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Zach Greth
Dr. Warner & Professor Hicks
Drs. Bennett (thesis advisor) & Blanchard (reader)
HONR 3791-H01
March 26, 2015
Living a Neuroplastic Life

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is
faced.

-James Baldwin

Four years ago, I was reluctant to accept James Baldwins wise words. After high school
graduation, my life centered on a lot of doubt and uncertainty for the future. While it is certainly
true that nothing can be changed until it is faced, I did not know if I could handle these
changes and challenges that college was sure to produce. As it was, my time to change was
starting.
One blink later and I am in one of my final semesters in college. I find myself asking
how it is I have already reached this point. It seems like just yesterday as they say. When I
first started at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), I did in fact spend
a lot of my time worrying about what the experience would be like. I had typical doubts about
whether I made the right decision. I really wondered whether Charlotte, North Carolina was the
best fit for me. Perhaps that is to be expected from a young adult moving some five hundred
miles from home (Pennsylvania). But even if it were to be just five miles down the road, it still
bears the same concerns. After all, this was to be the place for which the answers to my future
resided.
Nearly on the other side now, I can return to these concerns with a confident yes. I am
reassured that while I had some doubts, I am rewarded by my recollections of college. I credit

this to the wonderful experiences, people, services, resources, and opportunities UNC Charlotte
has offered me. It has been the most valuable experience of my life so far.
Ironically, I feel as though I am returning to a similar situation I was in four years ago. I
would like to say graduate school is, for sure, the next thing on my list. But not all things in life
are (100%) guaranteed. Again, the future remains uncertain. But four years later, I truly
appreciate the meaning in the words James Baldwin once voiced. All I can do is face these
challenges headfirst, and create change that is in my favor. This is an attitude UNC Charlotte
helped me to discover.
The journey to reach this attitude and making it relevant to my own life is part of the
reason why I am writing this paper. Knowing the person I once was has made seeing the person
I have grown into all the more fulfilling. This transformation focuses on the theme that drives
the remainder of this paper -- neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is a mechanism that allows the brain to create new neural pathways and
delete old ones. These neural pathways, which consist of billions of neurons (cells), are
responsible for relaying a message in order to produce a response. The response can be triggered
by learning/experience, growth, damage, or dysfunction. Neuroplasticity works to produce
appropriate responses in two main ways. Neuroplasticity can: (1) delete damaged connections
that become disruptive to behavior; and/or (2) create new connections. The new connections
either compensate for the damaged ones, or surface as more optimal behaviors are learned
(Sincero, 2011). It highlights impairments (maladaptive), and works to yield a functional gain
from them (Cramer et al., 2011). These damaged connections are reorganized to produce more
favorable outcomes. And so neuroplasticity is an extremely adaptive process. Ultimately, the

brains capacity to do such a task promotes improved functioning as time goes on (Sincero,
2011).
My question is: can this same principle also be applied - in much simpler terms - to
overall growth and maturation during ones life? We are all constantly up against an influx of
people, situations, interactions, experiences, and lessons. These things often work to influence
our thoughts and behaviors. It seems reasonable to explore whether neuroplasticity, as a
principle, affects and changes us throughout our lives.
I see this concept of neuroplasticity as evident in my very own collegiate career. I am
faced with a host of new challenges every day. With each one, I must evaluate my own thoughts
and actions; and then ultimately decide whether change is necessary in order to improve my
performance. This cognitive exercise is of great value to me. After all, it may take just one
small, incorrect connection to threaten the entire system.
Yet, the roots of this interest are still rather unclear to me. Discovering the origins of this
interest is the central question I would like to focus on for the ensuing project. I want to answer
why I have become so attuned to this process of neuroplasticity while at UNC Charlotte. How
has it become a defining piece in my life?
I mentioned how neuroplasticity can occur following learning/experience, growth,
damage, or dysfunction. I certainly have faced a fair amount of these factors while attending
UNC Charlotte. However, there are certain instances that have proven to be extremely crucial to
my maturation and development. Such instances will be referred to as artifacts. Throughout this
paper, I will classify certain college events (artifacts) into one of these four dimensions; thus
allowing me to create an overall framework for my collegiate career. By organizing my artifacts
in this way, I may come to find how each dimension has impacted my life either good or bad.

This can prove to be very useful information. Perhaps then I can reconfigure each
dimension, and integrate them towards a more advantageous life. This push for reorganization is
another outcome I hope to achieve. What can I learn from my past to benefit the direction of my
future? How can I face new challenges to produce desired changes? Or at least provide the best
opportunity of seeing the changes I want to see. Subsequent paragraphs detail artifacts I have
decided to revisit in an attempt to facilitate this discovery process.
A motivation for clinical neuropsychology
I think it is possible for people to reexamine their home in a new light after leaving it for
an extended period of time. Sometimes it takes stepping away from your roots to appreciate
where you came from. For many college freshmen, the first summer back can be an especially
exciting time. The initial and overwhelmingly stressful first year is finally over. Late night
studying and early morning exams are temporarily ceased. All such demands are replaced by the
comfort of ones home. A time to catch up with old friends, visit places you have missed, and
make time to stop and breathe.
I certainly remember going back home for my first summer of college break. I was so
excited to share the contents of a wonderful first year with my family and friends. It seemed it
would be a time for me to reintroduce myself to all the things that proved so generous to me for
eighteen years of my life. Yet, my summer was not so easy (Greth, personal communications,
2014).
During my first semester, I was enrolled in an introductory psychology course. I think it
is worth mentioning that it was also the only course of interest to me that semester. In this
course, I learned that nearly 50% of people are diagnosed with at least one mental disorder at
some point in their lives. Unlike most statistical figures, this one resonated with me for its sheer

