Staying motivated...

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

So its sophomore semester, I'm an Electrical Engineer with a slipping GPA, and I can't seem to get myself focused on my schoolwork. The more I screw up or fall behind, the more anxious I get and the less I can do. I highly doubt I have any kind of anxiety disorder... my understanding is that people struck with those are completely paralyzed by it. I'm still able to do my work, but not as well or efficiently. I've already considered the possibilty of changing majors, but quite frankly I know I wouldn't be happy doing anything else.

I think I just lack the right motivation to keep at it. So the question is, what works to keep you guys going? I think I need a better reason than "I don't want to flip burgers", "I want to make a lot of money to buy expensive toys", or "I dont want to let [insert important person here] down". All those things are very true, but they seem too shallow to me... seems like there's got to be a better reason to push on when the odds are against me.

 

[Eli]

Coffee.

Lots and lots of coffee.

 

[FoBoT]

i got the workaholic gene from my dad

 

[imported_Negative3]

Listening to people's tales of woe on ATOT and not wanting to be like them...

 

[Passions]

Originally posted by: Negative3
Listening to people's tales of woe on ATOT and not wanting to be like them...

:laugh:

 

[Chaotic42]

Because not knowing stuff pisses me off.

Why do electrons have the mass they do?
Why can you not know both the position and velocity of a particle?
What the heck is a supermanifold?

 

[simms]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Because not knowing stuff pisses me off.

Why do electrons have the mass they do?
Why can you not know both the position and velocity of a particle?
What the heck is a supermanifold?

True, but to a different extent. I'd rather learn about what the hell a liberitanian is, or what a GIC is.

But hey, I'm a Chemical Engineer. I know all about Pauli's Exclusion Principle and Hesinberg's Theories...

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Because not knowing stuff pisses me off.

Why do electrons have the mass they do?
Why can you not know both the position and velocity of a particle?
What the heck is a supermanifold?

Hmm.. A manifold that accelerates air to the speed of light, greatly improving the volumetric efficiency of an engine?

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Why can you not know both the position and velocity of a particle?

So Heisenburg gets pulled over on the highway for speeding. The cop asks him "Do you know how fast you were going?". Heisenburg says, "No, but I knew exactly where I was."

Sorry, had to throw that in there.

 

[shimsham]

why, lsd of course.

 

[Rage187]

bills

 

[PoPPeR]

seeing people better then me. I recently went to a show put on at UC Berkeley by a bunch of asian kids. Some of you berkeley kids might know what i'm talking about, or maybe even one of you were in it. It was called theatre rice, and it was basically some comedy skits, improv stuff, etc. It was probably the most creative thing i've ever seen done by people my age, a huge huge step up from the normal high school crap that you usually see. The skits were very humorous, but at the same time showed why berkeley is one of the top academic schools in the world. As I watched the show, I realized that all of these kids are really smart, have great social and speaking skills, and are well on their way to success in life. By no means do I think i'm a failure compared to them, but seeing such a high standard makes me want to work harder. I think I'm as good at my major as they are at theirs, but they showed that they don't spend all their time studying like the stereotypical nonsocial asian kid either.

 

[daveymark]

ritalin

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
seeing people better then me. I recently went to a show put on at UC Berkeley by a bunch of asian kids. Some of you berkeley kids might know what i'm talking about, or maybe even one of you were in it. It was called theatre rice, and it was basically some comedy skits, improv stuff, etc. It was probably the most creative thing i've ever seen done by people my age, a huge huge step up from the normal high school crap that you usually see. The skits were very humorous, but at the same time showed why berkeley is one of the top academic schools in the world. As I watched the show, I realized that all of these kids are really smart, have great social and speaking skills, and are well on their way to success in life. By no means do I think i'm a failure compared to them, but seeing such a high standard makes me want to work harder. I think I'm as good at my major as they are at theirs, but they showed that they don't spend all their time studying like the stereotypical nonsocial asian kid either.

Well, we've got one good answer thus far...

 

[LtPage1]

how bout, because life will be boring if you drop out of school and work at some crap dead-end job for the next 40 years?

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: LtPage1
how bout, because life will be boring if you drop out of school and work at some crap dead-end job for the next 40 years?

Seems like I should have a better reason for doing something than the fear of what will happen if I don't.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

I've been pondering the same question myself for a few days now. Looking forward to answers.

 

[dude8604]

I go to Berkeley and am having the same problem as the OP. But for the most part I agree with PoPPer.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Maybe ATOT isn't the best place to quiz people on motivation.