June 19, 2021
Being a young adult is scary, especially with all the responsibilities that come along with it. It makes me think back to my freshman year and all the activities I missed out on because of the pressure I was putting on myself.
What does it mean to be good enough? What do I have to do to find my place in the world? These questions played in my head throughout high school, and I am here to tell you not to make the same mistakes I made.
As I was growing up, my head was always stuck in a book. I was known as the studious kid teachers loved. I may have had the teachers on my side, but my peers? Not many. I distracted myself from making any friends, but moving to Lyndhurst before eighth grade was the push I needed to create new friendships.
During my first year of high school, I continued my bad habit of constantly checking my grades. I often found myself thinking about how I would need to get X assignment done to pass with a high average in Y course so I could graduate at the top of my class. This mindset became destructive, and the constant pressure from my parents did not help either. I was just digging myself into a hole from which I could not seem to escape.
When you define yourself by one aspect of your identity, you limit your potential and ignore the full scope of your character, skills, personality and talents.
Over time, I learned that in life, we are all at some point going to fall short. I remember that when I got a B+ in my algebra class, I bawled my eyes out because I felt like a failure. That may sound ridiculous, but it definitely took a toll on my mental health.
So what have I learned from these experiences? When you define yourself by one aspect of your identity, you limit your potential and ignore the full scope of your character, skills, personality and talents. Instead of remaining entirely focused on grades, discover new interests and set goals that will help you develop as a person. Getting a C or D in a class does not make you any less intelligent or resilient. Now I’m not telling you to completely ignore your grades, but don’t become obsessed with them. They matter for getting into college and gaining scholarships, but there is more to life than your GPA.
My time at LHS has been chaotic, but it has led me to grow and learn more about myself. During this bumpy journey, I have rekindled and discovered my passions for music, art and environmental issues. In the fall, I will be continuing my studies as a biology major at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. There, I plan to pursue my dreams while keeping in mind that a letter will never define my worth.
