Final Semester

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Final Semester

My final semester of my undergraduate schooling is now in process. I have three classes. I decided to simplify and take them all online. I was thinking it would be a pretty low key semester. As I have seen the different classes laid out, however, I think it might be kind of intense. But I am excited about the classes I have. I am pleased with the quality of education I will be getting.

One class is a survey of careers in Psychology. I am actually planning on switching over to Social Work for graduate school and my ultimate career path, but there is a lot of overlap that gets kind of confusing, so I figured it would be worth learning more. I took a class similar to this for social work last semester and I felt that it really validated my choice and gave me a greater confidence in the path I am on. I am hoping that as I learn more about the nuances that distinguish the two fields from each other from the Psychology perspective, that I will continue to feel comfortable with the path I'm on. If I learn that there is something about a direction in psychology that is a better fit, then that is good to know before I start an MSW program. Either way, this will be good information and a beneficial class.

The next class I am taking is Abnormal Psychology. It is a course that the MSW program I am applying for recommends having. One of the first psychology classes I took was Abnormal Child Psychology. Although there is some overlap, these are actually two distinct classes that deal with different issues. I am excited to become more educated about some of the things we'll be covering such as substance abuse and depression.

The third class I have is Adult Development and Aging. Honestly, this is the one I was least excited about. The MSW program I am applying for suggests getting a development class that covers across the life span. I haven't actually seen a class like that offered at the U, but I have had Early Childhood Development and Adolescent Development, so I thought I would take this one to try to round it off. I was thinking it would be covering the older population like my grandparents. As it turns out, this class actually picks up right after adolescent development, so it is covering the development of my younger siblings, myself, my parents, and my grandparents. As my teacher said, this class is probably the most applicable college course anyone could possibly take. It will be something that is directly related to our own personal experiences and will continue to be instructional for us throughout the rest of our lives. Not only that, but we will have chapters about communication and marriage and other interesting topics that I wouldn't have expected from this class.

Overall, I think it will be a fun semester. We are a week into classes and I hope I can catch up because I basically ignored school last week as I have worked on my graduate application. It is due on Tuesday and I'm hoping to submit it tomorrow. I had to write two different essays. One is done and ready to turn in. The other is written, but I am still working on editing with it. I've been planning for this deadline for about a year now. It's crazy to have it finally be here!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.