STRIVE Students Learn Goal Setting with Steve Frazier
Posted by Steve Frazier
on Dec 01, 2011
Steve Frazier was the presenter at STRIVE on December 1, 2011 and worked with the students on Goal Setting both in terms of academics and careers. 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 Megan come up and state the goals(s) she had written on her sheet (pictured here with Steve). She stated that “I want to go to culinary school and maybe into teaching.” 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 Megan again he asked her if she had stated a goal and she admitted that she had stated hers as “dreams” and not stated as goals.
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 Megan 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 admitted that she had a Biology class that was giving her trouble and was going to make that part of her goal plan to pass that class.
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 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, December 15th at 10:09 in room 1602 with Bob Humphrey discussing Self Confidence with the STRIVE Students.