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INTS 2310: Foundations of Integrative Studies
Heather Mendoza
Paper 4: Portfolio

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Heather Mendoza
Current: Texas Tech University, Hulen Hall Room: 605, Lubbock, TX 79409
Permanent: 650 W. Cope, Hobbs, NM 88242
Heather.d.mendoza@ttu.edu
575-631-4897
Education
Texas Tech University, Lubbock TX
Bachelor of Art in University Studies
Areas of concentration: Business, Interior Design, Art
Graduation: May 2015
New Mexico Junior College, Hobbs NM
Associates of Art Major: Interior Design
Graduated: May 2013
Experience
Assistant, Legacy Safety, Hobbs, NM 2012-2013
 I was responsible for time sheets where it was mandatory to use Excel.
 I was in charge of filing and keeping all documents in order.
Sales Associate, Shoe Choo Train, Hobbs, NM 2011-2013
 I helped costumers with shoe fittings and had to have the knowledge of shoe sizes, fits,
styles and be able to accommodate all ages.
 I was occasionally in charge of hand writing receipts and counting and handling money.
 I stocked and organized the back of the store for better efficiency and ease.
Skills
 I am capable to take orders and follow directions.
 I can speak to costumers/clients in a professional manner to better assist them.
 I am able to solve problems.
 I can comfortably work with Microsoft Word, Excel and Quick books.

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Integrative Studies
To me Integrative studies means gathering my three areas of concentration and meshing
them together to work cohesively with each other in order to answer questions and solve issues.
Having three different disciplines and being able to look at things in different perspectives will
help me ask the appropriate questions and identify problems in order to solve those problems or
questions easier and quicker, thus saving time and money. Integrative studies will be beneficial
to me in that it will help me achieve better jobs and aid me in thinking differently than those
around me. I will also be capable of looking at all aspects of life in various ways and be able to
formulate opinions that will work better than if I only had one perspective to work with. Most
people can only look at things through one perspective, which doesn’t help in the long run.
Integrative studies will teach me how to set myself apart and look at everything in more than
one way thus being beneficial in and out of the workplace. My three areas of concentration are
Integrative Studies, Interior Design and I recently changed my last one to Art. I have always had
an interest in these areas and when I was able to find a program that allowed me to study all
three I was satisfied with my decisions. I want to be able to use Art and Design cohesively in a
way that helps better my future plans of owning my own firm one day.
Interdisciplinary Metaphor
The metaphor that I thought that best relates to me and my concentrations is
“Interdisciplinarity is a well-designed room”. This metaphor relates to me and my areas of study
because there are many elements of a room like a University Studies degree that bring it all
together. The pieces that go into a room to make it look good and work for example are a chair, a

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table, and a bookshelf. All the pieces are good on their own but when they are put in a room
together they look great and make the whole room come together. That is what it is to me, all my
areas of study are good but they work well together. The room is my life, and career and any
future plans, and the chair is Business, the table is Architecture and the art piece is Interior
Design. Together they will get me to where I want to be and make it possible to start a change in
the way my children and their children will think.
Personal Narrative
Some threads that connect my personal and educational life are positivity and
overcoming obstacles. I learned at an early age that life was way too short and not something to
waste. I started to live my life to the fullest and make every moment count. I also put my all in
everything that I did, and I made sure to never give up even if I wasn’t able to succeed at first.
Being a more positive person has made it possible for me to accomplish the things I have set
forth to do. It always seemed like there was someone/something telling me “no”, overcoming

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those obstacles of being told “no” was a big deal for me. When something has gone wrong or not
my way, I take a step back and reevaluate the situation, I then pick myself back up, and find
another way to accomplish the task at hand. This reminds me of being resilient; one of the
characteristics of an interdisciplinarian. Being resilient means being able to get back on the horse
and keep on going with what you were doing. Having the ability to have a positive mind and
overcome obstacles in my life has made it possible to transition those threads into my academic
life as well. Because I don’t give up easily and know that things will work out in the end, I was
able to come to school and accomplish a step in my life goals and dreams. Those two things have
made me who I am today.
Reflections