In life, it's easy to define yourself simply by numbers -- salary, age, weight, IQ. These are all numbers that people use to define themselves in simple terms. Arguably, the most notorious numbers that people use most to define themselves is grade point average.
Teenage years and early twenties can be a tough time. Going through the stress of high school and college takes a large toll on a person and having to worry about GPA makes it even more stressful. Your parents and teachers tell you that you need a good GPA in high school or you'll never get into the college you want, but when you actually get to college, you're told your high school GPA counts towards nothing. You're left with the vicious cycle to start again when you arrive at college and the worrying begins again while having to think about your future career.
Why is it that so much weight is put on such a simple number? Don't get me wrong, grades and being successful academically are extremely important and should be valued. However, there are many more factors that go into having a successful life than just your grade point average. Being a smart and well rounded person does not always mean having a sparkling GPA. Defining someone's intelligence by a mere number only brings people down and discourages them towards going for their dreams. This is why so many students let their college years be ruined by stress and anxiety over their grades.
Looking back on four years of both high school and college, you don't want to regret missing out on fun and exciting opportunities because you were too worried about getting that 4.0 GPA. Living in the library or your dorm room for all hours of the day trying to absorb every single piece of information from class is only going to make you go stir crazy and miss out on a world of opportunities at your school.
Involvement, volunteering opportunities, and work experience are attributes that are just as important as your GPA while trying to secure a job later in life, but can help you in so many other ways as well. Meeting new people, having fulfilling experiences, learning new things, making a difference -- these are all equally as important experiences that will change your mindset and life in general that result from things outside of studying and homework.
Overall, the key to finding the balance between excelling academically and in other aspects is to be realistic. Know when it's time to hit the books and when it's time to spend some quality time with friends and family. It is definitely possible to still plan for your future life and career while still valuing important life experiences during your teens and twenties. In the end, the difference between a 3.0 and 3.5 isn't going to determine how successful your life is.
