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Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio

Rachel GolubArgosy University, 2011

Personal Statement

My personal goals upon the completion of my undergraduate degree in psychology include attending graduate school. I intend to work on a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree which will enable me to gain valuable experience through an internship within the field. An internship will prepare me for all aspects of social work, as it will allow me to implement the theoretical knowledge that I will gain in the classroom and provide an opportunity to use it on a practical level, while under the close supervision of other licensed professionals in the field.

My specific professional goals therefore, will include gaining my Master of Social Work degree as well as the Florida state licensing certification which is required to practice as a clinical social worker. I aim to work in the area of mental health counseling in a clinical setting.

I am specifically drawn to the clinical and mental health aspects of social work because I believe that when mental health disorders are left undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to negative consequences for both the individual and society as a whole.  

               

Personal Statement

For example, a person who suffers from depression, ADHD or anxiety, but does not receive a professional diagnosis or treatment, can finish up self-medicating using drugs or alcohol to ease the pain. This can lead to other health disorders, addiction, crime, violence, family and relational issues and even poverty. This puts a strain on the individual, the family and society as a whole. By providing adequate care and services to such individuals, I believe mental health disorders can be treated and adequate support can be given to assist the person in leading a healthy and successful life, enabling him/her to fully function and make a positive contribution to society.

Particular strengths that I bring to the social work profession are empathy and compassion for others who may be experiencing social or mental health problems. I possess patience and a calm disposition, which will benefit me as a social worker when working with people from all backgrounds as well as handling stressful situations. I have the ability to make others feel comfortable around me, by possessing good listening skills and problem solving skills. These strengths will be particularly useful to me as a social worker. I demonstrated these skills as a teacher in the Montessori classroom, as patience was often needed when teaching a class of 30 children ages three to six years. I respect individuals from all backgrounds and cultures, as well as those who practice different religions, and believe in social justice for all.

Personal Statement

This will enable me to work effectively with individuals from many diverse backgrounds, as well as help others to live and function better in our diverse society. I am open-minded, hard working and willing to learn, and these are qualities that will be needed as a social worker. My willingness to learn will also enable me to work alongside other professionals in the field, such as nurses, doctors, psychologists and school personnel, as I listen, collaborate and learn from other valuable professional opinions.

Limitations I may have are that I am not fluent in a second language. This could hinder communication between other parties. I aim to work on this limitation by taking a course in a second language such as Spanish to help me to communicate more effectively, and reduce any language barriers that could arise when working with the Spanish or Latino population. Other limitations may be a lack of familiarity of certain rules or regulations of policies and programs. This could result in the failure to refer an individual to the appropriate help or care that he/she requires. I aim to learn more about health and social service programs that are available to the public in order to better serve the individuals I will serve, to avoid misinforming them.

Personal Statement

Other personal or professional experiences/qualities that could help me in my goals of becoming a professional social worker are I have worked with both parents and children, having taught as a certified AMI (Association Montessori International) Montessori teacher (ages 3-6 years) for ten years. My valuable experience in the classroom will help me as I work with future children and families in the social work field. I also have three children of my own, which has provided many opportunities for learning as a mother, as well as taught me to multi-task and handle stressful situations as they arise. Additionally, I know from experience what it is like to experience cultural differences, as I moved to the United States from the United Kingdom twenty years ago. I experienced the challenges of fitting into a new culture as well as leaving my friends behind. This will make me more compassionate to others who come from other cultures and backgrounds, and who are trying to assimilate.

I believe all the above qualities will assist me in the MSW program, as well as in the profession upon my graduation. I look forward to beginning my new program of study, and having the opportunity to expand and learn with other students and faculty. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to pursue my personal and professional goals and look forward to making a valuable contribution to the field of social work within the near future.

 

Resume

EducationArgosy University, 2008-2011B.A. Psychology, June, 2011. G.P.A. 4.0 Association Montessori International (A.M.I.) Atlanta, Ga. 1987-88

Member of The National Honor Society in Psychology (Psi Chi) 4-24-2003 to

present 

Resume

Career objective Intent is to attend graduate school in January, 2012, in order to

obtain a Master of Social Work, followed by the process of licensing to work as a LCSW. Specific interests are in mental health counseling

Professional Experience

Elizabeth Town Montessori School, 1988-1989 Assisted the lead teacher, classroom management, demonstrated

Montessori materials to teach key concepts.Temple Terrace Montessori School, Tampa, FL. 1989-91 Lead primary teacher, implemented the Montessori Method of

teaching a class of 3-6 year old children. Demonstrated materials, kept up to date progress records, engaged in parent conferences.

