Reflection 1: Career
I have wanted to by a psychologist for a long time because my dad is a therapist. He has his own ]practice, Stucke Counseling, which I would like to take over. I am also a caring person and love to help people. Being a psychologist would allow me to do this every day. I would do everything it takes to help my clients, especially kids, in court cases.
To pursue a degree in psychology, it could be helpful to take some classes while I am in high school. If possible, I would also interview more local psychologists and partake in internships. Because my dad has experience in this field, I already knew much about the job. I knew I would have to go at least two additional years of school, but if I want to get my PhD it will be more. I have also seen the difficulties my dad has had from running his own
practice. After a long day at the office, I can see how his work affects him emotionally; he is sad and exhausted. However, he has told me that being the only person to listen to someone is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.
Through my research, on the other hand, I have learned much more about a career in psychology. You are required to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology in order to practice. Psychologists are needed everywhere, as people deal with mental and emotional issues; this
creates a very positive job outlook. Also, it is very important to be involved in at least one internship before obtaining a job. For my interview, I interviewed Dr. Becky Luzio from Luzio and Associates. She was very helpful and gave me important information on becoming a psychologist. Dr. Luzio attended several different schools and found this to be helpful in her career. She informed me that to get a PhD in psychology, you must do original research after graduation. You must also complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years. Finally, before practicing, another psychologist is required to supervise you.
However, I do have a few concerns about pursuing this career. First, I am afraid I will not be able to leave my work at the office. Like my dad, after hearing sad stories all day, I will struggle with not letting that affect my personal life. If I do take over his practice, I also fear that I will overwork. One of the stresses of having your own practice is time management. Finally, I am fully aware that not all of my clients will be happy with me. I will have to learn to be okay with that and do what is best for him/her, especially in court cases.
Reflection 2: College
From when I was a little kid, I have wanted to attend Indiana University. Both my parents and many of my friends have attended the school and loved their time there. Because of this I knew they have a good psychology program. It is also in state, which would benefit us financially and keep me close to home. To add on to the benefits, IU has a beautiful campus.
On the other hand, there were many things I did not know about the university. I did not realize how big it is and how many opportunities it has. These range from undergraduate to graduate courses. I am visiting IU next month and I am sure there is much more to learn. I also did not know so many credits were required in order to graduate both undergraduate and graduate schools. I learned that I may need to attend more than one school, to get the most out of my education. I will be required to earn an HSPP license, which will allow me to practice psychology.
I have always had concerns about college and challenges it will bring. I know it will be a completely different experience than high school, so I am not sure what to expect. Classes will be more difficult, with a much bigger work load. I also fear that I will not be happy with the major I choose and be
forced to change. Finally, the finances of college: depending on how many year I choose to go, it could take years to pay off. However, there are actions I can take to prepare myself for this time. I participate in many community service activities, which colleges will look for. I can also start applying for scholarships early, to get as much financial aid as possible. Most importantly, I can maintain my grades and work hard throughout my high school career.
Reflection 3: Auto Shopping
Prior to this portion of the project, I knew purchasing an automobile would be a big investment. This, on top of many other payments, would make living on my own even more difficult. Buying a new car can cost at least $10,000. I also knew that along with the expense of the car, comes insurance, repair, and gas costs.
Because of this project, I now know much more about purchasing an automobile. I did not know leasing a car was an option, or how much money it could save. Leasing usually lasts for 24 months and allows customers to pay for only 40% of the car’s use. I also learned that having good credit could save around $50 a month on car payments. Drivers are also required to pay licensing and registration costs.
I feel as though I have benefited from this information because I am aware of the different options when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. I know that having a good credit score will benefit me, so I will be very careful when I obtain a credit card. I also know that there are many other expenses that come with a car, other than just
the monthly payment.
With my estimated income and expenses, it will be very difficult for me to make all of my monthly payments, including for a vehicle. The first years out of college will be challenging, regardless. Although, it may be helpful to keep my current car until I am licensed and have more money to spend.