prevalence. Yet, I had no idea this very figure would revisit my life again that upcoming
summer.
Upon my return home from college, I watched as this very statistic haunted the life of my
lifelong role model my older brother Justin. My brother had been diagnosed with
schizoaffective disorder. This disorder is a blend of psychotic (hallucinations, delusions,
emotional flatness, avolition) and mood disorder (depression, anxiety) symptoms (American
Psychiatric Association, 2013). He was once a passionate, conscientious, driven, positive, and
humble individual. He has since become a completely different person. Not only did this
summer affect my familys structure, but it influenced the rest of my life as well.
This moment was an adjustment period for me, to say the least. I felt extremely
vulnerable at the time. I spent nearly two decades of my life idolizing my brothers every
thought and action. It did not matter what it was. It was as if I became conditioned to like it
immediately, simply because my brother did. Justin was not just an older brother to me. No, he
was much more than that. My brother was my childhood hero. That is almost unheard of in
siblings, as most experience sibling rivalry more than anything. But not us. We were always
very close, and he was the center of my life.
Now all of a sudden, that connection was lost. It was as if Justins mental disorder
robbed him of everything. His invincibility was stripped away, and my envy gone. Here I
thought I had just faced the hardest challenges [freshman year] of my life, but my perception
changed. For I saw the life Justin was now haunted with. My childhood idealization was
threatened. I always feel so bad for the struggles he has to wake up to every single day of his
life. I think, How is it fair for someone - with so much of his life still ahead of him to have to
deal with such horror like this? It seems so unreasonable to me.

When Justin was in high school, his work ethic was second to no one. He was a member
of our high schools football team, and I saw firsthand the time he dedicated to the sport every
day. I remember him waking up before school to go down into our basement to run on the
treadmill. As a child, the fact that Justin did this just astounded me. I thought he was nuts for
waking up so early to run! However, I had a great deal of respect for the passion he
demonstrated. In fact, I often think he is the one who inspired me to give everything I can
towards running - something soon to surface in my life despite initially thinking just how
absurd it was when he did it. His character led me to find running as my greatest passion in life.
How do you thank someone for that?
Now every interaction Justin shares with someone leaves them confused and doubtful.
Schizoaffective disorder has taken away the attitude he demonstrated on and off the field. Today,
Justin struggles to find a comfortable living situation. His lack of goal-oriented behavior
(avolition) prevents him from holding some jobs for more than a few weeks. Some even lasting
for just a few hours. This leads to living in an environment he desperately wants to leave. Justin
cannot seem to express the same positivity he once did. He does not seem to understand or care,
for instance, about the meaning behind James Baldwins words. Justin is depressed about where
life as led him. Instead of facing things, he feels defeated by them. Still only twenty-eight, but
yet he thinks he has ultimately failed in life. His physical health has since deteriorated too. He
eats poorly, no longer exercises, sleeps very little, and smokes cigarettes. For me, I was plagued
with figuring out how to deal with all this. How do you help this person? I grew up thinking
heroes did not need saving.
Justins battle left a profound impact on my life; something I was grappling with too.
The news was a very damaging event for my family. A problem I desperately sought to fix. Still

so young, I felt limited in the ways I could help Justin overcome this dark, unknown time. I soon
found mental disorders and their subsequent effects on the brain - to be extremely fascinating.
The 50% figure I learned of months before really did not take shape until it entered into my own
life. After many internet searches, I began to realize just how prevalent an issue like this truly
was. Of just how many individuals and their families were inflicted with similar horrors every
day.
Google really does seem to have all the answers; yet, never would I have guessed that it
could answer the question of my future. Many internet searches told me how the brain is
localized and intricately complex. This means that different areas of our brains correspond to
different functions. I was amazed by the vast architecture existing between our ears. But I had
no idea clinical neuropsychology was a career that integrated these interests. I saw this as my
very own calling if you will. I saw this as a way to pay tribute to my brothers life, and the
many others like his. To challenge myself; and not listen to the limitations others put on me.
Something my brothers life was so prematurely stripped of. So is the basis for my first artifact
-- I want to pursue a field in clinical neuropsychology.
In an attempt to fix the damage inflicted on my family, I returned to school with a new
attitude. One far removed from the novice approach I possessed for an entire year before.
Previously, I had been grappling with the age old question of trying to figure out my lifes
destination. As an undeclared student, maybe you start to question your purpose as one. At least
that is the line of thinking I eventually came under. How was I to set my life up when I did not
even know what that [at least] could look like? What was I doing? Things as a sophomore
seemed much more promising.

For neuroplasticity to occur, new neural paths must be organized to compensate for the
ones that have been damaged (inactive). However, in order for this process to be successful, the
new connections must be continually activated (Liou, 2010). Bear in mind, this is not an
overnight-sort of fix. It takes repeated practice in order for new connections to strengthen;
thereby sustaining a new level of optimal functioning.
Cramer et al. (2011) argue that some of the common themes influencing successful
neuroplasticity are experience dependence, time sensitivity, and the level of motivation and
attention invested. A lot of what enables brain plasticity is the environment in which
reorganization/training/learning takes place (experience dependence). So too, this recovery-like
process must be introduced within a certain time following the damage (time sensitivity). And as
with anything in life, the person has to want to be able to improve their ability to function
(motivation & attention). If these criteria are not met, then the overall process is limited in what
it can do (Cramer et al., 2011).
Like neuroplasticity, I took a damaging incident and found undying commitment. I
organized the trajectory of my life to connect with clinical neuropsychology. I stepped into an
environment (experience dependence) that would lead me to this outcome. I realized this
wouldnt happen overnight, but I was committed to the process. Similar to how neurons need to
be continually activated, my actions towards this goal have been relentless since my brothers
diagnosis. All of my academic decisions reflect this goal; and the enduring personal motivation
driving it.
Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology (Spring 2014) has been the most enjoyable class in my
undergraduate career. Thus, it sits as the second artifact on my list. I thought my internet

