By Rusty Potter
We are getting closer to the end of the semester, but we are not there. There are still assignments to complete, tests to prepare for, and projects to finish.
At the same time, the year is coming to an end. That can make this season feel especially important. You are not only finishing a semester; you are closing out another year of your life.
Maybe it is time to go full throttle.
But what exactly is a throttle?
A throttle is a control that regulates the power or speed of an engine. In a car, when you press the accelerator, you open the throttle and let more gas reach the engine. The more you press, the more power you are asking the engine to produce.
Think about that for a moment.
Sometimes students spend too much of the semester with their foot barely touching the accelerator. They attend class, complete some assignments, and move forward, but they aren’t moving with purpose. They are coasting. They are waiting. They are thinking about what they should do instead of doing it.
But there comes a time when you have to press the accelerator.
The semester is almost over. This is not the time to look back at everything you did not accomplish and convince yourself that you have run out of time. Instead, look at what remains and ask yourself, “What can I still do?”
You may not be able to change everything about the semester, but you can still make progress.
Complete the assignment. Study for the test. Meet with your teacher. Ask for help. Finish the project. Turn in the work you have been avoiding. Improve your attendance. Encourage a classmate. Take better care of yourself. Stop making excuses and start making progress.
Going full throttle does not mean being reckless. It means being intentional. It means giving the remaining weeks of this semester everything you have while preparing to finish the year strong.
You still have miles left on this road.
Do not spend the rest of the semester looking in the rearview mirror. Look through the windshield. Your past grades may explain where you have been, but they do not have to determine where you are going.
The engine is still running.
Put your foot on the accelerator. Open the throttle. Permit yourself to move forward.
The semester is not over.
The year is not over.
Neither is your story.
It is time to go FULL THROTTLE!
