1. Lillian Clarke 2. Lillian.clarke@live.longwood.edu 3. Criminal Justice and Sociology Major 4. Not in a big city 5. Making a difference in other peoples lives, in communities on a small or large scale, working with people for people.

Course work – SOCL 220 Identity Portfolio Part 1

Age: 20 Gender: Female Socio-economic Class: Lower-Class

Ethnicity: American, Armenian, American Indian 1st Language: English

Physical, emotional, developmental ability: Non-disabled, and healthy Biological sex: Female Race: White

National Origin: United States, Charlottesvlle, Virginia

4. I believe the two of my social identities that are most important right now is my age of 20 years old. With the second identity being my SES, otherwise known as Socio-economic status. These two are both important because being 20 years old is a time of
“in-between” I am grown up enough to take care of myself fully, and pay my own bills, drive myself everywhere and such. I am however, not fully mature yet, as most people’s brains and frontal lobes do not fully develop until they are 25 years old. I am old enough to vote, I am not legally old enough to drink, smoke, or own a firearm. My age has a lot to do with where I am at currently in life, which is college. I am a college student and I think age plays a big role in my identity persisting this feature of my self identity.

For instance my age and what I am doing at my age: college. Has a lot to do with my future. I know many other people my age back home who seem to be lost and just living their life in vicarious ways, but they forsee a lot more struggle in their futures. With being 20 and in college I am trying to jumostart my future and explore different careers and such.

As for my SES, I think this is one of the most important identities because wealth plays a big role in the way of life in America these days. I came from a lower-class family, working class as well. I am hoping to move ahead or up the ladder from my past and not condone in as much poverty as the generations in my family before me. The goal is to break the generational habits, which also pertains a lot to my future. The other top identities I think pertain to my life and future are my race and my gender because both of those determine things for my future and also bring me more determination to try my best to obtain the future I look forward to. All of these identities mentioned have to do with a lot of what I desire for my own future.

5. Age: At 20, I am in an “in-between” stage—independent enough to manage responsibilities like school and bills, but still developing maturity. This connects to efficacy, since being in college gives me a sense of control over my future. My age also affects mattering: society recognizes me as an adult in some ways (my independence) but limits me in others, which shapes how valued I feel. In terms of self-esteem, I take pride in being in college at my age and working toward my goals, especially compared to peers who may feel more uncertain about their paths.

Socioeconomic Status (SES): Coming from a working-class background, SES plays a major role in my identity. It pushes my efficacy because I believe education can help me move beyond generational poverty. SES also shapes mattering, since lower-class backgrounds are often overlooked, which motivates me to prove my value. Finally, it influences my self-esteem, though my background has challenges, I also gain confidence and pride from striving to break cycles and create a better future.

Overall, I would arugue that both my age and SES guide the sense of my self-concept by shaping what I believe I can do, how much I matter, and how I see myself as I work toward my goals.

6. Career Exploration

What have been some of your most meaningful projects or experiences in life?

Being there for my family and friends, taking care of family. My three years at Longwood so far. Working two jobs besides school. My highschool job I still work at doing wedding catering, making differences in peoples lives on their “big day”.

What activities are so energizing to you that they make you lose track of time?

Being in class learning about topics I find interesting or I want to find more information about. Being outdoors, and hanging with friends, such as going out with my friends on the weekends.

How would a close family and friends describe your strengths and skills?

Independent, caring, sympathetic, sociable, comical, staying busy, good work ethic when I am at work.

What do others ask you for help for? What can you teach others?

Opinions on things, providing moral support to friends and family, being reliable, picking up shifts at work, try to motivate my friends back home to do better since they all have different mindsets than I do. I went to college and I am hitting milestones, meanwhile… some people I grew up with in my hometown are not.

Whom do you admire? Why?

My mother, work bosses, and my professors in the Sociology and Criminal Justice department. Different caretakers/mentors through my life, family members. Activists, because we need advocacy for the inequalities around us.

What kind of impact do you want to have?

Just any, maybe not global impact that will be remembered for generations to come, but just some impact. Whether it be big or small, improving peoples lives for the greater good.

