National Reach as High as You Can Day

Grab some friends and dream a little, encourage some family members to meet their educational goals, or get on board with coworkers to plan some exciting projects because it’s time to celebrate reaching higher!

Take a bit of time for inspiration and motivation by participating in National Reach As High As You Can Day.

1943
Maslow Introduces Hierarchy of Needs
Psychologist Abraham Maslow publishes “A Theory of Human Motivation,” outlining a hierarchy of needs that culminates in self-actualization and helps frame the idea of striving to reach one’s fullest potential.
1960
McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y
Douglas McGregor’s book “The Human Side of Enterprise” contrasts controlling management (Theory X) with an approach that assumes people seek responsibility and growth (Theory Y), influencing modern views on helping people aim higher at work.
1968
Locke Formalizes Goal-Setting Theory
Psychologist Edwin A. Locke publishes research showing that specific, challenging goals can lead to higher performance than vague or easy ones, providing a scientific basis for using structured goals to support motivation and achievement.
1990
Locke and Latham Integrate Goal-Setting Research
Edwin Locke and Gary Latham synthesize decades of studies in “A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance,” emphasizing clarity, difficulty, feedback, and commitment, and establishing goal-setting as a central tool in organizations and personal development.
2004
Positive Psychology’s Character Strengths Handbook
Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman publish “Character Strengths and Virtues,” a handbook that catalogs human strengths such as perseverance, hope, and bravery, encouraging a focus on cultivating qualities that help people grow and reach for higher goals.

How to Celebrate National Reach As High As You Can Day

Aim high – and then aim even higher – in celebration of National Reach As High As You Can Day when it’s fun and exciting to observe the day with some of these ideas:

Set Goals or Work Toward Those Goals

Those who haven’t yet gotten their goals down on paper might want to spend some time on National Reach As High As You Can Day brainstorming some ideas.

After all, how is it possible to know where to reach if there are no tangible goals?

Folks who already have their goals made can take some time on this important day to make steps in the right direction of those goals.

Sure, it might be a long term goal, but each day brings the opportunity to move in the right direction!

Watch Films About Reaching Higher

Whether told through books or films, stories are a great way to get inspired by the way others, whether fictional or biographical, have lived out their dreams.

Have fun watching some of these movies to connect with the characters and find motivation behind them:

Rocky (1976). A classic Academy Award winning film which was written by Sylvester Stallone, who also starred in the movie. This story is about a poor debt collector who sidelines as a boxer but eventually gets an opportunity to fight against a heavyweight champ.
Forrest Gump (1994). Played by Tom Hanks, Forrest goes on a huge adventure and eventually finds himself back with his childhood sweetheart.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). Will Smith portrays Chris Gardener in this portrayal inspired by a true story of a man who went from being a homeless single father to creating a better life for his son.
The Life of Pi (2012). Adapted from Yann Martel’s novel, this film tells the story of a young survivor in the sea who then heads out on a grand journey, making a connection with an unexpected friend – a Bengal tiger.

Apply for and Attend College

According to Michelle Obama, an important aspect of reaching high is getting an education after high school.

Whether applying for and enrolling in a 4-year university, trade school, or community college, the opportunities for those with a college education are higher than those who have gone to high school. Set those sights high and then aim for the stars in celebration of National Reach As High As You Can Day!

Those who are looking for resources to help with college applications, financial aid and more, can access information and resources through the official White House website, including toolkits, links, financial aid calculators, logos and more.

Make a Soundtrack for Reaching High

What could be a better way to accompany National Reach As High As You Can Day than with music?! This is a great time to create an inspiring soundtrack and then play it on repeat.

Whether listening with headphones on a morning job or blasting it in the car on the way to work, a playlist that encourages folks to aim high and reach higher is just what is needed for celebrating this day.

Get a playlist started with some of these fun ideas for songs that inspire:

Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey (1981)
Part of Your World by Jodi Benson (1989 from The Little Mermaid)
High Hopes by Panic! At The Disco (2018)
We Are the Champions by Queen (1977)

History of National Reach As High As You Can Day

When former First Lady Michelle Obama began to speak out about the need for more Americans to be educated past a high school diploma, this passion contributed to the launch of the Reach Higher Initiative in 2014.

Even beyond her time as First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama has continued to tell her own story of being a first generation college student who enrolled at Princeton.

That encouragement to go further, combined with an effort to provide high school students with more access to school guidance counselors, was likely part of the motivation behind National Reach As High As You Can Day.

Some sources credit motivational speaker, Les Brown, as the founder of Reach as High as You Can Day in 2008.

Since its inception, the hope is that this encouraging day will continue to grow in scope and creativity as more people are encouraged to participate, whether in school, in the workplace, in places of higher education or among the community.

There’s always more potential to be reached and the sky is the limit when it comes to National Reach As High As You Can Day!

Facts About National Reach As High As You Can Day

The College Payoff Is Growing

In the United States, the payoff from “reaching higher” with education has widened over time: adults with a bachelor’s degree typically earn about two‑thirds more over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma, and they are less likely to be unemployed or live in poverty.

Researchers at Georgetown University have also found that since 1991 nearly all net new “good jobs” that pay a living wage have gone to workers with at least some education after high school.

