With exam season approaching, some students will feel a growing sense of pressure. Stress levels go up and sleep levels go down. This time of the year can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated. Balancing life and learning how to not buckle under the pressure of midterms, essays and presentations is really important for being driven to attack the workload.
Here are some inspiring quotes to motivate you to hit up the library and tackle your exams with confidence:
1) “Keep Calm and Carry On”
Despite its use as a motivational poster printed by the British government in 1939 during World War II, the slogan is still relevant today telling us not to panic, to be level headed and to persevere. It is totally applicable in everything I do, from finishing an article to finishing my grocery shop. So in anticipation of those potentially dark days ahead, “Keep Calm and Carry On” through to help combat the stresses that come with this hectic time of year.
2) “Arrange whatever pieces come your way” – Virginia Woolf
Life throws all kinds of events, obstacles and wonders toward us in unfinished form, particularly during exam time. It’s up to us to grab hold and arrange the different “bits” of our experiences to form something we can grab hold of and, ultimately, understand. Maybe the pieces are bits of information learnt in class, or separate works (presentations, essays, exams) to be completed. Whichever way you interpret them, it’s important to accept them as valuable pieces to a puzzle that will eventually fit together.
3) “I hated every minute of training, but I said ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion.’” – Mohammed Ali
The iconic quote tells us that everything we do takes worth ethic, passion and persistence. If you are ready to take on something you don’t like now, you will be rewarded later. In Ali’s case, harsh training meant he could be known as “The Greatest” and ultimately one of the most memorable boxers and men of all time. If you hate studying, revising or feel tortured by school work, think about the end result and how you may feel victorious once it’s over. Hard work and perseverance pay off.
4) “Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts” -Winston Churchill
Churchill’s quote reminds us that success is a very elusive thing. At university, we think that failing an exam is the end of the world, but the truth is, it won’t kill us. If we relax, change our mindset and consider the exam as another part of our learning experience, in which we need to have the bravery to persevere, we will be successful. Fears hinders us from concentrating during studying, while continuing with a determined work ethic is key for bringing achievement during times when we have too much on our plate.
5) “Don’t worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright.” – Bob Marley
As perhaps the most poignant, popularised and often quoted lyrics, “Three Little Birds” sums up a great way to think about worry, stress, and anxiety. When times are tough, particularly during exams, it is normal to feel overloaded with worry and dread and to think of the worst possible outcome. Bob Marley reminds us everything was alright, is alright and will be alright. Whether we believe it or not, Marley’s crucial words tell us the importance of self-belief and his song serves as a great motivation during work overload.
6) “Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.” – Danny Kaye
The quote tells us to put everything we can into each thing we do, whether it’s an exam, a friendship or a job, in order for the most vibrant outcome. Kaye suggests life is a blank canvas waiting to be filled with colour and expression, waiting to be made into something better and more meaningful. In terms of upcoming exams, throwing all your knowledge and understandings into words is a hard thing to do, but it can be done with focus and imagination. So nurture your creative side and throw some paint on your life’s canvas!
7) “Nothing will work unless you do” – Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou reminds us that thoughts, hopes and dreams are simply not enough to produce something. Only through drive, determination and effort can we turn an idea into an action. Take a paper for example, all the thoughts in our head will not allow us to succeed until we put them into words. It can be difficult to shift this thought to action, but by actively doing, we convert our unique thoughts into being, and will be rewarded.
8) “I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.” – Herman Melville
Melville’s quote taken from Moby Dick, tells us that we don’t know what’s going to happen or what’s ahead, but we should face it laughing all the way there anyway. There’s nothing wrong with taking an especially cheery attitude toward life, even in the face of scary stuff, like exams and assignments. So put this quote on your desk where you do your work, and remind yourself to face difficult tasks and the unknown smiling, or even laughing!
9) “Smile like you mean it” – The Killers
Serving as my final year book quote, The Killers, like Melville, remind us to do each thing with a smile. With looming exams or work overload, it can be easy to allow yourself to feel miserable, overwhelmed and maybe defeated. In turn, maybe you don’t smile or you fake a smile. But smiling, like you mean it, with happiness and optimism, will actually make you feel better! So don’t fake it and you will feel ready to tackle everything you’re soon to face.
10) “I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me.” – Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross reminds us that, in order to get from A to B, we sometimes have to do scary things. For example, to get from being a student to a graduate, we have to do exams, public presentations or long papers. If we turn our fear into excitement and inspiration, we will feel much more motivated to get work done. Accept that there is a journey to make between where you are and where you want to be, but realise that you have a choice in whether you look at it with dread or with enthusiasm.
Put these quotes up where you work and repeat them to yourself in order to feel prepared to tackle the workload and smash your upcoming exams. Motivate yourself, you can do this!
Holly Stark 
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