PSFA Motivation: Launch your Successful Semester Q+A (Kelsi Dugas)

As SDSU enters its third semester dictated by the pandemic, students’ struggle to stay motivated to learn is thematic. The College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts asked students from its schools for motivational ideas to launch a successful semester. Check out their insights throughout the month. Featured below is Kelsi Dugas (School of Journalism and Media Studies senior).

Q1: What gets you through the day?

“Even though I am unable to see other students on campus right now, what gets me through the day is keeping in touch with those who have been by my side throughout my college experience. Communicating with friends, family, professors and mentors helps me not feel alone in this wild experience. Facetime has become my best friend and being able to see faces and chat with other SDSU students keeps me motivated each day.”

Q2: If you had a motivational toolkit, what would be your favorite tool?

“Sounds cliche, but the sunshine. Whenever I am stressed, overwhelmed or anxious, getting outside for even just five minutes makes the world of difference. Soaking in the sun, or even just fresh air, refreshes my mind and makes me realize the world is so much bigger and greater than the challenges that face me at the moment. The sun will rise again tomorrow, and it will all be okay.”

Q3: What are you grateful for?

“Aside from having a healthy family, what I am most grateful for is my education! My dad is in the military and because of his career, I am able to attend SDSU with my tuition covered. I am so fortunate to have such a gift, and not only that, but my educational experience here has been amazing. The School of Journalism and Media Studies has prepared me with real-world and client opportunities, so I feel ready to start a career right out of college.”

Q4: What piece of advice is your go-to?

“If you’re not going to cry about it in five years, don’t spend your time crying about it now. This seems dramatic, but for the type A, perfectionist out there like me, it is so true. Oftentimes I can get worked up about something I realistically won’t remember in five weeks. If I don’t do well on one assignment, or one exam or I don’t get that one internship it will be okay. I’m a strong believer in everything happens for a reason, so getting frustrated about something that didn’t go according to plan is only a testament to show you something else better is coming down the line.”

Q5: How do you stay mentally healthy?

“I keep myself busy and active: walking, surfing at the beach and hiking. Anything socially distanced and outside with friends is a fabulous way to improve my mental health. Oftentimes it’s so easy to get caught up on social media or on TikTok when I stay inside. In this pandemic, I personally feel like being online all day makes me feel the effects of the pandemic such as loneliness or boredom so much sooner and quicker. Logging off and experiencing face-to-face interaction lifts spirits and makes me feel more in tune with myself.”

Q6: How do you stay resilient?

“Although sometimes times it may be tough, I think the best way to stay resilient is to find the silver lining in everything. All experiences and life events have so many different perspectives, being able to see the positive in situations helps guide you through it. I can sit and say Zoom University sucks and I want to be in person all day long, or I can say that it has given me the opportunity to have a job, an internship and still attend school because there is no commute time! I do everything from home and can fit so much more into the day. There’s two sides to every coin. I think another way to stay resilient is to be forgiving with yourself. No one is perfect, so you can’t expect yourself to be. We will all mess up, have low days and be upset from time to time. That’s okay. Being able to forgive yourself and work through those emotions is what makes us human.”

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.