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Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio

Jaime M. GarzaB.A. Psychology, 2010

Personal Statement

Many people reach a point in their lives when they believe life is good. I believe I have reached that point early on. I have no doubt that I have much to learn and plenty of teachers to pass on their knowledge; however, life itself has been one of the biggest contributors to my education. I have had many personal goals in my early years but many have been based on material acquisition or a false sense of power. All these goals changed when I had to battle for my life. My name is Jaime Garza and I am a recovering drug addict. I do not say this with guilt or shame, but with humility. I have embraced the fact that I was a drug addict and also have acknowledged the fact that I have to maintain my sobriety on a day by day basis. My struggle with addiction has been the motivator for my new way of life.Along with my new outlook on life, I have set new personal and professional goals. Personally, I have the ultimate goal of helping as many people as I can to find the same peace that I have. I want to help those individuals who are struggling with addiction and life. I also want to be the best husband and father I can be. I have a personal ambition to complete my doctorate in counseling.Professionally, I seek to use my talents and abilities in helping people through opening up my own treatment facility. This program is intended to intercept college students who are about to be suspended from college due to their poor grades, a direct result of their substance abuse. I enjoy working with this population because of personal experience as a troubled college student and because of my previous experience working with this population.After my own treatment for addiction I was employed with a residential program which included an educational component to their addiction counseling. I was hired to be a case manager with duties involving drug and alcohol counseling, group counseling, individual sessions, family counseling, and academic advising. Working under the supervision of a licensed addiction therapist, I began my professional interest in opening up my own college based treatment facility.

Personal StatementCont.

I am currently working as a drug and alcohol counselor in Nashville, Tennessee, specifically working with impaired professionals. Having worked with different populations has only reinforced my choice to pursue my goals of working with the collegiate population. I have completed all my supervised hours and have written and oral examinations to take this year to obtain my license for drug and alcohol counseling. I plan to pursue my license for professional counseling which will allow me to begin working in the private sector. This step will allow me to begin to venture off towards my long term goal and begin to develop my own practice. Having a license to provide therapy is a good start to my career, but I do not want to stop there. I have plans to also begin my education in business so that once I do have the right components for my program, I also have the knowledge as to how to operate it. I do have some experience in running a business, having been a part of a family business over the years. My parents started a transmission business from scratch, and the doors have been open for over 20 years. With that experience and the education provided by academia, I believe I will be successful in all my endeavors.Personally and professionally, I wish to achieve all my goals while maintaining the most important aspect of my new life, that is to remain humble, honest, and trustworthy, in addition to my devotion to my family. If achieving my goals requires me to break any of these principles, then my goals will have to change!

Resume

Jaime Garza2029 Spencer Mill Road, Burns, Tennessee 37029 (615) 432-3092 jaimeg80@gmail.com  ExperienceCounselor - Men's Professional Program2008-Present Cumberland Heights, Nashville, TennesseeConduct individual and group counselingMaintain relationships with referral contactsDocument all interactions and phone contacts.Create and implement individualized treatment plansCertified and specialize in Adventure Based Experiential Therapy.Certified Trainer in Handle with Care de-escalation training.  Case Manager2006-2008 Sober Living By The Sea, Newport Beach, CaliforniaAssisted Client with achieving treatment goalsProvided academic advisementFacilitated groups and lectures  

  

ResumeCont.

Intern2004-2005 Sunrise Recovery Ranch, Riverside, CaliforniaWorked with skilled case managers in order to advance knowledge and skills in the field of

counseling.Assist and learn in an environment of case management. Co-facilitate groups, observe one on one

session, attend staff meetings and view documentation being handled by a certified case managers.

  After School Counselor2001-2004 Los Angeles Unified School District, Woodland Hills, CaliforniaWatched over the safety of children; helped them with their academic progress; which includes

science, history, art, math and all programs to enrich their futureSpoke with parents, organized meetings, participated in sports activities and attended parent-

teacher meetings.  Documentation Clerk1998-2000 Kaiser Permanente, Panorama City, CaliforniaWorked in collaboration with physicians to provide patients with their medical files in a timely

manner by organizing loose paper work and delivering the file before patients appointment

 

  

ResumeCont.

EducationArgosy University, Phoenix, ArizonaBachelor Degree in Psychology - Substance AbuseGraduating April 2010  Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CaliforniaCertification Human Services: Drug and Alcohol StudiesCurrently working towardsMajor: PsychologyMinor: Business AdministrationSkillsCPR/First Aid Certified, Communication Training, Fluent in spoken Spanish and English.

ReferencesJames Luna LADAC. (Director of Men's Residential Services) Cumberland Heights (615) 432-

3084Paul Pradat M-Div.(Director of Pastoral Services) Cumberland Heights (615) 432-3013David Hickman PhD.(Program Manager) Sober Living By The Sea (949) 723-2833

  

Reflection

Argosy University has allowed me to have a restart to my education life. I had stopped going to school a while ago and never believed I would be able to get back into the swing of it. Argosy University and the wonderful staff who assisted me along the way, permitted me to push beyond my doubts and be the first in my family to graduate from a University. The task was not an easy one! I did have my moments of battling insanity, but with the grace of God and my supportive family, I was able to fight my way through the statistics courses and the other classes that just could not settle with me. I appreciate the flexibility of my professors with my schedule being a full time worker, full time dad, and full time student. Without their understanding and willingness to work with me I would not be here today getting ready to graduate. Thank You very Much Fellow Students, Professors, and Argosy University.

Table of Contents

Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy- Senior Staffing for Industrial Organizations

Research Skills -  Violent Behavior Based on Severely Mental Ill Patients

Communication Skills: Oral and Written- Mainstreaming Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Ethics and Diversity Awareness - Ethics and the reason for their existence

Foundations of Psychology- The Human Brain and Psychology

Applied Psychology- Understanding the Needs of the Elderly

My Future in Learning

I have always been thought that the day I believe that I know it all is the day I stop learning. My future in the arena of learning is going to go on forever. I am fascinated with knowing more and experiencing more. My vision for academic learning will eventually hit a mark where degrees and credentials don’t mean much anymore. I won’t to be the old man in the movies who just has a great knowledge and wisdom of life that not much has to be said to know that I know my stuff. I want to explore the world and help many people along the way. I surely believe that I can not learn and appreciate the gift of learning if I am not willing to teach. I Love learning and hope all a great road of knowledge ahead of them.

Contact Me

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mail address below. jaimeg80@gmail.com