Reflection 1 – The Habits of Mind

Over the past three years here at Plymouth State, the Habits of Mind have been tools that I have used in every class. At first skills like Self Regulated Learning or Purposeful Communication seemed important but not critically important to my college career. However, this past summer proved to me how critical they actually are. When you are aware of the Habits of Mind and strive to improve, you see a massive shift when navigating complex real world situations.

This past summer I had the opportunity to work at an injection molding manufacturer as an automation person. Looking back, I think the real reason I got the position was because of one specific Habit of Mind, Purposeful Communication. My resume needed to effectively demonstrate what I could do. Without that, I never would have gotten an interview. During the interview it was crucial not only to answer questions effectively, but also to ask thoughtful questions in return. This aligns directly with the “Purposeful Expression” signpost. If you only answer questions, you fail to show genuine interest, making you a less fitting candidate and miss out on a real conversation.

After landing the position, all of the signposts were put to test daily. Communicating effectively with engineers is important, but understanding other perspectives is also important. Whenever an issue involved multiple people, everyone was able to provide their input to find a viable solution. When multiple solutions are on the table, getting everyone to agree to one can be pretty tough. By using an Integrated Perspective, I was able to understand why someone favored a different approach compared to the solution that I thought was best. This happens frequently and is a necessity to be able to resolve. By discussing the reasoning behind someone else’s idea, we were able to find the best path forward or combine our strategies to create a more effective solution than the original.

This approach leads directly into Problem Solving. My entire summer revolved around identifying and resolving technical issues. One signpost I found particularly helpful was “Problem Framing.” In many cases, it is easy to spot a problem on the surface, but much harder to pinpoint its root cause. Through problem framing, I learned to step back and analyze a problem in its entirety before jumping to a solution. In the past, I might have rushed into fixing a problem with an overly complex solution, when in reality something had just simply come unplugged, loosened, or broke. Problem framing ensures you select the most efficient route by taking the proper diagnostic steps first.

Last but not least is Self-Regulated Learning. I don’t think I was fully prepared for the sheer volume of learning required in this role. I frequently encountered an issue and was given the ability to research, design, and implement a fix. Unlike academic settings, nobody was standing over my shoulder directing every move. I was in complete control of what I needed to learn. Looking back, the list of technical topics I had to understand is extensive, from optimizing venturis, Euro-map connections to robot bits, plastic types, cost analysis, ROI, 3D printing fixtures, and programming. Without recognizing why this knowledge was important and taking full responsibility to stick with it, I would not be where I am today. Understanding how I learn best prevented me from wasting time and ensured I could actually apply what I studied.

Overall, the Habits of Mind are critical not just in college, but in real world professional environments as well. I have experienced firsthand how these help you develop as a person and an engineer. As for whether I am at Basecamp, Climbing, or Summit, I believe I will always be climbing. These are not skills to be perfected, but lifelong habits that can always be sharpened.