Professional Self

1. What is your purpose to work?
   • My purpose at work is to discover my place and purpose in the social world, earn a living, and enhance my skills. By finding my place and purpose, I mean forming relationships, understanding the skills I have to offer, and determining where I can fit in. Earning a living is a given when it comes to work, but it is also important for me to maintain the social class my parents worked hard to attain for our family. Additionally, I want to continue pursuing the activities I enjoy, such as traveling, photography, and raising pets. I also aspire to improve my work skills and learn more about the topics I am passionate about.
2. What motivates you?
   • The things that motivate me include caring for my animals, pursuing my education, maintaining my reputation, and spending time with my friends. At home, I feel a strong obligation to take care of my pets, as I view them not just as animals, but as part of my family. Additionally, attending school motivates me to enhance my education, which in turn helps to build my reputation as a student and opens up future career opportunities.
3. What jobs/experiences have made you feel fulfilled?
   • Experiences that have left me feeling fulfilled include my involvement in my club, various community work, taking care of my pets, and helping my friends and family. Whenever my club hosts events, participates in community organizing, or attends Canine Companion events, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that we are providing support to people through the best type of human companion. One community project I was particularly proud to be a part of was the Big Event, which made me feel more connected to the Farmville community beyond the university. Additionally, there was a time when one of my cousins was undergoing chemotherapy, and their family needed extra support, so I drove across the country to spend a week at their home to help out. It was the first time I had assisted my family with something so significant, and it felt incredibly rewarding to be there for them, especially since their parents were dealing with the stress of caring for four other children.
4. Reflect on the work/volunteer experiences you have had?
   • I enjoyed volunteering for the Big Event, the flea market, pet-sitting, and organizing military community gatherings during my childhood. while growing up. Although I had only participated in the Big Event once, it was the most fun and rewarding organized community service I have experienced. While I don’t recall having much prior experience in community work, I find it fulfilling to spend a few hours helping others with their everyday tasks. I also volunteered for a social work class by assisting at the town’s flea market. It was a pleasure to help people select winter clothes and to explore the booths of other vendors. Additionally, pet-sitting throughout my high school years allowed me to meet and care for various dogs in my neighborhood, which was a rewarding experience as well. Moreover, one of my favorite childhood memories is participating in military community gatherings and services with my family when we lived on base.
   • I had some work experiences that I did not enjoy, particularly babysitting and participating in community service at my previous church. During middle and high school, I often reached out to neighbors to offer babysitting as a way to earn some extra cash. At that time, I lacked the skills and knowledge required for caring for younger children, and although I have since improved my responsibilities, babysitting was not a strong suit for me. Additionally, I remember participating in service opportunities hosted by my old church, where my sister and I were assigned to different groups. I ended up in a baking group, and while it felt rewarding to donate the baked goods to firefighters and police officers, I did not enjoy the baking experience. The group was large, and the workload was not divided evenly, making it less enjoyable for me.
5. What hard and soft skills do you possess? 
   • Hard skills: technical skills, fluency in a foreign language, and analytical problem-solving.
   • Soft skills: reliable, empathetic, and problem solver.
6. If someone were to describe what you were good at, what would they say?
   • People often describe my strengths as being in technology, animal care, and creativity. I have a strong understanding of technology, including phones and computers, and I have taken two programming classes. While my dad sometimes helps me with technical issues, I am a quick learner and can navigate programs and files efficiently on my own. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a passion for caring for animals and have been surrounded by them my entire life. I am capable of providing excellent care for them. Others also see me as very creative; although I struggle with perfectionism and sketching, crafting is my hobby, and I can produce decent work with digital art.
7. Take the top four NACE career competencies.  How has something you have done show that you have that competency?
   • Critical Thinking: I have consistently demonstrated critical thinking throughout my academic career, especially in statistics, programming, and policy courses. I excel in statistical reasoning and possess strong mathematical skills. Additionally, I have knowledge of programming and technological skills, as well as critical and ethical reasoning from my public policy classes in social work.
   • Professionalism: I have experience in various professional environments, including medical, public, and military settings, beyond just my school experiences. During my childhood, I lived on military bases and attended meetings, gatherings, and ceremonies alongside my dad and other military personnel. This background also exposed me to military facilities, such as hospitals. Additionally, I have experience in public speaking and am familiar with work-related scenarios.
   • Communication: I have a strong ability to clarify complex concepts, particularly in areas such as technology and navigation. My background includes experience in delivering class presentations and effectively communicating in front of an audience, which enhances my skills in conveying information clearly and engagingly. This has not only refined my ability to convey intricate information clearly but also enhanced my capacity to engage and captivate listeners.
   • Teamwork: I perform well in collaborative settings, such as class group work, and consistently complete my tasks efficiently. Additionally, I have engaged in various volunteer opportunities that demanded teamwork and coordination. For instance, as part of a social work class, I participated in mandatory volunteer work where we collaborated with local organizations to support community initiatives. This experience not only enhanced my teamwork skills but also deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by those we served. Furthermore, my participation in the Big Event, a large-scale community service project, allowed me to work alongside fellow students to make a significant impact on our local community. 

