On Wednesday, in the midst of our fourth week of Acton from Home, our studio launched the day with a discussion on motivation. The guide started off by putting the learners in the shoes of a track runner finishing off the last leg of a 400-meter dash:
“Think about this: instead of having tons of supporters on the sidelines cheering you on and a team and coach behind you, for this last 100 meters it’s just you out there. It’s just you trying to finish this race as strong as you can. How does that change your motivation to finish the race strong?”
Hands went up on the video screen. One learner said, “I think it would definitely feel different without people cheering me on because I feel powerful when I have support.” Another learner added, “I agree, but I also feel like being close to the end and seeing the finish line would keep my motivation high and make me finish strong.”
Another learner wanted more information and asked if there were other runners in the race. She said that having other runners would help her keep the pace she had set and stay focused on finishing as strong as she had started. A few learners said they wouldn’t feel much of a difference because their own desire to finish and motivation to achieve excellence would remain unchanged, even without supporters. One learner emphasized the importance of support from fellow travelers and family members, saying that they can be especially helpful when things get tough.
The launch ended with a discussion about motivation as it relates to Acton from Home. The guide asked, “Does your motivation feel different now that we’re away from the studio?” Almost all the learners felt it didn’t. One learner said, “When I’m home, I still feel like I have support from the guides and learners, but I also get to be with my parents and siblings who can help me too.” Others agreed, saying that having family around each day during school has helped fuel their motivation. One learner also mentioned that spending more time on video calls and using the chat function has enabled her to feel more comfortable connecting with the group to ask questions or to get support.
Motivation can come from many sources and, through Acton from Home, the learners are able to explore and draw upon some new ones.
We hope everyone has a safe and relaxing spring break, and we look forward to finishing out the final leg of this school year strong upon our return!