College Research Paper - How To Post Your College Research Paper Online

College Research Paper - How To Post Your College Research Paper OnlineFinding a place to post your college research paper online is a simple as typing the word 'research paper' into Google. Many of the colleges and universities you can find online already have this facility available, but even the smaller colleges may be able to assist you. Many of these places are offering a free essay service and are willing to help you complete the project.Before deciding on any college research paper services, take some time to investigate each one. Some may charge a fee, others may be a simple donation. If you're looking for a simple way to get paid for your work, check with your professor or dean first. Some college research papers may require money for supplies or equipment.If you do not have any professors or deans that can help you out, you will have to find a way to pay them a fee for their services. Just make sure that whatever service you choose has a good reputation in your school, and that it is fair and ethical.Many schools will offer certain courses that they can charge a fee for, and the course itself may require a student's own materials. For example, many doctoral programs require thesis projects where the student may need to obtain several different types of supplies.It is always better to use online resources to post your paper, and there are many places where you can find online research papers. The best thing about these online sources is that you will be able to search theses for free online, rather than spend hours hunting for them in library books or college books.These online resources are a lot more user friendly than traditional research paper sources. The computer allows for fast and easy posting and easy searching. The ease of posting means that you can save time and get your research done without putting your head between the proverbial shut door.Online resources are certainly a helpful tool in posting your college research paper online. Take so me time to look around at your local colleges and universities, and see what they can do for you. You may be surprised at what they can offer you.

The Confederate and Union War - 1127 Words

What did the Union soldiers believe they were fighting for? What did the Confederate soldiers believe they were fighting for? According to the text on a larger scale, both the Union soldiers and the Confederate soldiers had stirred feelings of patriotism while fighting the war. They both thought that when they were enlisted that it would be a short war, which wasn’t so true after all. To clearly answer the question at stake, the Union soldiers thought they were fighting to preserve the feral union. They wanted to restore what the text referred to as the shattered nation as well as invade and conquer an larger area than wester Europe. The Union soldiers actually were seemed to be favored more when in comparison with the confederate soldiers. Over 2 million men served in the Union Army. However, as the war went on and the emancipation proclamation became more popular, it was believed that the Union soldiers felt as if they were fighting for the purposes of freeing slaves. This m ade the Union want to defeat the war even more and most of them didn’t even possess any military experience. The Confederate Army on the other hand had 900,000 soldiers. There were a census of 9 million people actually living on the confederacy and 3.5 million of them were slaves. As stated above, the Confederate soldiers had a lot of feelings and anticipation towards this war. They figured that they were fighting for patriotism as well as fighting for rights. They wanted to fightShow MoreRelatedThe War Of The Union And Confederate Side During The Civil War1775 Words   |  8 PagesOne of the few newspapers to act like Switzerland received a huge amount of backlash for doing so. The Republican paper did not succumb to the Union or confederate side and instead advocated for both sides, since the two editors of the paper had different views, but the public was not pleased with this decision. â€Å"The general public deemed it weakness and ‘a sign of duplicity’ to publish articles advocating both sides of the issue and dubbed the paper ‘the swill tub’ (Sachsman, 2014, p. 53). A VirginiaRead MoreDifferences Between Union And Confederate Motives Within The Civil War Essay1705 Words   |  7 Pages Differences between Union and Confederate Motives within the Civil War The Civil War was a time of major upheaval within America. Major issues such as slavery divided the states and threw the nation in all different directions. As Abraham Lincoln was elected into the presidency in 1860, South Carolina along with 10 other southern states began seceding from the union. Their reasoning for secession included those of protecting the institution of slavery and state’s rights. TheseRead MoreThe American Civil War helped to save the nation by rejoining Union Confederate and as result of800 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Civil War helped to save the nation by rejoining Union Confederate and as result of the Emancipation Proclamation, most African American slaves were declared freed men. However, during the American Reconstruction, the lack of political unity was still very apparent as the South saw Reconstruction as being defeated humiliatingly and thus sought vengeance through the slaves it had lose. Although many slaves did receive their freed om, Reconstruction caused an increase in the white supremacyRead MoreThe Battle Of The Civil War1736 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract: As the first major battle of the Civil War the First Battle of Bull Run was an end to the illusions of a quick war and instead offered a first glimpse into the long and bloody four-year struggle the Civil War would become. In this paper the battle and its many repercussions across the political, social and military spectrum of the Union and Confederacy will be explored. Background: With the formation of the Confederate States and the outbreak of hostilities at Ft. Sumter only a few monthsRead MoreThe Battle Of The Confederate Home Front1652 Words   |  7 Pages During the American Civil War, the Confederate home front faced many challenges as the war progressed. While the soldiers of the Confederacy went off to fight in the war, daily life of the Confederacy had to continue. The Confederate community of Richmond, Virginia is an example of a Confederate community that had to continue with the grinds of everyday life. The Daily Richmond Enquirer is a great source to use to understand the events and attitudes of daily life in Richmond. During the month ofRead MoreThe Battle Of Bull Run1514 Words   |  7 Pagesof Bull Run The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 to determine whether the Union or Confederacy would survive. The fight would take place between the North, called Union states and the South, called Confederate states. The Confederate states wanted to leave the North and South union and stand on their own. The war started on April 12, 1861 when Confederate forces attacked a Union military base at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The reason the war started at this time was that AbrahamRead MoreThe Civil War : A Building Block Of The Constitution1647 Words   |  7 Pages The Civil War was a building block of the Constitution we have today. If the Civil War would not have been fought, the United States would look very different -- it would be divided, years behind in its addressing of racial issues, and certain Constitutional issues, especially involving states’ rights, would never have been resolved. After decades of heated tensions between the Northern and Southern states over state rights and federal authority, slavery and westward expansion it finally explodedRead MoreUnderstanding The Civil War1710 Words   |  7 Pages Civil War Chris Cowan HIS/155 November 11, 2015 Civil War Understanding the Civil War is very important, to understand the way America has been shaped through out the past couple of centuries. Shelby Foote, a historian, believed that the Civil War defines the people in America. The Civil War was a war involving the North (The Union) and the South (The Confederates) who had different points of view over whether or not slavery was justified. Ultimately around 600,000 Americans lost theirRead MoreThe Confederate Wins and Losses643 Words   |  3 PagesOn April 12,1865 Confederate warships bombed the union at Fort Sumter in South Carolina and this marked the beginning of one of the worst and deadliest wars fought in the world. It was a war that only lasted around four years but yet took 620,000 of our brothers, sisters, and children with it. Families were torn apart, sons had lost their fathers, mothers lost their sons, and whole towns lost every man they had to give. A war that we fought on our land, a war that made brother fight brother, kil ledRead MoreThe United States And The Civil War1565 Words   |  7 Pagesto the history of the United States and the civil war. What would our country be like if the Confederacy won the war? How would our lives be impacted and what freedoms would we have today if that were the case? What if the major Union victories were actually Confederate victories? The following is just an idea of what potentially could have happened if this were the case. There was intense fighting that occurred throughout the United and Confederate States of America ranging from Texas and as far

