Eryn Mahoney

Summer Block
July 28, 2016
Dr. Atchley
ALE Reflection
Within the Discipline
During my 4 years at Tarleton State University, I have taken many different courses that have
aided in my advancement and knowledge towards my field of study, Agricultural Services and
Development with a concentration in Extension and Industries.
Equine Condition and Physiology- I was able to take this course in the fall of 2015. It was
extremely important to my degree studies, but also to the direction I planned on taking my career.
I own and operate an equine conditioning and rehabilitation business, and this course taught me a
lot that is comparative to what I do on a regular basis. I learned skills such as monitoring heart
rates, respiratory rates, monitoring conditioning programs and the horses responses to different
levels of conditioning plans. These skills also helped me during my internship because I worked
with performance horses, and it is crucial to keep these things monitored and focused on. The
ability to work with all different calibers of performance horses helped me keep my skills strong
and constantly in practice.
Livestock Management- During the fall of 2015 I also had the privilege of taking Livestock
Management with Dr. Harp. This class was extremely informative to me since I dont have the
strongest of Ag backgrounds compared to some of my peers. We had the opportunity to travel to
different livestock facilities such as show barns and pig breeding barns, and learn hands on first
hand knowledge with the livestock we were working with. We learned diseases that affect herds

and ranches. We also learned the care of these show animals, and the showing process. On top of
these things we learned the entire process of feeding out these animals and grading in the meats
lab. It was a very informative class that I gained a lot of knowledge in. During my internship one
of my responsibilities was the feeding and monitoring the roping steers, so this class aided in my
comfort of doing this.
Ag Sales and Services - Ag Sales and Services was a course I took in the fall of 2014. If I
were asked what class did I take that I walked away with the most out of, this class would be the
one. From learning the current industry, relating to the sales of Ag products, to services also
advertised and used in the agricultural industry, I gained a lot of knowledge around all aspects of
these topics. We focused on research, presenting, and speaking skills, while also learning again
the different breeds and animals that dominate the livestock industry. This was a key class in my
time at Tarleton State.
Block Courses- The most real world application during classes I have ever had was during my
block classes leading into my internship. Most classes unfortunately teach right out of the book,
which can be knowledgeable but not realistic to some of the twists and adaptions in the
Agricultural industry. We gained first hand knowledge from not only our advisors and their
stories, but from multiple guest speakers that hold high positions in Ag related careers. We also
learned the history and different angles of Agriculture that we hadnt learned in other courses.
This aided me during my internship with networking for career opportunities but also keeping me
professional during my time at Limitless Performance Horses, LLC.

Beyond the Discipline

 During my years at Tarleton I also took classes that were not necessarily Agricultural related
but they still were pivotal in my advancement in my career and real world applications. These
classes helped me gain knowledge that I was able to apply to my business, agricultural
knowledge, and time during my internship.
Personal Family Finance 1 and 2- Going into my senior year at Tarleton, my fianc and I
found out that we were expecting a little boy. Though this came as a surprise, and also a blessing,
I still didnt let it slow me down in my education. However I adapted my education to my life
that had unfolded. I had a family and business to manage, while also becoming new home
owners. Taking personal family finance classes last semester aided in the real world applications
of insurance knowledge, purchasing and loan information, and much more.
Speech-To any discipline, speech is a necessary and important course to take. I took speech my
freshmen year here at Tarleton and still remember the fun and exciting environment Dr. Richey
surrounded us with to feel comfortable with our speeches but to also help us feel a lot more
comfortable when covering the topics of our speeches. I have been able to continue to apply his
methods to my speeches to cut out anxiety and nervousness, while still insuring that I am
knowledgeable of my topic. This applied to my internship because I had to be able to give my
spiel to a lot of different horses owners over my business and the results I have seen during my
internship.
Technical Writing- Though technical writing is not one of everyones favorite courses, it is a
knowledgeable and necessary course. I gained knowledge on the proper set up of report type
papers, and the correct way to research the topic of my choice. This course taught me how to do
set myself up for a long successful paper over a long period of time instead of throwing a report
together in one sitting. By the time the paper is arranged together you have full knowledge of

your topic and every aspect of it in place. This applied to my internship in network postings over
my Equine Proscope 360 machine.

