Who Do You Want to Be?: Writing a Personal Mission Statement

How can reflecting on what matters most to us help us set meaningful goals?

Mastery Objective

• Students will be able to create a mission statement that reinforces identified goals and values.

Day 1 - Students will:

• Listen to “Brave” by Sara Bareilles
• Define goals and values and relate the two concepts to each other
• Identify some of their values

Day 2 - Students will:

• Watch the 1990 Gatorade commercial, “Like Mike”
• Discuss how recognizing qualities in others can help grow those qualities in ourselves.
• Identify admirable qualities in role models

Day 3 - Students will:

• Listen to “When I Grow Up” from Matilda the Musical
• Consider roles they have and want, and define goals for how they want to be in those roles
• Reflect on how goals align with their values

Day 4 - Students will:

• Listen to “How Far I’ll Go” by Auli'i Cravalho
• Compose a personal mission statement

Arts-Based Activity - Students will:

• Reflect on their values, roles, goals, and personal mission statement
• Write and decorate their personal mission statement to be placed somewhere they can refer back to it

In this lesson, students will consider how values and goals are related and create a mission statement that will assist them in setting authentic goals. They will begin by identifying their core values. They will consider what qualities relate to those values and how role models can help them live their values. Students will then reflect on the roles they hold in their lives and consider what roles they might like to have in the future. Finally, students will each write a personal mission statement that includes the values, qualities, and roles they have identified.

Required for all lessons:

• Student Journals
• Art Supplies

Day 1:

• Handout - Examples of Values