Individual Skills and Strengths - Essay Example

?Individual Skills and Strengths Some of the greatest skills one can have in the Human Service field are to be a good listener, communicator, be empathetic, nurturing, a good problem-solver, and have great organizational skills. These skills are important since most people use these in their everyday lives. One of the best decisions in my life was to join the Air Force right after high school. I learned many things about myself during those nine years of my life. I already knew I was dependable, a good listener, nurturing and empathetic. I was this naturally. The Air Force taught me to be a good communicator, problem solver and to be good at organizing. I grow up in Fresno California. I guess being my mom’s first born made me independent. Then, a few years later my mom married my step dad; all the sudden I was the middle child. My step dad had older children from another woman and my mom was pregnant with my soon to be little brother. So, that is how I became the middle child. I guess because I grew up the middle child and I was always taking care of my mom, I learned how to be dependable and a good listener. After my step dad would be abusive to her, she would always come to me for support. She could always rely on me to be there. I never really realized that until now. I grew up the good girl. I had a straight A’s. I never got in trouble like my sister and my brother did. My sister used to get in trouble all the time. Looking back, I think it is because every time she would get in trouble at our house her mom would pick her up and let her do whatever she wanted. I can blame her mom for being a drug addict and not being a good mom, however there comes a point in your life when you grow up and realize what is best for you as person. My sister has never realized that. She is always blaming everyone else for her mistakes. My brother on the other hand was the golden boy. He was the youngest and he was good at playing basketball. In my parents eyes he could do no wrong. My sister used drugs to deal with life and my brother used laugher and basketball. I was a different story. I was the strong one in the family. I learned to be dependable and to only rely on myself. I always stood up for my mom to my siblings and my step dad. I guess that is why life was a little harder for me growing up. I almost got really hurt a lot. However, that experience in life taught me to be true to myself. I always stand up for what I believe in and learned from everyone else life what I don’t want in my life. Growing up I would see my mom and step dad and their friends doing drugs. I saw firsthand what it does to family and relationships. I really don’t think my step dad would have been as abusive as he was without drugs and alcohol. From their life I saw want I did not want for myself. That is why I tried so hard in school. I knew if got good grades and stayed out of trouble I could make a life for myself without changing whom I am inside. One night when I was doing my homework at the kitchen table my step dad started yelling at my mom. Then he started hitting her. That is when I snapped. I started yelling at him. I still remember his eyes being so red. He slapped me in the face then I slapped him back. I was a junior in high school at the time. He told me to go to my room. So I did but not quietly. Then I called the police. Well let’s just say he made my life yell that year for me. I called my aunt and she asked me to spend the summer in Idaho with her. I happily agreed. That summer was no great drama -- just relaxing and talking. I eventually told her what happened. My aunt knew of the abuse but she could never get my mom to leave him. She asked me to move up to Idaho for my senior year. I agreed, and thought it would be a great change for me. I could get away from the drama and get a chance to look towards my future. It was good year, but then I realized I missed home. I decided to go home and go to college. I didn’t realize because I was an out of state resident it would be so expensive to go to school. I thought I would work for a year then sign up next year as a state resident. It was a lot harder than I thought finding a good paying job. I was talking to my aunt on the phone and she asked me if I had ever thought about joining the Air Force. I gave them a call and heard all they had to offer. I went home to think about it and realized I needed more than a part time job. That is when I decided to go into the Air Force. I just really needed to have a life of my own that was heading towards a goal, plus the Air Force would pay for my college. The Air Force was one of the best decisions I made for myself. The Air Force taught me to be a good communicator, problem solver and a great organizer. When I joined the Air Force I was really not that good at communicating. Growing up the quieter I was, the less trouble I could get into. They really taught how to communicate in order to be a team, so we could solve problems. I really learned how to be an organizer because that is the one of the main things they teach you in boot camp. My first station was Germany. I was there for three and a half years. I really found a strong part of me that I did not know was there. I did kind