RHS Counselors Connection
January 2018 Edition
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RHS School Counseling Website: http://www.rhsschoolcounseling.weebly.com
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Refocusing for the New Year?
Golden Rules of Goal Setting
Five Rules to Set Yourself Up for Success
Have you thought about what you want to be doing in five years' time? Are you clear about what your main objective at work is at the moment? Do you know what you want to have achieved by the end of today?
If you want to succeed, you need to set goals. Without goals you lack focus and direction. Goal setting not only allows you to take control of your life's direction; it also provides you a benchmark for determining whether you are actually succeeding. Think about it: Having a million dollars in the bank is only proof of success if one of your goals is to amass riches. If your goal is to practice acts of charity, then keeping the money for yourself is suddenly contrary to how you would define success.
To accomplish your goals, however, you need to know how to set them. You can't simply say, "I want" and expect it to happen. Goal setting is a process that starts with careful consideration of what you want to achieve, and ends with a lot of hard work to actually do it. In between there are some very well-defined steps that transcend the specifics of each goal. Knowing these steps will allow you to formulate goals that you can accomplish.
Here are our five golden rules of goal setting, presented in an article and a video.
The Five Golden Rules
1. Set Goals That Motivate You
When you set goals for yourself, it is important that they motivate you: this means making sure that they are important to you, and that there is value in achieving them. If you have little interest in the outcome, or they are irrelevant given the larger picture, then the chances of you putting in the work to make them happen are slim. Motivation is key to achieving goals.
Set goals that relate to the high priorities in your life. Without this type of focus, you can end up with far too many goals, leaving you too little time to devote to each one. Goal achievement requires commitment, so to maximize the likelihood of success, you need to feel a sense of urgency and have an "I must do this" attitude. When you don't have this, you risk putting off what you need to do to make the goal a reality. This in turn leaves you feeling disappointed and frustrated with yourself, both of which are de-motivating. And you can end up in a very destructive "I can't do anything or be successful at anything" frame of mind.
Tip:
To make sure your goal is motivating, write down why it's valuable and important to you. Ask yourself, "If I were to share my goal with others, what would I tell them to convince them it was a worthwhile goal?" You can use this motivating value statement to help you if you start to doubt yourself or lose confidence in your ability to actually make the goal happen.
2. Set SMART Goals
You have probably heard of SMART goals already. But do you always apply the rule? The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. There are many variations of what SMART stands for, but the essence is this – goals should be:
- Specific.
- Measurable.
- Attainable.
- Relevant.
- Time Bound.
Set Specific Goals
Your goal must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful because they don't provide sufficient direction. Remember, you need goals to show you the way. Make it as easy as you can to get where you want to go by defining precisely where you want to end up.
Set Measurable Goals
Include precise amounts, dates, and so on in your goals so you can measure your degree of success. If your goal is simply defined as "To reduce expenses" how will you know when you have been successful? In one month's time if you have a 1 percent reduction or in two years' time when you have a 10 percent reduction? Without a way to measure your success you miss out on the celebration that comes with knowing you have actually achieved something.
Set Attainable Goals
Make sure that it's possible to achieve the goals you set. If you set a goal that you have no hope of achieving, you will only demoralize yourself and erode your confidence. However, resist the urge to set goals that are too easy. Accomplishing a goal that you didn't have to work hard for can be anticlimactic at best, and can also make you fear setting future goals that carry a risk of non-achievement. By setting realistic yet challenging goals, you hit the balance you need. These are the types of goals that require you to "raise the bar" and they bring the greatest personal satisfaction.
Set Relevant Goals
Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and career to take. By keeping goals aligned with this, you'll develop the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want. Set widely scattered and inconsistent goals, and you'll fritter your time – and your life – away.
Set Time-Bound Goals
You goals must have a deadline. Again, this means that you know when you can celebrate success. When you are working on a deadline, your sense of urgency increases and achievement will come that much quicker.
3. Set Goals in Writing
The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word "will" instead of "would like to" or "might." For example, "I will reduce my operating expenses by 10 percent this year," not "I would like to reduce my operating expenses by 10 percent this year." The first goal statement has power and you can "see" yourself reducing expenses, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if you get sidetracked.
