Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: You're a Brand

Topic 4: Critical Thinking & Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

Hey guys, this week, you're going to explore the advantages of an interdisciplinary degree. Do you think it requires critical thinking to effectively explain your degree? What about the advantages this degree brings to the table (vs. having a single-disciplinary degree). How/why did you choose this path? Using an approach that involves you to think critically can most often help you realize what you hope to attain with this degree.

Read Branding Yourself (The Brand Called You)

1. Read The Brand Called You - http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/10/brandyou.html

(You might have to copy & paste link in new tab/window)

2. After reading the article, I want to reflect on who you are and try to get as creative and free-flowing as possible. This weeks assignment will force you to think outside of your normal means, hence "Critical Thinking".

3. Please prepare an ‘advertisement’ (ie Tag Line- this one should be a hint as to, “what” you are) for this assignment you canNOT be human. You can be an inanimate object (ie ruler, rubber, toy), a living thing other than human being or animal (ie oxygen/air, plant). You’re going to describe yourself, and try to tell us “who” you are branding yourself. This assignment should not be longer than 1 page and should include at least two of your interest areas. Use problem solving skills and approach this as an interdisciplinary thinker. How could you explain yourself (your degree) to us through "branding" or selling yourself? Here's an example that I came up with.

The Brand Called "you" - I am 'Embraced Schizophrenia...'

I am timeless though sometimes fading,

Old, yet newly birthed.

I feel simple, complex, ugly, sexy, edgy, timid, light, heavy, weird...

and sometimes I feel just right.

I can be scary, yet inviting, warm, yet cold.

Sometimes i'm sweet, and other times i'm sour.

I can make you scream, and depending on how I feel, make you speechless and silent. There are no REAL words to describe me, other than simply...exist. I'm known all over the world. Universal, yet sometimes hard to understand.

My favorite color is nothing, because I embody them all equally, depending on who sees me. I'm always around you, even though I may not be there. I always embrace you, even though at times, you may not reciprocate.

You call me whatever you want, and I respond.

I'll make you cry, then wipe your tears. I'll make you laugh,

then frustrate you. Without trying, I tend to be a lot like a comforter. I can heal you, and nurture you. Without me the world could die. I bring about happiness in life, I bring about sorrow in death. I can be vibrant, yet dark, and sometimes i'm both.

I am happy, I am sad, I am confusing, I am intelligent, I am creative, I am the epitome of emotion personified...

I am Music.

Okay, so my focuses are The Arts, Behavioral/Social Sciences, and my minor is Health Sciences. I tried to definitely "sell" myself from all angles, and provide you with a visual with just how broad Music really is. I hope to be a Music Therapist one day, and I have to be a "healer" through the gift that comforts, and is universal. That's going to take me understanding every single one of my patients, their likes, and dislikes, and accommodating them. And this is what I would like you all to do. Hope you're inspired, this should be really interesting for you guys! After you've written out your assignment, answer the questions from below, and share anything else you feel you've gained from the assignment. Can't wait to read them!

* How does your critical thinking relate to being interdisciplinary?

* What insights have you gained from this reading?

* How has this exercise helped you intergrate and understand how your areas/interests relate?

Networking: Our Social Web

Topic 2 covers Interviewing, Networking, and Follow-Up.

We can grow as people, in our business and personal adventures through networking. This is how we expand and we do it everyday, whether we know it or not. We create connections and establish relationships that we can use or not use to our advantage. While we may be successful in life, we may of had an easier path with the proper associations. With applications that have grown in popularity like Facebook (Personal/Social) and LinkedIn (Professional) we are able to do this very fast and efficiently. Even sow e still overlook many avenues in life to our goal destinations, so it never hurts to look twice!

Activities: (Complete 1 or Both)

1.      Complete the Perfect Interview activity located on the UCF Career Services website. Share one paragraph explaining what you learned from the experience about your interview skills.

2.       Webster defines Networking as, The exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.

Think about how technology and computers has made networking faster and easier. What did people have to do before the use of computers, it didn’t prevent them from being successful networks so what extra steps were there? What has computers added, and what have they taken away?

