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Abstract: My journeytohighereducationhastakenme to placesseldomdreamedabout.Fromdivorce
to a passionforequality,fromthe small picture tothe bigpicture,Ihave gaineda passionforactivismin
the realmof social services. Social Inequalities,Social Problems, Social Institutions, Theoriesof
Personality,Social Psychology,Ethical IssuesinSocial Sciences,StatisticsforSocial Sciences, Writingfor
Social Sciences,andPrinciplesforSocial Researchwereall core classesincludedinthe journey. The
capstone classescomplimentedexpectationstofurthergraduate education. The educational journey
requiredhardworkand discipline atanacceleratedpace,asthe majorityof classeswere takenonline.
The delayedhighereducationinspiredexcessdiscipline. The outcome of the hard workand discipline
will be CumLaude graduation.
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The journeyforcompletionof highereducationbeganagainuponthe divorce. Afterhaving
beena stayat home momfor manyyears,miseryatthe soul level stimulatedaction.Changewas
inevitable. Counselingwassoughtbeforethe decisionto divorce became final andthisdecisioninspired
multiple positive stepstoredefinition. The journeybeganatthe communitycollege level,notreally
knowingthe desiredcareerpath,nursingwasappealing. Aftertakingajobwitha quadriplegicmanwho
sufferedfromObsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD),nursingwasabandonedandanAssociate inthe
Arts degree attained. Uponentryto ParkUniversityacareer inCommunicationwasappealingwitha
minorinsociology. The classesthatwouldknockoutthe sociologyminorwere takenfirst.Those
sociologyclassesawakenedapassionwithin. A change of degree planwasinorderand it actually
boostedthe amountof creditsI had inthe core curriculumaspreviouscollege creditstransferredandan
educationin social psychologywaswellunderway.
The firstsociologyclasswassocial inequalitieswhichenlightenedme tojusthow unequal oursocietyis
inregards to economics,genderdifferences,racial identityandtreatmentthereof,andperhapsmost
pertinent,education. Forexample,in2003 while 42% of Whitesaged18 to 24 participatedin
postsecondaryeducation,only32%of Blacks and24% of Latinosdidthe same (National Centerfor
EducationStatistics,2005) (citedbyLoweryet al.,2010). Perceptionof genderinequalityhinders
growthfor manyethnicminorities. Althoughavarietyof complex processescontributetogender and
ethnicdifferencesineducationalchoicesandoutcomes, womenandethnicminorities’(reasonable)
belief thatthe deckis stackedagainsttheirgrouplikelycontributestotheirlowerratesof participation
and persistenceinacademicdomains(Loweryetal,2010). These typesof issuesleadtoproblems
withinanysociety.
The nextcourse,Social Problems,highlightedsolutionsthat othercountrieshave inplace to
reduce social inequalities andassure thatbasichumanneedsare met. The most memorable isthatof
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the problemof healthcare. Swedencomestomindas a mostdesirable place tolive. Swedenhasa
systemthatlendscredibilitytothe proclamationforBasicHumanRightsestablished bythe United
Nationsin1948. Inaddition,the systemof Universal HealthCare affordseachmemberof the Canadian
societythe rightto healthcare whichisoverseenbythe government. While there are admitted
problems,perceivedorreal,the systemguaranteesall people equal accesstohealthcare regardlessof
income,race,religion,orcreedamongothers. Canadianhealthcare isunusual initsuniversalinsurance
coverage of requiredphysicianandhospital servicesforall permanentresidents. These servicesare
providedwithoutsuchfinancial barriersasdeductiblesorco-payments(Gazieretal.,2009). Another
fascinatingissue broughttolightwasthatof global warming.
Al Gore and hisdocumentaryAnInconvenientTruthwere incrediblyenlightening.Fossilfuels
are the cause of depletionof the ozone layer,inturncausing erraticweatherpatterns andmassive shifts
inocean levelsdue tomeltingglaciers.Filmssuchas AnInconvenient Truthare articulated toraise
publicawarenesstoissuessurroundingpublicwell-being. Documentariesare nolongerconventionally
perceivedasapassive experience intendedsolelyforinformal learningorentertainment.Instead,with
everincreasingfrequency,these filmsare consideredpartof a largerefforttospark debate,moldpublic
opinion,shape policy,andbuildactivistnetworks(Nisbet&Aufderheide,2009). Thisis motivates
activismwithin. Justwhoismakingthe policiesandwhatmotivatesthem?
