How to Inspire College Students: Life Goals Activity

Do your students know what their life goals are?

At least once during the semester- normally during the beginning or middle of the term- I have my students do some sort of activity to evaluate why they’re really here in college, or more generally, what they want out of life.

This semester I created an activity that I call the the ‘Goals Activity.’

It’s nothing complicated, and it usually takes about 50 minutes to complete (including the video I play), but I think it leaves myself and my students with a sense of accomplishment and hope for what’s to come.

This is the actual activity that I pull up on the projector:

How to Accomplish Your Goals & Overcome Your Fears

Amy Cuddy
Dr. Ivan Joseph
Olympia LePoint

1. What 3 goals do you have for the future that require some amount of confidence and/or getting up in front of people?

2. What obstacles (fear, intimidation, money, etc.) are in your way? Write at least 1 per goal.

3. How will the techniques in this video help you in accomplishing these goals? Be specific. Write at least 1 per goal.

I encourage you to watch some of the other videos in your free time, and do this activity as you consider tactics for accomplishing your goals.

I hope this helped you realize you can do anything you put your mind to!

Instructor directions:

1. Tell the students to take out some paper and write down their answers to the questions. I let them know I won’t be collecting this, it’s theirs to keep, so their goals can be as lofty as they’d like.
2. Ask if anyone would like to share some of their goals and the obstacles that might stand in their way. I don’t pressure them to volunteer their answers, since I know some dreams are embarrassing to say out loud. However, I always have around 10 students eager to share.
3. Show 1 of the 3 TED talks (if you’ve found others that would work for this activity, that’s awesome, too). Pause the video periodically if you’d like to discuss it a bit with the class.
4. Have students share how they can overcome some of their obstacles using some key ideas from the speech (if they’re willing). You can even share some of your own as the instructor.

~

I was surprised by how open my students were about their goals and fears during this activity.

I was also surprised that very simple life/career advice to 18-year-olds- or to anyone in college, really- can truly make a difference. We discussed the importance of internships, and I was able to put them in touch with to help a few of them achieve their dreams.

The activity not only helped my students bond and grow as people, but I think it helped get them excited about life.

I believe it’s important for every instructor take a step back for one period during the semester to do an activity like this one. Most of the time students aren’t sure what their goals are, or how to reach them, but this activity gives them a chance to start working toward something.

College can feel much more important when students see it as a clear step on their way to their own specific success.