Reflection Paper

When I first decided to expand my education, it had been so long since I had been to school, and I was very hesitant. I talked at length about my decision with my husband and with his encouragement, decided to enroll but still was not quite sure which degree program to enroll in. I knew that this was something that I had always wanted to do since I obtained my Associates Degree in Nursing, but I did not have the courage, nor did I want to give up the time with my family and children. I second guessed my abilities and my knowledge because it had been so long since I had been in college. Now that my children are about to graduate high school and

When I entered into high school nearly four years ago, my motivations were purely academic. I was there to get the best education I could, and to maintain a standard of scholastic excellence. Of course, the only way I knew to measure my own “success” was through concrete and quantitative means; this led me to spend my Freshman and Sophomore years fawning over test scores, GPA points, and even fractions of percents in my grades. I know now that this strategy, while effective in getting me what I wanted (or at least thought I wanted), actually left me missing a huge part of what it means to be truly educated.

As a believer in Christ grows they become more aware of the gifts that they may have been given by the Holy Spirit. It is up to us to use the gifts for the right reasons. We are to allow God to work through us to edify the body of Christ. I see a lot of so called Christians these days using what is supposed to be a spiritual gift to use for ministry of the local church using them for self-edification. They are looking to see how much praise they can get instead of how much pleasure God will get through their service. We as believers need to be able to discern between what a spiritual gift is and what virtue is. A spiritual gift is related to the ministry of Christ and a virtue is related to our character. It is very easy for someone to blur the line between two and get confused. Our spiritual gifts are not the same for everyone, where all who believe should show the fruit of the spirit. To some believers the Holy Spirit gives the gift of serving, teaching, administration, and so on. But in the end it is not what spiritual gift we have but how we use it; this is what makes the difference between edifying the body of Christ or oneself.

Lastly, one of many things I learn is how to take piece of work and determine its purpose, audience, and context. The way the professor approach in the assignment, there was only one way to teach these skills. All the online chapter quizzes, discussion board, in class grammar activities and textbook grammar/ mechanics handbooks all contribute in my writing. I would like to thank you, Dan Meloche, for providing a great environment, and

Throughout this course we have done many writing assignments. These assignments have helped us learn how to use certain tools to help improve our writing skills. After learning these tools, we should be able to analyze other work, write a clear and organized essay, apply our own experiences and also using research to support our essays. My writings throughout this course have come to show that I know how to use these tools to make my writing better and more effective.

. I never imagined myself playing sports in high school. Sports, whether it was playing or watching them, had always seemed boring to me. This changed in my sophomore year of high school. I needed something to occupy myself as I was fed up with not doing anything other than going from my house to school and back every day. It also helped that I was forced to exercise as I gained some weight the year before. This is where my interest in football began and became a part of me for the past three years.

Everyone has at least one point in their educational life that has shaped them into the student or person they are today. For me, coming together after being separated as the “Germantown” and “Farmersville” kids for the first six years of school changed the way I built myself as a student. Becoming friends with new people, having new teachers for every subject, changing up the routine, and actually having to switch classes has taught me a lot of different things.

Being in a life or death situation, or at least believing you, can radically affect how you feel about the world, and everything around us. To unknowingly shake loose your repressed feelings and thought, through the rush of adrenaline and reflection on your own actions, is a truly freeing experience. While such a freeing experience comes with a terrifyingly dangerous cost, I was able to find a refreshing outlook on life.

Beginning in September 1981, I was cheese-bused (school-bused) from Steele School to Mayfair Elementary in Northeast Philadelphia beginning in second grade. Amazingly, we were accepted in the desegregation program, which allowed minorities to start seeking education outside their own neighborhoods. I thought that the desegregation process began in the 60s, but I guess these Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods remained defiant on keeping us out. I remember the green application form and clearly written on top of it “Desegregation”. Not knowing what it meant back then, I was clearly blind to the fact that racism still existed and unfortunately still does. Northeast Philadelphia was the place where the Irish lived. Rowhomes lined the streets and were always kept clean on the outside. There was always tension about going to the Northeast for anyone who wasn’t white. Initially, we weren't welcomed from the neighborhood, but the school had no choice, but to let us in.

