Endings and Beginnings
One of my professors, Dr. Bobbi Wegner, taught me the importance of wrapping up experiences with purpose and intent. She even wrote about it last week on LinkedIn (you can check that out here). Before her classes I was always moving on to the next thing as soon as I had checked an experience off my list. However, that was robbing me of truly appreciating my experiences and making sure that I’ve marked my growth from them.
This is from Bobbi’s LinkedIn post:
“In psychology, we’re trained to name endings - because closure and reflection matters. They help us learn and grow.
But in work and life, we often move on without acknowledging the emotional weight of transitions. We skip the reflection. The pause. The goodbye.”
So, I used an adaptation of her 3 prompts to help me close out some of my thoughts from my master’s experience at Harvard Extension School.
Dr. Bobbi’s 3 prompts:
Looking back: What’s a moment or quality that stands out as meaningful during this past chapter of our work together?
Looking forward: What’s something you’re excited or hopeful to bring into this next chapter – either personally or as a team?
Legacy: In what way do you hope your presence contributes to the long-term story of what we’re building?
Looking back:
Dr. Gibaldi’s email – he sent an email after my first (and hardest) semester that became a beacon of hope for me about the capacity of the human spirit. That email meant so much to me in during a dark time.
The people of the public speaking class. Who knew that a hybrid class (online and some in person) where people showed their vulnerability and cheered each other on could create a feeling of connection I’d never experienced before?
Dr. Kleinman’s approach to understanding research. I learned just as much about how to read research as I did about Stress, Coping, and Resilience.
Discovering the inverted U. This was the answer I was looking for to understand my burnout.
Enjoying validating my survey. Turns out that psychometrics can be really fun!
Dr. Frates face in the webcam when she tells a story that has an element of surprise (from her stationary bike nonetheless)
Jen Fisher’s burnout story (and realizing how long it would take me to recover)
Any of the TAs who wrote “wow” on my papers
Feeling the darkness lift
The applied coaching week and seeing the strength of those who choose to use their own hard things to help and lift others.
Leaning into allowing others in. This was the first time I learned to embrace and enjoy study groups.
Looking forward:
This experience is a launchpad: I’m using my learnings to teach and build a program for sustainable wellbeing
The network I have built (the connections I’ve made have felt more genuine because of our shared pursuits of learning and growing – they have no transactional component)
A new sense of compassion (positive regard) for others
A pace that is more sustainable
A trust in intuition over emotional reaction
Legacy:
Proud of the Harvard name
Proud of the work of the psychology of business wellbeing
Proud that my children have seen me begin to find balance and even-achieving
Proud that I graduated with a 4.0 and no burnout.
Short sum-up: Healing & Rejuvenation
I am so grateful for the time that I have had studying I-O Psychology through the Harvard Extension School program. In the summer of 2023 when I felt lost and broken, the only thing I knew I needed to do was further my education. I believe in everyway that God directed me to where I landed. The content, the people, and the process have been everything I needed to heal, grow, and prepare for where I’m headed next.
Thanks for reading with me today. I hope if you have an ending in the near future that you take the time to honor and respect it. I promise the processing time is worth it.