Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902 Essay Example For Students

Langston Hughes was conceived in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902 Essay Langston Hughes was conceived in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902. His dad, who had concentrated to turn into a legal advisor, left for Mexico soon after the child was conceived. When Langston was seven or eight he went to live with his grandma, who revealed to him awesome tales about Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth and took him to hear Booker T. Washington. She likewise acquainted him with The Crisis, altered by W. E. B. Du Bois, who likewise composed The Souls of Black Folk, youthful Langstons most loved book. After his grandma kicked the bucket when he was twelve, Langston went to live with her companions, whom he called Auntie and Uncle Reed. We will compose a custom paper on Langston Hughes was conceived in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902 explicitly for you for just $16.38 $13.9/page Request now At that point, at age fourteen, his mom wedded once more, and soon he went with his new family to Illinois and afterward to Cleveland, where Homer Clarke, his moms new spouse, had looked for some kind of employment in a steel plant. As a secondary school understudy at Central High in Cleveland, Langston read crafted by many dark essayists. After graduation, he went to Mexico to visit his dad, who consented to pay for his advanced degree. On his way through the south, as he was crossing the Mississippi River, Langston composed The Negro Speaks of Rivers. It was imprinted in The Crisis in 1921. Langston entered Columbia University and started living in Harlem, around then a rich area on the northern finish of Manhattan Island that individuals of color were making their own. The sights and hints of Harlem, its music and move and scholarly life, enlivened Langston more than his classes in mining building, and in the long run he quit school. Then he sent more sonnets to The Crisis. Experiencing issues looking for some kind of employment, Hughes, twenty-one years of age, joined the group of a boat cruising for Africa. In the long run he went through Italy, Holland, Spain, and France, composing at the same time. At last he came back to New York, and felt like he had get back. An upheaval of abstract movement followed. Hughess verse consumed the rhythms of blues and jazz and the vernacular of African American discourse that he heard around him. He kept on composing and distribute in The Crisis. He met artist Vachel Lindsay, who preferred his sonnets and advanced them. In 1926 Hughes distributed his first book of sonnets, The Weary Blues, about Harlem life. Hughes kept composition through the 1930s and the 1940s, representing poor people and destitute individuals of color who endured during the Great Depression. He composed of their every day lives in Americas urban areas, of their indignation and their loves. Individuals of color adored perusing his works and hearing him read his sonnets at open introductions everywhere throughout the nation. To them he was Harlems Poet. At the point when Hughes kicked the bucket in 1967, a jazz band played at his memorial service. The Harlem that Hughes cherished and where he lived a large portion of his life was an energizing spot. This recently evolved suburb of New York City was arranged, spread out, and fabricated excessively quick; the base dropped out of the land advertise in 1904-1905. Harlem had wide roads, excellent condos, and elite loft buildings㠢â‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬ but no inhabitants. Frantic to lease to anybody, numerous designers started to open Harlem to blacks, and by 1914 Harlem was a dark city. Its populace nearly detonated during the long stretches of the First World War as blacks from the South moved north looking for better occupations and more full citizenshipthe start of what came to be known as the Great Migration. Simultaneously, on the grounds that it was a port city, New York pulled in a huge deluge of blacks from the West Indies and even Africa. .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 , .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 .postImageUrl , .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 .focused content territory { min-tallness: 80px; position: relative; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 , .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7:hover , .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7:visited , .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7:active { border:0!important; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 { show: square; change: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-progress: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; darkness: 1; progress: haziness 250ms; webkit-progress: obscurity 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7:active , .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7:hover { mistiness: 1; progress: murkiness 250ms; webkit-progress: haziness 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 .focused content zone { width: 100%; position: re lative; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 .ctaText { fringe base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: striking; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; text-beautification: underline; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; text style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7 .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; outskirt: none; fringe range: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; text style weight: intense; line-stature: 26px; moz-outskirt sweep: 3px; text-adjust: focus; text-enrichment: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-stature: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/straightforward arrow.png)no-rehash; position: supreme; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!important; } .u2439d054af0 8b09e87268937f6ae98e7 .focused content { show: table; tallness: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .u2439d054af08b09e87268937f6ae98e7:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: Peer Pressure EssayMeanwhile blacks enrolled in the military in record numbers and separated themselves on the combat zone in Europe. They likewise took the hints of jazz and jazz to England and France, and created an uproar. After the war the blend of the Great Migration, the blend of societies in Harlem, and a recently discovered feeling of dark solidarity and certainty delivered an extraordinary eruption of inventiveness. The dark author, teacher, and scholarly Alain Locke depicted another feeling of Negro character: Here in Manhattan isn't simply the biggest Negro people group on the planet, yet the primary focus in history of such huge numbers of various components of Negro life. . . In Harlem, Negro life is taking advantage of its first possibilities for bunch articulation and self-assurance. It isor guarantees at any rate to bea race capital. During the Harlem Renaissance, scholarly discourse, abstract and masterful creation, blues and jazz, move and melodic auditorium met up and bloomed as at no other time. There were dynamic workplaces of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Urban League, and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. There were all dark musicals, move clubs, jazz clubs, and dance club that obliged whites. The pioneers and stars are as yet known today: in scholarly talk and book and magazine distributing, W. E. B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, and Alain Locke; in music and move, Bill Bojangles Robinson, Ethel Waters, and Duke Ellington; stone workers and painters Meta Warrick Fuller, Aaron Douglas, Palmer Hayden, and Augusta Savage; authors Jessie Fauset and Zora Neale Hurston; and artists James Weldon Johnson, Claude McKay, Countee Cullen, Jean Toomer, and obviously, Langston Hughes. At last, the Depression, joblessness, destitution, pack brutality, and above all else segregationnot legitimate isolation however the proceeding with imbalance among whites and blackschanged Harlem during the 1930s, and it turned into a tragic and hazardous spot. Regardless of such a significant number of splendid achievements, there was no basic change in the near situation of the two races. Langston Hughes clarified it along these lines: The downturn cut everyone down a peg or two. Furthermore, the Negro had however hardly any pegs to fall.

