List three experiences that show struggles you had with fitting in.
Write notes about what happened in each experience and who was involved.
Write notes about how you resolved each of the problems.
Experience 1:
- In high school, I joined the school's drama club. During rehearsals, I felt like an outsider as most of the other members had known each other for years.
- Involved: Drama club members, including a close-knit group of friends and the drama club director.
- Resolution: I started attending social events and gatherings organized by the drama club, which allowed me to interact with the other members outside of rehearsals. By actively engaging in conversations and showing interest in their lives, I gradually managed to build friendships and become more integrated into the group.
Experience 2:
- While attending university, I moved to a new city and had to start from scratch in making friends. I struggled to find a social group where I felt comfortable.
- Involved: Various classmates and students from different courses.
- Resolution: In order to meet new people, I joined extracurricular clubs and organizations related to my interests. I attended events, participated in group activities, and volunteered for projects. Through these efforts, I met like-minded individuals and slowly formed relationships. Regularly attending meetings and actively engaging in discussions also helped create a sense of belonging within these groups.
Experience 3:
- Upon starting a new job, I found it challenging to fit in with my colleagues due to different age ranges and backgrounds.
- Involved: Coworkers from various departments and job positions.
- Resolution: I made an effort to get to know my colleagues better by initiating conversations during lunch breaks, asking for advice or assistance on work-related matters, and showing interest in their hobbies outside of the workplace. Additionally, I volunteered for team-building activities or committee involvement, which allowed me to interact with coworkers in a more informal setting. Over time, these small efforts helped build connections and rapport, making it easier to fit in with the team.