essay
shares
strengthsquest_writing_prompt.10.31.12.docxStrengthsQuest™ Assignment
Objective: The goal of this assignment is to deepen your understanding of your strengths, to investigate how your strengths apply to your academic and vocational growth, and to start you on the path of intentionally applying and cultivating your strengths in a variety of academic, personal and career-related situations.
INSTRUCTIONS
Now that you’ve had some time to read your results and discuss your themes in class, the final part of this assignment is to write a 1 ½ -2 page self-reflection about your Strengths Insight & Action Planning Guide. Please use 12-point Times Roman font, 1-inch margins all around, and double-space your essay. Put your name and date in the header at the very top of page 1 and then start your essay at the top of the page.
In a thoughtful, organized and well-crafted essay, please use your two primary sources to respond to the 3 writing prompts below. Primary Sources: (1) Your Strength Insight & Action Planning Guide, and (2) Feedback from your family/friends with whom you shared your guide.
1. Self-Awareness. Describe your initial reaction (thoughts, feelings, questions) to each of your five talent themes. As you read your personalized guide, what words, phrases, or lines stood out to you and resonated most with who you are? Which parts describe you well? What parts do you agree or disagree with? Please answer this question for each of your 5 Signature Themes, one at a time. Be sure to make it clear to your reader which theme you are discussing.
2. Gaining Insights. After sending your guide to family/friends (at least one person), what feedback did you get from them? What did you discover or learn about yourself from their feedback? What surprised you the most? What did you learn about others’ perceptions of your strengths? Do their perceptions reaffirm anything for you or make you consider any new actions to take? What do you agree or disagree with? Describe your experience hearing their responses to the questions you asked. Were you nervous or excited? Did you laugh at something they said or disagree about something? What is your big “take-away” from this exercise of sharing your report and getting feedback?
3. Application & Action. Discuss how you are currently using each talent in your personal and academic life. Give specific examples from your life. Next, discuss specific action steps you could take to develop each of the 5 talent themes into personal strengths. (Imagine that you will be able to apply these well-developed strengths in a variety of situations throughout your life, including your future career and personal relationships.)
Question to ask your family members or friends after they read your guide:
What was your initial reaction to my report?
Which theme or themes do you see most in me? Can you give me examples?
When have you seen me excited, engaged, or at my best in a role or situation?
What do you see as my greatest strengths?
For as long as you have known me, have you ever thought there was something that I should do or be (a job, a role, a volunteer position, etc.) that would best use my strengths?
Is there anything I should know about myself that you have observed?