Through Trials and Tears :: English Literature Essays

Through Trials and Tears What is America? A little youngster in a removed land posed her mom this inquiry in a murmur as they were tucking away among produce and merchandise on the docks attempting to discover a route our of their district. An exit from their life of neediness, abuse and even passing. Searching for another life in another world, America. A few Americans don’t fell the significance of this life, an existence of opportunity, an existence of harmony. To those in different nations like this family, it is something almost difficult to reach, something just came to in a fantasy. Numerous Americans don’t feel the profundity of America; they see issues in the administration, issues in their employments, and issues in their lives. In any case, for those outside our outskirts, it is an existence of flawlessness. Two of the most significant pieces of our country are the energy we share and the rights our ancestors have conceded us. Words can't communicate the adoration and gratefulness I have for this land and the individuals and musings that make it genuinely divine. Despite the fact that there are fifty states with a great many urban communities in America. It is every one of the one country. The United Stated of America helps me to remember an extraordinary interwoven unique blanket, a blanket that has been sewn by the individuals who resulted in these present circumstances land from all edges of the world, carrying with them numerous societies, customs, and numerous dialects. Those traditions, thoughts and individuals meet up in a special manner that makes our nation like no other. One of the most significant pieces of our country is our nationalism. In the event that we didn’t have enthusiasm in the beginning of our nation, at that point it in all probability wouldn’t have endure. The word energy originates from the term utilized for the individuals battling against Great Britain in the Revolutionary War called nationalists. These people took a chance with their lives to give us what we have now, opportunity. Enthusiasm proceeded from the beginning of time. In World War II ladies demonstrated nationalism with Rosie the Riveter. This represents women’s job in keeping the United States solid during the war. Indeed, even years after the fact our nation demonstrates solid and joined after the staggering assaults of September eleventh. After these assaults our nationalism came through in full power. Wherever I looked I could see banners and images of appreciation for our nation. Antiquarians have reasoned that Ancient Rome was so amazing and effective in view of the nationalism of their Citizens and the fall of Rome was halfway a direct result of the loss of that help and love for their nation.

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Essay -- Biography Biographies Bio

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Jacqueline Lee Bouvier was conceived on July 28th, 1929 in East Hampton, Long Island. Jacqueline’s mother was Janet Lee Bouvier, an exceptionally aspiring horseback rider. Jacqueline was nicknamed "Jackie" after her dad, Jack Bouvier. Youthful Jackie’s guardians were an off coupled. Her dad had an expected fortune of 7 million dollars and Janet originated from a well off family likewise, her dad had been executive of the leading group of Chase National Bank. Asides for the Bouviers riches, the other thing they were generally noted for was their magnificence, Jack specifically. His thin nose, wide set blue eyes, glossy dark hair and strong form earned him the depiction as "drippingly handsome". Jack’s forefront senses, darkness, and love for delightful young ladies earned him the epithet " Black Jack". Janet, who was sixteen years more youthful than Jack was not as delightful as he was attractive. Janet didn't have a showgirl beauty yet she was said to have had a fascinating look. She was dainty and had a to some degree enlivened look to her. Her nose and jaw were long and pointed. When Jackie was conceived it was cheerfully noticed that Jackie looked like Jack Bouvier. (Birmingham) In spite of the fact that Janet Lee’s family was wealthy, they were not individuals from the regarded most noteworthy social station similar to the Bouviers. Janet carried on with her existence with a steady feeling of disquiet in view of this distinction in lineage.(Birmingham) Since Black Jack was known for having sporadic monetary history, James Lee, Janet’s father, offered to permit Janet and Jack to live lease free in a structure he claimed. This offer went under one condition. Jack would need to reduce his ostentatious way of life. (Heymann) On March third 1933, the Bouvier family was finished by the introduction of Jackie’s sister, Lee. At the point when Lee was conceived, Jackie was not, at this point the child of the family.She invested a large portion of her energy tending and riding her pony. Jackie additionally exceeded expectations in school. She was keen to such an extent that she discovered all her basic evaluation fill in as exhausting. Janet had once expressed that, "Jackie’s scholarly desire ran in front of her sequential age." (Heymann) Before long issues started happening between Black Jack and Janet. Jackie has never spoken about her parent’s marriage issues however they are thought to have emerged as a result of cash. At the time Black Jack was und... ...e style. The position of safety way of life was difficult to acquire. The press was continually inquisitive if Jackie had any new love interests. At that point on October twentieth 1968, Jackie wedded Aristotle Onassis on the Greek island Scorpios. Aristotle was her sister’s ex, yet he was likewise the most extravagant man on the planet. Their relationship was brief. The couple had various tastes and their relationship had been denounced from the earliest starting point. In walk 1975, Aristotle was anticipating separating Jackie, before he could do so he passed on. After his passing, Jackie turned out to be exceptionally well off. She required something to involve herself with so she turned into an editorial manager with Viking Press. After two years she moved over to Doubleday Press. In December on 1993, Jackie was determined to have non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She was treated for the sickness with chemotherapy until May of 1994. In may she proclaimed that she needed to come back to her home to kick the bucket. On May 19, 1994, at 10:15 a.m., Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis passed on encompassed by her loved ones. Her memorial service occurred at St. Ignatious Loyola church, a similar church where she was purified through water. She was later covered in Arlington graveyard close to John Kennedy.

