Design Your Life Workbook
This workbook includes goal-setting, planning and reflection activities that help students develop strategies to navigate the question, “what do I want to do with my life?”
Project Lead: Career Education, Student Experience
Project Status: Complete
The development of a Life Design workbook in digital and print format provides student with knowledge and tools to assist them during their academic journey and expose them to early career development. The workbook includes goal-setting, planning and reflection activities that help students develop strategies to navigate the question, “what do I want to do with my life?”
Research shows the earlier students start thinking about their career, the better equipped they are to take advantage of opportunities throughout their studies that will serve them well in the future (i.e. work integrated learning, leadership roles, micro-credentials). Research also exists that demonstrates a strong relationship between students’ career clarity and decreased mental health concerns, including anxiety. The workbook was created to support all students; however, students are encouraged to begin using it in their first year.
In summary...
- 3 student Resource Curators (2 undergraduate and 1 graduate student) completed the development of the 10-chapter workbook content.
- As part of the editing process, 72 students reviewed the workbook and provided feedback on the content and format.
- 2 student focus groups were conducted with participants acting as advertising consultants and generating ideas as to how to best promote the workbook to Western students.
- In September 2023, the Design Your Western Digital Career Workbook went live to all Western students via a customized Life Design page found on the Career Education website.
- Members of the Careers & Experience department’s Career Education team delivered customized Life Design sessions to more than 750 students during the 2023-2024 academic year.
