Staying motivated is probably the hardest part of college for me.  I have set goals for myself and try every day to reach them but as a biology major I find myself becoming overwhelmed with the amount of school work and lose focus on the importance of studying and completing work to reach my goals.  Many times I find other ways to spend my time uselessly instead of productively.   After realizing that this is not the way to reach my goals, I went to my advisor and her husband/my counselor, who are the best listeners and advice-givers.  We figured out that some students, myself included, need to sit down and write out a study schedule; write in when I have class, babysitting, extracurricular events, and when I need to study.  The point is to use a schedule to convince yourself “This is when I am scheduled to study today,” and just do it because it’s in your schedule and you have to.

They also helped me realize that having a job during the semester helps keep me motivated and on task.  So, I got a job as a student assistant in the admissions office.  I started two weeks ago.  Although a job is not for everyone, I believe a job is exactly what some students, including myself, need during the semester.  For me having a job takes away the free time I would normally waste away unproductively.  It keeps me using my time much more efficiently and helps keep me motivated.