More Than A Number Arkajit Mandal

GPA. SAT. ACT. AP. In our society these acronyms essentially define a student. I wish to go beyond these objective criteria in evaluating who I really am. Far too often, students focus merely on the grade; nonetheless, this grade is worth absolutely nothing if one cannot apply that knowledge to a real-life setting. Throughout my academic career I have tried to take a variety of courses to attain the knowledge, instead of just the grade.

Beginning with sophomore year, I had the option of choosing a broader array of courses. I decided to take classes that would allow me to learn things that I did not already know, such as AP European History. This was the class I spent the most time studying in, though the grade did not show it. I challenged myself, and I do not regret it. A grade is only relevant through high school; knowledge however, lasts forever.

Although I feel as though a grade cannot accurately evaluate one’s intelligence, it can give a good ballpark. My grades were not stellar throughout my sophomore year, though they did improve throughout my junior year in which I finished the last term with all A’s. By the end of my first term this year, I also managed to earn an A in each of my four classes. I wish to maintain a high...