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About:

Hello Everyone! My name is Erin Kirkland, and I am a Junior at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. I am studying Sociology and receiving a minor in Psychology and Criminal Justice. I am also an international student here at Longwood. I am from Tisdale, Saskatchewan, Canada. As I am still trying to figure out my future with the education I am receiving, I have many interests in Sociology. This portfolio explains some of the projects I have done while I have been at Longwood University.

In this portfolio, I provide information about myself, my resume, findings of my identity, and meaningful projects I participated in throughout my first semester at Longwood. If you tap on SOCL 220, you will find my resume, cover letter, identity information, and many projects I constructed throughout my Sociology and Self class. If you tap on SOCL-306, you will find a link to a parent support project I have built with my class over the 2024 fall semester and a reflection about the project.

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About

Hello my name is Caleb Grizzard. You can reach by email Caleb.grizzard@live.longwood.edu. I am currently a sophomore with a major of Sociology and a minor of PK-12. I would love to work in any part of Virginia. I am an college athlete and with my career aspiration I would love to play professionally, but if I can’t make it that far I would love to be a college baseball head coach.

Coursework

SOCL 220

Identity Portfolio Part 1

Internal Dimensions: I am 21 years old, male, straight, college athlete, white, and I would say I am an extroverted. I am a very outgoing person and love to socialize to people.

External Dimensions: Regarding geographic location, I would love to work in part of Virginia because I do love Virginia and would love to stay close to my family. Being a college baseball coach I would be making around 51k a year. Personal habits I like to do is hang out with my friends and also hang out with my girlfriend. Also, I love going and golfing with anyone who likes to go have fun out on the golf course. Talking about golf I have been working at Magnolia Green Golf Course for the past 6 years the experience I have is landscaping, washing carts, and cooking food. My religion is Christianity. I would love to graduate in the next three years and just get my bachelor’s degree and I would not stay in college any longer than that. I love to keep clean and also whenever I go out I love to dress casually. I have no kids currently but in the future I would love to have two kids. I would also love to get married in the next 5 years.

Organizational Dimensions: For the work field, Division/ department unit, and seniority I would like to be a head coach for a division 1 college baseball team. Work location I would like to stay in Virginia if possible but if I can’t I would go to another state. For political affiliation, I am a Republican. I am unemployed at the moment due to being in college. 

Four identities I would like to talk about more about my life are personal habits, marital status, geographic location, and religion. These four identities are the most important to me because they represent my life best and will represent my family in the future with my wife and kids. Starting with personal habits I will always love having my alone time with my friends even if it’s at a bar or the golf course. Also, having alone time with my wife in the future for a date or any activity we would like to do outside of the house. Like mini golf or going to the movie theater. Marital status is huge to me because I would love to have a family and that would be the biggest goal to accomplish. The geographic location is big. I don’t think I could ever go too far from my family because I am a family person and I know I would love to always go visit and have time with them every week. Lastly, religion is big to me because I love being a Christian man and I would like to be a Christian. All the identities All four of these identities are met in the same dimension being external dimensions. These four identities would help me feel more positive, excited, welcomed, and self-esteem. 

And just like that, the first day of classes has come and gone.

I hope Monday was a good day for your student and that they’re well on the way to settling in here on campus.

I know that one of the things on a lot of parents’ minds—especially parents of freshmen and transfer students—is how the whole “making new friends” thing is going.

Honestly, the easiest time to make new friends is when so many people are new to campus: That’s now, fall semester. And one of the easiest ways to meet and connect with other Lancers is through student organizations.

Friend Factory: Student Organizations

Longwood has more than 100 of these student groups, all of which are organized around shared interests and activities. Belly dancing? Investing in the stock market? Music ensembles? Service dog training? Anime? Sports? We’ve got organizations for all of that—and much more. It’s so much easier to make friends in the small groups that these organizations provide.

The Involvement and Volunteer Fair gives students the chance to “find their people” in one—or more!—of Longwood’s 100+ student organizations.

Encourage your student to “find their people” at the Involvement and Volunteer Fair next Thursday, Sept. 5, from 4-6 p.m. on Brock Commons. They’ll have the opportunity to talk to students in these organizations, which are always looking for new members.

Mix and Mingle: Go to The G.A.M.E., Get a Scarf, Meet New People

Another great opportunity for students to mix and mingle is First Friday Back and The G.A.M.E. (Greatest Athletics March Ever), one of Longwood’s annual traditions, which is set for next Friday, Sept. 6. (If you’ve been wondering how your student can get a Longwood scarf, keep reading.)

Students get this year’s version of the popular Longwood scarf at The G.A.M.E.

