On August 31, 2016 I wrote this letter to myself when I started the MSIDT program. This letter was meant to be read in October 2017 in preparation for my MidPoint CheckIn.
Dear Daryn,
The reason you decided to pursue the MSIDT program is because you want to take the next bold step in your career to combine your experience and your education. Your goal is to work as a Senior Creative Instructional Designer, leading teams that are developing innovative end-user instructional materials for software and hardware products. However, your varied experiences and education are not enough for you stand out from the crowd of other applicants who want to achieve the same things. Earning your Masters Degree in the field of Instructional Design is important in order to reach your goals. You would like to work for an Industry Leading company such as Apple, Disney, Google, Twitter, Amazon or Facebook. Industry leaders are looking for the very best Instructional Design candidates to ultimately create world-class materials to train their employees. As such, those industry leaders prefer qualifications that include a Masters Degree in Instructional Design. Achieving your goal of graduating with my MSIDT will change your life. If you are reading this at the MidPoint Check-In, there is not an option of failure. You will succeed in this program and you will graduate.
As of this writing, August 31st, 2016, for your final project you would like to create Apple Retail Expert/Pro Product Training: An interactive online training that will include modules about all of Apple's Hero products: iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AppleWatch. It will include a comparison and contrast of products in an easy to digest format that included information that is directly taken from apple.com. This will all be non-proprietary information, so as to alleviate the need to redact anything. It will include text, graphics, and images taken directly apple.com in addition to excerpts from Apple Keynote speeches from product announcements and the annual WWDC conference. It could be publicly accessible, but you would like the beta version to be tested by the Expert/Pro Teams in the San Fransisco stores with permission by the Store Leaders, and Market Leader.
You would love for your practicum project to be utilized by all Experts and Product Pros at Apple Retail stores, globally. Your Product Training is directly related to your professional goals because it would be building your portfolio with non-proprietary training that could be evaluated by Apple, or any other employer. It is your dream to work at Apple as an Instructional Designer, to continue to maintain your project and grow it into a team at Global Retail Training. It is also be a dream of yours for Apple to allow you to use your final semester as a Career Experience, where you would be working and traveling to all the stores in the San Fransisco Market, as well as all the surrounding stores, possibly as far south as Los Angeles and San Diego.
You’ve been described as a high energy leader who is happy, positive, and warm. You an Apple Product Pro who is an Expert in all things Apple, including customer service. Aways hungry to learn more, you possess a fearless yet adaptable style of leadership. You’re passionate and your passion starts with people. This drives you to build strong relationships with the team around you and a laser focus on the customer experience. You have a great passion for Apple and Apple products; this compels you to be a resource to your team and our customers. Your final project will be the ultimate resource for your team.
However, you have learned over the years that your enthusiasm and passion can be seen as arrogance. People don’t want to work with someone like that. You am a go-getter, but you’ve learned that in order to get things done you need to relax and work through others. Working through others takes patience and time, both things of which you could use plenty. Your goal is and continues to be to learn as much as you can about all things related to Instructional Design so that you can eventually lead a team of Instructional Designers building innovative end user content.
As of August, 2016, you are aware that you have a lot to learn, although you are incredibly excited about this chance to change the direction of your life. You realize that you are very weak when it comes to research and statistics, although you are very good with the social aspect of research. A strong vocabulary and a great work ethic, you want to move on from your current role at Apple and it is because of that feeling that you have taken to your studies very well. Concepts and ideas that are new to you have stretched you in ways that is thrilling to consider.
By this time you are reading this at the midpoint symposium in October of next year, you have done great deal of work practicum. Your goal to work with the San Fransisco market has be approved by everyone involved: your connection manager, store leader, the store leaders in the San Fransisco Market, your market leader, and all of your professors. You should have a firm grasp on Adobe Captivate, various learning theories, project management, and should have a well thought-out vision of what you want your final project to be. You have begun to foster relationships with the Expert and Pro Product Teams at all 5 stores in the San Fransisco Market and are ready to exceed the expectations of your professors. Your portfolio is impressive and you feel confident in your abilities to graduate and find your dream job.
You aren’t done yet. This next few months will be the most challenging yet. However, remember when you wrote this letter to yourself over a year ago. Think of how far you’ve come. Think of the obstacles that you’ve hurdled. Think of how you speak about your studies and your eyes light up. Remember that although there are difficult days ahead, you’ve made it this far. Keep your head up. Now, get to work. Finish your work with pride and seize this opportunity to change your life.
Comments
Thank you for sharing such a personal letter with the rest of us. I really enjoyed reading it and felt connected to what you said. Your goals are laid out so well, it was inspiring to read. I like that you listed off your positive qualities but also talked about places you want to improve. It is good to have self-awareness and continue to work on personality traits. I relate a lot to what you said because I too sometimes want to take too much control but have to learn to let go of things in a group setting and find other ways to encourage others. I am happy to have you as a teammate. You always look out for the group as a whole. That is a good leader trait.
Wishing you the best always,
-Hannah