Reach for the Stars:
Last week, we held our 6th Reach for the Stars session at Muchatha High School, an ongoing effort to equip students with practical tools for both academic and personal growth.
During this session we covered the importance of setting personal and academic goals that align with their interests, strengths, and future careers.
We opened the session by asking the student to define what a goal is.
One student raised their hand and responded, “A goal is something you want to achieve in life.”
We affirmed the response, then built on it:
“A goal is a target. It’s a result you work toward with effort and planning. Goals give direction, focus, and purpose. They help us stay on track, whether the aim is to pass exams this term or build a future career as a doctor, teacher, or entrepreneur.”
When we asked if the students had goals of their own, a few hands went up.
“My goal is to become a lawyer,” one student said with quiet confidence.
Applying the SMART Framework
We used this example to introduce the SMART goal framework, a tool that breaks big dreams into actionable steps:
- S – Specific
- M – Measurable
- A – Achievable
- R – Relevant
- T – Time-bound
We challenged the aspiring lawyer to apply the SMART framework. He stood and said:
“To become a lawyer, I will focus on doing well in languages, mathematics, and humanities.”
We then clarified that for his goal to be SMART; it needed to be specific whereby he needed to understand what kind of law he wanted to practice. It should also be measurable, so he can track his progress through clear grade targets. To make it achievable, he would need to work hard on the core subjects required. For the goal to be relevant, he needed to reflect on what motivates his passion for law. And finally, the goal should be time-bound, with a clear timeline such as his next steps after completing high school to pursue law school.
“I want to become a criminal lawyer. This year, I will focus on improving my grades in English, History, and CRE by aiming for a B+ average. I will do this by attending study groups and seeking support from my teachers. This aligns with my passion for justice, and I aim to qualify for a university law program by the end of Form 4,” he clarified, a response that was met with well-deserved applause.
We emphasized to the students that SMART goals aren’t just for academic planning—they build essential life habits. They increase motivation, improve focus, encourage self-discipline, and provide a clear sense of progress and purpose.
Next, we asked who wanted to share their goals. More than ten students volunteered to speak in front of the school, expressing ambitions to become lecturers, musicians, preachers, engineers, and artists.
When we opened the floor to other students, more than ten students volunteered to share their goals. They expressed ambition to become lecturers, musicians, preachers, engineers, and artists. We challenged them to make their goals SMART and then during our next interaction they would present how they applied the SMART framework.
Join our efforts
Too often, young people are told to dream big but they are not shown how to bridge the gap between dreaming and doing. This session gave students something tangible: a tool they can apply and a plan they can act on.
You can help unlock a student’s future. Volunteer as a mentor or support our school outreach by donating here: https://bit.ly/3HPyIea.
