School. Just at that word, many of you have probably conjured images of bulging backpacks, clogged-artery hallways, dry classes that drag on like stale milk, and mountains of homework that aren't even relevant to daily life. Well, I've just recently gone back to school, and yes, those things are all very true and appropriate. But, for some people, school is more than that.
Some people put so much pressure on themselves to succeed that they're drowning. They think that without that A, they'll be worthless. They're not happy when they get good grades, they're relieved.
One of the many shortcomings of the American standardized public school system is that it puts so much emphasis on one standard idea of smart. If you fit, you're constantly trying to be the best because you think you have to. If you don't, you're left behind.
But now, I'm here to talk about the valedictorian and salutatorian. People don't realize how hard it is to do school when you literally cannot let yourself be less than excellent. It's incredibly difficult to explain to someone who isn't in the same position. You can end up sounding so snotty or whiny when all you want is help.
This can apply to anything really, not just school. I'm here to say this to everyone who has felt like they can't let themselves be anything but excellent-
it's okay to be average.
Do you hear me? It's okay to be average. You don't have to be perfect. In fact, you can't be perfect. Only God is perfect, and you can't earn his love by doing stuff. It's all about grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
As long as you're working hard and not killing yourself in the process, you're doing fantastic. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. You don't owe it to anyone to do perfectly. You don't need to be better than everyone else.
School isn't everything. Whatever you're feeling pressured into perfection at isn't everything.
That being said, you still have to try. Don't just slack off everything and not care. Work hard, do the best you can, and don't worry about someone else's standards.
The reason I can say all of this is because I am that person. I am the person who can't stand that my GPA is ever-so-slightly-less than 4.0. I am the person who needs to remember that my grades don't define me as a person.
And if you are too, these words are for you; your best is absolutely good enough. No matter what you do, always be you before anything else.
Some people put so much pressure on themselves to succeed that they're drowning. They think that without that A, they'll be worthless. They're not happy when they get good grades, they're relieved.
One of the many shortcomings of the American standardized public school system is that it puts so much emphasis on one standard idea of smart. If you fit, you're constantly trying to be the best because you think you have to. If you don't, you're left behind.
But now, I'm here to talk about the valedictorian and salutatorian. People don't realize how hard it is to do school when you literally cannot let yourself be less than excellent. It's incredibly difficult to explain to someone who isn't in the same position. You can end up sounding so snotty or whiny when all you want is help.
This can apply to anything really, not just school. I'm here to say this to everyone who has felt like they can't let themselves be anything but excellent-
it's okay to be average.
Do you hear me? It's okay to be average. You don't have to be perfect. In fact, you can't be perfect. Only God is perfect, and you can't earn his love by doing stuff. It's all about grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
As long as you're working hard and not killing yourself in the process, you're doing fantastic. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. You don't owe it to anyone to do perfectly. You don't need to be better than everyone else.
School isn't everything. Whatever you're feeling pressured into perfection at isn't everything.
That being said, you still have to try. Don't just slack off everything and not care. Work hard, do the best you can, and don't worry about someone else's standards.
The reason I can say all of this is because I am that person. I am the person who can't stand that my GPA is ever-so-slightly-less than 4.0. I am the person who needs to remember that my grades don't define me as a person.
And if you are too, these words are for you; your best is absolutely good enough. No matter what you do, always be you before anything else.
