Brief Description of Evidence:

During the Fall semester of 2022, I participated in a training opportunity held at Ivy Tech Community College. I completed Suicide Prevention Training (QPR). In this course I was taught different strategies on approaching and helping someone that is thinking about suicide. We were taught that it’s okay to openly talk about suicide and that talking about it should be more normalized. We were also given multiple resources on how to help someone with suicidal thoughts. In the Spring of 2023, I volunteered at Black Pines Animal Sanctuary with my Ivy Tech ASAP Group. At Black Pines we were able to go into the tiger’s habits to put rocks down on the muddy areas. Our job was to help level the ground and cover up as much mud as we could for these tigers. The tigers were locked up so that way we could safely enter their habitat. We also were able to spray different perfumes and put boxes in their habitats for enrichment. 

​

Analysis of What I Learned:

Doing the QPR training taught me how to appropriately and properly talk to someone dealing with suicidal thoughts. I also learned about different resources I could give these people to help them. This will help me be able to be there and know what to do for my students if they need help. Black Pines taught me the importance of volunteering and getting out of your comfort zone. During this experience I also learned more about tigers and that like dogs they need enrichment activities as well. I was able to help my community and experience something that isn’t a common thing to do. This animal sanctuary takes on animals from people that have neglected, illegally owned, or just can’t take care of them. This shows the importance of community coming together for a better cause. 

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the InTASC Standard:

These artifacts demonstrates my competence for InTASC Standard #9 because I am engaging in ongoing professional learning through the QPR Training and learning about volunteer opportunities. The QPR Training made me think about how my choices and actions could affect my students, colleagues, and community. I had to evaluate myself and change my perspective. I learned how to help people experiencing suicidal thoughts, which will help me be there more for my students. My volunteer experience at Black Pines made me think about ways to adapt my teaching when I have my own classroom to meet the needs of each student. Giving my students the opportunity for hands-on learning will help those that don’t learn as easily from just sitting in class. I can also have some in class activities to go along with our volunteer experience. I want my own students to participate in and experience their own community volunteer experiences. This will teach them the importance of community service and building others up. They will learn social skills, team building, community helping, and other important life skills. A theory that relates to this is Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset Theory. She talks about how “...adopting a mindset that encourages growth and a positive attitude to learning is perhaps more important than our innate potential” (Dweck’s Theory of Mindset: Summary & Evaluation). I want to teach my students how to have a positive mindset by helping them understand their emotions and normalizing talking about them. By also having them participate in volunteer activities they are learning the importance of stepping out of their comfort zone to grow and help others.