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Rosaleen Raposa Genao

DOULOS project

Ms. Esau

5/21/2020

How I’ve been a diligent problem solver

When a problem arises the first thing we do is worry and run away. Sometimes the

problem is so big and overwhelming that we can’t take it anymore so we give up. However,

having the skill of a diligent problem solver can help anyone overcome many obstacles. For

example, throughout the last years, I have grown as a diligent problem solver, although growing

in this skill is not easy, it took me much time to mature in this skill and there are still some areas

I like to continue to grow in.

The reason why a diligent problem solver is such an important skill to have is that being

able to identify and solve accordingly any problem/conflict that is taking place is something that

is done in everyday life. When a problem arises that person needs to be able to handle it in a

calm and professional way that doesn’t cause more conflict and uncertainty. It is also something

to keep in mind. When defending yourself or defending a claim that you are stating, it’s good to

be able to find concrete proof that could support whatever it is that you are stating. Not only that

but you should be able to listen to other people’s advice and opinions so you have a better

understanding and a gathering of information that could help you in understanding a problem.

Throughout the years especially through my sixth grade and ninth grade years, I’ve had

problems with being a diligent problem solver because I was selfish, meaning I didn’t really take

into consideration other people’s opinions and decisions. I really couldn’t identify when there
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was a problem, I couldn’t even evaluate certain information, and I couldn’t use the resources

around me in order to solve certain situations. When a problem did happen to come along, I

would either ignore it and let it be or I would make a bigger deal out of it. That was a very big

issue for me back then because growing up, you are going through many changes and problems

in life and not being able to identify those problems led to me not being able to help myself nor

others. For example, when there was a science project or a Spanish project where we had to work

with other people I would have a tendency to just include my ideas and my thoughts and go with

what I would say. Sometimes, it wouldn’t really be a problem in completing the project but it

would bring fights and problems causing the project to take longer in completing.

Even though I had problems managing this skill, I did learn to become a better diligent

problem solver as I got older and more mature through the help of my teachers and parents. It

wasn’t easy to realize that I had difficulty in this skill even more so having to put in the effort to

grow in it. As time went by I learned to listen to others' ideas and concerns before mine. In

science class this year, Ana and I were put into groups and our goal was to make a sculpture of a

disaster that has occurred. When we started the project I told myself that I had to let her voice her

ideas and opinions and when I did I actually liked her idea of making a painting showing the

disaster that we chose.

Back in my tenth-grade math class, I began to ask questions to better understand certain

problems and how to navigate through them. Not only did I show growth in being able to solve

problems, but I have also learned to use credible sources. In my science class, we had to do a lot

of investigating for an endangered species and I saw that I started to understand what makes a

credible source. I have grown in this skill, yes but I would like to become even better.
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I still do have problems listening to others' advice, their opinions, and above all being

able to have concrete proof to support my claims. I am able to see this when I talk to my parents,

when they try to give me advice or their opinions I always say that they’re wrong, they don’t

understand, that I’m the one being taught and getting the education. Those kinds of things always

bring a problem and I want to grow in that aspect of things. Another way is when I am baking

and my dad tries to give me advice on how to make a certain pastry, I think I have the right way

of doing it since I do my research on the topic but I forget that my dad has been baking longer

than I have and sometimes I end up ruining the baked good.

I do have a plan of how I can become a better diligent problem solver and continue to

grow in this skill. What I think works for me is always being aware that there are others that have

ideas and opinions. So what I want to try to do is, when there’s a group project, an assignment,

or anything related to teamwork, I will always ask my teammates for their opinions and their

thoughts. Afterward, I’ll bring in my ideas and try to come up with a solution that suits everyone.

I also plan to ask people if I am using the right resources and using credible sources to back up

my claims. Above everything else, I will pray to God to help me consider others and to help me

find ways to prove things that are unclear to others or to better understand situations so that I can

help those around me.

I value this skill because it is something that helps us solve problems the right way and

help us defend our own beliefs. Without this skill how can we solve the world’s problem and

make a change if we can’t even evaluate information and solve a conflict? I believe if I would

have taken into account how important this skill is, I wouldn’t have had so many problems in the

past. For instance, I would be better at writing my essays, solving my math problems in the most
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diligent way possible, being better at finding reliable sources, and listening to others. I wish I

could have been told the importance of this skill in an early stage in my life or someone could

have stressed it enough for me to work on it. I do want to be able to perfect this skill and I have

but I want to completely master it for when someone needs help or I am in need of some solving

of my own problems, I can do that without difficulty.

In conclusion, I still need to work on growing my diligent problem solver skill. More on

the aspect of listening to others’ input and identifying problems. The skill of diligent problem

solver is a very important skill that could, later on, help me in life, outside of high school, and

when I get a job or just relationship-wise. Not being able to solve a problem the right way would

lead to more problems, conflict, and distress. I have grown tremendously throughout the years in

this skill by identifying credible sources, being better in identifying problems, and listening to

others. Although, I still do need to become better in those different areas before I can fully

master diligent problem-solving.Through the works of my plan of praying, asking others for

help, and being fully aware of what I’m doing. It won’t be easy and I will most definitely have to

go through a lot of phases but I can most definitely achieve that goal with God’s help.
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Work cited page

Low, Lorraine Smith. Instant messenger interview. 28 Apr. 2020.

Pfeifer, Abbi. E-mail interview. 28 Apr. 2020.