The Social Institutionscourse helpsusanswerthisquestion. There are three basictypesof social
institutions,family, learningfacilities,andgovernment.The familyiswhere mostof ourshapingisdone.
We learna majorityof our environmental viewsfromourimmediatesurroundingsfrombirthon,When
we reach school age we beginformal shapingof attitudesandconformity,ornot,whichare generally
enforcedbygovernment.Eachinstitutiongovernsanotherandthisishow policiesare generalized.
However,inourcapitalistsociety,those whoare able tobuypoliticiansdothe mostpolicymaking.
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Admittedlyasubstantial claim.The newideological configurationamongthe political elitesandruling
classesinat leastthe English-speakingcapitalistcountriescanbe seeninthe policiesof the former
Clintonadministrationandthe currentBlairadministration(Shumar,2004). Justhow were these policy
makersraised,were theypoor,orwere theybroughtupby wealthyfamilies?
The Theoriesof Personalitycourse enlightensustohow the institutionof familyplaysan
importantrole inthe shapingof the individual. Undoubtedlyafavorite,thiscourse delvedintothe
formationof personalitybasedon theoriesaboutthe style of upbringingmergedwith environmental
forcesand emotional factorsinvolved.The favoritetheoryidentifiedwithisthe humanistperspective.
While belief thatautonomyplaysanimportantrole inshapingpersonalities,one cannothelp butbe
shapedbyenvironmentaswell.Maslow’sconceptof hierarchyof needsand self-actualizationmakes
great sense. Inadditiontophysiological needs,Maslow positedneedsforsafety,belongingnessand
love,esteem,andself-actualization,inascendingorderonthe hierarchy(Koltko-Rivera,2006).Once the
needsof the hierarchyare met,one achievesself-actualization.Inotherwords,the self-actualized
personneedsnomore inorderto achieve happiness.Once self-actualizationisachieved,the questionof
the largerpicture comesintoplay.
What can one do to helpothersintheirquest?The course entitledSocial Psychologygivesus
purpose toexplore the higherneedsof all. The realmof social psychologyisbroadandencompasses
issuesfromall societiesinall cultural realms.Withthe fact of globalizationinthe free marketthistopic
necessitatesunderstandingof all culturesandbehaviorsof all involved.Social psychologytrainsusto
researchthese behaviorsinordertogainthe perspectivesnecessarytomeetthe needsandrespect
individualityof peopleandtheirvalues.Closelytiedinwiththisfacilitationof needsisthe consideration
of ethics. Thisiswhere we getintothe meatof the social psychologistsundertaking.
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The social psychologistisaresearcherwhoseekstoanswer questionsabouthumannature as
appliedtothe biggerpicture of society whileacknowledgingthe issuesof practical ethical
implementationof research. The AmericanPsychological Association (APA) implementedanEthical
Code of Conduct to be usedinall research,the latestpublishedin2002. Since 1953, nine revised
editionsof the ethical code have beenpublished,includingthe mostrecenteditionpublishedin2002. In
contrast to the General Principlessection,the Ethical Standardssectionof the ethical code includes
enforceable rulesof conduct (sagepub.com, 2007). StatisticsforSocial Sciencesteachesthe proper
proceduresforimplementingdatacalculationsforempirical studieswhichreveal generalizationsabout
humanbehavioral patternsundergivencircumstances.
WritingforSocial Scienceswascertainlyachallenge.Neverbefore hadIhad somuch writingto
do.We beganthe class witha 4000 wordpaper andthe nextseveral weeksfollowedsuit.While
adeptnesswaspresumed,more wasrevealed.Iwastakingthiscourse coupledwithtwoothersinan
accelerated8 weeksession.Ithoughtaboutdying.However,Imade itthroughA’sand all. A better
writeritmade me indeed. Inthiscourse Iwastaught properpunctuation,citation,formattingforAPA
style,properuse of grammatical tools,andsomuch more. The coursesPrinciplesof Social Science
Research,StatisticsforSocial Sciences,andWritingforSocial Sciencesall tie inverycloselywiththe
researchprojectitself.While the social sciences are generallygearedtowardansweringbehavioral
questions,some feelthatresearchforhealthrelatedquestionsshouldbe integratedwithsocial science
research.Similarly,the NationalInstitutesof Health(NIH) inthe UnitedStateshasrecentlydecided to
allocate fundsforthe developmentof methodologiesaimedatintegratingbehavioral andsocial science
intointerdisciplinaryhealthresearch(BachrachandAbeles2004; NIH–National Institutesof Health
2007) (citedbyAlbert,LaBerge & Hodges,2009). Since the twoare so heavilyrelateditmakessense to
integrate the two.Ourmindisan amazingthingand I like tothinkthat manytimesitismindover
matterand that we evenhave the powerwithintoheal ourselvesof illness. However,Ididnotlearn
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that fromthe Social Psychologycurriculum. Instead,Ilearnedthatif Iwant to go tograduate school to
obtaina Master’sDegree,Iwill have todo fourtimesthe workI have just completedin3years.I will
needtodevelopalove forjustsittingand readingarticlesforthe heckof it. I alreadyhave a love for
reading,butithas takensecondto school workand survival whileraisingthree kidssinglehandedly.I
cannot rememberthe lasttime Iwasable to reada novel.
