Although I was unable to attend, I wanted to take advantage of the exercises from group advising session to built my portfolio and reflect in this quarter so far.
Exercise One: Speed writing warm-up
- My favorite way to spend the day is…
- In the sun
- The words I’d like to live by are…
- Pause before you speak or act
- The greatest challenge I am facing right now is…
- My family
- One new thing that I have done during this quarter that I am proud of is...
- Finally using Duolingo to learn Spanish
- I really wish others knew this about me…
- I am very dedicated to my friends
- When I’m in pain — physical or emotional — the kindest thing I can do for myself is…
- Let myself do whatever I need - cry, lay down, talk
- I feel most energized when…
- I am working on something I am passionate about
- One thing I’ve enjoyed about learning remotely is....
- Proportional Representation
- I feel the most excited when I am learning about...
- Rights advocacy
- I couldn’t imagine living without…
- Being able to walk outdoors
- One thing I miss about learning on campus is...
- Study groups
- I feel happiest in my skin when…
- I am exercising - I picked up running!
- One thing I’ve learned about myself this quarter is...
- I need structure and when I don't have it I have to create it myself
Exercise Two: Spring Quarter reflective questions
- What is one assignment or project that you have worked on or completed this quarter that has surprised you in a positive way because of how well it was completed remotely? How did you organize your work? Have you had to collaborate with others in new ways?
- I was very nervous about my POL S class on electoral systems, but I have actually learned a lot from our readings and enjoyed our assignments. When I first looked at the last set of readings I thought there was no way I could get through Amy Douglas' book "Real Choices/New Voices: How Proportional Representation Elections Could Revitalize American Democracy," especially since our Professor said we should skim as much as we can. Much to my surprise, this one of the most fascinating pieces I've read for a class and I would even want to do more research on the topic. I organized my work by setting a reasonable standard: two readings per day. I made sure to do the readings earlier in the day so I could enjoy the sun too. I didn't collaborate with peers on this project, but I did reach out to my Professor to see if he had any recommendations for further reading on PR in the US.
- What things have you done to set up a space for yourself to work constructively? What has ended up being important to have around you? What has ended up being a distraction?
- I switch between our dining room table and kitchen counter so I can move around and also stand instead of sit all day. The most important thing for me to have is tea. I've been drinking tea all throughout the day to keep my hydrated and it gives me something to pick up other than my phone when I want to take a break. My phone is definitely my biggest distraction. I've been conscious about taking steps to limit screen time and focus on school when it's time to.
- What has been a particular challenge for you this quarter as you navigate new remote learning systems? How have you worked through those challenges? How are you still struggling with them?
- I have really had to work to motivate myself. Because both of my classes (I am doing an internship for 5 credits) are asynchronous I must hold myself accountable. At first this was very hard - it was easy to put work off. However, because of this flexibility I soon realized I could finish the quarter early if I put my mind to it. By setting goals both daily and weekly, I was able to create a productive structure in my life. I still struggle to motivate myself, but when I look at boxes unchecked on my to-do list it helps me get back on track.
- Have you learned anything about yourself during this time that you will want to carry forward in your habits or actions when the campus returns to in person learning?
- I learned that I have a lot of time in the day if I use it well. I've gotten back into my high school habit of waking up at 8 AM every day and I've added a daily run into my routine. I hope I can keep this up when I go back to in person learning. I want to better myself and not sacrifice my physical and mental health for academics. Moreover, I will always take advantage of seeing loved ones.
- I learned that I have a lot of time in the day if I use it well. I've gotten back into my high school habit of waking up at 8 AM every day and I've added a daily run into my routine. I hope I can keep this up when I go back to in person learning. I want to better myself and not sacrifice my physical and mental health for academics. Moreover, I will always take advantage of seeing loved ones.