Applied Learning Week 2: Transition

Road to Birmingham

This week helped me feel more excited than scared after a long time of not feeling this way. I am going to the University of Birmingham, apparently that is the youngest city in Europe, with 40% of its population being under 25. The university also has great diversity, which is always a comforting idea for me, as an international student.

Preparation✅

I definetely must investigate about the weather soon to know the type of clothing I must take. I also must look into the accommodation closely, so that I can book my first choice as soon as I get my student code when I graduate from Kaplan. The challenges that worry me the most are being able to make friends and being able to manage my time correctly. I want to participate in student life as much as I can, on top of that, I know how valuable networking is. That is why I will try to participate in most campus events and join clubs and societies. I want to stay engaged. Then again, everyone tells us about how university is all about time management. This is a bit hard for me, as I am not always strict with myself and my personal deadlines, but I have already started looking into organization techniques to find what works best for me.

Extracurricural options✅

I am going to be studying literature during my degree, so I consider joining the Book Club would be a nice way to interact with other like-minded individuals and keep my love for reading alive. I may also join the International Students Associations to have a support network of students that are going through the same changes I am; additionally, I greatly enjoy learning about and meeting people from other cultures. Also, there is a creative writing society called "Writer's Bloc" with their own journal. I feel this would be a great means to share and improve my work. If I have the time, maybe paticipating in the Burn FM radio station could be a rewarding experience too.

My Mindset: Growth or Fixed?

I consider I have a growth mindset in concept, however, I often find it intimidating and sometimes challenging to act on. However, I am very self-aware and keep myself in check whenever I feel I'm slipping into a fixed mindset. I recognize the importance of growth and I am constantly working to develop healthy habits and thoughts. For example, it is essential for me to keep myself from overly comparing my life to that of others, as it goes against a growth mindset. I try to celebrate others' achievements; I feel I have improved a lot regarding this. Celebrating my own wins is also challenging at times, but every day I remind myself that I am allowed to be proud of how far I have come.

Abigail Hernandez KapPACK E-portfolio

Personal Development

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