* The 2014-2015 senior student signature series features area senior class students – and their own “signature” outlooks on a topic of their choice. A new outlook will be posted on Cross-Counties Connect each Friday. The series opens with point of view comments by seniors from Mountain Lake Public High School. The opinions can be found by clicking on the Family & Faith link on the website’s header, and scrolling down to, and clicking on, Outlook. Their teachers are Brenda Feil, Kim Syverson and Debby Jass.
Dream On
I have never heard of anyone dreaming of failure or striving to be unsuccessful. With that said, many people have dreams, and some are willing to work toward their goals to exceed their limits, defying the odds set before them. Many of these goals are tagged with the wish to have something or to be someone, and the path to these goals can be hidden from our view. However, any goal is achievable with planning and a positive outlook.
In order to attain a goal, you first need to picture yourself with your goal accomplished. Have the thought of losing those unpleasing ten pounds or getting that perfect job cling to your mind, with victory so clear, you could mistake it for reality. The sights after winning that final game should be sharp, the sounds crisp. Envisioning the end result can motivate you to keep pushing toward your goal so that others will not set you back or bring you down to mediocrity.
Now that you can visualize your dream happening, you need to plan out your road ahead. What are you going to do to reach your goal? How much time are you willing to sacrifice for triumph? Write down what you are going to do each day so that you do not forgot your goal, and make a list of anything holding you back, such as an addiction to television or a lack of time management skills. Share your goal with someone you know, so that he or she can hold you accountable and push you to your limits.
After creating a plan to achieve your goal, your last step is to take action, which is the most difficult and time-consuming task in reaching a goal. Turning away and throwing in the towel after a difficult workout or an overwhelming problem may be the easiest choice, but taking action and failing is common; however, failure gives you the chance to learn from mistakes and should inspire you to dream bigger. Mr. Stephen Funk, my agriculture leadership teacher at Mountain Lake Public High School, said, “If you have not failed, then you have not set the bar high enough.” If you have a difficult goal to achieve, do not lower your standards because even the most successful people have failed. Walt Disney, a cultural icon in filmmaking, was fired by a newspaper editor because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” He later went on to change the movie animation industry. Also, after Harrison Ford’s first movie role, he was taken into his executive’s office and told he would never succeed in the movie business, yet his acting career went on to span six decades. Your dream does not have to be as large as these, but with a proper work ethic, your dream can become a reality.
To conclude, people set goals all the time, but reaching them can be quite challenging. Once you recognize your potential for greatness, seek it and keep believing in your dream and your ability to accomplish it. Strategize what needs to be done each day in order to fulfill your dream, and do not let yourself or any other obstacles stand between you and success. Dedicate yourself to your goal, keeping it in front of you, because if you stick with it and never give up, your dream will come true.