When thinking about our career paths, a bit of self-reflection can help guide us to where we hope to end up in the future.
Using 1 APA citation and reference, answer these “Five Important Questions” from your chapter 18 Slides:
1. Where have I been?
2. Where am I now?
3. Where am I going?
4. How am I going to get there?
5. How will I know when I have arrived?
(Also doesn’t have to be too long, I’m a registered dental hygienist right now, aspiring to be a teacher/instructor)
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
When considering our career paths, it is important to engage in self-reflection to guide us towards our desired future. In doing so, we can ask ourselves five important questions: Where have I been? Where am I now? Where am I going? How am I going to get there? How will I know when I have arrived? These questions help us assess our past experiences, current situation, future goals, strategies for achieving those goals, and indicators of success.
Where have I been? Reflecting on our past experiences allows us to identify the skills, knowledge, and achievements we have gained thus far. This assessment helps us understand our strengths and weaknesses and provides insights into the paths we have taken in our careers. According to Savickas (2013), understanding our past experiences helps shape our career narratives and influences our future career choices.
Where am I now? Evaluating our current situation involves assessing our current job, responsibilities, and level of satisfaction. It requires an honest reflection on whether our current role aligns with our values, interests, and long-term aspirations. This self-assessment allows us to identify any gaps between where we are now and where we want to be in the future.
Where am I going? Setting clear goals for our future helps provide direction and purpose in our careers. As an aspiring teacher/instructor, it is important to define the specific role or setting you aim to work in and the subjects or skills you want to teach. Clearly outlining your career aspirations will enable you to strategize and take steps towards achieving those goals.
How am I going to get there? Developing a plan of action is crucial in moving towards your career goals. This involves identifying the necessary qualifications, skills, or certifications required for your desired teaching position. It may also involve seeking opportunities for professional development, such as pursuing a teaching degree or participating in pedagogical training programs.
How will I know when I have arrived? Establishing indicators of success helps track progress and provides a sense of accomplishment along the way. These indicators may include obtaining a teaching position, successfully completing a teaching certification program, receiving positive feedback from students and colleagues, or making a positive impact on the learning outcomes of your students.
In conclusion, self-reflection through answering these five important questions helps provide clarity and direction in our career paths. By understanding where we have been, where we are now, and where we want to go, we can develop strategies to achieve our goals and establish indicators of success. This self-assessment process allows us to make informed decisions and take actions that align with our aspirations.
