How do you keep going?

What keeps me going is that problem solving is FUN and I am confident that I will never run out of problems to solve in my lifetime. If I am not having fun, I am just solving the wrong problem, and I need to look for a different problem to solve. Problems should be challenging but attainable, and I aim to learn and grow from every challenge I face. If you learn to love learning, you will always have fun solving problems.

How do I keep going: My motivation in life has long been (since middle school or earlier) to make the world a better place. So it’s easy to get up in the morning, and go to work (at UT Austin, where my students and I tackle some of the most important transportation problems of our time). I recommend you let that be your motivation, since “action is the antidote to despair.”

You're right -- things do get hard from time to time! One thing that helps me is to "consider the counterfactual" -- that is, to ask myself, "What's the alternative?" Nearly everything worthwhile that we want to do in life will encounter some challenges. If I didn't do this, what would the realistic alternative be? Would it be any easier, after all? Would it make me happier -- in the short run, the long run?

Along the same lines, I try to keep "eyes on the prize": remembering the sense of achievement I have felt in the past on the completion of a difficult, long-term task, and anticipating the same feeling about this task, often gives me the determination I need to keep going.

And then, for me, I find "joy in the journey", not just in my ultimate destination or goal. Basically, I love what my job offers me: lifelong learning on topics that intrigue me and that are useful for society; extended mentoring, co-discovery, and friendship with bright and motivated young people from all over the world; the opportunity to explain difficult things to others in terms that they can understand; a global network of smart, thoughtful, and interesting colleagues; and much much more.

I don't love every part of my job, but then (considering the counterfactual), that would be true of any job. The things you love about your journey may well be different than the things I love, but find them and focus on them. I also encourage you to find a way to turn off the distractions that are under your control. Constant noise (whatever "noise" is for you -- it will differ from person to person) robs you of the ability to focus on and master tough tasks. You might be surprised at the progress you make if you can set aside good-sized blocks of uninterrupted time to work on the things that are challenging you at the moment.

When you face what appears to be a tough period, remember a few key things:

1. Nothing good comes easy – I have found that good things in life always come with some type of struggle. My struggles have been all worth it!
2. Struggle is normal in every life. No one is immune from struggle. When you “hit a wall,” remember the words of Winston Churchill’s key posture to success: “Never, Never, NEVER, Give Up!” (I actually have a fridge magnet that says that!)
3. Maintain a positive attitude and positive thinking. My thoughts drive my actions – and your thoughts and thinking will drive YOUR actions.
4. Be positive. Be focused. Be purposeful. Be relentless.

How can you keep going when things get hard?

Break it down. When a problem or a class feels overwhelming, don't try to tackle it all at once. Break it into smaller, manageable chunks. Focus on understanding one concept, solving one part of a problem, or finishing one assignment. Small wins add up and build momentum.

Find your people. Connect with classmates who are also passionate about engineering. Study groups can be incredibly helpful for working through tough material, and just knowing you're not alone in the struggle can make a huge difference. Later, in your career, this translates to networking and finding mentors.

Celebrate progress, not just perfection. It's easy to get caught up in aiming for a perfect score or a flawless solution, but that can be exhausting. Instead, acknowledge and celebrate every step forward, no matter how small. Did you finally understand that tricky concept? Great! Did you make progress on a difficult project? Awesome!

Remember your "why." When you're feeling drained, take a moment to reconnect with your original motivation. Why did you choose engineering? What problems do you want to solve? What kind of impact do you want to make?

Take care of yourself. This might sound counterintuitive when you're swamped, but taking breaks, getting enough sleep, eating well, and doing things you enjoy outside of school are crucial. Burnout is real, and you can't perform your best if you're constantly running on empty. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your studies is to step away for a bit and recharge.

What are you persevering for?

