Helping Students Set Goals

By Doug Franklin June 29, 2010

When students think about goal setting, they often get stuck in the things that are “given.”  Like graduating, making it through the semester, winning a certain number of games or matches, and getting into a specific college.  It can be hard for students to think about goals in light of the journey God has them on.  It can also be hard for them to think of life outside of other people’s expectations, rather than their own passions and dreams.

When helping students make goals and think of their future, I like to start with the end first. If you ask your student what they want their life to look like at the end of the semester or summer or year, it gives them a picture of where they are going.  Follow up with questions like:

• What will it feel like?
• What types of things will be in their life?
• What kind of relationships will they have?
• What will their relationship with God look like?
• How will they spend their time?

Then the question is, how do they get there?  What do they need to do or learn? And the goal setting can begin.  You can also use this process to chose Bible studies and mentors for them.  Knowing what they want in the end, helps you know what they need in order to grow.