Most college students have one thing in common: big dreams for the future. A college education opens doors to possibilities for personal and occupational satisfaction. Most people's dreams differ according to their major, location, and level of dedication, but their aspirations are similar.
Success.
Most want to graduate college so... they can get some big-name job, so...they can settle down and start a happy family, so... they have people to support and be motivated for..
...so... what?
Eventually you will run out of answers for the things you hope success will get you.
There has to be more to our dreams than a cycle of reaching for success, gaining it, then being hungry for more. What are we seeking through our success? Dreams for the future are all too often motivated by greed or the desperate desire to be "happy." When you take a step back and look at the motives behind your ambition to succeed, most people will be shocked by their own selfish desires.
So, if your motivation to do well in school is to succeed in life, step back and ask yourself this question: "Why do I want to succeed?" I'm convinced success isn't an end goal.
In today's consumeristic culture, it seems impossible to escape the need for money and financial success. I am not saying to give up a dream of living comfortably; I am just saying it is vital we add on to them. As college students, the goal of your education should indeed be to succeed, but there must be more than that. I'd argue that the composites of completing our education are so complex that personal success is far too simple to be one's end goal.
There is no point to my dreams for my future unless I am dreaming of ways my future can help those around me.
Using my education to benefit only my life's success isn't really benefitting anyone at all.
Maybe its best we change our perspective -- we want to graduate college so... we can get a good job, so...we can settle down and start a happy family, so...
... we can start to give back and benefit the world through the resources that our education has led to.
By making the end-goal of your success to be able to help other's succeed, you will never find yourself stuck in a cycle of self-criticism, when "success" leaves you empty.
I would argue purpose of your education is bigger than your own little bubble of success. The purpose of your education is for the success of your community, nation, and world. As students fortunate enough to have an education we have a responsibility: to educate others. Our education is entirely pointless if we keep it's benefits to ourselves.
"It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed." -Napoleon Hill
