WHO AM I?

Natasha Powell
INT 470-90
Dr. Miller
Spring 2016
Autobiographical Map

The Early Years

I

am the middle child with an older and younger brother

have always been an inquisitive individual even at a young age

While

in elementary school I used to love watching Perry Mason

and Matlock and whenever someone would ask the question What
do you want to be when you grew up? I would answer with
certainty that I wanted to be a lawyer.

The Early
I had an old organ in my
Years
Contd
bedroom (that my grandmother

had given me) and while

watching Perry Mason or
Matlock I would pretend that
the organ was the judges
bench and I would act out
scenes that I saw on those
shows.

I think the suspense and having

to figure out what happened is
what really captured my
attention

Teenage Years
Upon

entering high school I was still certain that I wanted to be a l

lawyer and my guidance counselor encouraged me that I could do
it. He advised me that it would take a lot of hard work and require
many hours of reading.

As

I progressed through high school during my sophomore year

was one of the hardest years for me in school. It was not because
the course work was hard but because I was struggling with some
internal issues from my parents divorce years earlier. It also
seemed to be impacting my brothers as well. Our dad had basically
become non-existent in our life and we all longed for him to be
there.

Based

off of what my brothers and I were going through I decided I

wanted to be a Social Worker and I wanted to help children who
were going through rough times and help them to have a better

Teenage Years Contd

I

started my first job the summer before my senior year in high school

was working for a horticultural company in the accounts receivable

department and I remember during the Christmas party that year, one of
my co-workers husband (who was a police officer) asked me what I
wanted to do after I graduated? I informed him that I was going to college
and of course the next question was What are you majoring in? My
response was I want to be a Social Worker and the reason is I wanted to
make a difference in the lives of children

The

police officer asked me if I was sure thats what I wanted to do. He

said the job could be a bit overwhelming and after a while all the cases
seemed the same. Being that I enjoyed the work in the accounts
receivable department upon applying to college I decided I would major in
Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting

Teenage Years Contd

Lets

just say once I took my first accounting class I hated it so

much that I no longer wanted to do anything with accounting.

completed one year of college and ended up dropping out

because I got pregnant and had my oldest son. I decided I would
get a job so that I could take care of my son.

Adulthood
In

2008 with three kids, ages 10, 8, and 2 and while working a full time job in
the insurance industry, I decided to enroll in Tidewater Community College to
purse my Associates Degree

decided I would purse an Associate in Science Degree with a major in Social

Sciences

At

that time I was not sure what role this degree would translate into but I
was sure I wanted to help at risk youth and I took as many psychology and
sociology classes I could take. I was interested in how the mind worked, how
our environment shapes and molds us, did nurture or nature really have such
a significant impact on our lives and anything related to child and adolescent
psychology

only took two classes per semester and took the summers off so that I
could spend time with my children

Adulthood Contd
In

May 2012 I graduated from TCC and upon graduation I was

talking with my cousin about my next steps in life.

told her I wanted to do an online program but not one that was
very expensive and she told me that she was enrolled at Norfolk
State University and was majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies.

applied to Norfolk State University and was accepted to start in

the Fall of 2012. After meeting with my counselor and
understanding all the possibilities available as an INT major I knew
that I had made the right decision.

Adulthood Contd
I

still had no idea how I would incorporate psychology and

sociology into a career

did know that I am very patient, reliable, flexible, sensitive to

others, and compassionate for our youth.

All

of this led me back to my high school years and some of the

issues that I was dealing with that I never talked to anyone about. I
bottled up everything because I felt like I had no one to talk to and
I wanted to be that listening ear for a child that is struggling with
issues but no one to turn to. I decided that I wanted to be a Mental
Health Counselor

still work for the same insurance company and my company

employees LCSW and LPCs as Behavioral Health Case Managers

Adulthood Contd
I

still go to school on a part time basis and have about six classes
left before I graduate so I need to quickly decide where I will be
applying to pursue my masters degree

am also interested in opening a group home and I believe that my

course work as an INT major will definitely prepare me for the roles
that I wish to pursue