Quincy Bryant has worked for 12 years helping youth in Minneapolis and Bloomington public school systems. He has held various roles such as educational assistant, truancy officer, and coach. Bryant is now pursuing a BA in psychology at Argosy University to strengthen his knowledge and prepare for a career as a counselor. His education and extensive experience working with diverse groups of students has provided him with the tools to be an effective counselor and help mold young individuals.

1. Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio Quincy Bryant Psychology, 2012

2. Personal Statement Since my sophomore year in high school I have been looking for ways to solve problems. I came across a flyer for individuals to speak with elementary schools to help them avoid the pitfalls of growing up in an urban setting. For the next two years I visited elementary schools around Minneapolis speaking to children about drugs, gangs, and sex. This is where I found my passion for helping children. I have spent the last twelve years working with youth in various capacities in the Minneapolis and Bloomington public school systems. I have also spent the same period time shaping young individuals as a coach in both school districts. In Minneapolis, I was first an Educational Assistant in the classroom at Anwatin Middle School working with students at risk. My duties included modifying classwork, working one-on-one with students on comprehension and fluency, and facilitating groups. I also worked as a Truancy Officer and my duties included communication with parents by phone and in person, completing reports on student attendance, and recommending students for and attending truancy court. In this role I learned investigation skills such as what questions to ask and how to read people’s reactions. I also became familiar with the juvenile justice system as it applies to the school district. I worked with sensitive and private information needed for documentation for court, school, and student record purposes. Throughout my time in the Minneapolis Public Schools, I worked with both a diverse population and diverse family dynamics. In the Bloomington Public Schools, I began as a Program Management Aide working with children with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome. In this position I assisted students with their academic progress, working with the Program Manager to shape and implement students’ individual behavior management plans.

3. Personal Statement I also worked with students on daily living skills and supervised students as they worked in the community. This position gave me the ability to look beyond the behaviors the students displayed and find the underlying problems affecting them. In both school districts I have enjoyed forging good working relationships. I have coached football and track & field for twelve years in both Minneapolis and Bloomington, MN. I have also coached wrestling for seven years. Through coaching, I have been able to mentor young individuals and help them reach their potential. I worked with hundreds of athletes on developing teamwork, perseverance, determination, hard work, and accountability. Over this period of time coaching has allowed me to help children build their self-esteem, and handle difficult situations when they present themselves. My college career began at Augsburg college, and will end it at Argosy University where I will receive my Bachelors degree in Psychology in the summer of 2012. Through my undergraduate coursework at Argosy, I strengthened my knowledge of behaviors and interactions. Using peer review and empirical studies, my coursework has prepared me for a career as a counselor, and my experiences have shown me how to be successful in this role. My education in combination with my experience gives me the tools necessary to be an effective counselor. I have been successful working with many different groups of students, both as part of the school staff and as a coach. My aspirations are to continue working to mold young individuals and help them find their path in life. I have been and will continue to be a role model and a mentor to children and will bring may passion and experience in whatever I do.

4. Resume Education Current Argosy University Eagan, MN Working towards BA in Psychology Graduation: August 2012 1995-1998 Augsburg College Minneapolis, MN General Requirements Participated in Football, Wrestling, and Track Student Activity Coordinator (2 Years), Student Tour Representative Additional Skills Experience with various PC and Mac Applications Comfortable with Word, Microsoft Excel, Power Point, various programs Strong person-to-person communication skills Able to work independently, regardless of environmental distractions Experience 2003 - Present Bloomington Public Schools Bloomington, MN Paraprofessional, Sports Coach Created, consulted, and supported various educational strategies into student curriculum based on individual education plan goals and objectives Extensive background and concentration in ASD and social disorders support Instructed students in disciplines of football, wrestling, and track for levels K-12

5. Resume continued Experience 2002-2003 Alliance One Bloomington, MN Account Representative Communicated daily with account holders to offer resolutions for past due accounts Monitored and processed debts, payments, and current balances on a weekly basis Worked in various database programs to track account progress Consistently met or exceeded monthly and quarterly targets 1998 - 2002 Minneapolis Public Schools Minneapolis, MN Truancy Officer, Paraprofessional, Sports Coach Monitored and communicated attendance issues to school administration, Hennepin County Courts, and families Designed and implemented various educational strategies into daily curriculum based on student IEP needs and goals Primary concentration in EBD and behavior disorders support Served as a role model and guide to troubled youth in Minneapolis Area Instructed students in disciplines of football, wrestling, and track

6. Reflection During my time at Argosy University, I have enhanced my knowledge of psychological process, theory, and cognition. I have learned how abnormal behaviors may become diagnosable disorders and the possible risk factors that may contribute to those disorders, such as the biological, psychological, and societal factors. Argosy has exposed me to how and why possible treatments of those disorders are determined with such tools as the DSM-IV TR. I have learned many different psychological theories and how they contribute to the overall history of psychology including Gestalt, behavior, and social learning theory. I am now familiar with several theories of cognitive processes that we as humans go through during the process of aging such as Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and Kohlberg’s stages of moral development . My time at Argosy has been a transforming time for me during my continuing pursuit of personal improvement.

7. Table of Contents Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy Research Skills Communication Skills: Oral and Written Ethics and Diversity Awareness Foundations of Psychology Applied Psychology Interpersonal Effectiveness Included is work samples and projects

8. Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy Abnormal behavior and mental disorders https://www.box.net/shared/s7cb4jmtcv8o7n8af2qm

9. Research Skills At Risk Youth This research paper examines at risk youth in two important areas of drug use and teen pregnancy. This paper looks at teen pregnancy and drug use amongst teens and it’s effects on the high school dropout rate. Children from all walks of life are at risk of falling into the trappings of teen pregnancy and illicit drug use. However, parents, the government, and our schools working together can help curb these very dangerous practices among our youth. https://www.box.net/shared/hupxzht73b264ys9of97

10. Communication Skills: Oral and Written Solutions for the future of our prisons This powerpoint looked at issues effecting the prison system such as. Housing a. How to improve Overcrowding b. the safety and Security of prisoners Programs a. Mental wellbeing b. Social wellbeing https://www.box.net/shared/egjjn8cthf44pzpb0r1m

11. Ethics and Diversity Awareness Disability awareness https://www.box.net/shared/gzv8m6u487qxbhrpr9ai

12. Foundations of Psychology Professional Development https://www.box.net/shared/038zan86p0b62k2c6mq0

13. Applied Psychology Research Paper on Oppositional Defiant Disorder https://www.box.net/shared/x3ib2gtvg6d6uud2uorh

14. Critical Thinking Strategies for Psychological Treatment

15. My Future in Learning I am of a the mind that I always have something to learn. Thus, I will seek to improve may knowledge through reading new studies, maintaining awareness of new theories, and following world issues.

16. Contact Me Thank you for viewing my ePortfolio. For further information, please contact me at the e-mail address below. [email_address]