Achieve your higher ed and career goals with a five-year plan

Whether you are starting college now or are further along in your higher education journey, long-term goal planning is critical to turning your dreams into actionable steps.

Not sure where to start or how to set goals? Consider creating a five-year plan! A five-year plan is a strategic outline that students create to map out their goals, aspirations, and actionable steps over a period of five years.

5-Year Plan Example

In the summer of 2023, the Coach Foundation welcomed Point Foundation scholars to Coach headquarters for their annual Dream Day as part of their Dream It Real initiative. At the event, attendees filled out a “Dream It Real Roadmap” to help them explore their dreams and how they can accomplish them in a month, a year, five years, and beyond.

As students enter this new school year, help make your dreams a reality with the Dream It Real Roadmap.

5-Year Plan Template

1. Brainstorm and map out your dreams.
   • Start your journey to dreaming it real by jotting down your dreams and what you would like to accomplish in the next month, year, five years, and lifetime. Be as specific as possible and remember: no dream is impossible.
     
     
2. Establish actionable pathways and tools.
   • We believe that to dream it real, we need to create the frameworks that will allow us to put our dreams into action. Consider how you will develop your skillsets, how you can remove barriers for yourself or others, and how you can create a network of support around you to help you towards your goals.
     
     
3. Lean on your mentors and professional networks.
   • Mentors can be a valuable resource when navigating personal and professional goals, and they can also help expand your networks. With your mentor, review your goals and the pathways and tools you have mapped out and see how they can support you in achieving those goals. Learn more about Point’s mentorship program for LGBTQ students here.
     
     
4. Show up as your authentic self.
   • When working towards your goals, stay true to yourself and have the courage to be real!
     
     
5. Fill out the Dream It Real Promise.
   • In the next _____ months/years, I will work towards my goal(s) of _________________. I will use the skills that I have developed such as __________________ and ___________________ to make my dreams a reality. In times of doubt or adversity, I know I can lean on ________________ and myself to help me find the confidence and the power to keep pursuing all of the wonderful things that I have set my mind to. I, ___________________________, promise myself that I have all that I need to dream it real.

Information in this blog was provided by the Coach Foundation. The Coach Foundation aims to create opportunities and remove barriers for the next generation of young people who have the courage to dream it real. The Coach Foundation and Point Foundation have partnered over the last five years on Coach’s signature initiative, Dream It Real. This year, the Coach Foundation is providing scholarships for 10 Point community college scholars. All scholars are matched with a Coach Dream It Real Mentor to support them as they explore their personal and professional goals. Learn more about Point’s corporate partners.