Sallie Brown
Professional Goal Statement
Personal, Academic, and Professional Goals/Personal Qualities
I am seeking a Master degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling-Military Families and Culture (MSCMHCMFCP) at Walden University Online program. Therefore, my interest after completion of MSCMHCMFCP is to retire from my current career arena as a Department of the Army's Civilian employee and to find employment as a Mental Health Counselor in the Flint Hill’s Community. However, the decision to pursue this degree originated after taking a deep look at myself. Unfortunately, I am sixty-one years old, and I enjoy conversing with people. However, I do not have the energy to attend on campus classes to …show more content…
become a Social Worker. So I decided to become a counselor. With this in mind, my personal goals are to complete the MSCMHCMFCP, retire from my current career arena as a Department of the Army's Civilian employee, and to continue to work with my first love, assisting the disenfranchise communities in the Junction City, Fort Riley, in the Kansas’ vicinity. The personal qualities I possess are interpersonal skill such as verbal/non-verbal communication, listening, ask needed questioning, manners, problem-solving, social Awareness, self-Management, Responsibility and Accountability, and Assertiveness. The above attributes form effective interpersonal relationships when working with clients/people.
Academic Experience
Without a doubt, my undergraduate is general studies; which taught the primary. However, the bachelor degree in Human Services gave me the knowledge of the needs and services that are available to disenfranchise clients. Such as Social Services, Department of Aging, Child Abuse Agencies, and other agencies to assist the needs of another. Twenty-two years of military service working with soldiers and their family member influenced my choice to obtain a graduate degree as a counselor. Surely, my previous learning experiences will enhance collaboration with cross cultures, different ethnic groups, and the knowledge of various agencies such as the ones mentioned above. Surprisingly, the problem I incurred in the Master of Social Work Program at Washburn University attempting to work a full-time job, caregiver for an elderly parent, mother to a thirteen-year-old son, wife and a student driving an hour to campus and back home proved to be problematic.
Work/Other Experience
Currently, visiting the elderly in the home and the nursing home to lift their spirits by sitting with them in their rooms or having lunch and listen to their stories as they eat lunch; or just asking about their day.
Also, speaking with soldiers about remaining in the military or getting out. Self-reflecting on my experience allows the soldier to make a decision of what they want to do. However, working with Philippian, Asian people they are constantly conveying the differences in culture and asking my opinion of a situation. I enjoy the conversations I have with others.
Why Walden?
Walden is an online university which allows me to take care of a family, job, and attend school.
I have taken online courses and actually enjoyed that I could attend class within the comfort of my home. The ability to sign in and complete the course requirements without visiting a campus.
Cross-Cultural Scenario
My family and I had just arrived home when a knock on the door.
It was the daughter of a soldier. Amazingly, she was crying and was trying to get help for her mother. She could get the words out for the tears. I put my arms around her to comfort her. She calmed down to tell me her father was fighting her mother. My husband said he would go. He left, and I kept the child with me. After a few minutes; my husband returned and instructed me to call the military police. Strangely enough, I asked my husband to let me try before we call the MP. I ask my husband to allow her to stay in the apartment until I returned. When I arrived at the soldier apartment, they were both cussing each other out. The living quarters were in disarray. I walked into the living room. They were so angry with one another that they did not notice me standing in there. I said in a loud voice, “At ease!” a word used to get soldiers’ …show more content…
attention.
They both became silent. I closed the front door to the apartment. Informing a couple of the surrounding and the attention that is drawn to themselves calmed the storm. I did not ask what causes the altercation. However, I asked where the children where they started looking around for them. I then explained they were at my apartment and how scared they were. Therefore, I reminded them why they were in Germany, and what the alterative results if they continue this behavior.
As a veteran and DA Civilian, I am always interacting ethnicity, same-sex preference, and race and spiritual issues. Naturally, the military community underwent mandatory realigning annual training to adjust to the new laws such as same-sex marriages. For the last thirty years of my military and civilian career, I have conducted and trained on ethnicity and race issues. Therefore, it is imperative that I have a general awareness of the melting pot of my surroundings. Cultural awareness is essential visiting different countries.
Other countries have believed that may or may not be the same as mine. Therefore, it is vital that I became culturally sensitive to other ethnic groups in the US and another country; for the US is known as a melting pot culture. Once, on a deployment to Iraq as a SNCO, my position was to meet civilians that entered the compound. However, the males that entered the compound would not shake my hand and attempted to speak to male soldier rather than talk to me. After the conversation with the commander of the dilemma with the male counterparts in Iraq. My leader informed me that it was my position as a SNCO to address all civilian that entered the
compound. Iraq it was inappropriate for a female to touch a male. In fact, the male and female roles are not liberated as the United States. We were the guest of their country. Therefore, rather than offend them and their customs, I decide to honor their traditions.
Therefore, I trained one of the male soldiers to physically facilitate the meet and greet the Iraq men entered the compound, and I only intervene on a case by case basis. A person that can self-reflect would identify and relate to the situation to resolve their client’s issue. Plus, a person that can self-reflect become compassionate toward their client when present with a situation of similar problems. As I mentioned above, the incident with the Iraq’s men, refusal to work with women. The next deployment I would not make the same mistake. I would acknowledge their cultural sensitivity concerning shanking female’s hands or conducting business with females.