This exercise will illuminate for you many of the most important issues we cover in this course. In order to complete this assignment, you will have to do three things.

(1) First, imagine you are now, or are on the road to working in community mental health.

(2) Second, consider your philosophy of life by contemplating either of these three questions: "What am I here on Earth to do?" "What is my purpose in life?" or "How should a good person live?" These are big questions--perhaps the biggest questions we can ask ourselves--and they take time and thought to answer. Spend the next few days considering this question as you go about your life. Outline for yourself the main points of your philosophy of life. (There are no right answers, and you don't need to justify your ideas to us.)

(3) Third, write a 3- to 5-page (no more than 5 pages, double spaced with a 12-point font and 1-inch margins), typed paper which briefly summarizes your philosophy of life (from step 2) and then deeply reflect upon how it might affect your work in community mental health. In other words, how are your own deeply held values likely to impact your own work in the community, both positively and negatively?

Your writing quality will be mentioned in your evaluation. Please proofread and see a writing tutor. Make sure not to include any beliefs or experiences you consider personal enough to want to keep to yourself. Print the paper out early, as you will lose 10 points for each day late, and 5 points if you turn it in after 5:15 on 10/6 (no kidding!). Do not email your paper or drop it off anywhere else but in class!

More grading info: If you turn in a paper that addresses the assignment, you will pass. If you don't do the assignment, or do a different assignment (i.e., answer the question, "what do the fish look like in your aquarium?") you will not pass, and you will also not pass if your writing is not of college essay quality. (In other words, we won't grade you on how 'good' or 'bad' your philosophy or values are.) The reality is... this exercise is pretty much for you, not us. Enjoy, and hang on to it--you'll need it at the end of the quarter.