Tip 1:
Frame your goal statement positively. If you want to improve your retention rates say, "I will hold on to all existing employees for the next quarter" rather than "I will reduce employee turnover." The first one is motivating; the second one still has a get-out clause "allowing" you to succeed even if some employees leave.
Tip 2:
If you use a To-Do List , make yourself a To-Do List template that has your goals at the top of it. If you use an Action Program , then your goals should be at the top of your Project Catalog.
Post your goals in visible places to remind yourself every day of what it is you intend to do. Put them on your walls, desk, computer monitor, bathroom mirror or refrigerator as a constant reminder.
4. Make an Action Plan
This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. You get so focused on the outcome that you forget to plan all of the steps that are needed along the way. By writing out the individual steps, and then crossing each one off as you complete it, you'll realize that you are making progress towards your ultimate goal. This is especially important if your goal is big and demanding, or long-term. Read our article on Action Plans for more on how to do this.
5. Stick With It!
Remember, goal setting is an ongoing activity not just a means to an end. Build in reminders to keep yourself on track, and make regular time-slots available to review your goals. Your end destination may remain quite similar over the long term, but the action plan you set for yourself along the way can change significantly. Make sure the relevance, value, and necessity remain high.
Key Points
Goal setting is much more than simply saying you want something to happen. Unless you clearly define exactly what you want and understand why you want it the first place, your odds of success are considerably reduced. By following the Five Golden Rules of Goal Setting you can set goals with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction that comes along with knowing you achieved what you set out to do.
So, what will you decide to accomplish today?
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College Corner
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. In 2015, the student population at FSC consisted of 2,500 students along with 130 full-time faculty members.
Address: 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr, Lakeland, FL 33801
Acceptance rate: 46% (2016)
Undergraduate tuition and fees: 33,150 USD (2016)
Total enrollment: 2,442 (2011)
Mascot: Mocsie
Career Planning & Spotlight
10 Things for High School Students to Remember
Believe it or not, if you’re in high school right now, you’re at a great point in your life. You have your whole life in front of you. And now is a good time to start thinking about your future, to make some initial plans; just remember that plans can be easily changed. Remember too, that experts predict that the average person will change careers — not just jobs — more than five times in his or her lifetime. Now is the time to pursue your dreams!
And as you start thinking about one or more potential educational and career paths, here are 10 things to remember in the days ahead.
1. Take time to think about what you like to do; dream and imagine ideal careers. There are so many opportunities, so many different types of jobs and careers in a wide variety of industries — and there are also other career paths that are just emerging. Even if you are fairly sure of a career choice, take the time in high school to explore similar (or even vastly different) careers. Explore all your options. Examine your likes and dislikes and take a few career-assessment tests. Answer the question, if you could have any job right now, what would it be — and why? Don’t let any barriers hold you back from finding the perfect career.
Example: Take the time for some career assessments to expand your vision of potential majors and career paths.
2. Challenge yourself in high school, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Do get the most out of high school as possible. When you can, take the tough and challenging schedule of classes; you’ll learn more — and it will look good to the college admissions staff. Obviously, you need to stay focused on getting good grades, but don’t overload your schedule — or yourself — so that it makes you sick or burnt out. Be sure to include at least one fun course in your schedule.
Example: If you have a passion for something, such as photography, find a way to schedule a photography course along with your other tougher college-prep courses.
3. Work, volunteer, or otherwise gain some experience. As with your education, the more you are exposed to, the more options will open to you as you search out careers. There are even a growing number of internship opportunities for high-school students. Seek work and volunteer experiences in and out of school. And from a practical standpoint, work experience looks good on college applications — and on future job applications and resumes. And one other benefit if you are working in a paid position: spending money! Just remember that school and grades have to come first, so only work if you can balance your schedule, manage your time.
Example: If you’re interested in a career in journalism, start writing for your school newspaper and look into a part-time job at a local newspaper.
4. Get as much education as you can. We are now a society in which many jobs and careers require additional education or training beyond high school. Some careers even require a graduate degree before you can work in the field. Take advantage of all educational opportunities that come your way, such as summer educational opportunities and educational trips abroad. If financially possible — and there are many ways to help make it so — attend college; college graduates make a much higher salary, on average, than high-school graduates.
