Going to college is an accomplishment. Period.
But nowadays, going to college is becoming more of a necessity rather than a personal choice. Today's Real Talk Thursday won't be covering stuff like how to be a better student, having better study habits, or becoming a Summa Cum Laude/Honors Student/Rhodes Scholar/Class President. #sorryboutit. Instead, we want to take a step back and take a look at the big picture.
Did you know that:
Less than 50% of college students actually complete a 4-year bachelor's degree in 4 years.
Less than 50% of college students actually complete a 4-year bachelor's degree in 6 years!
Well, there are multiple causes and not enough solutions. If you're anything like me, one of those causes is lack of motivation. Otherwise referred to as senioritis.
Senioritis. Getting burned out. Being demotivated. Having no sense of ambition. Having a "wing it" attitude.
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| from despair.com |
The goal of college is to graduate, ready to take on the real world and jump into a career you are passionate about, climb steadily to the top of your field, and retire successfully - fulfilled and with a huge nest egg. Ah, how idealistic.
But never fear - we have a couple out-of-the-box suggestions to succeed before you even start college.
1. Do something that interests you. But more than that, do something that excites you!
While we are (mostly) motivated by dollar signs and cushy lifestyles, a job that pays the bills and then some is a pretty materialistic goal. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, every week for 40 years (and sometimes more) is waaaaay too much time doing something that you don't have a passion for.
College is a time to discover your path in life. If you don't have a direction, nbd. (And granted 18 is too young to expect most kids to know how they want to spend the next 40 years anyway.) That's what core classes are for! Take the most interesting core classes that you can and see where it takes you. You may have found an interest, but you'll only know it's a passion if you stick with it even when it's tough. Because come on, aren't all easy subjects interesting? Just don't wait too long to take some higher level courses in a subject you like - you don't want to be another statistic.
If you don't have a passion for your major, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to stay motivated. Focusing on grades may have worked in high school when you wanted to get into college but others don't really care about your grades anymore (unless you're going to grad school). They just care about that piece of paper we call a diploma.
2. Especially if it comes easily to you.
Did you excel at anything in high school and did you enjoy it? Don't stop just because you are in college! Allot time for your hobbies and if they line up with a major - go for it!
After all:
Those who can, do.
If you're good at science, don't take it for granted. You don't have to major in it but don't let all your knowledge sit in your brain, only to be dug up during trivia at Buffalo Wild Wings.
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| from etsy.com |
3. But know when to call it quits if it doesn't.
Majoring in music is tough. At least at our school, hardly anyone graduates in 4 years. And once you get out, job prospects are few and far between. If you don't have dedication, perseverance, talent, or stage presence, your earnings may never reach 6 figures.
If you are willing to work hard in a lucrative field, good for you! In the case of music, there are many opportunities out there. You can self-produce, record your songs, and post them on YouTube or MySpace (if you even know what that is). You may not sell out arenas yet but you could probably find a venue or two to host you.
But if it doesn't pan out, if you don't have the passion or the drive to keep going, think of a plan B. Think about getting a minor in something versatile and then switch it to your major if you get burnt out.
4. Also, remember a
Normally, people don't want to be in school forever. But you don't want to take the easy way out, get a BS degree (not Bachelor of Science, if you know what I mean), and then in a couple of years come back to study something else!
Sometimes you have to stick with the program til the end and you may not think it's worth it now, but "future you" will look back and admire your determination.
There is a balance between this and the last suggestion. Do you stick with the major of your dreams or do you go for something more practical? Or vice versa? It's all up to you. Make a list of each major's pros/cons and think about it for a while.
5. Don't know what to do? Figure it out.
If you can't find anything that ignites a passion (subject matter-wise), maybe you're looking in the wrong places. Instead of trying to find fulfillment in your classes, try some extracurriculars. You may love being a campus tour guide, sorority sister, or a member of the tae kwon do club.
You'll never know when experiences outside of school will come in handy!
Also, you've probably heard the statistic that students who are involved in an extracurricular activity perform better in school. Extracurricular activity, recess, sports, anything you do to work more than just the brain helps you become a more well-rounded person, adds lines to your resumé, and helps your grades.
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| from good.co |
6. Do you like so many things that you can't choose? Awesome!
Go for a minor, two minors, or double major! Subjects connect in all different ways that you didn't even realize. Having diverse interests is awesome because having a diverse background can make you qualified to solve problems that others have never even thought of.
Although let's not be too crazy. If you double major in Art History and Geology, you probably won't find a job where you use both - but you will have twice as many job options.
4. Really, really, really don't know what to do?
Get a job while you figure it out. After all, you gain an education from college but at the expense of experience. If you stumble across your dream job, you'll at least have experience and someone to put in a good word for you.
Get a job that pays the bills and also exposes you to different things. Get a desk jobs in a cubicle, be manual labor, do some grunt work, etc. You may be jealous of your friends in college as they graduate but I bet you'd rather be jealous than racking up tons of debt at college and still not knowing what to do with your life.
If you already know what type of job you are looking for (in terms of level of activity), think about what field you want to work in. Do you want to help people? Medically? Spiritually? Physically?
What do you like to do? Yoga? Make stuff? Play video games? Get certified as a yoga instructor, post your creations on Etsy or EBay, or become world-ranked in your game of choice, enter a contest, and win cash prizes!
This is where the unconventional comes to play.
You may not end up having a 9-to-5 job but so what? As long as you're doing something you love, spending 20 hours or 60 hours on it will make you happier than looking at a screen all day partially enclosed by a gray cubicle. Unless that is your dream job. And yes, your dream job may be less stable financially, but what if it isn't? If you have a degree but are working in fast food, you may have a stable job but don't you think a job that you love pays at least the same as fast food jobs or better?
And if all you like to do is everything (this includes writing) -
Be a blogger :)
Conclusion.
Basically, to stay motivated, you have to like what you're doing and do it with a purpose. It's that simple. If you don't like it, try something else.
As young adults in the technology age, we literally have the world at our fingertips. It is easier now than ever before to have an interest in something and find a way to make it a career! We love having the college experience and it is awesome but it is not for everyone. 4 years is a long time, and 6 years is even longer to spend time doing something that is only above-average on your interest level.
A successful college experience (or young adult experience in general) involves having an awesome time, making friends, getting smarter, but above all, having something to show for it when you leave.
"You can do it. I believe in you, baby"
- Motivation, Kelly Rowland
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Have an amazing Thursday! We're cheering for you! Kayla & Angela
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