Some of the classes I have taken during my time at Mays have shaped the way I understand myself and the world around me.  I took BUSN 205 (Applied Business Competencies) during the spring of my sophomore year. Over the semester, we discussed topics ranging from leadership, teamwork, ethics, and problem solving. While I enjoyed the class, and learned a lot when I was taking it, I didn't realize how much the ideas introduced in 205 would impact my time at school and future career decisions. Working on Purpose was a student-taught elective class that I took during the fall semester of my junior year. The class was a space created for students to reflect on their personal purpose and how they live it out.  The fall of 2016 was a pivotal time in my college career. I found that examining my purpose through the ideas I learned in 205 gave me a new perspective that guided me in some of the most important decisions of my life.  

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Insights that support my self-knowledge and personal development:

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In BUSN 205, General Van Alstyne challenged the class to reflect on how our strengths and values impact the way we function on a team.  During Working on Purpose, I explored these topics further while examining my personal purpose. I began reflecting on how my values, strengths, and experiences intertwine. As I did this, I recognized a pattern emerging in my life: I found meaning in the experiences where I was able to grow as an individual and help others develop and meet needs in their lives. 

This discovery showed me that I want to be in a position that allows me to help others and encourages me to pursue growth. This insight has been a guidepost through my college career, which I have used to evaluate how I invest my time and energy. Understanding what adds value to my life allowed me to intentionally search for opportunities that fit my pattern, from student organizations like the Aggie Advertising Club to career options like USAA.

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Insights that support my understanding of others around me:

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I was introduced to reflection through my BUSN 125 class, but BUSN 205 changed the way that I approach it. I learned that reflection is not just about being "the lord of my own head," it is also about understanding the people and needs around me.  Whether by asking questions to appreciate the situation or seeking to understand the strengths of team members, reflection allows me to be a better contributor to a team. Even in reflecting on my own experiences and strengths, I must not forget the value is not for myself alone.  This might seem like a small insight, but it shifted my perspective. In better understanding myself, I am able to better serve those around me. I can contribute most when I use my abilities and passions to meet the needs I see around me. 

Working on Purpose further challenged me to reflect on the needs in the world around me. I revisited a question that General Van Alstyne posed during 205, “What is it that only I can do?” I reframed the question in the light of understanding where I could add value: What are the needs in the world that only I can see? This connection showed me that I can add value to those around me by meeting the needs that I see. It helped me to be more aware of the people and situations in my life. I now actively seek to understand and fill the gaps I perceive around me, whether with friends, in group projects, or at work.  

While taking Working on Purpose, I realized I had made this valuable connection that many of my peers had not had the opportunity to see. I felt confident that others could benefit from exploring their purpose and applying it to different areas of their life. This led me to pursue teaching a BUSN 481 class to share this insight and help others explore purpose in their own lives.