Unravelling my weaknesses
When I was considering joining this program I set up a phone call with the director to learn more. He said something on that call that still sticks out in my mind:
“Undergrad is where you learn it, grad school is where you prove it.”
That sentence felt challenging to me. Isn’t the “real world” where I’m supposed to prove it? If that’s the case, then why am I now four years out from my bachelors degree and feel like I haven’t really proved anything. I’ve learned new things, failed at projects, seen some wins and grown a lot through my short-career… But I wouldn’t say I’ve proven anything. Not yet at least.
I think the first important step a person must take before being in a position to prove anything is know and understand their own weaknesses. Reflecting on my undergrad experience, I can say it was much more about learning to capitalize on my strengths rather than confronting my weaknesses. The college experience seems catered to helping young adults find and develop their strengths. What do you enjoy? Find a class in it. What do you want to spend your life doing? Choose a major related to it. What are you good at? Develop those skills. But, now, I see that no one proves anything by growing their own strengths. You prove yourself by confronting your weaknesses and learning to grow despite them.
I am now halfway through my first semester of grad school and feel acutely aware of my weaknesses. And instead of feeling afraid or worried about my weaknesses being exposed, I instead feel excited about the chance to learn and face them. Im finding that grad school is a unique life-opportunity to discover your weaknesses and have a place to grow inspite of them. Heck, maybe even learn to overcome them.
Things helping me discover my weaknesses
Feedback
Being in a creative industry requires you to open yourself up to feedback and critique of your work. So far classes have provided a unique setting to receive open and genuine feedback throughout each step of my assignments. This has been a crucial area for my growth and awareness of weaknesses. I’ve appreciated the helpful and wise manner in which feedback is given, from both instructors and peers.
Learning from industry leaders / past students
We all start somewhere. When you’re new to something it helps to know people who have been in your shoes before and made it through the process themselves. The instructors in this program are current industry leaders, and in some cases, past students of the same program. This gives the instructors a unique perspective and understanding to what I’m walking through. Learning from them has shown me that I’m not defined by what I do or do not currently know, but instead, see new lessons is an opportunity to become an even stronger designer.
Big dreamers
I’ve decided that my weaknesses thrive (and stay hidden) when I set low expectations for my own work. I’ll never develop new skills or ways of thinking if I settle for only using the software and design models I know best. In the Studio, it’s impossible to stay stagnant. I’m constantly challenged to think and dream bigger, for myself and my work.
Future thinkers
My weaknesses want me to stay focused on my past and current limitations. What work have I done previously? What do I know how to do now? How can I use my current skills to complete this task? But the future of designing would be boring if we stayed at our current mindset and never grew. In the studio, we are encouraged to be future thinkers. This means thinking about future problem spaces, solutions and technology. One of the most exciting things to think about is how my current weaknesses could help me find future solutions to problems.
Weaknesses don’t define you or me, in any profession or stage of life. What unique opportunities are in your life that could encourage you to confront and acknowledge your own weaknesses? Because I’m convinced the world needs you, your weaknesses and all.
