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Useful Links:
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Wired for BOOKS (Simply
the best literature site I've found. From Ohio University.)
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New York Times Best
Seller's List (Books that are guaranteed to be great)
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NYT Sunday
Book Review
(Always worth a read!)
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flickr (I could
spend hours looking through the nature photos that people share; it's very
soothing!)
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The Harvard Classics
(from Bartleby.com; a lot of my required books are here but I'm working my
way through the list anyway...wish me luck!)
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The Oxford Shakespeare
(from Bartleby.com; again, I'm required to read most of these for my major,
but I'm still enjoying them and it's a great resource)
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Summitpost.org
(I get great trip ideas from this
site; people share their pictures too)
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packyourgear.com (I love
their National Parks Database; it helps me plan trips...great tips as well!)
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First-Aid Guide (from the MayoClinic.com)
(It's good to know first aid, believe me!)
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FamilyEducation (I
know I'm just the aunt, but this is still a terrific site; it has
EVERYTHING.)
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Kaboose Crafts (With the
babysitting I do, this site is not only helpful, but I enjoy it too!)
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| Work Samples:
Sandra on values in popular fiction:
I really love the Gunslinger
series by Stephen King. The character of Roland of Gilead is a loner who has
a quest he has to complete. He’s in it for very personal reasons—it’s all
about him following his convictions. But he’s also a kind of knight and has
been taught to serve others and to help those in need. If he hadn’t had that
conflict, he could’ve just run straight for the Dark Tower (his goal). But
he kept being pulled by his need to help others, at the same time he was
pulled by the need to follow his convictions. I hadn’t really thought about
it this way but it does sort of mirror my situation...I’m on my own quest to
get to the ‘top’ of the ivory tower (school) and still be a good sister and
aunt (not quite a "knight" but close). Suddenly, I want to read the whole
series again!
Sandra on
coping:
I have to say that I think I have accepted what
happened to me (my injuries) as just part of my life. I didn’t get dealt the
hand I might have wanted, and I do get frustrated when I have trouble
hearing and following conversations, but the situation is what it is. I
watched a couple of friends really beat themselves up with "what-Ifs" (what
if our convoy had left five minutes later, what if I’d been sitting in the
next truck, etc.) and that’s a bad place to be because you don’t get
anywhere, trying to rewrite the past. I hate admitting it, but I think I
need to work on having faith in people. I sometimes feel like I have to do
everything myself, because it’s tough to count on other people. This is
where my family really helps, though. It’s hard to not believe in the
goodness of people when I’m around my niece. I’m getting better at this, but
it’s still a challenge.
Sandra's use of the Personal Development Methodology:
Scenario: Sandra is helping to provide child care
for her sister and brother-in-law. Her brother-in-law Ty is working extra
shifts since they had the baby, and Sandra’s sister Alicia is working and
going to school. They have helped Sandra out in the past and Sandra loves
her niece.
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Step |
Explanation |
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1 Recognize the need for change and growth |
Baby-sitting has kept Sandra from getting her
homework done a number of times, though. She’s worried that this will
affect her grades in the long run. |
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2 Explore contextual issues |
Ty and Alicia don’t have a lot of money for child care
and family is very important to Sandra. School is important to both
Sandra and Alicia, as well. |
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3 Prioritize based on values |
Sandra realized that she values her strong sense of duty
and responsibility, a value that was clarified while she was overseas.
She also values challenging herself to be the best person and the best
friend she can be. Sandra’s college states their values as: Excellence,
Respect, and Integrity. Sandra thinks those fit into her values
statement, too, she thinks.
Sandra sits down with Ty and Alicia and explains her
concerns and her priorities. If she gets on the Dean’s List this
semester, there may be scholarship money for her next year. And she’d
really like to prove to herself that she can be on the Dean’s List. She
will not stop providing child care completely; she enjoys the time she
spends with her niece. |
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4 State clear outcomes |
Sandra wants to have ten more hours a week to study. She
and her sister Alicia make a schedule. Ty also looks at changing his
work schedule a bit. They are also exploring campus daycare
possibilities, as well as arrangements with other relatives. |
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5 Develop a plan |
Sandra has made a new schedule for school, homework,
baby-sitting, and social time. Alicia and Ty also have a list of people
who could watch their daughter on an emergency basis. |
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6 Perform to the plan as set |
Sandra has found two supportive mentors this semester:
the veterans counselor and her English teacher. Both have been happy to
talk with her about academic and personal concerns. Both have also asked
her if she would like to help mentor other student veterans next
semester. Sandra thinks she would really enjoy that. And, with her new
schedule, it looks possible.
Sandra has been on her new schedule for two weeks now,
and so far she is getting a lot done. She talked with her veterans
counselor before she spoke with Ty and Alicia; he helped her clarify her
values and her concerns. Her counselor asked Sandra to let him know how
the conversation with her sister and brother-in-law went and how her new
schedule is going. |
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7 Assess performance |
Sandra was able to meet with her English instructor for
an extra conference because the draft of her paper was done early.
Sandra was also able to be better prepared for her math test. She has
let her mentor know how things are going and has discussed next
semester’s schedule with him as well. |
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8 Adjust the plan |
Sandra is looking at scheduling her classes at different
times for next semester. She finds she does well with breaks for
homework between classes, instead of scheduling all her classes in large
blocks on three days. Because she does not have to babysit as much, she
will be able to schedule her classes in the way that works best for her.
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9 Appreciate gains |
Sandra had been worried about the workload of her classes
and baby-sitting. She wasn’t sure she could do well in college, and she
didn’t want to let her sister down. She found out that her sister was
worried about asking too much of her. The new schedule has worked out
for both of them. With a few different relatives helping with child
care, Alicia can spend more time studying, too. It looks like both
sisters will make the Dean’s List this semester! |
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10 Reward achievement |
The family has planned a celebratory dinner for Sandra
and Alicia at the end of the semester. And, since they don’t have to
cook that day, they’re going to visit a day spa for some real pampering! |
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