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1 Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio OrjolaLasku Psychology, 2010

Personal Statement Growing up in a small country (Albania), with little diversity, where the field of psychology was non-existent, people who deviated from the normal were frowned upon. Even though I was brought up in this culture, I found myself empathizing with those ostracized people and my curiosity about the human mind began to develop.

Personal Statement My interest started to grow as I watched the country I grew up in go through tremendous transformation. Albania went from being a dictatorship to a democratic country. There was a lot of fighting and rallying on the streets. Because of it, I can better appreciate freedom and understand a person’s struggle for it.

Personal Statement I came to United States of America when I was fifteen years old. I completed three years of high school in the village of Elmwood Park, Illinois. I then went on to Triton College, where I received an Associate’s Degree in Fine Arts (2004) with a concentration in Psychology.

Personal Statement My first psychology teacher at Triton College was Dr. Patel. His passion for the field of psychology was inspiring. He encouraged my thirst for knowledge when it came to human mind and behavior. I went on to take every single class in psychology that Triton College had to offer and I found every one of them very intriguing.

Personal Statement I am currently working at Barneys New York in Chicago (a high-end retail store). As a staff support employee, I work with a very diverse group of people. I work with people from different races, ethnicities, sexual preferences, ages, socio-economic statuses, and different cultural backgrounds. My experience at Barneys New York is preparing me to work effectively with people from different backgrounds.

Personal Statement Because of the diverse society that we live in, I believe that this experience is extremely valuable to my future career as a school psychologist. This experience will help me become a culture-sensitive school psychologist. My experience at Argosy University has prepared me well for pursuing a graduate degree in school psychology.

Personal Statement The online program has taught me how to effectively use computer mediated communication. I believe that this experience is valuable because of the growing trend in our society where computers are an important part of our personal as well as professional lives. One of my group projects for my first psychology class at Argosy University was to write a review paper on computer mediated communication.

Personal Statement My group members and I learned how to effectively communicate through the computer and were able to complete our assignment with high marks. I learned about the major theories of human behavior, of which, Person-Centered theory made the strongest impression on me. The theory says that if a person is treated with unconditional positive regard, he or she will move toward self-actualization.

Personal Statement I truly believe that it is important to treat others with respect and dignity. Especially as a school psychologist, one must treat the students with the utmost respect and be completely unprejudiced in order to encourage growth and build self-esteem. My Ethics class gave me a good starting point on how to become an ethical professional.

Personal Statement Throughout the course, I became familiar with the American Psychological Association ethical standards as well as American Counseling Association codes of conduct. Because of the class, I now fully understand the importance of being an ethical professional. My Diversity class helped me understand the struggles that people face when they come from minority groups.

Personal Statement One of my assignments every week was to interview a person from a background different from my own and write a paper about what I learned from the interview. I became familiar with informed consent procedures and had each interviewee sign a consent form.

Personal Statement I learned about the issues that homosexuals, women, people from different races and ethnicities, and the elderly have faced and still encounter in their lives. By understanding their struggles, now I can better empathize with them.

Personal Statement My Research Methods class taught me how to conduct a reliable and valid research study. One of my assignments was to write a research paper on the effects of diversity in our universities. Through the completion of this assignment, I learned about the attitudes of students as well as faculty on diversity.

Personal Statement I intend to pursue a graduate degree in school psychology. I managed to maintain a 3.98 GPA attending school full-time, while working full-time and fitting in quality time with my 3 year-old son and husband. I am fluent in English as well as Albanian.

Personal Statement My purpose for obtaining a higher education is to make a positive difference in the children and adolescents of our society, thus contributing to the betterment of the world we live in.

Resume OrjolaLasku 1055 Peterson Ave. Unit C Park Ridge, IL, 60068 708-415-1457 olnin21@yahoo.com Objective To continue to gain knowledge in psychology and explore new aspects of the field.

