Running head: STRATEGIC CAREER PLAN

The First Steps Toward my Future:

Strategic Career Plan

By

Alexis Anthony

BS Program in Psychology

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

The First Steps Toward my Future

Value Scan: Identifying Core Values and Beliefs

Identity and Background

My name is Alexis Anthony and I am a Caucasian female who grew up in a lower to

middle class family. I grew up in a town called Walnutport, PA, not too far outside of

Allentown, PA, a larger city. Since then, I have moved to the town of Mansfield, PA, a much

smaller area. While growing up, I was close with my family. Although, around the age of 13,

my mother passed away and with that so did our family’s tightness. Just a few years later, I

had been experiencing some medical issues of my own and had begun to see many doctors to

find the root of the issue. After some time, I was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease, or

autoimmune hyperthyroidism. The doctor gave me two options, continue down the path I

was going and have my heart fail, leading to death, or have surgery to remove it, but be on

medication for the rest of my life. I chose the surgery.

After this, I began to become very distant from my family and grew a sense of

independence. Thus, leading to my later move or relocation away from everything and

everyone I have ever known. While starting my own life, I hit some road blocks. I was

struggling to make ends meet and life back home was falling apart. My step father, who was

married to my mother during her time of passing, was on track to get remarried. The new

woman was very nice and accepting of our odd situation. Although, I guess it grew too much

for her and she left. While my step dad was experiencing his world being flipped upside

down yet again, my biological dad was doing that to himself. I received the news that my dad

was going to be serving some time in jail and then in a rehabilitation center after being pulled

over and getting his third DUI. Although my life has definitely done it shares of kicking me
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while I was down, I would not trade this life for anything. All my heartache has led me to be

the women I am today. I have worked for everything I have in my life and I take nothing for

granted because of that. These things that would hold some people down, just gave me more

of a motivation to reach for the stars.

Value and Beliefs

Honesty

Honesty is one of the most important things in my life. Being an honest person is

something that I strive to do every day, with everyone I encounter. I hold this value so

high because I wish to be as other will treat me. If I am honest, I hope that is the least I

can get in return. I also feel you cannot start any relationship in your life without being

honest with one another.

Hard Work

Hard work is an important value to me because I feel if I am going to do

something, I am going to put all my heart and soul into it and work at it the hardest I can.

I take pride in the quality of my work, and that is thanks to the hard work I put into each

thing I do.

Organization

Organization is a belief that I hold that it is the key to success. I take on about a

million projects at once, but due to be so organized, I am able to complete each task in a

timely manner and still to the best of my ability. I can do all of this because I believe

organization is so very important.

Motivation

My values and beliefs have led me to be who I am today and get where I want to be.

They have allowed me to graduate high school, get into college, be honest with myself when I

realized I needed to make a career change, keep my grades high enough for graduate program to

do just that, and ultimately shine as a student. I would not be nearly the person I am today or be

so proud of myself if I did not hold true to my values and beliefs.

At my alum mater, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, they hold four core values in

their creed; Character, Scholarship, Culture, and Service. In relation to my own values and

beliefs, all of theirs support my own. I would not have the opportunity to hold the values I do, if

Mansfield did not support theirs that have allowed me to get to this point. Without character, I do

not know if I would have felt so at home here. Without scholarship, I do not if college would

have been a feasible option. Without culture, I would not have met and learned from the diverse

faculty and student body offered at MU. Finally, without service I would not have had the

opportunity to give back to my community in the way I have.

Mission Statement

I am a fourth-year psychology major at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania who is

interested in learning about others. Right now, I am the president of Alpha Sigma Tau and a

member of Psi Chi. I see myself as a leader and a person to be there for others. I incorporate the

things I see in myself by taking on any leadership position thrown my way, and by striving to be

the person that can always be there for the people in my life.

Vision Statement

My vision for the future is unpredictable. After my time here at Mansfield, I am looking

to attend graduate school for a degree in communications and a concentration in public relations.
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After a two-year program at an institution, it is onto the job hunt. I could see myself ending up in

the marketing department of a college/university. Beyond that, I am not sure. I would like to

move out west or down south. I want to get married and have children. I want a job that allows

me to travel and spend time with my family. Ten years from now, I can see myself living with

my family, my husband and kids, possibly working in the field of marketing or advertising and

using my free time to travel overseas to places like Greece and Vietnam.

Strategic Self-Assessment

Personal and Professional Career-Related Strengths

Hardworking

If I am asked to help with anything, I will typically always be willing to and give

100 percent effort in whatever it may be.

Organized

I always keep my affairs in order by writing down what needs to be done, and

even keeping my physical objects clean and in place.

Time Management

When I sit down to do my work, I am very good at prioritizing the importance of

things and making sure everything is done in a timely manner.

Sociable

I think I am very personable and am able to hold a conversation very well and

relate to those around me.

Trustworthy

I tend to be a “vault” as I like to consider it. I am always there to lend an ear and

listen to anymore in need, and they know the information is in a safe place.
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Career-Related Areas Where I Would like To Improve on Myself

Delegating

I tend to like to do everything on my own and struggle with delegating work and

allowing others to help.

Criticism

I always do everything to what I believe to be my absolute best, so when someone

points out something I do wrong, I tend to get a little defensive and have trouble taking

the criticism.

Procrastination

I think when I actually start to do my work, I manage my time very well,

however, actually starting the work is sometimes difficult and I tend to push it off.

