JSG ePortfolio

We were required to submit to assigments for our ePortfolio.  The first was our Signature Assignment and the second was our final reflective writing.  The Signature Assignment was a compilation of our best class discussions and what we learned from it.  We were also asked why we choose the particular discussion and why it represents our most significant learning.  We were also able to include other student's comments to our post into our assignment.

 Final Reflective Writing

After my wonderful husband and I got married in 2000, we felt it would be the best decision to suspend my schooling at BYU to work full time.  I helped financially support our small family as he pursued a law degree.  After he graduated in 2006, I was thrilled to stop working to focus my time on our oldest son and in 2007, his brother joined our family.  I dove into the challenge of raising two small active boys, and have enjoyed our adorable boys.  I always have had a desire to return to college to finish my degree. 

This year proved a great year to start back with my education as both of our boys are now in school.  Ever since a young age I have been interested in a degree in the Medical Field.  I originally started my freshman year at BYU with the intent of getting a nursing degree, but now I am still deciding if that would be the best for me, or if I would enjoy a different health related area.  As I have previously talked about in our class discussions, I did not take college seriously the first time around.  Chapter 11 taught us about the “Body, Mind, and Social World of Emerging Adulthood.”  It was helpful to connect concepts we learned with my experience while I was 19.  I had some challenges and stressors that year that prevented me from doing my best.  My first semester, I got very sick and had to undergo surgery to remove my tonsils and adenoids.  I had to withdraw from my courses, which was fine with me as I had horrible grades.  I was also much more interested in who I could get to ask me out on my next date than doing my assignments that were due, or studying for my next test.  Getting sick and having to medically withdraw from classes should have been a gift for a fresh start for the winter semester, but once again my priorities were not as they should have been.  I found myself focusing on the social aspect of college and failing to achieve good study habits.  As I was struggling through my classes, I knew I needed to turn my focus toward them and away from my future dates. 

I was just getting caught back up with my courses when an old friend came to visit me halfway through the semester.  Not only was he an old friend, but also my first boyfriend from high school.  He and I had a long history and had not seen each other in since high school graduation.  It was great to see each other again, and I had hoped that our friendship could develop.  He was preparing for an LDS mission, and had recently broken up with his girlfriend.  I was excited to have him back in my life.  Two weeks after that great visit, he committed suicide.  His choice was stemmed from untreated depression.  Reading in Chapter 11 under the specific mental orders section, I learned about how certain stresses common in emerging adulthood such as his recent break up with his girlfriend can be a trigger for major depression.  I had dealt with many things in my life, most of my trials I have touched on during this class, but this event affected me so much.  It was good to read about grief and mourning in the Epilogue Chapter.  I think it would have been helpful to go through counseling at that time in my life to help me understand the grieving process and to help me understand my emotions. 

I fell back into not doing well in my classes and was relieved when the semester was over.  I took a break from BYU and started attending massage therapy school.  I met my husband during that time which was the best thing to happen to me.  He helped me so much to understand who I was, and helped me deal with  the stresses in my life.  He quickly became my best friend and still brings out the best in me each day.  As I was signing up to attend classes at SLCC, I was worried that I would not do well with my grades.  Over the years I have been able to look at my mistakes, and learn what I needed to do differently to be successful this time.  Luckily, I do not have to worry about the dating scene this time around, nor do I have to worry about lacking organized study skills.  I know there are some stressors that cannot be controlled such as sickness or death of a loved one, but I know I do not need to dwell on those things happening.  I am so thrilled that I was able to take this class first.  I felt that I was able to understand so much of what was being taught, which helped give me confidence that I could finally be successful in a college class.  

This class has taught me that as long as I take the time to read every chapter, study it, outline it, and reflect on it that I will do well on quizzes, discussions, and tests.  I am glad to know that I hopefully have the skills needed to do better in college and to achieve the degree of my choice.  I have loved this psychology class as we have studied every phase of our life in Human Growth and Development.  It has been fascinating to read things I have already known, learning new concepts, and being able to connect with others around me.  I have been able to share what I have learned with family members, friends, prior teachers, and classmates.  I am excited to advise other students who have not had an opportunity to take this class to take advantage of how much they will learn during it.  I have been able to gain a better understanding of the changes we go through as we age.  I have enjoyed the many class discussions, and being able to talk and share things that I normally would not have an opportunity to talk about in a regular social setting.  It has also been great to hear other classmate’s life experiences and stories.  I have learned that if you put time into a class, you will take away so much from the class.  I have learned that it would be fascinating to possibly pursue a degree in psychology and other options I could do as a career in this field.  Just as I shared with my unsuccessful example with college 12 years ago, I am so grateful that the beginning of my return to college has been a much better experience.