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#23 Tier 1Tier 2

Self-Advocacy & Personal Agency

Goal: Today we'll practice expressing our needs and goals professionally.

After This Lesson You’ll Be Able To

  • Tier 1: Identify when and how to ask for help or clarification.

  • Tier 2: Create a structured plan to advocate for yourself respectfully.

1. Kick-Off (2-3 min)

Prompt: “When have you wanted to ask for something but didn’t—what stopped you?”

Goal: Normalize hesitation and reframe asking as confidence.

2. Core Concepts (5-7 min)

ConceptDefinitionExample
Self-AdvocacySpeaking up for your needs or ideas respectfully.“I need more time to complete this task.”
Personal AgencyBelief that your actions influence outcomes.“I can take steps to improve my grade.”
Professional RequestClear, polite, goal-focused message.“Could we schedule 10 minutes to review my draft?”

Mini Demo: Instructor models two approaches to a request—aggressive vs. professional. Ask: “Which one earns respect?”

3. Guided Work Time (12-15 min)

Tier 1 — “Ask with Confidence”

  • Identify a time you need clarification or support.
  • Write a 2-3 sentence request using professional phrasing.
  • Pair up and read aloud.

Tier 2 — “Advocacy Plan Workshop”

  • Choose a real goal (e.g., leadership role, extra support).
  • Step 1: Define the goal.
  • Step 2: List barriers and supports.
  • Step 3: Write a short Advocacy Email requesting help or opportunity.
  • Step 4: Peer review for tone and clarity.

Output: Advocacy Plan + Email.

4. Reflection (2-3 min)

Exit Ticket: “How does self-advocacy build independence and opportunity?”