A key element of effective goal setting is to start by determining long-range goals that are important to you. The next step is to establish other short-range goals which then serve as action items, guiding the way toward those more distant goals. I began my goal setting process by looking 5 years into the future with a vision of where I want to be relative to my education. Ultimately, for the purposes of this project, the successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree in Business is my goal and a major short-range goal lies with completing my Associates Degree.
Meeting these goals is a very important thing to me because doing so will signify the completion of something valuable which I began over twenty years ago. I started college after graduating from high school and went for nearly 2 years, earning 52 credits in the process. Then for several reasons which were good ones at the time, I stopped going to college and had not been able to return to college until this Summer semester. Due to my absence, I lost a few of those credits but I currently still have over 40 credits behind me. In my discussions with various advisors, we have developed a plan for my completion of an Associates Degree by the end of the year 2013.
One thing that I know will help me to achieve this success regardless of the amount of time which I have been away from college, is that I have continued to find other ways to continue my learning. I have been able to maintain my connection to the classroom as well as testing processes in a professional environment. Most notably, I have attended many hours of initial and then re-certification training as an EMT for the State of Utah. In the re-certification process, over 100 hours of classroom training is required and intense written as well as practical exams are taken every 3 years. I have re-certified many times and kept my certification current the entire time. I have also recently completed a certification course and passed the very rigorous professional examination in order to receive the PHR (Professional in Human Resources) Certification. This is a professional designation related to my field of work and requires 60 hours of CE credit every 3 years as well. I have also attended multiple training events designed to help leaders improve their skills through an organization known as Rapport Leadership International. After several years of continuous training through this organization, I received their highest designation of Master Graduate and have continued my involvement by returning as a part-time trainer.
All of these things are reflected in my goals list as things I am working towards, causing me to grow myself in different aspects. I know that these goals will have a positive impact in my professional experience as well as in my personal and family life too. I work full time but I know that my goals are still realistic which is another key point discussed in the text. I know that can do this and I am excited to reach all of my goals. As stated on my Welcome page, I am very excited to be back in college and I envision a positive experience! I intend success! Relative to my short-range goals, I can almost taste the victory now!
