DQ 4-3

Dq 4-3 Responses

1.

Setting academic goals is extremely important in achieving academic success.  The goals I set are motivated by my future plans, desires, and ambitions.  Setting goals helps me to stay motivated and disciplined.  Keeping a visual reminder of my short-term academic goals is always helpful for me to prioritize my time and stay focused and committed to completing tasks on time. Keeping lists helps me manage my time, prioritize my days and break things down into achievable and manageable tasks, helping me to avoid the feelings of being overwhelmed come deadline time.

 

My long-term academic goals include gaining and mastering a new level of knowledge necessary that will allow me to further my current career or possibly lead me to a new career path of  helping others in a different practice.  

 

Two additional key things that I feel are important in helping me reach goals, whether they be health goals, personal goals, academic goals or spiritual goals is maintaining life balance and surrounding myself with positive and supportive people.  These are key in getting through the challenging times that are sure to arise. 

2.

I have found that if I am able to apply what I am learning in academic career I am far more likely to succeed. Knowing this, I have adapted my lifestyle to facilitate this ideology. I have also come to realize that things do not always go according to plan; and when that happens I make small corrections to the goals I have set for myself. Adaptability is a strategy I fully embrace.

I recently completed an undergraduate degree, which opened up a range of employment opportunities at work. I applied for positions that move toward my professional goals, while ensuring that future goals can be achieved when my graduate degree is complete. I really enjoy being able to apply course work in my job and I have come to realize that this process is key to my understanding of the material being taught. Looking forward, I look at a job description for a job that I like and align the job requirements in my future goals so that I will be ready for that job when my experience and academic goals line up.    

3

As I reflect on my goals I would like to accomplish during my graduate studies program, I can see that is important to manage my time, resources and balance my personal life in concert with this great endeavor. 

In as much, I would like to positively influence my peers, establish a network and even acquire mentors or become a mentee.  In this experience of becoming a graduate student, there formulates an exchange of mental currency, not just obtaining.  Building, investing and sharing this mental currency can also translate into greater personal wealth upon completion of the program.  We know that with knowledge comes power and with power comes accountability.  Upon completion of the program, I will inherently be charged with being held to more accountability to my family, friends, alumnus, community and society as far as provisionally and in contribution.

In conclusion, I see that setting and achieving goals whether consciously or unconsciously is essential to success and is a lifelong process that can impact the goal setter but, is an exchange with your peers, instructors and counselors providing a solid foundation for successful endeavors after completion.