Personal Reflection

On 08/20/2017 at 1002 hours FTO Wheeler #4361 and I responded to St. Luke’s Hospital emergency room entrance, on 3555 Cesar Chavez St., regarding a women in a hospital gown trying to break the caller’s vehicle window with a brick. Officer Wheeler and I were in full police uniform driving a marked patrol unit when we responded.

As a child, my parents had always pushed me to reach for my goals and go to school. My mom always made me promise to her, she didn’t care if I got married or had kids, but that I received a degree. And that’s exactly what I did. During my high school years, I dabbled with different subjects to figure out what I would enjoy doing the most as I got older. I believe happiness overcomes money. I would rather be happy than make a million dollars every year. So I sought to find a career that would make me happy. I landed on the medical field. Seeing people in misery shatters me, therefore I chose a career that would help me try and make a difference. I also chose this field to help my mother and provide her with the care she needs. My mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008. After seeing this disease have negative tolls in her life, I promised myself I would always be there to help her in whatever way I can. My mother has always guided me and supported me through all my ups and downs in life, and without her I wouldn’t be up here right

This reflection will discuss personal diffidence and how it has influenced my academic studies, including my practice within placement settings. Gibbs reflective cycle (Gibbs, 1998) has been utilised as it illustrates a clear structure for the process of reflection. To conclude this reflection will draw together the themes which have emerged and highlight a clear action for future learning that will be used in order to enhance my future practice.

Henry David Thoreau once said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Ever since I was young, I have repetitively told myself this for my everyday future. Being a senior stepping into the real world in just a few months is intimidating, but a challenge that I am more than ready to face head on. In this upcoming fall, I will be attending The University of South Dakota striving for a bachelor degree in a mental health field of study. I believe that I have chosen this field of expertise because of the influence my parents have had on me, and possibly, most importantly, always pushing me to be a better, more understanding human being.

When I arrived at the agency, the room was crowded and many people were waiting for their turned to be served at one of the several tables. The person that I interviewed for this assignment was Emily Hampshire, the coordinator of one of a program called 180. Emily has been with the agency for over a year and is currently the coordinator of the agency’s newest program. This program is a gang prevention and intervention program and was created for the local at-risk youth in an effort to prevent gang related crimes and help youth “change their life around”, as Emily mentioned. This program was created in collaboration with the local Police Department and the Mount Diablo Unified School District and in

This new independence came with its challenges but much like high school I was able to adjust and graduate within four years. My goal was finally in sight. However the final leg of the journey was perhaps the most fulfilling. I was given the opportunity to work with a nobel laureate in economics at the University of Chicago. Throughout the two years I spent running labs and working towards my degree with Doctor Baker I learned more about economics and life in general than I ever could have imagined and before I knew it I had achieved my goal. While at times in college and high school  it seemed like a useless struggle for a piece of paper but as I stood with my diploma it was clear that it had all been worth it. In fact I decided to pursue a doctorate degree based on the advice of Dr. Baker and am currently working on finalizing my final step in my education. Now more than ever I am motivated to achieve my goals. Beyond my doctorate I am looking to change the way the american business system works and make it more beneficial for the average american. Who knows, maybe in 10 years I’ll have a nobel prize to show for

too shy to speak up. I always wanted to make a difference so what was going to push

I could not imagine myself as anything but a doctor, which led me to turn down a scholarship to a private and prestigious university in the field of industrial engineering. Even though in the private university things may have been easier, and I would not face the innumerable challenges beyond the classroom,

I am a believer in the idea that a mindset of growth is essential for long term success. Constantly trying to become a stronger and better version of oneself, along with an attitude of continual learning is a key element in becoming successful. It is this notion that describes my process through college, and my decision to pursue a career in medicine. By the end of my freshman year, I had dabbled in many fields, but was still unsure of the life I wished to pursue. I’ve always had a passion and desire to help others, and began to discover I had a talent in leading and motivating others. While growing up in a tight knit community, many of my friends fell into the trap of crime and drugs. I was able to organize various programs and retreats for these friends, and helped them overcome their obstacles, and escape the addictions that afflicted them. I was able to see first-hand the positive effects a group of motivated individuals can accomplish when working together. This led me to seek out other institutions that had a vision parallel to my passion for service.

