The Letdowns Didn’t Motivate You Anyway

For me, college app season has booked Saturday nights with research sessions on incredibly successful teenagers who were admitted into top-tier universities. During one of my research sessions, I came across Iris Fu, a student in Stanford University's class of 2024.

Before the pandemic had affected the world, Fu was looking forward to attending admit weekend and visiting Stanford, going to Costa Rica for her senior trip, and celebrating her final year of high school with friends and family.

With pandemic restrictions inhibiting Fu from doing some of these things, she shared her perspective on finding the motivation to do the work you love at the Stanford Daily, and I was moved when she said:

“I guess maybe I’m kind of stoic about it (not getting to go to Costa Rica) because I don’t think [just getting to go to Costa Rica after getting into my dream school] motivated me in any way…¨

She has a good point: why bother feeling demotivated about things that don't enduringly motivate us in the first place?

Occasional vacations and new TV show releases can incentivize us to stay disciplined and complete the task at hand. But when you get back home from your trip and finally switch off the TV, it is your internal motivation that drives you to pursue the productive and impactful activities that are next in line.

Our world is still living in the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are still many enjoyable leisure activities that many of us wanted to do but couldn't do because of the resulting restrictions.

But those leisure activities wouldn't have gained us enduring fulfillment.

Instead, unfaltering fulfillment is archived when standing rock-tall during adversity and doing what we can within the circumstance.

The worldwide web has its pros and cons, but one of its biggest pros is accessibility to billions around the globe.

Be it through writing blogs that motivate others, or specifically targeting a noble cause by making direct virtual donations, do your part in pursuing activities that deeply motivate your ambitious and empathetic selves.

After all, life is too short to whine about not getting to go to Costa Rica.