searches a few summers ago had told me everything. It proved to be a mere glimpse into the
world of mental health as it exists today. From day one, this class reaffirmed my career goal.
During every lecture thereafter, I was so deeply enthralled by what Dr. McAnulty was telling us.
I often sat there thinking in-between notes, You know what, this is something I really want to be
a part of. My interest was getting stronger.
This is analogous to how neuroplasticity operates. Consider what happens when a new
behavior is learned. Individual neurons carry a signal (message), which it communicates to
other, nearby neurons. Each neuron is equipped with its own specialized task. Lets assume the
new behavior is learning how to kick a soccer ball. Some neurons are in charge of visual
functioning (directing eyes on the soccer ball vs. net vs. other players); others deal with attention
(fixating your eyes on the ball); while others yet are responsible for motor control (moving your
leg forward/backward in order to kick it). It works by way of an assembly-line. Individual
neurons have their own specialized task(s); yet they communicate with each other to produce the
desired outcome (getting soccer ball into the net). They are interconnected. As long as the
neurons continue to communicate with one another, then they are being activated and excited.
Their role is being strengthened. A new pathway connecting them is also forming (Cramer et al.,
2011). This was unfolding each time I stepped into Abnormal Psychology as well. My interest
was constantly being sparked, and the strength of it was only getting stronger.
Not only did I gain a lot of insight towards my intended career path, but about my
personal life as well. One of the most valuable pieces of information I gathered from the course
was the following: do not be a part of the stigma, fight it. Often times, the stigma is just one
story, not the story. Why put limitations on people? As it turns out, many stories have more
than just one perspective. In being mindful of this exercise, I learned to integrate it into my life.

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I try to be more aware of stigma now, and mindful in my communication with Justin. As
part of his condition, he still exhibits many negative symptoms. One of his most frequent
symptoms is avolition, which is the absence of goal-directed behavior (American Psychiatric
Association, 2013). I learned about these depressing symptoms in class, and realized it is a
product of the disorder and not so much him individually. Often, Justin sees everything in such a
negative light. This is far from the attitudes he once possessed as a high school student-athlete. I
am aware of this fact, and try to pay close attention to it. Rather than deny the pessimism, I try
instead to work with it. I attempt to put a positive spin on every conversation with him, and am
persistent about it.
Mental health is a hot topic in society today, and we need people to help search for
pressing answers. In some ways, this can be a very disheartening stage for the state of clinical
psychology. But yet in many others, it is also a very encouraging time as well. If I am able to be
a part of such a rising field, then what an extremely rewarding experience it may one day be.
This class was another very important moment in my life. Now I realize the further
importance it serves in contributing to the nature of my papers theme. Before, I was guilty of
falling in line with the stereotypes of certain populations, like mental disorder patients
predetermined by our societys social constructions. One could suggest I was quite
dysfunctional in how I stigmatized others. But we really should not over generalize one single
story across all subjects. I have learned that just from observing Justins individual case. I know
the person he was before his diagnosis. And I know that everything people now perceive him to
be as largely false. Given his pressing symptoms, it may seem like an endless battle. I know he
certainly feels that way. But why should it have to be? He is twenty-eight, with much of his life
still left in front of him.

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Not only do I want to stop these disorders from happening, but I want the stigmas to
disappear too. Again, do not be a part of the stigma, fight it. I want to be by his side as Justin
faces daily challenges. I will push Justin to believe in himself once again, and make the changes
he wishes to. In a way, I feel this sense of teamwork mirrors neuroplasticity; and independent of
just my own individual desires as well. Justins motivation and attention to accomplish certain
tasks as weakened since his diagnosis. Without regularly practicing these actions, they no longer
become a part of his routine. I realize this behavior, and like a separate neural pathway, I am
trying to promote more activity from him. This realization has further supported and pushed me
towards clinical neuropsychology.
2012 A10 Cross Country Championship
The 2012 A10 Cross Country Championships (8k) is my third artifact. This is a day I
will never forget. This race was the race of the season, the end-all-be-all. A time for me to
demonstrate the level of work and commitment I invested towards this very race. For the next
twenty-five minutes, I could show others what I had been doing for months. I was granted the
first two of these twenty-five minutes. The rest will be left empty, something for me to think
about the rest of my life; the what could have been. For it was two minutes into the race that
my shoe was clipped from behind, and then soon flung off completely. In a state of high panic, I
did not know what to do. So I just continued running, hoping things would miraculously work
themselves out.
Unfortunately for me, life had a different plan. The course soon entered into a gravel
section, and despite my best intentions, my race was ultimately cut short. Done. I was robbed of
the chance to prove to everyone the level of work and dedication I gave day in and day out for

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the past six months. I lost the chance to prove to myself that it could lead to good outcomes. Or
at least that is what I initially thought.
I quickly learned that this day held one of lifes most valuable learning lessons. People
are constantly reminded that things in life do not always goes as planned. Nothing is
guaranteed. Although it seemed like the world was out to get me, it was not. Sure, I lost my
shoe that day, and yes, it felt like an extreme loss to my career, but the day was not a complete
bust.
Again, a lot of people say, Life does not always go the way you planned. It is certainly
the way I felt about this race. This was one of the more difficult things I have had to overcome.
Not being able to finish something you have started is one of the worst feelings in the world. It
is true; life does not always go as you originally planned. I did not bust my butt from early
summer to late fall only to drop out. However, I would argue it takes experiencing this very
message in your own life to appreciate what it truly means. You have to persevere through both
the good and the bad. When pressed up against a wall, keep fighting back.
This really is no different from the attitude that got me to the start line that day. Under
less than ideal circumstances, I pushed through the weeks of training. Of the hundreds of
runners that day, I asked why me? How many of them really worked as hard as I did? How
many of them balanced getting up at 5 a.m. every day, working for eight hours, and the spending
three hours after that dedicated strictly to training? And how many of them were in bed by 9
p.m. every night? Again, let me remind you this was the summer. I would be going to bed as
kids half my age were down the street still playing outside. I kept coming back to these
sacrifices. But I quickly realized this was not getting me anywhere. For the real loss only comes

