Preparing for Success: Self Development and Responsibility

This article discusses the importance of self development and responsibility in achieving success. It includes a reflective writing on the benefits of group work, academic and professional areas that need to be developed further, and an action plan for skill development. The article also mentions various resources and strategies for developing skills such as communication, time management, leadership, critical thinking, innovative mindset, and technological knowledge.

PREPARING FOR
SUCCESS: SELF
DEVELOPMENT AND
RESPONSIBILITY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1)Reflective writing.........................................................................................................................1
2)Academic and professional areas that need to be developed further............................................3
3)Action plan...................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

1)Reflective writing
The module and group presentation have played a vital role in my knowledge
improvement. It has benefited me in several ways. For the group presentation my group had 3
people and I divided the whole task into three separate parts, finding sources and content for the
presentation, giving presentation, making presentation. This way brought everybody to work.
There were a lot of things learnt throughout the presentation task. I have learnt the importance of
the team work in achieving the goals. Having a sense of co-ordination while working with
people, is very necessary. As each task has contribution to the final goal achievement, yet a task
alone achieved by a single person can never be able to fulfil the group goal. Further, I learnt to
have adaptable and flexible attitude of working in the classroom. As studying module needs an
individual to have a very open-minded and adaptable lookout (Ashar, Kamdi and Kurniawan,
2021). When you learn new things, the act of rigidity will not let you understand anything.
Rather, the adaptable behaviour will bring the best understanding of every topic in the classroom.
Module and presentation has brought new information forward in terms of the various
topics and lessons. There were several topics yet some were totally new such as the placement
process, reflective writing style, skill requirement etc. which plays an important role in the
overall performance development. Placement process is going to provide me opportunity to build
strong career and in order to get the best opportunity in well-known companies, I am required to
have a strong portfolio and skills. Skill set is really important as it is the small skills that comes
together and build a personality of the individual (Bates and et al., 2018). The presentation part
of the curriculum has helped in learning the self representation and its importance in the future
career prospect. As being a student in the university I will be required to present on many
occasions and presenting is not just informing yet it is an art of communicating with the
audience. The importance of reflective writing in life and how it gives a new dimension and
layer to the thinking process of a student. Various new sources of information which can enhance
the knowledge in the curriculum performance were learnt.

The most interesting part of the module was the practicality of each topic which can
ultimately help in goal achievement. Previously whenever I learnt any new topic in the
classroom it never looked up to as a practical approach. Yet in this module every lesson and
topic has some part to play in the overall performance at the university. Especially when
placement process was introduced it was totally a new concept to me, it took my ultimate interest
in learning the process and how to be efficient when the placement opportunity comes in the
university. As these opportunities will help in shaping the career. Also, the future endeavours are
easy to approach if the right placement opportunities are cracked (Medvedeva and Rubtsova,
2021). Further, interesting aspect of the presentation was learning the shortcoming of the self
which can help in developing a better personality in the future. Presentation requires confidence,
thorough knowledge of the topic, remembering the content of presentation and knowing the
audience to keep them engaged throughout. Therefore, it made me realize about the areas where
I lack the expertise and where I need to polish my skills.
The new information and knowledge gained here will be used by me in many areas of
life. Very first is the personality development which is an essential in the university as it has
power to uplift the entire performance. When a personal has effective personality he or she can
represent himself in the university in a much better way, how to talk, what to talk, when to talk,
whom to talk etc. becomes clear (Tan and Laswad, 2018). Reflective writing was also a very
useful prospect, it can help in making effective notes, recording information in effective way,
improves decision-making power, helps grow as a working professional and at university. New
information learnt will be used in developing knowledge further and becoming a great individual
who can bring out the productivity at the university.
Professors at university put their best efforts to make us understand each part of the
module with the help of best tools, mediums, examples etc. yet there were some things I was
unable to understand. There was problem with the time allocation for each topic in the module. I
think some topic needed more time in understanding and practising than others. Yet equal time
was allotted to modules, I lack my understanding when topics are difficult and complex.