Goal Setting Works Best When It Is Specific and Challenging

Psychologist Edwin Locke’s classic research on goal setting showed that people who set specific, challenging goals usually perform better than those who simply “do their best” without clear targets.

Dozens of later studies have confirmed that having concrete high goals, combined with feedback and commitment, can significantly boost performance in fields ranging from sales and athletics to education.

A Growth Mindset Can Change Academic Outcomes

Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck’s work on “growth mindset” suggests that students who believe intelligence can be developed are more likely to take on difficult tasks, persist after failure, and ultimately achieve higher grades than peers who see intelligence as fixed.

Large‑scale field experiments have found that even brief online lessons encouraging students to view challenges as opportunities to grow can raise course completion and GPA, especially for academically at‑risk students.

First-Generation Students Often Aim High but Graduate Less Often

First‑generation college students in the United States enroll in higher education at rates closer to their peers than in the past, yet they are still significantly less likely to complete a degree.

Federal data show that only about 20 percent of first‑generation students who start a bachelor’s program graduate within six years, compared with roughly 49 percent of students whose parents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, with gaps linked to financial pressure, limited advising, and competing family responsibilities.

Reaching Higher Than a High School Diploma Is Becoming the Norm

Labor market projections suggest that by 2020 about 65 percent of U.S. jobs would require some education or training beyond high school, whether a technical certificate, apprenticeship, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree.

This shift means that aiming only for a high school diploma is increasingly unlikely to lead to stable, well‑paid work, especially in growing fields like health care, advanced manufacturing, and information technology.

Positive Role Models Can Raise Students’ Aspirations

Studies of mentoring programs have found that when young people regularly interact with adults or older peers who have completed college or built satisfying careers, they are more likely to picture similar futures for themselves.

Evaluation of Big Brothers Big Sisters shows that mentored youth are more likely to believe they will graduate from college, plan on higher education, and avoid risky behaviors that can interfere with long‑term goals.

Ambitious Academic Goals Can Narrow Social Mobility Gaps

Long‑term research following students from adolescence into adulthood has found that those from low‑income backgrounds who set ambitious educational goals, such as completing a four‑year degree, are significantly more likely to move into higher income brackets later in life than similar peers with lower aspirations.

Studies in journals such as Social Forces report that high expectations, when combined with school support and financial aid, can partly offset the disadvantages of family income and parental education.

National Reach as High as You Can Day FAQs

How can someone set ambitious goals without becoming overwhelmed or discouraged?

Research in psychology suggests that people are more likely to achieve ambitious goals when they break them into smaller, specific steps, set realistic deadlines, and track progress regularly.

Using techniques such as setting “SMART” goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound) and focusing on one or two priorities at a time can reduce overwhelm and increase motivation.

It also helps to plan for obstacles in advance and decide how to respond if things do not go exactly as expected.

Does going to college or trade school actually improve a person’s long-term prospects?

Large international and national studies consistently find that completing some form of postsecondary education, whether a university degree, community college credential, or vocational training, is associated with higher earnings, lower unemployment risk, and better health outcomes over a lifetime compared with only a high school education.

The size of the benefit varies by country, field of study, and local labor markets, but overall, education beyond high school tends to expand career options and economic security.

What is a growth mindset and how does it affect someone’s ability to “reach higher”?

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, good strategies, and help from others, rather than being fixed traits.

Studies have found that people with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges, persist after setbacks, and see mistakes as chances to learn, which can lead to better academic and professional outcomes over time.

This outlook encourages individuals to set higher goals because they view improvement as possible with sustained work.

Do inspirational movies and stories really help people achieve their goals, or are they just entertainment?

Inspirational stories can play a useful role when they prompt people to imagine themselves succeeding, clarify what they value, or feel connected to others who have overcome obstacles.

Research on “narrative persuasion” shows that engaging with compelling stories can influence beliefs and intentions, particularly when audiences identify with the characters.

However, stories are most effective when paired with concrete planning and action, rather than used alone as motivation.

Is it ever too late in life to aim for higher education or a new career path?

Studies of adult learners show that people who return to education or retrain later in life can gain significant personal and economic benefits, including increased employability, better health, and greater life satisfaction.

While adults may face barriers such as time, cost, or family responsibilities, flexible options like part-time study, online courses, and workplace training have made midlife or later transitions to new qualifications and careers increasingly feasible.

How do guidance counselors and mentoring actually influence students’ chances of pursuing higher education?

Evidence from school and community programs indicates that access to qualified counselors and mentors can substantially increase the likelihood that students, especially those from low-income or first-generation backgrounds, will apply to and enroll in postsecondary education.

Counselors and mentors help students understand their options, navigate applications and financial aid, and build confidence in their ability to succeed, which reduces common informational and psychological barriers.

What are some common misconceptions about setting “high” goals that can hold people back?

A frequent misconception is that aiming high means never failing or constantly working without rest, which can lead to burnout and avoidance.

Research on achievement shows that progress often involves cycles of effort, setback, and adjustment, and that taking breaks and revising goals is part of effective self-regulation, not a sign of weakness.

Another misconception is that goals must match what peers or family expect, when in fact people tend to be more persistent and satisfied when their goals align with their own values and interests.