STRIVE Report for November 2009

The STRIVE Report for November features Erik Johnson speaking on Attitudes on November 5th and Steve Frazier speaking on Goals on November 19th. Erik told the young-people, "High performance always takes place in the presence of high expectations." He asked them "Who's in charge of your life?" and likened their approach to a mountain of challenges where they could be a quitter, a camper or a climber. The quitter sees the mountain and gives-up be even starting! The camper starts up the mountain but upon hitting the first plateau just camps out there and goes no further up the mountain. However, the climber takes on all challenges and sets his goals on getting to the top and upon getting there sees new mountains to climb and new challenges to take on in life. Erik talked about famous "Climber" and even used Don Draayer as an example of a successful climber. Steve Frazier helped the STRIVE students understand what goals are and how they differ from mere whishes, dreams and hopes. Steve asked, "So, what are your goals in life?" to the students and mentors and had them verbalize them. Steve taught them that goals are always immediate because they start right now, and are measurable, have a time frame, specific, verifiable, realistic and incremental. He said, "The difference between a wish and a goal is a plan!" And you are more likely to achieve your goals if they are written. Steve went-on to do academic goal setting with several students and how to achieve their goals through various study techniques. The twelve STRIVE students are a good group and committed to coming each week to STRIVE and appear to be doing better academically.