Pictured above: dolsot bibimbap. This is one of two dishes I often get at a Korean restaurant. It's essentially white rice topped with veggies, choice of protein, dried seaweed, and spicy bean paste sauce.
My parents set a tradition to ensure the best of grades for my sisters and I. At the end of each grading semester, my sisters or I gets to choose where to eat out for dinner. Whoever has the best grades has the privilege to choose a place to eat out for dinner. This way, the whole family gets rewarded for eighteen weeks of hard work. My parents reinforced the behavior to motivate my sisters and I to compete for the best grades. Factor in me as the eldest child, a senior in high school, and compare it with my sisters in the seventh grade; my job as a student gets that much harder. Their use of positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of top notch grades with the reward of a family dinner outing.
In my recent years, I found grades go beyond choosing where to go for dinner. Rather, I motivate myself with colleges and scholarships. I grew up accepting life as a student as my career. It requires the dedication and diligence equivalent, if not higher, than any job accessible to a high school student. I may not get paid for studying, but that will come with scholarships and college acceptances.
Anna,
ReplyDeleteI can only wish that me parents adopted the same tradition as yours. This would increase my motivation to do better in school. In a similar way, I compared myself to my older brother. My goal in high school was to equal or surpass his achievements. A little sibling rivalry does wonders for grades.
I have tp agree with Drew on this one- I don't even remember the last time I went to a real restaurant, that surely is a treat. Do you think these reward systems also relate to that marshmallow test we viewed during the beginning of the year ( long term satisfaction vs. short term gratification)
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