Developing self awareness reflection paper

Developing self awareness reflection paper Through attending the course of Knowing ourselves, knowing our world, I have increased self- awareness. Every week, I keep learning more and more about myself. Self awareness, according to Wong (2003), means recognition of our personality, strengths and weaknesses and likes and dislikes. Developing self-awareness can help us to recognize when we are stressed or under pressure. Self awareness also promotes effective communication and interpersonal relations, and also for developing empathy for others. After I have gone to the camp, I learn to face something I used to evade. I was raised up by my aunt when I was young. I always feel difficult to live in the love between my own parents and my aunt. These persecute me for long. All these years, I have never told the others about the above thoughts. I just want to escape from these things. However, I feel so pleased that I have finally let my thoughts released out when I told my classmates in the camp. I used to evade the problem of how to balance the relationships between my parents and my aunts and uncle. Learning to increase self- awareness, Rothman (1999) suggests that it brings increased openness to other ways of thinking and a greater insight into other kinds of life experience. I will not escape from tackling the relationships and I can know more about my deep self. This enables me to understand my clients when they have something used to evade. I can then guide my clients to release their feelings and increase openness. It does help me to be more aware of myself by knowing how my past experiences influence my personal values. Having an uncle who experience three marriages because of having other relationships outside of his marriage (with women from the mainland China), I personally dislike women who are come from mainland China, come to Hong Kong to marry a man and to grab our resources. I dislike like them as I think that they always intervene in their marriage. However, this hatred towards new immigrants makes me unable to make appropriate decision when a client who is a new immigrant seeks help from me. Furthermore, Biestek (1961) suggests that the relationship between the social worker and the client has been called the soul of casework. With such a bias, I may have personal value judgment and uncontrolled emotional attitudes toward the clients. As a result, it may be difficult for me to develop close relationship with the client. However, now I know and realize that my past family experiences are affecting my values and thoughts, Rothman (1999) suggested that it assists the worker to work with clients, and to control and minimize the influences of personal attitudes and beliefs that may be harmful and prejudicial toward clients. According to Rothman (1999), as an adult, one has his own viewpoint towards something. The most concerned part in self-awareness is about the unaware perceptions, especially those negative feelings towards the others, such as biases, prejudices or stereotypes. According to Rothman (1999), they are hidden inside and covered by acceptable excuses and rationale. Take several minorities for an example, general people usually have some negative personal feelings and comments towards the disabled, homosexuals, prostitutes, the street sleepers and so on. Unaware perceptions may be expressed in conversations, acts or behavior since they are hidden in the subconscious. Having these unaware perceptions, as a social worker, I may unconsciously say some words which hurt clients feelings and make them become defensive and do not trust in me. Thus making it hard to develop good relationship with the client and hard to have intervention processes. Besides, sharing my own feelings and opinions among peers can also help to make up my own viewpoint towards the population. I can know more about the peers attitudes and how the others react towards some issue by listening and sharing among a group of peers. By exchanging opinions in an overview, I can learn to think more comprehensively and to view an issue with different perspective. By gaining opinions and experiences from the others, I may then gradually change my former views towards an issue. When it comes to the social work profession, it is common to have values or attitude conflicts with certain aspects. Self-awareness promotes several essential traits, such as openness, acceptance, willingness, trust, knowledge, interest and courage towards the clients (Rothman, 1999). When social worker can have comprehensive thoughts and view towards an issue, it can enable social worker to have a better understanding on the perceptions of the clients. Even the opinions of clients is different from the social workers personal view, the social worker can give clients an appropriate advice without any bias and would be more comfortable and easy to deal with the circumstances with their attitudes, values and beliefs (Rothman, 1999).. Social workers role is to stands right on the clients situations to provide services for them according to their wishes and needs. Self-awareness enables social workers to assist clients in a suitable and appropriate way. According to Segal E.A, part of self awareness is understanding ones down personal problems and biases, and addressing them so that they do not interfere in work with others. As a social worker (in the future), self awareness enables me to know myself and be aware of their own values, assumptions, beliefs, strengths, and weakness, so that I am able to help the clients effectively. Rothman (1999) suggests that increased awareness brings increased openness to other ways of thinking and a greater insight into other kinds of life experience. So, keeping my mind open, as a social worker (in the future), I can then listen to clients sharing patiently, even when clients have other point of view different from mine, I can have an appropriate response and advice. Self awareness promotes effective communication and interpersonal relations, and so as developing empathy for others. These are all elements which enable social workers to provide skillful service and positive attitude to clients. Increasing self awareness do helps me with my professional development.