of go wild. I started drinking. After a while I realized drinking leads you to do stupid things sometimes. Let just say some people really took my kindness for weakness. There are some things that happen to me I am glad I don’t remember the whole thing. Then, I started thinking about my mom and step dad. How was I being any different by drinking too much? I was letting it control me. So, I stopped drinking. I hardly ever drink anymore. I can count how many times I have drank alcohol in one year now. I learned you couldn’t even trust some of your friends when they are drinking. Some people just become other people. The good part of the journey in Germany was that I really learned how much I love traveling and knowing the history of things. How many 22 year olds could say they have been to Germany, Paris, Spain, Belgium, Rome, Florence, London, and Denmark. Then I was deployed to Africa right before I got out of the military. So, after Germany, I was stationed in South Dakota and Colorado. When you move that many times you really learn how to be a good organizer. It seemed wherever the military sent me I was there to fix a situation. I organized so many programs and offices. It was a little harder than I thought to get my degree in the Air Force. First, you have courses for your jobs you have to take and get certified in. Depending on your career field, that could month or years. For Human Resources, it took about two years. You can’t take any college credit until you finish them and take tests. Then, I cross-trained in communication, so I had to start all over again. I had college class here and there when I was in the military. At first, I really did not want to get out of the military without a degree. However, I got in a car accident on my way to work when the roads were really bad. I hit black ice hit into a cement block in the ditch. I was mission essential so I had no choice but to go to work. I could physically do all the things I use to do after that, so when my time was up I decided to get out. I am still not sure if it was the right thing to do. The next few years were really hard on me. I moved back home into my grandma’s place where my mom and step dad were living. I took odd jobs here and there. I was unemployed for a while. I did find work at Safeway, and Gottschalk’s. Then, after three years of looking for a good paying job, I finally got a job on a base working for the Army in Human Resources. I really learned how to communicate, solve problems and organize. I had to build a new awards program from the ground up. Then after three years there, the Army got rid of that program. That is when I applied everywhere, even out of state. I was put on (PPP) prior placement program for the Army. They found me a job in Washington and that is how I came to be where I am now. Now, I am really ready to do what I want to do. Don’t get me wrong, I like Human Resources. I am good at it. However, I don’t feel the passion for it. I really want to put my talents to better use. All my life I have I felt I can make a difference in people’s lives if they just let me. I love the feeling when I help someone solve a problem. I look at my strengths and see I am a good listener and communicator. They have to count for something. I made not have a good voice, or be athletic but I really know I can help people. I help friends and family without any training. I think if I have the right training I could really help the people who want help. One of the last learning moments I had was when I decided to attend the University of Phoenix. I started at the University of Phoenix when I was in Fresno California. I thought about just going to school, but in this economy how often are you going to get a job offer that pays for your move and an increase in salary. So, as soon as I got in Washington I called UOP. I started a few weeks later. Over all the years in my life, it has changed for the good and the bad. I really wasn’t sure I was going to make it last year. In January, my last grandmother died, then at the end of the month my first dog died, then in March my mom died. Right after that I found out my job is going away. I was starting to shut myself off from the world for a while. Luckily, I have a great support group. My friends and family really helped me get through the next year. I make it and now I have a great job a new dog, cat and home. Now is my time to pursue my dreams. My goal is to still work for the military just in a different section. I want to become a counselor for military members and their families. There are a lot of different categories. I think I want to do them all and see which ones I perform the best in. I have really learned from the bad in my life. I know that sounds crazy, but when you go through the bad it really shows you who you are and how strong you can be. I have had good and bad in my life like everyone else. However, I have chosen to learn from my mistakes and from other people’s mistakes. I have grown to be great listener, communicator, be empathetic, be nurturing, a good problem-solver and developed great organizational skills. By the way, I have forgiven my step dad and now we get along. If I can forgive him, I think I can help others forgive themselves and others. Read More