A mind map is a great way to get out of your head, and onto paper.
Some of the ideas we've been discussing in this course.
In this exercise, we'll be making a mind map with the theme of Personal Projects.
Ideally, you should have the following supplies on hand poster paper,
colored markers and your ideas.
But you could also just use regular paper and maybe a four color pen.
Or if you prefer the digital world,
you could try an online presentation program like Prezi.
To give an example,
let's look at a fictional college senior named Tamara Bellow.
Tamara is taking a full course load but finds
herself particularly focused on her History Thesis,
as well as a Data Analysis project she's working on to complete a minor in the subject.
She's a member of her school's Consulting Club,
and is assigned to a Pro- Bono project helping
a local business build out their social media efforts.
In her spare time, she plays bass guitar at a Campus Band,
and is in training to run the Boston Marathon.
She works in her university's Library to help pay for expenses,
including supporting two rescue cats she's just adopted.
Since she's getting ready to graduate,
she's also spending time researching
potential employers and trying to decide what she wants to do next.
She then highlights the projects that are most important to her now.
Her core projects.
And looks for themes and connections.
For Tara, her Data Analysis project
as well as the work she's doing with her school's Consulting Club,
is helping her think through what she wants to do after graduation.
She's also come to realize that physical fitness will always be important to her.
And that her Postgraduate job will have to allow her
enough free time to continue her athletic goals.
Now, you try it.
What are your personal projects?
What are your core projects?
What themes do you see among them?