Teenager Goal Setting Steps
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The teenage years are often fraught with pain, indecision, fear of the future, and a sense of complete alienation. Because these teenage years are the precursors of the future, young people must learn to set goals for themselves. Otherwise, they will graduate from high school with no firm idea of what they want to do with their lives.
Many teens think that they have plenty of time to set goals when they enter high school in the ninth grade. They unwisely think that they can wait until the last few months of their senior year to set goals for themselves. By this point it can often be too late. Therefore, as a teen enters the ninth grade, they need to learn teenager goal setting steps. These very simple steps will allow them to complete their high school years with the knowledge that they are graduating with a job well done.
Without help teenagers will rarely begin goal setting as they enter high school. If they do set goals in school, they generally range from graduating with as little work as possible to becoming the most popular kid in school. Therefore, parents should help their kids with goal setting. For most teenagers, entering high school is stressful and a little scary. They are leaving the safety of middle school to a whole new world. Teenage goal setting steps will more than likely help to alleviate the fear.
The best way to start helping your teen with goal setting is to start small. Don’t make the goal setting seem overwhelming or terrifying. Make it fun and not traumatic. Start simple. A good time to start is about a month before school starts. Unlike many types of goal setting, academic goal setting begins with the end in mind. In other words, set the goals with a specific end in mind. For instance, the end in mind may be to graduate with a college prep diploma. Visit your child’s school prior to goal setting and find out just what is involved in a college prep diploma. At first glance this goal may seem overwhelming to your child, but taken in small pieces, the goal seems very realistic.
Because there are certain classes that your child must take to receive a college prep diploma, you should be totally aware of all of the necessary classes. Because the unknown is frightening, mapping out the school years in an orderly manner is essential to making the unknown seem very simple. Make sure that you are not overbearing at this point. Your child must have choices or this goal setting will become arduous and the teen may simply rebel. This is just what you do not want. Of course, there are certain academic classes that are required for graduation. These classes are English, math, science and social studies.
Allowing your child to choose electives is a great way to allow for his own personal interests. Perhaps, your teen wants to join the armed services some day after graduation from college. Then he might want to immediately enroll in ROTC classes. It is important to start these classes immediately upon entering high school because four years of ROTC may mean great scholarships. Perhaps your teen wants to go to one of the Armed Service Academies; four years of ROTC are essential components for that goal.
When teenager goal setting steps are made simple and important, your teen will be right on tract for success when he enters high school. The high school years are so important. Many teens and their parents don’t realize that the ninth grade is just as important as the senior year. Teenagers should view high school as the vehicle which will take them through the rest of their lives. Make the transition to high school better with a few simple goal setting steps.
Copyright 2007 Janice D. Sterling - All Rights Reserved
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