Placement process was totally new to me and I needed more time in understanding the details
and related skills requirements. As each skill has small sub skills attached to it which requires
due knowledge and understanding building a great skill set, in my understanding more time must
have been given to the placement process which is going to help in the future (Riaño, 2021).
Due to the fast speed of the course structure I could not develop as thorough understanding of
some topic therefore I contacted the respective professors who solved my problems and doubts
related to the topic. Teacher were really helping and understanding my problems, they also
guided me in skills set building. Overall I felt really productive and better since this curriculum
has been enlightening.
2)Academic and professional areas that need to be developed further
Module and presentations went really well which made me aware about myself and the
areas I really need to built for the overall growth and development. There were few areas of
improvement such as very first is the skill set. It is an individual's range of abilities and skills.
Each individual needs to build the skill set according to the career and University requirement
yet there are some skills which are needed irrespective of the career and university area. For me
the academic areas of development were note making, critical thinking, computer skills or tech
skills, time management, presentation skills, communication strengthening skills, research skills
etc. as all these skills will have high impact on the performance in the university (Hauck, 2019).
Critical thinking helps in developing a creative mind which helps in decision-making and
perspective building. Those who can think critically can have more intellectual and successful
ideas. In the Morden era having technical or computer skills is very necessary, every job role has
this basic requirement of having at least basic computer operating knowledge. And people with
higher computer knowledge are often given more importance than others in a job role.
Technological advancement is an essential part of every business nowadays (Sotiriadou and et
al., 2020). These set of skills gives an individual in depth knowledge and expertise which gives
an edge in the university and in the workplace. One of the very crucial skill which is not only

important for the career but also for the personal life balance is communication. Strong and
effective communication skills help in conveying and putting forward the self in a better way.
Communication skills are important for being a leader in the future endeavours and
performing effectively in the current job or university. We often see students who have no
effective communication skills tend to perform really low in the university (Rose and et al.,
2020). As a university curriculum does not only include the module bookish knowledge yet the
presentation, group discussions etc. are integral parts of it. Further the professional skills
required are leadership, work ethic and creative mind set which are important in a work place.
Leadership plays vital role as even before you are become a leader at the workplace, leadership
characteristics in the personality are important which can be recognized at the workplace.
Having a problem solving attitude at the workplace is necessary, such attitude can lead to
great future opportunity. An employer seeks such workplace environment which has more of a
problem solvers in the organizations as this attitude keeps the employees motivated and creative.
Creative mindset is an ability of the individual to have an innovative way of thinking at the
workplace (Hill and et al., 2019). I need to leave he orthodox bookish thinking and develop
perspective of creativeness towards each task both in the university and in the life. As
continuously practising the creativeness, can hep me building the innovative mindset. Hence,
these are the professional and academic skills I need to develop for the better future.
3)Action plan
skills strategy resources monitoring Time
required
communicati
on
For developing the effective
communication skills I will be
choosing a hybrid model
where I am using both inline
and offline sources. For
This skill
development will
need laptop,
stationary, dictionary
and monetary
I will take the
feedback from
my peers and
family
members to
30 days

online sources I will be
joining the online
communication classes which
will teach me how to better
the communication and for
offline I will be joining
classes for the purpose of
practising the skills .
resource for the class. know the
status of my
communicatio
n skills.
Time
management
I will be joining the time
management workshops
which provides task with
deadlines and help manage
the task in time by efficient
time allotment.
The resources needed
for this skill
development is
laptop and strategic
time table. I will
keep a diary which
will keep a detailed
time budget for the
day, so stationary
will be needed.
This will be
monitored by
making a
strategic time
table and
matching the
deadlines
every day.
16 days
leadership In order to develop the
leadership skills I will be
joining the workshops which
gives the opportunity to
practically work in the group
and leading the group for the
assigned task. This will also
enlighten the leadership
This will need
courses and diploma
for the leadership
skills.
When
practising the
leadership
task, ask peers
to give their
clear inputs
on each
characteristic.
15 days

