85 Positive Words of Encouragement for Students

When you know a student is struggling with coursework and staying motivated, will words of encouragement help motivate and inspire them? You bet they will! 

In fact, research studies investigating the power of verbal encouragement found that college students receiving encouragement from counselors reported they felt more empowered to earn their degree and make better decisions regarding their career choices. 

In addition, the evidence is overwhelming that teachers and parents consistently offering words of encouragement to K-12 students contribute profoundly to the their academic success. 

So in this article, you will discover 85 words of encouragement you can give to a student in your life.

But first, let’s start by answering a quick question:

What are Words of Encouragement for Students?

Words of encouragement are statements that help students know that they are capable of doing anything that they put their mind do.  These words are better than throwing out generic statements like “You can do it” or “You'll be fine”. 

Students who typically do well in school but seem to be experiencing unusual difficulty with schoolwork may be dealing with family or relationship issues. 

Gently asking the student how things are going in their life before offering words of encouragement can also give you further insight into how to optimize your encouragement.

Discussing a struggling student with their teacher is another way to determine exactly what kind of encouragement the student would most benefit from hearing.

85 Powerful Words of Encouragement for Students

1. Believe it or not, tough times often quickly dissolve into easier times. You’ve got what it takes to get past a tough time.
2. You know why people make mistakes? Because they are willing to see just how far they can push themselves. You don’t know what you’re capable of achieving until you try to achieve it.
3. If you fall 10 times, know that you are perfectly capable of standing up 11 times.
4. Getting a C or D on a test does not describe you as a person. A test score is simply a happening, not a person.
5. You are the only one who can decide how to end your story. Endings aren’t written by circumstances. They are written by people like you.
6. Feeling motivated doesn’t always make you feel like you’ve got Superman’s powers. Sometimes, motivation and determination is that quiet but clear voice that tells you tomorrow is another day to try, try and keep trying.
7. What’s the hardest assignment you’ve got to finish? Always do that one first because you’ve already completed the easy ones.
8. The easiest way to cope with not achieving a goal is to simply accept it. But, tell yourself that you cannot accept it unless you’ve tried to do the best you can do.
9. Succeeding at school does not mean never making mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. That’s how we learn and grow. It’s avoiding making the same mistake that gets you closer to your goals.
10. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that you don't have to see all the steps of a big staircase. You just have to take that first step to start climbing them.
11. If you wait for just the right time to do something, well, that time may never come. In fact, the right time may be right now.

12. Have you ever struggled to follow a path in the woods covered with fallen branches and muddy holes and, after working hard to keep following it for a long time, you eventually come to the most beautiful lake you've ever seen? 
13. You know you can do this, right? I know you can. YOU know you can. Well, that means you're already halfway there. And the last part of anything–a movie, a level in a video game, the last inning of a baseball game–is always the best.
14. There are always doors of opportunity opening for you but you've got to be the one to decide to go through those doors to see what's on the other side
15. It may seem like some problems don't have solutions but remember, every solution found was once somebody's problem
16. Opportunities and chances are two entirely different things. Never let chance decide how you are going to achieve your goals. 
17. What you are capable of doing right now is much more important than thinking of what you are capable of doing
18. So you made a mistake–so what? That means you tried to do something nobody else ever tried to do. That makes you
19. Have you ever played baseball with your friends and felt a little scared when it came time for you to bat because you were afraid you might strike out? But, you stepped up to the plate, anyway, didn't you?
20. How do you know something is impossible to achieve until you try achieving it?

21. Nobody is perfect. Nobody! If everybody was perfect, we wouldn't be motivated to do anything except sit and think about how perfect we are. Wouldn't that be boring? You wouldn't want to show your friends that new bicycle trick you taught yourself if you thought you were perfect.
22. Writing the first sentence of that essay is the best way to show yourself you are fully capable of writing the second sentence, and the third sentence, and the fourth sentence.
23. Nobody can do everything they want to do but right now, in this moment, you can do anything you want to do.
24. Do you know what Kermit the Frog meant when he said “time is fun when you are eating flies”? He was saying that no matter what a frog is doing, they always find fun in doing it. 
25. You know why they put “delete” keys on a keyboard? Because nobody is perfect. If you don't like something you've done, delete it and move on. 
26. If you can dream about getting a good grade on a project, you have the ability to make it happen.
27. Right now something may seem impossible but once you've accomplished that impossible task, it's now a reality.
28. How can you learn to get back on your own two feet if you don't fall over and over again? Falling teaches you how to get up as fast and capably as possible
29. What are the 10 things in your life right now that make you happy? Think about those 10 things. Then start tackling your school work. I guarantee you'll be smiling.
30. You have an endless supply of creativity. The more you use it, the more you'll have.
31. What do you want to be doing 10 years from now? Whatever it is depends on your ability to get things done.

32. You can't beat somebody who never gives up.
33. Finishing an assignment is like learning to walk as a baby. One step at a time eventually got you to that toy you really wanted lying on the other side of the room.
34. Take advantage of the opportunities you have right now. You can't depend on chances. They're not dependable.
35. No difficulty is without its own, unique reward. But you won't find out what that reward is until you take on that difficulty.
36. You might be on the right track but if you just sit down on that track, you might get run over.
37. Blow right by a failure and don't stop. It's the only way to get to your ultimate destination–success.
38. Your professor (or teacher) might be an expert on something but he didn't start out an expert.
39. Have you made a mistake yet? If not, then you're not really trying to be the best you can be
40. OK, let's get this done. But first, tell yourself loudly “No negative thoughts are allowed in my brain”!
41. Nobody accomplishes anything without feeling motivated. So, what motivates you? 

