My Turn to Shine

Discovery Exercise

    Two of my most successful public performances in the past were graduation and my recent presentation in one of my classes. Both of those public performances showed off my hard work, motivation, and dedication when I set my mind to something. I felt anxiety in both performances but seeing someone in the audience that cares about me and supports me seems to help a lot. Two of my disastrous performances were my recent test scores on two of my exams. I studied really hard for them both but didn't seem to get the score I was aiming for. I think maybe they weren't successful due to my lack of interest in the topics. I didn't have anyone comment on these performances, just a professor evaluate and grade my work. I was surprised when seeing my score but knew I just had to work harder the next time around. 

Exploration Questions

    Efficacy and self-esteem play a major role when under pressure to perform successfully because if I don't have the efficacy nor the self-esteem to be successful it will show through the ending result of my performance of my work.  To manage performance anxiety I make sure I have supporters in the audience, remind myself of all my hard work, practice before performing, get feedback, and remind myself of the ending results of my past successful performances. When receiving negative reactions I usually take it as advice on ways to improve for next time and make sure not to show it hurt or made me upset. It's good to learn how to suspend initial reactions when being judged so I won't show the person judging me that they can affect me with their harsh words. It's always good to that someone's judgement won't define me as a person and everything I do. Three techniques I've used to suspend those reactions are deep breaths, keep my head held high, and remind the person judging me that what they feel or think is okay and that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. In the future these techniques will help me get through life because everyone has an opinion on everything I do even though it's my life and my choices. I can always turn evaluation and judgement into assessment information by keeping in mind that what people think or say isn't who I am nor my reality.

    

Metacognition: Thinking about my thinking

I know what I want to say before I say it by thinking about a question I was being asked or by thinking about what the conversation is about and I can input to the conversation. Things click in my mind and become easy to learn if I'm interested in it or know it's something I need to know to succeed at something. I struggle with thinking when I'm not interested in a topic or it's hard for me to understand and feel like giving up. Some things that interfere with my thinking process is when I allow someone to distract me or loud noises. The role of thinking in learning is the understanding of why you do what you do. The role of thinking in problem solving is understanding what to do to solve an issue. The role of thinking in self assessment is to understand what you did well, how to improve and to understand why you did things the way you did. The role of thinking in thinking is to be aware of what we are thinking and finding ways to improve. The role of reflection in metacognition is awareness of what we do and why. And lastly, the role of thinking in the theory of performance is understanding how to improve your performance to produce valued results. 

Performing in teams and within a community

Performing in teams

I feel like I contributed the most to my team's success in our last project because I wrote down all things the team got done each day, made it know what else needed to be done to be successful, voiced new ideas, contacted group members every day to make sure all parts were being done, and made sure my team member was up to date when absent. I didn't feel like least part of the team for the last project because my group and I made sure everyone felt equal and no one was left out of the loop. The team role I played was the reporter which is the person who write everything down each time the team meets up. Also the reporter makes sure everyone within the team knows what they are responsible for getting done and checking on the progress of the project. In the last project I didn't play any roles that I felt weren't effective, every role I am assigned I make sure to do my part. Everyone on a team need to have common goals. This is important to make sure everyone is on the same page and is determined to get the job done to have a successful turn out of the project. Some common practices I use to improve team work is making sure everyone understands the project and their part before everyone leaves.

Within a community

I feel like I contributed to my community when I see trash in my lounge of my dorm and I pick it up or even when I simply recycle when throwing out my trash. I feel like my community benefits me when I see everyone starting to recycle because I told them how everyone should start doing it and how it's good. I've felt least a part of my community when there's been meetings for my dorm and no one has told me about it. Some characteristics of a effective community is positivity, listening, open minded, feeling comfortable, and being able to voice your ideas and opinions. Having the same meaningful participation and common values in a community isn't always required but it's good because it sometimes makes things easier.

Clarifying Your Future

I've noticed that I have high expectations and standards when it comes to people in my life and the role they play. Over the weekend I had someone tell me that they aren't perfect and it made me realize that I've had so many people mess up in my life and do wrong towards me that I search for perfection. I need to realize that no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. I'm not perfect and I make mistakes too.

Role Model(s): My mother and Step father

How does this person fit your definition of a role model?
My mother and step father are both my role models. I know it sounds typical for a person to have their parents as role models but I have a good reason. They fit my definitions of a role model as parents because they do and would do anything for my siblings and I no matter what.

Why do you look up to him?her and want to emulate him/her?
I look up to my mother because she went from being with a person that didn't know how to love or appreciate her to a single parent who not only just took care of my older sister and I but also 6 of my older cousins. I also look up to my step father because he came into my family with no knowledge of how to raise a family but quickly caught on. He not only joined our family but he added my younger sister to the family. Even though my older sister and I gave him a hard time he still took care of us as if we were his own.

If you already have acquired the characteristics that you admire, how have you done so and how are they manifesting themselves in your life?
I have acquired the characteristics of being generous, caring, and loving by my parents raising me to believe that that's how people should be and being a good person is important. These characteristics manifest in my life by my actions of kindness, how I react in situations and how I treat people in my life.

