Chromium Induced Toxicity Research

Chromium Induced Toxicity Research Unique In the current examination, we estimate that cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative pressure assume a key job in chromium initiated poisonousness in SISS, SISK, IEE, IEK, IEG, SICH and ICG cell lines when uncovered for 24 h. Intense harmfulness tests were directed on three fish species to be specific L. calcarifer, E. suratensis and C. catla by presenting them to various focus (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg/L) of chromium for 96 h under static conditions and the LC50 was determined. The rate cell endurance was surveyed by various endpoints, for example, MTT, NR, AB and CB examines were acted in seven fish cell lines presented to various centralizations of chromium and EC50 estimations of all the four endpoints was determined. Straight relationships between's each in vitro cytotoxicity examine and the in vivo mortality information were exceptionally critical. Infinitesimal assessment of cell morphology demonstrated cell shrinkage, cell separation, vacuolations and cell growing at most noteworthy centralization of chromium (50mg/L). The DNA harm and atomic discontinuity were surveyed by comet measure and Hoechst recoloring, in seven fish lines presented to various convergences of chromium. The aftereffect of cancer prevention agent boundary acquired show essentially diminished catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GSH) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and expanded degree of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in all the cell lines after presentation to expanding chromium in a fixation subordinate way. This outcomes demonstrates that fish cell lines could be utilized as an option in contrast to entire fish utilizing cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative pressure appraisal after introduction to chromium. Catchphrases: Fish cell lines, Chromium, Cytotoxicity, Genotoxicity, Oxidative pressure 1. Presentation Substantial metal contamination of water is a genuine natural issue confronting the cutting edge world. At worldwide level substantial metals contamination is expanding in the earth because of increment in number of enterprises (Chidambaram et al. 2009). Mechanical effluents are released into the sewage trenches, streams and water system water, causing significant contamination and wellbeing risks (Baddesha and Rao 1986). Numerous modern wastewaters contain overwhelming metals like cadmium, lead, zinc, cobalt and chromium. The harmful substantial metals are for the most part consumed and get collected in different plant parts as free metals which may antagonistically influence the plant development and digestion (Barman and Lal 1994). People and steers are seriously influenced when these metals are joined into natural pecking order as it causes bronchitis and disease (Khasim et al. 1989; McGrath and Smith 1990; Nath et al. 2005). Among substantial metals, chromium assumes a significa nt job in dirtying our amphibian condition framework. In nature chromium happens predominately in two valances Cr (III) and Cr (VI). Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] prevails over the Cr (III) structure in common waters. Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] particulates enter the sea-going medium through effluents released from cowhide tanning, materials, chrome electroplating, metal completing the process of, coloring and printing enterprises and a few different ventures. The Cr (VI) infiltrates natural films effectively and causes cell harm by oxidative pressure (Irwin et al. 1997; Begum et al. 2006), its unselective introduction may present genuine impact on amphibian networks including fish. Harmful impacts of Cr(VI) on enzymological/biochemical (Al-Akel and Shamsi 1996; Vutukuru et al. 2007; Oner et al. 2008), hematological (Gautam and Gupta 1989; Al-Akel and Shamsi 1996), immunological (Prabakaran et al. 2007) boundaries, endocrine harmfulness (Mishra and Mohanty 2009) and genotoxicity (Chen et al. 2011) have been accounted for in numerous teleosts angles. In ecological hazard evaluation, a great part of the poisonousness test on fish has included the utilization of lethality as the endpoint. Then again, in vivo bioassay is costly and requires gigantic amount of toxicant. The presentation time is just 24 h as restricted 96 h in bioassay, which could decrease the expense of work, lab offices and test time however more critically permit choices to be made all the more quickly. By the by, poisonousness testing with fish is a basic piece of ecological hazard evaluation techniques (Castano et al. 2003). For every one of these contemplations, the turn of events and utilization of in vitro tests that could gauge beginning times of harmfulness in vertebrates speak to a methodology that could be extremely helpful to checking natural hazard evaluation (Walker 1999). In the course of the most recent four decades, cell and tissue culture techniques have been refined and have now become a basic device in ecological examination. There are a ton of m oral, logical and prudent reasons that help the improvement of in vitro techniques for use in ecotoxicology (Castano and Gomez-Lechon 2005; Bols et al. 2005; Schirmer, 2006; Fent 2007; Taju et al. 2012, 2013, 2014). The utilization of