Professional Development is an essential component of building aptitude and developing as an professional as well as an individual. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. I have found the learning plan to be quite useful in allowing me to focus more on myself. Course work allows me to develop and enhance the skills I need. However, actually having a plan set up and knowing that I have to work on these areas for improvements, provided me with a perfect sense of how I can work towards becoming a more professionally competent public servant. The professional development program is a wonderful way to learn and grow both in class and through projects as professionals.
Initial Plan
My learning plan focused on building and enhancing …show more content…
I had the opportunity to prepare a speech and present through the coaching sessions. Also, I have gotten an opportunity to practice speaking with a group of MPA classmates before presenting. While I worked on the ACPA program committee, I took the lead in contacting some speakers required for the conference. I have also taken the lead in some team projects this semester and hope to continue to do so. I created my resume for Co-op/ internships in the spring/summer based on the guidance provided. I have used my buddy’s help to build and finalize my resume along with online resources and coaching sessions. In the appendix, I have attached my final resume template that I created. I use this when applying to the internships now, updating as required by the job postings. Also, I have improved on my time- management skills greatly. Keeping agendas and calendars really helps me stay focused. I am the type of person who works long hours with minimum breaks to be more productive. I have learnt to take time out for myself which helps me relax and perform much better. This semester I am taking advantage of improving my research and analytical skills as outlined in my learning plan. The research methods class on top of the statistics course last semester are especially giving me a hands-on experience with analysis, both quantitative and qualitative. …show more content…
I had found that I need to start incorporating more of my skill building into my course work as well as real life. I was not being able to move beyond my plan for public speaking. I just am not an avid speaker coming from a quiet family. I have my thoughts and ideas set in my mind, but am not comfortable expressing myself. Partly, I felt that my lack of knowledge was the culprit along with my voice projection when I do speak up. So, I have decided to focus largely on my speaking this summer and throughout the next year of the Public Administration program.
So, to sum, the skills I will continue to work on include:
• Public speaking
• Active learning through asking questions, voice projection
• Opportunities in internship such as teamwork, leadership, speaking, presenting my ideas
Future opportunities
Based on my coaching session the areas I need to focus on include:
1) Opportunities to work on my voice projection. Specifically, techniques that will help me be comfortable in public
Initial Plan
My learning plan focused on building and enhancing …show more content…
I had the opportunity to prepare a speech and present through the coaching sessions. Also, I have gotten an opportunity to practice speaking with a group of MPA classmates before presenting. While I worked on the ACPA program committee, I took the lead in contacting some speakers required for the conference. I have also taken the lead in some team projects this semester and hope to continue to do so. I created my resume for Co-op/ internships in the spring/summer based on the guidance provided. I have used my buddy’s help to build and finalize my resume along with online resources and coaching sessions. In the appendix, I have attached my final resume template that I created. I use this when applying to the internships now, updating as required by the job postings. Also, I have improved on my time- management skills greatly. Keeping agendas and calendars really helps me stay focused. I am the type of person who works long hours with minimum breaks to be more productive. I have learnt to take time out for myself which helps me relax and perform much better. This semester I am taking advantage of improving my research and analytical skills as outlined in my learning plan. The research methods class on top of the statistics course last semester are especially giving me a hands-on experience with analysis, both quantitative and qualitative. …show more content…
I had found that I need to start incorporating more of my skill building into my course work as well as real life. I was not being able to move beyond my plan for public speaking. I just am not an avid speaker coming from a quiet family. I have my thoughts and ideas set in my mind, but am not comfortable expressing myself. Partly, I felt that my lack of knowledge was the culprit along with my voice projection when I do speak up. So, I have decided to focus largely on my speaking this summer and throughout the next year of the Public Administration program.
So, to sum, the skills I will continue to work on include:
• Public speaking
• Active learning through asking questions, voice projection
• Opportunities in internship such as teamwork, leadership, speaking, presenting my ideas
Future opportunities
Based on my coaching session the areas I need to focus on include:
1) Opportunities to work on my voice projection. Specifically, techniques that will help me be comfortable in public