My sophomore year of high school was an eye opener. That was when I realized that I wanted to pursue higher education. However, I really had no idea about the process. For the most part, I understood that it meant going to college after high school. Nevertheless, I felt that I had to dig deeper to understand the true meaning and pathway to pursuing a higher education. Therefore, I decided I needed to discover what is important to me. I discovered that helping others is important to me. For that reason, my goal has been to pursue a medical degree. Regardless of the obstacles, I will become a doctor and help others. I am aware that it is possible to help others without being a doctor. However, it is important to me to fulfill such a goal, by completing medical school.

At a young age, my career goal was set, but not everyone accepted my decision. The response I received from my grade school teachers and peers was negative and many suggested that I considered a different career. My eighth grade English teacher even suggested that I “chose a more realistic career.” If someone told me 10 years ago that I would graduate from an illustrious institution with a major in Biology and minor in Chemistry, I would have laughed in their face. The odds were never in my favor; my father is a high school dropout with a GED and my mother is a custodian. Even with the odds against me, I fought to push forward, follow my dreams, and prove everyone who doubted me wrong. Many times, I even doubted myself, asking “Am I

First semester of my senior year has taught me a lot about my writing abilities and how to be consistent with fluency, while increasing the maturity level being used within my writing. I have always thought of myself as a good writer, but having the opportunity to receive criticism from others has truly opened my mind to different views.

The writing I did this semester for Engl 110c has meant alot to me because I was able to pick a topic that has such a huge impact in my life. I was able to do the topic about Navy Wives, which has a huge impact on me. I recently became a navy wife a year ago and my life has changed drastically. I was able to share everything I wanted to about the life of a military wife through my writings, as well as share to my classmates about my topic. I really enjoyed creating my ePortfolio because I could come out of my shell and be me. I made a ePortfolio website that would be for military wives to read. I believe this website would be perfect for any military wife reading it. I was able to give tips and information on what it’s like to be a military wife, how to prepare for deployments and how to stay strong being a military wife.

As I began looking for a seat on the crowded bus, filled with individuals in bright red shirts my hands shook and I stared down an aisle of opportunities with my eyes wide. I asked myself, how I could be a friend to individuals, whom at first glance may seem very different from me. Most importantly, I asked how I can help. The moment I asked myself this question, my life was forever changed. I knew this was going to be a big day for me, but I had no idea that a Saturday that seemed otherwise unordinary would be the first day of the rest of my life. This Saturday was my first day volunteering with Camp A.N.C.H.O.R. (Assisting the Needs of Citizens with Handicaps through Organized Recreation). The persons I worked with during my time at A.N.C.H.O.R. led me to understand many of the issues people with many different types of disabilities face every single day. I heard about some of the problems my favorite campers were dealing with and I was furious. So, I took that anger and turned it into a passion for change. That passion has since sent me on a journey exploring social justice issues. During this time I realized that through the law I can help people from all walks of life and fight discriminatory practices that leave many groups underrepresented.

In my journal through life I have not always chosen the right career path. When I was in high school I have no specific plan for the future. I started my family early; a single mother at age 18 with no job and nowhere to live. Over the next 3 years I eventually found a job and applied for an apartment. After working 23 years in manufacturing I became weary with life. I realized that an education was the best choice for my future. However, I’ve always had an interest for teaching others and a passion for caring about others. As a single mother of two, I had to grow up fast, provide for my children while trying to prepare them for a future I myself was not equipped for. I knew that education was the answer to all my problems. Education not only guarantees me a good job, but also a good future. Meanwhile, I had to make some tough decisions. I was working at the time, also I wanted to pursue a career, and so my thought was, do I quit working or take night classes: it was not an easy decision to make providing, that I was a single mother with responsibilities, but I somehow decided to quit my job.