Chetna's Proposal: Personal Roadmapping

One of the most important things in one’s journey of growth is self-reflection. Taking the time to step away from the currents of routine and habit to look at where you are, what excites you, what you want to learn and do is such a powerful exercise. It can help distill the undercurrents of thoughts and your sub-conscious inclinations. It can trigger clarity, action and an excitement to keep learning!

Almost always, as children, we don’t get the opportunity to self-assess and reflect. What do I want to learn? “Here you go — a syllabus and a textbook. Don’t bother with all that.” What do I want to do? “Here’s your timetable. If you have some time in the evenings, catch up on your homework and maybe, go to a class.”

With the imposition of syllabi and pre-decided timetables, we are rarely pushed to take an hour or so to do what I call personal roadmapping. In this case, the roadmap isn’t just about the future. In fact, it’s all about now — who you think you are in this moment and what you think you want to do in this moment.

I’ve been working with Chetna, a quirky and curious twelve-year old (who shares my passion for Interactive Fiction and reading books!) over the past few weeks, and here’s her personal roadmap. Take a glimpse at the inner workings of this animal-lover!

Note: My “reflection trigger" questions are in bold, and her reflections are in normal text.

It’s a deep question to start with, but who are you? You can write about yourself in the first-person (I, me) or third-person (she, he), whatever fancies you.

I am a girl who loves animals and her family and (friends). Born on (removed for privacy), I have a knack for logical thinking and humour. I enjoy teamwork and hanging around with someone. I also have bursts of excitement sometimes. Usually I’m cheerful and easy-going but there is also a serious side. I’m quite a bookworm. I usually get up late (yes I do) but if I have an aim I mostly wake up early. I won’t say I’m that determined though. And I do love having a chat with an animal or two. I have a fairly good memory too.

What are the things that you love doing on a day-to-day basis and what are activities you like doing occasionally?

  • I like to play with my friends

  • Read a “few” chapters

  • Laze around

  • Watch something on TV/phone

  • Do some art/craft

  • Visit Blue Cross

  • Joke about

  • Eat my dad’d special dosa (it’s awesome)

  • Sleep and wake up late

  • Go to the terrace if the weather is good and check on the plants

  • Chat with my mom

Design your dream day as a self-directed learner. Describe what you would do.

  • Wake up early (if possible) and laze until sometime after breakfast

  • Plan what to do that day

  • Do fun activities (like workshops)

  • Meeting up in the HQ with other learners

  • Come home/elsewhere

  • Study with dedication for sometime

  • Give myself a little cheer

  • Go somewhere if the weather is good

  • Watch TV/phone (if I want to)

  • Sometimes do puzzles

  • Eat

  • Read book(s)

  • Snore away

Now here is the harder part: write a proposal telling us what you would like to learn, do and explore this year. You can classify your ideas in any way -- by theme, by subject, or by interest. This could be a page-long or even 10-pages long. Feel free to include pictures, hand-drawn mind maps/illustrations and more in your proposal!

I usually have a sudden interest in a particular topic so I can’t really judge my interest. Well, I would like to explore:

  • art

  • drama/theatre

  • how to reuse more

  • chemistry

  • history (like an archeologist

  • find a way to reduce pollution (why not build fake rivers and generate hydro-electricity out of watery waste from factories?)

  • a little marketing

  • study the basic subjects

  • go camping

  • make a HQ

  • talk to people like Abi

  • rescue animals

  • survival day

  • improve Lantern

  • go to classes according to my interest

  • adopt a pet (mostly not possible) / have a Lantern pet (like a mascot/lanternaut)

  • design a coat of arms for Lantern

  • volunteer a lot

  • make recipes

  • help Lantern gaining more people

  • have a ‘school day’

  • make posters

  • help environment in some way

  • maybe go for tuition classes?

  • learn about different cultures (eg. French, Spanish, Japanese, etc)

  • have group study session

  • go on field trips

  • visit many other places

  • keep in touch with my old friends

  • do IF (interactive fiction)

  • skating tricks

Basically, anything important or fun!

How would you reflect on these questions? Share your thoughts in the comments below :)


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