Whitney Payne

AGSD 4085
Dr. Atchley
July 28, 2016
Applied Learning Experience Reflection

As a senior at Tarleton State University I have taken 122 credit hours which distributes out into
40 different classes. All of these courses have aided me towards my degree in Agricultural
Services and Development with a concentration in Extension and Industry.
Within the Discipline
Agricultural Sales and Services: I was enrolled in this particular course in the fall of
2014. I have found this course has been very crucial in my journey towards my degree,
but also in my life. While taking this course I was forced out of my comfort zone. I have
never been a shy individual, but I also never had much of an affinity for speaking in front
of crowds, especially not a crowd of business professionals. During the length of this
course there were many times that I would not only have to stand and address my class,
but also attempt to sell them an agricultural item or present new ideas/ theories that were
in place in the agricultural field. Because of this course I developed more strength in
public speaking as well as salesmanship. These two skills have aided me outside of
college in more ways that can be counted. As a food service consultant I was able to not
only increase my sales but also increase my overall tip share. I can address people older

than myself in a logical and professional manner rather than stumbling through my
sentences and not maintaining eye contact. I feel this course helped me become betterrounded as an individual and has also aided in how I am seen as a business professional
rather it be in organizational meetings, job interviews, my career, or just networking in
general.
Lab Techniques in Agricultural Mechanics: In the fall of 2015 I took Lab Techniques
in Ag Mechanics. This class was what I liked to call a Jack-of-all-Trades course. There
was no one thing to be learned. I remember Professor Langley saying that we were going
to learn a little about a lot of things, not enough that we would be experts, but enough to
where we would know what we were talking about. In this course we learned things such
as wood working, pipe threading, pipe cutting, soldering, plumbing, electrical work,
concrete work, as well as many other things. As a young lady, living alone, 330 miles
from her family these skills that I learned came into play more than once. Because of the
knowledge I learned in this course I was able to make my parents beautiful wood stained
toolboxes for Christmas that year and do necessary work on my travel trailer home rather
than spend a large amount of money that I did not have on a repair man. I patched my
roof, fixed my water heater, created two propane gas valves for my propane tanks,
rewired circuits and also fixed a busted water line. Without taking Professor Langleys
course I would have been out hundreds of dollars in repairs in addition to not having
Christmas gifts for my parents in 2015. These are skills that I hold with me to this day
and I do not plan on forgetting anytime soon. I find myself applying something from that
single semester class into every day of my life. I am thankful for having taken it.

 Agricultural Services and Development Block Courses: This is not a single course, but
three individual courses that make up a single program. These courses complied together
create the scariest point in an AGSD majors college career. As Doctor Graham said, Its
like trying to drink from a firehose. These three courses have been some of the most
influential courses in my life thus far. Because of these classes I have learned so much in
such a short amount of time not only from my professors, but from many guest speakers
as well. In these courses I have been taught how to be a business professional, to be
prompt and punctual, to speak more confidently than ever, to dress for success, to over
achieve, to think on my feet, to consider others cultures, to be a leader, to be a team
player, to network and to be understanding among many other things. This compilation of
courses was created to get students such as myself ready for the real-world and I
believe it has done its job. I am not scared to graduate anymore. I am not scared to join
the workforce. I am not scared to reach for success. I am not scared of the next step in my
journey. I am ready. Everything I have been taught in my block classes I have been
applying in my internship and I have received praise for it.
Beyond the Discipline
In addition to my Agricultural based classes I have also been required to take classes of other
emphasis while at TSU. Rather it be a Speech, Math, or English class they have all aided me in
one way or another, both in and outside the classroom.
Food Processing: I was enrolled in my Food Processing course during the spring
semester of 2015. This course was not of the agriculture persuasion but the lessons I
learned while taking this class aide me in my everyday life and I am thankful for having
ever taken it. During this class I was taught food preparation skills, food safety, history of

food and humanity, social impact of food, food cultures, and food and gender roles in
addition to many other things. I have always had a vast love of food, but by taking this
class I learned so much more than just eat and enjoy. While taking this course I
developed an appreciation of the culinary arts as well as an understanding of the human
history of food and how our ancestors discovered cooking methods that we still used
today. I was also filled with a vast knowledge of food safety which I was able to bring
home with me and teach my loved ones for safer food consumption. I was taught how to
make many different foods such as creating bread in a Dutch oven, making my own
cheese, canning pickled eggs, and producing a bacon marmalade to name a few.
Everything I have learned in this course I use every time I eat. I dont use as many
conventional foods now because I would rather create my own. As a chef at one of my
previous work places I used what I learned in this course to make sure the food I was
serving to my customers was safe to eat as well as delicious/nutritious. Also without
Agriculture there is no food so even though this was not one of my courses of emphasis,
it was/is still a crucial component in my college studies that I have applied to multiple job
settings as well as my current internship at Donnas Farm.
Technical Writing: In the fall of 2015 I was enrolled in a Technical Writing Course.
While in this class I was taught many different forms of business writing such as memos,
marketing reports, letters of transmittals, proposals, and presentations to name a few.
Because of this course I can now compose these professional writings, including resumes
and cover letters which has helped me in these past few months while preparing for my
college graduation as well as applying for jobs, attending interviews, composing
professional emails, and composing reports.

