Ethical Autobiography

Assignment 2: RA: Ethical Autobiography Report

Assignment 2: RA: Ethical Autobiography Report

The way we act in our lives is directly related to our multicultural background and the development of your personal values and beliefs.  If the time is taken, one can pinpoint certain experiences that have played a role in the development of personal values and beliefs.  More often than not the values and belief systems that we look to when we are younger help shape our development on all levels.  There are times when we realize as we get older that our values change based on experiences in life. This can cause conflict in our lives but more often than not it fosters growth.  As a counseling professional it is imperative that one takes a step back to identify and evaluate personal values and beliefs in order to better serve clients.  Personal values and beliefs oftentimes play critical role in how professional counselors approach different situations.

Autobiography

Like most people, the values and beliefs that I have started with my parents and their values and beliefs.  There are many experiences throughout life that have helped to shape, mold, and solidify my personal values and beliefs.  One experience in particular involved my beliefs vs my parents’ beliefs in regards to the LGBT community.  Because of the age difference it is expected that there will be differences.  In high school, there was a student who was “different”.  That is what adults would say about the student. Most of the students, including myself, didn’t notice the difference all we knew was that this student was always nice and fun to be around.  

I can distinctly remember one day having a difficult moment and this “different” student going the extra mile to console me as a friend.  However, there were adults and some students who had surmised that the student wasn’t displaying friendship gesture but romantic gestures and using them to “change” me.  I spoke with my parents and they agreed no matter how much I defended my friend, most people felt that she had ulterior motives.  This is the point where I knew that my values and my beliefs were about to be tested.  I also knew that this person was a genuine spirit and a true friend no matter her sexual preference.  Because of my parents’ upbringing, homosexuality has always been something that was considered “bad” and “wrong”, however, from a personal standpoint; I feel that everyone should be treated with the same love and respect.  My thought process plays a major role in my abilities as a counseling professional because it allows me to be accepting and empathetic no matter the client and their background.  

Essentially, the things that I believe have shaped my values and the way I act is directly related to both my parents and my personal experiences in life. I know it’s simple and not exactly the grandest of origin stories, but I feel that’s where I got a lot of it all from. I was taught to always be courteous and kind to others and I learned from my own teachings and research that I had to be respectful of other people regardless of their backgrounds. I’d like to think that I’ve learned quite a lot about human behavior and ethical decision making, but I hope that through experiences I can learn a lot more.