Resume Education Argosy University Online Program Expect to Graduate August, 2010 (3.98 GPA) Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Psychology Triton College, River Grove, IL Graduated May, 2004 Associates of Arts Degree Concentration: Psychology

Resume Work Experience Barneys New York, Chicago, IL Staff Support March 15, 2005-Current Facilitates price changes and transfers requested from corporate office Creates and files documents that track profits and damages Assists in special events such as vendor promotions and holiday sales Organizes stockrooms and ensures accessibility for managers/salespeople Packs and ships merchandise in an efficient and timely manner Evaluates product damages and contacts vendors when necessary

Resume The Great American Bagel, Elmwood Park, IL Manager 1999-2004 Managed customer relations and employee productivity Conducted catering sales as well as individual customer orders Trained new employees in all aspects of the store Tabulated, recorded, and deposited earnings from daily sales

Resume Skills Excellent communication and people skills Self-starter Detail-oriented Strong work ethic Computer Skills MS Office, Windows

Resume Languages Fluent in Albanian. Some knowledge of Spanish and Italian Organizations Argosy University-Undergraduate Studies Honors National Society of Collegiate Scholars President’s List – Argosy University 2009-2010

Resume References Shari Davis Amy Levenhagen 4431 N. Antigen Ave. 21107 W. 98th St. Chicago, IL 60625 Lenexa, KS 66220 773-988-7940 913-626-1811 Arturo Esquivel 15 E. Oak St. Chicago, IL 60611 312-618-2830

Reflection The work that I have done throughout my Psychology program has given me a good foundation of the important theories that have a great influence in our society today and how to apply them to different situations. Effective communication is also an important ingredient of a helping relationship.

Reflection The Psychology program stressed the importance of effective communication by making it mandatory that we discussed with our classmates the weekly topic posted under each module. The work that I did with my classmates has strengthened my communication skills.

Reflection Research was also an important part of the work I did throughout the psychology program. It is through research that the field of psychology has advanced so much in the past few decades. Statistics help us make sense of the information gathered in the research studies.

Reflection Statistics and Research Methods class helped me study topics of interest. It showed me what the results meant and how I could apply that information to better the environment we live in. The Psychology program was effective in giving me a good understanding of the field. The program has taught me how to apply what I have learned to real life situations and become an effective helper.

Reflection My strengths are that I work well with people from various backgrounds and I am a good communicator. My weaknesses are that sometimes I find it difficult to detach myself from others’ problems and at times can be overcritical of myself because I strive for perfection.

Sample of Cognitive Abilities A. The purpose of the study is to determine if there is a difference in approval rating of the President among Democrats, Republicans, and independents. b. All Democrats, Republicans, and independents in the U.S. c. We interviewed shoppers at a local grocery store regarding their approval of how the President is doing his job on a scale of 1 to 10. d. We used alpha = .05. e. Ho: All means are equal. Ha: All means are not equal. f. Democrats: 5, 8, 8, 6, 6, 4, 9, 3, 10 Republicans: 4, 1, 2, 5, 2, 3, 1 Independents: 3, 7, 5, 4

Sample of Cognitive Abilities ANOVA test: SStot = 129.2 SSbn = 62.513 SSwn = 66.687 Dfbn = 2 Dfwn = 17 Dftot = 19 MSbn = 31.257 MSwn = 3.923 Fobt = 7.968 Fcrit = 3.59 g. We reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis because Fobt > Fcrit. h. Because we rejected the null hypothesis, we can conclude that the approval ratings for the President among Democrats, Republicans, and independents in the U.S. differ significantly. **This sample is from my statistic class where I had to conduct a research study and use statistics to see whether the findings were significant.

Sample of Research Skills Abstract With the growing diversity in the workforce, the need for diversity training in higher education has become important. The study will take a look at how students and faculty feel about diversity in their institution. Ten students and ten faculty members will be filling a survey containing five questions about diversity. They will be rating each question from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree). Than a t-test for independent groups designed will be used to tests the results of each questions to see on what points do students and faculty feel more strongly about the affects of diversity. The findings will be compared between the two groups to see if a correlation between the groups exists. **This sample is from my Research Methods class where I chose to study the effects of diversity on higher education.

Sample of Communication Skills In conclusion some of us have adapted well to this new technology and some of us long for the old ways of doing business. Some of us would rather have as little human interaction as possible while others want more of it. There is no doubt that computer technology is important to our society. It has opened doors to so many possibilities. At the same time, it has also dehumanized our society. There is a lack of human characteristics when using a computer as the medium for communication. The facial expressions, body language and emotions behind an interaction are all missing when you are communicating through a computer. But on the other hand, computers are incredibly convenient.

Sample of Communication Skills You can buy almost anything, manage your bank accounts, or communicate with just about any place in the world, all from the comfort of your own home. Of course, nothing in the world is perfect. Even the most amazing technology in the world will have a downside to it. Consider the discovery of nuclear power: It’s a relatively safe source of energy that doesn’t use fossil fuels that harm the environment, but its immense power can also be harnessed in the form of weapons of mass destruction. Computer technology has given our society achievements unimaginable a century ago, but it has also begun to dehumanize it. I guess we have to take the bad with the good. **This was an assignment from my Interpersonal Effectiveness where three of my classmates and I worked as a team to successfully complete a paper on Computer Mediated Communication.