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in the competitor feeling sorry for themselves. I could have spent the next two weeks feeling
sorry for myself. And I admit, I did for the next couple of days.
However, I realized by the end of that same week that my attitude was taking me
nowhere good. There is nothing one can do to change their past, but they certainly can change
the shape of their future. And that is the lesson I finally learned that day. I was not happy about
the end result, which is true. However, could I give myself another shot at success in the next
race? Sure thing, and that is what I reminded myself of. I had one more race to end my
sophomore season. I was not going to let this one setback dictate the rest of it. The 2012
Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships was a learning experience for me. I took what I
learned from this race, and structured it to produce better outcomes in the future.
Sometimes in life you are lucky to be granted a second chance. And in the sport of
running, you are given multiple second chances. I got mine two weeks later. I returned to the
starting line; this time for the 2012 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships (10k). For two
weeks, I focused on getting my mind right. I could not reface the A10 Championships. I could
only deal with what was in front of me. I embraced this fact, and strived to move forward.
At the 2012 NCAA Regional Championships, I made the changes I expected. I raced to a
personal record, and placed higher than the year before. The result was very rewarding;
especially knowing what I went through to get to this point. In two weeks, I restructured a
damaging event into a positive learning experience. Two years later, and I can now comfortably
say that the A10 conference championships was one of my most important races yet, even if it
was not quite the race I envisioned. Since then, I have faced similar race outcomes. However,
the A10 Championship experience left me better prepared to face these outcomes.
Citizenship

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Honors Citizenship (Spring 2014) is my next artifact. This course changed my identity.
As I was creating my class schedule for the upcoming semester, I realized this course was
required before graduation. Only after some initial reluctance did I finally add it to my list. This
motion mirrored my overall attitude towards community service -- half-heartedness.
My expectation for this course included forty hours dedicated to community service in a
single semester. It seemed like an unbearable task at the time. In high school, I completed fortyhours of community service over four years. However, I cannot say I decided to volunteer in
high school by my own discretion. Rather, it was a high school graduation requirement. As
such, my participation in service activities never really meant anything to me. They were seen
more as an assignment rather than a unique opportunity to help others. Therefore, I was not
overly concerned with who I was helping, and how. This attitude persisted through registration
and into the first few moments of Honors Citizenship.
One of my first assignments was to read Bruce Herzbergs Community Service & Critical
Teaching. He stated that acts of community service should explain the purpose for peoples
involvement in them. Simply put, why are they doing it in the first place (Herzberg, 1994)? This
seems simple enough, but it really speaks to the passive members in the audience; much like my
former self.

I never gained valuable insight from service projects because I never tried to. It

took a semesters worth of work to process this idea.

I decided to work at the Hospitality House of Charlotte (HHoC). It sits right across the
street from one of Carolina HealthCare Systems locations. The HHoC serves a similar purpose
to that of a hotel. It provides shelter for out-of-town patients and family members who need
extended hospital treatment. It has serviced families from all fifty states and twenty foreign
countries!

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My role at the HHoC was titled housekeeper. I completed the same tasks of a typical
hotel housekeeper. Some common assignments included the following: cleaning dishes, putting
dishes away, making coffee, cleaning kitchen/dining room area, doing laundry, sanitizing
doorknobs, sweeping the front porch and walkways, taking out the trash, cleaning windows,
making phone calls to people on the waiting list, and assembling mail letters. These tasks were
completed in four hour shifts, and I did most of my hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
The tasks seemed simple enough to me. But it meant the world to the HHoCs visitors.
The interactions I had with them was the single greatest task I fulfilled. People were so receptive
and grateful for the HHoC. One morning, I made a call to a young man who was on the waiting
list. His sister was very ill. Having a place to stay, and being by her side, were very pressing
concerns for him. Needless to say, he was relieved to hear a room was now available to him. I
think it took everything for him not to break down in tears right then in there. New to my role at
the HHoC, this event reflected the message Bruce Herzberg attempted to make. All in one phone
call. This young mans emotions demonstrated just how valuable the HHoCs services could be.
I was just thankful to play a part in it.
The most remarkable volunteering experience came in the very last shift I needed to
complete for the forty hours. It was a Saturday morning. I had worked there the night before as
well. The night before, I noticed a new, older couple there that I had not seen the last time I
volunteered a week or two before. I may have said hello in passing on Friday, but I really only
noticed them from afar. Most of the time, the man was reading a book. That Saturday morning,
I was sweeping up the front porch when I noticed the same man sitting out on one of the rocking
chairs. Just like before, he was reading his book. By this point, I felt I had come across his path

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too many times not to say anything to him. So totally spur of the moment, and completely
against my shy disposition, I asked him, What are you reading? I am glad I did.
I do not remember the name of the book he was reading. All I remember is what came
after. He was reading this book in order to instill faith into his current situation. He said he
originally planned on staying in Charlotte for just a few days. Enough time for him and his wife
to visit their daughter before they moved to Utah, to enjoy their recently retired lifestyle. His life
had other plans.
A few days turned into several weeks. The man had suffered from a stroke, and was
rushed to the hospital. There, it was later found that he had a brain tumor sitting in the posterior
of this brain. Fortunately, it was discovered early enough and he immediately had surgery to
have it removed.
Now here we both were sitting on the front porch just a few days later. Listening and
talking to this man, I never would have believed what he just told me. The actions he
demonstrated were against all odds. Reading a book. Walking laps around the house. Cooking
food. All activities of daily living. But for a man who had just battled through all that he did?
He became the perfect example for the quote I used for my reflective essay at the end of the
semester.
Experience is not what happens to you; its what you do with what happens to you.
-Aldous Huxley

