🎧 The EQ Mixtape—a creative writing-assignment where students craft a mini‑zine (2–3 pages or 8–10 panels) exploring their emotional intelligence (EQ) growth through memoir, research, and mixtape-style storytelling.

Learning Goals
• Personal reflection meets academic rigor.
• Develop self-awareness and career readiness.
• Blend creative voice + scholarly sources.
• Use a culturally expressive format (playlist, journaling, panels).

Step 1: Self-Discovery
• Take either the 16 Personalities or Positive Intelligence Saboteur test.
• Identify 2–3 weaknesses that you’ll turn into your narrative anchors.

Step 2: Research Remix
• Use at least 3 scholarly journal articles to explore strategies for growth (e.g., resilience, empathy, stress regulation).
• Required reads:
• Adverse Childhood Experiences and Life Opportunities → shows how childhood trauma limits outcomes but can inform resilience strategies. 
• How Hip‑hop Helps Students to Heal from Trauma → explores expressive, culturally rooted healing methods. 
• Career Writing Interventions for Career Learning → demonstrates how creative writing supports career identity and psychological wellbeing. 
• Bonus credit: Add one scholarly article from GSU’s library that directly ties into your future career or major

Step 3: Write Your Zine (2–3 Pages / 8-10 Panels)
Organized like a mixtape tracklist:
1. Cover Panel: EQ Mixtape: For Future ___ (Your career/major)
2. Origin Story: Your narrative tied to your test-identified weakness.
3. Research Remix: Micro-analysis of strategies from the assigned articles (include citations).
4. Playlist: 3–5 songs—each connected to your journey, one-line why.
5. Journal Prompts: 2–3 questions to guide peers on their EQ path.
6. Future Self Panel: Envisioned professional self, with EQ growth in action.

Step 4: Reflection Paper (1 Page)
• What did you learn about yourself through this?
• Which research influenced your narrative most and why?
• How will this insight help you stand in your career?

Evaluation Rubric
• Content & Storytelling (40%)
• Scholarly Integration (25%)—including GSU-specific source
• Creativity & Format (20%)
• Reflection & Future Orientation (15%)

Bonus Section: Benefits for You
• Relevance: Anchor writing in your life and future goals.
• Critical Thinking + Research: Use journals as tools, not burdens.
• Expressive Learning: Combines memoir, playlist, prompts—just like a griot block party in your mind.
• EQ Toolbox: You leave with prompts and songs that literally serve you in real life.

Sample Featured:

Nursing Student EQ Mixtape
• Origin Story: Overwhelm and avoidance in stress moments (from personality test insight).
• Research Remix: Mindfulness + resilience boost nursing performance.
• Playlist: Stronger, Rise Up, Good Days, Survivor, The Climb — each tied to stress, healing, push-through.
• Prompts: E.g., “When overwhelmed in clinicals, how can you reframe it as growth—not paralysis?”
• Future Vision: A compassionate RN grounded by emotional strength and patient-centered empathy.