Example: If you have a passion for science or math, instead of spending a summer goofing around the community pool, consider a summer math program or a space agency program.
5. Talk with as many adults as possible about careers and colleges. The best way to find out about different careers is to ask people — family, neighbors, friends, teachers, counselors — to tell you about their career and college experiences. If you have not already, begin to build a network of adults who know you and are willing to assist you in your educational and career endeavors. And for careers that truly interest you, consider asking each person if you can shadow him/her at work. You could also consider conducting informational interviews at the same time as the shadowing, or as a less intrusive method of learning more about jobs and careers.
Example: If you have a passion for history and are considering a career as a college history professor, contact a local college and ask one or more of the history professors if you can shadow them or conduct an informational interview.
6. Remember that everyone must follow his or her own path in life. Don’t spend too much time worrying what other people in your high school are doing — or letting their opinions about your dreams and ambitions affect your decision. And don’t worry if you leave high school with no clear career path — that’s partly what college is all about, discovering who you are and what you want to do in life. Everyone develops/matures/grows at their own pace, so don’t feel the need to rush to make a decision now… but don’t use the fact that you have plenty of time to make a decision as an excuse not to at least start learning and researching potential career options.
Example: Many colleges offer special “discovery” programs for entering first-year students who have no real idea of majors and careers. These programs expose you to a wide variety of classes, events, and speakers to help lead you onto a path of career discovery.
7. People change; don’t feel locked into any college or career now. It’s great to have an ideal plan for your life, but remember that things happen, and your plans may need to change… so keep an open mind — and keep your options open. Some of your friends — or perhaps you — already know, or think you know, what you want to do in life. If so, that’s fantastic, but don’t become so myopic that you lose sight of other interesting opportunities. There are career paths that have not even started today that may be big in five or more years.
Example: One of my college students, whose parents are both lawyers, is certain his fate is to be a corporate attorney, and his plans currently include law school after his undergraduate education; however, he is also taking a full set of business courses, as well as some interesting electives, in case “things change” by the time he graduates.
8. Don’t let anyone control your dreams and ambitions. You will be horribly miserable at best if you let a parent or other family member dictate your major or your career. Students often feel pressure to follow in an adult family member’s career path, especially if s/he is footing the bill for college, but the worst thing you can do is choose a career to please someone else.
Example: A former student of mine came from “a family of accountants,” and everyone was supposed to join the family CPA firm. The problem, however, was that she had no aptitude for numbers and hated accounting — yet could not summon the courage to tell her family. When she finally did confess her dislike, the world did not end, and her parents actually encouraged her to follow her passion.
9. It’s never too early nor too late to get organized and begin making plans. No matter where you are in high school, now is the time to plan the remainder of your high-school years — as well as your plans after high school. Research your options for after graduation — technical schools, community colleges, four-year universities, etc. Start or continue your preparation for the various standardized tests (such as the SAT and ACT). Start thinking about teachers who might be willing to write letters of recommendation for you — and approach them when the time is near. Finally, make plans to fill any gaps in your plans — such as striving for better grades, taking tougher courses, gaining experience, or earning community-service hours.
Example: Many teachers get swamped with last-minute requests for letters of recommendation for college admission, so the earlier you approach the teachers who can write the best recommendations for you, the better off you’ll be.
10. Never stop learning… read, grow, and expand your mind. Don’t pass-up opportunities to learn and experience new things. Many teachers offer or assign summer and supplemental reading lists — look at these as opportunities for growth rather than a drag on your summer. The more you read, the more you’ll know. It’s a cliche, but knowledge is power.
Example: One high-school student was sure he wanted to be a teacher, but the more he read about cutbacks in educational spending and the decline in the educational experiences in many parts of the country, he decided he would be better off becoming a political activist for educational reform than as a teacher stuck in what he saw as a decaying system.
Final Thoughts About High School
High school is a real transition time for teens, as you move into adulthood and the more adult issues of work, careers, and college. It should be a time of growth as well as a time of challenge. Have fun, but get the best education you can so that you are positioned to take advantage of further educational opportunities… and no matter where you go after high school, never stop learning and growing.
