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What is a simple way to stay focused and continue working towards your goals

I want to become a mechanical engineer, however I'm unsure whether I will be able to meet the requirements because I didn't try to get into my level of classes in middle school and high school until Junior year, I easily passed my math classes in Junior year, I am now a senior taking a class I wish I took last year. Now I am taking the math class with juniors and I am one of the only seniors. #mechanical-engineer #focus #career-choice

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Helen’s Answer

This question although sounding seemingly easy is a tough one if you don't have the passion and motivation. If becoming a mechanical engineer is what you really want, nothing is going to stop you from getting there but yourself. So you have to ask yourself this question... why do I want it? Is it money, aptitude, skill? The first step to determining a goal is it WORTH my Time. Is this a goal worth your time?? If so then I recommend the following:

Everyday spent honing your craft is one day closer to your goal. If becoming a mechanical engineer is the goal then incremental goals daily to help you get there is key. Are there courses you need to finish to accomplish this. Are there books you can read? People already in the field you know or can network with? Take your goal in bite-size portions so they don't overwhelm you. Take an hour a day or a block of time where you focus only on the goal. All other distractions put away until that time is completed. This will give you some structure and accountability.

Speaking of accountability, is there someone in your life that can follow up with you on meeting this goal? Find a friend or family member that can check in with you to see how you are coming along with the goal. Having someone to be accountable to will also place a sense of responsibility in the goal.
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Garrett’s Answer

Hi Chase,

I think you have almost answered your own question - just stay focused and continue working! I had a similar challenge when I graduated from high school. My rural school did not offer calculus classes, and I was behind most of my peers when I started college in mechanical engineering. I took a "math placement test" that said I should take a pre-calculus class before jumping in to college calculus. This presented a choice for me - either jump into the calculus classes that I wasn't quite ready for or take the recommended classes and be behind on the calculus that would be used in my other engineering classes.

In the end, I decided to just go for it and dove into calculus. If you take this same route, you may find, as I did, that you have to work harder than many of your peers. You may need to find a tutor or spend extra study time on math, or take slightly fewer credits, to begin with. It will probably be difficult - engineering school is difficult for everyone - but if you stay focused on your goal, you will get through.

I found that the advantage my classmates had was basically gone after the first term, so you can catch up. One thing you can do right now is work on developing excellent study habits - stay organized, find a place where you can focus, and get things done on time.

When things get difficult, remember that learning is like exercise: we gain the most when we are challenged, not when things are easy. I believe you are ready to embrace that challenge, and I wish you the best of luck!

Garrett
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Carol’s Answer

If you want to become a mechanical engineer.....then you can become a mechanical engineer! Engage with your school counselors around your interests and goals and, with them and on your own, investigate where and how you'd like to pursue your collegiate career. Your choices are endless....don't be hung up on being the oldest person in your class or those such things....they matter very little in the long run. Pursue your passion with the help of friends, family and trusted advisors; you are already well on your way.
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Bill’s Answer

Chase,

There are many ways to become an Engineer and it is NEVER too late to work towards your goals. Internships within an engineers office may provide a general understanding of the profession. Although an education background in engineering is required to earn a license to practice, you can start in trade or Jr College, prior to transferring to a University / College in which to achieve your diploma.

Best of luck in your pursuit.

Bill
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Steve’s Answer

Remember to do more than you are paid to do and eventually you'll be paid more for what you do. (Napoleon Hill). Write down the tasks and services that inspire you daily. It is important to strive to gravitate towards the work you Love, as you are on the journey. I like to write down 3-5 key reachable goals and make them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound). After landing your goals be sure to look at them first thing each day and last thing before you plop your head on that pillow.


You will become what you think about!
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Subrat’s Answer

Hello,Chase !

First of all,hats off to your passion. I love it !

The simplest way to stay focussed on your goal is to keep reminding yourself what made you choose that goal. Remind yourself of your purpose. You will face challenges while you try to achieve your goal. Everyone faces it. But as long as we are moving no matter how slow we are moving, we will reach our destination, one day.
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Aarthi’s Answer

Motivation is the major steering factor to reach your career goal. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you are in getting there.

These are some questions that you need to answer as your check points:
Are you constantly trying to get there and keeping up your pace?
Are you checking if you are moving in the correct direction?
Do you have any mentors that you can look up to or get advice from?

Good luck to you !!
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Bridget’s Answer

It's never too late!! High School kids are pressured to solve their life mission NOW. While some people know what they want to study naturally, many do not. Take heart, it's not too late.

Here's my sister's story. Right out of high school she went to work in a small office, as an office manager. After 4 years, she wanted change. Big change. She left her office job, moved up north, got a job in a structure wood factory. About 5 years later, she took classes & become a massage therapist. She loved that and made it her profession for about 15 years. Then, you guessed it, she needed a change. She went back to school and got her doctorate (on a fast pace in 3 years!!) and launched her chiropractic career.

The point of telling her story, is to let you know that you can always, ALWAYS, make a change. Certainly as a HS Junior you have plenty of time.

You may need to look at what is required to get into a 4 year school and take classes at a local community college either now or after HS graduation to get some of the basics done. Just remember, you can do it.

