Finishing up my 9-months of learning mentorship at Praxis, this post serves as a final documentation of my last three months of the program.

My (Original) Capstone Plan

Walking into my last three months of Praxis, I felt increasingly concerned about my lack of direction and next steps. I opted out of the job hunt module, because the entry level jobs available to me felt like a step into imprisonment–which is not aligned with the life I intend to live.

Because my desired career outcome was unclear, I ultimately decided on three self-directed months. Storytelling, copywriting, and digital design. Through my previous work in the program, I learned a lot more about what interests me. & I knew that focusing on building these three main skills would help me to move forward into my next steps.

As for my set of personal goals, I was planning a very large backpacking trip. I wanted to take this trip to clear my head, take on a challenge, recharge, and think about my next steps. That was a huge part of my capstone and I was working towards it in many ways. Which has bloomed into further passions that will be discussed later in this post.

For now, here are all of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of this project:

The career outcome I want to accomplish is: Making my first $___ on the internet?

My professional development goals are:

1. Storytelling. I want to strengthen my storytelling abilities both personally and professionally.

2. Digital Design. I am capable of creating quality digital designs that provide value, work functionally, and communicate a strong message.

3. Copywriting. I have a deeper understanding of writing good copy. I am capable of writing eye pulling content that brings viewers to my personal and professional work.

My personal development goals are:

1. Be physically ready to take backpacking trip in May.

2. Establish working hours and a sustainable morning & evening routine.

3. Create something new online daily.

My Motivations

I find it easier to bullet out my primary motivations behind these decisions. They go as follows:

• Autonomy over my schedule
• Needing a break
• Learning how to respect my time
• Building physical health & strength
• Freedom
• A desire to follow innate passions

My Results

After 12 weeks, despite a massive turn of events, I can say that I have somehow accomplished every goal on my list except for: “establish working hours and a sustainable morning & evening routine.”

My biggest change is that I got a job.

I got in contact with someone opening (what is essentially a branch) of an alternative education school called Apogee, one county over from where I currently live, and am now going to be a guide for ages 5-9 beginning in August/September. As of right now, I’m learning how to manage social media and doing various research projects. This did change my outcomes slightly, but somehow everything still fits together–

The career outcome I want to accomplish is: Making my first $___ on the internet? Done through Apogee.

My professional development goals are:

1. Storytelling. I want to strengthen my storytelling abilities both personally and professionally. Done through my original 28 day challenge, maintained during posts and various writing tasks.

2. Digital Design. I am capable of creating quality digital designs that provide value, work functionally, and communicate a strong message. Social media management.

3. Copywriting. I have a deeper understanding of writing good copy. I am capable of writing eye pulling content that brings viewers to my personal and professional work. Social media management.

My personal development goals are:

1. Be physically ready to take backpacking trip in May. Through training for backpacking & searching for self defense, I found a new passion and love for jiu jitsu. I go almost every day, have moved up in rank in the small amount of time I’ve been there, and have been improving rapidly in my skillset. I have been considering moving on to MMA, as a trusted teacher (and retired boxer) in the gym has told me that he sees something in me. Which sounds like a random Kung Fu Panda side quest. However, Because fighting cardio is so different from normal cardio, I am now much more physically fit than I would be training what I was previously training. My trip ultimately won’t work out because of timing, but I have crushed my goal.

2. Establish working hours and a sustainable morning & evening routine. The most challenging goal for me, it fluctuated. I hit a lot of challenges along the way with an intense bout of burnout I’m experiencing.

3. Create something new online daily. Social media management!

What I Learned Along the Way

In going from a place of confusion, to having a direct career objective, so much has changed for me in the past three months. Here are my biggest lessons:

• Listen to yourself first
• If you don’t take breaks, your body will decide when to take one for you!
• Many lessons and rewards in bravery and courage (taking risks and getting uncomfortable)
• Daily stresses are not indicative of the larger plot (don’t worry as much)

Before reflecting back on my original plan, I assumed I didn’t hit any of my goals due to such a fluctuation in planning. I was pleasantly surprised that this all worked out after all. With so much more to learn in the future, I will take the lessons learned here and be more patient with my day-to-day life. Giving myself that space to grow.