Clean fuel is better for te envirement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Clean fuel is better for te envirement - Essay Example In addition, these gases can possibly make â€Å"ground-level ozone†, which is a layer that outcomes when daylight responds with the poisons referenced previously. Such climatic improvements can have cataclysmic outcomes †including however not confined to respiratory sicknesses. In this setting it is even more basic that a progress is produced using regular assortments of fuel to all the more ecologically benevolent ones (Chang 24). Cleaner powers then again transmit lesser amounts of hydrocarbons, which is a key factor in the arrangement of â€Å"ground-level ozone†. These new options can diminish the produced contaminations by almost 90%, which makes a huge commitment towards reestablishing a solid equalization of air gases (Elliot 25). An upsetting pattern in the course of the most recent couple of decades has been the moderate yet huge collection of green-house gases, which are vital to the marvels of an unnatural weather change. The more current cleaner fills, for example, power, gaseous petrol and liquor are invaluable to the earth as well as to the buyer too. For instance, these options give the buyer more alternatives to browse. By lessening the reliance on oil they additionally deliver financial points of interest to the shopper (Chang 25). Let us currently take a gander at the points of interest each new cleaner fuel gives. Ethanol, for instance, transmits extremely low degrees of hydrocarbons and other harmful gases. All the more significantly, it very well may be delivered in a little scope and by reusing wood and paper. Methanol, then again can be extricated structure gaseous petrol, coal and wood. Propane is another cleaner fuel currently picking up unmistakable quality. It isn't just simple to make yet in addition modest contrasted with gas. However, of the all gases, gaseous petrol is the most eco-accommodating and reasonable for significant distance transportation. The most engaging non-gas fuel is power as it has â€Å"recharge†

4 pieces of career advice no one will give you

4 bits of profession exhortation nobody will give you You’ve heard all the works of art previously (counting from us!): revamp constantly your resume. Practice your non-verbal communication. Keep your system evergreen, since no one can really tell when you’ll need it. These are extremely significant and valuable tips for anyone’s vocation, regardless of what the business. In any case, if you’re simply beginning, there are some more†¦off-the-record things that everybody learns the most difficult way possible, however individuals don’t truly talk about. Let’s take a gander at a portion of the things that happen to a large portion of us, yet aren’t essentially in the vocation guides. 1. You’re going to fizzle (sometimes)That sounds overly cruel and cynical, isn't that so? Be that as it may, it’s additionally evident. You’re not going to bomb constantly, or more often than not don’t stress. In any case, once in a while, things will go gravely, and you will run into the huge â€Å"F.† It happens to us all the straight-An overachievers, the person who doesn’t care, the prepared proficient. Now and again things just aren’t going to work out in a good way. And keeping in mind that it very well may be upsetting, particularly in the event that it prompts negative input or expert results, you must have the option to retain it, take what exercises you can, and proceed onward. What's more, when it occurs, recall that you’re not the only one, and that probably the most significant exercises originate from falling all over once in a while.2. Set work-life limits earlyAt the beginning of any new position or vocation way, you need to set an extraordinary early introduction. The person who begins early (or is perfectly on time each day), remains late, deftly reacts to a nightfall email. Here’s the issue with that approach: it can transform into business as usual rapidly, as individuals begin to expect that your hard- charging ways are only the manner in which you work and what they can anticipate from you. This isn't to state you should relax, or attempt to set desires low. Or maybe, ensure you’re marking out close to home limits and that you have individual outlets that parity out the activity. On the off chance that you don’t have an exercise schedule, or de-focusing on action, or something that keeps you cheerful and satisfied outside of work, that’s a most optimized plan of attack to burnout.3. Don’t take everything so seriouslyYes, your vocation is significant. Truly, you ought to be a solid promoter for yourself and not take poop from anybody. In any case, if you’ve got your Game Face on constantly grinding away, you risk estranging collaborators, managers, anybody on the less than desirable finish of your â€Å"don’t meddle with me† vibe. Being adaptable (and ready to make a stride back and relax) when fundamental will assist you with keepi ng a sort of harmony at work.4. It’s alright to have sham syndromeYou’ve most likely found out about â€Å"imposter syndrome,† where individuals feel like they’re lacking at their employments and that every other person is on the cusp of making sense of that they don’t have a place there. Turns out, a little weakness can go far toward helping your vocation. In the event that you feel a mind-boggling feeling of mediocrity, that could imply that you need all the more preparing or direction. In any case, in the event that you have an inclination that you could take that feeling and direct it into proficient turn of events, or working all the more productively, at that point it very well may be an aid to your career.No matter what your identity is, regardless of what work you do, the most significant vocation counsel of everything is â€Å"don’t worry.† As long as you’re striving to develop yourself at each progression of your prof ession, you don’t consistently need to stress over whether you’re following the best possible guidance it simply must be legitimate for you and your objectives.

