Journaling Exercises: Freshman Year

Philippians 4:18

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.

Setting Short-Term Goals

Create a list of 10 goals you have for the upcoming semester. They can be academic or personal goals. Prioritize your list by identifying the three most important or mission-critical goals. Beneath each goal, write four or five steps and requirements that you will need to achieve these goals.

Keep this list with you throughout the semester. Make sure you refer back to it to see if you are on the path of achieving these three goals.

Affirming Talents

What are your gifts, talents, and strengths? What makes you, you? Make a list of those attributes.
Ask a close friend or mentor to make a list of what they think your gifts and talents are, and what makes you unique. (Don't show them your list.)
Glue or tape the two lists next to each other in your journal.
Compare the two lists, and write about how those two lists are similar and how they differ.
Were there qualities on the list that your friend or mentor created that surprised you?

Seeking Your Calling

What are your strengths? How can you develop your strengths during college? How can you use your strengths in different settings (school, work, ministry) or with friends? Journal and reflect upon these questions.

Note: The Office of Career Services offers the StrengthsFinder inventory and results can be discussed with a career counselor.

What's Your Personality "Type"?

The Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory is an instrument that gives you the opportunity to find out more information about who you are. Personality tests are interesting because they become a written representation of what's going on within us — just as a journal does. What is it we are trying to learn by taking a test? Who we really are? What are we passionate about? What are our talents? What do we need to work on? Many of these answers can be found in our journals.

Create your own personality inventory:

Begin with a cluster with the word "authentic" in the center.
Circle it and allow yourself to brainstorm all those characteristics that you have that represent your authentic self.
Once that is done, take a nice deep breath and create another cluster, this time focusing on the obstacles that keep you from being more authentic. Write down each thought that pops up, censoring nothing.
Imagine yourself one year from today, free of obstacles and true to your authentic and essential self. What is your life like?

Note: The Office of Career Services offers the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory, and results can be discussed with a career counselor.

Who Are You?

Parker Palmer states “before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.”

Take time to discover who you are. Where are your interests? What are your passions? Where is your heart guiding you? Take time to reflect on this quote and these questions, allowing the Lord to probe your heart and awaken you to the path He wants you to follow. Are you willing to consider full-time service in Christ’s Church as a possible path?