I’ve seen significant personal, academic and professional development through my time at Old Dominion University. The experience of completing a degree with the added responsibility of working full time, presented challenges to help improve my discipline, time management, communications and ability to thrive under pressure. This portfolio is not only an accumulation of the assignments and projects I worked on during course study, it also represents the building blocks for many of the skills and experiences which will continue to mold my future career aspirations. Through reflection of my overall progression; I am able to see and understand how this education has aided me to develop as a more confident, analytical and goal oriented person.
One of the major things I have learned through this program has been how much effective communication is valuable. While clear speaking and/or writing are obviously an important part of it; effective communication includes a number of other elements such as, being an active listener, working together (collaboration), being professional, and having the capacity to adjust your message(s) for various audiences. Most of the assignments that were included in this portfolio required me to write thoughtfully in response to the prompt, participate in discussions, analyze data/research, reflect on my role as a professional. All these types of experiences allowed me to be more comfortable expressing my opinions/ideas and supported those opinions/ideas with evidence, while also allowing me to interact with people who had differing views than mine.
My assignment discussions significantly improved my ability to communicate effectively, due to the opportunity for student-to-student dialogue and the necessity for critical thinking regarding how ideas are communicated. Through the process of developing communications skills and writing professionally and approachably, while remaining clear and organized, I was able to develop and apply my communications skills. The completion of these types of communications assignments including digital citizenship, ethics, diversity and accessibility helped me better understand how communication impacts individuals in both professional and digital environments. These communications assignments showed me that communicating does not solely involve transmitting information; however it involves generating opportunities for others to be included and respected in their experiences.
Another aspect of myself that is growing in terms of being a leader and taking responsibility personally was my ability to be disciplined and accountable with my time. Due to having to complete full-time work on top of attending classes (while completing my degree), I had to have excellent time management skills as well as good discipline. There were several times when trying to juggle both responsibilities was difficult, however those struggles taught me how to be resilient and persevere. In addition, these challenges allowed me to learn how to plan effectively, how to make decisions regarding what needed to be done first, how to get all of my tasks completed by their due date, and most importantly how to focus under pressure.
Working while in college has provided me with a stronger sense of what is important professionally as well. Reliability, Time Management, and Work Ethic are much more apparent when you have a job. All of these will be an asset if I am presented with a Leadership opportunity down the road. These Experiences have taught me to adapt to situations where there may be no clear answers or solutions to problems.
The work that is represented in this portfolio has demonstrated my continued growth as an independent researcher and critical thinker. This can be seen through many of the project requirements for which I had to review, gather academic resources, and compare various viewpoints to reach an educated conclusion. One of the largest projects that I have undertaken was the research paper entitled Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Higher Education. This project challenged me to explore both positive opportunities for AI technology and the ethical implications of emerging technologies. Through completing this project, I developed skills to organize information, compile research, and present well thought out ideas in a professional format.
This experience has enhanced my perception of the value that can exist when using an interdisciplinary approach. Most of today’s problems are multidisciplinary and cannot be addressed by looking at them from only one discipline or view point. Interdisciplinary approaches which use elements of business, communications, technology and ethics are now becoming more common as they become more valuable to students and professionals alike. As a result this experience will shape my process for approaching assignments and give me a greater appreciation for the connections that exist among disciplines.
In addition to developing my academic skills, this program was also instrumental in identifying and defining my career path through increased self awareness. I have identified that I am interested in the area of Communication, Leadership, Recruiting and Organizational Development throughout all of my coursework. This interest is consistent with my long term professional goal in Healthcare Recruiting and Business Development. I appreciate forming and maintaining working relationships; assisting in matching individuals with opportunity; and assisting in personal and organizational growth.
As I looked at all of the assignment completed during the process of developing this portfolio I was able to see that each one contributed to preparing me for a future career. Assignments related to job analysis, and professional development have allowed me to gain a better sense of what employers are looking for in their employees. Additionally, I have learned about the changing nature of careers (i.e., job market), and the need for professionals to be adaptable. The purpose of these types of assignments is to help prepare students to find employment based on their education and/or training by providing them with an opportunity to identify professional opportunities that will meet the needs of organizations; therefore, assignments like these further solidify my interest in working in the field of healthcare recruiting.
