I am so grateful to have always had such an amazing support system of incredible friends and family. As you all know, I have wanted to be a veterinarian since I was little and have worked really hard to be where I am at. Veterinary school has been one of the most challenging things I have done in my life. Recently I found out that I failed my board exams. As I was thinking about how to best prepare to retake the exam in April (when it is next offered) I was once again supported by all of you who were asking what you could do to help. I started thinking about how a lot has happened over the last few years and I know a lot of you have been through some hard times.

I also started thinking about my brother’s monthly new months day get togethers (where he brings his friends together at the beginning of each month to set goals for the next month and enjoy each others company.) So I was inspired. I thought it would be good for us to all support each other over the next few months while I complete the final four months of schooling and finally become a doctor.  I was discussing my idea with my brother and he agreed to help me create and support this page.

Here is what I am suggesting.  For anyone who wants to support me to come up with and post three of their own goals for February to be completed before I graduate in May (May 14^th is my last week). Goals should be set to be completed by early in May so we can celebrate together at graduation! Everyone is to set three goals with the following rules.

1. These goals must be realistic, appropriate, and specific so you know exactly what you have to do and have done to have achieved them
2. These goals must be personal goals that are important to you. Please write a little explanation for your goals so we can better support and understand why you chose them.
3. You are to set three goals
4. You are to write a plan for how you will specifically go about achieving your goals
5. You must commit to and post your goals on this page

You can then post as much or as little as you want  about your progress, however you are expected to report when you achieve your goals so we can all celebrate! Posting about your achievements and struggles will allow us to better support each other.

Here is my commitment to you.  I promise to support everyone in their goals and hold each of you accountable for helping to achieve as many of your goals as possible by May. For every goal that is achieved you will receive a personalized prize. Prizes will include Starbucks gift cards for a free drink,  nice water bottles, cool t-shirts, beer, wine and many other gifts. I promise to you that for those of you who commit to this with me your prizes will be personally picked out with thoughtfulness as to what I think you might enjoy as a sign of my gratefulness for your support. I also commit to working hard to achieve my goals over this time and posting about my progress and ways you can support or help me to achieve my goals.

It would mean the world to me to have you participate so I can use this as a way to improve life for myself and all the people who are most important to me.  If you need help coming up with goals that might work , or a plan to achieve your goals let us know so we can help!

Jenny’s goals

1) Goal 1: weigh 165 lbs or less at graduation (current weight 183 so just over 1lb a week).

• Explanation: Before my weight loss surgery I weighed 256 lbs. After my surgery I lost 90 lbs. This last year of school has been challenging and I have gained a lot of weight back. My lowest weight post surgery was 166 lbs. Therefore my goal is to by graduation weigh my lowest weight since my surgery (165 lbs) so I can work towards my goal of being healthy.
• How? 30 min Personal training 2 x a week, 1 hour spinning class 3 x a week, plank challenge(gradually working up to planking 5 min daily by the end), myfitnesspal (diet)

2) Goal 2: Pass the navle on April 24

• Explanation: This is my veterinary school boards exam. That is the date I will take my exam. Unfortunately I will not likely have the results before graduation however this is the real reason that I have started this and would make life much smoother for me in the future so I can finally practice medicine and do what I truly love.
• How? Average answering 60 ?’s a day on Vet prep, weekly subject videos, weekly subject powerpages, weekly Sunday review class

3) Goal 3: Clean house

• Explanation: As most of you have experienced I am not the most organized person.As  I have been working through veterinary school my room has become a disaster. Although my roommates do a good job of keeping the house clean, I do not often complete my roommate chore and would like to be better about doing my part to keep things clean.
• How? Finish weekly roommate chore, clean room weekly (complete at least 80% of the weeks up to graduation)

Ann’s goals

1) Goal 1: I would like to walk thirty minutes every day between now and Jenny’s graduation.

• I will write down my walking time each night

2) Goal 2: I will only have one Starbucks per week.  This will cut down on calories and
Money!

• not reload my Starbucks card

3) Goal 3: I will take one bag to Goodwill each week.

• I will put five bags in my room to fill one each week.

Donna’s goals

1) Goal:  Lose 10 pounds before my big birthday party in July.

• Explanation:  I have bounced back and forth with the same twenty pounds on and off and on and off for decades.  I feel much better at the lower end of those twenty pounds.  I am now just 5 pounds less than my peak.  If I can lose 10 pounds, I will be closer to the bottom of that range, and will feel great for my milestone birthday party in July.
• How? Eat less – that’s the main thing.  With my recent leg surgery, I am not supposed to put too much weight on my leg right now, but in another month, I want to start walking every single day as part of this goal.

2) Goal: get my home office in order

• Explanation: I hate filing, so I just pile up papers and file only after the stack is very high.  It’s very high now.  Plus, it is really time to go back through all the files and throw out the stuff that I don’t need any more.  I would feel great if I could do a purge of all the papers that I just don’t need.  I also have been trying to transition all the paper to electronic copies, so I should finish doing that.
• How? I don’t think I can do this a little bit at a time.  I think I need to allocate two half day chunks of time.  First, I will do the filing.  Then, for the second chunk, I will do the purging.   I will aim to do this by the time taxes are due, April 15.

David’s goals

1)  to run 75 miles this month

2) to be able to do 100 push ups at one time