One of the most important things you can do is to set clearly defined, realistic goals. The process of setting goals helps you choose where you want to go in life. Most students that fail have no specific goal in mind. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know where you have to concentrate your efforts. Just saying that you want to do better in school is not enough. You must understand what you want to achieve and how better grades will help you get what you want. Do you want to graduate with high grades because you want to get into a particular school or earn a scholarship? Do you want to go into a particular profession? Goals are broken down into two types.
“Big Picture” or long range goals are a particular outcome you would like to achieve as a result of all of your efforts.
Short term goals are small manageable pieces of your long term goals. Short term goals keep you on track and let you know where changes need to be made.
Rules for effective goal setting:
1. Know exactly what you want and why.
2. Aim high. Shoot for the moon. If you miss you'll still be in the stars.
3. Goals must be realistic and have a deadline.
4. You must be able to mark your progress.
5. Write short description of your goals down and post them where you can see them everyday.
6. Share your goals only with friends and family members who support you and want to see you succeed.
Write your goals down. Put copies on your bedroom wall, in the bathroom, on the refrigerator – everywhere. Reviewing your goals daily is a crucial part of your success and must become part of your routine. Each morning when you wake up read your list of goals. Then each night, right before you go to bed, repeat the process.
Every time you make a decision during the day, ask yourself this question, "Does it take me closer to, or further from my goal." If the answer is "closer to," then you've made the right decision. If the answer is "further from," well, you know what to do.
If you follow this process everyday you will be on your way to getting better grades.
