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Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio

Sandra E. DavenportPsychology, 2011

Personal Statement• Intro: Upon graduation with my Bachelor’s in psychology, I hope to attend a Masters program to further

my education in the exciting flied of psychology. After I receive a Master’s degree in psychology I hope to achieve one of the few possible goals I have for the future. The main ideas are to: become a social worker with Hawaii’s Child Protective Services; create a program in the state of Hawaii for domestic violence victims specific to children; and to perhaps become a children therapist in my later years. In the order that was given, is the order that I feel would be the most realistic due to time and the economy.

• Passion: Working with children • Prior to attending Argosy University: Attended Portland State University, Lane Community College then

to attend University of Oregon. Hoped to become an elementary education schoolteacher. At Portland State University, I was participating in my student teacher internship, and due to the geographical location, most of the students I was working with at the time came from lower-income, farming community, which I then quickly recognized that personal hygiene was a lower priority with this community, more specifically dental hygiene. I was disappointed with seeing this, as well as seeing the lack of parental involvement in their child’s education and overall life, which directed me into changing majors and becoming a dental hygienist to children, seeing how there was such a need for it in this specific community. I transferred to Lane Community College to fulfill this goal. When it came to my first in-housed class where I was working on patients, I came to realization that although it was a career with an ongoing need with the appeal of a better then minimal, steady income, it simply was not my passion and I was miserable while receiving on-hands training. I switched my major back to my original one; elementary education and there I was at University of Oregon. Due to personal issues regarding my family and my daughter’s father at that time, I had to consider other options. After overcoming these obstacles in my life, it was at least ten years. I had my daughter and my son, thus being a mother was my number one priority. I still had the want to finish my schooling when I came to a point in my life where I more secure in most aspects.

• Attending Argosy University: For a major of psychology for the initial goal of becoming a social worker and advance to children’s therapy, as I would continue in my education.

• Recap: Over the course of obtaining my Bachelors, I was hired by the state of Hawaii, C.P.S. and developed a greater goal by noticing a need in present day as well as relating to my own experience. That goal is to achieve my Master’s degree in psychology and create a program to help domestic violence victims that are under the age of eighteen, for I am finding that there is a strong need for it and is would be including my passion of helping children.

ResumeEmployment History2008- Present: State of Hawaii- Child Protection Services, Social Service Assistant III. Duties include:

Supervising visitation for parent-child and sibling; observe; assess; writing reports for the courts; being subpoenaed by the judge of the court; payments; working closely with foster parents and youth; enrolling child of the system in school systems; transportations to therapies; and placement of children.

2005-2008: Personal Parenting and Assessment Services, Paraprofessional/ Supervision Specialist & Coordinator Supervision for Parapro Division. Duties include: Creating schedules for Parapros; training new Parapro; Parent Education; Supervising visitation for parent-child and sibling; observe; assess; writing reports for the State of Hawaii Child Protection Services and the courts.

2002-2005: Owner of Jitterbug’s Espresso.Duties include: Everything relating to owning and running a private business (sole owner).

Prior-2002: Stay at Home Mother/ Harpist for Red Lion Hotels & various occasionsEducationHigh school: Westlinn High School, graduating in 1982Universities: 1982-84, majoring in Elementary Education and minor in music, Portland State University;

1985-86, majoring in Dental Hygiene, Lane Community College; 1986-1988, majoring in Elementary Education, University of Oregon; 2008- Present, majoring in Psychology Argosy University Online

SkillsI am organized, efficient, dependable, hardworking, thorough, creative, and can easily relate to a wide

variety of people. I can work well on Microsoft Word and Excel and have intermediate computer skills, typing 55 five words/ minute and operate various coping and fax machines.

 

Reflection I would like to say that my experience while attending this school was quite frustrating at times but at the same

time most enjoyable. I transferred in after not attending school for over 20 years. I was very shy, uncertain and worried that I wouldn’t be able to do it with being a single mom of 2 and working a full time job and being on stand by in the evenings to make a little extra money for my family.

