1. Running head: REFLECTIONS 1
Reflections
Cynthia Kraft
PSY 492: Advanced General Psychology
Argosy University
August 16, 2011
2. REFLECTIONS
2
Reflections
It is difficult for me to write about my academic reflections. I fear that it will come across arrogant,
which is not the intent. I rated myself as having extensive exposure in all areas: Cognitive Abilities – Critical
Thinking and Information Literacy; Research; Communication Skills – Oral and Written; Ethics, Diversity;
Knowledge of Psychology; Knowledge of Applied Psychology; and Interpersonal Effectiveness.
It is important to understand that I take my rating with a “grain of salt.” I say this because I come from a
background where I was already very successful in my personal and career lives. For more than 30 years I
worked in high-level positions where I wrote a reporting program that was adopted by the California Public
Utilities Commission; was on a team that wrote, had passed, funded, and implemented employment legislation
in the State of California; utilized to convert companies from manual reporting systems to automated when
technology was introduced into the business world; taught high school computer science; and, was instrumental
in developing the protocols for Sarbanes-Oxley 404 reporting after Enron. In other words, I came into the
school environment as a student with considerable experience “under my belt.”
Since the beginning of the Summer 2011 term here at Argosy, I have managed to keep up with my
school work (sometimes barely), was promoted to Assistant Director at a residential substance abuse facility,
and have become a fully-qualified Title IV Financial Aid Administrator for a small vocational school.
Why do I mention these things? Because I feel my verifiable accomplishments validate my abilities. I
couldn’t have made a six-figure income, held positions of status, and been as successful as I was without the
ability to think critically, understand complicated written communications, work with diverse groups of people,
while maintaining my personal ethics.
The lesson I would like others to learn from my experience is: before you are encumbered with life and/
or family obligations, get your degree. This is what “cost” me in the end.
I first started college in 1972. When a younger sister died unexpectedly, leaving 3 children under the age
of 3, I rose to the challenge and raised them as my own. I didn’t have the opportunity to continue with my
3. REFLECTIONS
3
education. So, when the economic crisis of 2007 came, I was unprepared to compete with younger generations
that held a college diploma in their hands. Though I had considerable experience companies preferred to hire
new graduates willing to accept much lower wages than they would have had to pay me. For the first time in my
life I repeatedly had the “door shut in my face” because I didn’t have a degree. So, here I am today.
I’m glad, now, that life’s twist turned out the way it did. I currently have the opportunity to use my
business acumen, add it to my interests in genetics and medicine, and fulfill my dream of becoming the director
of an international non-governmental organization (NGO). What looked initially as a down-turn in my life
actually became the driving-force (impetus) for my seeking formal degrees. Don’t be surprised if you get an
invitation to my hooding!
Lifelong Learner
My future, lifelong learning is quite simple. I am beginning my graduate studies in the Fall of this year
(2011). Because I will also be working, I expect to be completed with my formal education when I am about
age 65.
I have always been a person to learn, grow, and expand. In addition to my formal education, I expect I
will continue to “collect” certificates of completion from various programs that I will engage in. There will also
be considerable experiential learning as I travel to other countries and align myself with academicians,
researchers, business leaders, as well as the “regular” folk that grace this earth. Learning is in my nature. I
suspect that even when taking my last breath I will be learning something.
