Distinguish between internal and external constraints. Provide and example of
each one from your own experience.
There
are many goals that I wish to achieve in my life. One of those goals is to graduate
from college. I have had many obstacles that have come in the way that I have
not let me stray from my goal. Some of the many external constraints are my job
and my kids. The way they relate to my goals is that they are both of the
reasons I am going to school. For me to get to school I need to get a baby
sitter, drop off my kids and also make sure they are ok. This doesn’t seem like
a big constraint but kids restrict what and when you can do things. I work full
time so I am unable to attend class regularly so I have to take online courses.
This creates a problem because after an 8 hour workday I have to go home be a
dad then do my homework and that is difficult. The internal constraints are
motivation and becoming complacent. The difficulties being motivated can bring
is it leaves me feeling like I shouldn’t try or that I should quit. It’s so
easy to stop and say I am done. I have a full time job now and it would be easy
to say this is it for me. I could stay where I am and not be motivated by
wanting more. These are all things that create problems internally and
externally in my life.
Hey Jayden,
ReplyDeleteI like your post describing internal and external constraints. I see that your job and having kids can be an internal as well as external constraint. Your job addresses any money constraints you may have, external constraint, by paying off bills and meeting your budget. Having the job alone takes time, which can create the external time constraint. However, I would guess that having kids is the bigger time constraint! Again with money constraints, kids require attention and care, which can be dealt with through money. Hiring a baby sitter, buying them necessities and toys take money, and time. An internal constraint could also be physical location, your job limits you from physically attending classes here at school. Your kids also need to be at a physical location while you work, which again makes a physical constraint on you. Sounds like you’re juggling quite a bit of constraints yet have evaluated the appropriate path and are still working towards your goal. Good job!
Thank your for sharing. I read that you understand the difference between external and internal constraints. Like you one of my biggest goals is to graduate from college and also like you I have kids that makes this goal challenging and an external constraint. I agree that many don't understand how difficult it is for parents to work and go to school. I had my first child at 16 and now I have three daughters. Ever since I had my first daughter I have been in school with the same goal of getting a bachelors degree. Like you mentioned in your blog that children take time, energy, and money. If one kid gets sick during finals, you have to make a parental decision to care for your child first and handle school later. Also, like you because we are parent we have to work to provide for our children, this also take time and energy away from our schooling that puts a strain on our education and make a job an external constraint as well. I felt that you really understood what external constraints were. I would have been nice to go more into internal constraints as well to see that you have the same understanding as external constraints. I did however like your post and appreciate you for sharing, thank you again.
ReplyDeleteHey Jayden
ReplyDeleteWow Jayden, you connected the limitations in your life so very well with the concept of internal and external constraints from the textbook. As a parent myself, I can understand how difficult it is to toggle between the role of a professional at job and a parent at home. Sometimes I feel the role of a parent at home is more demanding than the job at work. It is great that you are keeping your focus on your goal and trying to balance all the constraints along the way. Sure there are hard times, but don’t dither away from your goal in any case, as that’s what makes the whole process challenging. Good luck!
I really understand where you’re coming from. For me one of my goals is to graduate from college and what I found for me was that one of my constraints (childhood friends). Just like your kids I sometimes felt that what I needed to do for them clashed with my college classes. I am very close with my friends back home and many don’t go to college so find the need to always go back and check on them and help them out in any way possible. But for me it sometimes interfered with my ultimate goal of staying focused in college and reaching graduation.
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