*This* is the year you're gonna do your thing

Back-to-school season is equally thrilling and terrifying...and it's also the opportunity to find the courage to finally do, well, you.

- By Erin Reimel

Ahh...a new school year. It's brimming with potential for what could be. Whether you're aiming for better grades, improved soccer skills, a more accepting friend group or just a chiller all-around vibe, it's great to have goals for what you'd like to do differently this year.

But how do you actually achieve those goals? The process can be tricky. "We've all tried to change too many things at once and ended up achieving nothing because it was too much," says Michelle Dolan, certified life coach for teens and young women. "You have to be careful about putting too much pressure on yourself."

That's not to say you shouldn't go after those big dreams. It's just that you'll want to do it in a smart, realistic way. Let's make it happen...

THE GOAL

Start speaking up more in class even though, tbh, just raising your hand feels scary.

GO FOR IT "Break it down into manageable tasks," advises Erika Cramer, a confidence coach and host of The Confidence Chronicles podcast. Instead of expecting to suddenly show off your smarts every day, start by raising your hand once per class in the subject you feel most comfortable in. "The following week, bump it up to two, and so on," says Dolan. "This will help you exercise that muscle." After a while, it'll feel like no big deal.

THE GOAL

Branch out from your (drama-filled) forever friend group.