<p>I think to even talk about motivation relative to our kids we have to basically make the assumption that there is some mid-point where kids fall on some line either in the direction or more motivated or the other direction less motivated. It presumes on some level that “motivated” kids will want good grades, want to participate in sports, want to participate in extra curricular activities (that are enriching). This is presuming that “motivated” is used in a positive way. It also sounds as if “we” want “motivated” to be a predictor of success. I’m not so sure that’s always true. But I will say that most college bound kids who successfully complete college and move onto adult lives are motivated by something be it music, desire for money, desire to do something. By the time young people are adult their motivations are more tuned. I’ve always felt that the majority of time the high school years were all about motivation to conformity and not so much to individual motivation. My kids, like most here, are motivated by very, very different things and are in general unmotivated by some things. They might appear motivated because they fear parental reprisal or out of peer pressure or because they want something and they have to do something to get that but when push comes to shove it’s quite obvious what motivates them and what really doesn’t and is just towing the line.</p>