Sample of Ethics and Diversity Awareness A good therapist must be aware of gender socialization issues, societal trends, and biases that he or she may have internalized (Robinson-Wood, 2008). By being aware of his/her beliefs, a therapist will know how his/her views are affecting the counseling process. Because of our diverse society, it is important for the therapist to be aware of his/her own biases and stereotypes so that he/she can work on them. “Effective treatment requires adaptations to the clients’ culture and beliefs” (Brannon, 2005, p. 448). If a therapist does not assess his/her stereotypes and biases he/she cannot effectively adopt to the clients’ culture and beliefs.

Sample of Ethics and Diversity Awareness Being an effective people helper, one must become aware of their clients’ culture and beliefs. A therapist must not only embrace diversity but he/she must also be able to apply diversity in a creative way in order to effectively help the clients (Argosy University, 2010).

Sample of Ethics and Diversity Awareness Different cultures have different beliefs and values. What may be diagnosed as a mental illness in one culture may be considered a normal behavior in other cultures. For example, some culture such as some Asians or Latino countries place importance in collectivistic growth. To try to counsel these clients toward personal growth would be ineffective because it goes against their cultural beliefs and values. Also in some patriarchal cultures the women are supposed to be submissive to the males. This may be viewed as abnormal behavior by those who do not understand the cultural values and beliefs of those cultures. An effective people helper must also become aware of the struggles that some minority groups have gone through in order to empathize with them. **This sample is from my Diversity class where we reflected on our own cultural beliefs. We also reflected upon how our cultural beliefs may affect how we see others and what it takes to be a good ethical counselor to a diverse society.

Sample of Foundations of Psychology Each of the approaches would view Sabina’s case from a different point of view. They would emphasize different aspect of her life and would use different techniques in trying to help her. “Every orientation has its own place and its own use in therapy” (AU, 2009). For the therapy to be affective it is best that the therapist chooses the approach or approaches that best fits his personality. If there are no improvements after a certain amount of time, the ethical course of action for Jim would be to refer Sabina to a different therapist. It is important for Jim to consider that he might not be able to help all clients and if Sabina seems stuck then he should do the right and respectful thing by referring her to a different therapist.

Sample of Foundations of Psychology Based on an integrative approach, the therapist might view Sabina from a psychoanalytic approach as well as cognitive behavior one. The therapist might believe that Sabina has not completed the anal stage of her life which she would have learned independence, personal power, autonomy, and how to recognize and deal with negative feelings. Because she has not learned those qualities she has formed dependence on those around her. Her dependence could be views as debilitative behavior which is reinstalled by self-defeating beliefs that were leaned from early in childhood

Sample of Foundations of Psychology One of the goals of therapy would be to change Sabina’s self defeating behavior by changing her defeating beliefs (Cognitive Behavior Therapy). The therapist would work with Sabina in changing her belief that she cannot build a career because she does not have any skills. He might suggest to Sabina ways where she can learn new skills that will help her in finding a career. He can also suggest to Sabina organizations that she might enjoy begin part of, where she can meet other people that have the same hobbies as her. For example the therapist can suggest that Sabina joins a painting class in her community college since she enjoys painting and at the same time she will meet other individuals that also enjoy painting and they might form friendships.

Sample of Foundations of Psychology I believe that person-centered model of relationship would be good for Sabina. If the therapist shows Sabina that he is empathetic to her situation and accepts her unconditionally, she will be more likely to learn how to be comfortable with her own identity. She will gain confidence in making decision for herself. With a supportive relationship she might be able to take initiative and look for ways in which she can build skills for a career as well as put herself in situation where she can meet possible friends. At times, the relationship might turn to that of a teacher and a student since Sabina is too dependent to take initiative on changing her life. She might need some guidance and directions on how she can accomplish her goals and learn to become independent (Adlerian Therapy).