Reflection 4: Parenthood
At this point in the Future Project, I have had to make many decisions. One of the most important decisions I had to make is moving in with my friends Brooke and Makenzie. After college, I was still in the process of getting my psychologist license; a long process with a lot of testing. Moving in with my friends would allow me to share the bills and ease the stress of being on my own. This proved to be a good decision, because I am saving money and making a lot of great memories.
The three of us had to make the next decision as a group. The question was whether or not we should adopt Aiden, Kiley's (Brooke's sister) baby. Kiley had Aiden before graduating college, so she had to dropout. After graduating, Kiley asked Brooke to be Aiden's legal guardian while she finished her schooling. Because there are three of us, we decided it would not be a problem to adopt this little boy. Although it is stressful at times, our decision of adopting Aiden also turned out great. He has brought so much joy to our lives and makes living together even more fun.
After having Aiden for a couple months, I realized the expenses of having a child were even bigger than I thought. Not only did we have to buy clothes, but we also had to purchase toys and furniture. These, on top of several other bills, were not easy for the three of us to afford. We were forced to save our money for necessities, instead of going our or buying clothes.
We also had to select and pay for a few activities for Aiden to be involved in. Because Makenzie, Brooke, and I played sports throughout school, we felt it was important to get him involved in a few at a young age. We decided baseball and football would be good for him. There is a North Youth Baseball tee-ball league, which costs $50. The YMCA has a youth flag football league that also costs $50. We are hoping that this will give him a head start on sports in the future.
At this point, my greatest concern would be money. We have had to make many large purchases, because we moved and adopted Aiden. Even though there are three of us, the bills are still difficult to pay. However, I am confident in our future because we all have promising jobs. Once I am licensed, I will have a bigger monthly income. Brooke, Makenzie, and I are very responsible, so I am confident that we will make the best of our circumstances.
Reflection 5: Housing
While purchasing a house with Brooke and Makenzie, I learned a lot about what it involves. There are many different factors that go into the payment of a house. For example, the air conditioning/heating, appliances, and taxes vary greatly depending on the house. It is also important to know what to look for or what to ask during an open house. The house should be well kept and clean. It is also good to know what the trash pickup policy is, what is included with the house, and what appliances we would need to purchase. Finally, we needed to keep in mind the amount of furniture and décor we would need for the house. This could be a big factor in house much we can spend.
Before making a purchase, it was necessary to figure out how much we could spend. We did not want to be in over our heads with bills and payments. Soon enough, we found the perfect house for us. Not only did we love it, but it affirmed my past decisions about my career. Because psychology has such a good outlook, I was encouraged to see I could afford this and excited to see what my future had in store. It also was a major factor in adopting Aiden, because it was just the right size for the four of us.
Although purchasing a home together proved, overall, to be a good decisions, there were some downfalls. We were concerned when it came time to purchase the furnishings for our house. We did not know how much it would cost, nor if we could afford it. The most challenging part of this task was the living room, because we needed to purchase a television, couches, rugs, and other decorations.
Upon making our purchase, we had to address our wants and needs. We realized that a TV, cable, and Internet were not necessary when on a tight budget. If we had opted out of these things, it would have saved us a lot of money in the long run. Another big expense with the house was grocery shopping. Not only were groceries expensive, but we had to get them every two weeks or so.
As a whole, purchasing a house with my roommates was a good decision. It has taught me a lot and gave me insight as to what my future holds. I now know what to expect and will be better prepared when it comes time to make this purchase.
Reflection 6: Vacation
Our family centered vacation was in Destin, Florida. Because we brought our son Aiden, we did many kid oriented activities such as putt-putt, an adventure park, and a lot of time on the beach. We spent most of our time outside, enjoying the beautiful Florida weather.
The most difficult aspect of our trip was planning our meals. Most of the restaurants in Florida are seafood, and therefore, more expensive. It was hard to manage these expenses and keep them within our budget.
Our vacation destination's biggest attraction was the beach. Access to the beach was free with out condo, Mainsail. We went on long walks, swam in the ocean, and played sand volleyball almost every day of our stay.
On Tuesday we played putt-putt for $23, which was a fun experience for all of us, especially Aiden. Thursday, we went to the Gulfariam Marine Adventure Park for $64.80. We saw many types of marine animals and learned all about them. After, we ate at Fudpuckers, an exciting restaurant with an arcade, alligators, and live music. We ordered chicken Caesar wraps and grilled cheese.
This vacation was definitely one to remember! It also taught me a lot about the expenses of taking one – it is not all fun and games. It is important to keep your budget in mind.
Reflection 7: Project
Throughout this project, we were required to make several important decisions. One of the most valuable decisions I made was pursuing a career as a psychologist. This job has a great outlook, is well paying, and I was able to get a lot of experience. Other decisions we were required to make decisions on what to spend our money on. I would change the amount of money we spent on furniture, because much of it was not necessary.
I also learned what it is like to be not only an adult, but a parent or guardian. Having a child completely changed your life in many ways, especially financially. Children require clothes, food, toys, and furniture of their own.
Living with other people is not as easy as I thought it would be. When deciding to move in together, we made a big commitment to each other. All decisions must be made and agreed on, to benefit everyone involved. While picking out a house, we had to make sure it fit everyone's budgets and needs.
A major part of being an adult is making your own payments. I did not realize how many monthly payments I would have to make, or how much they would cost. One of my biggest bills was for school. Seeing this, I am encouraged to do my best throughout college and make sure to get my money's worth. I also did not know, before this project, how much groceries cost. I now know to pay closer attention to what I buy and to be sure not to waste any food.
This project has taught me a lot about my future, but also about what I am doing now. Everything I do in highschool can affect my life and college, and after. I am motivated to work hard and get as much scholarship money, because it will save me money in the long run. I also need to start saving my money now, because I will definitely need it more in the future.
After going through the stresses and worries of adults and parents, I have more respect for my parents and everything they do. I can better see everything they have to do and the bills they have to pay. Now, I am more grateful for everything they do for me.
I have wanted to by a psychologist for a long time because my dad is a therapist. He has his own ]practice, Stucke Counseling, which I would like to take over. I am also a caring person and love to help people. Being a psychologist would allow me to do this every day. I would do everything it takes to help my clients, especially kids, in court cases.
To pursue a degree in psychology, it could be helpful to take some classes while I am in high school. If possible, I would also interview more local psychologists and partake in internships. Because my dad has experience in this field, I already knew much about the job. I knew I would have to go at least two additional years of school, but if I want to get my PhD it will be more. I have also seen the difficulties my dad has had from running his own
practice. After a long day at the office, I can see how his work affects him emotionally; he is sad and exhausted. However, he has told me that being the only person to listen to someone is one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.
Through my research, on the other hand, I have learned much more about a career in psychology. You are required to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology in order to practice. Psychologists are needed everywhere, as people deal with mental and emotional issues; this
creates a very positive job outlook. Also, it is very important to be involved in at least one internship before obtaining a job. For my interview, I interviewed Dr. Becky Luzio from Luzio and Associates. She was very helpful and gave me important information on becoming a psychologist. Dr. Luzio attended several different schools and found this to be helpful in her career. She informed me that to get a PhD in psychology, you must do original research after graduation. You must also complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years. Finally, before practicing, another psychologist is required to supervise you.
However, I do have a few concerns about pursuing this career. First, I am afraid I will not be able to leave my work at the office. Like my dad, after hearing sad stories all day, I will struggle with not letting that affect my personal life. If I do take over his practice, I also fear that I will overwork. One of the stresses of having your own practice is time management. Finally, I am fully aware that not all of my clients will be happy with me. I will have to learn to be okay with that and do what is best for him/her, especially in court cases.
Reflection 2: College
From when I was a little kid, I have wanted to attend Indiana University. Both my parents and many of my friends have attended the school and loved their time there. Because of this I knew they have a good psychology program. It is also in state, which would benefit us financially and keep me close to home. To add on to the benefits, IU has a beautiful campus.