qualities required.
Critical
thinking
For developing the critical
thinking I need to explore the
range of books available both
online and offline which can
give me a different
perspective of decision-
making and completing a task
by critically thinking.
Reading the books can build
this skill (Sarkar and et al.,
2020).
For developing this
skill monetary
resources, laptop and
a diary which can
record the reflective
piece of decision-
making will be
needed.
This can be
difficult to
assess yet the
only way is
self
assessment
and keeping a
diary which
can check the
improvement
in decision-
making.
30 days
Innovative
mindset
Innovative mindset can be
built by attending various
seminars by successful
people who think outside of
the box and always take the
creative road to complete a
task. Same will be adapted in
the regular life which can
strengthen the mindset.
Resources needed
will be stationary,
laptop, reflective
writing habit will be
needed.
It can be
monitored via
self
assessment
and taking
feedbacks
from
professors at
the university.
21 days
Personality
development
Personality development is an
umbrella which has many sub
skills (Fixsen, Cranfield and
Ridge, 2018) and such sub
It will need
monetary, laptop for
classes, practising via
offline classes.
Personality
development
can be
assessed via
45 days

skills needs to be adapted in
the daily life or routine, for
this purpose offline classes
will be joined where small
personality traits can be
observed in developed.
taking
continues
feedbacks
from peers,
family,
friends and
professors.
Technologica
l knowledge
I will develop the Technical
know how by joining online
classes which can help me in
learning the computer
operations and programming
languages which can
strengthen my knowledge of
the data and computer.
Regularly practising the same.
Also, I will keep myself
constantly updated to each
technological advancement
that introduces in the market
(Rivers and Kinchin, 2019).
It will need monetary
resources, a laptop,
coding books and
classes. Subscription
of a website which
keeps continuously
updated about the
changes in computer
field.
Technological
knowledge
can be
monitored via
taking various
coding
language or
operation tests
which can
give me idea
of areas of
expertise and
areas of
improvement.
30 days

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Ashar, M., Kamdi, W. and Kurniawan, D. T., 2021. Professional Skills Development Through
the Network Learning Community Using an Online Learning Platform. International
Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies. 15(12).
Bates, L. and et al., 2018. From Employability to Employment: A Professional Skills
Development Course in a Three-Year Bachelor Program. International Journal of
Work-Integrated Learning. 19(4). pp.413-423.
Fixsen, A., Cranfield, S. and Ridge, D., 2018. Self-care and entrepreneurism: an ethnography of
soft skills development for higher education staff. Studies in Continuing Education.
40(2). pp.181-197.
Hauck, M., 2019. Virtual exchange for (critical) digital literacy skills development. European
Journal of Language Policy. 11(2). pp.187-211.
Hill, M.A. and et al., 2019. Undergraduate recognition of curriculum-related skill development
and the skills employers are seeking. Chemistry Education Research and Practice.
20(1). pp.68-84.
Medvedeva, O. D. and Rubtsova, A. V., 2021. Productive Method as the Basis for Soft Skills
Development in Engineering Foreign Language Education. Education Sciences. 11(6).
p.276.
Riaño, Y., 2021. Understanding brain waste: Unequal opportunities for skills development
between highly skilled women and men, migrants and nonmigrants. Population, Space
and Place. 27(5). p.e2456.
Rivers, C. and Kinchin, I., 2019. Dynamic learning: Designing a hidden pedagogy to enhance
critical thinking skills development. Management Teaching Review. 4(2). pp.148-156.
Rose, H. and et al., 2020. What drives success in English medium taught courses? The interplay
between language proficiency, academic skills, and motivation. Studies in Higher
Education. 45(11). pp.2149-2161.
Sarkar, M. and et al., 2020. Academics’ perspectives of the teaching and development of generic
employability skills in science curricula. Higher Education Research & Development.
39(2). pp.346-361.
Sotiriadou, P. and et al., 2020. The role of authentic assessment to preserve academic integrity
and promote skill development and employability. Studies in Higher Education. 45(11).
pp.2132-2148.

Tan, L. M. and Laswad, F., 2018. Professional skills required of accountants: what do job
advertisements tell us?. Accounting Education. 27(4). pp.403-432.