Exciting Expectations

Setting goals in your life is essential, whether the hopeful outcome is ten years from now or tomorrow. I would like to describe my current goals and how I hope to achieve them in order to demonstrate an effective process on how to reach your individual desires in life.

I am a first year college student who is just starting to get involved on campus and understand my passions better. I have a lot of growth ahead of me, and I’m excited to look towards the future. In light of current events, this is the perfect time to reconsider my life journey and where I want to be heading. In this blog post, I would like to share three of my personal goals for my future, ranging from short term to longer term. I will explain why exactly I chose each of the goals and my thought process for creating an action plan for each of them.

1. Participate in Research at UCLA

My first goal is to get involved in at least one research project in the next three years while attending UCLA. In setting this time frame, I have allowed room for myself to achieve more than I have intended to complete. I might end up completing more than one research project at UCLA, but I want to set a minimum standard that I must reach. In doing so, this goal is clearly measurable, specific, and attainable. My reasoning to get involved in research is tied to my belief that research is a fundamental part of the learning experience in college. As a perfect supplement to the material I am learning in my coursework, the research I conduct will help me apply theories I learn about in the classroom to a specific topic within business, economics, or public policy that I am passionate about. In order to achieve this goal, there are multiple smaller objectives that I must complete. To start off with, I must continue to engage in my coursework and look for topics that interest me. Once I find a specific topic that speaks to me, I will take a deeper dive into the current research in that field. After reading some scholarly articles and other popular sources, if applicable, I will be ready to find a research opportunity at UCLA. The first time I become involved in research does not have to be on my own. I may decide to first shadow a professor and become a research assistant. Once I begin my own research project, I will have emailed some professors in related fields to mentor me. Asking for their advice and expertise will be imperative to my success. I hope to begin my own original research by the start my third year, or by the summer before my fourth year at the latest, since I will have to write a senior thesis already.

Once my research project is completed, I will submit it to a research journal at UCLA to get published. Additionally, I plan to present my research at Undergraduate Research Week. In the end, I hope to further the research I have completed through volunteer work or other activities within the field. Completing research will supplement my undergraduate experience in the classroom, allowing for personal growth in topics covered in my courses. Overall, finishing a research thesis will propel me forward in my field of interest, helping me find my passions and my ideal career field.

2. Work as a Summer Intern

My goal of working as a summer intern is another example where the amount of times I complete it can vary. I plan to work multiple summers while attending UCLA, but I have set a minimum of one time for me to complete a summer internship. The time frame I have allotted for completing this task is the three summers before my second, third, and fourth year as an undergraduate. The reason I would like to complete an internship, like many of my peers, is to gain experience in my field of interest to prepare me for my future career. Currently, I am passionate about real estate and finance, and would like to pursue a career in one of these fields. I am open to changing my interests and passions, so this might change. In either case, I will apply for an internship that interests me and one that I believe will be beneficial for my future success in that field or a related one. Applying for an internship is not necessarily the first step to completing this goal. First of all, I should continually refine my passions and interests inside and outside the classroom through coursework and extracurricular activities. Business organizations and other clubs will help define my career path and gain necessary skills for it. Once I am ready to apply, I must have specific strategies set in place in order to get my desired internship. This means applying for multiple different positions in order to find the right one. Additionally, I must continually update my resume and online presence in order to look professional to the people who look over my application. Lastly, practicing for interviews and doing everything I can to make an impression will help me achieve my goal.

3. Have a Job After College I Truly Enjoy

This goal is harder to define, as it requires deeper reflection on my part. Defining what makes me happy or fulfilled, as described in an earlier blog post, is essential to shaping my future career path. I know that there is a job out there that is the right fit for me, but I must consider multiple factors in my decision. Does this job align with my values? Can I be successful within it? Are my skills being properly utilized? Do I enjoy the environment? These are all questions that I must ask myself once I find a job after my undergrad years at UCLA. For this goal, I hope to work in a position that I truly enjoy, and I have allotted 10 years for me to achieve this goal. The reason I have done this is because I might not find the right job the first time around. Giving myself time to search for the right career path will help set me up for the rest of my life.

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For anyone who is looking into the future and has big goals and no idea how to make them possible, take a step back to reflect. Why do I want to do this? What am I actually getting out of this? Where do I realistically see myself in the future? I hope being able to see my thought process on establishing goals can help inspire you to do the same. Good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for in your incredible life journey.