Strategies, resources, Timelines

Strategies

• How can you leverage your thesis to set the foundation for your short, mid, and long-term goals?

I can leverage my thesis to set the foundation for my short, mid, and long-term goals by getting to know my skills, passions, and interests more. The great thing about our thesis project is that it gives us the valuable opportunity to explore, research, and delve deep into our career area. Thesis showcases what we have learned during our University years and how well we have applied it to the project. It shows potential future employer’s your interests, skills, and ambitions in the field. 

• If your goals involve additional education or professional experience (masters, internship, certifications, etc.), consider what that would entail and how long they would take to obtain. 

My goals currently involve professional experience such as additional internships in different specialized areas of Digital Design. The internships would entail me to be constantly on the lookout for opportunities where I can learn the skills and experiences I desire to develop. The internships will allow me to gain exposure to the professional environment and learn how to navigate the working world through real-life and hands-on experience. 

• If you need to build your skillset, how can you utilize your thesis and continue to learn after graduation? Sometimes it might not be immediately evident as to how you’ll use a new skill. For example, if you can improve your communication and public speaking skills. Not only would developing your public speaking skills build a short-term skill such as confidence, but it may also help achieve a long-term goal such as being in a position of leadership at an organization by developing the ability to communicate effectively and speak to large groups.

I would love to further develop my communication and public speaking skills so it is able to come out naturally and comfortably. I agree developing my public speaking skills will give me confidence especially in the real world and for my long term goal of being in a position of leadership at an organization. When learning a new skill I learned that at first we are very awkward then we are mechanical and lastly we become natural at it. I always keep this in mind because it can feel frustrating when we're at the beginning stages of doing anything. Our confidence is low when it comes to using that skill. I also can use my thesis to build my professional network by connecting with mentors and professionals in my field of focus. 

• Specify the known obstacles that stand between you and reaching your short, mid, and longterm goals.  

The known obstacles that stand between me and reaching my short, mid, and longterm goals are my daily routines, surroundings, anxiety and lack of confidence. 

Developing a great daily routine and developing the rights habits where I can optimize the most of my days is very important to me. I believe if I really want to achieve any type of success in my life it’s vital that I develop the right habits to avoid distraction and procrastination to make sure I stay laser focused on my goals. Because life's unpredictable and no matter how good we plan our goals and life I am aware that it won’t be a smooth path. So developing the right daily routine and habits will allow me to have structure to fall back on during times of chaos so I don’t lose focus of my goals. I need a change of surroundings and environment once in a while to cleanse mentally and physically which helps me avoid burnouts. 

Resources

Resources are places where you can find professional growth and provide the potential to enhance your career path.

Some professional resources include: 

• Continuing education institutions: These institutions offer programs, conferences, and courses to learn more about specific topics. Many continuing education courses lead to a certification or degree, which will show you have knowledge of a field or can perform a process. For example, project managers can earn a Project Management Professional certification that shows they can successfully execute a plan using different methods. 

• Professional associations: You can find both local and national associations that offer memberships. Having a membership in an association helps you connect with like-minded individuals and build your professional network. When you grow your professional network, you can increase your opportunities to advance within your career. 

• Webinars: Some professionals and businesses host webinars in which they give presentations on a specific topic. For example, a programmer might offer a webinar on front-end development foundations. Since webinars are internet-based, you can attend one from anywhere. 

List of resources that will help you achieve your short, mid, and longterm goals: 

- My mentor and life coach

- Eventbrite (webinars) 

- General Assembly

- Networking events (face-to-face events, webinars) 

- Facebook groups 

- Dribble and Behance 

Timelines

On your blog, create a timeline that reflects your short, mid, and longterm goals and sets specific milestones to gauge your progress. Also include details about what activities will be necessary to achieve your goals and checkpoints to determine if you are on course or need to adjust your planning. 

Short term goals

Complete my graduation in BFA and minor in Business Fundamental by Spring 2021

Secure an internship for each semester before graduation

Develop my personal brand for website and potential future creative ventures

Increase my networking skills 

Apply and receive a full time job offer for after graduation

Explore potential business ventures on the side while working at my job after graduation

Mid term goals

Experience working a full time job for a year or two  (depending on what I want to learn and the skills and experience I want to develop) 

Go freelancing in the design industry after working 1-2 years at full time job

Build my work experience in the design field/industry

Expand my skills through study and/or on-the-job 

Build my professional network 

Be constantly connected with my mentor/life coach

Long term goals

Expand into new opportunities like building my own business whether that’s in the design field or not.

I see myself owning my own business as I’ve learned from my family the long term benefits compared to staying at a job. 

Venture into different industries like the financial industry and construction.