1
PLEASE POST EACH DISCUSSION SEPARATELY
Respond to the Classmate’s Discussion (below) to the above question
as you would in a face-to-face class by stating why you agree as
pertaining to the discussion and by probing questions. Your
response posts need to be at least 200 words each. Please be sure to
validate your opinions and ideas.
Discussion 1
My name is Sarah. I am a government civilian and work with the Army as the
administrative support assistant at the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and
Prevention (SHARP) office on Fort Sill in Oklahoma. I am also a Captain in the Air Force
Reserves at Tinker Air Force Base, serving as the Operations Officer for the 507th Force
Support Squadron. I have a bachelor’s degree in accounting but hated it once I was out
of school. I found my passion for helping people when I became a Volunteer Victim
Advocate (VVA) in the Air Force. That one leap of faith to step out of my comfort zone
has led me to where I am today. I absolutely love what I do and being able to help
survivors of sexual harassment and assault. I am currently going to school for my
Master’s in Human Services.
I have two kids. Liam is 12. He loves to play video games and read. Emma is 9. She is
my social butterfly. She loves to talk to her friends, cheers for little league football, and
rides horses. I also have two cats, Dwayne and Gabby. I love to read and am working on
trying to find other hobbies I am passionate about. I really enjoy baking and bringing
goodies to my co-workers.
I prefer to work in a group but also do not mind working alone sometimes. Working as a
group gives you more knowledge and experience to draw from. In a group, there are
other people to bounce ideas off of. Working alone can sometimes be faster because
you do not have to consult other people before moving on to the next step or
completing the project.
I plan to use the information I learn in this class to increase my understanding of groups
and human systems. I want to improve my ability to work with and in groups
confidently. I hope this course can give me a better understanding of the theories in
relation to groups. In looking through the overview and the syllabus, there are many
areas that will apply to my personal and professional life, but the ones that stand out the
most are group decision-making and emotional intelligence in relation to groups.
Respond to the Classmate’s Discussion (below) to the above question
as you would in a face-to-face class by stating why you agree as
pertaining to the discussion and by probing questions. Your
2
response posts need to be at least 200 words each. Please be sure to
validate your opinions and ideas.
Discussion 2
My name is Ronda, I am married, and we have 1 child (Ryan), and 2 cats (Moxie and
Marble). My hobbies include crafting things, reading, gaming, camping, and spending
time with family and friends. My goal, right now, is to make it to the end of my master’s
program, Master of Arts in Human Services. I am a stay-at-home mom and a full-time
student. I have not worked in a very long time and am nervous about getting back into
the workforce. I initially wanted to become a psychologist, I got my bachelor’s degree in
psychology and then followed up with my master’s in psychology through Ashford
University. I believe Ashford University merged with Arizona Global Campus midway
through my master’s degree. As I mentioned before, I am now working on my master’s
degree in human services.
I feel that both teams and solo work have benefits and both are needed for different
situations. I do not have a preference as both have their place in the workplace. The
information learned in this course will help me both personally and professionally by
teaching me different methods of participation, decision-making, and communication
within different types of groups.
The information I learn in this class will be used to expand on the knowledge that I
already have, allowing me to further my goal of eventually becoming a responsible
individual working in human services.
Respond to the Classmate’s Discussion (below) to the above question
as you would in a face-to-face class by stating why you agree as
pertaining to the discussion and by probing questions. Your
response posts need to be at least 200 words each. Please be sure to
validate your opinions and ideas.
Discussion 3 Janise
I typically like to work alone, mainly because of the way my brain processes information,
and I do not have to constantly repeat myself, or figure out how to explain to someone
the way I think. However, in human services, teamwork sometimes needs to happen, and
I am always willing to try and be a part of the team. I want to work with high-risk youth
through the juvenile justice system, and the homeless outreach center for the LGBTQIA
community. My current goals are to continue my educational journey to obtain a degree
in Human services, this is the last piece that I need to work with the homeless outreach
center for LGBTQIA youth. This Human Services degree will help me to enhance my
3
career alongside my other degrees and to have a better understanding and knowledge to
better serve these children and high-risk LGBTQIA youth.
The work I am currently doing is part-time since at a youth homeless outreach center
and take care of my daughter full-time, some of the work that is done at the homeless
outreach center is, to create long-term, positive, and supportive relationships with the
youth that come to the homeless outreach center. Our youth have personal histories
that involve mental illness, and substance abuse disorders, resulting in legal
entanglements, and experiences of pervasive physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. As a
result of these extensive traumatic experiences, our youth are resistant and have
difficulty forming trusting relationships with adults. We start this trust-building process
through our immediate needs relief services. Every day, we greet these youth with a hot
meal provided by one of our community partners. Youth also have the option of
accessing our free shower and hygiene products, “shopping” in our clothing room, and
getting non-perishables from our food pantry. Finally, the homeless outreach center
serves as a stable mailing address and phone number for youth, which is an essential
feature for re-engaging youth in the community. Through these services, youth can
begin to build trust. Outreach engages youth living outdoors and in other places not
habitable for sleeping and informs them of the resources available. Outreach can provide
case management, referrals, and tangible items such as hygiene, food, and clothing while
building trust and relationships with youth in need. Outreach also connects with schools
across the county and other agencies providing referrals for client services and
education about homelessness. Our Outreach is HMIS-trained and data entry ready.
The youth that comes through our doors is scared and alone and they very rarely trust
anyone. having the knowledge and support for these youth is what I have yearned to do
since I was in my youth. Coming from an abusive home myself, I relate to these kids and
it is a stepping stone to gain their trust. In a sense, I feel that I am becoming a beacon of
light to show the lost and forgotten the way out of their darkness. I am 48 years old and
obtaining this degree will help me to pursue my dream of a homeless outreach center
and housing for LGBTQIA homeless youth.
