Goals: You Get What You Set
When it comes to goals, former college football player and coach Tony DeMeo says, “You get what you set.”
Successful people like Coach DeMeo know that in order to succeed — in sports, in college, in life — you need to set goals. With goals, you take control of your life. Without them, you lack focus and direction.
As you aim for college, we encourage you to set goals for yourself. Whether that’s taking on a challenging high school class, applying to more than one school, or getting into the college of your choice, setting goals will keep you on task and on the path for success.
Here are some tips for setting goals:
1. Set goals in all areas of your life.
Yes, it’s important to have specific goals regarding college preparation. But you should also have goals that are broader than the college admissions process. In fact, knowing your goals for family, work, athletic, and spiritual life will impact your goals for college. Ask yourself big questions like: What do I want? What motivates me? How do I want to spend my time? Do I have a passion? Do I want to find one? Your answers will help to identify your goals!
2. Write all your goals down.
Putting your goals on paper is a sign of commitment. We encourage you to write them down and keep them somewhere safe that you can reference your goals throughout your college journey!
3. Never sell yourself short.
If you don’t believe in yourself, you’ll never reach your potential. Think big. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.” Stretch yourself. It’s better to shoot for greatness and come up short, than to shoot for mediocrity and succeed. How do you know you can’t get into that college if you don’t even apply?
4. Don’t let an “expert” discourage you.
We doubt if too many experts thought the #16-ranked University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers could beat the #1-ranked University of Virginia Cavaliers in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Just because it hasn’t been done before, doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
5. Follow up goal-setting with action.
Setting goals is important, but it must be followed up with an action plan. Take an organized approach to your goal-setting. Think about the steps it will take to achieve your goals, write them down, take action, and start checking them off. We'll help you by reminding you to check in on your goals!
Still need some help getting started? That’s OK! Talk it through with trusted adults, like your parents, teachers, and counselors. We also encourage you to read American InterContinental University’s 6 Smart Goals for College Students— you’ll be glad you did!