Community Colleges And Large Universities - 876 Words

Community colleges and large universities have a differentiation. A community college is a two-year school which provides affordable postsecondary education as a pathway to a four-year degree. A large university is an institution of higher education and research which grants academic degrees within a variety of different subjects. Many community colleges have a higher rate of graduation rates than universities. Community Colleges have some similarities but they also differ a number as well. Community Colleges and Large universities differ by : cost,class size, and degree types. Community colleges and large universities differ by cost. Community colleges are known to save tons on tuition. Community Colleges’ , tuition and fees are much lower than those at large universities. Enrolling into a community college, it enables you to achieve the same level of academic success at a fraction of the cost. When purchasing meal plans, dormitory, books, and etc. , you have the opportunity to save thousands of dollars. At four-year public institutions, the average list price for tuition and fees has risen 114 percent, to $9,410 in inflation-adjusted dollars, over the past 20 years.(Farish). If you were to enroll in a large university, then averagely you would be paying the rough estimate cost of $21,000 This price can either be estimated with or without the extra necessities. This includes, transportation as well as the things listed above. Researched on an online article, JonShow MoreRelatedHigh Education System : The United States1411 Words   |  6 Pagesset o f institutions- including public and private community colleges, liberal arts colleges, comprehensive universities, and world-renowned research universities. Every year, college students throughout the nation fall victim to theft, stalking, all forms of sexual assault, homicide, and other crimes. The law enforcement, campus officials, and legal professionals charged with identifying and dealing with violence risk at colleges and universities throughout the United States provide an importantRead MoreCollege Is A Great Feeder School For Brigham Young University848 Words   |  4 PagesUniversity or Community College. Ever since I can remember my parents told me that college was key to being successful in life. If you didn t attend a good college your life was most likely not going to be a very happy one. This message has stayed with me throughout my life , education was of great importance and college was the key factor of where you ended up in life. High school counselors, teachers, parents, and mentors all emphasized that the better the college you attend the more opportunitiesRead MoreEssay about Comparison of Universities and Community Colleges667 Words   |  3 PagesComparison of Universities and Community Colleges When you graduate high school you have your choice of what kind of an education you want to get. You have your choice of going to a 4-year university, or a 2-year college. In order to decide you will compare the two and use the comparisons to come up with your final decision. Questions to ask yourself would be, what are you looking for in college, how do you want to learn, and how much money do you have to work with. Comparing University and CommunityRead MoreCommunity College vs. University Essay559 Words   |  3 PagesAttention: Future college students, After twelve years of school, where will you go next? Many of you have developed the ambition to prolong your education and attend college. Today, there are many more options than there were in the past. One does not have to graduate high school and go straight to a four year university. It is sometimes better for a student to go to a community college and focus on transfer courses or simply get an Associate’s Degree. On the other hand, there are young adultsRead MoreGraduation Speech At Utah Valley University873 Words   |  4 PagesEver since I could remember my parents told me that college was key to being successful in life, if you didn t attend a good college your life was most likely not going to be a very happy one. This message stay throughout my life , education was of great importance and college was the key factor of where you ended up in life. High school counselors, teachers, parents, and mentors all emphasized that the better the college you attend the more o pportunities you ll have. Being a high school seniorRead MoreGroup Policy Paper For Profits Institutions1447 Words   |  6 PagesPolicy Paper—For-Profits Institutions Policy: Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010 Relevant History Higher education attainment is one important parameter of national competitiveness in today’s increasing global world. Compare to 1990, today, the rank of U.S. in the world in four-year degree attainment dropped from the 1st to the 12th. Therefore, President Obama set a new goal for the United States to be first in the world again in college attainment by 2020, in order to remain global competitiveRead MoreCommunity College: A Wiser Decision Essay988 Words   |  4 Pagesfor a better advantage in finding a job and getting a better life. Even though many people think going to a four year university directly from high school is a good idea; they are wrong. Starting out at a two year college is more affordable. Also, it helps people explore careers and prepare people to do better in four years universities later down the road. Going to four a year college directly after high school would cost a fortune amount of money. Before high school’s graduation even comes close,Read MoreLarge Universities Vs. Small Universities . To Put It Quite1335 Words   |  6 PagesLarge Universities vs. Small Universities To put it quite frankly, college searches are daunting for students, parents, and even guidance counselors. With a plethora of universities offering a vast variety of courses and degrees available, searching for one to settle down on can easily become a quagmire for some. One of the biggest decisions to be made in this situation is the size of the university. Although at first glance it may seem like a negligible detail, in fact, it can make or break aRead MoreOn Campus Housing At Community Colleges1424 Words   |  6 Pagesfocus of this paper is to dispel a common view that community colleges do not provide on-campus housing and to provide greater insights into the types of community colleges that provide on-campus housing, the typical student who resides in on-campus housing, a guide to various California community colleges that provide on-campus housing, and the impact that on-campus housing has on student learning outcomes, financial gains for community colleges that provide on -campus housing, and an overview ofRead MoreStudent Loan Debt1074 Words   |  5 Pagesinsufficient amount of guidance that is available concerning student loans. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how prospective and current college students are ill prepared in their education and understanding of student loans. Three major issues that will be outlined in this paper include the large majority of college students are no longer able to pay for college out of pocket due to the rising costs, the effect that national debt has on students degrees, and finally the lack of early financial education

