First of all, I am extremely excited to
be in this class and the School Counseling program. Both Tuesday’s class and the readings were very refreshing
and made me feel even more confident that this is where I am supposed to be. I have never been in a class that
focuses on personal growth, but personal growth is something I am very much
interested in and I am thrilled to begin this journey.
The
first chapter of Corey and Corey (2008) did not have the feeling of a typical
textbook. It felt as if the author
was personally speaking to and encouraging me. I really enjoyed reading the background of the key people who
have contributed their theories and expertise to Psychology. I was most struck by Alfred
Adler’s story. Even though he had a troubled and sickly
childhood, he chose to keep a positive attitude (2008, pg. 10). He had a very proactive view of
individuals and I think we can all learn and grow more effectively with this
type of outlook. I currently work
as a TSS and some of my clients have less than ideal childhoods. My job is to help these kids develop
into the best people they can be. Just as Adler thought that we “are creative, active,
choice-making beings (2008, pg. 10),” I want the kids that I currently work
with as well as the kids I will be counseling to know that they can take
control of their own destiny.
I
also found Maslov’s Hierarchy of Needs very important for me to keep in mind. Even though I have read about his theory
in every Psychology class that I have taken, I do not consider its importance enough. Although I do not
necessarily think that self-actualization spans all cultures, I believe that he
laid out a solid foundation
as to how people personally grow (2008, pg. 18). How can a person expend energy on his or her creativity when
he or she is unable to receive adequate food and shelter? If that person was to focus on his or
her esteem needs first, would that person also be able to meet basic survival
needs? A person without food and
shelter needs to first focus on gaining those necessities before working up the
pyramid. It is easier and more
comfortable to gain order and structure after having a home/building/shelter as
protection from the environment. Many
of the kids we will work with may need their basic necessities met before we
can better help them with their intrapersonal and interpersonal skills.
Everything
that I have read and learned so far seems to be very applicable to our personal
journeys and careers. I look
forward to future readings and classes as well as the interactions we will all
have with one another.
Corey, G., & Corey, M.S. (2008). I never knew I had a choice: Explorations in personal growth (9th ed.). Belmont, California: Thompson Brooks/Cole. ISBN: 9780495602293
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