What degree should I get? After asking myself these questions, I felt like there was no chance I could get into college and earn a degree that would better my future. Some people may find returning to school a very easy decision but, it takes motivation, determination, and confidence. I always thought when I finished high school I would take a year off and then start college. Most things do not happen the way we expected and, I did not start college a year after high school.
I tried going to alternative school while working and pregnant but that did not last but a semester either. I was to worried about what my child’s father was doing that I also quit going to that school. Six months after having my first child I ended up pregnant with my second one. I knew from then that I had no chance of ever going back. So I got married at 17 and started just playing the house wife and mom, till it came to me having to find a job.
That semester, I ended up taking incompletes in all of my classes. My doctors and professors declared I was overwhelmed with catching up in my classes and the anxiety of it all consumed me. Little did I know that it would be a decade later before I would officially find out it was really systemic lupus erythematosus. My diagnosis came as I was entering what I considered the magical part of my life. I had married, had a beautiful daughter and was working my dream job and finally felt like I was walking in my purpose.
Another extremely important course I took was Clinical Psychology. In this class I learned about theoretical models, clinical assessment, multicultural considerations, and different types of therapeutic approaches. For the final project, students were asked to create their own model of personality and therapeutic approach, and then develop three possible treatment plans based on the model. I spent many hours working on this project and did a huge amount of research on all the different theories and therapeutic approaches before coming up with my own model. When some of my classmates told me that it took them only a couple of hours to complete this assignment and that the textbook provided them with all the necessary information, that’s when I realized how strong my desire to become a therapist is.
Reflection on first week in practice The Gibbs model of reflection will be used for this piece of work. This was my first week in practice working with a new team and mentor after securing a place on the SCPHN programme. The placement forms 50% of the programme with the rest spent at university completing academic studies that are set out by the NMC training guidelines in preparation for registration. I was excited to be finally staring out in practice as i had waiting almost a year to start the programme and was looking forward to a the challenge. new ways of working and practices that health visiting would offer.
I try looking for a job first to take care of my daughter and pay for my finances but that wasn’t successful. I needed to have a high school degree and a few years’ experience. It was a few days before I contacted Student Services at a nearby school and enrolled immediately. My journey has just begun and I never knew the road to success could be so difficult. I had many sleepless nights and so many assignments I thought I would never finish.
The three time management strategies I previously wanted to incorporate into my life were goal setting, prioritization, and managing interruptions. I am very proud to say I have stuck to my strategies. My intention for goal setting was to set small and manageable goals instead of overall goals that might seem intimidating. Instead of focusing on passing this class as a whole, I set weekly goals to do my best and learn from any feedback that was given. This allowed me to put my best foot forward each and every step of the way and made the class more exciting.
Since having no college degree, I knew that good jobs would be hard to find. I decided it was time for me to make a life changing decision. I started with returning to college to earn my degree. Even though returning to college will be a life changing experience for me. Returning to school has been a dream of mines since I graduated from high school.
The speech Mrs. Holler had given had placed a heavy weight on my shoulders, my schedule was already so difficult, and I didn’t think that I would be able to be successful with a class that required so much devotion. But then I made new friends, sitting with different grade levels, and I started to get more comfortable with the class. But then you switched it up once again. You gave us our group members; you put me in a group with complete strangers, Jacob Biber, Julie Klemz, Katelyn Meeter, Natalie Ambrose, and Kristen Saunders. Ohmigosh, I wanted to run out that door and never come back.
“Why a college education is important to me” Arthur Fletcher is quoted for saying: A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste" So, here I am… A forty-three year old “life educated” woman who was recently unemployed from my beloved field of Horticulture, in the winter and during the Holidays. Great! Just great! It is not something I have ever experienced before, unemployed during the holiday season and I don’t like it one bit. The realization has swiftly set in that my choice to work right out of High School instead of pursuing a college education had just found its way of biting me in the back side.