Choice 1
Learning often happens through making mistakes or encountering surprising hurdles.
Write about a time when you made a mistake or a hurdle that forced you to rethink how you approached a particular situation. What did you learn through the mistake or through overcoming the hurdle?
Example: In my freshman year of college I took my first computer science course. For the first assignment, I procrastinated because I assumed I could finish it in a couple of hours. I quickly learned my lesson after pulling an all-nighter and realized I could save time and frustration by attending office hours. Now I know when to ask for help and am not afraid to ask questions in areas unfamiliar to me.
Choice 2
Taking risks can give us opportunities to learn and grow in unexpected ways.
Write about a time when you took a risk that had unintended consequences. What did you learn? How do you think about taking risks?
Example: As an introvert, my biggest fear is public speaking. However, after a friend and teacher encouraged me to join speech and debate because of my skills in researching topics, I knew I had to face my fear and try something new. Now, I’ve won multiple tournaments and learned that confidence can be practiced.
When? 12-14 weeks into the work year