The end of summer, the start of a new school year — maybe even a job, internship or interview. There is something so beautiful about the start of a new chapter in this book of life each one of us plays a part in.
No matter who you are, where you are or how you go about your day-to-day life, you are the main character of the book you write every day when you wake up: what you have for breakfast, or don’t, what you accomplish that day, or don’t. As the main character of your own story, how would you want to read your book to someone? As I start my sophomore year, recurring questions pops in my head, “What motivates people? In fact, what motivates me?”
Every day I walk up and walk around campus, I see what seems like thousands of kids, all with different clothes, different faces, pursuing different majors, and eventually different life paths. Can you have motivation with no absolute end goal in mind? Can you be determined without knowing what the next chapter in your book will read? Well I most certainly think this is 100% true, and here’s why.
In college and in life, as you grow up you’re asked what you want to be, what you want to do, how you’re going to make money. But nobody asks you what motivates you to get up every morning. Or what makes you motivated to be a better person than the person you were yesterday. I’m 19, a sophomore in college, and I have absolutely no idea what I want to do when I am older. This simple fact however doesn’t intimidate me, it excites me!
I’m 19, and every day I wake up excited to embrace whatever is thrown at me, whether it is a class I did the homework for and am now more than ready for the next task, or an opportunity to go to a lake where I’ve never been before or even a chance to interview someone for the newspaper I think deserves to have their story heard.
Motivation doesn’t have to stem from an end goal, rather it can be derived from the self improvement we all strive for.
I write this article in a library full of kids who are working hard. They are all motivated to get something done, and it’s very much an empowering feeling to see young minds as determined as these. Not knowing your future shouldn’t be a reason to lose motivation but to gain momentum in the chapter you’re in right now. You never know what is around the corner or who will notice the determination and motivation you carry with you every time you wake up, go to class with homework in hand, show up to a town hall meeting waiting for a chance to voice your opinion, or put on your best attire for a job interview you’ve been anticipating for months.
Motivation is a blessing when you ignite the flame within. Be motivated everyday, even if you don’t have a 10-year plan — because you never know what is around the next corner, but knowing you’re determined every day to improve in more ways than one is as important as breathing.
Write your book how you would want to read it.