Retirement Planning How to Plan for a Successful Retirement

Retirement Planning How to Plan for a Successful Retirement Quick Links: 7 Retirement Myths Debunked · Online Investment Tools · 6 Saving Strategies · 5 Investments to Avoid · 3 Tips to Get Started Youth is wasted on the young. Often, money  is, too. Back in my corporate days, when I managed scores of retail stores and hundreds of employees, I stressed the importance of planning for retirementâ€"as well as saving for future goalsâ€"with every person I hired. Before the start of their very first shift, I would sit down with each new team member and show them how to save for retirement without stress, worry, complexity, or pain. Within a few minutes, I could literally see the difference in their physiology as trepidation drained from their facial features and, after we spent 30 minutes examining their options, confidence began to take over once they realized planning for retirement is much simpler than they thought. Most of these employees hadnt given much thought to saving for the future: maybe theyd heard their parents or spouses maunder about stocks and bonds and mutual funds, but they hadnt considered which  path to take because planning for the future, especially with respect to finances, is overwhelming, daunting, boring. There are so many options, so many so-called experts, so many ways to screw things up. So, like many of Americans, they stood stuck in analytical paralysis, opting instead to postpone the decision for another time in some nonexistent hypothetical future. You know, one day. One day: these two words are dangerous because they give us an excuse to shelve important decisions that radically influence our future. Waiting for one day to arrive doesnt solve the problemâ€"it makes it worse. Each day we wait, the worse it gets. Just as with my employee orientations of yesteryear, I want this essay to serve as an inspirational and informative sit-down in which I clear the fog of decision-making and help you, the reader, make an informed decision based on what Ive done with my own financial future. I truly believe that after reading this step-by-step process, you can plan for retirement in less than an hour. Using screenshots and my personal finances as a concrete example, I provide the necessary tools and a step-by-step strategy for you to quickly understand how easy it is to begin saving for retirement, regardless of where you stand on the socioeconomic ladder. Not only  retirement, thoughâ€"I also want to help you save for other future objectives: establish a Safety Net emergency fund, build wealth with smart investments, and own your house outright, if thats a dream of yours. And most importantâ€"I want it to be simple,  because I know, based on years of experience, if I can make the complex concept of retirement planning simple, then you have a much better shot at getting started immediately. Ultimately, I hope to eliminate the fear of financial planning and help you realize its simpler than you think. 7 Retirement Myths Debunked Before I get to my examples, Ill allay your fears by addressing a few of the worries Ive heard throughout my years of helping others set up retirement accounts: Myth 1. Im too old to save for retirement. I frequently hired employees who were older than I wasâ€"often in their forties and fiftiesâ€"with no retirement-savings plan. Fear had long ago set in, and they figured it was too late. They were stuck; they had missed their opportunity. Not true. While its true that youre better off starting at age 25 than 50, it is also true youll be better off starting at age 50 than, say, 70. Then again, 70 is a better start than 90, isnt it? The past is the past. We must stop peering at the rearview and instead look ahead toward the horizon. As long as youre still breathing, its never too late to start. Its never too early, either. Myth 2. Im too young to save for retirement. Too young? Are you insane? If youre younger than 30, you have it made! Young people, no matter your tax bracket, have a significant opportunity to become truly wealthy thanks to the power of compound interest. Someone who invests $25,000 by age 25, with a 12% rate of return, will have more than $2 million by age 65â€"even if he or she doesnt add another dollar after age 25. Conversely, if that same person waits until age 30, he or she will have to contribute more than three times as much to achieve the same outcome. The lesson? Compound interest is the best way to grow your money over the long haulâ€"so start while youre young. To visually illustrate the difference between starting at age 25 vs. 35, check out this Business Insider graph: Myth 3. I dont make enough money to save for retirement. Actually, there is no reason you shouldnt retire a millionaire. Thats right: virtually everyone, even minimum-wage earners, has the opportunity to be a millionaire when they retire. It sounds too good to be true, but the math proves otherwise: a 25-year-old who sets aside only $23 per week will retire with more than a million dollars if the money is invested properly (12% rate of return). Okay, so maybe youre not 25 anymoreâ€"me, either! Thats all rightâ€"us older folks simply need to adjust accordingly. Betterment has an investment-and-retirement calculator to help you understand exactly how much money you need to save based on your age and financial objectives. Myth 4. Inflation will hurt my retirement nest egg. This is the only myth that is partially true; however, its truth is irrelevant. While it is true $100 dollars ten years from now will probably possess less buying power than $100 today, the flip side of that coin is also true, and considerably more important: your $100 ten years from now will be worth infinitely more than your friends $0 invested. In fact, solid investments are the only way to outpace inflation. It is better to invest your $100 than keep it in a bank or under your mattress. Myth 5. Id rather spend my money on something else. When intentions are good, this excuse occasionally sounds like the most compelling reason to avoid saving for the future. True, we sometimes cling selfishly to money, using our income to purchase superfluous trinkets of ostensible success (new cars, shiny  gadgets, accoutrements of consumerism), but frequently we want to use our money to contribute beyond ourselves (charities, nonprofits, and loved-ones in need). Contributing to others is certainly admirable, and I believe giving is living, so I want you contribute generously, but Ive found the best way to help others is to help yourself firstâ€"the best way to give generously is to have more to give. Investing in yourself first helps you flex your giving muscle. Theres a reason airlines tell you to secure your own oxygen mask before helping others: if its easier to breathe, its easier to help people in need. Myth 6. The stock market isnt safe. Translation: you dont understand the stock market. Thats okay: I dont completely understand the stock market, eitherâ€"not intimately anyway (I am not a financial advisor, nor do I play one on the Internet). The only people who must have an advanced understanding of the stock markets intricacies are stock brokers, day traders, and fund managers. Rather than allocating several hours a day to learn the nuances of mutual funds, index funds, and individual stocks, I choose to use an investing service that takes the guess work out of investing. It  is true