# data[].attributes.body
I am a mature age student. With my life experience I have developed skills that have assisted me to navigate my career journey. I believe these are the skills that have assisted me and will bring value to my employer:

The ability to communicate a projects priorities, plan and to see a project to the end.

An ability to work independently, but to work as part of a team by assisting others and knowing how my contribution fits into the overall goals/task.

I can self reflecting to ensure I can doing a better job next time, which has built resilience and adaptability for future challenges.

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The 16 Personalities Test (Neris Analytics LTD, 2024) states that I am an ENFJ - Protagonist. My skills are a charismatic leader, visionary planner, empathetic communicator and people orientated.

I agree with this assessment given I enjoy working in Corrections and strive to ensure the human rights of prisoners. However I have seen myself develop my strengths over time as I have pursued different careers (Yadav, 2023). I have development my communications skills in disability advocacy.

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Neris Analytics LTD. 2024. 16 Personality Test. https://www.16personalities.com/enfj-personality

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Randall, K., Isaacson, M., & Ciro, C. (2017). Validity and Reliability of the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity, 10(1), 1–27. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26554264

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Sutherland, J. (2010). Mothering guilt and shame. Sociology Compass. 4(5). https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1751-9020.2010.00283.x

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Elvin-Nowak, Y. (2002). The meaning of guilt: A phenomenological description of employed mothers' experiences of guilt. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 40(1) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-9450.00100

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I give a lot of myself to please others. I have always been like this, and became worse during motherhood (Sutherland, 2010). I would put the needs of my children first, especially my disabled daughter. I put my husband's career first before my own. Along with being a people please, I also avoid confrontation or standing up for myself. This has halted my career as I originally pursued due to accepting responsibility for situations outside my control and being 'too available' to others (Elvin-Nowak, 2002). This continues to 'plague' me as I enter a second career path. I do not wish to make the same mistakes again.

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Crapolicchio E, Vezzali L, Regalia C. “I forgive myself”: The association between self-criticism, self-acceptance, and PTSD in women victims of IPV, and the buffering role of self-efficacy. J Community Psychol. 2021; 59: 252–265. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22454

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Wakelin, K. E., Perman, G., & Simonds, L. M. (2022). Effectiveness of self-compassion-related interventions for reducing self-criticism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2586

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Unsurprisingly the 16 Personalities Test mentioned my weaknesses as self sacrificing, overly idealistic, criticism sensitive and people pleaser. These have halted my career, but with life experience in disability advocacy, I have had to learn to accept criticism and advocate for myself, my daughter and other families (Randall et al, 2017). The latter has allowed me to use my strength in empathy and communication to overcome this weakness (Crapolicchio et al, 2021; Waken et al, 2022).

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I wish to have a career that highly aligns with my values of community, contribution, dignity, inclusion and vision. My career path must align with these to ensure I can continue growing within myself and making a contribution towards humanity. I believe these values have been enhanced from my 20 years of advocating for my daughter to be included and accepted. This has involved solving unique and dynamic problems for her to have access to community, medical assistance and challenging social norms. Now that I work in Corrections I find I am upholding my values through assisting prisoners to maintain the dignity and ensure their human rights are maintain within a highly bureaucratic system.

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Career Guidance Charts (2024) Career Guidance Test. https://www.careerguidancecharts.com/career-values-quiz.html

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The Careers Values Test (Career Guidance Charts, 2024) showed that I value problem solving and the pursuit of knowledge as my priorities, closely followed by recognition.

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Yadav, M. (2023). A Study of the Effects of an Individual's Personality and Characteristics on Job Behavior Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. International Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering & Management 10(3):49-52

DOI:10.55524/ijirem.2023.10.3.9

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My initial interest in a career was for environmental science. This evolved into economics and a further interest in social justice due to environmental degradation or pollution. The birth of my daughter introduced me to the needs of justice and empowerment for those with disabilities.

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There is a clear trend of my enjoyment with people, from advocacy, over empathising at times and wanting to solve problems to empower them.

I enjoy working with people from marginalised, vulnerable or misunderstood sections of society. I enjoy finding solutions to ensure they are heard within their communities. I like to challenge the status quo or beliefs society has about these groups.

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Now that I am focusing on criminology, it still fits my interests of human rights for the marginalised and labelled. I can use my problem solving, communication and empathy skills to assist. My job is also assisting me with overcoming my fear of confrontation. Managing 100 angry men in green uniform in one unit continues to assist me to overcome this fear very quickly.

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With a strong understanding of who I am and what I wish my career journey to include I have the following ambitions:

to be a Supervisor at Arthur Gorrie Correction Centre within 5 years;

to assist in the rehabilitation of prisoners directly within 7 years at Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre;

to contribute to governmental policy within 10 years;

to contribute to criminology theory within 15 years.

