ASSIGNMENT 3: PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO PART 2

Assignment 3: Professional Portfolio Part 1

Sheena Weber

PSY4924 XB: Advanced Psychology

Argosy University

ASSIGNMENT 3: PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO PART 2

Assignment 3: Professional Portfolio Part 1

On December 29, 1982, I was given life. November 4, 1999 I gave life. September 2,

2002, my son’s father’s life was taken and February 6, 2010 I saved a life. Through all this, I

found the purpose in my life. Life is precious and I want to help others improve the quality of

their life and help them find their purpose in fulfilling it through counseling services.

I have not always been a positive thinker, done everything right, stayed satisfied with life

or even succeeded in everything I do. You have to fail in order to succeed sometimes. If I did not

take that first step and fall as a toddler, then I probably wouldn’t have ever learned to walk. If I

fail at something, then I think of how I can not only succeed at it but do it better. I am

competitive but still maintain my good sportsmanship. If I loose, I practice harder and come back

to win. I do not try to change others for a different result. I only change what I can and that is,

myself. When an obstacle in life arises, I look back in life and see how I have overcome them

before. I don’t focus on how I did it. I focus on that fact that I did it.

November 4, 1999 I was a sophomore in high school and delivered a healthy baby boy.

Statistically speaking, I shouldn’t have been this far in education but have, and will finish with

the highest level of education. Education has always been important to me. Having a child does

not slow me down; it only accelerates my drive to succeed. I have the same 24 hours a day as

everyone else. It’s what I choose to do with those hours that make the difference.

On September 2, 2002, three weeks before completing my Associate’s Degree in Graphic

Design, my son’s father had been in a car accident that took his life. I would not let that stop me

from graduating though. When I am determined to finish something, I do and earlier than

ASSIGNMENT 3: PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO PART 2

expected. I graduated high school early and was determined to graduate college early and I did

but not without thinking about life differently. I valued my everyday choices, the people around

me and realized tomorrow may not be there. I had also decided I wasn’t going to over work

myself, slow down and live life. I was fortunate enough to travel and be able to experience other

cultures and life styles and meet a variety of personalities. I find this invaluable especially in the

field of Psychology.

“In order to find yourself, you must loose yourself.” T. D. Jakes. When I turned 25, I

went through what was probably the worst year of my life. I had lost my job, my boyfriend and

was about to loose my home. I felt like everything I had worked so hard for was disappearing.

Depression runs in my family and I had never been treated for it until this happened. I was

prescribed medication and saw a counselor. It took months to find the right medication though

and the experience of testing different medications was awful, not just for me but those around

me. With every trial, I got a new personality. I knew I could not be on medication forever, so I

constructed a plan to make changes in my life and read tips on how to help and got off my

medication. It was through this experience that I decided I wanted to help others through

counseling, specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy.

February 6, 2010, my friend had overdosed on sleeping pills and I called 9-1-1 just in

time to save his life. I did not realize the importance of my actions until his mother had told me

how thankful she was that I was there to do so. That night I knew I was in the right career path

without a doubt. I wanted to save more lives and help others find the quality in theirs. Most

importantly, I wanted a career that was not selfish but instead, self-less.

ASSIGNMENT 3: PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO PART 2

As I near my graduation date, people ask if I am excited to graduate and my reply is “no.”

I view this as a great accomplishment but also as an unfinished long-term goal. My excitement

lies in the new beginnings of my Master’s Degree program. I am certain where I am going and

eager to get there. “There is more than one way to get to the top of a mountain” and I will find

my way.

ASSIGNMENT 3: PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO PART 2

References:

1. Argosy University. (2010) Module 1. Retrieved July 6, 2010 from

http://myeclassonline.com/