Role of Activists, Career Planning - Assignment Example

Entry 1: Role of Activists Before this session, I did not know that activists play such an important role in ensuring social and environmental sustainability. I learned that activism comprises of a team of people who have political forces and they take action so as to protect the environment and the social welfare of all human beings. Activists are involved in a range of activities with the aim of protecting the environment. I learned that environmental activism started in the 1960’s as a widespread movement to fight against overexploitation of resources, toxic chemicals and nuclear technologies. Activists have made the public to understand the increasing vulnerability of the environment. Activists have been able to make great achievements including reduction of acidic rain as well as rescuing of the ozone layer. I also learned that social activists can act as citizens, change agents, reformers and rebels. As a citizen a social activist can engage in the following: Maintain or support a widely held vision of a democratic and good society Demonstrates ordinary citizens support for social change Gives the activist movement lawful acceptability Makes it more difficult for authorities to harm the reputation the movement Reduces the likelihood of violent actions and attitudes within the activist movement I also learned that as a reformer, an activist plays the following roles: Make the authorities to understand the goals and values of the movement Carries out the legal and parliamentary efforts including lobbying, filling laws suits and participate in referenda Works towards creating new policies and laws Acts as a watchdog to the ordinary citizens so as to make sure that new policies and laws are actually carried out and funded Also learned that as a Rebel, the activist plays the following roles: Bring out issues on the social and environmental agenda through sudden and nonviolent actions Bring out social and environmental problems swiftly and Dramatically Demonstrate how institutions, persons and official authorities disregard public trust through creating and perpetuating critical environmental and social problems Influence the society to confront its problems Encourage democracy Finally, I learned that as a change agent, the activists play the following roles: Encourage the association of large numbers of people in the process of solving social problems Encourage a new social and political majority consensus favouring positive solutions Encourage and support human values and democratic principles Encourage the development of coalitions Counters the actions of the authorities Moves society from reform to social change by promoting a paradigm shift Each of the above roles is crucial in bringing about social and environmental change. Activist has made it possible to challenge power structures which have been an obstacle to social change. Activists have made it possible for ordinary citizens to join movements to fight for their rights. I learned that activists have attracted many people who were initially not interested in social and environmental sustainability but who were willing to build a community that would be able to respond to all the challenges pertaining to environment changes and social changes. In conclusion, I realized that anyone, including me, can become an environmental or social activist. It is a good course considering the increasing negative impact of climate change as result of environmental degradation. This is a course I intend to take after finishing my undergraduate studies as environmental conservation is going to reduce the climate changes. Entry 2: Relevance of ethics in my future professional life I have learned that I need to engage with ethical practices so as to effectively respond to the challenges of rapidly changing local and global environment. When I participate in ethical practices within the context of my professional it increases my capacity to undertake positive roles as a responsible and committed member in my professional career. It will assist me to identify, connect and clarify my values by giving me case studies where I need to respond to problems that I may encounter in my profession area. To know how ethics is applied, I can use pressing issues of personal or global concern, drawing on life satisfaction and personal happiness can also get me thinking deeply about the values and issues I hold. Rather than compartmentalizing, ethics should be integrated into issues and topics. Ethics are important for my professional career as it requires ethical knowledge and skills to a great extent. They clear the concept of right and wrong, they will assist me build personal fortitude to make a right decision. By keeping in mind ethical factors, I can easily manifest peer pressure; I will never focus on short term pressures such as keeping up revenue growth in my profession but make me think about long term issues. Ethical practices forces to confront personal relations in case of fraud; they will enable me to build inner strength that will force me to make ethical decisions that do not ignore fraud. As professional, ethical behaviors are one of the most important personal skills that I require, I can never successes in my field if I can ignore ethics. In my field, I must possess high degree of integrity. Ethics act as a foundation for professional, working to the highest standard of professionalism and ethics allows investors, regulators and the public to have confidence in me. The concept that ethics is inherent and can never be taught is totally wrong. Yes, there are certain skills and qualities in my blood but still there are many other abilities and skills that am required to learn so as to successful in my profession. Teaching ethics in early studies can offer reasonable skills. Therefore, I should undertake a course on ethics which will prepare me well for my career. For instance, in my professional area, one is required to pass on ethical course either as a condition of certification or before sitting for the uniform examination. As a student, I should