By: Liz Fuchs (Zeta Omicron-Wake Forest 

Setting goals is an activity you will do throughout your lifetime – in college, professionally and personally. Mastering the ability to clearly define goals, develop plans to achieve them and track your progress will serve you well regardless of whether your goals revolve around academics, personal development, career aspirations, or health and wellness.  

Clearly Define Your Goals 

Vague goals can lead to vague results, so the more specificity you can add to your goals the easier it will be to create a plan to achieve the goal. 

Using the SMART framework to articulate what you want to achieve can help you set better goals. Your goals should be: 

Identify Your Priorities 

We all have so many demands on our time, regardless of our stage of life. For some it’s classes, extracurriculars and social activities, while for others it may be work, family responsibilities and volunteer commitments. With so many demands on your time it’s important to set priorities. Ask yourself: What matters most to me right now? Your goals should align with your values and long-term aspirations. For example, if mental health and self-care are priorities, setting a goal to incorporate mindfulness or regular exercise into your routine can be a great starting point. If professional growth is a priority, setting goals to meet with a mentor and listening to podcasts about your field would be helpful. 

Break Down Big Goals into Smaller Steps 

When a goal is large, it can feel overwhelming making it easy to procrastinate. Breaking down your goals into smaller, manageable steps can make them feel more attainable and lead to greater success. For example, if your goal is to secure a summer internship, smaller steps may include: 

• Research companies of interest. 

• Network with others in the field. 

• Draft and ask someone review your resume and cover letter. 

• Apply to at least three internships per month. 

By tackling goals one step at a time, progress becomes more achievable and less daunting. Many studies have shown that success begets success, so you are more likely to accomplish your goals when you feel the momentum of success created by achieving steps along the way. 

Stay Accountable 

Accountability can be a game-changer when it comes to achieving your goals. Find a mentor, friend or accountability partner who can encourage and support you along the way. Sharing your goals with someone makes you more likely to follow through. Additionally, setting reminders and scheduling regular check-ins with yourself can help you stay on track. 

Embrace Flexibility and Learning 

It’s important to remain flexible and adjust your goals when necessary because life is unpredictable, and sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Instead of seeing setbacks as failures, view them as an opportunity to learn for next time. Remember – lifelong learning is one of our Kappa Delta values!  

If a particular strategy isn’t working, tweak your approach rather than giving up entirely. Learning resilience and adaptability are essential to long-term success in all areas of our lives.  

Celebrate Your Achievements 

Acknowledging your progress as you work towards a goal – no matter how small – can keep you motivated. Celebrate milestones by treating yourself, sharing your success with loved ones, or simply taking a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come. Recognizing your efforts reinforces positive habits and boosts self-confidence. 

Goal setting is a powerful tool that can help you navigate your academic, professional and personal life with confidence. By setting clear objectives, breaking them into actionable steps, staying accountable and learning along the way, you can turn your goals into your reality. Remember, success isn’t just about reaching a destination—it’s about the journey and growth that happens along the way. 

Liz Fuchs serves as the Chief People Officer for Farmer Focus. She oversees: training and development; human resources; internal communication; community engagement; environmental, health and safety; and project management and engineering. 

Liz is passionate about serving organizations by helping them value, recognize and harness the power and potential of their people. She holds a masters in human resources and employee relations from Penn State and a bachelors from Wake Forest. Liz is committed to seeing her sisters thrive and has served Kappa Delta at the local and national level for over 20 years.