You should say,
● what it was
● why you wanted it
● what you did to get your goal
● And explain how you felt about it
(what it was) ( why you wanted it) I seldom make new year resolutions because I don’t have the determination to make them come true. So I’m usually very far from setting goals. But I did get a demanding situation in my life, where I had to take serious steps. It was my weight gain. Due to lack of physical activity, I gained 5 kgs which I noticed when my clothes did not fit properly. I was not able to put on my favourite dresses, and I became worried. So I decided to work out a plan to get rid of the 5 kgs.
(what you did to get your goal) As a first step, I decided to fight against my sugar cravings. I searched the internet, left, right and centre and found some useful tips from a nutritionist. I learnt that it is because of protein deficiency that a person craves for sweets. So I decided to cut my breakfast and replaced it with a protein smoothie. Then I consulted a physician, who advised me to do yoga. He warned that I could see results, only gradually. I joined a yoga class and stuck to the schedule religiously. Every morning, I got up at 5:00 AM in the morning, because the class was at 5:30 AM. Previously, I used to sleep at ungodly hours when I had to meet my deadlines at work. I focused more on my work and tried to complete the work within office hours. Since I had my yoga classes in the morning, I made it a habit to wake up early. I spent about an hour at the yoga class. The yoga teacher enlightened me on the importance of sleep and also advised me to cut down on my caffeine intake. She advised me to go to bed on time because it was needed for the repair of the muscles. (explain how you felt about it) Surprisingly, I began to get results within a month. The first that improved was the fat on my cheeks. I was not chubby cheeks anymore! I noticed that my body became flexible as a result of yoga. I was confident that I would shed my 5kgs soon, and it did happen after six months. At last, I achieved something, and I was on cloud nine when I got out of the weighing machine at the hospital. I thanked my doctor for his guidance.
VOCABULARY
Resolutions (noun) – a firm decision to do or not to do something.
Eg: She made a resolution to stop eating chocolates.
Determination (noun) – the quality of being determined; firmness of purpose.
Eg: She succeeded in becoming a Singer because of her determination.
Gradually (adverb) – in a gradual way; slowly; by degrees.
Eg: The saint assured him that his situation would improve gradually.
Religiously (adverb) – with consistent and conscientious regularity.
Eg: He works out religiously for five hours everyday.
Being on Cloud nine (noun phrase) – Blissfully happy
Eg: Ever since the marriage was fixed, she was on cloud nine.
PART 3
1. Do people need to write down goals or simply memorize them?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Writing helps. (Explain your reason or reasons) When a person puts down his thoughts in writing, he gains more insight into it. As you write, you get more ideas, and later they serve as a reference. At moments of exhaustion, when we feel like giving up, these notes help. They serve as a driving factor.
2. Do Indian people usually set goals?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Yes, a lot of them set goals. (Explain your reason or reasons) Most Indians are very resolute when it comes to achieving what they want. Mostly, goals will be related to the creation of wealth. Indians not only set goals but also work hard until it is materialized. (Give an example) A clear example of this would be the number of Indian students studying abroad. They have set goals for themselves during their period of study here, pursued them seriously, and also were successful in making them come true.
3. What are the kinds of goals that are unrealistic?
(Give a direct answer to the question) (Explain your reason or reasons) Goals that are beyond the person’s capability and passion are unrealistic. (Give an example) For example, an average student hailing from a middle-class family cannot dream about getting into a top university without a scholarship. Scholarships are reserved for high performers, and fees would be unaffordable. It will be an unrealistic goal.
4. What is more fulfilling working towards a goal or achieving it?
(Give a direct answer to the question) (Explain your reason or reasons) Both of them equally fulfilling. When working towards a goal, one may encounter a lot of hurdles, and overcoming them builds confidence. The person gets one step closer to the goal. After achieving the goal, it is a sense of accomplishment. The person will become more confident and will be ready to face more challenges.
5. Should parents set goals for their children?
(Give a direct answer to the question) No. (Explain your reason or reasons) Parents should help children achieve their goals. But the goals should be set by their children. (Give an example) For example, if the child has a passion for life Sciences, then his goal would be to become a doctor as a teenager. The parent can help the child by paying the fees. But if the parent has already set a goal that his child should become a marine Engineer and forces the kid to pursue it, then the outcome may not be positive.
VOCABULARY
Reference (noun) – the use of a source of information to ascertain something.
Eg: He used the poetries of Wordsworth for reference.
Give up (phrasal verb) – cease making an effort; admit defeat.
Eg: Due to political pressure, he gave up his efforts of establishing a school in the area
Encounter (verb) – unexpectedly be faced with or experience (something hostile or difficult).
Eg: The computer scientists encountered a strange problem called Y2K.
Unrealistic (adj) – not realistic [realistic(adj) – having or showing a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected]
Eg: It is unrealistic to expect an overnight change in Tom’s behavior.
Outcome (noun) – the way a thing turns out; a consequence.
Eg: It is easy to predict the outcome of the meeting.
