Personal Goals

            I have always heard that when you lose your dreams there's nothing left but death. Goals are like dreams - something to look forward to and work towards. It may be something as simple as finishing a book you started months ago or as complex as building a house. When you have achieved all your goals what do you have left to live for? I believe that goal-setting should be an ongoing process. Depending upon the complexity of your goals, you may work on more than one goal at a time. Others will be so complex they will require all your concentration focused on that one objective. When you are ready to set your goals they should be written with an estimated completion date. Your goals should be concise, realistic, and positive. Make sure the goals you set are your goals and not those of your family or friends. Setting and ultimately achieving goals builds self-esteem. By setting goals you are drawing a map of your life. You will be better equipped to deal with setbacks if you have a clear cut objective as your visual.
             It has always been a personal goal of mine to earn a degree. When I graduated from high school I was very uninterested in continuing my education. I was tired of attending school and wanted to experience life. I knew at that time that I wanted the degree but I wasn't willing to put forth the effort I knew it would require. Like most other teenagers, I thought I knew everything and that included the fact that I had all the education I would ever need. I knew nothing about setting goals or completing them. I have always loved reading and learning - on my own terms. Reading a book on a particular subject doesn't let you learn that subject. It takes experiences like writing papers, doing research, and discussions with other like-minded people to really learn the material. It takes a considerable amount of commitment and concentration. I feel that at this stage in my life I am ready to begin the process of achieving this goal.