Digital fluency and technology skills were two other key areas where I grew through out this program. A number of the assignments provided experience using digital tools, collaborating digitally, searching academic databases electronically, and accessing multimedia resources. By completing these tasks I began to feel more comfortable navigating digital environments, and I developed critical thinking skills regarding sources of information. In addition, I came to realize the responsibility I have when it comes to ethics and the proper use of technology.
In addition to the content, I found the assignments that we completed concerning website accessibility as well as our study of the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to be particularly influential in helping me understand how inclusive design is important in digital settings. Prior to the completion of those two assignments, I did not realize to what degree, design decisions regarding accessibility would influence the end-user experience for users who have a disability. Through an evaluation of websites using accessibility criteria, I developed greater awareness of how technology may serve to enhance or hinder equal access to all information. As a result of this experience, I recognize even further, the need for thoughtfully designed products as well as my own sense of professionalism and ethics while working in professional settings.
I also find it very rewarding, that I have the opportunity to view my growth in comparison to the many obstacles I have encountered during my educational career. Maintaining balance among work, school, and personal life was at times challenging; however, it took considerable effort to maintain motivation in some cases. Despite the many challenges I faced, each obstacle allowed me to develop increased confidence in my ability to handle adversity and continue to strive for and achieve long-term objectives.
The Portfolio, as well as representing a significant increase in confidence and self-esteem, demonstrates an increased sense of trust and confidence in my own abilities. At earlier points during my educational experience, I often had doubt regarding my capabilities and felt anxious about whether I would be able to manage the demands of balancing all of my responsibilities. However, through continued persistence and consistent effort, I have come to realize that I was making meaningful progress. By consistently completing large projects, continually improving upon my writing skills and by achieving academic success at the same time as working full time hours, I have proven to myself that I can handle challenging and difficult situations and will make the necessary adjustments as needed.
I also gained an understanding from this Program that education is a continuous process. While education does involve memorization of information and completion of assignments, it is also about developing critical thinking skills, being adaptable to change and continuing to grow over time. Many of the areas we discussed in my courses (technology, communication, ethics and interdisciplinary problem solving) are directly applicable to today’s rapidly changing work environment. Through these experiences, I have developed a curiosity for life long learning as well as an openness to new ideas and commitment to remain on a path toward life-long learning.
In the long run, I am hopeful, confident and excited to take on the challenges that lie ahead. In the short term I plan to finish up school (and get through the recruiting and business development part of health care) so I may be able to hone my professional skills, grow my contacts and continue to learn about workforce development and organizational growth. In terms of longer term objectives, I aspire to find myself in leadership positions where I can help build high performing teams, assist organizations to succeed and possibly start my own business in some capacity related to health care.
Through the process of creating this portfolio I was able to see the significant amount of growth I experienced as an individual, both academically and professionally while attending Old Dominion University. Each project contained in this portfolio shows more than a grade; each artifact indicates a particular lesson learned from a task or opportunity for improvement that ultimately impacted my growth. Through all of these experiences, I developed my ability to communicate effectively, enhanced my potential as a leader, increased my critical analysis abilities and improved my clarity of what I wanted out of a career.
Ultimately, this portfolio serves as evidence of the accomplishments I made during my academic journey and will provide the tools I will use in my future career. The knowledge I acquired through the many projects and assignments in this program has given me the confidence, professionalism and determination needed to tackle future challenges. While my academic path has been demanding and difficult, it has provided invaluable lessons which will impact both my personal and professional development for years to come.
References:
Repko, Allen F., et al. Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies. 3rd ed., SAGE Publications, 2020.
National Association of Colleges and Employers. Career Readiness Defined. NACE, 2023, https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/.
Spante, Maria, et al. “Digital Competence and Digital Literacy in Higher Education Research: Systematic Review of Concept Use.” Cogent Education, vol. 5, no. 1, 2018, pp. 1–21, https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2018.1519143.
Goleman, Daniel. “Leadership That Gets Results.” Harvard Business Review, vol. 78, no. 2, 2000, pp. 78–90.
World Wide Web Consortium. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. W3C, 2023, https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/.
Jill's ePORTFOLIO 