any investment introduces risk into the equation, but long-term investing in the stock market has proven to be the best way to grow your retirement savings: over the last 25 years, including 2008s steep decline and subsequent Great Recession, the market has averaged a rate of return of nearly 11%. Even when you account for 1929s Great Depression, the market has averaged greater than 9% growth over the past 100 years (source: Morningstar). Investing in the market is the most stable good-growth investment one can make in the long-term, especially when using online tools that help you outperform the market, many of which are discussed in this essay. Myth 7. I dont have enough time or knowledge to manage my retirement savings. Its true you and I will likely never have as much financial wisdom as the experts, but thats precisely why we must seek out tools developed by trusted, reputable experts. Although Im usually a do-it-yourself kind of guy, I dont DIY my investment strategy; rather, I did my research and found online investment tools that allow me to control my money without being overly controlling. I dont want to constantly scrutinize my investmentsâ€"tweaking and reacting out of fear every time the market goes up or downâ€"but I dont want to fly blind, either. Rather than flying the plane myself, I put the best possible pilot in the cockpit. Online Investment Tools I manage the vast majority of my personal finances using  Betterments online software. Of course, Betterment isnt the only game in townâ€"there are plenty of viable options: Wealthfront, Vanguard, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and a slew of others. However, when comparing Betterment vs. Wealthfront vs. Vanguard vs. Fidelity vs. Schwab vs. a bunch of other reputable online brokers, there are a handful of important reasons, according to Betterment, to choose their service: Easy to use. Because I avoid complexity, I knew whichever online-investment firm I chose, it had to be easy to use. Reputation. Betterment is the largest online automated investment service for a reason. Their portfolio is designed to achieve optimal returns at every level of risk. Through diversification, automated rebalancing, better behavior, and lower fees, Betterment customers can expect 4.3% higher returns than a typical DIY investor. No-cost setup and low fees. I am not a millionaire (at least not yet), so I cant afford to waste money on setup costs and fees. Unlike many investment firms, Betterment does not charge to sign up for their service. That is correct: its absolutely free to establish a Betterment account. Better yet, their fees are the lowest around. I remember paying 300 basis points (3.00%) to my previous  local broker, but now I pay only 15 basis points (0.15%). No, thats not a typo: fees are often 20 times lower with Betterment. This is especially relevant considering the power of compound interest. By not charging for trades or transactions, Betterment manages  their customers portfolios for far less than it would cost at even a discount brokerage; plus, their fees only get lower as your assets grow. Not only for retirement. As youll see in the following Savings Strategy section, not only do I use Betterment for my retirement planning, but I also use it to house separate accounts for my personal Safety Net, Wealth Building, and House Fund. By deferring a little money from my checking account to my Betterment account each month, I keep myself safe from spending temptations. Because my money is invested appropriately, it  grows more than it would were it sitting in checking or savings accounts. Vanguard index funds. Vanguard, a company well-known for its integrity, has been the best place to invest in high-yield index funds for nearly 40 years. What are index funds? Index funds aim to replicate the movements of an index of a specific financial market (for example, the SP 500 is a popular index), so its like investing your money in an entire index, as opposed to mutual funds, which pool money from many investors to purchase a limited number of stocks. While there is a slightly higher potential upside for mutual-fund investments, I prefer index funds because of their considerably lower fees, relative stability, and reliability. I have used Vanguard for both personal and business investments in the past, and thats one of the primary reasons I chose Betterment: Betterment is essentially a well-built storefront for Vanguard, which I trust. So, with Betterment, I get the best of Vanguard plus at least three additional Betterment benefits: Automatic  Portfolio  Rebalancing. Remember that 90s  cookware infomercial: Set it and forget it!? Well, I have very little desire to learn the mechanics of portfolio rebalancing and dividend reinvesting, but with Betterment, everything is automatedâ€"even deposits, if youd like. Once I established my Betterment account, I was able to effectively set it and forget it. Sure, I still check in quarterly to take a peek at my financial growthâ€"which is pretty cool because their web-based interface is beautifulâ€"but I know the best strategy, once everything is set up, is to let the money grow and grow and grow without fooling with it. Tax-loss harvesting.  Tax-loss harvesting is the practice of selling a security that has experienced a loss. By realizingâ€"or harvestingâ€"a loss, investors are able to offset taxes on both gains and income. The sold security is then replaced by a similar one, maintaining the optimal asset allocation and expected returns. Basically, Betterment systematically finds embedded capital losses to lower investment taxes and increase after-tax returnsâ€"and they do this for free. (Note: I logged into my account today and saw Ive had $57.89 in losses harvested in the first three months of this year.) Beautiful interface. See Easy to use above. Betterments website takes all the clunkiness out of old-time paper-trail investing. 60-second  rollovers. Rolling over a 401(k) from a former employer can help you take control of your retirementâ€"thats what I did with my old Fidelity 401(k) account: I rolled it into a Traditional IRA. Betterment offers rollovers that take less than a week on average, and they have rollover concierge available to assist you every step of the way, which made my rollover simple. (You can rollover other accounts, too: 403(b), 457(b), Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and other similar retirement accounts.) RetireGuide. Betterments optional RetireGuide feature will make recommendations for your non-Betterment 401(k) and taxable accounts, as well as recommend what kind of IRAs you should fund. You can even look at scenarios comparing whether or not social security will exist in the future, since that is a major concern for many folks (myself included). This free feature even  shows what kind of income you can withdraw during retirement. Diversity. Betterment uses years of investment research to construct a globally diversified, passive portfolio based on Modern Portfolio Theory. Their customers own exchange-traded funds (ETFs) representing up to 12 asset classes. In plain English: diversification is the key to properly managing your wealth through market upswings and downturnsâ€"Betterment provides this diversity. Free resources. For the casual investor like myself (read: non-expert), I appreciate the plethora of financial advice Betterment regularly doles out. Once I became a customer, they