At the Top of Your Game

Journal #3 Remembered Event Essay "At the top of your game"

What activity do you perform with a measure of competence and confidence? Recall a time when you felt "at the top of your game;" when you were performing your activity in stellar fashion, feeling a sense of accomplishment, pride, and pleasure. Retell that moment in as much sensory detail as possible. You may wish to recall who was there. Was there a viewing audience or cheering crowd? Was a coach or teacher present? If so, how did others respond to your accomplishment? What did they say or do? Were you, perhaps, alone? How did this peak performance moment affect your commitment to or feelings about your activity?

Further development To further develop your narrative, write descriptions that answer the following questions:

. How did you first get interested in your activity? Who were your early models or inspirations? . What equipment is used for your activity? Is it difficult to learn to use that equipment properly? . What process is used for practicing or improving your ability or performance? . Is there an "audience" for this activity? How might the audience's response affect your performance? . How do you feel when you are doing this activity? What do you think about? Do you talk to yourself to spur yourself along? . What motivates or inspires you to keep working/playing? . Who are your models? How have they influenced you? . What do you do when you get discouraged? Journal #4 Remembered Event Essay "Struggling to Learn"

Recall a specific time when you struggled to learn or master a task or activity. You might wish to consider these questions:

 What was it about that task that gave you the most difficulty or frustration?  Could you understand what the significant barriers were to your success?  Did you receive harsh or critical feedback?  How did your inability to succeed make you feel?  What did you do with your feelings? (get angry, depressed, resigned, resolve keep trying, decide that life is fundamentally unfair, etc.)  What, if anything, did you learn about yourself through this experience?

Describe a specific experience in as much detail as you can.