In summer there is time for everything. To enjoy and to develop a personal project that helps us academically and professionally. Are you up for it? Long vacations
Summer is a perfect time to disconnect from the academic rhythm, but it is also an excellent opportunity to develop a personal project that can serve as a portfolio or provide additional experience in our field of study. Organizing a personal project can be an enriching and rewarding experience for ourselves, but if planned properly, it can also bring us many academic and professional satisfactions once we graduate and have our
eTítulo. We bring you some ideas and steps to develop a personal project effectively.
Choose a relevant and motivating topic
The first thing we need to do is select a topic that is relevant to our field of study and that, at the same time, motivates us so that we do not give up in a few days or get bored. A personal project should be in line with our academic and professional interests, but it should also be something that we are passionate about. This way, the work will feel less like an obligation and more like an opportunity to explore and learn.
Set clear objectives
It is essential to define what we want to achieve with our personal project. The objectives must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (
SMART methodology). For example, if our personal project consists of developing an application, the objective could be "create a functional application that solves a specific problem within the next eight weeks".
Create the work plan
A detailed work plan will help us stay organized and ensure that we are moving towards our objectives. To avoid the feeling that it is too much work and end up frustrated, it is good to divide our personal project into smaller tasks and set deadlines for each one. This way, we can allocate daily or weekly time to work on these tasks and regularly review our progress to make necessary adjustments. Having a global vision is good for setting goals, but once we start working, it is ideal that we achieve small goals so that it does not become overwhelming.
Research and learn
Depending on the project, we may need to acquire new skills or knowledge. And, although during the course doing research may seem like a tedious task, when it is done to learn more about a topic of interest to us, it becomes exciting. In addition, since in summer there are a lot of MOOCs and other official courses, empty libraries, and dead time when stepping out is like taking a walk in hell, we can calmly take advantage of online resources such as tutorials and webinars to learn what we need. Research will help us better understand our topic and find more innovative solutions.
Use digital tools
There are many digital tools that can facilitate the organization and development of our personal project. For example, project management applications like Trello or Asana, design tools like Canva or Adobe XD, and collaboration platforms like Google Drive or Slack.
Document the process
Keeping a record of our progress is very important. This will not only help us follow the development of the personal project, but it will also be useful to reflect on what we have learned and to show our work to others. We can document our process through a blog, a work diary, or even through videos.
Seek feedback and collaboration
There is no need to embark on a lonely path. Asking for feedback from colleagues, teachers, or professionals in the sector can provide valuable perspectives and improve the quality of our personal project. In addition, considering the possibility of collaborating with other students or friends who share our interests will surely enrich the experience and the final result. Presentation of our personal project At the end of the project, we must prepare a good professional presentation. This can include a written report, a PowerPoint presentation, or an explanatory video. The idea is that we can clearly and attractively present our personal project to future employers, teachers, or colleagues (it never hurts to do some
networking).
Reflect and learn
Finally, once the personal project is completed, it is very valuable to dedicate time to reflect on what we have learned. What went well? Could we have done something better? What was the most difficult for us? What could we improve next time? This reflection will help us improve in future projects and identify the skills we have developed.