Juniorseminardirectedme to whatitwill take toenterintoa graduate program. The GRE exam
and preparationforare part of the plan.My mentorsays it’snotthat big of a deal.I am speakingof the
AdministratorwhoIam doinganinternshipunder,Lindsey.She isfullof encouragementandhelpful as
can be.HonestlythoughIam apprehensive,butatthe same time,know Imust notstop! The classalso
encouragedme tolookfor truth overmythand to use critical thinkingskillstoinvestigateall written
works. The seniorcapstone course hasalsotaught me to investigate criticallythe empirical studiesand
to identifymethodologyandindependentanddependentvariables.Ithasreallycomplimentedthe
educationreceivedfromthe othercore classes.
It isat thispointthatI wouldlike toacknowledgesome of the electiveswhichIfeel are equally
importantto myeducational journey.The first,Abnormal Psychology,hasdone aworldof goodfor
identifyingpsychiatricillnesses.Icannow letthingsgo due to the acknowledgementof the presence of
mental illnessincertainindividualsthatreallyusedtobotherme before.Thatclassreallyroundedout
my experience.Ialsofounditof great helpinthe testingformy fieldof study.Manyof the questions
askedon the exampertainedtoabnormal psychology.AnotherclassItookwas social deviance,where I
learnedmuchaboutbehaviorspertainingtodeviance actedoutasa resultof social inequalities.My
communicationsclassestaughtmuchaboutcultural differencesandethnocentrism.Ifeel Iama better
communicatoras a result.Overall,Ivalue the educationIhave receivedatParkUniversityandI do
recommendittootherswho are seekingtofurthertheireducation.
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References:
Albert,M.,Laberge,S.,& Hodges,B. (2009). Boundary-Workinthe HealthResearchField:Biomedical
and ClinicianScientists’Perceptionsof Social ScienceResearch.Minerva:A Review of Science,Learning
& Policy,47(2),171-194. doi:10.1007/s11024-009-9120-8
Allaboutphilosophy.com,(2011) .ExistentialismTheory;Whatisthe atheisticexistentialismtheory?
Retrieved,April 26,2011 from http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/existentialism-theory-faq.htm
Glazier,R.H., Agha,M. M., Moineddin,R.,&Sibley,L.M. (2009). Universal healthinsurance andequity
inprimarycare and specialistoffice visits:A population-basedstudy.Annalsof FamilyMedicine,7(5),
396-405. doi:10.1370/afm.994
Haverkamp,B.E. (2005). Ethical Perspectives onQualitative ResearchinAppliedPsychology.Journal of
CounselingPsychology,52(2),146-155. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.146
Koltko-Rivera,M.E. (2006). Rediscoveringthe laterversionof Maslow'shierarchyof needs:Self-
transcendence andopportunitiesfortheory,research,andunification.Review of General Psychology,
10(4), 302-317. doi:10.1037/1089-2680.10.4.302
Lowery,B.S., & Wout, D. A.(2010). Wheninequalitymatters:The effectof inequalityframeson
academicengagement.Journalof PersonalityandSocial Psychology,98(6),956-966.
doi:10.1037/a0017926
Nisbet,M.C., & Aufderheide,P.(2009).Documentaryfilm:Towardsa researchagendaonforms,
functions,andimpacts.MassCommunication&Society,12(4),450-456.
doi:10.1080/15205430903276863
Shumar,W. (2004). Global pressures,local reactions:Highereducationandneo-liberal economic
policies.International Journalof Qualitative StudiesinEducation,17(6),823-839.
doi:10.1080/0951839042000256475
(Sagepub.com, 2007). AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION CODE OF ETHICS,
retrieved April 27, 2011 from http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/19702_84.pdf
