Goal-Setting Skill Development For High School Students

The future feels uncertain to nearly everyone at the moment. But it can feel particularly unclear for high schoolers right now. This time in their lives is full of fun and excitement, but it is also a time when they are considering their future college or career. 

This is an important time for them, and if they are feeling unsure or uneasy about the future, having a goal-setting practice can help immensely. Setting goals can benefit anyone,e no matter what age. But in this case, high school students who are just starting to think about the rest of their lives can really benefit from these skills. 

How to Start Goal-Setting 

There is science-backed evidence that goal-setting helps to develop self-motivation and give meaning to actions for students. The practice of goal setting has been linked to higher motivation, self-esteem, and autonomy. 

To start, it’s important to understand how to create SMART goals. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. An example of a SMART goal would be: 

“I will apply for my top three colleges by December 31st.”

This goal is SMART because it provides all the information needed to measure the goal. Arguably, the most important aspect of a SMART goal is to make it attainable. Students can get very discouraged when they start to create goals and do not achieve them. Start with something that is simple to achieve to get them excited about the process of goal-setting. 

Make a visual list of your students’ goals and encourage them to check on their progress consistently. It’s much easier to track the progress of a goal that is time-bound than one that is not. Give your student positive reinforcement when they get closer to achieving their goals and applaud them for creating them in the first place. 

The Benefits of Goal-Setting 

Goals help ground students and help to provide structure for them. They will become aware of their strengths and their weaknesses through meeting or even not meeting their goals. Goal-setting can be used as a very effective tool of self-awareness and self-motivation. The more your student explores the goals they can achieve, the more confident and consistent they will learn to be. Working towards goals they have set for themselves teaches them the benefits of sticking to something until the end. These kinds of skills allow students to trust in their own decisions and abilities. They also teach them to be accountable for their actions and take responsibility for themselves and their choices. 

Goal-setting is just one of the many important skills students need to be successful both in their education and in their personal lives. To learn more about how to support your student, read more from our blog here.