“ True Independence and freedom can only exist in doing what’s right” - Brigham Young   

     This quote by Brigham Young can impact us on what we do in our daily life. This quote means that the only thing you get for choosing the right is obtaining true independence and true freedom. Some examples of true independence is is doing your chores without your parents telling you. That exists in doing what’s right. It is simple as it is. If you want to have the freedom you want then you need to choose the right and do what is best. For instance, if you get good grades and you study very hard every day without procrastinating, then you are choosing the right. What can happen is that you can earn the true independence . You will earn freedom. However, that will only exist if you do the right thing. In the other hand, if you choose the wrong and decide to do drugs, you won’t earn the true freedom and independence. The key word that Young uses is “true” The difference between true independence and freedom and just independence and freedom is that the true one is much more powerful. It is true within your heart, because you earned it by choosing the right thing to do. If you do drugs and you start being “independent” that is not true independence, because you are choosing the wrong. Brigham Young stated this quote to show all of us that to obtain this true freedom and independence is to just choose the right. And that is all. It is very magnificent that he stated this quote. It will impact our lives in a positive manner.

CTR Project

Student Success Statement

“ They’re only truly great who are truly good” - George Chapman

     This student success statement is a truly good one. George Chapman quoted that the only person who is truly great are those who who are good. In other words, the only person who is great is the one who chooses the right and does good things. And it’s true. You won’t have a “great” person who does bad things. They are not truly good for that. For example, if there is a person who donates money and food to the poor and does good things to their community, that is a truly good person. They are truly great for that. Another example is that there is this kid who does drugs and disobeys to their parents, but he is a great athlete. He might be great in the game but not truly great within himself. He is not truly good, because he does bad things. George Chapman states this quote to emphasize that goodness of being truly great. If you are truly great, that is because you are truly good. An example of truly good actions are helping out the poor, donating, helping out the elderly, etc. That is what makes a truly great person. Throughout my experience, I noticed that the truly great people are those who do god. Which is pretty great. That is why it is significant to choose the right, because that are the elements of becoming a truly great person. And it feels good.

 “ Many think that the short term gain will be worth  the long term pain, but it isn’t. In addition, using steroids is cheating, and there is nothing worse in sports than a cheater. Don’t do it.” - George Mitchell

This statement by George Mitchell is extremely useful for  us in sports or anywhere we go. Short term gain is what you get in that small moment. It could be a bad thing like cheating. If you cheat on a test and get a good grade, then that will be a short term gain. However, a long term pain is the bad feeling of pain after what you gained. George states that several people think the short term gain will be worth the long term pain, but it doesn’t. Furthermore, George explains the usage of steroids is cheating and he states that nothing in sports ( or anything) is worse than cheating. For example, if you are in a sport such as baseball, and to get more strength, you use steroid. That is cheating. With the use of steroids, you might be really good in that sport. However, that is the “short term gain”. It won’t last long until the long term pain will come to you. You will be filling bad and regretful of what you’ve done. And George is right. There is nothing worse in sports than a cheater. You are doing the wrong thing. Dale Murphy once said that if you make a promise of not cheating, you will be grateful that you made that promise. And that promise will help you throughout eternity.

                     Non-Medical/ Health Volunteer Opportunities

There are a variety of volunteering opportunities for teens throughout the community. Here are some available opportunities for us to volunteer.

1. County of Los Angeles Public Library: In this public library, they are looking for volunteers to help out throughout the library. These opportunities include library ambassadors, library materials helper, homework/internet helper, or library advocacy. To apply for this chance, you must go to your public library near you and they will provide you more information and an application!
2. Los Angeles Zoo & Botanic Gardens:  This available volunteer opportunity is located at Northeast of Griffin Park. You have to chance to become a student volunteer and to assist the Zoo run education programs such as the World of Birds Show. You must be entering the 9th or 10th grade in the fall. Students will participate in a 12-week course helping out. The informational meeting will be held in November 2017 and check the website in September 2017 if you are interested. The applications will be accepted in September 1 - November 1.
3. Natural History Museum: This possibility is held near USC. Young volunteers between 16-17 years old have the opportunity to work side by side with adult volunteers at museum exhibitions. You also will have the chance to work with experts as well! For more information about applying, you must go to their website and keep in contact with them.
4. Summer Nights Lights:  This is only available in the summer. The city of LA and Youth Development Foundation keep recreation centers and parks open during summer nights to reduce violence. You will have the chance to volunteer and help out make flyers and more! In order to apply, you must go to summer night lights volunteering website and they will give you an application.
5. Tree People:  This opportunity is to help LA go green. Volunteers under age of 16 must be accompanied by a guardian. You will have the chance to grow trees and stop pollution. To apply, you must go their website for more info.

