Exam 2

 1.      On page 265 of our text begins a discussion of an expanded eight step problem solving model. From your internship, identify a management problem and apply all the eight steps to lead to a desired change outcome. The change may or may not have happened; it may be hypothetical for the purposes of illustrating your understanding of the model.

a.      Say it out loud; I hate being disconnected from the community, my peers, and left out of the loop.

b.      Name the problem; the problem is finding resources. 

c.       Expand your thinking; throughout my educational process I have been encouraged to seek outside sources to enhance my learning experience. I have had difficulty seeking out and utilizing outside sources, but since I started my internship I am finding it much easier.

d.      Consider the causes; I have never really know who to talk to find out information. I have felt isolated and left out most of my life.

e.       Focus your attention; seeking out people who know how to access information I don’t know.

f.       Determine your goals; my goals for solving this problem is to become smarter, more mature, and more “in the know” by being a liaison between different clubs.

g.      Identify the strategies; I think that this skill is improving due to having Nickie Hockenberry in the same office where I do my internship. She many times will discuss with me about all the different people she interacts with and their variety of experiences and knowledge. Sharing this information has enhanced my overall experience. I have connected with her intern and Taquon Middleton, who also work for her.

h.      Create the change; I have heightened my understanding that outside sources can help me find more information and therefore get projects done more efficiently. I feel that I have grown personally by I am informed about important informational activities and activities that students need to know prior to the release date. My internship has allowed me to feel more confident to reach out to a variety of other people. This experience has been positive for me because I can feel my growth while meeting my own personal internship goals.

 2.      A. What does the phrase: “Choose your companion: Excellence or Perfection?” mean to you?  Reflect on any movement that you have found in yourself in regard to this phrase. I always strive to excellence and perfection in everything I do. If it lacks my standards of excellence I am disappointed and feel embarrassed and ashamed and wish I had done better.

 B. Identify a person (you do not need to use their actual name) you have encountered in your practicum that you see as a true human services professional. Describe the qualities you see this person modeling that exemplifies a professional.

Some qualities that a person that I have encountered in my internship that I see as an human service professional are a great attitude, enthusiastic about the job, ethical goal focused, a great listener, she suspends her own personal agenda for others, persistent, self-confident, and self-discipline.

 It is impossible to limit the list to just 10, and so here are 25 more that represent my second tier: 

 C.  In Human Services, the descriptor “practice wisdom” is often heard. What is the difference between intelligence and wisdom?

      Intelligence is the capacity for learning reasoning understanding, and similar forms of mental activity, high mental capacity, knowledge of an event, or circumstance, and the gathering or the distribution of information.

      Wisdom is having the power of discerning judgment to what is right or wrong with good discretion, scholarly knowledge, and being in the know.

3.      On page 339, our text identifies attributes of a sense of fulfillment in work and life, using the three major categories, identify aspects of your practicum that contribute (or not) to feelings of fulfillment.

 

 Doing worthwhile work

·         Works with students from 11 different countries

·         Collaborate with other clubs/organizations with cultural themed events and activities and serve as a liaison/ resource with civic engagement

·         Serves in management and leadership roles

·         Worked on a project to promote Islamic beliefs; Alfred State is a campus that has .001% of Muslims and is seeing an increase in enrollment of that faith

·         Develop a better cultural competency

·         Obtained over 400 hours of supervised practicum experience 

  Developing responsible relationships

·         International students

·         Tricia Herritt

·         Nickie Hockenberry

·         Taquon Middleton

 

Self-defined success

·         Tunnel of Oppression project

·         Obtained more leadership opportunities

·         More confidence

·         Stronger resource development

·        Networking

·         Multiple options to work independently

·         Learn new skills

·         Make more decisions in positive ways
·         The tools to be more “in the know” of what is happening at Alfred State
·         Improving my abilities to be a better editor for the school paper
·         Has expanded my abilities for networking
·         More mature in my thinking

 

4.  Part of developing as a civic professional and having feelings of fulfillment is to have a sense of how your agency contributes to the community well-being. Using the criteria on p. 352, discuss the public relevance of the work done by your practicum agency.

