Social Sciences and Humanities Post

Post 1: The Value of Personality Psychology in Self-Understanding

A course which I consider to have had a marked influence on what I do in the Social Sciences and
Humanities is Personality Psychology. The knowledge I gained from this course was very helpful in
understanding how our cognition influences who we are, how we behave and even how we feel. I decided
it was most important to me because it actually worked to help me analyzed myself and grow as a person
and in academics. The most interesting activities realized during the assignments were actions based on
the analysis of personal variables with reference to the select theories of personality. I came up with self-
effacing, tenacious, and compassionate personal values that worked with other theories such as CBT and
Humanistic psychology. For instance, employing CBT I concluded that my hardness was indeed
attributable to positive cognitions and effective coping styles particularly within the contexts of stress
rising from the migration from the Philippines to Canada. CBT was beneficial to me because it focused
on the role of my thoughts in initiating emotions and actions; it was liberating because I learned how to
overturn unwarranted negative beliefs. Each of the mentioned movements also contributed to my personal
growth; however, I must note that Humanistic Psychology was particularly helpful in that context.
Freedar Sorenson’s self-actualization and Carl Rogers’ unconditional positive regard are the ones that
appealed to my understanding especially in as much as my curious nature motivates me towards fuller
functioning. This theory has always supported the motive of self-realization, which must go hand-in-hand
with being tolerant to others; it has proved quite helpful in mutual respects such as learning environments
and interpersonal relationships.

I think what set this course apart was the way in which especially difficult to grasp theoretical
concepts were made to seem realistic. It is not that the theories were interesting to us; it was the fact that
it could help explain myself. It has made me to be more intelligent in handling problems with a lot of
focus in the emotional aspect and most importantly, develop much healthier relations with people. The
knowledge from the current course is still the primary driver in achieving my goals and therefore, can be
considered as one of the most valuable courses.
 Post 2: Resilience and Adaptability in Social and Cultural Geography

Also, I have realized that the course I gained much from is Social and Cultural Geography. I also
learned a lot about the relationship of place, space and culture and at the same time I got to develop
myself. This was an opportunity to gather my thoughts on my moving from the Philippines to Canada and
how I had maneuvered my way through the different culture and environment that was new to embrace.
The main activity, of watching numerous locations in Vancouver, helped me understand how nonverbally
people are influenced by the environment and their interactions in it. For instance, while analyzing St.
Mary’s Church in Joyce Collingwood I was able to relate my findings to significance of religious and
cultural institutions in fostering the relations of a community. How visitors engaged themselves in the
sacralized area helped to understand the role of inclusion and community belongingness on man,
especially in the multicultural context. For me this was particularly important because it gave me more
insight into my own experience of migration from a geopolitical and geographical angle.

In addition, I expanded my appreciation for empathy as a set of skills necessary for comprehending
not only interactions in space but also people’s emotional and cultural relationships with these or those
areas. These extended my knowledge of how various groups interact with their settings. It also gave me
an opportunity to self-attune and check on that aspect of my personality; flexibility. It became apparent
that my self-sufficient nature was as much of a self-produced intrinsic defense mechanism as it was an
environmental resource dependent on the presence of family, friends and cultural references be it
imagery, language or political.

In conclusion, the course helped me to consolidate my capacities to reason through environments

The Psychology of Stress and Coping was another one of the most beneficial lessons I experienced
in terms of the Social Sciences and Humanities. From coverage within this course, I got to learn more
about some facts about stress management among people and this really made me to rethink on my status
particularly having migrated to Canada. As I came to learn, stress is an inevitable part of life, only that
how we deal with it is the key to overall health of the emotions/ psyche. Perhaps, one of the main
concerns related to cultural stress that I encountered was one of the main findings. I understood that the
course elucidated on psychological resilience enabled me to grasp that I grew coping mechanisms
throughout my transition to Canada without fully acknowledging this process. For instance, learning how
to cope with the stress of a new way of life, a new language and a new schooling system posed a bigger
challenge. By using the framework of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) I was able to evaluate how
my thinking affected my stressed response. Thus, I understood that concentration on such
accomplishments as adjustment for daily activities in a new environment was the effective element for
coping with the essential issues.

