Grading has always been a monumental part of school. Stereotypically, grades have always separated students: good grades would mean you’re smart and are gliding through school while bad grades suggest that you’re struggling to get by.  This view weighs heavier on kids more and more every year, and can ultimately affect mental health in school and out.

During a study conducted at the University of San Diego, “students often cite pressure to get high grades as the leading cause of their stress and anxiety.” This is because grades in school can determine someone’s future, such as what schools they get into, jobs they can get, or whether they are eligible for merit-based financial aid. This isn’t fair to many people because grades shouldn’t determine whether someone is considered smart or not. Many people excel at different things and they shouldn’t be undermined because they didn’t perform well at a certain subject. 

There is a difference between people who tried in school and no matter what couldn’t get the grades they desired and people who got bad grades because they just didn’t care about it. During my years in high school, I struggled in math. I could study for hours and for whatever reason I just could not figure it out and it would cause me great amounts of stress because I wanted to keep my grades high. Some students are just naturally academically smarter and can keep high grades without putting hours of effort into keeping those A’s, but this doesn’t automatically make them smarter or more responsible than someone who has had trouble doing the same thing. It just makes them better suited for the way schools operate. 

Overall, grades are an absolute measurement that often don’t consider a student’s entire body of work, what they truly know, or what they can really do. Someone may not have the best grades, but that shouldn’t determine their entire future. Many teachers think that grades are a motivator for students, but in many cases, they can cause more stress and anxiety, negatively affecting students’ mental health rather than helping them do better.