understand that ethics are not optional since they will equip me with behavioural patterns of good moral decisions. It will help me in making sound decisions in the future. Ethics build in me cognitive moral reasoning skills so that I can know how to listen to other people or get around the systems and also how to defend myself against underhandedness in my future career. It has been proven that ethics are important in every professional area. In fact, it is a foundation for professional making it to become technical in nature and to counter this; they can be addressed through education. Most importantly, it is my duty to develop ethical sense in future. To a successful professional in my field, I should never compromise on ethical standards; it should be the first priority ahead of providing value to client and cultural diversity. As a student, I should not only be a competent professional who think for myself but an ethical person committed to the truth, justice and compassion, good and know what this all means. To achieve a sustainable future where as responsible citizens who can actively and constructively engaged with development issues, education for sustainable development is crucial for moving the society in that direction In conclusion, to be a successful professional, I should never compromise ethical standards. I must uphold high ethical standards since they are one of the deloitte’s core share values. I should be confident, competent, objectivity and integrity in everything that I undertake in my career. I should only accept tasks which I am completed with my professional competence. If I carry in my mind the ethical factors, this will assist me in undertaking my tasks with sufficient care and diligence. Entry 2: Career planning Before studying career planning during my first year of my undergraduate degree, I did not understand why it was important for do career planning early enough. However, after the session, I learned that there are many ways that that I could develop my employability as well as my personal skills during my schooling at the University. I learned that these skills are valued highly by all employers who look for more just academic and professional achievement. The career planning assisted me to discover academic paths that best meet the long-term career goals. The advisor meetings as well as the formal self reflection sessions that we held during this time to understand my core interest, skills and values. It also assisted me apply this information to evaluate the many career options I had in mind. The career planning during my first year of my undergraduate program helped me discover my skills as well my abilities. I also learned that graduate schools and employers are interested in my diverse interest and background. The career planning session during my first year offered an opportunity for me to assess my personality type, skills, interest as well as my values. The personality type assessment helps me understand that people are different people and that I am unique in my own way. Through Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assisted me to learn that different personality types suit different careers. From the career planning, I learned that skills development is very important during my first year as it would help me prepare for future internships, research opportunities and jobs, positions which would require me to articulate my skills. I learned of 10 ten skills that employers are always looking some of these skills include: Communication skills Analystical skills Motivation skills Work ethics Computer skills Honesty Teamwork Flexibility Initiative/motivation Detailed orientation I learned that through understanding my skills and strengths, it would come easier for me in future to decide on career area. I also learned that when exploring various career, it was important for me to compare my top work values with the careers that I was considering doing. It was important to think about parts of my future job that I think will keep me satisfied and happy. From the career planning session, I learned that it was very important for me to explore what I really enjoyed doing before settling down on a career choice. This exploration would entail determining some of the activities that draw me in and hopefully through the exploration, I would find out some interest that matches career areas. Through the first year career planning session, I learned the importance of getting involved in clubs, Students’ Union and societies as part of my university life as these activities would help me a lot in developing personal skills such as organizational skills, team working skills and communication skills which would in turn enhance my Curriculum Vitae. The career planning session also made me aware of the various opportunities made available to me by the university and other organizations for me to get work experience. This experienced was meant to assist me to increase my employability skills as well as to impress my future employers. This would also assist me to gain an insight into a career that I might be interested in and assist me to make decisions about career choices. Through the career planning session, I was able to know the importance of planning my career ahead of the future as it would make it easier for me to gain the relevant skills and experience over the next few years of my schooling and assist me in deciding what career areas I am interested in. the career planning session during my first year helped me to develop my own Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter which I could use for the summer vacation application, voluntary work and part-time work. The CV could also act as template on which I could develop my progress throughout my university life. From career planning session, I learned that it is important for students of all degrees to be computer literate and familiar with internet, email, and word-processing packages. Also I learned that employers value employees who have language skills as this will enable one to communicate with the customers with fluency. Read More