I have three words of similar meaning in this two sentences: How to make words more efficient?
The professor teased that maybe I would make a good researcher. I took the comment seriously, made it my goal to become an economics professor and have since started to work on becoming an excellent scholar.

The three words are:good researcher, professor and excellent scholar.Could I say " I took the comment seriously, made my goal to become an economics professor and have since started to work on it" instead?

Question

I have three words of similar meaning in this two sentences: How to make words more efficient?
The professor teased that maybe I would make a good researcher. I took the comment seriously, made it my goal to become an economics professor and have since started to work on becoming an excellent scholar.

The three words are:good researcher, professor and excellent scholar.Could I say " I took the comment seriously, made my goal to become an economics professor and have since started to work on it" instead?

Answer

How about this?

"The professor said maybe I would make a good researcher. He was teasing, but I took him seriously, and ever since then I have worked toward a goal of becoming an economics professor."

I don't think you need to be explicit about using both "scholar" and "professor." A professor is a scholar, and working toward becoming a professor means you must master scholarship along the way.

Answer

P.S. The word you want is not "efficient," but "concise" or "succinct." You are asking "How can I write these sentences more succinctly?"

Answer

Yes, you could say it either way.  Just make sure you say "made it my goal."  Don't forget the word "it".