Argosy University PSY492

1. 1 Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio Frank S Borja Jr. Psychology Program, 2011

2. Personal Statement Hi, my name is Frank Borja Jr. I am from the island of Guam. My long-term career goal is to work at a High School as a Counselor. I have worked with adolescents with behavioral disorders and substance abuse. I would like to use the knowledge and skills I have gained in college and work experience to benefit the high school population. My immediate career goal is to gain more experience as a supervisor/manager to further develop my leadership skills.

4. Manage employee hours and scheduling

7. Facilitate recreational therapy and group discussions with clients

10. 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

11. Cognitive Abilities Assessing the problem, creating a solution and then analyzing the outcome exhibits the critical thinking skills I have learned. One example of this is the Performance Analysis Tool used in my Leadership in Organizations course. This course taught students to analyze a performance issue found in the workplace. Through assessing the problem from multiple aspects, I discovered that the initial performance issue was a manifestation of a greater and deeper performance issue. By thinking critically about the performance issue and questioning different levels of the organization, I was able to find the root issue of the employee’s performance. When the source of the employee’s performance issue was revealed, the management team reviewed my analysis and implemented procedures to ensure that future issues with all employees would be avoided.

12. Research Skills Argosy University offers students many opportunities to practice and enhance their research skills. All the classes I have taken at Argosy has helped me develop the skills needed to ensure that I am thorough and critical of the references I use in my research papers. Much of my research skills have been used in school. The Applied Statistics course challenged my ability to use the research skills that I have learned. One example in particular was when I was learning the two-way ANOVA. Many of the research material that I was looking through taught the one-way ANOVA. It was through extensive research that I was able to comprehend and apply the two-way ANOVA.

13. Communication Skills This is the area that I feel I am still in the process of learning and fine tuning. One of the challenges of distant learning is the communication aspect of the courses. There is no face-to-face interaction and written communication becomes the major element to understanding each other. The writing assignments have helped me in my workplace. I have to communicate with the General Manager once a week to inform him of the progress on my goals. In addition to the e-mail report I send him, we talk once a month. I practice active listening with his feedback to ensure I am learning all that I can from him. I have also learned how to better express my thoughts in a professional manner and not just ramble.

14. Ethics and Diversity Awareness The Ethics and Diversity courses taught at Argosy University supplemented the learning I have taken with my current job. I work with AAFES currently which also employs many of the dependents of the U.S. Military. The opportunities to work with individuals from a diverse culture is abundant. AAFES understands this and offers employees many courses that educate about ethics and diversity. The most recent course I took with AAFES on diversity awareness was in January of 2011. I learned that there is strength in a diverse workforce. Everyone has a uniqueness about them that they can offer every employer. It is the challenge of the leaders in organizations to harness this strength and enable their workforce to use their diversity to solve problems, bring creativity to the work site, and educate others on their culture.

15. Foundations of Psychology If I had to choose one among the several theoretical approaches to Psychology, I would choose the cognitive perspective. I have had the opportunity to apply the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in individual sessions with adolescents when I interned with the Juvenile Drug Court in Guam. This technique had the adolescents challenge their thought process when it came to a behavior that they wanted to change. One example is when an adolescent wanted to stop being jealous around his girlfriend. His thought process was that his girlfriend was always flirting. The technique had him challenge this thought process on how it starts with one thought and progresses to a full blown attack on his girlfriend. He practiced challenging his thought beliefs and eventually it became less of a challenge to see his girlfriend talking with another guy.

16. Applied Psychology I am not currently given the opportunities to apply the psychology skills and knowledge that I have learned with AAFES. I am looking forward to finding employment with a high school as a counselor. If this course of career is not available to me immediately, I will return to working with adolescents with behavioral issues and adults with brain injuries.

17. Interpersonal Effectiveness This is the area that I feel I have developed the most in the past two years. Outside of Argosy, I have used the interpersonal skills taught with my co-workers at AAFES and also with my children and wife. Understanding that people matter and that relationships can make life much easier. For example, developing a relationship with my co-workers at work has helped me create and lead a team of extraordinary individuals. Their skill sets and personalities have evolved into a global culture that makes work fun, satisfying, and productive. The skills I have learned on Interpersonal Effectiveness has also helped me develop a deeper relationship with my wife and children. Active listening and empathy are two elements of interpersonal relationships that I have come to admire and role model for others around me.

18. My Future in Learning Learning is a lifelong process. How do you envision your future as a lifelong learner? I have always had a passion for learning. I currently work for AAFES Burger King. Even working in a fast food establishment, I have taken on the challenge of learning all aspects of the jobsite (i.e. operational, technical, administrative, and financial).

19. Contact Me Thank you for viewing my ePortfolio. For further information, please contact me at the e-mail address below. kikokalu@comcast.net