Make your plan

The big picture

You've reached the end of the course! It's taken some time and effort, but you've completed several important exercises – some focused on yourself, some focused on your options. It can be helpful to pull together different reflections you've made.

In this assignment, you'll tie together some reflective exercises in "You Majored in What?" so you're ready to move forward with your career development.

Picture of your table

Read chapter 6 of "You Majored in What?" by Brooks. You'll notice that Brooks references several activities that are covered in previous chapters – you have done many of these yourself (in class or as assignments). There's an opportunity for you to bring all those activities together.

Fill out the table on p. 182. This will require you to skip around: flip through pages of the book, look at old assignments, dig up your notes, etc.

Picture of your plan

At the top of p. 183, Read the paragraph where Brooks previews three ways of designing the path to get you where you want to go. Then skim pp. 186–189, p. 196, and pp. 200–201 to learn more. Be honest with yourself about where you're at, and choose one for yourself: Probable Life Seeker, Possible Life Seeker, or Intention Seeker.

Fill out the plan you chose. For the Probable Life Seeker and the Intention Seeker, you'd write in the book; for the Possible Life Seeker, you'd make notes on your own.

Supplemental material

Notes & advice

• The three options are not all the same, obviously: each is progressively less detailed than the one before. That's by design. However, it means that this assignment might be harder or easier for you than someone else. Remember what the syllabus says: You will only get out of this course what you put into it. We trust you to make the right choice for yourself!
• Brooks herself issues a great caveat: "If you've skipped some of the chapters or exercises, this would be a good time to go back and complete them so you'll have the best information as you start making your plans."
• The point of this assignment is to inspire you, not to overwhelm you. If you can't choose the option you'd hoped, or if you can't fill out everything in the option you choose, it is what it is. You will be in such better shape after completing what you can, even if it's not "perfect."

To learn more

• Angela Duckworth, "Graduating and looking for your passion? Just be patient," New York Times (June 4, 2016). Download Angela Duckworth, "Graduating and looking for your passion? Just be patient," New York Times (June 4, 2016).
  • Particularly relevant for students closer to graduation, but helpful perspective for all.
• Jess Whittlestone and William MacAskill, "The social science guide to picking a career you'll love," Vox (December 30, 2014). Download Jess Whittlestone and William MacAskill, "The social science guide to picking a career you'll love," Vox (December 30, 2014).
  • Not revolutionary ideas, but really valuable when taken together, especially here at the end of the course.
• Kathleen E. Mitchell, Al S. Levin and John D. Krumboltz, "Planned happenstance: Constructing unexpected career opportunities," Journal of Counseling and Development 77 (1999). Download Kathleen E. Mitchell, Al S. Levin and John D. Krumboltz, "Planned happenstance: Constructing unexpected career opportunities," Journal of Counseling and Development 77 (1999).
  • Since so much of life is unpredictable, this reading presents a way to balance planning and happenstance.