Alright guys, it looks like everyone enjoyed my first blog posting so much, they commissioned me to write another one! I kid, but, I hope everyone took a long look at last week's topic about the ePortfolio. I know that topic was a major stressor for me during my Cornerstone experience. This week, we'll be discussing our personal philosophies, career goals, and the academic opportunities that relate to your goals.
No matter what job you work, your personal philosophy is going to 'seep in' to your work. In example: authors will always use their personal slant in their writing. Your personal philosophy is an important part of your life, so you're always going to want to share it with everyone around you. The next important step is deciding just what your personal philosophy is. Once you identify your philosophy, you can see how it relates to your future career.
So, take a few moments to sit back and think of what drives you. It could be the desire to help others, the desire for material possessions, or even the desire to 'out-do' your family members. Regardless of what it is that drives you, identify with it and make it yours.
The next part of this week's blog is identifying whether or not your philosophy is interdisciplinary, or if you can MAKE it interdisciplinary. This is important to note, because you're being trained to look at things from an interdisciplinary standpoint. When you tackle problems from this standpoint, you can generally overcome them due to the extended coverage provided by each discipline, as well as the increase in critical thinking.
Finally, after you've identified what your philosophy is, and whether or not it is interdisciplinary, you have one last option to consider: what academic opportunities are available to me? There are a host of different internships, partnerships, and post-graduate options available to you. You should do the research necessary to identify what those options are, as well as what you need to do to obtain those opportunities. Using the Experiential Learning and Career Services offices, you can find a host of opportunities available to you.
Here are a few topics to discuss this week, but remember, you don't have to answer ALL of these questions:
1.Discuss your personal philosophy concerning your professional life
2.How is or isn't this philosophy interdisciplinary?
3.How have your career goals altered?
Have a great week!
I am not quite sure the whole philosophy thing is clear to me... A few things drive me personally. I definitely have a desire to help people. If someone looks like they need help I am always the first to jump in and see if I can help. I also have a desire to be very good at what I do. This also drives me just because I want to prove to myself I can be good at anything I choose to be good at. I will have to comment again later about my personal philosophy...
ReplyDelete- Michael Sanacore
It's funny, but I've never really thought about a personal philosophy. If I think about it, though, I bet I have one. Here are some random thoughts about how I live my professional life (perhaps I can mold these into some sort of personal philosophy statement):
ReplyDelete- It's all in the details. Maybe it's my marketing background, but it's not just enough to finish the project. There has to be an element of ownership and pride.
-It's not always about me. It's a team effort. Working in a vacuum rarely produces the results necessary to succeed. Besides, it's interdisciplinary to work with others! It helps you think outside of the box and see things differently.
-Always be a good corporate citizen. Being a resource to others and helping when possible encourages good corporate behavior and teamwork.
That's off the top of my head. I'm sure I could come up with additional ideas.
Lisa Schmidt
@Mike:
ReplyDeleteIt seems like you desire to be good at helping people! Haha, I kid. What questions do you have about the personal philosophy? I'd like to clear this up for you if you have any specific questions.
@Lisa:
ReplyDeleteHow can you mold these three ideas together to form one, descriptive, personal philosophy?
And do you think these ideas build off of the three disciplines that you have chosen for yourself?
Well Kevin, I am not exactly sure how to create a personal philosophy or a statement. I believe I am confused as to exactly what one is. And example would be a great help. I guess if I look at what I commented on before it would include a desire to help and always do my best. I guess it's also supposed to be interdisciplinary which I'm sure it would be.
ReplyDelete- Michael Sanacore
A good example of a personal philosophy would be whatever motivates you to press on through college. Whatever it is pushing you towards your end game.
ReplyDeleteFor me, my motivation comes from my desire to help others and help them grow as people. So my personal philosophy is that I want to be able to help people in everything I do.
My personal philosophy concerning my professional life has a lot to do with moral ethics.I believe that no matter what, it is important to do a job in a way that benefits "all people" and not just something that benefits one person. And no matter what, they should do it professionally. Because in oder to have a successful business, this element is crucial. Also, all people need to be open to accepting different ideas and the people that represent them. I suppose that interdiscplinarity falls under open-mindedness because it stands for variety and the corporation of it.
ReplyDelete-DeAnna Powell
Mike, your personal philosophy should maybe reflect what you stand for as a person. Most think that your professional life is completely different from your personal, but the truth is, that it's more the same than anything else. Who you are as a person will show in your professional life. You should maybe answer the question: "what is the way that I would like to go about achieving my goals?". It's not necessarily about what is the RIGHT way, but about what you feel. I hope that helps!
ReplyDelete-DeAnna Powell
Before today I had never thought of a personal philosophy. Like others who have already posted I just want to do and be my best. I put 100% effort in to most things that I do. My desire to finish school and make something of myself could be a part of that too. I like what DeAnna said about moral ethics too. I too try to "do a job that benefits all people and not just something that benefits one person." To accomplish anything we have to have a drive to do it, whatever those might be.
