My mother, along with all of my godparents, began planning my quinceañera after i turned fourteen. my mother and aunts took me to a bridal shop where i was fitted for a long, white gown, which i would wear at the celebration. i felt my cheeks grow red with embarrassment as the women fawned and fussed over me in the store. i desperately wished that i could just find a hole to crawl into and hide, but there was no way out. my mother, who was in her glory, naturally assumed that the redness in my face was a glow of happiness. i let her go right on thinking that. it was her day, i kept telling myself. i was doing this for her. at last, the big day came. my father cooked up a special breakfast for my brothers and me first thing that morning. i had a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach, but i was somewhat comforted by my father's easygoing manner and his apparent anticipation of the celebration ahead. after breakfast, my mother me dress for the quinceañera. while she was styling my hair, she paused every so often to wipe away a tear of joy that had trickled down her face. i couldn't recall ever having seen my mother quite this happy, and suddenly my heart swelled with affection for her. two hours later, i found myself standing in the front of a church while all of my dearest friends and family members gazed up at me from the pews. as i looked out on the smiling, supportive faces of all the people i loved, i had an unexpected realization. this day wasn't for my mother after all; it was for me. the church ceremony was followed by a fiesta that lasted all day and into the night. my parents served food that they had worked for days to prepare. a disc jockey played all of the music i loved, and i was showered with beautiful gifts, practical advice, and good wishes from everyone important to me. as i watched my family members celebrate in my honor, i realized that my mexican heritage was not something intangible, like a bunch of old stories about long-gone relatives. my heritage, i realized, was very real. it was with me at all times, and i was proud of it. what type of essay is this, primarily?

What is the most important lesson wiley learns in "wiley, his mother, and the hairy man"?

Voluntourism: an opportunity too good to be true a speech to the student body of evergreen high [1] picture this: it's spring break, and you fly off to some country where there's lush rainforests and beautiful, blue coastlines to explore. there's also people in need, so you decide to blend your vacation with volunteering. volunteering as a tourist, or voluntourism, seems like a great way to explore new regions and people at the same time. however, this "volunteer plus travel" experience can actually harm local communities. while many teens might view traveling and volunteering abroad as a worthwhile adventure, there are more genuine and effective ways to make a difference. [2] most would agree that volunteering in general is a worthy use of time. however, what if you found out the children you are "" are actually being kept in poor conditions so voluntourists will spend money to come to the local area? dale rolfe, a supporter of ethical voluntourism, explains the shocking reality that "animal sanctuaries and orphanages are often manufactured for the voluntourist…encouraging a cycle of exploiting the very animals and children the volunteers are trying to ." [3] proponents of the "volunteer plus travel" experience also argue that traveling to new places builds character and is a valuable way to learn about different cultures. with voluntourism, however, participants often pursue experiences that are all about them. for example, they sign up to build a school for a gold star on their resume, but they have no real building skills and take jobs away from local construction workers (schulten). or, they arrive to teach english but instead take selfies with the locals. one world traveler and ethical voluntourist believes voluntourism "can perpetuate small minded views of the world by taking insulated, fake, and structured experiences and selling them as unabridged and eye opening" (carlos). the voluntour experience is a mirage. the voluntourist's eyes are not opened to real life at the destination, and lasting change is not achieved. [4] if you want a genuine experience where you can see a lasting impact, there are better options than voluntourism. you can volunteer in your local community. give an hour every week to your town's animal rescue. serve monthly dinners to the homeless. be a reliable, positive influence on a child who needs a mentor. studies show that volunteering and forming lasting relationships with those you has a positive impact on your physical and emotional health. in fact, blood pressure is reduced, memory is improved, and rates of depression are reduced (michaels). [5] there is another reason to look into alternatives to voluntourism. did you know the average "voluntour" travel package costs $3,400 (rolfe)? could that travel money be better spent? if the world's citizens are your passion, it could go to an international organization. if you care about education, your funds can be used to buy books for students in faraway lands. if you want villagers to have clean water, contribute funds to local efforts to dig wells. if you want to experience a different culture, travel to the country as a guest, and learn from the locals how you can best them after you've returned home. but do not voluntour. [6] in reality, there are better ways to make a difference. voluntourism might appear to be an adventure that blends travel and others, but it does little except provide a costly, superficial experience that might actually do more harm than good. so, volunteer where you are most needed-at home, where you can stay to see the job through and form genuine, lasting relationships. choose a beautiful coastline closer to home and send the travel money you saved to an international organization that will put it to good use. whatever you do, don't turn someone else's hardship into your vacation. which paragraphs address the counterclaim of the argument? paragraphs 1 and 6 paragraphs 2 and 3 paragraphs 3 and 4 paragraphs 4 and 5

Ead this excerpt from the introduction to wheels of change by sue macy. imagine a population imprisoned by their very clothing; the stiff corsets, heavy skirts, and voluminous petticoats that made it difficult to take a deep breath, let alone exercise. add to that the laws and social conventions that cemented a man's place as head of the household and holder of the purse strings. how suffocated women must have felt. and how liberated they must have been as they pedaled their wheels toward new horizons. why does the author include this excerpt?