The Merchant of Venice :: Free Merchant of Venice Essays

"The Merchant of Venice" by WIlliam Shakespeare. "The Merchant of Venice" is a play about revenge, justice, deseption and friendship. The story is about, Shylock a wealth Jew, lending one of his enemies, Antonoi, three thousand ducats. Although Antonio is a rich merchant all his resources are in his ships, trading too distant countries, but because he wants to help out his friend, Bassanio, he has no choice but to ask Shylock for a loan , not to know it could lead to his death. In this play there is a big difference between the Christian charaters and Shylock, the main difference being Shylock seems to be more interested in his money and business rather than human relationships, which the Christian charaters seem to b e more interested in. However, in one part of the play Shylock seems to be hurt at the fact his daughter has sold a ring, which his deceases wife gave him, for a monkey. (Act 3 Scene 1 ) " It was my turquoise, I had it off Leah when i was a bachelor. I Would not have given it for a Wilderness of monkeys. " This shows a side to Shylock that we have never seen. It shows the love he had and still has for his deceased wife Leah. Shylock shows how hurt and betrayed he feels that his daughter has sold his ring by saying that he wouldn't had given it away for a " wilderness of monkeys ". Another theme in the play that Shylock brings out is predjudice. He judges people before he gives them a chance to show what they are really like. He has different veiws on different characters depanding on who they are. ( Act 1 Scene 3 ) "I hat him for he is a Christian" This shows how he feels against antonio , a Christian whom he has never met and it shows how prejudice he can be. In one part of the play Shylock shows a side to him we have never seen before. Instead if seeing him as the man who is greedy and

Pros and Cons in Teenage Pregnancy

How to prevent teen pregnancy has been a question for many years. Many people take having a baby as a joke. Getting pregnant and having a child involves many prose and cons. In the prevention of teen pregnancy there are many things that can be helpful. There are also other helpful ways to prevent teen pregnancy, such as sex education and birth control. All of these things are essential in the prevention of teen pregnancy. Refraining from sexual activities is a great way to prevent teen pregnancy, and the risk of getting a disease. In the past years less sex and more condoms use has meant lower rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Most teens have sex because of their friends being sexually active. The percentage of sexually active males declined from 57.4 percent to 48.8 percent, essentially erasing the gender gap. A National Survey of Family Growth stated that teens are having less sex. Avoiding sex and learning more about sex are good ways to assure your knowledge and decrease teen pregnancy. Traditionally children have received information about sexuality from their parents, church, friends, their doctors, and many other people. Many young teens learn about their bodies first. Many people believe that sex education being taught in schools assures children of correct and complete information about sexuality. Sex education starts in the primaries and continues through the secondary school. At the primary school stage, sex education teaches children about their bodies and attempts to promote a whole attitude towards the self-development process. During these years teachers attempt to correct any false ideas children may have learned about sex. At the beginning of secondary school teachers try to prepare students for puberty. For example, the children learn about nocturnal emissions, menstruation and changes that will take place in their bodies, they also learn and study reproduction. Further up the school, most young adult†s interest in sex increases, so they learn more about responsibility, and having relationships between members of the opposite sex. In secondary school, pupils learn more about the social and psychological aspects of sexuality. Many other subjects come up at this time in a teenager†s life, such as marriage, abortion, homosexuality, birth control, and other topics. Sex education is very importance to the teenage generation. Birth control is the control of birth or of childbearing by deliberate measures to control or prevent conception, contraception. An understanding of birth control requires some knowledge of human reproduction. Sexually, coming from a man millions of sperm are released into the woman's vagina. If an egg is there sperm travelling through a woman's fallopian tube will be fertilised by the sperm. Most birth control methods are made to prevent contraceptives. The most effective contraceptive method is surgical sterilisation. In many developing nations hormone drugs are injected into the body. Studies show that those methods are becoming effective, because the teenage pregnancy rate has dropped by 11%. Birth control is important to teenagers, and they should be used if a teen should become sexually active. Parents should remember to teach their children about birth control always, just in case a teenager should become curious and decide to have sex. In conclusion a teen pregnancy has a hard effect on society, in many ways. Most teen pregnancies were not planned. Surveys say about 65% of teen pregnancy's were not even discussed with their sexual partners. All of the other percentage of teen pregnancy's were not planned either, but it had been discussed with the teenagers sexual partner at some point in time. Most teenagers begin having sex without knowing the consequences. Teenagers need to take responsibility and remember to keep safe, because there are various ways to prevent teen pregnancy, for example abstinence, sex education, and various types of birth control.

