I have really enjoyed the first half of this semester. I don't know that I want to be an entrepreneur, but it definitely has gotten my wheels turning and it has been a pleasure seeing what ideas that our classmates have come up with.
This class has definitely made me feel a little uncomfortable. Just in the sense that I don't like putting my ideas out there for people to critique. It has taken me out of my comfort zone, but in a good way. I have realized that there are many different opinions and they aren't all bad. It has also made me a little more receptive to constructive criticism.
The only thing that really made me feel like giving up is just not having enough time. With a very busy life and a short semester, I just haven't had time to complete all the assignments. I have grown to really appreciate the steps to possibly making an idea come to fruition. If anything, I found that there was a time or two when I didn't try as hard as I could to get all my interviews in for specific assignments, but in those instances the opportunity always presented itself so I took advantage. No matter how short the interview was, I took the opportunity to record it, post it and complete the specific assignment. I felt that if I didn't just do it when it was right in front of my face, I was a fool. I tried not to let laziness get in my way. I guess that mindset has come from this class.
Three tips that I would have for someone who was taking this class is:
1. Just do it. No matter how uncomfortable you are, if you do the assignment the chance is pretty good that you will be pleasantly surprised by the outcome. It will be uncomfortable, but worth it. The assignments are not hard. You will learn a lot and get a pretty easy A.
2. If you just can't bare the thought of taking off on your own to do interviews or if you are like me and feel that you are a terrible interviewer, practice with friends. Or take a friend with you. If you just need that moral support in the beginning, take a friend with you. It's okay if they laugh when you stumble over words or repeat yourself three times. Most people understand that you are nervous and you may have trouble talking to strangers.
3. Be patient with yourself. It's okay to fail or feel like you have failed. You probably won't or haven't, but if you feel that way, it's okay. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back out there and get that A! It does get easier!
4. And a little extra advice - read ahead!!! Don't get caught trying to cram 5 interviews into 1 day.
Hi Carolyn. I'm happy to hear someone else feels a bit out of their comfort zone. This class has been a journey thus far and even though it may be a little uncomfortable, it is ultimately a growing experience. I also wish I would have heard your tips before beginning! The challenges I've faced have been mostly with interviews so I think it's a great idea to practice.
ReplyDeleteHello Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteI definitley agree that this class has made me feel out of my comfort zone. Walking up to hundreds of random people, and being looked at like I'm mentally insane for asking for an interview is somewhat of a sublime experience.
I can entirely relate to your ideas of, "just do it," "be patient with yourself," and "read-ahead." You have to be persistent and do it even if you don't feel like doing the assignment. There have been numerous times where I have not adequately prepared for an assignment and not read ahead, which forced me to scramble at the last few days in order to get it done.
Hi Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteI think your advice about just do it is a very big deal for someone who is thinking about this class. At some points you are not going to like what you are doing instead of quitting you just have to grit your teeth and finish the job given. The interviews are definitely the worst park for me as well.
Hi Carolyn!
ReplyDeleteI really agree with everything you've said! Your tip about reading ahead is super important! It's important to know when things like interviews or reading reflections are due. I know I don't want to read an entire book in a day! Great tips!
-Kimberly
Hey Carolyn, very good post. This information could be very helpful to students who are thinking about taking this class in the future. The advice you gave was spot on. Doing those interviews is really going to help with your nerves and it will get easier as time goes on.
ReplyDelete