Resilience and Motivation During Exams – The Power of “Why?” and “What?”
The Power of “Why?” and “What?” – Connecting exam success to your future aspirations
Buried underneath all your revision and practice exam questions, it is easy to lose sight of, “Why am I doing this?” and “What is my end goal?” Whether you want to become a teacher, an archaeologist, an author, a nurse or even an academic scholar, having a clear goal helps to give your revision a purpose. Even when things didn’t go to plan originally, I kept going because I knew I wanted a career where I could make a difference and challenge myself to be the best I could be. Holding onto that vision helped me stay focused through tough times and motivated me to keep improving.
To facilitate you with finding your “Why?” and “What?”, take some time to reflect and answer the following questions and write your answers down if you find this will be helpful:
- What career or future path are you working towards?
- Why does that path excite or interest you?
- What kind of person do you want to become in the next 5–10 years?
- Why is doing well in your exams important for reaching your future goals?
Now, try to write a short sentence that sums up your “Why”.
For example:
“I want to become a nurse so I can not only improve the health of other people, but be rewarded with career progression and knowing that I reached my full potential with no regrets”
Put your “Why” somewhere you’ll see it often—on your wall, your desk, or even as your phone background. When motivation dips, come back to it as a reminder of what you’re working towards.
I hope I have reignited lots of resilience and motivation into everyone around this challenging time, but remember: progress isn’t always linear—what matters is that you keep going and respond positively to setbacks, however big or small they may be!
You can read more in my series of Resilience and Motivation Blogs here:
- Personal experience of resilience and motivation
- Looking After Yourself – Eating and Sleeping Well During Exam Periods!
- Managing Time in Exams – Strategies for pacing yourself to avoid rushing or running out of time
- Bouncing Back: Dealing with Disappointments and Moving Forward
If you have any further questions, or would like to chat to me further about staying focused during your exams, please feel free to email me and I will be more than happy to assist and share experiences!
Jessica 😊
