SOPHIA GIOLITTI

ASSIGNMENT 1

BIS 401

Prompt 1: Mission / Vision / Purpose Statement: Provide your mission / vision /

purpose statement here. Also, comment on the value of this process, and how your
thinking at this level relates to your specific goals that follow. Can you see a
connection?

I am at my best when I am out of my element, exploring and being able to push myself
mentally and physically. I thrive outside of my comfort zone.
I will try to prevent times when I am too hard on myself. If I don't perform up to
my own standards, I beat myself up and as a result become even more unproductive.
I will enjoy my work by finding employment where I can show what I am
passionate about, and encourage others to do the same. Being able to interact with
people, brighten someone’s day, and improve my own skills in the process is something
I really enjoy. I will find enjoyment in my personal life through challenging myself, either
through my art or physically and spending as much time as possible with the people I
love and the natural world. I figure we have to make the most of the time we have, and I
intend to do that.
I will find opportunities to use my natural talents and gifts such as my deep
empathy for people and the natural world, strong intuition, artistic ability, and being able
to understand and communicate very well with others.
I can do anything I set my mind to. I will treat those I meet with kindness,
compassion and empathy, accomplish tasks to the extent of my ability, and develop a
relationship with myself along the way.
My goal is to live a genuine life. I do not crave complexity or material gain. I do
not want fame or fortune or the acceptance of any society. At the end of my life, I want
to look back and know that I lived with love, cared for others, fought for what I believed
in despite the cost, and enjoyed the simple and astounding world that we live in. I want
to feel alive, even though I'm not sure entirely what that means yet.
I will be a person who can say for certain that I had a life well lived.

-It is hard to create a mission statement for life, because we have no way of knowing
the cards we will be dealt. But if I can compact this mission statement and apply it to the
next seven weeks, I think that I will come away with a strengthened perspective and
level of self-awareness that I have not yet known-

Prompt 2: Overall Program Goals: What SMART program goals would you be
willing to commit to accomplishing? Include your detailed plan (with SMART format
action steps) for each goal.
Develop a deeper sense of cultural appreciation for the Czech people and Europe as a
whole by spending time immersing myself in the day-to-day life of Prague, traveling on
the occasional weekend to other countries, meeting people around the city and try to
integrate into their language and practices, and exploring the city a little bit more every
day.

Commit myself to being a successful intern and team player by having a positive
attitude, being confident in my abilities, and completing all tasks in a timely and
competent manner.

Develop relationships with those I am traveling with and those I meet along the way by
participating in activities, conversation, and exploring together.

Leave Prague knowing that I am going back to the States having spent my time well
and genuinely by doing my best to adhere to each and every one of the following
outlined goals.

Prompt 3: Coping and Thriving Goals: What SMART program goals would you be
willing to commit to accomplishing? Include your detailed plan (with SMART format
action steps) for each goal.

My main goal for this is to not let myself get caught up by thinking of the past or
present, but instead try and be as present as I can in the new place that I am in, and
appreciate that fact. I will accomplish this goal by the following…

GOAL 1: Not isolating myself by doing work in common areas, actively engaging in
activities with my peers and the people I meet in Czech, trying to go somewhere new
(even if it’s just a coffee shop) once a day, and developing a workout and climbing
regime in Prague.

GOAL 2: Having an allotted hour at night to call/ talk to friends and family back home,
and outside of this allotted hour try and limit my contact to my peers and the Czech
people.

GOAL 3: To allow myself to be present in the Czech culture by attempting to speak

Czech when possible instead of assuming everyone speaks English, not seeking out
American foods (and instead frequenting Czech markets and restaurants), and limiting
my presence on social media and entertainment platforms in English to an hour or less
a day.

My second main goal is to focus on creating and nurturing new relationships with the
people in Prague. I will accomplish this by the following goals…
GOAL 1: Be okay with leaning on the support of those I am traveling with by reaching
out to friends in Prague if I feel homesick and making sure those friends are okay in
turn, letting my advisors know if I am having trouble coping and actively taking their
advice, and being easy on myself if I do not acclimate right away.

GOAL 2: Getting to my internship on time (9 am), with a positive attitude, ready to

work. I will actively try to be a member of the team, offer ideas, and do what is asked
of me without complaint.

GOAL 3: Make friends outside of just those who I came with, both at my internship and
around the city (specifically the rock climbing gym), and engage in activities with these
people, whether it be grabbing a drink, going climbing, or just hanging out.