There were no major theory issues because the presentational pattern was fine, but the truly
practical uses of the course may have been the most useful. I learned different stress combating
approaches such as mindfulness, and relaxation and practiced them from time to time. These strategies
have been very effective in reminding me of priorities especially during busy traffic academic times and
passion young adult student, studying away from home there is always some measure of stress as you
jostle to balance between school work and home issues.

In general, throughout this course, I have learned how close mental strength and coping mechanisms
are related. It also availed the need to foster the aspect of emotional intelligence that applies to tackling of
stressors in life. I have achieved something out of the lessons I had and those were useful in my personal
and social life Also, I experienced the crucial effect of self-regulation of emotions in the aspects of
academic achievements and well-being.
DASSH Experience

Post 1: DASSH Experience: Exploring Homelessness in Vancouver

I can state that I have enjoyed the fact that I worked within the DASSH (Departments of Arts,
Social Sciences, and Humanities) program. I had the opportunity to finally find something that I was
really interested in – studying homelessness in Vancouver and how research can help approach a social
problem differently. In DASSH program, we were required to choose different social problems to
investigate, and I decided to investigate the problem of homelessness because it is the issue that struck me
since I earliest time in Vancouver. Because observing the members of society who became homeless
every day in the city, the topic became close to me. I wanted to know much more than its face value,
much more about the factors behind such a deep rooted and expanding problem. They are a couple years’
worth of reading and writing, combined with my research topics of mental health disparities, poverty, and
policies that have facilitated the perpetuation of homelessness, which have made my academic
involvement in this project one of the most valuable in my educational career. I found that homelessness
was a very interesting issue to study because there is a lot to it. It is not just for the simple reason that they
do not have a place to call home; but other factors include mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency,
joblessness and housing poverty. Through the DASSH program, I was challenged to view homelessness
from psychological, sociological, as well as, policy lenses. This extended my perception of how multiple
levels of socially determined systems mesh together and create homelessness and maintain it.

In my study, I chosen the topic of homelessness and mental health. I discover that a lot of homeless
people suffering from mental disorders but receive no medical attention and many end up in the same
situation for life. For instance, Vancouver possesses one of the highest homeless rates in Canada since the
availability of cheap housing coupled with an insufficient number of mental health services. Analyzing
this connection in the framework of advocacy for mental health was not only informative but also rather
discouraging – it becomes obvious that a lack of quality and affordable mental health care contributes to
the situation. The last but not the least something that interested me most was the economic aspect of
homelessness. Inadequate basic wages, increasing rates of rent, and the scarcity of affordable homes are
some of the issues that make it almost impossible for most people to get a good home. From my research
study I established the manner in which these economizing factors contribute towards the continuation of
homelessness. Of all them, the most stimulating remained the fact that some of those theories could be
linked to the actual policy debates. Instead, I paid more attention to how the governments and other local
organizations could end the problem through bringing policy reforms evident in offering long-term
housing solutions for the homeless.

The best part of my research was watching video clips of community-based grassroots
organizations take it to themselves to help end homelessness at the local level. Participating in agencies
that offer the homeless with homes, foods as well as counseling stress and acknowledge the value of
community commitment. These organization do not only feed the people; they nourish their souls as well
because they give hope. In meanings for civic engagement, DASSH program encouraged me to argue for
community-based solutions outside the remits of governmental policy. This brought me close to the
understanding, how and when communities can come together to address social concerns that seem so
multifaceted and thus, significant. During my time in the DASSH program I also started to grasp the
position of interdisciplinary learning involved in tackling professional societal issues. It is not a
sociological problem only, but also a psychological, economical, and political one. I have learnt the best
way to tackle this issue through the program. Classes in psychology enabled me to learn the psychological
issues that people without homes go through and the sociology classes enabled me to appreciate the
barriers that make the people without homes remain outside. The knowledge in public policy studies has
shown me how advocacy and legislative change to foster sustainable change. Altogether, this combination
of approaches has proven to be quite beneficial in developing the methodological tools for a more
satisfactory understanding and, therefore, solving the problem of homelessness.

