The calm that summer brings to college campuses is an opportunity to take stock of the previous academic year and lay the groundwork for a successful year ahead.Don’t squander this season’s power to propel professional growth. Here are ten questions to spur reflection and catalyze clear and strategic goals for the 2025–2026 academic year.

  1. What were my biggest accomplishments?
  2. Where did I see the most significant growth? How can I continue that momentum?
  3. What was most unexpected?
  4. What am I most embarrassed about from the last year? How can I prevent this from happening again?
  5. Who can I reconnect with for professional inspiration or collaboration?
  6. What conferences are most valuable for me to attend (block out your schedule now to prevent conflicts from interfering)?
  7. What’s one bad habit I’d like to make progress curtailing? What’s a moderate goal?
  8. How can I progress in my overall career goals this year?
  9. What tasks sap my energy? How can I reallocate or approach them differently?
  10. What am I most excited about as I look ahead? How can I nurture that energy?

Consider choosing a question a day to ponder, reflect on, journal about, and then coalesce your combined reflections into the year ahead.