Essay on Preparing for Success At University: Knowledge and Creativity
How and why you have developed as a learner during this module
The courses at the university have helped me in having clarity in my thoughts and shaping my personality. The courses over here helped me inculcate habits that are essential for a successful career and life. I am delighted to see the changes in myself and the person I have become. Earlier I was not much intellectually equipped to put my thoughts forward. Also, I lacked the proper skills that an academic requires. Here, I got to learn multiple professional and personal skills that have opened doors of opportunities for me and enhanced my overall personality. I am now able to communicate better with people, manage my time, work efficiently, and help others too in learning.
Time management skills
The first and the most important skill that I learned during the course is time management. I was bad at managing my time and several unimportant works consumed my time. During the course, I realized how important it is to have a track of one's time and invest it in the right place for the best results (Dillon, 2021). It has not only helped me academically but also has had a great impact on my personal life too. With better time management skills I have been able to complete my reports and assignments timely with better efficiency. I have also got enough time to get involved in work that will help me get better like reading, exercise, and meditation. This skill has changed me as a person, when I reflect upon who I was and who I am I can clearly see the difference.
Academic Integrity
The course has helped me in developing academic integrity and realizing its significance. I realized how important it is to communicate with your teachers and fellow students. Academic integrity is one of the skills that have helped me in learning better in this course. The teachers encouraged me to communicate better, ask questions, and share my thoughts. I have built better relationships with my teachers, guides, and colleagues through this. It has helped me in discovering my true potential and talent that is going to help me in my professional career (Pratt and Gladue, 2022).
Academic skills
The most important skills required in academics are proper and original report writings and research work. I have been privileged to learn under guides who have helped me prepare better reports without plagiarism. Earlier, I didn't realize the importance of original content in academics. But gradually while working with my teachers and guides I learned the important aspects of a good report and academic work. I had fragmented thinking when I used to get an assignment. But now I have learned to think strategically and break my tasks into smaller objectives. It helps me do my work faster and with better efficiency.
Reading, writing, and communication skills
During the course, I have realized the importance of reading and writing to become a better communicator. Reading better books and content has enhanced my capacity for my thinking. It has given me new perspectives and the ability to think critically. Better reading has helped me in writing better. I have enhanced my vocabulary and understanding with the help of reading. Reading and writing enhance the thinking capacity of a person. The ability to think clearly comes up with reading and writing extensively. I am now able to state my thoughts clearly and effectively on paper. And both these skills have collectively improved my communication skills. I am able to put forward my thoughts among a group of people effectively. All this has helped me to become a better public speaker.
Presentation Skills
In professional life presentation skills are one of the most valuable assets. During the course, I have prepared and given multiple presentations. I hesitated earlier while giving a presentation among a group of people. But the teachers allowed me to overcome my fear and encouraged me to do better. My classmates acted as a compassionate audience and helped me correct my mistakes. With practice, I have become a better presenter and storyteller. I feel my confidence has increased due to regular practice and efforts. In my professional career, it is helping me a lot in presenting my thoughts and leading people.
Work-life balance
I have been able to create a work-life balance while pursuing this course at the university. I have realized that I am able to do my work with academics and have time for personal work too. This has been possible because of the time management skills I have acquired. When I came here I was heavily involved in studies and work, which created more stress on my mind. The stress was visible in my performance and academics. It was because of my inability to create a work-life balance that I realized gradually. I improved upon it by consulting my teachers and colleagues (Poulose and Sudarsan, 2018).
Further reflections on how to approach future challenges and expectations of a university course
This course presented me with several challenges that helped me in getting better, learning new skills, and have a better career. Still, there are chances of improvements which I can make. I will apply my time management skills to create a better work-life balance while pursuing further studies. It will enable me to enhance my caliber and efficiency of work. The communication and presentation skills that I have acquired here will help me in moving up in my career. The professional world values individuals with better communication skills and presents them with better opportunities. Also, with the help of academic skills, I will be able to plan out my reports and academic work strategically. It will enable me to complete my work with more accuracy and before deadlines.
The course has helped me in improving significantly. The changes are visible to me professionally as well as personally. The academic institution has helped me in exploring the unexplored potential I had.
References
Dillon, D. (2021). Time management theory. Blueprint for success in college and career.
Poulose, S. and Sudarsan, N. (2018). Work-life balance: A conceptual review. International Journal of Advances in Agriculture Sciences.
Poitras Pratt, Y. and Gladue, K. (2022). Re-defining academic integrity: Embracing indigenous truths. In Academic Integrity in Canada (pp. 103-123). Springer, Cham.