This agency is involved in the community by having trips and hosting cultural events. The international students are very involved.

 

5.      Managers are faced with making difficult decisions that often require adherence to a number of possibly conflicting rules and concepts. The first step in sorting through all the requirements is to know what the terms mean in the Human Service field.

 

Define the following terms as they relate to your internship, and the text:

 

a.       Values are respect of worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance. Some values of my agency is involvement, belonging, dependability, efficiency, hard work, and professionalism.

b.      Morals are the conduct between right and wrong. Tricia always makes through everything is done in the right way.

c.       Ethics is a system of moral principles. Ethics are followed at my internship.

d.      Privacy is the state of being alone. Whenever there is a conversation that Tricia has that needs to be private she closes her door so no one can hear or disturb her.

e.       Privileged communication is privacy and confidentiality.  Everything is kept confidential in my agency.

f.       Confidentiality is the spoken, written, acted on in strict privacy or secrecy; secret:  Everything is kept confidential in my agency.

g.      Guidelines are indication of future actions. Tricia and discussed the good and the bad of the cultural showcase and how it can be improved for next year. I typed up a list of due dates for information to be submitted for next year.

h.      Standards are a rule or principle that is used as a basis for judgment. I have high standard of how things should be done and I make sure that it’s done to my satisfaction the best that I can.

i.        Regulations are a law, rule, or other order prescribed by authority, especially to regulate conduct. There are many regulations for international students for studying at Alfred State and Tricia always makes sure these regulations are followed and helps out the best she can if they need help.

j.        Policy is a definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, facility, etc.  There are many policies for international students for studying at Alfred State and Tricia always makes sure these regulations are followed and helps out the best she can if they need help.

k.      Principles are a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived. There are many laws for international students for studying at Alfred State and Tricia always makes sure these regulations are followed and helps out the best she can if they need help.

l.        Code is a system for communication. Tricia and the international club use email and social media to distribute communication.

m.    Autonomy is independence or freedom, as of the will or one's actions. This is displayed by giving me complete control over my projects, trusting me to do it in a timely manner, and not hovering.

n.      Beneficence is the doing of good; active goodness or kindness; charity. This is displayed by the agency being a human service agency.

o.      Justice is the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness. This is displayed by being an advocate for her international students.

p.      Non maleficence is the doing of evil or harm. There is no maleficence is my agency.

q.      Fidelity is loyalty. Tricia is loyal to her students.

r.        Veracity is conformity to truth or fact; accuracy. The truth and accuracy are done to the best of ability.

s.       Negligence is to pay no attention or too little attention to; disregard or slight. There is no negligence in my internship site. 

t.        Malpractice is render proper services through reprehensible ignorance or negligence or through criminal intent, especially when injury or loss follows. There is no malpractice in my internship site. 

u.      Liability is something disadvantageous. I can’t think of any.

a.       Vicarious liability is something that is performed, exercised, received, or suffered in place of another. I can’t think of any.

v.      Plaintiff is a person who brings suit in a court. This doesn’t really apply.

w.    Defendant is a person, company, etc., against whom a claim or charge is brought in a court. This doesn’t really apply. 

 6.      Using the 10 step model for resolving ethical dilemmas outlined on pp. 386-389, illustrate the process for resolving the following management dilemma: You are a program manager at an agency that has a personnel policy forbidding anyone in the administrative chain of command with having a relationship with someone under their supervision. This includes blood relatives, relatives by marriage, and intimate relationships outside of marriage. You have personal knowledge totally derived outside of the workplace that two people in the supervisory chain of command have an intimate relationship. A relative of yours owns the house that the couple is renting at some distance from the workplace and the couple is unaware of your relationship to the landlord, and is unaware that you know about them.  Your relative incidentally told you their names and where they worked, and does not realize you work at the same agency.  No one at work has any suspicion about this relationship. It is highly likely that one or both of the partners will lose their job if administration learns about this relationship, and there are few jobs available outside your agency. What choices does the decision making model lead to, and how do you arrive at a decision?

