Reaching Lifelong Goals

“Enrollment skyrockets at Linn Benton Community College” I somehow missed this article in our local newspaper.   I figured it out pretty quick on Monday when I saw  students parking on the lawn because the lots were overflowing!   This term in my Non Traditional Student Journey, I am taking an extra writing class.   I’ve already met my Oregon State University requirements for writing courses, but I could not pass up WR123 Research Writing.    Being a History Major, I felt this would be a valuable class for me down the line, so I jumped on it.   During the entire term we will be writing a major research paper on the topic of our choosing.  At first, I had the idea of writing a WWI History paper, focusing in on my favorite ace, Ernst Udet.   My independent study course this term will be an annotated bibliography of all sources about him.   Should be a great plug in…  I almost started feeling guilty, as this would be a no brainer for me.   My instructor made some comments about what research writing really should be which changed my mind.    Simply regurgitating facts and information does not make for a challenge in research writing.   I have to agree here.   I do have some ideas on how I would approach a paper on a Historical subject, and the research requirements for them, but…   How about a subject that is near and dear to all of us – NON TRADITIONAL STUDENTS.   We were told to write about something we were passionate about, something that can be extensively researched, and most important, a topic that we could put our own “spin” on.    How you interpret your research is more important than just listing a bunch of facts.    So….watch this space….I will include my findings and information about Non Traditional Students here on the Reaching Lifelong Goals blog.   After all, being a Non Trad is  what this blog’s title is really all about.   I have started some preliminary research, and there does seem to be alot of good information out there.   I need to narrow down the focus of the paper and not broad brush the topic of Non Traditional Students.    Ideas have been spinning around in my head (keeping me up all night, as well) about what areas of the Non Trad Experience need to be high lighted.   Statistics of non trad populations in student bodies will be enlightening, but I would like to write about the specific needs and challenges of the Non Traditional Student.    I have bookmarked some great academic articles regarding unique teaching methods for non trads, what different institutions are doing to adapt to high populations of non trads and papers on the specific needs in educating them.   Quite a bit of meat here.  Challenging topic to say the least.    I’ll keep this topic on the front burner here on this blog to keep everyone up to date on what I learn about my fellow non traditional students.    I’m off and running on this one…next post about it should be my Thesis for the paper.   Wish me luck!

Today was the second day of Fall term here in Oregon.   Another crazy crowded day on campus.    Seemed like there were twice as many students scrambling for seats in the crowded classrooms.   I now have been to all of my registered classes, so I am up and running for the term.   Today’s additions were WR123 Research Writing and my “fun” class of History 201.   I now have the full load of classes started and I already have a ton of homework to get to.   Wow, this is a real experience this term.   I had an hour between my classes this morning, so I figured I would get some reading done in a quiet place to study….NOT!!!    Checked out the Learning Center at LBCC, it was a sea of people….only a few open chairs here and there.   Oh well, it is the second day and probably lots of people are there for help on various subjects.   It definitely was not going to be a nice quiet place to get some reading done…   So, I figured that a quick lunch would be good.   Again, the cafe on campus was packed, the poor staff looked like they were really getting hammered, guess I should not add to their problems.   Surely the Library would be a nice quiet place to study.   Wrong!   Almost all the tables in the library commons area were full of fun loving, excited and loud students.   I didn’t try to go into the deep dark recesses of the Library to find a little cubby hole, just gave up.   I realize that it is only the second day of classes and everything should settle down after the first week, BUT…..       I do not yet have any experience with the crowds of a full sized university, that will come Winter Term when I begin my two years of German at the actual Oregon State University campus.   I suspect that this story is not unique though.   The number of Non Traditional Students was evident, I plan to see if I can get the actual statistics for my institution sometime next week.   With college enrollment up here in Oregon, I am sure this is not an isolated phenomenon.    Things are tough all over….go to school!!

The past month of vacation from school was refreshing.   Did not get much done around the house, but now I’m ready to turn my Non Traditional brain back on!   My Fall Term at Linn Benton Community College starts tomorrow morning at 9:00 with Math 065!    I will be finishing up my math requirements at LBCC before transferring full-time to Oregon State.   Next term, I will be bouncing back and forth between my two schools as I will begin my 2 years of German for my B.A. core requirements.  My schedule this term will be full, I’ll have my “fun” classes; History 201 and English Lit (Shakespeare!!) 201.   I will be diligent in my 4 credit MTH 065 class this term…focus, focus, focus.  As an added challenge, I will be taking a 3 credit Independent Study series in History.    Needing another class in Writing (like a hole in the head…) I am actually on a waiting list for a Research Writing class.   I feel this will be invaluable to me down the road as a History Major.   I have never had to worry about getting a class I want yet in college.   Better get used to it though.   The schedule of classes for LBCC and OSU are full, full, full…   I don’t think this phenomenon is specific only to Oregon Schools,  colleges all over are filling up due to the economic status we are in.   Which begs the question….are the schools being filled with non traditional students??   One of the first research papers I intend to do will be on this subject.   Of course, I will also blog about it here.  As my first week of fall term progresses, I will start to develop my GOALS for this term.   I think that goal setting will be one of my hot topics for a while.   Due to the high number of Non Traditional Students out there today, I feel that goal setting is one of the most important skills we can work on right away.   I am very excited about school starting again, seems like the 2nd grade all over again!!  Be sure and check back with Reaching Lifelong Goals for some great information and tips on how to deal with being an “older student” returning to college – We are Non Trads, hear us roar!   (or at least participate in class discussions….)

