Identity and Values

15/06/24

Explain a situation where you have made an ethical decision. Discuss how you weighed up the values involved in that decision, the decision you made, and how you reflect on the decision now.

Whilst studying in Wellington I bought a bike to get myself around town from my flat to wherever I needed to go. I wanted to reduce my emissions and not contribute to the growing climate crisis we are faced with. I was sad that I was unable to bring my bike with me to Auckland, However I am on the hunt for one up here as I still think it was a great decision. Even with the wind and rain it was a freeing experience being able to physically get myself outside in the world. Great decision will do again.

Describe how your culture and the people around you have influenced your values and identity.

Where I grew up in wellington I had a close connection to nature as well as the city. I spent many days running around the forests and mountains as well as the city streets. I love the city of Wellington it made me the person I am today. I have a strong connection to the city it was the place that taught me to love, care, and respect nature, it provides so much to everyone and everything. This in-turn influenced my biggest values in life which is respect and care. All of this for the people, things, places and the work which I do. I grew up around Kitchens and restaurateurs so to me this is the pinnacle of caring and respecting everything you use, make and do. Family is so important to me. Both my actual blood family as well as my found family and friends. They all teach us so much about the world as well as ourselves at time. The most valuable resource people have is time so I like to spend doing things that matter to me.

Identify your strengths and how they will support you during your learning journey.

My strengths whilst studying was my dedication and trust in myself to get the task done. Finding ways to learn that work for me best. Asking the questions I needed to get a better explanation that I could digest and takeaway new ideas and thoughts from. Even when things are tough and I want to just throw my toys out, I am very good at staying calm and figuring out the problems I face with a fresh perspective or whatever is needed for the task at hand. Keeping myself on track even when my inner voice is telling me horrible things that just aren't true

Evaluate your limitations in terms of your learning and career development. How might these affect your learning journey?

My Main limitation in all learning environments is my Dyslexia. Spelling and reading have been huge problems for me since high school. Coding is word based, Which is a good challenge for me. It also provides me with my biggest limitation on this learning journey. I have systems in place and routines to help combat this but sometimes mistakes slip through the cracks. It is an everyday challenge, but everyday I find new ways to be better and grow. I want to see myself push past this and get a career in the tech space. I don't want dyslexia to define my learning opportunities and career growth I am more than that and want to show people that.

Share an example of when you were trying to work productively with others, but there was resistance or tension. Discuss strategies you tried at the time, how effective they were, and your reflections on what other strategies you would try now and why.

During my time studying film I directed a short film. While we where in the final stages of editing. My producer, editor and myself where spending long hours editing up the project. Constructing our sound design was a tricky task we had all been dreading. Navigating these sessions we had long hours of deliberating about each stage. With all three of us having different views on how to edit, we made sure to take time to describe out views and why or why not we should make a decision. Taking the time to try things out and be honest when they did/didn't work regardless of if it hurt our ego's about our own thoughts on the project. We all knew we wanted the best and if that meant that changes had to be made that meant some of my ideas where left on the cutting room floor I was okay with that, and vice versa with everyone else in the edit suites. Next project I would like to try setting some non-negotiables a thin framework for us to refer back to if we start to get off track of the idea we set out with we can refer back to the non-negotiables and see if we still hit those marks. If we do great, if we don't figure out how to get back on track as a team.

Sam.