So, school is coming to a close. It’s time for seniors and juniors to start picking out prom tuxes and dresses, and it’s getting close to the time for when all of us will be studying for finals and end-of-course tests. Ugh. But, though we are closer to the end, the end, sadly, is not here yet. So, what’s going to keep us motivated until school ends? I say coffee, all the way. I mean, I don’t know how I’d survive without caffeine. But perhaps others out there need more incentive, more motivation to keep up the requisite energy levels. I was curious to see how others are getting by until we all get out of here (at least for this school year).

To find out, I went out to the streets. Well, really I went out to the hallways, of North Atlanta to see what other teens are doing to stay motivated as the year draws to an end.

Yazmin Hernandez, a rising senior, replied with perhaps the most common answer about what keeps her motivated. “My parents are forcing me to make good grades,” she said. And when she made this matter-of-fact comment, she gave an impressive eye-roll, as if to say, “I really couldn’t care less.” So perhaps that is what our society has come down to. We are finishing our schoolwork simply to get our parents off our back. Or was she truly trying to impress her parents with her good school-work and great grades? But is getting our parents to leave us alone is the only incentive we have? Or does that idea only apply to a select few? As I pondered this I came upon another conclusion. Perhaps it was time to ask a different student her opinion.

Crishana Wright, a rising senior, took on the same question. “Graduation. I can’t wait to graduate and so I know I have to push myself to reach my goal!” And with that, she returned to work. Initially, her answer made no sense to me. Was she saying she wanted to complete her studies at North Atlanta so she wouldn’t have to work anymore, or does she truly want to graduate with honors? Then I realized something, something I couldn’t believe and something I hadn’t realized earlier. What I thought hadn’t mattered, to anyone.

In a sense, you have find your own motivation. Whether it’s free ice cream, a college diploma or a big fat pot of coffee, you have to find it within yourself to get things done. No one can tell you what your carrot on the end of the stick is. So get out in the world to discover what you need to get going. And by all means, as we approach a much-longed-for summer vacation, stay strong Warriors!