Summary of Personal Reflections and Learning In Relation To My SWOT and PDP - Essay Example

 Summary of Personal Reflections and Learning In Relation To My SWOT and PDP Joining University was a strange and puzzling experience for me. Given that I had been away from an educational institution for a year, I found university education quite different. Secondly, the environment was unfamiliar, and mingling with new people was challenging. Thirdly, owing to my outgoing personality, I found it hard to approach fellow students who looked serious and reserved. However, within two weeks I started making friends because I could run into the same people along the university precincts, hence making friends was inevitable. I got used to be in a group of people, because we could sit in lecture halls in groups. Further, I become familiar to the university setting, and learnt that the only difference from other lower learning institutions was the fact that one had to be self- driven. In relation to this, I learnt a significant number of behaviours characteristic of me. In other words, I have come to learn and appreciated some attributes that defines my personality. It was with the help of a questionnaire that colleagues at the university were able to guide me towards self discovery. However, there are some attributes inherent in my personality that I would like to work on. I call them personal weaknesses. This paper summarizes my reflection and learning in relation to my strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. Further, I will present my personal development plan. This exercise will help me to identify my weakness, and improve on them. Consequently, I will be able to improve my chances of being employed in the future. After two weeks of attending classes, I discovered some strengths about myself. In my case, I could easily start conversation, thus most people approached me for help regarding some personal problems. During lectures, students will request me to ask the lecturer regarding class materials. At some point, I was voted as the class representative owing to my outgoing nature. Hence, I came to learn that I was confident, but others called it daring. Overall, what they meant is that I had the courage to express myself whenever I felt like doing it. I learnt that I had taken this attribute for granted while growing up. I hardly knew that it was not in the nature of everyone to take charge and face issues without apprehension. Based on Eysenck’s theory of personality, some people’s personality is characterized as extroverted- stable. These types of people are sociable, outgoing, responsive, and could be able to lead others (Nevid, 2010). This revelation has played a key role in my self- development. I have learnt that people have different personalities as compared to others. In essence, personality is the dynamic organization inherent in every person and determines the characteristic behaviour of an individual (Myers, I & Myers, P., 2010). In relation to this, I have also discovered that I have a personality strength of being a leader. For instance, I could be the first to form groups whenever lecturers asked as to form groups. Additionally, I could initiate discussion in groups I belonged, and I was always the first to suggest the topics our group could work on. As a result, my group members looked up me for answers and direction regarding various issues in class work. Being the first born in our family has been helpful in building this personality because I was always given the responsibility of taking care of my siblings. However, I think it is a natural gift, rather than something that I worked on, and incorporated in me. Moreover, personality is not determined by one’s environment, and practise, but one’s biological makeup (Burger, 2010). In relation to this, I think this leadership strength is indispensible, and will never be weaker in me. I have realized that am a good time keeper because am always the first to arrive for class and meetings. This has helped most of my group members because I could arrive early and set the materials for our class presentations. Further, I hardly inconvenience other as far as time is concerned. This strength has enabled me to finish all my assignment in time, and also receive a timely response from lectures. I could not help noticing that some people hardly meet deadlines for their assignment. As a result, lecturers grudgingly make deadline extension for these students. In some extreme cases, students who have failed to meet class assignment deadlines have had their assignment cancelled. Consequently, a significant number of them have been forced to repeat some classes. Finally, during my course in the university, I have learnt that I have good communication skills. Good communication skills are a requirement for one to be an effective leader (Barrett, 2013). This must have been the reason why most groups I have joined, I have always been the preferable leader. Moreover, I participate in class often, and in some most cases lecturers could prefer I explain a concept to other students in order to give it a student’s perspective. I admit that the potential to communicate effectively is one of my strongest personality traits. This trait has enabled me to make friends easily, find help from my superiors, and make decisions effectively. I must admit that regardless of the remarkable strength I exude in various aspects of my personality, I equally have some personality weaknesses. I cannot call them personality disorder, because personality disorders mean a pattern of behaviours, emotions, and thoughts that are not conventional or common among most people in a community (Barrett, 2013). I think that it is a behaviour that I have developed out of the excitement of my potential in my University education. Some of these problems are within my control, and I have never behaved in a similar manner before, thus blame on me. However, I think I will overcome this weakness or turn them into strengths. The first weakness I noticed with the help of some of my group members is poor personal management skills. In this case, time management has become a nightmare in my life since I do not balance time between work, university and having fun. I