Spring 2025: Understanding and Shaping Your Self-Concept

Project Overview: For the final project, students will keep a Self-Concept Journal, documenting your thoughts, reflections, and insights throughout the course. This journal will act as a tool for self-exploration, tracking changes in how you view yourself and the external influences that have shaped your self-concept. In addition to the journal entries, you will also compile a Growth Plan that will outline specific actions and mindsets that you will adopt to continue developing your self-concept in the future.

Project Guidelines:

1. Weekly Journal Entries: Over the course of the cycle, write at least one journal entry per week. Each entry should focus on self-reflection, exploring how you perceive yourself and how your self-concept is evolving.
   • Each week, consider prompts such as:
     • How do I view myself today?
     • What external influences are impacting my self-concept?
     • How do I feel about my achievements and setbacks?
     • What feedback have I received from others, and how has it affected my self-concept?
     • What challenges am I facing in shaping my self-concept?
2. Growth Plan:
   • At the end of the course, compile your journal entries into a cohesive narrative that highlights your personal growth journey. Focus on the key turning points and lessons you’ve learned about your self-concept.
   • Write a Growth Plan that outlines specific actions, habits, or mindsets you will adopt to continue shaping your self-concept in the future. This plan should be actionable, measurable, and aligned with your goals for personal development.
     
     The Growth Plan should include:
   • Short-term goals: What immediate actions can you take to enhance your self-concept (e.g., adopting positive self-talk, setting boundaries, seeking constructive feedback)?
   • Long-term goals: What are your aspirations for your self-concept over the next six months or year? How will you continue to develop resilience, self-compassion, or self-esteem?
   • Strategies and practices: Include specific techniques, such as journaling, mindfulness, or gratitude practices, that will help you stay focused on your growth.
   • Potential challenges: Acknowledge any obstacles you might face in your growth process and how you plan to overcome them.
3. Final Reflection:
   • Submit a written reflection (1-2 pages) summarizing your journey throughout the course.
     
     Reflect on:
     • How your self-concept has evolved over time and what you learned about yourself.
     • The most meaningful insights from your journal entries and how they will influence your future growth.
     • How your Growth Plan will guide your continued personal development beyond the course.

Submit your Growth Plan and Final Reflection as one PDF file through the GWN Portal.

Project Overview: For this project, you will develop and record an episode for Girls Write Now’s podcast, Writing Our Well to Wellness—a podcast series dedicated to exploring the intersection of personal growth, well-being, and writing. 

Select an individual you would like to interview, someone who is well-versed in the topic you choose to discuss. This person could be your mentor, a member of the GWN community, someone you admire, or an author, as long as the interviewee has expertise or significant experience in the chosen subject.

The goal of this project is to create a thoughtful, engaging podcast episode that highlights the personal stories and wisdom of the interviewee, while connecting the conversation back to your own journey of self-concept and wellness. 

** Mentors have the opportunity to participate as an interviewer if they would like to develop an episode for season 3 of Writing Our Way to Wellness. The same guidelines and deadlines apply**

Project Guidelines

1. Topic and Guest Selection Submission for Approval (Due April 5th):
   • Choose a topic that has not been discussed in the podcast so far [See the season 1 and 2 catalogue here], or a topic you feel you can expand on. Make sure that the topic for the episode aligns with the themes discussed in your Love Well courses.
   • In a chat with your mentor or peer-mentee, submit your topic and potential guest for approval to Sally Familia through Slack by April 5th.
     • Mentors may submit their topic and guest selection in a private chat with Sally.
2. Preparation and Recording of the Episode (April 14th-May 25th):
   
   USE THIS SLIDE DECK TO GUIDE YOU PRE, DURING, AND POST-PRODUCTION.
   • Record the interview, ensuring good sound quality. You will use Riverside.Fm to record the episode.
   • The interview should last between 30 to 45 minutes.
     • Prepare a list of thoughtful questions for the interviewee based on the selected topic. The goal is to create a meaningful conversation that draws out personal insights, stories, and expertise.
     • Consider incorporating open-ended questions that invite deeper reflection and allow the interviewee to share their knowledge and personal experiences.
   • Be mindful of time, ensuring the discussion stays on track while allowing room for meaningful dialogue and follow-up questions.
3. Reflection on the Process & Episode Submission (Due May 26th):
   • Submit a written reflection (1-2 pages) after completing the podcast episode. In the reflection, address:
     • What did you learn from the interviewee and how did their insights impact your understanding of your self-concept or wellness journey?
     • How did the interview process help you explore the topic more deeply?
     • What challenges did you face during the interview or editing process, and how did you overcome them?
     • How do you plan to apply the insights from the conversation to your own life moving forward?

Submit your episode via email to sally at sally@girlswritenow.org. Submit your Final Reflection as a PDF file through the GWN Portal.