Setting expectations and motivation
Motivation
The background to your choice to do a postgraduate course can be quite varied: be it personal development, enhancing your career or suggested by your boss, a quick decision or a considered one. Depending on the reasons of your decision, your motivation might vary. However, in the first instance, don't think too much about it, give it a go and try your best.
Expect that your motivation is not a constant line; it's more like an oscillating curve. A very likely scenario is that after the initial excitement your motivation will go down for a while, which is normal in times of transition and adjustment. This applies especially to international students who need not only to adjust to a new learning culture, but also to the challenges of a new environment, and deal with homesickness.
What to expect
No matter how well prepared and informed you are when you commence your studies, the reality will often be different. So the best advice is to expect the unexpected!
This applies even more to students from overseas who face not only another culture but often a different academic culture as well.
The difference between imagination and reality can cause all kinds of emotional responses: surprise, disappointment, shock, anger, sadness, sulkiness, curiosity, joy or even euphoria. As with motivation, you need to expect changes in your emotions throughout your study time.
Reality checks
It's a good idea to undertake conscious reality checks every now and then. Put aside a couple of hours and focus your mind on a comparison between your expectations (or how you'd imagined things would be) and the reality of studying in your course, interacting with the people you come across, being in Melbourne and living in Australia (if you've come to Australia to study).
There are different ways to do this exercise:
- discuss it with colleagues/friends
- reflect and write about it in a journal
- talk to your unit chair or a counsellor (particularly if the difference feels painful).
Keep your aspirations realistic
Some students struggle in particular with perfectionism. They seem to have internalised the motto 'nobody's perfect, but I have to be'. This could turn studies into an ordeal of an experience, cause delays with assignments, cause procrastination and ultimately risk physical and mental health.
If this brief description applies to you, a chat with a counsellor is highly recommended. Having someone impartial listen to your concerns can help unknot things so you can get back on track.
Further information
