Critical and Creative Thinking
Critical and creative thinking has quietly shaped everything I do – not just how I solve problems, but how I observe, adapt, and create. I’ve come to understand that it’s not only about coming up with new ideas or finding solutions to complex issues, but also about recognizing patterns, challenging assumptions, thinking from multiple perspectives, and having the courage to act when the path ahead isn’t clear. Whether I’m working with people, processes, or animals, I rely on these skills to navigate ambiguity, bring structure to chaos, and find meaning in the details.
When I’m faced with a complex issue, I usually start by stepping back and asking, “What’s really going on here?” I try to separate emotion from fact, look at things from different angles and challenge my first assumptions. From there, I think through possible approaches – what could work, what the risks are, who it affects and how to explain it clearly. Sometimes it’s about finding the smartest fix, and other times it’s about choosing the one that builds the most trust or long-term benefit. I try to keep an open mind until I’ve had a chance to really think it through.
Fostering feral kittens pushed me to make fast, thoughtful decisions in high-stress, unpredictable situations. I once received a mother cat and her extremely young litter with almost no notice. I wasn’t properly set up for such fragile animals, but I quickly adapted by rearranging furniture, blocking off areas for safety, warming the space with heating pads, and creating a secure, low-stimulation environment. That moment taught me that staying calm and focused is often more important than being fully prepared. Over time, I became better at observing subtle changes in both behavior and health. Many kittens arrived with fleas, ticks, worms, or more serious conditions. One kitten arrived with a lung worm infection. I noticed its labored breathing early, trusted my instincts, and took it to the vet before it became critical. Occasionally, I second-guessed my decisions, particularly when symptoms were subtle. Once, a kitten displayed mild skin irritation that initially seemed insignificant, but my hesitation nearly led to a serious health crisis as it was the start of an infection. That moment taught me that hesitation can sometimes carry consequences, and it deepened my ability to assess risk quickly and act decisively. These observational and critical-thinking skills have translated directly into my professional roles. For instance, during an emergency response situation at work, I noticed subtle signs of distress among colleagues and made adjustments to improve workflow and morale. Those instincts—refined through fostering—helped prevent burnout in a high-stakes situation.
Creativity has always been a core part of my problem-solving process, particularly when guiding people through immersive experiences. One of my most ambitious projects was a zombie-themed murder mystery and escape room I created entirely from scratch. I built the storyline, designed props, made custom videos, and created intricate puzzles, sound effects, and animatronics. Behind the entertainment, there was meticulous critical and creative planning. Every puzzle and prop was designed to narrate a coherent story through visuals, written clues, spoken dialogue, and emotional cues. A key puzzle involved a looping lab scene video identical to the physical setup, except for one critical detail essential to solving the puzzle. The first group missed this completely. Recognizing this oversight required adaptation. I subtly adjusted how I introduced and drew attention to the scene, demonstrating my ability to critically evaluate audience engagement and swiftly implement solutions.
A significant technical challenge arose when one of the miniature zombie animatronics (a converted coded robot) kept malfunctioning during testing. I had to troubleshoot the Linux coding on it to keep it upright and walking where I had programmed it to move to. In doing so, I strengthened my ability to dissect technical issues and redesign in real time – skills that parallel the kind of flexible thinking needed in planning and operations.
I used flowcharts and drawings throughout the planning phase to ensure that the game’s logic was watertight and that all potential player paths were considered. This pre-visualization work helped me avoid logic gaps and supported smoother user experiences. These tools mirrored the kind of structured creative thinking often used in systems design and project planning.
Designing an escape-room-themed wedding required a careful balance between fun puzzle-solving and the flow of a real wedding. My primary challenge was making sure the game elements felt natural and didn’t take away from the overall feel of the day. I wanted it ot be both engaging and respectful of the event’s tone and rhythm. Knowing each guest personally, I customized puzzles to their personalities and strengths. One puzzle involved decoding the mission briefing woven into the invitation – each detail intentionally planted to lead to the first physical clue. This helped me refine the skill of tailoring experiences based on audience insight, which directly connects to community engagement strategies in planning work.
When I was asked to create a complete job instruction guide for a return-to-work employee that needed light duties, I had less than a day to pull it together, and I still had to stay on top of my regular duties. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but I took a deep breath and broke the job into manageable pieces, and got to work. I started by thinking about what it’s like to walk into a role you’ve never done before, in a department you know nothing about. I asked myself what would be most useful, what would be confusing, and how I could make it all feel less intimidating. I kept the instructions simple, clear, and friendly – adding screenshots, side notes, and breaking everything down step-by-step starting with the “why”. I wanted the guide to feel like someone was walking along side him, not just handing over a to-do list. While writing it, I kept imagining his experience and tried to anticipate where he might get stuck or feel unsure. It was about more than just passing along knowledge. It was about building confidence and helping someone feel supported in an unfamiliar territory. Feedback from the return-to-work employee highlighted how supportive and clear the instructions were, particularly appreciating the effort I put into anticipating his needs. That feedback is a lesson I continue to apply to all forms of documentation, training, and communication.
Taken together, these experiences have shaped the way I approach both creative challenges and complex decision-making. They’ve taught me to lead with empathy, to anticipate obstacles, and to adapt processes in real time while maintaining structure and intention. I’ve also learned to embrace the feedback loop – whether it’s from people, outcomes, or my own reflections – to sharpen my thinking and improve future outcomes.
Critical and creative thinking has become one of my strongest tools – not just for making things work, but for making things meaningful. It allows me to see connections where others might see chaos, to frame limitations as opportunities, and to move forward with confidence even when there’s no clear right answer. I’ve learned that creativity isn’t just about expression – it’s a strategy, and when paired with critical reflection, it becomes a powerful force for innovation, growth, and change.
Evidence supporting Critical and Creative Thinking
6.1 Internal instructions for BC Assessment task
6.2 Escape room wedding photos
6.3 Screenshots of escape room party Facebook event **Content warning**