Shawawest is pursuing an AAS in Dental Assisting and dreams of becoming a pediatric dental assistant. She highlights her top assignments, journals, and module from the course that helped her learn about herself and gain self-awareness. Through the course, Shawawest improved her self-assessment scores and grew in personal responsibility, believing more in herself by the end.

1. SHASTAWEST
MAJOR: AAS DENTAL ASSISTANT
I am organized, focus, hard-working, strong minded women,
and I will achieve my dreams and goals in life.
I am funny, nurturing, social, very patient and I'm going to
be a great Pediatric Dental Assistant

2. Top three favorite class assignments & why they were meaningful to me
My three favorite class assignments where:
1. Learning Service
2. Metacognition
3. Preferred Learning Styles
 Learning service project was meaningful because it
offered me the opportunity to volunteer which has
encouraged me to now reach out to others to do the
same. I am looking into doing more volunteer work at
different location such as crisis centers, animals shelters
etc.
 Metacognition was meaningful because it helped me
understand the way I think and how I can improve my
way of thinking. Another reason it was meaningful is it
showed me that there are different stages of thinking.
 Preferred learning style was meaningful because it helps
me realize that I learn in others ways, not just one. I
always thought I learned best by doing, but this showed
me I learn better with feelings.

3. Top three favorite journals & what I learned about myself fromthem
Chapter 1 Journal Entry1
Self-Assessment
I learned that my self motivation was
my strongest point. I can agree with
this because most of the time I only
had me to encourage myself and keep
me going. I also learned that believing
in myself was my biggest struggle. I
have always had a hard time believing
I can accomplish things. I enjoyed this
journal because it help me learn more
about me and what I needed to focus
on to improve my self.
Chapter7 Journal Entry28
Personal Integrity&Commitment
I learned that I have been tempted
many times in my life to do the wrong
thing, but when it came to life
changing I did the right thing. I also
earned that I should not make a
commitment unless I am truly ready
for it, because if I fail I disappoint
myself even more. This journal entry
showed me that no matter what in life
I can make the right choices it just
takes commitment and determination.
Chapter 8 entry29
Experience of Emotions
I learned that my emotions
about the situation never left.
The emotions came back, but
was not as strong as the day it
happened. Also that my
emotions I felt that day were
not as strong as the day I wrote
the journal. Sometimes its hard
to have the emotions come
back or even experience them
again. Emotions can change
and fade as time goes on.

4. Module I liked the most and why?
Module 1 – Power of Words
I really enjoyed all the modules and to be honest I had a hard
time choosing. Power of words had a strong meaning even
though there was not much said, which also shows sometimes
silent is just as powerful. One simple word or a simple smile
can change everything, in someone’s life. Words are very
powerful and a lot of time we don’t pay attention to what we
are saying especially when we are upset. This can lead to us
saying hurtful things we don’t mean at the moment, and cause
damage in someone’s life. Words stick with us, we never forget.

5. Three lessons that I will carry with me fromthis course into my next semesters
The number one thing I learned from this course that I will carry into my next semesters is the
eight qualities of a person. The one that I am going to work on the most is adopting to lifelong
learning. Once you adopt to lifelong learning you have wisdom in almost every experience in life
and it’s a valuable lesson.
Another lesson I learned is how motivation works. V(value) x E(expectation)= M(motivation). With
everyday experience I can use this formula and I will remember what I value and what expectation I
need to have for my motivation to kick in, so I will accomplish my day or goal.
I also learned the most valuable lesson in this course which is to know YOU and accept yourself!!
This will be the best way to succeed in college and in life. Once you know who you are and where
you are going in life it wont be a battle.

6. Before & After the course scores for Self-Assessment
&
My Growthin Personal Responsibility
Scores Self- Assessment
Before After
42 67 1. Accepting personal responsibility.
62 69 2. Discovering self-motivation.
45 59 3. Mastering self-management
39 44 4. Employing interdependence
41 55 5. Gaining self-awareness
58 54 6. Adopting lifelong learning
42 52 7. Developing emotional intelligence.
34 48 8. Believing in myself
AcceptingPersonal Responsibility
In the begging of this course I didn’t accept
my personal responsibility. I have learned
that personal responsibility is choice. That
my choices are my responsibilities. Now at
the end of the course I have learned to
accept my responsibilities and learn from
them. Not every choice I make will be right,
but in the process it will be a learning
process for me. I believe every choice and
step taken will happen for a reason.

7. Letter to the Next Class (voice recording)

8. Highlights of Letter to Next Class
What I learned from this course about myself that will change the choices I will make in the future is to
listen to my inner guide.
During this course keep in mind its about finding you and how you learn! This class helps you succeed
in college.
At the beginning of this course I can tell you, I did not have very much confidence in myself, and didn’t
know really who I was or where I was going in life.
One thing I can tell you now, is at the end of the class I'm sure. Now I have more
confidence in myself, I know who I am and where I am going in life.

9. What my life would look like if I accomplished all of my goals & dreams
If I accomplished all my goals in dreams in my life I would be a Dentist and a Child Advocate.
Along my side would be my husband, three children and possibly grandchildren. We would live in a two
story house on 20 acres with a pond, horses, cows, chickens etc. located in Texas. I would open up two
dentist offices. One would be for patients that have insurance or personal pay and the other would be a
free clinic for children ages 6 months- 18 years. This would be offered to children who parents can not
afford care or does not have insurance. My husband and I would take trips/vacations around the world
for enjoyment and business opportunity’s, such as spreading the word about the free dental clinic in
hopes of more opening up around the world. Also about children advocating and the goodness it involves.
Being a child advocate give me the opportunity to help children who are alone or mistreated and need a
better home. Since I like to travel so much I would also have a vacation house located in Washington State
by the ocean, but not to far from the mountains. This is where I would spend most of my family time
relaxing in my free time. Family is a huge thing to me and is what come first always has and always will.
Enjoy life, let go of what you can not control. Don’t take life for granted, because you are never promised
tomorrow. Always live today as if it is your last!

10. What my lifewould look like if I accomplished all of my goals & dreams etc.....