Activity by Hilary Selznick

Description (for Instructors)

This in-class reflective writing activity prompts students to explore key moments that have shaped their career interests and academic choices. This low-stakes free-writing exercise guides students in generating ideas for the Professional Literacy Narrative.

Explanation (for Students)

For this in-class activity, respond in writing to the following prompts. You may write directly into this submission box.

Describe your earliest memory of coming into contact with that “thing” you love and made you want to pursue a particular field/profession. For example, maybe it was a moment when you were playing with legos and you felt excitement over building and creating an object and that was a small precursor to your decision to pursue engineering. Another example could be the first time you tried coding a robot and that connection with STEM fields. Perhaps instead you got interested in money/finance during your first garage sale. Make sure to use all your senses when writing your description and include a setting/scene. Describe who else was in the scene with you.
Describe a moment/time/event when you were in your early or late teens in which you felt/experienced some conflict or challenge in regards to your planned career/major/field. What happened? Was it resolved? How did the moment shift your perspective/interest? Make sure to use all your senses when writing your description and include a setting/scene. Describe who else was in the scene with you.
Describe a recent experience in which you had the opportunity to do work in your chosen career (or related to) via classwork. internship, job shadowing, etc.. and detail the effects that experience had on you and your chosen career. Was it like what you imagined it would be? Make sure to use all your senses when writing your description and include a setting/scene. Describe who else was in the scene with you.