You're persevering for a future where you get to build, innovate, and solve real-world problems. Think about it: engineers design everything from the phone in your hand to the bridges you drive over, from medical devices that save lives to sustainable energy solutions. You're working towards a career where you can:

• Create tangible impact: See your ideas come to life and make a difference.
• Be a problem-solver: Tackle complex challenges and find innovative solutions.
• Continually learn and grow: Engineering is a field that's always evolving, so you'll always be learning new things.
• Have a fulfilling and stable career: Engineering offers many diverse paths and opportunities.

What inspires me to keep pushing?

Inspiration can come from many places. For me, it often comes from:

• The "aha!" moments: That feeling when a complex concept finally clicks, or you find the solution to a challenging problem – it's incredibly rewarding.
• Seeing what's possible: Looking at the incredible advancements in technology and knowing that engineers were behind them fuels a desire to contribute.
• Mentors and role models: Hearing stories from women who have forged successful careers in engineering can be incredibly motivating. They've been where you are and have overcome similar hurdles.
• The desire to make a difference: Knowing that your skills can be used to improve lives, protect the environment, or advance technology is a powerful motivator.

You've got this! Keep that passion alive, lean on your support system, and remember that every challenge you overcome makes you stronger and more capable.

Great question! There is A LOT to deal with these days.

I think you first need to understand your personality and what gives you a sense of accomplishment – do you need short term goals, long term, other? Also, what are the things you like to do that give you a break from school/work? I like to make daily, weekly and longer term lists. The entire list lets me keep track of everything and helps me find if I have overcommitted myself. The lists let me check off tasks as I complete them, which makes me feel good - giving me a sense of daily accomplishment. I also will set up my daily calendar in 10-to-15-minute increments and make sure my plan is realistic for what I have to accomplish and let me know if I need to change my plan. I am a visual person, and it helps to see everything "on paper."

I use this both for workdays and my crazy, busy life. I also plan breaks, rests, hobbies, and time with friends and family, etc. I know I can't run myself ragged. Everyone has a different limit for this. I know for myself, this can also change day to day and week to week.

Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help. When I just have too much going on, it has really helped to ask for help. This can take many forms. Mine tend to be to delegate more or replan my schedule when there are too many conflicts. It's also okay to just say no. Prioritize your lists/tasks and see if anything could actually be dropped. You've got this!

Defining and refining your Purpose is crucial to continued focus and success.

In business, a company must define their purpose, mission and vision for existing. These are the statements that can be used to reflect back on when the business hits a bump in the road.

I firmly believe we must do the same for ourselves. We must define our mission, vision and purpose for our lives. These foundational elements can transform and evolve over time, as you mature and learn more about yourself, but once these are defined, you can set short-term and long-term goals that align with your purpose. This is the action part that keeps you moving forward. Your goals will shift as you progress beyond them, so when you are ready to set new goals, you can still base them on and align them with your purpose. But the key is to keep going.

Don't be discouraged when you start to feel weary, confused or a little less motivated. Life is like that. We go through peaks and valleys, but we can't appreciate the peaks without the valleys. So sometimes, you just need to sit in the moment, grind through the daily tasks and keep doing the things that you set yourself up to do, even if you don't feel like it. Eventually, something will hit differently, and you'll be inspired and rejuvenated again.

Stay the course, as long as it's aligned with your Purpose.

I think it's very natural when undertaking a long and (sometimes) difficult task, to feel overwhelmed and want to give up. It is especially helpful to determine your purpose.

Are you going into engineering to create innovation that will help the world be a better place? So many engineering positions do! For instance, at John Deere we were innovating to help feed a growing population and it probably wouldn't be possible without automation and autonomous machines. It's okay if your purpose is to have a comfortable life financially. That was definitely a big part of my push forward when I felt discouraged. I wanted my family to have enough financial stability that they didn't have to worry about money, as my family did when I was growing up.

The other piece of advice I can give you is to give it a little time. The feeling will likely pass. Take care of yourself, have some fun and keep pushing through. If it is what you really want, you will likely feel better about it in a week or two. My last "words of wisdom" are to give yourself a pep talk and try to help create a can do attitude. It sounds funny, but sometimes it's just what we need! I hope this helps!