It seems so busy right now, Spring Break plans are being made, the semester is half over and some students might be wondering, "am I surviving, am I doing the best I can, am I trying everything to be successful, is there something else I should be doing?" along with many more questions. March is the time of the semester to look at what you are doing and see if changes need to made or if you are going to depend on good luck and a "four leaf clover" to get you through.

It is probably more reliable to make your own luck and plan for success. A good place to start in this journey is always with oneself, asking "who am I and what do I want to achieve?" Asking these types of questions can help someone find a direction and stay on course. Setting goals is a helpful way of directing one's efforts and measuring whether success is being achieved. Goals must be specific and measurable and contain an action plan. Once specific goals are set, the actions must be mapped out - the steps that need to be followed in order to achieve the desired goals. The action plan may be the most important and forgotten part of setting goals. Many times the action plan is difficult to follow because it goes against regular old habits. It takes time and consistent effort to develop new (good) habits.

It's important to manage time well as new goals and actions plans are being implemented. Time should be dedicated to trying new things and investing more effort in the desired results. For example, if the (specific) goal is to achieve a B in Biology, there are several actions that need to be followed to achieve this goal. An emphasis on time is required to dedicate to the efforts needed. The efforts and actions needed could encompass, but are not limited to, studying 2 more hours each day, meeting with the professor, making flashcards, studying old exams, attending tutor sessions on campus three hours a week and forming a study group to meet twice a week etc. By setting a specific goal, writing out an action plan and being attentive to time, achieving one's goals becomes much more realistic and measurable.

March is a good time in the middle of the semester to re-evaluate where you are and if you are achieving success. If you find it difficult to set and achieve goals, monitor your time, dedicate the needed effort to be successful in school or would just like some additional support, the Student Counseling Service provides many opportunities to support students looking for success. Make an appointment today or register for a workshop by going to our website http://scs.tamu.edu/. It's quick, easy and confidential!
GOOD LUCK!

By Kristie De La Garza, MS