Overachievers Everywhere, It Is Time To Adopt A Healthier Outlook On Education
Start writing a post
Student Life

Overachievers Everywhere, It Is Time To Adopt A Healthier Outlook On Education

A perfect GPA is not the only way to be successful.

55
Overachievers Everywhere, It Is Time To Adopt A Healthier Outlook On Education
unsplash

Parents, teachers, and students across the nation all emphasize over-achieving. In high school, students work hard to take Advanced Placement and Honors classes so that they can attend prestigious universities.

Grade point average is everything to students. It is more important than sleep, relationships, and mental health. While working hard in school is often necessary for achieving a successful future, maintaining a perfect grade point average is unnecessary and often harmful to students’ mental health.

Unless a student is trying to get into medical school or the most prestigious ivy league school around, the highest possible grade point average is unnecessary. For instance, the average grade point average at Penn State is 3.6, UC Berkeley is 3.85, and New York State University is 3.7. Even medical school applicants have an average grade point average ranging between 3.7 and 3.9. So in reality, maintaining a 4.0 grade point average in college is not necessary for success.

In addition, to maintain a 4.0 grade point average, many students will sacrifice sleep and sanity. Studies show that the average adolescent student receives seven to seven and a fourth hours of sleep per night when they need nine to nine and a fourth hours of sleep per night.

Of course, there are other variables such as cell phones, video games, and television that keep students awake, but homework and stress are major reasons that students do not sleep enough. Not sleeping enough causes a lack of serotonin in the brain, and serotonin is responsible for regulating mood, appetite, memory, sexual desire, and other important bodily functions. Serotonin is produced mostly during sleep, so sleep deprivation will affect all of the functions listed above. A perfect grade point average is not worth causing harm to all of the most important bodily functions that humans rely on.

To illustrate this, let me tell my story. I maintained a 4.0 for the first two years of college and it was torturous. I only slept an average of six hours every night and never had time to take naps. Every minute of every day that I wasn’t in class or at work was blocked out for homework. I had no time for relationships with my family or friends. I also began to develop anxiety that became nearly unmanageable. I was not able to regulate my emotions or my stress due to my sleep deprivation, so my mental health suffered significantly.

My third year of school, I realized that none of this was worth the toll on me and my family. I loosened my standards to maintaining at least a 3.75 grade point average, and I am so much healthier and happier.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Golden retriever sat on the sand with ocean in the background
Photo by Justin Aikin on Unsplash

Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore my dog. I am constantly talking about my love for her. I attribute many of my dog's amazing qualities to her breed. She is a purebred Golden Retriever, and because of this I am a self-proclaimed expert on why these are the best pets a family could have. Here are 11 reasons why Goldens are the undisputed best dog breed in the world.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Boyfriend's Christmas Wishlist: 23 Best Gift Ideas for Her

Here are the gifts I would like to ask my boyfriend for to make this season unforgettable.

87873
Young woman opening a Christmas gift

Recently, an article on Total Sorority Move called 23 Things My Boyfriend Better Not Get Me For Christmas, was going around on social media. I hope the author of this was kidding or using digital sarcasm, but I am still repulsed and shocked by the lack of appreciation throughout this article. I would like to represent the girlfriends out there who disagree with her standpoint -- the girlfriends who would be more than happy to receive any of these gifts from their boyfriends.

Keep Reading...Show less
Two teenage girls smiling

The 2000s were a time that many young adults today can look back on, joyfully reminisce and somewhat cringe at the trends and the fads that we all used to love and adore. Here's a list of things from the golden 2000s that will have one feeling nostalgic about all of those times.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

9400
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
woman in white tank top and orange jacket holding a bible
Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Life is hard. There is no surprise there. It’s confusing and scary and hectic, but there are some amazing qualities, too. Sometimes you feel alone and don’t know what to do. School gets in the way of what you want to do or you’re dropping friends you thought you trusted. Everyone has their moments. Everyone has felt in the lowest place and couldn’t find the strength to get back up. But I want to help with that. Here are 10 Bible verses I hope will brighten your day, or at least make you feel stronger and happier.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments