We are nearing the end of the first semester of the school year.
Some may be feeling a little discouraged. Their grades aren't up to par. Some may be excited because they are trudging along splendidly, while still others are just trying to make it from one day to the next.
What we all have in common is the simple fact that no matter who either one of us may be, we all have our own goals and dreams of who we want to be.
When you set your goals, you in effect draw the map that will lead you straight to your dream and by knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you will also have a better idea as to where you need to concentrate your efforts. You'll also be able to quickly spot the distractions that would otherwise lure you from your course.
My goal is to write a novel. One that will be loved and accepted by others.
The question is: What is your dream? What are your goals?
Take a moment to picture yourself in five years. What does that look like? Are you married? Are you working? What career do you have? What are you picturing yourself doing? The answers to these questions would be your goals.
Of course, there is always the possibility that you have so many goals that you honestly don't know what to do with them all.
The best thing to do is to separate your goals and place them either into a personal or professional category. Then take it one step further by breaking them down into short and long term. See how the short-term goals tie in to the long-term goals. If they are out-of-sync with each other, you may want to think about changing them. Handle your short-term goals first. Once you are on your way to meeting your short-term goals, your long-term goals will begin falling into place and you'll be that much closer to making your dream come true.
Chances are, though, as you are trying to reach your goals there will be times when you will become discouraged. If this happens, then it's more than likely because of the fact that you weren't able to meet one of your own expectations.
A goal must be reasonable. So if you ask yourself, "Was my expectation realistic in the first place?" and the answer is no, then why waste your time feeling discouraged about it? Simply create a new goal that's a little more realistic and keep right on going. After all, this discouragement is also why people become depressed, but let's save that for another column.
However, if you believe your expectations are realistic and you're just not making any headway, you need to figure out why. Review your goal plan and ask yourself, "What obstacles are hindering my progress?" And no matter what you believe them to be, write them down.
Determine if these obstacles are real or imagined. Are they true problems such as not having enough money to pay for college, or are they imagined such as thinking you aren't smart enough? If they are imagined, talk to a friend or counselor. They'll be happy to change your way of thinking. If they are real, explore different options like a cheaper school, a work-study program or night school so you can work during the day. Be creative with your thinking and your strategies.
I know we've all heard that saying: "Where there's a will, there's a way." Most of us are getting tired of hearing it but, honestly, there is a lot of truth in those words.
So, my final words are to believe in yourself and be amazed.
Joshua Faris is a senior journalism and creative writing major and writes 'Living the College Life' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Joshua at jsfaris@bsu.edu.
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