Quirk free essay sample

Humans have personality quirks, something that sets them apart from the nameless masses. It was not hard for me to recognize my quirk at an early age, being different from my classmates from the very beginning. My quirk and what I would call my passion first awoke as I strived to learn how to read very early, viciously attempting to grasp at the knowledge hidden from me, seen so easily by my parents as I asked them time and time again to read for me whenever they were able. Whenever they were too busy I would sit by myself and stare at the words until over time I unraveled the mysteries of the words, becoming the youngest student among my peers able to read upon entering elementary school. Thus my school days until high school became a blur of books, but more importantly, stories. Stories, and my aptitude for them, is what I would call my quirk. We will write a custom essay sample on Quirk or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the stories I read I lost myself, living for days at a time in a world separate from my own. Leaving these worlds at the end of a book was almost always uncomfortable; closing a book and looking up, almost confused to find myself seated firmly in reality. Many times people questioned me why I enjoyed reading so much, and I often struggled to explain that in no other way could I so firmly transplant myself into another world, feeling myself in the place of the characters, feeling their emotions and seeing with their eyes. No silver-screen adaptation can match the vivid scenes fabricated by one’s own mind. Consequently, as I learned to love stories, so too I loved to become a part of stories. Part of keeping my nose buried in a book as a child was inevitably developing a slight lack of social skills and a shy demeanor. My sophomore year of high school however, I took an intro to acting class that left me stunned. Here I learned not only how to reverse my pattern of antisocial behavior but more amazing still, how to become those characters whom before I had simply possessed as some spectral extension of myself. Here I found a bridge between the worlds I lost myself in as a child and the one I found myself in outside closed books. Now I had found how to take this quirk of mine and apply it as a talent and as a student. I say love for stories is my personality quirk, and it is, but a quirk is usually a side note on a persons psyche. My quirk however, defines me and how I live my life; my story. It has helped me to educe an intense love for the world that I once only found in books; to see my fellow human beings as my fellow actors, and ultimately, to mature. Most importantly, my quirk has kept me similiar to my adolescent self, preserving a thirst for knowledge akin to that of a young child desperate to learn how to read.

Strategic Management and Great Lakes free essay sample

Which components of Barclays’ value chain have made the company successful thus far? What changes to Barclays’ organizational structure and focus are necessary for Barclays to remain competitive? 5. Create a SWOT analysis to understand Barclays’ strengths and weaknesses. Does Barclays have a sustainable competitive advantage in the retail financial services industry? If so, what is the source? 6. What kinds of challenges does Matt Barrett face in achieving buy-in from Barclays’ management to enact his proposed organizational changes? How can he approach this issue in a way that would mitigate resistance to change?Dell 1. Based on an assessment of the threats in Dells external environment, what actions are required of the company? 2. In what ways is Dells segment growth strategy likely to succeed or fail? 3. How will competitors strategies and actions impact Dells ability to achieve its growth objectives? 4. How should Dell change its business- and corporate-level strategies to enable growth and meet these challenges? Nucor 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management and Great Lakes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Perform a STEEP analysis to understand the general environment facing Nucor. How will Nucor be affected by external factors? 2. Use Porter’s Five Forces Model to analyze the steel industry in the US.Given this analysis, is the industry attractive or unattractive? 3. The steel industry is a commodity industry. Given the example of Nucor, what does it mean to be a part of a commodity industry? What are the key challenges? 4. Who are Nucor’s main competitors and how does Nucor measure up against these competitors? 5. What are the main capabilities of Nucor? Does Nucor have a core competence? 6. Create a SWOT analysis to understand Nucor’s strengths and weaknesses. Does Nucor have a sustainable competitive advantage in the steel industry? If so, what is the source?What about Nucor’s evolution and current business strategy may pose problems going forward? 