Overview
Personal Statement
Making Connections
LeADERS is a program at Old Dominion University that focuses on Academic Experience, Professional Development, and Recognition while a student. The purpose is to connect students with academic experiences that are hands-on, interactive, and allow practical application to prepare students for real-world experiences after college. It also focuses on professional development throughout the design process of an ePortfolio that showcases work completed and allows students to reflect on their experience with the class and course material in a meaningful way, emphasizing the importance that the material will have on future endeavors in our chosen career fields.
Old Dominion University’s LeADERS program connects students to courses and real world experiences in the areas of: Leadership, Academic Internship, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Research, or Service Learning. This LeADERS ePortfolio shares how my experiences in the areas of Leadership, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Research, and Service Learning have supported my personal and professional development while working toward my Bachelors of Science in Psychology.
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Reflecting Back
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​I joined LeADERS because I wanted to expand my professional knowledge in areas that I have neglected throughout my life. I joined the Navy right out of High School and learned a lot through that experience, but I felt that I was not a good fit for a company outside of the military because the environments are very different. I had difficulty understanding how to manage conflict, how to work independently, and what to expect in general in a field of employment.
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I struggled initially in the classes because the material was new, and I felt I was going into it blindly. I took time each day to focus on the material and really connect with it. I even took the extra time to teach it to other people to ensure that I grasped the concepts and the content well, and started to apply it to my life. I have found that I learn so much better when I can take what I learn and practice it every day. I made sure to ask questions when needed and worked with Professors to find more resources to help with understanding.
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By utilizing the resources provided by ODU, I was able to succeed in all these classes, and apply the lessons to my daily operations. I use these skills in my lab when working with others and completing research. I also lean on them when teaching others how to work on statistics and their own research papers.
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I loved how all of the class lessons melted into one another in one way or another. There was overlap between classes, and it was both fun and more meaningful to see how something learned in one class impacted another class, tying everything together! The larger picture was easy to piece together and see as a whole instead of fractions of pieces.
LOOKING FORWARD
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I am truly looking forward to applying these skills while pursuing my Master's Degree in Psychology as well as a place of employment to work on my QMHP Certification. I have already begun to apply many of the skills learned within my own company, and hope to instill the traits that I learned, and will continue to learn, to those I continue to lead every day.