Written by Claudia Roizner
As a junior in MAST@FIU, I can testify that this school is full of excellent students. Among the best in Dade County actually due to its exclusivity and rigorous curriculum. Students are expected to uphold good grades throughout their years in high school, opening up a gate ( or even a shortcut) into FIU and other colleges of choice.
Although this is all true, I can also attest to how stressful and nerve-wracking a bad grade can be once in a while. There’s a negative message around bad grades that has made its way amongst parents and students: bad grades mean you are not trying hard enough. We all know the feeling; studying for days and nights on end, only to end up with a less-than-satisfactory grade on that test you felt you were so ready for. Those around you can’t see your efforts, so you are the only one who knows that you tried your best.
Allow me to provide an example. There’s a significant test coming up for a topic you’ve been studying for the last week. You know the topic back and forth. Then comes the test day, and something happens. Whether it’s just a bad day, or maybe your memory failed you during the test, you get a bad grade. What’s most important is understanding that this is not what defines your academic career. It is one test amongst the many you will be taking for the next eight years or so. Use this test as a learning curve, a motivation to do better next time.
This does not mean you should allow yourself to keep failing exams and tests because of academic laziness. This means you should not figuratively beat yourself up over a “slipped up” grade when you can just as easily bring your grade up afterward and excel as you usually would. What matters, in the end, is the grade you get for the quarter and the final grade, not the sum of their parts. That is why the quarter and final grades are averages. They don’t define your every mistake but rather highlight your radiant overall academic abilities and potential. An anonymous student speaks on the stress of high expectations placed on them. “Honestly, around freshman year, it was all about getting the highest grade in the class...an 80 felt like I was getting an F. It was detrimental to my mental health.”
So next time you get the dreaded “slipped up” grade, remember that it does not define your academic career but rather a mistake that you will fix the next time around. Ask your teachers what you could do to prevent this from happening. Perhaps even take a mental health break. Oftentimes, stress and worry affect performance more than one would think. Most importantly, remember to stay safe, practice social distancing, and wear your masks around others!
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