7. What is the role does acquisition play in Nucor’s success or failures. What are the benefits and challenges associated with acquisitions? Do you believe that Nucor is making sound business decisions or growing too quickly? Support your beliefs with qualitative evidence and financial analysis from the case. Southwest Airlines 1. What are the key industry conditions which render profits elusive for airlines? 2. Does Southwest Airlines have a durable competitive advantage? 3.Do recent issues (such as safety violations and a labor union dispute) signal inherent weaknesses at Southwest or demonstrate the companys strength at handling threatening situations as they emerge? 4. How can Southwest achieve long-term strategic competitiveness against its rivals? 5. What strategy (or strategies) should the company use to continue its growth? 6. Is Gary Kelly the right person to head up Southwest Airlines at this time? Motorola, Inc. 1. What salient opportunities and threats exist in Motorolas external environment? 2. What are the companys most prominent strengths and weaknesses? 3.What are the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of Motorolas strategic options? 4. How can the corporations strategy and organizational structure be designed to solve the companys strategic issues? 5. How should Motorola proceed? CitiBank 1. Perform a STEEP analysis to understand the general environment facing Citibank. How will Citibank be affected by external factors? In particular what is the affect of the internet on the banking industry and Citibank? 2. Use Porter’s Five Forces Model to analyze the global online corporate banking industry. Given this analysis, is the industry attractive or unattractive? . What are the main capabilities of Citibank? Does Citibank have a core competence? 4. Create a SWOT analysis to understand Citibank’s strengths and weaknesses. Does Citibank have a sustainable competitive advantage in the banking industry? If so, what is the source? What about Citibank’s evolution and current business strategy may pose problems going forward? 5. Who are Citibank’s current customers? What opportunities are there for Citibank to reach new customers and/or increase its product offerings to existing customers? 6. What is Citibank’s e-business strategy?Why has Citibank chosen to adopt an e-business strategy? What are the benefits and challenges associated with its strategy? Do you believe that Citibank will be successful? Why or why not? Kroger, Safeway, Costco, and Whole Foods 1. What are key performance indicators (KPI’s) when evaluating compensation packages? How are they dependent on (or independent of) a firm’s strategic objectives. 2. In mature industries, like the grocery industry, how do you identify underserved segments? 3. Where in the value-chain is a firm able to significantly differentiate itself? How does that differentiation affect a firm’s appearance? . How exactly do firms within the same broad industry compete with each other? In what ways are they not competing with each othe r? 5. What opportunities for growth/expansion to firms have within a mature industry? 6. How has innovation been used effectively throughout the development of an industry? Why? Alibaba. com 1. What are the implications of the companys new ownership structure and shareholder expectations? 2. How important is a rapidly expanding domestic market in Alibaba. coms strategic assessment? 3. What are the merits of proposed changes to Alibaba. coms pricing strategy? 4.How can the company position itself competitively against B2B giant, Global Sources? Great Lakes: Great Decisions 1. Perform a STEEP analysis to understand the general environment facing Great Lakes. How will Great Lakes be affected by external factors? 2. Use Porter’s Five Forces Model to analyze the lead additives industry in the US. Given this analysis, is the industry attractive or unattractive? 3. Using the 3I’s framework determine Great Lakes’ immediate, impending and invisible competitors. How does Great Lakes measure up against these competitors? 4. What are the main capabilities of Great Lakes?Discuss the pros and cons of each. What is your recommendation for Great Lakes (justify using information from the case and after having considered alternatives)? Apple 1. What are the key strategic challenges facing Apple Computer? 2. What are some of the dimensions along which company success can be measured? 3. What critical external and internal environmental factors have strategic implications for Apples future? 4. How does Apples strategy stand up against industry rivalry? 5. What recommendations can be made to enhance the effectiveness of the companys strategy or to change its strategic approach for better results?