I found the support from classmates amazing and outstanding! I loved the discussions and conversations. I appreciated the fact that if I had a question, I could throw it out there and someone would actually take the time to respond and try help overcome my question or concern. I also find it so interesting that we can all meet and participate in class from all different parts of the States and have such an input in cultural, traditional and day to day life experiences. It is wonderful! The students and most of the Professors were very interesting and helpful. I did find that many times, because I was a completely online learner, it seemed hard for the school administration to answer the phone, return calls when I had questions, etc. I didn’t really have a advisor – which I did ask about but I do appreciate the fact that for the most part I was able to muddle my way through and certainly did appreciate the return calls when I did get them with an answer. I came to the conclusion that most of the students at this particular campus MUST obviously participate in both online and attend campus because of the fact that many times when talking with Dr. DeGesso, she would say that I could just stop by or go into and talk with someone. Even when I had reminded her that I was a couple of time zones away! Also frustrating is the lack of communication since I was an online learner. I understand that the email system was being worked on – over and over and with that many times, things weren’t communicated with updates or just a ”Thanks for being a student” kind of things. When would ask for an audit of my credits, unfortunately it seemed like it was really asking a lot to have done and even one time, some of my credits had been forgotten so that it looked like I would have yet another year to finish! This was very frustrating, I must say.

I feel that my strengths were that I feel that I am determined and responsible with my time so that I was usually never late with deadlines, etc. I feel that I am pretty good with my time management and completing all of my assignments. I also think that because of the fact that I am maybe a little older than some of my peers from classes, I have some life experience to share from a different standpoint. I find it quite interesting to learn from everyone else’s journey’s in life and their experiences that have helped them to bring them to where they are today or the reasons why they are going to school etc.

With regards to my weaknesses, I feel that my biggest issue is my paper writing. I find it tough to not write like I talk and this creates some big problems with my paper writing many times! With APA standards, I find some Professors think that I do okay and some really stick it to me and I struggle! I am committed to improving so I have faith that it will!

Table of Contents

Cognitive abilities: Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology Course Final Project

Research skills: Research Methods- Research Proposal ProjectCommunication skills: Psychology and Criminal Justice- Serial Killer:

Albert FishEthics & Diversity awareness: Ethics in Psychology Course Final Project Knowledge of foundations of the field: Developmental Psychology

Course ProjectKnowledge of applied psychology: Creating Keiki Day for Children in

Permanent Foster Care SystemInterpersonal Effectiveness: Forensic Psychology- Partner Violence

Project Presentation

Critical Thinking

Writing multiple assignments have defiantly improved me to become a better complex thinker, more so the assignments that I had to research and formulate my own opinion on a specific case study. By not only research specific topics, but also including other information that is needed in nearly all scenarios, such as ethical codes to follow, also helped me become a complex thinker.

My Future in Learning

I feel that since I am already a continuing student who returned to school after taking a little “over 20 year break”, I can honestly say that I am a lifelong learner. I had attended school in my earlier years and almost had finished. I took a little break and life happened! Before I knew it – over 20 years had passed so that when I decided to go back to school, it most definitely was intimidating, overwhelming to say the least and more expensive! I certainly am kicking myself for not finishing when I could have and waiting like I did. Although, I may not be where I am today had I not done things this way either.

I am a single mother of 2 beautiful growing children. I want to set a good example to them that we need to be in charge of our own lives and make our life happen for ourselves. It is important to be responsible and aware of what is going on around you and that we are all born with two strong, wonderful feet to stand tall on and nice strong back with a creative, intelligent brain that we need to use! I don’t want my kids to grow up and think that life is given to you on a platter (because I can’t give that to them) but I CAN give them the tools and myself as the example of struggling to manage everything because I didn’t finish my schooling earlier on, therefore, I am going back to school now.

Because my daughter is in her early teens and has many “dramas” in school daily, I find it helpful to process with her that by myself as an example, even when we aren’t in school, we are still learning life’s lessons if we are open to it and aware of what is going on within our own lives. In work, we are continuing to better ourselves with updating computer programs, trainings, etc. Communication is important wherever we are! Learning can come from our neighbors and friends even.

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