I’m thankful the Holy Spirit kick started me to take this class. The spiritual growth from this class, learning to depend more on the scriptures for revelation of the truth, and that Scripture is Sufficient for every area of my life is very important. Many don’t know or haven’t learned how Scripture for those struggling in life, who quest wisdom, or desire God’s direction will change their lives. The Bible instructive and corrective ways helps individuals, groups, and counselors focus on sharing Scripture and speaking the truth in love (Babler, 10). The need for Scripture is evident because of all that occurs daily in the world. Thanks to Social Media, TV, and Radio Broadcast we are exposed to 20% Good and 80% Negative. This informative information we read, here, and see is a cause of some crisis that is a direct result of sin (Rom. 6:23). Some sin we are responsible for directly, sin of society, or related to a significant crisis that’s Not A Direct result of our own personal sin (Job 1-2). Biblical counselors should walk with, serve, love, encourage, and help people regardless of the type of sin or crises (1 Thess. 5:14, Babler, 11). Chaos, pain, fear, anxiety, loss, hopelessness, trauma, and death are initial responses when a crisis occurs. These are opportunities to glorify and honor God in the mist of these trying times. We learn to trust, depend on the Lord, grow our relationship with GOD, love, and serve others while ministering Scripture. We must ask for wisdom

As a freshman in high school, I wrote a lot in my English class, but not so much in a specific format. The only format we worried about was to have an intro, three body parts, and a conclusion. For me, it was difficult writing an intro and till this day is still, my intros did not make sense with what I was writing about or I jumped right into the details. Also, had trouble focusing on the prompt, I would start my essay and towards the end I would go off topic. My English grammar has not always been the best, but it has progressed and it has been getting better. My first language is Spanish and I grew up writing only in Spanish even though my class had to be bilingual. I started writing and reading in English in the fifth grade. For me, it was a challenge. I would try to write in English, but when I would, in my head it sounded in English, but when I spelled it I would write in Spanish. I still do it sometimes, but with technology; looking up words, my writing has progressed. Sophomore year was probably one of the toughest year and where I learned the most. I had an amazing teacher named Mrs.Wagner who helped me a lot in my writing. She taught me how to brainstorm because I had a lot of trouble trying to put my ideas together. Mrs.Wagner taught me how to write a formal letter, persuasive essay and many other types of essay. I am so thankful because of her my writing has improved so much and I was able to pass my CAHSEE. Junior was not a year I was proud of due to failing

Mr. Abedi then introduced me to Miriam, one of the woman volunteering at Open Mosque Day. Miriam was working behind one of the tables educating people on Islam. She gave me a Qur’an , a short biography on Muhammad and lots of other information to take home. She was very interesting to talk as she was raised Catholic and converted to Islam. She spoke about how Islam is a lot like Catholicism and that Mary is mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an more than any other woman. I asked her if she believes Mary is the mother of God and she replied no. Miriam told me she was mentioned seventy times and that she is recognized as devoting herself to God. She explained to me that Allah wants us to pray and that God is great! God is absolute, perfect and unique. I asked her if she believes in God and she replied she believes in Allah and that Allah means God in Arabic. Up until she explained this I thought of God and Allah as two separate people. Miriam was not comfortable taking a picture with me so she found Mr. Abedi and we took a picture together. I thanked them both for their time. Syed commented that he thought it was great that I was open to learning about other religions.

Every student deserves the best chance at getting the highest level of education they can, however, some students need a little extra support that others may not. A student, Axel, who is currently in my classroom has had a hard time keeping his focus and is often avoidant when it comes to his work. It has become clear that his avoidance becomes a distraction to the whole class. His behaviors currently include but are not limited to: rolling around on the floor during rug lessons, yelling across the room, walking around the room talking to friends, sharpening his pencil five or more times throughout the day, asking to go to the bathroom at inappropriate times, spending fifteen to twenty minutes in the

From the early moments of my childhood, I remember seeing my parents go to Russian Orthodox Church a lot. They would explain to my younger brother and me what was right and what was wrong from the religious perspective. On my 4th birthday, my grandma gave me the Bible for kids as a present, and I remember my mom reading it to me before going to bed. Back then it was just another interesting story that happened somewhere very far away. And yet mom would always find a way to tell these stories in such a manner so they translated really well into the reality we were living in. The more I grew up the more I realized that there was something missing in the big picture of my understanding of the world. I saw a lot of suffering that was happening everywhere, death, natural disasters, and I thought there must be a reason for all of it. Otherwise, the God does not care about any of us. I started to look for the answers everywhere: in the philosophical and religious books, movies, wise counsel from the people who lived a long life. I could not find the truth in church because the whole purpose of its existence with all its rules and restrictions, its idea of God who is something or someone out there, separate from us, and the only being that knows all the answers, was totally alien to me; mainly so due to my unwillingness to accept the fact of transferring all the responsibility for everything one does to someone else. I believed it to be a weakness to acknowledge one’s bad thoughts and deeds as something natural, as an external influence of the evil spirits. For me, it sounded like people who agreed with this concept simply wanted to escape the punishment for what they had done, choose an easy way out.

Since 2011, I devoted my life to God, this happened when I get convert and be baptized to the church of Jesus Christ. I was still a babe spiritually. I learned many things in the Gospel and I felt the Love of my heavenly Father. I couldn't speak English back then when I joined the church, but through reading the scriptures daily, the Lord help me learn and understand the scriptures. Today, I can testify to you that I have read the bible many times from the start to the end. And most importantly, I teach the Gospel in English.