Module 6: Who am I becoming?
Works in progress
By the time you look at this module, you will have been doing the CP for a while. You will have experiences from your career-related studies, DP subjects, Service Learning, Language Development, probably starting the reflective project and had many experiences in personal and professional contexts with a wide range of people. How do all these add up to how you are developing as a person? And what is the benefit of understanding your development right now?
The why
In the very first module you asked 'who am I?' as an introduction to the topic of 'Self awareness' and 'Self-management' in one of the five themes of PPS, Personal Development*. We also looked into how we respond to change and become an effective reflective learner.
Looking to be a polished, finished product? Perfectionism is a tough, anxiety ridden pathway. Let's embrace being a lifelong learner and realise it's more productive to ask, 'Who am I becoming?'; we recognise we are all a work in progress and developing all the time. However we have to work at this self-awareness business and commitment to lifelong learning. It's likely that you are looking at this module, part way through your course so it's a good time to do a stock-take of how far you have come and where you want to go. Proceed to Activate!
*A quick reminder that throughout this course, we use a theme, topic and its sub-topics as starting points to explore the interconnected nature of all the themes, topics and sub-topics.
Building on the why
Ignore the circles for a second. Consider the skills and sub-skill areas here and how familiar you are with them now. Make a note or discuss with a partner how these topics and sub-topics have come up in your life within and outside of the CP.
Which sub-topics jump out at you as areas you feel you are regularly exploring?
Which ones do you feel you are really progressing in?
Which ones are you struggling with? Are there some areas where you struggle with it more than others?
Are there any you do not feel you have accessed at all yet?
Identifying strengths and areas for growth with Thinking Processes
Who am I? Explore, Connect, Identify, Belong
Thinking skill developed: Using questioning and close observation to identify assumptions, bias and potential problems
This thinking skills routine invites your to go beyond shallow judgements and labelling that can happen in relation to people, systems, objects or ideas. It encourages you to take a moment to consider what you really think and not rush to make a decision. The nature of this thinking routine means that you can continue building your ideas over an extended period of time and notice how your ideas about who you are have changed and matured.
Consider how you have become who you are, where you belong and what that can mean in our changing world. You can reflect on your work from the previous modules in the student section, with particular attention to Module 1 and 2.
Think about who you are and then about someone else.
Explore: Who am I? How has my identity developed?
Connect: eg I am connected to my parents, their parents and my brother and sister and I'm in the basketball team. Who else and what else am I connected to? What else shapes my identity?
Identify: If I wanted other to know who I am, what would identify me? Do we have more than one identity?
Belong: Where do I think i belong? Do I have a sense of belonging to more that one group, more than on place?
Reflect: How does this exercise consider your strengths and areas for growth?
Communicating who I am becoming. Remember you Vision board: All about me? from Module 1: Who am I?
Here is a little visual to remind you.
Where did your focus lie? How would you add to it now? Could you extend your vision board to capture your past, present and future? Have any of your priorities changed? Pick someone you feel comfortable talking to about your vision board review. Use the thinking routine 'I used to think ... but now I think...' as a way of structuring your thoughts about who you are becoming and how you think you are changing.
Reflect on the last year and consider your answers to the following tasks and questions
1. If you could pick 5 words to describe the last year, what would they be?
2. When did you feel most comfortable and at ease over the last year?
3. What are you most grateful for?
4. What were the hardest challenges in the last year?
5. What have you learnt about your values? Have they changed? Have you become more aware of what they are?
6. What relationships have been the most important to you? Have you forged new ones?
7. Who uplifts and inspires you? Why?
8. What could you have done differently this last year?
9. Name three things that make you happy?
10. Finish this sentence: this time next year, I hope to feel ...
Look back on all your responses from this page and use the IB Learner Profile as a reflection tool. How are you developing those attributes?Knowledgeable Principled Inquirer Thinker