Just look at the front page of the dosomething website:

"Over 1 billion people earn less than $1 each day"

In order to stop stressing about a little thing like written grades on a report card, try to see the world from a better perspective. Remember this: there are people alive today who do not have access to clean water or a decent meal, whose lives are in the hands of corrupt governments that compromise their safety, who live in constant fear of torture and rape. Once one realizes that there are bigger issues to tackle in this world, like global extreme poverty, or environmental degradation, grades seem much less important in the grand scheme of things. I guess I'm urging you to stress more about the world, and less about how you look on paper. BUT I'm not saying you should stop listening in class or anything, because educated people make more informed desicions on how to help society than non-educated people...

Hope this helps!
Shamsa

i kinda am one of those kids who dont really have to try....but my parents work me like a dog..

I've done well in most classes, but the one class that really hurt me was Geometry. She gave us all this work and it just confused me even more. After I got a tutor my grade shot up, not enough to get an A, but an 88% was good enough for me. Tutoring and study classes generally help. Maybe reset your priorites. I've had to do that multiple times and by rearranging the order of importance, I tend to be improving and getting more things done. If you're dad's worried have him help you. If you really want to improve your grades, then they should be improving. If not, then maybe you're not as focused as you thought.

Look, all the stress that comes with grades are killing our students. I get C average and I kill myself over it. I suck at math, getting a D average, and my dad is never happy. I'm worried about my health and my future, yet I can never seem to please anyone. What do I do and how do I stop this stress?

There's really nothing wrong with any grade, even an F. Now, I hate to be so blunt, but grades are not a title. Wingus, I agree, it's the type of person you are and want to be. Who are you??? Grades are not a title, no one can be named by one word for one's personality is made of multiple things, countless things. You need to work at the rate you wish, but you need to challenge yourself or you'll stay at the same level you began. a B average isn't any different from an A average if the students have the same amount of knowledge. That's where the SAT comes in, but even then, numbers and letters don't state who you are, just your work rate. That work rate is work at school, it doesn't count anything else, just homework and test taking. If you're not good at these things, you're probably really good at other things others aren't. We all have talents and gifts, but we all have weaknesses as well. We use our talents to change the world, we work on our weaknesses to become a better person.

I dont see why not? My city takes me pretty seriously. Currently I have straight A's but its ok if ur just a B average be thankful its not an D average....
~Ushersgirl_06~

Grades don't determine how people, especially in your community, view you. It is all about your maturity, respect for others and interest in the community itself.

School is more about what you get out of a class rather than a letter grade. Now about colleges, they do not base who gets in solely on grades. Extracurricular activities and good personal essays really do count. TIME recently did an article �Who Needs Harvard?� in which it examined the colleges beyond the brand named Ivies. �College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.� I think that saying fits the bill on a healthy way to view higher education. So don�t stress out! Enjoy the free education while it lasts and soak up the knowledge.

gabiliebetennis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > I have the same problem, yet I am an all A
> student!!! I try really hard in school and
> stressed when I got a B+ in pre calc last year.
> Now that I look back on all the worrying, I just
> have to say that if put all your effort in to it
> then that's the best you can do!
> And...
> No community will look down a B average student
> because just remember a B is ABOVE AVERAGE()
>
>

That's C+.

I'm an all A student, and my GPA for 5th grade was 4.1666666B)()(tu), but in 4th grade it was 3.33333;).

Dude, grades are always helpful, but they're no where near most important. If you fail so what, but a B average??? That's awesome!!! Look at what you have done to be where you are and be appreciative! Grades will always help in life and school is not to be taken as a joke, but as long as you do your best it doesn't matter what grades you get. The only people that really care about grades are the colleges because they need something to look at as the so called "good and bad students". It's sad that they have to judge you like that based on your grades, but what else are they supposed to do? Anyway, just try your best. If you feel you can do better then go for it, but grades are just a title, they're not saying who you are. Hey, look at my dad. He's a surgeon and he failed high school. The only reason he got his diploma is because they didn't want to see him again. I agree with PowerPeep!!!

No one should be judged based on grades? How else are you supposed to be judged when it comes to getting into college and jobs and stuff like that?

I think a HUGE misconception about school is that the purpose of school is to teach you things!!!!! This is true about a few things early on (such as reading, writing, etc.), but for the most part, especially in high school and definitely in college the purpose is to teach you how to learn! Think about how many people take stuff like calculus and physics that don't ever use it. But they do use the learning skills they had to develop in order to do well in the class. These learning skills make them able to easily adapt to the world around them and therefore do well in their jobs and in life in general. So, doing well in school is a direct result of how well you learn, which is obviously an important trait to have!!!!!!

it's a B don't worry about,, after all no one should be judge based on grades, so the community shouldn't judge you either. You want to help that is all that matters!

Grades don't define who you are. There are plenty of great people who struggle in school. Maybe school isn't your thing...just find what your passion is. Besides... a B average isn't bad.

yeah that's a good point. I didn't say they shouldn't judge us that way, I just thought it was stupid that they did. And they don't judge you only by numbers though anyway, so its still good.

Well, how are colleges SUPPOSED to judge you, unless by numbers? They can't get to know every applicant. Do you have a suggestion to replace SAT scores, GPA, and extracurriculars?

Bah! I worked hard for my bloody A's and I'm proud of it. Though no matter how hard I work on math (yuck!) I keep getting a B. So, work hard for your grades and take hard classes, but don't do it to impress people or anything cause its not going to help you or impress anyone at the long while. I should know, I took French class for 3 years and I don't even know how to make a sentence (and it's the teacher's fault, so don't blame me!!!) and people are all impressed and when they ask me to say something in french, guess what? I got nothing! Strive for good grades because it'll make you a better and smarter person, not so other people will think you are.

