Opening Activities

Letters to Self

&

Mind Mapping

Write a letter to your future selfWhat: Write a letter to your future self, which will be returned to you near the end of your service year.Purpose: • To provide a record of your life and who you are now• To anchor in time your current views, attitudes, philosophy/outlook• To explore your feelings and opinions about a variety of issues• To create a tool for future reflectionWriting prompts:• Me, now: your current hopes, fears, dream, intentions, goals, problems, likes/dislikes, who

you are – write like it’s a journal entry, what’s happening now and your initial thoughts about service and your site and community

• Send your future self some words of inspiration• Share your thoughts on where you’ll be or what you’ll be up to, what you may have learned

or what you hope to have accomplished (professionally or personally) in a year from nowSteps:1. Write your letter2. Seal and address your envelope (an address you will still have

by the end of your VISTA year)3. Once finished, give it to your VISTA Leader to collect.

Pros of Mind Mapping

• Release creativity• Organic • No hierarchies of ideas• Organize thoughts• Link ideas• Start a new project• Visual Mind mapping was

founded by Tony Duzan

Bee Skills

The five essential characteristics:

1. The main idea, subject or focus is in the center.2. The main themes radiate from the central image

as 'branches‘.3. The branches comprise a key image or key word

drawn or printed on its associated line.4. Topics of lesser importance are represented as

'twigs' of the relevant branch.5. The branches form a connected nodal structure.

The Path

Let’s Get Started! Start in center with image or word

“My VISTA Year”, “2015-16”, “Personal Plans” Work your way out Use images, symbols, codes, or key words

Think about…• Your year• Your path

• Your dreams• Your goals

• Your challenges