fish cell lines in natural toxicology has been explored and decidedly evaluated principally with respect to cytotoxicity (Babich and Borenfreund 1991; Castano et al. 2003; Fent 2001). Cytotoxicity evaluations can be promptly utilized to look at various endpoints, including estimations of cell demise (apoptosis), cell suitability, cell morphology, cell digestion, cell connection/separation, cell layer porousness, multiplication, development energy, genotoxicity and oxidative pressure (Maracine and Segner 1998; Li and Zhang 2002; Shuilleabhain et al. 2004; Taju et al. 2014). In the current examination, three fish species from three diverse sea-going conditions, Lates calcarifer (Marine), Etroplus suratensis (Brackishwater) and catla (freshwater) were chosen as agents of their separate surroundings to read their appropriateness for intense harmfulness test to assess the expected danger of chromium (Cr). They are fantastic food angles with a decent market request in India, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Pakistan. A few endeavors were made to concentrate in vivo intense poisonousness in Sea bass, Etroplus and Catla utilizing different toxicants (Chezhian et al. 2010; Azmat and Javed 2011, 2012; Bhat et al. 2012; Taju et al. 2012, 2013). The seven fish cell lines to be specific SISK and SISS cell lines got from L. calcarifer (Sahul Hameed et al. 2006; Parameshwaran et al. 2006b), SICH and ICG cell lines got from C. catla (Ishaq Ahmed et al. 2009b; Taju et al. 2014), and IEE, IEK and IEG cell lines got from E. suratensis (Sarath Babu et al. 2012) were utilized as i n vitro examines to assess the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative pressure presented to chromium. The consequences of in vitro cytotoxicity were contrasted and the aftereffects of in vivo intense harmfulness test utilizing fish. The utilization of these cell lines for harmfulness evaluation of chromium as opposed to living fish is suggested. 2. Material and techniques 2.1. Synthetic substances and reagents Tissue culture media and synthetic substances were gotten from GIBCO (Invitrogen Corporation, USA). Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), EDTA, Trichloroacetic corrosive, DTNB [5,5-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)], Thiobarbituric corrosive, Hydrogen peroxide, Nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT), Riboflavin, Hydroxylamine-HCl, Triton X-100, Ethidium bromide, Methanol, Acetic corrosive, Sodium chloride, Sodium hydroxide and Coomassie Blue was bought from SRL synthetic substances, India. 2.2. Assortment of trial creatures Lates calcarifer and Etroplus suratensis were gathered from Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai. Catla was gathered from a neighborhood lake in Walajapet, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India. The exploratory fishes were 2 3 g in body weight. Examples were shipped live in oxygen sacks or containers to the research center, acclimatized and kept up for 20-30 days in a saltiness scope of 5-10 ppt for E. suratensis, 20-25 ppt for L. calcarifer and in freshwater on account of C. catla (23-28oC) under a surrounding photoperiod in the research facility for 10 days preceding examinations. The fish were taken care of with business pellet feed two times every day and starved for 24 h previously and during the examinations. 2.3. In vivo fish intense poisonousness test Fish intense poisonousness tests were led by uncovering E. suratensis, L. calcarifer and C. catla (N = 10 for every aquarium) for 96 h to chromium under static conditions (OECD 203, 1992). Five distinct fixations chromium i.e., 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg/L weakened with seawater (5 ppt) and freshwater while control with ocean water and freshwater alone were tried to decide the LC50 (focus at which half of the fish populace kicks the bucket). The aquaria had a working volume of 30 lit dependent on the body weight of fishes (1 g fish/L). Dead fishes were tallied and expelled promptly consistently. All the tests were led in triplicates. Mortalities were recorded after the rule for fish intense poisonousness OECD 203 (1992). 2.4. Fish Cell lines An aggregate of seven cell lines built up from various organs of L. calcarifer (SISS-seabass spleen, SISK-kidney), E. suratensis (IEE Etroplus eye, IEG gill, IEK kidney) and C. catla (SICH Catla heart, ICG gill) were tried for their sensitivities to chromium. These fish cell lines were spread at 28oC in Leibovitzs L-15 medium (pH 7.0 - 7.4) with 2mM L-glutamine, 10% fetal cow-like serum (FBS), penicillin 100 IU/ml and streptomycin 100 Ââ µg/ml. The osmolarity extended from 300 to 360 mOsm kg-1. These cells were sub-refined each 2-3 days utilizing standard system. Cells at exponential development stage were reaped and utilized for in vitro cytotoxicity tests. 2.5. In vitro cytotoxicity measure utilizing fish-determined cell lines SISS, SISK, IEE, IEK, IEG, SICH and ICG cells at exponential development stage were gathered and weakened to a centralization of 105 cells/ml in Leibovitzs L-15 medium with 10% FBS. After tumult, the cells were added to each well of 96-well tissue culture plates at the centralization of 2 x 104/well and brooded for the time being at 28oC. After hatching, the medium was expelled and the cells were re-taken care of with medium c

