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Brilliant, Passionate You

Center for Academic Innovation Experts

This course is an interdisciplinary look at how we can make each day the best day of our lives by examining the question, “How can you be your most brilliant, passionate self?” You will be joined on this journey by our animated host, Lewis!

You will envision your “perfect day” and then slowly deconstruct the elements of that day to better understand key elements such as finding your purpose, defining success, mental and physical health, the importance of community, and navigating risks and challenges. In addition, you will hear stories from a diverse array of individuals, including students, doctors, teachers, professional storytellers, professional athletes, coaches, and others sharing their own journeys, communities, and sources of inspiration.

Finally, you will participate in the What’s Your Purpose? Project, utilizing storytelling techniques to share your own purpose and inspire other members of this global learning community to pursue theirs.

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What's inside

Syllabus

The Best Day of My Life

In this module, you'll envision the best day of your life. This will be the basis for all of the individual elements we examine in the course.

What Do You Want to Be Known for on Earth?

This module will help you identify your purpose and define personal success.

Feeling Your Best Self

This module explores the importance of physical and mental health in order to be your best self.

Building a Brilliant, Passionate Community

In this module, we'll explore the importance of a strong community connection and learn about the GIVE model.

Navigating Challenges and Risks When Leading a Passionate Life

In Module 5, we'll explore the strategies for developing grit, managing risk, and asking for help.

Empowering a Passionate World

In this last module, you will learn about reflection and storytelling, and share your own story with other learners in the course!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills associated with defining personal success and purpose, which are applicable for understanding oneself, one's goals, and one's place in the world

Explores the importance of physical and mental health as a foundation for leading a passionate and fulfilling life

Provides guidance on developing grit and resilience for overcoming challenges and achieving goals

Offers a diverse range of perspectives from students, doctors, teachers, storytellers, athletes, and coaches, providing valuable insights into various aspects of personal growth and passion

Introduces storytelling techniques and provides opportunities to share personal stories with others, fostering community and supporting individual empowerment

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Reviews summary

Passionate personal growth course

Students describe this largely positive 8-week course as motivating, inspiring, and informative. This well received offering is well suited for learners of all ages looking to reflect on their personal values and life purpose. Some students found the course especially meaningful after completing it during or after a major life event or transition, such as retirement. While a few students found some of the course content difficult or repetitive, the vast majority of learners reported that this course was engaging, well-paced, and helpful.

Highlights the importance of community and support in personal growth.

"This course helped me ask some big questions about who I am, how I got here and where I want to go."

"This would be a great course for corporate retreats and organizational enrichment."

"Need that emphasis now more than ever."

Features speakers from diverse backgrounds sharing their personal experiences and insights.

"Amazing content, with interesting activities and material."

"It’s such a meaningful course."

"An excellent, invaluable course for lifelong learners of any age."

Students report feeling transformed after taking this life-changing course.

"It made me think about aspects of my life that really have deeper meaning and I am grateful for the personal insight I gained!"

"Even though I took this course post-Covid, it was life changing!"

"Amazing. Such a beautiful course."

Encourages deep self-reflection and self-discovery through exercises and activities.

"This course made me think about aspects of my life that really have deeper meaning."

"I was happy to see so much different contents that were practical and well written to make it easier to participate."

"I truly love this course."

The length of the course (8 weeks) was too long for some students, while others appreciated the depth it allowed.

"Good opportunity for self reflection."

"This was an interesting journey."

"Would need to be edited down some."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Brilliant, Passionate You with these activities:

Review the course syllabus

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This activity will help you get familiar with the course content and structure.

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Read the course syllabus.
Identify the key topics and learning objectives.
Create a study plan that includes a review of the key topics.

Review the concept of passion

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This activity will help you get back into the mindset of pursuing your passions, which is a central theme of the course.

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Brainstorm a list of things you're passionate about.
Identify the commonalities between your passions.
Reflect on how your passions can be applied to your life and career.

Read "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin

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This book is a great resource for learning about how to find happiness and fulfillment in your life.

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Read one chapter of the book each week.
Reflect on the lessons you learn from each chapter.
Apply the lessons you learn to your own life.

Five other activities

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Join a study group or online forum for the course

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This activity will help you connect with other students and learn from their perspectives.

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Find a study group or online forum.
Introduce yourself and share your learning goals.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.

Learn about the importance of community

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This activity will help you understand the importance of community and how it can contribute to your success.

Browse courses on Community

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Watch a TED talk or read an article about the benefits of community.
Identify ways to get involved in your community.
Reach out to a friend or family member and connect with them.

Create a study guide for the course

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This activity will help you organize and review the course materials.

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Gather all of the course materials.
Identify the key concepts and topics.
Create a study guide that includes notes, summaries, and practice questions.

Practice navigating challenges and risks

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This activity will help you develop strategies for navigating challenges and risks that you may encounter in your personal and professional life.

