Attempting to complete your college degree requires a strong commitment to continuously applying a steady and logical, level effort. It is a lot like a long distance runner pacing their effort to complete the run. You don't have to rush to finish. You just want to finish. The idea is to keep an unwavering perspective and to develop realistic expectations of yourself, the program you are enrolled in and the people you interact with. Often the expectations in our minds move away from the core reasons of why we want to accomplish something in the first place. This is normal. For instance you may have chosen a school and program based upon convenience, low cost and flexibility. Once you have a few courses under your belt, you may change your mind and want something more or different than what you envisioned in the beginning. It can be hard for institutions to provide a wide array of services to you if you are enrolled in a low cost program. That does not mean they lack good intentions. The problem is we all want more.
Keeping your motivation going means staying on top of your reasons for enrolling and finishing what you started. If you did a good job filtering institutions and finding a good program of study that matches your interest, abilities, aptitude and talent, then there should be enough juice in the battery to keep going. If you selected the first institution that you approached and did a skin deep assessment of their programs, then discovered unexpected issues, you have two choices: stick with it or decide to face the realization that maybe the match is not right. This lesson is not a bad one. A lot of people go through it.
Many people enroll in college and attempt to finish because they want to earn their degree. Once complete, the premise is you will be able to make more money, and you may be able to shift your career into a new path. This is potentially true. Our government agencies and institutions have done a nice job marketing the expectation. They say:
"According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, people with a bachelor's degree earn over 60 percent more on average than those with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, the gap in earning potential between a high school diploma and a B.A. (or higher) is more than $1,000,000.00 – yes, ONE MILLION DOLLARS. "
A college degree is a major factor in raising salary expectations. It often is the primary motivation for enrolling, staying and completing the requirements; however, it should not be the only reason. Here are some other good reasons to finish your degree:
- You will meet new people who are in similar situations and circumstances. Often, you make lifelong friends in college that will be around well after you finish school. Friends will help you work through issues and be there to support you.
- You will build your confidence. Finishing each course is another step up the ladder. It will make you feel good to know you are making progress.
- You will test yourself. Certain courses are easy, while others are really hard. Course content may be difficult to explore. Think of the courses you are taking as a means to find out how well you can absorb subject material, how well you can recite back facts and how well you understand theories. Challenging courses may help you identify your weaknesses. Likewise, easy courses may help you identify your strengths. Keep a list of both.
- You will learn things that will provide insight you would not have otherwise had the opportunity to gain by studying and sitting in class learning.
- You will gain ideas about where and what you want to explore. Every career begins by asking questions and always returns to the level of interest you have in pursuing it. Finding out what you are passionate about will help you in the long run.
- You will see others who are passionate. This doesn't mean you should compare yourself to them. Rather associating with others, including faculty who have found their passion, will help you see what they see. You don't need to copy anyone. The key thing to realize is you may not have found your path yet because you continue to discover what inspires you.
- You will explore your changing interests and the reasons they changed. Don't let this discourage you, and make you want to give up. If your interests evolve, figure out why.
- You will learn to balance priorities and handle the stress that comes with trying to complete a college degree. Look for ways to relieve the pressure by stepping back, reassessing the stress you are under, resetting your priorities and focusing on things in some order that makes sense to you.
Keeping the motivation going to complete your degree is an ongoing process. Since the goal of completion could take several years, my best advice is to think long long-term and focus on the short-term. Remembering that once you reach your destination and complete your degree you will move on to another challenge with a new horizon, might help you keep your eye on the prize and not become overwhelmed.