INTROSPECTION

Over the past few weeks, we’ve continued working on Blendz. We are currently APPROACHING the FINISH LINE, so we need to polish our baby. It’s been a tough term; aside from being very short, we’ve had tremendous amount of work. With a real life business in one hand and mocks on the other, it’s been a challenge to keep a BALANCE. Nonetheless, with just a few months, we’ve been able to CONCRETE some things like the cart and systems. Both have helped us organize, grow and be more efficient. Also, in the process, I’ve continued to learn new things about myself like my strengths and the  areas that I still need to work on.

During the past week, we’ve begin REFLECTING on our performance and putting down midterm grades. I’ve looked back into my performance (of these two months) and processed the FEEDBACK my classmates gave me, and I’ve come up with new goals. We only have a few months left, but I've still wrote down some things I want to work on..

To be honest, before the IA, I wasn’t PASSIONATE or interested about writing; it was always just another task. Today, as soon as the INSPIRATION moment hits me, I love to sit and write my blog or article. Currently, I enjoy writing because I’ve defined my style and my voice; I feel this is one of my STRENGTHS. Also, another FORTE I have is listening. Because I’m introverted, I don’t speak up as much, so I’ve developed good listening skills. In many cases, listening to other people first has helped me rethink my ideas and even improve them too. Nonetheless, I also feel that this semester I’ve been more PRESENT in the class, like a classmate said to me the feedback sessions. I’ve gain more confidence and trust within my peers, so I feel confortable sharing my thoughts. Moreover, there are some things I want to work on. I’ve learned how to synthesis big concepts and capture them into one theme, which ties everything together, but I feel that this semester I’ve moved away from sharing my personal thoughts and making connections with things learn in the class and how they are valuable to ME. Therefore, I challenged myself to bring ME—from time to time—to my reflections and either explain how different lessons are significant to me or how I can improve my habits. Additionally, it’s good to INTROSPECT in order to grow and be self aware of your weaknesses and strengths, so you can apply or work on them. The last challenge I want to pose, is to read more continuously; this will not only help me command my punctuation at a higher level, but it will improve my vocabulary and help me vary my style. 

I’ve always considered ORGANIZATION my greatest strength, but I also consider it one of my greatest WEAKNESSES. In one hand, being organized has helped me stay on top of things, complete my work good and on time. This skill is reflected in many aspects of my life, even in my writing. I don’t like to limit myself in moments of INSPIRATION, but I do like to outline my blogs, presentations, and even articles, so it has a coherent order and structure. This allows me to transmit my ideas clearly and concisely. On the other side, being organized has made my life very STRUCTURED. Many times, I’m so busy working and completing task after task that I forget to E N J O Y my work. Something I still struggle, and I’m challenging myself this semester with, is to find the PLAY and FUN in my work. I need to find a balance between working and having fun, because what is the purpose of creating beautiful work without enjoying it. At times it’s good to step back and see the big picture, when you understand the purpose it’s easier to see the PLAYFUL side.

Furthermore, my role didn’t encompass much media, but I feel that I’ve continued to ENGAGE with it in other areas. Something I’ve begun to do this term, which I want to keep doing, is experiment and be more CREATIVE with the media in my blogs. Before I searched for pictures, but I currently play with it more in keynote, so I transmit my writing more precisely through the images. Really, I enjoy working with media and this is why it plays an important role in my blogs and presentations.  Although, I’m a frequent Twitter user, I feel I could do much more with it. I tweet out many articles and pictures, but I want to push myself to CONNECT with my classmates more. I think it’s not only a great tool to share my learning and the cool projects I'm working on, but also to NETWORK with other people. Also, since I’ve been working on the sales and the cart I’ve been able to balance my screen time better than before. This term I was forced not to spend too much time in the computer, but I want to make this a habit even if my job does require a lot of screen time. It’s important to know your screen LIMITS and from time to time move away from the computer. 

There are so many VALUABLE skills, knowledge, and experiences I’ve taken from the IA. I wish I could have some more time here. The IA has pushed me to IDENTIFY my strengths and apply them in the projects we work on, and it has also made me aware of my weaknesses and has CHALLENGED me to work on them. As I work in my internship and visit colleges, I realize how the lessons I’ve taken from here will be handy the rest of my life. Two years ago I took the risk and it has paid back. 

Although I only have a few months left in the IA, I still want to work challenge myself and work on my weaknesses.  I now know how to INTROSPECT, do self-reflections, work on my weaknesses, and I’ll be able to apply this ANYWHERE I go.