I have pretty severe problems with motivation. When I'm in a class I don't enjoy, I do not feel like working at all. This reminds me of something an old biology teacher told me.
"As your teacher I feel obligated to mention you should be on task in all your classes. When I was a student in a course that I felt was not challenging me, I reminded myself that every person has a unique set of experiences. Even when the professors were lecturing about topics for which I was well versed I adopted the view that I will learn something from them because they have a different perspective and this person has knowledge that I would not acquire otherwise, therefore I engaged myself in the moment of learning. Adopting this attitude allowed me to relax and find something new to learn. I also perceive each of my students as unique and carrying knowledge that would allow me to better understand the world and the dynamic society we live in together."
I'm not saying my teachers don't have anything to teach me. I know they do. In fact, I enjoy learning in every single one of my classes. The problem is this: I become frustrated when I have to complete menial work on top of that knowledge. This work doesn't interest me. I could read Shakespeare and discuss the applications of recursive functions all day, but I could not care less about filling out worksheets displaying my knowledge of genetics.
I think part of my motivation stems from what I think will be applicable in my life. I have no plans for going into plant science, but I'll be able to read Shakespeare and program for the rest of my life. I don't see why it should matter whether or not I fill out a worksheet over things I already know. This humdrum work frustrates me to no end.
I need advice. How do I stay motivated enough to complete assignments for classes? What philosophies can you share? How do I make this work enjoyable?