<p>Coming up with outrageous goals for yourself isn't crazy, is it? I do it all the time. While I don't think it's probable that I'll be the valedictorian of my class, go to the Intel ISEF Science Fair, or get accepted into Stanford, these goals really drive me to try as hard as I can to make myself the person I want to be. I once read a motivational poster that said "Reach for the stars and maybe you'll touch the sky," and honestly, that bothered me a lot at the time. But thinking about it, if I reach up high, I can't miss it by too much. And it's even greater if I touch that star, but if I don't touch it exactly, at least I know where I'm headed, and that I'm trying my hardest to get there. I'm only in my sophomore year, and I'm in the top five of my class, I went to Regional Science Fair, and I'm taking on rigorous classes and club leadership positions. </p>
<p>What kinds of goals, outrageous or not, motivate you to try your hardest at what you love, or what you aspire to be and do with your life? Everyone in the CC community must have some drive for academic rigor and struggle, and it'd be nice to see where everyone got that motivation, or where everyone sees themselves accomplishing doing the thing that they love.</p>
<p>In sixty years or so I won’t exist anymore, and the only meaning my life can have is meaning I pretend it has while I’m here. The main things that make my life “feel meaningful” are the pursuit of knowledge and my relationships with other people. This is my ultimate motivation (or at least I say it is), but I still procrastinate a lot.</p>
<p>I know it sounds clichè, but you only live once in this world. We’re in America, the greatest country on Earth. You have to leave a lasting legacy behind, and you have about 80 years to do so. I was watching Shark Tank last night, and it occurred to me that this was the only place somebody could become a millionaire overnight. I also realized that Americans who aren’t starting businesses are crazy. So now, I really want to start my own business, play around on the stock market, and/or be the CEO of some large company. </p>
<p>When thinking about goals, look inside yourself. What makes you happy? Are they material things like a house, a car, or money? Or are they intangible, like fame, family, or knowledge? Think about it really hard, and then decide what you want to do. When people say anything is possible, they mean it.</p>
<p>Goals: Olympics (I have a whole long-term plan/strategy for this), competing internationally in my EC (almost there), becoming an emergency medicine physician, and using my talents and what makes me unique to serve others and leave this world a better place when I’m gone. </p>
<p>@afroninja26 “We’re in America, the greatest country on Earth.”</p>
<p>Sorry what. Militarily, it may be the greatest for now, but by the time we’re in our 30s or 40s, not so. In any case, you do realize Shark Tank is a copycat show off Dragon’s Den, which is for Canadians. Also, becoming a millionaire overnight can happen in any developed countries with investors and a capitalist economy. Since we’re talking about economy and money, you do realize America relies heavily on China economically.</p>
<p>I’m sure you’ve read on many college websites, the world is becoming a global and more connected economy. America relies on the rest of the world as much as the rest of the world relies on each other. On shark tank, I’m sure you’ve seen some patriotic entrepreneurs who try to keep jobs in the US. While this is an admirable endeavor, that sort of mindset can limit a business from growing and even kill it if the product isn’t patented. </p>
<p>Furthermore, your comment on CC where there are people from all over the world (and indeed America is people from all over the world) can come across as insensitive and downright stupid. What I find most annoying is Americans blaming the government for literally everything and still acting high and mighty over other countries. If you keep that attitude, you’ll be in for a rude shock when you grow up. </p>
<p>Woah @Woandering nothing wrong with some patriotic pride. Americans are just as entitled to believing their country is the best as any other nationality. We’re flawed, like any other country, but I think we’re pretty special myself, and there’s nothing wrong with stating that. If I were on some German equivalent of CC, and someone said “Germany is the greatest” I would be fine with that, no offense taken. I’m glad someone has pride in their country. It’s not “downright stupid” do you have to bring such negativity to this thread? Gaah CC posters.</p>
<p>@southerncharm95
No. Absolutely nothing wrong with a little “patriotic pride.” Until it starts disputes, arguments, threats, etc. I’ve seen that happen in all different types of forums and websites, especially Yahoo News.</p>
<p>If I had used Germany (for example) as a counter to the “America is the greatest” claim, would you be so lenient on posting an insensitive comment online? If I had, like many others, started a dispute on the topic between America and Germany, you would most likely take one side, instead of saying there’s nothing wrong with representing your country and having a little “Patriotic pride.” </p>
<p>America is great, “land of the free,” and all that. But we all need to keep in mind that there are international students here, students who may have as equally great pride in their country as you do in yours. </p>
<p>Obviously off topic, but I just wan’t side with Woandering here. America is great for kids, sheltering them and making believe they do live in the best country in the world (and a top education for those who dish out the cash), but everyone should take some time to examine the ground they stand on before they call it the best. This is a fictional quote from a TV show, but it really lays it out there. It was a response to the question “Why is America the greatest country in the world?”</p>
<p>“With a straight face, you’re going to tell students that America is so starspangled awesome that we’re the only ones in the world who have freedom? Canada has freedom, Japan has freedom, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, BELGIUM has freedom! Two hundred and seven sovereign states in the world, like 180 of them have freedom. . . . There is absolutely no evidence to support the statement that we’re the greatest country in the world. We’re seventh in literacy, twenty-seventh in math, twenty-second in science, forty-ninth in life expectancy, 178th in infant mortality, third in median household income, number four in labor force, and number four in exports. We lead the world in only three categories: number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe angels are real, and defense spending, where we spend more than the next twenty-six countries combined, twenty-five of whom are allies.”</p>
<p>Just some food for thought. I was born and raised in America, this isn’t coming from outside the US even.</p>
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<p>On topic, goals are VERY useful. I keep an updated goals document on my computer and look through regularly. It’s not a goal if you don’t write it down or hold yourself to it in some other way. On optimism versus realism, it depends on the person I think. I keep my goals very realistic and meet almost all of them, but you have to know yourself and your capabilities well to avoid cutting yourself short of ability. Also, the shoot for the stars idea can definitely help motivate some people very effectively.</p>
<p>lolol @halcyonheather I certainly waste a little bit of time planning, but it keeps your eyes on the prize. I will mention that I have only missed about 5% of the goals on that document in the past few years, none which ended up being important.</p>
<p>@PengsPhils I love that quote from the Newsroom! However, although nothing @Woandering said is false, he was a little harsh. I think he misinterpreted an offhand comment and created a dispute where one didn’t need to be. I believe @afroninja26 was just referring to a great but not unique characteristic of American society: social mobility. Dreams can become realities. People can start their own businesses or go on a show like shark tank or rise from poverty to being a CEO. This can happen in many other countries, but I feel Americans take an awful lot of pride in it. The “America is the greatest” line might have been a tad insensitive and not really true, but the intent was not malicious, just idealistic.</p>
<p>I had a list of colleges I keep updating. I’m sort of obsessed with looking at different colleges. I have since deleted the list and am trying to get over egg obsession. Like others mentioned, sometimes thinking about goals can take up too much time. </p>
<p>Honestly, I exhibit the exact opposite attitude. Unfortunately, I tend to put myself down and compare myself to others in hopes of improving myself. Why? I simply don’t think I’m capable of many of my illustrious “goals”. However, that does not mean that I do not want to achieve my goals. Instead, I feel a deep inhibition of personal confidence that lurks my endeavors and hopes. Ironically, this does not pertain to social encounters. Rather it plagues academic feats and so forth. </p>