Good Advice From Badass Women That Every Student Needs To Hear

With a new year comes the need for a fresh dose of inspiration! Don’t you agree?

If your 2019 was anything like mine, it ended with planning and goal setting for 2020. While it feels good to have your aspirations for the year written down online or on paper, everyone needs the nudge to achieve them. 

To motivate you to achieve your goals or simply be a better student this school year, here’s some advice from some equally inspiring and badass women on how to live fully and make 2020 YOUR year.

“If you haven’t failed yet, you haven’t tried anything.” – Reshma Saujani

As students, we’re told to study as hard as we can to pass test after test. Failure, when it comes, can feel crushing. But what we often forget is that failure is normal. According to Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, failure means that you put yourself out there and tried. By doing so, you are toughening yourself up for the next challenge and ultimately improving yourself.

PS. If you need a little more convincing, take it from Reshma. She lost two elections in the United States before shifting into work that provides coding camps for high school girls. How’s that for failing… and rising back up?

“Connect deeply with others. Our humanity is one thing that we all have in common.” – Melinda Gates

Frustrated by that classmate that won’t work on the group project? Confused by EVERYTHING your teacher is saying? Try to follow the advice of Melinda Gates and connect with others. 

This means practicing empathy through asking your teacher questions (read: nicely) or trying to understand why your classmate isn’t contributing on the group projects. You might find that your teacher didn’t know you were struggling or your classmate might be going through personal stuff at home. 

We don’t know what the future holds, but we’re quite sure 2020 will be a test of character for you. In fact, for everyone. Always be kind and aspire to be the bigger person in every situation.

“I’m intimidated by the fear of being average.” – Taylor Swift

Should you need a push to excel, take Taylor Swift’s advice to heart. The popstar is most definitely not average. All thanks to her reluctance to be just that—average. 

This 2020, why not practice self-reflection? Don’t be afraid to try different hobbies or take opportunities that can help you find—as cheesy as it sounds—your calling. And don’t get us started on how young you are to “find your calling.” Join a new club, attend a conference that looks interesting, or better yet, do things that scare you. Don’t just let the days pass you by. Repeat after me: you are meant to be far more than being average.

“Be able to delegate because there are just things that you can’t do by yourself.” – Meghan Markle

Every student who is also an overachiever falls into the trap of trying to do EVERYTHING. (Trust me, I’ve been there.) The best way to remedy this, as well as to save you a ton of stress and time, is to simply trust those around you. Yup, trust.

Delegate tasks on that group project, and help remind people to stick to deadlines instead. You don’t have to try to be everything for everyone. Or else it will ultimately lead to burnout. Take the advice from former actress and star of ‘Suits’ Meghan Markle. She’s got tons of stories to tell about it so you won’t have to go through it. 

“You do not lose sight of what you believe in, you do not lose sight of the goal. You drown out the voices, because there are bigger battles to fight.” – Leni Robredo

When faced with a difficult test, college application, or any task that drains the energy out of you, isn’t it just hard to keep motivated? It’s okay to be honest. We all experience that at some point. Keep your morale high, listen to the words of VP Leni. “Drown out the voices” of negativity and naysayers, and keep working hard. Focus your energy on getting things done instead!

Sometimes, student life can just be really exhausting. Your busy schedule is a witness to the never-ending commitments and deadlines you have to meet. But even then, remember that there is value in fixing your eyes on what’s important. Choose your battles wisely and let the others fade in the background. It’s totally okay!

These are just five tips that can help you make the most of your 2020. Which one speaks to you the most? If you feel like you hit a slump and you need an extra dose of motivation, look up the stories of these awesome women. Learning about how they overcome their obstacles can give you that push in owning this year. Because tbh, you can.

Want to be inspired more by women in the PH and around the world? Read their stories by checking out our All Girls Corner blog section at Edukasyon.ph now!