Annabel and Erika are college freshmen taking up a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy. Whereas both of the girls have exemplary records in their respective high schools (both of them graduated on top of their class), anyone who has read the girls’ assignment on their respective goal in college could easily predict that Erika will do better. Compared to Annabel’s “I’m gonna do well in class” goal, Erika bravely has her eyes set on the goal of “Managing my time well to be able to get a 3.4 grade-point average in all my subjects”.

Obviously, Erika knows about educational smart goals. Just an FYI, SMART goal is an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound goals. Here are a few examples of educational smart goals:

• Educational smart goals are specific—there is no room for vague goals which are overwhelming and unachievable. Your goals need to be detailed, concise and clear. Instead of saying “I’m going to study better”, an educational smart goal says “I will devote 2 hours every night to do my schoolwork”. The educational smart goal version of “I’m going to finish my term paper” is “I will begin doing my term paper a month before the deadline.”

• Educational smart goals are measurable. Time frames, dates, amounts – anything that could measure your success – are essential as they provide the means to help you determine whether you have attained your goal. Rather than aiming for “better grades”, target a particular grade-point average by the end of the semester.

• Educational smart goals are attainable. Take action not a reaction—in short, be realistic in your goals. Graduating on top of the class may be unlikely if your consistently on probation or if your average is just 2.2. Try aiming for a 3.0 instead—with a lot of effort that is more realistic.

• Educational smart goals are relevant. Goals need be set up with a clear purpose. If your goal is to ace your mid-term exam in biology that is four days away, don’t get distracted by starting on your home reading report that is not due for another week.

• Educational smart goals are time-bound. Goals need to have a starting point, a time frame and an ending point. Working on a detailed thesis paper is praiseworthy, but not if you only have one week to finish it.

If you want quality and consistent improvement in your life, goal setting is a process you must master. And students are not exempted from this fact. Knowing how to set goals is an indispensable capability for students. But what is even more essential is that students make their goals smart. Indeed, goal setting is an important skill students must have—and it is a most daunting thing to master. But taking time to make your educational goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound might make all the difference. Here we have more smart goals examples to give you a better idea of how you can apply this to your daily routine.

Julie is a certified musician/music lover. She plays the piano, the guitar and the violin marvelously, plus she sings like a nightingale and is a talented songwriter. In fact, Julie is deeply in love with music such that music has crept into almost every aspect of her life. She can only study if she’s incessantly listening to her Ipod. She is inseparable with her earphones—and she even sets her goals music.

Set goals with music? That’s right. It’s part of Music therapy. And I’m not kidding here—there is such a thing as music therapy. So what is music therapy and how do you set your goals music? Here are a few pointers:

• Music therapy is the set use of music and music-related strategies to aid and motivate a person to achieve specific, nonmusical goals. Music therapy is geared towards effecting change in the cognitive, physical, communication, social and emotional skills of a person by altering unproductive learning patterns.

• Music therapy makes use of the appeal and therapeutic characteristics of music (it captivates and maintains attention, structures time, sets up a social context, encourages movement, taps into memory and emotion, and is success oriented). It does this to establish the difference between isolation and interaction and is proven to be most helpful in situations such as depression, anger, pain, autism, stress, grief, loss, time management, motivation, growth, change, procrastination and improving communication.

• Research suggests that music can increase patient’s motivation and positive emotions.

• Music therapy tools include.

1. Affirmation – an integration of words, rhythm and melody that gives the person the ability to think positively by eliminating barriers to prosperity, decrease stress and generate pathways to love and confidence.
2. Mind quieting – helps you gain control of your thoughts, and thus maintain your control on your life.
3. Breathing – breath is life, its depth, smoothness, sound and rate mirror your mood.
4. Mantras – their magical sounds stimulate, activate, motivate and rejuvenate.
5. Chanting – it strengthens the mind and develops concentration, patience and determination.
6. Toning – it is the basic process of letting go.

• How to set your goals music?

1. Find a 10-15-minute worth of songs that match your present mood.
2. Find another 10-15-minute musical selection that mirrors your present internal state and the state you want to achieve.
3. Find a 10 to 15 musical selection of songs that match the desired state you want to achieve.
4. Record these and go over the musical selections as many times as possible.

That’s how music can help you set your goals. Goal setting can be as simple as setting your goals music but it boils down to utilizing the great power of music not just to entertain but to heal the mind, body and soul. And, remember, you don’t have to be a musician or a music lover to practice music therapy or to set your goals music — the only criterion is that you have this great burning desire to achieve success and make the most of your life.

As part of her discussion on motivation in her social psychology class, Ms. Walters asked each of her students to write down their favorite motivation quotes on a large cardboard. The students then propped the motivation quote posters on the board and were asked to jot down at least ten of the motivation quotes on a small sheet of paper to be handed out to their loved ones. Here is what one students picks were:

• When you know what you want, and you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way to get it. –Jim Rohn

• I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself. –Mikhail Baryshnikov

• Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. –Brian Littrell

• Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. –Winston Churchill

• You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. –Rabindranath Tagore

• Failure is not an option.

• If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. –Nora Roberts

• Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. –Ralph Waldo Emerson

• To hell with circumstances, I create opportunities. –Bruce Lee

• Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. –William B. Sprague

Though only a few examples of motivation quotes, these words when inculcated in the heart and mind, and lived with passion and conviction, can undoubtedly get us far. But remember that motivational quotes are just tools to move us to action. And just like a hammer, our choice to use it properly to achieve our goals will make all the difference. For without action, there is no accomplishment.

Which are some of your favorite inspirational quotes?