Motivations as it Applies to Education - Term Paper Example

? Motivation as it Applies to Education Itaria A. Dillon of Illinois at Chicago Motivation as it Applies to Education According to Myers (2010) people must have a desire before they are motivated to do something. Myers suggests that an individual starts with a desire to do something, and then follows through with a behavior that is motivated by their desire. When I think about my life and my need for education, I realize that I was not motivated to pursue more education prior to this time. Circumstances and life in general prevented me from pursuing college, and I did not think it was necessary. For the last ten years, I have worked several jobs that made me realize that I wanted to go to college. This desire has motivated me to enroll and attend classes. I know that I have made an intelligent decision since intelligence and motivation go hand in hand. In the past, I was one who did not reach great heights by following the premises that one should complete high school, undergraduate school, and graduate school without breaking. Many people that I know who have taken this course of actions tend to face their obstacles head on and tackle them as efficiently as possible without ruining the rest of their lives. Myers (2010) states that an individual must also have some type of incentive that is also reinforced by his/her environment and the environment will often move to a behavior, whether he/she had a positive or negative experience in the environment. Winston Churchill stated that success is something that we define as we continue to live. I agree with this statement and suggest that success is more about a journey than about seeing failure or success. It is about deciding that no matter what, you will continue to work toward your goal. Motivation According to Myers (2010) motivation is the source of how people react to their lives. Motivation is the concept that makes people behave in certain ways. Motivation begins with a desire for something which motivates them to go after whatever it is that they want. Some motivation is instinctual, like a baby who is hungry accepting the bottle or its mother’s nipple. Other motivations may be learned. What is important to understand is that there is a reason why someone desires something, and depending on how much a desire they have, they will go toward the desire or away from it. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Applied to My Education I would say that Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a theory that has worked for me. As an example, in the beginning, I thought that going to college was necessary, but only to a small extent. Returning to school would meet my psychological needs now, but after I receive my degree and a well paid job, my basic needs and need for safety would be satisfied as well. Wrong Planning and Judgment My high school education was one of the most difficult experiences in my life. I was one of three African-American students in a predominantly Caucasian neighborhood. In this environment, I found myself having to exercise more control over my emotions and my behavior and wanting to make more of my education and of my life. The school had a large proportion of people who decided not to go to school because they wanted to go out and work. They were more motivated by the greed of money than attending college. I believed if I went to college and received an undergraduate degree, I would be set for life and not have to worry about anything. I found that I was wrong in this thinking and would need to have more college if I wanted to live the lifestyle that I truly wanted. I could have fallen into the trap that other students fell into, but I was able to find another way to think about my education. I was motivated by the desire to have a better life by having a better paying job and this would happen if I continued my education. I also realized that locus of control was at play within my motivations because I had to have the discipline to continue my studies in each of the classes as I began. The journey would be long but would be helpful in the long run and worth my time and attention. Internal Locus of Control vs. External Locus of Control I believe I used an internal locus of control because I knew that if I was to be successful, I would need to have control over my own education and how I approached my studies. I had to be more motivated to work on my own and achieve academically. My desire was to master skills that would help me attain the high standard of having a college degree (Myers, 2010). Many students left high school and found jobs because they were more motivated by having money than by wanting to attain a higher standard by going to college. I decided that an undergraduate degree would be enough for me to find a good job. I also noticed that once I entered the undergraduate program, I had to strengthen my own self-control. There were many situations where I had to confront my own self-worth and misunderstanding about my life. I also had to readjust my thinking to accept that I could live beyond a practical life. What I found to be true is what Myers (2010) states that people can find happiness if they find work that is pleasing and interesting, and if they can feel that they have competence in an area and that they have made a great accomplishment. These issues are what have fueled my desire for a degree. Social Loafing In analyzing my experiences with high school and now with college, I can say that one of the issues that come up is the idea of social loafing. According to Myers (2010), social loafing can make the difference between individual and group achievement. The high school that I went to established social loafing because the majority of students who went to the school went into the world of work after they finished high school. I broke away from social loafing and entered college instead. Perhaps my internal locus of control was at play in this situation. I did stop my education for a while, but I did it as a way to understand whether the field I was in would be beneficial for me. I wanted to explore myself in the best way possible and to consider all my options before initiating my graduate level education. Again, my internal locus of control was in play because it helped me to find out whether I would be comfortable in the field I had chosen and whether the pay was adequate. I realized through the last ten years, that the field I had chosen was not satisfying. The amount of education I had was not enough to survive through the fierce competition that was apparent in the workforce. This understanding jolted my aspirations and desires to some extent. I had explored myself enough to realize that there was more to be done. Achievement Motivation, The Key To Success I became motivated to achieve a higher level of understanding through education. I wanted to achieve new skills and master a certain level of achievement. Meyers (2010) calls this achievement motivation (p. ). I learned to overcome any obstacles I faced through achievement motivation. My personal experiences show that motivation can be the key toward my own success and a key solution to every problem that I am challenged with as I attend each class. I have been successful at keeping my mind set in a way that leads to fruitful returns. Now I have a high degree of motivation to have a Master’s degree. Myers (2010) states that people with a higher degree of motivation are the ones that achieve more. I have a strong degree of self-discipline which is also a way that I am achieving what I want. And again, Meyers (2010) states that this is the reason that many people are able to achieve at higher rates than others. I realized that I needed to do much more in order to make myself marketable and competitive so the pursuit of a graduate degree became my choice. I found that more knowledge would be my ticket to a higher and greater success. The fast-paced economic culture appreciates people who cater to diverse markets. This is also a source of motivation for me to continue higher education, so that I can learn about these diverse markets and find a place within them. I am enthusiastically motivated to get my education now and I look forward to graduation. Conclusion I believe that with proper planning and motivation, I can achieve whatever I want in life. This planning began with my desire to have a stronger education. I began with a Bachelor’s degree, but I realized quickly that I would pursue a stronger education. I used internal locus of control throughout my work in order to find a higher level of achievement motivation. At this stage in my life, I do not see failure as an option. I am motivated to make ends meet and put in my best to acquire education and see where it takes me. I believe that education is the most important aspect of life and anyone can achieve proper education, no matter their age. People must perceive that failure can always be turned into success. After all, failure or success are only perceptions that people have about themselves. Dale Carnegie states: “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no help at all” (reference). I intend to keep on trying until I reach my goal. References Top of Form Meyers, D. (2010). Psychology in Modules. NY: McMillan. Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Read More