It's that time of year--graduation season! Across the country, thousands of college seniors are packing up apartments and dorms, applying for jobs and internships, and finishing up the last few final exams, projects and assignments. And of course, for those who choose to participate in the graduation ceremony, we are purchasing those iconic caps and gowns as well as honor cords.
A few days ago I stopped by the student bookstore to buy my cap and gown. As I was checking out, the girl working asked me if I needed honors cords. "I'm not sure," I said, frantically trying to remember what my GPA was. The girl flipped through a large packet of highlighted Excel sheets behind the register. "It looks like no," she said apologetically. I shrugged, grabbed my cap and gown, and went on my way.
When I got home, I went online to check my grades and GPA. My cumulative GPA was a 3.39. I needed a 3.5 in order to graduate with honors and walk with honors cords. I knew that with my current grades, I would have nearly all A's at the end of the semester - however, grades would not be posted until after graduation, so there was no way I was going to get those cords.
I felt a bubble of disappointment and frustration rise inside me. I've worked hard in school over the past four years. I have always considered myself a good student. I never skipped class, I turned everything in on time, and I was always willing to go above and beyond what is required of me.
However, I had a moment of realization in the midst of my frustration. I was allowing a scale to determine my self-worth. Not wearing honors cords at graduation did not mean I was less intelligent or didn't work hard during college. My GPA is literally a measurement of percentages and calculations, not a measurement of me.
My GPA does not reflect the hours I spent in rehearsals for theater productions or working on music for voice lessons. My GPA does not show the time spent volunteering with my service sorority. My GPA does not measure the amazing friendships I've made or the adventures I've had outside of class. While academics are important, I realized that I worked my hardest and did my best and not wearing honors cords was not going to take that away from me.
Letters on a paper or cords around my neck are not the measure of who I am as a person or what I have accomplished during college. Being proud of myself and my work is a greater accomplishment that fitting into a certain percentage.
