We all know how it works, with it being the middle of the semester midterms are here, and we start looking grades. Like most students, I look at my grades and I start to feel like I wasn’t enough. My GPA isn’t as high as my friends, and I started to think that’s what defined me. But then I came to this revelation, as much as this world wanted you to believe, It is not your grades that define you. I know, what? Your grades don’t define you? What do you mean? I know most of you think I’m crazy, you’re thinking, “But if I don’t get good grades, how will I get into college or nursing school, law school, medical school or graduate school? And here’s the truth, you do need good grades to get into nursing school and into college. But here’s the harsh reality, I know kids with high SAT scores and perfect GPA’s that didn’t get into the college of their dreams. I know plenty of hardworking college students, with high GPA’s that didn’t get into Law school or the grad school of their dreams.
Having a 4.0 is awesome, but it doesn’t define you.
Having all A’s and B’s is great, but it doesn’t define you.
Making three C’s may not be what you wanted, but it doesn’t define you.
Failing a class is tough, but it doesn’t define you.
Your grades do not define you, but a lot of other things do.
When you fed the homeless on Thanksgiving, that’s what defines you.
Playing soccer with your little brother because he needs practice, that’s what defines you.
Helping your Mom make dinner, that’s what defines you.
Donating your old coats to someone who needs it, that’s what defines you.
Helping a freshman find they’re way around campus, that’s what defines you.
The way you love other people, that’s what defines you.
Don’t get me wrong—it’s important to try and do well school. Don’t drop out of school and start traveling the world and then try to blame it on me. But if you’re giving it your all, and you’re not getting it all back, don’t fret. Because after all, in ten years when were all graduated, we’re not going to look back on who was the valedictorian. We’re going to look back on the people that encouraged us, the people that helped us, the people that cared for us, the people that pushed us, and the people that loved us.