SMART Goals For Teens - Antimaximalist

Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound goals, or SMART goals for short, is a great goal-setting strategy for teens. It provides a clear pathway for them to achieve academic success. Some examples of SMART goals for teenagers may include:

Studying for each class a few minutes a day
Finishing a project three days before it’s due
Applying to one new college a month
Starting homework assignments an hour after school

The smart goal strategy for passing a class or getting your degree. Here’s how this strategy can be applied to common aspirations that teenagers have.

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Getting an A in Class

While some teens may be happy with just passing, it’s important to encourage them to do their best. Getting an A in a specific class would be a great boost to their confidence.

Specific: Get an A in the math class you’re enrolled in.
Measurable: Get a final score of 90 or higher. Consistently score 90 or higher on a majority of your projects, tests, or homework assignments.
Attainable: Through studying, doing homework regularly, and if necessary, getting after-school tutoring, an A in math class can be attainable.
Relevant: Whether it’s a math class or some other kind of class, strive to get an A in one that you believe you can do really well in.
Time-bound: This goal is time-bound by the fact that the class will end at some point. A teen should do all they can each day before the final exam of the class.

Graduating high school

It’s a wonderful feeling to finally be done with grade school. The path a teen chooses moving forward is more within their control.

Specific: Getting a high school diploma.
Measurable: Pass all the required classes to get the diploma.
Attainable: Somewhat similar to getting an A in class, getting a diploma requires studying, completing assignments, and meeting all the necessary requirements.
Relevant: High school graduation is a major milestone in a teenager’s life. It’s an unofficial first step into adulthood.
Time-bound: Graduation usually occurs around May or June. A teen can make sure they’ve gotten their gown and other things they needed before graduation.

Getting a driver’s license

Just about any teenager would be happy to get their driver’s license. It gives them a sense of freedom to know they no longer need their parents to take them everywhere.

Specific: Get a driver’s license.
Measurable: Achieve the minimum score required in order to pass the written exam and the driver’s exam.
Attainable: Through practicing with a parent or driving instructor, and studying the materials, this can be an attainable goal.
Relevant: Teenagers want to be able to take more responsibility for themselves as they get older. Being able to drive to school or work is one way of achieving that.
Time-bound: The timeliness of the goal will depend on how soon your teenager wants a driver’s license. They could decide before the end of the year, or perhaps on their 16 or 17th birthday when they might be eligible to take the driver’s license exam.

Being accepted to college

Being accepted to a college can be just as exciting as graduating high school. It begins the journey of a teenager preparing to move out for the first time and start building their independence.

Specific: Getting accepted to a college.
Measurable: Receiving an acceptance letter from a college.
Attainable: Through applying to multiple colleges and getting good grades, it’s possible to get accepted to a college.
Relevant: A college related to what a teen is interested in would be most relevant. If a teen wants to become an engineer, getting accepted into a school that focuses on engineering would be appropriate.
Time-bound: The timing will vary from teenager to teenager. Some teenagers may want to take a year off before being accepted to a school. Others may follow the traditional route of being accepted to a college before graduating high school.

Getting a part-time job

Part-time jobs give teenagers a chance to earn money for themselves. They learn valuable lessons about saving money and being a hard-working employee.

Specific: Getting a part-time job that fits within their schedule.

Measurable: Receiving a job offer after completing an interview.

Attainable: A teenager who applies to multiple part-time jobs and has good job interviews can eventually get a part-time job.

Relevant: Most teenagers want to be able to stop asking for money from their parents.

Time-bound: Teens can challenge themselves to get a part-time job within a few months of applying to different jobs.

Final thoughts on SMART teen goals

Teens can have trouble sometimes knowing what objectives to set for themselves. The SMART goal method can help simplify the process of setting goals.

You can encourage a teenager to start using this method with future plans they have in life. Becoming effective at goal-setting and achieving goals can help increase their chances of success in life as they navigate adulthood.