Topic #10 - In Closing

Well, cornerstone students, we are in the last final stretch of the semester and it feels great doesn't it? This is our last blog, and like the others, we ask that you reflect. In just a few weeks the semester will be over, and it is a good time to re-assess the progress you've made into the future as well as the past. As interdisciplinary students, we experience a unique educational curriculum, but our professions offer many creative approaches as well, and it's good to start thinking now as you reach your final semester(s) in college. Many of us are far off in our educational development, but where are you generally headed in your professional development? It is never a bad idea to re-assess where you have been and where you are going, because you can't get to where you're going if you don't know where that place is! Ask yourself these questions, then share your answers.

1. How have you used your interdisciplinarity in your professional life?
2. What has been your professional history?
3. What are your strongest and weakest job skills?
4. What can you do to develop and improve upon your weak skills?
5. Identify two professional clubs or organizations that are useful to your chosen career.
6. How have internships or externships helped your professional development?
7. Discuss your personal philosophy concerning your professional life.
8. How is or isn't this philosophy interdisciplinary?
9. How have your career goals altered?

Topic #9

Hi everyone! Can you believe we only have 3 weeks left of class? The year is going by fast and you guys will be graduating possibly this year or early next year. This is the time to really think about what you want to do after graduation and to analyze your philosophy concerning your professional life. For instance, my philosophy is integrating what I do outside of work with what I do inside of work. I am the leader of our volunteer committee at my company. I believe it is important to showcase that you have what it takes to be a leader inside and outside of work. This does influence my work because at work when I come across a challenge I always think of the public, our shareholders, the customers, and the associates. This calls for interdisciplinary thinking. My volunteer work allows me to go beyond the four walls and get to know the shareholders, different customers, and other leaders in the industry. Allowing yourself to learn as much as you can outside of work will improve your relationships and work ethic within the workplace.

This is just an example and a little bit about my own professional philosophy. Everyone has a different philosophy toward their professional life which makes us all unique. I would like you to answer 3 questions this week:

1. Discuss your personal philosophy concerning your professional life.

2. How is or isn't this philosophy interdisciplinary?

3. How have your career goals altered?

TOPIC # 8

We all know that we have unique major and sometimes explaining our major and concentrations can be a little challenging. One tool that we have to our benefit that can really help us explain who we are is our e-portfolio. Making it thorough and clear is important. With that in mind answer the following questions:

How will your e-Portfolio demonstrate your interdisciplinarity?

What is the audience / purpose you're thinking of using?

How would you envision your e-Portfolio looking like? What would you like to stand out?

What things are you thinking could be used as evidence?