Friday, July 31, 2020

How To Write The Best College Admissions Essay

How To Write The Best College Admissions Essay The image of being surrounded by people similar to me thrills me. The knowledge that this may be in my future invigorates me. There is not one book on its own that calls to me, but knowing they are on my horizon fills me with anticipation. I can see me, a year older, sitting inside, curled up around a book and blanket. The sun has set early, so a lamp is on, shining warm light onto the pages. A roommate is across from me reading the same book, and every couple minutes we stop to comment. But once I started it, I realized that I couldn’t help falling for it. Each one starts with a quote, which Calvino uses to explain and explore complex scientific theories. For example, he takes the reader through the creation of the universe, mitosis and meiosis, theories about space and time, dinosaurs, the moon, and many more. For example, the piece “t zero” is one of my favorites. This short story is about a hunter, Qfwfq, who has just fired an arrow at a lion. The lion leaps at the hunter, and in that second the hunter can’t tell if the arrow will miss or not. The hunter spends the rest of the story thinking through all the possible ramifications that come with choosing to exist only within a single second. He refers to this moment as “t zero,” where t is time, and the moment he is experiencing is point zero. He has a 50/50 chance of killing the lion or being killed by the lion. The hunter then considers the possibility of remaining frozen in time in this moment of uncertainty forever, where every possible outcome could still happen, but hasn’t happened yet. And so, I aspire to honestly pursue truth at St. John’s College. Every part of the model and curriculum at St. John’s encourages an honest pursuit of truth, but the classroom discussions most of all. The complex tapestries he weaves are hauntingly beautiful, sharing only a common narrator, the ageless Qfwfq, who relays each story as though having witnessed it. This is my favorite quotation from my favorite book, The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela. I read this book for the first time in eighth grade while exploring the causes and consequences of the Mexican revolution. I am not simply interested in St. John’s; I am mesmerized by it. The thought of reading forty books in class over the school year excites me. I stayed up late the night before reading a different book, and though we have only just started reading this one, we are both hooked. Kierkegaard and St. John’s are attractive for similar reasons. Although staying at t zero is appealing, upon the end of the story the hunter must inevitably move through time into the next second where his fate will be decided. When my mom handed me Cosmicomicsin New York and said that I might like it, I was pretty skeptical. I am reluctant to fall in love with book someone recommends. Either/Or ends with the statement, “Only the truth which edifies is truth for you.” A St. John’s student, Alec Bianco, shared how his music tutor commended him for trying to live musically throughout his life. There is an understanding at St. John’s that accumulating knowledge is not the end, but rather, being edified by truth. The process begins with the questions and reflections required by a St. John’s. education, the kind of education I aspire to have.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

The 11 Official Criteria for Addiction

The 11 Official Criteria for Addiction Addiction Print The 11 Official Criteria for Addiction/Substance Use Disorder By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Updated on September 20, 2019 Image Source / Getty Images More in Addiction Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery You may be wondering what defines an addict or a substance use disorder.?? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders  (DSM), which is the official text on which diagnoses are based, contains the criteria for substance use disorders and other mental health problems. The latest version of DSM is the fifth edition, known as DSM-5, and it has some significant changes to both the list of substance use disorders and the criteria that must be met in order to diagnose some of these conditions.?? Substance Use Disorders In the last edition of the DSM, DSM-IV, there were two categories: substance abuse and substance dependence. DSM-5 combines these two categories into one called substance use disorder.?? If your substance use causes significant problems in your life, such as health issues, disability, and or not meeting your responsibilities at work, home, or school, you may have a substance use disorder. Criteria for a Substance Use Disorder Substance use disorders are classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how many of the diagnostic criteria you meet. The 11 DSM-5 criteria for a substance use disorder include:?? Hazardous use: Youve used the substance in ways that are dangerous to yourself and/or others, i.e., overdosed, driven while under the influence, or blacked out.Social or interpersonal problems related to use:  Your substance use has caused relationship problems or conflicts with others.Neglected major roles to use:  Youve failed to meet your responsibilities at work, school, or home because of your substance use.Withdrawal:  When youve stopped using the substance, youve experienced withdrawal symptoms.Tolerance:  Youve built up a tolerance to the substance so that you have to use more to get the same effect.Used larger amounts/longer:  Youve started to use larger amounts or use the substance for longer amounts of time.Repeated attempts to control use or quit:  Youve tried to cut back or quit entirely, but havent been successful.Much time spent using:  You spend a lot of your time using the substance.Physical or psychological problems related to use:  Your substance use has led to phy sical health problems like liver damage or lung cancer, or psychological issues, such as depression or anxiety.Activities given up to use:  Youve skipped activities or stopped doing activities you once enjoyed in order to use the substance.Craving:  Youve experienced cravings for the substance. Being Diagnosed With a Substance Use Disorder In order to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder, you must meet two or more of these criteria within a 12 month period.?? If you meet two or three of the criteria, you have a mild substance use disorder. Four to five is considered moderate, and if you meet six or more criteria, you have a severe substance use disorder. Types of Substance Use Disorders Each substance use disorder is classified as its own disorder. Here are the six most common substance use disorders in the United States:?? Alcohol use disorderTobacco use disorderCannabis use disorderStimulant use disorderHallucinogen use disorderOpioid use disorder The Difference Between Substance Use and Abuse