This man decided he was not going to let the brain tumor dictate his life. Instead, he was
going to decide what the outcome would be. He was outside walking laps just a few days later.
He was not going to let this medical case put limitations on his life. It was absolutely incredible.
By the end, I completed my forty hours. I would have thought completing the time
requirement would have been my only satisfaction out of the course. The interactions I shared

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with visitors took its place. Before, I just let community service experiences happen to me. I
never truly attempted to gain anything from them. This class, and more importantly the man
above, helped address this dysfunctional characteristic of mine. I used to have such a passive
community service identity. Now, I make the most of each experience. I started going into the
Hospitality House of Charlotte pushing for outcomes I wanted to see happen. I faced the
changes I wanted. In way, the man and I were helping each other achieve neuroplasticity.
One way to promote continued brain adaptation is to actively stimulate it. If you present
the brain with a new and challenging environment, it will eventually adapt and interact with the
new stimuli (Liou, 2010). My (community service) identity shift exemplifies this exact process.
I started out seeing service work as an assignment, but I challenged myself to find personal value
in it. As a result, I am a more active community service volunteer today. I decided at the end of
the semester that I did not want to stop at just forty hours. So, I completed forty more during the
summer months. These hours were done on my days off from work. I spent these next forty
hours embracing what it took the first forty to truly achieve. The experience is what you make of
it. So I started each shift with a smile, and interacted with those around me; far different than my
half-hearted attitude just months before.
Positive Psychology
I participated in Positive Psychology (fifth artifact) freshman year (Spring 2012) at UNC
Charlotte. I had recently finished introductory psychology, and knew that I was interested in the
field. Yet, this was a few months before my discovery of clinical neuropsychology. So my direct
focus of interest was not in place yet. I signed up for Positive Psychology thinking it could help
in other aspects of my life. This was especially true for running. I figured if I could tackle my
prerace anxiety, then I could perform at a higher level. So I entered with very high expectations.

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I remember our class watching a TED Talk very early into the semester. In this video, Dr.
Seligman founder of positive psychology explains why he felt the need to create the subfield
in psychology. When asked to describe the state of psychology at the time, he replied with, Not
good enough. Seligman agreed that psychology has helped to discover a number of fascinating
things. However, he felt each of these discoveries started with the question, What is wrong with
people? Psychologists were more interested in those who deviated from the social norm.
Meanwhile, the majority of normal people were left ignored. They spent more time reminding
people of their negative qualities, rather than extending on their positive ones. Again, Seligman
said the state of psychology was, Not good enough.
This message has carried with me ever since. Take interactions with my brother for
example. Where most people might be fixated on negative attributions, I try to elaborate on all
of his positive qualities. Seligmans words are a large reason why I want to deter people from
being so judgmental about mental disorders. It is the reason why my post-race evaluations have
matured. It is not a good idea for me to exhaust myself with all of the negative takeaways from a
race. I do not benefit from asking myself, What did I do wrong today? It is more constructive
to reframe it as, What did I learn today?
I used to be so hard on myself after a bad performance. However, all of this negativity
did not promote any sort of progress. I realized this more the older I got. I could sit there and
feel bad for myself, but what does that ultimately fix? The past happened. There is nothing I can
do about it. There is something to be said about the future though. Remember, Nothing can be
changed until it is faced.
I now appreciate that fact. When I have a bad performance, I figure out what I can learn
from my errors. How can I then apply them to the next race? I also try to put things in

19

perspective now too. Just recently, I tied my personal best (8:35) for the 3,000m event. I was
hoping to run faster than what I did, but it is what it is. Instead of dwelling on the time, I looked
at where I was. Last year when I ran that time, my training sat at an average of 55-60 miles a
week. This year, I ran a combined 200 miles the two weeks leading up to the race. I am putting
in twice the volume that I did at this time last year, and still tied my best time. There is
obviously something to be said for that.
Listening to Seligman helped me to gain an appreciation for learning/experience in the
past four years. It prepared me to face lifes challenges with a better attitude. Just the other day,
someone broke into my car and stole items out of the back seat. This is a challenge no one ever
wants or expects to go through. But even now, just a few days later, I looked for something
positive to hold on to. Feeling sorry for myself would not make the items reappear. So I did not
want to waste my time thinking it would. Instead, I realized this happens to hundreds of people
every day. I was not the first one, and I will not be the last. I also try to remind myself that
things could always be worse. I had my stuff stolen, but at least my girlfriend and I were not
physically hurt. Unfortunately, the physical damage inflicted on people cannot always be
replaced.
Again, it is not what I did wrong but what can I learn. Needless to say, I have learned not
to leave my items in plain sight inside my car!
Sociological Social Psychology
My sixth artifact reflects on the knowledge I gained from Sociological Social Psychology
(Fall 2014). One of the great things about psychology (major) and sociology (minor) is the reallife applicability to any piece of information. I can learn a principle in class, and then walk
outside and observe it happening all across campus. I have also been interested by what makes

