‘Grades don’t define you’ is right message for students

It is not uncommon for students to hear the phrases “grades don’t matter” and “grades don’t define you” from teachers and administrators throughout high school.

While these phrases may sound alike to the casual listener, their effects on students are quite different. Telling a student that “grades don’t matter” might seem like it would relieve anxiety or stress about school, but in reality, it sends a false and harmful message.

The phrase, “grades don’t matter” is frequently used in a high school setting, even at Redwood High School, where I am a sophomore.

In a recent survey conducted by the nonfiction class for the Cub Bark school publication, 64.9% of Redwood students reported being told “grades don’t matter” by a teacher, parent or administrator. However, school is not the only place students are hearing this phrase. Social media, which plays a huge role in influencing students of all ages, also seems to echo this expression.

On Jan. 23, a video was posted on the very popular and large social media platform, TikTok, in which user Madelyn

Roi (@Madelynroi on TikTok), explained and expressed her thoughts on why “grades don’t matter.”

“If you stress out over grades, listen to this,” Roi said. “Grades literally do not matter at all. I make way more money than all of the straight-A students I went to school with. Grades are purely a measurement of memorization and effort.”

The comment section of the video was filled with many frustrated people who disagreed with Roi’s opinion. TikTok user @yaboiaayesh wrote, “My GPA matters to get into med school. Don’t tell people grades don’t matter. For people trying to get into certain careers, grades matter.”

In a survey conducted by the National Association of College Admission Counselors, 81% of colleges disproportionately prioritize grades as an admission criteria. In addition, colleges typically require grade-point average minimums of all applicants.

For example, University of California schools will not admit any student with a GPA below 3.0. In addition, many collegiate summer programs base acceptance on grades. The issue with telling students “grades don’t matter” is that they are likely to believe it although it is untrue. This ultimately results in feelings of disappointment when they aren’t able to achieve their academic or professional goals.

Another problem with telling students “grades don’t matter” is that it may alter their approach to schoolwork. A poor work ethic in high school will most likely make college much harder for the students as they will not have the tools they need to succeed in a rigorous academic environment. For high schoolers, forming good habits now is key to being prepared for college.

Sometimes, the intention of the phrase “grades don’t matter” is to let students know that their worth and intelligence is not solely based on their grades. However, to avoid misinterpretation, a better phrase that communicates this intention is “grades don’t define you.” This simple change in wording can be helpful to students, as it implies that they do not always have to be perfect.

Saying “grades don’t define you” signifies that one poor grade will not ruin one’s chances of graduating high school, attending an exceptional college or landing a fantastic job.

Given the competitive nature of high schools and colleges across the country, students, now more than ever, are striving to make the best grades possible. Unfortunately, this motivation and competition often leads to students believing that their value is dependent on their grades. Teaching kids that grades don’t define them counteracts the harm of equating one’s worth with a letter.

Rather than misleading students to believe that grades have no impact on their future with the phrase “grades don’t matter,” let’s start using “grades don’t define you.” It’s a better message to help students understand that although grades are important, they are only one aspect of their lives and do not represent who they are as people.

Saying ‘grades don’t define you’ signifies that one poor grade will not ruin one’s chances of graduating high school, attending an exceptional college or landing a fantastic job.