Develope a research plan for this topic = Risk factors for Proposal

Develope an arrangement for this theme = Risk factors for Helicobacter pylori Infections among occupants in a Native American settlement - Research Proposal Example Presumptions, Limitations and Delimitations: As the pace of H. pylori seropositivity enlarges with age, 78% of the occupants around 14 years showed seropositivity. Complete follow up of the whole populace is beyond the realm of imagination so the populace is portioned and standard follow up will be kept up in the momentum inquire about. Rundown: Regular follow up is fundamental to show the specific time of getting H. pylori contamination. Noteworthy contrast is seen in the seroprevalence of different ethnic networks, in this manner populace is isolated right from the earliest starting point of the investigation. Reports set up that the predominance of contamination is high in kids so the examination is led for the youngsters underneath 20 years. Future Implications: The outcomes secured from the examination will be factually inspected and will be contrasted and the current discoveries. This is unquestionably going to be a stage to reduce iron lack weakness and anticipation of H. pylori contamination at prior age. Commitment to social change: The examination will help in the avoidance of H. pylori disease at the previous age. It is a push to find the pervasiveness of H. pylori disease in a specific network, in a specific age, beginning of contamination and its connection with the iron lack sickliness. In this way it is a commitment towards the social upliftment of the Alaska people group. Parkinson, A.J., Benjamin, D. G., Bulkow, L., Wainwright, R.B., Swaminathan, B., Khanna, B., Peterson, K.M., Fitzgerald, M. A. (2000). High predominance of Helicobacter pylori in Alaska Native Population and Association with Low Serum Ferritin Levels in Young Adults. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 7(6),

Buffalo

Buffalo Buffalo, city (1990 pop. 328,123), seat of Erie co., W N.Y., on Lake Erie and the Niagara and Buffalo rivers; inc. 1832. With more than 37 mi (60 km) of waterfront, it is a major commercial and industrial port and railroad hub. Buffalo is a diversified manufacturing and financial center, with a large health-care industry. In 1803 a village was laid out on the site by Joseph Ellicott for the Holland Land Company . Almost destroyed by fire (1813) in the War of 1812, it recovered slowly until the opening (1825) of the Erie Canal , after which it became a major Great Lakes port. The city developed as a flour-milling center and later thrived on steel milling, automobile and locomotive manufacturing, and other heavy industries. These all fell into decline, however, and by the 1980s Buffalo had lost its traditional economic base. The area has since benefited from the free trade agreement (1988) between the United States and Canada, attracting Canadian investment in real estate and manuf acturing, but the city's population has continued the decline that began after World War II. By 2003 the decline led to a city financial crisis, and the state established an oversight authority to restore the city to fiscal health. Buffalo's educational institutions include the State Univ. of New York (the city's largest employer), with campuses at Buffalo and suburban Amherst; Canisius College; and D'Youville College. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery and Buffalo Museum of Science are well known. Notable buildings include the city hall (1932) and the Guaranty Building (1895â€"96; formerly the Prudential Building), designed by Louis Sullivan . Buffalo has a music hall and a philharmonic orchestra and a noted park system created by F. L. Olmsted . The city is home to the National Hockey League's Sabres, and the National Football League's Buffalo Bills play in nearby Orchard Park. The Peace Bridge (1927) connects Buffalo with Fort Erie, Ont. Grover Cleveland became mayor of Buffal o in 1882. Here in 1901, at the Pan-American Exposition, President McKinley was assassinated; Theodore Roosevelt took the presidential oath in Buffalo. The McKinley monument and the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site (see National Parks and Monuments (table)) commemorate the two events. Millard Fillmore 's home was in Buffalo. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. Political Geography