 Meat Processing: In addition to being enrolled in Technical Writing in the fall of 2015, I
was also enrolled in a Meats Processing course. Aside from processing, we also learned
about the meat industry and the ins and outs there in. By taking this class I learned more
about the United States Food Industry than I would have ever thought possible. Aside
from just meat, we studied food companies and their marketing, sustainability, and
renewability tactics. We also learned what it takes to run your own business from our
term project. Because of this course not only can I kill and process a bovine, pig, or deer,
but I can also find a way to use every inch of the animal I killed and make a profit off of
it, from meat, bones, organs, blood, hide, and everything in between. This class taught me
business management, food processing safety, food safety, and marketing. As a former
chef and food service consultant I have used all of these skills multiple times a day
without a doubt.
Beyond Academics
In addition to the courses I have taken while a student at Tarleton State, there are also two
organizations that have aided in developing my professional skills and strengths over time.
Coastal Conservation Association: Since before I can remember I have been a member
of the Trinity Bay Chapter of The Coastal Conservation Association. I am no longer just
a member, but for over ten years now I have also been an active participating board
member of my chapter. By being in this organization I have learned responsibility,
management skills, networking, public speaking, patience, organizational skills, and even
event coordinating. My organization fights to persevere our water ways and fisheries as
well as habitat restoration, and beach clean ups to name a few of our activities. From my
involvement in this organization over the years I have had to learn how to maintain

myself in a professional setting even if I dont agree with someone on my board and I
have learned how to be understanding of others beliefs even if they are vastly different
than my own. When it comes down to it, we are all there for the same cause so working
together just makes sense.
Sigma Alpha Pi National Society of Leadership and Success: During my first year of
college I was fortunate enough to be invited to join the National Honor Society of
Leadership and Success or Sigma Alpha Pi for short. Through this organization I learned
what it takes to be a good leader as well as a good person. I developed strengths such as
optimism, innovation, self-motivation, faith and leadership. These strengths have stuck
with me over the years and are continuously aiding me in all my strides of life. I am
thankful for the meetings, live broadcasts, and questionnaires I attended while striving for
my induction into this organization. Through these events I was able to speak to business
professionals as well as attend their speeches where I was able to absorb my knowledge
of leadership and optimism. Without my honor society, I dont believe my networking
and professional skills would be where they are today, even if I did still have everything
else such as my classes and the CCA.
Interconnectedness
Over my past four years of schooling I have seen a vast change in myself as an individual. These
changes that I have undergone seem to have just been my growing as an individual. I never
would have thought I would be where I am now when I stepped on TSUs campus back in 2012.
Through my academics and my organizations I have been molded into the individual I am. My
inner-disciplinary academics as well as my outer-disciplinary academics have proven to be
strong influences in my life through their teachings as well as their life lessons. Lord only knows

where I would be if it wasnt for Professor Langleys Jack-of-all-Trades class, and if not for
technical writing I would probably still be struggling to compose a decent resume and cover
letter. Not to mention that I would be 100% lost if it werent for the guiding hand and wisdom of
my block courses and the professors there in. I honestly dont feel that I would be ready to
graduate if all three of these different categories didnt coincide exactly as they have. I have truly
been blessed in this life and I am more than thankful for it. Through these years of preparation,
outside influences, studies, and guidance have turned me into the strong individual I am today
and they will continue to guide me through all my walks of life.
Global Awareness
Throughout my life I have always tried to be different, not that it was hard. I was the girl who ran
with the guys. I played football, softball, basketball, water polo, I swam, I cheered, I danced, I
played piano, to name a few things. In short, I have always been different. Even to this day, I
believe its our individualities that make us who we are. Never in my life has someone told me
that I reminded them of someone or vice versa. I have always stood alone and thats okay. I was
the kid who didnt fit into a clique in high school because I was friends with everyone. I was
diversity in a sense. Its because of who I am that I try to face challenges head on. I was running
out of time to find and internship, but by Gods grace I found one. I didnt have time to be
scared, just anxious. I was ready to work hard just as I have always been. From the first time I
played a sport or competed, Ive always given it my all. My professional life should be no
different. And it hasnt been so far. Every day I wake up and I give it my all. I work hard, I
sweat, I bleed, I get mad, I get sore, but I keep at it because this is the real world. I have been
preparing for it my entire life and now I am ready. If life was a sport, I want to be the best. I will
never stop striving to be better. I will never stop succeeding. Life is a game, and I will win.

Broader Implications
When I first started my college career at Tarleton I would have never in my wildest dreams
would have thought I would be where I am today. Through my courses, professors,
organizations, and relationships I have grown and vastly developed myself as an individual. I
never even considered working on a farm or growing operation like I am currently with my
internship, but I have come to thoroughly enjoy the work that I do and I find it more than
fulfilling. Because of this internship I have established a better idea of what I would like to do
after graduation where as a couple of months ago I had no idea. Because of all of these
influences I am a better person and a more professional individual. There has been and will
always be speed bumps in the road but my faith is strong and so is my fighting spirit. I refuse to
let life get me down again as it has in the past. In less than two weeks I will graduate from
college. A dream I have had since I was a child, a dream at certain points I thought I would never
achieve, but here I am. Strong, head held high, and ready to take on the world that I have been
preparing for. By Gods grace I will continue to succeed and grow as an individual and a
professional. With the skills I have developed overtime I will continue to challenge myself. I will
continue to break out of my comfort zone as so many at Tarleton have taught me to do. Four
years ago if you asked me where I would be today, I would have given you a description
nowhere close to the things I am doing now and I couldnt be happier. So I would like to say
thank you Tarleton State University for the knowledge and skills you have possessed me with
so that I am succeed and continue to succeed in this life and the next.