Perspective on Academic Inflation by Austin

Perspective on Academic Inflation by Austin - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

Mission San Jose High, which is listed as the tenth best public high school in California, consists of an 85% Asian-American student body, embodying many of the ideas and customs found within the strict, disciplined, East-Asian culture. For example, 87% of the students are on the honor roll with GPA’s of 3.0 or higher and students’ SAT scores are in the top 95% of the nation. Evidently, our school is filled with those who have an aptitude for hard work. This subsequently creates a social norm that demands that every student take five difficult AP classes starting their second year of high school, inheriting a motivational push to avoid becoming anything less than “perfect.”

While I appreciate the enthusiasm and encouragement that the school, the student body, and parents push onto me and my classmates, I detest the idea that having a perfect academic record is the key requirement to be accepted by colleges. Judgement gets passed onto those who struggle academically, and in some extreme cases these students are condemned by their peers. While our large Asian-American population makes it easy to make new friendships, our norm separates students into cliques defined by academic prowess, thus developing a stigma that rebukes struggling students.

Occasionally, I hear my dearest friends cry (sometimes literally) about how they expect to be denied by colleges because they received a grade lower than an A. While sometimes it’s obvious they’re joking as a way to cope, other times they are completely serious. This hard-headed, black-and-white view of the education system disrupts people’s motivation to strive above others and instead makes teenagers who are already struggling to find an identity more insecure.

Personally, I’ve struggled trying to find confidence within myself for years. Until last year, I was overly insecure and depressed because my academic record is underwhelming. I was ashamed to tell anyone my test scores in fear that they would shun me and criticize me for being “lazy and apathetic” when I wanted nothing more than to improve my scores. I had the impression that I would never amount to anything, and that I’d live a miserable life.

However, due to the encouragement and loving support of my best friends and family, I’ve realized that while I may never receive perfect scores, I can still excel at whatever I put my mind to. The freedom and trust that my parents place in me provides me with the confidence I need to make my own decisions. At the end of the day I don’t doubt that my record will influence some people to reject me, but I will never let others determine my future or my ability to thrive because of preconceived notions. Nowadays, I’m trying my hardest to dissuade others from feeling discouraged and instead encourage them to apply to their dream schools. Nobody should believe their life is predetermined by mistakes in their past, but everybody should see their failures as opportunities to strive.