Superintendent’s Chat

Richard McClements, Shonto Preparatory School

It amazes me that people who realize their dream in life are often not satisfied. How many times have you read about athletes, musicians, or movie stars who now have fame and fortune, but are just miserable? They have a hard time performing at the next concert, hate the photographers who want to snap their pictures, won’t renew the television contract unless they get millions of dollars more for the next season, or sit out a sport’s season unless their contract is renewed, because some other athlete is now getting more money in the same position. They were much happier when they were struggling to get that next break – to have some brief acting role in a commercial, some weekend gig for their band in an off the track restaurant, or just the chance to make the practice squad.

I often ask myself why this seems to happen to so many people. I think it is because they set one goal for their dream and once they have it, they are now unfulfilled. I think they, you, and I would be much better off if we always had a next dream in mind and if we kept setting higher goals for ourselves.

I have read studies about people who realized greatness and learned that there is a correlation between writing your goals down and your ability to see it come true. Somehow seeing in it writing and staring at it helps you do things to make later make that dream happen.

Let’s take the person who wants to become a movie star. Assuming that I am that person, I might set my written goals as follows:

• I will go to acting school and finish the program.
• I will get a commercial and have that acting experience on my resume.
• I will get a small part in a movie or Broadway show.
• I will get a second role in a movie with a few more lines.
• I will get a third role with far more lines in a good movie.
• I will get a major role in a movie, Broadway show, or television show.
• I will win an award for my acting, such as an Oscar or Emmy.
• I will gain the respect of my colleagues and of the general public as being a great actor.
• Because I am highly respected in my profession, I will be able to choose acting roles that have a powerful message and somehow touch people’s hearts everywhere.
• Because I am successful in my field, I will be able to earn a very good income, and I can use a good portion of what I earn to contribute to charity, sponsor scholarships for needy kids who have the same career goals as I once had.
• Since I have become famous and successful in my acting profession, I will now choose to become a producer or director of great movies.
• Since I have been successful in my profession and have a lot of money in the bank, I can now retire and spend my life doing what gives me most joy, such as travel, golf, public service, pursue hobbies, such as collecting antiques, etc.

The point is, keep setting new goals which are higher than the ones you just achieved. Students should have goals as well. Here are a few that you might consider.

• I will have perfect attendance this year.
• I will have wonderful relationships with every teacher.
• I will help other students who do not learn as easily as I do.
• I will get high grades in every subject.
• I will make 10 new friends this year.
• I will be very active in various sports teams and clubs.
• I will read 20 books this year.
• I will learn things that I know little or nothing about, such as electricity, earthquakes, or the history of the famous Navajo leader, Manulito.
• I will not have a single day in which I do not learn something new.
• I will try to help at least one student feel better who having some type of problem at school.