Gian Karlo T. Aguiran
BSPSY 1-5N
Understanding the Self
Final Assessment
“The Story of Amanda Taylor”
1. Give as many descriptions as you can about the personality of Amanda.
Amanda embodies remarkable resilience, overcoming a traumatic past and defying
discouragement to pursue her dreams. Shaped by her experiences, she is compassionate,
seeking to bring hope to others through her chosen career. Despite facing challenges, she
remains independent, refusing to be defined by her circumstances or abusive relationships.
2. Which sentences in her story do you like best? Cite your reasons why you like them?
Among the noteworthy sentences in her story, my personal favorites include "From the
mud I was formed and out of the mud, I grew," symbolizing growth and strength emerging from
adversity, and "I am never blind. I know where I am going, and I know why when it's dark or
when there's light," reflecting clarity of purpose and resilience in uncertainty—sentiments I
deeply relate to in my own.
3. In Amanda's experience in pain, how would you relate yourself dealing with your own
pain?
Her story suggests that facing pain directly, learning from it, and using it for personal
growth can be a powerful strategy to overcome challenges. Similarly, I aim to apply this
approach to my own pain, recognizing that even though it may not reach the same intensity as
hers, acknowledging and addressing personal pain is a crucial step in personal development,
mirroring Amanda's journey to her present self.
4. Identify at least 3 unpacking the self, happened with Amanda.
Amanda courageously unpacks her sexual self, sharing experiences of abuse, rape, and
molestation, confronting their impact on her identity and resilience. Additionally, she also
unpacks her material and economic self as she navigates poverty, homelessness, and reliance
on food stamps, transforming financial challenges into motivation for personal growth. Lastly,
she experiences a spiritual self-unpacking, maintaining faith amid personal struggles, losses,
and challenges, reflecting a profound connection to a higher purpose guiding her resilience.
5. What characteristics do you think Amanda made when she set her free from her own
pain?
Her self-awareness and deep understanding of her worth helped her break free from the
cycle of abuse and poverty, her perseverance and determination to pursue education and a
career despite numerous obstacles demonstrates her resilience, and lastly, her trusting in a
higher purpose and having faith in herself empowered herself to keep going.
6. What seems to be the life goal of Amanda?
Based on her experiences and the things that she had deal with, Amanda's life goal
appears to be helping others cultivate hope, particularly those facing challenging
circumstances. This is evident in her pursuit of a career that aims to inspire and support
individuals on the brink of giving up.
7. What do you believe to be the factors that enabled Amanda to achieve her goal?
I believed that there are three key factors that enabled Amanda's success: Resilience,
demonstrated through her ability to bounce back and persevere; Education, opening doors and
providing a pathway out of challenging circumstances; and Self-belief, her unwavering
confidence in herself playing a crucial role in her achievements.
8. If you were Amanda, how would you see yourself surviving? Are there things Amanda
has done which you also have also done?
If I were Amanda, I would envision survival through resilience, maintaining a strong sense
of purpose, and seeking support when needed. Similar to her, I would draw strength from
facing challenges head-on and persevere in the pursuit of my goals. Likewise, I would also
recognize the importance of education as a transformative tool and cultivate unwavering selfbelief to navigate life's adversities.
9. Create a plan on how you will improve your mental health.
To improve my mental health, I plan to incorporate regular self-care activities, engage in
mindfulness practices, seek professional support when necessary, maintain open
communication with friends and family, practice mindfulness and stress-management
techniques, and set realistic goals and celebrate my small achievements. Taking this plan into
account will surely be helpful for me and those who support me.
10. Create a commitment plan where, when and who will be involved in your plan to
boost your mental health.
I commit to dedicating a hour for every 3 days to mindfulness exercises and involving a
close friend or loved ones in check-ins for mutual support.
Where: My house, friends house, and any places that is comfortable and suitable.
When: An hour for every 3 days.
Who: Myself, friends and peers, and my loved ones.