Discipline: Students’ Driving Factor towards a Successful Future by Tina

Discipline: Students’ Driving Factor towards a Successful Future by Tina - February 2023 Scholarship Essay

I believe discipline is one of the crucial, if not, the most fundamental soft skills to acquire towards maintaining a successful education. In today’s society, the joy in learning has been declining with students focusing on earning good grades rather than genuinely learning for fun. Many people mistake discipline with motivation, however, these are two very different notions. With motivation, it’s a spontaneous burst of wanting to get work done, yet, it is not a reliable nor consistent way of getting things done.

Discipline is essentially guaranteed motivation where in times where you need to work, your brain has been conditioned to automatically get started, whereas motivation can only get you so far when you feel like doing the work at a certain time. A successful education entails consistency. If you were to think about some of the most successful people on this planet, discipline got them where they are today as they have constantly pushed themselves to their highest potential. If students were to practice and master discipline, the common habit of procrastination would almost be eliminated seeing as studies have shown that procrastinating is associated with a wide range of academic issues; worse grades, increased course failures, longer study duration, and an increased likelihood of dropping out (rather than graduating).

Furthermore, if students are able to condition themselves to get work done in a timely manner, we can expect an increase in students’ interest in their education. Students that are genuinely curious at school and optimistic towards learning, are proven to have a higher success rate in school because they are well disciplined and aware of the privilege with education that many kids around the world do not have.

Although discipline is a process of trial and error where it is not a linear experience to maintain, success starts with discipline. Waking up at a consistent time, making your bed first thing in the morning, doing your daily routine and getting into the habit of completing school work days in advance is the type of discipline students are to have in order to succeed in their academics and life in general. And so, since I too am a student that is also constantly working towards mastering the art of discipline, I know that great achievements will arise, which only motivates me further to continue to work hard for my own successful education and future.