                These are only few of available volunteering opportunities.There are more out there!

               “ I won’t Cheat” - Dale Murphy

This quote by Dale Murphy is a promise that we all should keep forever. And that is to not cheat. You cannot cheat in exams, in sports, or even as an individual. We all should say this promise, “ I won’t cheat” And we should keep this promise because it is for the best and it is the right thing to do. If you cheat for the rest of your life, you are going to the wrong path. Cheating is a dishonest act in which you might get “addicted” after you it the first time. Many people think that cheating will help them be successful, however, it will not always help you be successful. For example, if you cheated on tests and classwork in  which you got good grades for the rest of your high school and college education, you won’t have the ability to have the knowledge you need. If you want to become a surgeon, but you cheated on the training and tests, you might not be the greatest surgeon out there in the medical field. You might do a ton of mistakes while doing the surgery. This example interferes with the quote, because if we all don’t cheat, we will have a successful life. Cheating school is called academic cheating which is pretty bad for your future. You can also cheat yourself as an individual. If you cheat, you are cheating yourself. In other words, you are just doing bad to you and that will affect only you. Dale Murphy really relies on this quote that he even made a “ I won’t cheat” foundation. Therefore, this is powerful. We shall not cheat.

                       “ Character Matters Most.” - Dale Murphy

This quote by Dale Murphy is really powerful to everyone. We can all include this in our daily lives. What Dale means by this is that the most thing that is significant and that matters the most is your character. Your character is the way you are. It includes your personality, your words, your actions, your thoughts, and all the qualities that make up you. For example, Dale Murphy himself has a good character within him and that is what matters the most. He might be the most home-runs baseball player in the world, but that doesn’t really matter. What matters is the way he calls his wife and family everyday to check on them. What matters is when he does his prayers everyday with his whole family together. What matters the most is that he is extremely loyal to his family and friends. What matters the most is all of that… his character. He wants us to know that whatever happens, our character will be there, because it matters to us and to everyone. This quote helps me to understand my character a little better, because what a lot of people are looking for is your character whether your character involves with positive traits such as being friendly, spiritual, loyal, etc or having bad traits such as dishonest, duplicity, rude, uncooperative, etc. Your character is basically you. It is what you are inside your soul/heart. For instance, if you do drugs, having bad grades, lazy, hurtful, dishonest and all the bad traits, that is what defines you. That is your character which is really bad. On the contrary, if your character involves with honesty and humble, you have a good character and that is what matters the most.

                      St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of Irish culture on every March 17th. It all started with Saint Patrick. Saint Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland. According to history.com, it states that Saint Patrick was one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. This holiday was held on the day of his death that bears his name, however, his life remains a mystery. He planted a lot of churches and was a legend among the people in Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day has a strong purpose to celebrate. We celebrate St. Patrick's Day, because it is to honor him as the foremost patron saint of Ireland. March 17 is the traditional death date of him. It first began as a religious feast day in which it provided the celebration of the Irish culture. Some traditional activities were parades, dancing, special foods and a whole lot of green. Many people wonder , why should we wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. Well the answer to that is because the Irish connection to the color green is thought to only go back as far as the late 18th century. Another interesting question is why do we pinch people on this day. Well, pinching people is thought to revolve around the leprechaun and the legend that wearing green makes one invisible to the bad “fairies”. With that being said, the leprechauns would pinch anyone not wearing green.  St. Patrick’s Day was designated on March 17, because that was the day in which the legend , St. Patrick, died. For over millions and millions of years, the Irish have celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Many people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in their own way. Many people do , wearing green clothing, parties featuring irish food  and drinks, and many more. St. Patrick’s Day is to show honor for this Saint. We all celebrate in many ways just for him.

