34 Days to Focus on Your Strengths

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Kick off your semester by exploring your Strengths and Oberlin resources!

For 34 days, a different campus office will be highlighted alongside one of the 34 CliftonStrengths themes. Each office has a quick challenge for you to try, helping you:

        -Discover new resources and opportunities;
        -Meet people who can support your Oberlin journey; and
        -See how your own Strengths connect with life on campus. 

Complete at least 20 challenges to earn a prize and an invitation to an exclusive celebratory event!

You can complete the challenges in any order and at your own pace, so it’s easy to jump in whenever you’re ready. Along the way, you’ll build connections, deepen your understanding of yourself, and experience some of what Oberlin has to offer.

Challenges: 

Achiever® - What do you want to Achieve for your health? Attend a YeoFit class and share a photo while you’re there. Unable to share a photo? Submit a reflection on the YeoFit class you attended and what health goals you wish to achieve this semester.

Activator® - Activators have the drive to tackle any opportunity straight away with no hesitation! Ignite your career possibilities by creating your Handshake profile (brought to you by Career Exploration & Development) and submitting a screenshot of the approval email you receive once your account is created or a screenshot of your profile page on Handshake. Unable to share a photo? Submit a list of five jobs you found interesting on the Handshake job search page.

Adaptability® - Adapting to a new environment or semester can be tough. Reach out to Counseling & Psychological Services or utilize their Virtual Hub to help you adjust. Take a photo of one thing that has helped you to stay grounded as you begin this semester. Unable to share a photo? Share a reflection of some things you have done to help you smoothly transition into this semester. 

Analytical® - Researchers use their Analytical skills every day. Make an appointment with an OUR Research Ambassador with questions on how to get started doing research. Then, submit a selfie with the Research Ambassador you meet with. Unable to share a photo? Submit a summary of your meeting with a Research Ambassador.

Arranger® - The Facilities Operations staff in the Service Building use their Arranger skills every day to help students with a number of things here on campus. Were you notified that you have a practice room or lab key that you need to pick up? Click here to schedule time in your schedule to pick them up! Don't have a pending key request? Simply schedule a time to stop by, ask questions about what we do for the college community and pick up a PRIZE from Matt, Shannon or Chelsey! Submit a photo with the keys you picked up or with the prize you got during your visit. Unable to submit a photo? Submit which keys you picked up or what your learned about Facilities Operations during your visit.

Belief® - Use your voice and speak up for your Beliefs by getting registered to vote with OC Votes! Stop by an OC Votes table and submit a photo of any swag/information you get from the OC Votes folks. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection of the information you learned about voting when you visited the OC Votes table. National Voter Registration Day is September 16th.

Command® - Command involves stepping up and speaking out with clarity. Stop by the Dean of Students Office to pick up a "Make It Happen" card. Write one way you're planning to use your voice and presence to lead this semester, and submit a photo of your card. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection of how you plan to use your voice and presence to lead this semester.

Communication® - Explore how to leverage Digication for visual Communication. Look at theme editing resources and review this video. If you are interested, check out this web resource on design. When you are ready, leverage the theme settings of your digital portfolio on your First Year Advisor Portfolio and consider background images, colors, fonts, and a layout that would help you communicate your story more effectively. Feel free to add more artifacts as they are relevant. Submit a screenshot of your personalized First Year Advisor Portfolio. Unable to submit a photo? Submit three things you learned about Digication utilizing the provided resources.

Competition® - Competition is all about rising to the challenge and striving to be your best​. Show off your competitive spirit by attending any Oberlin Athletics varsity home contest and submitting a picture of Oberlin athletes in action. Unable to submit a photo? Share a summary of the contest you chose to attend along with the opposing team and final score of the contest.

Connectedness® - We’re all Connected in some way. Stop by the Center for Student Success to document your connection and submit a selfie with a CSS staff member. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a summary of your visit to the Center for Student Success.

Consistency® - Consistency is about fairness and clear systems. Visit the Financial Aid Office and meet a staff member. Ask one question that helps you understand the financial aid process more clearly. Submit a photo of any resource they give you or a snapshot of your notes. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection of what you learned during your visit and how that knowledge can help you or others.

Context® - We all have Context about ourselves and our experiences prior to Oberlin. International Student & Scholar Services helps our international students navigate the context of their home countries with the context of the Oberlin community. Submit a photo that tells us about where you are from. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a description of a unique experience you had prior to attending Oberlin that helped shape who you are today.

Deliberative® - What are you thinking about or Deliberating on? With the help of a research librarian at any of the library branches (Art, Con, Science, Terrell), use Search.Libraries to find a physical copy of a book related to one of your classes or something you’ve always wanted to learn more about, and submit a selfie with the book. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a summary of the book you found and why you selected it.

Developer® - Developers love seeing others grow. One way to support others' growth is by making sure they get the help they need when times are tough. Open the Student Support & Outreach page on your laptop or other electronic device and bookmark it on your browser so you have it ready if you need it. Submit a selfie with the SSO page open on your laptop or other electronic device or a screenshot of the SSO page bookmarked on your browser. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a list of five concerns the SSO may help a student with.

Discipline® - Campus Safety Officers use their Discipline talents to keep our campus community safe and informed. Download the ObieAlert App onto your phone and show a Campus Safety Officer. Submit a selfie with the officer. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a summary of five services the ObieAlert App provides for the campus community.