Argumentative Essay on Gay marriage - 672 Words

â€Å"Gay People can’t do this. Women shouldn’t be able to that. But touch my semiautomatic rifle and you’re attacking my rights.†- Remi Kanazi Why should someones rights to marry be based on a person religious beliefs or their own opinion on family values. Gay Marriage: If they like they should be able to put a ring on it. Same sex couples should be allowed to publicly celebrate their relationship in the same way as heterosexual couples. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation states that many same sex couples want the right to legally marry and honor their relationship in the greatest way our society has to offer.... Also same couples should have access to the same benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. Many benefits are only†¦show more content†¦A study published on Apr. 13, 2009 in Social Science Quarterly found that laws permitting same sex marriage or civil unions have no adverse effect on marriage, divorce, and abortion rates, or even the percent of children born out of wedlock. And also gay marriage legalization is correlated with lower divorce rates, while the ban on gay marriages are correlated with higher divorce rates. Studies shown that Massachusetts, which became the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2004, had the lowest divorce rate in the country in 2008. Its divor ce rate declined 21% between 2003 and 2008. Alaska, which altered its constitution to prohibit gay marriage in 1998, saw a 17.2% increase in its divorce rate. The seven states with the highest divorce rates between 2003 and 2008 all had constitutional prohibitions to gay marriage. If the reason for marriage is strictly reproduction, infertile couples would not be allowed to marry. Ability to create offspring has never been a qualification for marriage. George Washington, often referred to as the Father of Our Country,† did not have children with his wife Martha Custis. Also there are plenty of children in foster homes waiting to be adopted by couples it should not matter if they couple is gay. As long as the couple is financially sound and has a good household environment there should be no problem with adopting kids. It shouldn’t matter if a child has 2 mothers or 2 fathers a familyShow MoreRelatedArgumentative Essay on Gay Marriage842 Words   |  3 PagesKing Grammar and Composition lesson 75 Argumentative Essay on Gay Marriage Marriage is the ceremonial binding of two people, male and female, into one couple. Historically, marriage has been the institution when a man and a woman join together with the promise of love, devotion, to always stay together, to be there for each other, to take care of one another and to start a family together. Biblically, marriage has been all the aspects above, but including honoring, lovingRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Gay Marriage866 Words   |  4 Pagesshare their life with. Gay marriage should be legal and a non-punishable offense because it can prevent teenage suicides, more children will be adopted, and people will not feel like second-class citizens. If humanity were to accept gay marriage, it would lower and prevent some teen suicides. Most teens are deciding and revealing their true colors in middle and high school. â€Å"The number of suicide attempts among high school students decreased in states where same-sex marriage was legal. The findingsRead MoreShould Gays Be Allowed to Marry1476 Words   |  6 PagesThe Prusuit of Happiness! Should gays be allowed to marry? Stacey Dockery PHI103: Informal Logic (GSJ1231E) Instructor Name: Daniel Beteta September 3, 2012 Argumentative Essay on Gay Marriage Marriage: a legally recognized relationship, established by civil or religious ceremony, between two people who intend to live together as sexual and domestic partners. Typically this is between a man and a woman, in love, as they come before their families, to pledge to spend the rest of their lives togetherRead MoreArgumentative Essay About Same Sex Marriage822 Words   |  4 PagesThis Argumentative essay will discuss about the argument of same sex marriage. The contents are: meaning, brief background and thesis statement for the Introduction; for the Body of the discussion is the counter argument; and for the conclusion part: the summary and the restatement of the thesis statement. Same Sex Marriage also known as  gay marriage  or  equal marriage it is marriage between two persons of the same  biological sex  or  gender identity. In the 20th and 21st centuries variousRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Gay Marriage1370 Words   |  6 PagesThe Pros and Cons of Gay Marriage LP 3: Argumentative Essay Patty Waters NAU Composition II Sue Cochran, Instructor Sunday, March 24, 2013 Abstract This essay covers the pros and cons concerning gay marriage. You will discover some new laws and amendments that are about to happen in our country, and some things that people are against. There are many issues that will be covered from rights and benefits to getting married legally. You will read reports, stories and articles from lawyersRead MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Legalized?1313 Words   |  6 PagesShould gay marriage be legalized? Marriage is considered to be the rite of passage from an religious point of view, it is considered as holy matrimony before the eyes of God. Attraction between individuals of the same sex has been a topic of debate. However, over the past few years gay individuals made a decision to our grievances of oppression despite receiving tremendous critics from the public. Initially, gay marriages wereRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legalized1379 Words   |  6 PagesName: Tutor: Course: Date: Gay Marriages Marriage is considered as hypothetically speaking, a rite of passage whilst from the religious point of view, it is considered as holy matrimony before a supreme being. Attraction between individuals of the same sex has been a topic of debate since time immemorial. However, over the past few years gay individuals have opted to air grievances of oppression despite receiving tremendous critics from the public. Initially, gay marriages were unfathomable eventsRead MoreA Brief Note On Sociological Factors On Clients1666 Words   |  7 PagesSERVICES ASSESSMENT A – ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ~ Australia’s social inclusion policy and its failure to support all minorities, specifically same-sex couples King (cited in Australian Marriage Equality, 2015) stated â€Å"When any society says that I cannot marry a certain person, that society has cut off a segment of my freedom†. This quote from Martin Luther King Jr is as applicable today to legalising same-sex marriage as it was to the civil rights movement and inter-racial marriage over half a centuryRead MoreWhy Same Sex Marriage Should Be Legal Everywhere1415 Words   |  6 PagesJuly 2015 Why Same Sex Marriage Should be Legal Everywhere If two people are happy with one another, they should be allowed to be together. Someone’s sex does not determine whom they can and cannot marry. The only difference between what we consider a ‘normal’ marriage and a gay marriage is simply by the genitalia that we have and the gender we identify as. We need to stop focusing on the gender of couples and start focusing on the love that they share. Same sex marriage should be legal everywhereRead MoreRhetorical Essay : Donald Trump V. S. Hilary Clinton1295 Words   |  6 PagesEvaluative Argumentative Essay Donald Trump V. S. Hilary Clinton In the history of The United States of America there have been 44 presidencies. The current election is showing many promising candidates and of them two have made a rather large name for themselves, Donald Trump for the Republican Party and Hilary Clinton for the Democratic Party. When discussing these candidates, although both have their respective positives and negatives, I believe Donald Trump to be the better candidate for

