Mental Health & Self Care |
Setting Goals Being SMART
It’s the beginning of the new year! After 2022 feeling like an eternity, we all carry with us a sense of optimism that 2023 will bring positive change. Although there are external forces beyond our control, as students we can and should still continue planning for the future and setting goals.
You can set goals for anything! Your goals may regard academics, health, or other personal matters. Regardless of what your goals are, however, you can use a SMART approach to achieve them. Read below for tips on how to set and complete your objectives!
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. Thinking through each of these encourages us to think about the aspects of our goals.
Specific
Be as specific as possible with your goal. What exactly do you want to be done? The clearer your objective is, the easier it will be to identify what you need to do.
Let’s say my goal is to be “be healthier,” this year. Health encompasses many aspects! With a goal like this, it may be hard to know where to begin. If I narrow my goal to sleeping more, it may seem more plausible than just “being healthier.”
Measurable
Keep track of your goal. Find a way to measure or quantify your progress so you know whether or not you are moving forward. Remember that everyone and every goal will vary! How much I can achieve and how much I should achieve will depend on my personal capacity and target.
Going back to sleeping more as a goal, I can start by assessing where I am currently at. If I find that I only sleep 5 hours a night, what are the measurable steps I can take towards sleeping more. Can I start sleeping 6 hours next week, 7 hours the week after that, and then 8 hours after that? My timeline may end up differing, but I know I will have achieved my goal when I finally consistently sleep 8 hours a night.
Achievable
Be realistic with what can be achieved. Is your goal something that is plausible given your constraints and resources? Of course, always shoot for the stars but take small and possible steps while you get there.
If I have poor sleeping habits, it may very well be impossible to change the way I sleep in a matter of a few days. I simply cannot go from sleeping 5 hours to a full 8 hours in a span of two days. I need to assess and change habits, get rid of obstacles, and more; therefore, I should step back and think about what actually can be done.
Relevant
Make sure your goal matters to you. Are you trying to reach your goal because others want you to, or because you feel pressured to do so? As long as you deem your goal important, it is.
When speaking to a friend, I may find that they don’t think of sleeping more as a goal. Remember, it is your life, and you can do with your time what you think is worthwhile.
Timely
Set a timeline. Think about how long you would like to take to achieve your goal. Some timelines may be more flexible than others. Personal goals can be met whenever you want, but other goals like academics may be more restrictive. Whatever it is, make sure you are aware of the time you have available.
Being SMART helps you think of various aspects of your goals. As you think about goals this year and beyond, use these questions as guidance:
- What exactly do I want?
- How will I know I am achieving it?
- Is my goal within my reach?
- Does this goal matter to me?
- When do I want or need this goal accomplished?
HS & First Year Students |
By
MONICA AGUILERA
Boba-drinking, Zelda-playing, Horror-watching brown girl from Oaxacalifornia.
Welcome to Community College! Community college is a great option for students who are looking to save money, want to explore different career options, hoping to raise their GPA to transfer, etc. In addition, community colleges offer affordable summer and winter courses that can help you speed up your GE requirements if you already attend a UC or CSU! In California, there are over 116 community colleges you can apply to.
According to the CCC Chancellor’s office:
- Nearly half of students earning a bachelor’s degree from a University of California campus in science, technology, engineering and mathematics transferred from a California community college.
- Twenty-nine percent of University of California graduates and 51% of California State University graduates started at a community college.
- Students earning a degree or certificate from a California community college nearly double their earnings within three years.
If these stats are something that you want to be a part of, great, keep following along!
How to Apply
- The first thing you want to do when applying to community college is visit https://www.cccapply.org/en/apply. This helpful source lets you easily go down the list of 116 community colleges in California.
- After selecting the college that interests you the most, (visit our college list if you’re still searching for your just right college), you will be redirected to the college’s personal application.
