This week, as the guiding and school years start up again, we are talking about setting goals and making them happen!
Girl Guides is all about setting goals. From badges and awards, to cookie campaigns and fundraisers, the Girl Guide program is set up to help girls achieve their goals. Many of the awards, like the Lady BP, Canada Cord, and Trailblazer are set up in such a way that allows girls to set smart goals and track their progress.
The SMART acronym refers to five components of goal setting that ensure success.
S pecific - Clearly define the expected result
M easurable - Quantify your objective to know when you have achieved it
A ttainable/chievable - Define realistic ways of achieving your objective
R ealistic - Take the different constraints into account (environment, resources, etc.)
T imely/ime based - Specify the deadline or target date for achieving your objective
Listen to the full episode to hear more about how goal setting can help you achieve your dreams!
In SWAGGYK, we talk about Olympian Sarah Wells, a woman who has hurdled over many obstacles to reach her goals both on and off the track.
Sarah was born on November 10, 1989 in Markham, Ontario, Canada. When she was a girl, Sarah was in Sparks, Brownies, and Guides. She played many sports as well, trying pretty much everything and anything. It wasn't until high school, where she discovered her talent on the track. Before this discovery though, Sarah had tried out for almost every team at Unionville High School and didn’t make any of them. It was her gym teacher who drew her towards the track team, who had worked with the University of Toronto team. Within the year, Sarah had made the world youth team.
Sarah was invited to train with the University of Toronto Jr. Development program at the age of 15. She stayed at U of T studying Physical Education and Kinesiology while continuing to train at the school. She competed in several National Championships, and won first place in 2007, 2010, 2012, and 2015. Sarah's next goal was to make the Canadian Olympic team. Unfortunately, she almost missed making the team due to a stress fracture in her femur that had taken three times longer to heal than expected. Other setbacks began to cause some disbelief in her to grow. At this point in time, she decided to get her personal motto ‘believe’ tattooed on her wrist, promising herself that she would add the rings underneath if she made the team.
Sarah beat the odds and competed in the 2012 London Olympic Summer Games, making the semi-finals and finishing 24th. She went on to participate in the 2015 Pan Am Games, held in her home city, Toronto. Sarah won a sliver medal in the 400m hurdles and a bronze in the 4*400m relay. After her success at the London games and missing the Rio games, Sarah found the Believe Initiative, a program where she inspires students to build self-belief through action by using a passion to solve a problem.
In 2019, Sarah joined track teammate, Sam Effah, on the Amazing Race Canada. They finished at an impressive second place in the race. In January 2020, Sarah officially retired from track and field.
We get a little silly in this week's campfire and sing all about bananas and coconut cream pies!
You can listen to Episode 26 now, and catch up on previous episodes, either right here on our website or on your favourite podcast app (Spotify, Apple, Google, Anchor, etc.).
We would love to know what your opening and closings you use in your units. Leave a comment below, or send us a message on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you'd like to contribute to an episode of Guides' Own, send us your ideas for topics, program, campfire songs, etc. send a message to guidesown@gmail.com.
Shoot for the moon!
Marissa & Taryn