Walt Disney has been considered one of the most influential people of all time. He was known to say incredibly inspirational things, when all he was referring to was a mouse. So as finals week approaches, here are some Walt Disney quotes to remember and inspire as you prepare for those tests.
1. All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
It can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. You may think passing that one insane exam would be a miracle. Just remember, your grade reflects the amount of effort you’re willing to put in. Maybe you’re dreaming of just getting a passing grade on that honors course. Work at it and pursue it and remember: you can do it.
2. It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.
Maybe you’ve got that one professor who told you that there is no way you’ll do well on their final. Or maybe that professor who told you there is no study material and no way to prepare, so you may as well give up now. Either way, keep in mind that proving them wrong will lead to extreme satisfaction on your end.
3. The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
It’s so easy to procrastinate. We all do it. We’ve all been guilty of it. But the easiest way to start studying is to start small. Start reviewing early. You may have a week before the exam, but leaving all the studying to the night before will only result in frustration and possibly tears. Stop talking to your friends about how you plan to start studying and just do it.
4. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.
You might get your grade back and have that C totally crush you. It’s not the end of the world, I promise. It’s possible you needed that punch in order to motivate yourself to want to do well and prove everyone wrong.
5. When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.
It’s okay to take breaks. As a matter of fact, it’s encouraged. When you start to notice your mind wandering, you realize you’re not concentrating anymore and so studying really isn’t getting you anywhere because you're not necessarily studying productively anymore. When you’re studying that one subject you hate with everything in you, you’ll think of the most insane things to do to distract you. Do them. Take breaks and do something interesting. Staying cooped up all day won’t help.
6. If you can dream it, you can do it.
You should be your own number one fan. Believe in yourself. If you go into a test doubting yourself, despite all the hours you spent preparing, you’ll never do well. Have faith in yourself and let your instinct kick in.
7. You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.
You can tell yourself you’re going to do well all you want. If you don’t prepare, you won’t get anywhere. Simply telling yourself you’ll be fine just isn’t enough sometimes. It takes faith in yourself and the realization that you need a review to make that dream grade become a reality.
8. We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
In taking finals, you might find a new passion. You might realize that your major just isn’t for you. The curiosity and dedication to a new subject as you prepare for finals just might help you discover what you truly want to do.
9. The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.
Don’t let anyone tell you that your study habits are wrong. If it works for you, don’t change it. If what you’ve been doing doesn’t work, change it. Maybe hanging upside down and reading a textbook has always gotten you an A. Why change? Approaching a test in a way that works best for you makes your habits different. Let your uniqueness shine!
10. I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.
Don’t worry about that kid who has gotten A’s on every test and paper. Don’t compare yourself, challenge yourself. Make that kid your goal to beat. Sometimes all you need is a little competition to make your best side come through. You can beat that kid, believe in yourself.
11. When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.
Once you’ve started believing in yourself, don’t do it in a half-ass way. Believe in yourself totally and completely. Have faith in yourself and you’ll do amazing things. Have faith that you can do well and you will do well, because you’ve put the effort in.
12. First, think. Second, believe. Third, dream. And finally, dare.
First, think about everything that needs to get done in order to prepare for your exams. Think about all the material you’ll need to review and the best way to do that. Second, believe in yourself. It’s a lot of work, there’s no denying it. But you can, and will, do great if you believe in yourself. Third, know that your dream can become a reality as soon as you put your mind to it. You’ve got this. Finally, sit down at that test and dare yourself to get that A. Challenge yourself and you can do it.
13. Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it any better.
At the end of the day, you’ve done the very best you can. You’ve put hours upon hours into studying, you’ve reread your notes 15 times and you’ve even done two different essay drafts for that final paper. So what are you worrying about? You’ve done your absolute best and, at the end of the day, that’s all you can ever do. Stop worrying, believe in yourself and remember that you’ve done your best.
