My Motivation by Madison

My Motivation by Madison - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

There are a combination of things in my life that drive me to pursue my academic goals. My parents are the ones who built my foundation in pursuit of my academic goals. They have always told me that "everything that your hands find to do, do it to the best of your ability; and right now that is your education". Through their constant support and reassurance, they are one of the components that help to motivate me. This is what started not only my desire to learn but also a desire for success.

My senior year of high school was a test of everything I have learned throughout my life when it comes to motivation and focus. Throughout high school, I have never had a problem with doing any assignments, and I have always done my work to the best of my ability. As soon as I became a senior, everything changed. I became irritable, I couldn’t focus in my classes, and any homework that I did, I quickly became tired and uninterested. My senior year had taken a toll on my motivation and productivity, which is something I had not experienced before. I soon realized that I did not like this feeling of sadness and didn’t like how I lost interest in things I used to enjoy before. This realization is what pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and take back control of my life.

What I have learned through a lot of trial and error is that I have to look at my end goals because that is what’s important to me. No matter how much I don't want to do an assignment, I have to be able to push through and do it so that I will be able to make it to my end goal. I have learned that reaching my goals is better than not doing my assignments because in the end, procrastinating on something pushes back how quickly I will be able to reach my goals. I find it easier for me to just get up and tell myself I will do ten minutes of uninterrupted work and then take a five-minute break. I soon get into my assignment and I end up working for longer with fewer breaks. I have learned that it’s okay to take a break because we all need it. I just need to have a balance between how long my breaks are because I know that it can lead me to procrastination.

Pushing yourself, getting out of your comfort zone, and learning that you need to take a break are all lessons that I am so grateful I have learned. These are things I will continue to carry with me as I enter my college academic journey, and this will be what helps set me up for success.