Vision boards are a powerful tool to help pre-teens and teens set meaningful and achievable goals for the new school year.  The basic principles are the same for younger children creating vision board.  See my previous post, Setting Back to School Goals with a Vision Board. Adolescents are ready for abstract thinking and enjoy imagining themselves in the future, so you can have fun with this exercise and take the vision board to a higher level.

•  Brainstorm goals for the year – such as grades, school events, how you want to dress, etc.
• Also write goals for parts of yourself you want to develop.  True abundance is not just having more things or accomplishing more.   We are not human havings.  We are human beings.  What do you want to BE?  Do you want to be kinder, more creative ,honest, trustworthy, helpful, patient, wise?  How about more even-tempered, more relaxed, have more fun?  Write these things down.
• Next, set some intermediate goals, such as plans for two or more years ahead – this may include plans after graduation, college or technical school.
• Now, set at least one, big, hairy, audacious goal.  Something so large that will stretch your imagination!  It will be fun to watch this happen!
• These goals need to involve you and what you want rather than someone else.  For example, don’t set a goal to have a certain boy or girl ask you on a date.  That is a goal for someone else.   Write goals for yourself, such as I want to spend more time with friends or make new friends.
• Be as specific as you can for now.  If you want more time with friends, write how many more hours per week you want to spend with friends.  Instead of I want to have more fun, write how you want to have fun.  Is it sporting events, camping more, hiking or swimming?  I will write more on goal setting on a separate post.  You can update your vision board later.
• Find or create visual representations of what you want.  Be specific.  Think through all the details including dates you want this to happen.   Cut out pictures, words, symbols from magazines or use your artistic talents to draw what you want.
• Post the pictures on poster board, bulletin board, or make an online poster.  You might even use Pinterest to create your board.  Place your vision board somewhere you see every day, such as your locker door, bedroom, or near your toothbrush.
• Write dates of when you want to achieve your goals next to your picture or symbol.

I would love to have pictures of your vision board to post in this community.