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Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio

Kristy SweetlandB.A. Psychology Program,

2010

Personal Statement

For twenty years I worked in veterinary medicine, a leader in my field. Armed with only a veterinary technician certification, I surpassed all the expected limitations of a two-year degree. The first six years of my veterinary career were spent engaging in all of the tasks my title asked of me - technical jobs such as lab work, surgical assistance, client communications, radiographic technology, and performing minor medical procedures under the supervision of the veterinarians. After those initial years, however, I began to instinctively focus on organization, the dynamics of the workplace, how to make employees happier and more fulfilled, suggesting changes which would propel us forward and away from the status quo. Being a confident speaker and communicator as well as being able to articulate my thoughts and plans clearly and concisely, I began to bring about great change within my work places and joined the ranks of management. The last fourteen years of my life in veterinary medicine were spent in administration, culminating with the management of an international, privately owned poison control and forensic toxicology center, handling the product accounts and poison control issues of several Fortune 500 Corporations across the country. I led a team of over 50 employees: veterinary technicians and veterinarians, including those board-certified in various specialties. When it seemed as though I had reached heights available to only a handful of veterinary technicians across the world, enjoying outstanding success and prestige, I suddenly paused. It had become painfully and vividly clear to me then that no amount of present success could make up for the fact that I was undeniably miserable in my career. In fact, it was obvious that my present course was physically killing me. Nearly forty years old, on over seven different prescription drugs for various stress-related illnesses, I suddenly understood what it meant to be true to oneself, and recognized that I was not in any way honoring that tenet. To my boss’s shock and disbelief, I handed him my letter of resignation and made the frightening and liberating decision to start completely over in life. I gave myself to the field of psychology once and for all, and went back to finish my Bachelor’s degree.

One year ago life as I knew it came to a sudden and complete pause. After twenty years in veterinary medicine, terrified though I was, I quit my job with little concern for financial consequence. When I made that decision, taking the action to free myself, my long-suppressed flood gates burst open, casting me forth within a torrent of spiritual understanding and rebirth. A week after I quit my job, I took some much needed breathing time. With only my dog for company, I set off from Minnesota, driving across country. California was my final destination though I would never arrive there. Through New Mexico I began to experience the beauty of the Divine, long ignored due to my frenetic, material lifestyle. Wondering if I was going completely mad, I took solace in the understanding which told me I was not. In fact, I understood that I was finally healing from all of those years of stress. Having spent the last year studying Transpersonal Psychology, I now believe that what I experienced in New Mexico was a visionary spiritual experience, something Western traditional psychology would surely label as delusional. This experience gave me the fortitude I would need to navigate my way through the next year, breaking through old barriers and financial fears to find my freedom of heart and spirit. My husband and I just recently moved to New Mexico permanently. I now intend to devote my life to Transpersonal Psychology.

Personal Statement (cont.)

My professional and personal goals are to assist others through life-altering transitions such as those which I have endured, and to grow consciously and spiritually in order to effect positive change in the world. It is supremely difficult to overcome the level of fear needed to accomplish such personal change in this society. My goal is to become a transpersonal life coach so that I may act as a guide for those in need of assistance. Through my graduate studies, I expect to be challenged, inspired, and pushed to my limits. I desire to grow, to learn, and to be a part of an inspirational community. I am highly motivated and self-driven and hope that if I am given the chance to be a part of this school that I will be stretched to become even more open-minded, a better writer, and a skilled counselor. I do well with independent study and have received straight A’s in my distance learning, self-guided courses.

I believe that Western Eurocentric traditional psychology stumbles over their absolute resistance to any driving force which can’t be quantified through Western scientific empiricism. Attempting to heal a spiritually based person, without validating that spirituality is anathema to progress in my humble opinion. This brings me to a subject which fuels my passion and drives my goal to succeed. I’m referring to the failure of our country’s primarily Western psychological paradigm to heal struggling Native Americans. The resistance of so many health professionals to broadening their worldview, lacking the ability to embrace varying cultural beliefs is a road block to success. We have got to acknowledge that our current collective failures with the Native American population are a direct reflection of our limited scope. The more we insult those in need of our assistance by offering them nothing but a Western ethnocentric definition of the “right” or “wrong” way to live, the further behind we become. My academic goals are in line with one of my greatest professional heroes, Eduardo Duran, and I aim to do what I can to expand my worldview in such a way as to become effective with the Native American population. I fully embrace the Native American culture and though I am of Western European origins myself, I look to Native America as a source of guidance and strength, fully understanding the profound power of their spiritual practices. We must learn to utilize this power as the healing gift that it is, rather than define it as silly or pathologic. Transpersonal psychology accomplishes these goals.

