LIFE SKILLS

Life Skills RETROSPECTIVE ASSIGNMENT

Accepting Differences: I can definitely use some work in this area. You see, I am a Marine, and through training I have become equipped with a thick skin and an ability to take the heat when I am not living up to my side of the bargain. It has also been embedded in me that all outside problems take a back seat to the task at hand. This is a mentality that was drilled into me and has proven effective in the workplace but it also has its drawbacks. I tend to expect everyone to pride themselves in their work, and to leave their problems at the door from 9-5.
From my bosses perspective, they love that side of me, but as I settle into a supervisory role, I should take into perspective that everyone is DIFFERENT, and that through ACCEPTING these DIFFERENCES, I will gain a deeper connection with my fellow employees and therefore maximize potential

Goal Setting: I tend to somewhat bite off more than I can chew at times. I want to help everyone. I am an analyst and I love to solve problems. What I need to realize, however, is that eventually there will come a time where everyone will come to you at the same time and if you do not set realistic and achievable GOALS and PRIORITIZE these goals accordingly, then you will end up failing those individuals who are counting on your input when you could have simply been honest and said you couldn’t help them all at the same time.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices / Stress Management : I tied these two together because…. Simply stated, when I am stressed, I tend to come home and have what intend to be once drink whilest I decompress after a long day at work and school. What happens next is that one turns to four and eventually it is time for bed and I haven’t got much in the form of anything accomplished at home. i.e. Homework and Family Time. And as much as I consider myself well rounded, I can sure fool myself into thinking that my hard work as a father, husband and employee somewhat make my oblivious time at home acceptable.

Keeping Records: Last on my list of life changes would have to be my organization or lack thereof when it comes to Keeping Records. Although I can find whatever I need when it comes down to it, my desk looks like it was hit by Hurricane Katrina. I seem to take whatever I need at the moment and simply stack it in a pile once a new task comes about that out prioritizes the latter. Before you know it I have paperwork from last year in the same pile as yesterday’s project. Though I always find a way to get the job done, I can only imagine how much more efficient I would be if I was organized.

Education for Sale

The frontline documentary about Education and Corporations gave me two outlooks.

First and foremost, the simple truth that everything is for sale in America and it has always been so I am not too surprised that education up for sale.

What we have to understand is that Educating yourself is really an investment into yourself. And though I am not the average high school graduate anymore, to many kids today like it was to me back then, I figured that college was simply the next step and didnt get much guidance about just how much it is going to cost me at the end of the day.