began sending me occasional email reminders and advice about my finances (no spam, everâ€"only helpful advice). It is the first time I can remember enjoying reading about financesâ€"because they made it easily digestible and applicable to my personal situation. Todays technology is making investing easier, safer, and simpler than ever. You used to have to hire a local broker and hope he or she had your best interests in mind. While theres nothing inherently wrong with a local-broker approach (there are many wonderful brokers out thereâ€"Ive dealt with several), Ive found that I feel more informed, more confident, more focused, and more secure with the advanced tools being made available online in todays  investment industry; plus, Im grateful to pay considerably lower fees, which helps my money grow more quickly (remember the power of compound interest). To be as transparent as possible, not only am I sharing my financial information in this article (including screenshots below), but its worth noting that The Minimalists used to be an affiliate partner for Betterment, but we opted out of that program recently because it restricted our personal ability to freely invest our money. That said, I still use Betterment to manage my money. Even though Ryan I dont have an affiliate relationship with Betterment, which means we dont receive anything for recommending their service, their firm is the place I trust most to manage my investments. If that  ever changes, Ill update my viewpoint here at TheMinimalists. 6 Tactics: JFMs Savings Strategy The best way for me to help you save for the future is to show you my recipe, that is, how I manage my own finances step by step: this way you can follow the entire recipe or select ingredients that work best for you. Strategy Overview: Of the six  tactics listed below, I use Betterment to manage the first four: Safety Net, Traditional IRA, Build Wealth, and House Fund. Here is a screenshot overview of my Betterment account five  weeks into the calendar year 2015: Now, looking at only the numbers, its easy for me to say, Wow! That guys loaded! Wellâ€"not exactly. First, if I were to retire today, $176k wouldnt be enough money because, ideally, one wants to have enough saved to live off the interest, pay taxes, and outpace inflation. Thus, if I wanted to bring home, say, $30,000 a year, Id need to have approximately $500,000 saved, earning 12% interest (2% for inflation, 4% for taxes, and the remaining 6%â€"$30,000â€"for income). And second, of course, Im not loaded. I dont view this money as my  money at all; instead, I look at it as an investment in my future self: it is my future selfs money. Im not allowed to touch it. Besides, it didnt happen overnight: Ive been investing for nearly a decade, slowly contributing a percentage of my income each month with unwavering conviction. Even when income has been low, Ive made sure to pay my(future)self first by investing in my retirement account and ensuring I have a Safety Net for emergencies. The following six tactics outline exactly how I save for the future and plan for retirement. (By the way, as Ryan and I discussed on our documentary, we certainly dont believe wealth directly correlates with a rich life; that doesnt mean having money is wrongâ€"its notâ€"it simply means money is not the primary driver for my life. But with the money I do earn, I want to invest responsibly.) Tactic 1. Safety Net.  Before planning for retirement, it is best to plan for emergencies.  Life happens, so we must create an initial Safety Net bucket containing $500â€"$1000, invested conservatively to avoid downturns in the market. Warning: do not touch this money unless there is a true emergency (e.g., car repairs, home repairs, job loss, medical bills, and other  real emergencies). In fact, this is why I keep my Safety Net in a Betterment bucket instead of in my checking or savings: by removing it from my regular bank account, Im less tempted to use that money unless its an actual emergency, plus I still have quick access to the money should I ever need it.  Over time, once you’re out of debt, your Safety Net will grow to include several months of expenses (after years of saving, my Safety Net now has a years worth of expenses and I no longer contribute to that bucket). But for now, worry only about the first $500â€"$1000 to start. Once youve built your initial Safety Net, yo u can begin piling cash into your Retirement Savings. Tactic 2. Retirement Savings (IRA). Of my four Betterment buckets, I use a Traditional IRA as my primary Retirement Savings bucket. As you can see from the screenshot below, the majority of my money is kept in a Traditional IRA, which is balanced aggressively toward stock-based index funds. As a Betterment customer, I can drill down to the individual index-fund level if I feel inclined to make adjustments to individual investments accordingly; although, in most cases, I allow Betterment to recommend the particular funds in which I should invest since they are the experts. Instead of a Traditional IRA, you  can also opt for a Roth IRA (or both if youd like). The main difference between these two types of IRAs is that Traditional IRAs contributions are pre-tax (thereby lowing your annual taxable income), while Roth IRAs contributions are after-tax (which makes them tax-free upon retirement, provided certain criteria are met). Both IRA options are available through Betterment. I chose a Traditional IRA because I rolled-over a large 401(k) from my previous employer. (Note: well address 401(k)s, SEP-IRAs, and other similar employer-based retirement accounts in Tactic 5.) Tactic 3. Build Wealth. Because the U.S. government allows people to contribute only up to a certain amount to an IRA each year, I deposit any additional retirement savings into a Build Wealth bucket, which is set with the same aggressive-growth configuration as my Traditional IRA, although the money in this bucket is invested post-tax; thus, you need only establish a Build Wealth bucket  if youve first maxed out your tax-advantaged IRA contributions. (Once you have a Betterment account, establishing new bucketsâ€"Build Wealth, Safety Net, etc.â€"is easy: just a few clicks and you have a new bucket.) Tactic 4. House Fund. One might say Im debt adverseâ€"but that is an understatement. I hate debt! From my viewpoint, after experiencing crippling debt for over a decade, there is no such thing as good debt. Sure, some debt, such as a mortgage, is better than other debts, such as, say, a creepy payday lenderâ€"but just because it is sometimes tolerable, debt is never a good thing. Hence, although Ive been a homeowner before (well, technically the bank owned the home and I paid the mortgage), I currently rent an apartment and save additional money into my House Fund bucket, which is adjusted more conservatively than my Retirement Savings and Build Wealth buckets because the House Fund bucket is ideally a shorter-term investment (fewer than five years). For some people, this bucket is a great way to amass a reasonable downpayment on a home (a 20% or greater downpayment allows the borrower to avoid pricey Private Mortgage Insurance). For me, however, this fund is there so when I decide t o finally purchase another house, I will do so in cash. As you can see, I have a long way to go, but I know it will be worth it. Tactic 5. Employer Contributions. If your employer offers an employer-matching, tax-qualified, defined-contribution