Financial Learning Process
Sharla Emmers
EXP105 Personal Dimensions of Education
Prof. Pam Bartlett
December 3, 2012
The four stages of the transformational learning process, as outlined in the textbook, are “recognizing a significant problem, confronting it intensely, finding a solution, and integrating a new perspective and a new set of assumptions into your life pattern.” As we go about our daily lives, changes are happening all around us and for most, we are changing too. We all encounter problems that are perplexing and seem to be without a quick resolution. This is the stage where we must work towards a solution, and identifying that a problem exists is the first step. Once an issue has been identified, then a decision about what course of action is needed to take place. Depending upon the complexity of the problem, will have an impact, upon how quickly the change happens. As with the illustration used in our textbook, about returning to school to bolster one’s career, completing a college degree is not something that happens overnight. The journey requires a commitment to future financial obligations, meeting regular deadlines, and the motivation to keep it all going until graduation.
The transformational learning experience, from my own life, occurred when my family and I decided to move into the same house together. I was a single parent and my children’s Father failed to pay his child support. My Mom had been unable to work for several years due to medical problems, forcing them to live on my Dad’s income. During the time my Mom was out of work, they exhausted their savings paying for their medical and living expenses. Undoubtedly, we were each experiencing financial difficulties and we were finding it difficult to manage living paycheck to paycheck. For this reason, I suggested that we combine forces and move into a home together. While combining homes, income, expenses made good sense, there were obstacles that had to be overcome. I was accustomed to having my own money, as were my parents. I was accustomed to juggling the family budget often times, short paying one bill to catch-up on another. My parents were used to paying all their bills in full. The difference between how we each paid bills had created some angst among us. Consequently, we decided to try implementing family meetings to happen at regular intervals. We would conduct a meeting on a weekly basis, where we openly discussed the budget, planned meals, and expenses. Our first initial meetings were unsteady, because it was uncomfortable for all of us to openly discuss our debts. However, in doing so, everyone was knowledgeable about what