SUGGESTIONS ON MOTIVATION

• Think of why you are going to college. Identify the reasons for spending several years of your life doing the things required to obtain a college degree.
• Imagine what you would like to be doing after college. Formulate realistic and meaningful educational and career goals that match your interests and abilities.
• Correlate your course work with your career goals. If possible include a course required for your major each term.
• Seek out others who share your educational and career interests.
• Work in an area that is closely related to your chosen occupation.
• Set short-term goals for yourself-- for each class, each assignment, each study period.
• Record your progress towards each goal.
• Choose the grade you want. Track and monitor your progress so you are aware of what adjustments you need to make to get that grade.
• Keep a visual record of your attendance. This will help you know whether or not you can actually "afford" to skip another class.
• Take action to improve your study habits.
• Stop thinking that you are unable to learn. This attitude is self-defeating and can actually inhibit your natural ability to learn.
• Do not be discouraged by criticism. Use input from your instructors to learn where you need to improve.
• Beware of getting caught between "striving for perfection" and "simply getting it done" attitudes and behaviors.
• College is your job. You attitudes and habits will carry over to your professional life. Ask yourself whether or not you as an employer would want to hire and train you--right now.