This document summarizes Rachel McMahon's experience as a general studies and nursing major at Grayson College. It highlights three of her favorite assignments which helped her learn about campus resources and different perspectives. It also discusses three journal entries that helped with self-awareness, motivation, and understanding emotions. Rachel's favorite week involved goal-setting and her graduation day vision. She takes away lessons on positivity, goals, and allowing emotions. The self-assessment shows her strengths and areas for growth. Her goal is to obtain a nursing bachelor's degree.

1. RACHEL MCMAHON
MAJOR: GENERAL STUDIES, NURSING
I AM STRONG, SMART, CARING AND CAPABLE. I CAN DO ANYTHING I
SET MY MIND TO.

2. 3 FAVORITE ASSIGNMENTS/DISCUSSIONS
• One of my favorite assignments was the scavenger hunt. There is so
much at Grayson College that I had no idea about. I learned there is a
recreation center. There are also people to help you with writing
assignments. I had no idea that the library had study rooms.
• A favorite discussion board was The Late Paper Case Study. I was
surprised at how different people had differing opinions on who was
to blame for the late paper. It brought to life the pointing fingers that
I have heard from several different people my whole life. I also
thought it was interesting to see right in front of me just how
differently we see things, how our brains receive and process so
differently.
• Lastly, the Metacognition assignment was very interesting. I’ve not
really ever considered ‘how I think’. I know how I learn best, but not
necessarily how I think. There are three domains of learning,
cognitive skills, affective skills and psychomotor skills. There is also

3. 3 FAVORITE JOURNAL ENTRIES
• One of my favorite journal entries was the first entry we were assigned. I
learned that I scored lowest in 'developing emotional intelligence',
'employing interdependence' and 'gaining self awareness'. This means I’m
not great at depending on people. The assessment says "struggling students
make important choices unconsciously, being directed by self sabotaging
habits and outdated life scripts".
• My second favorite journal entry was Chapter 3 Journal Entry 11. Writing
about what my graduation day will look like was very exciting and showed
me just how much reminding myself to dream can help me stay motivated. It
renewed my excitement of accomplishing this goal and reminded me the
importance of finding new ways to stay motivated.
• Another favorite was Chapter 8. Emotions are hard for me, I already knew
that. However, writing about them made me realize how much I may be
missing out on by trying not to feel emotions. I felt like I am so busy just
trying to get from one day to the next and get everything done, and keep
everyone taken care of that I am not living life.

4. FAVORITE WEEK
• My favorite week was week 6. I really enjoyed writing about
what graduation day would look like for me. Picturing that day
really helped to motivate me. I’ve also not been very good at
goal setting so the DAPPS goal setting assignment was
interesting and useful.

5. 3 LESSONS TO CARRY WITH ME
• POSITIVITY IS IMPORTANT! Changing your thinking can change
your life.
• GOALS ARE GOOD! Goals give you something to look forward
to.
• EMOTIONS! Allowing yourself to feel emotions can help you
stay on track, or help you to get back on track, to where/who
you want to be.

6. SELF ASSESSMENT
Beginning of the Semester End of the Semester
__66__1. Accepting personal
responsibility
__61__2. Discovering self-
motivation
__53__3. Mastering self-management
__50__4. Employing interdependence
__45__5. Gaining self-awareness
__54__6. Adopting lifelong learning
__51__7. Developing emotional
intelligence
__58__8. Believing in myself
__64__1. Accepting personal
responsibility
__59__2. Discovering self-
motivation
__57__3. Mastering self-management
__10__4. Employing interdependence
__54__5. Gaining self-awareness
__46__6. Adopting lifelong learning
__41__7. Developing emotional
intelligence
__36__8. Believing in myselfI am surprised to see that I seem to have opened up a little to getting help from
people. Although, my scores dropped in most other areas, like discovering self
motivation. I hope that is just from being exhausted and in a fairly negative state of
mind lately. I also rose in Gaining Self Awareness, hopefully that means I am feeling
more confident. Of all the categories I am shocked by that.

7. GRAYSON LINK ASSIGNMENT
• My goal is to get my bachelor’s degree in Nursing. The job
requires attention to detail, integrity, cooperation, concern for
others, dependability and stress tolerance. The average salary
of an RN is $68,450. The outlook for nursing is very bright.

8. MY BEST LIFE
HAPPY LIFE. TIME
TOGETHER!

9. Family vacation