College Applications Question

Self-Reflection Paper

Write a 3-page paper reflecting on your perceived place within our society, Reader page 56. Take your time. Cluster or diagram your paper before you write it. Know in advance that this paper should NOT be completed in one sitting. Include the following:

1. Personal (background), academic and career goals.
   1. Information to help you expand on this: My personal background is that I am Filipino-American. I am an only child in my family and that I am a first generation college student that aspires to continue pursuing higher education after obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies. Since I’ve been working with the youth and specifically grade bands from K-12th, I’ve discovered a passion in youth development. This experience has been very humbling and rewarding. In my position as a Youth Mentor; I wear many hats and take ownership of many different responsibilities. This experience of working with the youth for almost a year now has inspired me to dive into the potential of going into a Masters Program in Counseling (or) Counseling Education. I know that with these credentials, degree, + hours of training can help me get into a position where I can continue my passion of youth development where I can do 1 on 1 meetings with students from all types of levels like Middle School all the way to College. The wisdom, knowledge, and experience that I’ve gained and learned greatly from in life can help me continue to make a positive impact and difference in the young lives that I come across on a daily basis so this is why pursuing higher education like a masters degree/program has much importance and significance to me.
2. Past influences
   1. a. Who were you?
   2. information to help you expand on this: Growing up, basketball and music have always been a major influence and factor in my life. I grew up watching Allen Iverson and a young Stephen Curry + Monta Ellis dominate the court together. The ankle-breaking crossovers that Allen Iverson would do in the game as well as Stephen Curry making 3 pointers + Monta Ellis driving the lane to go up for flashy dunks inspired me to pick up a basketball as young as 8-9 years old. This experience had changed my life because it helped me discover a passion and love for basketball. Growing up, I would also watch and learn from my father as he has played guitar and has been a musician. From this experience – I had picked up a guitar at around the same age of 8-9 years old and had started to learn how to play the guitar from my father. This father and son bonding time + experience had also helped me discover a love and passion for music. Aside from this; my grandma and uncle have also been great influences and inspirations to me. They taught me so many life lessons as a kid and although my grandma had passed away in 2017 – I still follow through with everything that she had instilled in me.
3. Current motivations,
   1. a. Who are you?
   2. information to help you expand on this: I am someone who wants to make a difference and change in the lives that I come across through being able to provide them with great value, wisdom, advice, and guidance through sharing many lessons learned through mistakes, trial and error, and pathways that I’ve walked down in my lifetime. I am not a “role” model but rather a “real” model because I always show up as me and always embrace my flaws and uniqueness and this is what helps me stand out and stand tall above all the roadblocks, challenges, and setbacks. I’ve became the person that I needed when I was a kid and I’ve become a great mentor that can help educate, guide, and provide.
   3. b. Who do you want to become?
   4. information to help you expand on this: I want to continue working on becoming the person that I needed when I was a kid although I feel that I have been able to do so, I definitely understand that there is always room for growth and improvement. I want to become a Life Coach, Basketball Coach, Counselor, and successful music producer + music artist. I understand that you can achieve the impossible when you take the “im” out of impossible. You make it possible to achieve and do so through strong work ethic, dedication, and drive + passion.
4. Sacrifices to be made to accomplish and/or realize your goals.
   1. a. How will you get there?
   2. information to help you expand on this: I understand that the process to obtaining a masters degree in counseling + counseling education will take a lot of hard work, perseverance, and dedication to successfully make it through this process towards the masters degree. I will make sure I get there to taking advantage of utilizing the resources and help that is available to me and through continuing to network with others that may have obtained their masters degree already before me so I can be a mentee to them and learn from their mistakes and experience. This will help me better prepare and understand what I would need to absolutely look out and keep watch for. I will organize and better manage my time through utilizing resources that can help me do so.
5. The effects of your choices on your surrounding community and the greater society as a whole.
   1. i understand that mentorship and guidance is extremely important and I know that it can help positively impact my surrounding community as well as the greater society as a whole because with the proper credentials and degree, I can be in a position where I can be a positive and important factor that can help my community thrive as well as contribute positively to society.
6. Ultimately, what are you all about? How does the graduate program you reinterested in complement that?
   1. Information to help you expand on this: Ultimately – I am all about helping uplift others and adding value to the lives that I come across. The masters graduate program in counseling + counseling education complements this because it can help me better learn and develop my skills in counseling and providing advice, guidance, and mentorship.