Empathy® - Empathy helps us sense and support others' emotions with care and compassion – something highlighted in the mission of Health Promotion & Prevention Services. Write a kind word or comforting thought that could support someone who’s feeling overwhelmed and leave that note in a public space. Submit a photo of your note and its location. Unable to submit a photo? Submit what you wrote on your note and where you left it.

Focus® - What you see, hear, and feel can affect how well you Focus. Visit the Sensory Room in the Office for Disability and Access to reset and center your attention. Submit a photo of you in the Sensory Room. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection of your time in the Sensory Room and how it affected you.

Futuristic® - Winter Term is right around the corner! Use your Futuristic talent to start planning. Attend the Winter Term Fair on September 16th from 7 - 8:30pm at the Science Center and stop by the Center for Student Success Table to learn more about our THREE on campus group projects. Take a picture with the CSS staff at the table to submit. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection of one Winter Term project you’re interested in and why.

Harmony® - Harmony is about finding common ground and building bridges. Share a meal with someone you just met at Stevie or your Co-op. Submit a photo from your experience of both of you and one food you both tried. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection on something you have in common with your dining buddy.

Ideation® - Visit the Allen Memorial Art Museum and explore the galleries. Use your Ideation talent to pick two artworks in different galleries that you see a connection between and submit pictures of both. The connection can be anything - color, size, subject matter, two artworks you’d like to have in your room, etc.! Unable to submit a photo? Submit a description of both pieces and the connection you see between the two.

Includer® - RAs (if you live in ResLife Housing) and HLECs (if you live in OSCA Housing) are well-versed in helping folks in their community feel Included. Submit a photo of yourself with your RA or HLEC. Unable to submit a photo? Submit the name of your RA or HLEC and how they have helped you so far this semester.

Individualization® - Visit the Multicultural Resource Commons and explore a resource, artwork, or display that speaks to your identity, background, or interests. Submit a photo of what you connected with. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection on what you connected with and why it resonates with you.

Input® - Visit the College Archives and use your Input to review archival materials related to student life through the years. Submit a photo of your favorite document, photograph, or object. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a description of your favorite document, photograph, or object and why it is your favorite. Visit with the Archives staff if you have any questions about your favorite item or the history of Oberlin College and Conservatory.  

Intellection® - Professors utilize their Intellection and encourage its utilization in others every day. Use the Campus Directory or your syllabus to find your favorite professor's office number take a photo with them and submit it. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection on who your favorite professor is and why.

Learner® - Deepening your understanding of diverse religious and spiritual traditions can cultivate cultural awareness, strengthen empathy, and enrich how we engage with the world around us. Feed your Learner by attending at least one Lunch and Learn event during Interfaith Week (hosted by ORSL) and submit a photo of you at the event. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection on the event you attended and what you learned from the event.

Maximizer® - Use your Maximizer skills to get a group together for bowling or billiards at the College Lanes. Submit a photo of your group at the lanes. Unable to submit a photo? Submit the names of your group members along with each of your final scores.

Positivity® - What brought you Positive feelings this week? Practice being a good news correspondent, like the Office of Communications. Submit a photo of a headline moment that made you smile this week and share the joy. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection of one thing that made you smile this week and how it impacted you positively.

Relator® - Build Relationships and find your community at the Allen Memorial Art Museum! Attend one of the museum’s public programs like Art Rental, Community Day, or Allen After Hours and submit a photo from your experience. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection of the event you attend and the most memorable part of the event for you.

Responsibility® - The Office of Student Accounts is here to support your financial success and help you take Responsibility of your financial future today. Stop by Student Accounts, ask staff a question, and submit a photo of your visit. Unable to submit a photo? Submit an overview of your visit to Student Accounts and what you learned during your visit.

Restorative™ - Restoration is about being able to acknowledge harm and taking active steps to repair harm caused - and the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards can help. Think about harm that you may have caused, purposefully or accidentally, and take a step towards repairing that harm by apologizing to the affected party. Submit a reflection on how it felt to apologize to the affected party.

Self-Assurance® - Let your inner confidence and Self-Assurance shine in a student job! Visit the bulletin board outside the Department of Human Resources/Student Employment Office and submit a selfie with the SEO QR code flyer on the bulletin board. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a description of what you learned from the bulletin board.

Significance® - Visit the Makerspace in the Cooper International Learning Center as a way to explore the Significance strength. Think about your visit to the Makerspace: What did you create, experiment with, or observe? How did it feel to engage with tools that turn ideas into tangible things? In what ways might making—or the act of creating—help you contribute something meaningful to others or express what matters most to you? Submit a photo of what you made or worked with in the Makerspace. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a reflection that answers the questions above.

Strategic® - Strategic thinkers are always looking ahead - just like the folks in the Center for Information Technology. To complete this challenge, read through CIT’s Three-year Strategic Plan. Submit a reflection in which you discuss the area of our strategic plan that stood out to you or made you think about the future in a new way. What resonated with your own Strengths or goals at Oberlin?

Woo® - Get your Woo on at a TGIF event hosted by the Office of Student Leadership & Involvement any Friday from 4:30-6:00pm. Introduce yourself to a new person and take a selfie to submit. Unable to submit a photo? Submit a description of which TGIF you attended and the name of the new person you introduced yourself to.