Top 5 motivational stories every student should know | Get inspired today!

Motivational stories | An overview 

Motivational stories inspire you to never give up. Not everyone may know your story, but remember you have influenced people in your life, even if you are unaware of it. Your journey and lessons have allowed you to build relationships with other people. You’ve learned to connect, empathize, and grow each step of the way. The selected, well-known faces in this blog are only here to help you do that better.

Robin Williams

If you’re not familiar with who Robin Williams is- he is an American actor and comedian. He has worked on masterpieces like Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, and many more.

He may have grown up having a privileged life, but he missed out on a key aspect of childhood. His parents were never home, and they always left him with the family maid. He would entertain himself by creating silly voices and characters locked in his bedroom. 

Through his jokes and putting on shows for his bullies in school, he made friends. He won an acting scholarship to the most prestigious school in the country. 

While studying, he performed as a mime to earn money. He was depressed and desperate. One day, he found a flyer for a comedy workshop and turned up with no expectations. Standing alone on stage took him back to when he would entertain his bullies. Finally, he let out the silly voices, and the crowd loved him!

He is the ideal example of finding humor in the darkest of times, always making people laugh. He dedicated his life to making those around him always smile. 

Robin Williams teaches us how empathy comes from a deep place of sadness. We can use that to empower others by just bringing a smile to their faces.

Motivational stories takeaway

Life won’t always be positive; circumstances won’t allow you to smile. However, how you choose to react and the way you treat others and yourself can make or break your life. 

J.K. Rowling 

Whether you love her or hate her, her story has inspired millions. J. K. Rowling is a British author, film producer, television producer, philanthropist, and screenwriter. She is one of the most successful authors of the century. She created a famous fantasy non-fiction series called Harry Potter. 

It is because of her work that many of us can create an escape from this chaotic world. You may know the story of ‘the boy who lived’, but few know about the woman behind the story. 

Joanne Rowling taught English in Portugal, was a single mother, and at one point, she was on the verge of being homeless. In addition, she struggled with depression. She incorporated all the struggles she faced in the most brilliant ways throughout the Harry Potter series. From the failed relationship with her father to the death of her mother, each element of her life gave her an element to add to her book. 

It took her five years from when she first thought of the idea of Harry Potter on the train to when she finished the first book. She turned all those dark and depressing moments in her life into something magical (pun intended).

Motivational stories takeaway

You will always face problems in life. You can allow them to drown and consume you or get up and try to build something out of it.

Ratan Tata 

Ratan Tata is an Indian industrialist, philanthropist, and former chairman of Tata Sons. Born in a prominent family of industrialists and philanthropists, he was educated at Cornell University and later at Harvard University.

He was raised by his grandmother after his parents split. He didn’t let those grievances affect him. His first job was in Tata Steel. He stayed, ate, worked, and slept with the workers. Soon, he was appointed as the Director-in-Charge of National Radio and Electronics Company Ltd. (Nelco) and built it up in a short span of time. However, because of the economic recession, the venture did not survive. This was his first failure, but that didn’t stop him from trying. 

Despite being privileged, he stayed humble because of his journey. We see this in countless incidents throughout his life. Two of them that stand out to us-

First, he personally went to the houses of all the employees who suffered in the horrendous 26/11 Taj attack. He gave them compensation for their injuries and arranged for doctors and psychologists for those suffering. He also helped those who lost their loved ones through the attack by giving them the late employee’s lifetime salary, in addition to any compensation needed. 

Second, he is a man of his word and never backs down from it. We see this when he attends a college event. He promised the students to meet them after the event was over. The event took longer than expected and he had a flight to catch. He canceled his flight just to meet with the students, as he had given them his word. 

He talks about how leadership is not a position; it’s an action and also understands the importance of action and isn’t afraid to take risks.

Motivational stories takeaway

You can build bridges and change the world when you have the will to do so. Things take time, and patience is the key. Master your skills and understand your power before you implement it.

Garrett Morgan

Garrett Augustus Morgan Sr. was an African American inventor, community leader, and businessman. For an African American man, he achieved the success that was not heard of during his era. He was always fascinated with how things worked, and his curiosity led him to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Here, he spent his life as an inventor, businessman, and political leader. He was best known for his three inventions-

1. The chemical hair processing and straightening solution.
2. The smoke hood, otherwise known as the gas mask.
3. Lastly, the three signaled traffic lights.

He heroically created the gas mask to rescue trapped workers in a collapsed tunnel under Lake Erie. This was later used as a blueprint for the World War 1 gas mask. He was also the first African American to own an automobile.

In the 1920s, he started the Cleveland Collar, which became an important African-American newspaper in the nation. He was educated only in elementary school education and began his career as a sewing machine mechanic. 

Jobs at several sewing machine factories caught his imagination. Through learning the inner workings of machines and how to fix them, he gained a patent for an improved sewing machine and opened his own repair business.

Even though he had limited education, he created things that helped millions around the world. 

