I always think the 3rd quarter is the hardest, most draining quarter in the school year. Because you’ve already been on all your big breaks. You’re closer to summer, but yet you still have the 4th quarter, and that’s about 45-50 school days still left.
Students responded to a pepper box survey answering how their motivation changed over time. A lot of students are not as motivated as at the beginning of the year. And half of the students said they were less motivated. They think it was easier, and they were on top of the work.
Now that it is towards the end of the school year, the weather is cold, and the days are longer. Lots of students are more stressed than usual because teachers tend to assign more/harder work at this time, and AP testing is a big one. Also, some seniors start to not care towards the end of the year because they are just ready to graduate and get accepted to colleges. They just want to get out of this school.
Students’ biggest motivations are positive friends and relationships. A good best friend, or friend group, is worth the world. I think it’s a very important part of your life to make those connections with people who make you laugh, help you grow, and learn together.
Family is also a big part of students’ motivation. Some reward them when they get good grades, and just being there helps a lot. Some are waking up their students and forcing them to go to school. One student responded in the survey, “I’m getting a new Xbox if I get a 3.5 GPA.”
Many students think it’s hard to wake up and get out of bed in the morning. “With the cold weather and daylight savings, I don’t want to leave my cozy bed and go to this cold, boring school,” sophomore Liam Andrews said.
While students are struggling, the family has more impact on raising their students strong, and won’t give up easily. As one survey responder put it, “Mama didn’t raise no quitter.”
