« Reflection: Self-knowledge and Personal Growth

Laura Hillhouse

Reflection #3

3 replies
Kathryn Smith TF MB
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For many years, including this year, I have set one of my New Year’s goals to be to read more. Through my internship, I have been more successful in working towards this goal than ever before. While I was initially nervous about picking out my own research materials, looking for this content has been one of my favorite parts about this internship. Whether it is a book, podcast, or a study, I have enjoyed getting to read and listen to so many different perspectives on leadership from people of all backgrounds. 

 

As someone who thinks they thrive under structure, I knew this internship was going to push me out of my comfort zone. Outside of a few class projects, I cannot think of many times where I have had such free reign to decide what questions I want to focus in on and the strategies to help approach potential answers. This internship revealed to me that I enjoy this freedom to explore more than I thought I would. Furthermore, I am growing to find more comfort in the unknown. Along with this, I am learning not to equate success with solutions, as sometimes the best outcome is the absorption of new information and experiences. 

 

Going forward, I want to end this internship as positively as possible. I want to adjust my mindset to keep the questions I am asking about power and leadership as an ongoing exploration. Unfortunately, I often brain dump a lot of the information I learn at the end of the semester, and I want to avoid this habit with my internship at Beloved. I firmly believe that the questions I am asking are relevant to everyone no matter what area they do or do not work in. One strategy to prevent this is to, at the end of my internship, write one deep question I have left with in the notes section of my planner for each month for the rest of 2021. This way, I will always see a  question when I go to check my schedule, and it will remind me to continue thinking.

3 replies
  1. Post by Mary Bullock
    Reflection
    I think it is so interesting that we are having the same issues with craving structure and being given wild amounts of freedom and choice. I think its a great chance for use to flex our initiative and leadership skills, but at the same time I completely empathize with your reservation. 
  2. Post by Taylor Fields
    Re: Reflection #3
    I'm so happy that you are being pushed out of your comfort zone! It's going to allow you tho grow and learn so much more. Since you're writing a question for each month, I think that is awesome. Good to keep you thinking and connecting it back to the internship. 
  3. Post by Kathryn Smith
    Re: Reflection #3
    I love your plan of writing questions in your planner to remind you to keep thinking about the material you're learning. It is all too easy to do a brain dump once a class has ended; that's why it's so important to always try to find a personal connection to the material, which will help you internalize what you're learning so that you ponder on it and draw on it long after class has ended. 

    Becoming comfortable with the unknown, embracing the freedom to explore, and finding new definitions of success are all huge lessons! How will they shape the rest of your time at BSC? How will they shape your approach to your career, even if they don't change your career plans themselves?

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