1. Undergraduate Studies
ePortfolio
Paola Cardenas
Psychology, 2010

2. Personal Statement
My name is Paola Solach Cardenas; I was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and brought to the United States in 1996, when I was 14 years old. I attended and
graduated Central Gwinnett High School in 1999. It was really hard being a new comer and not knowing a word of English, although that was a big
challenge, I manage to have good grades qualifying to be part of the Beta Club, The Legal Explorers, and The National Honor Society.
After high school I enrolled in Georgia Perimeter College, as a part time student. I attended until 2009, when I transferred to Argosy University to become a
full time student and earn my degree in Psychology. I am scheduled to graduate on February of 2011.
I worked for the Latin American Association, Gwinnett Branch Office, for 4 years as a paralegal for the Immigration Department. While working there, I got a
Paralegal certificate from The University of Georgia and I was also certified by the USCIS, (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to
work as a representative.
Due to the long commute, in 2004, I decided to change jobs and I started to work as an Insurance Agent for Perimeter Insurance Agency. I worked there for 6
years helping build the clientele for that office and increased sales from $0 to $720,000 a year.
Wanting to go back to my career field, I went back to work for the Latin American Association as an Outreach Center Manager. I serve as a liaison between
government organizations and the Latino community as well as develop and manage programs and services such as ESL (English as Second Language)
and computer classes, employment seminars, presentations, translations and interpretations. To be an effective outreach center manager I continue to
train in the areas of family services. The area of family services includes, but is not limited to child sexual abuse, anger management, parenting,
housing, and anything pertaining to the well being of the family and the “American Dream”.
I have also been a volunteer at Saint Lawrence Catholic Church, in which I was a Youth Leader for 2 years. As a youth leader for the youth group, I also held
a position as secretary for the Archdioceses Hispanic Youth Council; later I held the Director position of the same. Due to my involvement in the
church activities I was elected to go to Toronto, Canada to the World Youth Day to see the Pope in 2002.
On February 1999, I met Mariela Bernal, a community leader, and started working with her as a volunteer for Neighbors Working Side by Side, in which I
helped develop youth programs. I helped and organized two Health Fairs with Mariela Bernal along Gwinnett County. Also I volunteered for Gwinnett
Clean and Beautiful, bringing a group of kids to help paint over graffiti.
I was the Co-founder and Administrative-Director of Kminantes, a cultural, support group for teens and young adults, founded in April 2001. I worked in that
project for 2 years, helping over 70 kids. At the same time, I was also a member of the Diversion Panel of the Juvenile Court in Gwinnett County,
Georgia. I helped the diversion of first time teenage offenders by helping them right their wrongs and giving back to the community.
From 2004 to 2007, I volunteered with William Rojas, a Psychologist, as a moderator for young adults in their path to self-discovery.
Unfortunately, we had to stop this project because Mr. William went back to Colombia.
As having experience coming to the United States without knowing how the system worked, I would like to help new comers adapt and be helpful to the
community. I think we, as young adults, need to set an example to future generations and lead them to be the best they can be.

3. Resume
Resume

4. Reflection
I started in Argosy on June of 2009. I really like
the format of the classes, it has helped me apply
the concepts I learn in class to real-life cases.
I still have to work on being able to identify the
several theories and their developers as well as
being able to apply APA format to papers.
Most of the classes I have taken have helped me
do a better job in my current employment as a
manager for a non-profit organization focused
on Latinos.

5. Table of Contents
• Cognitive Abilities: Critical Thinking
and Information Literacy
• Research Skills
• Communication Skills: Oral and
Written
• Ethics and Diversity Awareness
• Foundations of Psychology
• Applied Psychology
• Interpersonal Effectiveness

6. Cognitive Abilities
“Cognitive abilities are the brain-
based skills and mental processes
that are needed to carry out any
task” (Latham)

7. Dialogue - Time Management
• Interpersonal Effectiveness class
assignment
• Tips on time management,
organization, note taking, and useful
things to help be a successful student
– This dialogue was intended to put in writing
the excuses one makes to procrastinate
and not organizing the time in an effective
way.
Dialogue - Time Management file

8. Reading Technique
• Interpersonal Effectiveness class
assignment
– There are a couple of reading techniques,
this assignment was intended to explain
which technique is better for me and why.
Reading Technique file

9. Research Skills

10. Effect size in a Research study
• Psychological Statistics class assignment
• Difference of a correlational and a causal
research study
• Guidelines for a research
Effect Size in a Research Study document

11. Ethics in a Research Study
• Psychological Statistics class
assignment
• This assignment gives an example
about the ethics a research has to
follow.
Ethics in a Research Study document

12. Communication Skills
How well do I communicate with others

13. Child Sexual Abuse Presentation
• Children and Violence class assignment
– Slide show presentation about Child Sexual
Abuse
– It explains:
• Different ways of sexual abuse
• Signs of sexual abuse in children
• Long term effects of sexual abuse
Child Sexual Abuse presentation

14. Outline - Global Warming
• Environmental Perspective class
assignment
– Outline made to organize Global Warming
research paper
– Gave structure to the paper, to
communicate in an effective manner.
Outline - Global Warming document

15. Ethics and Diversity Awareness

16. Diversity
Exploring Diversity through Self-Examination
• Diversity class assignment
• Course project that focused on the following
topics:
– Personal Biases
– Discrimination
– Culture
– Religion
– Gender
– Elderly
– Disabilities
– Sexual Orientation
Diversity Course Project document

17. Sexual Orientation
• Interviewing a homosexual and a
transgender
– Topics on:
– Discrimination
– Family
– Stereotypes
– Education on sexual orientation
Sexual Orientation

18. Foundations of Psychology

19. Developmental Psychology - Self-Reflection
• Developmental Psychology class
assignment
• Physical development
• Cognitive development
• Socioemotional development
Develpmental Psychology - Self-Reflection docu

20. Personality Theory - Course Project
• Personality Theory class assignment
• Overview of different personality
theories
Personality Theory project

21. Knowledge of Applied Psychology
Ability to apply psychology to personal
social, and/or organizational problems.

22. Deterrence
• Crime and Causes class assignment
• This paper tried to define and apply the
concept of “Deterrence”
• Applied the concept to the Columbine
shootings and WWII
– Would deterrence had worked on Eric and Dylan
(Columbine shootings) or Hittler?
Deterrence document

23. Effective Counselors
• Counseling Theories class assignment
• Characteristics to be an effective counselor
Effective Counselors document

24. Children and Violence Course Project
• Domestic Violence
• Sexual abuse
• Bullying
• Psycho educational approaches
• Supportive approaches
• Professional Help available to families
and children
Children and Violence Course Project

25. Defense Mechanism
• Personality Theories class assignment
• Examples of defense mechanism
Defense Mechanism document

26. Interpersonal Effectiveness
Ability to interact with others to
accomplish one’s goals

27. Interpersonal Effectiveness Course Project
• Project about strengths and weaknesses in
self
• Communication skills
• Listening skills
• Comparison in how people sees me and how
I see myself.
Interpersonal Effectiveness Course Project document

28. Michael Jackson Trial
• Forensic Psychology class assignment
• Power point presentation intended to
convince the jury that Michael
Jackson was innocent of child sexual
abuse.
Michael Jackson Trial presentation

29. My Future in Learning
I love Psychology because it does not
only give me the opportunity to help
others but to learn about myself. Since
I started my education path in
Psychology I have learned and grow
considerably. It has helped me open
my eyes and mind to new things. I
learn everyday a little bit more about
the world and its complexities.

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