I can’t believe I’m saying this but with summer 2026 coming to an end, I am officially a junior in college. Being more than halfway through college is really bittersweet for me. During the last two years I have learned more about myself than I have in my entire 20 years of living. I’ve figured out what I enjoy, what’s important to me and routines that work for me. One of the routines that works best for me is writing out my goals (preferably in a really cool and interesting way like writing an article for Her Campus). So, to kick off my third year at St. John’s, here are my goals for the 2026-2027 school year:
Physical Health Goal
My number one goal is to take care of my physical health. If you know me, you know I have always been an exercise-hater. But magically this summer, I started going to the gym. Not only did I start going to the gym, I started to miss it on my rest days. If you told me this at the beginning of summer, I would’ve laughed in your face. But nonetheless, it’s true and obviously, my summer was more flexible, which made it much easier to implement the gym into my schedule. So my goal is to stay consistent with the gym and find a way to include it into a much busier college-student schedule.
Along with the gym, I want to make sure to fuel my body. One thing about me is I love to snack but most of the time, snacking is not enough to fuel my body and it keeps my energy very low. With my crazy schedule, I need all the energy I can get. So, I want to make sure I eat meals whether that be through meal prepping, cooking fun recipes or even going out to eat with a friend. Another thing that will help with my energy levels (and my sanity) is fixing my sleeping habits. I sleep 5 hours or 13 hours and there is no in between. I’m obviously not expecting myself to sleep a good 8 hours every single night but I would like to get a good amount of sleep most nights (especially when I have a 9am class the next morning).
Mental Health Goal
I’ve always been someone who struggles with anxiety. Last year I made a lot of progress with finding out things that work for me in managing it, which is amazing. Unfortunately, that also caused me to push myself a little too far. I tried to be everything for everyone, literally all the time. I spread myself so thin that I was burnt out for months straight. So this year, I want to prioritize myself. Not in a selfish, “I’m not helping anyone anymore” kind of way but in a “I need to know my limits” kind of way because at the end of the day, you can’t show up for anyone else if you don’t show up for yourself first.
The main thing I want to do is be more intentional with the way I spend my very minimal free time. Sitting on the couch instead of rotting in bed, FaceTiming my friends instead of doom scrolling, going for walks with my boyfriend, spending time with my friends, enjoying my family traditions, really anything that brings me joy. And also spending some time alone like doing a face mask, journaling or watching one of my favorite movies. I think doing these things will really help keep me grounded and keep me away from burnout.
Academic/Career Goals
When I say “academic goals” I don’t just mean grades. This being my second-to-last year at a school that I love is not something I’m taking lightly. I want to make the most of my “college experience”. That means going to sports games, joining more clubs and spending time on campus. As President of Her Campus, I also want to make sure I’m enjoying the organization I’ve put so much time into rather than trying to make everything we do perfect. I want to be present and truly enjoy every moment. But I’m extremely type A so of course, I also mean grades. Yes, I want to maintain my high GPA but this year I don’t want to just complete assignments, I want to truly learn. I only have 2 more years of being a student and I want to make the most of that, too.
Career-wise, I want to do a few things. Number one, I want to pass my first teaching certification exam in October (wish me luck)! I also want to get more from my observation hours. Last year, I really just sat in the back of classrooms and took notes. This year, I want to speak to the students and teachers, help out where I can and use those experiences in my assignments. And lastly, I would love to get a job working with children whether that be an after-school program next semester or a camp in the summer. I really want to get hands-on experience working with kids. I’m also really excited to start my job at the Writing Center this semester. I love writing, and I want to make more time for it and continue developing my skills. I’m really excited to have a job where I get to do something I am passionate about while also developing skills that I know I’ll use as a teacher in the future.
Final Thoughts
Moral of the story: this year isn’t about perfection or finding myself. I know who I am, what works for me, and what doesn’t. This year is about showing up for myself, making room for the things I love and making the most of my junior year!