You will complete a short 5 page paper in which you reflect on your personal experiences of learning from change.
First, review the short article titled Change doesn't happen overnight (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.by Amy Morin.
The article describes change as a process that involves steps of:
1) Thinking about the change
2) Preparing for the change
3) Making the change
4) Sustaining the change
You may find that some changes caused by external forces (such as an unexpected event) do not follow this orderly sequence.
Reflection Paper
Finally, summarize and reflect upon your past, present and future experiences of change. The reflection paper should include:
Introduction (1 paragraph)
Provide a brief description of your own orientation towards change.
For example: do you view change as a threat or as an opportunity? Do you welcome change in some areas (such as a professional setting), but prefer stability in other areas (such as personal relationships)?
You may also consider how your orientation toward change has changed with time and experience.
Example of past change and learning (1 page)
Identify a past situation in which you experienced a significant change. This experience may be in a professional, personal, or academic setting.
Consider whether the change was due to your choice, or if external forces imposed this change on you.
Describe what you learned from the experience and what you would do differently today based upon this learning (or what advice you wish you had been able to give your younger self).
Current example of a situation where you are experiencing a change (1 page)
Identify at least one current situationin which you are now experiencing a change.
Describe your response to the change and how this reflects your approach towards taking risks and learning from change. For example, do you view yourself as an individual who has a low, moderate or strong tolerance of change?
Describe how might you approach this situation differently? What forms of support (personal, professional and social) are most helpful to you?
Example of a future change that you wish to make (1 page)
Provide a description of a future change that you wish to make.
Share why this change is important to you. Identify any obstacles or challenges that you may need to overcome in order to successfully complete this change.
Based upon Morin's article, consider whether you are currently at the contemplation stage or the preparation stage for this change. What is needed for you to reach the next stage in the change process? What are the important factors in determining the best timing for this future change?
Conclusion (1 paragraph)
Identify any patterns that connect your experiences of change.
How can the lessons learned from your previous experiences of change enable you to effectively approach personal change in the future?
Consider how the specific learning from this course may benefit you in your future academic, personal and professional endeavors.