I’m really stressing out over something that I shouldn’t be stressing out over. I’m taking a ton of AP classes this year (and last year) which is difficult but challenging in a fun way…usually. Last year I got a 4.0. This year I have all A’s except one class. I have worked my ass off and I’m gonna be probably ending up with a B+. I know this shouldn’t mean anything since most people I know would love to have even a B in some of their classes. I’m just very worked up over this sort of shit and my parents expect a lot out of me. The most relieving thing is when I remind myself that it literally doesn’t mean shit that I’m getting a B+ in a class. All my friends are nice and try to get a good laugh out of how stressed I always am about my grades. But in a way, now I’m kind of happy that I’m losing the 4.0. A 3.95 GPA with less worrying about perfection sounds a helluva lot better.
I apologize for ranting about a god damn B+. I’m surprised I didn’t delete this post because of how much of an idiot I sound like. I just really don’t want to have people not think I’m smart just because I got one B+.
Good grades are a fantastic goal, and I applaud you for pushing yourself towards them. But at the same time, it’s okay to not run yourself ragged chasing them. I ended my undergrad career with a 3.89 GPA. Still made the Dean’s List every year and still graduated Summa Cum Laude and still got the nifty honors cords. By the time I did my master’s degree, none of that stuff was even tracked anymore (GPA sure, but there’s no fanfare for being a 4.0 over a 3.5). Once you get out of academia, it doesn’t really matter at all anymore.
Definitely push yourself to be your best, but don’t be too hard on yourself if you fall short, just regroup and hit it hard again. That’s what I’m trying to get at. Your GPA doesn’t dictate your intelligence.