The map for success, according to Baxtor Magolda (2009), are the steps you are expected to take in order to further yourself in a specific profession. To a certain extent, I believe there is a map to success for almost everything. Think about it, if you want to be a dentist or a become a lawyer, there are prerequisites and a road you must follow to obtain those positions. Although each person who embarks on this road to success may take different routes, the journey will lead you to where you want to be. When thinking about my journey in graduate school, I believe that there are many roads to success and each road looks different for each driver. Although the road may look different, there is a foundation and some key elements that prepare individuals to reach success.
In the HESAA program, I think the map of success lies within the requirement (external formulas) of getting internships. External formulas are the actions others are expecting you to take (Magolda, 2009). Through these internships, you are able to network and gain experience that will enhance your proficiency in the 10 competency areas of the profession. Although it is a requirement of the program, I believe that through these internships you are able to find your internal voice and listen to it. For me, I did an internship in residence life and knew that I cannot and will not work as a residence director again. It was through that experience where I found my love for diversity and inclusion. My residence life experience led me to seeking positions and internships outside of residence life that aligned with my values and my internal voice. Although following the external formulas of the program, I was able to precisely choose what area I wanted to do my next internship in. Following the map to success and external formulas in the HESAA program allowed me to find my internal voice and guided me to what I would like to do postgraduation.
I think the external formulas present in the HESAA program allowed me to see that I can marry my passion, with my goals that I would like to accomplish in higher education. What makes me happy is photography and telling stories through my photos. I find joy in capturing everyday life and highlighting the awesome things that occur on a daily basis that many people ignore. My passion of capturing things many people don’t see or ignore is what drives me to use my photography in higher education. I want to capture moments and tell the stories of marginalized people and the struggles that they face daily, that many people ignore and do not pay any mind to. The map of success and the external formulas that I followed to get my master’s degree has allowed me to find a new map to success. The journey to reaching my next destination will be mapped out by me and the actions that I take.
Reference: Baxter Magolda, M. (2009). Authoring Your Life: Developing an Internal Voice to Navigate Life's Challenges. Stylus Publishing
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