ReplyDeleteKylee Jones
So I guess my personal philosophy for my professional life is to ensure that everyone involved have a safe, fun experience. This can be interdisciplinary in that you need training from different areas of disciplines. For instance, we are trained in CRP and the like (so medical), rescue training, biology (intensifying the fish and the other animals), and scuba training. Since they are all different areas that incorporate into one my professional life could be considered interdisciplinary. To do my job well I need to be trained in different disciplines.
ReplyDeleteKylee Jones
@DeAnna
ReplyDeleteGreat! You seem to have a good understanding of what this blog posting was about. I also like that you brought ethics to the table. Too often do people 'forget' about ethics as being an important part of life.
@Kylee
ReplyDeleteGreat! You've identified a personal philosophy, as well as determining that it IS interdisciplinary. It's important to be aware of your personal philosophy, because it will inevitably shape you.
Mark D. Siemer
ReplyDeleteI currently don't have a personal philosophy about my professional life because I am doing everything to keep myself from having one, or even thinking about one for a couple more years. Mostly because I have almost no work ethic, and I know that is horrify in a professional work environment.
Over the years my career goals have changed. I am sure that I am not the only one to change my major, or future career, a few times over my school career. As I matured I found what areas (or disciplines) that I excel in, and what areas that I should avoid. For instance, I wanted to be a marine biologist for most of my life, but after taking more advanced science classes I found marine biology not to be for me, but I found I enjoyed english and humanities classes. So over the years my professional career goals have changed, and who is to say they wont in the future?
ReplyDeleteSorry, forgot to add my name at the end :)
ReplyDeleteOver the years my career goals have changed. I am sure that I am not the only one to change my major, or future career, a few times over my school career. As I matured I found what areas (or disciplines) that I excel in, and what areas that I should avoid. For instance, I wanted to be a marine biologist for most of my life, but after taking more advanced science classes I found marine biology not to be for me, but I found I enjoyed english and humanities classes. So over the years my professional career goals have changed, and who is to say they wont in the future?
Kylee Jones
So, I haven't finished molding all of my thoughts into a personal philosophy, but I have something to add to my list:
ReplyDeleteI want to use the principals of critical thinking in all phases of my life.
I am amazed at the lack of critical thinkers - especially on topics of significance. I don't want to form my opinions based on ideology.
As I said, still working on my philosophy, but critical thinking is a must!
Lisa Schmidt
Scott Pollack
ReplyDelete1.Discuss your personal philosophy concerning your professional life.
My personal philosophy when it comes to my professional life is traditional and old fashioned. I pride myself in my work and feel that one's work and its results are indicative of how one leads their life overall. By not being complacent in the workplace, it speaks volumes about an individual and where he/she places their priorities.
2.How is or isn't this philosophy interdisciplinary?
It is very much involving interdisciplinary studies. I like to incorporate many things into my philosophy, such as education, experience, guidance and mentoring. By doing so, I am setting myself up to handle any situation that may come my way during my professional life.
3.How have your career goals altered?
I see the bigger picture. Its not all about money. Its about results and evolving as a person and as a professional. Results are driven from within, not with the size of one's paycheck. Money will fall into line once you stop worrying about it and handle the tasks at hand.
Have a great week!
I guess after reading more of the comments and hearing your response I can formulate a philosophy. Or at least a true statement. I like to help people and motivate them to do a good job, and I would like to make a difference in my life, which is part of the reason I decided to join the Air Force. My philosophy that drives me through college is:
ReplyDeleteTo help others through my motivation to make a difference.
I think that's a good one, and is very true to how I feel. Thanks for the help.
- Michael Sanacore
A personal philosophy can also be labeled as a personal opinion. Another way to look at a personal philosophy is as a person's point of view.Being another essential tool to add to one's ePortfolio.personal philosophy is a term that allows a person to analyzes a topic.Critical thinking is a topic that can be analyzed by personal philosophy.
ReplyDeleteGeorges Desliens
Like others who have already posted I just want to do my best. There is a wide selection of career choices and opportunities. A person's personal philosophy can be a goal or views of a person. I believe that it is important to do a job that is beneficial to everyone involved. And no matter what, they should do it professionally.
ReplyDeleteGeorges Desliens
My personal philosophy concerning my professional life is to do things for the greater concern of the team rather than just one person. Another factor to my philosophy is the safety. With the implementation of safety, procedures, and rules, things become easier.Success is key when attacking any goal or task. Interdisciplinary falls under being open minded because it stands for variety and the corporation of it.
ReplyDeleteGeorges Desliens
I like Mike's comment about helping others do a good job. I think helping others succeed is also critical to our own success. Too many times we're busy with our own personal and professional growth, it's easier to keep our heads buried and keep to ourselves. Getting involved either as a supervisor, mentor, or in some other way, is key to our development and the development of others. I'm definitely adding this to my personal philosophy statement.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea, Mike!
Lisa Schmidt
My personal philosophy in regards to my professional life is to have a career that I feel provides me not only with monetary compensation, but with a feeling of accomplishment and importance. This is why I have set my sights on becoming a teacher/coach. I feel that my goals are, at their core, interdisciplinary. While Coaching and Teaching fall into an instructional field, they both require completly different philosophies in regards to motivation and cultivation of talent.
