This document outlines the writer's long term and short term goals. Their long term goals are to graduate high school with an ATAR of at least 96 to receive a scholarship to study psychology at Curtin University, and to maintain high marks during their degree. Some key skills needed to achieve these goals include determination, consistency, flexibility, communication, teamwork, and self-management. Potential challenges are self-doubt, time restraints, and prioritizing study over social activities. To stay focused, the writer plans to surround themselves with supportive peers and family, set short term goals with rewards, and create a study timetable. Their short term goals are to improve communication skills through interacting with others, and to exercise regularly by
This document outlines the writer's long term and short term goals. Their long term goals are to graduate high school with an ATAR of at least 96 to receive a scholarship to study psychology at Curtin University, and to maintain high marks during their degree. Some key skills needed to achieve these goals include determination, consistency, flexibility, communication, teamwork, and self-management. Potential challenges are self-doubt, time restraints, and prioritizing study over social activities. To stay focused, the writer plans to surround themselves with supportive peers and family, set short term goals with rewards, and create a study timetable. Their short term goals are to improve communication skills through interacting with others, and to exercise regularly by
there? Personal Skills? Learning and Work, Information, Skills and Knowledge
Action Plan for Long Term Goals
At the end of the year I would like to have graduated from high school and achieved an ATAR of at least 96. I would like to do this so that I can get the Curtin Excellence Scholarship, which is awarded to students who achieve an ATAR of 96 or above as well as put Curtin University as their first preference. Next year I am hoping to be studying a Bachelor of Psychology full time at Curtin University. I would also like to be maintaining a 75% average in majority of my course work to give myself the best possible employment opportunities in the future. Personal Skills I will need determination in order to achieve my goal of a 96 ATAR so that I can maintain motivation and focus throughout the year. I have gained this through having to deal with setbacks throughout my life, which has led me to take on a more positive attitude in regards to when things dont go my way. This will help me to do well as if I do poorly in a test or assignment I can see this as an opportunity in which I can learn from rather than a failure. As well as determination, I will also need to use my skill of consistency in order to maintain a high standard of work in both university and year 12. I have developed this throughout the years due to my slightly perfectionistic personality as well as a drive to always complete my work to a high standard. This will help me especially when doing assignments, as it will result in me working harder to achieve optimum results. On top of this, I will also need to be flexible so I can adapt if something doesnt necessarily go my way. I have developed this through maintaining an open mindset throughout my life so I am more enthusiastic when I am faced with challenges. This will help me in maintaining high marks during year 12 and university as if I dont understand a particular topic I will be more inclined to try a variety of methods to improve. Learning and Work, Information, Skills and Knowledge To achieve my goals I will also need good communication skills so I am able to easily convey as well understand information when it is being told to me. I have developed these skills through my schooling, having done multiple presentations in front of people, as well as through taking part in year 10 drama, which helped to build my confidence as well as my understanding of language and word construction. Doing 3A/B English will also help me when studying psychology as particular texts we have studied have developed my understanding of human interactions and what drives a person. I will also need to be able to work in a team in order to do well at university and high school. I have established these skills through my part time job at Subway in which I have had to constantly work with and rely on other people. This will help me as I will have a greater understanding of delegation and leadership so for school or university projects I will be able to work more affectively in a group to maximize our marks. It will also help me as I can set up a study group with some close friends so we can work together and motivate each other.
In order to achieve my goals I will also need self-management so that I
can manage my time effectively and play on my personal strengths. I have developed these skills through my schooling and work as I have had to consistently balance study, work, exercise and a social life. This will help me in achieving my goals, as my knowledge of self-management will make it easier for me to make the most of my time.
What challenges might I
face in achieving my goals?
Despite these skills helping me to attain high marks throughout high
school and university they are also transferable to my future career as a psychologist. Determination, consistency, flexibility and teamwork will all be extremely important when I am in a work environment as it is important to be able to work with other people and adapt to issues that may arise. Communication and self-management are then essential when dealing with clients, as you need to be well prepared for when you see people as well as be able to express yourself clearly and concisely. There are a number of challenges that I could face to prevent me from achieving high academic results both in high school and at university. This could include self-doubt as in order to do well you must be able to believe in your personal abilities and use them to your benefit. This could lead to my standard of work dropping because something as simple as a negative comment may decrease my motivation and make me less inclined to seek feedback due to fear of criticism. As well as this, a large challenge for me will be time restraints as both school and university will be extremely time consuming if I wish to do well. This will be especially difficult as I am also planning on working and doing physical activity during this time so it may be difficult for me to fit everything in. On top of this, prioritising will also be a challenge for me as to do well you sometimes have to put homework or study before going out or catching up with friends. This will be a challenge for me, as I generally tend to find hanging out with friends a lot more enjoyable than studying and as such it will take a lot of determination for me to stick to a study timetable.
What can help me stay
focused?
Exhaustion will also be a defining factor as to how well I do as my
productivity and efficiency decreases dramatically when I am tired or stressed. This will be especially difficult around exams as there is always so much that needs doing. The main thing I plan on doing to help me stay focused is surrounding myself with a positive group of people. This will help me to maintain motivation, especially in classes, as seeing my friends doing work will result in me being less distracted and more inclined to do work. I will also create a support network through my close friends and family so that I can go to them whenever I am feeling worried or stressed. As well as this, I will also set out short terms goals, then reward myself for achieving these. This will then help to build a positive self-concept and maintain my motivation so that I can continue to do well. I will also display my goals above my desk when I am studying to keep me focused. On top of this, I will also set up a study timetable that includes at least 21 hours a week of homework or study. On this timetable, I will also include time in which I can relax and not do anything which will allow me to get at least 9 hours of sleep a night, decrease my stress levels as well as allow me to have time to relax.
