Monday, September 24, 2007

Strengths

1. Developer

"You see the potential in others. Very often, in fact, potential is all you see. In your view no individual is fully formed. On the contrary, each individual is a work in progress, alive with possibilities. And you are drawn toward people for this very reason. When you interact with others, your goal is to help them experience success. You look for ways to challenge them. You devise interesting experiences that can stretch them and help them grow. And all the while you are on the lookout for the signs of growth-a new behavior learned or modified, a slight improvement in a skill, a glimpse of excellence or of "flow" where previously there were only halting steps. For you these small increments-invisible to some-are clear signs of potential being realized. These signs of growth in others are your fuel. They bring you strength and satisfaction. Over time many will seek you out for help and encouragement because on some level they know that your helpfulness is both genuine and fulfilling to you."

-I think I am one who will look at the potential in others. I get excited all the time by what I see certain people are capable of. I am definitely drawn to these people and try to push them and encourage them to do their best. If you're one of my close friends I won't be afraid to tell you when something is not a good idea. I love watching people who feel that they have just become a part of the background, and telling them what amazing potential I have observed from them.

2. Connectedness

"Things happen for a reason. You are sure of it. You are sure of it because in your soul you know that we are all connected. Yes, we are individuals, responsible for our own judgments and in possession of our own free will, but nonetheless we are part of something larger. Some may call it the collective unconscious. Others may label it spirit or life force. But whatever your word of choice, you gain confidence from knowing that we are not isolated from one another or from the earth and the life on it. This feeling of Connectedness implies certain responsibilities. If we are all part of a larger picture, then we must not harm others because we will be harming ourselves. We must not exploit because we will be exploiting ourselves. Your awareness of these responsibilities creates your value system. You are considerate, caring, and accepting. Certain of the unity of humankind, you are a bridge builder for people of different cultures. Sensitive to the invisible hand, you can give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond our humdrum lives. The exact articles of your faith will depend on your upbringing and your culture, but your faith is strong. It sustains you and your close friends in the face of life's mysteries."

-Everything happens for a reason!!! I think that every situation has a lesson providing the possiblity/option of growth, whether or not people believe it. I believe that God teaches us through others and through them we can have confirmation of what we should be learning.

3. Restorative

"You love to solve problems. Whereas some are dismayed when they encounter yet another breakdown, you can be energized by it. You enjoy the challenge of analyzing the symptoms, identifying what is wrong, and finding the solution. You may prefer practical problems or conceptual ones or personal ones. You may seek out specific kinds of problems that you have met many times before and that you are confident you can fix. Or you may feel the greatest push when faced with complex and unfamiliar problems. Your exact preferences are determined by your other themes and experiences. But what is certain is that you enjoy bringing things back to life. It is a wonderful feeling to identify the undermining factor(s), eradicate them, and restore something to its true glory. Intuitively, you know that without your intervention, this thing-this machine, this technique, this person, this company-might have ceased to function. You fixed it, resuscitated it, rekindled its vitality. Phrasing it the way you might, you saved it."

-I hate when there's conflict. I try to the best of my ability to solve all problems and get very frustrated when I have no control over it. One thing that doesn't quite match up is the fact that I don't like confrontation. If someone is upset with me, I am quick to apologize.

4. Individualization

"Your Individualization theme leads you to be intrigued by the unique qualities of each person. You are impatient with generalizations or "types" because you don't want to obscure what is special and distinct about each person. Instead, you focus on the differences between individuals. You instinctively observe each person's style, each person's motivation, how each thinks, and how each builds relationships. You hear the one-of-a-kind stories in each person's life. This theme explains why you pick your friends just the right birthday gift, why you know that one person prefers praise in public and another detests it, and why you tailor your teaching style to accommodate one person's need to be shown and another's desire to "figure it out as I go." Because you are such a keen observer of other people's strengths, you can draw out the best in each person. This Individualization theme also helps you build productive teams. While some search around for the perfect team "structure" or "process," you know instinctively that the secret to great teams is casting by individual strengths so that everyone can do a lot of what they do well."

-I am very independent. Often this can get me into trouble when I am not quick to call friends and family to see how they are doing. I am also very observant of each person's unique style. One of my favorite past times is people watching.

5. Belief

"If you possess a strong Belief theme, you have certain core values that are enduring. These values vary from one person to another, but ordinarily your Belief theme causes you to be family-oriented, altruistic, even spiritual, and to value responsibility and high ethics-both in yourself and others. These core values affect your behavior in many ways. They give your life meaning and satisfaction; in your view, success is more than money and prestige. They provide you with direction, guiding you through the temptations and distractions of life toward a consistent set of priorities. This consistency is the foundation for all your relationships. Your friends call you dependable. "I know where you stand," they say. Your Belief makes you easy to trust. It also demands that you find work that meshes with your values. Your work must be meaningful; it must matter to you. And guided by your Belief theme it will matter only if it gives you a chance to live out your values."

-I definitely have a strong belief theme. Most everything I do and don't do, is centered around my beliefs and values. I love having conversations with people about their own beliefs and sharing mine with them. "I know where I stand."

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Hello my name is Amanda. I am 18 years old and am from San Jose, CA. I am the second oldest in a family of six. I have an older sister, Kristin (20), a younger brother, Eric (14), and a younger sister Jennifer (12). I was born and raised in a christian home and accepted Christ at the age of 3. I went to South Hills Community Church and loved it. There I was one of the worship leaders for my high school youth group. It was a great sense of community and I loved being involved there. In high school I was invovled in a lot of things. Through out my four years in high school I had been on the school's competative dance team for 4 years, one of which I was an officer, concert choir for 3 years, track for one year, musicals for 3 years, involved with a least 5 different clubs, and a vocal jazz group for 1 year. I loved being busy. During that time, I was also in competative soccer my freahman, sophmore, and junior year. I am currently majoring in marketing and double majoring in psychology. I'm pretty sure that it will change.