When Students Struggle to See a Future
Supporting Motivation
by Ceinna Bush
We’ve all met students who look at us with a mix of exhaustion, fear, and uncertainty when asked about their future. Motivation doesn’t always come naturally, especially in high school, where academic pressure, personal challenges, and life circumstances can weigh heavily.
I often notice that many of my students’ motivation stems from what they believe their why is: their purpose in life, the money they hope to earn, or the family members they want to support. These are powerful drivers, but the challenge is helping them sustain that motivation not only while they’re in high school, but also after they graduate and begin building their adult lives.
So how do we, as educators, reignite motivation when it feels low and give students tools that last? To answer that, let’s start from the beginning: why students lose motivation.
Why Students Lose Motivation
Students may struggle with motivation for several reasons:
🎓 Uncertainty about the future: Not knowing what options exist after high school can make the future feel overwhelming. I’ve personally experienced this myself.
📚 Lack of connection to schoolwork: If students don’t see how classes connect to their personal goals, their motivation drops.
⚖️ Stress and external challenges: Family obligations, financial concerns, and mental health struggles can overshadow academic focus.
😨 Fear of failure: For some, the risk of trying feels scarier than the idea of standing still.
For many students, this time of year brings added pressures. College acceptances and denials are arriving, scholarship applications are piling up, and senioritis can make even the most motivated students want the year to end.
We can acknowledge these challenges while encouraging students to stay focused on their goals, reminding them that things often work out as they’re meant to and that setbacks aren’t failures. This helps them keep their motivation alive even in a stressful season. Recognizing these factors also helps us shift from judgment to empathy, and from empathy to action. Once we understand why motivation is low, the next step is figuring out how to rebuild it.
Building Motivation Back Up
Our influence is critical, and the Contigo Ed Motivation Microcourse reminds us of this truth:
“Motivation plays an essential role in students' performance and engagement in school, and it is an essential ingredient in helping students take an active role in developing a career and college-going identity. Our influence as a counselor and advisor can be critical in helping students to explore possibilities so that they can more effectively and joyfully take steps to achieving their highest aspirations.”
Here are a few ways we can spark new motivation in our students:
📝 Connect learning to their why: Use tools like the Contigo Ed Motivation Summary Sheet to help students map their motivators, whether it’s family, financial stability, personal passions, or concrete postsecondary options.
⚖️ Highlight intrinsic and extrinsic motivators: The Motivation Microcourse outlines how both play a role. A student might be driven by grades (extrinsic), but also by pride in their work (intrinsic). Helping them recognize both can make motivation feel more balanced.
📖 Share stories and real-life examples: When I tell my students about peers who pursued college, technical programs, or certifications and how they found success, they begin to see themselves in those paths. Case studies and alumni panels can be especially powerful. During my first year as a counselor, I hosted a HBCU panel and invited alumni who had recently graduated. My students were excited to hear about their peers' college experiences, and it motivated them to consider going to college themselves. They became curious about campus organizations, eager to learn how to get involved, and inspired by how alumni are using current opportunities to prepare for their future careers and continued education.
📅 Make future planning practical: Introduce other Contigo Ed resources like the Future Plans “Concluding Advising Workbook,” which can be adapted for workshops with students and families. Resources like this help clarify abstract ideas and give students clear next steps they can take—tools that not only support them now, but also lay the foundation for keeping their motivation alive after graduation.
Sustaining Motivation Beyond Graduation
Our role doesn’t stop at the high school exit doors. Students need perspectives and skills they can carry with them into adulthood.
Here are ways to support students beyond high school:
🚗 Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathways: Explore certifications and trade programs that connect directly to careers, especially for students who may not see themselves in a traditional four-year track. For example, I connected a few of my students to the CTE Manager at Dallas College, and some are now enrolled in the Automotive Dealership program with Ford and Honda. They’re gaining hands-on experience, building industry-recognized skills, and preparing for long-term career success in fields they’re excited about.
💪 Resilience Tools: Teach students to revisit their why when challenges arise through journaling, vision boards, or mentorship check-ins. Encourage them to set small, achievable milestones so progress feels tangible, and acknowledge successes along the way. These strategies give students practical ways to stay grounded and adaptable as they work toward their goals.
👪 Family Involvement: Encourage students to talk with their families about their future plans, since many find motivation in loved ones’ expectations and support. These conversations also help families feel connected and able to celebrate important moments in the student’s journey.
📘 Future Plans Microcourse: This resource equips counselors and advisors to support students in shaping postsecondary plans that adapt as life changes. Practicing adaptability teaches students that changing direction isn’t failure — it’s a key part of building their future.
Keeping Students Inspired
Motivation isn’t just about pushing students to work harder. It’s about helping them see the value of their life and providing tools to navigate obstacles along the way. As educators, we act as the bridge between their present and future possibilities.
By connecting students to their why, modeling adaptability, and using resources like Contigo Ed’s Microcourses, we can ensure that even when students leave our hallways, they take with them lasting motivation and a clear vision.
Let’s keep building a future where students not only see what’s possible, but also feel confident and excited to go after it!