20

people act the way they do. This is not exactly something you can think about while sitting in on
an algebra class.
One of the topics we discussed was about the self-concept. What comes to mind when
someone asks you the question, Who are you? There are also several selves that underlie an
individuals self-concept. For instance, two of the major ones are the actual self and the ideal
self. The actual self is the person you see yourself as currently. The ideal self is the person you
would like to be. Depending on the distance between these two selves, a person will either feel
happy, frustrated, or fearful. All of this material seems simple enough, right? Yet, it amazes me
how people frequently do this on a daily basis. Based on social interactions and daily activities,
people are evaluating the discrepancy between these two selves. In just a few words, a person
can explain this common intrapersonal phenomenon.
I have been grappling with the distance between these two points for several years now.
First, it was answering what exactly my ideal selfs job description would be. Now, it fits the
ideal circumstances for a job in clinical neuropsychology. I think the current distance between
the two points is creating a level of fear in me. Yet, thanks to Sociological Social Psychology, I
at least have some insight into the internal conflicts I face every single day.
I am fearful because I am still not certain what a path to clinical neuropsychology exactly
looks like. I feel like the majority of my classes have not helped me prepared for this specific
discipline. I worry that I may get into graduate school, and then be expected to know a high
level of information right away. And the rest will be left for me to figure out on my own. I also
worry that my resume for application is not full enough. Acceptance into a graduate program is a
highly competitive procedure. I worry that all of my hard work and dedication over four plus

21

years will not amount to anything. I worry that I will not get into a program. These are all
realistic possibilities that I would need to learn to deal with.
These realities are hard to swallow. Yet, if all I did was worry about these fears, then I
would be going against what James Baldwin taught me up until this point. Since the future is
largely unknown, it can be a fearful thing to think about. Not everything I do (then, now, or
later) will go as I want. But nothing will go the way I want if I do nothing to achieve desired
outcomes. If all I do is worry about getting accepted into graduate school, then how does that
ultimately help me get into graduate school? If all I do is worry, then I am wasting time that can
be better spent doing the things I can, to at least give myself the best shot. It reflects a saying I
heard once -- Control your controllables. I cannot control whether a university will permit me
into their program. However, I can control what I do in the meantime.
I have heard that part of graduate school acceptance reflects an applicants experience. It
shows a students additional interest in the particular topic. I do not have much experience to go
off of. However, I think this is something that is within my control. So experience has become
one of my number one priorities.
To fulfill this priority, I have started reaching out to the professionals who are in the
clinical neuropsychology field. I visited our psychology departments website, and searched for
a professor whose research interests reflected mine the closest. This exercise led me to Dr.
Demakis. I immediately contacted him to see if he had any undergraduate work available. He
told me one of his students was currently conducting a study, measuring the financial capacity of
college students. This study requires the researcher to administer a battery of
neuropsychological assessments. Collectively, these assessments measure several variables, such
as the following: intelligence, GPA, working memory, arithmetic, attention, and executive

22

functioning. For the past couple of months, I have been trained to conduct the study as a
researcher myself. I see this as a great way to get my feet wet.
I did nearly the same thing in preparation for the summer months as well. I reached out
(via email) to a few neuropsychologists working in Charlotte. I mentioned that I was a student at
UNC Charlotte, majoring in psychology, and interested in pursuing a field in their discipline.
Though there are several confidentiality concerns in this line of work, I simply asked if they
would be interested in any additional assistance during the summer. I was grateful to hear back
from Dr. Rinehardt a few days later. We have been exchanging messages back and forth over
email, and I had a phone interview with him recently. He told me he would find out exactly what
I could do for him and the Carolinas Healthcare System. At the moment, he said I could do work
for him regarding IRB approval for future research objectives. He also said I could sit in on
clinical interviews (patient permitted); and then he would discuss his analysis with me after. All
of this sounds wonderful to me! Dr. Rinehardt and I resemble two separate neural pathways that
connected and interacted with each other to achieve a goal.
In the matter of a few months, I managed to control my controllables. Graduate school
acceptance still remains uncertain, but I feel much better than I did just four months ago. I have
also started to close the gap between my actual self and my ideal self. I work with what I have
available to me, and utilize it as much as I can. My actions are reflecting James Baldwins
words. My actions are mirroring the mechanisms of neuroplasticity. I am undergoing what I can
now, to promote improved functioning later on. I am reorganizing my current activities to
reshape the extent of my future. I am growing.
Motivation

23

Motivation (Fall 2014) is my seventh artifact, and is another class I signed up for out of
pure interest. Though it fulfilled psychology credits, I wanted to take it for my own personal
benefit. I believed it could support the number of positions I am involved with on campus; and
to make sure I am doing them appropriately. Although I am so keen on personal growth, and
succeeding as much as possible; I often am the one who interferes with these personal motives. I
can be my own worst enemy.
In taking this class, I wanted to fight off this negative mindset. I wanted to get explicit,
self-help strategies I could use to defeat my own worst enemy. By the end of the semester, I
learned a valuable way to process the goals I have. I also learned how to properly execute them.
I learned that when you set a goal, there immediately is a distance separating your desired
state from your current state. The important thing for me to remember is most long-term goals
cannot be achieved over night; that is why they are long-term goals. So I opened up to the notion
that not everything I can do for the goal can be done immediately. This seems simple enough,
but it is very important to remember. Otherwise, tackling all things at once leads to additional,
unnecessary stress; which interferes with the overall goal, and addresses the weakness I stated
earlier about getting in my own way.
I learned the value of devising a map. This map can display all the sub goals that will
enable me to reach my ultimate goal later on down the line. It can be a great representation of
how one will execute their day-to-day actions. This keeps me honest to the demands I have set
for myself; allowing me to tackle my goal little by little; rather than all at one time.
Though this material seems light and fairly simple, it is really important. Motivation
comes in different forms and degrees for everyone. I think it is fascinating to know what drives

