Students sharing their goals while working on vision boards.
KAYLA WERTH / THE QUADRANGLE
Kayla Werth, Contributor
Manhattan University’s Office of Student Engagement provided first-year students with an opportunity to visually map out their goals for this spring semester. Melinda Wilson, Ph.D., recently joined the first-year experience administrative committee and led a vision board workshop on Jan. 23 in Kelly Commons.
During the workshop, Wilson emphasized the importance of setting goals and staying organized academically as well as in students’ personal lives. As part of the event, students received complimentary branded planners to assist with their organizational efforts. They were encouraged to take five minutes and to write down three to five concrete goals for the semester. These written goals served as a foundation for their vision board.
Before students began designing their boards, Wilson shared the overall reasoning of why people create vision boards.
“It helps you to clarify your goals,” Wilson said. “When you have to represent them visually, it forces you to clarify them. It also increases your motivation and focus, because it is something you are going to see regularly.”
Wilson spoke with The Quadrangle about her thoughts behind organizing this event that aims to help students successfully plan for the semester.
“I think there are a few different elements that play into my decision to make it a vision board event,” Wilson said. “One is that I’m an incredibly visual person, and if you come into my office, I have a big cork board with lots of visuals, like stickers and quotes and bookmarks. I just find when I go into my office every morning it’s something that feels positive to look at.”
Students used a variety of materials to create their own vision board, including photos from various magazines, markers, crayons and colored pencils. They were encouraged to keep building on their vision boards over the next few days and weeks as they settled back into life at MU. As crafting began, so did the conversations among one another about their goals. Wilson observed and remarked on the progress of the boards, making sure to interact with students and ask what some of their goals were for the semester.
Natalia Socha, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, spoke about her thoughts on having set goals.
“It definitely keeps you motivated,” Socha said. “I’m trying to make my vision board very pretty and appealing to look at, so that it keeps reminding me. I’m putting this up on my wall as soon as I get home.”
Every student had their own goals they wanted to achieve throughout the spring semester. These goals ranged from performing well academically to developing a better sleep schedule.
Aaron Huang, a freshman majoring in finance, shared his vision board goals with The Quadrangle.
“Have good health, play more golf, have a good career and maintain good grades,” Huang said.
Wilson wrapped up the event by speaking about her plans to continue hosting more events aimed at helping first-year students succeed during their time at MU.
“I’m really open to getting feedback and feeling out what other sorts of organizational activities like this one might be useful for success planning,” Wilson said.