3.0 Introduction
Learning Objectives
In this chapter you will learn about the value of goal setting for your personal and career success. At the end of this chapter you should be able to:
- Identify some personal values that drive your short, mid, and long term goals
- Understand what S.M.A.R.T. goals are and how they work
- Recognize how having goals promotes focus and keeps you motivated to take steps to achieve your goal every day
- Recognize that personal, academic, and career goals are all connected and can be created the same way
- Identify resources to help you navigate your academic path toward your career goal
- Recognize how academic success connects to career success
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
A goal is a result we intend to reach mostly through our own actions. Succeeding in college is rather like succeeding in life. It’s really much more about you than it is about college. Students who have long term life and career goals see college as one step towards achieving their goals.
Chapter 1 helped you reflect on why you are here and this chapter will help you focus on identifying some goals, creating a plan, and putting action toward achieving those goals every day.
Creating goals:
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- set a purpose and a direction, which is the foundation of a plan
- increase day-to-day and semester-to-semester motivation
- identify how each course is part of a greater whole that will support future career success
- help with persistence and keeping at it when things are tough
Setting a long term goal usually leads to setting medium and short term goals. These are practical goals related to being a student that can help you make better decisions when considering your choices of how to spend your time.
Did you know that studying abroad could be part of your plan?
Video: Pathways
Video: Pathways: Studying Abroad – Kailey’s Story by Fanshawe College [2:07] transcript available.
Goals help you set priorities and remain motivated and committed to your college success.
Setting priorities (which we will look at in our chapter on time management) with shorter term goals can help you see what you need to do next. Working through goals can help you feel more in control and can reduce stress.
As we saw in the last chapter, your attitude is a big factor determining success in college. Staying positive and surrounding yourself with positive people, connecting to Fanshawe resources like your professors and academic advisor will keep you motivated to carry out the activities that will help you reach your academic goals.
