Educational Vision for 2010

The new year is upon us and with it another chance to declare educational goals.   Take a minute (and if that means 60 seconds, so be it) and write down three education goals you’d like to achieve in 2010.  Choose high-level goals.  Then break each goal into achievable steps that can serve as milestones or progress markers along the way.  Allocate one goal to each season (the 4^th season gives you some breathing room in case life intervenes.)  Here are three examples from my school days to get you started.  Read and enjoy, then create your own.

1. Take advantage of being a student at least three times in 2010 – Stand in the student rush line at a concert.  Use the student discount on Amtrak, airfare, conferences and professional association memberships.   If your work schedule permits, apply for internships or study abroad (two and three-week trips are available.)  Stay at youth hostels.  I particularly enjoyed walking into a hostel in Seattle and hearing a hushed chorus of “is that your mom???”  Then I asked the registration dude if he could apply my AARP discount to the room rate.  It was almost worth the price of tuition.  Almost.  Take advantage of your status as an adult student.  Have some fun.  You earned it.
2. Complete [insert a challenging class] -  Most students face at least one class known to require a lot of work, be particularly difficult or just plain dull.  Looking ahead gives you some control over when and how you will tackle this beast.  Consider all options.  Then do it and celebrate.
3. Survive the next semester– What does this mean for you?  Declare one day (or half day) as family or friend time?  Buy study guides or start a study group?  Register for fewer credits?  Wear lucky socks?  Hide in the closet 15 minutes a day?  Eat spinach?  Identify at least one action each week and you will likely move from survive to thrive in 2010, corny as that sounds.  Good luck!

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