What job roles or careers most interest you now?

Almost any profession in CJS, traveling, helping at-risk juveniles, social work, philantrophy, park ranger, conservationist officer, helping find missing kids maybe with the National Center for Missing and Exploited children, military, DEA, and FBI.

Coolest job ever heard of?

Behavioral Analysis unit, and park ranger in Grand Teton National Park, concert roadie.

Identity Portfolio Part 2 – Professional Self

1.

1. Purpose to work?

• I think my purpose in working is to find a way to help contribute to society. That’s at least the purpose of becoming an adult in my opinion, and it is a duty I think as a citizen. Also, breaking the current norms of young adults living at home into their late 20s. I believe that my purpose in working is so that I can gain more experience in the work force, so that I can land a good-paying job that brings me even more purpose in life. Lastly, to highlight the last purpose which is mentioned already is to be able to become financially stable and live a stable life.

2. Motivators

• My top four motivators are becoming somewhat successful at least, making a difference in other people’s lives, and making my family and loved ones proud of me. But what really motivates me is being able to afford to live my life and move away from my hometown not becoming a negative statistic like the majority of the people I grew up with back home.

3. Jobs/experiences that made you feel fulfilled?

• I believe I have felt fulfilled with the work I do for the current company I work for, The Local Catering, also from my past work with Mission BBQ. As both of the companies provide catering services, The Local is just more high-scale catering compared to Mission BBQ. I feel fulfilled with my work at The Local by providing high-end wedding catering services to couples, their families, and friends. Wedding days are a big day in most people’s lives; being able to be a part of that special day is so fulfilling.

• Making everything happen for the couple on that day, from setting up the ceremony chairs, to serving the appetizers, to setting up each singular table setting, and serving each plate of dinner all the way to the end of the night, sweeping the venue floors, I feel fulfilled. Especially at the end of the night after working a sum of anywhere between 11-15 hours, when I am sweeping and mopping the floors with my coworkers, I feel fulfilled because of all the hard work my team and I conducted that day. After doing this service for a few years now, and repeating this 100s of times, I know I have impacted many people’s lives. Especially the small things or interactions at weddings between the clients and me. When clients come up to my team and me and say What a great job we did and how thankful they are, I feel so fulfilled in that moment.

• Also, when I completed eight hours of volunteer work with the local food pantry in town FACES, that was very fulfilling, knowing of the impact I was making in my own community for the people and families within my community.

4. Reflect on the work/volunteer experiences completed in past A. What did you enjoy? B. What did you not enjoy?

• A. I really enjoyed getting to know the other volunteers at FACES during the short amount of time I did get to volunteer. Hearing these people’s stories of what brings them to volunteer, where they’re from, or what I have in common with these people of all ages. I also enjoyed being able to physically carry people’s groceries to their vehicles and have those small interactions with them. Whether it was them thanking me, or getting to pet their dog, who was their passenger, I enjoyed that. I felt as if I was really getting to make a small difference in my community. Especially with the rise of the cost of living and food costs. Knowing that for some, this is the only food they might be able to get ahold of. Or having this food aid them to cover the food they may not be able to afford. Being able to provide the basic necessity of food, which is becoming unaffordable to people who live in impoverished, low SES areas, was really fulfilling. Growing up, my family would utilize local food banks, so being able to volunteer and give some of that care back into the world that I, myself or my family received at a point in time felt really nice to give back.

• B. Out of that volunteer experience, what I did not like was seeing how dehumanizing it was. There is not enough supply of food at the food bank to go around for everyone who may need it. The price of food and basic necessities are becoming inexpensive, and it is only becoming worse in the current economy. Which relates to higher levels of stress for everyone of all ages. Which can lead into deeper issues. Picture this, it would be seven a.m. in the morning, and the entire church parking lot was absolutely bumper to bumper with vehicles and people to pick up their food from the food pantry. This would continue for the next several hours, of people coming and going.

