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ACPA/NASPA Competencies

Below, you will find explanations for what aspects of the ACPA and NASPA Competencies I have been working to achieve. 

Personal and Ethical Foundations

I feel that during my experiences in the IUB HESA program I have continued to solidify my personal and ethical foundations. I am grounded in my values of supporting others, honesty, and reliability. These have been instilled in me by my family and have been strengthened through my work in my residence life assistantship, my internship, and in my participation in graduate coursework. This program has given me time to reflect on who I am and how I show up for others.

Key outcomes achieved:

  1. “Articulate key elements of one’s set of personal beliefs and commitments (e.g., values, morals, goals, desires, self-definitions), as well as the source of each (e.g., self, peers, family, or one or more larger communities).”

    1. I achieve this through staying true to myself and being consistent. I value reliability and supporting others highly meaning that I show up and do the work to support my coworkers and supervisees on a consistent basis.

  2. “Articulate an understanding that wellness is a broad concept comprised of emotional, physical, social, environmental, relational, spiritual, moral, and intellectual elements.”

    1. I demonstrate this by showing up for my team and students consistently, by following through on commitments, and through leading by example. I prioritize the well-being of my supervisees by recognizing them as individuals first, therefore guiding how I support them both personally and professionally. In my sphere of working with my students, I want them to prioritize their lives as humans and students first because if they are not doing well as a human, they are unable to do their best work in other areas of their life. In this way, I work to see their wellness in multiple aspects and support them in more than just the residence life capacity as their supervisor.

Leadership

Through my work I have developed my leadership skills in order to help form a collaborative and well-functioning team in my assistantship. I think that I am a natural leader and work to find the strengths in others and forge collaborative relationships whether it be at work or in classes. I take on forms of servant leadership, especially in work, of putting others before myself and working to uplift my supervisees.

Key outcomes achieved:

  1. “Think critically, creatively, and imagine possibilities for solutions that do not currently exist or are not apparent.”

    1. I show this competency by thinking creatively through solutions and by working to consider situations from multiple perspectives and angles, not just my own. Additionally, I am realistic and practical. I approach challenges by considering multiple viewpoints and identify practical solutions that support both students and organizational goals.

  2. “Within the scope of one’s position and expertise, lead others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organization”

    1. I achieve this through my role as a residence life supervisor. As a supervisor, I empower Resident Assistants by providing guidance, encouraging independence, and supporting them in creating positive and supportive community environments. I feel that through supporting those I supervise and advise, I help contribute to the mission of further developing and supporting the residential community I work for.

Social Justice and Inclusion

I work towards social justice and inclusion to make a space from and learn from everyone on my teams. I continue to advocate for those around me and create an inclusive and welcoming space in the workplaces I inhabit. I create inclusive environments by approaching interactions with empathy and kindness while intentionally considering students' diverse identities and experiences.

Key outcomes achieved:

  1. “Integrate knowledge of social justice, inclusion, oppression, privilege, and power into one’s practice”

    1. I feel that I have continued to learn about social justice and inclusion through my coursework and through my internship. I integrate the knowledge I learn in my daily practice; I am intentional in how I support students by creating spaces where diverse perspectives are respected and valued.

  2. “Connect and build meaningful relationships with others while recognizing the multiple intersecting identities, perspectives, and developmental differences people hold.”

    1. I feel that I achieve this through being cognizant of the different populations I work with in my different positions that I hold. I work with all different students and coworkers who all bring their own lived experience to the table every time I have a discussion with them. I work to recognize their experiences and build effective relationships across differences and through similarities.

Advising and Supporting

Through my work as a student government advisor and as the advisor to multiple student groups in my internship, I have solidified skills in advising and supporting. I work to support the ideas of my students to help them flourish and step in minimally and as needed to guide them in a direction that is more grounded and aligned with the realistic goals of each respective group.

Key outcomes achieved:

  1. “Utilize virtual resources and technology to meet the advising and supporting needs of students”

    1. My work with IU School of Medicine as the Medical Service Learning Intern is primarily virtual meaning I have gained skills in utilizing Zoom, email, and GroupMe messaging to work with my advisees over the past year to connect with and support them through a virtual landscape. I am able to communicate clearly and regularly and help facilitate effective meetings with these groups and support their goals.

  2. “Establish rapport with students, groups, colleagues, and others that acknowledges differences in lived experiences”

    1. Through the advising I do, I work with students of varying age, background, educational level, and more. Through my work in IUSM and in Student Government advising, I work to build professional and supportive relationships with those I advise and become a reliable source for them to turn to.

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