pension account, such as a 401(k) (or 403(b) or 457(b) if you work for a nonprofit or government entity, respectively), then it is best to contribute to your 401(k) up to the employers matching amount. For example, if your employer matches your contributions up to 3%, then I encourage you to contribute 3% of your income because youre effectively doubling your investment immediately (if your employer doesnt match, however, then I would avoid an employer-based retirement account because there are better, more flexible options available). After the match, however, I recommend using an investment service like Betterment, or any of the others Ive mentioned, because they give considerably more flexibility, control, and guidance, and thus a greater return on your investment compared to most 401(k) plans, which are usually terribly limited. Personally, because my company is a s mall business (an LLC partnership with only a few employees), we established an SEP-IRA through Vanguardâ€"our company went to Vanguard directly because Betterment allows only individual accounts (no business accounts). Much like a 401(k), SEP-IRAs are often adopted by small business owners to provide retirement benefits similar to a pension plan for the business owners and their employees. Tactic 6. Contributing to Others. Having personal wealth is a great ideaâ€"but only if we are prepared to be responsible with our resources; otherwise, money can become a burden because money wont, as the cliche goes, buy us happiness. Sure, it will purchase myriad comforts, but comfort and happiness arent necessarily synonymous (in fact, comfort often keeps us from true happiness). Although The Minimalists had a breakthrough year last year (a bestselling book, a 100-city tour, etc.), Ryan and I decided to pay ourselves considerably less money than our business generated, opting instead to invest in other people and causes. We could do this contently only after ensuring our own financial house was in order, which enabled us to save more than 20% of our personal incomes while still contributing a considerable amountâ€"well over 20% of our business revenueâ€"to others. Giving is living: lets build wealth so we can give more and live more. 5 Investments to Avoid Whether you use my tactics or not, Id be remiss if I didnt warn you about the investments I avoid. Cash-value life insurance. Cash-value plans, such as whole-life or universal-life, are horrible investments. Life insurance should not be treated as an investmentâ€"it must be treated as what it is: insurance! If you have dependents, then yes, you need life insurance (unless you are wealthy enough to self-insure), and your best bet is always term-life insurance. Additional reading: The Truth About Life Insurance. Individual stocks. Unless you are an expert day trader, individual stocks pose too much risk to the average investor. Even if your employer offers a special rate for their stock, I wouldnt invest my money into any single stock, not even reputable stocks like Apple or Google: its simply too high-risk for my taste. I want my money to grow over time, preferring to get rich slowly over get rich quick, the latter of which usually leads to a perilous outcome. Gold, silver, and precious metals. Like individual stocks, these metals are too fraught with risk when compared to index funds. Even worse, gold and silver are  commoditiesâ€"commodity prices are often manipulated by speculation rather than supply and demand. Additional reading: The Gold Market Is Losing Its Glitter. Annuities. Variable annuitiesâ€"or any annuity for that matterâ€"are generally not a good investment, especially since there are so many other great investment options available. More often than not, annuities are rife with fees and penalties and surrender periods, not to mention low rates of return. Yuck! Low-interest-yielding investments. If youre investing for greater than five years, then low-interest-yielding investments, such as CDs, savings accounts, individual bonds, and the like, are poor investments because the interest earned usually doesnt outpace inflation. These are great options, however, if youre saving for less than twelve months because they reduce your overall risk. Invest in Yourself: 3 Tips to Get Started By this point, you should have some financial clarity and a noggin full of good ideasâ€"so dont leave the scene of a good idea without taking action! You need momentum if you want to keep going. Here are three next steps to get you on the right path todayâ€"not one day, not next Fridayâ€"but today. Investment account. Using Betterment or another online broker, set up an account today. Even if you dont have a single dollar to commit until next week or next month, thats okay. Establishing a free account is a proper first step. Start small and automate. Beginning with your next payday, automate regular deposits directly from your checking account. Start small: you wont notice a 2% pay cut. Every month or so, increase your contribution by 1%. Within a year, youll slowly ratchet up to nearly 15% of your pay, which is a great place to be. I employed this strategy in my life, slowly increasing my percentage 1% at a time, and I now save at least 20% of my income (often considerably more than 20% by making additional deposits whenever I run into additional money). Build your Safety Net first, and then start investing into your Retirement Savings bucket as soon as you have at least $500 in your Safety Net bucket. Public accountability. Once you have an investment account established, and have started contributing to it (no matter how little), share your newfound vigor with the world around you: tell a loved one, family member, or trusted coworker (someone who will congratulate you rather than judge you). If you like, you can share this article on social media or with coworkers to spark a discussion in your immediate circles. Discussing your financial objectives with other people helps you keep yourself on track. Conclusion: Best Financial Advice There is no single best way to plan for your financial future; rather, there is an entire landscape riddled with peaks and valleys you must navigate. It is my desire this how-to guide acts not as advice (which its not), but as a roadmap to help you on your journey toward a financially secure future. If you walk away from this essay with only one takeaway, I hope its this: start today. Dont let your crastination turn pro. Whether you use Betterment, Wealthfront, or your own personal broker to manage your money, the most important thing to do is get started. According to the ASPPA, the largest indicator of retiring with wealth is not your financial philosophy; its not your suit-n-tie, slick-talking broker; its not even your rate of returnâ€"the primary indicator of having money when you retire is your savings rate. Thats right: putting money awayâ€"starting todayâ€"is the best route to financial freedom during retirement. While I am not a financial advisor, it is my aspiration the financial tools and strategies shared in this article will give you the push you need to get started and feel confident in your financial future. I wish you way more than luck. Additional Reading Betterments Online Investment Tool 5 Difficult Steps Toward Financial Freedom 11 Signs You Might Be Broke 4 Thoughts About Planning for Death You May Also Enjoy How to Start a Successful Blog Today Learn how to start a blog in less than an hour. Follow the step-by-step instructions we used when starting our blog, which now has reached more than 20 million people. Creating this blog is one of the best decisions Ryan and I ever made. After all, our blog is how we earn a living. More important, it's how we add value to other people's lives. Read more 30-Day Minimalism Game Let's play a simple game together. We call it the 30-Day Minimalism Game. Find a friend, family member, or coworker who's willing to minimize their stuff with you next month. Read more 11 Ways to Write Better We are all writers now. Whether you write books, blog posts, emails, Instagram captions, or text messages, you are a writer. 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Hinduism Essay - 1375 Words

