GOAL SETTING IS A SKILL, and unfortunately, it's not something that's usually taught in school. Studies have shown that less than three percent of people actually write their goals down. And it's this SAME three percent who accomplish more than all others put together.

If you want to get better at setting and achieving goals, here's an acronym that will help you focus and have more success reaching your objectives. Set SMART goals.

SMART stands for:

* Specific * Measurable * Action-oriented * Realistic * Timely

SPECIFIC: Achieving goals demands focus. Our mind needs specific targets to work effectively. It can't operate well with vague generalities. State exactly what you wish to accomplish.

MEASURABLE: Many people set goals they'll never know whether or not they've attained. "To be successful--to be more knowledgeable," aren't goals because there's no benchmark. Be sure to have measurable goals with a deadline.

Need information? Don't know who to ask or where to turn? Here are some useful links and information sources that will respect YOU and your privacy.

Abuse:

Most of us don't know a lot about Child Abuse - what it is and what results can be. This information is written for young people like you who want to know more. You may be reading this because you're concerned about yourself or about a friend, or just because you're interested in subject.

As you get older, you start making important decisions about relationships with family and friends, school, and health.

How you feel, how you get along with others, and what you want out of life are all very important parts of growing up and living a healthy, happy life. But these are also things that are threatened if you are a victim of child abuse.

You might think, Well, I'm not a child any more. But a person is considered a "child" up to age of 18 in most states; 17 in others.

Even if you are older or you are no longer being abused, abuse can leave a lot of physical or emotional damage. So it's important to take steps to end abuse if it is still happening and to begin to heal yourself emotionally so you can get on with your life.

In pages that follow, we talk about what child abuse is and what it is not. We also talk about some of reasons that child abuse happens and why it is so important for abused teens to get help for themselves and, hopefully, for their families. Then, we talk about how and where to get that help.