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Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio

Debra J. MurphyB.A. Psychology, 2011

Personal Statement

The greatest influence in my life has been the many people who raised me. This was not a good influence, however; it was

The influence that had me from a young age saying that I would always help others and never treat others unkind. These

People were my biological parents, my many foster parents, and finally my adoptive parents. As unkind as they were they

Also created a drive in me to help others and accomplish things in life. I have always tried to look for the positive in others and

Build on that. Because of my background I have always pushed myself to do better. All this happened as the adults around me

Kept telling me I would never amount to anything and look at me now.

The greatest achievement and experience in my life has been the being the mother of six children. My husband and I have

Been foster/adoptive parents since 1993. We have adopted four of our six children, two of which are special needs. I have

Always had the drive to help those less fortunate and to try to make their life a little better. We are in the process of adopting

Our oldest grandson, who is also special needs. I have no greater joy than helping others. Because of this experience I

Decided to go to school, which was not an easy task for me, and get a degree in Psychology. Once I started to go to school,

I found out that I could do it and now have a strong desire to go on and get my Masters in Social Work. My instructors through

Argosy University and the students were always encouraging and helpful.

Another great achievement in my life was being persistent and finding my siblings. I was the second oldest of seven children

And we were all separated. I would not give up when everyone else said that I could not do it and I might as well forget about

Them. I found them all in 1990. This was a great joy for me and them.

I work for Renew Consulting in a group home for the developmentally delayed. This job has helped me realize that I have a

Passion for working with the developmentally delayed. I enjoy going to work and I have always felt that I learn more from them

Then they learn from me. I believe in empowering them to make the right decisions. I praise them for their strengths and work

Work on their weaknesses to build them up. I believe that everyone can change if they are in the right environment and given

Encouragement.

From my earliest memories, I can always remember wanting to help others and becoming a Social Worker. Even when I was

Being abused I was protecting my siblings. As a result of my past environments I have moved ahead of what people in my life

Told me I could. It is now my turn to help empower others to change for the better. We were never promised that life would be

easy however; we get out of it what we put into it. I have chosen not to let my past hold me back but to move forward and help

Others who are struggling.

Resume

Debra J. MurphyB.A. Psychology

1004 SE 24th Ave 541-979-0953Albany, OR 97322 padeprop@q.com

Focus: Career Services for Higher EducationCertified Care Provider and Licensed Foster/Adoptive ParentExpertise in career services, program development, implementing programs and presentation and training

Professional QualificationsCoaching and Mentoring Program DevelopmentEmployer Relations Training & PresentationGoal Oriented Community InvolvementNetworking & Search Strategies Employment Interviewing

Professional ExperienceLinn County Foster/Adoptive Parent Albany, OR 1993-PresentI work with children in our home. These children ranged from babies up to eighteen years-old. These children also ranged fromWithin normal range of intelligence and social skills to developmentally delayed. We adopted four of our six children two of whichAre developmentally delayed and are adopting our special needs grandson. For part of this time we were therapeutic fosterParents and worked with children who were in the juvenile criminal system. We have continually advocated for these childrento make sure their needs were met in all areas.

Renew Consulting Albany, OR 2008-PresentI work in group home with the developmentally delayed. I help with their day to day needs and appointments. I also help with IndividualSupport plans and Behavioral Support Plans. I work directly with the clients and assist them in life skills in the home and out in theCommunity. I help train new staff and make sure the client’s plans are being implemented. Above all I make sure the client’s needs are Being met and they are being treated with respect and dignity.

Certified Pharmacy Technician Lebanon, OR 2004-2008I worked with the customers., medical staff, and insurance companies to make sure the customers got their prescriptions in aTimely manner. I also typed in prescriptions, ordered, counted medications, pulled outdates and recalls and sent them back.

Acorn Cabinets/Murphy’s Barbering/Pade Property Management Albany, OR 1988-PresentThese are all owned by my husband and I. We own and manage three rentals. We do all the repairs, interview potential renters,Do background checks, handle evictions, do the taxes, and handle any problems with renter. On the other two businesses wedo the taxes, interviewing new employees, bids, customer service, and handle any problems that may arise.

Professional Development/Certifications/AffiliationsI have received a B.A. In Psychology and will continue my education to receive a Masters in Social Work. I have extensively workedWith the special needs and enjoy working with those who are special needs.

Memberships: National Honor Society, Community Emergency Response Team, Linn County Foster/Adoptive ParentAffiliations: Linked to Autism, Adoption from US Foster Care, Jake/s House for Children with Autism, and Parents of Special Kids

EducationArgosy University, On-LineB.A. Psychology

I am a member of the national Honor Society, and have maintained an above average GPA while going to school full time, working Fulltime, and taking care of our special needs grandson and brother.

Reflection

Student Self-Appraisal of Learning  I have been really impressed with Argosy University over all. There are some things that I felt could have

been done however; overall it was a great learning experience for me. The one thing I would have changed had I had the

power to be that when instructors comment on work they try to say positive things also. When we only hear negative we

tend to stoptrying. Overall this class has been a wonderful and positive opportunity for me. I have realized that I can do

this and I cango on and get my masters. Thank you professor Viventi for providing a positive environment for learning.

I have really gained confidence in my abilities and I through my time at Argosy and this have really excelled during this

class. Being told all your live you would never accomplish anything and then finishing up a degree has brought my

self-esteem up. I believe this class I have excelled in because I was given more positive feedback.  I have learned from attending Argosy and especially this class to better manage time. I have learned what

works for mein studying and what does not. I have learned that I can ask for help and where to find the information I need

to excel.

All of my classes have helped me develop team skills through the discussions and to realize that it is ok to have a

different view on things than others do. The lectures have been wonderful and because I do all my classes on-line I can keep

keep going back and reviewing. The classes are all set up to help each one in their learning experiences.set up to help each one in their learning experiences.  I would say that I have been able to get rid of some of my weaknesses and work on improving the others and

build on my strengths. Some of my weaknesses have now become strengths for me and others. I have learned that I learn

from my mistakes and it is ok to make a mistake however; I still have a very difficult time when I do not hear any

positives and justhear what I am doing wrong, some of this is why I did not do well in some classes. This is a work in progress. I

have learned I am worth something and I am smart. I have continued to build on my strengths of listening, helping others,

being dependable, and being a hard worker. My study habits which were poor due to the fact that I always said I could not do it,

have drasticallyimproved due to the fact that I now tell myself I can do it. All in All I have really enjoyed this class and my

experience at Argosy University.  

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

Present Work that exemplifies each outcome–can incorporate pictures, video, audio, etc.

My Future in Learning

I envision myself, in the near future, finding a school that I can take classes on line and receiving a

Masters In Social Work. I have enjoyed learning so much that I want to continue learning throughout my life. I

Know that a lot of that is due to my family, my faith, my friends, and my experiences at Argosy University. I

Have learned that learning is a life long process and you are never too old . Too set in your ways, or not

Smart enough to learn. I hope to be able to teach others my love of learning so that they can be empowered to

Learn also.

Contact Me

Thank you for viewing my ePortfolio.

For further information, please contact me at the e-

mail address below.padeprop@q.com