Name the Problem: Should you tell the administration about the relationship?

Narrow the Focus: Find out as much as I can about the situation and observe the people who I know are involved.

Consult the Codes: Dual Roles

 Consider the Laws: Lose their jobs/license

Consult with Colleagues: Ask people what they know of similar instances in the past. Has the agency dealt with this before?

Determine the Goals: Tell the couple to break it off.

Brainstorm the Strategies: Approach couple, tell them to break it off or find a new job.

Consider the consequences: Should I tell? What happens to me if I do? What will happen to the couple?

Consult the Checklist: Is this action in the best interest of the client? Does the action violate the rights of another person? Is it legal? Does it create more harm than good? Does the action violate existing policies, regulations, or procedures? 

 

Journal #11 Self Evaluation

I felt that I adapted to my internship quickly and adjusted to a new population. I had three main issues when I started working: thinking quickly on my feet, clarifying communications, and utilizing resources. Thinking on my feet  has always has been a struggle for me because if I receive too much information at once I get confused and it is difficult for my brain to be able to process the information. It can be difficult for me to interrupt my train of thought, switch gears and do a different task that may be required to be accomplished. I have always desired a very structured type of environment and feel that I thrive in those types of settings. At the end of my internship I can see where I have improved and can fill in the blanks for myself but still like a structured environment and supervisor. At the end of this internship I feel that this skill has drastically improved. Having too much information given to me at one time will still be hard but it is easier for me than before.

Communication is a skill that can be very misleading. A hurtle when I first started was making sure that I am adequately communicating with everyone. I have found it difficult in the past to determine what questions I should be asking. After I determine the correct questions then I require that the explanations be in smaller increments. I look at my communication needs similar to a recipe. I understand the steps required to complete the tasks much better if I go in an organized and step-by-step process. I have discovered that if the tasks if repeated it becomes easier for me each time. I understand that life is not designed for the way that I like communication to occur. I have been able to be successful so far in my educational process with the assistance of my IEP that gives me additional time to think through the process. This of course is not readily applicable in the workplace where many times situations occur quickly. I find that my communication needs can be very frustrating to others. I may need additional explanation where someone else can fill in the blanks.

I have difficulty seeking out and utilizing outside resources. I have heightened my understanding of hoe outside resources can help me find more information and therefore get projects done more efficiently. My experiences during my internship has greatly improved my understanding and confidence to seek and utilize resources.

Overall I feel that I have grown personally by becoming more intelligent, more mature, and more “in the know” by being a liaison between different clubs.  Becoming the editor of the Tor Echo has helped in this skill as well. At the end of my internship I now can see my improvements.

Overall my internship has benefited me tremendously. It was a great experience and has made me a better person so I can leave Alfred and find the job and resources to begin a new chapter in my life.

Journal #10 Site Visit and Future Outlook

I had a very good site visit the other day. It was a relief for me because I was feeling nervous and really did not know what to expect. This site visit was different than my first site visit which was very informal. The teacher did not interact with me or ask questions, just observed and heightened my anxiety.

During this most recent site visit I liked the privacy that was provided while answering her questions. This style boosted my confidence and therefore I felt that I was able to answer sufficiently. One of the questions she asked me was “what do you see and what do you want to do in the last few weeks at your internship?” I responded that I am disappointed because I do not feel that I am ready to go out in the working environment to start my career and I wish I had more time to grow. However this internship has helped me realize how much I have matured in my thinking, problem solving and actions, while utilizing a professional approach.

In addition I commented that I hoped that I could find a job in my career choice and increase my networking skills. I am working towards my ultimate goal by coordinating with the Career Center to plan for the Human Service’s Day and also preparing a specific Human Service resume to distribute to potential agencies.

Journal #9 Cultural Showcase

The main project for my internship is the Cultural Showcase scheduled for April 9^th, 2015. The Cultural Showcase is an annual event sponsored by the Office of International Student Services that features the talents of various student clubs and organizations and exposes the audience to different cultures. The performers through dance, music, vocals, and martial arts demonstrate multiculturalism and as a result, the performers as well as the audience have heightened awareness. This awareness is increased by getting college clubs, students, faculty, and the community involved and has historically been well received.

