Open Source Session
How To Create Your Own Opportunities
Understanding Agency
A session that helps learners recognize and develop their sense of agency - the belief that their actions matter and they can shape their own outcomes.
Why this session exists
Many learners feel like things just happen to them - that their circumstances, background, or luck determine their outcomes. This passive stance keeps them from taking initiative, making bold choices, or owning their path.
This session helps people understand what agency really means, recognize where they already have it, and practice expanding it intentionally.
Core ideas it lands
- • Agency is a skill, not a personality trait.
- • Small actions compound into real change.
- • You have more control than you think.
Where it works best
- • Students starting new programs or transitions
- • Cohorts feeling stuck or passive
- • Anyone who needs to shift from "waiting" to "doing"
Session snapshot
- Format
- Live session + reflection exercises
- Length
- ~60–90 minutes (flexible)
- Best for
- Groups of 20–80 learners
- Prerequisites
- None - works for any stage
Link to the materials
These files are ready to use as-is, but you're encouraged to adapt them to your learners and context. Translate, rearrange, add your own stories - just keep the attribution.
Facilitator slide deck (Google Slides)
Slides for running the session end-to-end. Includes prompts, framing, and exercises for helping participants understand and develop their sense of agency.
Participant workbook (Google Doc)
Printable / digital workbook that guides learners through understanding agency, identifying where they have it, and making a plan to expand it.
How you're allowed to use this
You can:
- • Run this session with your own students or community.
- • Adapt, translate, and remix the material for your context.
- • Include it as one component inside a larger program.
Please:
- • Credit The Second Design as the original creators.
- • Link back to this page where reasonable (slides, docs, descriptions).
- • Don't sell this exact material as a standalone paid product without adding your own work.
If you want a more formal license (for example, for a large institution or partner program), just reach out via the contact page and we can set that up.