INSTRUCTIONS: Respond to the post (Diamond) below with insights about their projects, words of encouragement and praise, and suggestions for overcoming obstacles, if necessary.
Diamond
Week 3 of my Capstone Project was really encouraging. I held our second workshop virtually using Zoom and it flowed better than I expected. We built on what we covered in Week 2 by diving deeper into strengths and really working through the SMART goals section of the worksheet. The goal was for participants to start creating real action steps tied to their career development, and I’m happy to say that most of them really showed up ready to do the work.
A few of the participants shared their completed worksheets, and it was inspiring to see how thoughtful their responses were. One participant wrote that their SMART goal was to connect with five professionals in their field by the end of the semester, using platforms like LinkedIn and local networking events. Another highlighted their strengths in emotional intelligence and leadership and shared how those qualities helped them support a classmate through a stressful group project. It’s been amazing to see them not only identify their strengths but also recognize how those skills show up in real-life situations.
We also spent time discussing how their goals fit into a long-term plan. Using the action plan section, participants created step-by-step timelines, and we talked through some of the barriers they might face. One person said this part made their goals feel more “real” and doable which was exactly the point of the worksheet. I can tell the participants are gaining clarity, and many have told me they feel more confident and grounded in their next steps.
Looking ahead, Week 4 is all about introducing mindfulness and gratitude practices. I’ve already started putting together short exercises and journaling prompts they can try out. I’m hoping this next session will help balance the more “action-heavy” work we’ve been doing so far and offer some emotional relief during their transitions. I’m still keeping my eye out for more participants for future rounds, the word is spreading slowly, and I’m excited to see how this continues to grow.