24

people to accomplish all that they can. It is certainly important to me, and the way I conduct
myself every day.
Being my own worst enemy is something I have struggled with for a very long time. I do
not like being the interference to my own success. It is very dysfunctional. This class has
provided me with helpful ways to combat my own personal drawbacks. This information is
meaningful to me. It is not something I memorized for a few days just to pass an exam; only to
have forgotten it two weeks later. The material I learned in Motivation is very real. Again,
something I can apply outside the classroom setting. Something I will be mindful of as I
continue to face lifes challenges ahead.
The Next Step
It is remarkable that my time at UNC Charlotte is near an end. Time certainly has not
been forgiving. Just like before, I am anxiously awaiting the next stages set of demands. But
unlike before, I am better prepared. Bearing Mr. Baldwins words in mind, I have a stronger
attitude to approach the situation.
I would like to say graduate education (eighth and final artifact) is the next step for my
career. One message I received after becoming a psychology major is that a graduate degree is
almost a must in todays economy. It was not that long ago that my future seemed uncertain.
Continuing my education was not an idea I had originally intended on. Therefore, this plan is
something I needed to adjust to. Ever since, I have been feverishly attempting to do everything I
can; in order to set myself up as best I can for the greatest amount of success possible.
When I came to this school, I had no sense for my future. I was a typical, stubborn,
young adult whose number one priority was anything but school. This does not mean I did not
try hard in school; quite the contrary in fact. However, I was still holding on to the illusion that

25

maybe one day, I could take my running to the professional level. I was an athlete-student if
you will. But as I pinned down my major, and years starting clicking by, I started to mature in
my thinking.
I realized I have been given a unique opportunity in life. I have been extremely fortunate
to receive an athletic scholarship to attend UNC Charlotte. Five years ago, someone decided I
was worth the investment. I am taking this gift and fulfilling every single opportunity I can. I do
not want to leave this university having any regrets. More importantly, I do not want my
investor to have any regrets in their decision of me. It would be a waste not to maximize my
opportunity (scholarship) as best I can.
Now, I want my identity to start with anything but running. In high school, I was a fairly
shy kid with a few select friends. To everyone else, I was just the kid who ran really far. My
running identity persisted for the first three years at UNC Charlotte as well. I enjoyed this status
for a while. But it is different now. As I continue to set my future up as best I can, I am
beginning to participate in a number of other things as well. I would like for some of the light to
shine on these activities as well.
I am a more active community service volunteer today than I was a few years ago. My
first two years at this school, I would also disregard the beginning of the semester emails seeking
volunteer note takers. Now I have a couple hundred hours accumulated between several classes.
Honestly, I probably took on the responsibility for selfish reasons at first. I figured if graduate
school were to be my destiny, then community service could be one way to get there. So I did it
for myself. The same thought exists even now, a couple of months later. But it is not purely for
selfish reasons. I realized my work was contributing to another students academic success.

26

Since I am now a student-athlete again, school is very important to me. So why ever shy away
from helping someone else achieve too?
I carried this same message into my role as a teaching assistant (TA) for Dr. Bennett in
Introduction to Brain & Behavior. Again, I did it partly for selfish reasons at first. I wanted this
to be another piece to put on my resume. Yet by the end, I got out of it much more than I went in
with. I assisted some students with their performance in the course. I learned a little bit about
what occurs on the other side of the classroom perspective. I certainly gained an appreciation for
a professors line of work. Reviewing papers can be a daunting task. Most importantly, I
established a closer connection to a professional in the psychology field. Dr. Bennetts
knowledge and input is something of great value to me. Listening to her lectures as a TA as
opposed to a student, I had a different sense of the class. I heard less of the content material, and
more of her passion for teaching. I heard the willingness in her voice; and the desire to see her
students succeed as much as possible. This is exactly the type of professional I want to listen to.
So much, in fact, that she has agreed to assist in my challenge of writing this piece.
This same academic spirit extends into my work as a Disciplinary Communications
Consultant (DCC). As a DCC, I work closely with students in a particular section of Research
Methods II course. Since this class is writing extensive, I basically work as a writing tutor for
students. A psychological research paper is far different from a traditional English paper; and so,
having additional resources benefits them. This line of work has helped me get my feet wet for
the professional world. This internship alone takes up most of my time. Between attending my
designated class, attending meetings, reviewing papers, and holding office hours, I do not have
much time left. Yet, I am also tackling credits of my own; and running up to 100 miles a week
for cross country/track. I am activating and challenging different aspects of my life to help

27

improve my overall outcome. I really do not know what to expect for graduate school, but I
certainly know I will be busy. I see the day-to-day lifestyle I have right now, to be good practice
for what may come next. My time at UNC Charlotte has certainly fulfilled a lot of
learning/experience.
Conclusion
My collegiate career has been the most defining piece of my life so far. UNC Charlotte
has served host to a number of significant life events. Some have embodied growth
(Sociological Social Psychology); others learning/experience (2012 A10 Cross Country
Championships, Positive Psychology, Graduate School); a few damaging (A field in Clinical
Neuropsychology); while others were dysfunctional (Abnormal Psychology, Citizenship,
Motivation). Good or bad, each contributed an opportunity for improvement. A moment for me
to evaluate the event, and then strive for a better outcome in future endeavors. The same basic
process that mirrors neuroplasticity.
In high school, I still possessed the same stubborn attitude to be the best I could be. I
stopped at nothing to give an endeavor my absolute best effort. However, this really only
extended to running. I identified myself as a runner, and nothing more. To high school peers, I
was the quiet kid who could be seen running all over town. To be honest, I fed off my peers
evaluations. It satisfied me to know that others observed my enduring passion.
I was also the kid who was living comfortably with his parents, and without an
overwhelming concern in the world. I was perfectly content with this persona. This was why
leaving such a comfortable environment to attend college was such a stressful time. Like many
other students, the uncertainty surrounding the first year of college seemed unbearable. I did not

