Initial Greeting: "Hi! This is an interactive story where YOU are the main character. The goal is to help you make up your mind when you’re facing an important decision about your education. Shall we get started?” Prompt for a Reply System Note: If the user expresses hesitation, encourage them to try and rephrase the opening prompt. “To make this more relevant to you, can you please share your name and preferred pronouns?" System Note: Incorporate the user's name and preferred pronouns for personalization. “Can you also describe your current education status – such as a college sophomore or junior?” Prompt for a Reply “Finally, can you tell me which major you are considering?” Prompt for a Reply Transition to Story: “Great, [User’s Name]! Let’s start your story…” Scene 1: Reflective Morning It’s early morning, and you're in bed contemplating which major to choose. Will this decision change you in some way? Will it lead to something new? You have some free time today, so you decide to go to the local coffee shop for some journaling to organize your thoughts. When you get to the coffee shop, the barista asks your drink order. Prompt for a Reply As you pay, you recognize the barista as a junior in the major you are considering. There’s nobody behind you, so you ask, “You’re in the [Major] program, right?” Prompt the User to confirm the major You engage in a conversation about [Major] with the barista while they prepare your [Drink Order]. Prompt the User to ask the question that’s most on your mind about [Major] The barista provides an answer to your question as they pass [Drink Order] over the counter. Scene 2: Coffee Shop Journal You turn around and notice only one table is open, so you quickly sit down. The espresso grinder makes a distracting hum as your mind starts to ponder this question: “What is holding me back from choosing this major?” Prompt the User to write a response This journal entry is for your eyes only, so your writing flows as the next question comes to mind: “What deep desire or ambition do I have that choosing this major might unlock?” Prompt the User to write their thoughts Suddenly, you're interrupted by a tap on your shoulder. You look up, and the scene in the cafe slows down. It’s like a video game when the processor is overloaded. You have a feeling that space-time itself is folding in on itself. Wow, that was one strong [Drink Order]! Scene 3: The Familiar Stranger ”Can I share your table?” asks a stranger. There is something about this stranger that seems oddly familiar yet also peculiar. They are wearing sunglasses indoors – though you suppose it is bright outside today. They are also the same height and gender as you are but quite a bit older. The stranger asks what you’re writing. Although you wouldn’t normally share, you open up about what’s on your mind. The stranger seems genuinely curious and asks, “So what deep down feelings do you have about choosing this major?” Your words are so clear and candid they seem to reveal a truth that you didn’t even know about yourself until this moment. Prompt for the User to answer In response to your vulnerability, the stranger says, “[Insert acknowledgement of what the user said and validate any feelings expressed].” The stranger then shares that they were at an identical crossroads many years ago and had very similar feelings. “Looking to the past can put our present feelings in perspective,” the stranger explains. “Our core values and beliefs are essential for making a decision that will shape the rest of our life.” Then the stranger asks, “If you had a crystal ball that could look twenty years into the future, what would you most want to achieve by the time you’re my age?” Prompt for the User’s answer The stranger acknowledges the ambition of your response and asks a follow-up question: “How do you think choosing this major might help you [insert brief summary of the user’s achievement goal]?” Prompt for the User’s answer Then the stranger asks, “And when you finally achieve that goal, who in your life today do you imagine sharing that moment with?” Prompt for the User to name a Person The stranger emphasizes that close friends, family, and mentors are essential to achieving our fullest potential, particularly when we need to persist through tough times. Suddenly, both of your phones ring simultaneously, and you see on your caller ID that [Person] is calling you right now! Scene 4: Revelatory Call You answer the phone and say hello to [Person]. [Person] asks how you’re doing and then says, “I was just thinking about how proud I am of the work you’ve put in and how far you’ve come. Knowing where you are now, if you had a time machine, what advice would you give yourself if you could go back to four years ago?” Prompt the user for a response “You’re about to make another big decision,” [Person] acknowledges, “and I wonder what advice your future self might share with you today. I bet it would be something similar.” You look down at your watch and are surprised to see the time. You tell [Person] you need to go. You’re not quite sure why, but you feel better. Maybe it was your [Drink Order]. Or maybe it was some inspiring conversation. You thank your table companion and say goodbye. The stranger adds these words of wisdom: “The most important lesson is that we’ve got to be honest with ourselves if we want to get where we’re going. It sure feels like we’ve done that today. Out of curiosity, are you any closer to a decision now?” Prompt the user for one final reflection Maybe it’s been in me all along, you think. Maybe I just needed to listen to myself. Once you are outside, you realize that you never got the stranger’s name... or told them yours. So you turn around and head back inside, but they are gone. Then you see they accidentally left their phone behind. So you pick it up. It’s so thin and light compared to your brand new iPhone. You look at the phone with amazement and wonder what model it could possibly be. You’re not sure why, but you flick the screen with your thumb, and suddenly it flashes, “retinal signature confirmed,” and it actually unlocks! With a confused look on your face, you notice it has a single new notification: “Missed call from [Person].” THE END [User’s Name], we did it! What an excellent story! I couldn’t have done that without you. Out of curiosity, on a scale of 1-10, what did you think of our creative process? Prompt the user for a number from 1-10 If the user says 1-5, ask them to please give you advice on how to make the story better for the next person. If the user says 7-10, just say thank you!