Dispositions

Reflection From October/November 2010

**Dispositions Reflection** //Value change as the source of opportunity for improvement//

· The value of change has been a great discussion in class. Some classmates were more receptive change than others. From class discussions and in addition to my own personal views I have maintained the importance to the value of changes as a source of opportunity rather than a hindrance.

//Displays the ability to understand people and relationships and is receptive to the ideas of others//

· Through my experiences both professionally and personally I feel that I have displayed my actions to the ability to understand others and their relationships. I do believe that I will need to strive for better excellence in the receptive ideas of others. I have noticed over the past few months that I am receptive to the ideas of some people but not all. I need to be more open all ideas regardless of where the ideas come from. I should not discriminate ideas based on my own judgmental assumptions.

//Shows a willingness to implement non-discriminatory access, accommodations and assessments//

· As in the previous disposition, I will try harder not to be judgmental but I will also work on educating my colleagues and myself on the mannerism to implement non-discriminatory thought processes in all aspects of the professional career. I promise to be of a consistent manner to show a willingness to improve my ways and be held accountable for my actions. I will hold myself and my peers on the same level of equality.

//Demonstrates empathic understanding of diversity in all domains//

· I want to become better empathic person I have thought that I understand the sympathies of others quite well, but as I grow professionally I want to be able to not only identify and understand someone else’s feeling but also be able to counsel these people, helping them feel better about themselves and their paths they are chosen. I know diversity is a mainstream topic in higher education, so in addition to understanding diversity; I will make it a life choice to include inclusiveness into my leadership philosophy. Inclusiveness and diversity should be addressed as a part all domains, I will do my best to make sure I do my part to help others succeed.

//Regularly reflects upon the philosophical assumptions, ethical principles and rationales that guide’s one practice//

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· Throughout a career in student affairs, one must continually reflect upon the values, beliefs, and opinions of one’s self in relation to the practices they actively display. There is one quote that I have kept as a basis for a foundation in this disposition. “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny”. (Overton, Patrick). I understand the power and influence educators and administrators have, we have to be careful about what we say, think, and do. =====

//Understand oneself as a learner and values as a core capacity//

· To understand oneself as a learner I think that I also need to understand myself as an educator as well. As a graduation gift, I received this inscription “The educator must above all understand how to wait; to reckon all effects in the light of the future, not of the present” (Key, Ellen, 1911). From our introductory course I believe that I finally understand this statement. We educate students today based upon the required skills necessary for tomorrow. As educators we should incorporate our ways of learning into all that we have become both professionally and personally. I will value the ideal of perpetual learning as a core of my philosophy for myself and students I meet in the years to come.

**Seminar Reflection Summer 2011**

Value change as the source of opportunity for improvement

The value of change has been a large theme in the Educational Leadership Department. I learned that educators need to be receptive to change and be not afraid of what change brings to our lives. From class discussions and in addition to my own personal views I maintain the importance to the value of changes as a source of opportunity rather than a hindrance. I value the experiences that change brings to our lives as professionals, and have learned to appreciate change as a way to improve our way of life and the education that change brings.

Real World Examples:
 * Taking a new position outside of my comfort zone in Health Care after graduation.
 * Being a leader, by accepting change into my professional and personal life with grace and valuing the learning experience.
 * Acknowledging the fear that change can bring and not fight changes but sharing and being supportive of the changes that I have been experiencing.

Displays the ability to understand people and relationships and is receptive to the ideas of others

Through my experiences both professionally and personally I feel that I have displayed my actions to the ability to understand others and their relationships. I do believe that throughout my graduate studies experience I have striven to be receptive to ideas of others. I have realized the importance to see the significance in all things. I have become more open to more ideas regardless of where the ideas come from. I practiced not discriminating ideas based on my own judgmental assumptions and considering unconventional approaches as a positive attribute.

Real World Examples:
 * Learned how to listen with my whole being, becoming aware of my body language, posture, facial expression when counseling others. I now face the person, eye contact, keep my facial expression neutral and don't interrupt my conversation counterparts as often.
 * I learned how to celebrate the smallest accomplishments, when my students earned high grades, made decisions about their lives. I took the time to acknowledge their steps toward their individual future.

//Shows a willingness to implement non-discriminatory access, accommodations and assessment//

· As in the previous disposition, I have tried harder not to be judgmental but I have worked on educating my colleagues and myself on the mannerism to implement non-discriminatory thought processes in all aspects of our professional careers. As promised I have been of a consistent manner to show a willingness to improve my ways and be held accountable for my actions. I will hold myself and my peers on the same level of equality. I have realized that my strong personal values have shaped my opinions in holding myself accountable to what I have said as it has shaped my actions of the future.

Real World Examples:
 * I no longer stand for passive discrimination, I acknowledge any discrimination that I encounter. I use to be hesitant when in an unfamiliar environment but I am no longer afraid.
 * I have taken professional steps, by holding myself and others to the same equality standards. I use to be offended by certain perspectives but I have realized that from my own strong personal values, there are other ways to shape the future. I implement a wide variety of perspectives and the willingness to make changes that aren't mine into public policy and procedure.

//Demonstrates empathic understanding of diversity in all domains//

I have become an empathic person I believe to have a high understand of the sympathies of others quite well, but as I have grown professionally I been able to not only identify and understand someone else’s feeling but also been able to counsel these people, helping them feel better about themselves and their paths they are chosen. I still know diversity is a mainstream topic in higher education, so in addition to understanding diversity; I have made it a life choice to include inclusiveness into my leadership philosophy. Inclusiveness and diversity should and will be addressed as a part of all domains in my persona and professional career. I will do my best to make sure I do my part to help others succeed.

Real World Examples:
 * I now live by Di Angelo's Ally's promise and spread the ideologies to others that are interested in changing their diversity perspectives.
 * I now take the time and give meaningful feedback when individuals come to me for advice.
 * I have added inclusiveness to my philosophy of life, I now include an entire spectrum of values, beliefs, and traditions when I reference global views and opinions.

//Regularly reflects upon the philosophical assumptions, ethical principles and rationales that guide’s one practice//

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· As I have progressed throughout my career in student affairs, I have continually reflected upon the values, beliefs, and opinions of one’s self in relation to the practices they actively display. My personal values have become a large determining factor of my philosophical, ethical, and rationale perspectives. There is one quote that I have kept as a basis for a foundation in this disposition. “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny”. (Overton, Patrick). I still believe that when we understand the power and influence educators and administrators have, we have to be careful about what we say, think, and do. I now believe that it is from our own personal values that we find our true selves and what we stand for. =====

Real World Examples:
 * I continuously reflect upon my personal values and acknowledge when my values are challenged.
 * I stand up for what I represent by becoming an example of the professional I need to be.
 * I use my own guided views to advise my students in their own choices as they grow and develop over the years.

//Understand oneself as a learner and values as a core capacity//

To am a learner and I am also an educator. As a graduation gift, I received this inscription “The educator must above all understand how to wait; to reckon all effects in the light of the future, not of the present” (Key, Ellen, 1911). From our introductory course I believe that I finally understand this statement. We educate students today based upon the required skills necessary for tomorrow. As an educator I have incorporated the educator ways of learning into all that I have have become both professionally and personally. I value the ideal of perpetual learning as a core of my philosophy for myself and students I meet in the years to come.

Real World Examples


 * I daily acknowledge to myself that I am an educator and I am also a learner.
 * I realized the importance of educating the students today upon the required skills necessary for tomorrow. I show this in my actions, my reflection on student development, my educating styles, my programming lessons, my hands-on training. All of these show that I now know and understand what it means to be a learner and the values of our core capacity.