Runninghead: PERSONAL REFLECTION

Personal Reflection
Gerardo Sanchez
August 1, 2015
Pedro Olvera, PsyD, LEP

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PERSONAL REFLECTION
Personal Reflection
This practicum experience was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn. I had the
pleasure of meeting and assisting several school psychologists with observations, assessments,
report writing, manifest determinations, Functional Behavioral Assessments, Behavioral
Intervention Plans, and most gratifying of all, counseling. These experiences provided me with
magnificent exposure throughout the district and the opportunity to develop the skills necessary
to flourish as a school psychologist. My school psychologist mentor had mentioned to her
colleagues what a wonderful job I was doing for her and shortly thereafter her colleagues
requested if I could help them. My mentor was gracious enough to let me experience so much
despite being overwhelmed with work herself. She would touch base with her colleagues and
myself to see how I was doing. The variety of working styles I witnessed allowed me to pick
and choose different aspects from each school psychologist that I thought I could incorporate
into my own personal style for comfortability or efficiency. The counseling experience was also
fantastic because I had the opportunity to work with a counselor who has 20 years of experience.
Not only did the counselor provide guidance, but he also made me an integral part of the
administrative team dealing issues that arose with the students. I was able to work closely with
the principal, vice principal, and special education director on certain cases that were sensitive.
I worked at a high school with one school psychologist who needed help with an
inordinate amount of triennials. I learned how the district provides a triennial review by using a
short form review. I helped this school psychologist with six reports in one day. She was so
impressed with my work that she sent an unsolicited email to the special education director and
let her know that she should consider paying me a stipend to work as an intern. That was a truly
awesome way to show her appreciation. Another school psychologist had me help him with

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PERSONAL REFLECTION
observations, testing, report writing, and presentations. A third school psychologist had me help
with observations, assessments, presentations, manifest determinations, Functional Behavioral
Assessments, and Behavioral Intervention Plans.
By far the most gratifying experience was the counseling portion of my practicum. I
dealt with a student who expressed suicidal ideations, another student who had conflict
resolution issues, and a counseling group of ten students who are foster children. I believe that I
learned more from the students than they learned from me. However, I believe I created an
environment where the students were learning from each other. I was able to tell that I had a
positive effect on the children because I saw their demeanor change when interacting with me.
All these experiences have instilled confidence in my abilities to succeed as a school
psychologist.