Instructor: Shameeka Mattis
FPA/CEP 121.2361
Jariya Phongsai
03/23/09
Personal Development
Since I started my college at LaGuardia Community College, I have changed my
major about three times. I started with the major of Liberal Art (Math and Science)
because I enjoyed studying math and also I actually could not find anything else match
me at that moment. I have taken many math courses because I wanted to prove my math
skill. Later, I decided to change my major to physical therapy because of my personality.
I found myself enjoy helping and threading people from their sickness and hurt. Also, I
am good in understanding people and learn how to treat them as well. Beside taking care
people, I also love to communicate with other and I think that was the reason I decided to
change my major to physical therapy. After I was in natural and applied major I stared
taking some science courses and learned a lot of new experiences that I never had.
Although, I enjoyed studying my courses, but I felt that I could not apply my skills to my
work and I had a hard time of being in this major. I started looking for something that
matches my skills and personalities. Finally, computer graphic is my last decision and I
am recently majoring in computer science in college and this is my third semester. As a
young child, I always enjoyed creating some artworks, drawing, and painting. My hobby
is to invent toys for myself and presents for other. My first time using a computer, I felt
that myself was introduced to the wide world and I became to love it more and more. I
enjoy using any programs in computer to create my artworks and invent the new
programs. Computer science is an interesting and exciting major for me and it perfectly
fits my skills and interests.
Since I was born, my mother is a person who always takes good cares and
supports me in everything. She has assisted me to develop my abilities and career goals.
As I remember, my mother is my first teacher and she is the best model of me who has
given the best for me. She always besides me and teaches me how to accomplish my
goals. The old saying goes “Where there’s a will, there is a way.” always remind me of
her because she always tell me to try my best and don’t be afraid of learning new
experiences or making mistakes. I realize that I will know deeper from my mistake and
experiences. She always supports and helps me to develop in my education because
knowledge is the most important.
Looking back, when I first came to the United States, language problem gave me
a hard time. Because I live among diverse people so it was so difficult to live in New
York City without speaking English. About three years ago, I remember that I could not
communicate well to people because I was afraid to speak English and many times that I
could not respond to them. I realize that to accomplish my education I had to overcome
this problem. In this respect, I spent time a lot with reading books, writing essays and
speaking to other. Group working and group presentations helped me a lot of speaking.
All the course projects helped to improve my language problem. Now, I am able to
communicate with other more and understand English better. Passing the ACT exam and
CPE exam could verify my language improvement and it makes me feel proud of myself.
It is my pleasure to be the Dean’s list from fall 2007 and I have maintained 3.80 GPA
until this semester. Another life accomplishment is to “win a prize of a short stage
performance” when I was in my high school. It was a competition for all the high schools
in the city. I was a director for the performance and my classmates were performer. We
had created the show by our own ideas and abilities. We wrote the story, created the stage
and performed the actors by ourselves. Beside, I set myself into graphic designer who
designed the stage, light, and music for the show as well. It was my first time of making a
short stage performance but it was such a wonderful experience and it benefits me to
improve my graphic design skills and I could apply them to improve my computer skill. I
have learned that learning new thing is actually worthwhile.
However, there are some personal learning objectives I have as I wish to
develop such as making decision skill, getting to the meeting and appointment on time
and working on group. First, the most important skill that I have concerned to develop is
making decision. Decision making is one of the reader skills and all the careers require
this skill. People who can make decision rapidly have better chances to reach their goals
and be able to face and solve problems. In this respect, I try to take more actions when
required and participate in leadership activities such as Phi Theta Kappa program which
is for international honor society for two years college. Therefore I can train myself to be
a good decision maker. Second, is to develop self-management skill which is getting to
the meeting and appointment on time. I realize that we are particularly sensitive to people
and events that waste our time or make exceptional demands on it. People also tend to
have many expectations about how time should be used, and often judge people by their
use of time. For example, a person who tends to be on time is more likely to create a
positive impression. Whereas, those who are consistently tardy may be perceived as
irresponsible, lazy, or uninterested. In order to accomplish my career goal and work as a
professional, I need to develop my self-management skill as soon as possible therefore I
do not receive a negative impression. I have tried to overcome the problem by managing
my time and scheduling my appointments which I have never done. Also I always
organize everything in order and try to be early for my appointments. Last, I believe that
people have to be able to work with different type of co-worker, especially computer
programmer or computer designer because in order to create programs or projects,
programmer and designer have to be patience, understand other and thorough. Studying
and working among diverse people who have different backgrounds and culture at
LaGuardia Community College help me to improve my communication skill. Moreover, I
wish that my communication, self-management, computer skills will benefit me to
accomplish my goals which are to complete my bachelor’s degree and work as a
professional programmer.
Finally, I believe that “no dream is impossible” and most success people who
accomplish career goals tend to be good in developing their skills and overcoming the
problems. Also I am aware that people always reach their life accomplishments if they try
their best and concentrate to the works as much as their abilities could do as my mother
always tells me “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Overall, I believe that my
communication skill which I have improve and computer skill will serves me as a
foundation for future successes especially, for career goals because people are always
required to communicate with other.