Motivation and Learning Strategies for College Success : A Self-management Approach

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EXAMPLES OF SELF-MANAGEMENT STUDIES 305

to work for their grades. In high school, I got by with poor

study habits. In college, however, I initially fared poorly and

had to learn how to become an effective student.

Part of my problem was that I didn’t value education.

Freshman year taught me that my mom loved education and

that I shunned hard work. I was simply trying to get by in

life. Sadly enough, I don’t know if I ever would have made

it to college if my mom didn’t push me. After a tough year

and a half, however, I pulled my grades up, and now I

expect to achieve straight As.

This confidence is the result of hard work and seeing

my character strengthen. I now have the discipline to go

home and study every night. It will be interesting to see if

I can maintain this high level of motivation throughout the

semester.

ATTACHMENT 2: STRATEGIC PLANNING CHECKLIST

Day Task Accomplished

Thursday I want to gather all the information I need

for my paper from the library and

Internet.

Yes

Friday I want to write five pages. No

Saturday I want to write five pages. No

Sunday I want to write the last two (or three) pages.

I want to complete the bibliography

section.

I want to revise my paper.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Monday I want to read my paper and make final

revisions.

I want to print out my paper.

Yes

Yes

ATTACHMENT 3: JOURNAL ENTRIES

Thursday

I delayed going to the library. Right after class I went home, ate,

and listened to music in my room. When I was in my room I started

cleaning it and made some phone calls. Two and a half hours after

my class let out, I went to the library and photocopied some materi-

als from three different sources. After that, I jumped on a computer