Self Reflection Paper

Self Reflection

Write a 5-6 page, double spaced essay in which you discuss your strengths and weaknesses as a

student. Do not take up space with your name, the class, the date, etc. Provide a separate cover

page with that information. Do not “cheat” and use 1.5 inch margins; 1 inch margins only. Don’t

forget to staple all pages. Submissions that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted.

Be sure to write about what you do well! We all have individual talents and by drawing on your

strengths you can devise strategies to overcome areas that need improvement. For example, if

you dislike reading but are super-organized, you can assign yourself a specific, small number of

pages to read every day rather than tackling a long reading all at once.

To write the essay, answer the following questions:

• Introduction – Briefly describe yourself. 10%

• Why are you in college? What do you hope to learn? 10%

• What are your long-term goals? (Be sure to address goals beyond just a specific career that address your interests and values.) 10%

• What are your academic strengths? Which of these will help you be successful in college? 10%

• Have you ever held a leadership position? What did you learn from that experience? (Remember that a leadership position isn’t just holding an office or

managing people at work. There are many ways to be a leader.) 10%

• What classes are you taking this semester that are the most challenging? How will you handle these challenges? (Think about studying, test-taking, reading, writing,

and time management skills that you already have as well as those you may need

to improve.) 10%

• What are some challenges you may face during your entire college career (for example, finances, working, family, etc.)? How will you handle them? 10%

• Most of your classes will require that you conduct research. Have you ever thought about how research in any given field benefits the community? How so,

especially in the field in which you are interested? 10%

• Conclusion – express how you think that having reflected on these questions can help you get your degree and meet your lifelong goals. 10%

Grading: You will be graded on meeting the length requirements, addressing all of the questions

above, as well as grammar, punctuation, and syntax. 10%

If you have any questions, please ask as soon as possible.