Motivation

If everyone could have one quality when it comes to getting work done, what would it be? The number one, majority answer would probably be 'motivation'. 

Teaching children and being a student myself, I know that one of the greatest barriers to learning and acquiring new skills is the ability to be motivated. But where should motivation come from? The pupil, or the teacher? Or perhaps both? 

Many students lose sight of what they are learning in the classroom and develop an apathetic attitude towards the subjects that they study, because they simply cannot motivate themselves to do so. Is that because they don't know why they are studying what they are studying, or perhaps because being tested on the subjects they are studying makes it seem as though they are only doing it because they have to, making it a chore?
How many times did someone ask, "Will this be on the test?". And if the answer was "No." did anyone take a second look at it? The dominant dynamic seems to be: how little can I do?

As life moves on from the classroom, and we make it into the world of work, are we more motivated because the consequences are different? Pressures change from getting good grades to being able to afford a house, being able to start a family etc. We are now motivated because we get paid, and yet, we still do the bare minimum because we're only going to get asked to do more.

Perhaps we realise that we can't just do nothing because we don't see the real reason for doing anything... But imagine if we weren't motivated by grades and money, but by curiosity and generosity. Learning new things not for the tests and certificates, but because we just could.