“ Great beauty, great strength, and great riches are really and truly of no great use; a right heart exceeds all” - Benjamin Franklin

This statement from Benjamin Franklin demonstrates what is truly important within us. He states that great beauty , having great strength, and being rich will have no use at all. However, one with great use will be a right heart. A right heart will exceeds all. When he states “a right heart”, he means that you have a kind heart that chooses the right and does good things in life. For example, if there was a beautiful person who lives in a mansion has an abundant of money and have all the strength and power of the world, but is a bad person, that won’t exceed at all. That person doesn’t have a true heart within them. They must have a right heart and soul that chooses the right like giving money to the poor. That is an example of a right heart would exceed all. Like one quote that stated that when people do good, they will get good stuff. It won’t matter if they are poor or rich , or have strength or not, they have a nice heart in which they choose the right. Benjamin is giving all of us a message that only because you have beauty, strength, and rich, , it doesn’t really mean anything. What means something is your heart. Whether you have nice and caring heart or a bad CTW heart. All of those “goodies” is futile. That is why it’s important to be humble, caring, and thoughtful.

              Medical/Health related volunteer Opportunities

1. There are a variety of health-related opportunities around me. For example, one opportunity to volunteer is in the UCLA health department. They are looking for volunteer service in a general student program at the summer. Once you are accepted to the program, you will have the chance to begin your volunteering in one of the following areas:

•  Wayfinding
•  Patient transport
•  Floater

To apply into this program, you must first sign up for a mandatory information session. The applications will be sent to those who sign up for the session. You must fulfill a lot of required paperwork and medical requirements. Patient transport assists the transport office at the Ronald Reagan UCLA medical center. They are responsible for discharging patients and helping out the patient transport staff. The wayfinding are student ambassadors. They greet each visitor/patient along with escort assistance.

2.      Another volunteering opportunity is to help out in the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. They offer a summer program for applicants at ages of 15-17. They will provide service to patients, families, and staff, while gaining experience and self-confidence. According the chla.org, you must fulfill the given application that includes a personal essay, certification, recommendation letters, and a recommendation form. You will work three times per week in 3.5 hours a day. This is a great given opportunity.

3.  A helpful opportunity to volunteer will be at Keck Medicine of USC. They are looking for a devoted team of volunteers to work directly with patients and their families during treatment and care. Volunteers work in many aspects of the hospital. To get more information to volunteer, you must go their website and contact the hospital’s volunteer service office.

 These are only some opportunities that I had research about. However, there are an abundant of resources and volunteering opportunities looking for you. Some our in your community’s hospitals. Just go and ask for more information. This would be very helpful for you in the future. It will make a huge impact.

“ It may make a difference to all eternity whether we do right or wrong today” - James Freeman Clarke

This statement by James is relatable and could impact us on our daily lives. He states that it will make a difference to all eternity or the rest of your life if you do the right thing today or the wrong thing. It all depends on you, and whatever you do will impact you ( in a good or bad way) for the rest of your life. For example, there is a real life scenario that was based on his very quote. There was a great student who name was James Holmes. He was a straight A student and graduated with high honors in 2010. He was an intellectual individual who chose the right , till now.  In 2012, there was a tragedy that happened in Colorado Aurora Theater. There was a massive shooting that included a lot of injuries and deaths. And the killer himself was James Holmes. This interferes with the quote, because one day, he was just giving a formal presentation in his school. If he continued, he would of been successful for the rest of his life. However,  he chose the wrong and committed this massacre. He chose the wrong which made a difference to all eternity. In the other hand, if he decided to study for the rest of his life and continue to being successful in life and choose the right, that would of made a huge difference to all eternity. He would have a successful life rather than being in jail for the rest of his life. This quote can be obtained into someone’s daily life, therefore, they should know what is the right thing to do so they would make a difference for all their eternity.

                      Ophthalmologist

Duties and Responsibilities: Ophthalmologist are known as eye doctors.They are a medically trained doctor who is an expert in diagnosing and treating eye diseases or injuries. They have a variety of tasks to accomplish in their everyday life. One of their every-day duties is to examine and diagnose the patients. They must be responsible for both the medical and psychological aspects of dealing with patients. When serious, they must perform surgery along with other doctors. They collaborate with other specialist in determining treatment plans. Their duties consist of performing biopsies and even certifying legally blind patients. Some of their other duties are:

• Communicating with the family of the patients.
• Managing an outpatient clinic
• Educating patients about their condition and treatment plan for it

Salary: $105,015- $249,468 per year

Education: In order to become an ophthalmologist, you must complete the education requirements. First of, you must complete at least three years of undergraduate education. The another four years for medical training. However, some advance educational programs allow you to obtain a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree in 6 to 7 years rather than 8 years. Which it is highly recommended. Some courses must include: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and english. You are also required to successfully complete a 1-year internship prior to entry.

Demand or Need for this profession: Based on BLS, the employment outlook for the physicians in general is good. In other words, it was predicted of 14% increase in job openings in about 2014-2024.

