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Personal Learning Reflection

Amanda Sherman
Post University
Personal Learning Reflection

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Personal Learning Reflection

In the years following my graduation from High School, I have been fortunate enough to
encounter multiple opportunities for adult learning. Beginning with my undergraduate work
obtaining my Bachelors in Psychology at Central Connecticut State University. I then began a
short lived Masters program at Southern Connecticut State University, which I would not follow
through to completion. After taking a few years to develop my career I studied and tested for my
Series 6, 63 and 65 investment licenses through a program at my employer. Then this past year I
began my Masters in Education with a concentration in Higher Education Administration here at
Post University.
My first college experience was a somewhat traditional one. I originally chose a very
small private college in Massachusetts my first year of schooling. I became ill while living on
campus and had to return home to live with my family for my second semester of freshman year.
During that time I did not want to fall behind on my degree plan so I attended two night courses
at a local college. When it came time for sophomore year, I had very little direction as to which
school would be the right fit. I ended up choosing Central Connecticut State University
primarily because both of my parents attended the University, and met there. It ended up being a
very good fit, I became involved with student government, a resident assistant and achieved
academic success.
My first Masters program was in Counseling, I initially chose this as my profession for
two reasons: I thought it was a natural progression after graduating with a Bachelors in
Psychology and because I had been advised from multiple sources from close family and friends
to guidance counselors that this was a good match for my personality and skill set. The program
ended up being a poor fit for a few reasons, one being it was a traditional semester schedule and I
was taking two courses at a time while working full time. At this pace my masters would have

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Personal Learning Reflection

taken me over four years to complete including my practicum. Also the further I looked into the
job opportunities for counselors that did not have their own private practice, the less attractive
the degree seemed to me.
After a few years of reflection and the very random choice of working at a bank to pay
my bills for the time being, I began to develop a career out of the banking industry. While
employed by Wells Fargo I was selected to enter a program licensing bankers to sell investments.
For two months I was taken off the floor and spent my days studying for my licensure exams.
Every two weeks I would test on a new set of investments, until I finally obtained my insurance,
Series 6, 63 and 65 investment licenses. The program was informal I the sense that it was a selfstudy, but I did have a software program which instructed me daily.
Finally at the age of 30, I began work at Post University as an admissions counselor. I
was able to pursue a degree which I feel truly passionate about which is Education, specifically
higher education. I am working full time, and balancing my homework in this online degree
program. The flexibility along with the accelerated schedule are a very good fit for my lifestyle
and I am incredibly satisfied with the course material as well as the virtual interaction with
classmates and professors.
Through these different experiences my thoughts on adult education have dramatically
changed over time. During my undergraduate years I had the notion that a Bachelors degree
would help me to be competitive in the job market, and that I would easily be able to support
myself upon graduation. Finding out that was not quite true was very difficult. The entry level
job I was able to secure after college was barely enough to pay for my basic bills. So my
concept of the value of a Bachelors degree drastically changed. I had always intended on
holding an advanced degree, but one thing I did not realize is that on the job training can be just

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Personal Learning Reflection

as valuable. I had always thought of licenses or certificates as being less important or valuable
than Masters degrees and Doctorates. However, with my investment licenses I made much
more money than I do currently, and I actually made more than some of the jobs I have seen that
require a Masters degree. In the business world as well as other arenas, job training and
licensing can be extremely marketable.
The most influential moment in my undergraduate years was when I began to have issues
with my epilepsy while away at school. Living at home, I always had a parent to remind me to
take my medication and get enough rest. On my own for the first time, I did not make my health
a priority, and my education suffered. I was extremely lucky to have such a good support system
in my family. With my seizures I lost my drivers license for six months, and my father had to
drive me to class two nights a week. Without the support of my family, it would have been so
much more difficult to take 7 or 8 full months off from school and try to return again in the fall.
In reflecting upon my adult learning experiences, it is difficult to picture any of them as
being negative. Although there may have been tough moments, I have taken away so much from
each experience and they have shaped the person I am today. The most negative experience for
me personally is unfortunately self-induced. I do have a certain level of test anxiety, and I put a
greater than average amount of pressure on myself to achieve high exam scores as well as essay
grades. A specific example is during my licensure exams, there are scheduled times for the
exam, and all of the exams are timed. On my way to the testing center one winter day, there was
a terrible snow storm and the highway was a parking lot. I was so wracked with anxiety during
that drive and the subsequent exam that I could feel my heart beating in my temples. Having this
self-awareness of my anxiety and how it can negatively affect my performance is helpful, but the
coping skills are something I have yet to master.

