RUNING HEAD: SELF REFLECTION 1

Self Reflection
EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Digital Teaching and Learning
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral
Azusa Pacific Main Campus
Professor Courduff
Nancy Cruz
SELF REFLECTION 2


I use all four of the components of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral in my life. I use
them in different times in my life and depending on the situation. I feel they give my life
a balance and the answer when I am faced with difficult situations. When I am faced with
a though situation or decisions that will be life changing, I look at all four of these
components. I have to reflect on all four, so that I can make a final decision. I believe if I
did not use all four or one of these components, I would not have the balance in my life
that I do now. If I did not use any of the four quadrants I would be making bad decisions
that could affect my personal and professional relationships.
The three quadrants I rely on the most are reason, experience and traditions. All
three play different roles in my everyday life and decisions I have to make. The three
give my life the balance I need. The reason quadrant plays a role because I try to live my
life with God in mind. For examples, I believe I was created in Gods image and I am not
prefect but I try to live my life in a peaceful, spiritual and respectful in every aspect of
my life. The tradition quadrant is also one that I rely on in my everyday life. For example,
I am Mexican- American and my religion is a huge part of my tradition. They are
combined and sometimes cannot distinguish from culture and religion. My religion and
culture are a part of me and I will make choices on that fact. Experience is the third
quadrant I rely on in my everyday life. For example, when I had to make the decision to
leave my family in order to give my children a better life. In my life experience I knew
that it was the right thing for my and my children to move and start a new life. In my
heat I knew God had given me the opportunity to start new and all I had to do was
believe in his plan for me and follow it. I feel God has been a part of my life journey
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every step of the way, sometimes I do not realize it right away and sometime I know it
right away. I look up at the sky and say thank you for all that you have given me and
taught me.
The distinction between Scripture and Tradition I would say is with
scripture it is Gods revelation to humankind. Scripture are Gods word and his students
the Apostles who created the Bible for us his children to follow. We were created in the
image of God to live our lives with good morals, respect, love, humility and loyalty to
God. Tradition can be complicated sometimes. I am catholic and Mexican-American, in
my culture I feel our religion is combined with culture. For example, growing up we told
of the Sacraments we will do as we turn a certain age, but it also become a part of our
culture. It has become a part of our culture and faith to celebrate the different Sacraments.
We pass that on to our children and their children.

I do relay on some more than others but it all depends on the situation. For
example, my daughter Fatima was born at 30 week of my pregnancy. She had
complications and the doctors did not know if she was going to make it the first hours of
her life. I was only 22 and had to make huge medical decisions for her. When I made the
medical decisions the two components I relied on was reason and scripture. Reason
because the doctors and I knew that the medical treatment would help her. It had been
proven with medically. Scripture because I had to read Gods words in the Bible to have
faith that he would heal my daughter. Depending on the situation I am in, I will use either
all four or just one. Another example was when I had to make the decision to sell my
house and move to my parents house I was a mess. I relied on reason and experience to
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make this decision because my answer was not in the scripture or tradition. I had to look
within myself and ask I am doing the right thing and what has my experience taught me?
God played a huge role in making my decision. He gave me the strength to make many
life-changing decisions at a young age.
The decisions we make as educators can have an impact on the lives of my
students and my colleges. I believe it is important to make decisions with all four
quadrants in mind because it is what makes us humble, respectful, and thoughtful of
others. If I did not have this balance I would touch my students lives negatively. I also
have to be a role model because I am the teacher. This will allow me to teach students
how they should treat their classmate and love ones. My colleagues would not want work
with me if I did not rely on the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. I think I would be a heartless.
It is important for me to use all four or just one of the quadrants when making
choices in my life. No matter how small or big these choices are. Through my life I have
had tough choices to make and I would not have been able to make them if I did not rely
on the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. I have also had tough experiences and relying on the
Wesleyan for answers. This is the first time I have been able to see how my decisions
depend on the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.