Reflection: I think I would like to be an ophthalmologist, because I would like to help people with their problems.  Whenever I go to my eye doctor for my check up, I admire how hard they work to make us feel better. I had eye problems and I would like to help people with their problems.

“ The best way to predict your future is to create it,”- Charles Ketterer

This quote by Charles Ketterer is very significant to everyone, in order to be successful in life. His message is that the best way for us to predict our future is to just create our future. In other words, our future depends on us. If someone does drugs and choose the wrong, they might see their future as a bad one. This quote, metaphorically, means that you are mentally seeing your future. In order to create your future in reality, it is best to write down your goals. When you set goals, you are slowly creating your future. You are going on the right path of success. You set the goals, you try to accomplish them, then you follow them wherever you go. For example, if you are writing down your goals every day and choosing the right every day, you are creating your future as a successful one. You can mentally see yourself being successful. With all these goals, you might go to a good university and have a great career. Throughout my point of view, this quote has impacted me a lot, because I want to be successful in life and have a happy and healthy life. That is what I want my future to look like. In order to create my future, I have to start writing down all my goals and dreams and slowly accomplishing them. Obviously, there will be obstacles in my way of the road to success, however, we all need to learn to overcome it and manage it. To predict my future, I would have to create it and slowly rise up.

        Operating Room Technician

Duties and Responsibilities: An operating room technician is also known as surgical technician has a variety of duties in their everyday environment. Their duties consists of:

• Preparing the operating room ( they make sure everything is in it’s right place)
• Making sure all necessary tool for surgery and other supplies are ready to be used.
• They keep track of all sort of items used during the surgery just to make sure that nothing gets misplaced and whatnot.  
• If chance, they provide an extra assistance during the operation.
• They cautiously lead the patient to the recovery room.
• Lastly, they clean up the operating room for the upcoming surgery.

Each type of operating room technician has their own responsibility. Some consists of just handling the tools to the surgeon.

Salary: $41,032-$49,103

Education: Usually, a high school diploma or a GED will satisfied the qualification to become an operating room tech, along with training programs. However, earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree usually grabs their attention. These technicians must complete classroom learning in conjunction with career training in a clinical environment. They are also required to complete surgical technology programs which are available at community colleges. Graduates of surgical technology programs receive a certificate, diploma or associate’s degree. The common courses include: Anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, surgical procedures, and pharmacology.

Demand or Need for this profession: The job outlook of this employment is projected to grow 15 percent from 2014-2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

Reflection: I don’t think I would like to be an operating room technician, because this profession doesn’t quite caught my attention. I would like to more than just handling surgical tools to the surgeon.

“ Ask yourself is it right or wrong and act accordingly.” - Otto Graham, Jr.

             This quote by Otto Graham explains us that when you are stuck in a situation, it is better if you ask yourself if is it wrong or is it right to do it, then you do it “accordingly”. Meaning, you have to do it properly. It is like another old saying, “ Think before you talk or do something.” You first need to think that what you are doing is the right thing, then you act the appropriate way. For instance, if you are stuck in situation such as your friends forcing you to do drugs with them. The solution to this problem is to think for a second. Is it right to do drugs? Is it right to listen to them? You have to contemplate about this and try as much to choose the right thing. Throughout my experience, I was in a position where I have to tell the truth and get in trouble or lie and forget everything. I thought to myself, that the right thing to is to tell the truth . I asked myself if it was right or wrong, and then I act accordingly. Graham tells this to us, because we all need to use this quote in our life. It's a life lesson, because sometimes in life, we are stuck in situation in which we don’t know what to do or to think. Therefore, we should ask our self, is it right or wrong? Then we act accordingly.

       “ Act well your part; there all honor lies.”- Alexander Pope

This quote by Alexander Pope is a lesson that we all should be learning about. He states to act well for you part. Meaning to choose the right and doing the right thing. Therefore, you will be consider as honorable. Your honor will lie there within you. For example, once a little league baseball team won the U.S champions. Everyone, including the the president was all very honor and they were very proud of them. However, one day, they discovered that this little league champions cheated./ They decided to bring other players from another team to play with this team. That is against the rules. Yet they still managed to do it. After the everyone found out, they were going to lose their title and second place title. This example shows how this team did not act well on their part, therefore, they were no more honored. They didn’t have the integrity to confess up. Another example is when someone cheats on the test from another student and got a good grade. This person felt extremely bad, therefore, he went to see the teacher and told the teacher the whole truth. This shows how he did the wrong thing at first, however, he did the right thing where he was honest and told the teacher the truth. This took integrity. This student acted well on his part, so his honor will lie within him. When people do good, they feel good. You will be honored. This is what Pope’s quote was trying to tell us.

