Page 169 - Keys to College Success

An additional practical action is to go where the job is and talk to people. The prospective
nurse might go to a hospital, a clinic, and a health center at a retirement community. Get a feel
for what the job is like day-to-day so that can be part of your decision.

WRITE IT Communicate

Emotional intelligence journal: Make a wiser choice. Think about a decision you made
that you wish you had handled differently. Describe the decision and what feelings resulted from
it. Then, describe what you would do if you could approach the decision again, thinking about
what mindset and actions might produce more positive feelings and a better outcome.

Real-life writing: Address a problem. Think about a problem you have right now—difficulty
with a course, a scheduling nightmare, conflict with a classmate. Write a letter—to an advisor,
instructor, friend, or someone else—asking for support. Be specific about what you need and
how the person can help. Assess the effect that the letter may have, and if you decide that it may
help, have someone you trust review it for you and then send it via mail or email.

WORK IT Build Your Brand

Generate Ideas for Internships
5
CHAPTER Pursuing internships is a practical way to get experience, learn what you like and don’t like,

and make valuable connections. Even if you intern in a career area that you don’t ultimately
pursue, you build skills that are useful in any career. The creative thinking skills you’ve built
will help you generate ideas for where you might intern at some point during your college
career.
First, use personal contacts to gather information about career fields. Generate the names
of two people whom you want to interview about their fields or professions. Note the follow-
ing for each:
■ Name and contact information
■ Field
■ Why you want to interview him or her

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