Week 5 final reflection

EXP105 Author’s Final Thoughts

When we began this journey together on Intentional Learning for College Success, I began by

introducing you to this definition of learning. That is: “Taking in the world around you, making

sense of it, so you can respond appropriately.” And remember, I pointed out to you that learning is

very universal and it’s also very personal. I also suggested to you that if you’re going to be

successful, it needs to be intentional.

Not only intentional, but you need to (over time) begin build what I call your “mental muscles.”

Just like anything in life, you’re not strong at doing something when you first begin. If you’re

patient – patient with yourself – if you allow yourself to not always have to be correct and right the

first time but to reflect and go back and learn from the mistakes that you’ve made. Then, taking a

look at who you are and looking at your Personal Strategy Cards – begin to build in those changes.

Begin to build in “this is a better way of doing something.”

This is the reason why. There’s a great children’s book written by Dr. Seuss and it’s “Oh, the Places

We’ll Go!” That really is a good message to you because when you are an intentional learner - oh

the places you’ll go!

Here’s the one thing I want you to remember. Wherever you go, there you are. In other words, you

don’t leave your learning self behind. Your learning self is a part of you it is your human essence.

It is the way in which your brain-mind works together. It defines you…it propels you... it

encourages you… it energizes you. Learning to use who you are with intention and taking that

wherever you go means the world is open to you.