S.M.A.R.T GOALS
Alliance Cindy and Bill Simon
Technology Academy High School
Fall/Spring 2012-13
Naviance
WHY CREATE A S.M.A.R.T GOAL?
Almost all successful people have one quality in common; The habit of goal setting
SMART goals challenge you to focus on what’s most important. Not-so-SMART goals can be
unclear, unrealistic, and difficult to reach
They help you track your progress and record your achievements
If you learn how to set goals during high school so you can make sure you are taking the
necessary steps towards accomplishing your dreams
If you are unable to map out a career plan and set goals you may also have a hard time reaching
your goals (get away from if's and but's) learn to set goals now to make sure you are taking the
necessary steps towards your dreams.
WHAT DOES S.M.A.R.T STAND FOR?
S (Specific and clear)
M (Measurable)
A (Achievable and Ambitious)
R (Relevant to you)
T (Timely)
WHAT ARE GOOD S.M.A.R.T GOALS?
S (Specific and clear) – For example, instead of saying, “My goal is to be a doctor,” try, “I will
earn an M.D. degree by my 30th birthday.” Be specific about what you want to accomplish and
when you plan to finish. Be clear so you know when you have accomplished your goal
M (Measurable) –With a SMART goal, you can set up milestones along the way to measure your
progress. If your goal is simply to go to college, how will you track your progress? If you want a
four-year bachelor’s degree by age 24, your milestones could be taking geometry by 10th grade
and earning a high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.33 or better.
It should have characteristics that you can see when you complete your goal. For example “do
well in school” is not as measurable of a goal as “earn an A in first-semester English 9.”
A (Achievable and Ambitious) – Make sure your goals are reasonable. If your goal is set too
high, you might get discouraged and give up. If your goal isn’t challenging enough, you could miss
out on a sense of achievement when you reach the finish line. Decide what information or help
you will need. What stands between you and your goal? Allow plenty of time to get information
and overcome any challenges.
WHAT ARE GOOD S.M.A.R.T GOALS?
R (Relevant to you) – It is easy to let other people set goals for you based on
what they want in your education, career, and future plans. But goals set by others
can be tough to reach because your heart isn’t in it. SMART goals are important to
you and your life
T (Timely) - Make sure you pick a completion date that allows you enough time for
you to accomplish your goals. Don’t be afraid to get off track, make mistakes, or
adjust your goals. Be persistent and advocate for yourself if you need help in meeting
your deadlines. For example, instead of choosing a goal related to attaining a certain
career, try a goal that you can complete along the way such as gaining an internship
in a certain field, entering college with a certain major, etc.
WHAT KIND OF GOALS WILL YOU SET
#1 Career Readiness (CarR)
#2 College Funding (CF)
#3 College Readiness (CR)
#4 High School Graduation (HSG)
#5 Post HS Transition Success (TS)
Optional: Other Goals (OG) (For goals falling outside of the other categories)
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING YOUR GOALS:
What is important to you and what do you need to do to achieve your career and personal goals? It’s
your life and here is where you take official ownership of your future.
What do you need to do today, this week, next semester, this summer, next year and in 5-years to ensure
you reach your goal?
If you are still stuck, what goals do you need to accomplish to help unleash your dreams (begin writing in
a journal, more research, or talk with your school counselor?
No matter how hard you try to set a SMART goal and stick to it, you
might discover that your goal is too easy, too hard, or just not right for
you.
If that happens, try to figure out why??
Do you need to put in more effort?
Maybe you should take a break and refocus on your goal
Do you need more information? If so, talk to a family member, friend, or counselor
for help
Was your goal unrealistic? Rethink your options and possible next steps
Did something beyond your control cause problems for you? You might just need to
try again
Take time to evaluate your progress, adjust your goals, and celebrate
your achievements.
NAVIANCE
There are two ways to start your
S.M.A.R.T goals:
#1-Click ABOUT ME then click
GOALS
#2-Click MY PLANNER the
click GOALS
Select ADD A NEW
GOAL and get started
You will be creating 5
goals one in each
category
Fill in the blanks
Make sure your
goals are S.M.A.R.T
goals
ALL DONE??
OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO ON NAVIANCE
Manage Tasks that are created by your counselor and assigned to you. They can be pretty
important (some of them can be required to graduate!), so make sure to go through them
and make sure you’re on track.
To-dos are actions you created for yourself to complete. You can relate them to a goal you
make or a task that your school has assigned to you. It’s a good way to keep track of work
you need to do or things coming up on your calendar.
Using your Naviance My Planer tool can help you manage your time, set goals and stay on
top of both your school’s college & career counseling program assignments, as well as your
personal plans.
If you have any questions please email your counselor Mrs Reteguin or Mrs. Arredondo by
clicking the contact us link located on the right hand side of your Naviance home screen.
You may always physically come in and see your counselor.
QUESTIONS?
Remember:
Every instance of professional and personal
success is an example of goal setting
Your counselor will mark your task as complete
when she reads your goals, feel free to email her
when you are done
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