Prompt 4: Cultural Engagement Goals: What SMART program goals would you be
willing to commit to accomplishing? Include your detailed plan (with SMART format
action steps) for each goal.

The main overall goal is to immerse myself in the Czech culture as much as I possibly
can, in multiple spheres (physical fitness, food, sightseeing, entertainment, etc.). I will
accomplish this main goal by the following…

GOAL 1: Do my food shopping once a week at one of the many farmers markets in the
city (such as the Naplavka or Jirak markets) to buy local produce and try some classic
Czech dishes.

GOAL 2: Twice a week (at least) eat out at a new restaurant, specifically one of the
many vegan restaurants around the city. Do not order the same thing twice. Also go to
a new coffee shop at least once a week, and try to strike up a short conversation with
the barista.

GOAL 3: Visit the rock climbing gyms in the city. Do this at least four times a week, and
establish a relationship with the people I meet there. The rock climbing community is
one of the friendliest out there, take advantage of this and ask about where to climb
outside. Climb outside at least four times during the duration of the trip.

GOAL 4: Frequent a different bar twice a week, and ask the bartender at each one what
they recommend, and take their recommendations.

GOAL 5: I will wake up every other morning and go on a run for an hour. I’ll pick a
different direction every day, and let myself get (safely) lost a bit each morning. I will
see how well I can get to know the city just on feet. On the weekends I stay in Prague,
I will go to the parks on the outside of the city by train and do a long trail run/hike.
GOAL 6: At least once a week engage in some sort of entertainment, whether it be a
movie (in Czech), a show, a festival, or any other activity going on in the city.
Frequently ask locals for recommendations on what is happening around the city.

Another main goal is to immerse myself (less intensely) in other cultures around
Europe. I will accomplish this goal by picking a maximum of three other countries I
would like to visit while I am abroad. In each of these countries, I will replicate my
Prague goals in a compact manner (three days), trying the local foods, frequenting
coffee shops, markets and bars, going to rock gyms, and spending time in the nature
each city has to offer.

Prompt 5: Future Readiness: International Work Experience and Perspective

Goals: What SMART international work experience / perspective goal(s) would you be
willing to commit to accomplishing?

My main goal is to grow as an employee and gain a new sense of confidence in my

work skills. I plan on accomplishing this goal by the following…

GOAL 1: As mentioned in a prior goal, I will be on time for work every day (9am-4 pm).
If for some reason I see myself being delayed, I will promptly communicate this to my
supervisor Andrea.

GOAL 2: I will be respectful of my position as an intern, and give my fellow employees

the respect they deserve. I will acknowledge their expertise, listen to directions, and
complete tasks quickly and to the best of my ability. I will show up every day with a
positive attitude, and ready to learn and contribute to the goals of the organization.

GOAL 3: I will have the confidence to offer ideas and suggestions in areas that I feel
confident about. I won’t hold back on ideas I have, because even if they are shut down,
I will still learn and grow. I will be vocal about my experiences and strengths while
simultaneously trying to strengthen my weaknesses by asking questions and for
guidance when I feel like I need it.

GOAL 4: Improve my photo editing, photo taking, and graphic design skills by going out
of my way outside of work to practice and research so I can come back in each day
prepared.

My second big goal is to actively use the skills I gain at/during my internship in other
aspects of my life, both in Prague and when I get home. This is harder to map put,
because I am not sure yet the experiences I will be having. I want to be self-aware
enough to be able to switch over those skills and integrate them into other parts of my
life. Although I am unsure of exactly what I will be learning, I can still map out some
goals.

GOAL 1: Take twenty minutes after each day at work to write or blog about one thing I
feel like I learned, or one thing I feel like I could work on. On the weekends, try and
integrate one or more of what I learned to something besides work. For example, If I
learned some new Czech words, I could try and use them when I’m out at a bar.

GOAL 2: When I am back in the States, I can actively practice self-awareness of the
lessons I learned abroad and apply them, no matter the task at hand. I want to be able
to have a situation, reflect on my experiences in Prague, and then use them to assess
and act on the situation at hand in the most productive and empathetic way possible.

GOAL 3: Establish relationships with the people working at the organization to the point
where I can use them as resources and contacts even when I am back in the States. I
will do this by trying my best to get to know each person in the office that I work with
on a daily basis, and show myself to be reliable, dedicated and hardworking.

GOAL 4:Come away with a more understanding and empathetic view on the paraplegic
community (of which I know very little).