This article was written by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. and can be found at https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/high-school-critical-issues
Drone Technician/Pilot
This new technology field is so new that not much information is available on job growth, average pay or qualifications. Some schools are trying to jump into this market and help students get ahead of the curve by offering preliminary programs to help job seekers get their foot in the door.
An Associate of Science degree in Aviation Administration at FSCJ offers the chance to specialize in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and earn the FAA Drone Pilot certificate. For more information about this program go to https://www.fscj.edu/academics/areas-of-study/aviation/aviation-administration-(60)-(air-traffic-control)
Other schools in the area that offer drone technology degrees or certificates (just a sample list and not intended to be comprehensive):
Embry-Riddle University- Bachelor degree program in Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Florida State University- certificate program in Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Troy University- Associate degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems
University of Florida- Degree programs in Engineering and Robotics
Go to http://rhsschoolcounseling.weebly.com/scholarships.html for more scholarship information.
The James (Coach) Day Scholarship- $1,000
Available to any high school senior track and field active team member of a school participating in the current Bob Hayes Invitational Track and Field Meet may apply. Download the guidelines and scholarship packet at www.bhitm.org. Deadline is February 1, 2018.
Clay Electric Youth Scholarship Program
This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to 25 seniors in the Clay Electric coverage area. The scholarship application is only available in paper copy in the School Counseling office. Please stop by for a copy ASAP. Deadline is April 2, 2018.
American College Foundation- Visionary Scholarship Program $1,000 - $5,000
All applications for the American College Foundation (“ACF”) Visionary Scholarship Program will consist of: 1) a completed ACF Visionary Scholarship Application, 2) a copy of the student’s most recent unofficial high school transcript, 3) a 500 word, typed, double-spaced essay. All components of the application must be received for a student to be eligible for an award. Applications are judged on the ability to follow guidelines (25%), grammar and punctuation (25%), and the merit of the written essay (50%). Applicants must be United States Citizens or Eligible Non-Citizens and may be asked to participate in a qualification interview as part of the application process to assist the ACF in ultimately determining the winners. Awards range from $1,000 - $5,000 each; with multiple winners to be selected. Go to www.AmericanCollegeFoundation.org to apply
YMCA- Reading Tutors
Work in a small group environment or one-on-one with a kindergartener to 3rd grade student developing positive self-esteem and reading skills. Afterschool Mondays through Thursdays. Contact Clarissa Evans Y READS Program Coordinator at cevans@firstcoastymca.org or 904-336-2043
Community Hospice thrift shop is looking for teen volunteers for all aspects of their store. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old. Please contact Moira Minta, Thrift Shop Volunteer Coordinator, at mminta@communityhospice.com or call 904-998-1718 for more information.
Student Resources
SAP (Student Assistance Program) Counselor- Kim Barrera
The Student Assistance Program works with identified adolescents to screen for risk factors that may interfere with a student’s ability to positively cope with life challenges and stressors. The program consists of individual and/or group prevention activities where teens work with an SAP team member 1-4 times a month on a short term basis. SAP does not provide direct therapy services but can assist students with accessing services through Clay Behavioral Health. You can ask any of your teachers to go see Ms. Barrera in Building 5 room 554 or you can talk with your School Counselor to be referred for services.
Military Life Counselor- Atrews Bell
Mr. Bell provides a variety of services and/or referrals for students with a parent/guardian on active duty or retired military. This can include academic assistance, personal counseling, help with transitioning from school to school and much more. See your School Counselor for more details or stop by Mr. Bells office in Building 1 room 140.
Contact Us!
Pre-IB & IB Students
(904) 336- 8912
Lori.feathergill@myoneclay.net
Maria Littlejohn
Student Last Names A-E
(904) 336- 8904
Maria.littlejohn@myoneclay.net
Jackie Welch
Student Last Names F-L
(904) 336- 8903
Jacquelyn. welch@myoneclay.net
Margo Whyte
Student Last Names M-R
(904) 336-8902
Tabbatha Johns
Student Last Names S-Z
(904) 336-8906