motivation for performing well is to get out and get a good job. these kids arent motivated and many join the army afterwards

motivation to simply do well which leads to a better more successful life ahead

I don't think these kids have any motivation because they don't see that they can have a bright future ahead full of potential

Just to prepare myself for future life- to be able to get into a good college and get a good paying job afterwards.

To get into a good college and have a good career. Performing at a school with those conditions would be hard, it's not surprising that

so many kids drop out

try to maybe get in a good college or something. I really could not perform well that that school in the article. Knowing me to, I would be

more interested in going to that school just to see what would fall down next.

you talk about motivation; i agree that none exists for them. What are their options? get out and go where? college? what if they are

academically not smart enough...plus the lure of easy money

i think when you have to perform under these conditions it is hard to believe that school can improve your life.

my motivation is getting into a good college and making my dad happy mostly my dad

I always push myself too much. Nothing is ever good enough and I just want to prove to myself that I can do the best of my ability

that's nice, ben...make sure you're in it for YOU though, as well...you never want to disappoint yourself

Rach, i'm the same way...sometimes it really gets me in trouble. I push way too hard and don't know when to ease up and let it just

be...that's something i continually struggle with and always will...sounds like you, too..there are worse things!

its more just self esteem for me, i feel like i can do what ever i want once i get older and i kno what i want to do and how to do it, just

the grades show me what i am and that i can make it, of course i push to do better, but mostly just for myself, i pride on my independence

interesting...many of you don't seem as though you want to "push yourselves"...i don't see a lot of this so-called pride

not an insult, i'm just wondering where the discrepancy is between what you say and what you actually do

i feel people are trying as bet as they can... everyone has different motivations and do things their own way

best*

I don't think you can say that for everyone. If someone's not "pushing themselves" in english class doesn't mean they're not

pushing themselves in other areas in life.

i agree with emilee.

if nobody gets in the way of other people's motivation or puts them down, then they'll do just fine

I think that even though the kids in that school aren't given the proper resources to more easily succeed in school, doesn't necessarily

mean they all have lost their motivation to work. Their motivation could be to prove people wrong and want to succeed regardless of their

circumstances.

i agree em...it just seems for every success story, there are 100 stories of kids who have been failed by the system

but...even our president is encouraging personal responsibility and urging us not to play the "blame game"

should be interesting as we start to look at socio-economics.

and yes, i realize that english is not everyone's reason to come to school and work hard

but...at the same time...your work ethic in any arena says a lot about the person you are

colleges won't be saying, "well, maybe they just don't like that class"...can you put the work in, regardless??

sure, but someone can put a lot of work into something and still not succeed at it, just because they weren't successful doesn't mean

they're lazy and lack that so called pride