On the other hand, there were many things I did not know about the university. I did not realize how big it is and how many opportunities it has. These range from undergraduate to graduate courses. I am visiting IU next month and I am sure there is much more to learn. I also did not know so many credits were required in order to graduate both undergraduate and graduate schools. I learned that I may need to attend more than one school, to get the most out of my education. I will be required to earn an HSPP license, which will allow me to practice psychology.
I have always had concerns about college and challenges it will bring. I know it will be a completely different experience than high school, so I am not sure what to expect. Classes will be more difficult, with a much bigger work load. I also fear that I will not be happy with the major I choose and be
forced to change. Finally, the finances of college: depending on how many year I choose to go, it could take years to pay off. However, there are actions I can take to prepare myself for this time. I participate in many community service activities, which colleges will look for. I can also start applying for scholarships early, to get as much financial aid as possible. Most importantly, I can maintain my grades and work hard throughout my high school career.
Reflection 3: Auto Shopping
Prior to this portion of the project, I knew purchasing an automobile would be a big investment. This, on top of many other payments, would make living on my own even more difficult. Buying a new car can cost at least $10,000. I also knew that along with the expense of the car, comes insurance, repair, and gas costs.
Because of this project, I now know much more about purchasing an automobile. I did not know leasing a car was an option, or how much money it could save. Leasing usually lasts for 24 months and allows customers to pay for only 40% of the car’s use. I also learned that having good credit could save around $50 a month on car payments. Drivers are also required to pay licensing and registration costs.
I feel as though I have benefited from this information because I am aware of the different options when it comes to purchasing a vehicle. I know that having a good credit score will benefit me, so I will be very careful when I obtain a credit card. I also know that there are many other expenses that come with a car, other than just
the monthly payment.
With my estimated income and expenses, it will be very difficult for me to make all of my monthly payments, including for a vehicle. The first years out of college will be challenging, regardless. Although, it may be helpful to keep my current car until I am licensed and have more money to spend.
Reflection 4: Parenthood
At this point in the Future Project, I have had to make many decisions. One of the most important decisions I had to make is moving in with my friends Brooke and Makenzie. After college, I was still in the process of getting my psychologist license; a long process with a lot of testing. Moving in with my friends would allow me to share the bills and ease the stress of being on my own. This proved to be a good decision, because I am saving money and making a lot of great memories.
The three of us had to make the next decision as a group. The question was whether or not we should adopt Aiden, Kiley's (Brooke's sister) baby. Kiley had Aiden before graduating college, so she had to dropout. After graduating, Kiley asked Brooke to be Aiden's legal guardian while she finished her schooling. Because there are three of us, we decided it would not be a problem to adopt this little boy. Although it is stressful at times, our decision of adopting Aiden also turned out great. He has brought so much joy to our lives and makes living together even more fun.
After having Aiden for a couple months, I realized the expenses of having a child were even bigger than I thought. Not only did we have to buy clothes, but we also had to purchase toys and furniture. These, on top of several other bills, were not easy for the three of us to afford. We were forced to save our money for necessities, instead of going our or buying clothes.
We also had to select and pay for a few activities for Aiden to be involved in. Because Makenzie, Brooke, and I played sports throughout school, we felt it was important to get him involved in a few at a young age. We decided baseball and football would be good for him. There is a North Youth Baseball tee-ball league, which costs $50. The YMCA has a youth flag football league that also costs $50. We are hoping that this will give him a head start on sports in the future.
At this point, my greatest concern would be money. We have had to make many large purchases, because we moved and adopted Aiden. Even though there are three of us, the bills are still difficult to pay. However, I am confident in our future because we all have promising jobs. Once I am licensed, I will have a bigger monthly income. Brooke, Makenzie, and I are very responsible, so I am confident that we will make the best of our circumstances.
