Written
50 to 100 words, typed into the Merit submission box in Blackboard.
The Merit Reflection tool counts your words and lets you copy your reflection straight into Blackboard.
Part 5
Write Your Reflection
Going is the requirement. The reflection is where the learning happens.
Going is the requirement. The reflection is where the learning happens.
Your reflection is short on purpose: a few honest sentences about what the experience meant to you, not a report on what happened.
Choose your format
Pick one. Either way, start with the event name and date.
Audio or video
1 to 2 minutes. Use the Blackboard recorder, upload an MP4, or share a OneDrive or YouTube link.
Talking it through is a great way to practice telling a story out loud, just like your STAR(T) Stories.
Answer all three
What did you attend, and what did you do or experience?
Name it and describe it briefly. One or two sentences is enough.
What did you learn, or how did it make you think differently?
This is the heart of it. Be specific: one idea, one moment, one thing you didn't know before.
How does this connect to your personal, academic, or career goals?
Make the link real. Which goal, and how?
What a strong reflection sounds like
This made-up example, about 85 words, answers all three.
Career Services resume workshop, completed on [date].
I watched the on-demand resume workshop and rebuilt my resume while I followed along. I learned that my job at the grocery store counts as real experience if I describe what I actually did, like training new cashiers and handling closing counts. I'd been leaving it off because it didn't seem "professional." I'm applying for a pharmacy tech position next spring, and now I can show that I'm trusted with money and with teaching others.
Why it works
It names one specific thing learned, says what changed in the student's thinking, and connects to a real goal. "It was helpful and made me think" doesn't do any of that.
How it's scored
Going to the activity is the requirement, but your credit is based on the reflection.
| Level | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Full credit | Specific and honest. Answers all three prompts with real personal insight or connection. Sounds like you. |
| Partial credit | Shows effort but is brief, vague, or general, or skips one of the prompts. |
| No credit | Missing, off-topic, not reflective, or no qualifying activity. |
Before you submit
- I'm using the right Merit link in Blackboard: Activity #1, #2, or #3.
- I included the event name and date.
- I attached proof if my activity needs it (virtual, on-demand, or community).
- I answered all three prompts, in my own words.
Look back at
Try it: the Merit Reflection tool
Three boxes for the three prompts, a word count, and a button that copies your reflection for Blackboard.
Open the Merit Reflection tool