Coordinating with the International Club, I helped organize the event in multiple ways. I assisted Eunah Lee, the secretary of International Club, and we wrote a grant proposal to the Kaleidoscope Coalition requesting money for decorations in the auditorium, intermission food and after party foods from around the world. I designed the pamphlet to hand out at the door to guests based on the theme “Roots of Diversity.”  I placed the poster on the International Club’s Facebook page as well as my own personal page to enhance interest, created an event page on Facebook, sent the request for posters to be printed, double checked on the printing, put flag poles together, sent the request to students announcing the event, and helped setup and decorate the auditorium. I am very excited about this year’s event and I am assured it will be another success. I participated in the showcase in two performances. During the show I checked on things to make sure that everything was in order. After the show I helped setup the after party.

Journal #8 Tunnel Review

I will complete a video series of seven international students interviewing them about debunking common stereotypes of their culture and hostility felt towards them for being Muslim. I will interview seven American students of different races and ethnicities about their perceptions of the Muslim students. I will compare their perceptions of Americans and American perceptions of them. Then I will write student spotlight interviews to feature in the Tor Echo. The videos will be edited and put in a podcast and published on the Alfred State website under the international education page.

My pre-event was a webinar sponsored by the Islamic Network Group in California. The webinar was titled “Getting to Know Muslims and Their Faith.” The Islamic Network Group (ING) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to debunk and counter prejudice and discrimination against American Muslims by teaching about their traditions and contributions in the context of America’s history and cultural diversity. The organization was founded in 1993 and they achieve their mission through education and community engagement. They provide presentations, training seminars, workshops, and panel discussions hosted by volunteers around the United States.

For the actual Tunnel I ended up interviewing five international students that were Muslim. Not all of the students will be used in the video series because of the time limit of the Tunnel room. Some of the interviews were not of good quality, complicated and difficult to comprehend. The international students that were interviewed were Aedh Albaqami, Mesfer Alghamdi, Mohammed S Almalki, Saraf Sampritee, and Turki M Matleg. Of the interviewees, three were American students and one student of the three was Muslim. The American students that were interviewed were Alhadj Amadou Diallo, Alex Praxton and Ronnie Burgos. I made three posters depicting Islam, Islamophobia, and pictures of terrorist groups.

The Tunnel ran from March 30-31^st from 4-8 p.m. in SLC. My room was the game suite because of the need for the video media. The game room provided the perfect environment for the video series because of the access to a pull down projection screen and the adjustment of the volume of the presentation. On the setup day I had a tech person help me set up the room and he showed me how to adjust the volume, provided the laptop, and the cord equipment that I would utilize. I hung my posters up, drew on the glass, on the door, with glass markers of hate words used against Muslims, and made little posters saying the title of the project, who it was by, and what club sponsored it. It went very well. I was very proud of the way it went. I enjoyed it much better this year than in previous years because I was involved, and I knew a lot of the people involved. One disadvantage was that only one out of my three volunteers showed up. I had to do the whole first night by myself. The second night my volunteer came and I was able to go on the Tunnel. Overall it was a very good experience for me.

A Look into Lady Valor

Kirsten Beck was born in Wellsville, NY and graduated from Alfred University. She served in the United States military as a Navy Seal for 20 years. She completed numerous direct missions and was deployed a total of 13 times. She was the first person to come out as a transgender woman. It is not uncommon for transgender people to enlist into the military. Approximately 13% of people who serve today are transgender. Her book, Warrior Princess: A U.S. Navy SEAL's Journey to Coming out Transgender, highlights her experiences serving with distinction. She retired in 2011. Beck said that she left the military because “she wanted to live her life and be happy.” She said that she could have been attacked for coming out within the ranks. She has developed a documentary tiled “Lady Valor, the Kirsten Beck Story” in 2013. You can view the movie on Netflix. She lives outside of Tampa, FL and has two teenage sons with her former partner who now resides in Minnesota. She said her children are “fairly open” to her new gender identity and expression. “It makes me proud of them that they can look beyond a lot of things and they are accepting of something,” Beck said.