And why are people obsessed with a stupid number? Cause teachers and colleges drive you nuts cause you can't get into a certain college if you don't have a certain SAT score and GPA and that is very stupid, although understandable. Until the college people and teachers and other people figure out that a person's potential to be a success in life and to others is not and should not be based on a number, there will still be people freaking out that they have a 3.99.

Oh, and here is a good tip for people with crazy parents who expect you to be perfect and have all A's...

NEVER LISTEN TO THEM!!!!!!!

They are discouraging and unrealistic. Sure, there are people that are just plain brilliant and they get straight A's and a 4.0 or more. Don't strive for the perfect grades and GPA because of them cause while they think you are brilliant, you really won't be. Take the cleasses you want that will benefit YOU. And also, colleges also consider the community service and other stuff you do. So while you may not have the perfect grades or anything, by what you have done to others will show your personality and stuff.

Oh and gosh, fun is so important and friends are too cause high school is the only true highlight of your youth (or usually it is) and if you spend it trying to be the perfect student, you have just wasted your youth. But sometimes, especially if it is crutial to passing classes and getting work done, working hard on your schoolwork can benefit you more in the future than friends. But I think that only because my friends and I are practicallly nerds. We spend so much time on school and freak out about assignments and everything, yet we laugh about it and because of that we are having the best time of our lives. We are having fun AND learning, and because of that, we have good grades and a social life.

I don't think GPA and stuff is as important as friends and fun, but you can incorporate both fun and work amnd still have the grades and numbers you want. Just don't let other people control your goals. I know the valedictorian at my school and she has a boyfriend, she has millions of friends, she has a great heart cause she volunteers at many places and clubs and more. Don't let grades and numbers control your school and social life, but don't let it be all fun and concentrated on other people ( whether god or bad) take over either. You can find a balance and be happy.

Nicely said Bronwyn!

<3

I think teenagers often become very obsessed with their GPAs, and it's very sad to watch. Across my school at least, many people turn away from certain courses in order to preserve their GPAs. Students suited for enriched classes sometimes choose the regular caliber courses instead simply because they are guaranteed an A. At risk of sounding just like the teachers who have explained this over and over again, this is no way to choose classes. Watching this kind of student is often extremely frustrating for other students, especially those who are taking the more difficult class and risking their own GPA.

But why is their such an emphasis on a decimal point? It is ridiculous to watch students become consumed with jealousy and frustration over simply a number. True, good grades can help students get into college. We should obviously continue to pour ourselves into our schoolwork, but we should put a greater emphasis on other aspects of our lives. A common problem is that students get extremely fixated on achieving all As, they end up immobilizing themselves and losing sight of what else is important in life. Friends are important. Fun is important. If you sacrifice these "luxuries," you will later regret not forming lasting relationships with classmates. No one will remember you for being involved in 10 clubs or for your perfect GPA. Rather, classmates will remember what you do for the school and for others.

Consider what is more important to you: preserving the perfect GPA or doing something meaningful in life. I'm convinced that Do Something members are more concerned with doing something important for their communities and the world, a belief that is reflected in the responses on this message board, and I'm very glad to see this. I'm glad that most teenagers understand that centering our lives around a number on our transcript creates complete imbalance and disharmony while impeding our school, community, and world!

Thanks for taking to time to read this (if anyone did )

As long as you try your best, a low mark doesn't reflect your personality and ideas. With that, a B average isn't bad at all:)

Here's to another day on this earth!

<3

I understand that you want to please your mom, and grades are important through High School and maybe even Collage. But, if you work hard and have good ideas, most won't even care if you have a "D" average!

Just because you are not at the top of your class doesn't mean you're not smart, and it doesn't mean that you don't have good ideas. If you want people to take you seriously you should start a project and stick to it. If people see you doing something worthwhile they are more likely to help and give their support. It would also be a good idea to get the help of some people your age. A group can make more of an impact than one person.

I have the same problem, yet I am an all A student!!! I try really hard in school and stressed when I got a B+ in pre calc last year. Now that I look back on all the worrying, I just have to say that if put all your effort in to it then that's the best you can do!
And...
No community will look down a B average student because just remember a B is ABOVE AVERAGE()

A "B" average is nothing to be ashamed of! Albert Einstein got like "D"s in school! What really matters is that you care about other people.

Don't worry about pleasing your mom, A/B average is fine. George W. Bush got bad grades and a low grade on the SAT's, and look where he is. Are your parents rich? You may not need to worry about grades...or the world...

i get a A or B average, and i try...but sometimes i feel like giving up. My mom wants be to be all A's, and it seems no matter how hard I try i can never fully please her.
Alotta people think of me stupid, and thoughtless. But i'm not. I do care about the community. ANd i frankly think this world is falling apart.

It's ok if you try as long as you try your hardest, and people will be proud of you because of that. I have a friend and she has a C avrage, but she trys her hardest, and when she got a B- on a test, everyone was really proud of her, so keep you chin up and be proud for what you do.

Listen, coming from expierience, your community will listen to oyu if you are vey adamiate about what you are doing.

You are doing just fine! If you truly care about your community, the people won't mind if you are an A, B or C Student!

Hey a "B" average is a really good average as long as your doing the best you can. Some kids try their absolute hardest and still only get D's and C's. But some kids don't hardly have to try at all and get A's. Its who you are. Be proud of yourself.

This is a great question! A good question to ask yourself is who would you vote for? The most important, #1 thing that an elected official can do is care about the community. Being genuinely interested in important issues is way, way, way more important than good grades. Ask one of the elected officials on the board! (P.S. there is nothing wrong with a 'B' average, President Bush had a 'c' average in college)