Understanding Convectional Rainfall

Understanding Convectional Rainfall Convectional rainfall occurs when the energy of the sun (or insolation) heats the earth’s surface and causes water to evaporate changing to water vapor. This warm, moist air then rises, and as it rises, it cools. The air reaches a point called the condensation level where it has cooled to such an extent that the water vapor condenses and turns back to a liquid form. This process of condensation high in the atmosphere leads to the development of clouds. As the clouds continue to grow the weight of the water droplets can eventually lead to precipitation. (You can see the cycle in this diagram.) Convectional Storms Convectional storms occur in many areas of the world. They are at their most severe in parts of the tropics where there is a water source and intense heating. They are also common in warm mountain areas like the European Alps in the summer. This photograph shows the towering cloud developed by strong rising air currents. This convectional storm occurred near Sydney in 2002. There was heavy rain and hail. Hailstones develop when ice particles form in the cloud. The currents of air move the particles up and down in the cloud and as this happens additional layers of ice form around the nucleus. Eventually, the hailstones become  too heavy to be kept up, and they fall to the ground. This website has some useful photographs and video clips. Convectional storms  affect people’s lives in many ways. They can present various hazards to aircraft including turbulence and freezing at high altitudes. The following is based on an extreme weather summary for south Kansas in the USA. Source: Kansas 2006 crh.noaa.gov/ict/newsletter/Spring2006.php The convective storm started when hail 5 to 10 cms diameter hit a number of rural counties. Between 6:00 and 7:00 pm, one of the super-cellular severe storms in Reno County unleashed its power and caused disastrous and tragic results. The storm produced 80-100 mph winds on its southern end which raked south and southeast Reno County. This storm then took aim at Cheney Lake and State Park. The damage at the state park was major, and included the marina, around 125 boats, 35 campers, and an unspecified number of mobile homes. One mobile home was leveled. Total damage estimated around 12.5 million dollars. Six people were injured, all of whom required transport to Wichita hospitals. One man was killed when his fishing boat was overturned. On June 30th, Southeast Kansas was hit by destructive winds and hail that reached the size of baseballs. The baseball-sized hail hit parts of Woodson County around 7:35 pm, causing around $415,000 damage to crops. As the evening progressed, the severe thunderstorms, continued to unleash 80-100 mph winds. Hardest hit was Neosho County. In Chanute, large trees were uprooted with many falling onto homes and businesses. Other homes and businesses were completely unroofed. Numerous barns and sheds were destroyed. The towns of Erie and St. Paul experienced nearly identical fates. In Erie, one home was destroyed. In St. Paul, a church steeple was completely removed. Obviously, many power lines and power poles were blown down, severing power to all three towns. This round of atmospheric mayhem was responsible for $2.873 million damage to crops and property. Another product of severe convection that drew considerable attention in 2005 was the flash flood. The first major event occurred June 8th and 9th from around 8:00 pm the evening of the 8th to the early afternoon of the 9th. Hardest hit were Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick counties. In Butler County, two families required rescues from their homes 4 miles north of Whitewater. Numerous streets were barricaded in and around El Dorado, and creeks overflowed. The most notable occurred 2 miles northeast of Elbing, where Henry Creek overflowed, closing 150th Street as well as the 150th Street Bridge. In Harvey County, widespread 12-15 inch rainfalls in approximately 10 hours resulted in evacuations in Newton, where most streets were barricaded. Perhaps the worst flooding in this event occurred in Sedgwick, where an estimated 147,515 acres of farmland were inundated totaling an estimated $1.5 million damage. In Sedgwick County, 19 homes were flooded, of which 12 were mobile homes which are particularly susceptible to storm damages. These homes were completely surrounded by flooding; which isolated their occupants from the outside world. In Mt. Hope, people required rescue from their homes. Many streets and highways were barricaded, especially across Northern Sedgwick County, where flash floods reached 6 foot depths. The flooding inundated around 75,000 acres of farmland. Total property damage was estimated at $150,000.    ACTIVITIES Study the article above. Summarize the impacts of the convectional storms in Kansas in a list.Produce an article on the Sydney hail storm in 1999. This could be done in Microsoft Word, Publisher, or PowerPoint.You can also download this lesson in PDF format here.