According to Beck, “There’s a lot of prejudice out there. There's been a lot of transgender people who are killed for prejudice, for hatred. When the book came out there was some amazing support and some amazing praise but also some pretty amazing bigotry and hatred.” The “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy does not allow for transgender people to serve in the U.S. military. She now travels around the country giving speeches and lectures to colleges on ending discrimination against transgender people. She advocates for civil rights and traveled to Washington D.C to speak to Congress and encourages people to not judge others before you get to know them; they could become a really close friend. Beck encourages people to be a lighthouse, show the light and let go of prejudices. “There’s a big need, especially for the LGBT community. We try to break the stigma, discrimination and prejudice. The transgender community is a beautiful community that we need to take care of. The person you see today is the same person you thanked last week” Kirsten said. Kirsten’s latest project is to create a rehabilitation center for military veterans called Healing Grounds. 

Get Real with It Oscar Joe Dais

Oscar Joseph Dais was born in the Bronx. He currently lives in Pamona, NY. He was one of 13 children, raised within the projects, and had no father figure in his life. His parents died within two weeks of each other when he was young. He went into selling drugs and robbery to survive.

 He was not scared about dealing drugs within the dangerous streets because he felt certain that he was going to die too. Shortly after his parents died, a lot of his siblings died within the next few years and currently there are only five of his siblings alive today.

 He became more vested to turn his life around after his parents died because at a young age he had promised his mother he would go to college. He struggled in college because he read at a 7^th grade reading level but he graduated and is very successful today. After becoming a father he realized that he wanted the very best for his kids and be a dad for them that he never had. He wanted to do great things with and for his children, hoping for their future that they would have great accomplishments. He is proud today to be able to say that one of his boys attended Harvard.

 This talk was a part of his Transform Your Life Speaking Tour traveling to high schools and colleges doing presentations. He has written a book that is soon to be released called Success Doesn’t Come to You: You Go To It.  He encouraged the audience to enlarge their minds. Do not lose out because you do not take advantage of opportunities while in college. He explained that you need to be careful who your friends are, spend time with people who encourage you, and want the best for you, and weed out the ones that are not beneficial to you. Use your talents, leave a legacy of people you have helped, and believe you deserve the best. Have a plan B that includes something or someone to fall back on while making the right choices.

 There are three different types of people in our society: the player, the wanderer, and the watcher. The player gets involved and does amazing things, the wanderer walks around and never gets satisfied, and the watcher observes the player but never really does anything. Be a player, get involved, network, seek people to help you, and do not miss out on enriching opportunities. Success in life is a journey, savor it, and take advantage of the amazing ride remembering that anything is possible.

American Perspective on Islam Alex

What are your perceptions of Islamic people? They are good people. I wouldn’t judge them based on their religion. I judge based on their personality. I have ben to many countries in the Middle East in my early teens and they were some of the nicest people I have ever met. One of the main aspects of their religion is to be kind to one another, and help each other. The media doesn’t show them to be the beat educated as we could be on the subject. Islam is not meant for violence. I had friends in high school that were from Jordan and they were Islamic and they said that Islam was all about compassion, and loving one another.

What are some stereotypes you know of against Muslims? The biggest perspective of Islam I know of is the Qur’an Teaching about violence against non-believers. I don’t think that any parent that has common sense would teach their kids to kill people who don’t believe.

Do you feel threatened by Islamic people? No way. 

New Residential Life Regulations for Fall 2015

Gender inclusive housing is one of the new programs starting in Main Gate B on the 4^th floor which will house 24 students for the 2015 fall semester. The goal is for the LGBT’s community to have safe and neutral living quarters to enhance their socialization and development. Allies and friends of the LGBT’s community are allowed to live there as well. For clarification, this is not living quarters intended for opposite sex couples to be able to move in together. Applications are available at this time at SLC 409 in Nickie Hockenberry’s office.