Resume

Montessori World, Orlando, FL. 1991-92 Lead primary teacher, implemented the Montessori Method of

teaching a class of 3-6 year old children. Demonstrated materials, kept up to date progress records, engaged in parent conferences.

Leesburg Montessori School, Leesburg, FL. 1992-94 Lead primary teacher, implemented the Montessori Method of

teaching a class of 3-6 year old children. Demonstrated materials, kept up to date progress records, engaged in parent conferences.

Montessori NEST & Children’s House, Mt. Dora, FL. 1994-96 Co-Founder. Successfully opened and set up new school. Lead

primary teacher, trained assistant staff, offered parent education on Montessori Method, built up enrollment from 0 to 30 primary aged children within 2 years. Demonstrated materials, kept up to date progress records, engaged in parent conferences.

Golden Triangle Montessori School, Golden Triangle, FL. 1997-98 Assisted former parent in development of new Montessori program,

as well as assisted in new classroom set up. Taught primary class, and successfully helped to build up enrollment.

Resume

Kimono International Inc. 1999- 2004 Owned and operated successful internet based import export

business which specialized in vintage Japanese clothing and accessories. This business enabled me to produce income while remaining at home to care for my 3 young children.

Contours Express Ladies Gym 2005-2008 Owned and operated ladies workout facility. 200-300 members. Kept

up to date records on each member as well as sold new memberships. Managed and trained staff in the use of equipment and customer service.

Activities Horse riding, health and fitness, mountain biking, running, beach,

reading, spending time with my family.

Reflection

The psychology program at Argosy University has enabled me to learn and gain competencies in multiple theories of psychology. Through various assignments, my cognitive abilities have increased, and I have demonstrated this in assignments that required problem-solving, analysis and appropriate use of information resources.

I have learned research methods and how to utilize peer reviewed scholarly articles for my papers. Through assignments that required me to develop my own research proposal and follow up by developing surveys, hypothesis, research design and research, my research skills have developed.

I have learned more effective communication skills throughout my program. I learned how to communicate clearly, thoughtfully and in unbiased ways on discussion boards with peers and professors. I also increased my communication skills by creating power point presentations to share with my peers. All my assignments allowed me to demonstrate my written and oral communication skills effectively.

Issues of ethics and diversity were paramount in all my classes. I developed an understanding and sensitivity to ethical and diversity issues in many areas of psychology. This was demonstrated in writing assignments that required careful analysis of ethical and diversity issues.

I have acquired a broad understanding of basic concepts, theories and empirical findings in several domains of psychology which include biological, cognitive, developmental, personality and social. I have demonstrated this understanding in many writing assignments and research papers throughout my degree.

 

   

Reflection

My knowledge of applied psychology has increased significantly as I applied psychology to personal, social, and organizational problems through course assignments. I have demonstrated interpersonal effectiveness by using power point presentations which demonstrated my ability to communicate effectively, appreciate diversity and cultural sensitivity, as well as making me more aware of the impact I have on others.

I look forward to progressing to the next level of learning as I pursue graduate studies in social work. I have developed a solid foundation of psychology at Argosy, and hope to apply my knowledge and skills as I work on my graduate degree and practical internship within the social work field in the near future.

Table of Contents

Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy

Research SkillsCommunication Skills: Oral and WrittenEthics and Diversity AwarenessFoundations of PsychologyApplied PsychologyInterpersonal Effectiveness**Include work samples and projects with a Title Page and organized accordingly to demonstrate each of the Program Outcomes above

Critical Thinking

Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information

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Research Skills

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Communication Skills: Oral and Written

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Ethics and Diversity Awareness

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Foundations of Psychology

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Applied Psychology

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Interpersonal Effectiveness

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My Future in Learning

I have enjoyed my learning experience at Argosy University over the last three years. It has engaged me in the process of active learning and affirmed my belief that learning is a life long process. I will continue being a life long learner as I prepare to embark upon my graduate studies. I intend to start a Master of Social Work degree in January 2012, which will allow me to gain valuable practical experience in the field of clinical social work through an internship within the field. My future learning process will also involve licensing credentials in order to meet state licensing requirements as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

As the field of psychology and social work continue to expand, I anticipate many opportunities for life long learning. The internet will be an invaluable tool as well as an integral part of my learning process. As the field of psychology and social work continue to advance through scientific research, I am excited to participate in the learning process with today's advanced technology to assist me.

Contact Me

Thank you for viewing my ePortfolio.

For further information, please contact me at the e-

mail address below. rachelgolub@aol.com