have been disorganized in my daily activities leading to wastage of more time and lack of free time for myself. This has been evident when filling out QAA core skills questionnaire that determine employability skills where I ranked myself low. Also, poor problem solving skills stand out as part of my weaknesses. I have experienced setbacks in executing my organizational skills in problem solving cases. This was evident when we were taught aspects of perception related to the Johari Window. I noted that my firm would be ranked below the arena section of the window because I have poor organizational skills in solving aspects of the firm (Wood, 2011). Given that I rejoined education, I have not been keen on improving my skills in problem solving in school and it might deteriorate the quality of my university work. Finally, lack of numeracy and quantitative skills have also been listed as one of my weaknesses. This has been evident through my presentation activities during lecture on learning types. I have been having a hard time in formulating quality presentations related to numerical and quantitative aspects. In spite of studying a few basics of learning styles by Honey and Mumford, my presentation skills in numerical and quantitative aspects has not improved. Therefore, I need to learn more skills in numerical area in order to formulate perfect presentations. Numerous opportunities exist in university learning, but I found some specific ones that improved my chances of success in campus. In essence, an opportunity is a situation or occasion that facilitates an action to take place (Milner, 2010). In relation to this, I think the university has given me the opportunity to work in a team. I have never worked in a team that has diversity and people who were not your friends before. This opportunity will help me learn how to relate with people in the workplace because people also come from various parts of the world. The second opportunity is to learn from others, and benefit from their diversity, thus I will have a broader perspective towards life. The only threat I perceived, was the simultaneous operation of my private business and studying. Owing to the busy nature of the business, I hardly have time to socialize with other students out of class. Further, I cannot forgo business because it the one that pays for my tuition fee. However, I need to organize my time and event in a manner that could facilitate my learning. In relation to this, I think I have poor organizational skills. Consequently, I might have problems during my employability skills test or have a hard time with work- life balance in the future. Personal Development Plan Personal development planning in a practice whereby one creates an action plans in order to grow in a career, education or for the sake of becoming a better person (Cottrell, 2010). In relation to this, I have devised a personal development plan that has some of inspiration, areas I want to improve, and goals I could like to achieve. In imperative that personal development plan contains values (Ricketts, C & Ricketts, J., 2010). Further, Ricketts et al adds that one ought to be persistent in the implementation of their personal development plans. In this case, I could like to be persistent in eliminating my domineering behaviours, improving my listening skills, and cultivate a sense of humility in me. First, I will ensure that I give other people and opportunity to express themselves. Further, I will learn to tolerate the divergent views of other people because I have also learnt that they are already doing the same for me. I will never force leadership regardless of my potential to lead other, but will gladly welcome support for such a position. While on the helm of leadership, I will ensure that I observe qualities of a good leader. In essence, a good leader is one that serves the interests the people who elect the leader, not one who imposes his/her interests on the people (Adair, 2010). I will also strive to ensure that regardless of my potential and aptitude at certain tasks, I will ensure I learnt to use the potential to help others as opposed to showing off. In the course of my university life, I will read various communication books in order to improve my listening skills. It will enable me to be in a better position to understand the opinions of others and respect their positions (Nutley, 2008). This paper has highlighted some of personal career development issues I’m facing during my university education. I used the SWOT analysis in examining the personal growth in my education. During the analysis, I discovered that I have some strengths such as budding leadership skills, confidence, and ability to make friends. However, some of the weakness includes being domineering and haughty. Nevertheless, I see an opportunity to work in teams as critical to success in my career. Conversely, I see a threat of balancing my business and my development process at the university. Nonetheless, I have come up with a personal development plan that will enable me to overcome the challenges to my development. References Adair, J. 2010. Develop your leadership skills. London: Kogan Page. Barrett, D. 2013. Leadership Communication. Fourth Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Burger, J.2010. Personality. Hoboken, NJ: Cengage Learning. Cottrell, S. 2010. Skills for Success: The Personal Development Planning Handbook. Mountain View, CA: Palgrave Macmillan publisher. Dobber, D. 2010. Understanding Personality Disorders. Santa Barbara, CA: Rowman & LittleField. Milner, R. 2010. Start where You Are, but Don't Stay There: Understanding Diversity, Opportunity Gaps, and Teaching in Today's Classrooms. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press. Myers, I & Myers, P. 2010. Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing. Nevid, J.2010. Essential of Psychology: Concepts and Applications. Hoboken, NJ: Cengage Learning. Nutley, T. 2008. The Little Book of Personal Development. USA: Lulu.com Ricketts, C & Ricketts, J. 2010. Leadership: Personal Development and Career Success. Hoboken, NJ: Cengage Learning. Wood, J. 2011. Communication Mosaics: An Introduction to the Field of Communication. Hoboken, NJ: Cengage Learning. Read More