Tranquility

I am a pretty high-strung person and struggle with being calm and collected at

times. That being said, I am good at realizing these actions and tend to be very good in

high stress situations.

Forgiveness

When someone is mean to me, or “crosses” me, I tend to have a hard time letting

that go and moving on from the past.

Career-Related Opportunities Available

 Graduate School

 Working Field

 Family

 Travel
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Challenges to achieving Career-Related Opportunities

 In order to attend graduate school, I must graduate from the bachelor’s program with

the standards required by the programs I intend to apply to.

 In order to enter the work field right away, I would need to find a jo in the

psychology field that allows me to work with only obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

 In order to start a family and travel and I must earn to money to support both

activities.

Career-Related Goals

Goals for the next 6-12 months and/or prior to M.U. graduation:

 Continue to keep my GPA above a 3.5 by studying at least three times a week for a

minimum of two hours at a time.

 Continue on building my resume through activities like my sorority and Psi Chi by

partaking in at least three community service events a semester.

 Schedule my last year worth of semesters accurately and according to my graduation

requirements by meeting with my advisor and getting approved to schedule on time.

Goals for 1 to 5 years after M.U. graduation:

 Attend a graduate program for a degree in communications and a focus in public

relations.

 Relocate to wherever the institution is located.

 Begin to settle down purchase first home.

Goals for 6 to 10 years after M.U. graduation:

 Working in the marketing department of a college/university.

 Having children and getting married by the time I am 30.

 Enjoying my free time by doing activities I enjoy, other than work, like traveling and

seeing the outdoors at least three times a year.

Strategic Plans to Meet my Goals

Strategic Plan 1

Goal: Continue to keep my GPA above at least a 3.5 for my remaining semesters at

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.

Objectives and steps within this goal:

A. Study a minimum of eight hours a week. This allows for at least an hour and a half for

each of my courses.

a. Step 1: Plan out a schedule that allows enough time for me to study and continue

to partake in my extracurricular activities.

b. Step 2: Follow schedule to the best of my ability and do not miss study times for

other events and social gatherings.

c. Step 3: Allow “give-and-take” time for classes that need more attention some

weeks more than others.

B. Reach out for help when necessary. If I am receiving anything less than a B-, 80 percent,

on any assignments or exams, outside help is necessary.

a. Step 1: Keep track of grades via Desire2Learn.

b. Step 2: If grade is received that is below an 80 percent, seek help from one of four

options:

i. Professor

ii. Supplemental Instructor (Found through the tutoring center on campus.)

iii. Tutor (Found through the tutoring center on campus.)

iv. Friends (Either in the class, or previously taken the class.)

Strategic Plan 2

Goal: Schedule my last year accurately and according to my graduation requirements prior

to my graduation date of May 2021.

Objectives and steps within this goal:

A. Figure out my remaining classes.

a. Step 1: Use my program evaluation on Student Self Service to collect remaining

classes and number of credit to fulfill.

b. Step 2: Set up tentative class schedules for the remaining semesters.

c. Step 3: Decide on internship desires one semster prior to start or internship.

B. Meet with advisor to be cleared to schedule.

a. Step 1: Schedule meeting with Dr. Mayo prior to registration period.

b. Step 2: Attend scheduled meeting with proper paper work; tentative class

schedule, program evaluation, and up to date portfolio.

c. Step 3: Evaluate game plan with advisor and get the “all clear” to schedule.

C. Complete portfolio.

a. Step 1: Compile a list of all community service completed through my time at

Mansfield University.

b. Step 2: Collect all documents required

c. Step 3: Make sure website is clean, ascetic, and meets all requirements.

Strategic Plan 3

Goal: Continue on build and update my resume for the remainder of my time at Mansfield

University.
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Objectives and steps within this goal:

A. Partake in at least three community service events a semester.

a. Step 1: Work with either Psi Chi or Alpha Sigma Tau and their community

service events anytime possible.

b. Step 2: Complete outside community service when accessible.

B. Continue to keep positive connections and relationships with my work study in the

Admissions office.

a. Step 1: Do all tasks they ask for me to complete to the best of my ability.

b. Step 2: Go above and beyond the expectations they have created.

c. Step 3: Continue to make connections with the families that visit the school that I

meet and tour.

Career Plan Summary

What do you want to be when you grow up? Everyone has heard this sentence sometime

throughout their childhood to young adulthood time. When we were younger, we had high hopes

of becoming astronauts or the President of the United States. Now the time has come and the

million-dollar question must be answered. What do I want to be when I grow up? I want to be

someone that learns about others and is happy.

I see myself living with my family; my husband and two or three kids, somewhere out

west or down south. As for a career, I can say psychology is no longer going to be the path for

me. I am looking to go to graduate school for communications with a focus in public relations.

From there, I would like to work in a marketing department at a college/university, or

somewhere in advertising. Beyond that, I am not sure what my future holds, hopefully travel and

a whole lot of success.

As my future is not set in stone, no one’s is, we still must think of how we are going to

get there, wherever that may be. First thing that I know is for sure, I am going to graduate from

Mansfield University of Pennsylvania with a minimum QPA of a 3.5 with a degree in

psychology. I will be an alumna of Alpha Sigma Tau and Psi Chi. I will hopefully be heading out

of this area and into a graduate program, while building my family and future. I do not know

what my future is going to have in store for me, no one can be sure of that. What I am sure of

though, I am going to learn aabout those around me with my career and that is the only plan I

need right now.