Goal Setting For Students - Types, Benefits, How to set goals, FAQs

Goal setting for students- ‘Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into visible.’

Do you ever feel like you're putting in a lot of work but nothing is coming out of it? When you look back over the previous five to ten years, do you see just minor improvement in your accomplishments? Are you sure you'll reach your goals in the next few years?

Many individuals spend their lives bouncing from one job to the next or racing about attempting to do more while actually accomplishing very little. Goal setting, in the widest term, is the process of creating precise and actionable learning targets, or objectives. The process is essential for anyone who has a desire or a vision for their future. For many, setting goals as a student assists them in focusing on the route to predetermined accomplishments, which means they manage their time and resources more wisely and therefore can obtain energy anytime they feel like giving up.

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Types of goals

There are two types of goals - short term and long term goals. Let’s look at them and the examples of goals in the life of a student.

Short-term goals: Short-term goals (particularly those that are practical and attainable) have the advantage of offering near-instant satisfaction, as opposed to goals that are spaced out across a year or for a few months. These little accomplishments can really set the foundation for achieving long-term goals or serve as checkpoints throughout the year.

Short term examples of goals in life of a student: Aim to study one chapter of a book every day for two weeks.

Long-term goals: A long-term goal is one that is pursued all throughout the school year or semester. These will include numerous steps and will necessitate check-ins all along the way to ensure that the work is progressing in the right direction.

Long-term examples of goals in life of a student: Improve his math grade from a C to an A this school year. This is a long-term objective that will need a succession of measures taken over time.

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What are the benefits of setting goals in a student’s life?

Setting goals has many benefits in a student’s life. They are genuine and substantial. Some of the benefits are mentioned below:

• Setting goals as a student improves their self-image.

• It helps to boost self-confidence.

• It allows one to recognise their own abilities, which may be used to overcome obstacles and solve problems.

• It allows an individual to recognise their weaknesses so that they may start to enhance themselves and turn them into their strengths.

• It provides a running track so that an individual can see where they need to go.

• Setting goals prepares students for adulthood. It prepares them to face the hardships and hurdles to reach bigger goals in life.

• Setting goals teaches an individual one of the most important skills of time management.

• Goal setting tells an individual what they are doing and how good they are at it. It is like a self-monitoring feedback form for oneself.

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SMART GOAL SETTING METHOD

SMART goals for students is an acronym that is used for goal setting.

S- Specific

Your goal should be clear and defined so that you may focus your efforts and feel truly inspired to achieve it. While writing your aim, try to answer the following five "W" questions:

• What do I want to accomplish?

• Why is this goal important?

• Who is involved?

• Where is it located?

• Which resources or limits are involved?

Examples of goals in life of a student: Imagine that you want to build a new habit of reading non-school related books every day for 20 min. A specific goal could be ‘I want to gain the skill of reading every day and develop my vocabulary and develop myself in different areas through reading.’

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M- Measurable

Measurable goals help to stay focused, meet deadlines and feel the excitement of getting closer to achieving your goals.

Examples of goals in life of a student: You might measure the progress of skill by maintaining a journal diary, wherein you write the brief of what you learnt and time that you read for the next 30 days.

A- Achievable

Smart goals for students help them identify exactly what they can and can’t do, and allow them to understand which goals are achievable and which are too far off. An achievable goal will usually answer questions such as:

• How can I accomplish the goal?

• How realistic is the goal?

For example, ask yourself - Do you have the necessary time and energy to complete the tasks? Are the necessary resources available for the achievement of your goal? Such questions will lead to achievable smart goals for students.

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R- Realistic

This stage ensures that your objective is important to you and that it is also aligned with other set targets.

A realistic and relevant goal will answer a ‘yes to the following questions:

• Is this the right time?

• Is it worthwhile?

• Is it important and follows my plan?

• Am I the right person to reach this goal?

T- Timely

Goals need to be time-bound as well. A timely goal will answer the following questions:

• What’s the duration within which the goal needs to be completed?

• What can I do six weeks from now?

• What can I do today?

Examples of goals in life of a student: Attaining the habit of reading every day might require you to develop additional habits like maintaining a journal, avoiding screen time, etc. How long will it take for you to acquire skills? Do you need more time or resources for it?

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How to set goals?

Setting goals as a student is highly influenced by one's interests and is more concerned with how one wants to see oneself in a few years. Here are some steps you can take to achieve your objectives:

• Consider something you'd want to do. It might happen in the near term or in the distant future. It might be a career goal or a desire to learn a new language or instrument.

• Write down your goals somewhere where it is visible to the eyes.

• Make a strategy for achieving your goals. It's easier to do if you break the steps down into small chunks.

• Cross them off as you complete each goal.

• Don't forget to celebrate your accomplishment once you've reached your objective.

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• SMART goals examples for students

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Goal-setting skills should be taught at an early age. Nothing can stop an individual if there is a goal in mind and a strategy for achieving it. Even though the route is riddled with problems and hurdles, one should not panic and should be able to get up and continue on the path of achievement. There are numerous examples of goals in the life of a student to get you going. So dream large, create smart goals for students, and get started.

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Author- This article has been authored by Nikita Kukkar, who is a Counselling Psychologist and has extensive experience in Career Counselling for high school students.