Methodologies: Unlocking Process Knowledge

Scenario/Problem 1:  I have a required course and exam for this class right after 
Spring Break. I must receive a very good grade to keep my grade up in the class to maintain my scholarship. My professor cancels the last class due to a family emergency. To prepare for this exam I must read pages 70-120. I realize that 20 of the required pages are missing from my textbook and realized I don't have anyone's number or email from my class.  My textbook is out of stock in the bookstore. I have a plane to catch in less than 24 hours to Cancun with three friends and won't be back until the day before the exam.


Identify Key Issues: 

• Exam with missing pages from my textbook
• Plane to catch in less than 24 hours

Collect Data and Info:

• Worth 50% of my grade

Identify Assumptions: 

• Failing the exam

Break the Problem Apart:

• Last class cancelled
• 20 pages missing 
• Book out of Stock
• No number or email of classmates
• Less than 24 hours to catch a plane
• Exam the day after return

Model Sub-Problems:

• No number or email of classmates

Integrate Solutions:

• Email Professor
• Switch Flight to Cancun
• Look up textbook online

Test and Validate:

• Look up switching flights
• Look up ebook for textbook or online bookstore

Generalize the Solution: These reasons are keeping me from preparing for the exam 

Communicate Solution: Preparing for an exam that's 50% of my grade is more important than a trip to Cancun. So to make sure I study and get to enjoy my Spring Break, I'm going to try and get in contact with my professor if I can't contact any of my classmates or find the text book online. 

Time, Planning, And Productivity

5 Activities that amount to most hours during a week:

1. Sleep
2. Class
3. Homework
4. Studying/Library
5. Free time (hanging out/movies)

Activities with little flexibility:

1. Free time 
2. Studying/Library
3. Homework
4. Sleep

My schedule is usually flexible in the afternoon because I don't have many classes. 

Five events that force changes in my plan:

1. Over sleeping 
2. Going to the gym
3. Hanging out
4. Movies
5. Party

Some reasons for putting contingencies in my schedule is so I won't make more than one plan on the same date or at the same time. Doing homework and studying help me stay productive over hanging out or watching movies and t.v. Hanging out too much rather than studying for a test or going over notes before class rather than watching t.v causes problems because I'm not as prepared for a test or class. Keeping a time sheet is important because it reminds me of the things I have to do and what I should be spending more of my time on. Some time management strategies I've used is writing notes in my phone with reminders. That strategy has worked because I'm usually on my phone a lot so it pops up and reminds me on what I need to get done or up coming things I need to do.

Self Assessment

For the first exam of my GMMD class I used my Media Impact textbook to help me prepare. I know I preformed well when I get a good grade or feel like I tried my best. On this first exam I don't feel like I did well because I didn't get a good grade and I didn't try my best. I seek out other people's opinion on how well I performed when I don't feel I did my best. I usually go to my professors because they are the ones teaching me. With their feedback I try to do better with the next assignment. I've given them enough control to direct me in the right direction because they are older than me and can give good advice. I often self assess myself when getting back work or through hard decisions as well with reflecting. It always important to both self assess and reflect to improve then next to do something.

Identifying and Analyzing

Problem: Being away from my family

Five Characteristics: 

1. I have a big family
2. Too dependent on my family
3. Too use to being around my family all the time
4. Home sick
5. I'm 8 hours away from them with no car

Three strengths I have that helps me address the problem:

1. I'm a strong person
2. I'm good at distracting myself from thinking of my family
3. Knowing I'll see them eventually

Something that stops me from addressing the problem is when I get sad as if I'm never going to see them again. Someone who helps me think through the problem is my mother when we talk and she keeps me updated with family things so I won't feel like I'm missing out. The real barrier to addressing the issue is getting it through my head that I'm growing up and there's going to be times I'm away from my family. To address this barrier I'm going to continue to have my weekly talks with my mom so I can know what's going on back home with my family. Another way to address this barrier is by having positive thoughts and trying to see the bright side of being away from home and on my own. Since I've identified a way to begin addressing my problem it's changed the way I feel about the future because before I felt nervous about being on my own and away from my family but now I'm feeling excited to see what comes next and to become more independent. This problem shown me that I'm really a family person but I care more about making them proud and if that means I have to be away from them to earn a degree of my field then I'll do it. This problem has a lot to do with my sense of self-efficacy because I believe in myself, I know I'll be okay with being away from my family. I have to believe in myself in order to reach my goals.

Who I am

Some of my goals I have already completed such as graduating from high school, getting into college, and majoring in at least one of the two things I am passionate about which is writing and film. One other goal I want to achieve in life is improving my knowledge of film so that I can be the best at what I want to make a career out of. Another goal I have is to maintain a good enough grade in all of my classes so that I'm able to graduate with honors and a degree of my passion. Last but not least another goal I have is after graduating to find a job that can take my career to the next level and helping me become successful at what I love to do. My action plan is to do whatever it is that I need to do to reach my goals and perhaps even further in life and in my career. Meaning if I have to give up going out with friends or missing out on a party over the weekend so I can get work done then that's exactly what I'll do. I think I'll know I've reached my goal(s) when I'm able to say I'm the best at what I do and love what I'm doing. Also when I find a career of my passion that would help me take care of my family.