Journal Entry 8
In this activity, you will design one or more parts of your life plan. To focus your thoughts,
glance back at Pilar’s life plan and use it as a model.
To complete this activity, write your response in your word processor and save it to your hard
drive.
1. Title a clean page in your journal: MY LIFE PLAN. Below the title, complete the part of
your life plan for your role as a student.
My Dream: [If you have a compelling dream, describe it here. If you’re not sure what
your dream is, you can simply write, “I’m searching.”]
My Life Role: Student
My Long-Term Goals in This Role: [These are the outcomes you plan to achieve as a
student in the next two to ten years, or even longer if necessary.]
My Short-Term Goals in This Role: [These are the outcomes you plan to achieve as a
student this semester; each brings you closer to your long-term goals as a student. To
begin your list of short-term goals, you can write the same desired outcomes that you
chose in Journal Entry 7; then add other short-terms goals as appropriate.]
Remember to apply the DAPPS rule, making sure that each long- and short-term goal is
Dated, Achievable, Personal, Positive, and Specific. With this in mind, you may need to
revise the desired outcomes that you transfer here from Journal Entry 7.
If you wish, repeat this process for one or more of your other life roles: Career, parent,
athlete, and so on. The more roles you plan, the more complete your vision of life will be.
Taken together, these pages map your route to a rich, personally fulfilling life.
Importantly, at this time you don’t have to know how to achieve your goals and dreams,
so don’t even think about the method. All you need to know is what you want. In the
following chapters, you’ll learn dozens of powerful strategies for turning your life plan
into reality. For now, keep your eye on your destination!
2. Write about what you have learned or relearned by designing your life plan. In particular,
identify any impact this effort has had on your level of motivation to do well in college this
semester or to do well in any other parts of your life.