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God so beautifully and purposefully created each butterfly. Just as He created the beauty of the butterfly, He also created each of us with a special purpose. Before we can use our God-given gifts, we must identify and learn to apply them to every aspect of our lives.

Our unique gifts motivate, guide, and direct the ways we think, act, and relate with others. Union University recognizes the benefits that come with identifying and applying those gifts in every aspect of life. In fact. Union is leading the way in helping students recognize and understand their gifts.

"Discovering My Design" assists students in discovering and understanding how they are uniquely gifted. The application of these gifts will be an invaluable tool as students impact people and circumstances at school, work, community and church. The process allows students to recognize their strengths and enables them to more effectively make academic and career decisions.

The program revolves around four objectives:

• To illustrate to students the scriptural basis for their unique giftedness
• To describe the SIMA® theory, process and elements
• To uncover each students unique giftedness
• To apply giftedness to school, career, walk with God

GIFTEDNESS COMES FROM GOD
Simply stated, giftedness is what we are by nature. Throughout scripture, we find evidence that God created each person with unique abilities. We are commanded to use those abilities to glorify the Lord in every aspect of life. From school to work to social interactions, giftedness drives who we are and how we respond.

IDENTIFYING YOUR GIFTEDNESS
Union is committed to the development of the whole person. Strong academic programs challenge students to think about and apply concepts using a Christian worldview. However, we also nurture the souls and spirits of each student. Union graduates are well-rounded individuals equipped to make a difference in the world around them. "Discovering My Design" plays a vital role in helping students identify their strengths and applying them throughout life.

"Discovering My Design" uses the System for Identifying Motivated Abilities® (SIMA®) developed by People Management International, LLC. People Management and its founder, Arthur Miller, Jr., have been leaders for more than 40 years in developing the SIMA process. Many large corporations and agencies such as IBM, 3M and NASA have used this same process. Union University has been a pioneer in adapting the SIMA® process to the university setting and in developing the "Discovering My Design" curriculum with People Management.

THE SIMA® PROCESS
Throughout our lives, we tend to lean toward the activities that give us enjoyment. In fact, most of us can talk for hours about the experiences we find fulfilling. Giftedness is something that is inherent from the day we are born and stays consistent throughout our entire life. Just as a road map shows you ways to get from one place to another, the SIMA MAP (Motivated Abilities Pattern) shows students their preferred way of accomplishing tasks.

Four steps guide students toward discovering their own unique design.

STEP ONE: RECALLING ACTIVITY STORIES
Students identify activities or achievements throughout their lives that brought satisfaction.

STEP TWO: INTERVIEW TRAINING
The second step involves students sharing and detailing their stories through an interviewing process.

STEP THREE: INVENTORY
Using the data from their stories, students create a MAP. The MAP is sorted into five categories:

• Abilities - The way you prefer to go about doing something
• Subject Matter - What you enjoy working with or through
• Circumstances - The situations that motivate you
• Relationship - How you relate to others
• Payoff - What gave you the most satisfaction

STEP FOUR: MAP APPLICATION
Students learn how to apply the MAP to school, career choices, church and community. Faculty advisors use the MAP to help students in selecting courses and finding a good career fit.

POSITIVE IMPACT
"Discovering My Design" has been very successful. Since its beginning in 1998, each freshman class has completed the "Discovering My Design" curriculum. Hundreds of students have been equipped with the knowledge of how God has uniquely gifted them. Those students are better prepared to select satisfying careers, serve effectively in the church and community, and leave a positive impact on the world around them.

For more information about this program, contact the Center for Academic Services at 731.661.6568 or stignor@uu.edu or shopper@uu.edu.

Consulting is also available for other institutions interested in using this program.