Written by: Kriti Nepal - 24022, Grade XI
Posted on: 31 October, 2022
Growing up in Asian households, we as a student are constantly nagged upon and advised to achieve straight A’s as the form of academic validation. Everyone has a dream of their own whether it be getting into a renowned college, fulfilling their dream job, making their parents proud and so on. Academic validation has become one of the most valid reasons for students to rely on inorder to prove their worth as a flourishing successful student and fill the void in their hearts.
Some students can be a naturally academically gifted one whereas others might need to put twice the amount of effort in order to reach the same level of ranking. Academic validation might feel rewarding but it takes a heavy toll on the mind as well as the body. Not all students come at the same level of ranking in academic validation but the desire to feel validated remains the same. This causes the students to overwork and stress themselves only to self sabotage and get farther behind. The mentality of academic validation being the only option to success might become very toxic and suffocate the student that would normally perform average and could climb up the ranks with little effort with time. I personally believe that academic validation is important but not something that comes before prioritizing our mental and physical health. Academic validation might give the positive boost and self assurance but we also need to understand the fact that the mentality and standard we set for ourselves do not necessarily need to be as strict to improve and become successful in life.
Overcoming the difficulties along with little enjoyment and hard work shows the true essence of being a worthy student and not only academic validation. Hence, I believe that the students need to understand the fact that academic validation is important but the amount of stress that causes them to damage and collapse is not worth the reward they claim as “academic validation.”
