Life Matters

In the era of standardized testing, it is so easy to get caught up in scores and grades, rather than what really matters. What matters? This question came to mind the other day as I was getting ready to talk about the importance of senior year with my English classes. Grades matter in terms of a student’s transcript and getting into college, however, there are certain skills that cannot be ignored for the sake of coverage or earning the desired grade.

First, the content itself is not always the long-term effect of an academic class. I do not remember the details about some of the books I read in high school or the chemistry concepts I worked so hard to master. However, I did gain skills that have had a long-lasting impact on my life. Through these classes, I learned time management, the importance of deadlines, persistence, and how to respond to disappointment and adversity. Participating in sports, such as cross country and track also helped in these areas. Furthermore, working in groups taught me how to work with difficult people and respond to them with kindness and consideration for their viewpoints. These are all skills that persisted as I aged.

Going to college or becoming an adult does not provide a switch that can be flipped to demonstrate these skills. These are skills we work on for a lifetime. Although I didn’t always enjoy every class I was in or every paper I wrote, I learned something about myself along the way. When I lost my 10-page paper in college, the night before it was due, I had a choice, I could feel sorry for myself and make excuses the next day, or I could forge ahead, start over to meet the deadline. In the end, I completed the task, got a decent grade and felt proud of myself for responding in that way. To be honest, I cannot tell you what the paper was about, but I do remember my persistence. Habits have to be developed, and hard work and resilience are no different.

If I get to the end of my life and have people say of me that I was a good human being, cared for other people, and I was the best version of myself, that’s all I can ask for. I attended a funeral this past weekend, and it struck me that what is most important in life is how we treat people. The person, whose life we were celebrating, was celebrated for their service to others and the compassion she showed in difficult situations. It was inspiring to hear the stories of her life and how in the end, she was so grateful for the people she knew and loved. Life is a journey, let us celebrate and strive to be the best version of ourselves.