Reflection Paper On Ethics

My ethics have been formed over a lifetime of experiences. Because of these experiences and my personal beliefs, I use my rationality to decide what my duties are. I believe that each individual is independently responsible for their own morals. This corresponds with my personal preferred lens which is rights and responsibility. When faced with adversity, I use my practical nature to determine the best course of action. I want to ensure I have examined all angles and outcomes prior to making a

Ethics, according to the definition provided by the Mirriam-Webster online dictionary is “an area of study that deals with ideas about what is good and bad behavior” (Ethics, 2015). Because this world is inhabited by multitudes of people with diverse experiences as well as different sets of customs and beliefs, determining what is truly right from what is truly wrong can prove to be an impossible feat. It is principally for this reason that the study of ethics is important not only for students, but any person whom considers themselves a part of humanity. Andrew Fiala and Barbara MacKinnon assert that “if we are to make progress understanding each other…then we have to understand why we think certain things are right and other things are wrong”

How can we truly make good moral decisions? Ethics is supposed to provide us with moral principles or universal rules that tell us what to do, a rational basis for morality. When making ethical decisions, a thorny dilemma arises when one moral principle conflicts with another. Making good ethical decisions requires a trained sensitivity to ethical issues and a practical method for exploring the ethical aspects of a decision and weighing the considerations that should impact our choice of a course of action. As the headlines remind us, however, we do not always take the time to consciously consider our choices about how we could and should behave.

From job-related experiences, when I am placed into situations with individuals who have different ethics from me, I cautiously take steps to determine ethical dilemmas choices without violating the rights or opinions of all involved. In addition, the experiences working with teams at work, have taught me to carefully view the opinions of others before entering into open disagreement over a given course of action. I strongly believe, apart from the ethical position,. an individual has his or her individual right to express their opinion. The results of my EAI, combined with my experiences throughout school and work, have educated me that all ethical decisions require cautious thought. I firmly believe, in order to achieve the best results, one needs to take numerous factors including but limited to culture, into consideration while also allowing for future implications of any action dictated by ethical decisions I make.

In order to implement this into my future class I first need to recognize the variety of individual culture, gender, background, socioeconomic status, learning style, developmental stage and other factors of students, families and colleagues. Establishing that my classroom is a safe zone and a place where differences are celebrated and embraced will help me create an environment where everyone’s diversities are respected.

These issues are all of ethical concerns, but are also legal concern according to the fact that is illegal to not completely attempt resuscitative efforts in the absence of a DNR.

What ethical concerns or dilemmas are most frequently encountered in your practicum setting, according to your field instructor?

This is something I learned in the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). We were placed in scenarios which made us make ethical decisions. It did not matter how we reacted, but be able to explain your though process leading you to your outcome. If it was all wrong, it would be explained to you why and some ways to prevent negative outcomes. Of course some of these dilemmas were based on different cultural beliefs.

Everyday we each face questions of what we ought to do. We sometimes ask ourselves,

Everyone was taught the difference between right and wrong at some point in their life, however, reinforcing such behavior is essential to ensure that people don’t lose touch as to how to make ethical decisions that may directly affect them in the future. After reviewing the TEA Code of Ethics, I believe the document reinforces ethical behavior that an educator should adhere to in a school environment. Additionally, the Code of Ethics is a set of standards that are used to judge ethical conduct. Therefore, the educator has to have a strong commitment to the students they serve as well as a strong commitment to their profession. By having a strong commitment to the students, the educator is ensuring that all students have an opportunity

Recognizing that not all decisions are ethical, one’s moral principles acts as a guide for their behavior and decision making. Therefore, ethics do (and should) play a major role in decision making.

I would believe ethics are enforced and at a certain point we are adults to know at the university level we have an ethical obligation to ourselves and classmates. We can learn from the school and peers and organizations we find ourselves

Many freshmen are bombarded with responsibility upon arriving to college. From living on their own to balancing commitments, there will be many situations that put their judgement to the test. How students handle these obstacles and challenges will determine their character in the future. It is important during this developmental period that ethics are integral to their decision-making process.

“Great individuals have great ethics and great values.” Ethics and morality can be used interchangeably as they sound as if they mean the same although there is a wide distinction between them. “Strictly speaking, morality is used to refer to what we would call moral standards and moral conduct while ethics is used to refer to the formal study of those standards and conduct. For this reason, the study of ethics is also often called moral philosophy." (Gordana D 2007)

One important aspect of the student affairs profession is the importance and involvement of ethics within your daily life and within the workplace. From personal experience I believe that autonomy, faithfulness, doing no harm, and the ability to be just are extremely important. I also believe that there are many important expectations found in NASPA’s Standards of Professional Practice. These expectations include, equal consideration and treatment of others, assessment, agreement with institutional missions and goals, and conflict of interest. The student affairs profession spans many areas within the university environment and this can cause many different views and perceptions of the profession. Fried states that the curriculum of student affairs “includes interpersonal communications, conflict resolution, personal life planning, financial planning, career planning, leadership and participation in small and large groups, public speaking, and developing the necessary skills to live and work in a culturally diverse democracy” (Fried, 2002). Another responsibility of student affairs professionals is supporting and aiding students during crises, which seem less predictable and more frequent, causing psychological pressure to increase (Schuh, Jones, & Harper, 2011, p. 111). While supporting and developing students in modern times and working to complete all responsibilities that pair with the student affairs profession it is important to