After a long, enjoyable Thanksgiving break during a cold, dreary winter season, many college students are tempted to put classes on the backburner until the two weeks left of school are over.

Even though staying academically motivated can be challenging, the Student Success Center and Eastern students have some advice for others who may be struggling through the rest of the semester.

Emmanuel Ayiku, a graduate student majoring in college student affairs, works as an adviser for the Student Success Center and said helping others to thrive and remain motivated is the center’s purpose.

Soon after Thanksgiving break, Ayiku said he believes students start to lose motivation because they forget their goals and start to doubt the work they have already put into their educations.

Ayiku said communicating with others about everyday struggles is key to getting help during stagnant times.

“Go to the Student Success Center. Talk to faculty or staff, or just a friend, and let them know what you’re going through, because at the end of the day we’re here to build each other up,” he said. “(A person) is like a seed. A seed does not grow on its own. It needs sunlight, it needs water (and) it needs a lot of attention, so that’s why people need to build each other up.”

Something else that can be a motivation booster for students is keeping why they went to college in mind, pushing through and accomplishing their immediate goals one step at a time until the semester is over, he said.

History grad student Myrtle Castro and senior history major Emma Dambek admitted staying academically motivated has been quite the challenge.

Dambek said school has been a continuous cycle of papers and reading assignments this fall semester, which can get dull and repetitive after a while.

“It’s hard. It’s really hard to be motivated this time of year. (Castro and I are) history majors, so it’s a lot of writing papers and a lot of (reading),” she said.

Castro said the steady flow of homework, reading and writing has certainly taken a toll on her motivation.

She said she also did not realize just how long assignments take for grad students until time went on, which was a surprise that slowed her down at first.

Instead of dwelling on assignments or procrastinating, Castro said taking a deep breath and focusing on goals is key to staying motivated through the semester.

“You’ve made it this far. You can keep going, because remember you want that end goal,” Castro said. “It’s OK to change the end goal sometimes, as long as you work towards the end goal.”

Dambek said taking breaks from schoolwork and studying is sometimes necessary, too.

“It’s really important to get away from homework sometimes. Friends are the best way to get away from it,” she said.

Junior sociology major Sara Griffin said this fall semester has been tough and she understands how others who are struggling to stay motivated feel.

Griffin said asking professors for help and communicating with family and friends takes a heavy burden off the shoulders of college students.

“If you need help, ask for help. It’s always available, and everybody—your parents, your friends, your teachers—they’re available to help,” she said. “Everybody always has something they need help with, so if you’re getting kind of not interested in school anymore, there’s always someone around you (that is) available.”

Naomi Atkinson, a junior majoring in early childhood education, said devoting time to herself has helped her stay motivated this semester.

A good place for her to study and relax is the 24-hour City Lounge in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union, and she said she would recommend it to any Eastern student.

Above all, she said it is important for students to put their health before any schoolwork when improving motivation.

“Keep in mind that it’s not the end of the world if you get one bad grade,” she said. “Take care of your mental health and your physical health (and) make sure you’re being the best you can be.”

Logan Raschke can be reached at 581-2812 or at lrraschke@eiu.edu.