[garciasn]

https://archive.is/YmsDf

--

I attended Undergrad from 1997 to 2001 and I distinctly remember the first paper I received from a new Associate Professor in my major (History) that was a C-. I argued that it would have been an A-level grade in any other professor's class; this new professor told me, in no uncertain terms, that it was most definitely a C- grade and I needed to do better. I did and it made me a better researcher and eventually writer.

I finished that course with a hard-earned B+ and I felt better about myself and my abilities thereafter. As a D1 athlete, I had clear goals and expectations set for me by those who I was against and whom came before me. This was the first time in my academic career where I felt I had received a challenge and clear guidelines on how to improve; something I felt helped me achieve better outcomes.

Education is not intended to be a breeze; it's intended to be a challenge to help you stretch and grow. Just because you and/or your family is spending tens of thousands a semester does not give anyone the right to skate by with the bare minimum effort applied.

I have high expectations for my children academically. My undergrad and graduate degrees were paid for by others (athletics and my employer) alongside of my own work in both. I want my children to grow up and be successful and they will not be if I smooth the road for them in unfair ways. I explain that, in life, they will face uncertain and likely unfair challenges from external forces and they need to not only stretch and grow in their knowledgebase to challenge these forces, but they should also learn to navigate them with grace--an academic exercise in and of itself.