JennyPark

Health,Happiness,andHumanRights
Dr.Neiworth
SpringTermReflection
Finallyseeinganendtothiscourse,IcansayIlearnedalotthroughthisclass.FromFall
andWinterterms,Ilearnedhowtoconductaresearchfromscratch,howtocommunicatewith
others,strengthenedtheabilitytoparticipateingroupdiscussions,improvedintercultural
communicationinissuesrelatedtohealth,andwasabletoevaluatechangeinmyown
understandingofhealth.FromSpringterm,IlearnedhowtoapplytheseskillsIlearnedfrom
previoustermstoshowprogressindemonstratingtheabilitytorecognizeandevaluate
assumptions,majoralternativepointsofviewandrelatedtheories,principles,andideasrelevant
tothequestion,issue,orproblemanddiscernhowtoapplystrengthsinfindingsolutions,also
evaluatingchangeinmyownunderstandingofhealth,happinessandhumanrights,andapplying
teamworkskillstosupportaconstructiveinterdisciplinaryclimateconducivetoaccomplish
tasks.
Comparedtoothertwopreviousterms,Springtermwasveryeasygoingandenjoyable
duetotheamountofworkloadandgroupprojects.Theassignmentthatbestdescribesmy
academicperformanceintheskillofteamworkwouldbethebookreportpresentation.Asa
group,wecametogethertochooseabookthatwouldbestfitinourinterest,assignedjobs
accordingtoourbestrepresentableskills,anddeliveredawellorganizedpresentationtothe
class.Wechose
YakamaRising
byMichelleJacobasourgroupbookandlearnedalotabout
indigenousculturalrevitalizationandthehistoricaltraumaofYakamaNation.Overallcontext

wasveryinteresting,anditwasrefreshinghowwegotachancetodeliverourknowledgeofthe
booktoclass,whilelearningfromothersabouttheirbooksaswell.Throughthisproject,Iwas
abletostrengthenmyabilityinworkingwithgroupsofpeopletoaccomplishtasksthatwere
givenontime,andlearnedhowtocommunicatewiththeclassbydeliveringsomethingonlymy
groupknewandteachingthemaboutit.Iwasalsoabletoexpandmyunderstandingofthe
impactandvalueofindividualsandtheirchoicesonsociety,bothintellectuallyandsocially,
throughgroupprojectsandcollaborationinlearningcommunities,especiallyfromlearningabout
thetribesandcurrentissuesinJacobsbook,
YakamaRising
.
Throughthemajorresearchprojectgiventhisterm,Iwasabletodemonstratetheability
torecognizeandevaluateassumptions,majoralternativepointsofviewandrelatedtheories,
principles,andideasrelevanttothequestion,issue,orproblemandanddiscernhowtoapply
strengthsinfindingsolutions.ItwasveryfuntochoosethetopicIwasinterestedintostartoff
thisproject,andtheprocessoftryingtofindtheanswertothequestionwasveryinteresting
becauseonlyIwasabletofindtheanswer.Istrengthenedmyinquiryandcriticalthinkingability
bylearningvariousmodesofinquirythroughinterdisciplinarycurricula,suchas
problemposing,investigating,andconceptualizing,inordertobecomeactive,selfmotivated
andempoweredlearners.Fromstarttofinish,Ihadtostarttheprocessbymyselfbycomingup
withtopics,howtoconducttheresearch,organizingmaterials,andhowtoendtheproject.Even
thoughtheprocesswasverytoughwithoutanyguidelines,itwasveryinterestingandI
strengthenedtheabilitytoconductaresearch.Ilearnedhowtoconductsurveysandinterviews
throughonlinesystems,whichwasverydifficulttodobecauseallofmyparticipantsand
intervieweeswerelivinginSouthKoreaandthetimedifferencemadeitdifficultforusto

communicateontime.DespitethedifficultiesandchallengesIhadtofaceduringtheprocess,I
feelverygoodabouttheresultofthisproject,andIhopetodomoreprojectslikethisinthe
future.
Throughthisclass,Iwasabletoevaluatemyunderstandingofhealth,happinessand
humanrights.Inthebeginning,Ihadzeroknowledgeofhealthotherthanoneshealth
conditionsorgeneralfactslikemedication.Butaftertakingthiscourse,Igainedmuch
knowledgeontherelationshipsbetweenhealth,happinessandhumanrights,howthe
environmentaffectsus,anyissuesregardingthewellbeing,ethics,andhowsocialissueshavea
roletoplayinhealthoutcomes.Classassignmentslikeinclasspresentations,researchprojects
andonlinecertificateshelpedmealotonrememberingwhatwelearnedinclass,andDr.
Neiworthswellorganizedslidesinclasswereveryhelpfulintermsoflearningaboutthosethree
maintopics.Also,becausethiscoursewasanassignmentbasedcourse,itwasveryhelpfulto
rememberthelessonsbetter,becauseweweregivenachancetoshowourunderstandingright
afterwelearneditinclass,insteadofwaitinguntiltheendofcoursetoexamineourknowledge,
whichismostlycrammingbeforethetests.Sincetherewerealotofgroupprojects,itwaseven
helpfultogaininsightsfromgroupmembersaboutwhatIwasdoingrightorwrong,andinstant
feedbacksfromDr.NeiworthwasveryhelpfulinwhatIdidgoodonorwhatIcanimproveon.I
thoughtexamswouldbemucheasierforcourseslikethis,butitturnsoutassignmentshelpedme
alotbetteronlearningabouthealth,happinessandhumanrights.Ihopemyotherfuturecourses
incollegewouldbebasedonassignments,insteadoftakingexamslikethisone.
Iamverysadtoseeanendtothiscourse,butIamverythankfulforDr.Neiworth,our
peermentor,andpeopleintheclassforhelpingmetogetthroughthisclass.Thiswasoneofthe

firstcollegecoursesItook,andImgladIchosethisclassasmyFRINQhereatPortlandState
University.ThiscoursemademetothinkalotaboutmyfutureandhowIcanrelatemydream
careertohealth,happinessandhumanrights.AtfirstIwasjustinterestedinlearningaboutones
happiness,butaftertakingthiscourseitgotmeinterestedinhealthissuesandproblems
regardinghumanrights,whichinspiredmetodosomethingtohelptheonesinneedinthose
criteria.Evenafterthiscourse,Implanningonparticipatinginmanyorganizationstohelpthose
inneed,suchasvolunteeringatalocalhomelessministry,OregonFoodBank,andmoreasIfind
themonline.Also,sincethisclasstaughtmehowtodeliveraspeechinfrontofclass,Iwilluse
thisskilltodelivermyownopinionsandthoughtstoclassesIwilltakeinthefuture,without
beingafraidofanyonejudgingorgoingagainstwhatImthinking.Learninghowto
communicatewithothersinthisclasswasveryvaluabletomebecauseIvealwaysbeenafraid
tospeakoutloud,butthisclasschangedthatinme.Iwontbeafraidtoraisemyhanduphighto
askquestionsoranswerquestionsduringclass,aswellasdeliveringpresentationsinfrontof
classmates.AsItakemorecoursesincollegeinthefuture,Iwillcontinuetoimprovemywriting
skillsandcriticalthinkingskills,consideringHealth,HappinessandHumanRightscourseasa
startingpoint.IhopetotakemoreclassestaughtbyDr.Neiworthinthefuture,andIamvery
thankfulfortheknowledgeshesharedwithourclass.