Claudia Rangel · How you identify yourself when reflecting on your cultural heritage, age, religious affiliation, socioeconomic status, and so forth. Mexican/American, age 42, Christian, Married, Military Family Oriented, HIV Case Management, Attending School Masters, C.A.S.A Volunteer. · Your background and identification of family of origin Grandparents from Sinaloa Mexico, Parents born in the United Stated, · The values, beliefs, philosophies, attitudes, or opinions you hold that are similar to your family: Are they similar to the dominant culture? How and from whom did you learn them? My values are different from my grandmother who raised me. I had to look at things different from her point of view as I got older and had more life experiences. Yet I still go back to my grandmother’s memories and lessons that she left behind. My attitude can be strong coming from the only child in the home raised by a hard working grandmother and I became self- independent at the age of 14 working as a babysitter and being responsible helping my grandmother pay the electric bill with every paycheck I got. She taught me that school was the only way to make it in America and that I as a woman had to take advantage of school so I wouldn’t depend on anyone later on in life. · Religious, gender, or cultural influences or hindrances that occurred when you decided to become a counselor: Was anyone opposed to or supportive of your decision? Why?. I was raised as a Christian were we went to church 3 times a week, prayed at the dinner table, attended Sunday bible study and even went to a Christian High School for 2 years. Being raised by a strong Hispanic grandmother to her religious was everything it was a way to better living and peace within yourself and God. In her culture the lessons that were passed down to me were that you had to be respectful in order to get respect back and also when I got married it was my job to attend to my husband cooking, cleaning, ironing, kids, etc. With my second marriage being married to Military it was different my grandmother had passed away and my ways had changed to be more open and realize that times had changed regarding the way I am raising my kids now and how my marriage is now. Being married to my husband and working with HIV patients pushed me to take this route and become a counselor and help people like our military family or our veterans, including active or non-active veterans with HIV since there is a higher HIV population in the service. · Personal biases, limitations, or prejudices held that may hinder your effectiveness as a counselor At this point I think I can do well in any settings as a counselor as long as I have the education that I will need to be educated in the field that I choose. Being open minded, understanding, having knowledge and looking at things in both ways will allow me to become a better counselor. · Personal strengths or abilities possessed that may positively influence your effectiv.

1. Claudia Rangel
· How you identify yourself when reflecting on your cultural
heritage, age, religious affiliation, socioeconomic status, and so
forth.
Mexican/American, age 42, Christian, Married, Military Family
Oriented, HIV Case Management, Attending School Masters,
C.A.S.A Volunteer.
· Your background and identification of family of origin
Grandparents from Sinaloa Mexico, Parents born in the United
Stated,
· The values, beliefs, philosophies, attitudes, or opinions you
hold that are similar to your family: Are they similar to the
dominant culture? How and from whom did you learn them?
My values are different from my grandmother who raised me. I
had to look at things different from her point of view as I got
older and had more life experiences. Yet I still go back to my
grandmother’s memories and lessons that she left behind. My
attitude can be strong coming from the only child in the home
raised by a hard working grandmother and I became self-
independent at the age of 14 working as a babysitter and being
responsible helping my grandmother pay the electric bill with
every paycheck I got. She taught me that school was the only
way to make it in America and that I as a woman had to take
advantage of school so I wouldn’t depend on anyone later on in
life.
· Religious, gender, or cultural influences or hindrances that
occurred when you decided to become a counselor: Was anyone
opposed to or supportive of your decision? Why?.
I was raised as a Christian were we went to church 3 times a
week, prayed at the dinner table, attended Sunday bible study
and even went to a Christian High School for 2 years. Being
raised by a strong Hispanic grandmother to her religious was
everything it was a way to better living and peace within

2. yourself and God. In her culture the lessons that were passed
down to me were that you had to be respectful in order to get
respect back and also when I got married it was my job to attend
to my husband cooking, cleaning, ironing, kids, etc.
With my second marriage being married to Military it was
different my grandmother had passed away and my ways had
changed to be more open and realize that times had changed
regarding the way I am raising my kids now and how my
marriage is now. Being married to my husband and working
with HIV patients pushed me to take this route and become a
counselor and help people like our military family or our
veterans, including active or non-active veterans with HIV since
there is a higher HIV population in the service.
· Personal biases, limitations, or prejudices held that may
hinder your effectiveness as a counselor
At this point I think I can do well in any settings as a counselor
as long as I have the education that I will need to be educated in
the field that I choose. Being open minded, understanding,
having knowledge and looking at things in both ways will allow
me to become a better counselor.
· Personal strengths or abilities possessed that may positively
influence your effectiveness with diverse clients
I belive that the life experience and how I was raised as a child
to respect, obey, and always follow right from wrong will help
me in my career. My grandmother was tough on me. Taught me
how to enjoy life, how to treat people, how to be carrying, and
not judgmental about people. Also that God is a big part in my
family without him I have no peace or happiness. My
aggressiveness to keep learning will also take me to where I
need to be career wise.