I think we're all familiar with the overachieving types.
I come from an unfortunate socioeconomic background.
I've turned my experiences into motivation to start a charity for underprivededged children.
Each year, I raise money at school for a third world country to send medical supplies, food, and clothing.
I've had an internship at a law firm for four years now.
I have my own radio show.
I am captain of the cheerleading squad and the soccer team.
I speak three different languages.
I only take honors and AP Classes.
I have a 4.0 GPA.
I participate in the debate team and the mock trial club.
I have a part time job ot take care of my family and save money for college.
I made perfect scores on my ACT and SAT,
And Princeton, Harvard, Stanford and Yale, I WANT YOU!!!
This is the kind of pressure that I live with everyday. I live in fear of the wonderwomen and supermen among highschoolers- those people who make college admittance that much more competitive with their superhuman feats of intelligence and compassion and abilities to overcome obstacles. I certainly don't hate, but I'm not sure how much I can appreciate those kinds of standards. It seems like if I ever want to get into college, there isn't anything I can do to guarantee myself a spot. I work myself until midnight almost every day, if not later, with breaks for food and to walk the cutest dog alive. I have a 3.93 GPA, and I only take honors and AP classes. But I'm not coordinated enough for sports, and I don't have time for the debate team, and certainly don't have enought time to start a charity. I'm stressed all of the time. What if everything I do do isn't enough? Can I compete with that girl over there? Am I ever going to be good enough?
I've decided that there is way too much pressure to overachieve, and to be the best at everything as a student. And I hope that when this generation has their own kids, they remember the stress, and encourage their children to do their best and not overwork themselves like we have to, just to get a good education at our dream schools. I can't go to Princeton, Mum, if I've died from overexertion.
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Holy crap,
I saw the title of this post and totally thought it was my friend Colette, and that I was going crazy.
How does a high-school GPA transfer into the 4.0 scale? If you have straight A's, or if your average is a 90+ does that make it a 4.0, or do they just change all the individual letter grades into a number? I always wondered this.
lol. i'm glad the title was at least eyecatching, but i'm not crazy.... at least i don't think i am.
i think there's a formula of some sort to convert a grade into a number. when i get my transcript, my GPA is this long number that i think had to be calculated in some kind of way.
Oh my dear Lord how true is this?!?!
"I can't go to Princeton, Mum, if I've died from overexertion." Hahaha!! I am going to use that now... because actually, it's not so much of a sarcastic joke as the gosh dern truth...!!!
Seriously I am just exhausted. Mentally and physically. I'm up past 12 each night doing homework too, sometimes til' 3 lately, and the only time I get out is when I walk my dog!! What a coincedence! And I feel like I'm not really alive--like just a ghost that's trying to prove herself worthy of living! What the heck is wrong with this picture?! (E) All of the above!
I want to live in Costa Rica. I told this to my mom and she gave me the impression that I was Anti-American or something.
But seriously their work and play ethic is way different--they actually play! Omg! They have a saying called "Pura Vida" that pretty much allows you to live life like it should be. And everyone gets into college, your school tuition is basically covered (very small fees), and the same with their health care. So my Costa Rican friend has time to live--play soccer, go out with friends, write creative stories and read leisurely...he was telling me this and I thought it was insane. No--you know what's insane? The work ethic of this country, the pressure that we are under 24/7 (I think my back is gonna break), the crazy androids who exceed at everything in the world! just so that we can live the "American Dream". I think I'm done striving for the "American Dream"--I want something more than spaghetti-o's and frozen dinners eaten in record speed time, nasty-tasting cancer-causing caffeinated soda to get me through the day. I want my life back!! Amen! Wanna make an agreement to start living like normal people? Let's do it!
I love that saying! it seems like everyone except the us has shorter work days and longer vacations and less stuff to worry about. as soon as i can, i'm going to work to make things better, or i'm getting out of here!
They say if you want to go to those colleges you better have a good academic record or be real good in sports. Don't get so stressed out. You have to take one day at a time. Especially when it comes to college. I remember in high school I was in drillteam, track, all AP classes, Honor Society , part time job, made a 3.98, and graduated 10% at the top of my class. That still did not seem good enough for the world. I even got accepted to my dream college Baylor and where I live in Texas that is a big deal and still that was not enough. It will never be enough to people but it should be enough to you. As long as you are trying to go to college and get a better education and a better life for yourself don't worry about other kids education resume . Your is good enough.
lol. that was inspiring and comforting, so thank you.