Reflection 5: Housing
While purchasing a house with Brooke and Makenzie, I learned a lot about what it involves. There are many different factors that go into the payment of a house. For example, the air conditioning/heating, appliances, and taxes vary greatly depending on the house. It is also important to know what to look for or what to ask during an open house. The house should be well kept and clean. It is also good to know what the trash pickup policy is, what is included with the house, and what appliances we would need to purchase. Finally, we needed to keep in mind the amount of furniture and décor we would need for the house. This could be a big factor in house much we can spend.
Before making a purchase, it was necessary to figure out how much we could spend. We did not want to be in over our heads with bills and payments. Soon enough, we found the perfect house for us. Not only did we love it, but it affirmed my past decisions about my career. Because psychology has such a good outlook, I was encouraged to see I could afford this and excited to see what my future had in store. It also was a major factor in adopting Aiden, because it was just the right size for the four of us.
Although purchasing a home together proved, overall, to be a good decisions, there were some downfalls. We were concerned when it came time to purchase the furnishings for our house. We did not know how much it would cost, nor if we could afford it. The most challenging part of this task was the living room, because we needed to purchase a television, couches, rugs, and other decorations.
Upon making our purchase, we had to address our wants and needs. We realized that a TV, cable, and Internet were not necessary when on a tight budget. If we had opted out of these things, it would have saved us a lot of money in the long run. Another big expense with the house was grocery shopping. Not only were groceries expensive, but we had to get them every two weeks or so.
As a whole, purchasing a house with my roommates was a good decision. It has taught me a lot and gave me insight as to what my future holds. I now know what to expect and will be better prepared when it comes time to make this purchase.
Reflection 6: Vacation
Our family centered vacation was in Destin, Florida. Because we brought our son Aiden, we did many kid oriented activities such as putt-putt, an adventure park, and a lot of time on the beach. We spent most of our time outside, enjoying the beautiful Florida weather.
The most difficult aspect of our trip was planning our meals. Most of the restaurants in Florida are seafood, and therefore, more expensive. It was hard to manage these expenses and keep them within our budget.
Our vacation destination's biggest attraction was the beach. Access to the beach was free with out condo, Mainsail. We went on long walks, swam in the ocean, and played sand volleyball almost every day of our stay.
On Tuesday we played putt-putt for $23, which was a fun experience for all of us, especially Aiden. Thursday, we went to the Gulfariam Marine Adventure Park for $64.80. We saw many types of marine animals and learned all about them. After, we ate at Fudpuckers, an exciting restaurant with an arcade, alligators, and live music. We ordered chicken Caesar wraps and grilled cheese.
This vacation was definitely one to remember! It also taught me a lot about the expenses of taking one – it is not all fun and games. It is important to keep your budget in mind.
Reflection 7: Project
Throughout this project, we were required to make several important decisions. One of the most valuable decisions I made was pursuing a career as a psychologist. This job has a great outlook, is well paying, and I was able to get a lot of experience. Other decisions we were required to make decisions on what to spend our money on. I would change the amount of money we spent on furniture, because much of it was not necessary.
I also learned what it is like to be not only an adult, but a parent or guardian. Having a child completely changed your life in many ways, especially financially. Children require clothes, food, toys, and furniture of their own.
Living with other people is not as easy as I thought it would be. When deciding to move in together, we made a big commitment to each other. All decisions must be made and agreed on, to benefit everyone involved. While picking out a house, we had to make sure it fit everyone's budgets and needs.
A major part of being an adult is making your own payments. I did not realize how many monthly payments I would have to make, or how much they would cost. One of my biggest bills was for school. Seeing this, I am encouraged to do my best throughout college and make sure to get my money's worth. I also did not know, before this project, how much groceries cost. I now know to pay closer attention to what I buy and to be sure not to waste any food.
This project has taught me a lot about my future, but also about what I am doing now. Everything I do in highschool can affect my life and college, and after. I am motivated to work hard and get as much scholarship money, because it will save me money in the long run. I also need to start saving my money now, because I will definitely need it more in the future.
After going through the stresses and worries of adults and parents, I have more respect for my parents and everything they do. I can better see everything they have to do and the bills they have to pay. Now, I am more grateful for everything they do for me.