| There is a danger in measuring ourselves (and our worth) too literally through traditional measuring sticks like grades. May sound a little fluffy or cliche, but bear with me. My high school had a different grading scale than the 10-point scale used by most high schools and colleges. So: 95-100 was an A;
88-94 was a B;
82-87 was a C;
76-81 was a D;
75 or below and you failed Brutal. But, I didn't even realize this until I got to college. What was once failing was now a C. And what was once a D could now be a B. It was a liberating feeling, but it underscored two things: 1. I could have had a much higher GPA in high-school
2. These measurements are artificial and arbitrary as a means for determining our "value" or even our proficiency in a subject I get that these measurements can have real impact on our lives, because others use them. The key is not to believe they tell us anything about ourselves beyond our performance in a specific context, wherein an arbitrary measurement is applied. Find what you love and learn it. If you struggle to do so in the environment, then work with professors, other students, and whatever resources are available to help you learn to learn. Once you've done that, you will find that the actual education and knowledge gained is more important, valuable, and self-improving than its measurement. Ironically, you will also see a lift in your grades. But most importantly, you will likely be happy with yourself, no matter what letters appear on your report. |