Quitting Is Not an Option

Classes are ready to begin as anxious students await the first day of a new chapter in their life or return to complete the chapter they’ve already begun. No matter if just beginning or continuing, sometimes it’s hard to remember the reason for why we’re here in the first place.

Everyone has a story and each person has a different path of how they arrived, but we all tend to have the same end goal. Throughout your time spent at college or university, the number of distractions pulling you in all directions is plentiful. The motivators that act as the building blocks towards quitting feel as if they tower over you. Whatever your purpose for being at college or university, remembering the importance of school can get lost in all the distractions, and motivation to keep going can fade pretty quickly.

Photo Courtesy of Pixbay

We are all familiar with the clubs, organizations, sports, games, events or even the parties that are commonly found on college campuses. In some cases too familiar, the problem isn’t getting involved, it’s when the involvement is placed above studying. Sometimes extracurricular activities can help you stay disciplined. When they become your number one focus to where you fall behind in the classroom then it may be time to reevaluate your priorities. Not only do extracurricular activities provide distractions but family, friends, work, and anything in between can stand in the way of staying focused. The great news is it doesn’t take much to get your focus back on track.

What better way to help you stay focused on what’s important than by picturing the special day: graduation day, the day you will walk across the stage, full of knowledge, a near expert in your major, grown up and ready to start your dream career. Thinking about graduating is motivational and is very effective because it’s an end goal many of us have in common. We all hope to one day have four years worth of late nights, endless exams, gallons of coffee, and hours of lectures pay off by graduating.

While in the midst of finals week one of my professors paused for a moment before handing out our exams. He recognized the soon to be graduates and had the rest of us think of our graduation day. While taking the exam I pictured walking across the stage. I pictured a bachelor’s degree framed with my name written on it hanging in my idealistic future office. The thought of a degree helped push me not only while taking the exam but also through everything I continued to do for school.

Photo Courtesy of Pixbay

During the semester there are guaranteed to be times when all you want to do is quit. Overwhelming feelings may begin to creep in or the stress of another exam may push you to your breaking point. When you feel like giving up, skipping a course that drains you of all your energy, or throwing away the pen that writes the chapter in your life while at college, take a moment to stop what you’re doing.

Rather than thinking of how far you have to go until graduation, think of how far you’ve come. Imagine all the work you’ve done thus far, all the time and energy put into getting you into the position you’re in. No matter what classification status, credit hours completed, or how many you have left to complete, getting wherever you are wasn’t easy. Think of it as finishing what you started. The best things in life don’t come easy; getting an education is no different.

Whenever you feel overwhelmed, think about your priorities. Place school at the top and let other things fall in where they fit. Time management is key but if you’re not making time for school then reevaluate the story you’re writing while at college or university. Your ending won’t be of how you stopped going to class or how you stopped trying. Your ending doesn’t involve quitting because that’s not an option.