I’ve had to see my counselor on the issue, and she and a bunch of YouTube videos on the subject are pushing me into the direction that “I am more than my grades.” And I want to conform to that ideal. But living in a state where high school valedictorians get automatic admission to any university in the state, it’s pushing me into another direction altogether. I frequently get frustrated getting nicked for points when I forget a +C in an integral equation, 10-question quizzes about two Economics chapters become dreadful, etc. because the points are worth that much more. Is this a “me” problem, or have others been brought up in similar circumstances? Did you ultimately have to tie your emotions and self-worth to your grades?
No, but I have tied my self-worth to other people’s opinions of me which happen to be affected by grades.
I think students, especially overachievers/Type A ones, equate their self worth to their grades. But we all know it’s unhealthy. While valedictorians can get automatic admission in colleges, it definitely isn’t the only way. Learn how to separate both of those things, because it will hurt you in the long run. 30 years from now, you’re not going to be thinking about your grades from high school.