When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?
Everyone handles the stress and disappointment of setbacks differently. When you work in a therapeutic specialty, those setbacks can be amplified. While attending university, even more so because your grades can significantly determine the success of your future career. Discuss with the admissions team at Emerson College how you typically cope with setbacks.
Suppose you have an example of a time when you suffered a setback and learned a positive lesson from the experience. In that case, this is an excellent opportunity to tell a brief story. You can deliver your story using the STAR framework. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
"It can feel discouraging when I suffer a setback, especially after giving 100% effort. (Situation & Task) For example, I presented a paper that failed to impress my professor last semester. I felt I had given everything to that paper, yet the professor poked holes in my writing. (Action) After receiving the criticism on my paper, I took the time to walk outside and get some fresh air while reflecting on my frustration. This small break helped me set my self-doubts aside and reflect on what I could learn from the experience. In that instance, I sought help from my academic advisor. My advisor reassured me that I have to be comfortable making mistakes as an undergraduate clinician because learning can be a trial-by-error experience. She encouraged me to make the corrections and save that final draft as an example to go back to for my future reports. (Result) Because of this experience, I am confident that I can emotionally handle setbacks that arise during my time at Emerson College and my career as an SLP."
