Interdisciplinary Skill Development
This course focused on building the personal and professional skills needed to succeed in collaborative, interdisciplinary environments. Through weekly workshops and guest lectures, students explored topics such as wicked problems, CliftonStrengths, critical reflection, difficult conversations, networking, design thinking, and ePortfolios. The course emphasized experiential learning, developing adaptability, communication, problem-solving, and leadership through practice rather than theory. Students were expected to maintain a reflection journal and engage in weekly tasks, building a toolkit of strategies for interdisciplinary teamwork and professional growth.
Clifton Strengths
My strengths—Futuristic®, Harmony®, Intellection®, Connectedness®, and Relator®—reflect my ability to think deeply, build strong relationships, and stay focused on possibilities. They guide how I connect with others and approach challenges with vision and collaboration.
Being Futuristic means I am energized by possibility and motivated by what lies ahead. I often find myself picturing what could be, not just for myself, but for the teams and communities I am part of. This strength allows me to stay optimistic during challenges, because I see setbacks as temporary moments on the way to something greater. I’ve learned that sharing these visions can inspire others and open space for new ideas. For me, looking forward is not just about imagining the future—it’s about creating a path to get there with intention and purpose.
Odyssey Planning – Three Versions of My Future Self
Path 1: My Current Plan – Masters → Gap Year → Medical School Right now, my main focus is completing my Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences. My next step would be to take a gap year, where I plan to gain more clinical and research experience before applying to medical school. Ideally, this would lead me to a career in medicine, where I could combine my interest in diagnostic radiology and patient care with the leadership and communication skills I am building in graduate school. This path excites me because it feels like a natural extension of what I’ve been working toward for years, and it allows me to apply science directly to people’s lives in meaningful ways.
Path 3: The Dream Path – Acting If money or reputation were no object, I would pursue acting, whether in theatre productions or film and television. Storytelling has always been a powerful force in my life, and acting would allow me to explore creativity, empathy, and human connection in a completely different way. In some ways, acting mirrors what I value in science and medicine: the ability to step into another person’s perspective, communicate emotion clearly, and inspire others through narrative. Even though it feels very different from medicine, this path represents another side of me that thrives on creativity and connection.
Path 2: An Alternative Path – Audiology If medical school were no longer an option, I would pursue a career in audiology. I’ve always been interested in the intersection of health, communication, and quality of life, and audiology offers a chance to work closely with patients to address hearing and balance disorders. This field combines clinical care with diagnostic technology, which resonates with my strengths in both science and patient interaction. Pursuing audiology would still allow me to make a tangible difference in people’s lives, especially by helping them reconnect with the world around them.
Overall Reflection
Working through my CliftonStrengths alongside the Odyssey Planning exercise gave me the chance to step back and think about how I approach my future. What stood out most is that my natural strengths guide not only how I interact with others, but also how I imagine possibilities and respond to uncertainty. I realized that my tendency to look ahead, seek connection, and reflect deeply on experiences shapes every version of my future self.
In Odyssey Planning, I mapped out three potential paths: continuing from my Master’s into medical school, pursuing audiology if medicine were not an option, and exploring acting if practical barriers were removed. At first, these seemed very different from one another, but reflecting on them together helped me see the common thread. No matter the path, I am motivated by vision, by building meaningful relationships, and by finding ways to connect with others, whether through patient care, health innovation, or storytelling.
This process also challenged me to think more flexibly. I recognized that my future may not be linear, and that adaptability will be just as important as ambition. What gives me confidence is knowing that my strengths, foresight, collaboration, reflection, and connection are transferable. They provide a foundation that can support me in medicine, in another health profession, or even in a completely different creative pursuit.
Ultimately, reflecting on my strengths and my possible futures reminded me that success is not only about reaching one specific destination, but about carrying forward who I am into whatever path I choose. The exercise left me reassured that whichever version of my future unfolds, it will be grounded in authenticity, guided by my values, and directed toward making a meaningful impact.