<p>It may be true that being motivated to be good at video games or skateboarding does not equal grades or sports etc. but I think that’s an overly-determined dichotomy. I think someone can be motivated to make the life they want, and do so successfully, without being overly motivated towards grades, sports, job success, etc.</p>
<p>Everyone needs to be able to support themselves. Anything more is a lifestyle decision. My D was motivated enough to get a 4.0 in HS, a very high SAT, and do great in a top LAC. But while there, she participated in things that interested her (activism stuff, gamelon, etc) but did not do internships, get-ahead summer jobs, anything like that. She was Phi Beta Kappa, but eschewed the Honors Thesis choice. Now she canvasses for an eco organization. Many of her coworkers doing the same job don’t have college degrees. She makes little money but supports herself and loves her life. Has thought about grad school, but just not interested enough. Is she unmotivated? I think not, just differently motivated.</p>
<p>My S is much lke your S. Great GPA, stellar SAT (higher than his sister’s with one hand tied behind his back), got himself into an Ivy. Had a fantastic GPA there for two years, then a, let’s say, uneven one, the next year and a half, then withdrew. He’s now also working at canvassing.</p>
<p>Was he unmotivated? Again, a complex question. Was motivated enough to make Dean’s List most semesters, until he didn’t, emphatically. STill the same kid, but with a different sense of direction. The path lost its meaning for him.</p>
<p>Motivation itself loses its meaning, I think, when we define it as “grades and sports and ECs”. I think the question is, what do you want out of life? If you know this, then what will it take to get there–maybe for some people the answer will be 25K a year as a canvasser. And if you don’t know, then the answer might be, some floundering, some exploring, some miss-steps, but hopefully the wisdom to start recognizing those mistakes, and be willing to double back, start over, try a new path. (Why should a kid *like *sports? Is a steep career ladder *really *necessary?)</p>
<p>Yes, some people are “lazy.” but before we start labeling, let’s look at our assumptions. What looks like non-motivation for some, may just be a different kind of maturity in others.</p>