- While every application is different, a majority of applications will consist of:
- Your Full Name
- Mailing Address
- Social Security (SSN)
- Driver’s License Number
- High School Transcripts
- Latest English and Math Classes Completed
- After the application is finished, you then complete your FAFSA or Dream Act Application and connect the school you are applying to using their school code.
- U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or eligible non-citizens with a valid Social Security number
- California AB540 eligible students
If you need support applying for FAFSA, find our guide here
- After finishing your application, your college will most likely request for you to attend orientation, take a math/ english placement test (if you were not able to send in your high school transcripts), and meet with an academic counselor to plan out your courses.
- Finally, you start registering for classes and wait for the semester to begin. You are now a college student!
Here are some important dates:
FAFSA: Opens October 1st- Closes June 30th, 2020
Class Registration: Varies per Campus (check on their personal website)
Other Important Sites to pay for Community College:
CCC Money
CCC California Promise Grant
Career & Early Adulthood |
How to register
California offers voter registration online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov.
Voter Registration Guide: Cal Matters Voting Guide
To register in California you must:
- Be a United States citizen
- Be a resident of California
- Be at least 18 years old or older on Election day
- Not be currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony
Poll Workers
Be a Student Poll Worker
To be a student poll worker you need to be 16 years old, a U.S. citizen, must maintain a 2.5-grade point average, and receive permission from your parents or guardian. Additionally, you may be eligible for a stipend ranging from $64 to $150 depending on where you live.
More information found here.
Become a Poll Worker
To serve as a poll worker you must be:
- A registered California voter or legal resident of the U.S. who would be eligible to vote
Responsibilities:
- Set up and close voting place
- Help voters understand their rights
- Protects ballots and voting equipment
To apply to become a poll worker, contact your county elections official for an application
Vote by Mail
All registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the November 3, 2020, General Election.
Steps:
- Fill out your ballot
- After you have voted, insert your ballot in the envelope provided, making sure you complete all required information on the envelope
- You may return your voted ballot by mail, in person, or to a drop box;
- If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 17 days after Election Day
- If you are returning your ballot in person or dropping it in a drop box, it must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 pm on November 3rd
- Anyone may return your ballot for you, as long as they do not get paid on a per ballot basis. In order for your ballot to be counted, you must fill out the authorization section found on the outside of your ballot envelope.
More information on elections, candidates, voting, and helpful resources can be found here.
Propositions
Propositions, also known as ballot measures, are laws, issues, or questions that appear on a state ballot for voters to decide. They are the only way to change a state constitution in all states except Delaware.
| Title |
Subject |
Description |
| Proposition 14 |
Bonds |
Borrow Money to Continue STEM Cell Research
Background: Issues $5.5 billion in bonds for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to conduct stem cell research.
Voting YES: allows for $5.5 billion bonds to be borrowed for stem cell and other medical research. Increases focus on improving access to treatments by changing CIRM structure.
Voting NO: a $5.5 billion bond is not issued. |
| Proposition 15 |
Taxes |
Increase Commercial Property Tax to fund Schools & Local Governments
Background: Current tax assessment is from Prop 13 (1978) without adjustment for inflation since then.
Voting YES: property taxes on commercial properties worth more than $3 million would go to fund local government and schools. Prop 15 would be phased in starting in 2022, raising $6 to $12 billion yearly.
Voting NO: property taxes do not change from what was approved in 1978. |
| Proposition 16 |
Affirmative Action |
End the Ban on Affirmative Action
Background: repeals Prop 209, which prohibits discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, and contracting.
Voting YES: allows “diversity” to be considered by public agencies. Does not alter current laws guaranteeing equal protection or prohibiting unlawful discrimination.
Voting NO: Prop 209 ban on affirmative action remains in effect. |
| Proposition 17 |
Suffrage |
Restoring the Rights to Vote to People on Parole
Background: Currently, the CA Constitution requires people with felonies to complete their imprisonment and parole before regaining their right to vote.
Voting YES: allows people on parole to vote, if they are U.S. citizens, residents of California, and at least 18 years old.
