By Magan Mitchell/reporter

A small group of nontraditional students gathered on South Campus recently to learn how to achieve specific and realistic goals.

Academic advisors Noel Garcia and Carl Scherrieb presented ABCs to Success Oct. 5.

Garcia pointed out that nontraditional students filled the audience. He said it was interesting because the presentation was designed for traditional students.

The seminar started with an acronym — S.M.A.R.T. Scherrieb said goals need the S.M.A.R.T. attributes, which he spelled out.

S is specific, which stands for something one can realistically achieve, and M is measurable, which stands for progress over time, he said.

A is for attainable, which asks, how realistic is that goal to attain? R is for realistic, which asks, is it possible to achieve it? T is for timely, which asks, is it something appropriate for the time being?

Scherrieb said setting goals to achieve success is easy to accomplish by following the S.M.A.R.T. attributes.

“Planning breeds success,” Garcia said.

Scherrieb said he hoped this seminar would bring clarity in planning short-term goals and improve the grades of students who attended.

“I feel less lost,” South student Nancy Ho said.

Part two of this success seminar is at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 19 in the NSTU Living Room on South Campus.