Focused to the finish.

A lesson in centeredness

Shauna T. Burkes knew that without an education she would never be able to fully realize her goals and dreams. She decided, at an early age, that nothing would stop her from achieving the professional life she desired. The "T" in her middle name could very well have stood for "Tunnel"--tunnel vision, that is.

As a teenager, Burkes, 32, possessed a determination grounded in strong spiritual beliefs. Burkes served as a confidante and counselor to her peers--some of whom had fallen prey to drugs and the appeal of pregnancy that ravaged Middleburg, Florida, her small hometown. To them, she was a pillar of strength.

She graduated from high school with honors, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of South Florida in 1990. She completed a one-year management and operations trainee program with Florida Power Corp., and became a customer administration analyst, working for the company from 1991 to 1995. Believing that she could accomplish more, she began a dual degree program at Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"Knowing the law meant knowing my rights as a citizen, and it would give me an opportunity to give to my family and community in a way that I may not have been able to give otherwise," says Burkes. In 1998, she earned a J.D. and an M.B.A., and was sworn in as an attorney after passing the Florida Bar later that year.

"I am simply an individual with real dreams and goals that I have set out to accomplish. I am that person foremost, because of God, my family, and close friends. Without these forces, my life would have been significantly different."

Burkes' experience is truly a lesson in staying focused on your goals--whatever they might be. Here are some tips, borrowed from Burkes' example, that can help you, too, stay focused.

* Know what you want--and work hard to get it. Burkes toiled tirelessly from high school (she was named to Who's Who Among American High School Students in 1984) all the way through law school (she completed her last three semesters with honors). Concentrate on what you have to do to accomplish your goal, and you won't have time to focus on nonsense.

Tap into a higher power. Burkes believed that prayer would be key to her success. By focusing on the higher power guiding her within, she was able to focus on her goals and not on what was going on around her.

* Enlist the help of those close to you. Burkes turned to her family and close friends for support. They nurtured her drive and helped her stay on track.