The results of the questionnaire from VARK Inventory said that I was a multimodal learner, meaning that I learn best in more than just one way. Here were my scores:
Visual: 4
Aural: 5
Read/write: 6
Kinesthetic: 5

I found that I am a visual learner. Some of the characteristics they mentioned are things that I do when studying/learning. Pictures help me learn things, I highlight important information in my notes, and I picture my notes in my head sometimes.

I am also a aural learner. I was surprised to learn that I fit this category, but when I started reading about it, I realize I do a lot of the things they had listed. I try to attend as many lectures as I can (not because I have to, but because I need to). I always write down examples that teachers give while they are lecturing. When I study, I must be in a quiet setting & I go over my notes out loud; if I just do them in my head it is not very effective.

I did not agree with the reading/writing way of learning. I do not think I fit very good into this category. I never rewrite things unless I have to.

And I agreed with the kinesthetic category. I learn very well through trial and error. Sometimes if the material and/or steps are just given to me I have a hard time remembering/understanding it. I also recall 'real' things that happen. For instance, when I go over my notes, I think of when the professor said it. If I cannot recall the professor going over the material, I have a hard time learning it.

Think about your experience and history as a learner. What story can you tell? Write about your disconnections with learning (the things that cause you grief, create barriers, impede your progress as a learner). Then, write about the tensions and excitements associate with learning. Use specific examples when possible to illustrate your meaning.

Being a junior in college, I have had a lot of experiences with different teachers. Most of my experiences were positive; however, there have been teachers that I do not prefer. In order for me to learn, I need to have encouragement. It helps me learn when the teacher is shows a positive attitude about my work and is enthusiastic about learning.

In elementary school I had a teacher who did not care for my work. She was a very artistic person and gave special attention to the good artists in the classroom. I had always thought that I had good artistic abilities and was creative until I had this teacher.

I remember for one assignment we had to write a poem (I can't remember what it was about though). The night that I needed to do the assignment, I was trying to figure out what to write. It was very hectic at my house because my sister was getting ready for her homecoming and my all of family was over at our house trying to help her get ready. I asked my mom and sister for some help, but they were too busy, so I tried to do it on my own. The day it was due, I turned it into my teacher (mind you I was very proud of this poem) and the teacher told me it was horrible and said to me (in a grumpy, fed-up voice), "Why didn't you have your sister help you? She was always good at writing poems." That was very discouraging for me and I have never enjoyed doing creative projects like that ever since. I would have been more encouraged if she would have criticized my work in a nicer way.

I enjoy learning when I feel confident about the material. If I feel it is something too difficult for me, I get discouraged. I know that is not the best way to be, but that is how I am. In high school I had a science teacher who was pretty hard. However, when someone would answer a question wrong or make a mistake, he would work from the student's mistake. Instead of making them feel stupid, he would try to make them think and figure out the right answer--without putting them on the spot and making them feel pressured. I ended up doing very well in that class and enjoyed learning about science.

He was also a good teacher, in my opinion, because he actually taught the material. I cannot stand it when teachers stand and lecture straight out of the book ---without talking to the students and paying attention to how 'we' are responding. That is another important factor to me when I am learning.

What are the areas of professional practice that capture my interest (this might be a disorder, anything relating to treatment or diagnosis, etc.)? With respect to this general topic, what would an essential question for me be? What do I already know about this topic? What don't I know about this topic?

I am not really sure which areas of professional practice interest me the most. I have not studied or learned a lot about these topics yet. However, because I have a grandfather who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and have seen his experiences throughout the disease, I would like to learn more about the illness. What causes Parkinson’s disease and how does it affect one’s body (what happens physically)? These are things that I would like to find out. I know that it somehow affects the person’s muscles. It also changes the quality of one’s voice by making it breathy.
I do not know what happens to the brain. Before my grandfather’s illness progressed, he was able to talk, though it took him a while to say something and sometimes he would loose train of thought in the middle of his sentence. I am also curious as to why people shake. The person suffering from Parkinson’s disease has a rapid shake-like movement in his hand. What causes the muscles to do this?