Each of these goals will lead me to influencing the human rights of prisoners. This in turn with give me self satisfaction and align with my values. Most importantly I will continue to improve my weaknesses of avoiding conflict and standing up for myself in many different institutions, people and situations.

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Along side these career goals, I wish to undertake additional training not directly involved with Correctiions. I am currently applying for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as an Army Officer in the Reserves. I believe this will provide me with leadership skills, planning skills and real life situations that will only enhance my corrections career. Joining the ADF also appeals to my desire to assist and protect others. I have two years to finish my degree as there is a waitlist of approximately two years to be offered a position.

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To allow me to assist prisoners more directly, I will pursue a Justice of the Peace qualification. This will be a tool to make connections with many people from many backgrounds. I am not good at talking to people, if I am not sure why I am there. This would allow me to practise my communication skills with a specific purpose.

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Ultimately I wish to influence governmental policy through research. I have already completed a PhD and know what is involved to become a researcher. However my contribution to criminology theory may not be a professor in a university. I do not know what my end career will look like. I do know what steps I need to take to step me on the path, which will only open more opportunities that I will need to make decisions about.

The steps I can identify are:

Bachelor of Criminology.

Certificate IV in Corrections (practical applications conducted while on the job).

Diploma in Corrections (practical applications conducted while on the job).

Apply for Supervisor at Corrections.

Apply to be a Manager at Corrections.

Move into the policy branch of Corrections Queensland.

Army Officer training - Reserves.

Justice of the peace qualification.

When I look at this list, it seems like a lot. However, alot of the training is done while I am working in the job at corrections. The Army Officer training in Reserves is already established to be supported with governmental workplaces. And a Justice of the Peace qualification will take a short time to achieve, but have long lasting benefits.

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I have a beautiful and dynamic family. All of my children have different needs, but they are nearly adults and are learning to start their own lives. I can only hope my career path may inspire them to accept challenges and make a career plan. Staying true to my values and desires with assist me in not being diverted into overly helping my children or husband. I will put in place boundaries to ensure my independence will ensure their empowerment to solve their own issues. I will always be available to talk and reflect with them.

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I would like to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. To ensure I stay on track I will employ the following strategies:

reassess my timeline every 6 months,

self reflection about my goals every 6 months to ensure I am still on my chosen career path,

every three months plan out my development of knowledge paths,

once a year look into the trends of corrections job market and governmental polices that will influence my next career steps,

and use a diary with daily/weekly lists of accomplishments.

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I am required to pass a physical for the ADF. This in turn will assist me with my corrections job. To assist me I have downloaded the Couch to 5 km app. My husband will be building a small gym for us both so I can build the strength for sit ups and push ups. In addition I have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks who need a lot of exercise. With my weakness of taking on the responsibility of others, I will ensure the dogs are not neglected, in turn becoming fitter.

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One of my great skills is planning and prioritising tasks. I can see the whole picture and break it down into smaller tasks. I know which steps to take, but am also open to other opportunities. Consistently reflecting and reassessing my career path will ensure I don't become overwhelmed and I continue aligning it with my values, skills and goals.

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I love nature and I love my dogs. Connecting with greenery and nature brings me great joy, space to think, time to explore and to connect with my inner self. Once my dogs are older I will be taking them hiking. They will provide me with protection and take my mind off the minute details of my career path. It will provide me with the opportunity to see the whole picture.

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I reflect a lot and am creative. I am not good at art, but I enjoy the process of making something out of nothing. I use to do reflective art a few years ago, and it was insightful. I would create piece of art to a theme and then journal about it after. I always discovered something new about how I was feeling, my beliefs and challenge my values.

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2023 to 2028 Corrections Job for experience.

2024 to 2026 complete Bachelor of Criminology.

2024 apply to ADF as an Army Officer.

2025 Complete Justice of the Peace Qualification.

2025 to 2026 Complete Cert Iv in Corrections through QCS Academy.

2026 Join ADF reserves (there is a waitlist).

2026 to 2028 Complete Diploma of Corrections

2028 Become a Correctional Supervisor

2030 Apply to Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre in prisoner rehabilitations.

2033 Work within the policy department of QCS.

Depending upon how the governmental policies will influence Department of QCS at each stage, I may join the Army full time for a minimum of 6 years. I believe this may occur around 2030, which will open many other opportunities for me.

There are many outside influences on my career journey as descried in Potential Obstacles. However I do believe my resilience and adaptability will ensure I will have an amazing second chance at a career where I can assist people.