Argosy Personal Profile

1. 1 Undergraduate Studies ePortfolio Marcanne Smith Psychology, 2010

2. Personal Statement It was not until I was older did I realize that one of the things that gave me the most satisfaction in life was helping someone to figure out one’s own healing path. Several experiences have stimulated my commitment to psychology. One of the most prevalent experiences is watching the effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as they weighed heavily on both my uncle and my father. My cousin also exhibits symptoms of PTSD as a result of his mother’s sudden death. My uncle suffered from severe PTSD after he came home from the Viet Nam war, as did my father. As a child I did not understand why either of them would become enraged at something as trivial as a towel out of place and in the next instance not remembering why they had just thrown something across the room. I also could not comprehend why I was not allowed to rush into my parent’s room in the morning – we had to walk in quietly and call out “Daddy” or my father would wake up and begin swinging his fists. I also could not understand why my father always has to sit facing the door because he fears the Vietcong were still looking for him. This behavior prompted my curiosity involving the development, duration, and treatment of PTSD and its effects on other families. A second experience involves my academic background. The knowledge I have gained from class material and applied experience has inspired a desire to come to a more in depth understanding of psychological phenomena. This phenomena including the manifestation of mental illness and the adaptation difficulties associated with mental abnormalities. Throughout my academic career I have continuously excelled in all of my Psychology related courses because my interest and passion is insurmountable.

3. Personal Statement (cont.) Through my employer (Veterans Health Administration) I am faced with any number of veterans on a daily basis suffering from some level of PTSD. These experiences have enlightened my understanding of interpersonal interaction and how different individuals deal with crisis situations in their own unique ways. My third experience with PTSD is my own symptomatic behavior as a result of being sexually abused multiple times as a child. I have taken my own behavior as a young teen and analyzed them, arriving at the very definition of a PTSD survivor as a result of what I have learned in my academic courses. While I understand that PTSD is still undergoing a great deal of discovery through extensive research I believe it to manifest itself in a myriad of ways to anyone without regard to age, sexual orientation, or gender. I am determined to explore these research areas and hope to expand upon the knowledge base of the precipitating factors and the treatment strategies after diagnosis. Long-range objectives in pursuing advanced study of psychology include the various areas of research application. Most importantly, my long range goal is to establish myself as one of the foremost leading experts in the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD. This includes teaching as a professor in a university setting, research, consultation, and private practice.

8. Resume (cont.) Education Undergraduate studies in Organizational Psychology Argosy University, Phoenix, AZ Bachelors in Psychology Military U.S. Navy – Yeoman 3rd Class – Honorable Discharge 1988 – 1992 Computer Skills Advanced to Expert in MS Outlook, Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint; strong internet navigation skills; typing speed 60 wpm Desktop publishing programs; MS Publisher, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, MS Picture It, and Kodak Imaging Affiliations Student Affiliate Member – American Psychological Association (APA) Member #90663507 2007 – present

9. Reflection The decision to go back to school, regardless of how long one has been absent, is one of life’s major decisions. It takes a great deal of fortitude, strength, and patience with one self. To make the conscious decision to go back to school is to give ourselves the greatest gift that has no price tag. There were times when I wanted so much to quit and I had to ask myself what kind of role model did I want to be for my daughter. Asking this question helped me to find the strength that was hiding deep within myself. Regardless of age or obstacles, teaching someone to never give up their dreams is the strongest lesson we can teach our children. One of my greatest academic achievements with Argosy was when I wrote a paper that exemplified an academic strength worthy enough for the instructor to ask my permission to share it with the class.

10. Contact Me Thank you for viewing my ePortfolio. For further information, please contact me at the e-mail address below. marcannesmess@hotmail.com