When you discover your personal narrative, it will not only guide you to find your life's mission, but it will also serve as a lifelong source of strength and motivation to help you accomplish that mission." ~ J. Christian Jensen
Today's Workshop
Building off of the learning from our first workshop, this hour will be spent exploring the impact of a strong personal narrative. Who are you as a learner? What are the stories that you tell yourself after a personal success? What about a failure? The stories we tell ourselves have the power to change our course of action and success in the future. During this workshop, we will find work to identify powerful learning experiences, key moments in our learning journey, and begin to understand the stories we tell ourselves as learners.
Share your Strengths
The ability to reflect provides us with the potential to uncover the unique mix of strengths that we bring to our homes, school, and community. Take a moment to consider your strengths. Are you a capable problem-solver? A great listener? Someone who is creative or patient or kind?
While some of us may be keenly aware of the strengths we possess and have cultivated, we can also benefit from research-based tools that provide a different perspective on our strengths. Naviance’s StrengthExplorer is an example of one of these tools. We asked you to complete your own StrengthExplorer survey in order to help you gain insight into your personal characteristics, develop a deeper understanding of yourself, and identify some of your areas of talent. Keep in mind that tools like StrengthExplorer are not perfect… There may be aspects of the report you received that may seem inaccurate. Remember that these reports are not intended to be a statement of fact; instead, they are a tool for reflection. In today’s session, we will begin with a conversation about the strengths that are part of your personal story. In breakout rooms, respond to some of the prompts in the call out box below. Feel free to share as much as you are comfortable discussing. This part of our process is intended to get us reflecting, thinking, and connecting. |
BREAK OUT ROOM DISCUSSION PROMPTS
What is something that surprised you about the results?
What did you learn about yourself from the survey?
Did you feel the survey was accurate? Why?
Share something about yourself that wasn't represented in the results of the survey.
What did you learn about yourself from the survey?
Did you feel the survey was accurate? Why?
Share something about yourself that wasn't represented in the results of the survey.
As we return from the breakout rooms, give a shout-out to one of your fellow PoL Scholars by sharing a strength they possess in the chat.
What Makes Up Our Personal Narrative?
Consider the strengths that were shared in your discussion a few moments ago. Our strengths play an important part in our stories. However, strengths only contribute to part of our story. Let’s take a moment to consider what else makes up someone’s story. In the poll below answer the prompt, “What - beyond strengths - is part of someone’s personal story?”
Feeling Stuck?… Think back to the personal success story you shared in the first session. What is part of that person’s success?
Feeling Stuck?… Think back to the personal success story you shared in the first session. What is part of that person’s success?
The ideas shared above help us to recognize the parts of a personal narrative however, there's more to a personal narrative than a series of events or stories. Personal narrative is the story we tell ourselves about our own lives. Everyone’s personal narrative is unique. For instance, in simple terms - an artist may have a personal narrative that says, “I am a creative person who is able to find interesting ways to make sense of the world and share messages through my creative expression.” A student leader may have a personal narrative that says, “I have the ability to build meaningful relationships with people from different backgrounds and experiences. By listening to others, I can help to lead our community in a way that supports everyone.”
Personal narratives are unique; no two stories are the same. Let’s take a moment to listen to how filmmaker J. Christian Jensen defines narrative. Feel free to listen to the entire TED Talk; however, we will spotlight a few moments from the opening of the video where J. Christian Jensen shares the impact of telling personal and family stories.
Personal narratives are unique; no two stories are the same. Let’s take a moment to listen to how filmmaker J. Christian Jensen defines narrative. Feel free to listen to the entire TED Talk; however, we will spotlight a few moments from the opening of the video where J. Christian Jensen shares the impact of telling personal and family stories.
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Welcome back from the video! Take a moment to share your initial thoughts in the chat. What resonates with you from the video clip. What are your thoughts about Jensen's quote? Do you believe that personal narrative has the potential to create the impact he speaks about?
As we listened to the speaker, we could tell that he has a strong personal narrative as someone who is curious, asks questions, and enjoys seeking answers to those questions. Several questions came to mind for us as we watched including:
As we listened to the speaker, we could tell that he has a strong personal narrative as someone who is curious, asks questions, and enjoys seeking answers to those questions. Several questions came to mind for us as we watched including:
- What if the grandfather never told (and retold) the story about his curiosity and questioning? Would his personal narrative be the same?
- How much do the stories that others tell about us impact our personal narrative?
- When should we listen to what others have to say about us vs when should be ignore what others are saying?
- How can people with similar life experiences develop such different personal narratives?
The Power of a Personal Narrative
Let’s refocus our attention on Jensen’s quote that we put at the header of this webpage: “When you discover your personal narrative, it will not only guide you to find your life’s mission, but it will also serve as a lifelong source of strength and motivation to help you accomplish that mission."
This is an exciting concept! It suggests that when we tap into a personal narrative - the story we tell ourselves about our own lives - we have the potential to achieve our dreams. We think it's important to recognize, however, that not all personal narratives are powerful and positive. In some cases, people may have weak personal narratives that limit their ability to be successful.
Let's take a moment as a group to compare how a powerful or weak personal narrative impact us.
This is an exciting concept! It suggests that when we tap into a personal narrative - the story we tell ourselves about our own lives - we have the potential to achieve our dreams. We think it's important to recognize, however, that not all personal narratives are powerful and positive. In some cases, people may have weak personal narratives that limit their ability to be successful.
Let's take a moment as a group to compare how a powerful or weak personal narrative impact us.
Understanding Your Personal Narrative
Your life has marked you in unique ways, and these marks, whether you know it or not, will determine how you live your life, what quests you pursue, and what you are qualified to say with passion and authority. ~Michael Rabiger
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Before we wrap up today, we wanted to take the opportunity to begin to capture the moments, experiences, and elements that have helped to define each of our personal narratives.
Use the individual Google Doc to begin to put your thoughts down on paper. Brainstorm your ideas for each of the prompts below.
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Pre-Work for March 12
In preparation for our next workshop on Friday, March 12 from 12-2pm, we ask that you take time to explore the idea of "your story." Remember the story that Jensen's grandfather told about him? That had an impact on his personal narrative and how he thought about himself. It's your turn now! Our hope is that by taking a few minutes with a family member, close friend, or loved one, you will be able to learn even more about yourself and the roots of your personal narrative.
Follow the seven steps in the slide show below or click here for a printable version.
Follow the seven steps in the slide show below or click here for a printable version.