Alexis Williams | Social Media Manager

Ever feel like you’re not quite making the cut? Like you’re not number one, or that you never will be? Can’t ever compete with Vinnie-the-Valedictorian or Tammy-the-Terrific-Test-Taker? Well, if this is you, we have a lot in common. I’ve never been the best at school. Textbooks have never made sense, and tests just aren’t my friends – something the education system and the job market don’t seem to understand.

When we are talking about social rules and roles, how to be a leader, and accomplishing tasks, I can promise you that I am among the best. But what test could tell you this information about me? Unfortunately, the only way to express this type of knowledge is to utilize it in real-life situations. On the other hand, the only way most companies attempt to measure this kind of knowledge and this kind of experience is through academic proof. What am I talking about? Grade point average (GPA). For some reason there is this crazy focus on how high your GPA is, if you graduate summa cum laude, if you graduate with honors, or were a Dean’s Fellow. No matter what it is, there is always some type of incentive to have a high GPA. While some places don’t require a 4.0, in general having a high GPA (typically above a 3.5) is used to measure or predict the success of an individual.

Here is my problem with high GPAs: it means I am spending too much time in the books and not enough time living. Some may argue against that, and that’s fine, but I am telling you that we should all strive to “work to live,” not “live to work”. There is plenty of great information that you can find in a textbook or in lecture, but this knowledge will never, ever compare to what you could learn by simply living.

Some people’s talents and focus is solely on the academic side of life, and while my motto is “whatever floats your boat,” I can’t help but question if the value in your life is being placed in the right areas. Now don’t get me wrong, if we all had the same interests, life would be incredibly boring, but life is also extremely boring if we do not reach out of our comfort zone, look beyond the books, and attempt to learn something that cannot be stated in plain text.

I personally think of a philosophy I was taught in my high school choir, “If everyone is giving 100%, we will get nowhere, but if you give us your 80% then we will all move forward.”

Now what this means is that if everyone is giving their all at every second of the day we will be stuck with a group of overachievers who cannot let go and let change arise. If we all give 80% this leaves room for the leaders and the slackers, everyone does their part (well over the “average” of 70%), and gives enough effort to let tasks be accomplished.

Alright, long story short, if we all had 4.0’s, we wouldn’t be living. We need to make time to experience life in all its forms — travel, classrooms, nature, etc. Perhaps employees could begin to look at group interviews or group activities to find the best candidates for the positions. There are plenty of options.

All I know is that there is so much more to me than my GPA.

Graphic by Justice Gage