Dear Fli,

How can I help a student who comes to me with a seemingly unattainable goal—or at least a goal which is so far off in the future as to feel nearly impossible? I have a new student who just came to this country, speaks almost no English, and has a goal of attaining her GED. How can I help her without discouraging her?

- How to Achieve the Impossible Dream

Dear How to Achieve the Impossible Dream,

This is a familiar challenge for many RIFLI teachers. Our students understandably and admirably reach high and set lofty goals for themselves. Our job is to help them break those goals down into more manageable, short-term goals which will help them to move towards their larger dream.  Sit down with your student and map out a timeline of small steps that will lead her towards her GED. As she makes progress on these small steps, return to the timeline to celebrate her achievements and to remind her how they are moving her towards her goal.      - The Fli