The educational system is flawed and it feels like it's never going to be taken as seriously as it should be.

Since day one, it's been hammered into our heads that grades matter. Maybe it didn't seem that clear when we were all in elementary school, but when the middle school days hit, it was evident that if you didn't get good grades, you were destined for failure. Perhaps it seems like I'm being too dramatic, but that's only because it's basically true - and you can't deny that one.

Honestly. Just imagine a world where if we didn't focus so hard on grades, students wouldn't be half as stressed or depressed as they are now, they would actually be enjoying their classes, and get this - they would actually be learning something. When you condition a student from a young age that grades are as crucial as they are, they subconsciously begin to care only about the grades and forget to truly learn. I mean yes, they are still learning - but not in the way where it actually matters. Not in the way where it's simply jamming information into their brains just to spew it all out for an exam. I wish things were different in the educational system, and even though things have advanced in positive ways - such as recognizing learning disabilities and provided accommodations - one thing has no changed: we still obsess over grade point averages and letter grades.

Take it from someone who actually was on academic probation a little over a year ago. I eventually got off of it, but after working super hard, and landed on the Deans List. Now I'm back this year, and I am not on probation anymore. However, I've become so insanely obsessed and focused on not getting on academic probation again (because it's beyond terrifying) that I am not actually learning the materials from my classes. All I can think about are "grades grades grades". I've excessively tried to estimate what my grade point average would be at the end of the semester if I didn't do as well this year. I feel like a robot. Instead of delving into classes and enjoying them, I feel like I'm jumping through obstacles because "grades matter". Of course they matter, but do they matter as much as we're making them out to be? It's an all consuming, never ending nightmare - especially when you're in college and you're trying to balance everything else in your life.

I'll be honest to say I've already had three meltdowns on my campus this semester, and it's only the beginning of October. I've had panic attacks and then sat there thinking "I'm going to get on probation again. My life is over and I'm going to have no future, no life, nothing". I've had a meltdown in front of my French professor, whom was taken aback but said she has seen her students care more and more about grades than they really should (because it is all consuming and damaging) Even professors start to realize that we're compulsively thinking about letter grades. Just imagine a million other students going through the same thing as me each day. It makes going to school a giant joke if we are worrying this much. I mean, if we're going to stress ourselves out this much, then what is the point?

Let's stop talking about grades.
Let's stop talking about academic probation.

You're freaking students out and it's taking away from the time they could be learning something and doing well. Let's look at education in a new light, in a new angle, a new perspective. If we do these things, think of all the achievements that will be gained from it. Think of all of the students who will enjoy school again and how things will actually start to click.

We seriously need to make some changes - now.