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Personal Learning Reflection

The positive experiences I have taken away from my adult learning experiences are
almost too many to count. From my undergraduate work, I gained the basic skills and
knowledge on a variety of subjects that set the foundation for all other learning throughout my
lifetime. My first Masters degree was a lesson on time management; it was the first time I was
working full time and attempting to commute to on campus classes. I also met one of my best
friends in that program. My investment licensure taught me how to branch out from my comfort
zone and tackle something completely foreign to me. And my Masters has shown me that when
you are passionate about what you are studying, it doesnt feel like homework is work. These
are all such valuable lessons which I believe will give me insight when working with students in
the future.
My personal motivation has always been an annual assessment of my life. Every year I
take inventory of what I have accomplished and what I have done. For many years that meant to
me how much money I was making and what promotions I received at work. And for a while
that was very satisfying. However, this past year I have turned my focus to my education. A
personal goal of mine was always to have a Masters degree, and I carried around a feeling of
disappointment on how I left my first program. It is difficult to explain what motivates me,
because I have always had a strong internal drive to succeed. While studying for my licenses I
would make hundreds of flashcards and stay up until 1am multiple nights during the week to
prepare for an exam. And now in my Masters I put as much time and effort into my schooling
as I possibly can to achieve the highest grades possible.
Throughout my journey I have obviously encountered some barriers, my health being the
primary factor. Once I was able to return to school at Central Connecticut State University, my
junior year I continued to have seizures, and even crashed my car on the way to working my job

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Personal Learning Reflection

at the mall. But somehow, I did not let anything deter me this time. I stayed on at Central, began
taking the bus to and from work and my grades only slightly suffered for one semester. My
mother would check in daily and say to me I dont know how you do it. And looking back, Im
not even sure I can say what it was that helped me to overcome that barrier. I think it was just
my desire to be normal, and to have the same college experience as my peers. To not let my
handicap hold me back in life. I think this will assist me in my future experiences with students
because I know first-hand that even difficult obstacles can be conquered, and that nothing should
stand in the way of furthering your education.
The journey I have taken to get to where I am today has not been smooth. As I stated this
is not my first Masters program. In total I have attended five different colleges and currently
only hold one degree. So although I am a confident student, I cannot say that I have always been
a success. I would say that as an admissions counselor my journey helps me to see that if you
fail or stumble and fall on your path to success, you can always get up and try again. This helps
me when talking to adult learners who have been to school before and were not successful, or
had issues in their life that pulled them away from schooling. I can tell them from experience,
its never too late. In my own experiences today as a student, I would say that I am even more
driven now than I have ever been in my life. I can see the mistakes I have made in the past,
choosing the wrong program, or not communicating enough with my professors about what was
happening in my personal life because of embarrassment or insecurity. Now I can correct those
issues and become a more effective more satisfied student.
My future goal of working in higher education is greatly impacted by my personal adult
learning experiences. The strategies I have used to achieve success I can impart onto the
students I work with in the future. And hopefully I will be able to instill a bit of wisdom on how

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Personal Learning Reflection

to cope with personal issues or obstacles that students may encounter. The courses I have taken
thus far in my Masters program have given me great insight on working with adult learners, and
I look forward to continuing to advance my knowledge.
I have not often paused to reflect upon my experiences as an adult learner. The time I
spent in undergraduate school and my first Masters program seem like they happened a lifetime
ago. I cant say that I have ever even thought of the impact of one learning experience on
another, but have previously viewed them as individual experiences. Examining the effect of my
adult learning has helped me to view my education as a larger picture, and to view the past
experiences of my future students in a new light. Students must be looked at as a whole,
including their previous experiences.