14A - Halfway Reflection

1. Tenaciousness is a competency. What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course? 
   • One of the behaviors I have developed is to constantly seek information from my peers and coworkers. Anyone that knows me, knows that I do my best to avoid interaction with strangers, but I have stepped out of my comfort zone and I’ve realized, its actually not that bad. More importantly, I am able to forge relationships with new people that can offer me greater insight, if necessary. In addition, I have become more attentive to my schedule to ensure I get my work done on time, so I can say my time management has improved significantly. Usually, I start all assignments at one time and then complete them as my information develops.
2. Tenaciousness is also about attitude. Talk about a moment or two when you felt like "giving up." What pulled you through? Do you feel like you've developed a tenacious attitude during the past two months? What experience or experiences most contributed to this?
   • I must admit, I felt like giving up after the 3^rd assignment. The reason why, is because I was planning to take the summer off, but then a couple of weeks after the spring semester ended, I felt like I wasn’t doing “enough,” so I decided to enroll after reading great reviews about this course. A few days later at the end of Week 1, I realized that I probably wouldn’t have enough time to get through these assignments as they were extremely time consuming; fulltime job and currently in search of a home and new job in Orlando, FL. Nonetheless, I believe that the desire to be one class closer to my degree is what kept me going. It might seem tough now, but it’ll pay off in the long run. Also, I didn’t want to “waste” time, although I have a busy schedule as it is. In addition, my first college experience has equally contributed to my attitude. It took me six years to complete all my credits for my A.A degree, and while there were a lot of circumstances I faced during that time, I was also fully dedicated to work and least concerned about my studies which continued to set me back. With that being said, I want to knock-out what I can, while I can, and just push through because if I don’t everyone else will move forward and I will stay behind—And I’ve come too far for that!  
3. Three tips. What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about (1) fostering the skills that support tenacity and (2) developing the 'tenacious mindset'?
   • Fostering the skills:
     1. Begin with the end in mind; don’t worry about all the in-between! Its going to be time consuming and will require a lot of effort, but if you have an end goal in mind, you will be set.
     2. Figure out your strengths and weaknesses; manage them accordingly. I always struggle with writing and organizing my thoughts, so I always make sure to give myself enough time for the assignments that require the most research and analysis. This course does require a lot of both for most assignments, so acknowledging my deficits in writing has enabled me to properly prepare for the assignments.
     3. Plan and work ahead if ever possible; some of these assignments are a bit lengthy and it is extremely easy to fall behind. Also, take advantage of the ‘cupcakes’; they will definitely come in handy!