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Personal Mission Statements
The largest differences were found when comparing students before they completed
the project to their final writing assignment at the end of the entire first year experi-
ence. The mean score for the prewriting sample was significantly lower (M = 2.95)
than the final assignment score (M = 5.25), t = −6.41, p < .001. All but one student
(who stayed the same) showed improvement from the prewriting assignment to the
final assignment.
When looking at the first semester only, seven students showed improvement from the
prewriting assignment to the final assignment at the end of the first semester (one
decreased, one stayed the same, and one did not have final data). The mean score for the
prewriting sample was significantly lower (M = 2.95) than that of the final first semester
assignment (M = 4.61), t = −3.95, p = .004.
As a measure of carryover from one semester to the next, six students showed improve-
ment from the final assignment in the first semester to the final assignment at the end of
the academic year (one decreased, two stayed the same, and one did not have final data).
The mean score for the final first semester assignment was lower (M = 4.61) than that of
the final end-of-year assignment (M = 5.25), t = −2.14, p = .065.
Qualitative reports from students indicated that they developed specific academic,
career, and personal goals and that they found the assignment useful. Sample student com-
ments included, “I liked the panelists of psychologists and psychology majors who weren’t
psychologists,” “Writing papers improved critical thinking and APA-style writing,” “[The
personal values] talk was interesting,” and “[A strength was] visualizing your personal
values and goals.”
Table #2.1. Examples of In-Class and Brainstorming Exercises for Each Section of the Personal
Mission Statement
Academic Goals
Why are you in college?
What are your academic goals?
How do the university’s stated goals fit with your goals?
Career Goals
What kind of career or job do you imagine yourself getting into?
If you did not have to worry about money, what would you choose to do?
When you think about a career, what is most important to you?
Find two psychology articles that address an issue you might wish explore professionally. What
about them interests you?
Personal Goals
List the top five things you want in life.
When you think about your personal life, which activities or people do you consider the most
important?
What are the qualities you admire in people and would like to emulate?
As you were growing up, what were the things that motivated you most?