Voting NO: people on parole will continue to be unable to vote. |
| Proposition 18 |
Suffrage |
Voting Rights for Some 17-year-olds
Background: Currently, the CA Constitution requires voters to be at least 18-years-old on the election date to vote in that election.
Voting YES: allows 17-year-olds to participate in primary and special elections if they will be 18 years old by the next general election.
Voting NO: no changes to CA constitution no one under 18 years of age can vote. |
| Proposition 19 |
Taxes |
Property Tax Transfers and Exemptions
Background: Changes tax assessment transfers and inheritance rules
Voting YES: allows all homeowners that are over 55, disabled, or victims of natural disasters to be eligible for property tax savings. Inherited if used as primary homes or farms. Creates a state fire protection services fund.
Voting NO: some homeowners that are over 55, disabled, or victims of natural disasters are eligible for property tax savings. All inheritance properties remain eligible. |
| Proposition 20 |
Law Enforcement |
Changes to Criminal Sentencing, Parole, & DNA Collection
Background: Makes changes to policies related to criminal sentencing charges, prison release, and DNA collection.
Voting YES: makes changes to AB 109 (2011), Prop 47 (2012), and Prop 57 (2016). These props intended to reduce the prison population. Increases penalties for certain theft and fraud misdemeanors. Require DNA collection for certain misdemeanors. Increases the requirements needed for early parole consideration. Redefine 51 crimes as violent, excluding them from the parole program.
Voting NO: no changes. Penalties would not increase for certain misdemeanors. Early parole consideration factors would not be increased. DNA collection only required for felonies, sex offenders, and arsonists. |
| Proposition 21 |
Housing |
Rent Control
Background: in 2010, Prop 10 was introduced and rejected. Prop 10 would have allowed rent control on any type of property. Prop 21 builds upon this but adds more specifics.
Voting YES: allows cities to limit rent increases for buildings at least 15 years old. Exempts single-family homeowners who own up to two homes.
Voting NO: no changes. Rent control is limited. |
| Proposition 22 |
Business |
App-Based Drivers as Contractors
Background: Considers app-based drivers to be independent contractors and enacts several labor policies related to app-based companies
Voting YES: Define app-based rideshare and delivery drivers as independent contractors. Create new labor and wage policies such as an earnings floor and limited work hours for app-based drivers. Requires companies to provide or make available occupational insurance.
Voting NO: App-based drivers could be classified as employees under AB 5 (109). Drivers would have less work flexibility but also have standard benefits that businesses must provide employees. |
| Proposition 23 |
Healthcare |
Regulation of Dialysis Clinics
Background: This prop comes from an ongoing conflict between a labor union for healthcare workers (SEIU-UHW West) and CA’s two largest dialysis businesses (DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care).
Voting YES: Require every clinic to: have at least one physician present at all time, report data to the state, obtain state approval before closing a clinic, and not discriminate against patients based on the source of payment
Voting NO: no extra requirements for clinics to be imposed |
| Proposition 24 |
Business |
Stronger Consumer Privacy Laws
Background: The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) went into effect in January 2020 and enforcement began in July 2020. The act gave individuals more control over their data. Companies have to explain if data is being sold or collected. Consumers can opt out or request data deletion.
Voting YES: Strengthens current privacy laws. Defines data “sharing” to allow consumers to limit data sharing. Establishes the Privacy Protection Agency.
Voting NO: No changes from the CCPA (2018) |
| Proposition 25 |
Trails |
Cash Bail. Should We Keep it or Not?
Background: Senate Bill 10 (SB 10) was passed in 2018 which would make CA the first state without cash bail for those awaiting trials. Cash bail was replaced with risk assessment based on the suspect’s risk of failing to appear in court and on the suspect’s risk to public safety. SB 10 was put on hold due to a petition.
Voting YES: upholds SB 10. Cash bail would be replaced with risk assessments.
Voting NO: Rejects SB 10. The bail system would remain as is. |