All in all, the program I undertook at DASSH, as well as the topic I have explored in my study is
beneficial in the most ways possible. Besides, it helped me to acquire a greater appreciation of this
essential social problem, as well as ignited my desire for positive change. I don’t look at homelessness as
more of an issue anymore, but I look at it as everybody’s concern and everybody’s responsibility as well
as a synthesis of an interdisciplinary problem that needs to be solved. For this reason, I take my interest
regarding further studies in psychology, sociology, and public policy to support homeless people and to
fight for justice for a society.
Outside DASSH

Post 1: A Tradition of Giving

Apart from my studies, one tradition I upheld is the tradition my family does of providing food
essentials to our neighbors in the Philippines. This tradition whether during Christmas or disaster has
really helped shape my upbringing and develops a strong sense of responsibility and social justice, . My
family and I have kept this tradition even after relocating to Canada by sending support from abroad so
that we can support needy people and remain footed in our traditional practice. It is actually a
continuation of this tradition way beyond the family’s set belief systems: it reminds me every day of the
value of the collective and of compassion. I feel that this enables me to support my fellow man during
troubled period especially fellow countrymen although I personally have not lived in my country for quite
some time now. I fan engage in the coordination of this support and I believe it gives me something to do
apart from working towards my academic and career dreams. It is reassuring to accept the truth that while
in another country, am in a position to change the lives of those in my home country hence such an
encouragement is very important.

Adding to this, this tradition also assists me in achieving personal and social conscience by detailing
socially relevant concerns that I embrace, and this include social justice as well as community support. It
is a consolation to remind one that regardless the place one finds his or herself, the ability to make a
difference is not taken away. It without a doubt influenced my leaning and career choices based on the
courses I chose within my curriculum that relates to social work and nursing that emanates from empathy
and care of the community. One – it helps me focus on others besides myself, so it is a good way to
remind myself why people are important to the world; two – it allows me to stop being utterly selfish and
think about the other people and how I can be helpful in their lives.

Post 2: The Role of Church in My Life

As a person, there are some practices that have assisted me in keeping the consistency since moving to
Canada; one among them includes following church. I try to devote time to visit churches every time I
have a chance because I feel that every change brings me stability and religious awakening when I am in
a different country. Church is important to me not just as a form of worship, but as being available for
personal, emotional, and spiritual renewal. New environment demands everything being with the novelty
which at time can be uncomfortable, the only constant aspect being the setting of the church gives me this
feeling of belonging.

Visiting a church has turned into a need more than want, and especially as I live in a different country. It
reconstructs simple values such as gratitude, courtesy, and courtesy in meeting life commitments and
tasks. These values form my basis every-time I make a decision and gives me focus which keeps me
grounded and that’s how I hold on my core self as much as I undergo a change, culturally in this case
through migration. The church community also provides social mile, thus, in some way enriching for the
need of belonging I sometimes think I do not have especially when moving to a new place.

However, it does have a positive relation with my education life trajectory. These include understanding
others, perseverance, as well as advocating for community care which I foster in the church and correlate
with my reasons for taking nursing, abilities that characterize church such as compassion, understanding
and a commitment to service are the values the church inculcates that I want to adopt in my future
profession. As the church gives me that sanctuary to be renewed, I find my academics and career as
additional forms of service to others. The superb combination of spiritual and academic development has
been important in determining my life and my career pathway.
Beyond DASSH

Post 1: Nursing: A Career Rooted in Care and Social Responsibility

From the time that I completed the DASSH program, I am even more determined to seek
employment in the nursing profession social work and health care industry. It was during my research of
the community and the situation of homelessness in Canada where I got to learn more about the various
social aspects affecting vulnerable groups of people. Learning about poverty, mental health and
homelessness has reinforced my sense to be bring change, not only as a practitioner that want to address
health issues that are present at that moment.

Nursing is the kind of job that allows me to help people through touch while also helping to level out
some of the inherent social injustices connected with people’s health assisted or not. This career would
like me to serve in mental health with special interest in offering services to the homeless individuals. The
DASSH program’s structure of putting together social sciences, humanities, and public health makes me
understand that there is more to healthcare than the health delivery angle. Aside from DASSH my family
background of volunteering in the community has also been attributed to my goals. We used to do
Christmas or calamity joint grocery where we would give out packaged necessities to the neighbors. This
practice has even endured after we moved to Canada, and every once in a while, we try to contribute to
the poor. I have acquired these experiences which have instilled in me a lot of social responsibility that I
have always wanted to care for people.

Lastly, nursing profession provides me an opportunity to apply all I learn in school with everything
that I believe in. It enables me to connect two fields of practice I am passionate about: social work and
healthcare that encompasses settings as physical and mental. So, I want to create a positive change in
people’s lives and fight for the improvement of social justice approaches in healthcare throughout this
profession.