STRIVE - Goal setting with Steve Frazier

“The Difference Between A Wish And A Goal Is A Plan!”

Steve Frazier was the presenter at STRIVE on December 13, 2012 and worked with the students on Goal Setting both in terms of academics and careers.  Steve told about his early life and how goal setting made a difference in his life.  Steve asked the students, “What are your goals in life?” and had them briefly write it down on a study sheet that he had handed out to them.  He then had Anna come up and state the goals(s) she had written on her sheet.    She stated that “I want to get accepted to nursing school as a junior.”  Steve had her sit down and then explained that many things sound like goals and are good starting points but they are really wishes, dreams, hopes and action taken out of guilt or force.  Calling on Anna again he asked her if she had stated a goal or was it a wish, hope or dream.  She said it was a goal but her classmates thought it was a “soft” goal and that she was almost there in stating her goal.  (Pictured here is the group of STRIVE Students Steve work with at the previous meeting of STRIVE.)

The central part of the presentation was on the statement, “The difference between a wish and a goal is a plan.”  Steve instructed that goals always start right now and that they should be written.  He then delineated that goals are measurable, quantifiable, have a time frame, specific, verifiable, realistic and incremental.

Using grades he taught the students to begin making goal statements using the words “I will…” or  ”I am…” statements.  Steve worked through eight steps that students could use to drastically improve their grades and using any one step would improve their performance.  He showed the students how to use their notes to psych-out what their teachers wanted for their tests and how to use notes as a tool to identify test items.  He then had Anna come back up in front of the group and talk about her action plan to get to her goals.   She did a great job and when the class was asked if they believed that she would be successful in her goal to get into nursing school they affirmed her.  Steve included several other students in the discussion to help them attain better grades and to make action plans for their goals.

The class then divided into groups of 3 or 4 per mentor and worked on goal setting for the remainder of the period.  Most mentors reported that the kids’ goals were about finishing high school and graduating, improving their performance and planning for college.  Mentors also remarked how open and serious the students were about their goals and future plans.

The next STRIVE meeting will be on Thursday, January 3rd at 10:09 in room 1602 with Bob Humphrey discussing Self Confidence with the STRIVE Students. (Story by Steve Frazier)