PLAN What do I want to achieve by the end of this term? By When? By the end of term 2 I would like to have improved my communication skills to help me in my future profession as a Psychologist.
By the end of the term I
would like to be going to the Gym a minimum of four times per week and running once a week.
Action Plan for my Short Term Goals
ACT RESOURCES How am I going to do this? Who or what can help me? In order to achieve this I plan on practicing talking to new people when I am working at Subway. This will allow me to become accustomed to talking to people I have never met before as well as not be as nervous when doing so. I also plan on expanding my network so that I can become more comfortable talking to a wide variety of people from different cultures and backgrounds. I plan to do this by joining the interact club which will allow me to meet people from different years and get to know them. I will also start journal writing so I can build a more positive selfconcept as well as hopefully identify the reasons for my slightly introverted personality. This will then give me an understanding of my weaknesses so I can focus on improving these areas. In order to do this, I will use my time management and planning and organisation skills so I can timetable when I will go to the gym and when I will do other schoolwork. This will allow me to create a division between my schoolwork and my personal time so I can have an even spread of both. This will also increase my efficiency, as I will be more inclined to work hard if I know that I only have to do so for a short period of time. As well as this, for the past few months my friend and I have been running once a week and as such I will try to continue to do this. Currently we have been doing it at irregular times so I will try to organise doing it for the same time each week to build this into a habit that we can keep.
Friends and Family- By talking to
my close friends and family they can hopefully help me to identify my main weaknesses in regards to communication such as my level of eye contact or my tone. This will then allow me to work on these areas as well as have people who can monitor my progress. Dad- My Dad will also be able to help me because he was previously a psychologist. This means that he may be able to suggest proven strategies I can take in order to improve my communication skills. Manager- my manager at Subway may also be able to help me through the form of staff evaluations that we are given every six months. These highlight what we are doing well and what we could improve on with one of the main areas that it assesses being communication and customer service. Personal Trainer- My personal trainer can help me to stay motivated and ensure I make the most of my time at the gym. Having a personal training session at least once a week will also put me well on my way to my target of going to the gym 4 times a week. Brother- Currently, my brother is also going to the gym and as such he can help to motivate and encourage me. As well as this, he will be able to drive me there and back so I dont have to take the bus which will result in me going more frequently as it is less time consuming. Fitness Classes- Under my gym membership there are over 40 fitness classes available to me and as such these will help to keep me motivated and going regularly. Phone Apps- On my smart phone I also have a number of apps including S-Health which will help to keep me motivated as it tracks your daily exercise and food intake.
By the end of semester 1
exams I would like to be sitting on the following marks: Careers- 90% Chemistry 90% Maths- 85% History 75% English- 70%
By the end of this term I
also want to be in the habit of packing a nutritious lunch for school every day. Currently, I often run out of time in the morning so just throw something in my bag such as a muesli bar and an apple however this often results in me getting hungry and tired during the day.
In order to achieve these marks I
will maintain a high level of organisation so that I can have all of my assignments done at least 2 days before they are due. This will allow me to take a few days to check and proof read them so they are always completed to a high standard. I will also make the most of my class time and aim to be on task for at least 90% of the time. This will decrease my stress levels as I wont have to spend as much time working at home which will make me more efficient as I am in a better frame of mind. As well as this, I will go through any extra questions or examples available to me as well as doing trial WACE papers under exam conditions. This will be extremely important for me because one of the main issues I struggle with is time constraints. I plan on achieving this goal through increasing my organisation so that I prepare my lunches either the night before or wake up slightly earlier to make them the morning of. I will also try to use any left overs from the night before to incorporate into my lunch to save me time. This way, I will hopefully have a more sustaining and nutritious lunch that will fuel me for the whole school day. This will also be useful later in life because it will develop as a habit that I can continue when I am in a stable job. As well as doing this, at the beginning of each week I will plan what I am going to eat for lunch for that week so I can increase the variety of food I have as well as make sure we have all of the ingredients.
Teachers- My teachers will be a key
factor in achieving these scores as I can always talk to them if I need clarification about particular topics I dont understand. I can also ask them for more worksheets and exam style questions to hopefully more adequately understand the subject. Parents- My parents can also help me as I can go to them for support and encouragement when I am feeling stressed. I can also get them to quiz me for upcoming tests as you generally learn the best when talking to or teaching other people. Brother- My brother can also help me in achieving these goals as he has recently completed year 12 and as such has knowledge and experience he can share with me. I can also go to him with questions or things I dont understand because there are a number of subjects in which we overlapped. Parents- My parents will help me to achieve this goal as if I am ever too busy I can ask them to make up a lunch for me in the morning or cook extra for dinner the night before so I can take that. I can also ask them to buy me extra healthy snacks when theyre doing the shopping so I can take these as well. Friends- My friends will also help me in achieving this as I can ask them to monitor slightly what I eat and make sure I am sticking to my goal. They can also help me by suggesting any food or meals that they find quick and easy. Recipe Books- Recipe books will also be extremely useful to me as it could give me a number of fast lunches that I could make up the night before to take to school.