Comp: Good Grades Are Not Everything

      Good Grades Are Not Everything

Good grades in required subjects in school are important, but they are not the most important part of schooling. Some students may study well while others not. Grades are not all that important because those students who are not good at studying may be better at other aspects of schooling such as sports, art, or music. They can sparkle in their own light. Those who think grades are all that matters in school should reconsider. In fact, there are drawbacks to excelling in academics.

Some students hoping for high grades may think their effort will bring them many friends, but this is not always the case. The conceit that often comes from being “The best” may be considered inappropriate to others; some classmates may even resent him or her. Let me give my friend Ken as an example; he is good at studying and did better than his classmates on tests, but he became too proud and make some classmates unhappy with him. Pretty soon, the entire class started to hate him. Instead of realizing what his arrogance had brought him, he laughed at his classmates and is now ostracized by one and all.

In this world, there are famous scholars, but there are also those good at baking bread and other essentials to have a good life. One may not be a winner of a world baking contest or have a respectable resume, but the satisfaction of working hard at the craft of baking bread, and doing what one likes, means the world to his happiness and fulfillment. Many skills are important to create a great society.

 There is a famous saying in Taiwan; all jobs can be great, and all jobs are good for you. When you think you are bad at study, it is not the end of the world; go to find something else that you are good at, spend a lot of time on it, and you will be just as great.

       There are aspects of schooling more important than grades. It may happen in your life and affect the future. We must keep our options open to make our life more colorful, not only the black and white of textbooks and tests.