desperately – adv. very severe or strong
extracurricular – adj. used to describe extra activities such as sports that can be done by the students in a school but that are not part of the regular schedule of classes
motivated – adj. eager to do work and wanting to be successful
psychological – adj. of or relating to the mind
preference – n. a feeling of liking or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing
staff – n. a group of people who work for an organization or business