You Matter More...
Walking out of a test that you know you failed, can be one of the most traumatizing, and discouraging things. Now, I’m not talking about when you don’t think you did that well on an exam, and then end up with like a respectable 86%. I’m speaking about when you walk out of the classroom, and the prof has the answer key outside and while meandering over the sheet, you realize that it’s considerably easier to count the number of questions you missed; instead of the ones you got right.
Now there are several phases of emotions that students face when doing a self evaluation of scholastic performance. Here’s a brief list about them.
Regret - This is point when you think you could have worked harder preparing for the exam. Where you should have taken better notes in class instead of doodling pictures of dinosaurs with toupee’s in the margins. You feel like you need to step up your game, and work more vigorously to study for future tests, and you start to blame yourself for your actions.
Blame – This is the position in which you criticize the instructor for ‘Not Teaching You the Content.’ By pushing the responsibility on someone else, you no longer regret your test performance, because ‘it was out of your control’.
‘Screw It’ –This is the stage in which depending on your determination, comes at various stages. In order to cope with the results, you just act like you don’t care. You throw your notes on the floor, scribble aggressively on pages, and toss your textbook to the end of the bed. This is the most comical stage because for me personally; I just have to throw a 30-minute hissy fit and vent about the world, and the ‘corrupt education system’ and all these various factors, and then once I cool off, I pick up my papers off the ground and apologize to my textbooks as if they are living creatures, then continue to get back into routine.
Well as crazy as this system may seem, evaluate it within your own school life, or even your work placement. So often we feel as if we are just living a performance centered life. With that comes the pressure of performing well and thriving to succeed to accomplish expectations set by those around us.
Think about this for just a second. When you were younger, and returned home from school, what was the first thing your parent asked you? There’s pretty much three stock questions, that almost everyone has at one point heard. “How was school?” “How did that test go?” or “Do you have any homework?” Now, I’m in no means a psychic, but I know that these questions are commonplace for nearly every family across the country.
I’m not here to criticize any parents, but rather to make an observation. Why is it that before we ask our kids about how they are doing in a physical or emotional sense, we ask them about their time in the classroom? We don’t ask what they are struggling with, what they are concerned with, or what is on their minds. As a society we have molded individuals to focus strictly on excelling in academics, or athletics, or extracurriculars, because it will ‘Look good for colleges,’ or ‘Will increase your chances to receive scholarships.’ Now there is nothing wrong with putting forth your full effort towards something (in fact I encourage that) but when our human value rests only in a series of societal expectations, and performance based prospects, we see the fall of fulfillment. It’s such a shame to me to watch adolescents become so hopeless about their futures because they aren’t the ‘smartest’ or the ‘fastest’ or ‘strongest’ and that’s what apparently matters most. The fact that they are a C average student, now determines how successful they can be, or negates their chances to make something of their lives. Students now are living what seems like purposeless and empty lives, not because of their inability to achieve, but the belief systems that have been pushed upon them.
With my education class, twice a week I spend time in a local high school classroom working with a tutoring program. I’m not really allowed to say that I don’t endorse the tutoring program I’m working with, but frankly, I’m not a huge fan of it. I understand the strategies implemented by this course, but I feel that it isn’t great for every kid because some kids aren’t Linear/Type A thinkers. (Which is totally okay!) Anyways, back to the topic, this tutoring program in a sense eludes specifically to a student’s performance in common core exams. Students don’t have the opportunity to be tutored in the fields of visual or performing arts, or many of the fields of humanities, because as one of my sophomores said ‘Those aren’t important to the district.’ We’ve established this notion that math, engineering and sciences are the disciplines of the future, and that if you aren’t excelling in these subjects, you aren’t going to be able to make a contribution to society.
The basis for human value has become a systemic commodity. If you fall into this trap, your exam scores are all you are. Your class rank, GPA, your field of study and what prestigious University you attend are the only things that determine who you are and what your value is. Sorry—that’s just how it is.
WAIT….It doesn’t have to be like this! You matter! Your place in this world is wonderfully and uniquely crafted so intrinsically and beautifully beyond what you can even begin to fathom. I don’t care what school boards or state standard expectations say otherwise. So what if you are really passionate about history, or have an interest in art and music? Your test score on that exam doesn’t define who you will become. What if I told you that it doesn’t matter what your ability is if you don’t use it? Everyone has gifts and strengths that are unique to them, and they shouldn’t be restricted by a culture of expectation. So what—who cares if your major isn’t chemical engineering, or Computer Intel or something like that? Follow your passions and in whatever you do, realize that it’s a part of something so much bigger than yourself. You never know what your career path, or life experiences will lead to that could cause rippling effects for the future. Think back, that test you failed, it isn’t the end of the world, unless you let it become that. You were made for so much more than just living a life with the only goal to ‘Do well on that test.’ You were made for greatness.
Just remember. You Matter! You are Loved! You Have a Place in this World! Don’t fall for the lies that you’ve been constantly fed by the media and a system of hate and control. Find your purpose, don’t get discouraged by temporary afflictions, learn to shake things off, be able to identify your personal priorities, keep pushing yourself to be yourself, don’t allow others to dictate your passions and take time to breathe. This life can be tough but it’s always worth it!
But what do I know?
I’m Majoring in Humanities.
