SMART Goal Setting for a Scholarship

There is a popular formula out there for achieving your goals: SMART: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely This formula seems almost too simple. But it does work.

I had the goal of winning an essay writing contest. The goal was specific: take two consecutive beginning French courses, write a winning essay.

Timely wasn't an issue, there was a deadline. But realistic and attainable? I was one of the worst students in the class. Not my fault - everyone else had much more background and experience.

But back to specific: the guidelines did say that it was for those in the beginner level. So I took the class, worked hard and wrote the essay. Others more experienced did, too. In fact, some even laughed that such a beginner would enter. Even my teacher was doubtful.

Initially there was one prize but the committee decided that that year, they'd award four prizes and I got the second one.

Before I took the class I actually had the goal: I asked about scholarships and they had mentioned this one essay contest. From the beginning I set my eyes on the prize. The surprise, though, as it often turns out, that there is often more than one prize!