Graduate Student Success Coaching

20 Motivational Quotes for Student Success

Graduate school is hard work and it can be difficult to keep your motivation through the long haul. Setbacks, stress, and deadlines are all expected on the road to graduate student success. Maybe you are in the middle of the semester and feeling overwhelmed. Maybe you have just finished a semester and are dizzy with exhaustion. Maybe you’ve had a setback and are trying to get back into the swing of things. Maybe you’re doing ok but have a friend who is struggling with their motivation for student success.

Regardless of the circumstances, everyone sometimes needs a reminder of the reasons we become graduate students in the first place and an outside perspective on what is really important. So, if you are feeling a little lost in graduate school or lacking the drive to get going for the day, I’ve curated this list of 20 Motivational Quotes for Student Success to give yourself the boost you need to get through another day.

I’ve broken this list into four sections that many students struggle with: Remembering The Joy of Learning, Overcoming Self-Doubt, Coming Back from a Setback, and Perseverance for the Long Haul.

Without further ado, here are 20 Motivational Quotes for Student Success.

Quotes About the Joy of Learning

In the hustle and bustle of graduate school, it can be easy to forget why we decided to become graduate students in the first place. As you read through these motivational quotes for student success, think about your reasons for applying to graduate school and the joy you feel when you learn something new.

“The very least thing one should learn at the university is how to reach new knowledge.” ― Osman Doluca

“I am sure my fellow-scientists will agree with me if I say that whatever we were able to achieve in our later years had its origin in the experiences of our youth and in the hopes and wishes which were formed before and during our time as students.” ― Felix Bloch

“From good examples we learn how to be. From bad examples we learn how not to be. An observant and willing student can learn from any circumstance.”― Richelle E. Goodrich

“Learn everything. Fill your mind with knowledge—it’s the only kind of power no one can take away from you.” ― Min Jin Lee

“The only thing that compounds faster than interest is learning.” ― Orrin Woodward

Motivational Quotes for Overcoming Self Doubt

Self-doubt among graduate students is common. Sometimes we look around and think everyone else is finding it easier and doing it better. That can make us wonder if we really belong in graduate school. It’s important to remind yourself not to compare yourself to others. It may look like it’s coming easier to them, but they aren’t necessarily advertising their own challenges. When you find yourself filled with self-doubt and unsure if you can succeed, come back to these motivational quotes for student success and remember that everyone has their own challenges, and you need to keep facing yours.

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, “I’m possible!” ― Audrey Hepburn

The expert in everything was once a beginner.” ― Helen Hayes

“Every single important thing we do is something we didn’t used to be good at, and in fact, might be something we used to fear.” ― Seth Godin

“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.” ― William Shakespeare

“You do not need to pay attention to those voices within you that create pain or make you feel less competent, smart or able.” ― Sanaya Roman

Motivational Quotes for Student Success After a Setback

Problems in graduate school are common. If it were easy, everyone would be attending. I’ve personally worked with tons of students who have struggled to come back from a setback. Students have failed exams, taken incompletes, had disastrous proposal defenses, had research ideas fall through at the last minute, and even failed entire semesters. They have all gone on to successfully complete their degrees though because they didn’t let the setback stand in their way of getting back on track. If you are struggling to recover from a setback, look to these motivational quotes for students facing challenges.

“Mistakes should be examined, learned from, and discarded; not dwelled upon and stored.” ― Tim Fargo

“When it comes to learning success, action is your school, and failure your teacher.” ― Majid Kazmi

“Whenever you are going through life’s challenges, remember that for iron to be cast into its desired form, it must first go through intense heat.” ― idowu koyenikan

“I don’t necessarily sit around inviting life to knock me down, but when it does I don’t wait around for an invitation to stand back up either.” ― Craig D. Lounsbrough

“Today’s struggle is tomorrow’s strength, today’s setback is tomorrow’s comeback.” ― Amit Kalantri

Motivation for Perseverance

Graduate school is a process. It’s a long road and it’s easy to get exhausted and burned out. If you are struggling with fatigue and lethargy, take a break and rejuvenate with these motivational quotes for student success guaranteed to remind you why you need to keep pushing through.

“I learn by doing….the same thing over and over and over again countless times.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich

“There are always periodic opportunities to give up, while every single moment is an opportunity to persevere.” ― Dean F. Wilson

“You must dare, and dare again, and then dare a little bit more, and go on daring.” ― Justin Cotillard

“Perseverance is not a passive submission to circumstances—it is a strong and active response to the difficult events of life.” ― Elizabeth George

Success is not the result of making one good choice or taking one step. Real success requires step, after step, after step, after step. It requires choice after choice, it demands life-long education and passion and commitment and persistence and hunger and patience.” ― Jesmyn Ward

I hope you enjoyed this curation of motivational quotes for student success. If you want to get more tips, tricks, and support to help you finish your degree, come join my Facebook group for near-daily content.