Beyond Academics
Alpha Gamma Delta-Being in this sorority has molded me to be the professional student that I
am, and has led me to become the professional individual after school. I gain campaign
knowledge, event coordinating, networking relations, the opportunities to work with individuals
who specialize in different disciplines than I, and gain strong skills in professional meeting
environments. This organization kept me involved on campus but also off campus in supporting
our community, while also learning to deal with professional individuals that have different
beliefs than you do. I love being an Alumni of Alpha Gamma Delta of Tarleton State University.
Stephenville Independent School District Transportation DepartmentI had the unique opportunity to work at the SISD transportation department as a driver for 2
years during my time at Tarleton. I gained the ability to connect and work with individuals of all
ages, kindergarten students to elderly individuals. This is something that I find important because
in the animal science and agricultural industry you will work with all different ages of people,
with different communication, networking, and cooperating skills. I also was able to get my foot
in the door with school district experience, working with admin, teachers, and other drivers, I
was able to travel all around taking students to different events and gain knowledge from the
events they participated at. This was also important to my time during my internship because it
helped me network and work with different buyers and individuals.

Interconnectedness

 The three topics above have played a very important part in molding me into the successful
student and individual I am today. I have had a lot of different things thrown at me during my
time at Tarleton, and also experienced my struggles like every other student does. These things
are such that kept me strong and determined. Not only did they make me grow during my time at
Tarleton, but they prepared me for my time during my internship. Working with my medical
equipment and large animals is one thing I came to school for, so a lot of these courses I took
played an important part in connecting the links in my life for myself and my business. Through
determination, faith, and motivation, and also the love for my university, I am able to find
success in all that I do and grow in all the skills I have gained during my internship and time at
Tarleton. I know that the internship I chose to learn and grow from will be extremely important
in my growth after graduation.

Global Awareness Growing up I knew that I would always have to face diversity in life, and work hard for what I
wanted to achieve. Going into my internship I knew that I would take time, sweat, frustration,
and lots of work to end my internship where I hoped I would. All of these did hold true during
my internship including a lot of frustration. I could see the results and success I was having, but
it took time for everyone else to see and believe in it. This however molded me and convinced
me to work even harder to prove myself. Stereotypes are found everywhere, and I found that to
be true during my internship as well. A lot of people in the performance horse world want that
next step up to peak performance, but also follow the crowd and knowledge of stereotypes from
results. That forced me to push myself and break those stereotypes to show people what I was
doing was real and effective. I also found myself doubting my ability to open up to new people

and educating them on my background and all the obstacles I have crossed to get where I am
now. Having a kid pre-marriage is something I always found myself scared to tell people,
anticipating judgment and hate, but quickly learned that through god, my faith, my
determination, and owning my struggles I was able to knock this obstacle right out of my mind as
well. I will forever hold myself grateful for owning what I have accomplished, and not letting
other peoples assumptions and judgments of my life, affect my success.

Broader Implications Throughout my time at Tarleton I never imagined my career path would lead in the direction it
has. I get the opportunity to work with horses everyday, which I also got to do during my
internship, as well. Even in doubt, I know that god is by my side to continue walking with me
through my successes and blessings that have been put upon me. I will hold a degree from the
best kept secret in Texas, Tarleton State, all while knowing what I will be doing after graduation.
I have grown and molded as a person individually, and professionally, and have made some of
the strongest networking connection, as well as, lifelong agricultural connections I could have
ever dreamed of. Walking onto this campus 4 years ago I would not have guessed for my life to
be where it is now. I have a loving family, a business, a love for agriculture, and have planted my
roots in a community that I found to be outside my comfort zone. Tarleton State opened my
comfort zone and led me to success in not only myself, but also in the community around me.
The knowledge I gained at Tarleton, and Limitless Performance Horses, LLC. will forever stick
with me as I continue to grow after graduation.