Well, finals week is here, and in college, the stress you feel during this time of year is unlike no other. It's very easy at this point in your educational career, after you have invested so much time and money, to look at your life's value in terms of your GPA. However, please don't do this.
In the grand scheme of things, your GPA will become irrelevant. Think of your high school GPA. Do you remember it? Even down to the last decimal? Some of you might, but I certainly don't, and at one point that GPA was everything to me.
I'm lucky I was able to retain this lesson before I entered college. In high school, up until my graduation day, after I was already accepted to college, the pressure my GPA put on me was unreal. At the end of sleepless nights, infinite stress, and skipping out on social plans to work on papers, all I got was a yellow rope at graduation that I'm pretty sure I lost within a week.
Fast forward to college, and I was determined to concentrate on school, but also take the time to destress and just try my best. I learned that mistakes happen but I'll move on. Now, as I'm about to graduate, I can honestly say I'm so extremely grateful that I did not put everything I am into my GPA and instead focused on my other passions. And I most certainly did not compare myself to others.
So, many of my friends and peers are stressed out over something they may have control of, but up until a certain point they either know the information or they do not. In twenty years from now, their GPA will have no effect on their health or happiness, and they will live their daily lives without caring about how much a B- will lower their class rank. In college, we are all struggling, and it's very rare that people have 4.0's, and when they do, they had to sacrifice a lot.
Moreover, for some careers, employers will not even consider your GPA but will look at other things you did during your four years. Obviously, you need to focus on school, but instead of worrying about turning your 88% to a 90%, consider taking in and applying all of the cool new things you are learning.
Also, consider how different our classes are and the majors we are pursuing. Each class requires a different skill and everyone is still trying to find their niche. Additionally, within those majors, there are professors who are kind and considerate, and then there are others who will break you. Some professors take pride in not giving out A's, and some things and some people you will never be able to change.
Thus, my advice to college freshman is to breathe. Take one day at a time, and do not stress over a bad test or even a dropped class. Your grades are not your destiny, and you are worth so much more than a number on a scale of 0 to 4. Remember to value your mental and physical health above anything else. Additionally, know that you will graduate, you will get a job, and you will live the life you have always wanted.
Most importantly, remember that your GPA does not define you.
