Stage 3: Setting and Reaching Goals

This is an important stage, and one when you'll get a lot of help, guidance and support from your mentor.

Understanding how to set goals will help you to reach them. To set goals, just remember that good goals are SMART goals. What does that mean?

Goals should be:

• Specific. Make sure you've defined your goals so that you know exactly what you'd like to achieve. It's hard to know whether or not you've reached a goal if the goal is too vague. Here's a real-life example:
  • A vague goal: Make new friends.
  • A specific goal: Join a club or organization whose members share your interests.

• Measurable: You will most likely find it easiest to take your big goals and break them into small steps so that you can see the results. You will feel successful as you complete each step. Here's a real-life example:
  • Goal: Keep my room clean myself.
  • Measurable goals: Make the bed 7 days a week. Pick up clothes 2 times per week.

• Achievable: Identify your strengths & weaknesses, then set a goal that you are capable of accomplishing. Here's a real-life example:
  • Achievable goal: Ask my teacher for help in a class I'm having trouble with.

• Realistic: It's okay to have big dreams, but remember any limitations you may have & work within them. Don't start out by setting yourself up for disappointment. Here's a real-life example:
  • Unrealistic goal: Email or call my mentor every single day of the year.
  • Realistic goal: Contact my mentor at least twice per week.

• Time-sensitive. Set a time limit to reach your goals. This gives you incentive to work towards them. Some goals should be short-term, some medium-term, and some long-term.It's okay to make adjustments to your time limits when absolutely necessary. Here's a real-life example:
  • Short-term goal: Finish a class assignment by the due date.
  • Medium-term goal: Finish the school year.
  • Long-term goal: Finish high school.

Remember, use your mentor as a resource during the setting and reaching goals stage. Your mentor has been there before, and you can talk to your mentor about successes and failures. S/he can introduce you to information, places and people to help you along. Your mentor is there to be your own personal cheerleader.

So now we're ready to talk about Stage 4.