Recently, the US’s national treasure for figure skating, olympic gold medalist, Alysa Liu, captivated audiences with her comeback. Importantly, she embodies that success is not necessarily about the outcome, but about the process of working towards something. Her perspective highlights the importance of enjoying what you do, while also recognising the value of effective break times. I think this idea translates strongly to studying, and it is something many of us underestimate.
Of course, it is not realistic to enjoy studying all the time. Everyone has subjects and topics they struggle with or find frustrating. However, there is value in trying to find inherent meaning within the process itself. Maybe it is the sense of accomplishment after solving a difficult maths problem, the routine of sitting down with your favourite drink during revision, or discovering a study method that makes learning feel more engaging. Small things can make a big difference in allowing us to learn how to love learning.
A common issue many students face is being burned out or overwhelmed. Often times, when we are solely focused on maximising marks and achieving the highest grades, we forget to pause and consider questions such as; why did we pick this subject in the first place? Studying becomes harder when purely driven by pressure to perform well. It can feel like a chore without some level of curiosity or personal connection.
As tutors, we often emphasise the importance of setting both short-term and long-term goals. These goals can provide direction and motivation, but they should not come at the expense of enjoying the learning process itself. Loving learning does not mean every study session is exciting but it embraces appreciating your own blood sweat and tears that contribute to your progress.
When students learn to value the process, not just the result, studying becomes more sustainable, rewarding, and effective. In relation to education, the process of learning is what we spend 99% of our time doing, whilst the outcome achieved of getting a mark back is 1% of a brief fleeting moment. Why not maximise the enjoyment of that time?
Anna Ho