Students Are Missing a Key Element in Maximizing Their Growth - And It’s Easy to Do
Students face challenges, solve problems, and navigate complex interactions every day. Yet most move through these experiences without pause–completing tasks, resolving issues, or having tough conversations, only to move on without much thought. Top performers take a different approach. They intentionally set aside time to reflect, analyze their actions, and learn from their experiences–this is their secret weapon to getting 10x more learning and growth out of everything they do.
What Is Reflection?
Reflection is the process of critically thinking about your experiences. In reflection, we replay the events of a challenge or situation and consider:
What went well that I want to repeat?
What might I do differently next time?
What options or choices was I not aware of at the time, that I now see with hindsight?
What confused me and where do I need to learn more?
Reflection isn’t a new concept. Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” and modern research supports this idea. Studies show that reflection can help:
Deepen understanding and knowledge
Identify areas for growth
Personalize and contextualize learning
Compare and connect ideas
Understand emotional responses
Move beyond surface-level learning and unlock deeper insights into your own actions
What Experiences Should You Be Reflecting On?
Reflection is most impactful when tied to meaningful, challenging experiences that push you to grow. As a student, focus on moments where you faced obstacles, stepped out of your comfort zone, or received constructive feedback. These situations provide the richest learning opportunities. Whilst reflecting on these experiences, some key factors should be considered to gain even more valuable insights:
Purpose: Connect the experience to your bigger goals. Understanding why a challenge matters makes reflection more meaningful.
Feedback: Use input from others to see things you might have missed. Reflect on how their observations align with your own perspective.
Application: Think about how to apply what you’ve learned. Reflection becomes powerful when it leads to real action.
By reflecting on these types of experiences—whether it’s a tough group project, a leadership role, or a new skill you’re learning—you’ll unlock deeper insights and maximize your growth.
How To Reflect Effectively
Reflection can happen in groups or alone. It’s important to have a strong understanding of what good relfection looks like, so you, and your team can get the most out of reflective practices.
Amongst groups, it’s important to have a mutual understanding that reflecting together will help serve your team in the future. Openness needs to be encouraged and everyone should be aware that feedback, both constructive and reinforcing, could be coming. With a high-quality reflection environment in place, guiding questions should be asked, and the person who takes this role should change, their main priority is to hear from everyone in the group. Questions such as: “What worked well during the challenge? What didn’t work as expected? How did the team communicate and collaborate? What could we improve next time?” will help the team reflect well.
Truly effective reflection happens when you also take the time to reflect alone. Perhaps reflecting on the group reflection session, or more personal items. Journaling is one of the best ways to do this. Ask yourself questions like: “What did I do well that I can build on? What didn’t go as planned, and why? How can I use what I’ve learned in similar situations moving forward?”. This process allows you to dive deep into your responses to complex situations, making it a quick way to learn and integrate new insights.
While the environment and experiences you reflect on can certainly impact the depth of your reflections, the beauty of this practice is that it can happen anywhere, at any time. You can reflect during your commute while walking between classes, or even right before bed. Simple yet meaningful questions like, “What went well today?” “What could I have done differently?” or “What did I learn from this experience?” can spark important insights. Keep a small notebook or use your phone’s notes app to capture your thoughts. Even just a few minutes of intentional reflection each day can help you uncover patterns, track progress, and refine your approach to challenges.
