My Personal portfolio

1. 1 Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio Name Program, Year

2. Personal Statement Danny Gallegos in My Own Words If our eyes are the windows to our souls than our souls are mansions and the rooms are comprised of every relationship we have ever had. As I reflect onto my life, I realize I have lived a rather unusual and exciting one. From laying on a cot in the corner of a room pretending to be asleep as my drunk abusive father opens the door to hosting the King of Malaysia at my restaurant on the North shore of Kauai for a cheeseburger and the Governor of Beijing at our luau, I have experienced life in many extremes yet I have always been me. As a person I look forward to my life continuing on its unconventional path. Often we find ourselves full circle as I do now, living as a caretaker to that same abusive father. He may not be in need physically yet, but he is in need of love and companionship and as human understand. I have experienced the hardship of divorce with extreme aspects greater than average infidelity yet found the reserves of live and compassion to forgive and support my ex-wife until she found her way again, now we are friends again and she is a wonderful mother. Full circle, one again.

3. Personal Statement cont. I have used my past experiences to help many around me through difficult times. I helped two close friends manage through a difficult time in their marriage and find their way through. I have managed to use my knowledge to help my children cope with two separate households. My current wife and her ex-husband now enjoy an amicable working relationship to help them raise their children together. I was able to provide a naïve teen the confidence and independence she needed to pursue her dream of traveling across Europe, she is my step daughter. A coach for my daughter’s soccer teams, I found ways to help children through difficult personal times by allowing them an activity that provided a vacation away from their troubles. They learned team work, support and developed confidence and self esteem, not because we always won, but because I taught them there is no such thing as failure as long as you have fun and learn.

4. Personal Statement cont. As I complete my undergraduate studies in May of 20011at Argosy University I will do so with pride and excitement. I am proud to have been a dedicated and good father while still achieving above a 3.75GPA I am excited to begin my graduate studies at Argosy University in the fall of 2011. I have focused my electives and all major work during my under graduate studies to prepare me for the Psy.D. program and a future dissertation. I have used these opportunities to pursue my interests and determine what will be most relevant and beneficial as a future dissertation. Psychology is one avenue I will enjoy using as I continue to learn the nuances and process it means to be human. I will use my knowledge in Psychology as I pursue my personal interests in theology, mindfulness and self actualization. I hope to never stop growing and I plan to continue to work and study until I am a very old man. Through the understanding of individuals, I hope to understand the universe.

5. Personal Statement cont. I plan on returning to my island home of Kauai so that I may give back to the society and culture that took me in and gave me an identity. Island life is stressful and this can cause many strains on families and individuals. I want to help them to manage that stress so they and their families can enjoy the peace and tranquility that surrounds them. I will establish community support groups that will utilize the uniqueness of the island lifestyle. This will help to provide an environment of comfort for those that need support to embrace. I will use Aloha to help those who need to find their O’hana and live Aloha once again.

7. Able to counsel with a high degree of subjectivity

8. Wide variety of experience has allowed me to develop communication and understanding of different cultures

9. Experience with developing children’s self esteem through team sports

10. Unique ability to see outside the box allows creativity at developing solutions that will work for the specific situation

11. Able to grasp, utilize, and even adjoin new ideas with current procedures to create an efficient system

12. 5 years experience managing businesses with high volume and large personnel staff

14. Maintained pc support desk for 50+ employees

15. Data management, repair, and upgrade for over 50 personal computers

16. Helped a high variety of different personalities during conflict resolution

17. Implemented a system for categorizing and sustaining inventory of equipment

18. Responsible for largest account based territory for an individual, up to 700 clients

20. Successfully developed and marketed Luau from one night; 80 guests, to 3 nights; 200+ guests

21. Maintained expenses under set budget to increase profit

22. Responsible for 25+ personnel with low turnover rate

23. Engineered menu to increase guest check average by 12% WORK EXPERIENCE May 2002- Oct. 2008 DHL, DriverSouth San Francisco, Ca April 2001- May 2002 PAHIO RESORT , PC Specialist Princeville, Hi Oct. 2000- April 2001 THE BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT , Manager Poipu, Hi May 1998 – Sept. 2000 CVR, Desktop Support La Palma, Ca June 1996 – Feb. 1998 PRINCEVILLE HOTEL, I.B.U. Beach Restaurant, Luau and Pool area Manager Princeville, Hi June 1991 - April 1995 DENNY'S RESTAURNANTShift Supervisor, Certified Trainer, Waiter Pacifica, Ca May 1989 - June 1990 ROUND TABLE PIZZA, General Manager Pacifica, Ca