Resources: Review the Career Services website and what is offered there to help students (note links for Undergraduate Students and Non-Traditional Knights). A lot of the stuff is only offered as a UCF Student but not after you graduate, so the time to use it is now and the upcoming years. One of the largest factors of success is timing, and it’s never too good to wait.

Talking Points: (Don’t have to respond to all, but think about a few, or add your own!)

    *  What are the different types of interviews you could come across?

    * Why are practice and/or informational interviews helpful? How they help you?

    * What makes you nervous about interviews?

    * Share any tips or techniques you have used or heard about for remaining calm in an interview.

    * What behaviors should you avoid during an interview?

    * Which topics should you avoid sharing during an interview (too much information!!!)?

    * How will you explain your Interdisciplinary degree in the interview?

    * When is the time to talk about salary?

    * Share a positive networking experience

    * When and how do you follow-up after an interview? (yes, you should follow-up)

    * How often should you check back?

    * Are "thank you" letters appropriate?

Week 2

Topic 2:
This topic will cover 3 subjects; coverletters, resumes, and the modern job search.

Mentoring Topic:
Students will gather more insight into the scope of searching for employment in the modern age by utilizing school resources.

Activity to be Assigned:
Provide a link to your dream job or graduate program. Create and post your best coverletter ideas for that posting. Grad School or Job:Review the Career Services website and what is offered there to help students (note links for Undergraduate Students and Non-Traditional Knights)OR Review information on UCF Plan for Graduate School share your experiences (if any) with the process of grad school application (or even entertaining the thought of grad school).

Talking Points:
• What should you include/exclude in a cover letter?
• Is sending a coverletter via email enough?
• When do you call, email, stop-in, or stalk (just kidding) for an interview?
• What are some ways your resume can highlight your interdisciplinarity?
• How do you conduct a job search (or graduate school search) in our modern climate of internet and email?
• What have you done or are you doing for your search? What do you need to do?
• What tools can you use, or have you used, to help in your search? (Think outside of the box, beyond Monster.com)
• Were there any resources at the UCF Career Services website that could help you prepare? How helpful did you find their site?
• How is your search different from your non-interdisciplinary peers?Share your experiences (if any) with the process of grad school application (or even entertaining the thought of grad school).

Week 1: Introductions

Welcome to your mentoring project blog! We will be with you for the next few weeks, helping you guys if you have any questions and sparking discussion about your new and fascinating major!

Capstone Members:

Sarah Maginnis: I am an interdisciplinary studies student with major focuses in Behavioral and Social Sciences, Biological Sciences and a minor in Health Sciences. I am also a non-traditional student. I will be applying to UCF's Mental Health counseling masters program for the fall.

Raymond Fabris: My majors are Humanities and Psychology, with a minor in Education. I hope to be a Highschool teacher after I graduate and eventually a College Professor. I  view myself as a game changer and am happy to have been in the IDS program, it's quite diverse and can help you in your desired profession.

Xzavian Clark: My areas of concentration are The Arts (Music - specifically), Behavioral/Social Sciences, and my minor is Health Sciences. I'm looking to go into the health field, but primarily through the form of Music Therapy.

Abraham Rivera: focus is in finance, paralegal law, and minor in sociology. Military member.

 Getting to know you: We want to get to know you guys a bit better and see what you think about your degree, it's okay to not fully understand it yet as it's a long complex journey and all the capstone kids still have questions about it as well.

Topic 1: Who are you and what does an Interdisciplinary Studies degree mean to you?

Activity to be Assigned: A brief Introduction - Tell us all about you in 200- 250 words (maybe more if you're persistent). We'll get to know your all about you throughout the first couple of weeks, so feel free to be as creative as you want.  “It’s all about you”.

Example Talking Points: Please answer these briefly (You can add any more if you'd like)

Who are you?

What are your areas / minors?

What are your goals after graduation? Graduate school, job search, other?

Why did you choose an IDS degree?

How do you explain IDS to others?

What are the advantages of an interdisciplinary education?