What went well?
(The progress I made; what was achieved and done)

This week was focused on structuring the article and organizing the preliminary version of the nuclear energy journalism guide. I decided to cover the basic knowledge regarding nuclear energy while writing about a comparative case study regarding Germany and South Korea’s nuclear energy policies. Due to my previous research regarding South Korea’s nuclear energy policies, I decided to mix-in the element of how policies interact with cultures. It was an attempt to highlight an aspect that is often ignored in the debate regarding nuclear energy in the international discourse. I was able to summarize the relevant and important aspects regarding each countries’ policies and analyses, composing a portion of the piece.

On the other hand, I also invested more time on finishing the preliminary version of the nuclear energy journalism guide for the organization. This was focused on resources that any volunteers can read to understand the industry better beyond the surface level. These resources are composed of books and articles covering various aspects like accidents, sustainability, radiance, and ideological tools for analysis as journalists. I spent more time on this guide to write up the purpose statement and compile a literary analysis for these resources.

What could have been done differently?
(Things that did not get done and/or could be changed)

The main thing I could have done better would be time management. With the plan to conduct two tasks at once, I faced an unexpected barrier in writing the article. Unlike my initial goal to finish writing the first article within this week to focus on the nuclear energy guide, I felt lost as I tried to maintain a single focus for the article. I was not able to finish my first article, and instead focused my time on writing up the nuclear energy guide. Although I was able to progress on the guide beyond what I planned due to these changes, I was not able to finish the article as initially planned and have faced a delay – having to continue in the following week.

What did I learn about myself when working with others?
(Contributions, behaviours and values I exhibited)

I was able to show discipline and ambition in planning out my week. The fact that I was able to focus on another task to complete the goal despite difficulties faced in another task showed how I do not have to dwell on mistakes and failures but to redirect this energy elsewhere. As I worked on this project alone, I was able to further realize how time management can affect a solo project versus a group project where others may be able to cover or aid another member’s mistakes. My program advisor, for example, showed flexibility and leniency in my project – allowing time for me to frame my article as I desired without being pressured. This experience showed me that flexibility and leniency can aid one’s efficiency rather than bringing adverse effects as I once believed.

What did I learn about leadership?
(Leadership attributes and insights I developed)

As I mentioned in the previous section, I learned that flexibility is an important quality in leadership. If I did not have my program advisor to be flexible and collaborative in dealing with my LiA project, I do not believe I would have been able to conduct such projects in a foreign environment. Due to the struggles I faced in multi-faceted ways, I believe that even if I were to quickly finish the tasks as required, I may have been unable to continue my work in a healthy manner. After experiencing the importance of flexibility in leadership under my program advisor, who is also my editor for the works, I gained an insight into how a leader can affect others beyond a project's progress.

What do I want to develop or focus on next?
(What I still need to develop)

In the coming weeks, I will spend more time on finishing the preliminary guide and my first article as initially planned. Further communications will be made with my program advisor through sending the finished works for the further editing and confirmation process. I hope to develop further task management skills as I get more familiar in the foreign environment.