Remembering Why You Started

Written by Annalise Mara, Director of Internal Affairs

At a school as big as Penn State, it’s easy to find yourself being pulled in a million different directions. For me, saying “yes” was key to finding the classes, activities and involvements I truly love. To properly make the most out of your time at Penn State, it’s important to challenge yourself to try new things, while still building a sustainable and manageable workload. However, getting caught up in so many responsibilities can make it hard to remember why you put all of this on your plate in the first place.  Remembering your why can help you prioritize what is important to you. With that, here are some tips for staying motivated through all of the hustle and bustle.    

Focusing on the bigger picture is one way to help keep yourself motivated through the craziness of college. Even if you don’t have a clear sense of what you want or where you’re going, asking yourself the why is important. Maybe an involvement you once loved now seems more like something you have to check off on your to do list. Remembering why you started in the grand scheme of things can help recenter you, both in your enjoyment and your motivation.  

Remember to celebrate all of your small victories. On some days, your victory might be sending an email that you’ve been dreading or finishing a homework assignment you’ve put off. And that’s amazing! To accomplish the big goals, you have to get through a million small ones, so be sure to support yourself along the way. Practicing this positive mindset will not only help you stay on track to reach your goals, but it will remind you how much you have to be proud of.  

Make new goals for yourself as you grow. It is totally normal to have your priorities evolve over time. Taking the time to reassess your values and goals will motivate you to keep working hard and keep striving to do what you enjoy.  

Holding yourself accountable is a great way to stay motivated and in-check. Making commitments that you value and holding yourself to these will make pushing through the hectic days a lot more manageable. When you make a promise to yourself, completing that seemingly insignificant assignment feels like a much bigger accomplishment. Making yourself proud will undoubtedly help you find a sense of motivation.  

Finally, don’t forget to take time and recharge. Rather than working until you completely burn out, try to fit in breaks along the way to sustain yourself. Working too furiously can drain your energy, and in turn, drain your motivation. It can be hard not to feel boggled down by extreme productivity. Sometimes your to-do list will stay full no matter how hard you try, but if budgeting a little time to call family or friends will help bring you back to your sense of purpose, it’s vital to make that a priority, too.   

Your time at Penn State can be whatever you want it to be. Taking every opportunity and trying a million new things is what college is all about. However, supporting yourself along the way is what will help you get the most from these experiences. Even though you won’t feel motivated and excited all the time, finding ways to put yourself first will make it all worthwhile.