Reflective journal #1

Reflective Journal #1:  

August 11, 2016

The Place of Forsyth




For my first journal, I will give an overview of the important key points I know will help someone in the Honors Mentorship program and in the work force. Before I met my mentor for the program, I was nervous and extremely anxious. I wondered if the boss, Joni , who is the owner of Place of Forsyth, would think that I am qualified enough to be part of her organization. I remember how nervous I was as I quietly entered the enormous building in front of me. There were a lot of people going in and out the front door. I felt out of place compared to everyone else. Even though I felt lost and confused on the first day, I had a positive attitude. For me, having a positive attitude at work or anywhere is one of the important traits a person can display. When you show that you are positive even in the worst times, people who are around you will feel a sort of comfort and sincerity. You will also become closer to your peers and boss. Another key point is knowing what is needed of you from your mentor. For example, turning off your cell phone while working, being ON time, be willing to answer and listen, dressing appropriately and just being prepared. All these points are extremely important because they all depend on what time of reputation you will create for yourself.  You can either show yourself as someone who is hard-working, strong willed, and optimistic or you can show your self as someone who is lacking, distracted, unfocused, and anti-social. 

 From my mentorship, I envision myself gaining more hands on experience for the career I want to pursue. Because I want to be a counseling psychologist, I will need to be able to know how to work with other people with different background. I will also need to learn how to relate to clients who are struggling with depression, addictions, abuse, illnesses, homeless, and so on. Being able to work at the Place of Forsyth gives me the opportunity to encounter people who have these type of  problems. 
Even though I might not be able to understand their life, I am able to get out of my comfort zone to find a way and help them. Therefore, I am able to gain the skills I'll need.  Lastly, I will have a more hands on experience. 

To ensure that I get the experience I need, I will sacrifice some of my free time to be more involved in the job. I can volunteer on the weekends. I can donate clothes and food that I do not use or need. Also I will ensure that I an one hundred percent present throughout the whole journey. 

The mentorship program prepares me for my future because it is helping me grow as a person. A charted psychologist once said, " long term volunteering is a form of pro-social behavior that involves commitment given over an extended period of time."  This quote is basically saying that when your volunteer your time to something important, you become committed to it. Just like how I want to be committed to my career in the future, the mentorship gives me an insight of what is really means to be a psychologist. It is not just about helping doing your job correctly, but more about being able to sincerely commit your time help that person.