Interview With Johnna Conley

Amanda Harper Conley

BEH/ 225

March 29, 2013

There are several words that come to mind after having such an interesting interview with my daughter, she is an 18 year old young woman who is so full of life. There was a strong sense of drama, compassion and honesty in her answers. My heart was very full with listening to her answers to the different questions knowing that they were not related to something she was really wanting to talk about. I went to my daughter and asked her to participate in this interview because of her active status in school, and I hoped selfishly that it will help to open her eyes to what she may not being doing in her own educational path. The questions that I asked were directed at her methods of studying and preparing on an educational level, but can also open the door to so much more in her life.

Q & A :

1. What techniques do you use to remember information more accurately?
The main thing that I tend to do in order to more accurately remember things is take notes. I know that there are things that I try and remember but I have learned for me to write it down it stays in my mind longer. I know that this is not always the best practice, as you will begin to have too many notes and everything can and will run together and confuse you. That is why there are times that I will access my cell phone and the capabilities that it has to be able to set alarms and make notes.
2. How do you perfer to study/work?
I am not sure how to honestly word this answer. The reason is because I am very lazy and view things in a way that if I do not get aqnything out of it I simply do not want to participate. I know that if I were to take a more active role in my studies than I would make better grades and therefore get more rewards, but I am simply not there. I had a job once, but for only about 3 months and it became more of a burden to me than any enjoyment. I did not like it and slowly stopped going, and eventually lost the job.
3. Have you ever participated in a personality test? If so what did the results show about your personality?
I have not ever really taken a true personality test, I mean there have been those in the different magazines. I do not know that I would consider those as actual personality tests. I am open to taking one and seeing if what the test shows the as how I feel about what others think of my personality.
4. Do you agree with the results?
I have never taken a test and therefore can not answer this question.
5. What experiences in your life have occures that you feel most contributed to your personality?
As much as I really do not want to be as honest as I am going to be, I feel that there were several things that added to the personality that I have. The main one being the divorce of my parents, I was a very angry little girl and did not understand the reasons for what was happening. I saw my mother hurt and my dad out having the time of his life. I will say that I have learned that others can not help you if you are not willing to help yourself. I also feel that my experiences have opened my eyes to be there for other youngsters that are going through the same thing that I went through as a child.
6. When referring to your attitude only, what do you feel is ther strongest influence?
This one is an easy one for me. The things, or should I say the people that have most influenced me to be who I am today would have to be my mother and grand mother. They are the two strongest women I know and both have been thru so very much and could be very bitter and they choose to be happy and on task with their family and life. I want to be able to look back one day and see that I am more and more like them both as I get older.
7. Do you feel that a person’s gender, race or religious beliefs have any effect on their personality and attitudes? If so, please explain?
I do think that factors that we control and the ones that we can not have a large bearing on our attitudes and personality. I mean you can put two people side by side and they are complete opposite, one white Christian female and the other being a black Jewish male. I can tell you that while facing the same situations they are going view them differently and attempt to hasndle them differently. I personally believe that women have a more grounded level of common sense and will try to approach from more than one direction. While a man will go at it head on and hope for the best. The same is true when looking at situations from a religious view point, some have a stronger walk and handle things differently.
8. What type of motivation, intrinsically or extrinsically will help you personally to complete a task? Why did you choose that motivation?
I hate to admit this but I think that most of the time it is going to be extrinsical motivation, especially when it comes to school. If there is something that needs to be done and I really so not want to do I fight tooth and nail to get it done. I will put it off and put it off again to keep from doing, all the while hoping someone else (usually my mother) will come behind me and just take care of the task. I know that is not the best way to be but that is the honest truth about me and the way I look at things.

As you can see my daught has a typical teenage mentality about life and the way things should be in the world. I hope that as she gets out of high school and takes her place in the “real” world those views will change. If not then she will be in for a rude awakening.