Sample of Foundations of Psychology The therapist could serve as a catalyst in changing Sabina’s maladaptive behavior (Gestalt Therapy). He will do just that by creating experiments and climate that encourage behavior change and see if Sabina notices any positive changes. Another function of the therapist would be to pay attention to Sabina’s body language since it may reveal feelings that she may not be aware of (Corey, 2001). He needs to make her aware if he sees any incongruence’s between her verbal and nonverbal communication. His function in therapy would be to increase Sabina’s awareness on how she is responsible in creating her emotional state. This is best done by letting her come to that conclusion on her own. That is done by changing the “it” and “you” talk with the “I” talk (Corey, 2001).

Sample of Foundations of Psychology Relaxation technique might be helpful in Sabina’s case. (Behavior Therapy). She says that she hates being alone and that she feels irritable, tense and restless until her husband comes home. If she learns the relaxation procedures, than she can practice them while she is waiting for her husband. The shame-attacking exercise from Cognitive behavior therapy might work in changing Sabina’s irrational beliefs about herself. She says that she has difficulty in making every day decision because she thinks that her husband will not approve. One of the exercises might be for Sabina to make a decision around the house and find out that her husband will accept her decision. She will then realize that her belief was irrational and she will be more confident in making decisions without expecting others approval.

Sample of Foundations of Psychology Another procedure that might be affective with Sabina might be examining her existence and what her role in creating her problems in life was. (Existential Therapy) This would give Sabina an insight in what beliefs and values are causing her emotional distress and what can she do to live a life that she considers worthy to live (Corey, 2001) **This is a sample from the Counseling Theories class where the case study presented was viewed through all the main theories that we learned throughout the course.

Sample of Applied Psychology We all come into this world with a genetic base which has a great influence on who we are and how we see our environment. Then our environment comes into play and alters our genetic make up by silencing some genes while making others dominant ones. In order to understand human behavior we must look at both, biology and sociology. Human behavior is complicated and cannot be understood just by one theory. All of the theories offer a piece to a great puzzle which we call human behavior. We must be opened to other theories so that we can better understand why everyone does things differently.

Sample of Applied Psychology The chosen model was helpful in understanding Katherine’s panic attacks (which may have developed from the negative environment which she grew up in fearing for the next occurrence of abuse to happen), PTSD (which appears to be a sign of being stuck in the past experiences), Major Depressive Disorder (which might be because of the incongruence between how Katherine sees herself and how she would like to be), Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (which may be because of all the abuse she experienced throughout her life), and Anxious Personality Disorder (which may have been a result of being in an unsupportive and negative environment all throughout her childhood).

Sample of Applied Psychology Even though the model was helpful in understanding Katherine’s conditions, it was difficult to implement on her treatment plan. It seems that Katherine was in too much distress to move forward only with unconditional positive regard in the counselor part. Especially when she reported suicidal thoughts, immediate and effective treatment becomes necessary to prevent her from going through with the suicide plans. Even though I still believe that treating the client with unconditional positive regard is extremely important in their treatment, I believe that Cognitive Behavior therapy (CBT) was helpful in changing Katherine’s negative and self-destructive thinking. **This is a sample from the Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology class. This is the final report on the case study that we implemented what we learned throughout the course.

Sample of Interpersonal Effectiveness About three years ago, around this time I found out that I was going to be a mother. I was filled with different kind of emotions. I was happy yet insecure of my ability to be a good mother. I was excited yet terrified of bringing a life into this world. My husband and I had to decide on how we were going to raise him since we both come from different cultures. My husband is an atheist and I’m an eastern orthodox. My husband is vegetarian and I’m not. I have strong family ties when my husband would like more independence from family. These were all important issues that we had to work on because it would affect the upbringing of our own child.

Sample of Interpersonal Effectiveness This event changed my identity yet again. I was not only a daughter, and a wife; I was also going to be a mother. I became more comfortable relating to other mothers then individuals who did not have children. There were a couple of co-workers who were also expecting. We would take notes from each other. We would share our everyday experiences and our feelings. I learned about the way that they were going to raise their child and how their culture affected their beliefs. Before this event, we were just co-workers and that changed when we started going thru the same experience

Sample of Interpersonal Effectiveness Our perception of each other changed because we were going through the same experience. We became more noticeable to each other because we had the same motives. We all wanted to find out our everyday experiences of our pregnancy. **This is a sample from my Interpersonal Effectiveness class where I talked about my life three years ago, five years ago, and presently. It was also a reflection of how my cultural background affected my interpersonal relationship and how I viewed those around me.

Critical Thinking Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of developmental disabilities characterized by certain impairments such as: ,[object Object]

Qualitative impairments in communication

Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior**This is a sample of a Power Point Presentation on Autism Spectrum Disorders.

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