Prompt #1: The Three Questions:

What gives me joy? (What kinds of things am I doing when I’m most naturally content and happy?)

Having time to myself to explore my hobbies and interests in a calm environment is something that
brings me the most joy. This includes lighting candles and reading, listening to music and sewing, or
doing yoga in my house. I am also happy when I am working with others or in a leadership role.
Leadership gives me joy because I can set a positive example. At my first job people spoke very
disrespectfully to each other and there was a fair amount of gossip and bullying, and the leaders set this
tone for everyone. This made me want to become a leader. Being a leader in my workplace gives me
joy because I work to create a space where everyone feels welcomed, accepted, supported, and
respected.

What am I good at? (What are my strengths?)

I am good at connecting with other people and forming quality relationships, this includes friends,
family, coworkers, and customers. I am extremely organized in anything I do. I strongly believe this skill
has come from working fulltime while being a fulltime student, you have to be organized in order to
succeed. I am good at meeting cleanliness and food safety standards, this comes from 8 years of working
in the food service industry. I have become good at conflict transformation since taking a class on the
topic. I can turn conflict into a productive discussion and seek a positive outcome. I am good at creating
a positive environment, I always look a situations with a “glass is half full” attitude. I have had many
people I manage tell me that they respect me because I respect others and create an environment
where people feel comfortable to be themselves and they want to work hard.

What does the world need me to do? (What can I contribute?)

I can contribute the leadership skills that I have gained from being an Organizational Leadership major.
On top of contributing leadership skills, I can contribute a strong work ethic to any organization or
community I am a part of. I can also contribute a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and grow.
A commitment to lifelong learning is beneficial to any community because there will always be
something new to learn, a different point of view to better understand, or a challenge to overcome.

Prompt #2: Values Checklist (Attachment): What were your top 5 values? What kinds of defining
characteristics did you associate with your values as you crossed them off the list one at a time until
you had only one value listed? What did you learn about your values hierarchy through this activity?

My top 5 values were self-respect, quality relationships, stability, growth, and community. This activity
was very helpful in self-reflection. I learned that I put myself first by valuing self-respect, personal
growth, and stability. Crossing values off the list, I came up with self-respect as my top value. Looking
back on my life thus far, the community of people around me has shifted and changed countless times.
Sometimes it vanishes and you have to work to assimilate to a new community or build a new
community entirely. Growth is also important, but sometimes you hit a plateau and that’s ok. I value
stability because I have experienced unstable situations in my professional life regarding jobs and
positions as well as my personal life with relationships, living situations, and my health. Relationships
are a two way street, both people have to work to have a quality relationship. At the end of the day, all
you have is yourself. This is why my last remaining value is self-respect.

Prompt #3: For this prompt, complete (and include) the identities exercise/table, and then answer the
following questions.

Areas of identity/Life role How does this role How does this role Which of your core
define your self- influence your values aligns with
I am a… concept or views? priorities and your this identity?
actions?

Leader/ Manager Gives me a sense of Being a leader Growth/ self-

purpose. I view this as influences me to respect
a role that I can grow always lead by example
with for the rest of my and create an
life. environment where
everyone feels
comfortable to be
themselves.
Starbucks Partner This role helps define I always act Growth/ self-
my self-concept appropriate and respect/ stability
because it gives me an respectfully when out
organization with in the community, you
which my views align. never know when you
might run into a
customer in a public
setting.
Daughter This role has become I always want to act in Quality
less defining in my self- a way that makes my relationships/
concept over the years parents proud. community
as I have grown into
other professional
roles.
Big sister This role has strongly Looking out for my Quality
defined my self- brother was a priority relationships/
concept over the years for me growing up. community
as I had to be a good Coming from having
role model and divorced parents I felt
protector of my like I had to be a parent
brother when our to my brother in some
parents got divorced. situations.
Caucasian/ White This role has been I have gained an Self-respect
(German, Irish, Welsh, more defining in my awareness of my white
English) self-concept now that I privilege and have had
am older and aware of to help family
my white privilege. members gain an
 awareness of their
privilege too. I have
had to learn how to be
an ally to those around
me who do not share
this same privilege as
well as speak up on
certain social injustices.

 How do your various roles influence how you see yourself?

Being a leader/ manager has been the most influential role when it comes to how I see myself.
This role gives me a sense of purpose. I view this as a role that I can grow with for the rest of my
life.

 How do your various roles influence how you see the world?
My family doesn’t strongly identify with any aspects German, Irish, Welsh, or English culture.
Growing up Caucasian didn’t really mean much to me until I got older and became aware of my
white privilege. I have gained an awareness of my white privilege and have had to help family
members gain an awareness of their privilege too. I have had to learn how to be an ally to those
around me who do not share this same privilege as well as speak up on certain social injustices. I
started to gain this awareness when taking sociology courses in 2015, but I have done even
more reflecting and learning since the BLM movement and protests that took place this
summer.

 How do you currently prioritize your roles? Which roles are most (and least) attended to? Are
you happy with this prioritization? What changes would you like to make?

I currently fell a bit stuck in the role of daughter as I live at home with my Dad. I am aiming to
move into an apartment within the next year and hopefully I can start to prioritize this role a
little less. I would like to prioritize the role of being a leader and a manager more after I
graduate and begin working fulltime and putting all my energy and focus into my career.

 How do you see your roles changing in the future – and how will that affect your identity?

I think roles will shift in the future. I will probably take on new roles and prioritize existing rolls
less. While my core identity will stay the same, I feel that other aspects of my identity will be
continuously evolving as time goes on.

 Look back at your Values Worksheet and your Identities Table. Explore how your values and
identities align; explain inconsistencies and gaps.

Reflecting my values and identities, I don’t see any gaps or inconsistencies. I value self-respect,
quality relationships, stability, growth, and community. I believe that my values are the basis for
how I behave when in any of my given roles. From being a daughter/sister to being a leader, all
 my roles require some level of embracing self-respect, quality relationships, stability, growth,
and community.

Prompt #4: Dreams and Desires Worksheet (attachment): What underlying meaning did you discover
through exploring your dreams and desires in this manner? Can you see a connection between what
you desire and your inner sense of purpose? Explain.

The dreams and desires worksheet helped me realize that my true desire is to level up in life and
become completely self-sufficient and independent. My top 5 dreams and desires were to take a
promotion at work and become a store manager for Starbucks, move into my own apartment, buy a
cute pink velvet couch, invest my free time into friendships and dating, and to get a dog. I feel like I’ve
been going through a transitional period in my life as I’ve been a full-time student, working (almost) full
time, living in my Dad’s house, and recovering from a major upper jaw surgery/ a total TMJ replacement.
I have been lucky to have people around me who I can lean on and trust that they’ll support me. But,
now that I’m graduating I’m ready to level up in my life, support myself, and be able to provide support
to those who have supported me. I feel that giving back to those who have helped me is my current
purpose in life. In order for me to find my true purpose in life I need to gain more independence, spend
some time living alone, and do some more soul searching.

REPLIES

Hi Angelica,

Thanks for your response!