Reflection 6: Now What?
Situation:
Having finished your lunch, not only have you inspired another Aggie through the development of your project, but you have also gained clarity on explaining your process and reflecting upon the different events leading up to project completion. Your fellow student asks:
How has your understanding of this topic evolved throughout your project?
My understanding of this topic has evolved greatly due to my students asking thought-provoking questions that I had not previously thought of. I now own three books about the Enneagram, and have read more online blogs and self-care journals than I had ever imagined for myself. I thought I knew a lot about the topic when I began teaching, but my knowledge has grown exponentially in the span of the past few months.
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In what ways do you think this experience will help you as you move forward?
I can already see this experience helping me due to the personal growth I have undergone in my ability to publicly speak. I used to be very nervous and insecure when speaking in front of crowds, but this experience has allowed me to build in my confidence. I am now much more comfortable with myself and with sharing my ideas with others. I can also see this experiencing helping me because I now know how to properly lead discussions and facilitate conversations about important topics. I have learned how to easily break past surface-level conversation, as well as facilitate for others to do the same.
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How has this project enabled you to build confidence in your abilities as you embark upon a career?
As I mentioned earlier, this project has enabled me to build confidence in my ability to publicly speak and share my thoughts with people I do not know. This will help me be a more effective patient advocate in my nursing career because I will need to voice my opinion in front of groups for the sake of my patient. All of my life experiences thus far have contributed to building my confidence and setting me up for great success in my future career.
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How will you celebrate your success upon completing and presenting your project?
I am planning on celebrating my success upon completion of my project by having the last class take place outside. I am going to buy donuts and bring them for the class, and I will have each of my students write down 5 goals that they have for themselves going forward. I will also be assigning accountability partners so that people will continue on this self-growth journey much after class has ended.
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What is next in the pursuit of your long-term goals?
In pursuit of my long-term goals, my next steps include finishing out my term as a Fish Camp Co-Chair for 2021 with grace, and getting more involved in other organizations to leave my mark on Texas A&M and expand my network. I have just received the Buck Weirus Spirit Award, and am planning on applying for more recognitions that could contribute to getting into a Master's program. Next on my list of goals is to graduate from Texas A&M's College of Nursing in the University Honors program, and continue my path to earning my Nurse Practitioner license.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself a year ago?
Knowing what I know now, a year ago I would've told myself to start blocking out time for introspection in my normal life. It should not have taken teaching a class for me to reflect on my personal strengths and weaknesses. I would tell myself to start diving deeper with my friends and refrain from surface-level conversation. I wish that I would have started being more intentional with the people in my life much earlier, and actively trying to develop myself before the Enneagram was even present in my life. All in all, I have no regrets and am proud of myself for how much I have grown since arriving in Aggieland.
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What advice would you give to a student beginning their capstone project?
The advice that I would give to a student beginning their capstone project would be to do it on something you are actually passionate about, or you will have wasted an amazing opportunity. I start tearing up when I think about how the next class will be my last one and wish I could teach SO many other people about this topic because it is so so important. I absolutely LOVED my capstone, and I think a lot of it is because I am so passionate about what I am teaching. I get goosebumps when I hear my students using what they've learned from class in real-life conversation because they are actually listening to me and applying this knowledge in their own lives.