Having a personal development plan is a highly effective tool for individuals, whether they are students or professionals, who strive for excellence in their specific fields. The plan utilizes the idea of reflection to help individuals monitor the progress they have made in acquiring skills and knowledge. It allows people to identify the necessary changes in their lives and the areas that need improvement. Moreover, the plan acts as a measure for individuals to track their advancement and identify the skills they aim to attain in the future. Ultimately, it supports individuals in achieving both personal and professional development objectives.
Success requires planning and goal setting, with clear and measurable objectives. In addition to this, my Personal Development Plan (PDP) highlighted the need for growth in interpersonal skills and social development. I recognized a lack of soft skills in relation to others, which are highly important in the workplace. To prevent a skill mismatch, it was imperative for me to develop these skills (Zenger and Folkman, 2009, p. 137). Enhancing interactions with others was a primary focus within my PDP.
During this semester, I have changed my socializing approach by dedicating more time to interact with others. To achieve this, I took on a role as a representative in a professional club at my school. This leadership position has been crucial for developing my leadership abilities. It has also improved my communication skills as I need to effectively communicate the concerns and requirements of club members to club leaders. Additionally, it has helped me become a better listener and be more focused since I now have extra responsibilities alongside my academic work.
Engaging in extra-curricular activities has been instrumental in improving my social interactions within and outside the campus. These activities have served as a valuable tool to achieve this objective. Given that I am not naturally inclined towards sports, it was difficult for me to choose a suitable sport or club initially. However, I understood the importance of being involved and consequently decided to join the badminton team. Through consistent dedication, I have developed proficiency and enthusiasm as a badminton player. Having an extra-curricular activity alongside a separate social circle beyond class hours has significantly enhanced my capacity to cope with and handle stress.
Joining the badminton team has had various positive effects on my life, including increased relaxation and productivity. In terms of time management, I developed a weekly schedule to ensure I stayed on track with my tasks. While these schedules have been helpful, I have struggled to meet some of the semester’s overarching goals. Overcrowding and poor execution have made it challenging to adhere to the time schedule.
Unfortunately, some of the milestones that were supposed to be achieved by the end of the semester, such as reading inspirational books, have not been completed. The schedule I had created for reading inspirational literature was overly packed, resulting in only accomplishing half of my original plan. According to Zenger and Folkman (2009), motivational literature plays a vital role in inspiring individuals (p. 24). It is quite disheartening and frustrating that I was unable to complete my reading goals. This situation highlights the importance of incorporating effective time management into my future personal development plans. Ultimately, it serves as a reflection on my performance.
Both this semester and previous semesters have resulted in disappointing academic performance. I had intended to increase my GPA each semester with the aim of graduating with honors, but it seems that I must exert more effort and dedication. According to my Personal Development Plan (PDP), my objective was to attain a 70% average in all tests and assignments by the end of the semester. Despite seeking additional guidance from lecturers and instructors, my performance has only slightly improved.
My instructor has stressed the significance of increasing practice time to achieve desired results, but there has been a failure to effectively implement this change in practice quantity, leading to unsatisfactory outcomes. Obtaining hands-on experience is vital for determining success and complementing the theoretical knowledge gained in class. To accomplish this, I have devised a plan to work part-time during my free time.
This step has only been partially achieved because I could not secure employment in my field of specialization. The job I acquired was in car sales, which is not what I consider perfect for the practicing of the skills learned in my course of study. I actually spent more time than the experience I gained was worth. Yet in my next PDP, I will surely include more time for finding suitable work to ensure that experience is gained in the perfect field and the perfect job. Overall, I have learned that I have potential that I have not been utilizing.
In the past, I lacked time for extracurricular activities and my academic performance did not improve. However, I now understand that I can have a balanced life without compromising study time. Through planning, I can establish goals and determine how to accomplish them. The cause of my low academic achievement was insufficient practice, which I now acknowledge. Additionally, I realize that acquiring personal skills is less challenging than previously believed. Going forward, my next four semesters will be guided by a Personal Development Plan (PDP).
Currently, I have an average performance level that needs improvement by the end of the semester to graduate with honors. Thus, I must dedicate more time to activities that enhance knowledge acquisition during and after class. Additionally, increased practice is crucial for improving skills in the next four semesters. Prioritizing my academic performance is of utmost importance; therefore, I will allocate more time to it while also participating in other activities like sports.
My goal is to keep a record of my work experience, personal character development, and other life experiences. The main objective of this plan is to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to meet market requirements (Fry, 2009, p. 120). Additionally, I will integrate academic and personal development by spending more time in the library conducting research on important aspects of my professional field. This will require dedicating more time to finding work that aligns with my field.
In this learning experience, I will focus on learning from others and incorporating their ideas and methods into my own skill set (Niven, 2006, p. 295). To enhance my career prospects, it is important to make developmental changes that improve my overall well-being. This includes participating in more social activities and situations in order to build confidence. My objective is to attend at least one social event every two weeks. Furthermore, I will prioritize gaining leadership and interpersonal skills as these are highly valued in the professional world.
Establishing learning habits will be a key focus of my plan as life is centered around continuous learning (Fry, 2009, p. 124). Incorporating motivational literature into my learning routine will be a significant component. To prioritize this, I will enhance my time management skills to allocate time for reading at least two motivational books each month. To identify and address my areas for improvement, I will seek guidance from a mentor, whom I will ask one of my teachers to assume. Ensuring regular interaction, I will aim to meet with this mentor at least once per semester.
During these meetings, I will seek the teacher’s input on my career prospects and the skills I should focus on. I will also give the teacher an opportunity to critique my progress, suggest areas for improvement, and offer suggestions. Additionally, achieving financial goals is an essential aspect of my development plan. This aspect was overlooked in the previous PDP and is one of my main weaknesses. My objective is to attain financial freedom and independence within the four semesters.
By practicing saving money, I can achieve my goal. During holidays, I will save fifty percent of my earnings in order to accumulate at least $5,000 annually. These savings will act as a financial reserve to cover my living expenses after completing my studies until I secure stable employment. To accomplish this objective, I need to modify my spending habits and limit myself to essential purchases. By avoiding unnecessary and non-value adding activities, I will effectively control excessive expenses.
