JULIE FROMM / ASST. OPINION EDITOR

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of  The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

Throughout my college experience, I have spent  countless hours agonizing over final essay feedback and midterm exam grades. Every time I receive a Canvas notification that a grade has been submitted, my stomach rolls and I have to resist the urge to chuck my phone across the room rather than check the app. 

Academic anxiety is nothing new to me. These worries have followed me throughout my education ever since I entered middle school. I also know from conversations with my friends and peers about papers and projects piling up — sleep and exercise sacrificially tossed aside — that I’m not the only one. 

What your professors — and possibly the nagging voice in your head — aren’t telling you is that your mental health is more important than the grades you receive at the end of the year. It is far more beneficial to view college as a time to learn by making mistakes rather than doing whatever it takes, even cheating, to retain a high GPA. 

Starting as early as elementary school, students are taught that in order to succeed, they have to get good grades. For many, this creates immense amounts of pressure and can be entirely counterproductive. Students can end up feeling ashamed of themselves and lose motivation if they don’t meet the rigorous standards that letter grading sets. And with the rise of artificial intelligence, many students are looking to new technology to complete assignments for them in an attempt to secure the coveted “A.” 

A study conducted in the 1980s and ‘90s by educational psychologists, reported by lecturer Alfie Kohn, found that grades tend to diminish students’ interests in what they’re learning. Students tend to take on the easiest possible tasks when working for a grade, and grades often reduce the quality of their thinking. The system that we have been  led to believe brings forth the most valuable information about students’ competence actually leads them to make decisions that lessen the  value  of  their education. 

Being too hard on yourself on your academics can be harmful for your mental health. Photo courtesy of @Wes Hicks/ Unsplash

On top of the lack of acknowledgement for the purpose of a college education, the letter grading system also creates an environment where creativity can be hindered  rather than celebrated. Instead of encouraging students to write essays that integrate their personalities and what they learn, professors often present their classes with specific rubrics about what their students should write about and how to get an “A” on the paper. This immediately cuts out the creative process, arguably the most exciting part of school work and essay writing, and tells students that if they do these specific things, they will be rewarded. If they don’t, their GPA will suffer, and in turn their self worth and mental well being will as well.

It would be unfair to say that grades have no redeeming qualities. During childhood, grades are a simple way to communicate to parents and guardians how their child is doing in school. In some cases, grades can be a performance motivator, driving a student to create their best work and allowing them to thoroughly enjoy the “A” that they receive. I’ll admit, there’s nothing like the rush of excitement and validation that washes over me when I open Canvas and see an “A” next to the test I spent days studying for. 

Yet, the pros don’t nearly outweigh the cons. The purpose of the college education that you are paying so much for is to learn by making mistakes, not by doing everything to avoid them. In truth, it’s easier to say this, than to actually live it is. Receiving an “F” on a test or a paper will always sting, at least for me. But with the traditional grading system not going anywhere anytime soon, the best thing that you can do for yourself is to find ways to manage your academic anxiety. 

USD’s Student Wellness page offers several examples of ways to manage anxiety that have worked well for me, including meditation, healthy eating and getting a good night’s sleep. Taking just a few minutes of my day to focus on myself has been instrumental in my academic success. USD’s Counseling Center also offers in-person counseling sessions for students, which can be booked online. For  many students, college is their first time living alone and taking care of themselves, and familiarizing themselves with resources that are available to help is a great way to start independent  life  on  the  right foot. 

At a university that steers students toward academic excellence, it is crucial to implement  wellness strategies into your life that remind you that your worth is not held in the GPA listed at the top of your DegreeWorks.

Prioritizing your mental health over your academics should be normalized more frequently. Photo courtesy of @Joshua Hoehne/ Unsplash