Since elementary school we, as students, have been told that the ideal report card we should strive for is straight As. For all four years of high school and even now, I still try to live up to that sentiment. It’s a habit. I don’t have anything against my fifth grade teachers, but I don’t agree anymore. Don’t get me wrong, my issue is not with the grading system. My issue is with the way grades are interpreted. Grades can only tell someone a few things about you.
1. How well you colored inside the lines
Did you cite only 10 sources, and no more, no less? Was your presentation exactly between 4-6 minutes? Is your work shown to see how you got that answer, even the simplest parts? It is valuable to know how to work within guidelines; however, this shows compliance, not knowledge.
2. How well you met the teacher’s standards
Does this teacher like or dislike figurative language? Do they have more appreciation for graphs and stats or testimonies and case studies? Teachers are people; they have biases and beliefs that you can’t change. They don’t have to meet you halfway; you go by what they like/dislike because, ultimately, they have all the power.
3. How well you perform in class
There are many people who know and understand so much about a topic that they could teach it themselves, but they would never want to. Many classes include participation, attendance and other non-academic factors into the grading scales.
You should go to class, but rules like, “You must speak up at least three times a session” hinder students who excel in their work but aren’t comfortable discussing or debating. In classes that call for that, it’s reasonable, but in others it’s just another box to check off – if someone is pushed into a corner like that then they’ll give the bare minimum to get out. There’s no benefit.
As helpful as grades can be to show progression, grades don’t show these aspects.
4. Your effort
Throughout high school, I knew people who studied daily, went to tutoring and did so much more than the rest us and still received Bs or Cs on their work. They did everything that “Get Better Grades” tip lists told them but they still didn’t get As. That doesn’t take anything away from them or make them stupid. In fact, those B students could tell you a lot more about Chemistry than I ever could.
5. Your intelligence
Most grading scales describe a C as average, and a B above average and an A as excellent. You are a not a grade. You are not a grade. You are not average, or above average because of the grades you got sophomore year.
You do not become less of a person because of the grade you got on a paper. You should always try your best and use all of your potential, but just because it doesn’t result in an A doesn’t mean you failed.
6. Your future
Grades determine GPAs, which are a factor in applying for colleges. However, your grades don’t design your future. It’s heartbreaking to hear teachers tell a student that they will amount to nothing because of grades.
No one can look at your grades and tell you where you’re going to be ten or even five years down the road. The colorful sheets of paper that say Principal’s Honor Roll don’t come with a guarantee that those students who receive them will be successful in their education or careers. Your future is your future and you are the deciding factor in how it turns out.
If you want that A, then work for it, but also realize that if it doesn’t happen your future can still be bright.