42. If you believe you can do something and try to do it, then you were right.
43. Attitudes are like tires. If they're flat, you gotta change them or you're stuck in the middle of nowhere.
44. Don't think about why something may not work. Think about it working.
45. We are always much, much more than what we think we are. Think big and bold when it comes to your strengths and skills. They are just waiting for you to discover them. 
46. Comfort zones are meant to be breached.
47. Don't just imagine finishing your work or getting a good grade. When you only dream, you are only sleeping.
48. Limitations on what you can achieve are set by one person only–yourself.
49. Your future needs you to make it. Right now, it's waiting for instructions.
50. You don't need anybody's approval or anybody's opinion. All you need to do is focus on doing the best you can do.

51. You might not feel motivated or inspired right now but know that thousands of people have made it to the top of the tallest mountains in the world. If they can do that, you can do this.
52. That wall you don't think can be climbed only exists in your mind. So knock down that wall with an imaginary wrecking ball and don't stop to look at what remains. It no longer matters.
53. It is entirely possible to live your dreams. But you can't live them when you simply think about them. Life is all about action, motivation and doing.
54. You won't know what “coulda” been if you don't dive into a lake of “shouldas”. 
55. There are no victims of circumstances beyond their control. There are only victims of their own inaction. Decisions have benefits or consequences. It's your choice.
56. There is no such thing as a fast track to success. Sometimes it’s best to pace yourself and make pit stops now and again to improve your performance.
57. Picture what makes you most happy in life and hold that in your mind. Now, when you tackle life’s challenges or come across difficult moments, remember the things that are waiting for you to move forward.
58. Every mistake you make should be seen as a learning opportunity.
59. There is something special about every single person in this world, whether it’s a personality or physical trait… or a wonderful talent. Search within yourself and find what makes you special. Maybe there is more than one thing. Now write them down on a piece of paper and keep it close by. Whenever you start to doubt yourself, look at the paper.  
60. Whenever you feel like there isn’t enough time to accomplish all you set out to do, remember that taking care of yourself is never a waste of time. Take a deep breath and start over.
61. There is no elevator to success. Every step you take to get there is indicative of the hard work you’ve put in.

62. Never be afraid to try something that scares you. The feeling you get from facing and overcoming your fears will give you the fuel you need to propel you forward and restore your confidence. 
63. Self confidence is the key to unlocking every door that appears closed to you.
64. There are no impossible tasks, only our own thoughts of impossibility.
65. As a teacher, I can guide you; but, you are the only one who can take my hand and choose to follow me. 
66. Every teacher was once a student.
67.  If any person tries to tell you that they are never scared or unsure of themselves, they are either kidding themselves or lying. Nobody is impervious to doubt anymore than they are capable of keeping bad things from happening. It’s how you let these things affect you that defines you.
68. My favorite track and field event is 100 meter hurdles. It reminds me that we can’t sprint to the finish line without incurring some obstacles along the way.
69. Slow and steady wins the race. You should never measure your success on how long it takes you to obtain it.    
70. When you’re afraid of failing, try to picture yourself succeeding and focus on that instead.
71. I became a teacher for two reasons. The first was to learn from my students and the second was to motivate them. I am your biggest fan and have seen all that you are capable of.
72. Failure is not an option in my classroom. I am in your corner, which means that I will always be there to help soften the blows of defeat and encourage you to keep fighting.
73. Don’t let negative thoughts of what you can’t do prevent you from doing what you can do.

74. You deserve every bit of the success you work hard for.
75. The minute you decide to give up is the very minute you’ve handed over your keys to what could have been.
76. Nothing worth having should ever come too easy. That would rob you of that feeling of accomplishment afterwards, which is something you deserve. 
77. If you never had to work hard, you’d never appreciate the things that come easy.
78. Without the presence of doubt, the mind is capable of anything it sets out to do.
79. Believing in yourself is where you need to put the most effort when you’re struggling.
80. When faced with a daunting task, it’s perfectly ok to walk away for a while. Do something you enjoy instead and put yourself in a better state of mind to tackle it later.
81. There is no such thing as having too much knowledge. So if something takes you a bit longer to learn, you should still be grateful for the opportunity.
82. Knowledge is power. The more you gain, the stronger you will become.
83. When something seems too difficult, try setting a series of smaller and more obtainable goals. Then reward yourself every time you reach one.  
84. Why reach only for the stars? Why not the entire universe?
85. Never settle for mediocrity. Doing so would be doing a disservice to the incredible person you truly are.

Final Thoughts on Words of Encouragement for Students

Students today are especially struggling with academic studies due to lockdowns and uncertainty over whether their school will open. 

So these words of encouragement are especially important right now.  Hopefully when you say them to an important student in your life, this will help them stay motivated to finish their work and by having in-depth discussions about their fears, their hopes and their dreams.

And if you want more positive words of encouragement, be sure to check out these blog posts:

• 45 Words of Encouragement for Your Son to Inspire Him
• 37 Helpful Words of Encouragement for Your Daughter
• 103 Positive Words of Encouragement for Preschoolers & Young Kids