ReplyDeleteMy career goals have been severly altered over the last 2 years. My wife has done her best to motivate me and make me realize that I was not living up to my potential. I owe to her, and to my family to finish school and make a better life for my family.
My philosophy for my professional life is to exercise sound ethical judgment while incorporating knowledge acquired from multiple disciplines to make a positive and impactful difference in the lives of others. I strive for the interdisciplinary application of my knowledge and experience, and ethical judgment to do what is right, even when the right thing is far from the easiest or most comfortable. The overall driving force behind that is the desire to "make a difference" in the life of someone else.
ReplyDelete-William Powell
@Kylee
ReplyDeleteNo, you're certainly not the only one that has changed a major, career, etc. Looking back over the last 15 or 20 years it is amazing how my journey has developed. I've found that I, too, discovered what I really liked (opposed to what I thought I would like), where I excelled, and found that as I move through life my priorities shift for various reasons. Sometimes it's a maturity thing, or my lack of maturity during certain phases of my life, and in some cases it may have been a sudden sense of being rudderless on my journey. This is why I can appreciate this week's blog topic. It's a hard thing to articulate one's personal or professional philosophy, because it's not very common in our life when we are tasked to even consider our philosophy, let alone articulate it to a group of somewhat strangers. It's one thing to say I want to be in a certain career in the future, but it's an entirely other thing to pause for a minute, consider, and articulate the underlying philosophy or core principles that are the guiding force as we move towards that career. To me, that's the fun part.
Thanks for the post!
-William Powell
@DeAnna,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I would agree that interdisciplinarity falls under open-mindedness. I mean, I would consider the tunnel vision view that a single particular discipline is the one and only solution (or best solution) for a challenge just because I have been trained in that discipline is a pretty closed-minded way to operate. So the opposite would be an interdisciplinary approach, which would be open-minded.
I'm curious how many of those that major in Interdisciplinary Studies are open-minded about things outside of an Interdisciplinary Studies class/blog. :) Speaking for myself, as much of an advocate for interdisciplinary studies I am, I catch myself being pretty closed-minded about certain things unless I make a conscious effort to stop and consider alternate view-points. I wonder to what extent IDS exists at the core of us IDS major folks, and to what extent we are interdisciplinary in the academic setting versus our day to day life. Or maybe I wonder too many things at 10 pm on a Sunday evening. Either way.
Thanks for sharing your post!
-William Powell
I like that Lisa stated that critical thinking is a part of her life philosophy. With critical thinking, we can keep things interesting. People can bring new things and ideas to the table. Creative thinking is what ultimately brings success. Innovations are things that no one else has thought of. So their critical thinking skills have definitely come to be a part of it.
ReplyDelete-DeAnna Powell
I've never really thought about my philosphy toward my professional career. Whatever field I've been in or position I've held I just apply best practices, a "severe" work ethic, and best virtues and ethics. This is probobly where most people depart from a median as these things are subjective and relative. Mine may vary from yours but I think honesty is or should be central to everyone's philosphy--but it isn't as we see an probe of insider trading that netted the insiders tens of BILLIONS in profits. Yes, I think Wall Street is corrupt from top to bottom...and I'm personally enjoying the "crash." May they all one day be hung from light poles...and I mean that!
ReplyDelete_Jonathan Andrew Harris
This is off topic a little bit but it applies to interdisciplinarity. I had a term paper due in American Lit II tonight and I purposefully employed IDS. We had a list of "things" to choose from for topics and I chose from drinks, alcohol,bars, taverns, etc.
ReplyDeleteI picked alcohol as symbol and used three texts, "Babylon Revisited," "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," and "A Streetcar named Desire." I found an excellent report from the Social Issues Research Centre to the Amsterdam Group that was very comprehensive...situation definer, status indicator, statement of affiliation, gender differentiator, social functions of drinking places, social integration, bonding, Transitional rituals (life-cycle, lifestyle, habitual) and festive rituals, celebrations, holidays (religious/pagan.)
It turned out to be a great paper and I historicized as well as the pieces were from WWI-WWII, old order, modernism, gilded elite, rise of middle class, leading to agency in gender, race, and sexual orientation. It was a bonafide IDS project and I enjoyed it and I think it'll blow the professor's socks off. Yeah, I had fun too!
-Jonathan Andrew Harris
Here's a link to the SIRC paper if anyone's into sociology, addicitons, et al.
http://www.sirc.org/publik/drinking6.html
How have my career goals been altered?
ReplyDeleteHmmh. A couple of people said it's not about money. I'm in that camp. I used to be, don't get me wrong, but this economy and the paradigm that is shifting requires flexibility, versatility, and counter-intuitiveness. We're in for a bad couple of decades (in my opinion) and conventional approaches are already archaic. Many people are in for a rude "awakening." Best of "luck" to those who don't plan for the worst case scenario. Hope in one hand and do something in the other and see which one fills up first.
_Joseph Nathaniel Andrew Harris