Other changes planned for the 2015 fall semester are an increase in the price of dormitory living. Burdick will rise to $110, Peet and Braddon $160, Main Gate A and B/Row house in Mackenzie $210, Mackenzie single $130, a large size Mackenzie/Getman/RC single $150, and a Townhouse $160. Make you living arrangement plans early for the 2015 fall semester. 

What We Are Doing?

Tricia Herritt

Phone 607-587-4059

HerrittTL@alfredstate.edu

This week internship I helped Tricia with a lot of projects and activities. I started my internship early. I helped out with internship of new international students. I helped several students through the week with various things like computer skills, career websites to look for jobs in the area, registering for classes, and giving a tour.  I researched event ideas, made a poster for Lunar New Year, attended international club meeting, attended a Kaleidoscope coalition meeting, researched Saudi Arabia and Chinese New Year, had lunch and dinner with internationals, and talked to Tricia about goals.

In the next 30 to 60 days I will help Tricia with many things. I will learn how the Saudi Arabian students adapt and integrate into American society, interview students for a Tor Echo spotlight, video tape student interviews for Tunnel of Oppression, write and research articles for cultural diversity for the Tor Echo, learn about the services and requirements the department has for international students, and develop a better cultural competency of a new student population from Saudi Arabia. I will assist with international student needs by assisting with daily activities in the office, help with objectives on the computer, attend International Club meetings and kaleidoscope meetings, and collaborate with other clubs/organizations with events and activities. I will learn how to network with the surrounding community to expand my network by talking to everyone, asking more questions when I meet new people, contact Scio School for Japanese Dance Club event and I will assist with the Office of Communication/Admissions and ISSO with the promotion of current students for recruiting future students by developing a recruitment video. 

Missed Class #1

A hurtle in my everyday life and my internship is making sure that I am adequately communicating. In the past I have been reserved about communicating any question that I may have as well as requesting assistance when I need it. This is a skill that I have been trying to improve upon and I am sure that I have made progress, but I am aware that I have more work to do. Many times I really do not know what questions I should be asking.  In addition to that I require that explanations be placed into broken down steps. I look at my communication needs similar to a recipe which I understand much better if I go in an organized and step by step process. I also understand that life is not really designed for the way that I like communication to occur. I have been able to be successful so far in my educational process with the assistance of my IEP that gives me additional time to think the process through. This of course is not readily applicable in the workplace where many times situations occur quickly, not necessarily in order and shift gears frequently.

I find that my communication needs can be very frustrating to others. I may need additional explanation where someone else can fill in the blanks. Some people would be insulted if their supervisor gave them a step-by-step explanation, and sometimes more than once, for them to understand what needs to occur, however I find this to be very helpful. I have always desired a very structured classroom environment and feel that I thrive in those types of settings.  I understand about myself that once I have gone through a process with a task, I improve with repetitiveness. I find it very helpful to have daily or every other day meetings to discuss and ask questions on what specific tasks my supervisor needs completed. I understand how this can be time consuming and taxing for someone as busy as my supervisor. 

Make up assignment

This is a required assignment – please write a 1 page paper on ethical issues at your internship, answering the following questions:

Have you had to deal with any ethical issues at your internship, and if so, how did you handle it? No I have had no ethical issues in my internship. We just have to keep some information confidential like the students health card information.

What are some potential ethical issues that could arise at your internship? I have no idea. The way that Tricia handles things is a very safe, open, and comfortable environment. When she needs to talk to someone in private she closes the door.

Has your supervisor ever shared something with you that maybe they shouldn’t have? No.

Is it okay to be Facebook friends with a client or supervisor? Yes as long as you are no longer at the place and you want to use them as a reference.

Is it okay to hug a client or supervisor? It depends on where you do your internship. If it’s at a children’s center than yes. If not I would say no.

How do you handle confidentiality?  What if you see a client in the community – do you say hi? I am very good at confidentiality. I always keep discussions quiet that needs to be. The only time that I wouldn’t is if it puts other people or themselves in danger.

What are some steps you can take to protect yourself around these issues? Be informed about the policies and procedures at the internship site and agencies you work at. 

