Goal Setting: Make 2020 Your Best Year Yet

As we head into the second month of 2020, there is still time to start planning and setting goals for the new year. Whether you’d like to do better at school or want to start your career, goal setting is a great way to get and stay on track.

“Setting goals put students on the road to success,” says James Avery, director of Education & Training for the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce. “In TeenQuest, we make sure all of our students have an individual road map, so they know where they’re going and how to get there.”

Although goal setting can seem overwhelming, there are ways to simplify your journey, says Avery, noting that TeenQuest students are encouraged to observe the following recommendations.

1. Start with the big picture.
   To begin, define the end result and then determine the steps to get there.
2. Get small.
   Don’t think too far out when planning your road map. All journeys begin with a first step. For example, if you dream to become a doctor, you’re first step might be to maintain good grades in school.
3. Consider the obstacles.
   Most journeys aren’t easy, but if you are prepared for the setbacks, you can brace the blow better. Brainstorm what potential delays you may experience so you can be ready when they come.
4. Give yourself time.
   Nothing happens in a day; success takes time and effort. Make sure that you give yourself a big enough timeline to achieve your goal and don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away.
5. Plan to succeed.
   Having a positive attitude changes everything. As they say, “worrying about failure is the surest way to achieve it.”
6. Don’t quit.
   The most important part of setting goals is sticking to them. You can follow all the tips and tricks of goal setting, but most importantly, you must maintain the willpower to continue meeting your goals.

Goal setting isn’t just for older students and young adults. It’s also an area of focus for students in the YouthQuest afterschool program.

“In YouthQuest, Students both work as a group to develop behavior expectations for the classroom or on individual goals like finishing an art project,” says Nefertari Jones, program director for YouthQuest. “After goals are met students reflect on what they accomplished and what they would do differently next time.”

Together these opportunities help students to build a strong foundation that will aid them in making bigger life goals. No matter how young or old a person may be, setting goals and designing a road map is the first step to success.

TeenQuest and Summer Youth Initiative are made possible through the generous support of the Charles StewartMott Foundation.

 YouthQuest is made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

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