Good Grades Aren’t Everything
My 10th year of teaching is coming to a close and the 2015-2016 school year is almost over. This is an exciting time of year, especially the for seniors. The door to childhood closes as they graduate and we let them loose into the world as adults. There is a lot of celebrating and congratulating. AND, we’re all very happy to see summer arrive.
And there is a lot to celebrate. I sat through the senior exit assembly yesterday and I watched student after student be recognized for their achievements, whether they be academic, athletic, or through another club or activity. Scholarship and award recipients names were announced. These students filled the gymnasium floor, beaming with pride as the rest of the school clapped and cheered.
During the assembly, my focus shifted to the many students remaining in the stands. Scattered among the group, I saw students that I knew who barely made it to graduation. I started to wonder how it must feel for some of them to watch their peers celebrate a successful high school career. Did they notice?… Were they envious?…Did they work just as hard?…
The answer might be yes but regardless, it makes me sad to know that many of them will never get the recognition they deserve. Some of these students, in addition to worrying about school, faced challenges that reached beyond the classroom and that most people would never know existed. On paper, these kids don’t shine—They might not have a high GPA—They might have a discipline log a mile long—They might not have great attitudes—Maybe they failed too many classes—Maybe they’ve never played a sport or joined a club—but they’ve worked their asses off to finish school. Unfortunately, there isn’t an assembly to celebrate overcoming adversity.
Don’t get me wrong, I agree that students should be honored for achieving academically and for participating in sports and activities. BUT, it is impossible for some students to achieve at school because they can’t play sports or stay after school because they have to wake up at 4am to take the city bus to school— They don’t get their homework done because they have to work or care for siblings after school—They don’t have a support system at home—They are abused or neglected—They are bullied—They have lost family members—They have a disability or mental illness—the list goes on. Basically they have problems that are bigger than learning algebra, history, grammar, literature, chemistry, and any other class or subject in school.
I will be proud of all the seniors walking across the stage at graduation but I will be secretly cheering a little louder for those kids that I know barely made it.
Teachers always wonder what happens to the students after high school and teachers hope that someday we get to see the greatness that comes from each graduating class. I am confident that people who have overcome adversity have a better chance at successfully navigating the world than the person with a 5.0 GPA.
It’s your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop—Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Congratulations to the ENTIRE Smoky Hill High School 2016 graduating class! You have ALL achieved something wonderful!
What do you think, does adversity hurt or help a person’s chance at success in life?