Personal Goals

Running head: PERSONAL GOALS

Personal Goals

Kevin

University of Phoenix

Personal Goals

As with most people engaged in this class, I have contemplated the question: what do I want to accomplish with my life? This intricate question burdens many people, not just those of us that have chosen to continue our education. I have seen it with my own children as they contemplate which career path will lead them to a comfortable life with financial stability. My most obvious goal and reason for enrolling in University of Phoenix is like every other student: to complete this program and earn my degree. However, the fruition of my goal ultimately depends on the fulfillment of smaller, more personal ambitions. My first objective was to convince myself to enroll in the program, which was an arduous task. There were so many things to contemplate. How would I juggle my professional and family life along with the workload of a student? The most difficult task that I had to overcome was the intrepidation of time management, since I am currently engaged in an executive position while simultaneously operating my own consulting business. Moreover, I already face difficulties in finding a balance to my life, without adding schoolwork to the mix. Some people might ask, "Why do you need to get your degree when so many things are going right in your life?" My obvious answer is that higher education is a priceless resource that will give me personal satisfaction. Returning to complete a task that I started earlier in my life but never finished will give me gratification that I cannot find in any job. It is not so much having the inscribed diploma, but the further development of skills and knowledge that I will learn along the way.

University of Phoenix was my chosen means to continue my education because of the ability to utilize an online platform instead of attending a traditional brick and mortar school. This has provided me with an opportunity to facilitate my goal of time management by offering the additional flexibility I need to complete my coursework. As I embark on this journey, I want to apply myself to the best of my ability. I want to utilize my current skill set and be given the opportunity to stretch the capacity of my mind to continue to read, learn, and comprehend new knowledge as it presents itself. I believe that life is an education program and I continue to encounter new knowledge every day. While I may consider some of the learnt items miniscule, I know that ultimately they influence my life and the decisions I make.

I have been employed in the hospitality industry for almost 20 years. While engaging, it has become somewhat of a complacent, day-to-day routine. My original goal was to find a vehicle to move me into an alternative direction. In some of my past jobs I had always excelled when it came to numbers so accounting positions came naturally for me. The dilemma, however, was that my personality conflicted with the facet of accounting positions that required being stuck behind a desk and pressing out spreadsheets. I found that although I was an individual that uniquely enjoyed accounting I also enjoyed