Goals: You Get What You Set
When it comes to goals, former college football player and coach Tony DeMeo says, “You get what you set.”
Successful people like Coach DeMeo know that, in order to succeed — in sports, in college, in life — you need to set goals. With goals, you take control of your life. Without them, you lack focus and direction.
As you aim for college, we encourage you to set goals for yourself. Whether that’s taking on a challenging high school class, applying to more than one school, or getting into the college of your choice, setting goals will keep you on task and on the path for success.
Here are some tips for setting goals:
1. Set goals in all areas of your life.
Yes, it’s important to have specific goals regarding college preparation. But you should also have goals that are broader than the college admissions process. In fact, knowing your goals for family, work, athletic, and spiritual life will impact your goals for college. Ask yourself big questions like: What do I want? What motivates me? How do I want to spend my time? Do I have a passion? Do I want to find one? Your answers will help to identify your goals!
Not sure how to set goals? We also encourage you to read the ACT’s How to Set SMART Goals— you’ll be glad you did!
2. Write all your goals down.
Putting your goals on paper is a sign of commitment. We encourage you to write them down and keep them somewhere safe that you can reference your goals throughout your college journey!
3. Never sell yourself short.
If you don’t believe in yourself, you’ll never reach your potential. Think big. Stretch yourself. It’s better to shoot for greatness and come up short, than to shoot for mediocrity and succeed. How do you know you can’t get into that college if you don’t even apply?
4. Don’t let an “expert” discourage you.
Experts often base their advice on patterns and probabilities. While that information can be helpful, it isn’t the final word. Just because something hasn’t happened before—or doesn’t happen often—doesn’t mean it can’t happen for you. Outcomes are shaped by individual circumstances, persistence, and timing, not just precedent. Don’t let someone else’s expectations limit what’s possible.
5. Follow up goal-setting with action.
Setting goals is important, but it must be followed up with an action plan. Take an organized approach to your goal-setting. Think about the steps it will take to achieve your goals, write them down, take action, and start checking them off.
“Your goals help you to set your future intentions. And the great thing is once you’ve reached a goal you can always create new ones to keep pushing yourself forward. ”
And remember, goals are aspirational and may not always be reached. That doesn’t mean you weren’t successful in your goal setting. It’s okay if you didn’t achieve your goals in the way you initially thought you would. Sometimes, not meeting a goal is a reminder to rework that goal so that it can become more attainable.
Still need some help getting started? That’s OK! Talk it through with trusted adults, like your parents, teachers, and counselors.
