Make your Reflections work for you while you're writing them, as well as when you refer back to them in the future!
Memories are most vibrant shortly after an experience. Semester deadlines are in place for your benefit, but feel free to submit Reflections prior to the deadlines!
Capture the whole experience!
If your experience lasts throughout the entire semester, wait until the end of the semester to write about it. If your experience is over the course of an academic year, wait until April or May to write about it.
Be authentic and honest.
A powerful Reflection comes from vulnerability and a sincere attempt to understand your experience, including any mistakes or weaknesses.
Focus on learning, not just events.
Emphasize the skills you are developing from the experience, instead of only a retelling of what happened.
Pro tip: This link to the "How to Complete the Guided Pathways" page provides hints about what you will be asked in the Pathway-specific questions at the Introductory, Exploratory, and Consequential levels on your Reflections!
Use your own vivid, descriptive language.
Think about how you might describe this experience in an interview or on your resume.
Proofread!
Reflections are expected to be your own thoughts about your experiences. Using AI tools when writing Reflections is prohibited, as it is not only dishonest, but not helpful to you as you prepare to discuss your experiences in the future on your resume, in interviews, and in other capacities.
