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Interdisciplinary Studies IST Advising |
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Sample Rationale Human Services |
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In 1996, I began working as a part time day care assistant at a local center. This facility catered to children under the age of five. I was responsible for the three-year -old children’s program, which included developmental programs such as social interaction with others, health awareness, and motor skills. While working with children of this age group, I quickly learned that getting their attention and maintaining it was not easy. Children at this age can have discipline problems, and I learned that I had to be creative in my techniques in order to keep them motivated and out of trouble. I created a rules and rewards system that helped to control any behavior problems. A parent of one of the children in the day care center noticed how I handled the children with behavior problems and the results that I was able to achieve. This parent worked for Charter Behavior System and offered me a job as a classroom counselor; however, this position required a four-year degree, which I did not have. She offered me a part-time aide position at a lower pay. My training and experience had afforded me the opportunity to secure a position in the field of child behavior modification, but the lack of college prevented me from enjoying the benefits of a profitable salary and personal fulfillment. At this point, I decided that I needed to go back to college and get a college degree so that I could pursue a career that I enjoy, working with children that have behavior disorders. I want to become a counselor for adolescents at Strickland Youth Center. I discovered that the University of South Alabama had a program in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, which targeted adults who worked outside the home and had families. The Interdisciplinary Studies Department sparked my interest with its variety of courses and led me to Human Services as my concentration, with disciplines of sociology, African American Studies and Adult Interdisciplinary Studies. The sociology classes have given me knowledge of the origin, development and structure of human societies and the behavior of individuals and groups in society. In dealing with children with behavior problems, my classes in sociology will help me to understand the contributions of environment to their problems and how these stressors can be dealt with effectively. African American studies classes have strengthened my views on the importance of a family. Family values are very important in dealing with behavior problems in children because normally it is the unbalanced structure in a child’s life that contributes to behavior problems. African American Studies has taught me the problems of an underprivileged minority. Understanding the difficulties that children face because of the lack of a traditional family structure will help me to empathize with the kids I want to help. On the positive side, African American Studies has made me aware of the strengths of Black culture: a strong sense of history, an appreciation of the meaning of struggle and sacrifice, a reliance on deep religious faith and values, and a recognition of the importance of keeping the family together despite hardships. The Adult Interdisciplinary Studies classes have helped me to focus on my college studies. These classes sharpened my organizational abilities and increased my self discipline. They reinforced my community development and leadership skills acquired through experience and helped me to better utilize them in an effective manner to reach my goal in obtaining my college degree. The three disciplines of sociology, African American Studies and AIS will help provide mewith knowledge and understanding in the field of human services. My goal is to work with children with behavioral disorders at Strickland Youth Center or become a caseworker for DHR. I feel very confident that the knowledge that I have gained will sufficiently equip me for both professions.. |
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