25. Member of AYSO soccer board

26. Achieved a 3.8 GPA for bachelors degree

27. Joined missing Children’s organization, and helped in search to find Xiana FairchildREFERENCES: Bill Bennett, Sr. Manufacturing Manager, KLA-Tencor 38656 Farwell Dr., Fremont, Ca, 94536 (510) 673-6698 w_bennett@comcast.net Dr. Dana Hardy, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Adjunct Instructor Argosy University 2909 12th Avenue, South Nashville, TN 37204 (615) 386- 9262 dhardy@argosy.edu Kieth York, Construction Supervisor, On Site, 4940 Chamberlain cir., Elk Grove, Ca 95757, (650) 303-7737 yorktribe2001@yahoo.com

28. Resume cont. REFERENCES Cont. Lisa Wicks, Bakery District Manager, Safeway 10270 East Taron Dr. #378, Elk Grove, Ca 95757 (650) 303-4183 l_wicks@yahoo.com Sarah English, MBA, School Counselor, Tera Nova High School, 2619 Gellert Ct. South San Francisco, Ca, 94080 (925) 726-9819 smenglish@hotmail.com Scott Hendrickson, On Site, Owner, 9589 Forwinds Dr., Elk Grove, Ca, 95758, (916) 806-1749 s.hendrickson@atlasgrp2020.com

29. Reflection Argosy: My Sherpa I wondered lost for many years through the plains of misdirection. As I circled the same paths over and over, I knew where I wanted to go, but I had no idea how to get there. One day I met a woman at a fork in the road. I asked her which path I should take, and she directed me to the left. There, she said, I would find a Sherpa to help me to where I seek to go. The Sherpa was named Argosy. I have only reached base camp on my path up the mountain of knowledge. Argosy has guided me to this point with great efficiency. My time with Argosy has been filled with excitement and fulfillment. I have met many incredible and supportive professors. Each one has contributed immensely towards my goal of knowledge. A few have given me the strength and courage necessary to continue on past base camp and towards the peak. They provided me with such momentum that my rest will be short as I must continue upwards. Support and encouragement are not the only tools provided to me by these great knowledgeable guru’s that Argosy has introduced me too. Each one individually has contributed priceless knowledge in many different fields. I find myself emboldened with

30. Reflection skills from critical thinking through my experience in statistics to refining my writing skills in APA format with writing in psychology. I have gained new perspectives on life with my experiences in substance abuse and family, violence and children, ecology, sociology and many other areas. Through recognition by my professors, I have been guided to pursue certain therapeutic styles such as narrative and cognitive behavior; and through my capstone professor I have found my self esteem to stand up and say “I am Danny, hear me roar!” Never have I received a negative experience, always given advice and direction with compassion and sincerity. I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet, either in person or through cyber space, some incredible fellow journeymen and women. Together we supported and challenged each other to contribute in our own way towards each other’s success. Being able to work with students from other parts of the country provided me with enriching perspectives that has widened my view and opened my eyes. Far from having tunnel vision, those experiences lifted me out of the valley and onto a plateau to see much farther in all directions.

31. Reflection As I complete this first phase on my journey to the peak of knowledge, I find in my pack of treasures the confidence to move forward and use the tools I have been given to help others. I have a much broader understanding of what providing therapy is. I understand the wide range of issues as well as the extensive amount of tools out there to manage those issues. I have yet to gain the valuable experience in using those tools in real life situations, but as a well trained soldier, I am not afraid. I know that experience will come and when it does I will embrace it with the open arms I have been taught to embrace challenge with from my Sherpa, Argosy.

32. Table of Contents Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy Research Skills, Ethics and Cultural Diversity Foundations and Application of Psychology Interpersonal Effectiveness

33. Critical Thinking

34. Research Skills, Ethics and Cultural Diversity

35. Foundations and Application of Psychology

36. Interpersonal Effectiveness Shhhh, through silence you will grow

37. My Future in Learning Life is Learning “When I was a child I would peer at ‘The Thinker’ and dream to be like that” Danny Gallegos A personal characteristic I have learned about myself is that I tend to be happier, content, at peace with myself when I am in school. I decided a long time ago retirement is not an option, not due to financial reasons, but because I never want to be stagnant or complacent. With the eclectic interests I have, there will always be something to learn. From psychology to theology to astronomy to physics to cultural curiosities to life itself, part of my mindfulness philosophy is to never be bored. Boredom is what allows us time to worry about the future and regret the past. Living in the now for me is best achieved by learning. Boredom is the lack of imagination and I do not lack imagination. Not learning is not an option, not for who I am.

38. Contact Me Thank you for viewing my ePortfolio. For further information, please contact me at the e-mail address below. surf4life1986@yahoo.com