Browse courses on Challenges

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Identify a challenge or risk that you're facing.
Brainstorm a list of possible solutions.
Evaluate the pros and cons of each solution.
Choose a solution and develop a plan to implement it.

Write a blog post about your experience taking this course

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This activity will help you reflect on your learning experience and share your insights with others.

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Brainstorm a list of topics you could write about.
Choose a topic and develop an outline.
Write the first draft of your blog post.
Edit and revise your blog post.
Publish your blog post.

Career center

Learners who complete Brilliant, Passionate You will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Career Counselor

“Brilliant, Passionate You” is a self examination in order to create your best self. This course will help you do that through conversation and reflection. Understanding yourself on a deeper level will prepare you for a career as a Career Counselor. Career Counselors help people discover their unique skills and interests, explore career options, and develop job search strategies. This course will help you to develop a strong understanding of yourself and the skills needed to help others discover themselves.

See salaries and explore the career path for Career Counselor

Nonprofit Manager

“Brilliant, Passionate You” will be insightful for you if you want to become a Nonprofit Manager. Nonprofit Managers lead and manage nonprofit organizations that work to make a positive impact on society. This course will help you gain an understanding of important topics including fundraising, budgeting, and program development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Counselor

Counselors work with people to improve their mental health and well-being. “Brilliant, Passionate You” will provide you with a strong foundation in the principles of counseling, and help you to develop the skills needed to work with a diverse population of clients. This course will help you understand the challenges and ethical issues that Counselors face.

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Life Coach

In order to be an effective Life Coach, it is imperative to be able to guide your clients to find their purpose and reach their full potential. “Brilliant, Passionate You” will help you to develop the skills and knowledge needed to do that. This course will help you to understand human behavior, create positive change, and help others achieve their goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Life Coach

Public Speaker

“Brilliant, Passionate You” will be valuable to you if you want to be a Public Speaker. Public Speakers deliver speeches and presentations to inform, educate, and persuade audiences. This course can help you to refine your communication skills, increase your confidence, and develop a greater understanding of your audience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Speaker

Community Organizer

“Brilliant, Passionate You” will help you to develop the skills and knowledge needed to organize campaigns and events, and to advocate for social change. Community Organizers work with members of a local community to identify and solve social issues. This course will provide you with a strong understanding of the principles and practices of community organizing.

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Social Worker

“Brilliant, Passionate You” will provide you with a strong foundation to pursue a career as a Social Worker. Social Workers help people overcome challenges and improve their well-being. This course will help you to understand the social and economic factors that affect people's lives, and develop the skills needed to advocate for social justice.

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Motivational Speaker

“Brilliant, Passionate You” will help you develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed as a Motivational Speaker, who helps others to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and live more meaningful lives. This course will equip you with the ability to create and deliver inspiring speeches, and to connect with your audience on a personal level.

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Human Resources Manager

“Brilliant, Passionate You” might be of interest to you if you want to be a Human Resources Manager. Human Resources Managers oversee all aspects of human resources for an organization, including recruiting, hiring, and employee development. This course can help you understand the principles and practices of human resources, and develop the skills for success in this field.

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Leadership Consultant

“Brilliant, Passionate You” may be helpful to you if you want to be a Leadership Consultant. Leadership Consultants help organizations improve leadership skills and performance. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in leadership theory and practice, and the skills to help others develop their leadership abilities.

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Healthcare Administrator

“Brilliant, Passionate You” may be helpful to you if you want to become a Healthcare Administrator. Healthcare Administrators plan, direct, and coordinate healthcare services. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the healthcare industry, and help you develop the skills needed to lead and manage healthcare organizations.

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Teacher

Teachers instill in their students the importance of a strong work ethic and a commitment to lifelong learning. “Brilliant, Passionate You” will help you to develop the skills needed to create a strong and supportive learning environment. This course will be especially helpful for those interested in being a high school teacher.

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Behavioral Psychologist

“Brilliant, Passionate You” may be useful to you if you want to pursue a graduate degree in Behavioral Psychology. Behavioral Psychologists study the behavior of individuals and animals, and apply this knowledge to help people solve problems and improve their lives. This course will be beneficial for your graduate studies, as it will provide you with an introduction to the field of psychology and the principles of behavior.

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Entrepreneur

“Brilliant, Passionate You” will help you if you aspire to be an Entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge needed to start and grow your own business, such as recognizing opportunities, developing a business plan, and managing a team.

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Writer

“Brilliant, Passionate You” may be of interest to you if you want to be a Writer. Writers create written content, such as books, articles, and scripts. This course can help you to develop your writing skills, understand the writing process, and explore different writing styles.

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Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Brilliant, Passionate You.

Designing Your Life

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Practical guide to living a more fulfilling life by taking an inspired approach to planning.

Brilliant, Passionate You

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Passionate personal growth course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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