Percentages.
Grade Point Average.
G.P.A.
Just some simple things that every middle and high school student is intimately aware of. And for some, their worst fear is an 89.9%.
Ever since elementary school, we have been told that to be successful and happy in life, we must first get good grades. To strive for straight A's and E citizenship grades and maybe even a 5.0 GPA in order to get into a good college or university and a high paying career, and perhaps marriage to another successful person along the way. Preferably a doctor, lawyer, or CEO of some world-wide company.
Set goals are always something good to have, but only in healthy doses. Pressure from parents usually leads to unnecessary stress and a loss of sleep while staying up late attempting to perfect an assignment due the following day. Trying to take up even more advanced, honor, or AP classes in order to meet those expectations often makes the situation worse, and rather than raising a person's overall GPA, they witness the horrifying decline of their ability to master any one subject.
While watching the movie Admission the other day, I realized that the GPA of a student shouldn't matter so much. It's just a number yet it holds a large part in determining a person's future. The film was based on true stories about University acceptances, specifically, Princeton University. To summarize, a genius child prodigy had put in no effort whatsoever into the school system and homework because it bored him. Even so, without taking any of the classes, he passed eight AP tests and the SAT's his senior year with flying colors, along with a high recommendation and other extremely positive marks, he was still rejected for having a 1.5 GPA. (Watch the scene here: Admission Movie Clip) Despite all of his obvious potential, the young prodigy was denied entrance into the university for not falling neatly within the required GPA category.
So the question is, why? Why do we allow a number to dictate so much of our future? Programs such as Common Core limit creativity and set a required norm. Students who do not follow the education system are often seen as "problem students" or "lost cases." After receiving the periodic progress report, friends compare scores and the ones with dramatically different results may be shunned by their usual group of friends. This suggests that grades not only generate high levels of stress, as well as social problems for those who struggle with school.
Why must we conform? To society's expectations? To our parents'? To follow the generic guidelines of universities? Why should we allow such a small number to influence so much of our life? We allow our grades to tell us if we are smart or stupid and rely on a number to give us the exact percentage of our intelligence as human beings.
I confess to being a person who puts in too much effort to keep that number above a 90%, and have way too many sleep deprived mornings to support that statement. I see the same exhausted looks in the eyes of too many friends who do the same, and for what? For the small satisfaction of being able to turn in a completed assignment, only to have it handed back with a disappointing mark. One could argue that yes, it is important as it is the base to what will lead to a successful life with a high-paying job someday, but is all that time spent on meticulously taking notes, studying for tests, dotting i's, and crossing t's really worth such a small number that won't matter in 30 or 40 years once we've moved on from school?
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I believe that GPA is important because it emphasises how hard someone is working. Colleges want to accept people who not only have good SAT/ACT scores, but also are hardworking and dedicated.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I also believe that people focus more on GPAs because of parents, or the outside pressure to be the best. At young ages, most parents train their kids to focus on homework, to study everyday, etc., kids can't help it. It's the mindset that these parents have given them. Especially in high school, kids have that need to be number one at everything. Maybe it's the goals that they've set for themselves, or maybe it's the goals their parents have set for them.
The way our society works, GPA indirectly is a definition of our future success. As much as GPA does not truly define us as a person, it does affect how we are viewed by universities. Education is the key to being able to find a well paying job and a high GPA demonstrates one's success in education. So, I know students may excessively worry about GPA and often parents do as well, but it is justified. In my opinion, it is vital to have a balance of fun and work but if it came down to importance, working hard to get a high GPA now will allow for more success in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think the important thing to have is a goal to strive for. We should at least have a vague idea of what we want for ourselves in the future and to work hard to achieve those goals. GPA should come as a result of hard work in interests of what you want to become. GPA shouldn't be the number to end all numbers. Personally, if I ran a collage, I would not accept the kid with a 5.0 and nothing else in his life because school consumed all of his time. We should strive to be cultured people, worldly knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThis problem frustrates me so much! I feel like the system (with heavy emphasis on the College Board) is creating higher and higher demands each year and they are just plain unreasonable.
ReplyDeleteJust remember that while it will be impossible to get into college with a 1.5, there is a lot more room at the top for a few B's here and there.
Do something fun that enjoy during high school!