Motivation: Does It Make Sense?

The study aimed to determine the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. It presented also the advantages, disadvantages and importance of motivation towards top students’ excellence among freshmen College of Education students of CapSU – Main Campus having an average of 90 (1.75) and above as top students of the class. With the use of descriptive qualitative phenomenological method, results revealed that most of the top students were extrinsically motivated with their family, friends and God and only few were intrinsically motivated with their goals and future. Intrinsically motivated students are motivated without expecting any reward and they do not let themselves to be left out and be disappointed; while extrinsically motivated students are motivated with the praises, encouragements and rewards to perform well in school. Intrinsic motivation helps students to excel in class, know how to be patient, diligent and independent in their studies, be satisfied on whatever their successes are and forget their unhappy moments that down them in their life as a top student. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, builds students’ self-confidence and self-esteem, maintains high grades, gives happiness, and motivates them to excel in school with the rewards, praises and encouragements. Intrinsic motivation makes sense because it serves as an inspiration of students to excel in classes and extrinsic motivation as the strength of students to excel in school and help them be confident with a given rewards and praises.