I challenge you to think about some the things you do with your free time: playing with your siblings, volunteering at a local non-profit organization, playing on a sports team, or being on the executive board for one of your high school clubs. Of course, there are so many more things that could be on that list. Each and every one of us is different and this is why receiving a grade and a score doesn’t mean employers or colleges are seeing the full potential we all have.

I used to be so caught up in how high my GPA was or what my score was on the ACT. In high school, you are told that this is one of the main things that colleges look at when reviewing your application. Although this true to some extent, colleges also take into consideration all the others things that you do throughout high school.

I want to make it clear that I’m not saying your GPA or ACT score doesn’t matter because it does. However, it is important to realize that everyone has their own personal strengths and weaknesses. There is so much more to you than you give yourself credit for and this needs to change. You have the power to make this change.

I can remember applying to some colleges and thinking to myself how I wasn’t going to get in because of where my ACT score was compared to my peers. I started to let all of these numbers define who I was and wasn’t looking at the bigger picture. Looking back at this now, I find myself laughing at the people who didn’t believe in me. I ended up being accepted into my dream college and I have never been happier with where I am at in my life. I know now that even if I’m not good at taking tests, this doesn’t mean I can’t make a difference.

Whenever I found myself starting to give myself more credit for the actual person I am deep down, I gained more confidence in myself and became essentially happier. I thought about all the times that I was a friend to someone or when I would bring a smile to the faces around me. A good grade or score on a test is temporary and will bring you happiness for a few minutes. There are many other ways to obtain happiness that can make a permanent impact on your life and others. Volunteer, talk to relatives, get rebellious with your best friends; and forget about the numbers.

To each and every one of you, go make a difference in the world and love others. You are more than a grade you get on a test or a score on the math section you got on a standardized test. Even if you are struggling with something, be confident in your other abilities and ask someone for help. It is okay to want help on something because not everything is our area of expertise. It is my hope that instead of caring too much about your grades, you care about what you are learning. I hope that you never give up on yourselves because you can do it.