Self Reflection is sooo damn hard !

Week 0 of my final project for the MA started off with a self-reflection. It was a time to slow down a little (theoretically, yes. we were all still juggling a million different things though) and look back on the journey so far. The questions were not rocket science it was just about what I had learnt and what am I still learning, my interests, passions and understanding the barriers that are in my way. Still took me two days to fill it all out though.

This kind of took me back to the first week of our course when we had to write out user manuals. It was basically how we had introduced ourselves to each other. we had spoken about very similar things that we had to reflect upon now (not all but a few). Opening my old user manual and reading through things made me realise how much I had changed as a person over the last 7 months on my course. The shift in values and mindsets. how my strengths have strengthened and how I no longer struggled with the things I did just a few months ago.

This was also the time when I was working with my mentor to understand my needs and values as a person to better understand my footing as a designer. what kind of a designer am I? what are the things that drive me? With a series of self-reflective exercises and some wonderful books to guide me along the way. (btw I highly recommend “ creating the work you love “ by Rick Jarrow )

I clearly remember Silvia (our course leader ) saying “ find something you are passionate not what your employer would like to see “ and my mentor Anna saying “ you need to create the work you love doing “ finding your passion is not easy it’s a long self-reflecting process. But i am on my journey to finding mine.

The reflective activity surely made me realize how much I have grown over the last couple of months and what are the things I enjoy doing. And the sweet lovely comments my classmates left made me realize I am not as bad as I think I am.

I have always seen myself as an environmentalist. It’s been one of my greatest callings. The opportunity to work as a climate advocate at UAL made me realize the lack of knowledge and awareness about the climate emergency. Climate action is not a one man’s battle and the most fundamental way to take action is through rite education.

Exploring this would be the next few months of my masters.