Motivation 101: What It Means to a College Freshman

As a freshman, you don’t need much to become motivated. You know what you’re in school for and you’re still reeling from your high school graduation. But you will have to keep feeding the fire of motivation throughout the challenges that lie ahead. Do not become a jaded old person in your early twenties.

Here are some tips to motivate yourself and keep yourself sane throughout your college years.

Have a Long-Term Plan

One of the questions you will hear often from counselors and other well-meaning individuals is how you see yourself ten years from now. How do you answer this?

Coming up with a vision of what your life will be a decade from now is simple. Of course, you see yourself in a good place, with all the things you’ve dreamed about just within your reach. But envisioning what you will become after ten years is easier than the planning that you need to do to make that vision come true.

A ten-year plan is necessary because you’re forced to consider the time frame you will devote for each phase of your dream. Many college graduates would tell you that it takes more than ten years to become rich. Some would say you can achieve your goals earlier if you keep them realistic, and if you don’t aim for much. Whether you’re planning for ten, five or fifteen, what matters is you’re considering your future. This type of thinking will encourage you to stick to a long-term plan and keeps you motivated.

Work on Your Skills

Work on skills that can help you reach your goals, particularly the skills that you’re already good at. If this seems too general for you, think of two marketable skills that you can realistically hone during your college years. If you’ve always been good at technical problem solving, look for opportunities to become better at it. If you’re naturally charismatic, you can hone your people skills or your leadership skills. The same thing applies for photography, writing and athletic skills.

Identify your talents, and never say you don’t have these. Skills and talents are often interchangeable. Even if you don’t think you can live off these talents, being great at them could turn them into potent tools that will serve you well in the future. At the very least, being exceptionally good at something will continue to feed your confidence even if life keeps throwing curve balls your way. Who knows? These skills may provide a way for you to save yourself from a crisis in the future.

Join clubs and organizations that help you pursue your passion. Don’t limit yourself to the training that your syllabus provides. Look for extra-curricular activities that will help you improve your skill sets. Fortunately, every college has clubs and organizations set up by students like you for the purpose of encouraging hobbies and improving skills.

College is the time to puff up your psyche, give your ego a pep talk and build an emotional buffer you will need when you face real life.

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