INTRODUCTION

The theme selected for analysis is Poor Self-Image among Teenage Females in St.Kitts. My purpose for selecting this topic is to sensitize the general public about the causes and effects of female teenagers with a poor self-image. In the exposition, I examined the social ills directly associated with a persons poor self-image while for my reflective piece I detailed some causes of poor self-images of an adolescent girl and the drastic consequences that may result from the condition which helps me to develop the theme. Both strategies assisted me in achieving my general aim of heightening awareness among female teenagers of the negative consequences of this condition. Studying Applied Mathematics has allowed me to understand how a problem affecting a sample of society can consequently be detrimental to the entire population. As a future psychologist, I am aware that a poor self image can lead to mental disorders as such Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). This field of work will enable me to promote the eradication these disorders. Finally, as a female teenager I am surrounded by other females who struggle with a poor self image. This further encourages me to find ways to eliminate this problem.

PREFACE
The purpose of this piece is to encourage teenagers to have a positive selfimage as this can only assist in increasing their self-esteem. This acquired confidence can only act favorably on their mental and physical well-being. Young males, female teenagers, parents of adolescents, teachers, lecturers, professors, nurses, doctors, principals, vice-principals, youth leaders, neighbours and friends are all a part of the audience that this piece is intended towards as these groups habitually interact with teenage girls. In an effort for the story to be publically recognized, it should be posted on bulletin boards of clubs, churches and schools as well as internet websites and blogs. Furthermore, it should be printed in both local and international newspapers in order to reach a mass audience. Additionally, the piece should be read and analyzed by a panel of psychologists and psychiatrists in order for the general public to properly understand the psychological effects of this condition. It can be used in classrooms for discussions in Family Life Education classes as well as counselling sessions, youth seminars, conferences and workshops. For easy accessibility, it should be placed in libraries, which will also make it available for research on the topic.

SHORT STORY LESS THAN PERFECT.

Blood and glass painted the digits of her right hand as a result of destroying the image she had see in the mirror above the sink. The anti-depressants spilled sporadically across the counter. 1,2,5,9? How many did she take already? The room was beginning to spin as she slid to the floor. Samantha Tuckett! It tek yu so long to run a mile? Yu a hippo?

She was the final player to cross the finish line of their one mile warm up. The other players had all finished at least four minutes before, which dampened immediately her spirits and her pace reduced to a slow trod. Persons were partnered but she was the slowest, and no one wanted to be kept back. Her Coach continued to scream. Yu olda sister Danielle use to run a mile in six minute! Yu more than double she time!

Her greatest efforts were always over shadowed by Danielle.

Well she de size a two Danielle!! a voice in the crowd bellowed.

The entire team began laughing and her cheeks burned from embarrassment. She quickly fabricated a story of forgetting that she had to babysit her cousin, and walked out of the school gym with tears streaming down her face.

Joining teams does help people make frien.. You need to get off of de couch and lose some weight Samantha. How you expect to make friends or a boyfriend at your size?

Yeah, fantastic idea huh dad?

When she first joined the team, Coach Tucker was ecstatic. Her sister, Danielle, had won them the Regional Championship and Having another player with the same genes is the best thing I could ever ask for, he said. It was apparent after two weeks of practice that she was no Danielle though, and Coach Tucker did everything he could to remind of her that fact.

She walked through the dark foyer; she was the first one home because her mother, father, and sister went for ice cream on Thursdays. She was hardly invited, and on the rare occasions when she was, she was commanded to have frozen yogurt. Its better for your health Sam. Ice cream is too fattening for you.

Samantha walked upstairs and went into the bathroom, a picture of Danielle always greeted her. It was positioned next to the mirror and served as a constant reminder

that she was not the beautiful and successful daughter. She opened the medicine cabinet and looked at the pills inside, sighed then slammed the door.

The next day, Samantha skipped basketball practice and went home immediately after school. After preparing a snack, she sat on the couch to view television. After a few minutes, her sister and her father returned home. Sam, why yu home Wha happen to basketball practice? her dad asked I didnt feel like going today Dad, I just Samantha started Yu just felt like sittin on the couch and getting fat. Her sister injected. You think your sister ever skipped practice? Thats why she was named MVP of the league her father added I am not Danielle Samantha answered Not like you cu be Danielle retorted while rolling her eyes

Her mother came from the kitchen and said, Oh, honey, your report card came in the mail today.

Samantha jumped up from the couch. Scholastics, the one thing I excel in.
English History Geography Spanish Physics Chemistry 97 91 89 76 87 90

Great Semesters Performance

Satisfactory

Good Job Samantha

Can do better Excellent Ms. Tuckett A good terms work

Biology Math

85 92

Satisfactory Samantha Excellent

Wow mom! I did so much better than I thought I would! I even got 76 in Spanish! Thats fourteen more points than I had last term! I am so Disappointed her mother interrupted. What? Samantha answered dejectedly. How do you expect to enter an Ivy League college with a 76? Spanish has never been my strong point. she mumbled. That doesnt matter, Im awfully disappointed Samantha, her mother said walking away.

Maybe I can call Mrs. Lopez and ask her about my grade. Samantha dialed her Spanish teachers number. Good night Mrs.Lopez, Im calling about my grade. I saw I received a 76% but I thought I would have received higher. Can you clarify this for me? Samantha asked. Samantha, Im not sure if Spanish is a subject you should be doing, you seem to be struggling remarkably. Mrs. Lopez replied Your classmates all received grades of 80s and 90s. I understand that Mrs. Lopez but Im really trying to improve. Samantha, she sighed, Im cutting you from the programme. Im sorry, but your grades have constantly been below average. Good night

The phone line malfunctioned. Samantha couldnt breathe.

A panic attack over took her body. Im horrible at basketball; Im constantly compared to my sister who surpasses me in everything. And now, Im obviously an idiot if Im being cut from a subject.

She ran to the bathroom and looked at the mirror, and the picture next to the mirror. She searched the cabinet.

Blood and glass painted the digits of her right hand as a result of destroying the image she had seen in the mirror above the sink. The anti-depressants spilled sporadically across the counter. 1,2,5,9? How many did she take already? The room was beginning to spin as she slid to the floor.

ANALYSIS
The communicative behaviours and dialectal variations apparent in Less than Perfect have been chosen to be analyzed. Vocalics are highlighted when her coach continued to scream. This reveals his impatience which leads to his frustration as she takes quite a long time to complete the one-mile warm-up lap. The voice in the crowd which bellowed is that of a teammate which signifies the derision hurled at her. . When coach Tucker becomes ecstatic he says Having another player with the same genes is the best thing I could ever ask for he uses Kittitian Standard of the acrolect variety. However he switches the language code and uses Kittitian English Creole of the basilect variety. Tears are the sign of embarrassment she experienced after she was ridiculed by the team. When Samantha sighed, she felt inferior as she is constantly compared to her sister. When Danielle rolls her eyes she proves that she indeed believes that Samantha is inferior to her. Dialectal variations are used by the characters in the story Samantha mumbled as she was totally ashamed of the criticisms leveled at her because of her performance in Spanish while laughing states that she was belittled by the team Samantha Tuckett, it tek you so long to run a mile?. The word tek is incorrectly spelt. The vowel a is replaced by the vowel e and the final e is omitted. The vowel o is omitted in the word yu. When he continues Yu a hippo? the indefinite article a is used for the predicate, that is, the verb are. When the voice in the crowd bellowed Well she a de size a two Danielle the replacement of th for d is apparent. Additionally, there is the omission of the verb is and the indefinite article a replaces the preposition of. There is also the non-inflection of the proper noun Danielle