Hello everyone, it is that time of the month! Welcome to another  one of Kim’s Monthly Motivations! I don’t know about you readers out there, but I was super excited about this month’s article. School has been absolutely insane so doing something this relaxing was definitely very enjoyable. Now, let’s not waste any more time and get into what we will be talking about today! This month, we will focus on goal setting, the importance of setting such goals and finally some tips that will help better your school year. 

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Quote of the month: “Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.”-Oprah Winfrey.

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Goal Setting: 

Now that school is fully back in action, it is important that we start to set goals in order to ensure our success for the rest of the marking period.  It is time to make specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time based (SMART) goals.

The goal that you are going to make should be something that means a lot to you, whether it is getting straight A’s and B’s this marking period or whether it is simply just handing homework in on time. However, the goal should be achievable in a set amount of time and should be relevant to something in your life currently.  Let’s try to set the goal time for around 1 month. Remember, any goal is good specifically for you.  Take a few moments to figure out what you want your goal this month to be.

Did you think of a goal? Great! Now that you have figured out your goal, it is imperative to determine what methods you are going to take in order to reach the attainable desire. As an example, if your goal is to get straight A’s and B’s, steps to getting there could be going to extra help sessions in the morning for a class you are struggling in and/or forming study groups for upcoming tests/quizzes. Take a few more minutes to figure out how you will reach these goals.

Amazing! Furthermore, now that you have made goals I think it is only fair that I share my goals; especially for this month/end of the marking period.   

My goal is to participate at least three times in every class, if possible. I think it is important to start doing this because many times I know the answer but always second guess if it is right. Some steps I could take to reach this goal is to remind myself that even if I get the answer wrong it is not the end of the world, and, overall, just repeat positive affirmations so I am not so worried about presenting in class. Some affirmations can be, “You will do great” and “No one will be judging you.”

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The Importance of Setting Goals.

So what’s the point of setting goals?  From speaking to a lot of fellow students, it is obvious that this year is definitely one full of stress, and with stress comes loss of motivation. In order to keep this motivation and persevere through these far from ideal times, it is important to set goals so that we look up to them and it helps us get done ultimately what we need to get done. Even the quote above by Oprah shows that you can only reach your hopes and dreams by working hard and reaching smaller goals first. First, achieving small goals will help give you the mindset and skills you need to later achieve the bigger goals that will affect your life more so in the future. Overall, it doesn’t hurt to take a few minutes to try and figure out what you want your goal to be.

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Tips for Bettering your school year: 

1. Joining clubs.  Though the club fair already happened, it is important to join clubs because you can meet new people who have similar interests.  Joining clubs that you are also interested in will make the school year a lot better because you will be able to participate in things that you’re passionate about but not able to take a class in.  Joining clubs is something that can only help you in the long run, and though it might add to your workload it is still something that is highly enjoyable and helpful when applying to colleges.
2. Talking to new people.  Even though this is a very obvious tip, it is still important to mention.  Step out of your normal friend groups and talk to more people that are in your classes.  By talking to people in your classes you will be able to make more friends that can help in school and possibly in the outside world as well.
3. Go shopping. Although this might seem a bit confusing, going shopping for school supplies could actually be very therapeutic. Getting school supplies is not only something many people love but it is also great if you want to stay organized and have many materials accessible to your every need. Getting cute supplies will also make writing and organizing a lot more fun and enjoyable this year. 
4.  Remaining positive. This may be a very hard one, but looking at my other Monthly Motivation articles, there are many resources in order to stay positive or at least try to stay positive during these stressful times. Using methods like setting relax time in planners and attending extra help sessions, remaining positive is one of the best things you can do during times of stress. Positivity will help you get through whatever you need to in an easier manner. Thinking negatively will only result in more negative events.  Radiating positivity will definitely result in more positive events and make your school year a more enjoyable one. 

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Before ending the article, here are a few riddles to wind down with.  

Riddle: A man who was outside in the rain without an umbrella or hat didn’t get a single hair on his head wet. Why?

Answer: He was bald.

Riddle: What can you hold in your left hand but not in your right?

Answer: Your right elbow

Riddle: What kind of band never plays music?

Answer: A rubber band

Well, looks like this article is already pretty lengthy so I should end it here! Thank you everyone for reading another one of Kim’s Monthly Motivations and I will see you all next month. Just writing this I realized the next time an article will be posted will be December 1st! So, have a great Thanksgiving and I can not wait to write again soon! 

Best wishes!