Resume

KRISTY SWEETLAND824 N. 1ST STREETRATON, NEW MEXICO, 87740763-370-1762KRISTY.SWEETLAND@GMAIL.COM 

  Academic BackgroundBachelors of Arts Degree – Psychology (focus on Positive Psychology & Industrial Psychology) Argosy University – completion date 3/2010Minneapolis, Minnesota National Certification, Veterinary Technology (CVT) Medical Institute of Minnesota – have retained national and state certification since 1990.Minneapolis, Minnesota  Work HistorySAFETYCALL INTERNATIONAL: Bloomington, MN (Oct 2002- Jan 2009) Assistant Manager of Call Center Operations for international privately owned industry poison control center. Handled client liaison

responsibilities for Fortune 500 corporations, managed a team of over thirty veterinary professionals, acquired extensive knowledge and training in the area of toxicology, traveled the country representing our corporation at national trade shows and sales meetings, team leader for projects involving million dollar contracts with Fortune 500 companies, and always maintained a management commitment to stress management, wellness, and positive motivation tactics with my employees. Helped develop modern web sites, a new approach to contemporary social marketing, and wrote a company blog as well as newsletter. Full responsibility for the interviewing, hiring and terminating of employees. Head trainer for all new employees.

 

Resume (page 2)

DOVER VETERINARY HOSPITAL: Dover, NH (Sep 1996-Aug 2002) Manager, Surgery Department. Managed a veterinary team of twelve including surgical veterinary specialists,

veterinary technicians, and receptionists in a large six department specialty referral hospital. Restructured the organization of the hospital throughout all departments, increasing day to day organization and thus creating a much smoother and less stressful environment for a staff of 48. Was client liaison for the department, discussing after care, financial estimates, medical needs, as well as discussing patient care with referring veterinarians all over northern New England. Full responsibility for the interviewing, hiring and terminating of employees. Head trainer for all new employees.

 Plymouth Heights Pet Hospital: Plymouth, MN (Jan 1990- Aug 1996)Certified Veterinary Technician. Perfected all the technical aspects of the veterinary field as well as client

communication, client education, daily maintenance of technical equipment, surgical nursing, radiography, preventative medicine, laboratory skills, and organizational skills.

       References Catherine Adams, DVM – Staff Veterinarian for Plymouth Heights Pet Hospital & SafetyCall International.

#763-370-6861 Dan Berkner, PharmD - Lead Pharmacist for Shopko Pharmacy, Hutchinson, MN. #651-357-2615 Ahna Brutlag, DVM – Assistant Executive Director of Veterinary Services for SafetyCall International. #952-

852-4635

Reflection

I’ve had wonderful time at Argosy University and have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure with this program. My freshman, sophomore, and junior years were spent at the University of Minnesota. Although I cherish my memories from that University as well, I have found that coming back to finish my degree through the on-line flexibility of a smaller, more intimate program was so much more welcoming. Working full time and completing my degree was a challenge, but I found the flexibility and personalized attention of my Argosy directors to be just what I needed to succeed.

Looking back, I definitely see a trend toward apathy with subjects I find difficult to find interest in, such as statistics and research psychology. Being a right-brain thinker, I have to say that those subjects were skimmed over by me. I do not believe the statistical methods are firmly rooted in my knowledge base, even though I received A’s in the classes…

Table of Contents

Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy- Who Is Left Behind? Western Psychology’s Failure with Native American Cultures

Research Skills - Animal-Assisted Therapy vs. Drug Therapy: A quantitative research study

Communication Skills: Oral and Written - My Personal Autobiography

Ethics and Diversity Awareness - Native American Spirituality

Foundations of Psychology - Promotion of Physical and Mental Health over the Life Span: A Developmental Study

Applied Psychology - The Connection: How Life Coaching and Positive Psychology are Linked.

Critical Thinking

Cognitive Abilities: Who Is Left Behind? Western Psychology’s Failure with Native American Cultures.

  

Kristy SweetlandFebruary 16, 2010

Research Skills

Research Abilities: Animal-Assisted Therapy vs. Drug Therapy: A quantitative research study

   

Kristy SweetlandFebruary 16, 2010

 

Communication Skills

Communication Skills: My Personal Autobiography

  Kristy Sweetland February 16, 2010

Ethics and Diversity Skills

Ethics and Diversity Skills: Native American Spirituality   

Kristy SweetlandFebruary 16, 2010

Knowledge of Foundations

Knowledge of Foundations: Promotion of Physical and Mental Health over the Life Span: A Developmental Study

   

Kristy SweetlandFebruary 16, 2010

Knowledge of Applied Psychology

Knowledge of Applied Psychology: The Connection: How Life Coaching and Positive Psychology are Linked.

   

Kristy SweetlandFebruary 16, 2010

My Future in Learning

I feel my future in learning is just beginning. I am awaiting acceptance for graduate programs at this time and intend to proceed through a PhD level in Transpersonal Psychology. Even then, I feel my devotion to learning will never find a resting place, as learning is how we expand as individuals. I look forward to one day being the teacher, though I understand that we never fully transcend the student role, throughout life.

Contact Me

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For further information, please contact me at the e-

mail address below. Kristy.sweetland@gmail.com