Goals

        It is essential to set goals in life for a plethora of reasons. Goals serve as motivation and inspiration in our lives. They give us a purpose for working hard and accomplishing many tasks and feats, for without something to reach for, everything that we work for would be futile. Although it is necessary for one to create goals in general, time-sensitive goals are precisely what drive us forward on our path. Through the act of setting and striving towards goals, you improve your focus towards your wants and needs, and it is more difficult for someone or something to distract you from attaining your intended outcome.

        This year, I would like to expand the genres of literature that I enjoy reading. I don't often consider reading books in genres other than science fiction, classic literature, nonfiction, or fiction novels (preferably historical fiction), but I would like to broaden my taste in books. I would also like to improve my writing skills, for I feel as though my dexterity with words has declined dramatically since last year, and I have not been entirely complacent about my workmanship. I would also like to learn how to write in a way in which I minimize my amount of unnecessary detail, or "fluff," in my writing, especially for work in and for AP World History. Also vital to my success in this school year would be the ability to manage my time prudently. Currently (and in the past), I have a bad habit of procrastinating, and that would prove detrimental to my grade and success in my classes this year, for on top of multiple honors-level courses, I am taking a rigorous (and somewhat arduous) AP course, making time management imperative.
        Although I do not yet know exactly what I would like to do in my future, I do have a path that I would like to take, albeit not clear and perpetually changing. I know that I would like to jump straight into a 4-year university after I graduate high school. Whether or not that will happen is unclear at the moment, but even though it may not be my first choice, I am also open to the possibility of attending a Cal State. I am still unsure of what I would like to major in, but right now, I am leaning towards either history or chemistry. After college, I would either want to pursue a career as a historian, an aerospace engineer, or an anesthesiologist. My career choices vastly differ in subjects and qualifications, and I dwell on my future decision often, despite the time that I possess. Even though I would greatly appreciate a career that leaves me comfortable financially, I do not wish to take a job merely for its salary. I want to be happy in what I do, and I want to be able to spend time with my future family.