Entering a new semester can hold a unique set of feelings and emotions for everyone. It is the perfect time to create new sets of goals, strategies, and approaches you would like to implement to achieve your academic, professional or personal goals for that semester. A crucial aspect of being human is setting goals for the things we want to do and pursuing them. Even if the road to our objectives may not always be straight or simple, having goals in life, no matter how great or small, is essential to a happy existence. Our general happiness benefits from it because it offers a feeling of meaning and purpose, provides direction on the right path, and engages our interest. Here are seven tips for setting great goals for the semester: 

First, it is important to define your goals and what you want to achieve. This could change from semester to semester. It could range from improving your grades, expanding your support network, finding part-time employment or learning a new skill. Ideally, it is something you want to do and, preferably, something you're interested in or excited about,  You should desire to accomplish it for your own sake, not for the sake of something or someone else. This creates intrinsic motivation. When you need to achieve a goal that is external to you - a high grade in a specific class it is important to personalize it to your own goals.

Writing down your goals helps in the process of visualizing it and setting actionable steps to achieve your goals. The likelihood of achieving our goals increases when we put them in writing. Put down a deadline and how you plan to measure your success in writing. What will it "look" like and how will you feel once you complete it?  Break down your objective in terms of timeframes and specifics, this helps you visualize the steps you need to take to achieve your goal and can make a larger goal feel more attainable.

Writing down goals and talking to friends, family or your community about it helps to build accountability and people are more likely to follow through with their goals. Creating a system of accountability makes you feel more responsible for completing these goals and making progress. Having an accountability partner helps in reminding you of your goals, being a source of motivation, and having a support system to rely on.

Breaking down goals into smaller short-term goals can help visualize your progress and the steps you need to take towards achieving your goal. For bigger ambitious aims, this is especially crucial. Define the steps to accomplishing your main objective. Sometimes our major objectives are a little nebulous, like "I want to be healthier." When you dissect your main goal into minor ones, you will be able to see the steps you need to take to achieve your goal. You should also strive to create deadlines for each goal and write them down. It is more probable that we will continue the path to our greater goal if we have a few smaller goals. It also helps keep you motivated when you can see the progress you made from completing smaller goals! 

There’s a saying that goes “every journey begins with a single step.” Even if walking 1,000 miles isn't your aim, taking your first step is the start. The first step can feel like the hardest, especially if you don't know where to begin. One suggestion is to conduct research, connect with someone more knowledgeable regarding your goal (Teaching Assistants, Academic Advisors, Counsellors, etc), or borrow a book on the topic from the library. This can give you confidence to start, which makes progress towards your goal.

Sometimes achieving our goals can be challenging and frustrating, but we must remind ourselves to persist. If you feel stuck, think of a different step you could take if the one your current way of doing things isn't moving you forward. Ask your friends and acquaintances for advice if you're having trouble can also be a big help. They might aid in changing your perspective. It increases our chances of success if we consider several strategies for achieving our objectives. 

When your goals are achieved, take some time to celebrate and give thanks to those who assisted you. Consider what you discovered along the journey and appreciate how far you’ve come. Reflect on what strategies were most successful. The process of achieving goals can be a challenging process but a learning experience, navigating through challenges can be a learning process of resilience and discipline. After completion, you can move on to your next upcoming project or goal to conquer.