A Better Kind of Chance

I learned about patella alta when I was thirteen. I also learned that the condition is simply fancy medial terms for totally messed-up knee caps. While most middle-schoolers were typically taught the concepts of inertia and the Pythagorean theorem, I was showed diagram after diagram of bones and ligaments and tendons. But how bad could it be?† I asked myself as I sat in the doctor’s office, looking at the alien words and unreadable x-rays. I was only there because my knees were feeling a little sore sometimes after practice. My orthopedist spoke of dislocation, warning me of the implications of a torn ACL or meniscus, but I ignored him. I was invincible at the time, like most teenagers see themselves to be. Until I wasn’t. It was days after my fifteenth birthday that I shredded a ligament in my knee. It was a month later that I was walking into surgery to replace it. It was three hours after that when I was wheeled out, and my lens on chance focused. I realized only then, sitting in my wheelchair, that I took a chance doing what I love every day. Gearing up for a game presented dangers I had failed to recognize earlier. Lining my helmet and bat against the fence, lacing up my glove, taking a ballsy lead off first base all a game of chance. My passion for softball had overshadowed this fact. From the moment I stepped on the field to the time the last out was made, everything that wasn’t a part of the game was irrelevant, yet none of my passion mattered when I couldn’t play. I hurt myself half-way through my freshman season, meaning I would miss one-eighth of my high school career. I was devastated when I did the math, which, if you understood my relationship with fractions, took a while to formulate. Everything up to that first one-eighth orchestrated a perfect timeline: little league ball, varsity ball, and, eventually, college ball. There was no room for bad knees in my plan, and I was unprepared to make alterations, so I thought it would be easier to discard it entirely. No more softball, no more getting hurt, no more chances. Almost a year later, though, I somehow found myself at try-outs. My dad made me go. I didn’t want to be there. I didn’t want to be carried off the field again, I didn’t want to get injured again. I was every synonym of scared in the thesaurus. My knees screamed at me to leave. But I didn’t Im pretty sure I was paralyzed by fear. I stared at my dusty glove while the coaches began introductions, transfixed by the thoughts of those awful months on bed rest and memories of crutch-induced armpit aches. But I kept those incapacitated skeletons to myself, my daze broken by the cheering of my former teammates and newer recruits. My coach preached his faith in a playoff run for the Bulldogs, how he really thought the team had a chance of greatness this season. There, surrounded by my passion, I was presented with simply the opportunity of another chance. I know I took a chance putting on my uniform again in that that third-eighth of my career. Correction: I take a chance every time I do. But getting back on the field meant more to me than fear. Passion drones out urgent-care nightmares. There will always be a chance of getting hurt, but there will also be a chance of hitting a walk-off home run or winning the play-offs. I choose to believe in those kind of chances instead.