Problems And Challenges Of Poverty - 1595 Words

PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES OF POVERTY IN SASKATCHEWAN Literally, poverty is a condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor1. It is a multi-faceted issue that include problems regarding income, cost-of-living, health and social cohesion1. Poverty affects multiple group of persons in the society and no one is immune to its consequences. Overtime, there has been a strong association between poverty and many health conditions such as chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease), injuries, stress, anxiety, depression, and untimely deaths2. In Saskatchewan, poverty still remains a menace despite the provincial economic growth over the years. This improvement in the economy of the province has not been†¦show more content†¦The poverty rate among single mothers was 36.8% in 20106 while people with disabilities faces 53% higher unemployment rates than people without disabilities7. Poverty cost the government of Saskatchewan $3.8 billion in heightened service use and missed opportunities in 20108. It also resulted in more spending on the criminal justice system. This spending was increased by $50 to $120 million a year compared to the previous year9. Poverty in Saskatchewan is a socio-economic problem resulting from sustained low levels of income for vulnerable residents of the province and lack of access to services like safe and affordable housing, education and health care. PUBLIC HEALTH CONCEPTS UNDERLYING POVERTY IN SASKATCHEWAN There are various public health concepts underlying poverty in Saskatchewan and they include inequality, social exclusion, education, unemployment and income income distribution. All these concepts work together to reduce opportunities, limit choices, undermine hope, and, as a result, threaten health2. Poverty and inequality are two separate entities, however inequality can feed widespread poverty by hindering vulnerable individuals with lower socio-economic status from accessing the tools and resources needed to support themselves in the society. Since 2000, there has been an increasing huge income disparity in Saskatchewan hence, resulting in a wide gap between the richest and poorest families3. Poor education especially in northern Saskatchewan often

The s Theory Of The Tripartite Soul And Sigmund Freud s...