Good Luck!!
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Nick’s Answer

I find that keeping a notebook with a list of goals is very useful in helping to achieve them. Make a list of short term and long term goals on a single page. Date the page. Check off your goals as you complete them. Add dots to goals as you make progress. Add new goals as you think of them so you don't forget. If you have numerical goals such as savings or test scores, note them periodically. Break down big goals in stages. You could list the goals for a single day if you feel overwhelmed in the morning. They could be all done by evening.

You will soon find that you are completing the steps towards the big goals. It is very rewarding to see the progress. You will get into the habit of getting work done. You can be confident that you won't forget your best ideas. Cancel goals when you change your mind.

When a page is full, start a new page. Bring incomplete goals forward onto the new page. In time, you will have a book, then books. Your goals will be achieved.

You may want to try this with a spreadsheet or other digital format but I find the book is more satisfying where you can scratch notes and details and browse quickly through the pages.

Achieving an engineering degree requires effort, organization and discipline but is rewarding and can be fun if you include that in your goals.
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Seynabou’s Answer

3 things which can help you stay focused towards your goals:

1- Make sure you are emotionally and constantly connected with what you desire to be or become (the "Why you are doing it" ?)
2- Keep believing and even , visualizing the target (your desire) and monitor how what you do today, leads to it. Be convinced about the path you have chosen to take.
3- Distance yourself from looking too much for external validations and listen to your mind/heart in times of doubt or discouragement. Persevere and be resilient on the path to achieve your goals.
I hope this helps.
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Sunny’s Answer

Hi Chase,

First, I want to say "Better late than never" ! Even though you regret that you did not take those math classes last year, I think you are on the right track to become a mechanical engineer. After finishing those necessary classes in high school, you can apply for colleges that specialize in mechanical engineering. So keep up the good work!

Staying focused needs a lot of practice and patience. It might be easier if you have your own routine everyday to work on your goals. For example, you could block your time for 30 minutes everyday to learn more about mechanical engineering. You could borrow some mechanical engineering books from an online library or working on more math problems. Every little time that you put in towards your goal will become a great potential for your growth in the future.

Also, it might be helpful to write down your goal and keep it in front of you. If you can look at your goal everyday, it motivates you to achieve it and increases your resilience when you have a hardship in your journey.


I hope this helps and good luck!
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David’s Answer

Hi Chase,

In the greater scheme of things, being a year ahead or behind is not as important as setting goals and staying on track towards those goals. If you want to be a mechanical engineer, break down what you need to get there and chip away at the steps that will get you there. "SMART"

To make sure your goals are clear and reachable, each one should be:

Specific (simple, sensible, significant).
Measurable (meaningful, motivating).
Achievable (agreed, attainable).
Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based).
Time bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive).

David recommends the following next steps:

Look up SMART Goals: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/smart-goal-examples
Identify your SMART Goals on a 5 year time horizon and on a 1 year time horizon.
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Jose’s Answer

Do you have help from your caregivers, teachers, or counselors in school in making your academic decisions or are you making them all on your own? May be at the time you didn't think it was important to take the classes. May be you thought you would take them later down the line. May be you didn't even know what to take at the time.
In your world right now being in school mostly everything is done like what you see in a textbook; things look exact and right on a specific timeframe. School is just a microcosm or small picture of what the real world is minus the mistakes, setbacks, miracles that happen in real life. As kids we can get frightened when our school journey veers from the standard way our life was panning out. If you think you weren't on track or you got off track at least your doing now what you think needs to be done. The concern isn't who you are sitting with but are you going to stick it out or quit? As long as you know what it takes to do the work what does it really matter? Here is an example to try to give some understanding of what I mean. Many professional athletes having played in organized sports from let's say six years old. Now look at the NBA star Joel Embid. He didn't begin to play basketball until he was 15. Granted he has the body type and physical ability but he could have thought I didn't begin when most kids started or may be he did but the people around him guided him to be confident. In life there are a lot of people who have talent but that only goes so far. What drives success is your mindset and attitude. One could be a mathematical genius but what good would that be if one doesn't apply themselves or doesn't think they are capable of doing the work. Keep at what you are doing you are just fine, alright!!
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Crystal’s Answer

Simple ways to stay focused and continue working towards your goals:
1. Build a 30/60/90 day plan where you establish goals that you will achieve in 30 days (week to week), goals you want to achieve in 60 days, and goals you want to achieve in 90 days
2. Talk about your goals and how you plan to achieve them with your friends and family. Ask them to hold you accountable and schedule check-in times with a good friend/family
3. Schedule time in a calendar to study and with your to dos so you set aside time to achieve your goals
4. Journal and reflect on your experience. If you make a mistake or roadblock, don't be discouraged, just start again and try to hit your goal next time!
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Bryce’s Answer

Hi Chase,

A great method to stay focused and continue working towards your goals is to make a schedule. Schedule out as many activity as possible from time you are in class to the time you will eat and sleep. I know it seems a little excessive, but this will go a long way to helping you stay on task. I would also recommend getting a planner to write out all the activities you have planned and consistently check back on them. I have found that both of these methods have increased my ability to complete tasks on time, as well as teach me valuable time management skills. Don't take time management lightly, you will need this skill in college and later in life if you want to be successful.
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