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One of the first steps in setting a goal for yourself is to know what your purpose in life is.  Many students I talk to have not really thought this out and it’s really hard to figure out without doing some of the work of knowing yourself and taking the challenge of dreaming big. Do not delay figuring out a field or area you want to focus on.  In the past, the first couple years of college give you the opportunity to try different fields and give you time to figure your focus.  But many people will not have that luxury and having a focus or field now will give you an edge over other students.

Some tips for students

• Hey Students, it is your life!   You are responsible for your own life and your own future.  Parents can help and support but they can’t study for you.  In the long run, you are going to have to pay your own rent, buy your car and pay for own phone.
•  Set a goal for yourself.  It’s really hard to get anywhere if you don’t know where you are going!  Set a goal and start working towards that goal.
• Setting a goal is challenging.  Take these simple steps to figure out what you want to do.

1. Take 30 minutes and write everything you love doing and things you are really good at.  Don’t over think it.  Anything that comes into your mind goes on the paper.
2.  Examine your brainstorm.  See if there is a pattern to your ideas.  There might be a couple of areas you might want to consider.
3.  Answer this question with the information you have on the paper: 5 years from now, what does your life look like?  What is the purpose to my life?

• Start collecting experiences in the area you are interested in. Take every opportunity to find out more about your field.  Go on the internet and look up your field, how much people make in this field, what kind of schooling am I going to need.  Volunteer in the field. Try finding a job related to what you want to do. Find a professional association; go to events, lectures around this field.  Meet people in the field and ask questions.  As you gain experience, you will start to see things that you enjoy and things to hate doing.  Your experience will  inform your decisions.
• Find your purpose. Everyone born on this earth has a purpose, a contribution to society and humankind.  Write down that purpose.
• Check it out with friends and parents. Don’t be shy and tell the people who know you best what is your purpose.  Take their advice but be true to your own heart.
• Find the best school to get the training you need, once you know what you want to do.

Knowing where you are going and taking action for your own life is the first step to a fulfilling life filled with exciting experiences, challenging goals and so much fun!

Con cariño,

Ana Maria Soto

La College Guru

Educatelatina.com

                 We all have dreams.  Some have dreams that they dare put into action, others dream quietly and never do anything about it.  We need to learn how to dream BIG, and wholeheartedly! Often, we create our own roadblocks because we believed somebody else’s opinion rather than our own, or because we were so tied up in our own problems and challenges we didn’t realize that we can achieve far more than we ever thought possible.  True leaders rise above their own problems to become role models for others.

Going to college is a dream that so many of us dare to dream. In the famous Pothole study,   researchers at the University of Chicago found  that Latinos systematically lower their expectations!  Many Latino students went to a community college instead of a four-year university because they didn’t know how to dream big and take risks.  Don’t be one of them, dream big and make a plan to make it happen!

Here are some tips to get you going:

Visualize yourself going to college.  Ok, take a deep breath and know in your heart that this is for you! World-class athletes and anyone that has to perform under pressure use this technique.  Take a few minutes every day to see yourself in college, sitting at a desk, carrying your books, and making new friends! And you’ll meet some cute guys, too!

Write down your goals and plans.  Date and review your goals at least twice a month to see how you are doing.

Get a club started. Working with a group of chicas who share your goal of going to college will give you strength and partners.  You know how sometimes we won’t even go to the bathroom without our BFFs; well, this is a chance to form a solid bond and help each other to achieve your goals.  Choose your college chicas club carefully.  Pick chicas that have good grades, are serious about the future and hold each other accountable.

Find a mentor that will help you DREAM big.  Find a tia, a prima or a teacher, that can help you and inspire you.

So next week I will talk about EL PLAN.  This is the strategic plan that will get you to where you want to go. Set the PLAN in motion for you: Yes! You can go to college, and get a better life for yourself!

Con mucho cariño,

La College GURU