28

know what exactly lied ahead, fearing it would be insurmountable. I feared I wouldnt be able to
handle it. I didnt want to handle it.
The fear of the unknown is something that I indeed struggled with before entering
college. I feared undesirable outcomes; and simply tried avoiding them altogether. I reasoned
that if I ignored them, then nothing bad could possibly happen. Yet, another perspective I failed
to look at was what I could potentially be missing out on by avoiding certain situations. The fear
of the unknown does not always lead to negative outcomes. Looking back, I wonder if this early,
collegiate mindset may have prevented me from maximizing my opportunities and/or
experiences.
Freshman year, I was perfectly content with just going to class and practice; and then
simply hiding in my dorm room the rest of the day. I still held onto my high school identity
(quiet runner), so this routine satisfied my needs. I think it is also partly due to the fact that I still
held onto the belief that I could one day become a professional runner. But it did not take too
many collegiate races for me to be humbled. The unrealistic possibility of going pro really set in.
This was a wakeup call for me. I realized I needed to be doing things outside of competitive
running because the days in it were limited. I believe this is about the time I adopted James
Baldwins advice. Ever since this stark realization about my future, my life has reflected his
message.
I think my participation with the Hospitality House of Charlotte (HHoC) was clear
evidence of this. Community service started out as a chore for me. Now it is a part of who I
identify with. I gained a rich appreciation for life, participating in these service hours.
Something I may have never experienced otherwise. Or even my race at the 2012 Atlantic 10
Cross Country Championships. Every once in a while, I revisit that day and wonder what would

29

have happened had my shoe stayed on. Good or bad, I will never know. But that was such a
teachable moment for me. I have run in several races since that infamous, fall day. And not once
has my shoe been stripped off my foot. Without the A10 Championships, perhaps I still would
not fully appreciate that life does not always go as planned; but that it still goes on. The past is
absolute, and nothing can be done to change it. Yet, there is always something to be said about
the future.
Knowing the person I once was has made seeing the person I have grown into extremely
rewarding. Four years later, I have: completed nearly two hundred hours of community service;
served as a teaching assistant; have worked as a writing mentor for students enrolled in Research
Methodology II; have contributed to an undergraduate research study conducted on campus; I am
planning to work closely with a professional in the clinical neuropsychology field; and am
currently preparing to face a new host of challenges on the graduate school level. I am proud of
the steps I have taken for my professional career. When I look at this list, I notice two very
important things. (1) Each one these activities as forced me to break out of my traditional, quiet
self and interact with others; while also having to initiate the interaction myself. (2) Not one of
them has anything to do with running. So in four years, I have grown out of the quiet runner
identity and grown into something much more.
By taking these steps, I have reached closer to a case of personal neuroplasticity.
Remember, Cramer and colleagues (2011) believe the central tenets of neuroplasticity are
experience dependence, time sensitivity, and motivation and attention. Without them, it is more
difficult for the process to unfold. How have I ensured this? Starting from the time my brother
was diagnosed with a mental disorder, my path in life has been more focused. I realized clinical
neuropsychology is something I really want to do (motivation), and paid attention to the things I

30

needed to do for that to happen. I declared psychology as a major, and later declared sociology
and cognitive science as minors. These disciplines have guided me into the appropriate
environment (classes) I need in order to achieve my goal (experience dependence). Furthermore,
I have put myself out there (to Drs. Demakis & Rinehardt) in order to gain real-world exposure.
And lastly, I realized my time to take advantage of these opportunities and experiences while at
UNC Charlotte are limited (time sensitivity). I decided I did not want to graduate from UNC
Charlotte regretting an option I never fully committed to. I also realized this wouldnt happen
overnight; but that I, at least, could be satisfied by putting the pieces together with each semester.
Now, I believe I can argue neuroplasticity has indeed occurred.
Like the human brain, I have matured in this stage of my life-course development. I have
grown and learned strategies to ensure better outcomes for my future. While this included
damaging and dysfunctional times as well, I have become stronger because of them. I have
started to live a neuroplastic life while attending UNC Charlotte. I do not know what is to be
said for the future. This may include graduate school. It may not. Regardless, I feel better
equipped to challenge whatever it is that comes my way. Like the increasing complexity
influencing our brains, my life will continue to face the changes I want to see unfold.

31

References
Cramer, S., Mriganka, S., Dobkin, B., OBrien, C., Sanger, T., Trojanowski, J., Vinogradov, S.
(2011). Harnessing neuroplasticity for clinical applications. Brain: A journal of
neurology, 134, 1591-1609.
Herzberg, B. (1994). Community service and critical teaching. College Composition and
Communication, 45(3), 307-319. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/358813
Liou, S. (2010). Neuroplasticity. Retrieved March 14, 2015, from
http://web.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/hopes_test/neuroplasticity/
Seligman, M. (2011). Martin Seligman: The new era of positive psychology. Retrieved from
http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology?language=en
DSM-5 schizoaffective disorder
Sincero, S. (Jun 27, 2011). Neuroplasticity. Retrieved from http://explorable.com/neuroplasticity

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Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I want to thank my family. My parents have provided me with relentless
support each step of the way. They have always been there for me, and it comforts me to know
this will never change.
I thank my brother, Justin, for giving me a sense of purpose in life. My worth ethic and
motivation in life stems from him, and the many others out there like him. Together, I think
wonderful things can be accomplished.
I want to thank Drs. Bennett (thesis advisor) and Blanchard (reader), as well as Professor Hicks
and Dr. Warner, for their advice and commitment in making this final product the best it could
be. It certainly means a lot to know the time they invested towards helping me, despite the very
busy lives they both lead.
I want to thank my professors who have contributed to my education and knowledge base.
My cross country/track & field coaches for pushing me to be the best person I can, on and off the
track.
Finally, I would like to thank James Baldwin; for his words of wisdom has given my life
direction.