It’s important for kids, not just adults, to have a reason to persevere. Too often school seems like a never-ending cycle. Students work hard to improve and finally “get it,” only to begin the next batch of challenging assignments. However, if what they must study seems useful, they will be more motivated to keep trying when it gets tough. For example, figuring out how much paint to buy in order to redo a bedroom can motive a student to keep working on math lessons about area. The desire to win a competition or to give a presentation makes attention to otherwise tedious details necessary. The chance to act as a teacher—to share what he has learned—requires studying until he understands the subject well enough to help someone else. Anything that gives kids a chance to make a positive difference in the lives of others will also give them a sense of purpose, as well as a sense of importance. Too many kids have the impression that adults think life begins after graduation. They want meaningful reasons to study and opportunities to make a difference. We just have to adjust our lesson plans to make that happen.