January through March is a challenging time for South High students. As the weeks move further from the honeymoon period of quarter one—sunny days with the buzz of excitement for the new school year—the weather grows colder, the sun sleeps at four p.m., and our workloads suffocate us. Suddenly, the buoyant goals we set in September grow hazy as a period of exhaustion weakens our once fervent motivation. Alas, the dark days at South High School have returned.
Curling up in bed while doom scrolling through TikTok or Netflix may seem like a plausible way to plow through these months, but doing this may just cost us our sanity. With the depressing weather dimming our inner drive, how can we overcome this plateau of desolation? The key to fighting through the dark days is to remain proactive—but how? Revert to square one: rediscover success.
There is a large misconception that success is a tangible destination or shiny accolade that screams, “I changed the world!” However shiny trophies may be, this idea of success set by societal standards is quite deceptive. Straight A’s in AP classes and admission to a top university may fall under the umbrella of “success,” but they may come at the cost of many sleepless nights and students’ well-being. In hindsight, we are losing sight of non-traditional forms of success. Having a strong moral compass, being in touch with our emotions, forging unique paths, and fostering our passions—are these not equally rewarding ways to succeed? To regain control of our lives, we need to erase all preconceived definitions of success and start writing our own.
Small successes can be found every day: exercising your body, completing your homework, finishing a painting, going to therapy, attending a club meeting, receiving a good grade, trying out a new recipe, cleaning your room, and even reorganizing your Spotify playlists for hours. To redefine success, you must first locate where you find fulfillment. There are pockets of achievement embedded in our everyday lives that form personal definitions of success. Standards should be set by individuals; one person’s simple action is another’s grand achievement.
Staying committed to small goals builds structure and constant cycles of success. Repetition of small, daily tasks helps build consistency in our daily lives. When we accomplish something, we feel gratified. Once we harness our gratification and internalize this feeling, the cycle becomes addicting. In other words, accomplishment is nice when it happens once, but it is euphoric when it occurs every day. Amid these slow months, this mental shift can help us overcome the humps of lethargy. Staying committed to small goals helps spark productivity.
Learning to locate smaller, daily successes reignites our inner drive. Feeling accomplished after the completion of simple tasks facilitates motivation to take on larger goals. During the South High Dark Days, find appreciation in the small moments of success. Trudge through these bleak months with determination, and don’t let the cold impede your ability to succeed.