1. Resume’ and Cover Letter:
   • https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ccec5b9ca380ff00&from=shareddesktop_copy

2. Reflect upon the resume and cover letter.  How does it represent your attempt at the presentation of the self?
   • The resume and cover letter serve as key components in presenting oneself in the workplace and in impression management. When defining the situation, both documents are designed to define a specific career role and convey intended impressions to potential employers. In my resume and cover letter, I defined specific scenarios (such as dog-owner trainer/service trainer) in which potential employers would find me a good fit, and outlined the expectations of that role (type and experience of training).
   • In terms of situated identity, the resume and cover letter reflect the identity we adopt for the role we aspire to. Broadly, we want to be perceived as professional, organized, and well-prepared for that position. More specifically, we aim to align our identities with those that are well-regarded in that job, convincing the hiring manager that we possess the necessary skill sets and background for the role. My resume and cover letter highlight the role I assumed, much like a well-trained dog trainer. I portrayed my qualities in a manner that an employer would appreciate in a potential employee.
   • In the component of creating the right impressions, resumes and cover letters are designed to appeal to the desired role through carefully chosen language. We structure our words to convey the qualities we want to highlight, making ourselves appear more suitable for that position. The use of structured language—characterized by formality, confidence, and persuasiveness—is essential in resumes and cover letters to communicate the intended impressions. In my resume and cover letter, I described my qualities and identity as “ambitious,” “hard-working,” and “organized,” and structured my background to highlight my experience in the role.
   • The front-stage and back-stage components of resumes and cover letters play a crucial role in shaping and presenting our self-image. Although these documents do not involve direct interactions with others, they function as a performance of the character we want to portray for the roles we are applying for, whether as an engineer, teacher, attorney, or any other profession. Additionally, they reflect our personal narratives, including our goals and relevant experiences. The backstage aspect of these documents consists of behaviors and traits that are not explicitly mentioned, which separate us from our professional roles. For instance, while I may present myself as outgoing and optimistic in my application, when I’m away from public view, I tend to be more relaxed and expressive.
3. 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.
   • Different areas of my chosen job where stress might be induced include financial costs, housing management, and time management. According to the job offer, the trainer’s role requires flexibility, such as picking up and dropping off dogs at clients’ homes, as well as bringing each dog in training into your own home and treating them as if they were your own. One unspoken drawback is the need for a larger home to accommodate the dogs. Additionally, you must have the essentials to care for them, which also involves associated financial costs and gas expenses. 
   • The stress model that most closely resembles these stressors is the stress process model. The potential stressors in this job arise from a combination of social structure factors and stressor accumulations. Examples of social structure factors include an individual’s social class and the conditions of their neighborhood, such as the size and upkeep of their home, which are essential for providing quality care for the dogs. Additionally, unrelated life events and strains can overwhelm the responsibilities associated with tending and training the dogs. Additionally, the differential vulnerability model can explain the stressors associated with this job, as it relies heavily on social assistance and support. This includes essential components like training and mentorship for the role, outreach through social media, and interaction with other trainers and customers. Without one or more of these elements, it would be very challenging to sustain this job.