When I first learned about the Jesuit value of Cura Personalis, it was a concept that made sense to me.  I loved the idea that everyone is unique and has something special and different to offer.  This idea resonates with me because I find it useful in many of my courses, as well as in my life as a whole.  As a social work major, I strive to emphasize individuality.  In fact, there is a theory in social work called the “strengths-based perspective” that I believe embodies Cura Personalis.  The strengths-based perspective aims to highlight the strongest traits of an individual, and the idea behind it is that social workers should focus on what does work, rather than what does not.  My experiences in my social work courses have reaffirmed my belief in Cura Personalis.  When I self-reflect upon my strengths, I see the most potential in my compassion and my honesty.  I have always been compassionate, even to a fault at times.  When an individual comes to me for advice or assistance, I strive to put myself in his or her shoes so that I can fully understand the situation.  What I think is most valuable about my compassion is that it is limitless.  What I mean by that is that I have just as much compassion for my best friend as I do for a stranger.  This trait would be beneficial to students and advisors alike.  For example, if I notice that the advisor for which I am working is stressed over a specific activity or class, I will go out of my way to find out what I can do to support him or her.  Another aspect of my character in which I see value is my honesty.  I have always viewed dishonesty as a form of disrespect.  I think it comes down to the “golden rule”; I would not appreciate being lied to, so I would not lie to someone else.  My honesty would be beneficial in a Peer Advisor position because the advisor for which I am working can count on my word.  For example, if an advisor wants feedback or a status report on specific project, I would never be dishonest just to provide a preferable response.  Or if a student comes to coffee hours looking for help or advice, I would give my most honest thoughts so that I could truly assist him or her.  My compassion and honesty are strong, unique characteristics of which I am proud.  I think that these special traits would enhance the UNIV 101 experience for both students and advisors in more ways than one.