EXTENSION COHORT PROJECT: WRITING AND RESEARCH FOR MASTERS DEGREE STUDENTS Self Assessment Melissa Persing

What is your academic and/or professional background?

My academic background includes a B.A. in Human Services from the University of Minnesota Morris from 1985 to 1989. I found the holistic approach of the Human Services program useful as it supported skills and knowledge in communications, psychology, and sociology. During my undergraduate program I worked summers with the Extension Service in Stevens County as the 4-H Summer Assistant. During this time, I was able to learn about the University of Minnesota, office professionalism, and how to design programs. I was also fortunate to land an internship with the cluster area to develop an implement a leadership program for youth ages 13-17.

Following graduation, I was appointed to Lincoln County as the 4-H Youth Development Agent. During this time, I was able to hone my skills in working with the public school systems, community collaborators, 4-Hers and their parents. I was also assigned to work on a community revitalization project called Project Future.

My next assignment was working an area Youth Issues position with federal grant funding. This was a time I was able to focus my work and training in areas of diversity, friendship skills (later grouped under violence prevention) and community stress prevention after natural disasters hit the area in southwest Minnesota. I found that I preferred working in a local community where I could see progress in youth and families. At this point, I moved to Traverse County and worked as an Extension Educator specializing in Family Development.

With frequent moves, and two family leaves to have children, I only took occasional graduate classes and didnt enroll in a program until the Master of Education Extension Partnership arose. It was ideal for my young family to not have to travel while I took courses and learned new skills to promote my work with families and communities in Traverse County through the Extension Service.

What professional issues most interest you?

My community has several areas of need, which fit with my interests. They are: X Youth to Youth Violence Prevention X Early Literacy Development X Parent Education/Connection Programs X Enrichment Programs for Young Children X Job Training Skills/Exposure for Teens

As for the way we work, sustaining productive teams; maintaining creativity and motivation through the years; and work-family relationships are concerns and interest areas for me at this time in my life.

What are your professional goals? How does the M.Ed. Program fit into those goals?

In the future, I envision myself working with families and youth to build opportunities for them that fit into their lifestyle. Continuing work with collaborators will be important to develop comprehensive programs to meet the needs of our families.

I enjoy working with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Other options I may pursue would be working in community collaborations, or the public school setting. Working with children and their families as a school counselor would be of particular interest to me with the recent emphasis on the wraparound process. I have also entertained thoughts of working as a Student Activity Director on a campus of high education.

The Masters of Education program will allow me to develop skills in a variety of areas, which will positively impact my work in local community. constantly hear professionals from other agencies say they need us involved because the way we work. In Extension, we have skills and perspectives other agencies do not have access to. This program will further those desirable skills that are sought out in my communities.

What area have you chosen for your thesis project?

An area I have worked with for over eight years, has been with violence prevention efforts. Through this time, I have worked to increase my understanding as well as raise understanding with my colleagues, community collaborators and decision-makers, parents and now youth.

Over the years, the research and information is increasing but we still havent seen much on youth to youth violence in a rural area. I am still in the process of defining my thesis but I would like to pursue this area with focus groups in our county, follow by a campaign to raise awareness of our findings.

My interests in this area are two-fold. First, to listen to youth to see what motivates their behavior. Second, to see if rural youth have learned the violent behavior from similar sources as what researchers say are true for urban youth.

Thus far, I have worked on searching the internet for related information, drafted questions for focus groups, and connected with an eleventh grader in the school who is interested in violence prevention as a project assistant.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 1999