By Dwayne B. Strothers

What will it take for students to be successful this academic year? Most school supplies can be purchased or donated, but the single most important school supply cannot. Students must cultivate it, possess it, embrace it and bring it with them into the classroom each day.

What is it? An attitude of motivation. A sufficient attitude of motivation is the most important school supply necessary to have a successful academic year.

An attitude of motivation will always determine a student’s altitude and success. As a rudder is to a vessel, so is an attitude of motivation is to a student destined for success. Without an attitude of motivation, students’ dreams are seldom realized, and successes are never experienced.

For example, when students walk into any classroom with an attitude of defeat, their outcomes are predictable — defeat. Conversely, when students enter into a classroom with an attitude of motivation, they are transformed and empowered. An attitude of motivation will transform students from mere thermometers into thermostats.

They can and will quench the paralysis often fostered by doubt and fear of this new environment and unfamiliar course of instruction. An attitude of motivation will empower them to set the tone and course for the academic year.

Students are easily motivated at the start of a new academic year. The newness of the school building, new classmates and new teachers can create a short-lived season of euphoria and motivation.

Increasingly, the challenge becomes remaining motivated. Ignoring the challenge increases the chances of students becoming like meteorites, fizzling and waning as the academic year progresses.

Students must recognize the academic year is not a sprint but a marathon. Therefore, students must supplement their attitudes of motivation to ensure success.

I encourage students to construct a motivational board. Fill it with inspirational words and quotes. Post positive pictures, inspiring articles and images of you basking in earlier successes. The placement of your motivational board is key. You should place or hang it in a place you frequently occupy or pass. Being in your view more often than not, it will be a constant reminder of where you are headed.

In addition to your motivational board, it is smart to tap into, sustain and gain motivation from others. Other students, parents, siblings and friends can be great sources of motivation. Inquire about their life stories, triumphs and even defeats.

An attitude of motivation will create challenges. It could be as simple as deciding whether to study an extra hour or whether to go to the football game. But whether the challenge is social, moral, financial or intellectual, your attitude of motivation will empower you to make prudent decisions.

This academic year and throughout life, you will need an attitude of motivation to succeed. One incredible byproduct of an attitude of motivation is called confidence, the ability to reflect on earlier successes while facing uncertainty with inspiration and assurance of success.

So apply yourself. Never give up. Elevate your attitude of motivation. Remember, you can soar best to the heights of success, even amidst the skyscrapers of fear and doubt, when you permit the attitude of motivation to be the wind beneath your wings.

Now soar!

Dwayne B. Strothers is a Suffolk native. He is an auditor for the Hilton Corp. and works at the company’s Harbour View location. He is married and has two daughters. Email him at ceagle2b@yahoo.com.