Here is a great tip from Elizabeth Sheppard from the Non Traditional Student Blog.   I personally can’t live without my “electronic brain”.  I have a Palm Treo which serves as a phone and a PDA.   Sure wish I had an I Phone….well someday when I am able to get away from my Treo.   Whatever style of personal calendar you use, the key is to USE IT!     I only know a few people that do not have some kind of personal organizer.    Seems that everyone out there is checking their schedules and appointments on some form of PDA.   I have found alot of great information available on the Non Traditional Student Blog.   You should check in there often.   And most important…tell  every other non trad student you know…get online and start searching NonTraditional Students and Lifelong Goals on Google.    Let’s get some more of our fellow Non Trads dialed into what is available out there!!!

FIVE CALENDAR TIPS
for nontraditional students

These calendar tips will help nontraditional students find their way when they are first starting back to school.

1. Buy a personal schedule book and calendar. You don’t have to get an expensive one, but do get a current one with plenty of room for all assignments.

You can also get an erasable calendar to put up on your front door, or just use your small calendar that will fit into your book back or purse. You will be surprised how much this calendar will help you with assignments and scheduling.

2. Write all your assignment due dates down on the calendar, and then work backwards from the due date to chop each assignment into manageable pieces. For instance, put “look up references” on your calendar so you can get that step done before your essay or report is due.

You will find that keeping up with notebooks and starting assignments early will really help you come “crunch” time. Then instead of cramming everything into one week, you will stay calm and collected and be able to study a lot more.

3. Put your class locations, room number, building and times on the front of your calendar. Also, put the teacher’s name there. You will be surprised how much this will help. I know I did not memorize each teacher’s name for awhile, and used my class location and time information every day.

4. Put at least one other student’s name and contact information in your calendar, and note which class they are in. This will save your booty when you are sick or miss some inportant information in class.

5. (VERY important) Look at your calendar EVERY DAY. Do not ever forget a day. And look ahead in the calendar so you know what is coming up.

I hope this calendar guide is helpful!

How To Set Goals That Stick

Author: preetisharma

What do you think about when the word goal comes up in conversation? Do you cringe and snort thinking to yourself “right, goals . . . whatever. What’s the point of making them if I won’t keep them?” Or, do your eyes light up as you tick off a long list of goals for the New Year that will be impossible to complete?

No matter if you have an optimistic or pessimistic outlook about your small business goals for this New Year, both outlooks have something in common and it is this: Unless you know how to set goals properly, you will fail to complete them. So let’s start by defining exactly what a goal is: A goal is something that is meaningful, powerful, and transformative. A goal is something that will change your life, your business, your career, or your family in some meaningful way.

A goal is fierce!

• A goal is clearly defined

• A goal is very specific

• A goal has an action plan and time line for completion

To be an accomplished goal setter, you must become a fearsome time manager by:

• Setting priorities

• Completing tasks on time

• Eliminating distractions

In other words, those who manage their time, manage their world.

Three Parts To Setting Goals That Stick

1. Activate Intentions. They key to getting your business goals to stick it to activate your intentions. That means to put down on a piece of paper what your goals are, and then to take one action on each goal immediately.

Seven Steps For Successful Activation

• Identify your goal, very clearly and specifically. Identify no more than 3-5 business goals to focus on. Be concrete. Put your business goal into words and be as precise about it as you can be.

• Think critically about whether or not this is actually a business goal that you want to accomplish this year. Make sure you know why this goal is meaningful.

• Thinking creatively about how to accomplish your goals. Think outside the box. Stretch the boundaries of possibilities. Engage others to brainstorm and ‘creategize’ with you. Think really far out. Consider outlandish and bazaar solutions.

• Next, identify your plan of action and create strategic action steps that will lead to goal completion.

• Then, and this is all so energetically important: schedule and take your first action step either now, or within the next five days. This one step will set the activation energy in motion. Since what we focus on happens, it is important to schedule and take a first step to create momentum immediately.

• Evaluate your activity and measure success every step along the way.

• Reward success.

2. Eliminate Distractions. Distractions are the worst enemy of time management, and are the number one reason why goals fail. When we allow distractions to take our time and attention away from our goals, the result is frustration, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed, to thoughts of not being able to do something, to failure. Be fierce about your goals and guard them with your time.

3. Fearsome Focus. Dave Lakhani, speaker, trainer, and author of the Power Of An Hour has come up with a fearsome focus strategy that works. In his book, he suggests focusing for an hour at a time on a specific action step of one of your business goals, no more, no less. He recommends that you block out time each day for this fearsome focus hour, and that you divide that focus time into 45 minutes fearsome focus, and 15 minutes doing something else. Below is a summary of his strategy.

• Write down action steps for what you intent to accomplish in your 45-minute fearsome focus time.

• Surround yourself with all the tools you need to get the job done before you begin.

• Don’t allow distractions.

• Launch into your project with gusto.

• Evaluate success along the way by reviewing steps, then immediately re-engage in fearsome focus.

• If distracted, instantly dismiss distraction and re-engage.

• Complete all action steps.

• Acknowledge completion and relax.

• Remain in fearsome focus for 45 minutes, and then do something different for 15 minutes. After an hour, move on to something else.

That’s it folks. These are the steps to take if you want to set goals that stick. All you need to do is activate, eliminate, and focus. Keep in mind, though, that it is ridiculous to spend time focusing on something you don’t intend to do. That’s a failed goal in the making. Instead, if you find that a goal no longer serves you, replace or revise it with one that does.

Did you find this article useful?  For more useful tips and   hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to credit card, do please browse for more information at our websites.

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