What motivates me as a learner?

My first thoughts on this question were shallow to say the least. ummm- is it 'cause, I want knowledge? Is it because I'm a perfectionist and therefore want to achieve highly in school and if learning comes with it that's a bonus? I want to learn so I can be smart? I've just never really thought about this. I'm a college student. Learning is just-what I'm here to do. But why am I doing it? Why am I spending my time and my money to...learn?

The answer: I love learning. That's why I'm here. I love finding out things that I didn't know before. I think everybody does. One of the most important things to learn is a love for learning. The problem is that learning isn't always fun- it's work, and many times we only learn because we messed up and had to learn from the mistake. But learning is satisfying and THAT is what motivates us. We find fulfillment in this life as we learn- we learn about each other, about ourselves, about the world around us, and about great thoughts. Even if I learn how to do something I don't necessarily want to know, I think I still recognize that it's for my benefit, so I still find fulfillment. I believe that the whole reason we exist is to learn and grow and become and utilize as much of our potential as we can.

To condense that thought, I think we have an intrinsic desire, even a passion, to learn, but I also think there are many outward motivators that help you develop that. One key force to help discover and increase the desire to learn about something is someone who already has it.

The idea of a "Role Model" is somewhat ubiquitous. Everyone has probably had to write a paper/multiple papers on who their role model is and why, we should be worried about who kids are choosing as their role models, on the USU campus there are signs that say "who mentored you?" Identifying someone you look up to and aspiring to be like them is human nature. I am no exception. I'd watch Cinderella and want to put on a blue dress and scrub the floor. When I learned about Thomas Edison, I wanted to invent something. When I see my little sister play the piano with such skill it makes me want to practice every day. When I saw my art teacher's work and his expression of why he loved art, it made me want to be an artist. He sincerely told me I had what it takes. I felt special. I felt talented. I felt like learning how to paint. A teacher can be the motivation that sparks our innate desire to learn.

I hope what will motivate my future students will be my love for art. I hope they'll see my dedication and the happiness it brings me that they'll want that too. I'll have less conceptual motivation tactics too. I'd like to have my students all enter their work in exhibits- giving them a motive to accomplish. Of course there will be grades, but I'm aiming for that not to be a main source of motivation. I hope that I can invest myself in each student's endeavors and personally give them confidence in art, push them, and help them grow. If I were a math teacher, my motivation techniques may sound less idealistic, but as an art teacher, I hope I'll have enough enthusiasm that it's inspiring, and give the right guidance so that they will succeed.

I want to learn as much as I can not only so I can be the best I can be, but so I can have the passion and wisdom to make an impact on the lives of others, just as someone impacted me.