Hinduism (Essay Sample) Content: Name:Instructor:Course: Date:Hinduism The term Hinduism is used to collectively describe several religious and philosophical traditions that are native to the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism does not have a specific founder or a specific moment of origin. According to its believers, Hinduism is timeless because it has always existed. The collection of sacred texts is known as The Eternal Teaching (Sanatana Dharma) reflects the timelessness of the religious beliefs. Hinduism encompasses several interconnected religious practices and doctrines. The philosophical and religious traditions within Hinduism share some similar characteristics but they lack unified systems of practices and beliefs. Hinduism comprises various sects and sub sects with regional and local variations. A study of Hinduism reveals that even though the distinct philosophical and religious traditions within Hinduism have specific ritual traditions and theologies; they use different means to achieve a com mon purpose.Hinduism is the religion of most of the people in Nepal and India. Adherents of Hinduism are believed to be over nine hundred million worldwide. It is historically associated with other Indian religions such as Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism (Ross). Due to the diverse religious practices within Hinduism, it can be regarded as a family of religions. The main teachings of Hinduism are referred to as Vedic texts. The Veda is treated by most Hindus as the sacred scripture while the Dharma is the common system of values shared by Hindus.Hinduism is believed to have originated near the Indus River around the Indus Valley in what is modern day Pakistan. 80% of the Indian population consider themselves to be Hindu (Ross). The majority of the Hindus believe in a Supreme God whose forms and powers are represented by numerous deities. Hindus believe in a cycle of rebirth, death, and birth governed by the rules of Karma. They believe that the soul goes through a cycle of consecuti ve and successive lives and that the next stage of the souls incarnation depends on how the person has lived the previous life. Hindus celebrate several holy days but the best known holy day is Diwali, the Festival of Lights (OMalley).There are various concepts shared within Hinduism. They include: the concepts of Brahman and God, Purushartha, Karma and Samsara, Varna, Dharma, and Atman. Atman refers to the existence of the eternal self. Hindus believe in the soul or spirit which represents the essence of existence (Flood). The belief in the existence of an eternal self supports the idea of reincarnation since it is believed that the eternal self can exist in different temporary bodies. The eternal self is regarded as a spiritual being rather than a material being. The belief in an eternal self explains the strong emphasis on detachment from the material world in Hinduism, and the promotion of unique practices such as asceticism (OMalley). In the earthly world, the atman is a spirit ual being that goes through the human experience.The concept of Dharma is highly valued in Hinduism traditions. It refers to morality, virtue, and duty. It symbolizes the power which governs the society and the universe. Dharma is regarded as the universal code for righteousness which was revealed in the collective Holy Scriptures known as the Vedas (Nicholson). Dharma enables human beings to act morally and virtuously. It maintains society, makes the sun shine, and makes the grass grow. In Hinduism, acting morally does not have a similar meaning for everyone. People have different duties and obligations depending on their social position, gender, and age. Each person has a unique Dharma referred to as sva-dharma (Flood). What is correct for a child might not be correct for an adult and what is correct for a man might not be correct for a woman. Correct action is also understood in the context of serving God and humanity.The concept of Varna refers to the responsibility bestowed on a person in accordance to the stage of life and the class. The concept resulted in the establishment of a hierarchical class system. The present day caste-system in India can be attributed to the existence of the class system in classic Hinduism texts. There are four main classes in Hinduism. The Highest class consists of priests and intellectuals who are mandated with the duty of performing religious rituals (Brahmins or Brahmans) (Ross). The second class consists of warriors and nobles who traditionally have the power to rule (Kshatriya). The third class comprises of merchants and commoners who trade to earn a living (Vaishyas). The lowest class consists of workers who perform duties for the higher classes. The lowest class consisted of clerks, musicians, artists, and laborers (Shudras). People in the top classes are referred to as twice born because of the natural birth and the sacred initiation ceremonies that boys undergo to symbolize their high status (Flood, Para 10). Certai n females are also initiated.The Varna concept goes hand in hand with the Ashrama system. The Ashrama system consists of four stages and it involves mostly males (Nicholson). The first stage is the Brahmacarya stage in which celibate males study the Veda. The second stage is the Grihastha stage in which the male is permitted to go through the human experiences of sexual pleasure, wealth, and responsibility. The third stage is the Vanaprastha stage in which the high status male is expected to retire from life in the world to go on religious observances and pilgrimage in the wilderness. The fourth stage is the Samnyasa stage in which the high born male is expected to renounce the world and wear a holy robe to develop devotion (Nicholson). The Samsara and the Karma are important concepts in Hinduism. The literal meaning of the word Karma is action. It is believed that there is an equal reaction for every action. The reaction can be immediate or it can occur at some point in the future. Virtuous or good actions in accordance with Dharma attract virtuous responses or reactions. Bad actions against Dharma attract negative consequences. According to Hinduism, Karma does not only operate in the present lifetime, it operates across different lifetimes and its actions may be experienced after reincarnation (Flood). It is believed that human beings might reap the consequences of action in the present life through a future rebirth or through a hell or heavenly realm in which the rebirth of the soul takes place after a certain period of time. Samsara refers to the continuous process of reincarnation in which rebirth of the soul occurs repeatedl...