Anita's November Week 4 Reflection
What have you observed in others (e.g., team members, supervisors) that inspired you or taught you something new? How will you apply it in your daily life?
During my placement, I’ve noticed a few things in my supervisors that have really inspired me and taught me some valuable lessons. One thing that stands out is how organized and proactive my supervisor is. Tanya always seems to have everything under control, even when there’s a lot going on. I’ve learned from her how important it is to plan ahead and think a step ahead to avoid potential problems. She’s also really quick at replying to messages, which keeps everything moving smoothly and avoids any delays. Seeing that has made me realize how important it is to stay responsive and keep things moving when time is tight.
I plan to apply these lessons by focusing on my own planning, staying ahead of things, and being quicker with my responses. I think this will help me stay organized and keep things running more efficiently, both in my work and in my personal life.
If we did not have Mojo as our mascot, what character (fictional or realistic) would be a good fit to be our U+ mascot? Why?
If we were to pick a mascot, I would choose somethings that a “ray of sunshine,” and I think Tigger from Winnie the Pooh would be a great fit:
Tigger is full of energy, positivity, and excitement—just like the color yellow/orange (reminds me of U+). He’s always bouncing around and spreading good vibes, no matter what. His upbeat attitude and optimism help lift the spirits of everyone around him, even when things aren’t going perfectly. I think that matches what U+ is all about—bringing energy and support to students as they tackle new challenges and opportunities. Tigger’s fun, bouncy personality and his ability to stay positive no matter what happens would be a perfect representation of U+. He reminds us to stay optimistic, keep moving forward, and enjoy the ride, even when things get stressful.
What is a surprising or unexpected thing you have learned about yourself during your placement so far? What will you do with this knowledge?
One surprising thing I’ve learned about myself during my placement so far is how much I’ve improved my time management skills. I used to struggle with managing my time effectively — I would either take too long to finish tasks, causing me to rush and cram everything at the last minute, or I would finish tasks too quickly and then have nothing to do. However, during this placement, I’ve really pushed myself to improve by staying organized. For example, I’ve been creating summaries for the team and consistently reviewing my to-do list to stay on top of everything. I’ve also realized that the virtual volunteering project, especially on a nationwide scale, is growing rapidly, and the workload is increasing. This has added some stress, as there’s always a lot to do. To manage this, I’ve had to prioritize tasks, add shifts, and make sure I’m communicating effectively with others. It’s been a challenge at times, but I feel like I’m learning how to balance everything better, and this knowledge will definitely help me stay organized and manage my time even more efficiently in the future.
If your current co-op position was not available during applications but you had to commit to U+, what role would you have selected? How do you think that experience would contribute to your personal and professional growth?
If my current co-op position hadn’t been available during applications and I had to commit to U+, I think I would have chosen either a Marketing Assistant or a Web Development Assistant role. I’ve always enjoyed doing marketing for clubs at my school, especially the outreach and promotional aspects. I like connecting with people and spreading the word about events or causes, so I feel like a marketing role would have been a good fit for me.
As for web development, it’s something I’ve been interested in for a while, though I was initially hesitant because I thought it might require more advanced math skills. However, I’m really curious about learning more in that area, and I think taking on a web development role would have pushed me out of my comfort zone and given me the chance to develop technical skills I can use in the future.
Both roles would have contributed to my personal and professional growth by helping me build skills in communication, creativity, and problem-solving. In marketing, I would have improved my ability to strategize and engage with audiences, while in web development, I would have gained valuable technical knowledge and learned how to approach systematic things. Either experience would have helped me grow in different ways, but I feel confident that both would have been valuable learning opportunities for me.