Dedication has many definitions, it comes in different forms and its looks varies from person to person which can leave many people wondering what exactly dedication means, and what it takes.
“Personally, dedication means to keep going no matter what, and dedication can also be synonymous with perseverance and staying committed to what your goals are… [but] society has varying definitions of dedication,” Missouri State Digital TV and filmmaking major Brennan Henderson said. “I have my personal views of it as well. I think in the end, everybody can agree that dedication is a matter of you and your willingness not to give up.”
Dedication can look different for every person through their experiences and interests, but with that willingness to not give up comes the issue of balancing things like mental health and what someone is dedicated to.
“I think what [dedication] looks like is setting realistic goals, so having ambition, but also being real about it at the same time and just not setting specific time frames,” Henderson said. “I’ve learned over time that will just stress you out. So it’s better to just not set timeframes for yourself, but just kind of go with the flow in terms of timing and just let it all work out in the end the way it does.”
Despite the ways stress can be avoided through dedication, there are times when one’s dedication may be disrupted, but like all threats to ambition or progress, there are ways to persevere.
“Whenever [my dedication wavers], I… just remind myself of what’s true and just ignore what’s not [true] just staying focused on the task at hand,” Henderson said.
There are many ways for people to stay dedicated. Missouri State Freshman Katie Mcall emphasizes keeping one’s goal in mind.
“I… just focus on the end result. I mean, a lot of people… change their major or change their pathway… but just focusing on… the process to get to your goal is important,” Katie Mcall said. “Also, I feel like there is also a lot to be said about taking time to notice the little things in the process, to get there and [understand] that your end-all goal might change.”
In addition, one of the ways one can keep motivated and dedicated i
s through passion for what they are doing.
“I would say passion is probably what fuels you… and then [sports are] also
just something I’m so passionate about that it feels like I’m getting to do something here that is for me.” Missouri State Junior Phycology major and Student engagement receptionist Madilyn Moore said. “Whenever it’s really hard to continue to do the same thing, day in and day out, I think that passion element is necessary, but I could also say the same with consistency.”
Another great fuel for dedication is being able to see your peers excel.
“just seeing the success of others makes you want to succeed as well… So I feel like between me and my classmates, everybody works together and they want to succeed together, and getting to work with lots of different people makes you more dedicated,” Moore said. “Being with a group of women that are dedicated to their studies as well makes me want to work hard at school on top of my sport.”
