Reflective Exercise 1: My Goals for the coaching program

Goals can fit into a number of different categories, including academic, financial, physical
health/fitness, emotional health, social, family, or other. Identify 1-2+ goals that you would like
to start working toward during these coaching sessions (at least 1 of these should be academic
in nature). Apply the SMART rules to each goal; then use the table on the next page to break
the goals into incremental steps. You may wish to use some of the action statements from the
My Values handout to get you started.
When setting goals, remember to follow the SMART acronym. Are your goals:
Specific? Try to break large, general goals into smaller, more specific ones.
Measurable? Is there a way to track improvement? When possible, formulate goals that you
can directly measure, based on your own effort and performance, rather than setting goals that
will be measured by someone else. For example, rather than “I will make an A on my first
political science paper,” consider, “For the next five days, I will spend one hour a day working
on my political science paper.”
Attainable? Can it be done? Are you aiming for something that is unachievable?
Realistic? Are your goals realistic given your time, resources, priority and motivation? What is
the motivation behind each goal? Are you striving for this goal because it’s important to you, or
because someone else (a parent, friend, or significant other) thinks it’s important?
Time-bound? When will you complete the goal? Set repeating goals for things you want to
become a habit (note: it takes approximately 30 days of continuous effort to form a new habit).
 My SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound

Goals for Why is this goal

What I need to What I need to What I need to Campus
coaching important?
do this month: do this week: do today: resources
sessions:
Example I want to be a History ● Read the first 3 ● Find a quiet place to ● Look at my weekly ● Writing tutors at
teacher one day, so I chapters of the do my reading. schedule and set aside WaLC
(Academic Goal):
have to maintain a 3.0 textbook. ● Meet with my time each week to ● My professor
I will set aside 4
GPA in my History ● Have a rough draft of professor to discuss work on this class.
hours/week to work on
major. It’s also my first paper ready my topic and get ● Find at least 3 sources
my readings and
important for me to to turn in by Sept. 23. feedback on my for my paper.
assignments for
make a good impression sources. ● Email my professor to
American History.
on my professor so she ● Create notecards set up a meeting.
can write containing important
recommendations for information from each
me in the future. source.

Goal 1:

Goal 2:

Goal 3:

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