Artifact H.

Portfolio Self Reflection

This in-depth portfolio process taught me three things: 1. I can articulate who I am, where

I’ve come from, and what is important to me as a professional 2. I can make a website and

successfully give a presentation 3. I am a capable and valuable student affairs educator. I am

grateful for the support of coworkers, faculty, and family that helped me realize and live out

these three lessons.

I can articulate who I am, where I’ve come from, and what is important to me as a

professional. The process of creating a mission statement and writing and then presenting on

my journey as professional helped me name what is valuable to me. In doing so and then sharing

with others I have a better understanding of what I believe and what is important to me

personally and professionally. Being able to articulate these things is very powerful. It is not only

powerful, but it also feels new. I feel confident in being able to share who I am and what are the

pieces of things that have helped me develop and deconstruct and then construct these things.

I can make a website and presentation. Creating a website for portfolio was a big

accomplishment for me. Learning how to navigate the Weebly program and then figuring out

who to put personal touches into the program took a lot of time and patience. In the end, I’m

proud of how it turned out. The week before the portfolio presentation was a challenging week

for me personally. My five-month-old decided not to sleep, my mother-in-law was going through

surgery, and navigating homework and family life were overwhelming. Being able to

successfully present and feeling proud of my presentation feel a little bit like a miracle. I did it,

and I’m proud of how it went. The presentation was a reminder that I’m not an imposter to this

field or information anymore, I’m able to share it confidently, because I know it, and because I

am practicing it.
I am a capable and valuable student affairs educator. The process of creating and then

presenting my portfolio took a village. I met with coworkers and faculty to edit and process what

I wanted my portfolio to be about. In these meetings, the presentation, and in the final reflection

of my panel I heard people affirm my career and inspire me to be proud of my work. I am

grateful for the affirmation, the challenge, and the supportive community for the ways they have

helped me build my confidence and fight my ongoing imposter syndrome.

I am grateful for the process of creating and presenting my portfolio because it has helped

me witness my own growth as a practitioner. Through this process I began to see how the

different coursework, theories, and professional development experiences have formed me into a

more critical, reflective social justice educator in student affairs.