This piece was written by communication intern Britney Rodriguez. Britney Rodriguez is currently undecided in what major she wants to pursue. She sees it as a learning opportunity to discover more about the pathways available at Bakersfield College. During her free time she likes to play games, watch anime, and spend time with family. Britney’s dream one day is to make her own Webtoon.
Something I learned recently in Spanish class is “Tener ganas de” which means “To have desires” or “To want to.” This phrase brings to mind something I have been thinking about lately: motivation. If you desire to do something, it is considered “motivation.” Motivation is keeping yourself afloat when life tends to pull you down. It’s about moving through life without feeling “stuck” and unable to continue on your path. To be able to move past any obstacle in your way. You might come to a stop, and at times, you’ll fall. It’s the ability to start again and get back on your feet.
What is my motivation exactly? To me, it’s my will to do something. It’s my reason, choice, and goal to do something by following through with it. I want to improve my studies, skills, and reach my goals. Thinking about what I wish to improve is easy to do. The reality is it’s “easier said than done.” Pursuing these goals are challenging, and giving up feels much more effortless. That’s when I have to move past my boundaries and move past that uncomfortable feeling. I start this continuous cycle of beginning, the in-between progress, stopping, and trying repeatedly. With that cycle, there is some progress, and a setback always occurs. However, it is critical to keep on going, because it’s a process. Just like how a person beginning to workout out has to keep exercising and eating right. In due time, that effort will eventually pay off.
The most challenging part for me is the beginning. It’s nerve-wracking, and it takes a lot of courage to finally do start. After that, it is trying to maintain a consistent schedule. It is a constant reminder to tell myself, “Hey, do this seven days a week for about thirty minutes.” Yet motivation falters, and there’s this internal battle occurring within myself—the part of my old bad habits fighting against change. But if I don’t allow myself to move forward, I will stay “stuck.”
There have been times when I have days when I’m not motivated to do anything—I just want to sleep in and not have to do anything. Yet I still manage to get up, get ready, and get to work/school. I tell myself, “come on, let’s start our day.” I know when to set specific limits for myself. I know if I don’t push myself, then I will have wasted the day away.
I’ve found it’s mostly about focusing on your mindset. Like my mother would tell me, “You will be unhappy if you’re always focusing on the negative. If you focus more on the positive, you’ll feel more motivated, and life will be more enjoyable.” That advice has helped me in some ways. It has allowed me to remind myself that through struggles in school, there is always something about which I can be optimistic. For example, I can focus on the positive like: “I have the opportunity to attend college” and “I have the support I need from family and friends to continue my education.” What motivates me is my desire and my want to do better. That way, I can feel more proud of my efforts and struggles. And I can always tell myself, “Today may not have been going well, but there’s always room for improvement.”
BC Academic Technology 