Day: October 12, 2017

Setting Goals and Achieving them brings BIG smiles

by Stanley LearyPhotography
“I wear the ring.” – The first four words of Pat Conroy’s The Lords of Discipline. At The Citadel, where Pat Conroy went to college, getting your ring requires you to meet strict academic, physical, and leadership milestones. The two seniors just got their rings at the ceremony and just clicked their calls on Summerall Chapel doors. [Nikon D5, 28-300mm, ISO 110, ƒ/9, 1/100]

The best moments for celebration are when we have set goals that took a great deal of effort to achieve.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

Luke 14:28

At The Citadel, there is the fourth class system. The purpose of the Fourth Class System at The Citadel is to provide a base upon which a fourth class cadet may develop those qualities essential to a good leader.

A Citadel Knob in the Brace Position. [Nikon D5, 28-300mm, ISO 110, ƒ/5.6, 1/100]

Although the System is demanding and complex, the rewards are considerable and more than justify the effort. Upon recognition by the upper-class cadets in the spring of the Knob year, a better person emerges – one who is mentally, morally, physically, and spiritually prepared to accept the responsibilities of leadership – a role which will ultimately be his/hers at The Citadel and in the world.

Isn’t that the purpose of setting goals and meeting them? You are better at taking action to meet those goals.

Don’t just create a goal without much thought about what you are setting up for yourself.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”

Psalms 127:1

My faith teaches me to pray about decisions. Take some time and allow God to speak to you. He will give you the peace of making a decision, and your chances of achieving the goal are not just better, but the reward is often much better than when we pursue vanity.

Knobs are doing pushups after being promoted to first privates. [Nikon D5, 28-300mm, ISO 100, ƒ/9, 1/160]

I find that making goals where others are there to support you as they do in the Fourth Class system at The Citadel means you have a better chance of achieving them.

The Citadel has an above average at retaining students past the first year with an 86.0% retention rate.

Based on the caliber of first-time/full-time students attending Citadel Military College of South Carolina, we expect an overall graduation rate of 58.3%. However, students are graduating at a rate that is 9.1% higher. That means Citadel Military College of South Carolina is performing above average at graduating students based on those students’ anticipated academic achievement in college.

[Nikon D5, 28-300mm, ISO 800, ƒ/5.6, 1/4000]

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

2 Chronicles 15:7

Do you have a goal that you are working on in your life? If not–Why Not?

I believe if you are not growing, you are dying.