bbbs.stepitup2thrive.org Focusing On Goals With Your Match

 G oal Selection Breaking Down GPS  P ursuit of Strategies  S hifting Gears Choosing Your Destination Sticking to a Plan * Showing Persistent Effort * Checking Your Progress Substituting Strategies * Seeking Different Help

Think about your Little...  Do you know any of your Little’s personal goals yet? What are they?  Can you see any emerging from their Sparks? Reflection Point: Should you set goals for your Little?

Goals should be MRS! Meaningful Realistic Stretching = MRS In your own words, what do those three things mean?

What would you do…  If your Little had a goal in an area you had no experience or interest in?  If you were sure your Little’s goal was really his best friend’s and not his?

Think about your Little... Name 1-2 skills your Little has that will help in setting and working to achieve goals? ___________________________________ How much initiative does your Little take? How much encouragement does your Little need?

Where to start…  Talk to and encourage your Little to identify a few MRS goals  Ask your Little to reflect on strengths and challenges  Role model selecting and working on goals  Plan match activities that support your Little’s goals  Make it a habit to check in with your Little about his/her goals  Be creative, adapt, and have fun! Attend the Thriving GPS Group Activity!

Let’s look at an example… Little: Alex, age 13 Spark: Hip Hop music and mixing music Goal: To learn more about what it takes to be a VJ and someday to be one Strengths: Proactive about researching and talking to local DJs about how they got to where they are Challenges: Gets bored easily with his plan

How could a Big support Alex? Talk about:  People, places, and activities to gain more exposure and learn more about music  Finding motivation when you get bored  Whether or not the goals are MRS Identify match activities that are supportive of his goals….  Search for music on YouTube  Try out new music at free or inexpensive concerts  Visit a sound engineer or VJ at a studio

What was accomplished?  People/places/activities for more media exposure  Alex used a video format for his destination postcard and interviews. And completed some free tutorials online.  Finding motivation when you get bored.  Alex created a visual for inspiration  Alex used the visual as an Action Trigger  Set more realistic goals that are still meaningful and stretching  Alex built up to one hour of listening slowly

Which of the GPS Skills Were Used?  People/places/activities for more media exposure  Seeking different help  Finding motivation when you get bored.  Sticking to a plan  Showing persistent effort  Set realistic goals that are still meaningful and stretching  Choosing your destination

THANK YOU!