         Nursing Home Administrator

Duties and Responsibilities:  A nursing home administrator is in charge of managing operations and supervise the staff of nursing homes. They have to be in charge in two particular areas which are business management and health care. Their variety of duties consists of knowledge of facilities operations, financial planning, and personnel management. Their responsibilities consists of monitoring and directing execution of policies and procedures. They analyze a variety of operations. They maintain a high occupancy rate. Sometimes, they will oversees the decisions on facility maintenance problems , equipment replacement, and repairs and redecorating. Their main duty, however, is just staffing around.  

Salary: A median salary of $94,500

Education: In order to become a nursing home administrator, you have to complete the precise education requirements. You will first need at least a four-year bachelor’s degree in health services administration and will likely need to pass a state licensing examination. However, larger employees with more advanced positions may require a master’s degree. Common courses in these programs include work in nursing home administrative practices, aging and long term care, gerontology and aging, and health behavior. After completing a state-approved program, most states also required the nursing home administrators pass licensing exams. To be successful, you should have skills and knowledge from health care and business fields.

Demand or Need for this profession: The nursing home administrator will be a 17% growth in employment in this field from 2014-2024. Those will be the economic outlook.

Reflection: I don’t think I would like to be a nursing home administrator, because I am not really interest in this particular profession. It is good though, because you are able to help other people.

    “ If you do what’s right, if you live the right way, you’ll be taken care of.”

• Rachel Castillo

This quote by Rachel Castillo is a life lesson that everyone should know. Castillo states that if you do the right things and if you live the right way, you will be taken care of. In other words, if you do good things then you will be in good hands. You will not get hurt nor you will suffer, because you are doing the right things. Being taken care of means that nothing bad will happen to you because you did the right thing, therefore, you will be taken care of. For example, when Rachel Castillo found 36 thousand dollars in a bag, she immediately called the police. She didn’t lie nor steal but she did the right thing. She then says that she did the right thing and that she believes in the bible so therefore, she would be taken care of. On contrast, if you do not live the right way and you go the wrong way, then you will not be taken care of. For example, if you do something wrong such as robbing something from a store and ran away, you are not living the right way. Therefore, you will not be taken care of. Meaning you will get in trouble from the police and might get arrested. Just because you chose the wrong. That is why Rachel Castillo said this statement to all of us… to learn the right way. What Rachel did was very humble of her and really inspiring to me and probably to others. She stated this so for us to learn how to live the right way and choose the right way.

 The Neurosurgeon

Duties and Responsibilities: A neurosurgeon is a medical specialist who treats diseases and a variety of conditions that affects the nervous system. Neurosurgeons provides “nonoperative” and surgical treatment to patients of all ages. They have an abundant of duties. They are required to study the medical history of their patients  which includes the reports compiled by other physicians. One of their duties is to meet with the patients and their families to discuss the surgical procedures and more information based on that. Starting from there, it is down to the surgeon to decide which surgical; procedure will be the best to perform. Then they are required to meet up with the patient  and their relatives after the procedure to recommend  some methods of care which could be like rehabilitation, nutritional advice, or just general care information. Their biggest responsibility is to do any type of surgery successfully.

Salary: a median salary of $395,00

Education: To be a neurosurgeon, you have to go through the education requirements. The first step of the education that is required is earning a bachelor’s degree from a university. It will take about 3-4 years to fulfill the degree. You might consider a pre-med  or a related major to biology or chemistry. You then will take the Medical College Admission Test and apply to medical school. The medical school education will last four years  and will train you. During the final two years, you will have the opportunity to work with doctors and patients in real life situations. After medical school, you will have to enter a residency program in neurology surgeon. It typically lasts for 7-8 years.

Demand or Need for this profession:  The employment for physicians and surgeons is said to grow 14 percent from the year 2014 to 2024 which is much faster than the average for all occupations. According to bls.gov, it states that the job growth is projected due to increased demand for healthcare services by the growing and the aging population.

Reflection: I don’t think I would want to be a neurosurgeon, because I am not interest in the profession. This profession includes of performing surgeries and I don’t think I am the person to perform this. However, I do like the fact that the surgeons help the patients to feel better and healthier.