• This took place in a poverty-stricken, rural area as well, which you could tell by the characteristics, personality of the clients, as well as the condition of their vehicle. A lot of the population we served are older citizens who are retired, or just unable to work anymore. It burdens me that the fellow people in my community and human beings are so desperate to be able to have food on their table. When this should not be as great an issue as it is. It felt like one of those movies where the people in poverty get the leftover scraps, and it just “it what it is”. That is what was not enjoyable to me. Knowing this is happening not just in my community, but all over the United States, and the world as well. The elderly, middle-aged, young adults, and children are being affected by the higher costs of living and rising food costs and it is devastating.

5. Hard and soft skills possessed?

• Hard Skills: Currently attaining double bachelor degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, reading and writing, forming reports, gathering research, interpreting research, organizing research into a research paper or presentation, hospitality, public service, some language knowledge of Spanish, Microsoft software knowledge
• Soft Skills: Being able to communicate with the general public and coworkers efficiently, creativity, organized, flexible, reliable, teamwork, time management, empathy, sympathy, initiative, adaptable, critical thinking, willing to learn.

6. If someone described what you were good at what would they say?

• They would likely say that I am hardworking, reliable, and caring. As someone who gives full effort in everything I do. They would say I have strong communication and organizational skills, and that I thrive in fast-paced, people centered environments. I am known for my empathy and ability to connect with others, whether through helping customers, supporting friends, or volunteering in my community. Others would also say that I am independent and motivated, with a strong work ethic and a natural drive to keep learning and improving. Overall, they would describe me as someone who balances professionalism and compassion while always striving to make a positive difference

7. NACE Career Competencies. How has something you’ve done shown you have competency?

• There are many things I have done, or had to experience, that demonstrate my competency. This includes my work with The Local Catering, where I consistently apply teamwork, communication, professionalism, and leadership skills. Working long, demanding shifts of 11–15 hours at high-end weddings requires strong critical thinking and problem-solving to ensure each event runs smoothly from start to finish, regardless of issues that arise, short staffed…ect. I collaborate closely with coworkers to coordinate tasks efficiently, demonstrating teamwork and collaboration, while maintaining professionalism and composure in high-pressure environments. My ability to communicate effectively with clients and anticipate their needs shows career and self-development as well as equity and inclusion, since I interact with people from diverse backgrounds respectfully and empathetically. Through this work, I’ve developed strong work ethic, adaptability, and initiative, proving I can take responsibility, stay organized, and contribute meaningfully to both my team and the larger community.

2. Resume’ and Cover Letter

3.

1. Reflect upon the resume’ and cover letter.  How does it represent your attempt at the presentation of the self?   

• With Goffman’s theory of self, my resumé and cover letter are examples of how I manage the way others see me. What he calls impression management. Goffman says that people present themselves like actors on a stage, showing a certain version of themselves depending on the setting. In this case, my “front stage” performance is the professional image I show to employers. My résumé lists my skills, experience, and education in a way that highlights responsibility, teamwork, and leadership traits that make me look capable and dependable. The cover letter builds on that image by showing my passion for helping others and connecting it to the job’s mission. These documents also show parts of my “real self,” like my motivation to make a difference and work hard for a better future. Overall, my résumé and cover letter are tools I use to create a positive and professional impression, showing both who I am and who I aim to be in the workplace.

2. Identify different areas where stress might be induced by the job.  What are at least three of those areas?  Talk about how the two models of stress might help us explain how you deal with the stress from this job.

• In a Case Manager role at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, stress could come from several areas. First, emotional stress from handling traumatic cases involving missing or exploited children. Second, workload stress from managing multiple urgent cases and deadlines. Third, role-related stress from balancing empathy with professionalism. According to Thoits, these pressures can challenge one’s sense of self and lead to distress.
• The stress mediation model shows how stress can lower self-esteem and well-being, but recognizing this helps build coping tools like maintaining confidence and control. The stress moderation model explains that resources such as high self-esteem, support, and coping skills can buffer stress. Using teamwork, self-care, and focusing on purpose can help protect mental health and manage the emotional demands of the job.

Identity Research

Mental Health in Corrections within CJS