Participating in CSPL405 helped me change my mindset and allow myself to realize that I don’t need to have it all figured out right now and that the best way that I can prepare myself for the real working world is by focusing on ways to make myself employable rather than getting caught up in technicalities and succumbing to the pressure of choosing the right major. I think although it’s difficult to eradicate this fear of committing myself to the unknown entirely as I’ve worked so hard to get to this point that I don’t want to somehow “mess” it up, in reflecting and applying the lessons presented throughout this course, I come to better understand that no one decision is to make or break and that life is all about pivoting and looking for the next best option when things don’t turn out your way. Both working on campus at the grocery/convenience store and through the many meetings that I needed to schedule and prepare for this course in particular, I felt that I was able to get hands-on practice with the six different key competencies as well as see the value in advocating for myself. One skill that I feel like I tried to improve on was reaching out to people and taking advantage of the many resources that are often unknown or taken for granted on campus. In doing so, I’ve been able to forge stronger relationships and uncover the underlying network of people and individuals that all want me to find success. The course has allowed me to try and refocus and recenter my life around the here and now, rather than wasting time trying to plan accordingly for an inevitably unpredictable future.
In terms of reflecting more specifically on what working at Weshop has taught me and allowed me to see that your attitude and state of mind can make anything pleasurable and worthwhile so long as you put in the effort. Working at Weshop has also occasionally forced me to turn inward and truly check in with myself and my well-being, while also prioritizing the customers’ experiences. Previously, I’ve been not very good at checking in and validating my emotions and feelings, trying to check them out when I enter the building, however, in watching and completing the various videos, I think I’m to a point where I can be more accepting of the fact that I don’t necessarily have to be perfect and all smiley every day and that being human comes with moments of good and bad, and by ignoring the bad aspects, I’m only prolonging the feeling. Through clear communication, I’m able to work effectively and be a contributor to collaboration no matter my state of mind. The course as a whole has allowed for one big reality check, encouraging me to not rush into things and place all my eggs in one basket, but rather view life as a series of individual steps that should each prioritize my happiness and needs in the given moment.