Anne Bradstreet as First American Feminist Essay - 1763 Words

Anne Bradstreet as First American Feminist Feminism today remains prominent because even while women’s rights are very strong, women are still fighting for equality every day. In the time of Anne Bradstreet, women had few rights and they were seen as inferior to men. Anne lived among the puritans whom ruled her everyday life. Although it was against the puritan code for women to receive an education, Bradstreet’s father, Thomas Dudley, loved his daughter dearly and made sure that she was well educated which shows in her works. Anne Bradstreet’s literature became well known only because her family published her works under a male name. This was done because writing poetry was a serious offense to the puritans since poetry was†¦show more content†¦(239) In addition, in this quote, Bradstreet acknowledges that even if her writing skills are extraordinary, that because she is a woman, no one will accept it or believe it. In addition, Bradstreet expressed a need for equality. She wanted people to take a step back and glimpse back to history, â€Å"Let Greeks be Greeks, and women what they are;† (240). In Greece, women were equal among men, as were the Gods and Goddesses. In the seventh stanza of â€Å"The Prologue,† Bradstreet gives her most strong cry out for recognition, still however, it is subtle, â€Å"Men have precedeny and still excel,/ It is but vain unjustly to wage war;/men can do best, and women know it well/ Preeminence in all and each is yours;/ Yet grant some small acknowledgement of ours† (240). Also in this quote is Bradstreet’s observance of men in their natural state. She sees men as war hungry, vain and powerful. Consequently, Anne Bradstreet faced a double bind. If she voiced her thoughts, opinions, and beliefs, she would have put herself in danger, and by not saying anything, she would force herself to go on living in a patriarchy. Bradstreet apologized in her poetry for writing as a woman. This can be see in â€Å"The Prologue,† in the first stanza. To sing of wars, of captains, and of kings,/ Of cities founded, commonwealths begun,/ For my mean pen are too superior things: / Or how they all, orShow MoreRelatedThe Genesis Of Feminism By Anne Bradstreet1181 Words   |  5 PagesPaper #1 English 2510 Courtney Knight October 1, 2015 The Genesis of Feminism As a woman living in a very patriarchal society, Anne Bradstreet uses reverse psychology to present her beliefs and opinions. Bradstreet’s poems show her reality, and possibly the coping mechanisms of living in a world where men were favored above women. Bradstreet’s poems are full of female strength and presence, it is almost held back by her puritan roots and roles as a woman in the 1800s. I can see the conflict withinRead MoreGender Roles In Colonial America1246 Words   |  5 PagesGender Roles were passed from generation to generation with many limitations for women. 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Looking at two of her works, â€Å"The Prologue† and â€Å"The Author to Her Book,† both written at different times in Bradstreet’s life, one can see how Bradstreet’sRead MoreAnne Bradstreet s The New World1385 Words   |  6 PagesAnne Bradstreet is revered as America’s first female poet and the first published poet of the New World. Born in England in 1612, Anne immigrated to the New World with waves of Puritan refugees escaping Angelican and Catholic persecution (Gordon, 88). As a successful mother of 8 children and a loyal housewife, Anne embodied the ideal Puritan woman. Yet, Bradstreet defied several Puritan social codes, namely writing in a time women were considered inferior to men. It was seen as an affront to GodRead More Anne Brandstreet and Female Identity Essay533 Words   |  3 Pages There are not many â€Å"major† female writers in American Literature, and writing, traditionally, has always been viewed as a masculine activity. It is therefore very interesting, and even ironic, that the first author published in the newly established Puritan society on the American soil, Anne Bradstreet, was a female. Indeed, Bradstreets poems are filled with female presence. However, I also sense that Bradstreet’s feminism is held in check by her Puritan values, and there is a conflictRead MoreReview Of Upon The Burning Of Our House By Anne Bradstreet2061 Words   |  9 Pagesattributes to many poets’ fame. Anne Bradstreet is an example of one of these types of writers. Her poem, Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666, describes one of the most devastating life events that one can go through and was her claim to fame. Anne Bradstreet’s tragic life led her to a very successful career that would change the literary world for years to come . Anne Bradstreet was born on March 20, 1612 in the town of Northampton, England (â€Å"Bradstreet Biography†). She was born into theRead MoreEssay On Anne Bradstreet2057 Words   |  9 Pagesstill fighting for equality every day. In the time of Anne Bradstreet, women had few rights and they were seen as inferior to men. Anne lived among the puritans whom ruled her everyday life. Although it was completely against the puritan code for women to receive an education, Anne Bradstreet’s father, Thomas Dudley, loved his daughter very much and did everything he could to make sure that she was well educated which shows in her works. Anne Bradstreet’s literature became well known only because