6. How To Become A More Effective Student SERIES Part 1: Academic Motivation

6. How To Become A More Effective Student Series:

Part 1 - Academic Motivation

Friends, welcome to Intervention, an outreach of VISION BUILDERS designed to help undergraduates contact divine intervention for academic victories. Intervention brings you inspirational messages and Study Tips to enable you be your best academically! Through this message, we believe that God is set to bless you by removing every barrier against your academic success and fulfillment.

Today we present part 1 in a new series on, ‘How To Become A More Effective Student’. This series will take you through a number of practical tips that will help you develop better study habits and achieve academic success. In this exciting series we will discuss practical and easy-to-use tips on many important subjects that will help you be an effective student. Be sure to stay tuned to every message in this revealing series.

Today, we will talk about Academic Motivation. We’ll be considering and answering questions such as:

What is motivation?

Can any undergraduate be highly motivated these days?

How can you stay highly motivated?

One thing that everyone agrees with is that Motivation is vital for success.

So, WHAT is Motivation?

The wordweb gives three definitions for motivation:

Motivation is the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal;

Motivation is also defined as the reason for the action;

It is also that which gives purpose and direction to behaviour.

Motivation is vital for success. It is that feature that arouses you to action toward a desired goal. It stirs you up to take necessary actions in line with academic success. Secondly, it is the reason for your action. Motivation makes good sense of your hard work while in school. Why are you in undergraduate school? To earn a good degree that will give you a good standing and opportunity in life. Motivation gives purpose and direction to your academic diligence.

Motivation gives the needed push when everyone else is giving up. It was George Herbert who said, “When the will is ready, the feet are light.” Motivation is the ‘get-up-and-go’ factor. Motivation could be high, or low. When motivation is high, you see courage displayed. When motivation is low, you will find excuses being given. A low academic motivation is a barrier to achieving academic success. It has been said that, ‘Where the heart is willing it will find a thousand ways, but where it is unwilling it will find a thousand excuses.’ Motivation is that power within you that makes you find a way even when everyone else is seeing a wall. It keeps you pressing on whenever everyone else has stopped running.

How can you raise the level of your academic motivation?

There are 9 things that can be done to increase and sustain the level of your academic motivation. And the good thing is that you don’t need anyone to do it for you. It would help if had someone constantly motivating you, but you know that would be an unreliable pillar to rest your academic life on.

To keep your personal motivation level high, you need to do-it-yourself. These 9 simple tips will help you achieve it:

1. Take responsibility for your own education.

2. Tap into what motivates you. Think in terms of your short-term and long-term goals.

3. Challenge yourself to achieve an academic goal by a specific date (e.g., obtain a certain GPA by the end of the semester).

4. Hold yourself accountable for your academics by creating and sticking to a schedule.

5. Analyze and document your progress.

6. Set up immediate or long-term rewards. For example, after studying for 50 minutes allow yourself a 10-minute break. Celebrate your successes.

7. Ask yourself if you are prepared to deal with the consequences if you do not get motivated.

8. Learn from your mistakes and see "failure" as an opportunity to grow.

9.  Spend time waiting on God concerning your academics.

The bible states in Isa 40:29-31, “He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.”

You wait on God by praying and praising God daily, reading the bible, and allowing Him to lead and give you direction in your studies. Nothing refuels personal motivation like God’s presence and God’s word.

Let’s really bring it home.

Truth is, Motivation, like all the qualities we will discuss in this series, is only the product of a disciplined life. And a disciplined life is the result of God’s Spirit working in your life. On later Messages in this series, we will discuss Fighting Procrastination, Time management and much more. Be sure to stay tuned.

You see, when God’s Spirit begins to work in your life He will produce a strong and positive motivation. He will also guide you in the wise time management and give you the ability to discipline yourself against procrastination. He will help you commit to actions that will add value to your academic life.

The bible reveals in Gal 5:22-23, “But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard — things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” This is taken from the message bible translation.

Wouldn’t you like God to begin working in your life starting today, in fact he wants to start right now if you invite Him in to your life. He cares about how well your academic life moves. Why not say this simple prayer with me right now?

Lord Jesus I ask you into my heart today. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. Forgive all my sins today and make me your child. Fill me with your holy spirit right now and bring stability into my life. Thank you for coming. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer with me then know that you have begun a relationship with God. He has come into your life and will begin working in your life and academics. Please send me a message @ buildyourvisions@gmail.com or an SMS to +234 817 2239 319 to tell me that you just started a relationship with God. Remember to include your mobile number and email address. I would like to keep praying for you.

Continue to expect the best from yourself and continue to maintain a great attitude regardless whatever happens.

I’ll be glad to hear from you. Kindly send your testimonies, questions and prayer requests as responses on this blog. If you’d like your friends, class mates and room-mates to be helped by Intervention messages and Study Tips, kindly share this message with them.

Thank you for joining me. I remain your host Tope Banjo and this is Intervention. God bless you mightily!

You will succeed. You will make it!

Contact:

Email: buildyourvisions@gmail.com 

Tel: +234 817 2239 319, Lagos-Nigeria.

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