Moral Compass Navigation helps individuals arrive to a given destination, but the human life also requires of such navigation. Some individuals unconsciously seek directions when challenged with a given issue and know which way to steer because of their moral compass. Furthermore, the moral compass is the soul that guides the personal self, but it is also the non-material aspect of a human being that is immortal. Although, the soul’s existence is in question, there is evidence that validates that the soul is real. Such evidence includes Plato’s theory of the tripartite soul and Sigmund Freud’s psychodynamic theory, which reevaluates Plato’s theory. Both theories address that the soul’s existence is the personality of a human being. On the other hand, many critics claim that the soul does not exist since it is beyond our knowledge; therefore we cannot demonstrate such existence. Hume a philosopher during the Enlightenment affirms this claim under the branch of empiricism, which states that true knowledge, arises from our five senses: touch, smell, sight, taste, and hearing. Therefore, to determine if something exists at least one or all of the senses have to be applied since the material aspects of something demonstrates its existence. Moreover, the reasoning behind empiricism is an addition to Hume’s theory of sense perception. The theory is composed of two elements, which are impressions and ideas. Impressions are immediate sensations or perceptions such as touch or

Steppingstone free essay sample

The summer before freshman year was a difficult one as I watched friends plan for their first days at a new school, knowing I wouldnt be joining them. They had been allowed to choose their high school and decided on one that was close by and full of average kids like me. More than half our eighth-grade class would attend there. My choice, on the other hand, had been made for me, and I was not very pleased about it. The school my parents had chosen was in the richer section of town, and we were definitely not rich. I was incredibly nervous, but decided to make the best of it and prove that I could be one of them. My best friend and I spent the entire month of August shopping for appropriate high-school attire. I wanted to shed my signature tomboy look and go for something a little more adult. We will write a custom essay sample on Steppingstone or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I concentrated on buying black and khaki pants rather than sweat pants and jeans. I traded T-shirts for collared shirts and hoodies for sweaters. I gathered fashion tips from my older sister, who already went to my school, and though I couldnt afford brand names I found some great knock-offs at killer prices. My best friend tried to make me feel better (as best friends do) by reminding me I was making a fresh start with new people who couldnt be that bad. After all, I would be spending the next four years of my life there. As the first day approached, I was ready to make a good first impression. Waking up had never been so hard as when my alarm went off that first morning. I hopped in the shower, straightened my hair, and put on one of my new outfits. Looking in the mirror, I saw a woman. I was no longer a little middle-school girl but a high-school freshman. I emerged from my room and practiced walking in my new boots. I wanted to approach school with confidence, not fear. I looked at the clock 6:45, time to go. I picked up my book bag and, with one last glance in the mirror, braced myself for the day. Whatever confidence I had began slipping away as my bus struggled toward the school. Lines of BMWs, Lexuses and Mercedes glided out of the parking lot as my bus putt-putted in. I looked at the kids all in groups, hugging and giggling, so comfortable and carefree. Stepping off the bus, I searched desperately for a familiar face. At a school where brand names will make or break you, they smelled my knock-offs as soon as my feet touched the ground. Had it been only an hour before that I had looked at myself with pride? I flushed with embarrassment as I made the long walk to the auditorium. I only wanted to be accepted, not known as the girl from the ghetto who tried to fit in, but the looks I got let me know I was now indeed that girl. Inside the auditorium was even worse than the parking lot. Many of the girls wore dresses and some of the guys were wearing ties! I felt put in my place as I sat alone during the orientation. I remember thinking I would never survive that year, let alone four. I made a whopping total of four friends that year, and none of us were rich. I thought of myself as a dork, and I know most of the other kids did, too. I did my work since I didnt have anyone to talk to and I didnt eat lunch because I rarely had anyone to sit with. I tried to talk with kids and join their conversations, but even when they were nice enough to let me listen, I still didnt fit. They all had a certain air, and talked to me as if I were inferior, which drove me crazy. I was pretty depressed that year, and baffled: what had I done wrong? Because my parents didnt make as much money as theirs, did that mean I wasnt good enough? It made no sense. Why should money determine how we judge one another? It took me almost half of freshman year to realize there was nothing wrong with me. And even though I spent most of the time eating lunch alone and sitting alone during class, it didnt bother me as much. I may have had only four friends and lived in the ghetto, but really I was one of the richest people in school. I had a strong head on my shoulders, I knew where I was going, and I knew what I had to do to get there. I had one of the highest GPAs Id ever gotten and discovered a lot about myself. High school is an important steppingstone, and my future will include college not a fashion show. As for my friends? Theyre real. Everyone in that school talked about each other, and when they judged each other materialistically, they only cheated themselves. Money doesnt determine your worth and your self-worth isnt determined by others: it is determined by you. I did end up changing schools, be-cause I needed a more positive environment, but I honestly feel I am a better person because of that year. It takes some people all of high school to figure out who they really are, but it only took me half a year. Now I am a senior at the high school I originally wanted to attend, and have met some really great people. But, no matter what, I know who I am and where I am going. No one can take that away.