Yes!
Research Assessment #2
CONTACT ME
WHO AM I?
WHO AM I?
WHO AM I?
WHO AM I?
APPLICATION TIMELINE
9/28/20
WEEKLY BLOGS: DECLUTTERING
Colossal Spreadsheets
11/2/20
Through my last blog, I expressed my imminent excitement for the interviews I had scheduled in the days ahead. This week, I can confidently assert that my expectations were not met with disappointment. Initially, I found difficulty in establishing a standardized approach when formulating questions and setting a time-frame for the interview. Having no basis as an interviewer in an informational setting, I was worried that I would be unable to take charge in asking questions and steering the direction of the conversation. More so, these professionals have decades worth of experience under their belt. How would they feel about a high school student questioning them? None of them needed to treat me with respect, nor did they have to answer with thoughtfulness, but all extended me the courtesy anyway. Overall, the four interviews I engaged in resembled more like conversations than they did interviews. It was not robotic or stagnant like I feared may happen. Until recently, I truly did not believe it was possible for teenagers to engage in conversations like this with adults of their stature. The age between late adolescence and early adulthood is complicated to navigate through. Some people will continue to treat and perceive you to be a child, while others expect much more of you. From the responses I received back, the professionals were certainly not expecting much. They generally made similar remarks; that I was a mature, well-spoken and driven individual. While I am completely flattered, I do not believe this is a rare phenomenon amongst my peers. Yet, there appears to be a common stigma that high schoolers are too childish to be taken seriously, which is also likely why many of them were increasingly surprised that a high school student had the drive and courage to reach out.
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As we continue our ISM journey, I hope to connect with more individuals and reform their impression of people my age. I have never had this opportunity before, and feel incredibly fortunate to meet people who are willing to offer help and guidance. I often forget how much kindness there is in people.
Picture your audience in their underwear
11/9/20
My ISM experience rests at a point where my classmates and I further shift into our individualized professional journeys through various scheduled meetings and interview assessments while simultaneously retaining the core of the class through collaborative and speech assignments. Last week, we were prompted with the second presentation task of the year in which each of us had to deliver a 4 to 5-minute speech on a trip somewhere. Anywhere. The possibilities were seemingly limitless, it could be based on one that occurred and existed purely in our minds, in the real world or through the imaginative lenses of our favourite novelist. Yet, I choked when I should have delivered easily. I pride myself on my sense of genuineness and conversational skills in that I may not always be the most intelligent in the room or even the wittiest, but I like to think that I am consistently authentic in what I preach. Reflecting on the past several interviews I have engaged in, I truly believe it was more of an interaction between two people, learning from each other in the process instead of a prepared speech. I am unsure if I just perform better when speaking and formulating ideas in an instance through a low-pressure environment, but it brings me ease to do so. On the other hand, speaking alone in front of a dozen people is not calming. In fact, I find it anxiety-inducing. This is where my frustration stems from as this fear seems perfectly justifiable when providing a speech on an academic topic where numerical statistics and data is involved. It incorporates much memorization, in which incorrect information completely transforms the basis of the argument. However, this presentation was one that I held complete control over. I wanted to share with my classmates a trip to Sapporo, Japan in the winter of 2018. While having experienced it personally and its memories living in my mind rent-free, I still could not share it without preparing a speech. Why did I struggle to remember in the moment what I wrote previously with such confidence? Similar to the notion of professionals thinking little of me when opening my emails, I certainly do not want my classmates to think of me as incompetent.
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This leads me to the title of today’s blog. There is an old saying that claims to picture your audience in their underwear when nervous about delivering a speech. In light of the current climate where our audience is commonly pixelated boxes in the corner of computer screens, I do not think the creator foresaw this change. All this to say, I focused primarily on addressing a weakness today after multiple blogs celebrating strengths. The lack of public speaking skills may very well be concealable with practice or even remediable with time, but I just hope that I have the tenacity to overcome it.
