The Lesson of the B by Jenna

The Lesson of the B by Jenna - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

Did you ever have that panicked moment when you got to class and realized that there was an assignment due that you totally spaced? Yep, that was me. It was the fall of sophomore year in college prep chemistry. But let me back up a bit.

When I was in high school, what motivated me was my resume. I was in everything: student council, piano, swimming, youth group, National Honor Society, Students Against the Violation of the Earth, church, jazz band, and I worked at a local sub shop part-time. On top of that, I was maintaining a 4.0 and an active social life. I may have been feeling a little bit of pressure and stress, but I thought that’s what high school was all about, so it didn’t bother me much.
The day before my forgotten homework was due, I had been up at 5:30 a.m. for an optional swim practice, which of course I went to being the overachiever that I was. I had a full day of school, including working at the sub shop over my lunch hour. After school, I had a second swim practice till six. I got home from that, stuffed some dinner down and headed off to jazz band practice. I got home at 8:30 and started in on my geo-trig and English homework. By the time I finished those, I was exhausted. Time for some much needed sleep.

The next day, walking into chemistry, my heart dropped realizing that I had forgotten about the homework. But it was only a daily assignment. Maybe I could take a late grade. Even if I couldn’t, I would just work really hard the rest of the semester to keep that A. How important could one tiny daily assignment be?

Apparently it was pretty important. When mid-terms came around, my parents were furious to see a C on my usually straight A report card. I continued to work hard the rest of the quarter, but despite my efforts, I ended the quarter with an 89%. Seriously? I was so close to that A.

I thought that B would be the end of me, but, you know what, it was actually kind of great. I no longer felt the intense pressure to keep a 4.0. Sure, I still wanted to do well, but it no longer consumed me. I made it through the rest of high school with all A’s, just that one stupid B from a forgotten little daily assignment. But that B taught me more than any A I ever received. It taught me that sometimes learning something is more important than not learning anything and still getting the A. It taught me that sometimes less is more. It is better to invest deeply in a few things then try to have a small part in everything. It taught me to forgive myself. I got a B, but that’s far from the first or last mistake that will occur in my life. And it also taught me that my parents don’t love me for the grades I get but for who I am.

As I began college, I was thankful for that B. I couldn’t put a 4.0 on my college applications and maybe I missed one scholarship because I didn’t have perfect grades, but I started college with the attitude that I was there to learn. Since I had been a part of every club in high school, I joined zero in college and spent my time working and studying. I loved every second of it. Instead of feeling pressure to be perfect, I felt free to enjoy learning what I was most passionate about: elementary education. Every project and every paper I researched because I wanted. I loved learning about teaching kids to love learning.

After I graduated, I went on to teach kindergarten, and the lesson of that B stuck with me. It reminded me that none of my students were perfect, and that what was most important was that they were learning, that they were trying, and that they were finding what they were passionate learning about.

Now, I’m getting ready to go back to school for my master’s in international education, and I will once again take with me the lesson of the B. While it would be great to maintain a 4.0, it is no longer something that I will waste energy stressing about. No matter what your personal GPA or class ranking, may you take with you the lesson of the B as well.