by Rafaela
Reflection and self-awareness are skills that many people use every day without even realising it. They can be practised in every area of your life whether it be your studies, work experience, personal challenges or new opportunities. Reflection gives you the time and space to look at any situation, positive or negative, sit with it, break it down, and understand what you learnt. It helps you recognise how you handled things in the moment and how you might approach similar situations differently in the future.
As a final-year student at UWE, I’ve found I’ve naturally been reflecting on my time here before moving onto the next stage of my life, wherever that may be.
My time here has pushed me to develop skills both consciously and subconsciously, and it has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone in so many more ways than one. Reflecting is a habit I know I’ll carry forward because it strengthens communication, critical thinking and problem-solving. All qualities that employers value.
If you’re not sure where to begin with self-reflection, don’t panic! A simple structure I have learned during my degree that has helped me throughout university is asking myself three questions:
What? So what? Now what?
You might already be asking yourself these without even knowing it. Here is how each question can be broken down:
What? What happened? What did you do? What was the experience?
So What? What did it mean? What parts were easy or challenging? How did it make you feel emotionally? Did it match your expectations or differ from previous experiences? How did it impact you or those around you such as peers, colleagues and friends?
Now What? Moving forward, what would you do differently? What have you learnt? How will this shape your future decisions, actions or mindset?
Using these three questions can turn any moment you experience, from starting a new job, critical feedback or even a personal setback, into an opportunity for growth. Reflection isn’t about overthinking; it’s about pausing and allowing yourself time to recognise your strengths, understand your challenges and become more aware of how you want to develop in the future.
I have found since doing this that the more I practise, the more natural it becomes, and the more I have realised how valuable it is in every aspect of university, employment and beyond.