I remember one day that started like any other. I walked into the quad and sat at the table with my friends, people chattering as usual all around us. We started talking as we usually do, about school and our teachers.
I have no idea who brought it up or how the topic switched, but we ended up talking about how hard it was to be in high school and stay up to the expectations that everyone set. My friends were talking about the unspoken expectations we have just because we are part of this one program, and how the teachers just expect us to “grow up” as soon as we step into high school.
We eventually transitioned into how much everyone expects so much out of our grades, and how peers sort of rank us based on our grades. We talked about how unfair that is because grades are not the only thing that determines how “good” you are at anything. It is a reflection of how you are doing in academics. I remember one of my friends said something along the lines of “Sure, grades may reflect your academic skill in a subject, but they have no way of showing how much effort you put into it. Sometimes you might work your hardest on something, but it just isn’t what the teacher expects, so she gives you a bad grade. And then everyone’s judging you for that bad grade without knowing how much effort you put into it.”
That thought of hers resonated with me so much when I realized how true it is. Sometimes you just have a bad day, and even though you put a ton of effort into it, you may not get the result you wanted. But what matters most is that you know the amount of effort you put into it. You might do better next time, or you might not, but that does not take away from the work you put in. At the end of the day, grades only capture the final result, not the hours spent studying, the frustration of trying to understand something difficult, or the determination to keep going even when it feels impossible. Listening to her say that made me realize how often we let a number define how we feel about ourselves, even though it only tells a small part of the story. What really matters is the effort, persistence, and willingness to keep trying, even when the outcome is not what you hoped for.
This random day that started like any other turned into one of my most memorable memories because I had the experience of bonding with my friends while also talking about deeper topics rather than our usual random rants. It made me realize that sometimes the most meaningful memories come from the most ordinary days, when you least expect them. Moments like these remind me how important it is to slow down and appreciate the people around you, because those small conversations and shared experiences are often what stay with you the longest.
Strings of Thought 