Running head: SELF-ASSESSMENT 1

Federico R Lastra

Self-Assessment

Vision

My vision is to create a national recognized academic support center that produces

significant gains in student achievement, and contributes to the wellbeing of the local and global

communities, both in the immediate and foreseeable futures.

Mission

My mission in academic support is to encourage, motivate, inspire, and support

students by building on strengths and recognizing weaknesses that once identified can be

remediated, corrected, or lessened through effective instruction and application on learning

tools. By providing a safe, honest, and secure environment to educate them academically,

socially, and cognitively o that they can accomplish their set directives and afterwards become

independent learners that can continue to build a foundation for life-long learning.

Philosophy

My academic philosophy embraces empowering the learner to use knowledge for the

betterment of his or her self, and immediate and global communities. Education is a tool to give

people the opportunity of embracing a strong foundational knowledge that can be built upon in

creative and innovative ways for the advancement of the communication of learning. Ultimately,

all knowledge in varying degrees serves to empower the individual and subdue the influence of

ignorant thought and promote conversations, which serves to diminish the opportunities of

maintaining the status quo; therefore, knowledge is an empowering tool, that when applied

effectively may serve to promote change, and promise towards a better and enlightened

tomorrow.

SELF-ASSESSMENT 2

Goals

Immediate or current goals include: Successfully completing my tasks and objectives

as a lead tutor which will be outlined by my superiors, to continue expanding my services as

an independent consultant, and to earn my Masters of Science in Adult Education and Human

Resources Management (AE/HRD). My one to three year goals include: becoming an

Assistant Coordinator, beginning a doctoral program in (AE/HRD), and launching my real

estate investment company with my brother. My three to five your goals include: becoming an

Assistant Director and completing my doctoral program in AE/HRD, and successfully

defending my dissertation and earning my PhD in AE/HRD. My ultimate goal is to become a

Director and then Associate Dean in Undergraduate or Graduate Education.

Strengths

StrengthsFinder Results

My ‘Top 5” strengths were as follows:

1. Achiever

2. Competition

3. Responsibility

4. Significance

5. Individualization

Under the 4 Domains, I have 2 under Executing, 2 Under Influencing, and 1 under

Relationship building, and 0 under strategic thinking (refer to Table 1), at least for the Top 5;

however, there may be more revealed if I ever decide to access the rest for the additional cost

(still thinking it over). The online version on the book provides some excellent link sources to

SELF-ASSESSMENT 3

videos, as well as pdf downloads (posted below) that assist the reader in understanding what

these strengths mean to Rath (2007).

Table 1

The findings were not surprising for the most part, except for “Strategic Thinking” but

that could be because I simply did not pay to access the additional 34 strengths. However, I work

in groups often, in a reading and learning team as a lead tutor; as a result, I think that “Futuristic”

and “Ideation” would appear. However, when reflecting on why these five did appear at the top,

I ask myself: when these traits manifested? Because as Rath (2007) mentions that a longitudinal

study spanning over the period of 23 years found that children as young as three years of age had

strengths that remained constant until age 26. His findings imply that the time span could be

even greater. So this leads me to wonder…it is nature or nurture? I am thinking that it can be a

little of both because I can see my parental, academic, and work influence and how it has shaped

who I am; but, my “gutt” says my drive to do what needs to be done came from my folks and

everyone and every experience has helped nurture those traits to what they have become.

SELF-ASSESSMENT 4

The descriptors in these handouts rang true but what I found more useful was what to

look out of for because some of the strengths could become weaknesses, such as taking on too

much, because sometimes I have been stressed out by doing too much, but it is also the reason

why I like to get things done early, so that I can free myself to do more. Especially, because I

tutor privately and time is money to me, and being responsible by paying my bills on time is

important to me. I also find that at times I have to schedule regular breaks but they often involve

house hold chores like folding laundry or walking the dogs. Moreover, I do schedule get ways

when I can, often cruises because if you do not pay for the wifi, you truly get to disconnect.

SELF-ASSESSMENT 5

Competition, I m a middle child and I always competed with both brothers, had to stand

out so I can see why this is apparent; and, I have been told by many friends in side comments

that why do I always have to turn everything into a competition? I guess I can honestly say in

school it is a great asset but personally and professionally is does not always serve best, so there

is definitely a need to monitor when to leave it behind.

SELF-ASSESSMENT 6

I honestly believe that the only thing one can own in any situation is their own behavior

and this rings true for me, but I think this is what being conscious and in the moment has given

me, but this Responsibility strength has taken years to cultivate. However, what the author fails

to mention is that sometimes my high standards can also lead me to unrealistically expect the

same from others, which, at times, can leave me quite irritated to say the least.

SELF-ASSESSMENT 7

Significance, characterized by independence. This I think is all due to my mother.

Grandma was extremely loving but so controlling and mom refused to raise us to not be

independent, so much so she wanted us to even say no to her. So I have always been independent

and followed no one. I always tried to stand out. I won awards in art as far back as I can

remember, I played saxophone because I thought it sounded sexy, I try to take on things that I

have no clue about, learn; and, when asked to present for work am the first one saying yes. But it

was not always positive, when I was a kid I acted out to be noticed. Now that I am older I know

it is better to stand out for good things. Like helping others achieve their academic goals and

SELF-ASSESSMENT 8

sharing your knowledge so they can grow as well. I do love to be noticed and am quite ambitious

about the future. I do share my dreams and goals and love showing people that as extreme as

they sound I can do it all, if I plan and apply myself enough; however, I also know when

someone knows more than I do and eagerly seek and respect what they have to say so that I can

learn from them.

SELF-ASSESSMENT 9

I think that Individualization was taught at home and then that was what allowed me to

accept others for who they are. This is turn has provided me with opportunities to listen and learn

from everyone around me. It is this willingness to see others and appreciate them that has

allowed me to work well alongside them and realize that the more they know that I do not, the

better off I am. I freely know my shortcomings and like being around people who balance me

out. Even more so, at work, we are a team of 15 tutors and work so often together that it has

taught me to appreciate our differences and what each one brings to the table when projects are

concerned, or even dealing with tutees, although most all come to me for advice since I have

been there the longest.

Moreover, I do believe in strong mentors, however I like Rath’s (2007) recommendation

to study successful people and find out what made them successful; however, it is just so hard to

want to read after spending all day reading and studying either my own material for school or

someone else’s. It can be overwhelming and I would rather nap than open a book most of the

time. But I do study the behaviors of those above me and watch what they do so that I can learn

from them. My dad does read many biographies and autobiographies so maybe I get this from

him. Mom always says the best inheritance she can ever leave me will be the wealth of her

experiences. However, I take this a set further and believe there is a wealth of knowledge in the

experiences of everyone who surrounds me, there is always something to learn from someone

else’s triumphs and mistakes.

SELF-ASSESSMENT 10

References

Lea, C. (2015). Gallup strengths finder. Retrieved from http://connieleacreative.com/gallup-

strengths-finder/

Rath, T. (2007). Strengths finder 2.0. New York, NY: Gallup Press.