Please discuss the following case study with your classmates:
Sammi is a junior. Her parents adopted her when she was 4 years old. There is little information about her early life or birth parents. She has always been a serious student with a strong work ethic and she also been a model child. Since she was in middle school, she has aspired to be a neurosurgeon. Currently, Sammi takes six AP classes. She also sings in the select choir at the district level and is a varsity cheerleader. She makes time for church, volunteering, her family, and her friends. She is the go-to person if anyone needs something done. Her parents are very proud of her talents and the self-discipline she exhibits in maintaining her 4.3 GPA.
At present, she is having a little difficulty juggling two of her major activities because her cheer coach wants her to step up to run the spring tryouts, and her music teacher wants her to take the lead in the spring musical. She does not want to let either of them down because she does not want them to think that their activity is not her priority. Sammi is also concerned about taking the SAT and AP exams in May. Her parents are more than willing to provide whatever resources she needs, including hiring a private SAT prep tutor to work with her in 3-hour blocks on the weekends for the next 8 weeks. The tutoring is expensive, and she does not want to waste her parents’ money or the tutor’s time by missing a session.
This week, Sammi’s AP Physics teacher described an unusual response to a classmate. During a lab, Sammi made an incorrect calculation. After her lab partner gently teased that he was proud to have been able to catch Sammi’s single error since kindergarten, Sammi asked to go to the clinic. Yesterday, Sammi e-mailed the teacher to say that she was too ill to finish her assignment but would submit it tomorrow. She had always made it a practice to never submit work late because it added pressure to her work in other classes.
Sammi’s coach mentioned that she wore a long-sleeved shirt at practice, which is unusual for any cheerleader. She noted that Sammi seemed a little distracted, and she was sharp when a teammate asked her to be careful during a stunt.
Sammi’s dad called the counselor to ask about her performance in school. He reported that she has been staying up even later than usual to work on homework and has been turning down social engagements.
Sammi’s best friend says that she appears fine; she seems very vivacious and upbeat. As a matter of fact, she plans on meeting Sammi after school because Sammi agreed to tutor her for a chemistry test.
In your discussion, please address the following:
Even though only mental health professionals should make diagnoses (always), predict how you think a professional might assess Sammi’s behavior.
What tool(s) would you expect a professional to use to assess Sammi?
Give your opinion as to whether Sammi’s behaviors indicate a reason to be concerned.
Who would you speak with about Sammi’s behavior, and what would you say?
Propose some specific actions that you could take in your professional role to help Sammi.
Imagine specific ways that a professional might help Sammi.
Consider Danielson outcome 1a: Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy as you frame your response.
Forums will be graded, per the following guidelines for completion:
Participant satisfactorily shares thoughtful reflections and/or responds to colleagues in a respectful and engaging way.
Participant provides an adequate level of detail in entries.
Examples are satisfactorily helpful and informative and foster discussions or demonstrate substantial reflection.
Participant’s responses are clear and well written, and employ proper APA citation.
