Recommend practical strategies that could be considered to ensure successful achievement of relationship goals. In your answer, also indicate how that could enable you to nurture relationships with your school mates.
About this question
Question 1.9 of Life Orientation Grade 11, Provincial Task (Mpumalanga DoE, February 2026). It tests the Term 1 ATP topic Life Goals and Relationships.
- TermTerm 1
- ATP topicLife Goals and Relationships
- PaperMP Task Term 1 2026
- Marks4 marks: 2 points, 2 marks each
Goal setting is a powerful tool that can significantly benefit learners by providing clarity, motivation, and a framework for measuring progress. Goal setting can present challenges, such as setting unrealistic goals or failing to maintain motivation. However, it also offers significant benefits for learners. Importantly, everybody must set life goals for achievement of their calling in life.
This is not easy, as goals are inherently difficult to achieve. That is why one may be required to persevere and persist for things to happen. But that is also not enough, there are certain things that need to be done. For example, setting SMART goals, i.e., specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound goals. Essentially, you may not persist and achieve your goals if you did not set them with the SMART principle in mind.
Additionally, people are always in relationships. These relationships may either support or discourage them from attaining their goals in life. For example, if you relate with people who do not share your vision and mission about your future, your goals may not be easily attained. It may take time before you may successfully go back to your tracks. Others can't retrace their steps and they eventually vanish in obscurity. This may happen for various reasons; for example, there could be bad intentions or you may be relating to people who are going through some challenges in their lives. For instance, a physically sick person may not always be an ideal person to communicate with about your goals. The same could be said about an emotionally overwhelmed person. They may be going through a rough patch in their lives, making it difficult for them to objectively guide you. They may have the intention, but their situation may not permit. Their wellbeing may be at stake to give you a correct view about your goals. That may lower your motivation and effort to realise your goals.
In this way, there are good and detrimental relationships out there. It is actually a mixed bag of challenges. It depends on the people involved in a relationship. Grade 11 learners must always be vigilant because it is their responsibility to ensure that their goals in life are reached. Therefore, the challenges are many; unfortunately, grade 11 learners must pursue their educational goals, i.e., learning for success, in spite of the challenges.
Glossary: inherently difficult: naturally hard to do, understand or deal with; pursue: to work towards something with effort and determination. [Adapted from https://positivepsychology.com/]
Two practical strategies that could ensure successful achievement of relationship goals are:
- People should communicate openly and honestly, for example by checking in regularly, expressing feelings without blaming and listening without interrupting, because this lets everyone play their part and shows commitment to the relationship, which helps you keep healthy friendships with your school mates.
- People should respect each other's boundaries by giving one another personal space and being clear about what behaviour is acceptable, because healthy boundaries create a safe environment in which friendships with school mates can grow.
Other points that earn marks
- Discuss expectations openly and agree on shared goals, so all parties have a common vision.
- Test relationship goals against the SMART principle to check that they are realistic.
- Show empathy by trying to understand the other person's feelings and offering support in difficult times.
- Invest time and show appreciation regularly, which shows equal commitment.
- Resolve conflict calmly by focusing on the issue and not the person, and avoid the silent treatment.
- Look after your own physical and emotional health so you can be your best self in relationships.
- Celebrate achievements together and seek help jointly when problems arise.
More Questions On Life Goals and Relationships
The definition of goal setting and the different types of goals are:
- Goal setting is the process of deciding what you want to achieve and planning the steps you will take to reach it within a set time.
- Short-term goals are goals you can achieve in a short time, such as a week or a month, for example finishing a project by the weekend.
- Medium-term goals are goals you want to achieve within about six months to a year, for example improving your marks by the end of the term.
- Long-term goals are goals that take a few years to achieve, for example becoming a doctor or an engineer.
Two ways in which personal values may help you with goal setting are:
- Personal values help you to choose goals that are meaningful to you, and goals that matter to you motivate you to work hard to achieve them.
- Your values help you decide which goals are most important, so you can prioritise the activities that will move you closer to achieving them.
Two effects of preferring to socialise on Facebook are:
- You go out less and miss out on real relationships and fun activities with friends, so you may become antisocial and lonely.
- You do not give one person your full attention because you are chatting to many people at once, so your relationships take strain.
The dangers of engaging in social media relationships can be evaluated as follows:
- Social media relationships are often built on deceit, because people can easily lie about who they are. This leads to a lack of trust and conflict, and in serious cases young people who meet strangers they met online can become victims of human trafficking or abuse.
- Posting private information or photos in an online relationship can damage a person's reputation, because the content can be shared widely and is hard to remove. People also lose their inhibitions online and say hurtful things they later regret, which damages real-life relationships.
B: You are geared up, focused and have mapped out the way forward.
Reaching for a goal means you are ready, focused and have an action plan that shows the steps to get there. Option A and D let other people decide for you, and option C has a goal but no plan.
Three ways in which social media can save the youth from detrimental relationships are:
- Young people can read information on social media about the signs of abuse and human trafficking, which helps them recognise a dangerous relationship and get out of it in time.
- They can ask questions on platforms such as X (Twitter) that they are too shy to ask face to face, and get advice and support from others or from helplines.
- They can use social media to report abuse or criminal acts, so that help reaches them or others who are in danger.