By Heidi Chase, Academic Advisor
During the gap semester, we encourage you to think deeply about personal goals and interests. The next #My100Days have the potential to rock your world! Tackle challenges, strengthen abilities, try something new, (or improve an existing talent), cross off a few things on your bucket list!
First, find your strengths
Take the Big 5 Short Personality Quiz to learn more about yourself, your strengths, and where you can grow.
Then, build on your strengths
Start dreaming up a gap semester bucket list to build on the strengths you already have and to grow in areas where you want to change. Here are some suggestions based on the five personality traits in the personality quiz.
Openness
People who like to learn new things and enjoy new experiences usually score high in openness. Here are a few goals related to fostering openness in your life:
- Seek out a new experience…Create a personalized #bucketlist
- Engage in self-examination, reflection and personal growth. You could read a book like The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us
or Become What You Are
- Reconnect to religion or your spirituality
- One CGS student suggested, “Challenge yourself to not turn down suggestions.” Start with this post, 9 Reasons Saying YES will change your life
- Try improv! One student says, “There’s no judgement! Go for it!”
Conscientiousness
People who have a high degree of conscientiousness are reliable and prompt. They’re organized, methodical and thorough, motivated by goals and driven by success. Here are a few gap semester goals linked to conscientiousness:
- One student wants to clean out their room and downsize their stuff. Watch Tidying Up with Maria Kondo on Netflix or read her book and apply her organizational method to your life.
- Did you score high on conscientiousness? Maybe practice ways in which you can decrease stress in your life by taking a yoga class
- Did you score low on conscientiousness? Maybe practice ways you can organize for college by practicing study skills and keeping a schedule.
- Organize your life by starting a bullet journal
- Plan something big, like a roadtrip! It can teach you how to think about the details.
Extroversion
Extroverts get their energy from interacting with others, while introverts get their energy from within themselves. Whether you’re most comfortable behind the scenes or in front of a crowd– here are some gap semester bucket list items to draw on your strengths and get you out of your comfort zone.
- Find your center stage! Take a theater class, try an open mic, write a comedy performance
- Start your own club or organization, or raise money for a cause you care about
- Practice talking about literature by joining the CGS gap semester book club, hosted by Dean McKnight. (Email cgs@bu.edu for details).
- Practice 10 ways to grow your self confidence
Agreeableness
Individuals who score high in agreeableness are often described as friendly, cooperative and compassionate. Draw on–and build–your friendliness and compassion through these gap semester goals:
- Become a mentor! If you live in the United States, consider joining an organization like Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Volunteer to work with animals at your local shelter
- Volunteer for another cause you care about, helping others while helping yourself
Emotional Stability
People who score high on emotional stability tend to be described as calm, stable and positive in nature. People who score low on emotional stability might feel moody and overwhelmed by stress. Use the gap semester to build your inner emotional stability:
- Practice mindfulness, daily mantras or the power of positive thinking
- Consider strengthening your skills in self-reflection through traditional therapy, group work or self-help books
- Stay focused on the positive things in life with a tool like a Passion Planner
- Go for a run! As one student says, “Running helps me clear my mind.”
- Talk with friends and family about your emotional strengths and concerns