Self-Efficacy

Discuss self-efficacy. In what areas do you have a high degree of self-efficacy?  What do you think contributes to this (experiences, opportunities, failures, people, etc)?

Before I really begin discussing self-efficacy, I want to take a look at the definition.  According to wikipedia, self efficacy is:

"... a term used in psychology, roughly corresponding to a person's belief in their own competence.
It has been defined as the belief that one is capable of performing in a certain manner to attain certain goals.^[1] It is believed that our personalized ideas of self-efficacy affect our social interactions in almost every way. Understanding how to foster the development of self-efficacy is a vitally important goal for positive psychology because it can lead to living a more productive and happy life."

In simpler terms, I would say that self-efficacy is a belief in yourself, a belief that you can perform well at most things you take on.  Self-Efficacy is, however, not just confidence in yourself.  It is an internal feeling, but is greatly influenced by past actions and interactions with those around you.  From my understanding, self-efficacy can be increased if a person is given achievable goals and reinforcement on a job well done; but it can also be decreased with projects and goals that are unreachable.  I am sure that my understanding is rudimentary.  Self-Efficacy very complicated than what I described above... but it is a start!

So, where do I have a high degree of self-efficacy?  And where did this come from?

Hmmm... this is hard for me to say.  I am not someone who often likes to talk about my strengths.  It feels like bragging to me.  But, overall I feel that I can succeed at most things you put in front of me.  Of course, this is within reason.  I am not trained to be an engineer and if asked to build a bridge... well, you wouldn't want to be driving on it!  But I have confidence in a lot of what I do.  Otherwise, I probably wouldn't agree to do things.  I guess I should move on to some specifics, huh?

• Ability to organize - I consider myself a highly organized person.  I can help you sort things, pile things and get your mess under control!  Of course, you may need to be able to part with a few things a long the way.  Some of this comes from personality.  Mess and confusion and disorganization upsets me.  I get stressed just thinking about it.  But it also comes from a family who values organization.  It was taught, modeled and shown to me.  By the time I was in middle school I didn't need help organizing my ideas for a project -- I had been walked through the steps enough I could do it for you.  Same thing for my room, etc.
• Ability to plan an event - Organization also extends into an ability to plan an event.  I am not the dreamer or idea person.  But you give me the idea, the vision and it will get done!  That I can promise.  I have planned many successful events, ranging from the small to a couple of hundred people.  In my current position I am helping to plan events for people in the thousands -- now that is a little scary!  But I trust it will be successful because of my past experiences.  I didn't start out planning an event for 3000 people.  NO!  I started small.  I started young (in Girl Scouts, as young as middle school!).  And I had support along the way.  By the time I reached college I was prepared to run events on my own because I had my Girl Scout leaders guiding me up until our Senior Year of high school. Scaffolding and experience prepared me!  
• Ability with Children - I always feel weird saying this... but as a future teacher it is good for me to say it.  I am good with children.  According to my mom, always have been!  I am not sure where this comes from.  Some of it must be a natural ability, but again, I had many opportunities to interact and be around children.  Experience, scaffolding along the way, and a natural ability allowed me to develop a skill that is leading to a career.  When I walk into a classroom to teach I am nervous (who wouldn't be!), but within seconds I feel at ease.  It is easy to interact with the students, to get their attention, to joke with them... I know I will have to work on my classroom management skills.  But aren't classroom management skills something to learn?  With experience and scaffolding I am sure I can improve there, too!

So, I guess I could think of more.  But, I'll stop there.  Those are probably the first three that come to mind. I can also think of areas that I need improvement, or that I don't feel particularly comfortable in (ahem, engineering or building a bridge --> higher level mathematical skills).  However, we aren't meant to be good at everything, right?