We’re in the final stretch, bases loaded, summer vacation is just around the corner. Just a few more tests, events and papers to be finished... time to coast right through to the end of the year, right? Wrong. This is go time.
It can be hard to stay motivated through the end of the year. Believe me, I understand. The end of this year will be the end of my last year in school ever. I can't wait to walk across that stage. For others, it might not be the impending vacation or end of the year. It might be excitement to start the next year. Maybe next year is their first year of high school or college. While it's great to be excited for the future, we need to remember to be present in the present.
We still have grades that count and assignments that will affect our GPA. We still have events and activities that matter and deserve our full, undivided attention. It can be so easy to get wrapped up in what lies ahead that we forget to focus on the important things that are going on around us. It’s great to start out strong, but we also have to finish strong.
If you are having trouble staying motivated and focused, there are techniques maintaining focus. One thing that I have done to keep my eye on the prize is to set smaller goals related to the rest of my time in school. If I know that staying focused will maintain my GPA, it is easier to get motivated. For others it might be setting specific performance goals going into end-of-the-year competitions. I also find that filling out my calendar with the rest of my obligations for the year has helped me put everything into perspective. Now, I can take control of my workload, understanding on what I need to get ahead, and what can wait.
It might be slow, it might be hard, but we are all going to make it through the end of this school year. We are going to work hard and at the end of it all, we have a great vacation ahead of us. Stay focused, stay motivated and finish strong.
- Bria