A Thousand Mile Journey
11/16/20
As our ISM Journey trots steadily along, I am trying to keep up the adrenaline rush. These past few weeks have been a whirlwind, with presentations, interviews and assessments. Within each of these tasks, I am beginning to fully recognise every aspect, every reflection, every feedback opportunity to be a true chance to learn. This is not necessarily limited to quantifiable information that is analysed and recorded but learning about myself and the path I want to pursue as well. Last week, dissimilar to the past several, was not as fast-paced. Having one interview conducted and one research assessment, I had more space to consider the choices I have made thus far and the route I wish to travel moving forward. As the initial informational interview portion of this course draws to a close, my classmates and I have been heavily reflecting over all the interviews we have had the privilege of conducting and the drawbacks as well as advantages of each one. Did we connect with the professional? Did we find one that proved more beneficial and educational than others? Most importantly, do we think the professional will agree to a mentorship with us? More than anything, I believe that I am just afraid of putting my faith in another individual just to be rejected. However, as we began this process not six weeks ago, I will admit that I initially did not expect to receive any confirmations to an interview. Lawyers are often perceived to be money-oriented, busy people. Besides utter curiosity, what would encourage them to reach out to a high school student? I always liked to think I am a realist over my somewhat pessimistic nature, better have low expectations and be pleasantly surprised than be disappointed. Every one of the professionals I spoke to surprised me but in different ways. Not one rushed my questions, regardless of how long it took for them to adequately answer, and all concluded the interview by affirming that I could extend any questions or concerns I had in the future. Even if this was solely a courtesy, it is heartwarming to think that these qualified and busy people gave me an hour of their time to learn from their experiences.
Overall, as we shift into our second interviews with the proposition of a hopeful mentorship, I am fearful but just as much excitement. I say with confidence that any one of the lawyers I interviewed would be an immense privilege to have as a mentor, I just hope one share this notion.
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Perpetual motion
12/7/20
Propelling into Thanksgiving break with successful informational interviews conducted and occupied with a number of new tasks, the adrenaline rush that I found to habitually characterize ISM slowed down a bit. I engrossed myself in assignments for other classes, university applications and extracurricular responsibilities, subconsciously allowing myself to lose my previous momentum in ISM. As we approach winter break and simultaneously mark the end of the semester, the pace has rapidly re-accelerated with a new chapter of assignments and projects in the midst, much pertaining to preparing for our original work product.
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With that being said, I have also been prompted with reflecting on the progress I have made thus far, professionally and personally through a class presentation this Wednesday. Suffice it to say, I am very scared. Reiterated timelessly in my previous blogs as well as application for the ISM program itself, presentations have been a long-term weakness for me. At the beginning of the year, I berated myself over failing to deliver a brief PowerPoint about myself. Understandably so, as each and every story encompassed thoughts that lived effortlessly in my head. My only real job was to engage the audience in the information I was illustrating. Yet, I struggled to coherently communicate my thoughts and express a sense of personality. This notion was similarly followed during the quick trip presentation that occurred several months later in which I had to bring my classmates on a journey. In hindsight, I spent an absurd amount of time attempting to develop a story that accurately described how I felt in the moment that I could not truly share it with my audience, absorbed in memorizing my speech word to word. Through all the different experiences I have been exposed to in ISM as well as the string of learning opportunities it has presented along the way, I have discovered great strengths in my peers and myself that I truly did not know was possible. With the right mindset and approach, I do believe that this challenge may be overcome. Should it take time, I just hope that I portray perceivable evidence of growth accompanied by effort in what I deliver.
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Resolution Writing
1/11/21
As the Ball Drops in New York and fireworks decorate the Sydney Harbour skyline, we synonymously associate a new year with the formation of resolutions. Our weight, monetary capacity and personal skill-set are most often put forward. With the unprecedented and filling nature of 2020, resolutions may have looked different this year. Yet, according to a study conducted by the University of Scranton, a mere 8% of people accomplish their New Year’s goals. If this is true, why do the majority of us continue to create them every year? I believe this a consequence of habit. While running on a treadmill or practicing the art of organisation may not be a familiarity, creating short as well as long term goals that we hope to achieve is.
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The idea of setting attainable objectives is not an isolated one. It can be applicable to every aspect of our individual lives. As I reflect on my withstanding priorities, I believe it to be especially applicable to the Independent Study program. Despite the majority of my fall semester spent locked to a computer screen, I learnt so much about myself, my interests and the world around me. From my previous blogs, I emphatically and religiously spoke about the kindness I saw in professionals whom I interviewed. Yet, with the collective preoccupation of the holidays, school work and college applications, I allowed this memory to wane, consequently failing to reach out to more lawyers. In recognition of this fault, I spent this past week calling various firms and sending emails to different individuals across the country. An estimated 80% of people do not achieve their new year resolutions, but I will work to accomplish mine by dedicating every Monday and Friday to connect with more people professionally.
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