Helping students set goals in the new year
Resolving To Do Better
The new year gives us all a new lease on life — a fresh start that can be invigorating! Your student may be feeling this as she looks toward continuing areas she'd like to improve and new challenges she'd like to tackle. You can help her form some of these "wants" and "needs" into tangible goals. For instance:
When she says, "I'd like to do better in school," what does that mean? Is she committing to a certain amount of study time each day? Does she want to challenge herself to try a new type of class? Will she make more of a point to talk with professors when she doesn't understand something? Help her list some measurable, realistic goals so she really can "do better in school."

When your student says, "I want to be smarter with my time," what does he mean? Does he want to join an organization that will help him explore some career possibilities? Is he going to make a concerted effort to spend less time in front of a TV or computer? Does he want to learn more about effective time management skills? Encourage him to explore what this really means and to put some ideas into action.

When she says, "I need to meet new people," what is she looking for? Are her current friends not meeting her needs? Is she looking for folks who will challenge her positively? Does she want people around who she has more in common with? Help her determine why this is a "need" for her so she can figure out the best places to seek new acquaintances.

Yes, resolutions are often a personal matter. Yet bouncing around ideas and exploring options with your student can help lead him to effective goal-setting behavior. And that's the start to a happy, productive new year.

Five Elements of Successful Goals
Here are some simple tips to share with your student...

1. Achievable. Set goals that are realistic within the context of your life.
2. Measurable. Use quantifiable words rather than fluffy generalizations that are tough to measure.
3. To the Point. Keep goals short so they're easier to keep in mind.
4. Positive. State goals positively so they're more appealing than negative ones.
5. Begin/End. Determine when to start working on a goal and when it should be achieved. This offers focus and, hopefully, success!