• Write a conversation between you(ME) and your Inner Guide(IG) about a problem you are facing in college. Label each of your IG’s responses with the listening skill it uses: silence, expansion, clarification, reflection (remember to reflect feelings as well as thoughts). Let your IG demonstrate the skills of active listening without giving advice.

Me: I’ve realized what a difficult time I have keeping track of all of my assignments.

IG: Would you like to say more?(Expansion)

ME: Well, I have a total of five classes,including freshman seminar. I find it hard to balance all the work that I have for all my classes. I find myself forgetting about certain assignments which is why I tend to get them done at the last minute. I have a planner where I all my assignments are written but I don’t really check my planner regularly.

IG: What do you mean by “regularly”?(Clarification)

Me: I don’t check my planner at all. When I come home from school, I do assignments that is usually due the next day that I can remember. I don’t do assignments the day that they are given to me.

IG:  Oh…(Silence)

Me: I’ve never truly been a procrastinator. I only ever started to leave my assignments for the last minute was my junior year in high school. Ever since then, I’ve been leaving things for the last minute. In high school it’s acceptable since the workload is not as heavy as it is in college. But it’s hard to balance college, work and my personal life, all while being criticized

IG: You seem frustrated that no one is praising you for being able to balance all three or at least maintain all three aspects of your life.

Me:  Yeah, it’s hard enough that I have teachers with their assignments attacking me and with me beating myself up over it, now I have to deal with what others have to say when they don;t know how difficult it is and that I’m trying my best in everything.

IG: How are you trying your best?(Clarification)

Me: Well, now I’m attempting to at least start the assignments when I am given them. As well as doing some in between some of my breaks

• Write what you learned or relearned about active listening during this conversation with your Inner Guide.

What I learned about active listening is that I can often find the answers to my problems and that I can motivate myself to work even harder when I sit down and have a conversation with my Inner Guide. Through this conversation I was able to see that I am not trying as hard as I can try, that I am not giving it my all. I was able to identify a problem and see all of the little problems that come from the main problem. With this I will be able to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. I need to learn to be more organized and productive with my free time. Learn to mange my time properly and pace myself so that I have time to do my school work and concentrate on only that.