Chelsea’s Perspective and Advice
We, as students, live in an environment where there is no room for failure, and yet, consistently, there is supposed to be room for “improvement.”
These standards, tied to self-image, are only exacerbated by the knowledge that someone is doing better. Moreover, the flawed reward system ingrained into American education leads students to perceive their self-worth relative to how well they perform in school.
Through an endless cycle, students’ standards are raised so high that the achievement is unachievable and the goal is unclear. It is never truly about self-improvement—it’s about how others perceive your intelligence and if they deem you worthy of praise. The entire foundation of self-worth under the mindset of academic validation relies on the value of your work. Therefore, if your work is below your self-set standards, your inward perception becomes skewed, and your mental health deteriorates. It’s dangerous, unhealthy, and counterproductive.
It’s undeniably easy to fall victim to this cycle, as the environment of our schools vigorously reinforces the mindset of academic validation. Although unhealthy, it is unfortunately, a normal and common mindset for high school students to adopt. Breaking the cycle relies partly on changing the structure of our schools and valuing mental health as a society; however, these are changes that are, for the most part, out of an individual’s control.
A change in your own mindset, however, can be in your control. If you seek to overcome the desire for validation, you must understand that it’s OK not to exceed expectations. You may feel overwhelmed with the fear of disappointment; however, it is human nature to make mistakes, and mistakes do not encompass our entire identity. Mental health is fragile, so do not sacrifice it for insignificant validation from others. There is no harm in self-improvement, but there is harm in overworking yourself; you must learn to take time for your own well-being. Academic validation is a poisonous, unforgiving mindset that extends to the limit of your ability, but you must remember that you do not exist to please others.
Katrina’s Perspective and Advice
As the days dwindled down until the end of the first marking period, students tirelessly checked their grades, hoping for, and often depending on, a positive grade change. The craving for academic validation is embedded in student minds across the country. Emma Chamberlain, a social media influencer with a combined following of 25.7 million on YouTube and Instagram, spoke on the issue in her podcast. She recalls, “I tied my identity and my worth to my grades and I would literally look in the mirror after getting a bad grade on the test and see an uglier person.”
From there the conversation about academic validation spread. However, this phenomenon should not be viewed as a mindset or “trend” created by social media. I cannot count the number of times that I have heard students say “I’m so mad at myself” after an assessment. This behavior looks at simple mistakes or failure as a direct reflection of our work ethic, intelligence, and ultimately our worth. People may encouragingly say “you tried your best, that’s all that matters,” but how often is this actually taken to heart? It can feel impossible to separate self worth and academic worth when students’ lives at school and personal lives are nearly indistinguishable. Hours of homework bleeding into students’ free time inhibits the pursuit of hobbies and interests. This further prevents us from creating an identity not based purely on academics.
It is normal to feel disappointed or worried when you receive a bad grade, but the problem begins when you let it consume you. A large portion of academic validation is also the desire to uphold or break a certain reputation. Those who have succeeded in the past want to continue to be perceived as “excelling,” and those who struggled in the past want to overcome their challenges. One of the best steps in preventing this reliance on academic validation is to break the reputation-dependent mindset. We must remind ourselves that the opinions of others should not affect the way we live our lives.
Another important step in damping our dependency on academic validation is to develop our identity away from school. It is important to devote time to finding and pursuing hobbies or interests. It can feel difficult to take time away from school work when you have a desire for good grades, but we have to push through the initial discomfort and remind ourselves that it is all in the pursuit for a better mindset. Once you free yourself from the confines of academic validation you can continue to care about grades, take pride in successes, and grow from failures. These behaviors are healthy as long as they do not dominate your life and self image.
Mehek’s Perspective
The increasing desire for perfection in academics can take a detrimental and irreversible toll on mental as well as physical health. For many students (myself included), receiving a bad grade can feel like the end of the world, especially after putting in tremendous effort. This need for excellence leads to students basing their self-worth on their grades, rather than their actual value as a human being. A common misconception is that the desire for academic validation can actually improve students’ grades and studying habits. However, when their self worth hangs in the balance, many students crumble under the weight of their own self-pressure. Many studies have proven that those who feel validated by their grades do not tend to perform better on assignments and tests, despite their high levels of motivation to study.
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