Hello,
So often in these situations I feel that I’m writing to myself as much as I am to any of you. It’s a cold, wet, very windy day here in Wellington so I made the trek up to the Vic Library to do some work and revision. As well the library is about 30 degrees (F) warmer than my flat. So naturally a good choice.
I normally set semester goals and plans three times a year. Once for Fall, Spring and Summer. I normally review my goals near the end of the semester, usually once I’m home, but I have decided to do it early this time because I have the time and because I need to see how I stacked up. Anyways Below are my goals and my reviews of how I did.
As an aside, I use the PMS-GOALS-PLAN-ACTION method when strategizing.
Goals for Studying Abroad over the next 5 months:
1. Successfully adapt to the NZ Culture
To be honest at the beginning I didn’t really know what this was going to entail/mean, but I believe I have achieved it and have taken appropriate measures to understand what it means to be Kiwi. The most important outcome is the confidence to know I can live in another place outside of home.
2. Connect with half of my professors
Surprisngly to me at least this works. I feel I have good relationships with two of my professors. This goal is usually a little ambiguous but I accomplished it.
3. Meet 5 Quality new people
I always add the word quality in here as a qualifier for myself. It is never easy to meet new people and to be honest most of them will not be your friends. For my purposes I define quality as someone I can learn something from or someone who will become a close acquaintance of mine. I believe I have accomplished this goal.
4. Do something new every week
This is a tough one for me. You do things while travelling that you otherwise might not and I think I have accomplished this goal. Its purpose provides more of a continued impetus to try new things more than anything else.
5. Learn a new sport
I have a fair grasp for both cricket and rugby. And I have learned a helleva lot more about volleyball, so that is worth it alone.
6. Try a new food fortnightly.
Nom Nom Nom Nom. Enough said, this is definetely true!
7. Get more Tan!
A good justification for spending a lot of time at the beach! It worked at the beginning. You might think it is wierd to include in my goals, but I still think it is important.
8. Go on at least two backpacking trips.
My one long one and my upcoming trip to Australia! If I had a car I might have gone on more, but I have seen a lot of the country and am very fortunate and thankful for the opportunity to see what I have.
9. Learn More about myself.
Hahahahah. Yah this one is totally accomplished.
10. Lose 10 Pounds.
I am really interested to see if I get this one as I haven’t weighed myself sense leaving hope with a less than impressive 190 lbs. So I won’t know this one till I get home!
The Plan:
1. Work on being more outgoing while still taking time for myself.
This was another impetus part of the plan but I think I have worked on it. Starting more conversations and being a lot more like the high school version of myself, where I would talk to pretty much anyone. This is hard for me as I am a high judger.
2. Play volleyball and join at least one club.
I have gotten to play a good amount of volleyball and am very fortunate for all of that. I was a class rep and faculty delegate and I am counting that as my club.
3. Take sport lessons of some kind, namely golf.
I actually worked on this for the first few weeks while I was here. However I gave up the effort once uni started and I realized that the couple of places were bus rides away. I did not accomplish this goal.
4. Eat healthier.
This is a mixed bag as to success. I somewhat accomplished it, I have tried cooking a wider variety of foods, and tried A LOT of different types, but not always healthy. I’m gonna call this one a draw.
5. Reflect at least once every two nights before sleeping.
Nope. I did a lot of reflecting but not how I wanted too. I will still need to work on a routine for this.
6. Be confident in my actions, yet still vulnerable.
I think this worked, but I cannot be the judge of this because bulnerablility is judged from the outside. As far as being confident goes, that is just part of who I am!
7. Keep in contact with those I have met and those back home fortnightly.
I have definitely succeeded in this goal and that makes me close to most proud. I honestly feel closer to some of the people back home than I have in a long time. It really is true that you don’t know what you got till it is gone. And I partially took my home support group for granted and I am hoping I can bring that back with me.
8. Keep a positive attitude towards life.
This is a lot harder now that it is winter. But overall I accomplished this goal.
9. Ask for Help!
I accomplished this. It is again a little hard to judge but I know in my actions I asked for a lot more help.
10. Smile! Smile! Smile!
I think this one has worked, but I am a tough judge of that. I think it has worked best when I have been around annoying people and smiled more. So yah I think that’s good.
I would give myself around an 85% success rate on my goals which is a little higher than I like. However, I think that I did set my expectations a little lower due to my unknown circumstances.
Anyways I would love to hear from any of you reading this far about how you set/update/make goals, etc at any time.
All the best,
-Mathias Rost