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Explanation of how to achieve goals and feel like a champion in school. Also refer to good grades, teachers, students, idea, plan, support, help, motivation, confidence, energy, health, excellence, quality, character, honesty, courage, determination, cheating, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Achieve Your Goals and Become a Champion Student

by Ron Kurtus (revised 9 January 2008)

A champion is a person who can achieve a difficult goal or overcome challenging obstacles. The difficult goal could be winning the state championship, getting an "A" in Chemistry or getting a date with some special person. Challenges could be overcoming the fear of speaking to a group, reducing your weight or coping with a mean teacher. Once you set a goal of what you want to do or get, there is a simple procedure to follow to achieve that goal. Afterwards, it is good to give thanks and give back.

Questions you may have include:

• How do I set a goal?
• What are the steps to achieve that goal?
• What is giving back about?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Setting your goal

Often goals are an effort to solve a problem or something you have to do. If you had a test tomorrow, your goal would be to study enough to pass the test. If you were attacked by a giant bear, your goal would be to get away to safety.

Other goals are seeking something that will give you pleasure or enjoyment. You might want to make some money, so you could buy a new MP3 player. Or you could seek to earn a straight-A average, so you will receive a college scholarship.

Most of the time, you aren’t even aware of your goals. You don't purposely set a goal to buy a candy bar and enjoy eating it. You just do it. But for major goals that may take a lot of effort, it is essential to define the goal and to write it down.

Achieving the goal

The steps to achieve your goal are:

1. Get some support
2. Develop a good idea or plan of action
3. Have a champion attitude
4. Take a shot
5. Celebrate or re-evaluate

1. Get some support

Although you can do things completely by yourself, it is always good to include others in your effort. They may be able to provide some help, advice or simply root for your success.

You want support, but you don't want meddling. Some students don't like to tell their parents they have some goal, because often the parents will try to take over and give unwanted help or advice. It is nice to get someone to root for you but not to play the game for you. Thus, you need to use judgment concerning to whom you tell your goals.

In school, it is not a bad idea to let your teacher know you are trying to get good grades in the class as a goal. It helps to have the support of the teacher. But also, the teacher will try to keep you from backsliding and goofing off. If you do tell the teacher that you are working to get good grades in the class, you had better follow through with your goal.

2. Develop plan of action

Whatever your goal, you need a plan of action or means to achieve that goal. Getting the idea of how to achieve the goal can be difficult, and you may try a number of ideas and plans until you find the one that works.

For example, if you need money, think about getting a job. One possible idea of how to get a job is to stand on a street corner with a sign. That idea probably would not work, so you might try looking at the want ads in the newspaper as a method to achieve your goal. There are also subtle strategies that can be used. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, some people would go on a job interview dressed in rags as a strategy to get sympathy to get a job when jobs were scarce.

Students typically want to get good grades in their classes. Some may have a plan to study late at night, while others may only do the minimum. As you get feedback on your results, you can make adjustments to your plan.

3. Have a champion attitude

You need to have the attitude of a champion to help you achieve your goal. You need motivation, confidence and energy before you begin. Once you implement your plans, you need to strive for excellence and good character to assure your complete success.

Motivation

You need to be motivated to do something. The rewards or benefits you seek, as compared to the work required are your motivations.

In situations where you are dealing with other people, you need to be able motivate them to act. This is done by providing the others with something they want or value.

The saying is: "You can get what you want by helping others get what they want." This is a win-win situation.

Confidence

You need to be confident that you can perform the tasks required to achieve your goal and get what you want. Confidence comes from learning what to do and how to do it, and then having some success in applying your skills. If you practice taking tests, until you are relaxed and feel skilled in that task, you will have more confidence when taking your final exams.

Other people should have confidence in you, such that they are sure you will come through and do what is promised.

The saying is: "Celebrate every success, no matter how small."

Energy

Inertia often keeps a person from starting a task, especially if the task is difficult or unpleasant. You need energy to get going and to keep going. Motivation and confidence help build that energy. Good physical and mental health is also important. You can be motivated all you want, but if your mind isn't clear and your body is tired, you won't be able to do much.

The saying is: "Take care of your health."

Excellence

When you buy something, you want quality goods. Likewise, when you do something, you should do excellent work. When you do a good job, step back and take a look at it with pride. It is a good feeling to have pride in your work. That means you have pride in yourself. Pat yourself on the back and say, "Good job."

But doing good work that is the wrong work is not productive. You need to know the requirements and what is really wanted.

The saying is: "Do your best and be proud of it."

Character

There are two main areas of character: honesty and determination. Both are important, but for different reasons.

Lying, stealing or cheating just don't pay. A person may advance for a while with dishonesty, but other people don't like it and will seek revenge. Once you are known as being dishonest, people will not want trust you or care to deal with you. A student can cheat and get a better grade, but if he gets caught, the consequences are greater than the gain.

Reliability and responsibility fall under honesty. It is better to be admired for being reliable than to be self-centered and scorned.

Determination, courage, and perseverance are admirable character traits that will help a person achieve his or her goals and succeed.

4. Take a shot

As the Nike commercial says: "Just Do It." Implement your plan and seek to achieve your goal.

5. Celebrate or re-evaluate

Goals are seldom achieved with one effort. If you fail or have a setback, it is necessary to re-evaluate your plan, make adjustments and continue or give your plan another try.

If you do succeed, celebrate your achievement. This makes you feel great—like a champion.

Giving back

Once you have achieved your goal, celebrated your success and reaped the benefits of your rewards, you should step back and give thanks for your good fortune. A good way to do that is to give back by helping others succeed. This could be to help the needy, help some fellow students or even volunteer to help your mother with some task.

Helping others is championing a cause and makes you a true champion.

Summary

By achieving a difficult goal or overcoming problems, you feel like a champion. Set goals for everything you do. You should write down the goal if it is a difficult goal. Once you set a goal of what you want to do or obtain, you make plans, get support, have a champion attitude, go for it, and celebrate or re-evaluate. Afterwards, give thanks and give back.

Answers to Readers' Questions

You CAN be a champion

Resources

The following are resources on this subject.

Websites

Homeworkhelp.com - Provides some free lessons but also charges for better information

Homework Help - Homework tips. Can post questions and get answers

Good Grades Resources

Books

Top-rated books on Studying

Top-rated books on Taking Tests

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. What happens if your plan fails?

2. What happens when you praise yourself on doing a good job?

3. Where do you see people giving thanks after achieving a goal?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in School studies. If you had problems, look over the material again.

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