Opportunities and Threats

OBJECTIVE:

To develop foundational skills in self-awareness and learn how to leverage their attributes and skills to plan for the future.

MATERIALS:

SWOT Analysis Handout

REQUIRED PREP:

Transform your room – Next Gen sessions should be different from typical classes — change the atmosphere of your classroom and get ready for your first session!

Opening Huddle - 15 mins

Feel free to play music to generate energy and set the vibe!

  1. Opening Ritual: Conduct your opening ritual!
  2. Mood Check: Gather the students into a circle (standing or sitting – keep comfort in mind)!

Activity 1 - SWOT Analysis Introduction

Goal: Explain the purpose of a SWOT Analysis and walk through how to complete one.

Now that students have identified their strengths and weaknesses (internal), this exercise allows them to focus on the opportunities they can build on in their lives as well as acknowledge the threats(external) in their personal and academic lives that could keep them away from achieving their goals.

  1. Begin by asking the students what they believe are their opportunities and threats
  2. Briefly provide examples of threats and opportunities (Ex. involved in several extracurricular activities, works a part-time job, or currently has a low GPA, too involved to focus on academics, etc.)
  3. Discuss how identifying opportunities and threats enable you to know what areas you need to work on and which areas you can leverage to help meet your goals. 

Play fun and upbeat music. Explain the difference between strengths/weaknesses and provide a few examples, (friendly, enjoys school, lacks discipline, or a procrastinator, etc.) Discuss how identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats enable you to know what areas you need to work on and which areas you can leverage to help meet your goals.

Closing Discussion

Goal: Ask guiding questions to help students process what they learned about themselves.

Guiding Questions:

  1. Now that you have a full snapshot of yourself, what did you learn? 
  2. Does this change your goals for the near future? 
  3. How can you ensure your threats don’t interfere with your success?