By Emily Curtsinger–

As college students, we cannot help but feel under some sort of pressure. Whether it’s doing well on a test, finishing homework on time or being fully committed to other organizations, we all have some type of stress. But lately, I cannot help but notice everyone stressing out about their GPA, including myself. Is it truly an indicator of the successes we will have in the future or how smart we are? Unfortunately, it seems as though our generation has begun to believe that our GPA defines us as human beings.

We put a lot of work into getting a college education. We use up a lot of time and energy, and we sometimes sacrifice important things like sleeping, eating and exercising. But, in return, after all of our hard work, we receive a totally subjective grade. Every other factor and sacrifice is disregarded and the only thing that determines how well we did is our GPA. Is this really fair? Why should this number define how we are as students?

This constant pressure to remain as close to a 4.0 as possible has made it where every single test, homework assignment and paper has to be immaculate. A test is no longer used to show what we have learned during the class, but we feel as though it determines our entire future. This is something that I constantly struggle with. I put so much pressure on myself that I feel like a failure if I don’t do well on every test. But, in reality, doing badly on one exam does not mean you are bad student. It doesn’t take into consideration all of your other gifts and talents, but only what is written on the paper. Therefore, tests cannot determine who you are as a person. We need to start focusing on learning the material instead of just memorizing it, so we can get the answers correct on an exam.

The fear of damaging our GPA can also discourage students from taking harder classes or considering a harder major. This, in itself, is a shame. College is a time to grow as individuals and discover who we truly are. By taking different classes, we could potentially find new passions in something we never thought we would. We should not be afraid to learn new things because of a fear of failure.

Now, just because our GPA doesn’t truly reflect who we are, or what we are capable of, doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try in school. You should try your hardest every day to learn and grow. Go to class and try your best, but don’t let the fear of hurting your GPA prevent you from challenging yourself or finding new experiences. Because in the end, you are the only one who defines who you truly are.