When a Goal Feels Like a Pipe Dream

Real-World Mastery: Necessary Life SkillsFinancial Help & Growth: Getting Funding/Making the Most of My Funds

Jan 7

Goal setting. A magical concept that can transform chaos into clarity. My work as the Foster Youth Resource Concierge includes helping our youth set and achieve goals, which is equal parts rewarding and, at times, hilarious. Fill out our referral form to get personalized help from our rewarding (and humorous) program!

Take last week, for instance. A youth in our program on the verge of aging out, let's call him James, met with me for our appointment and stated, “I want to be rich” as his ultimate priority upon turning 18. Fantastic ambition, James. Love the energy. But maybe we could break it down a little?

Dream Big, But Start Small
“Rich” is great, but what does it mean? After a bit of conversation we narrowed it down: James wants to save up for his first car. Fantastic! A tangible, relatable goal.

Make It Specific, Measurable, and Doable
We whipped out the FYRC Goal Wizard™ (okay, it’s a doc on his very own FYRC provided laptop) and started outlining the plan.

Specific: Save $3,000 for a used car.
Measurable: Save $500 every two months.
Achievable: Balance saving with Marcus’s extended foster care stipend while making sure we still account for monthly necessities like rent and bills of course.

James looked skeptical but nodded. “I can live without buying extra snacks at school,” he said. Progress!

Break It Down, or It’ll Break You
Saving $3,000 sounded scary to James, so we tackled it bite-sized. First up? Create a realistic plan for saving. Second? Create a budget. Third? Sticking to not spending as much on unnecessary expenses. Working with him step-by-step, the goal felt less like climbing Mt. Everest and more like a walk through the neighborhood park.

Accountability Is Everything
We scheduled weekly check-ins focused on budgeting. The FYRC program is like the ultimate accountability buddy for your life skills and aging out goals—we may nag, but we do it with care.

Celebrate the Wins
When James hits his first $500 savings milestone, we’ll get him a gift card (to make up for the missed snack buying opportunities) or a special outing. Celebrating keeps motivation alive.

Lesson: If your dream feels unattainable, start with building the habits to achieve it.

Goal setting doesn’t have to be daunting. It’s just about starting small, staying flexible and having a great support system. So, whether you’re saving for a car, learning a new skill, or just trying to get out of bed before noon, our FYRC has your back. James may still want to be rich, but now he’s got a roadmap.

Stay tuned for more FYRC adventures! And remember: dreams are just goals in sweatpants.

Ready to start reaching your goals or know a young adult who could use some personalized support? Our FYRC is here to guide you every step of the way. Fill out our referral form today to get connected and let’s work together to turn your dreams into reality one step at a time!