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Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio

Julia TruongPsychology, 2010

Personal Statement

I came from a family of four children. Although I am the second oldest, I played a major role in my family, as I have been dedicated to help my family when we first immigrated to America. I am family oriented, responsible, trustworthy, devoted, and hard working individual.

My family has always been my top priority before my needs. That was why when we first moved here, I worked very hard to help my family. Hence, I was not able to continue my education. However, I have come to realize that if I do not make it happen then no one will. I started school when my family was considered stable financially and at the same time, I began to build my own little family. I also wanted to set a good example for my sister and my children that through obstacles and difficulties, I am still able to go through school. Hence, they should have no reason not to continue their education.

I believe that success is not all about luck; it is upon us to make it happen. I believe everything is possible; we just have to do everything in our best ability and with great enthusiasm. A friend once told me, “A goal without a plan is like a wish.” I finally made it, I have successfully made the first step of my education and career goal come true, and it was no longer a wish. To note, I will be the first in the family to graduate with a college degree, which I am very anxious about that.

I believe family is the backbone in every individual life and I think it is critically important that everyone should have that strong bond. Besides, a happy family will raise a happy child. Hence, I would love to see people happy with their own family, especially in their marriage. Ever since I was a child, I have witnessed many unfortunate families. They seem to have no clue as how to have a happy marriage and the children were affected tremendously by their parents’ unhappiness. Throughout the years, marriage issues have always been my concern and interest. This is the main reason why I decided to go back to school and become a marriage and family therapist in hopes that I could help make a difference in people’s lives. Being a marriage and family therapist is something I passionately want to do.

Under circumstances, I cannot immediately apply to a MFT graduate program. Hence, I will be applying to UTEP graduate program in Guidance and Counseling and at the same time, I will be taking some courses that lead to licensure as a marriage and family therapist in Texas.

Curricular Vitae

OBJECTIVE My intention after graduation is to continue my education by getting a master degree in marriage

and family therapy.  EDUCATION Bachelor of Art in PsychologyArgosy University 2008-2010GPA 4.00Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Collin County Community College 2005-2007 51 credit hoursGPA 3.392 Richland College 2000-2001Withdrawn Cosmetology School in Oklahoma 1997-1998Earned a manicure certificate and passed Oklahoma State license examSKILLS/COMPETENCIES Bilingual: Vietnamese and EnglishInterpersonal Organizedperseverance 

WORK EXPERIENCES  Elite Nails Address: Dallas, TX Position: Nail Technician/manager Jan. 2005 – Jan.2008• Hire, payroll, advertise, public relations, and watch the overall of the business• manicures, pedicures, polishing, and nail extensions to clients Asean Diner Address: Claremore OKPosition: Manager Sep. 2001 – Jan.2005• Responsible for daily operation of the restaurant from food preparation to serve meals and

beverages to customers• Coordinate the entire system of the place from the dining area to the kitchen, order foods,

supplies, equipment, maintenance, and other such as parties.• Hire, train, payroll, schedule, advertise, public relations, and anything related to the

restaurant Tip To Toe NailsAddress: Plano, TX Position: Nail Technician Aug. 1998 – Aug. 2001• provided manicures, pedicures, polishing, and nail extensions to clients  Hunan Garden Restaurant Address: Mankato, MinnesotaPosition: Waitress (Part-time) Mar. 1996 – May 1997• Greet, seat, and serve customers Social Security AdministrativeAddress: Mankato, MinnesotaPosition: Clerical (summer school job) May 1996 – Aug. 1996• Pick up/drop off mail and enter/update social security numbers into data file

 

Reflection

I have spent the last two and a half years finishing my undergraduate at Argosy University. Over all, my experience with Argosy is very positive. For instance, I personally would expect some technical problems in online setting, interestingly, I have never had any problem in accessing the classroom, download files, or anything related to such. Instructors are always available and responding to my questions in a timely manner, which is wonderful. I have taken courses in traditional classroom, as well as online setting. I realized that online setting provide as much information as traditional one and sometimes I feel it more effective because students required to read the materials prior posting any discussion. In addition, in traditional setting, students are more passive while online is more active in participating, which is great.