First Friday Back and The G.A.M.E. Schedule
—Students get a wrist band that they can redeem later that day for a Longwood scarf.
New students: noon-3 p.m.
Upperclassmen: starting at 3:15 p.m.
Brock Commons
—Games and activities
3-4 p.m.
—Pep rally and Longwood scarf reveal
4:15 p.m.
Joan Perry Brock Center
followed by the march to the Athletics Complex, where students can exchange their wrist band for a Longwood scarf
—Field Hockey vs. Davidson
6 p.m.
Athletics Complex

Location, Location, Location

Meanwhile, the dining hall, the library, Upchurch University Center, the Fitness Center and classes are other places where your student can meet new people.

I know it can be hard for students to put themselves out there in a new setting, but please encourage your Lancer to take the chance: say hello, smile at someone, sit down and start a conversation. And they should remember that a lot of students here at Longwood are trying to make new friends, too. Your student might be surprised that, when we interview new students during move-in, the most common answer to the question “What are you looking forward to most?” is “Making new friends.”

—Sabrina Brown

The Longwood community had the happy task last week of showing new students and their parents the ropes during Orientation. I hope those of you who are parents of new Longwood students found the answers to your questions and felt reassured that your Lancer will be in good hands when you deliver them to campus next month.

Which brings me to move-in.

At Longwood, move-in is a staggered, multistage process for the various groups of students who will be living in Longwood-managed housing for the 2024-25 academic year. Staggering the dates and times for the groups of students moving in helps alleviate some of the congestion and long lines that are inevitable when hundreds of students and their families converge on a relatively small area such as the Longwood campus.

The process begins Aug. 1 with members of the women’s soccer team and concludes Aug. 25 with continuing students who are not in an early arrival group. New students living in Moss, Johns, Wheeler, Sharp and Register move in at specified times/dates on Aug. 21 and 22.

 If your student is planning to live in Longwood-managed housing this year—either in a residence hall or an apartment at Longwood Landings or Lancer Park—they should have received an email with a date, timeframe and other information about moving in. This email would have come from the Office of Residential and Commuter Life or from a contact person for their early arrival group (athletes, Peer Mentors, etc.).

If your student has not received an email with their move-in information, contact the Office of Residence and Commuter Life at housing@longwood.edu.

You’ve Got Questions—We’ve Got Answers

A wealth of information about move-in is available online. If you can’t find the answer you need at one of the websites below, contact the Office of Residential and Commuter Life at housing@longwood.edu.

General Information
https://www.longwood.edu/housing/move-in-information/

Full Move-in Schedule
https://www.longwood.edu/housing/move-in-information/check-in-time/ 

Where to Unload
https://www.longwood.edu/housing/move-in-information/where-to-unload/

Move-in Map
https://www.longwood.edu/media/residential-and-commuter-life/public-site/2024-Fall-Move-In-Map—Main-Campus.pdf

Volunteers Stand Ready to “Welcome Home Lancers”

A group of faculty, staff and student volunteers is ready to help make the move-in process as smooth as possible for first-time Lancers who will be living in Moss, Johns, Sharp and Register halls. Through the Welcome Home Program, volunteers will be available at these halls on Aug. 21 and 22 from about 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. They can help with unloading vehicles, staying with belongings while families take care of checking in and parking their cars, or assisting with the check-in process and distributing keys. Whatever your need, don’t hesitate to ask. A volunteer or staff member will try to help you themselves or to direct you to someone who can.

Think About Bringing a Rolling Cart or Dolly—and Water

Having a dolly or a rolling cart can make the move-in process much easier. These items will not be available on campus, so consider bringing one with you. Our experts highly recommend! Also, don’t forget the water. You can expect to experience some physical exertion—both inside and outside in the heat—so it’s important to stay hydrated.

Managing Expectations

We have tried very hard to streamline the move-in process, but you should still expect to experience some waiting in line as you move into loading zones, check in, and use the elevators (where applicable) and stairwells.

I hope this information will be helpful as you move your student into Longwood-managed housing.

We can’t wait to greet them, and we wish them all the best for the 2024-25 year!—Sabrina Brown

