. Sub-topic three Change developes the issue of success and failure Success and Failure is also a major issue in the novel. Zee Edgell uses the dream, in chapter two, as a technique to symbolise Bekas transition from childhood to young adulthood. The dream shows what is going on in Bekas life. In the dream, Beka is crying out for help yet no one comes to her aid. In reality it shows that Beka is voiceless. In the dream, Beka is on a bridge and the bridge is moving. the bridge stands as a symbol of change and transformation. It shows that Beka is on a journey but she is still not quite there yet. However Beka is looking down at the filthy creek which represents failure. There are people urging her to jump but if she falls off, she will fail. Ultimately Beka is afraid of failure. Her fear is that when she makes this jump (transition), she will fail. The researcher sees that seven months before Beka won the competition she failed first form and she knew it would disappoint her parents so she resorted to lying. By contrast, when she won the competition her parents, even her grandmother was proud of her and had high expectations of her. The dream in chapter two was a symbol of change, success and maturity. It is a technique used by the author to show what was going on in Bekas life. In her dream Beka was crying out for help but no one heard her, she was voiceless. The bridge was a symbol of change and maturity. It reflects that she was going through a transformation. The people were telling her to jump which is risky. Perhaps this is to infer that there were factors trying to hinder her progress. Also as she was looking down at the creek, there was filth and excrement which infers that if she doesnt get the help, shell f Beka returns to school after Toycies expulsion and wins an essay contest. The self-doubts Beka faced her whole life start to recede. As a freshman, Beka wins an essay contest that she thought she had no chance of winning. By winning the contest, Beka realizes that change is possible. She will not be stuck in the same poverty stricken cycle that Toycie fell victim to, but she will never forget the culture that moulded her into the person she will become. Conclusion Beka Lamb is the debut novel of Belizean author Zee Edgell. Change in society can influence an individual’s character. It is the story of both Beka and Belize, an adolescent girl and an adolescent country. Set in Belize in the 1950s, fourteen-year-old Beka struggles with growing pains complicated by the society in which she lives while her country struggles to move from colonialism to independence. The basic theme is the struggle of the Creole population of Belize to hold on to their ethnic heritage and assert their civil rights while faced with opposition from the Hispanic community. Beka experiences various events that contribute to her sense of responsibility and maturity. Although Toycie is constantly on her mind, Beka takes a large step for herself when she enters the essay contest. Being a repeater, Beka doubts her ability to win the essay contest. To her surprise, Beka wins. This accomplishment brings her closer to her parents because they strive for her excellence in school . In today’s society they are people just like beka who dare to change and eventually does change. It proves that society can shape an individuals destiny but it’s up to that person to decide their own future. Now in society people still has the mentality that men are above women in status and power. For example a woman president has never been elected in the United States because people trust men to be leaders of their lives and country. It shows how societies view women.