It’s the day after a test. We anxiously wait at the beginning of class for our teacher to hand back our tests. After we have just barely received our scores, I can already hear the whispers of questions and comments filling the room. “That test was so easy, what did you get?” or “I just failed that, I got an 85.” Finally, the question makes it around to me. Instead of a “Hey, how are you,” it’s about my grade.

I dread this conversation regardless of whether I score well or not. While some academic competition can motivate and encourage students to excel, too much of it can have negative impacts.

Mental H20 Inc. states, “One of the biggest impacts of a competitive school environment is the heightened level of stress and anxiety among students.”

Often when students feel the constant pressure to always be the best, it results in large amounts of stress. Students may feel burnt out and drained from this never-ending cycle which can start to take a toll on them.

With Millard North being a high-performing school, measures have already been taken to prevent extreme academic competition such as when we got rid of class ranks in 2015.

Prior to this change, many students would stress out over class rank and select classes that would boost their rank over classes that sparked their interest. Some even took extra classes early in the morning during the school year or in the summer just so they could rack up points and raise their standing.

Academic competitiveness can also result in academic dishonesty. According to the National Institutes of Health, a study showed that the pressure to get good grades was one of the main reasons for cheating in high schools.

Instead of students caring about the material they are learning, they are fixated on the grade they receive  and maintaining their GPA. Naturally, this causes many students to resort to cheating.

Academic competitiveness can also lead to unhealthy comparison. When test scores are shared among classmates, those who scored worse often feel even more disappointed.

For example, when I score a 90% on my math quiz and overhear someone complaining about how they failed that quiz with their 94%, it can be discouraging, even though my score is actually good. All of a sudden, the 90% I worked hard for feels like a low grade I shouldn’t be proud of.

On the other hand, when you score higher than someone, especially if they normally score better than you, it may come as a relief that you are keeping up with them when really, it doesn’t matter who scored the best.

Alternatively, students are constantly compared to not only their peers but also their siblings. Whether they have graduated or are in an older grade, students still feel the same impact of academic comparison. For me, I am a twin. I’ve been asked the question, “Who’s the smartest?” or if asked “What did you get on the test?” it may be followed up with “What about your brother?” as they try to figure out who the smarter twin is.

It can be hard not to compare yourself to your peers when you are surrounded by this environment. This not only goes for test scores, but also overall academic achievements.

We need to remember that everyone is different and has their own strengths and weaknesses. No one is better than another just because they have a higher GPA or scored a 36 on the ACT.

Your success and future are more than just your grades. It is important to focus on yourself and your own goals rather than someone else’s. Your personal growth and learning as a student is what truly matters.