Journal #7 Internship Benefits

I love my internship at the International Student Services Office. It is much better than my first internship experience and I enjoy working with a completely different student population. The opportunities that I have experienced has expanded my problem-solving techniques and broadened my horizons for thinking outside of the box.

This internship has given me multiple options to work independently, learn new skills, obtain more leadership opportunities, and make more decisions in positive ways. This internship has provided me with the tools to be more “in the know” of what is happening at Alfred State, improving my abilities to be a better editor for the school paper and has expanded my abilities for networking.  I have had difficulty being able to use my resources and network properly to find out information. In the past I have felt like I did not know where to start, but I can now say that my skill has vastly improved and it has opened doors for me in so many directions. I am a lot more mature in my thinking than I was my first year here at college and when I completed my first internship. I have learned and experienced so many new things with my internship and I am so grateful to be able to say it was a successful experience for me.

Journal #6 Time Commitment (Capstone Project)

I never realized how much time commitment goes into a project. I have recently been working on the Capstone Project. I have spent multiple hours putting it together and it has been the main focus of the majority of my internship. At this time, the videos have been recorded, cropped and are ready to show. I still need to make a poster but I am waiting for money from Kaleidoscope. One of the last steps is locating someone to volunteer to supervise the room.

I am beginning to feel a huge relief because I have most of the project completed. Because of timing, I needed to make the Capstone Project a priority and it was difficult to commit so much time to planning it because this project consumed so much of my time. I realize that I have other projects and I feel that I have allowed these projects to slip by. It is time to begin extensive time commitment to new projects such as the Cultural Showcase.  I realize that this project will be a large commitment in order for the showcase to be successful.  I am so glad that I agreed to work congruently on a project for the Tunnel. This experience has been very enriching and I have learned so many new things. This experience has required large amounts of time commitment, and many times I have felt a time crunch, however I have experienced fun while learning. 

Journal #5 Using Resources

Throughout my educational process I have been encouraged to seek outside sources to enhance my learning experience. I have had difficulty seeking out and utilizing outside sources, but since I started my internship I am finding it much easier. I have heightened my understanding that outside sources can help me find more information and therefore get projects done more efficiently. I feel that I have grown personally by becoming smarter, more mature, and more “in the know” by being a liaison between different clubs. I am informed about important informational activities and activities that students need to know prior to the release date. I think that this skill is improving due to having Nickie Hockenberry in the same office where I do my internship. She many times will discuss with me about all the different people she interacts with and their variety of experiences and knowledge. Sharing this information has enhanced my overall experience. I have connected with her intern and Taquon Middleton, who also work for her. My internship has allowed me to feel more confident to reach out to a variety of other people.  This experience has been positive for me because I can feel my growth while meeting my own personal internship goals. 

Journal #4 Communication

A hurtle in my everyday life and my internship is making sure that I am adequately communicating. In the past I have been reserved about communicating any question that I may have as well as requesting assistance when I need it. This is a skill that I have been trying to improve upon and I am sure that I have made progress, but I am aware that I have more work to do. Many times I really do not know what questions I should be asking.  In addition to that I require that explanations be placed into broken down steps. I look at my communication needs similar to a recipe which I understand much better if I go in an organized and step by step process. I also understand that life is not really designed for the way that I like communication to occur. I have been able to be successful so far in my educational process with the assistance of my IEP that gives me additional time to think the process through. This of course is not readily applicable in the workplace where many times situations occur quickly, not necessarily in order and shift gears frequently.

I find that my communication needs can be very frustrating to others. I may need additional explanation where someone else can fill in the blanks. Some people would be insulted if their supervisor gave them a step-by-step explanation, and sometimes more than once, for them to understand what needs to occur, however I find this to be very helpful. I have always desired a very structured classroom environment and feel that I thrive in those types of settings.  I understand about myself that once I have gone through a process with a task, I improve with repetitiveness. I find it very helpful to have daily or every other day meetings to discuss and ask questions on what specific tasks my supervisor needs completed. I understand how this can be time consuming and taxing for someone as busy as my supervisor.