G. Setting and Achieving Goals

Setting goals and achieving them is one of the best ways of raising self-esteem.

1. Setting goals

* Two things go into the tool kit at this point: the goal jar and the measuring tape.
* Ask students to go back to some of the previous exercises, and have them determine areas where they would like to set goals.
* Ask them to set short-term and long-term goals in relation to their career, their education or their personal life. Make sure they are SMART Goals - specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, tangible.
* Some points to consider:

• What situations challenge you?
• What skills do you need to feel more comfortable in those situations? Make it a goal to learn the skills and practise them.
• What do you want to achieve? Make it into a goal.
• What do you have to do to attain your goal? List the steps and record them in your journal. Set a date for the goal to be reached. Make a commitment. Put it in your goal jar.
• Look at the areas in your life where you feel incomplete. Set goals for yourself in those areas.
• Look at the areas where your self-esteem suffers. Set goals for yourself in those areas.

* As you achieve your goals, give yourself credit for them, and keep track of them in your tool kit.

2. Sources of inspiration

* Have students find quotes which give them strength and courage.
* Have them bring the quotes to class to be shared with the others. Put them on the wall.
* Invite students to write relevant ones in their personal journals for strength at later times.

H. Concluding Activities

These activities would best be done in a series of activities over the course of the last week. You will need a candle, with matches or lighter, a stack of small papers, a supply of pens, a pillow. For each student, you will need an envelope, a paper cut in the form of a silhouette, a self photograph, two rocks and any other items personally selected for the tool kit.

1. Silhouette

* Arrange everyone in a circle. Pass out the paper shaped like a head and shoulders. Ask the students to list on that paper the qualities they most admire in others. On the flip side of the paper have them write the word ME.

* While students are doing this, write on flip chart so no one can see until they have finished the exercise: "What you admire most in others, you already possess yourself."

* When they are finished, reveal the quote and discuss it.

* On the ME side, have students write a letter of commitment to work on goals in specific areas of their choice. Have them list the ways they can help themselves and the tools that will help them. Encourage them to use their tool kit, and add to it as required.

* Ask students to put their finished letters in their tool kits.

2. Rock throwing

* Review the tool kit designed in the beginning (page 140). Mention the pillow for comfort.

* Ask the students one by one to indicate any other items they have chosen to put in their tool kit.

* Give each of the students a rock; as a group go outside into some far-off corner and one by one throw that rock as far, and high, and hard, as you can.

* Go back into class and give each of them another rock to put in their tool kit for when it is needed again.