SCHEDULE

For my internship, I was able to find an organization that aligned perfectly with what I wanted for my future. With that being said, I have completed 120 total hours at StepStone Family and Youth Services. My major is Sociology with a double minor in Psychology and Criminal Justice. I have a concentration in family studies. After graduating from Longwood University, I plan to work as a case manager for foster care and eventually become a forensic interviewer. This organization is a great way for me to get my foot in the door. Many of the people I work with come from all different backgrounds with different work experiences. The knowledge I receive from their experiences is something I will always remember. StepStone has two programs: independent living program and foster care program. I am working in the Harriosnburg, Va and Richmond, Va offices to collect the most amount of experiences possible with my short amount of time here. 
In the independent living program this is for 18-21 year olds who have aged out of foster care but are still in need of guidance. In this program there is a unique approach to teaching independent living skills including traditional classroom instruction and hands-on, skill-based training such as; budgeting, social skills, cooking, job applications, etc. The client in the independent living program must be enrolled in a high school or equivalency program or enrolled in college or a post-secondary education vocational program or participating in a program actively designed to promote or remove barriers to employment or working at least 80 hours a month or medically incapable if engaging in these activities There are strict requirement when it comes to what qualifies the youth to be able to be in the program. The client is provided with an apartment, grocery shopping budget, and required to have a steady job with at least 20 hours a week. Clients are advised to pursue their GED, drivers license, and independence before being released on their own or with family at 21 years of age. In the foster care program, things are much different. This program is for newborns to 18 years of age. Before a child can be placed into a home a background check is conducted on foster families including pictures of their houses, certification, compliance, people, home file, family web, and general information about the foster parent/parents. Home visits, social history, annual report, service plan, biological family sheet, magellan, therapy/counseling sessions are all documented and every small detail is important. An updated picture is captured at every annual visit to keep up to date on how the child is growing and developing. The main goal is to return the child to their biological parents if the biological parents are fit for parenting, financially stable, pass alcohol and drug screenings,etc.
The main difference that I have noticed while interning with both programs is with the independent living due to their age it is difficult to enforce the rules while maintaining their goals. Most clients will stop taking their medications or cleaning themselves or areas due to the sense of freedom to make their own choices. I would say the hardest part of the independent living program is that since they are over the age of eighteen advice can only be given. To see someone struggle with past traumas, or diagnosis they need to be medicated for, or their ability to be able to excel in school but not want to do it for themselves can be frustrating. My supervisor kept using the quote, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink”. This resonated with me because even though you have the possible solutions at hand for these clients they have the choice on what they want to do at the end of the day. . The hardest part of the foster care program was my first day at this facility. I was able to read through case files and read each individual child’s story and social history. This was not easy to read due to the amount of shocking things I had ever heard people do in movies or in the news. It is a different feeling when you are actually seeing a photograph of these children and reading what has happened to them in their short amount of time here on earth. The work here is tidenous and needs close attention to detail to ensure the success and safety of the children. 
I was able to get hands-on experience through StepStone in both programs. In the independent living program I was able to connect with clients by helping them organize, study, and do everyday tasks appropriate for their own success. During my time sitting in on the DSS 90-Day review I collected a lot of information about what could be beneficial or harmful to this client. I created a food inventory list to cut down on hoarding of products, looked into Casey Life Skills activities to promote studying and passing GED tests. The client was able to achieve some of their goals during my time in the office. In the foster care program, I was able to attend court cases and listen to hearings that did not always have the outcome most were hoping for.. I was also able to attend home visits and check-ins. This was a very interesting experience because the foster parent had five children they were looking over. This was different compared to a home that only has one or two children placed due to the mixing of personalities and ages of the children. These were both eye opening experiences because although looking at the case files and reading the children’s stories was great, meeting and seeing them in person was a very different experience. My roles during my time spent at StepStone vary but what does not change is how attention to minor details are important. I was able to look into the online system at different clients to learn more about their experiences, goals, and personalities. I learned many skills while interning but some important ones I would like to mention are: writing a home visit case report, writing a court hearing case report, developing activities to achieve clients goals, learning an online system with little guidance, and time management while traveling longer distances I needed to prepare in advance for my travels. I was able to create flyers to educate and spread awareness about the independent living program that is provided for those aging out of foster care. 
My time spent at StepStone Family and Youth Services taught me a lot about myself and the world around me. I am now able to understand fully the amount of time, dedication, and hardship that goes into this field of work. It takes a certain kind of individual to succeed and I believe through my experiences at StepStone I can confidently say I have what it takes for my future career. This can be a difficult field to work in so having the ability to separate work and home is essential. Many children within the system struggle emotionally, physically, and struggle with issues of trust. This can be a hardship within this field of work due to the nature of mental stability that is needed. I would highly recommend before entering this field that you obtain a supportive boss, co workers, and healthy environment to work in. Patience and understanding is key to succeeding.  I loved my internship because I was able to watch young adults and children set goals and reach to achieve them. Children were able to be reunited with their biological parents, some were able to be adopted by great and loving families. Young adults were able to make big decisions to prepare for life after the independent living program. It was an amazing experience to see them all grow and change over the almost two months. I learned that this job can be challenging but rewarding. It is important not to carry emotions home or let them reflect onto the clients because this could impact their life significantly. I now understand the importance of picking up every small detail to put into their case file because one sentence or one word could make a huge difference in someone’s life. Sitting in a classroom and learning about these things is amazing but being able to experience what you are interested in through real experience is very different. Throughout my time here, I learned that life can be difficult but someone else is struggling way more than I am. Again, this was eye opening and this internship was an amazing experience for me and made me excited for my future and all the possibilities to come after graduation.