This past Friday, twenty-five Hollins students participated in Housing & Residence Life’s #thebucketlistproject. The point of this experiment was to begin the conversation about goals and to encourage students to take the first step. The rules of this event were simple:
1. Write “Before I die” followed by something on your bucket list on a card.2. Hold your card for the camera. (Only your hands and your card will be visible.)3. Watch for your photo on Facebook and Tumblr (#thebucketlistproject).4. Keep your card as a reminder and make it happen!
Some residents wrote simple things like learning how to swim while others selected goals on a bigger scale such as a desire to see all seven seas. A few of the cards included humorous statements – “Before I die I want to be the true King of England.” Others chose more philosophical topics – “Before I die I want to live” and “Before I die I want to experience enlightenment” were two such cards.
While some students were hesitant to take their cards back, I encouraged them to do so. Studies have shown that writing goals down make it more likely you’ll accomplish them. I suggested the students post their bucket list cards somewhere they’ll see them frequently – their mirror, the wall next to their bed, or the back of their door. While some of these goals are more difficult to achieve during college, many students can realistically start working on their goals now, such as one who wishes to write a memoir.
College is an important time to consider what you want to get done in your future. Many of us are here to obtain a degree which will magically qualify us for the career we want. Some of us are here because our parents said we should be; perhaps they even picked our career paths. Others of us are here simply because we enjoy learning and college is not a means to an end, but an end in itself. In whatever position you may be, this is the time to take control of your life. Write down what you want to do in your lifetime and go out and do it. Evaluate this list at least once a year. Have you accomplished any of those things? If so, great! Cross them off your list. If not, keep working toward them. If you decide they’re no longer what you want to do, take them off your list and make some new goals.
Some people don’t respond well to the idea of a bucket list, which is fine. It can seem a bit morbid. If you still want a motivator to achieve those big dreams of yours, put deadlines on them. Some people like to create College Bucket Lists – bucket lists to complete before you graduate. This can be a good place to start if the idea of a true bucket list makes you anxious and a little too existential.
One more tip – if your goals seem too big to accomplish, don’t give up on them. Instead, break them down into smaller action items. If necessary, break those down into smaller action items. Let’s say you want to travel to all of the New England states. Break it down into each one: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island. Then take one of those – New Hampshire, for example. What will it take to visit New Hampshire? Maybe you need to find a hotel or a campground. Make a list of specific places you want to visit. Figure out a budget. Then do the same for each of the other states. Soon you’ll be well on your way to having visited all six states.
Her Campus Hollins wants to know – what’ on your bucket list?