Personal Reflection

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.

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

As I got older, especially in high school, I drifted away from being an avid reader. This was only because of the increased workload I was getting from school. Unfortunately, I only read if I had to for class, and occasionally I would read something for fun, but I was never reading as much as I had in the past and as much I wanted to. Every now and then I get hooked into reading again and find myself being absorbed into all new adventures. This doesn’t always last for a long time. It only takes one really good book to rekindle my forgotten desire to read. After rediscovering this passion, I spend most of my free time learning about these new characters and their lives. I have found that the more free time I have in my life, the more prone I am to these reading binges. I know that if I can find a book to get captivated by, I will be back into the habit of reading and

Throughout the semester we have gone over a lot of topics ranging from our short and long-term goals to our desired major and career choices. I have always had a general idea of what I wanted to do, and the only thing that has ever interested me was working with animals. But when I graduated high school I wasn’t completely certain if I wanted to major in veterinary medicine, so I came to school as an exploratory studies student. And when I first attended this class I didn’t think that it would really help me make up my mind and that it was filling up a foundational studies class that I could be taking. But throughout the semester I’ve come to find out that this class has helped me a lot more than I thought it would.

Throughout the semester, the most significant learning outcome that I acquired the most knowledge of it, was to undertake a self-regulated project to address my own linguistic need by myself. I learned to focus on one specific project, that I believed that it could have been helpful for me to practice and improve my English writing. Since the start of the semester, I was always understanding well the instructions given to us for all our tasks, such as the Personal Project Design or Annotated Bibliography.

During my studies with the University of Oklahoma, my selected area of focus was counseling. In addition to selecting many courses that focused on theoretical approaches to counseling, I also completed the graduate certificate “Helping Skills in Human Relations”.

I slept through the cry and pain and woke up with joy knowing I would be alright when I receive the Doctor’s report. The genesis of my book initiated in the 7th grade, a kidney condition that could possibly end my life instead gave me life. I grew up in church, however, I did not value nor understand the rituals. As I matured, I adapted a unique personality. I built walls to prevent hurt. In secret, I cared and loved, yet I thought speaking hateful and bitter words would showcase my boldness; I associate boldness with aggression. The struggles I faced, included me, myself and I against the world because I did not want to worry my parents. In Addition, I humbled myself and went before the Lord in prayer, promising that I would change. A few weeks later, I received my healing and continued leaving in ungratefulness and doubt. A shift occurred when I joined Generation Next (bible club) at North Miami Beach Senior High school. I battled depression once again. For the first time I enjoyed school because I kept my mind occupied with work. Unexpectedly, walking into bible club feeling hopeless, a guest speaker spoke about how our communication with God required honesty even though He knows it all. That evening at home, while opening my bible I said these words; “Lord if you see my ache whatever I lay my figures upon will filled this voided”. I landed on psalm 29: 11: “The Lord give strength to his people and bless them with peace.” Since that day, I decided to walk with Christ and

My favorite high school English teacher once said, “You have to want to be a better writer. I can’t make you a better writer without at least some effort on your part guys.” The implied lesson in this quote, about writing and effort, is something I remembered throughout high school and coming into college. In English 109H, I wanted to understand how to transition my writing to a meet a college level. Through in-class peer-editing exercises and identifying and improving problems consistently identified in my writing, I was able to improve my understanding and performance in the course goals of Conventions and Critical Thinking and Composing. However, I still need work on wording changes within Reflection and Revision.

English Comp I has taught me a great deal and has also helped me improve on some writing skills that I never really payed attention too as I began my writing career in middle school. I have improved in a big way in several subjects that can impact a person’s writing in a dramatic way. Evidence from three of my EN113 papers this semester provide evidence that suggest that I have succeeded in improving on my organizational skills, identifying grammar issues, and elaborating and describing events in more detail. Reviewing my previous papers, I have realized that I am still working on improving my MLA format.

When it comes to a person’s characteristics, preferences, and beliefs it can be hard to make the distinction between the three. Not only that, but when asked a simple question: “What are some of your defining characteristics?” It’s so easy to just draw a blank. It may not even be that you don’t want to brag, it’s hard to talk about things like that on the spot. Almost as if you were asked, “What’s your favorite movie and you’ve suddenly forgotten every movie you’ve ever seen. In other words, self reflection is difficult. Namely, making a distinction between the different aspects that make up who you are as a person.

From the test, I realized I have a strong personality in agreeableness and sociability. Before the test, I did not realize that I had this strength and, therefore, it was underutilized. The sociability aspect will create better working relations with fellow students during the class group discussion and with the coworker, this will be extended in the future career. Additionally, I realized I have low emotional stability. This means I handle the situation based on the emotion and I am easily overpowered by emotion when making decisions (Phillipy, 2010).

“Know who you are, and be it. Know what you want, and go out and get it!”

Growing up I was taught to be nice to everyone. Even if they treated me wrong I was expected to “kill hate with kindness”. Now that I’m a young adult I’ve had a chance to reflect on this motto that I’ve grown up with and realized that this advice may have done more damage than good.

For as long as I can remember, I have known who Jesus Christ was. Though, for a period in my life I questioned my relationship with him, and everything that I had grown up knowing about Christianity. Playing with fellow classmates on Sunday mornings as a 6 year old is the first memory of church that I have. Ever since I was a baby to now as a 19 year old I have always attended church. At the age of 12, life took a drastic turn for the worst, making me question all that I knew, and believed about God. Now that I am an adult, attending a college that pushes me everyday closer and closer to God; challenging me in ways that I have never been challenged before, I now see why God does certain things in our lives.

As a passionate sports fan, I have thoroughly enjoyed each assignment given. From the tarnished reputation of fútbol’s governing body involving FIFA officials like Sepp Blatter, to the triumphs and downfalls of the National Football League (NFL), learning the ins and outs of the sports business through an international lens has been quite insightful. I’ve acquired an immense amount of knowledge on sporting institutions such as the International Olympic Committee and the publicity and sport nightmare of Olympic Russian doping. In addition, my time with new colleagues was a great learning experience as I have developed not only new relationships, but essential leaderships skills when working with a team. Below is my journey as a student