What I love most about online courses at Argosy is the amount of writings. At the beginning, my writing was horrible because English is my biggest weakness, my husband had to do lots of correcting and now, he only fix here and there. This improvement has helped gain my confident in writing; however, I would like to continue to sharp this skill and my English overall. I believe with my hard work and the willingness to learn, I think I will do well. Besides my language incompetency in education, there are so many things to learn and I feel like I do not learn enough and tend to forget some of the things I learned. Other than that, I am a determined individual; once I set a goal, I will finish it well and I did. Despite the fact that I have a family to care for, two young children, and many sleepless nights, I am about to finish my first degree. This part of maturation helps me to become more determined than ever before. That is why in learning, I leave little room for excuse. Hence, so far, I have not had any excuse not turning my assignments on time.

I have learned a lot compare to I first begin school, especially in the field of psychology. I have taken many psychology courses and I learned a lot about psychology in general (i.e. Social Psychology, I/O Psychology, and Forensic Psychology etc.). However, children violence, abuse and the family is what interest me most. Some courses I think is necessary not only for those majored in psychology, but for everyone in college as well. For instance, the very first course that I still think it necessary for everyone to take is the interpersonal effectiveness, as this help people in general how to interact effectively with one another. In addition, diversity helps us all understand the differences of others without having bias judgments, especially in America, we made up from a diverse races, ethnics, and backgrounds.

I believe life is a long learning process and I will continue learning until the day I cannot learn anymore. Learning is never enough; hence, I am always open to new information, suggestion, advice, and criticism. I am partially glad that I did not begin college when I was younger because I would not have known what I want to do and what I want to study. Essentially, as I am getting older, I value and understand the important of education. Without higher education, get us nowhere in the current state of our fast growing society.

 

Table of ContentsCognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy• Fundamental Factors to a Happy Marriage -- Review Paper -- Advanced General PsychologyResearch Skills• Effect of Divorce on Children -- Research Paper -- Research Method PsychologyCommunication Skills: Oral and Written• “America is in the process of transforming into a “multicultural landscape” and will be more obvious in

the near future (Argosy, 2010, p.1). As we can see, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds have begun to emerge together through intermarriage (Robinson, 2009). This way allows people from different ethnic and race can share their own worldviews, as every culture has “a rich history of tradition that includes festivals, language, food, spiritual traditions, and relational patterns as well as other elements of cultural importance” (Argosy, 2010, p.3) “ – Sample from Diversity

Ethics and Diversity Awareness• “Being a counselor and regardless of his values or beliefs are, Joe should put the client’s needs at front

in order to become an effective helper. “ – Sample of a case study in Ethics in PsychologyFoundations of Psychology• “Although existentialism and humanism shares some similarity, unlike existentialism, humanism is

more optimistic about human beings and their abilities to overcome life’s hardship and hopelessness (Argosy, 2009). My only thought about how self-actualization used in course materials is one of many steps to help students fulfilling their potential of becoming self-actualized. “ – Sample from Personalities Theory

Applied Psychology• “When dealing with conflicts, I often cooperate in search to find the best solutions. I often to be the

one who initiate to resolve any conflict, especially the one seem to be the most important such as marriage, family and friendship. I’m amazed to know that this negotiation style is the “key behaviors that exemplify this approach are listening and expressing your feelings and desires” (Corvette, 2007, p. 63) because it sounds so like me. “ -- Sample from Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Interpersonal Effectiveness• “Although everyone might execute differently, to me when a client or a customer not happy with the

service they received, the person performing the service should try to please the client as much as possible because there is a rule of thumb that customers are always number one and we treat them well. “ – Sample from Social Psychology

Critical Thinking

My Future in Learning

Since learning is a lifelong process, I can envision myself to become an effective marriage and family therapist, as this is my ultimate goal. It is important that I am able to do what I love and with what I love, I will do well with it, as I am a perfectionist. I like to do well in everything that I set my mind on doing.

Contact Me

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For further information, please contact me at the e-

mail address below. jluong03@yahoo.com