Setting goals is one of the most important things you can do as a college student. It allows you to visualize your successes and motivate you to reach them. If you don’t know where you want to go, how will you get there?
Why should I even set goals?
Even though I’m only a sophomore, I’ve set (and reached) plenty of goals here at UConn. From academics to athletics, goals are for anything you want to achieve. They can be something you want to get into the habit of doing; or they can be a monumental accomplishment you’ll never forget. Setting goals is how you get things done. When you say “Okay, I’m going to take notes on this reading and then get that assignment done” you’re setting goals. It may seem like nothing, but you’re creating discipline and drive that will help you reach bigger goals. When you have a job after graduation, you’ll have deadlines on projects and presentations at work and missing those won’t just take 15 points off your grade, there will be profound consequences. So, learning to set goals, like completing something by a certain date, is building your career readiness and goal setting skills.
What kind of goals should I set?
It’s important to set challenging goals that are still within reach, you want them to be hard, so you push yourself; but not so hard that you give up. I always try to have goals that I’m working towards, and the beginning of a new semester is a perfect time to set some! Here’s what I try to have as goals for myself:
- A short-term goal, like joining a club or trying something new.
- A long-term goal, like making Dean’s list or getting an internship.
- A good habit, like going to the gym more often or getting to bed earlier.
I also try to have my goals in a variety of areas so I’m always growing in as many areas as possible. If you’re someone who needs reminders, especially when getting started, you can write little notes on sticky notes to start building a routine of incorporating steps to reaching your goals throughout the day until it becomes second nature.
It can also be helpful to have someone holding you accountable, like an advisor, professor, or supervisor. You can book an appointment with one of our career coaches on 12twenty if you’re looking to set goals that will prepare you for the post-graduation world. Also, if you’re a Work+ working learner, you can use tools like the Learning Roadmap to ensure that your supervisor will help you reach your goals. It’ll also help you recognize that you’re gaining skillsets that will be relevant for your future plans. Knowing how to reach your goals can be hard, especially if you’re doing it on your own. Having checkpoints, with or without someone else, can help keep you on track.
