Running head: INTRODUCTION AND PHILOSOPHY Marrufo 1

Introduction and Philosophy

Andres Marrufo

Human Development 497

Professor Sabio

Pacific Oaks College

17 May 2018
Introduction and Philosophy Marrufo 2

Introduction

Hi, my name is Andres Marrufo. I am currently twenty four years old and I am from San

Diego, California. I spent the first fifteen years of my life living in Imperial Beach with my

mother and two siblings. When it came time to join high school I wanted to attend a school that

had a good sports program, so that’s when I made the move to live with my father. When I

moved with my father I was now living in Chula Vista. Through a friend I met in high school I

was able to eventually begin working for the YMCA of San Diego County. I am a supervisor at

the school site Camarena Elementary School which is located in Chula Vista, California.

I believe that the Y was able to teach me exactly where I needed to be career wise, and

that is when I changed my major. I was able to reflect on past experiences and see that had it not

been for adult intervention in my life I would have taken a completely different path. At a young

age I was exposed to gang violence, drugs, underage drinking, vandalism… you name it and I

have seen it or done it. When I was able to reflect and be able to understand that it was through

coaches and before and after school programs that I was able to be salvaged, I knew that was

what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I didn’t know how I would get to be where I needed

to be, but luckily my director informed me about a school she had spoken with and that’s how I

got here. I am now a Human Development major attending Pacific Oaks College.
Introduction and Philosophy Marrufo 3

Philosophy

I am developing this portfolio in order to showcase the work that I have gathered in my

time at Pacific Oaks College in pursuit of my B.A. The work that will be showcased in this

portfolio reflects my experiences in working with children, my observations and attempts at

understanding their behavior, as well as my own interpretations of why the children I have

observed behave or do not behave in certain manners. I strongly believe in the importance of

community. I am a firm believer in the belief that it takes it a village to raise a child.

Whether it is the immediate family, the caregivers, teachers, and even extending it into

the people who are present in the child’s life, I believe all play a key factor in development. I

saw firsthand with my own experiences the importance of having adult figures in your life care

about your wellbeing. This is why I have pursued a degree in such a field from Pacific Oaks,

because it will equip me with the tools necessary to be an advocate for change in a child’s life

and how to improve the community of the child, as well as my own. Through having a strong

community we will be able to set our children up for a better future.