Motivational stories takeaway

Knowledge should not be limited to your age. Keep an open mind to learn at every opportunity you get. Education is one way to gain knowledge and learn about the world. However, there are other means through which you can learn a lot – like others’ experiences or practice.

Sophia Amoruso

Sophia Amoruso is an American businesswoman who was the former CEO of Nasty Gal and founder of GIRLBOSS. Growing up, she wasn’t a very happy kid. Doctors thought she had Tourette’s syndrome. Later, she was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression.

However, none of this hindered her will. She opened a lemonade stand at 9 years and read many books about startups as a teenager. In addition, she dropped out of college but held a full-time job. By the age of 22, she had worked 10 different jobs.

She opened an eBay shop to work in her spare time and shipped her products with the tips she earned in photography class. Over time, she developed an eye for product selection. She got two Chanel jackets at a yard sale for $8 and sold them on eBay for $3000.

Later on, she built her own site and sold her products from there. Her company was doing well, and she was on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Of course, things couldn’t always be smooth since she lacked the management skills to run the company, and things took a turn for the worse. The company entered bankruptcy proceedings; lawsuits followed. Hence, she resigned as the CEO but kept a senior executive post. 

Despite all these downfalls, she didn’t let her situation dampen her spirits. She published her autobiography titled #GIRLBOSS. The book was on the New York Times bestseller list for 18 weeks straight!

Her story has many more twists and turns, but they all tell us the same thing. Never give up. 

Motivational stories takeaway

Success can sometimes get to your head, and you may lose your way. It’s important to prioritize your goals and learn who you are. Building your own identity in a world where people love putting tags is difficult. When you know and understand your strengths and weaknesses, those tags will not affect you negatively.  

Arunima Sinha 

This is a story of hope and determination during dark, challenging times. In 2011, Arunima Sinha, a 24-year-old national volleyball player, was thrown out of a moving train for refusing to hand over the gold chain to burglars. The accident took her left leg, and a rod was inserted in her right leg – from knee to ankle. Many would have lost all hope of moving further, but Arunima Sinha isn’t your average Joe.

The incident created an uproar in the media world; she was receiving well wishes from all over India but was also subject to senseless criticism. She answered all the questions with her actions and not words. And what she did next has been carved in history for future generations to seek inspiration. She became the first person in the world to ascend the highest peak in the world with a prosthetic leg.

Whenever she used to share her goal with anyone, she was either laughed off or given generic advice. The only person who did not dismiss her mission was Bachendri Pal – the first Indian woman to scale Mount Everest in 1984. She did a rigorous 18 months training course at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. She began her expedition on 1st April 2013 and reached the summit of Mount Everest on 21st May 2013.

On that day, she turned her weakness into an inevitable winning force and answered the whole world with her actions. She did not stop there. She was primed and ready to ascend all the highest peaks from all the continents. So far she has scaled Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa (May 2014), Mount Elbrus in Europe (July 2014), Mount Kosciuszko in Australia (April 2015), and Mount Aconcagua in South America (Dec 2015), and Mount Carstensz in Indonesia (July 2016). 

Motivational stories takeaway

One should not blame the circumstances which are not in their control but should adapt and overcome them. After the incident, Arunima Sinha could have chosen something easier, but she was determined to scale Mount Everest. She did not choose an easy path, just because the outside factors were not in her favor. Instead, she kept the external factors and doubts of all people where they belong – outside of her mind and did what she wanted to do.

 

 

Bonus motivation

• Not everyone faces the same struggles, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that everyone faces struggles.
• Whether these motivational stories inspire you or they don’t, it’s essential you understand the importance of “just doing it.” 

The reason these people are on this list is that they are famous, and we know their stories. Do you want your story to be told? What actions will you take to make this happen? Read some more motivational stories and create your own.

Let us know in the comments section below! We are eager to hear your thoughts.

To understand your goals and passions, you must take steps. iSchoolConnect is here to help you do just that.

Liked this blog? Read more: Top 10 must-watch motivational movies for students

FAQs

1. What are the 3 types of motivation?

Answer- The three types of motivation are-

• Reward-Based Motivation
• Power-Based Motivation
• Fear-Based Motivation

2. What is the strongest motivation?

Answer- One of the strongest forms of motivation is hunger. This is due to evolution. 

3. How can I motivate myself every day?

Answer- Since everyone is different, there is no one straight answer for this. Trial and error are the best way to understand what works for you. To motivate yourself every day you can-

• Celebrate small accomplishments
• Understand your goals 
• Create small to-do lists 
• Prioritize your health and well being

4. What is the importance of motivational stories?

Answer- Inspirational stories broaden your horizon of ideas and can help you develop your personality. Besides, a good story enables you to gain knowledge and face challenges head-on. 

5. What are the factors of motivation?

Answer- Here are certain factors that can help you keep your team motivated-

• Recognition and appreciation
• Positive leadership style
• Good company culture
• Opportunities to thrive
• Proper communication

6. What are your top 3 motivators?

Answer- According to the Motivation Theory developed by David McClelland in 1961, one of three factors that trigger motivation includes achievement, power, or affiliation.