Ailyn Maung

Hnou Lee
Ethnics 21
December 2nd, 2022

Online Session: Week 13

Thematic Reflection

For this thematic reflection, Strengthening Your Personal Development through

Community Engagement by Arnaud, is a reading that primarily focuses on engagement in the
community of Sacramento State. To my own understanding, this reading contributes to the
meaning of community since the author states, “the process of working collaboratively with
others for the common good,” (Arnaud, p. 161.) Going based on my personal goals for attending
Sacramento State, an overall personal goal is to of course graduate. Not only is graduating a goal
for my education, but I also hope to make more personal and supportive connections in the
communities I am already in. Relating these two goals to one of the provided readings in this
theme: Morrill - Developing a Personal System of Values, the author discusses a lot about how in
college we bump into people with very different types of values. The author states “our life itself
is continually giving us tests as to which values will create coherent, consistent, and enduring
results that will produce the greatest integrity and the greatest fulfillment of our potential,”
(Morril, p. 175.) To that statement, the idea that with my college experience, and the hardships of
it, it will help me continue to reach my goal of using my fullest potential to gain or create more
personal and supportive connections. As well as the idea that with my hardships and gaining
more potential, I will reach my goal of graduating college. Later in the future, as for my career
goals, I hope to attain a bachelor’s degree in Health Science, attend Sacramento State’s nursing
program, and eventually become a Labor and Delivery Nurse at a hospital. Growing up, I have
struggled a lot with my mental health, and my mental stability. It comes to a point where at times
in my life, I prioritize other things like work, school, and social relationships while knowing I
need to take the time to prioritize my mental and physical health. Relating this to Theme 4, a
provided writing by Zernike - The Harvard Guide to Happiness, the writer discusses seven
different ways to be happy during your time enrolled in college. Using this reading I hope to use
this reading as a tool to help me continue to stay or prioritize my happiness and mental health.
This also ties into my personal values and goals for college. The Harvard Guide to Happiness
states one of its main tools is “Hold the Drum”, “in college because they do not have the same
social or family support network they had at home, (Zernike, p. 39.) Taking this idea, I relate to
this statement because when you move away from home, the support group you have is different
no matter how far you go. Using this statement I plan on building a community that reminds me
of home, people that are supportive, positive, and beneficial to my life and my own mental
health, for example building relationships and connections out of the FCP, Filipino-American,
Sac State communities.