Reflection #2: Self-Assessment (September 26)
You’ve just completed two site visits. Hopefully, you are starting to understand your partners better, building trust, engaging in the work, and learning from your mistakes. Consider your self-presentation during your visits. Have you been confident, nervous, open to ideas, quick to judge? How have your behaviors influenced the interactions you had? What do you think you are doing
well? What could you do better? Give examples and tell stories.
During our recent visit to the Missouri Botanical Gardens (MOBOT), we presented our idea of creating an exhibit in Henry Shaw’s house. The exhibit would incorporate QR codes and a booklet to tell the stories of enslaved individuals connected to Shaw’s estate. Reflecting on my self-presentation during the visit, I’ve noticed both strengths and areas where we can improve. One major piece of feedback we received was the suggestion to change the location of the
exhibit. Initially, we had planned for the exhibit to be located in the basement of Henry Shaw’s house, but the idea was put forward to expand it throughout the entire house. As a group, we were very open to this suggestion and the broader interpretations of our plan. I felt proud of how receptive we were to feedback, demonstrating our commitment to refining and improving the project.
Our site visit to MOBOT was a valuable experience that highlighted both the strengths of our team and areas for growth. Moving forward, I plan to build on this experience by increasing my confidence when presenting ideas and by asking more insightful questions to ensure we align with MOBOT’s vision. Overall, I feel positive about our progress and look forward to refining our project further.